Guerrerowilkinson6275

Introduction Any substance that induces production of free radicals can be a potential cause of brain damage. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between some metal ions and oxidative stress biomarkers in the blood of patients with brain tumor and hydrocephalus. selleck Material and methods Our study included 27 control subjects, 24 patients with brain tumor and 21 patients with hydrocephalus. The activities of superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), as well as concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxides (TBARS) and sulfhydryl groups (SH) were analyzed in the plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) of patients. We also determined the concentrations of Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Hg and Fe. Results The higher activity of SOD and concentration of GSH in both investigated groups could indicate higher oxidative stress. We also observed decreased levels of SH groups in both groups of patients. In both groups of patients we detected decreased concentrations of Ni, Co, Zn and Fe (and Mn in brain tumor patients) and increased concentrations of As, Se and Cd in the blood. Interestingly, we observed a higher concentration of Cd in both plasma and RBCs of hydrocephalus patients compared to the patients with brain tumor. Conclusions There are strong correlations between some metal ion concentrations and certain oxidative stress biomarkers in the blood of patients, which supports our hypothesis, but the observed trend needs to be further investigated.Introduction Brain natriuretic peptides, released in response to left ventricular stress, have a strong prognostic value in dialysis patients. However, their role in detecting abnormalities of fluid status is under debate; the relationship between volume status and brain natriuretic peptides (BNPs) differs among various studies. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical utility of N-terminal proBNP in the assessment of fluid status and cardiovascular risk in this setting. Material and methods The study included 65 children 10 pre-dialysis, 13 hemodialysis, 12 peritoneal dialysis patients and 30 healthy controls. Volume status was determined by multifrequency bioimpedance and NT-pro-BNP, as well as echocardiography to estimate the left ventricle structure and function. Results The median log NT-proBNP values of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients were 3.66 (2.05-4.90) and 3.57 (2.51-4.13) pg/ml, respectively, and significantly higher compared with the control group (p less then 0.001, p less then 0.001). On simple correlation, NT-proBNP was correlated with markers of volume overload and cardiac dysfunction. On multivariate regression analysis, only left ventricle mass index (β = 0.402, p = 0.003) and left atrium diameter (β = 0.263, p = 0.018) were independently associated with NT-proBNP (adjusted R 2 of the model 0.707, p less then 0.001). Conclusions Our research suggested that NT-proBNP, which was correlated with LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction and fluid overload as assessed by bioimpedance, can be used to evaluate cardiovascular states in a chronic kidney disease (CKD) population. From the early stages of CKD, periodic monitoring of NT-proBNP levels may be essential for early detection of patients with high risk of cardiovascular events, and for taking preventive intervention as soon as possible.Introduction Data on the early and late outcome following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in obese patients are limited. We investigated whether TAVI may be superior to SAVR in obese patients. Material and methods Obese patients (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2) who underwent either SAVR or TAVI were identified from the nationwide OBSERVANT registry, and their in-hospital and long-term outcomes were analysed. Propensity score matching was employed to identify two cohorts with similar baseline characteristics. Results The propensity score matching provided 142 pairs balanced in terms of baseline risk factors. In-hospital and 30-day mortality did not differ between SAVR and TAVI obese patients (4.6% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.56, and 5.2% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.41, respectively). Obese SAVR patients experienced a higher rate of renal failure (12.4% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.0105) and blood transfusion requirement (60.3% vs. 25.7%, p less then 0.0001) in comparison with TAVI patients. A higher rate of permanent pacemaker implantation (14.4% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.0018), and major vascular injuries (7.4% vs. 0%, p = 0.0044) occurred in the TAVI group. Five-year survival was higher in the SAVR group compared to the TAVI patient cohort (p = 0.0046), with survival estimates at 1, 3 and 5 years of 88.0%, 80.3%, 71.8% for patients undergoing SAVR, and 85.2%, 69.0%, 52.8% for those subjected to TAVI procedures. Conclusions In obese patients, both SAVR and TAVI are valid treatment options, although in the long term SAVR exhibited higher survival rates.Introduction Survival after heart transplantation (HTX) is extended due to continuous improvement of medical care, allowing enough time for coronary artery vasculopathy to develop. Data on the clinical outcome of cardiac transplantation patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are still not extensively explored. The aim of our study was to assess whether heart transplantation itself compromises the outcome in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and to assess survival rates as well as major cardiovascular complications in heart transplant recipients who had undergone PCI. Material and methods Thirty-three heart transplant recipients who had undergone PCI in the years 2005 to 2015 in a single center were matched by age, sex and main risk factors of arteriosclerosis with 33 controls without heart transplant history. Mean age of patients was 54.6 ±11.4 years in the HTX group and 58.8 ±10.8 years in controls. Median time from heart transplant to PCI was 13 years (4.4-22 years). Case and control groups did not differ in terms of standard risk factors of coronary artery disease, apart from chronic kidney disease, which was present in 70% of patients after heart transplantation, and dyslipidemia, which was present in 91% of control subjects. Results Patients after HTX had worse survival compared to controls (p = 0.04). When adjusted for comorbidities in the Cox regression model, there was no significant difference in survival between cardiac transplant recipients and the control group (HR = 1.06; 95% CI 0.10-11.24). Chronic renal disease was a significant predictor of all-cause mortality (HR = 29.9; 95% CI 2.3-393). Considering other endpoints, HTX patients had considerably higher incidence of severe bleeding compared to the control group (27% vs. 3%, p less then 0.05). Conclusions There was no significant difference in myocardial infarction rate, revascularization or hospitalization rates.