Moderately increased alcohol consumption is associated with higher pressure wave reflections and blood pressure in men

Background and aimsIncreased alcohol consumption has been associated with CVD risk. Subclinical arterial damage (SAD) precedes the onset of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and allows early identification and study of the pathophysiology of CVD. Reliable, noninvasive vascular biomarkers are available for the early detection of SAD and reclassification of CVD risk. To investigate the association of alcohol consumption with multiple SAD biomarkers and central hemodynamics in a large sample of Greek adults with CVD risk factors.Methods and resultsThis cross-sectional study was conducted with 938 participants (43.5% men) and collected data on SAD biomarkers, central hemodynamics, and dietary intake. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed according to sex after adjusting for several confounders. In men, alcohol consumption of 20–30 g/d was positively associated with mean, diastolic, and peripheral systolic blood pressure (BP). The consumption of >30 g/d was positively associated with the augmentation index. In women, no statistically significant associations were found between alcohol consumption and BP or SAD indices. No statistically significant associations were found between alcohol consumption and arterial compliance or distensibility in both sexes.ConclusionIn men even a small deviation from the current recommendation for alcohol consumption is associated with both higher BP indices and pressure wave reflections. The absence of association in women might be due to very low alcohol intake, even in the high consumption group. More studies are needed to verify our findings and establish the above associations in each sex.     

The Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Meta-analysis

Background

The clinical effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an area that has not been consistently explored. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of providing any core component of CR on HRQOL domains.

Sex hormone levels in drug-naïve,first-episode patients with psychosis

Abstract

Aim: Sex differences have long been reported in schizophrenia leading to the hypothesis that sex hormones may be implicated in the pathophysiology of the disorder. We assessed gonadal hormones during the fasted state in drug-naïve patients with psychosis.

Method: Fasting serum concentrations of follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, free-testosterone, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and oestradiol (E₂) were compared between a group of 55 newly diagnosed, drug-naïve, first-episode men with psychosis and a group of 55 healthy controls, matched for age, smoking status and BMI. Testosterone, free-testosterone and SHBG were compared between a group of 32 drug-naïve, first-episode females with psychosis and a group of 32 healthy controls matched for age, smoking status and BMI.

Results: Testosterone and free-testosterone levels were significantly lower in the patients’ group and SHBG levels significantly higher in the patients’ group compared to those in healthy controls. The two female groups had similar values in the hormones which were measured.

Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence of lower testosterone and free-testosterone levels and increased SHBG levels in drug-naïve, first-episode males with psychosis.

• KEY POINTS

• Reduced testosterone and free-testosterone levels in drug-naive, first-episode males with psychosis.

• Increased SHBG levels in drug-naive first-episode males with psychosis.

• No difference in FSH, LH and E2 levels between drug-naive first episode males with psychosis and controls.

• No difference in testosterone, free-testosterone and SHBG levels between drug-naive, first-episode women with psychosis and controls.

     

Intake of aspirin prior to metamizole does not completely prevent high on treatment platelet reactivity

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology - Metamizole can sterically inhibit aspirin (ASA) from binding to cyclooxygenase 1 (COX1). It is recommended that ASA should be taken 30 min prior to...     

Experimental and investigational phosphodiesterase inhibitors in development for asthma

Introduction: Severe, inadequately-controlled asthma remains a clinical challenge. For this reason, clinical trials and preclinical experimental studies on novel agents as an add-on therapies continue emerge. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are enzymes that regulate the function of immune cells by hydrolyzing cyclic guanosine monophosphate/cGMP and cyclic adenosine monophosphate/cAMP. PDEs are divided into subfamilies [PDE3, PDE4, PDE5 and PDE7] which are mainly found in the respiratory tract. Inhibitors of PDEs have already been approved for COPD and pulmonary hypertension.

Areas covered: The role of PDE inhibitors in asthma treatment and the possible mechanism of action via their anti-inflammatory and/or bronchodilating effect are discussed.

Expert opinion: Novel PDE inhibitors exhibiting fewer adverse events may have a role as add-on therapies in asthma treatment in the future. More clinical trials are necessary to prove their efficacy and evaluate their safety profile before approval by regulatory bodies is granted.     

A Computational Geometry Generation Method for Creating 3D Printed Composites and Porous Structures

A computational method for generating porous materials and composite structures was developed and implemented. The method is based on using 3D Voronoi cells to partition a defined space into segments. The topology of the segments can be controlled by controlling the Voronoi cell set. The geometries can be realized by additive manufacturing methods, and materials can be assigned to each segment. The geometries are generated and processed virtually. The macroscopic mechanical properties of the resulting structures can be tuned by controlling microstructural features. The method is implemented in generating porous and composite structures using polymer filaments i.e., polylactic acid (PLA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and nylon. The geometries are realized using commercially available double nozzle fusion deposition modelling (FDM) equipment. The compressive properties of the generated porous and composite configurations are tested quasi statically. The structures are either porous of a single material or composites of two materials that are geometrically intertwined. The method is used to produce and explore promising material combinations that could otherwise be difficult to mix. It is potentially applicable with a variety of additive manufacturing methods, size scales, and materials for a range of potential applications.