Pinealectomy and zinc deficiency have opposite effects on thyroid hormones in rats

The present study was conducted to investigate how pinealectomy and zinc deficiency separately or in combination affected thyroid hormones in rats. The study was carried out on 40 Sprague-Dawley male rats. The rats were equally allocated to four groups: Group 1 (control group), Group 2 (zinc-deficient group), Group 3 (pinealectomized group) and Group 4 (pinealectomized and zinc-deficient group). At the end of a 4-week study period, the rats were decapitated and blood samples were taken. The samples were examined in terms of plasma zinc, melatonin, free and total T-3, T-4, and TSH. It was found that free T-3 and T-4 levels in the pinealectomized group (Group 3) were higher than all others (p < 0.01) while free T-3, T-4, and TSH levels in the zinc-deficient group (Group 2) were lower than all others (p < 0.01). Free T3 and T4 levels in the pinealectomized zinc-deficient group (Group 4) were lower than those in Groups I and 3 and higher than those in Group 2 (p < 0.01). The findings obtained at the end of the study period show that pinealectomy has a stimulating and zinc deficiency has a suppressing effect on thyroid hormones and that the suppressing effect caused by zinc deficiency is partially balanced by pinealectomy

Opposite effects of zinc and melatonin on thyroid hormones in rats

The present study was conducted to investigate how thyroid function in rats is affected by administration of 3 mg per kg per day of zinc and/or melatonin

Current clinician perspective on non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant use in challenging clinical cases

Objective: The evolution of non-vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants (NOACs) has changed the horizon of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (SPAF). All 4 NOACs have been tested against dose-adjusted warfarin in well-designed, pivotal, phase III, randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) and were approved by regulatory authorities for an SPAF indication. However, as traditional RCTs, these trials have important weaknesses, largely related to their complex structure and patient participation, which was limited by strict inclusion and extensive exclusion criteria. In the real world, however, clinicians are often faced with complex, multimorbid patients who are underrepresented in these RCTs. This Article is based on a meeting report authored by 12 scientists studying atrial f ibrillation (AF) in diverse ways who discussed the management of challenging AF cases that are underrepresented in pivotal NOAC trials. Methods: An advisory board panel was convened to confer on management strategies for challenging AF cases. The Article is derived from a summary of case presentations and the collaborative discussions at the meeting. Conclusion: This expert consensus of cardiologists aimed to def ine management strategies for challenging cases with patients who underrepresented in pivotal trials using case examples from their routine practice. Although strong evidence is lacking, exploratory subgroup analysis of phase III pivotal trials partially informs the management of these patients. Clinical trials with higher external validity are needed to clarify areas of uncertainty. The lack of clear evidence about complex AF cases has pushed clinicians to manage patients based on clinical experience, including rare situations of off-label prescriptions

Wpływ rosuwastatyny i atorwastatyny na zaburzenia erekcji u chorych z hipercholesterolemią

Background and aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin on erectile dysfunction in hypercholesterolaemic patients.Methods: Ninety consecutive male hypercholesterolaemic patients (mean age 50.4 ± 7.9 years) who were otherwise healthy were included into the study prospectively. None of the patients had any cardiovascular risk factors except hypercholesterolaemia.The patients were divided into two groups. One group received atorvastatin while the other group was given rosuvastatin. All patients were followed for six months and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score and blood samples were re-evaluated.Results: Patients were in similar ages in both groups. There were also no statistical differences in terms of blood glucose levels, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, triglyceride and mean IIEF score in both groups at the beginning. After six months, no IIEF score changes were observed in the rosuvastatin group after the medication. However, the IIEF score was significantly lower in the atorvastatin group (p = 0.019).Conclusions: Rosuvastatin showed no effect on erectile dysfunction, while we observed increased erectile dysfunction with atorvastatin. Our study reveals that different statin types may have different effects on erectile dysfunction.Wstęp i cel: Celem niniejszej pracy była ocena wpływu atorwastatyny i rosuwastatyny na zaburzenia erekcji u chorych z hipercholesterolemią.Metody: Do badania włączono prospektywnie kolejnych pacjentów z hipercholesterolemią (średnia wieku 50,4 ± 7,9 roku), u których nie występowały inne choroby. U żadnego z pacjentów nie występowały inne czynniki ryzyka sercowo-naczyniowego poza hipercholesterolemią. Uczestników badania podzielono na dwie grupy. Osoby z jednej grupy otrzymywały atorwastatynę, a osoby z drugiej grupy — rosuwastatynę. Wszystkich chorych obserwowano przez 6 miesięcy, po czym ponownie przeprowadzono ocenę zaburzeń erekcji z użyciem skali IIEF-5 oraz analizę próbek krwi.Wyniki: Pacjenci z obu grup byli w podobnym wieku. Nie stwierdzono również statystycznych różnic między grupami pod względem wyjściowych wartości stężenia glukozy we krwi, cholesterolu całkowitego, lipoprotein frakcji LDL, lipoprotein frakcji HDL, triglicerydów i średniej punktacji w skali IIEF. Po 6 miesiącach leczenia nie zanotowano zmian w punktacji IIEF w grupie przyjmującej rosuwastatynę, natomiast w grupie stosującej atorwastatynę punktacja IIEF była istotnie niższa (p = 0,019).Wnioski: Rosuwastatyna nie miała wpływu na zaburzenia erekcji, natomiast atorwastatyna spowodowała nasilenie tych zaburzeń. W badaniu wykazano, że różne rodzaje statyn mogą odmiennie wpływać na zaburzenia erekcji

Troponin and anti-troponin autoantibody levels in patients with ventricular noncompaction.

Ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction is a morphologic and functional anomaly of myocardium characterized by prominent trabeculae accompanied by deep recessus. Dilated cardiomyopathy with left ventricular failure is observed in these patients, while the cause or pathophysiologic nature of this complication is not known. Anti-troponin antibodies are formed against circulating cardiac troponins after an acute coronary event or conditions associated with chronic myocyte necrosis, such as dilated cardiomyopathy. In present study, we aimed to investigate cardiac troponins and anti troponin autoantibodies in ventricular noncompaction/hypertrabeculation patients with/without reduced ejection fraction. A total of 50 patients with ventricular noncompaction and 23 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Noncompaction/hypertrabeculation was diagnosed with two-dimensional echocardiography using appropriate criteria. Depending on ejection fraction, patients were grouped into noncompaction with preserved EF (LVEF >50%, n = 24) and noncompaction with reduced EF (LVEF <35%, n = 26) groups. Troponin I, troponin T, anti-troponin I IgM and anti-troponin T IgM were measured with sandwich immunoassay method using a commercially available kit. Patients with noncompaction had significantly higher troponin I (28.98±9.21 ng/ml in NCNE group and 28.11±10.42 ng/ml in NCLE group), troponin T (22.17±6.97 pg/ml in NCNE group and 22.78±7.76 pg/ml in NCLE group) and antitroponin I IgM (1.92±0.43 µg/ml in NCNE group and 1.79±0.36 µg/ml in NCLE group) levels compared to control group, while antitroponin T IgM and IgG were only elevated in patients with noncompaction and reduced EF (15.81±6.52 µg/ml for IgM and 16.46±6.25 µg/ml for IgG). Elevated cardiac troponins and anti-troponin I autoantibodies were observed in patients with noncompaction preceding the decline in systolic function and could indicate ongoing myocardial damage in these patients

Endothelial dysfunction in patients with acromegaly and It & rsquo;s association with Endocan

Objective: This study aims to assess endocan levels in patients with acromegaly who have active disease or disease in remission and to investigate a relation between endocan levels and endothelial dysfunction in these patients. Design: The study is a case-control study. Study was conducted at Istanbul Medeniyet University Goztepe Training and Research Hospital between 2013 and 2019. Patients who were older than 18 years with acromegaly diagnosis were recruited if they agreed to participate. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes (DM), hypertension (HT), hyperlipidemia, decompensated heart failure, immune or infectious diseases, moderate-severe valve disease and stage 3 or more advanced chronic kidney disease were excluded. There were 30 healthy control subjects who agreed to participate to the study. Patients with acromegaly were divided into two groups as: disease active patients and patients in remission. Serum endocan levels were measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method endothelial function was assessed with flow mediated dilatation (FMD). Results: There were 85 patients included to the study. Twenty-three patients had active disease, 31 were in remission and 31 were healthy controls. FMD was higher in controls compared to patients in active disease and patients in remission (p < 0.001). There was no difference between patients with active disease for FMD and patients in remission (p = 0.088). There was statistically significant correlation between FMD and endocan and insulin like growth hormone-1 (IGF-1) levels of patients with acromegaly. As FMD increased endocan and IGF-1 decreased. A moderate negative relation between FMD and endocan was identified (p < 0.001, r:-0.409) as well as FMD and IGF-1 levels (p:0.011, r:-0.377). Along with endocan and IGF-1, DM, HT, sex, body mass index, age and uric acid were associated with changes in FMD. Conclusions: Endocan levels and endothelial function measured with FMD have an inverse relationship. Endocan may prove to be a marker for endothelial dysfunction in acromegaly

Boxplot diagrams showing troponin I, anti-troponin I IgM, troponin T and antitroponin T IgM levels in study groups.

<p>Troponin I (<b>A</b>), antitroponin I IgM (<b>B</b>) and troponin T (<b>C</b>) measurements were elevated in both NC/HT groups compared to controls, while antitroponin T IgM (<b>D</b>) levels were only elevated in subgroup of patients with reduced ejection fraction.</p

Scatter plot diagrams showing relationship between ejection fraction and antitroponin I IgM, antitroponin T IgM and antitroponin T IgG in noncompaction patients.

<p>Correlations for antitroponin I IgM (<b>A</b>), antitroponin T IgM (<b>B</b>) and antitroponin T IgG (<b>C</b>) did not reach statistical significance and had low correlation coefficients. Note that antitroponin T IgM levels were similar to antitroponin T IgG levels (in panels <b>B</b> and <b>C</b>).</p

Demographic and clinical variables regarding to study groups.

<p>Data is given ± SD for scalar variables. ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker. Provided p value refers to significance level for comparisons between all groups.</p>*<p>Significantly higher compared to lowest values.</p>**<p>Significantly higher compared to all groups.</p