Improved arterial stiffness in mitral stenosis after successful percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty

Background: Rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) is still a common disease in developing countries with high morbidity and mortality rates. The purpose of the study was to evaluate arterial stiffness in severe MS before and after percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV). Methods: Thirty patients with MS in sinus rhythm requiring PMBV and 20 age-gender matched healthy volunteers. The analyze of pulse wave velocities (PWV) were performed using of the carotid artery at the femoral by PWV technique on patients at baseline and a week after PMBV. Results: The values of PWV were significantly decreased after successful PMBW in MS patients. Mitral mean gradients and systolic pulmonary artery pressures (sPAP) both on echocardiography and catheterization also had a significant decrease after PMBW. The mitral valve areas were significantly increased after PMBW. There was a highly significant negative correlation between mitral valve areas and PWV values. A highly significant positive correlation was seen between mitral mean gradient on catheterization and PWV (r = 0.830, p < 0.001). There was also a significant correlation between sPAP on catheterization and PWV values (r = 0.639, p < 0.001). Echocardiographic mitral mean gradients and PWV were highly positive correlated with each other (r = 0.841, p < 0.001). The sPAP on echocardiography had also a highly positive correlation with PWV (r = 0.681, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Mitral stenosis is a cause of impaired arterial stiffness and after the enlargened mitral valve area arterial stiffness improved in patients with MS

Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Interact and Interfere with SARS‐CoV‐2 Surface Proteins and Cell Receptors to Inhibit Infectivity

From Wiley via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2021-03-13, pub-electronic 2021-05-14Article version: VoRPublication status: PublishedFunder: University of PaduaFunder: UKRI EPSRC; Grant(s): EP/P00119X/1Funder: Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA)Funder: Scientific and Technology Council of Turkey; Grant(s): 18AG020Funder: Türkiye Bilimler Akademisi; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004412; Grant(s): GEBIP 2018Funder: Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştirma Kurumu; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004410; Grant(s): 18AG020Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000266; Grant(s): EP/P00119X/1Abstract: Nanotechnology can offer a number of options against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) acting both extracellularly and intracellularly to the host cells. Here, the aim is to explore graphene oxide (GO), the most studied 2D nanomaterial in biomedical applications, as a nanoscale platform for interaction with SARS‐CoV‐2. Molecular docking analyses of GO sheets on interaction with three different structures: SARS‐CoV‐2 viral spike (open state – 6VYB or closed state – 6VXX), ACE2 (1R42), and the ACE2‐bound spike complex (6M0J) are performed. GO shows high affinity for the surface of all three structures (6M0J, 6VYB and 6VXX). When binding affinities and involved bonding types are compared, GO interacts more strongly with the spike or ACE2, compared to 6M0J. Infection experiments using infectious viral particles from four different clades as classified by Global Initiative on Sharing all Influenza Data (GISAID), are performed for validation purposes. Thin, biological‐grade GO nanoscale (few hundred nanometers in lateral dimension) sheets are able to significantly reduce copies for three different viral clades. This data has demonstrated that GO sheets have the capacity to interact with SARS‐CoV‐2 surface components and disrupt infectivity even in the presence of any mutations on the viral spike. GO nanosheets are proposed to be further explored as a nanoscale platform for development of antiviral strategies against COVID‐19

Controversy and consensus on the management of elevated sperm DNA fragmentation in male infertility: A global survey, current guidelines, and expert recommendations

Purpose Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) has been associated with male infertility and poor outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The purpose of this study was to investigate global practices related to the management of elevated SDF in infertile men, summarize the relevant professional society recommendations, and provide expert recommendations for managing this condition. Materials and Methods An online global survey on clinical practices related to SDF was disseminated to reproductive clinicians, according to the CHERRIES checklist criteria. Management protocols for various conditions associated with SDF were captured and compared to the relevant recommendations in professional society guidelines and the appropriate available evidence. Expert recommendations and consensus on the management of infertile men with elevated SDF were then formulated and adapted using the Delphi method. Results A total of 436 experts from 55 different countries submitted responses. As an initial approach, 79.1% of reproductive experts recommend lifestyle modifications for infertile men with elevated SDF, and 76.9% prescribe empiric antioxidants. Regarding antioxidant duration, 39.3% recommend 4–6 months and 38.1% recommend 3 months. For men with unexplained or idiopathic infertility, and couples experiencing recurrent miscarriages associated with elevated SDF, most respondents refer to ART 6 months after failure of conservative and empiric medical management. Infertile men with clinical varicocele, normal conventional semen parameters, and elevated SDF are offered varicocele repair immediately after diagnosis by 31.4%, and after failure of antioxidants and conservative measures by 40.9%. Sperm selection techniques and testicular sperm extraction are also management options for couples undergoing ART. For most questions, heterogenous practices were demonstrated. Conclusions This paper presents the results of a large global survey on the management of infertile men with elevated SDF and reveals a lack of consensus among clinicians. Furthermore, it demonstrates the scarcity of professional society guidelines in this regard and attempts to highlight the relevant evidence. Expert recommendations are proposed to help guide clinicians

The effect of exercises on left ventricular systolic and diastolic heart function in sedentary women: Step-aerobic vs core exercises

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of 16 weeks step-aerobic exercises and core exercises on left ventricular structure and function with some physiological parameters in sedentary women. Methods: To achieve the purpose of this study, a total of 45 volunteers including (step-aerobic group (SAG, n = 25), core exercise group (CEG, n = 20) were selected as participants. Two different exercises were applied for 4 days a week, throughout 16 weeks, within 60 minutes for each exercise with the intensity of heart rate (HR) 60-70 percent. The HR was measured using a heart rate monitor for each subject. The physical, biochemical and echocardiographic characteristics of the women were measured before and after the exercise. Results: During the exercise periods, there were a meaningful decrease in the body weight, BMI, value of waist region and hip circumference of the women in both intervention groups as well as in the values of HR, DBP, SBP (p < 0,05). In addition, serum homocysteine (Hcy) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) levels decreased and the VO2max and left ventricular diastolic end-diastolic dimension increased in both SAG and CEG (p < 0.05). The left ventricular diastolic functions of the SAG improved more than CEG. Left ventricular systolic ejection time and fractional shortening meaningfully improved in both SAG and CEG (p < 0.01). Conclusion: 16 weeks of step-aerobic and core exercise showed significant changes of inflammatory and lipid markers with cardiac dimensions and had favorable effects on both left ventricular systolic function. Left ventricular diastolic function had more improved in SAG than the CEG

Comparison of a New Test For Agility and Skill in Soccer With Other Agility Tests

WOS: 000307029000015PubMed: 23486732The purpose of this study was both to develop a novel test to measure run, shuttle run and directional change agility, and soccer shots on goal with decision making and to compare it with other agility tests. Multiple comparisons and assessments were conducted, including test-retest, Illinois, Zig-Zag, 30 m, Bosco, T-drill agility, and Wingate peak power tests. A total of 113 Turkish amateur and professional soccer players and tertiary-level students participated in the study. Test-retest and inter-tester reliability testing measures were conducted with athletes. The correlation coefficient of the new test was .88, with no significant difference (p> 0.01> 0.01) between the test results obtained in the first and second test sessions. The results of an analysis of variance revealed a significant (p < 0.01) difference between the T-drill agility and power test results for soccer players. The new agility and skill test is an acceptable and reliable test when considering test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability. The findings in this study suggest that the novel soccer-specific agility and shooting test can be utilized in the testing and identification of soccer players' talents

Renal Effects of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients: A Study with Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Serum Cystatin C

Background/Aims: Cardiac surgery and diabetes are major causes of acute kidney injury (AKI). We aimed to investigate the value of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and serum cystatin C, as early biomarkers for prediction of AKI in diabetic and non-diabetic adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: 15 non-diabetic and 15 diabetic adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery were enrolled. Peri-operative clinical and laboratory variables were recorded. Urinary NGAL, serum cystatin C, serum creatinine (Cre) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were evaluated. Results: AKI was detected in 4 patients in non-diabetic group and 12 patients in diabetic group. Urinary NGAL levels of diabetic and non-diabetic patients and serum cystatin C levels of diabetic patients exceed upper normal limits or cutoff values much earlier than BUN and Cre. cystatin C levels of non-diabetic patients remain unchanged. Cystatin C and NGAL levels of patients meeting AKI criteria and NGAL levels of patients not meeting AKI criteria exceeded upper normal limits or cut off values much earlier in than BUN and Cre. Conclusions: Measurement of cystatin C level in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients may reveal AKI earlier than NGAL and BUN. In diabetic patients, measurement of urinary NGAL and serum cystatin C levels may indicate AKI signs earlier than BUN and Cre