Subclinical myocardial dysfunction in patients with complete recovery from peripartum cardiomyopathy: a long-term clinical strain-echocardiographic study

Purpose The aim of this study was to assess long-term left ventricular (LV) systolic function using 3D speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with complete LV recovery following peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). Methods A total of 20 PPCM patients who exhibited LV recovery (ejection fraction ≥50%) in the follow-up period and 20 age-matched, healthy women were included in the study. Standard 2D echocardiographic examinations were performed. Global longitudinal strain and global circumferential strain were analyzed. Results Age, weight, body surface area, smoking, heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were similar in both groups. Echocardiographic examination showed no significant difference between both groups. Only the global longitudinal strain (18.1 ± 2.7 vs 20.16 ± 1.7, p = 0.02) and global circumferential strain (22.1 ± 2.9 vs 24.4 ± 1.19, p = 0.01) were significantly lower in PPCM patients. The lowest values for longitudinal strain belonged to the basal and mid regions of anterior, anteroseptal and lateral walls in the PPCM patients. Conclusion Subclinical myocardial damage may persist in PPCM patients with full LV systolic recovery. 3D Speckle Tracking strain analysis is a useful method for detecting subtle myocardial dysfunction

Treatment of hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients using pegylated interferon alpha-2a in Turkey

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is prevalent in renal insufficient patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of pegylated interferon alpha-2a (peg-IFN-alpha-2a) among these patients

Study on Post-Polymerization Modification of Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymers Involving Pendant Thiolactone Units

Two different oxanorbornene monomers were prepared and copolymerized with butyl-functionalized oxanorbornene monomer through the ring-opening metathesis polymerization. The resulting polymers were then subjected to the aminolysis reactions with propylamine (PA) in the presence of methyl acrylate (MA) to capture, in situ, the latent thiol. It was found that the polymer, in which the thiolactone unit is close to the polymer backbone, did not undergo an efficient aminolysis reaction even an excess amount of PA was utilized, while the other polymer, in which the thiolactone unit away from the polymer backbone, did efficiently undergo aminolysis reaction even PA was used in low amounts. Besides, a variety of primary amine compounds along with MA were reacted with the polymer, in which the thiolactone group away from the polymer backbone, to test their reactivity toward the aminolysis reactions. All modified polymers were characterized by using conventional instruments such as gel permeation chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and differential scanning calorimetry