Histamine Blood Concentration in Ischemic Heart Disease Patients

The aim of this study was to investigate histamine blood concentration in subjects suffering from different types of ischemic heart diseases during the period of eight days. Our results showed that the histamine blood level was associated with different types of ischemic heart diseases. The blood histamine level in all investigated patients was significantly higher when compared to control subjects (44.87 ± 1.09 ng mL−1), indicating the increase of histamine release in patients suffering from coronary diseases. In patients suffering from ACS-UA and ACS-STEMI, the second day peak of histamine level occurs (90.85 ± 6.34 ng mL−1 and 121.7 ± 6.34 ng mL−1, resp.) probably as the reperfusion event. Furthermore, our data suggest that histamine can be additional parameter of myocardial ischemia along with cardiac specific enzymes and may prove to be an excellent single prognostic marker for multitude of ischemic heart diseases

Experimental and mathematical model for evaluation of LDL uptake by the isolated blood vessels

Objective. The aim of this study is to present the experimental model which can be used to determine LDL transport into the blood vessel wall. Method. We used isolated rabbit carotid arteries under physiologically relevant constant pressure and perfusion flow in conditions more similar to in vivo. We used Rapid dual-isotope dilution method, Steady - state method, testing of transport of LDL-before and after removal of the endothelium, in conditions with intact endothelium and after its removal. Results. First we used Rapid dual-isotope dilution method and the data obtained showed that the transport of LDL could not be precisely determined in this way because it was in the range of standard error. Then we used Steady - state method and uptake (Us) was 3.52 ± 1.07% at higher pressure (140±10 mmHg) than at lower pressure (p<0.05). Also, LDL uptake was evaluated before and after the endothelium removal. The results after endothelial removal showed that Us of LDL was almost 3 times higher (9.2%) than with intact endothelium (p<0.05) and that the accumulation of LDL in the blood vessel wall was 0.1% (0.06% in intact endothelium) indicating that intact endothelium was a strong barrier. Conclusion. Our experimental model and applied mathematical procedures can provide a precise description of the LDL uptake by the blood vessel wall

Glucagon Effects on 3H-Histamine Uptake by the Isolated Guinea-Pig Heart during Anaphylaxis

We estimated the influence of acute glucagon applications on 3H-histamine uptake by the isolated guinea-pig heart, during a single 3H-histamine passage through the coronary circulation, before and during anaphylaxis, and the influence of glucagon on level of histamine, NO, O2-, and H2O2 in the venous effluent during anaphylaxis. Before anaphylaxis, glucagon pretreatment does not change 3H-histamine Umax and the level of endogenous histamine. At the same time, in the presence of glucagon, 3H-histamine Unet is increased and backflux is decreased when compared to the corresponding values in the absence of glucagon. During anaphylaxis, in the presence of glucagon, the values of 3H-histamine Umax and Unet are significantly higher and backflux is significantly lower in the presence of glucagon when compared to the corresponding values in the absence of glucagon. The level of endogenous histamine during anaphylaxis in the presence of glucagon (6.9–7.38 × 10−8 μM) is significantly lower than the histamine level in the absence of glucagon (10.35–10.45 × 10−8 μM). Glucagon pretreatment leads to a significant increase in NO release (5.69 nmol/mL) in comparison with the period before glucagon administration (2.49 nmol/mL). Then, in the presence of glucagon, O2- level fails to increase during anaphylaxis. Also, our results show no significant differences in H2O2 levels before, during, and after anaphylaxis in the presence of glucagon, but these values are significantly lower than the corresponding values in the absence of glucagon. In conclusion, our results show that glucagon increases NO release and prevents the increased release of free radicals during anaphylaxis, and decreases histamine level in the venous effluent during cardiac anaphylaxis, which may be a consequence of decreased histamine release and/or intensified histamine capturing by the heart during anaphylaxis

Znaczenie stężenia NT-proBNP w określaniu rokowania i ocenie diagnostycznej u chorych z ostrymi zespołami wieńcowymi

Background and aim: N terminal-proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is synthesised and secreted from the ventricularmyocardium. This marker is known to be elevated in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We evaluated NT-proBNP asa significant diagnostic marker and an important independent predictor of short-term mortality (one month) in patients with ACS.Methods: NT-proBNP and cardiac troponin I (cTI) were assessed in 134 consecutive patients (median age 66 years, 73% male)hospitalised for ACS in a cardiological university department. The patients were classified into ST-elevation ACS (STE-ACS, n = 74) and non-ST-elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS, n = 60) groups based on the ECG findings on admission. Patients with Killipclass ≥ II were excluded.Results: The serum level of NT-proBNP on admission was significantly higher (p &lt; 0.0005), while there was no differencein cTI serum level in the NSTE-ACS patients compared to STE-ACS patients. There was a significant positive correlation betweenNT-proBNP and cTI in the NSTE-ACS (r = 0.338, p = 0.008) and STE-ACS (r = 0.441, p &lt; 0.0005) patients. Therewas a significant difference in NT-proBNP (p &lt; 0.0005) and cTI (p &lt; 0.0005) serum level between ACS patients who diedwithin 30 days or who survived after one month. The increased NT-proBNP level is the strongest predictor of mortality in ACSpatients, also NT-proBNP cut-point level of 1,490 pg/mL is a significant independent predictor of mortality.Conclusions: We demonstrated the differences and the correlation in the secretion of NT-proBNP and cTI in patients withSTE-ACS vs. NSTE-ACS. Our results provide evidence that NT-proBNP is a significant diagnostic marker and an importantindependent predictor of short-term mortality in patients with ACS.Wstęp i cel: N-końcowy fragment propeptydu natriuretycznego typu B (NT-proBNP) jest syntetyzowany i wydzielany przezmiokardium komór serca. Wiadomo, że stężenie tego wskaźnika jest podwyższone u chorych z ostrymi zespołami wieńcowymi (ACS). Autorzy ocenili znaczenie stężenia NT-proBNP jako istotnego wskaźnika diagnostycznego i ważnego niezależnegoczynnika prognostycznego śmiertelności krótkoterminowej (w ciągu 1 miesiąca) u chorych z ACS.Metody: Oznaczono stężenia NT-proBNP i sercowej troponiny I (cTI) u 134 kolejnych chorych (mediana wieku 66 lat, 73%mężczyzn) hospitalizowanych z powodu ACS na oddziale kardiologicznym szpitala uniwersyteckiego. Pacjentów przydzielanodo grupy ACS z uniesieniem odcinka ST (STE-ACS, n = 74) lub do grupy ACS bez uniesienia odcinka ST (NSTE-ACS, n = 60)na podstawie EKG wykonanego przy przyjęciu. Chorych w klasie Killipa ≥ II wykluczono z badania.Wyniki: Stężenie NT-proBNP w surowicy przy przyjęciu do szpitala było istotnie wyższe (p &lt; 0,0005) u pacjentów z NSTE--ACS niż u osób z STE-ACS, natomiast surowicze stężenia cTI były podobne w obu grupach. Stwierdzono istotną dodatniąkorelację między stężeniami NT-proBNP i cTI u chorych z NSTE-ACS (r = 0,338; p = 0,008) i u osób z STE-ACS (r = 0,441;p &lt; 0,0005). Stężenia NT-proBNP (p &lt; 0,0005) i cTI (p &lt; 0,0005) w surowicy różniły się istotnie między chorymi z ACS,którzy zmarli w ciągu 30 dni, a pacjentami, którzy żyli dłużej niż miesiąc. Zwiększone stężenie NT-proBNP jest najsilniejszymczynnikiem prognostycznym zgonu u chorych z ACS. Ponadto stężenie NT-proBNP powyżej progowej wartości 1490 pg/mL jest istotnym niezależnym czynnikiem prognostycznym zgonu.Wnioski: Autorzy wykazali różnice w wydzielaniu NT-proBNP i cTI między chorymi ze STE-ACS i chorymi z NSTE-ACS orazkorelacje między tymi wskaźnikami. Uzyskane przez nich wyniki dowodzą, że NT-proBNP jest istotnym niezależnym wskaźnikiemdiagnostycznym i ważnym niezależnym czynnikiem prognostycznym śmiertelności krótkoterminowej u chorych z ACS