Protection of Azidothymidine-Induced Cardiopathology in Mice by Mildronate, a Mitochondria-Targeted Drug
Azidothymidine, a nucleoside-analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), is a commonly used antiretroviral drug in AIDS treatment, however its use is limited by severe toxic side effects due to its influence on mitochondria that result in myopathy, particularly affecting the cardiac muscle. We suggest that effective protection of azidothymidine- induced cardiopathology can be expected from drugs that are capable of targeting mitochondria. Therefore the present study in mice was carried out with mildronate, a cardioprotective drug of the aza-butyrobetaine class, which previously has been shown to act as a highly potent protector of mitochondrial processes. In our study, saline (control)…
Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Latvia under low incidence in Spring 2020
ABSTRACTBackgroundCOVID-19 is a new infectious disease with severe disease course and high mortality in some groups. Blood tests on admission to the hospital can be useful for stratification of patients and timely correction. Our study investigated the clinical features of COVID-19 patients in Latvia and differences in blood tests in groups with different disease severity.MethodsThe retrospective study included 100 patients hospitalized in Riga East Clinical University Hospital in Spring 2020. The severity of the disease course was classified by the presence of pneumonia and its combination with respiratory failure. We have assessed blood cells’ count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte se…
Therapeutic effect of fractionated by ultrafiltration red beetroot (Beta vulgaris l.) juice in rats with food-induced fatty liver
The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), being a component of metabolic syndrome, has increased (15-27%) in the industrialized world. The deep mechanism of this pathology is not clear, but it is multifactorial. There is a huge amount of food supplements and medicines with hepatoprotective effect on the market, but the NAFLD problem is far from being resolved. Hepatoprotective products have to provide wide spectra of biological effects, including antioxidant, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory action. It is peculiar to natural compounds, including red beetroot juice, which is well known to most of the population. This is important in view of the high prevalence of NAFLD. Th…
Post‐COVID ‐19 Liver Injury: Comprehensive Imaging With Multiparametric Ultrasound
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to define patterns of liver injury after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection using multiparametric ultrasound (mpUS) in a variable patient population with differing severities of COVID-19. METHODS: Ninety patients were enrolled into the study: 56 had SARS-CoV-2 3-9 months prior to enrolment; 34 served as a clinically healthy control group. All patients underwent an mpUS evaluation of the liver (elastography, dispersion and attenuation imaging). Seventy-six patients had abdominal magnetic resonance (MR) and noncontrast enhanced thoracic computed tomography (CT) scans performed at the same day. All patients were screened for bioc…
Electrocardiographic Abnormalities and Mortality in Epilepsy Patients
Background and Objectives: People with epilepsy (PWE) have a 2–3 times higher mortality rate than the general population. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) comprises a significant proportion of premature deaths, whereas sudden cardiac death (SCD) is among the leading causes of sudden death in the general population. Cardiac pathologies are significantly more prevalent in PWE. Whether electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters are associated with remote death in PWE has yet to be elucidated. The study objective was to assess whether interictal ECG parameters are associated with mortality in the long-term. Materials and Methods: The study involved 471 epilepsy patients who were hospitali…