Relationship Between Serum Ferritin Levels, Arterial Hypertension and Shift Work in Women. A Cross-sectional Analysis

Introduction: The aim of this study was to use cross-sectional research to determine the relationship between serum ferritin levels and arterial hypertension in women who work in shifts and women with regular daytime working hours. Methods: The respondents included 67 female nurses divided into two groups: nurses working in 12-hour shifts (7 am to 7 pm/7 pm to 7 am) were the test group, while nurses regularly working for 8 hours (7 am to 3 pm) were the control group. Data collection included information on associated diseases, chronic medication, last menstruation, duration of menopause, cigarette smoking, number of years of employment in shift work and regular daytime work, laboratory and anthropometric parameters and blood pressure levels. Results: In all respondents, there was a significant and positive relationship between ferritin and CRP levels, i.e. the higher the CRP levels, the higher the ferritin levels (Rho = 0.401; P = 0.001). Among respondents who have regular daytime working hours, there was no significant association between ferritin and other indicators, while in the group of those who work in shifts, there was a significant and positive association between ferritin and CRP (Rho = 0.468; P = 0.002). Finally, a positive correlation was found between the number of years of employment in shift work and systolic blood pressure levels, i.e. higher systolic pressure was observed in those respondents who worked longer in shifts (Rho = 0.424, P = 0.03). Conclusion: The study demonstrated a significant correlation between the number of years of employment in shift work and systolic blood pressure. A positive correlation between serum CRP and ferritin levels was also observed in all respondents, and especially in shift workers

Cardiovascular Disease C Continuum – Peripheral Artery Disease Versus Coronary Heart Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an occlusive disease of extremities, which used to be diagnosed and treated as an isolated disease of the limbs or other parts of the body. Nowadays, the role of PAD transcends the affected limb; instead, the cardiovascular system must be observed as a whole, with PAD having a prognostic role. About 200 million people are affected by PAD worldwide. The prevalence of PAD is likely to increase steadily in the future due to the global aging of the population and the predominantly sedentary lifestyle, along with the expected universal increase in the major PAD risk factors such as smoking habit, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Patients with PAD are at a higher risk of coronary disease and cardiovascular events in comparison to healthy control subjects. The severity of PAD correlates with the development and complications of cardiovascular disease. In PAD patients, percutaneous coronary intervention is more demanding, associated with more comorbidities, more complex lesions, and poorer procedural success as compared with PAD-free patients. For a year now, the use of antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid in combination with low (vascular) dose of a direct oral anticoagulant has been recommended for cardiovascular and lower limb protection in PAD patients. In the future, we expect a better understanding of atherosclerotic disease, stronger modulation of systemic inflammation, and the discovery of new therapies. In the meantime, it is necessary to identify the risk population and aggressively treat the classic factors – control of blood pressure, glycemia and lipids with antiplatelet and new anticoagulant therapy. The goal is to protect the limb and preserve the cardiovascular continuum. The negative consequences of COVID-19 on treatment CVD will be estimated in the following years

The Correlation between Iron Deficiency and Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis: A Literature Review

Aphthous lesions of the oral mucosa are a very common symptom and can be seen in both family medicine practice, dental medicine practice, and dermatology or otorhinolaryngology clinics. Some patients develop a chronic recurrent condition, which is clinically known as recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). These ulcers are round, clearly defined, and can be visible on the movable part of the oral mucosa, with variations in size. A prodromal symptom like the burning or stinging sensation can precede the appearance of lesions. The main reason why patients seek medical help is oropharyngeal pain with lack of appetite. The exact etiopathogenesis of RAS remains unknown. Immune disorders, nutritional deficiencies, allergies, mechanical injuries, and even psychological disorders are being studied as potential causes of this condition. Some authors claim that iron deficiency may be a possible causative factor of RAS due to its role in DNA synthesis, mitochondrial function, and enzymatic activity. In iron deficiency, epithelial cells turn over more rapidly and produce an immature or atrophic mucosa. Such mucosa is vulnerable and can be a fertile soil for chronic inflammation and development of aphthae. Finally, our goals were to describe the clinical aspects and etiology of RAS, as well as to determine whether RAS may be related to iron deficiency, in order to identify potential patients with iron deficiency in everyday work