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Background: Cholesterol estimation in eggs was mostly done by High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography which are tedious, expensive and time consuming methods. Thus, there is a need to determine cholesterol content by an easy spectrophotometric method which is not expensive and tedious. The present study was aimed to determine the cholesterol content in chicken eggs spectrophotometrically so as to provide better information about the nutritional quality of an egg. Methods: The experiment was conducted on 24 healthy layer birds of Dahlem Red (DR). 45 egg samples were randomly collected fresh in the morning. Total cholesterol was determined by enzymatic colorimetric method by using biochemical estimation kit (Agappe Diagnostics Ltd.). The pure yolk was separated and determined enzymatically for cholesterol estimation. The method is newly evaluated, rapid, simple and accurate. Result: The methodology designed herein can provide specific, accurate and suitable method for estimation of total cholesterol in chicken eggs. The average cholesterol content of Dahlem red was 12.59±0.09 mg/ml in egg yolk or 195.66±2.80 mg/egg yolk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of mortality in women and men with diabetes. Due to age and worsening of risk factors over the menopausal transition, risk of coronary heart disease events increases in postmenopausal women with diabetes. Randomized studies have conflicted regarding the beneficial impact of estrogen therapy upon intermediate cardiovascular disease markers and events. Therefore, estrogen therapy is not currently recommended for indications other than symptom management. However, for women at low risk of adverse events, estrogen therapy can be used to minimize menopausal symptoms. The risk of adverse events can be estimated using risk engines for the calculation of cardiovascular risk and breast cancer risk in conjunction with screening tools such as mammography. Use of estrogen therapy, statins, and anti-platelet agents can be guided by such calculators particularly for younger women with diabetes. Risk management remains focused upon lifestyle behaviors and achieving optimal levels of cardiovascular risk factors, including lipids, glucose, and blood pressure. Use of pharmacologic therapies to address these risk factors, particularly specific hypoglycemic agents, may provide some additional benefit for risk prevention. The minimal bene- fit for women with limited life expectancy and risk of complications with intensive therapy should also be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To implement the Comfort Theory, mediated by research-care, to achieve institutional integrity in the clinical practice of nurses in a coronary care unit. Methods: Care research carried out from April 2014 to January 2015 with nurses and people with coronary diseases at a public hospital in Sobral-Ceará- Brazil. Results: The care-research method facilitated the use of Comfort Theory in the practice of caring for people with coronary artery disease, through dialogues between nurse researchers and nursing assistants. It was possible to guide them in the implementation of a theory and a research method in daily care, with a view to better policies and practices for institutional integrity. Conclusion: The Theory of Comfort, in clinical nursing care directed to people with coronary diseases mediated by research-care, allows dialogues between nurse researchers and nurses in clinical practice and favors the achievement of institutional integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study was carried out to determine the common cardiovascular and congenital heart diseases that required admission and surgical intervention in a tertiary care hospital of Peshawar. Methodology: This was a retrospective study at the cardiothoracic surgery ward of Rehman Medical Institute (RMI). All the admissions over the period of 9 years from 2005 to 2014 into the cardiothoracic surgery ward were reviewed. The data acquired was put into Microsoft Excel 2013 and analyzed using pivot tables for frequencies of different procedures and diagnosis. Results: A total of 9343 patients were admitted during the 9-year period. There were 6516 (69.7%) males and 2827 (30.3%) females. The male to female ratio was 2.30:1. The ages ranged from 1 year to 99 years. Mean age was 41.32 ± 20.56 years. The highest proportion of admissions was in the 50-59 years' age group followed by 60-69 years and 40-49 years. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (4617) was the most common procedure performed. Triple Vessel Disease (37%) was the most commonly presented disease to the RMI Cardiology Unit. Conclusion: Majority of patients presented with triple vessel disease and male outnumbered female. CABG was the commonest procedure performed at RMI Cardiology Unit, Peshawar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning-based risk models built from Electronic Health Records (EHR) can support medical decision-making. However, the lack of standardization of EHR data and the "black-box" nature of the machine learning approaches have imposed difficulties to their acceptance as support tools in a clinical environment. This paper presents a method able to predict and explain the diagnostic of Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Sleep Apnea (SA) and, Coronary Arterial Disease (CAD); the proposed model is learned using EHR's structured data (commonly used screening variables) and non-structured data (textual data drawn from medical reports) of patients. An embedding scheme of variables together with a labeling approach is used to mimic the ability of an expert in categorizing the non-structured textual data. The method relies on complex models to predict such diseases combined with the SHAP approach to explaining the prediction. A comparison of prediction models with different settings of input variables has shown that the use of non-structured data improved the performances of CAD risk prediction models. Moreover, such a comparison pointed out that the patients' medical histories is an important factor that should be considered during the data-driven learning process. • Novel method for risk prediction of diseases with accurate and explainable prediction. • Embedding and weak supervision method to extract knowledge from EHR unstructured data • Empirical evidence that the join of EHR unstructured data improves the risk model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background--The results of cohort studies relating sodium (Na) intake to blood pressure-related cardiovascular disease (CVD) are inconsistent. To understand whether methodological issues account for the inconsistency, we reviewed the quality of these studies. Methods and Results--We reviewed cohort studies that examined the association between Na and CVD. We then identified methodological issues with greatest potential to alter the direction of association (reverse causality, systematic error in Na assessment), some potential to alter the direction of association (residual confounding, inadequate follow-up), and the potential to yield false null results (random error in Na assessment, insufficient power). We included 26 studies with 31 independent analyses. Of these, 13 found direct associations between Na and CVD, 8 found inverse associations, 2 found J-shaped associations, and 8 found null associations only. On average there were 3 to 4 methodological issues per study. Issues with greater potential to alter the direction of association were present in all but 1 of the 26 studies (systematic error, 22; reverse causality, 16). Issues with lesser potential to alter the direction of association were present in 18 studies, whereas those with potential to yield false null results were present in 23. Conclusions--Methodological issues may account for the inconsistent findings in currently available observational studies relating Na to CVD. Until well-designed cohort studies in the general population are available, it remains appropriate to base Na guidelines on the robust body of evidence linking Na with elevated blood pressure and the few existing general population trials of the effects of Na reduction on CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé: Le domaine de l’IRM cardiovasculaire a évolué rapidement au cours de la dernière décennie, autorisant de nouvelles applications dans un large spectre de domaines cliniques et de recherche. Les progrès technologiques en terme de champs magnétiques, et les développements clés tels que l’acquisition spiralée de l’espace K, les techniques avancées d’encodage de mouvement, l’imagerie de perfusion ultra-rapide et de l’imagerie de rehaussement tardif ont contribué à une révolution dans la façon de diagnostiquer et traiter les cardiopathies ischémiques et non ischémiques. En fait, l’IRM cardiaque est une technique largement acceptée comme le ű gold standard Ƈ pour la détection et la caractérisation de nombreuses formes de maladies cardiaques. Le but de cette revue est de présenter un aperçu de la technologie actuelle de l’IRM cardiaque, des avancées dans les applications cliniques et les orientations futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to review the complex relationship between anger / hostility and CHD, providing a theoretical and clinical description of symptoms and identifiable signs, which provide tools to improve diagnosis in the clinical practice. We begin by considering the hostility and anger in a biopsychological perspective, including considerations on aggression. Given the association between these negatives emotions, particularly with the course and prognosis of the CHD, it would be beneficial to bring medical and psychological care to detect the attacks of anger, aggression and hostility traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases represent a central challenge for our health care system because of their individual and societal consequences. The manuscript compares the current development of mortality and morbidity of coronary heart disease and stroke in Germany. Results: Coronary heart diseases are one of the leading causes of death and one of the major causes for adult disability. In Germany the average life expectancy has increased by more then 2 years per decade within recent years. The greatest contribution to the increase in life expectancy between 1980 and 2002 in Germany was attributed in previous studies to the decline in mortality rates of cardiovascular diseases; for example in Germany 134,648 persons died in 2008 from coronary heart disease (ICD-10 I20-I25) and 63,060 persons from stroke (ICD-10 I60-I64) compared to 178,759 persons and 90,241 persons in 1998, respectively. Statistical models from other countries estimated that the decrease in coronary heart disease mortality is attributed by about 40% to better treatment and by about 60% to changes in risk factors in the population. Comparable data for stroke are lacking. Conclusion: Despite the substantial knowledge on cardiovascular diseases in Germany a continuous and timely documentation of their determinants, time trends of risk factors and impact regarding mortality and morbidity is compulsory to assess the effectiveness of initiated population health measures and to identify future options for improving prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the protective effects of trimetazidine on cardiac function after coronary microembolization( CME) in rats and the mechanism. Methods Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group and trimetazidine intervention group( intervention group), 12 rats in each group. The 42 μm microspheres were injected into the left ventricle to establish the CME model in rats of the model group and intervention group, and rats in the intervention group received trimetazidine 10 mg /(kg · d) for 3 days before the operation. For rats in the control group, the same dose of normal saline was substituted for microspheres. The cardiac function was detected by echocardiography, and the expression levels of caspase-3 and caspase-8 in the myocardial tissues were detected by Western blotting at 6 h after operation. Results Compared with the control group, the left ventricular ejection fraction( LVEF), cardiac output (CO) and fraction shortening( FS) were lower, whereas the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd)was higher in the model and intervention groups (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group LVEF CO and FS were increased but LVEDd was decreased in the intervention group (all P<0.05). The levels of caspase-3 and caspase-8 in the intervention group were higher than those of the control group, but lower than those of the model group( all P<0.05). Conclusion Trimetazidine pretreatment can significantly improve the cardiac function of rats after CME by attenuating apoptosis of myocardium through inhibiting the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Coronary and heart diseases (CHD) represent one of the greatest medical problems in the developed world. To facilitate the CHD probability estimation procedure, as well as to speed up the procedure of making and issuing patient's final diagnosis, we developed the Risk estimation application (''CHD Risk''). Methods Risk estimation is based upon a multivariate analysis of statistical data by using logistic regression as a method for probability estimation. The method estimates how the final outcome is influenced by every single factor. Risk factors represent independent variables of the model, while a coronary disease risk indicator is dependent variable. Results The ''CHD Risk" was tested for three cases and showed application credibility. The system provides coronary disease risk probability estimation for the given risk factor values, as well as advice for factors whose values exceed the range of normal values. The system allows input of additional statistical data, which improves its learning properties. Conclusions Although the "CHD Risk" system can neither make final decisions nor replace the medical professionals themselves, it fulfills the aim to develop the web based tool to help the physicians to monitor their patients' health condition, as well as to suggest preventive measures and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Atherosclerosis is the underlying disease process in patients affected with coronary artery diseases (CAD). Macrophages play a major role in the development of vascular lesions in atherogenesis. The cells express Fcγ receptor type IIIa (FcγRIIIa: CD16) identical to that in natural killer cells (NK cells), but with a cell type-specific glycosylation. In contrast, neutrophils express FcγRIIIb. These FcγRIIIs are released from the cell surface on activation, and these soluble forms (sFcγRIII) are present in the plasma. We measured sFcγRIIIaMϕ in the plasma with a newly developed anti-FcγRIII mAb, MKGR14, which recognizes FcγRIIIaMϕ specifically. The level of sFcγRIIIaMϕ, as well as the level of sFcγRIIIa (sFcγRIIIaMϕ plus sFcγRIIIaNK) or the level of total sFcγRIII (sFcγRIIIa plus sFcγRIIIb), were significantly increased in patients with CAD, but not in patients with vasospastic angina (VSA) or intact coronary arteries, compared with age-matched healthy donors. The sFcγRIIIaMϕ level was related to the number of significantly affected coronary arteries, and positively correlated with LDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol ratios, but negatively with HDL-cholesterol. No correlation among the levels of three sFcγRIIIs was observed in CAD patients, as well as in healthy donors. The macrophages are activated during the process of atherosclerosis, and sFcγRIIIaMϕ may serve as a novel marker for atherosclerosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: Microdialysis allows the biochemical analysis of interstitial fluids of nearly every organ as a bedside procedure. This technique could be useful to reveal data about the myocardial metabolism during cardiopulmonary bypass in human coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.Methods: In 17 patients undergoing CABG a myocardial microdialysis catheter (CMA 70, CMA/Microdialysis AB, Sweden) was inserted in the apical region of the beating heart. Microdialysis measurements were performed at timed intervals before, during, and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The concentrations of lactate and pyruvate were analyzed semi-continuously.Results: During CPB the myocardial lactate-pyruvate-ratio (LPR) rose from an initial 11 (8-15) to 33 (29-41) ( P<0.01). After CPB the LPR decreased to 4 (3-7) at the end of observation ( P<0.05). The pyruvate concentration showed an immediate increase from 34 (30-42) microM at the end of CPB to 181 (147-234) microM after removal of the cross-clamp with subsequent increase during reperfusion ( P<0.01). Plasma lactate and pyruvate showed no essential changes during the study.Conclusion: Using the microdialysis technique it was possible to analyze myocardial metabolic changes during CABG. The course of myocardial LPR as a sensitive indicator of the myocardial redox state showed profound changes during and after CPB. We propose the microdialysis technique as an additional monitoring tool in CABG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. – To compare high intensity strength training with weightlifting exercises or with elastic bands.Setting. – Outpatient unit of cardiac rehabilitation.Type. – Prospective randomised clinical trial.Population. – Inclusion of coronary patients in phase II after medical or surgical treatment of a myocardiac infarction, without cardiac insufficiency; beta-blockers were accepted.Method. – Evaluation of coronary patients at beginning and at the end of a 4 week cardiac rehabilitation program. It included progressive aerobic training according to Karvonen method for all the patients, associated with weightlifting exercises (Koch press) in the control group, or use of elastic bands in the experimental group. Cardiac rate, oxygen consumption at rest and at maximum power were the main criteria with also muscle strength of quadriceps, harmstrings, biceps brachii, latissimus dorsi and triceps brachii, body mass indexes, quality of life with SF-36, anxiety (stay T test) and perceived exertion with the Borg 10-point category-ratio scale, myotendinous injuries (Shaw scale).Results. – Twenty-six coronary patients, all male from 45 to 65 years old, all receiving beta-blockers, were included, 13 in each group. Control and experimental groups were initially similar. At the end of the 4 week program, all the two groups improved significantly their strength and power and there were no differences between the two groups. Perceived exertion was lower in the group using elastic bands and there were no myotendinous lesions.Conclusion. – Strength training with elastic bands is a low-cost, attractive, playful technique, proposed to a group of coronary patients, which appears as effective in cardiac rehabilitation as individual weightlifting training. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The results of prospective studies on the relations between the plasma concentration of total homocysteine (tHcy) and B-vitamins, on the one hand, and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality, on the other hand, are inconclusive and scarce considering the relation with B-vitamins. We prospectively determined these relations in a case-cohort study. The full-cohort existed in ∼36,000 Dutch adults aged 20–59 years at baseline. The statistical analyses were done with a random sample from the cohort (n=630) complemented with all subjects who died of CHD (n=102) during a mean follow-up of 10.3 years. All subjects reported the absence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) at baseline. The plasma concentrations of tHcy, folate, PLP, and vitamin B12 were determined in samples obtained at baseline. Men with a tHcy concentration in the highest tertile (T3) compared with men in the lowest tertile (T1) had a relative risk (RR) of 1.14 for CHD (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50, 2.61) after adjusting for age, study center, hypertension, HDL and total cholesterol, smoking, and creatinine. For women, this RR was 2.04 (95% CI: 0.48, 8.62). For each 5 μmol/l increase in tHcy, the RR of CHD was 1.03 (95% CI: 0.83–1.29) for men and women combined. In women only, high folate levels were associated with a statistically significant protection of fatal CHD (T3 versus T1; RR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.87). Plasma PLP (B6) and vitamin B12 concentrations were not associated with CHD risk. We conclude that elevated tHcy concentrations do not seem to be a risk factor for CHD mortality in these relatively young healthy Dutch subjects free of baseline CVD. Higher folate concentrations may be protective of CHD, but this needs confirmation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Celiac disease, coronary artery diseases and macular degeneration are diseases with common classification in inflamation, hence their disease modules overlap. The aim of this review is to explore the evidence about the association among celiac disease (CD), cardiovascular (CV) diseases, and macular degeneration (MD). Material and methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed for the association among CD, CV and MD. Results: Published studies on the link between cardiovascular conditions and CD began in the late 1960's, consisting of a few studies each year, and was followed by a substantial increase beginning about the year 2000. Many of the published studies are either articles (including cohort and case control studies) or case studies. Cardiomyopathy, thrombosis, thromboembolism, ischemic heart disease, stroke, and arrhythmia are the most frequently documented cardiovascular condition observed in conjunction with CD, and seems to mostly or completely resolve with appropriate treatment, including a gluten-free diet. An association has been reported between celiac disease and ophthalmic manifestations. Studies have shown the role of nutritionists in the recommendations of dietary supplements such as vitamin C (500 mg), vitamin E (400 IU), zinc (80 mg), copper (2 mg), lutein (10 mg), zeaxanthin (2 mg), omega-3 fatty acids (1g) and Gluten-Digesting Enzymes supplements. Conclusions: Celiac disease has intestinal and extra-intestinal manifestations, caused by immune alterations or by nutrient malabsorption. An increasing number of theoretical studies have modelled diseases on dynamic networks describing the disease network between CD, CV and MD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the need for angioplasty or stenting procedure depending on measurement of Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) in patient suffering from Coronary Artery with Serial Stenoses. Topics discussed include need of Fractional Flow Reserve to decide whether angioplasty or stenting procedure needs to be performed on patient or not and use of vessel phantom, made of silicone in the experiment.

The article discusses an anisotropic elasticity-palpography technique (E-PT) used in detecting and characterizing coronary atherosclerotic plaque. Topics include the measuring of strain through intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) sequences, application of anisotropic E-PT to patients' coronary lesions, and the use of finite element (FE) method for generating radial strain fields and intraplaque displacement.

The article discusses a study conducted to find an intravascular ultrasound anisotropic elasticity-palpography technique for in vivo coronary atherosclerotic plaque detection and characterization. It further discusses proposed improved anisotropic elasticity-palpography imaging technique for analyzing evolution of the anisotropic mechanical properties of atherosclerotic plaques.

The article discusses hemodynamic study of coronary artery with serial stenoses. It discusses the need of measuring Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) for an interventional cardiologist to decide requirement of angioplasty or stenting procedure. It also discusses highlight the existing relationships between the FFR amplitudes and geometrical parameter.

The article presents a study which examines the theoretical framework of the pressure-strain palpography technique (P-SPT). The study simulates strain elastogram to test Young's modulus and plaque geometry palpography reconstruction method. Results show that through palpography, the composition of the endoluminal plaque region and the morphology of plaque were described.

The article presents a study which aims to investigate the performance and robustness of the imaging modulography approach (IMOD). It mentions that the cause of thrombosis, occlusion and acute coronary syndrome is the result of atherosclerotic plaque that requires a precise estimation of the mechanical properties of plaque components. The study reveals that a clinical intravascular ultrasound acquisition system helps in detecting complex vulnerable plagues.

An interesting aspect of infection with several infectious agents is the possible association with some diseases apparently not associated with infections. One of the most exciting examples of this is the association of cardiovascular diseases with infection involving several different infectious agents. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the chief candidates that have been studied. Several epidemiologic reports indicate a possible association of various forms of vascular disease with the presence and titer of viral antibodies. Other studies show the presence of virus, viral antigens or nucleic acid in atherosclerotic lesions. Studies in animal models and cell-culture studies present attractive mechanisms by which the virus may play a role in the etiology of these diseases. However, negative results have also been reported, and more research is needed before the final verdict on this exciting question is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]