جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « heart » در نشریات گروه « پزشکی »

 Evidence declared lipopolysaccharide (LPS) initiates inflammatory responses by stimulating the abandon of cytokines, which may perturb organ function. On the other side, it has been suggested Cedrol has potential properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. Herein, this study was done to assess the protective effect of Cedrol against LPS-associated heart damage.

 Thirty-five rats (200-250 g) were sorted into five groups, including control, LPS, LPS-Cedrol 7.5 mg/kg, LPS-Cedrol 15 mg/kg, and LPS-Cedrol 30 mg/kg groups. Cedrol was administrated through injected intra-peritoneally for two weeks. The heart tissues were removed and malondialdehyde (MDA) as a lipid peroxidation marker, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) as antioxidant markers were assessed. Furthermore, the interleukin (IL)-6 level in cardiac tissue was measured and Masson’s trichrome methods were employed to appraise cardiac inflammation and fibrosis, respectively.

 Inflammation induced by LPS was significantly accompanied by myocardial fibrosis which was shown by Masson’s trichrome staining (P<0.001). In addition, LPS administration enhanced the MDA level while it diminished the activity of anti-oxidant markers such as CAT and SOD (P<0.001 for all cases). In the histological results, Cedrol improved LPS-induced inflammation and cardiac fibrosis (P<0.01 to P<0.001). Cedrol also enhanced CAT and SOD activities, whereas declined MDA level in the cardiac tissue (P<0.01 to P<0.001).

 The current findings proposed that the administration of Cedrol exerted a protective role in LPS-associated heart damage by reducing inflammation, cardiac fibrosis, and oxidative stress.

Resistance training is associated with certain cardiovascular adaptations. However, a lack of exercise may affect it. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a period of detraining followed by resistance training on the fibrosis, angiogenesis, and cardiac dimensions of male Wistar rats.

In this experimental study, 20 male Wistar rats at the age of five weeks were randomly divided into control, training, control+detraining, and training+detraining groups. The control (8 weeks) and control+detraining (11 weeks) groups were placed in their respective cages with 24-hour free access to food and water and did not exercise for eight weeks. The resistance training+detraining and resistance training groups performed eight weeks of the resistance training protocol. The resistance training+detraining group did not do any type of training after the training period of 3 weeks. The results were analyzed by SPSS version 18.

In terms of fibrosis, there was a significant difference between the control and control+detraining groups (P=0.001), between control and training groups (P=0.001), and between control+detraining and training+detraining groups (P=0.001). In addition, a significant difference was found between the training and training+detraining groups in terms of fibrosis (P=0.001). In terms of angiogenesis, a significant difference was observed between the control and training groups (P=0.001) and between the training and training+detraining groups (P=0.007).

Resistance training could reduce fibrosis and increase cardiac angiogenesis in rats. Based on the findings, fibrosis increased significantly in the detraining period compared to the active period, and angiogenesis was also reduced due to detraining

 One of the most popular Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) among athletes and teenagers is Nandrolone Decanoate (ND), a synthetic testosterone analog. Chronic AAS consumption raises the risk of cardiovascular problems in athletes, however the mechanism causing such changes is not known. This experimental research aims to investigate the impact of nandrolone decanoate administration on heart in white male albino rats.

Twenty male Albino rats, split into two groups, were used in the study. Group A served as a control, getting peanut oil injections, while Group B received decanoate injections at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight weekly for eight weeks. After the eighth week, the rats were sacrificed under anesthesia in accordance with the recommendations issued by the Ethical Committee. Following sacrifice, the rats were dissected and their tissues processed using normal histology procedures. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and microscopic observations were recorded in groups. In order to properly label and analyze the photos, photographic microscopy was used.

 After Eighth week, the control group's heart showed no obvious changes under microscopic examination, whereas the ND treated group showed intermuscular hemorrhages, congested myocardial vessels, widely separated cardiomyocytes, fragmented muscle fibers, and cardiomyocytes showing vesicular nuclei and few degenerative changes. These results suggest that ND treatment may cause particular cardiac structural changes in white male albino rats.

 The study suggests that Nandrolone abuse can lead to cardiac problems such as severe degeneration, myocardial vascular congestion, and intermuscular hemorrhages. The study emphasizes the significance of investigating the long-term effects of these medications, as well as the importance of well-designed studies and proper dosage considerations.

Since the Old Testament era, medicine has drawn scientists from around the world. Persian physicians have played an undeniable role in the advancement of medicine worldwide and their books have been taught as medical textbooks in the East and the West for years. In the Islamic Golden Age (9th to 12th century AD), Abu-Sahl al-Masihi (960-1010 AD), was one of the great Persian scholars contemporary to Avicenna and Al-Biruni. He wrote several valuable works on medicine, philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy in Arabic. The two books titled Al-Mia fil-Tibb (Book of the Hundred [on Medicine]) and Ezhar al-Hekmat Allah Ta’ala fi Khalgh al-Ensan (Manifestations of God’s Wisdom in the Creation of Mankind) also known as Tashrih Badan al-Ensan (Human Anatomy) are among his important works in medicine. Particularly, in Tashrih Badan al-Ensan, Abu-Sahl detailed the structure and function of each organ within the human body. On heart anatomy, he presented interesting, and even innovative views. Despite the significance of his views on medicine among physicians of the Islamic era, his works have failed to be translated into Latin or other languages for unknown reasons, leaving him veiled in academic spheres. This paper aims to describe Abu-Sahl al-Masihi's opinions on heart anatomy.

Despite the unconditional success achieved in the treatment and prevention of AMI over the past 40 years, mortality in this disease remains high. Hence, it is necessary to develop novel drugs with mechanism of action different from those currently used in clinical practices. Studying the molecular mechanisms involved in the cardioprotective effect of adapting to cold could contribute to the development of drugs that increase cardiac tolerance to the impact of ischemia/reperfusion. An analysis of the published data shows that the long-term human stay in the Far North contributes to the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. At the same time, chronic and continuous exposure to cold increases tolerance of the rat heart to ischemia/ reperfusion. It has been demonstrated that the cardioprotective effect of cold adaptation depends on the activation of ROS production, stimulation of the β2-adrenergic receptor and protein kinase C, MPT pore closing, and KATP channel.

The present study investigated the role of the prostaglandin I2/peroxisome proliferator activator receptor (PGI2/PPAR) signaling pathway in cardiac cell proliferation, apoptosis, and systemic hemodynamic variables under cyclosporine A (CsA) exposure alone or combined with moderate exercises.

Experimental approach: 

Twenty-four male Wistar rats were classified into three groups, namely, control, CsA, and CsA + exercise.

After 42 days of treatment, the findings showed a significant enhancement in the expression of the β-MHC gene, enhancement in protein expression of Bax and caspase-3, and a significant decline in the protein expression of Bcl-2 expression, as well as increased proliferation intensity in the heart tissue of the CsA group compared to the control group. Systolic pressure, pulse pressure, mean arterial pressure (MAP), QT and QRS duration, and T wave amplitude, as well as QTc amount in the CsA group, showed a significant increase compared to the control group. PPAR-γ and PGI2 showed no significant changes compared to the control group. Moderate exercise along with CsA significantly enhanced the protein expression of PPAR-γ and PGI2 and declined protein expression of Bax, and caspase-3 compared to those in the CsA group. In the CsA + exercise group, systolic pressure, MAP, and Twave showed a significant decrease compared to the CsA group. Moderate exercises along CsA improved heart cell proliferation intensity and significantly reduced β-MHC gene expression compared to the CsA group.

Conclusions and implications: 

The results showed moderate exercise alleviated CsA-induced heart tissue apoptosis and proliferation with the corresponding activation of the PGI2/PPAR-γ pathway.

Obesity prevalence has increased alarmingly in recent decades as a result of lifestyle changes. Obesity can have adverse effects during childhood and adolescence, which often persist into adulthood. Some studies have shown that echocardiographic findings are associated with obesity, accompanied by an increase in the left ventricle's size, diameter, and weight. This study compared Tissue Doppler and Pulse Doppler echocardiographic changes between obese and normal weight children and adolescents. In 2021, this research was conducted on 66 children and adolescents aged 9 to 18 in Birjand. It included 33 individuals, comprising 25 boys and 8 girls, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 95, classified as the obese group, and 33 individuals, comprising 21 boys and 12 girls with a BMI between 10 and 85, ranked as the control group. The two groups' parameters were measured using Tissue Doppler Index (echocardiography), and the data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 at a significance level of less than 0.05. The obese and normal weight groups had average ages of 12.84±1.92 and 12.87±2.87, respectively. In the obese group, the average BMI was 28.52±4.3, while in the control group, it was 16.55±2.21. The average EF (Ejection Fraction) in the obese group was 247.13±32.44, and in the control group, it was 249.6±24.68.In the obese group, the mean values of the parameters S´, A', and A were 12.91±2.63, 12.61±2.75 and 74.83±16.75, while in the control group, they were 11.47±2.66, 10.28±2.72, and 63.21±15.41. The obese group had substantially higher values compared to the control group (P<0.05). The mean values of IVRT, IVCT, MPI, E', and E were more significant in the obese group than in the control group, whereas ET and E/A were more significant in the control group. These differences, however, were not statistically significant. The significant increase in diastolic dysfunction parameters, including A' and E'/A', in the obese group may indicate a severe type of LV Compliance Decrease.

Given the association of hypomagnesemia with cardiac arrhythmia, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum magnesium levels with age and T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the heart and liver in patients with thalassemia major (TM). 

In a descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 62 patients with β-thalassemia major aged 11-48 years were selected at the Amir-Kabir Hospital, Arak, Iran. Serum magnesium, ferritin, and iron levels of patients were measured, and the rate of cardiac and hepatic hemosiderosis of patients was extracted according to the routine T2*MRI method. 

The mean age of the patients at diagnosis was 32.6 years. The comparison of TM patients with and without hepatic/cardiac hemosiderosis demonstrated that mean levels of serum ferritin, serum iron, and age were significantly higher in TM patients with cardiac hemosiderosis than in hepatic/cardiac non-hemosiderosis (P < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference in mean levels of serum magnesium in TM patients with and without hepatic/cardiac hemosiderosis (P = 0.279). Interestingly, the correlation of age with serum magnesium levels in TM patients revealed a statistically significant and moderate inverse correlation (r = -0.56, P = 0.013).

Hypomagnesemia may occur in a time-dependent manner. It is recommended that, in addition to cardiac and hepatic T2*MRI, serum magnesium levels be measured by using magnesium replacement if necessary.

 Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) causes stable aggregation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), producing oxidative stress. Rosmarinic acid (RA), a plant-origin antioxidant, has been proposed against the side effects of cell phone and ultrahigh-frequency waves.

 Forty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Group 1 (controls) received 5 mL of normal saline with the gavage method, Group 2 received 915 MHz radiation, Group 3 received 2450 MHz radiation, Group 4 received RA plus 915 MHz radiation, Group 5 received RA plus 2450MHz radiation, and Group 6 received oral RA (5 mg/kg). Treatment and radiation (1 hour per day) continued for up to 30 days.

 EMR significantly reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), the content of glutathione (GSH), and the level of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and significantly increased oxidative stress indices, such as the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), and the content of protein carbonyl (PC). In contrast, RA significantly elevated TAC level (all groups), GSH content (the RA/cell phone radiation group), GPx activity (the RA/ultrahigh-frequency radiation group), SOD activity (all groups), and CAT activity (RA/ultrahigh-frequency radiation group) and conversely reduced MDA level (all groups), NO level (all groups), and PC content (all groups) in the RA/cell phone and RA/ultrahigh-frequency radiation groups compared with the NS/cell phone and NS/ultrahigh-frequency radiation groups, respectively. The administration of RA resulted in a significant reversal of cardiac markers in EMR-intoxicated rats.

 RA treatment showed a significant protective effect against EMR-induced cardiotoxicity.

Arterial tortuosity syndrome (ATS) is a rare, autosomal, and recessive disorder. The genetic defect in this disease is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the SLC2A10 gene, which encodes facilitative glucose GLUT 10. ATS is characterized by the widespread elongation and tortuosity of the aorta and the mid-sized arteries and focal stenosis in segments of the pulmonary arteries and/or the aorta combined with findings of a generalized connective tissue disorder. About 12% of all affected individuals are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit because of primary presentation with infant respiratory distress syndrome. Most affected patients are identified in early childhood with cardiac murmurs or cyanosis. Here, we describe a 6-year-old boy with repeat hospitalizations due to respiratory symptoms and a history of unilateral hernioplasty. Physical examinations showed an increased range of motion in the joints and a decreased lower limb pulse, raising the suspicion of aortic coarctation. Frontal chest radiography, echocardiography, and computed tomography angiography demonstrated elongation and tortuosity in most of the patient’s arteries and veins. (Iranian Heart Journal 2023; 24(4): 85-89)

Arterial tortuosity syndrome (ATS) is a rare, autosomal, and recessive disorder. The genetic defect in this disease is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the SLC2A10 gene, which encodes facilitative glucose GLUT 10. ATS is characterized by the widespread elongation and tortuosity of the aorta and the mid-sized arteries and focal stenosis in segments of the pulmonary arteries and/or the aorta combined with findings of a generalized connective tissue disorder. About 12% of all affected individuals are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit because of primary presentation with infant respiratory distress syndrome. Most affected patients are identified in early childhood with cardiac murmurs or cyanosis. Here, we describe a 6-year-old boy with repeat hospitalizations due to respiratory symptoms and a history of unilateral hernioplasty. Physical examinations showed an increased range of motion in the joints and a decreased lower limb pulse, raising the suspicion of aortic coarctation. Frontal chest radiography, echocardiography, and computed tomography angiography demonstrated elongation and tortuosity in most of the patient’s arteries and veins. (Iranian Heart Journal 2023; 24(4): 85-89)

Angiogenesis refers to the formation of new blood vessels from existing ones, which can occur in both physiologic and pathologic conditions. Lack of tissue oxygen is the main stimulator of angiogenesis accompanied by increasing in HIF-1α-(hypoxia-inducible factor-1α) expression as a nuclear transcription factor. Other factors such as VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), FGF2 (fibroblast growth factor2), and TGF (transforming growth factor) are involved in angiogenesis, too. To control diabetes and tumoral disease, abnormal angiogenesis inhibition can be useful besides stimulation that can be helpful in cardiovascular disease. In this study, we have reviewed the mechanisms and stimulators of angiogenesis and its influential factors. The most important angiogenic factors are MMP, Ang, FGF, and VEGF. Ang is not directly involved in the process of angiogenesis but sometimes destabilize the arteries. In contrast to angiostatin, endostatin TIMP and TSP1 act as the most important angiostatic factors. Many attempts have been made to identify the mechanisms and factors involved in this process but angiogenic inhibitors that inhibit the growth of cancerous masses or tumors in the body have not yet been adequately investigated