Nutritional composition of Plantago species (P. Major L., P. Lanceolata L., and P. Media L.)

Analyses of the nutrients are given for the leaves of wild Plantago major L., P. lanceolata L. and P. media L., from different locations of the southeast of Spain. The proximate composition, mineral elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and P), fatty acids, vitamins (vitamin C and carotenes), nitrate and oxalic acid were determined. The results show the low proportion of available carbohydrates, ranging from 1.99 g (P. major) to 2.81 g (P. lanceolata) (per 100 g fresh weight). Oxalic acid was found in low amounts, between 33.5 mg (P. media) and 88.2 mg (P. lanceolata) (100 g f wt). P. major had the highest amounts of vitamin C (45.1 mg/100g f. wt.) and calcium (108mg/100g f. wt.). Polyunsaturated fatty acids were high in all species, ranging from 38.97% (P. media) to 46.07% (P. lanceolata). Nutrient ratios (K/Na; Ca/P and oxalic acid/Ca) were found to be favourable in most cases.     

Prospective Evaluation of Transseptal TMVR for Failed Surgical Bioprostheses: MITRAL Trial Valve-in-Valve Arm 1-Year Outcomes

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess 1-year clinical outcomes among high-risk patients with failed surgical mitral bioprostheses who underwent transseptal mitral valve-in-valve (MViV) with the SAPIEN 3 aortic transcatheter heart valve (THV) in the MITRAL (Mitral Implantation of Transcatheter Valves) trial.BackgroundThe MITRAL trial is the first prospective study evaluating transseptal MViV with the SAPIEN 3 aortic THV in high-risk patients with failed surgical mitral bioprostheses.MethodsHigh-risk patients with symptomatic moderate to severe or severe mitral regurgitation (MR) or severe mitral stenosis due to failed surgical mitral bioprostheses were prospectively enrolled. The primary safety endpoint was technical success. The primary THV performance endpoint was absence of MR grade ≥2+ or mean mitral valve gradient ≥10 mm Hg (30 days and 1 year). Secondary endpoints included procedural success and all-cause mortality (30 days and 1 year).ResultsThirty patients were enrolled between July 2016 and October 2017 (median age 77.5 years [interquartile range (IQR): 70.3 to 82.8 years], 63.3% women, median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score 9.4% [IQR: 5.8% to 12.0%], 80% in New York Heart Association functional class III or IV). The technical success rate was 100%. The primary performance endpoint in survivors was achieved in 96.6% (28 of 29) at 30 days and 82.8% (24 of 29) at 1 year. Thirty-day all-cause mortality was 3.3% and was unchanged at 1 year. The only death was due to airway obstruction after swallowing several pills simultaneously 29 days post-MViV. At 1-year follow-up, 89.3% of patients were in New York Heart Association functional class I or II, the median mean mitral valve gradient was 6.6 mm Hg (interquartile range: 5.5 to 8.9 mm Hg), and all patients had MR grade ≤1+.ConclusionsTransseptal MViV in high-risk patients was associated with 100% technical success, low procedural complication rates, and very low mortality at 1 year. The vast majority of patients experienced significant symptom alleviation, and THV performance remained stable at 1 year.     

Myocardial infarction and 5,10-methylenetetrahydro-folate reductase mutation

A 40-year-old woman with previous venous thrombosis in the lower limbs had recurrent myocardial infarction in the early puerperium. The only documented risk factor was an elevated level of plasma homocysteine, associated to a heterozygotic anomaly in the enzyme responsible for its metabolism, 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. The case and approaches to treatment are discussed.     

Evidence for a Ca(2+)-gated ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channel in visceral smooth muscle.

Although a role for the ryanodine receptor (RyR) in Ca2+ signaling in smooth muscle has been inferred, direct information on the biochemical and functional properties of the receptor has been largely lacking. Studies were thus carried out to purify and characterize the RyR in stomach smooth muscle cells from the toad Bufo marinus. Intracellular Ca2+ measurements with the Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent indicator fura-2 under voltage clamp indicated the presence of a caffeine- and ryanodine-sensitive internal store for Ca2+ in these cells. The (CHAPS)-solubilized, [3H]ryanodine-labeled RyR of toad smooth muscle was partially purified from microsomal membranes by rate density centrifugation as a 30-S protein complex. SDS/PAGE indicated the comigration of a high molecular weight polypeptide with the peak attributed to 30-S RyR, which had a mobility similar to the cardiac RyR and on immunoblots cross-reacted with a monoclonal antibody to the canine cardiac RyR. Following planar lipid bilayer reconstitution of 30-S stomach muscle RyR fractions, single-channel currents (830 pS with 250 mM K+ as the permeant ion) were observed that were activated by Ca2+ and modified by ryanodine. In vesicle-45Ca2+ efflux measurements, the toad channel was activated to a greater extent at 100-1000 microM than 1-10 microM Ca2+. These results suggest that toad stomach muscle contains a ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channel with properties similar but not identical to those of the mammalian skeletal and cardiac Ca(2+)-release channels.     

Giant right atrial thrombi treated with thrombolysis

The present report describes giant atrial thrombi that were treated with thrombolysis in a community hospital. Two patients with giant atrial thrombi whose treatment involved complications are presented. Both patients developed cardiogenic shock and were treated unsuccessfully with thrombolysis. Because thrombolysis of giant thrombi may be ineffective, patients in this situation may require surgery.     

Mechanism of ischemic mitral regurgitation with segmental left ventricular dysfunction: three-dimensional echocardiographic studies in models of acute and chronic progressive regurgitation

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to separate proposed mechanisms for segmental ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR), including left ventricular (LV) dysfunction versus geometric distortion by LV dilation, using models of acute and chronic segmental ischemic LV dysfunction evaluated by three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography. BACKGROUND: Dysfunction and dilation-both mechanisms with practical therapeutic implications-are difficult to separate in patients. METHODS: In seven dogs with acute left circumflex (LCX) coronary ligation, LV expansion was initially restricted and then permitted to occur. In seven sheep with LCX branch ligation, LV expansion was also initially limited but became prominent with remodeling over eight weeks. Three-dimensional echo reconstruction quantified mitral apparatus geometry and MR volume. RESULTS: In the acute model, despite LV dysfunction with ejection fraction = 23 +/- 8%, MR was initially trace with limited LV dilation, but it became moderate with subsequent prominent dilation. In the chronic model, MR was also initially trace, but it became moderate over eight weeks as the LV dilated and changed shape. In both models, the only independent predictor of MR volume was increased tethering distance from the papillary muscles (PMs) to the anterior annulus, especially medial and posterior shift of the ischemic medial PM, measured by 3D reconstruction (r2 = 0.75 and 0.86, respectively). Mitral regurgitation volume did not correlate with LV ejection fraction or dP/dt. CONCLUSIONS: Segmental ischemic LV contractile dysfunction without dilation, even in the PM territory, fails to produce important MR. The development of MR relates strongly to changes in the 3D geometry of the mitral apparatus, with implications for approaches to restore a more favorable configuration.     

An improved method of 90% pancreatectomy using a low dose of streptozotocin at the pancreaticoduodenal artery results in a rapid diabetic stage in dogs

Abstract An improved method of inducing diabetes in dogs was developed. This method included 90% pancreatectomy, 2 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) perfused into pancreaticoduodenal artery, and the fixation suture of the duodenum to the costo-abdominal wall. Vasopressin injection administered to the animals before surgery reduced bleeding. All dogs used in this procedure survived and became diabetic. One month after the procedure the pancreatic islets were reduced in volume and the number compared with pancreas tissue obtained during the surgery. Acinar tissue remained with a normal histology, and exocrine function maintained the physiological parameters, except for a soft faecal consistency. We conclude that this procedure is effective in inducing experimental diabetes in dogs.