Nucleic acid and protein biosynthesis in the androgen-sensitive organs of intact male rats given the nonsteroid antiandrogen niftolide

In experiments on adult male rats it was found that the oral injection of non-steroid antiandrogen 4-nitro-3-trifluoromethylisobutyranilide (niftolide) in a dose of 25 mg/kg during 8 or 30 days induces atrophy of the accessory genital glands and the levator ani muscle and a decrease in the nucleic acid and protein content. Niftolide "castration" effect is realized through its ability to inhibit biosynthesis of these compounds in androgen-sensitive organs. The antiandrogen dose used exerted a potent prolonged antiandrogenic action, despite its stimulating effect upon the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-gonadal system.     

Noninvasive methods of the examination in surgery of obliterating atherosclerosis of lower extremity arteries

The purpose of the study was to determine surgical policy in atherosclerotic lesions of aorta and lower extremities arteries on the basis on non-invasive diagnostic methods--duplex scanning (DS) and computer tomographic angiography (CTA). From 1998 to 1999 47 patients were examined on this program (DS + CTA). At the first stage of the study, 17 patients underwent translumbal aorto-arteriography at the same time with DS and CTA. Analysis of the angiograms revealed that sensitivity of angiography for detection of lesions in aorto-iliac segment was 94%, in femoro-popliteal segment--78%. Diagnostic mistakes were associated with partial thrombosis of aneurysm's lumen, as a result of which the aorta looked non-dilated in angiograms. Femoral arteries contrasted unsatisfactory in 4 patients because of low collateral blood velocity distal to occlusion of iliac arteries. Initial segments of deep and superficial femoral arteries closed each other in angiograms on anterior-posterior projection, and it also led to low potential of angiography in assessment of femoral arteries state. Complex of non-invasive diagnostic methods (DS + CTA) allowed to correct diagnosis in each case. The methods complemented one another: CTA permitted to make three-dimensional reconstruction of vascular tree and to study its on various projections; DS--to study the vascular wall's state and hemodynamical parameters of blood flow. At the second stage of the study, high sensitivity of DS and CTA allowed to reject traditional angiography in preoperative period. Intraoperative findings confirmed the provisional diagnosis completely.     

Fetal Electrocardiogram Extraction and Analysis Using Adaptive Noise Cancellation and Wavelet Transformation Techniques

Birth defect-related demise is mainly due to congenital heart defects. In the earlier stage of pregnancy, fetus problem can be identified by finding information about the fetus to avoid stillbirths. The gold standard used to monitor the health status of the fetus is by Cardiotachography(CTG), cannot be used for long durations and continuous monitoring. There is a need for continuous and long duration monitoring of fetal ECG signals to study the progressive health status of the fetus using portable devices. The non-invasive method of electrocardiogram recording is one of the best method used to diagnose fetal cardiac problem rather than the invasive methods.The monitoring of the fECG requires development of a miniaturized hardware and a efficient signal processing algorithms to extract the fECG embedded in the mother ECG. The paper discusses a prototype hardware developed to monitor and record the raw mother ECG signal containing the fECG and a signal processing algorithm to extract the fetal Electro Cardiogram signal. We have proposed two methods of signal processing, first is based on the Least Mean Square (LMS) Adaptive Noise Cancellation technique and the other method is based on the Wavelet Transformation technique. A prototype hardware was designed and developed to acquire the raw ECG signal containing the mother and fetal ECG and the signal processing techniques were used to eliminate the noises and extract the fetal ECG and the fetal Heart Rate Variability was studied. Both the methods were evaluated with the signal acquired from a fetal ECG simulator, from the Physionet database and that acquired from the subject. Both the methods are evaluated by finding heart rate and its variability, amplitude spectrum and mean value of extracted fetal ECG. Also the accuracy, sensitivity and positive predictive value are also determined for fetal QRS detection technique. In this paper adaptive filtering technique uses Sign-sign LMS algorithm and wavelet techniques with Daubechies wavelet, employed along with de noising techniques for the extraction of fetal Electrocardiogram.Both the methods are having good sensitivity and accuracy. In adaptive method the sensitivity is 96.83, accuracy 89.87, wavelet sensitivity is 95.97 and accuracy is 88.5. Additionally, time domain parameters from the plot of heart rate variability of mother and fetus are analyzed.     

International Impact of COVID-19 on the Diagnosis of Heart Disease

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely affected diagnosis and treatment of noncommunicable diseases. Its effects on delivery of diagnostic care for cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death worldwide, have not been quantified.ObjectivesThe study sought to assess COVID-19’s impact on global cardiovascular diagnostic procedural volumes and safety practices.MethodsThe International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing alterations in cardiovascular procedure volumes and safety practices resulting from COVID-19. Noninvasive and invasive cardiac testing volumes were obtained from participating sites for March and April 2020 and compared with those from March 2019. Availability of personal protective equipment and pandemic-related testing practice changes were ascertained.ResultsSurveys were submitted from 909 inpatient and outpatient centers performing cardiac diagnostic procedures, in 108 countries. Procedure volumes decreased 42% from March 2019 to March 2020, and 64% from March 2019 to April 2020. Transthoracic echocardiography decreased by 59%, transesophageal echocardiography 76%, and stress tests 78%, which varied between stress modalities. Coronary angiography (invasive or computed tomography) decreased 55% (p < 0.001 for each procedure). In multivariable regression, significantly greater reduction in procedures occurred for centers in countries with lower gross domestic product. Location in a low-income and lower–middle-income country was associated with an additional 22% reduction in cardiac procedures and less availability of personal protective equipment and telehealth.ConclusionsCOVID-19 was associated with a significant and abrupt reduction in cardiovascular diagnostic testing across the globe, especially affecting the world’s economically challenged. Further study of cardiovascular outcomes and COVID-19–related changes in care delivery is warranted.     

Apheresis of low density lipoproteins using a heparin-based sorbent with low antithrombin III binding capacity

A sorbent based on heparin fraction with low affinity for antithrombin III is proposed for low density lipoproteins apheresis in hypercholesterolemia. Heparin was fractionated on antithrombin III-Sepharose; fractions with high and low affinity for antithrombin III were immobilized on CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. Both sorbents appeared to have an LDL-binding capacity essentially similar to that of the sorbent based on unfractionated heparin. However only plasmasorption on a low affinity heparin-containing sorbent did not reduce plasma antithrombin III. Hence the use of this sorbent may be advantageous over the currently applied sorbents with unfractionated heparin in the treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia.     

Acute severe asthma

Acute exacerbations of asthma are very common reasons for a presentation to emergency departments. This paper focuses on defining the high‐risk group, consideration of the concept of phenotypes of acute asthma, the assessment of severe and life‐threatening exacerbations and an emphasis on the management of the more severe end of the exacerbation severity. A number of evidence‐based guidelines exist throughout the world and are all slightly different. This reflects the poor evidence base for some of those recommendations. Thus, a large variation of treatment drugs, doses and regimen are used and clearly not standardised. This paper aims to present a summary of the best evidence and discuss some of these controversies. The most important aspect of treating an exacerbation of acute asthma is to review regularly and assess response to treatment. Severe and life‐threatening episodes should be treated with early use of intravenous treatment in a stepwise manner following the local guidelines. Non‐invasive ventilation and high flow nasal cannulae delivery of oxygen in the emergency department are evolving modalities, but evidence for their use is currently limited.