Efficacy of beta-blocker therapy in symptomatic athletes with exercise-induced intra-ventricular gradients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Upright exercise stress echocardiography (SE) induces significant intraventricular gradient (IVG) and systolic anterior motion (SAM) in a large proportion of symptomatic athletes, who may therefore benefit from a negative inotropic therapy.</p> <p>The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of chronic oral β blocker therapy on the occurrence of exercise-induced IVG and mitral valve SAM, in symptomatic athletes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We enrolled 35 symptomatic athletes (age = 23 ± 11 years) with IVG (>30 mmHg) during SE off therapy. All repeated SE on chronic oral beta-blocker therapy (atenolol up to 50 mg, bisoprolol up to 10 mg, or metoprolol up to 100 mg daily according to physician-driven choice).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>On therapy, there was during SE a reduction in IVG (35 off vs 17 on beta blocker, p < 0.01), decrease of IVG (102 ± 34 mmHg off vs 69 ± 24 mmHg on beta blocker, p < 0.01), peak heart rate (178 ± 15 bpm off vs 157 ± 9 bpm on beta blocker), SAM (24 off vs 9 on beta blocker, p < 0.001), symptoms during SE (17 off vs 2 on beta blocker p < 0.001), ST segment depression (13 off vs 2 on beta blocker, p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In athletes with positive screening on medical evaluation for sports practice and IVG on exertion, treatment with oral beta blockers improved symptoms in the large majority of patients. Symptomatic benefit was mirrored by objective evidence of improvement of echocardiographic signs of obstruction (IVG and SAM) and reduction of ischemia-like electrocardiographic changes.</p

Utilização de fósforo do solo e do fertilizante por tomateiro

Phosphorus, despite its relatively low content in most crops is the most applied nutrient as mineral fertilizer and is an important fraction of the cost of agricultural production. Knowledge of the differences among plant varieties in relation to soil and fertilizer P uptake is fundamental for breeding improvement programs and management of phosphate fertilization. Differences in P uptake from soil and fertilizer (triple superphosphate), soil P availability through L and A values, and the physiologic, ecophysiologic and agronomic efficiencies of two commercial tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Will) varieties, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz, were evaluated by the 32P technique. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, using two soils, a dystrophic Dark Red Latosol and an eutrophic Red Yellow Latosol, and two P fertilizer application rates (0 and 31.1 mg kg-1). Plant responses were markedly different in the two different soils. There was a clear increase in dry matter production, L value, and P uptake from the soil due to fertilizer application, but not in the A values. Differences in dry matter production, P concentration and physiologic, ecophysiologic and agronomic efficiency between varieties differed more for the eutrophic Red Yellow Latosol. There was no difference between the two varieties in relation to the uptake of soil and fertilizer P, L and A values.O fósforo, embora seja o macronutriente em menor concentração na maioria das culturas, é o mais aplicado como fertilizante mineral, constituindo uma parcela significativa do custo de produção agrícola. O conhecimento das diferenças entre variedades de plantas em relação à absorção do fósforo do solo e do fertilizante torna-se de grande importância para programas de melhoramento e manejo da adubação fosfatada. Utilizando a técnica do traçador radioativo 32P, foram avaliadas as diferenças na absorção de fósforo proveniente do solo e do fertilizante (superfosfato triplo), na disponibilidade de P do solo pelos valores L e A e nas eficiências fisiológica, ecofisiológica e agronômica do nutriente pelas variedades comerciais de tomate (Licopersicum esculentum Will) Santa Clara e Santa Cruz. Conduziu-se um experimento em condições de casa de vegetação com dois solos (Latossolo Vermelho distrófico e Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo eutrófico) e dois níveis de P (0 e 31,1 mg kg-1). A resposta das plantas foi diferente nos dois solos e em concordância com suas características. Houve aumentos significativos, em ambos os solos, na produção de matéria seca, no valor L e na absorção de P do solo devido à aplicação do fertilizante mineral, mas não no valor A. Diferenças entre variedades quanto à produção de matéria seca, concentração de fósforo, eficiência fisiológica, ecofisiológica e agronômica foram mais marcadas no solo Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo eutrófico. Não houve diferenças entre as variedades na absorção de P do solo e do fertilizante, valores L e A

Анализ конкурентных стратегических альтернатив на основе построения сегментной карты

This study investigated whether subablative-pulsed CO(2) laser (10.6 mu m) irradiation, using fluences lower than 1 J/cm(2), was capable of reducing enamel acid solubility. Fifty-one samples of bovine dental enamel were divided into three groups: control group, which was not irradiated (CG); group laser A (LA) irradiated with 0.3 J/cm ; and group laser B (LB) irradiated with 0.7 J/cm(2). After irradiation, the samples were subjected to demineralization in an acetate buffer solution and were then analyzed by SEM. A finite-element model was used to calculate the temperature increase. The calcium and phosphorous content in the demineralization solution were measured with an ICP-OES. ANOVA and the t-test pairwise comparison (p < 0.016) revealed that LB showed significantly lower mean Ca and P content values in the demineralization solution than other groups. A reduction in the enamel solubility can be obtained with pulsed CO(2) laser irradiation (0.7 J/cm(2), 135 mJ/pulse, 74 Hz, 100 mu s) without any surface photomodification and a less than 2 degrees C temperature increase at a 3-mm depth from the surface

The Developmental Competence of Oocytes Retrieved from The Leading Follicle in Controlled Ovarian Stimulated Cycles

Abstract Background: This study compares the developmental capacity of gametes retrieved from the largest follicle with small follicles of a cohort in controlled ovarian stimulated cycles

Long Term Stabilization of Expanding Aortic Aneurysms by a Short Course of Cyclosporine A through Transforming Growth Factor-Beta Induction

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) expand as a consequence of extracellular matrix destruction, and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) depletion. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 overexpression stabilizes expanding AAAs in rat. Cyclosporine A (CsA) promotes tissue accumulation and induces TGF -beta1 and, could thereby exert beneficial effects on AAA remodelling and expansion. In this study, we assessed whether a short administration of CsA could durably stabilize AAAs through TGF-beta induction. We showed that CsA induced TGF-beta1 and decreased MMP-9 expression dose-dependently in fragments of human AAAs in vitro, and in animal models of AAA in vivo. CsA prevented AAA formation at 14 days in the rat elastase (diameter increase: CsA: 131.9±44.2%; vehicle: 225.9±57.0%, P = 0.003) and calcium chloride mouse models (diameters: CsA: 0.72±0.14 mm; vehicle: 1.10±0.11 mm, P = .008), preserved elastic fiber network and VSMC content, and decreased inflammation. A seven day administration of CsA stabilized formed AAAs in rats seven weeks after drug withdrawal (diameter increase: CsA: 14.2±15.1%; vehicle: 45.2±13.7%, P = .017), down-regulated wall inflammation, and increased αSMA-positive cell content. Co-administration of a blocking anti-TGF-beta antibody abrogated CsA impact on inflammation, αSMA-positive cell accumulation and diameter control in expanding AAAs. Our study demonstrates that pharmacological induction of TGF-beta1 by a short course of CsA administration represents a new approach to induce aneurysm stabilization by shifting the degradation/repair balance towards healing