Echocardiographic screening for mitral valve prolapse in Turkish school children

The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging - We determined the frequency of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in healthy Turkish school children using the current echocardiographic diagnostic...     

Fear of COVID-19 and Positivity: Mediating Role of Intolerance of Uncertainty,Depression, Anxiety,and Stress

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty, depression, anxiety, and stress in the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and positivity. The participants consisted of 960 individuals, including 663 females (69.1%) and 297 males (30.9%). The age of the participants ranged between 18 and 76 (29.74 ± 9.64). As a result of the correlation analysis, a positive relationship was found between fear of COVID-19 and intolerance of uncertainty, depression, anxiety, and stress, and a negative relationship was determined between the fear of COVID-19 and positivity. The result of the analysis for the study model indicated that there was a mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty, depression, anxiety, and stress in the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and positivity. Eliminating uncertainty from the fear of COVID-19 will contribute to reducing depression, anxiety and stress, and increasing positivity.

     

Pravastatin vs gemfibrozil in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia. The Italian Multicenter Pravastatin Study I

This study compared the efficacy and safety of pravastatin and gemfibrozil in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia. Three hundred eighty-five outpatients from 13 lipid clinics in Italy participated in this randomized double-blind study. Patients were assigned to receive either 40 mg once daily of pravastatin or 600 mg of gemfibrozil twice daily after an initial diet lead-in period. After 24 weeks, mean reductions from baseline values of plasma total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were, respectively, 23% and 30% with pravastatin and 14% and 17% with gemfibrozil. Significant lipid-lowering effects were noted within 4 weeks. Apolipoprotein B decrease was 21% with pravastatin and 13% with gemfibrozil. A statistically significant increase of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of 5% was achieved with pravastatin compared with a 13% increase for gemfibrozil. Serum triglyceride values decreased 5% with pravastatin and 37% with gemfibrozil. Familial and polygenic hypercholesterolemic patients were also examined separately. Pravastatin effectiveness in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was greater by 6% in polygenic than in familial hypercholesterolemic patients. Treatment for 25 patients (eight treated with pravastatin and 17 treated with gemfibrozil) was discontinued during the study. The incidence of clinical symptoms and laboratory alterations was low for both treatment groups. Pravastatin and gemfibrozil were well tolerated, but pravastatin was significantly more effective in reducing total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in primary (either familial or polygenic) hypercholesterolemias than gemfibrozil.     

The Release of Isoconazole Nitrate from Different Suppository Bases: In-vivo Release of Drug Labelled with 99mTc in Rabbits

The influence of the suppository bases on the in-vivo release of ^99mTc-labelled isoconazole nitrate was investigated. The single-dose vaginal suppository formulations for local treatment of vaginitis were prepared by a fusion method using polyethylene glycols, Witepsol H15, Novata BD and Cremao. Prepared vaginal suppositories containing solid-labelled substance were applied to the vagina of rabbits and at 0, 2 and 24 h after administration, the amounts of radioactivity in the vagina were detected by the SPECT Gamma Camera and the release rates of the drug were calculated. The percent released was found to be in the following order; polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 > PEG 4000 > Witepsol > PEG 1500 > Novata BD > Cremao. The results obtained in both in-vitro and in-vivo studies indicated that the vaginal suppository of isoconazole nitrate prepared with polyethylene glycols could confidently be used in therapy.     

What is the true incidence of horizontal semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correct incidence of horizontal semicircular canal (H-SCC) benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective assessment of patients with BPPV. METHODS: All patients with BPPV were included and the rates of involvement of posterior, horizontal, and anterior SCCs were determined. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-nine patients with the diagnosis of BPPV were evaluated. One hundred forty-four patients (85.2%) were found to have posterior SCC (P-SCC) involvement, and there were 20 patients (11.8%) with horizontal SCC (H-SCC) and 2 patients (1.2%) with anterior SCC (A-SCC) involvement. Three patients (1.8%) had simultaneous H-SCC and P-SCC BPPV ipsilaterally. Geotropic nystagmus was seen in 17 out of 23 patients (73.9%) in roll test, and ageotropic nystagmus was seen in the remaining 6 patients (26.1%). CONCLUSION: H-SCC constitutes 13.6% of all BPPV cases. H-SCC BPPV with geotropic nystagmus is more common. H-SCC BPPV can coexist with ipsilateral P-SCC BPPV. However, in some cases of H-SCC BPPV, Dix-Hallpike maneuver can cause vertigo and horizontal nystagmus. This may be confused with P-SCC BPPV. Therefore, the roll test must be performed in all cases in addition to Dix-Hallpike maneuver and both ears must be evaluated with respect to all SCCs for BPPV. EBM rating: C-4.     

Combined superior-transseptal approach to the left atrium

The combined superior-transseptal approach to the left atrium was used in 22 patients: to perform a mitral valve repair in 14 patients and mitral valve replacement in 8 patients. Mitral valve operation was combined with other cardiac procedures in 18 patients (82%) and was performed as a reoperation in 3 patients (14%). In all cases there was excellent exposure of the complete mitral annulus and subvalvar apparatus. There were no instances of postoperative bleeding, conduction defects, or intraatrial shunting related to the approach. The combined superior-transseptal approach to the left atrium is an excellent approach that can be used in most reoperations and primary procedures for isolated or combined mitral valve operations.     

Mitochondrial complex I and IV activities in leukocytes from patients with parkin mutations.

The parkin protein functions as a RING-type ubiquitin protein ligase. Considering the possibility that impaired ubiquitin-proteosomal system activity may impair antioxidant defenses and enhance oxidative stress, we have investigated the activity of mitochondrial respiratory enzymes in patients with parkin gene mutations. A significant decrease in the leukocyte complex I activity was found both in patients with parkin mutations (62.5%) and idiopathic PD (64.5%) compared with age-matched controls (P < 0.001). Complex IV activity was also decreased significantly in idiopathic PD patients (60%), but no difference was detected between controls and patients with parkin mutations.