Left ventricular twist in clinically stable heart transplantation recipients: A speckle tracking echocardiography study

Background and aim

Cavity twist is an integral part of LV function and its pattern in transplanted hearts is not well known. This study aimed at exploring LV twist in clinically stable heart transplant (HT) recipients with no evidence for rejection.

Methods

We studied 32 HT patients (54 ± 24 months after HT), 34 other cardiac surgery (CS) patients and compared them with 35 health controls using speckle tracking echocardiography, measuring peak twist angle, time-to-peak twist, and untwist rate.

Results

LV twist angle was smaller in the HT group (6.2 ± 3.3°) in comparison with the CS group and controls (13.2 ± 3.5° and 13.1 ± 4.5°, respectively; p < 0.0001 for all) and untwist rate was reduced (HT group: − 74 ± 30°/s; CS group: − 118 ± 43°/s; controls: − 116 ± 39°/s; p < 0.0001 for all). Time-to-peak twist was not different between groups. Time after HT was the main independent predictor of both LV twist angle and untwist rate (β = 0.8, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Though clinically stable, LV twist dynamics are significantly impaired in HT recipients, even in comparison with patients who underwent other cardiac surgery.     

甲状腺功能异常与男性性腺功能减退症

甲状腺在维持性腺功能方面起着极为重要的作用.甲状腺功能异常可引起性激素结合球蛋白及性激素水平的变化,进而对男性性功能产生危害,尤其在性激素水平、睾丸功能和性行为方面.当甲状腺功能恢复正常时,性激素及性功能异常即可显著改善.     

Silent disease progression in clinically stable heart failure

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a progressive disorder whereby cardiac structure and function continue to deteriorate, often despite the absence of clinically apparent signs and symptoms of a worsening disease state. This silent yet progressive nature of HFrEF can contribute to the increased risk of death—even in patients who are ‘clinically stable’, or who are asymptomatic or only mildly symptomatic—because it often goes undetected and/or undertreated. Current therapies are aimed at improving clinical symptoms, and several agents more directly target the underlying causes of disease; however, new therapies are needed that can more fully address factors responsible for underlying progressive cardiac dysfunction. In this review, mechanisms that drive HFrEF, including ongoing cardiomyocyte loss, mitochondrial abnormalities, impaired calcium cycling, elevated LV wall stress, reactive interstitial fibrosis, and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, are discussed. Additionally, limitations of current HF therapies are reviewed, with a focus on how these therapies are designed to counteract the deleterious effects of compensatory neurohumoral activation but do not fully prevent disease progression. Finally, new investigational therapies that may improve the underlying molecular, cellular, and structural abnormalities associated with HF progression are reviewed.     

High prevalence of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in men referred for obesity treatment

BACKGROUND: Obesity can be associated with biochemical evidence of isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) in men. Prevalence and severity of IHH in obese men are not exactly known. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of IHH in obese men. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Cross-sectional study of 160 obese men, BMI >30 kg/m2, who applied for medical or surgical treatment of obesity in a general teaching hospital. Main outcome measures: Total and calculated free testosterone (TT and FT) in relation to body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Mean age of the study population was 43.3 +/- 0.8 years (mean +/- SEM), BMI ranged from 30.0 to 65.7 kg/m2. TT and FT levels were inversely related to BMI (-0.48, p<0.0001). Total testosterone was subnormal in 57.5% and free testosterone in 35.6% of the subjects. The group of men with IHH was more obese, had higher Hba IC levels and had a 2.6 higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Decreased libido and erectile dysfunction were 7.1 and 6.7 times as common in IHH than in eugonadal obese men. CONCLUSION: Reduced T levels, well into the hypogonadal range, are common in male obesity. Assessment of its clinical implications, and a search for the best mode of treatment are warranted.     

他克莫司在心脏移植患者体内的临床药动学

目的 :了解他克莫司在心脏移植患者体内的药代动力学特征 ,为患者实施用药的个体化。方法 :采集 4例心脏移植患者稳态时一个用药间隔 （τ）内 9个不同时间点血样 ,以微粒子酶标免疫分析法 （MEIA）测定全血中他克莫司的浓度 ,计算他克莫司在个体患者体内的药动学参数 ,并以此参数为依据实施用药的个体化。以他克莫司谷浓度结合患者临床疗效及不良反应的情况 ,总结他克莫司在心脏移植术后的治疗窗。结果 :患者口服他克莫司 （4～ 5mg/ 8h）后 ,其体内处置为一室开放模型 ,平均药动学参数 Tm ax,Cmax,T1 /2 ke和 AUC依次分别为 1.2± 0 .4h,2 9± 7m g· L- 1 ,7.6± 1.2 h和 2 75± 10 8mg· h- 1 · L- 1 。术后 1年来他克莫司谷浓度控制在 2 5～ 5 m g· L- 1 ,患者未出现严重的排斥或中毒反应。结论 :他克莫司药动学的个体差异较大 ,应加强全血谷浓度监测 ,确保用药的安全有效。他克莫司在心脏移植的治疗窗 （谷浓度 ）为 :0～ 1个月 15～ 2 0 mg· L- 1 ,1～ 3个月 10～ 15 mg· L- 1 ,3～ 6个月8～ 12 m g· L- 1 ,6个月后 5～ 8mg· L- 1 ,此浓度范围即可有满意的免疫抑制效果 ,又可减少他克莫司不良反应。     

老年男性272名勃起功能障碍患病情况调查

目的 了解老年男性勃起功能障碍患病情况，为临床诊治勃起功能障碍提供依据。方法 采用国际勃起功能指数评分的简化版中(IIEF-5)问卷调查性生活史，并回顾相关既往史、用药史和生活方式。结果 272名老年男性勃起功能障碍总患病率是89．7％，其中60～岁组是75．9％、70～岁组是78．6％、80～88岁组是100．0％；此次调查的老年男性中95．1％的高血压病患者伴发勃起功能障碍。结论 老年男性勃起功能障碍的患病率与年龄增长和高血压有关。     

Effects of short-term moderate exercise training on sexual function in male patients with chronic stable heart failure

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) have sexual dysfunction that impairs quality of life. Recent trials have demonstrated that exercise training (ET) improves quality of life (QOL) of CHF patients, but it is not established whether this benefit may be associated with an improvement in sexual dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ET can improve sexual dysfunction in patients with CHF. METHODS: We prospectively studied 59 male patients (57+/-9 years) with stable CHF in sinus rhythm and without prostatic disease. Patients were randomized into two groups. A group (T, n = 30) underwent supervised cycle ergometer ET at 60% of peak VO2, three times a week, 60 min each session, for 8 weeks. A group (NT, n = 29) was not exercised. Medications were not changed during the study. On study entry and at 8 weeks all patients underwent a symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing, brachial artery endothelium-dependent (ED) and endothelium-independent (EI) vasomotor responses, QOL and sexual activity profile assessment (SAP) by questionnaire. RESULTS: At 8 weeks, no changes were observed in control patients. In trained patients, however, peak VO2 improved by 18% (P < 0.005) and was correlated with QOL (r = 0.80; P < 0.001). Flow-mediated dilation improved in trained patients (from 2.29+/-1.13% to 5.04+/-1.7%, P = 0.0001), while EI dilation (after 0.3 mg sublingual NTG) did not. In group T, all three domains (i.e. Domain 1=relationship with the partner; Domain 2 = quality of penile erection; Domain 3 = personal wellness) were significantly improved from baseline (total score patients: from 3.49+/-3.4 to 6.17+/-3.2, P < 0.001; partners: from 2.47+/-2.7 to 4.87+/-2.5, P < 0.001). Pre-post training change in SAP total score was correlated with changes in coronary risk profile (r = -0.49; P = 0.01), peak VO2 (r = 0.67; P < 0.001) and QOL (r = 0.73; P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis selected the improvement in ED-vasomotor response as the strongest independent predictor of SAP improvement (r = 0.63, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In stable CHF, cycle ergometer ET significantly improves brachial artery endothelial dysfunction, suggesting a systemic effect of leg exercise. This benefit was correlated with improvements in sexual activity.     

Measurable immune dysfunction and telomere attrition in long-term allogeneic transplant recipients

This study was conducted to determine if the accelerated telomere attrition that occurs as a consequence of allogeneic stem cell transplantation leads to measurable functional defects. Telomere lengths in mononuclear leukocytes obtained from 15 long-term allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients and their respective donors were determined by Southern hybridization and densitometric analysis. Functional assays evaluated the ability of these cells to proliferate in response to a mitogenic stimulus and to differentiate under appropriate cytokine stimulation. Lymphocyte proliferation in response to phytohemagglutinin was determined by measurement of (3)[H]thymidine uptake. The ability of circulating myeloid cells to differentiate was determined after incubation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with IL-3 and GM-CSF. A total of 13 patients demonstrated telomeric loss, ranging from 0.1 to 3.7 kbp. Strikingly, lymphocytes from 14 of the 15 patients demonstrated a significant decrease in proliferation when compared to their respective donors (68%+/-22, P=0.001). All patients demonstrated at least a 50% decrease in the number of myeloid colony-forming units when compared to their respective donors (P<0.0001). A decreased ability of hematopoietic cells to proliferate and differentiate is phenotypically consistent with an aged immune system. This may correlate with diminished clinically relevant immune responses to infection or vaccination, as seen in the elderly.     

Assessment of sexual dysfunction in male patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

We evaluated sexual dysfunction in male patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using the Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory (BMSFI). We assessed sexual dysfunction using the BMSFI in male patients with AS followed at the outpatient clinic and compared results with those in healthy controls. Depression status was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory in AS patient and control group. The Bath AS functional index was used to measure functional status, the Bath AS metrology index was used to measure joint mobility, and the Bath AS disease activity index was used to evaluate disease activity in AS cases. Compared to healthy controls patients with AS had significantly lower sexual drive, erection, problem assessment and overall satisfaction scores according to the BMSFI. Ejaculation scores were also lower but not statistically significant. According to the Beck Depression Inventory, AS patients had higher scores than healthy controls (14.9 ± 9.4 and 10.3 ± 11.8, P = 0.026, respectively). As for the relation between the BMSFI domains and BDI scores, relation was found only in the domains of problem assessment and overall satisfaction (P < 0.05). The incidence rate of sexual dysfunction is higher in patients with AS, when compared to the healthy people. In patients with AS, sexual dysfunction was associated with depression and limited joint mobility.     

High prevalence of previously unknown heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes

Aims/hypothesis  

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of (unknown) heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction in older patients with type 2 diabetes.     

Coronary fistulas--high prevalence in patients with heart transplantation

Coronary artery fistulas have recently been reported to occur frequently in patients after heart transplantation due to repeated endomyocardial biopsies. To investigate if there is a relationship between development of coronary artery fistulas and the number of biopsies performed in transplanted patients, we studied the prevalence and localization of coronary artery fistulas in 168 patients after heart transplantation and in 100 control subjects. In addition to biplane ventriculography of the left ventricle, and in two-thirds of the patients the right ventricle as well, coronary angiography in multiple projections was performed at yearly intervals. The angiographic criterion for a coronary fistula was specified as visualization of a direct confluence from the arterial vascular lumen into a cardiac chamber, independent of size, which occurred prior to the venous phase, documented by opacification of the coronary sinus or great cardiac vein. The size of the fistula was assessed semi-quantitatively into one of three categories as small, barely detectable flow from a small arterial vessel with opacification of less than 10% of the involved chamber, large with direct flow from a large branch with opacification of more than one-third of the involved chamber (Figures 1a to 1c). Endomyocardial biopsies were performed weekly for the first three months after transplantation, thereafter, the interval was increased one week every three months. The prevalence of coronary fistulas in patients after heart transplantation was higher at 135/168 than in control subjects at 43/100. There were also more fistulas per patient (1.8 vs 0.67) in those transplanted than in control subjects (Figures 2a and 2b).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)