Interventional Medicine & Applied Science

Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the anthropometric, body composition, and somatotype characteristics of Japanese young women and to focus on normal-weight obesity syndrome and sarcopenia diagnosis criteria. Methods: A total of 124 Japanese university freshmen women were measured at body mass index (BMI), percent body fat and skeletal muscle index (SMI), usual gait test, and handgrip strength. The subjects were divided into obesity (≥30% body fat; BMI: ≥25...

Background and aims: The etiology and pathophysiology of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) has not been fully elucidated. A rapid rise in plasma copeptin has been observed in cardiovascular diseases, stroke, sepsis, and shock. This increase has diagnostic and prognostic value. The aim of this study was to investigate whether copeptin has a relationship with CAE. Methods: This observational prospective study was carried out between October 2012 and March 2013 in the cardiology catheter laboratory with the inclusion of 44 subjects with a diagnosis of CAE and 44 age- and gender-matched individuals with normal coronary arteries...

Introduction: Impaired coronary microcirculation, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction were reported etiological factors for microvascular angina (MVA). Recently, increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness has been associated with hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and coronary artery disease in general population. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the EAT thickness in patients with MVA. Methods: This study enrolled 200 patients (83 males; mean age: 55...

Background and aims: P wave dispersion (PWD) has been reported to be a non-invasive electrocardiographic predictor for atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study is to evaluate PWD between men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and healthy controls in order to investigate whether PWD was prolonged in patients with ED and related to severity of the disease. Methods: This study included a total of 72 men (42 patients with ED and 30 healthy controls). Demographic data and clinical features were recorded on admission...

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Chronic total occlusions (CTO) are frequently observed among patients undergoing coronary angiography. Methods: A total of 128 CTO patients were included. Mehran score, lesion characteristics, interventional procedure, serological specimens and devices were recorded. The first group was administered with 1 ml · kg-1  · h-1 saline (0...

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that homocysteine and asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) levels were strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases including coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of plasma homocysteine and ADMA levels in the pathogenesis of coronary slow flow (CSF) phenomenon. Methods: Twenty-three patients with CSF and 25 controls with normal coronary flow were included in this study. The quantitative measurement of coronary blood flow was performed using the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count method...

Background and aims: The aim of this study is to exploratively evaluate the effect of Tsumura Daikenchuto Extract Granules (DKT, TJ-100) on abdominal symptoms, body weight, and nutritional function following colorectal cancer surgery. Methods: The subjects included 20 patients for curative resection of colorectal cancer. A TJ-100 administration group ( n  = 10) and non-administration group ( n  = 10) were randomized and compared. In the administration group, TJ-100 was administered from 2 days prior to surgery up to 12 weeks following surgery...

Background: Current evidence indicates that vascular calcification plays an essential role in the development of cardiovascular diseases in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Arterial stiffness is a marker of increased cardiovascular risk in various populations. The aim of this study is to evaluate the elastic properties of ascending aorta in patients with ESRD. Methods: This single-center study enrolled 96 patients (45 females, age: 57.2 ± 12.8 years) with ESRD and 96 healthy controls (52 females, age: 55...

Primary pancreatic hydatid disease is extremely rare. Diagnosis of the disease is difficult because hydatid cysts can be confused with a pseudocyst or neoplastic cystic diseases. Authors report a case of a surgically treated hydatid disease of the uncinate process of pancreas. In a 34-year-old patient with minor symptoms, a cystic disease of the pancreas was accidentally identified. CT scan revealed a multivesicular cystic mass with a maximum of 13-cm diameter and with a calcificated wall. During laparotomy, the uncinate process of pancreas was resecated and the cystic lesion was enucleated...

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) can resemble an intracardiac mass and it is defined as a chronic degeneration of the mitral annulus. Often reported is caseous mitral annulus calcification (CMAC), a periannular, extensive calcification resembling a tumor. We report the case of a 68-year-old woman who had been hospitalized for palpitations and dyspnea. The transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a non-homogeneous, slightly mobile, round mass, attached to the ventricular side of posterior mitral leaflet, with central echo-lucent area and without acoustic shadowing...

The symptoms of aortic dissection (AD) may be highly variable and may mimic other much common conditions. Thus, a high index of suspicion should be maintaned, especially when the risk factors for AD are present or signs and symptoms suggest this possibility. However, sometimes AD may be asymptomatic or progression may be subclinical. Various electrocardiographical (ECG) changes may be seen in AD patients such as ST segment elevation in aVR as well as ST segment depression and T-wave inversion. In this case report, we reported a patient with acute AD whose ECG revealed ST segment elevation in aVR lead in addition to diffuse ST segment depression in other leads...

Parachute mitral valve (PMV) is a congenital cardiac malformation where typically all tendons chordae converge and insert into one major papillary muscle. We report the case of 27-year-old man affected by Hodgkin's lymphoma-mixed cellularity subtype with polychemotherapy treatment and Barrett's esophagus who came to our attention for routine echocardiographic exam and evaluation of left ventricular function. In the presence of normal left ventricular systolic function and mild-moderate mitral regurgitation, a careful examination of mitral apparatus showed a single papillary muscle suspected for PMV...

The results of experimental research of antioxidant system are presented in this article. Superoxide dismutase activity, catalase, and ceruloplasmin have been determined on the 7th and 14th days of experimental periodontitis development both without correction and with the injection of a water-soluble quercetin drug (corvitin). Hence, there was a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity, intensive increase in catalase activity, and ceruloplasmin maintenance in the blood serum during acute period of inflammatory process...

The article presents the results of lipid peroxidation activity in blood serum, which were assessed on the base changes in the level of oxidative modification of proteins, TBA-active products, and total amount of nitrogen (II) oxide metabolites (NO2 -  + NO3 - ). Indices were determined on the 14th day of development in experimental periodontitis both without correction, and in condition treatment with a water-soluble flavonol quercetin (corvitin). The treated animals take intramuscular injections of corvitin in a dose 100 mg/kg weight for 7 days...

Since the development of first lipid-based nanocarrier system, about 15% of the present pharmaceutical market uses nanomedicines to achieve medical benefits. Nanotechnology is an advanced area to meliorate the delivery of compounds for improved medical diagnosis and curing disease. Nanomedicines are gaining significant interest due to the ultra small size and large surface area to mass ratio. In this review, we discuss the potential of nanotechnology in delivering of active moieties for the disease therapy including their toxicity evidences...

Cerebral ischemia in the perioperative period is a major risk factor for stroke, encephalopathy, and cognitive decline after cardiothoracic surgery. After coronary artery bypass grafting, both stroke and encephalopathy can result in poor patient outcomes and increased mortality. Neuroprotection aims to lessen the severity and occurrence of further injury mediated by stroke and encephalopathy and to aid the recovery of conditions already present. Several pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of neuroprotection have been investigated in experimental studies and in animal models, and, although some have shown effectiveness in protection of the central nervous system, for most, clinical research is lacking or did not show the expected results...

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a prototype of a novel respiratory device that we validated and assessed clinically and examined the effect of prototype of respiratory device on blood pressure (BP). Methods: Prototype of respiratory device (TU-Breath Training) was designed with pressure cuff and application software was created. The immediate effect of resisted breathing was determined in 20 adults with high BP (systolic BP ≥ 130 mmHg and diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg)...

Introduction: Asthma exacerbations may occur due to a variety of triggers including respiratory viruses. The aim of this study was to determine the role of particular viral infections in asthma exacerbations in children. Materials and methods: The study was performed at Dr. Daneshvari Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran between 2014 and 2015. A nasopharyngeal aspirate or swab was obtained from each patient during admission...

Introduction: Non-adherence in patients with hypertension directly exacerbates clinical outcomes. The purpose of the present research is to study the recognition of the relationships between the perceived social support and self-efficacy and the satisfaction of health care agents and the interaction of the patient with therapeutic personnel and access to health care and the behaviors of adherence to treatment in the patients who suffer hypertension. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional correlation study recruited 250 patients from a specialized hypertension clinic in Semnan, who completed the following questionnaires: Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, self-efficacy, adherence to treatment, access to and satisfaction with health care, and the patient's interaction with treatment personnel...

Background and aims: Respiratory infections are expressed very soon in the life in humoral immunodeficiencies and often lead to chronic irreversible complications such as bronchiectasis and chronic airflow limitation. This study was conducted to evaluate the pulmonary complications of predominantly antibody immunodeficiencies to show the benefits of timely diagnosis and appropriate therapy. Patients and methods: The information of 48 patients involved with a type of predominantly antibody immunodeficiencies, including sex, type of primary immunodeficiency, age at the onset of symptoms, age at diagnosis, recurrent infections, respiratory symptoms, and pulmonary radiological and functional abnormalities were recorded and analyzed...