Prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiovascular procedures : a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Interventional diagnostic and therapeutic procedures requiring intravascular iodinated contrast steadily increase patient exposure to the risks of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI), which is associated with death, nonfatal cardiovascular events, and prolonged hospitalization. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for CIAKI prevention in patients undergoing cardiovascular invasive procedures with iodinated contrast.METHODS AND FINDINGS: MEDLINE, Google Scholar, EMBASE and Cochrane databases as well as abstracts and presentations from major cardiovascular and nephrology meetings were searched, up to 22 April 2016. Eligible studies were randomized trials comparing strategies to prevent CIAKI (alone or in combination) when added to saline versus each other, saline, placebo, or no treatment in patients undergoing cardiovascular invasive procedures with administration of iodinated contrast. Two reviewers independently extracted trial-level data including number of patients, duration of follow-up, and outcomes. Eighteen strategies aimed at CIAKI prevention were identified. The primary outcome was the occurrence of CIAKI. Secondary outcomes were mortality, myocardial infarction, dialysis and heart failure. The data were pooled using network meta-analysis. Treatment estimates were calculated as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% credible intervals (CrI). 147 RCTs involving 33,463 patients were eligible. Saline plus N-acetylcysteine (OR 0.72, 95%CrI 0.57-0.88), ascorbic acid (0.59, 0.34-0.95), sodium bicarbonate plus N-acetylcysteine (0.59, 0.36-0.89), probucol (0.42, 0.15-0.91), methylxanthines (0.39, 0.20-0.66), statin (0.36, 0.21-0.59), device-guided matched hydration (0.35, 0.12-0.79), prostaglandins (0.26, 0.08-0.62) and trimetazidine (0.26, 0.09-0.59) were associated with lower odds of CIAKI compared to saline. Methylxanthines (0.12, 0.01-0.94) or left ventricular end-diastolic pressure-guided hydration (0.09, 0.01-0.59) were associated with lower mortality compared to saline.CONCLUSIONS: Currently recommended treatment with saline as the only measure to prevent CIAKI during cardiovascular procedures may not represent the optimal strategy. Vasodilators, when added to saline, may significantly reduce the odds of CIAKI following cardiovascular procedures

Standardization of antioxidant activity test method FRAP and the identification of antioxidant activity different types of cabbage and onion.

Wykonano kalibrację metody FRAP oznaczania aktywności antyoksydacyjnej. Sporządzono krzywe kalibracyjne i scharakteryzowano substancje będące równoważnikami.Omówiono także mechanizm działania metody FRAP oraz przeciwutleniaczy. Ponadto w pracy zbadano właściwości przeciwutleniające warzyw z rodzajów Allium oraz Brassica metodą FRAP. Stwierdzono, że wszystkie badane warzywa wykazują własności antyoksydacyjne. Wyniki przedstawiono w sposób ilościowy zgodnie z wcześniejszą kalibracją, co umożliwia porównanie z danymi literaturowymi.FRAP method of determination antioxidant power was calibrated. Calibration curves were prepared for assay of antioxidant activity and substances which are antioxidants equivalents were characterized. Moreover mechanism of FRAP method and antioxidants activity was discussed. In addition, antioxidant properties of the genus Allium and Brassica vegetables were measured using FRAP method. It was found that all tested vegetables have antioxidant properties. The results are shown in a quantitative manner in accordance with the previous calibration. It allows compare them with literature data

Examination of thermostability of Allium and Brassica plant juices in terms of urease inhibition and antioxidant processes.

W pracy zbadano zawartość tiosulfinianów w warzywach rodzaju Allium oraz Brassica.Zmierzono stopień inhibicji ureazy przez surowe soki roślin rodzaju Allium oraz Brassica. Zbadano również właściwości antyoksydacyjne badanych roślin. Scharakteryzowano antyoksydanty oraz tiosulfiniany obecne w badanych próbkach. Określono zależności pomiędzy zawartością tiosulfinianów a stopniem inhibicji ureazy oraz między zawartością tiosulfinianów a aktywnością antyoksydacyjną. Zbadano również wpływ temperatury obróbki termicznej soków na ich właściwości antyoksydacyjne oraz zdolność do inhibicji ureazy. Opisano bakterię Helicobacter pylori oraz enzym ureazę. Bliżej scharakteryzowano rośliny rodzaju Allium oraz Brassica.At work the contents of the thiosulfinates in Allium and Brassica vegetables of wasexamined. The degree of inhibition of urease by raw juices of the plants was also measure. It was also examined antioxidant properties of tested plants. Antioxidans and thiosulfinates presented in the tested samples were also characterized. The relationship between the content of thiosulfinates and the degree of inhibition of urease and between thiosulfinates content and antioxidant activity were determined. It was also examined the influence of temperature treatment on the juices antioxidant properties and the ability to inhibit the urease. Helicobacter pylori bacterium and the enzyme urease were described. The plants of Allium and Brassica were closer characterised

Twój smartfon może uratować komuś życie

INTRODUCTION: Each year in Europe there are about 350 thousand deaths recorded, following sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). To reduce this number, new methods are being looked for to assist non-medical people in CPR. The objective of this contribution is to compare the efficacy of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and its compliance with the BLS algorithm in persons showing no medical background, using generally available means of support. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The conducted randomized pilot study comprised 50 volunteers with no medical background. The participants were randomized into two test groups. Group 1 – with smartphone applications, Group 2 – no support. RESULTS: The persons making use of mobile application support showed better compliance with the initial steps of the algorithm. Improved chest compression quality was also observed, in particular regarding the cHOT parameter. Statistically, the application users also proved better in evaluating the victim’s breathing. CONCLUSIONS: A smartphone application may be helpful in first aid procedures performed by people with no medical background, mainly for the common use of this type of mobile phones. It is recommended to extend the scope of knowledge of AED defibrillators.WSTĘP: Każdego roku w Europie dochodzi do około 350 tysięcy zgonów po nieskutecznej resuscytacji krążeniowo-oddechowej (RKO). Dążąc do zmniejszenia liczby zgonów, poszukuje się nowych metod wsparcia osób bez wykształcenia medycznego przy wykonywaniu RKO. Celem pracy jest porównanie skuteczności wykonania resuscytacji krążeniowo-oddechowej oraz zgodności z algorytmem BLS przez osoby bez wykształcenia medycznego, z wykorzystaniem ogólnodostępnych metod wsparcia. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Przeprowadzono pilotażowe, randomizowane badanie, do którego zrekrutowano 50 ochotników bez wykształcenia medycznego. Uczestnicy zostali zrandomizowani do dwóch grup badawczych: Grupa 1 – posiadająca aplikację na smartfone, Grupa 2 – brak wsparcia. WYNIKI: Osoby korzystające ze wsparcia w postaci aplikacji mobilnej wykazywali większą zgodność przy wykonywaniu początkowych kroków algorytmu. Stwierdzono również poprawę parametrów opisujących jakość ucisków klatki piersiowej, szczególnie parametru cHOT. Osoby korzystające z pomocy aplikacji również statystycznie lepiej oceniały oddech poszkodowanego. WNIOSKI: Aplikacja mobilna na smartfona może pomóc w udzieleniu pierwszej pomocy osobom bez wykształcenia medycznego, dzięki dużej popularności telefonów typu smartfon. Zaleca się szerzenie wiedzy na temat defibrylatorów AED

Potential Applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics for Predicting Hemolysis in Mitral Paravalvular Leaks

Paravalvular leaks (PVLs) may lead to hemolysis. In vitro shear stress forces above 300 Pa cause erythrocyte destruction. PVL channel dimensions may determine magnitude of shear stress forces that affect erythrocytes; however, this has not been tested. It remains unclear how different properties of PVL channels contribute to presence of hemolysis. A model of a left ventricle was created based on data from computer tomography with Slicer software PVLs of various shapes and sizes were introduced. Blood flow was simulated using ANSYS Fluent software. The following variables were examined: wall shear stress, shear stress in fluid, volume of PVL channel with shear stress exceeding 300 Pa, and duration of exposure of erythrocytes to shear stress values above 300 Pa. In all models, shear stress forces exceeded 300 Pa. Shear stress increased with blood flow rates and cross-sectional areas of any PVL. There was no linear relationship between cross-sectional area of a PVL and volume of a PVL channel with shear stress > 300 Pa. Blood flow through mitral PVLs is associated with shear stress above 300 Pa. Cross-sectional area of a PVL does not correlate with volume of a PVL channel with shear stress > 300 Pa and duration of exposure of erythrocytes to shear stress > 300 Pa

Innovative diagnostics and treatment nanorobotics and stem cells

This book focuses on nanorobotic agents and stem cells for biomedical applications.It is intended for researchers and clinicians interested in innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies based on nanorobots and stem cells.It presents current advances in the field of molecular machines, which could be applied to generate novel therapeutic-diagnostic systems