Int J Med Sci
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Former studies showed possible interrelationship between altered ventricular filling patterns and atrial fibrillation (AF). ⋯ Our study shows that in patients with preserved systolic function and persistent AF shortly after cardioversion diastolic ventricular filling patterns are altered mainly due to increased left atrial pressure and not due to impaired diastolic relaxation of left ventricle. Further studies are needed in order to define the interplay between diminished atrial function and impaired ventricular filling.
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Adiponectin is an adipocyte-secreting hormone that increases cell sensitivity to insulin. It has been previously demonstrated that this hormone protects against Type II Diabetes and, is found to concurrently promote cell proliferation and differentiation. It is postulated that diabetic patients who suffer from tendinopathy may benefit from using adiponectin, which not only improves the metabolism of diabetic ridden tenocytes but also promotes progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation in tendons. ⋯ The levels of tenogenic genes expression (collagen I, III, tenomodulin and scleraxis) were also significantly upregulated; whilst the osteogenic (Runx2), chondrogenic (Sox9) and adipogenic (PPARУγ) gene expressions remained unaltered. The results of this study suggest that adiponectin is a potential promoter that not only improves diabetic conditions, but also increases tendon progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation. These features supports the notion that adiponectin may be potentially beneficial in treating diabetic tendinopathy.
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Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal disorder in women of child-bearing age. It is widely accepted that the microbial switch from normal microflora to the flora commonly associated with BV is characterized by a decrease in vaginal colonization by specific Lactobacillus species together with an increase of G. vaginalis and other anaerobes. However, the order of events leading to the development of BV remains poorly characterized and it is unclear whether the decrease in lactobacilli is a cause or a consequence of the increase in the population density of anaerobes. ⋯ Interestingly, strain 101 displaced L. crispatus but not L. iners whereas strain 5-1 had less of an effect and did not affect the two species differently. Furthermore, L. iners actually enhanced adhesion of strain 101 but not of strain 5-1. These results suggest that BV-causing G. vaginalis and L. iners do not interfere with one another, which may help to explain previous reports that women who are colonized with L. iners are more likely to develop BV.
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The natural history of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) is complex and highly variable. However, the global clinical characteristics of this entity remain ill-defined. We aimed to investigate the dynamic patterns of the natural progression as well as their impact on the outcomes of ACHBLF. ⋯ The natural progression of ACHBLF could be divided approximately into four stages including ascent, plateau, descent, and convalescence stages according to different trends of liver failure progression, respectively. Thus, the special patterns of the natural progression of ACHBLF may be regarded as a significant predictor of the 3-month mortality of ACHBLF.
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Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is used as a diagnostic marker of cardiovascular diseases. BNP is secreted mainly from the myocardium and has been detected by immunoreactivity in brain and cerebral arteries. The aim of our study was to investigate plasma BNP in patients with acute cerebral infarction according to infarction subtype and infarction volume. ⋯ Plasma BNP may be helpful for prediction of etiologic classification of acute cerebral infarction and infarction volume.