Plasma homocysteine and the severity of heart failure in patients with previous myocardial infarction

Background: Homocysteine is considered to be a risk factor, or an indicator of risk, for the development of cardiovascular disease. Little data is available on its significance in patients with previous myocardial infarction. The aim of our study was to assess the plasma level of homocysteine and its relationship with the severity of heart failure in patients with chronic myocardial infarction. Methods: We studied 144 patients with previous myocardial infarction. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of heart failure, as certified by clinical evidence of heart failure and by echocardiographic criteria for left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Results: Of the patients with prior myocardial infarction (144; 63.6 ± 9.6 years) included in the study, 65 had heart failure. The mean level of homocysteine was significantly higher in the heart failure group (18.9 mmol/L) than in the non-heart failure group (14.1 mmol/L; p ≤ 0.001). Our study demonstrated that there is a statistically significant correlation between homocysteine plasma levels and the severity of heart failure in patients with prior myocardial infarction. Homocysteine levels have proved to become higher with NYHA class progression. A significant cross-sectional correlation has been assessed between homocysteine and tissue Doppler echocardiography parameters. Conclusions: Increased plasma homocysteine levels independently correlate with the severity of heart failure in patients with chronic myocardial infarction. We suggest that homocysteine can be used in clinical practice as a valuable heart failure risk marker in patients with chronic myocardial infarction. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 1: 55-62

Role of pentraxin-3 in risk assessment of patients with metabolic syndrome

Background Inflammation plays a major role in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its progression. Recent studies have shown that pentraxin-3 (PTX-3), osteoprogerin (OPG), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) are key factors in MetS pathophysiology, but evidence for endorsing their clinical use is currently unclear and insufficient. Aim The study aimed to evaluate the association between the inflammatory biomarkers’ levels and the severity of MetS. Methods The study was observational, transversal, prospective, cohort, and analytical type. We enrolled 80 patients (M:F = 1, mean age = 55 ± 10.77 years) who met MetS criteria. The study protocol included: medical history, physical examination, 6-min walk test distance (6MWTD), biochemical tests, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, and carotid ultrasonography. We also performed plasmatic measurement of PTX-3, OPG, and TNF-α, in addition to standard biochemical tests. Results Subjects with severe MetS had higher values of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (p  Conclusion PTX-3 was correlated with the severity of MetS, with other inflammatory parameters and cardiovascular tests. CCA-IMT and 6MWTD are useful in differentiating between mild and severe MetS

Laser thermal ablation of multidrug-resistant bacteria using functionalized gold nanoparticles

Lucian Mocan,1,2 Flaviu A Tabaran,3 Teodora Mocan,2,4 Teodora Pop,5 Ofelia Mosteanu,5 Lucia Agoston-Coldea,6 Cristian T Matea,2 Diana Gonciar,2 Claudiu Zdrehus,1,2 Cornel Iancu1 13rd Department of General Surgery, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2Department of Nanomedicine, “Octavian Fodor” Gastroenterology Institute, 3Department of Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 4Department of Physiology, 53rd Gastroenterology Department, 6Department of Internal Medicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Abstract: The issue of multidrug resistance (MDR) has become an increasing threat to public health. One alternative strategy against MDR bacteria would be to construct therapeutic vectors capable of physically damaging these microorganisms. Gold nanoparticles hold great promise for the development of such therapeutic agents, since the nanoparticles exhibit impressive properties, of which the most important is the ability to convert light into heat. This property has scientific significance since is exploited to develop nano-photothermal vectors to destroy bacteria at a molecular level. The present paper summarizes the latest advancements in the field of nanotargeted laser hyperthermia of MDR bacteria mediated by gold nanoparticles. Keywords: bacteria, photo-thermal ablation, gold nanoparticles, antibiotic resistanc

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness and plasma homocysteine in patients with metabolic syndrome and normal coronary arteries

Background: Increased epicardial adipose tissue thickness and plasma homocysteine levels are associated with Metabolic Syndrome (MS) and coronary artery disease. The majority of patients with MS have subclinical or manifest coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between MS and plasma homocysteine levels and epicardial adipose tissue thickness in subjects without epicardial coronary artery disease. Methods: Patients who underwent coronary angiography due to angina or equivocal symptoms and/or abnormal stress test results and were found to have normal coronary arteries were evaluated for the presence of MS. The study group comprised 75 patients with normal coronary arteries and MS, and the control group included 75 age-gender matched subjects without coronary artery disease or MS. Results: Epicardial adipose tissue thickness (5.8 +/- 1.9 mm vs. 4.3 +/- 1.6 mm, p <0.001) and plasma homocysteine levels (21.6 +/- 6.1 mu mol/L vs. 15.1 +/- 5.8 mu mol/L, p <0.001) were significantly higher in the MS group. Body mass index, triglyceride level, weight, age and waist circumference were positively and HDL cholesterol level were negatively correlated with both epicardial adipose tissue thickness and plasma homocysteine level. Epicardial adipose tissue thickness had the strongest correlation with plasma homocysteine level (r = 0.584, p < 0.001). For each 1 mm increase in epicardial adipose tissue thickness, an increase of 3.51 mu mol/L (95% CI: 2.24-4.79) in plasma homocysteine level was expected. Conclusions: We observed a close relationship between MS and epicardial adipose tissue thickness and plasma homocysteine levels, even in the absence of overt coronary artery disease