Search

Introduction: Atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the major causes of mortality worldwide. The available reports regarding the effects of selenium (Se) supplementation in the realm of atherosclerosis have been equivocal. The present investigation is aimed to assess the effects of sodium selenite and Se-enriched yeast supplementation on metabolic parameters among atherosclerotic patients. Methods: In this double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, 60 patients diagnosed with atherosclerosis were randomly allocated into either 200 µg/day selenite, yeast, or placebo groups for eight consecutive weeks. Serum levels of lipid profile and glycemic indices were measured at the baseline and end of the intervention. Results: There were no significant within-or between-group changes in levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), fasting blood sugar, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for IR throughout the study (P≥0.05). Only the low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels were significantly lower in the yeast group in comparison with the placebo group (P = 0.015). Conclusion: The administration of Se-enriched yeast is significantly effective in decreasing LDL-c levels in patients with atherosclerosis. Additional clinical trial studies investigating the effect of Se administration on glucose homeostasis parameters and lipid profiles in atherosclerotic patients are suggested for a more definitive conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: According to cardiologists' experiences, there is possibly a relationship between clinical symptoms and the type of coronary artery involvement in patients with the acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Given the significance of the issue, the present study was conducted to explore the relationship between clinical symptoms and the type of coronary artery involvement in ACS patients. Materials and Methods: In general, 720 ACS patients hospitalized in Shahid Madani hospital of Tabriz were enrolled in this descriptive, cross-sectional study from August 2011 to February 2012. Participants were selected by means of convenience sampling and according to inclusion criteria. Data collection tools were a demographic questionnaire and ACS indices. The results were analyzed using SPSS16 and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The findings showed that following the diagnoses through coronary artery angiography, 289 (40.1%), 201 (27.9%), 227 (31.5%), and 18 (2.5%) patients had single-vessel disease, two-vessel disease, three-vessel disease, and the left main disease, respectively. A total of 416 patients (57.8%) suffered from left anterior descending (LAD) disease while involvement rates were 142 (19.7%), 208 (28.9%), 8 (1.1%), 73 (10.1%), 17 (2.4%), and 21 (2.9%) patients for patent ductus arteriosus, obtuse marginal artery 2, obtuse marginal artery 1, diagonal 2, diagonal 1, right coronary artery (RCA), and left circumflex (LCX), respectively. Conclusions: Based on pathological findings, retrosternal pain was the most common symptom to all coronary occlusions regarding ACS symptoms. LAD, as the most involved vessel, had varying manifestations. Finally, referred pain to teeth was only observed in RCA involvement. The results can be helpful for timely and accurate diagnosis of cardiac patients who refer to emergency rooms and thus reduce the mortality rate by taking appropriate therapeutic measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of hospital admission and the main reason for mortality in the world, which are triggered by both genetic and environmental factors. In addition, minerals and trace elements have long been considered potential risk factors for CVD among which calcium and magnesium may play a significant role. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess the relationship between coronary atherosclerotic diseases and hardness of drinking-water in the residence of patients admitted to Shahid Madani hospital in Tabriz. Materials and Methods: The population of the study included 780 patients undergoing coronary angiography out of whom 547 cases were entered into this case-control study. The subjects were then divided into 5 groups based on the severity of coronary artery involvement: with the least or no involvement (control group), one artery involved (group 1), 2 arteries involved (group 2), 3 arteries involved (group 3), and severe diffuse involvement of all coronary arteries (group 4). Residences of the patients were located from their medical history and then 200-mL of drinking-water samples were then taken from each area in plastic containers. Next, the levels of calcium and magnesium were measured using the EDTA method. Finally, the samples were divided into 4 groups based on the hardness of water. Results: The mean age of the participants was 59.7 years and the most frequent type of water in the residential areas was the soft water. Further, the highest frequency related to the severity of atherosclerosis belonged to groups 4 and 3, respectively. Based on the results, no significant relationship was found either between the severity of atherosclerosis and calcium level of water or the severity of atherosclerosis and magnesium level of water. Conclusions: In general, the results revealed that there was no significant relationship between the levels of calcium and magnesium in the drinking water of the patients residing in East Azerbaijan province and their severity of atherosclerosis. The findings further suggest that the drinking water of the province can be divided into hard and soft water and the severity of atherosclerosis of the patients is independent of the hardness of the drinking water in their residences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Acute kidney insufficiency is a prevalent and serious disease that follows coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). One of the important symptoms of acute renal failure (ARF) is the increased level of urea and serum creatinine. This study examined the rate of renal failure in patients undergoing on-pump and off-pump CABG. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-comparative survey, we selected the patients undergoing heart surgery. Levels of urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium and urinary output were controlled and recorded in the first days of admission and ICU discharge. Data collection tool was a checklist, the first part included demographic information and the second part was related to the information on kidney function. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Results: The findings of this study showed a statistically significant difference in terms of age and the incidence of renal failure based on the increased levels of urea and serum creatinine before and after CABG (P < 0.05). Results of this study also showed that the incidence of renal failure significantly increased after CABG based on the levels of urea and serum creatinine (P < 0.00). No considerable difference was observed between 2 surgery procedures (on-pump and off-pump) in terms of renal failure incidence (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Patients' age was an important factor for kidney insufficiency following CABG. Type of the surgery (on- and off-pump) and gender had no influence on the incidence rate of ARF. Stronger measures to protect the kidneys in older patients may reduce this high-risk complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) is an obstruction of a valve prosthesis by non-infective thrombotic material. A number of studies have reported an association between ABO blood groups and thromboembolic events. Little is known about impact of ABO groups on prosthetic valve thrombosis. Therefore, we studied the distribution of ABO blood groups in patients with PVT. Material and Methods: This was a single center retrospective cohort of patients with PVT during ten years period in the northwest of Iran. All patients received intensified anticoagulation or thrombolysis or redo surgery according to physician decision. Then, all patients divided into two blood group: O and non-O group, and in-hospital adverse events and mortality were compared between groups. Results: During 10-year period, there were 85 episodes of PVT in 80 patients. Number of patients who developed PVT according to ABO group were: 23 (27%) in group A, 23 (27%) in group B, 12 (14.1%) in group AB and 27 (31.7%) in group O. Overall, 58 (68.2%) patients had non-O blood group. There was no significant difference in distribution of ABO group between general cohort and patients with PVT (P = 0.81). Failed thrombolysis occurred only in group non-O patients (P = 0.0001). Also 4 (14.8%) patients in group O and 13(22.4%) in group non-O died (P = 0.4). Conclusion: There was no association between ABO blood group and PVT. Complication were more in non-O blood group. Failed thrombolysis was developed only in non-O patients. Larger studies are needed to better define this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cardiovascular diseases especially coronary artery disease (CAD) is still the major cause of mortality in the world. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is considered one of the most effective treatment methods for CAD. One of the essential cares after open heart surgery is extubation of patients. So the present study was performed with the aim of comparative research about duration of intubation in CABGs with on-pump (with cardiopulmonary bypass machine) and off-pump (without cardiopulmonary bypass machine) in 2014. Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive correlative investigation. Sampling among available samples and in the random form was done on 100 patients of CABG surgery with and without cardiopulmonary bypass in Madani Heart hospital, Tabriz, Iran in 2014. Data collection tool was a two- part questionnaire that included all demographic information and effective factors during intubation. These questionnaires were completed by a researcher beside the observation and written consent information contained in the patients' records. Data recording was analysed using SPSS software Results: This study showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the duration of intubation and sternum openness. Also this study showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the duration of intubation and using cardiac pulmonary bypass. Conclusion: This study showed that openness of the sternum and the use of cardiopulmonary bypass machine are crucial factors for increasing of duration of intubation of patients undergoing CABG surgery. So this group of patients was under mechanical ventilation longer than the others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. The relationship between ABO blood groups and main risk factors of CVD is unknown. So this study was designed to investigate whether there is an association between ABO blood groups and cardiovascular risk factors in otherwise healthy people. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, risk factors for CVD were screened in 300 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who were hospitalized in Madani hospital (biggest heart center in Tabriz) in 2013-2014 and evaluated by a questionnaire that aimed to extract information about age, sex, smoking, blood group type, weight, height, blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and family history of CVD. Data were analyzed with SPSS 17. Results: Of the total selected 300 patients, 69.3% were male, 35.3% were smoker, 61% were hypertensive, 30.3% were diabetic mellitus, 31% had hyperlipidemia, 70.97% were obese and 17.3% had family history of CVD. The mean age was 62.06 ± 11.40 years. Blood groups O (28%), A (43.3%), B (19%) and AB (7.3%) were the most frequent ones, respectively. According to our results, we found that the rate of CAD in individuals with the blood group A was higher than the other blood groups. Regarding the risk factors, however, no significant difference was observed between the blood groups. Conclusion: A correlation was found between blood group A and the incidence of CAD and there was no significant difference between the blood groups and cardiovascular risk factors and number of involved coronary arteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Relationship between psychological factors and essential hypertension is a proven subject. This research was aimed to study the levels of Emotional Sensation Seeking in hypertensive patients and healthy Individual. Materials and Methods: In this study, 183 hypertensive patients and 195 healthy individuals completed the Emotional Seeking Scale-form V (SSS -- V). Then, based on the final scores, 100 hypertensive cases (50 men and 50 women) referred to Tabriz Madani Heart Hospital, and 100 healthy Individuals were selected by available sampling (age range 22-61, mean 39). Result: Hypertensive men had higher scores than hypertensive women in thrill and adventure seeking, while healthy men had higher scores than healthy women in boredom susceptibility. Healthy women had higher scores than hypertensive women in thrill and adventure seeking. Conclusion: Identification of individuals with emotional seeking features helps to identify susceptible patients to essential hypertension for preventive procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Effects of emotional stimuli on hemodynamics in patients with essential hypertension based on brain/behavioral systems have not been studied broadly. Methods: Eighty five essential hypertensive male patients who had completed Carver-White BIS/BAS scale were enrolled to the study. Later, 25 BIS and 25 BAS patients were selected and their blood pressure and heart rate were recorded prior to stimuli induction. Participants were then exposed to stressor pictures. After that, 15 minutes of relaxation and cognitive tasks were performed. Finally, the participants were exposed to pleasant pictures. The blood pressure and heart rate were recorded after presenting of 2 stimuli. Results: Our study showed that BIS patients achieved higher scores in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in comparison with BAS patients after presenting stressful stimuli. Also, BAS patients achieved lower scores in systolic blood pressure and heart rate in comparison with BIS patients after presenting pleasant stimuli. Conclusion: In summary, BIS patients experience negative emotions more than BAS patients. Therefore, the role of induced mood states is important in relation to physical health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pro-inflammatory signaling is mediated by a variety of inflammatory mediators which can cause myocardial apoptosis, hypertrophia, and fibrosis, and also ultimately lead to adverse cardiac remodeling. This study aimed to assess the role of circulating leukocyte-based indices in predicting the short-term mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)., Methods: In a retrospective study, patients with HFrEF admitted to a tertiary referral center between January 2016 and January 2017 were recruited to this study. The association between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (dLNR = neutrophils/(leukocytes-neutrophils)), monocyte/granulocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MGLR = (white cell count-lymphocyte count) to lymphocyte count), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and six-months mortality of patients were assessed., Results: A total of 197 patients with HFrEF were enrolled in the study. NLR (P<0.001), dNLR (P<0.001), MGLR (P<0.001), PLR (P=0.006) and LVEF (P=0.042) showed significant difference between survived and died patients. In the Cox multivariate analysis we did not find NLR, dLNR, MGLR or PLR as an independent predictor of short-term mortality in HFrEF patients., Conclusions: Although High NLR, PLR, MGLR and dNLR was associated with short-term mortality, it failed to independently predict the prognosis of HFrEF patients.