Search

Diastolic dysfunction is the decreased flexibility of the left ventricle due to the impaired ability of the myocardium to relax and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of heart failure. Lipid metabolism is a well-known contributor to cardiac conditions, including ventricular function. In this article, we aimed to review the literature addressing the connections between lipids, their storage, and metabolism with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.We searched Google scholar, Pubmed, Embase and Researchgate for our keywords: "Diastolic function", "Fat" and "Lipid profile". Initially, 250 articles were selected by title and 84 of them were chosen as most relevant and directly reviewed.Alterations of lipid metabolism in cardiac muscle and cardiac lipid content can occur in many conditions, including consumption of a high-fat diet, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). These conditions induce alterations in myocardial lipid metabolism, increase myocardial fat content and epicardial fat thickness and increase inflammation and oxidative stress which ultimately lead to cardiac lipotoxicity and diastolic dysfunction. The effects of lipids on diastolic function can differ based on gender. Lipid profile and metabolism are as important in the pathogenesis of diastolic dysfunction as they are in other cardiovascular disorders. A more careful look at cardiac lipid metabolism in molecular, histological and gross levels results in more precise understanding of its role in myocardial function and leads to development of potential treatments for diastolic dysfunction.

Background: In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between kidney patients’ COVID-19 status and their symptoms, laboratory values, and ICU admission status. We also evaluated the association between COVID-19-positive kidney patients’ age, gender, smoking status, history of underlying diseases and urea and creatinine levels, and their ICU admission status and mortality. Finally, we analyzed the differences in laboratory values in kidney patients with and without a history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 253 patients with a history of kidney disease were included. COVID-19 was diagnosed by positive RT-qPCR. Symptoms, laboratory findings, and outcomes were extracted from the patients’ records and statistically investigated. Results: Fever, chills, myalgia, arthralgia, cough, anorexia, nausea, fatigue, headache, mental status deterioration, and smoking were more common in COVID-19-positive kidney patients compared to COVID-19-negative ones. White blood cells (WBC), platelets, and urea were lower and hemoglobin and hematocrit were higher in the former group. WBC, urea, and blood sugar (BS) levels were higher in kidney patients with a history of cardiovascular disease compared to kidney patients without such a history. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) was lower in the former group. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were lower in diabetic kidney patients compared to non-diabetic kidney patients. BS, triglycerides, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were higher in the former group. History of underlying diseases and abnormal creatinine was associated with increased ICU admission and age ≥ 50, male gender and abnormal creatinine were associated with increased mortality in COVID-19-positive kidney patients. Conclusions: Smoking cessation should be encouraged in kidney patients. Fever, chills, myalgia, arthralgia, cough, anorexia, nausea, fatigue, headache, and mental status deterioration in kidney patients can indicate COVID-19 infection. Monitoring WBC and platelet counts in COVID-19-positive kidney patients, WBC, urea, and BS in kidney patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, and ESR, triglycerides, and hemoglobin in diabetic kidney patients can prove beneficial in their management. Age, gender, history of underlying diseases, and creatinine levels can be important prognostic markers in COVID-19-positive kidney patients.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) pose a serious threat to people's health, with extremely high global morbidity, mortality, and disability rates. This study aimed to review the literature that examined the relationship between blood groups and CVD. Many studies have reported that non-O blood groups are associated with an increased risk and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Non-O blood groups increase the risk and severity of these conditions by increasing von-Willebrand factor (VWF) and plasma cholesterol levels and inducing endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. They have also been linked with increased coronary artery calcification, coronary lesion complexity, and poor collateral circulation. Blood groups also affect the prognosis of CAD and ACS and can alter the rate of complications and mortality. Several cardiovascular complications have been described for COVID-19, and blood groups can influence their occurrence. No studies have found a significant relationship between the Lewis blood group and CVD. In conclusion, people with non-O blood groups should be vigilantly monitored for cardiovascular risk factors as prevention and proper treatment of these risk factors may mitigate their risk of CVD and adverse cardiovascular events.

Plantago major (P. major) has traditionally been used in Iranian Persian medicine to treat gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding.This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the leaf and seed extracts of P. major in rats with acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis (UC).To this end, 49 rats were randomly divided into seven groups. UC was induced in all groups but the control (vehicle) group using a single intra-rectal administration of 2 ml of 4% acetic acid. Other groups received daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of the seed extract of P. major (400 mg/kg and 700 mg/kg), the leaf extract of P. major (400 mg/kg and 700 mg/kg), and sulfasalazine (400 mg/kg) for seven consecutive days, respectively. The rats' rectum was surgically removed and evaluated for macroscopic and microscopic damage. The tissue levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were measured using the ELISA method.The high-dose leaf extract significantly decreased ulcer index and histopathologic damage as well as the tissue levels of IL-6, TNF-α, PGE2, IL-1β, MPO, and MDA compared to the damage group. The low-dose leaf extract also significantly reduced the levels of some markers. The seed extract in the two used doses caused a modest decrease in the histopathological damages and ulcer index.P. major leaf extract effectively reduces inflammation and mucosal damage in rats with UC, especially when administered in high doses. P. major seed extract has minimal protective effects on UC.