Effect of Opium Addiction on Aspirin Resistance in Stable Angina Pectoris

Abstract Background: The rate of cardiovascular diseases in developing countries is approximately 60% and it is still has an increasing trend. The clinical effectiveness of aspirin in preventing cardiovascular events has been well proven. Although aspirin is an effective and inexpensive drug, its consumption is not equally beneficial for all patients. Many factors can be affective on the efficacy of antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin. Methods: This study was carried out on 260 patients who had stable angina pectoris and coronary artery disease was approved by coronary angiography. Based on opium addiction, the patients were divided into two groups. Opium addiction was diagnosed base on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) criteria. The mid-stream morning urinary sample were collected for measuring the urinary 11-dehydroxy thromboxane B2 level (UTXB2). Urinary level of UTXB2 was considered as an aspirin resistance index. Findings: The mean age of patients was 57.3 ± 8.9; and 44.6% of them were females. The aspirin resistance rate was 41.5%. Significant difference in aspirin resistance was observed between the opium addicts and non-addicts. (51.5% vs. 31.5%) (P = 0.001). The effects of confounding variables such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were eliminated by regression logistic multivariable analysis. Conclusion: The prevalence of aspirin resistance in patients with stable angina pectoris was 41.5%. The prevalence of aspirin resistance in patients with stable angina pectoris who had opium addiction was significantly higher them non-addicts. Keywords: Opium addiction, Aspirin resistance, Stable angina pectoris, Coronary angiograph

Sustainable Concrete with Seawater and Corrosion Resistant Reinforcement: Results of Monitoring of Corrosion Behaviour

The use of seawater for mixing concrete for reinforced concrete structures is prohibited, since it can promote steel corrosion. However, the use of seawater would contribute to decrease the environmental impact of concrete, in particular in those regions of the world where potable water is a precious resource. The project SEACON-INFRAVATION between University of Miami and Politecnico di Milano, with various industrial partners, aims at investigating the use of seawater for the construction of sustainable and durable reinforced concrete structures and infrastructures. Within the project, that included a vast campaign of laboratory tests, also two demo projects – one in Italy and another one in the US – were designed and executed with the aim of testing the technology on-site and allowing long-term monitoring of the durability behavior. In Italy, a reinforced concrete culvert was built next to A1 motorway, close to Piacenza. The culvert collects the waters coming from the roadway that, during winter season, is subjected to de-icing salts; in addition, it is unsheltered from the rain and exposed to wetting and drying cycles. The culvert is divided into different segments, and each segment is representative of a given scenario in terms of type of concrete and type of reinforcement. Besides a reference segment, with carbon steel and chloride-free concrete, some segments were built using seawater concrete in combination with corrosion-resistant reinforcement. Three types of corrosion-resistant reinforcement were considered: an austenitic grade of stainless steel (1.4311), a duplex grade of stainless steel (1.4362) and GFRP. The corrosion conditions of the metallic reinforcements are monitored by means of potential measurements. The electrical resistivity of concrete is also measured in time, and the evolution of carbonation and chloride penetration are periodically analysed on concrete cores taken from the culvert. This note presents the results that have been obtained during more than one year of monitoring of the corrosion conditions of the various types of reinforcement embedded in seawater concrete and compares them with results obtained in the laboratory

Investigation and comparison of runoff threshold in different climates of Iran

Determining the runoff threshold is a prerequisite for more accurate flood estimates, design and estimation of flood production potential, and knowing its extent can lead to optimal water resource management of watersheds. In this study, using the mean annual rainfall, a map of homogeneous climatic regions of Iran was prepared. Then, at least 30 stations with common statistical period in each homogeneous region were selected. Using a topographic map with a scale of 1: 50,000 and determining the location of the stations, the study area and each of the sub-watersheds were identified and the basic parameters of the watershed were extracted using the GIS. Runoff threshold was simulated using AWBM rainfall-runoff model and after calibration and obtaining optimal model parameters. Watershed zoning was performed based on the values ​​obtained from the model and the percentage of surface cover of the watersheds was calculated according to the amount of runoff threshold for different climatic regions. The results showed that in all three climatic zones, almost half of the watersheds have runoff thresholds in a range of 0-5 mm and have the potential to convert rainfall into runoff and flood production. Watersheds with runoff threshold class (0-5 mm) were mainly located in the northern and central parts of West Azerbaijan province, north and northeast of Kerman province, and the northern and southern parts of Khuzestan province

Effects of nanosilica on early age stages of cement hydration

Effects of nanosilica on cement hydration have been broadly investigated in the literature and early age cement hydration, as awhole, has been mainly considered, disregarding the substages of the hydration. The hydration of cement is characterized by different substages and nanosilica effect on the hydration could be a result of diverse, even contradictory, behavior of nanosilica in individual stages of the hydration. In this study, effects of nanosilica on different substages of cement hydration are investigated. Isothermal calorimetry results show that at early ages (initial 72 hours) the effects of nanosilica depend on the phenomenon by which the hydration is governed:when the hydration is chemically controlled, that is, during initial reaction, dormant period, and acceleratory period, the hydration rate is accelerated by adding nanosilica; when the hydration is governed by diffusion process, that is, during postacceleratory period, the hydration rate is decelerated by adding nanosilica. The Thermal Gravimetric Analysis on the samples at the hardened state (after 28 days of curing) reveals that, after adding nanosilica, the hydration degree slightly increased compared to the plain paste

Effects of nanosilica on compressive strength and durability properties of concrete with different water to binder ratios

The effects of the addition of different nanosilica dosages (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% with respect to cement) on compressive strength and durability properties of concrete with water/binder ratios 0.65, 0.55, and 0.5 were investigated. Water sorptivity, apparent chloride diffusion coefficient, electrical resistivity, and carbonation coefficient of concrete were measured. The results showed that compressive strength significantly improved in case of water/binder = 0.65, while for water/binder = 0.5 no change was found. Increasing nanosilica content, the water sorptivity decreased only for water/binder = 0.55. The addition of 0.5% nanosilica decreased the apparent chloride diffusion coefficient for water/binder = 0.65 and 0.55; however, higher nanosilica dosages did not decrease it with respect to reference value. The resistivity was elevated by 0.5% nanosilica for all water/binder ratios and by 1.5% nanosilica only for water/binder = 0.5. The carbonation coefficient was not notably affected by increasing nanosilica dosages and even adverse effect was observed for water/binder = 0.65. Further information of microstructure was also provided through characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. The effectiveness of a certain nanosilica dosage addition into lower strength mixes was more noticeable, while, for the higher strength mix, the effectiveness was less

Modification of properties of reinforced concrete through nanoalumina electrokinetic treatment

An attempt was made to drift nanoalumina particles into concrete pores through electrokinetic treatment. An external electric current (current density = 3 A/m2) was applied for 3 and 15 days in reinforced concrete blocks toward steel reinforcement and microstructural characterizations (i.e. morphology observation and porosity analysis) were performed on concrete fragments of different depth from exposure surface. The morphology observation evidenced transport of nanoalumina from the exposure surface even reaching the rebar-concrete interface (up to 25–30 mm, in 15 days treatment). The porosity analysis of treated samples revealed that reduction of porosity of rebar interface was more pronounced as compared to the exposure surface and the treatment for 15 days was more beneficial for porosity refinement than treatment for 3 days. Effects of the electrokinetic NA treatment on strength of rebar-concrete interface were evaluated through pull-out test. The results showed that by increasing current density, bond strength of rebar-concrete interface increased

Nano-Silica Sol-Gel and Carbon Nanotube Coupling Effect on the Performance of Cement-Based Materials

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown promise for improving the mechanical performance of cement composites through crack-bridging and frictional pull-out. The interactive behaviors between CNTs and cement matrix act are crucial in optimizing the reinforcement of CNTs in cement composites. This study investigates the effects of nano-silica (NS) sol-gel on the interactive behaviors of CNTs and the cement matrix through a series of experiments and analyses. UV-visible spectrometer results show that CNTs are well-dispersed in suspension and the addition of NS has a negligible effect on the stability of CNT dispersion. Calorimetry tests and dynamic mechanical analysis demonstrate the nucleation and frictional performance of CNTs in cement matrix, respectively. The paper shows that the physical adsorption of NS on the CNT surface could result in the acceleration of cement hydration. Morphology observation confirms that a denser interface between CNTs and cement hydrates is formed. Finally, the improved interaction between CNTs and cement hydrates leads to a substantial increase in friction between CNTs and the cement matrix under periodic loading. NS may act as an ideal admixture for improving both the interactive behaviors between CNTs and cement matrix and the damping properties of cement composite

Serum Level of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type-1 in Addicted Patients ‎with Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a glycoprotein with inhibitory effects on the formation of plasmin from plasminogen by plasminogen activator. Thus, it prevents clot lysis in vessel walls. Several evidences prove the relationship between coronary artery disease and response to fibrinolytic therapy in patients with myocardial infarction with PAI-1 level. Opium addiction is one of the most important factors in causing myocardial infarction and cardiovascular events. This is due to it causing imbalance between coagulation and anticoagulation factors in the blood. This study was designed and implemented to determine the levels of PAI-I in opium-addicted patients with coronary artery disease in comparison with non addicts. Methods: In this case-control study, 160 patients with coronary heart disease, which was confirmed by angiography results, were enrolled. All of the patients had a medical history, their creatine levels and lipid profile were evaluated, morphine urine test was performed, and after that a blood sample was taken to determine the levels of PAI-1. Thus, the 80 patients who had a positive morphine urine test result formed the case group, and the control group was constituted of the 80 patients with negative morphine test results. The two groups were matched. Findings: Average level of PAI-1 in the control group was 2.4±2.6 and in the case group was 8.8 ± 9.1 and it was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The frequency of two vessel disease was higher in opium addicted patients than non-addicted patients and this was statistically significant (P = 0.030). However, the frequency of single vessel and three vessel disease was the same in the two groups. The two groups had no differences in age, lipid profile, and creatinine level. Moreover, females are at a higher risk of high PAI-1 levels. Conclusion: PAI-1 levels in opium addicted patients with coronary heart disease are higher than other patients. In these patients, the risk of atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction is higher than normal

Effect of Opium Addiction on Aspirin Resistance in Stable Angina Pectoris

Background: The rate of cardiovascular diseases in developing countries is approximately 60% and it is still has an increasing trend. The clinical effectiveness of aspirin in preventing cardiovascular events has been well proven. Although aspirin is an effective and inexpensive drug, its consumption is not equally beneficial for all patients. Many factors can be affective on the efficacy of antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin. Methods: This study was carried out on 260 patients who had stable angina pectoris and coronary artery disease was approved by coronary angiography. Based on opium addiction, the patients were divided into two groups. Opium addiction was diagnosed base on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM IV) criteria. The mid stream morning urinary sample were collected for measuring the urinary 11-dehydroxy thromboxane B2 level (UTXB2). Urinary level of UTXB2 was considered as an aspirin resistance index. Findings: The mean age of patients was 57.3 ± 8.9; and 44.6% of them were females. The aspirin resistance rate was 41.5%. Significant difference in aspirin resistance was observed between the opium addicts and non-addicts. (51.5% vs. 31.5%) (P = 0.001). The effects of confounding variables such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were eliminated by regression logistic multivariable analysis. Conclusion: The prevalence of aspirin resistance in patients with stable angina pectoris was 41.5%. The prevalence of aspirin resistance in patients with stable angina pectoris who had opium addiction was significantly higher them non-addicts