Unilateral progressive muscular atrophy with fast symptoms progression

Progressive muscular atrophy (PMA), or the lower motor neuron disease, is a sporadic disorder characterized by onset in adulthood, pure lower motor neuron involvement and relatively benign course. Muscle atrophy and weakness may be symmetrical or asymmetrical, but they are always bilateral. We present a male patient with exclusively left-side flaccid paresis due to lower motor neuron disease without electromyographic evidence of neurogenic lesion of contralateral muscles and with no signs of corticospinal tracts involvement. The rapid disease progression was typical of the generalized phenotype of PMA and it suggested the relation to the aggressive course of classical ALS

Autoimmune reaction against pancreatic beta cells in children and adolescents with simple obesity

IntroductionOne of the most important complications of obesity is insulin resistance, which leads to carbohydrate metabolism disorders such as type 2 diabetes. However, obesity is also associated with development of an autoimmune response against various organs, including pancreatic beta cells. The prevalence of such autoimmune processes in children and their possible contribution to the increased incidence of type 1 diabetes is currently unclear. Therefore, the present study assessed the prevalence of autoantibodies against pancreatic islet beta cell’s antigens in children and adolescents with simple obesity.Material and methodsThis prospective observational study included pediatric patients (up to 18 years of age) with simple obesity hospitalized between 2011 and 2016 at the Department of Pediatrics, Diabetology, Endocrinology and Nephrology of the Medical University of Lodz. Children with acute or chronic conditions that might additionally affect insulin resistance or glucose metabolism were excluded. Collected clinical data included sex, age, sexual maturity ratings (Tanner`s scale), body height and weight, waist and hip circumference, amount of body fat and lean body mass. Each participant underwent a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test with simultaneous measurements of glycaemia and insulinemia at 0`, 60` and 120`. In addition, glycated hemoglobin HbA1c, fasting and stimulated c-peptide, total cholesterol, as well as high- and low-density cholesterol and triglycerides were measured. Insulin resistance was assessed by calculating HOMA-IR index. The following autoantibodies against pancreatic islet beta cells were determined in each child: ICA - antibodies against cytoplasmic antigens of pancreatic islets, GAD - antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase, ZnT8 - antibodies against zinc transporter, IA2 - antibodies against tyrosine phosphatase, IAA – antibodies against insulin.ResultsThe study group included 161 children (57.4% boys, mean age 13.1 ± 2.9 years) with simple obesity (mean BMI z-score +2.2 ± 1.6). Among them, 28 (17.4%) were diagnosed with impaired glucose metabolism during OGTT [23 (82.2%) – isolated impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), 3 (10.7%) – isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG), 2 (7.1%) – IFG and IGT]. Of the children tested, 28 (17.4%) were tested positive for at least one islet-specific autoantibody [with similar percentages in boys (15, 17.4%) and girls (13, 17.3%), p=0.9855], with ICA being the most common (positive in 18, 11.2%), followed by IAA (7, 4.3%), ZnT8 (5, 3.1%), GADA (3, 1.9%) and IA2 (1, 0.6%). There was no association between the presence of the tested antibodies and age, sex, stage of puberty, parameters assessing the degree of obesity, HbA1c, lipid levels and basal metabolic rate. However, autoantibody-positive subjects were more likely to present IFG or IGT in OGTT compared to those who tested completely negative (9, 32.1% vs 19, 14.3%, p=0.0280). Their HOMA-IR was also significantly higher (HOMA-IR: 4.3 ± 1.9 vs 3.4 ± 1.9, p=0.0203) and this difference remained statistically significant after adjusting for sex and age (p=0.0340).ConclusionsChildren and adolescents with simple obesity presented a higher prevalence of markers of autoimmune response against pancreatic beta cells than the general population. Most often, they had only one type of antibody - ICA. The presence of autoimmune response indicators against pancreatic islet antigens is more common in obese patients with impaired carbohydrate metabolism and is associated with lower insulin sensitivity

Serum testosterone level correlates with left ventricular hypertrophy in older women

IntroductionSex hormones may play an important role in age-related cardiac remodeling. However, their impact on cardiac structure and function in females of advanced age still remains unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between sex hormones level and echocardiographic parameters in older women with concomitant cardiovascular diseases.Materials and MethodsThe study group included 52 community-dwelling women with mean age 79.5 ± 2.8 years, consecutive patients of an outpatient geriatric clinic. In all the subjects, a transthoracic echocardiogram was performed and serum testosterone, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, and cortisol levels were determined.ResultsTestosterone level correlated positively with interventricular septum diastolic dimension (IVSd) (rS=0.293, p<0.05), left ventricular mass index (rS=0.285, p<0.05), E/E’ ratio (rS=0.301, p<0.05), and negatively with E’ (rS=-0.301, p<0.05). Estradiol level showed a positive correlation with the posterior wall dimension (rS=0.28, p<0.05). Besides, no significant correlations between clinical or echocardiographic parameters and other hormones were observed. Female subjects with diagnosed left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (n=34) were characterized by a significantly higher rate of hypertension (p=0.011), higher waist-to-height ratio (p=0.009), higher testosterone level (0.82 vs. 0.48 nmol/L, p=0.024), higher testosterone/estradiol ratio (16.4 vs. 9.9, p=0.021), and received more anti-hypertensive drugs (p=0.030). In a multiple stepwise logistic regression, the best determinants of LVH were the presence of hypertension (OR=6.51; 95% CI 1.62-26.1), and testosterone level (OR= 6.6; 95% CI 1.19-36.6).ConclusionsHigher serum testosterone levels may contribute to pathological cardiac remodeling, especially in hypertensive women. Estradiol, gonadotropins, DHEAS, and cortisol were not related to echocardiographic parameters

The Effect of Herbal Supplements on Blood Pressure: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Herbal supplements rich in phenolic compounds are evidenced to have a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, they are suggested to be included in diets for people with hypertension (HT). HT is a global health problem and is estimated to affect billions of people until the end of 2025. For this reason, every possible and effective solution preventing HT should be considered. The aim was to perform an updated meta-analysis and review of recently published studies to evaluate the effect of selected herbal supplements on blood pressure reduction. We searched the PubMed database with specified selection criteria, analysing the RCT studies from 2011 to 2021. A total of 31 studies were included in the analysis, and the meta-analysis was conducted on the data from 16 of them. The general effect size of all the supplements via placebo was d = 1.45, p p < 0.05 for diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The meta-analysis and review of the literature demonstrated that herbal supplements, such as resveratrol, cherry juice, beetroot juice, bergamot extracts, barberry, and pycnogenol, can be effective in blood pressure reduction and cardiovascular prevention, but attention should be paid to their appropriate dosage due to the possibility of side effects from the digestive system

Images of corona discharges in patients with cardiovascular diseases as a preliminary analysis for research of the influence of textiles on images of corona discharges in textiles' users

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess changes in images of corona discharges (ICD) in patients with cardiovascular diseases A corona discharge is an electrical discharge brought on by gases surrounding a conductor - animate or inanimate objects. Methods: The study population of 126 persons (81 men and 45 women) was divided into two groups: the study group consisted of 96 patients with coronary heart disease and the control group composed of 30 healthy persons. The study methods included recording of corona discharges of fingertips of both hands by using the Gas Discharge Visualization (GDV) Camera and analyzing changes in images of corona discharges dependent on conditions of medical examinations of patients, their frame of mind, age, gender, heart rate, blood pressure, serum potassium concentration, and the course of coronary heart disease. Results: Age, gender, temperature in examination rooms as well as frame of mind of the study population exerted a similar effect on ICD in both groups. Heart rate, blood pressure and the pattern of coronary heart disease exerted varied effects on the patients' ICD parameters in the study group. Conclusions: The analysis of changes in ICD may be a source of information about the effect of physiological and pathophysiological changes in the human health state, physical as well as mental

Dietary Zinc Is Associated with Cardiac Function in the Older Adult Population

The elderly is a group at particularly high cardiovascular risk. The coexistence of chronic diseases and use of multiple medications creates the need to look for non-pharmacological agents to improve cardiovascular health in that population. In view of reports on the potential role of zinc in enhancing pathways of myocardial tissue repair, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between dietary zinc intake and cardiac structure and function in individuals of advanced age. The study group included 251 community-dwelling patients, with a median age of 80 years. Dieta 6.0 software was used for calculation of zinc consumption. Percentage of Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for zinc correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r = 0.196, p p p p p = 0.014; β = 0.143), presence of coronary artery disease (p p = 0.036; β = −0.12). Furthermore, %RDA for zinc (p = 0.009; β = 0.16), female sex (p = 0.005; β = −0.171), beta-blocker use (p = 0.024; β = −0.136), body mass index (p = 0.008; β = 0.16) and heart rate (p = 0.0006; β = −0.209) had an independent effect on TAPSE. In conclusion, in individuals of very advanced age, lower zinc intake is associated with poorer cardiac function. Therefore, increasing the recommended zinc intake in this group deserves consideration

Assessment of exposure to fungi in the heavily contaminated work environment (a solid waste sorting plant) based on the ergosterol analysis

Objectives: This paper reports on the results of the study aimed at application of ergosterol as an quantitative indicator of fungal bioaerosol present in the indoor air in occupational environment heavily contaminated with organic dust as well as its comparison with the culturable method. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in the indoor solid waste sorting plant. Using Andersen impactor adapted to 1 plate at the flow rate of 30 l/min, indoor air was sampled in the workers’ breathing zone. Ergosterol was sampled using gelatinous filter (1000 l of air) and then analyzed by means of the spectrophotometric method. Fungi were sampled on malt extract agar (MEA) medium (3 replications: 2 l, 7.5 l, 15 l of air) and analyzed by means of the culturable method. Based on ergosterol analyzes, concentration of fungi was calculated. Results were given as the range assuming min. as 5.1 pg ergosterol/spore and max as 1.7 pg ergosterol/spore. Results: The average concentrations of ergosterol in a working room (arithmetic mean (AM), standard deviation (SD); minimum–maximum (min.–max)) were, respectively: 2.16, 0.72; 0.85–2.92 μg/m3; fungi calculated based on ergosterol – 424.1×103–1272.4×103, 140.1×103– 420.4×103, 167×103–1716.5×103 CFU/m3, and culturable fungi – 13×103, 9.7×103, 1.9×103–34×103 CFU/m3). It was revealed that concentrations of calculated fungi were even 2 orders of magnitude higher than culturable fungi. Conclusions: The quantitative assessment of moldiness by means of ergosterol measurement seems to be a reliable indicator for environments heavily contaminated with organic dust, where viable and non-viable fungi are present in high proportions. Based on that result, more restrictive (as compared to a similar assessment carried out by means of the culturable method) hygienic recommendations, especially those related to the use of preventive measures protecting the employees’ respiratory tract, should have been undertaken

Dietary Zinc Is Associated with Cardiac Function in the Older Adult Population

The elderly is a group at particularly high cardiovascular risk. The coexistence of chronic diseases and use of multiple medications creates the need to look for non-pharmacological agents to improve cardiovascular health in that population. In view of reports on the potential role of zinc in enhancing pathways of myocardial tissue repair, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between dietary zinc intake and cardiac structure and function in individuals of advanced age. The study group included 251 community-dwelling patients, with a median age of 80 years. Dieta 6.0 software was used for calculation of zinc consumption. Percentage of Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for zinc correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r = 0.196, p &lt; 0.05), left ventricular mass index (r = &minus;0.137, p &lt; 0.05) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (r = 0.153, p &lt; 0.05), while zinc density did so with E/E&rsquo; ratio (r = &minus;0.127, p &lt; 0.05). In a multiple stepwise regression analysis, the best determinants of LVEF were %RDA for zinc (p = 0.014; &beta; = 0.143), presence of coronary artery disease (p &lt; 0.001; &beta; = &minus;0.39) and age (p = 0.036; &beta; = &minus;0.12). Furthermore, %RDA for zinc (p = 0.009; &beta; = 0.16), female sex (p = 0.005; &beta; = &minus;0.171), beta-blocker use (p = 0.024; &beta; = &minus;0.136), body mass index (p = 0.008; &beta; = 0.16) and heart rate (p = 0.0006; &beta; = &minus;0.209) had an independent effect on TAPSE. In conclusion, in individuals of very advanced age, lower zinc intake is associated with poorer cardiac function. Therefore, increasing the recommended zinc intake in this group deserves consideration