Impact of Cardiovascular Interventions on the Quality of Life in the Elderly

INTRODUCTION

The elderly population is growing rapidly. Political and socio-economic changes led to the demographic transition in this population with the highest number of surgeries and as well as many comorbidities.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of cardiovascular intervention on quality of life of elderly patients after three and six months.

METHODS

Analytical prospective cohort study with elderly between 60 and 80 years of age, of both sexes, with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease and underwent cardiovascular intervention during the period June 2010 to June 2011. Data were collected by individual interviews in the pre and postoperative periods (after three and six months) by telephone. We used the SF-36 to analyse quality of life in order to assess the physical and mental health of the study population.

RESULTS

Of the 44 individuals evaluated, 59.1% were men, 75% in the range of 65 to 74 years, 38.6% were white and 38.6% were black, 31.8% were uneducated, 43.2% were married and 68.2% had less than a minimum wage. Prevailed patients: non-diabetics (68.2%), non-obese (81.8%), hypertensive (84.1%), non-alcoholic and non-smokers (68.2% and 61.4%, respectively). A significant increase in the average of the SF-36 scores between pre and post-surgical periods (three and six months) for the domains: functional capacity, pain, general health, vitality and emotional aspect.

CONCLUSION

The elderly population undergoing intervention may have cardiovascular benefits and improvements of quality of life. Physical fitness improvement measures can be taken to resume that capability.     

IgMs produced by two acquired immune deficiency syndrome lymphoma cell lines: Ig binding specificity and VH-gene putative somatic mutation analysis [published erratum appears in Blood 1994 Aug 1;84(3):995]

Two B-cell lines, 2F7 and 10C9, were established by single cell cloning from biopsies obtained from two acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients with Burkitt's lymphoma. Representation of the original tumors was verified by demonstration of (1) identical biallelic rearrangement of Ig genes for 2F7 and (2) shared idiotype for 10C9. Both cell lines displayed cell-surface Ig and secreted Ig (IgM lambda for 2F7, IgM kappa for 10C9). IgMs from both cell lines immunoprecipitated actin; in addition, 2F7 IgM lambda immunoprecipitated recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp 160. 2F7 IgM lambda did not react with other autoantigens (double-stranded and single-stranded DNA, actin, bovine serum albumin, IgG), whereas 10C9 IgM kappa reacted with human IgG. The 2F7 IgM heavy-chain variable region (VH) showed a 95% nucleotide homology with a previously sequenced VHIII germline gene, hv3019b9, whereas the 10C9 IgM VH showed a 95% homology with a previously sequenced VHIV germline gene, VH4.21. Use of minimally modified VH genes and demonstration of reactivity with chronically present antigens (ie, actin, HIV-1 gp 160, or human IgG) suggests that B cells in HIV-1-infected individuals proliferating in response to chronic antigenic stimulation may be at increased risk for lymphomagenesis.     

Evaluación multimodal de la degeneración estructural de válvulas percutáneas en el seguimiento a largo plazo

Introduction and objectivesWe assessed the long-term hemodynamic performance of transcatheter heart valve (THV) by paired transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and the incidence, characteristics and factors associated with THV structural valve degeneration (SVD).MethodsA total of 212 patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement and had a potential follow-up > 5 years with at least 1 TTE ≥ 1-year postprocedure were included. All patients had a TTE at 1 to 5 years and 36 had another one at 6 to 10 years. SVD was defined as subclinical (increase > 10 mmHg in mean transvalvular gradient +  decrease > 0.3 cm² in valve area and/or new-onset mild or moderate aortic regurgitation) and clinically relevant (increase > 20 mmHg in mean transvalvular gradient + decrease > 0.6 cm² in valve area and/or new-onset moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation). Fifteen patients had a transesophageal echocardiography at the time of SVD diagnosis, and 85 an opportunistic computed tomography examination at 1 (0.5-2) years.ResultsTransvalvular mean gradient increased and valve area decreased over time (P < .01). At 8 years of follow-up, SVD occurred in 30.2% of patients (clinically relevant: 9.3%). Transesophageal echocardiography revealed thickened and reduced-mobility leaflets in 80% and 73% of SVD cases, respectively. No baseline or procedural factors were associated with SVD. THV underexpansion (3.5%) or eccentricity (8.2%) had no impact on valve hemodynamics/SVD at follow-up.ConclusionsA gradual THV hemodynamic deterioration occurred throughout a 10-year period, leading to SVD in ～30% of patients (clinically relevant in < 10%). Leaflet morphology/mobility were frequently impaired in SVD cases, but THV geometry did not influence valve hemodynamics or SVD.     

In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy of Amphotericin B Combined with Posaconazole against Experimental Disseminated Sporotrichosis

We evaluated the combination of posaconazole with amphotericin B in vitro and in a murine model of systemic infections caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis and Sporothrix schenckii sensu stricto. In vitro data demonstrated a synergistic effect, and although posaconazole alone was effective against sporotrichosis, efficacy in terms of survival and burden reduction was increased with the combination. This combination might be an option against disseminated sporotrichosis, especially when itraconazole or amphotericin B at optimal doses are contraindicated.     

Mitochondrial respiratory chain in brain homogenates: activities in different brain areas in patients with Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The potential influence of impaired oxidative metabolism in the modulation of manifestations in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) has attracted much attention in the last 50 years. Unfortunately, many clinical and experimental results aiming at proving this hypothesis are still controversial. The aim was to study the enzymatic activities of respiratory chain (RC) complexes I through V in three brain areas of a group of patients with definite AD, and to compare the results with a group of normal brains. We simultaneously assessed the lipid peroxidation of the samples as a measure of free radical damage. METHODS: The specific activity of the individual complexes of the RC was measured spectrophotometrically, and the loss of cis-parinaric acid fluorescence was used to determine the chemical process of lipid peroxidation. RESULTS: We were not able to detect differences in any of the analyzed RC enzymatic activities, or in the level of lipid peroxidation between patients with AD and controls. Instead, differences were found in the number of mitochondria and in the intrinsic enzymatic activities of complexes III and IV in various brain areas. CONCLUSIONS: Spectrophotometric enzymatic analyses of respiratory complexes in brain homogenates do not support the primary contribution of mitochondrial RC dysfunction in the pathogenesis of AD.