Search results for "Class"

Intracerebral Abscess Caused by Actinomyces israelii

2020

We describe a case of 49-years old female with a medical history of penicillin allergy, who suffered from brain infection caused by Actinomyces israelii. Therefore, the available therapy was metronidazole, ceftriaxone, and chloramphenicol. Due to a deterioration of the general and neurological condition of the patient, it was decided to perform a scratch skin test on penicillin, which was negative. After that, penicillin was administrated parenterally. The patient showed no hypersensitive reaction. Improvement was achieved. The patient underwent three subsequent surgeries due to primary and recurrent brain abscesses. There was a distinct improvement in her clinical status. Two months after …

Chronic periodontitis impairs polymorphonuclear leucocyte-endothelium cell interactions and oxidative stress in humans.

2018

Aim To evaluate the relationship between oxidative stress parameters in polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) and PMN-endothelial cell interactions in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) according to different degrees of severity of the disease. Materials and methods For this cross-sectional study, 182 subjects were divided into four groups according to degree of CP: without CP (n = 37), mild CP (n = 59), moderate CP (n = 51), and severe CP (n = 35). We determined anthropometric and biochemical variables, periodontal parameters, inflammatory markers, oxidative stress parameters (superoxide and mitochondrial membrane potential), and PMN-endothelium cell interactions (rolling flux, velocit…

Inspiratory Muscle Training and Functional Electrical Stimulation for Treatment of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Rationale and Stud…

2016

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has become the most prevalent form of heart failure in developed countries. Regrettably, there is no evidence-based effective therapy for HFpEF. We seek to evaluate whether inspiratory muscle training, functional electrical stimulation, or a combination of both can improve exercise capacity as well as left ventricular diastolic function, biomarker profile, quality of life (QoL), and prognosis in patients with HFpEF. A total of 60 stable symptomatic patients with HFpEF (New York Heart Association class II-III/IV) will be randomized (1:1:1:1) to receive a 12-week program of inspiratory muscle training, functional electrical stimulation, a…

Nitric oxide synthases: regulation and function

2011

Nitric oxide (NO), the smallest signalling molecule known, is produced by three isoforms of NO synthase (NOS; EC 1.14.13.39). They all utilize l-arginine and molecular oxygen as substrates and require the cofactors reduced nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), flavin mononucleotide (FMN), and (6R-)5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)). All NOS bind calmodulin and contain haem. Neuronal NOS (nNOS, NOS I) is constitutively expressed in central and peripheral neurons and some other cell types. Its functions include synaptic plasticity in the central nervous system (CNS), central regulation of blood pressure, smooth muscle relaxation, and vasodila…

eNOS Uncoupling in Cardiovascular Diseases - the Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

2013

Many cardiovascular diseases and drug-induced complications are associated with - or even based on - an imbalance between the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and antioxidant enzymes catalyzing the break-down of these harmful oxidants. According to the “kindling radical” hypothesis, the formation of RONS may trigger in certain conditions the activation of additional sources of RONS. According to recent reports, vascular dysfunction in general and cardiovascular complications such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and coronary artery diseases may be connected to inflammatory processes. The present review is focusing on the uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthas…

Dexamethasone suppresses eNOS and CAT-1 and induces oxidative stress in mouse resistance arterioles

2004

Long-term treatment with glucocorticoids is associated with mild to moderate hypertension. We reported previously that downregulation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression and activity is likely to contribute to this increase in blood pressure. In the present study, we tested the effects of dexamethasone on the vasodilation of microvascular arterioles using implanted dorsal skin-fold chambers in anesthetized C57BL/6J mice. Experiments were performed on control mice or on mice treated with dexamethasone (0.1–3 mg/kg of body wt). Endothelium-dependent vasodilation in response to ACh (0.1–10 μM) was reduced by dexamethasone in a dose-dependent fashion. Comparable inhibition was seen in …

PPARγ as an indicator of vascular function in an experimental model of metabolic syndrome in rabbits

2021

Abstract Background and aims Underlying mechanisms associated with vascular dysfunction in metabolic syndrome (MetS) remain unclear and can even vary from one vascular bed to another. Methods In this study, MetS was induced by a high-fat, high-sucrose diet, and after 28 weeks, aorta and renal arteries were removed and used for isometric recording of tension in organ baths, protein expression by Western blot, and histological analysis to assess the presence of atherosclerosis. Results MetS induced a mild hypertension, pre-diabetes, central obesity and dyslipidaemia. Our results indicated that MetS did not change the contractile response in either the aorta or renal artery. Conversely, vasodi…

Stability of Ascorbic Acid in Several Blood Collecting Procedures

2003

Purpose: There is good evidence that ascorbic acid (AA) status influences the onset of post-operative complications in intensive care patients. Light and room temperature cause the spontaneous oxidation of AA. Therefore, the stability of AA during modified sample preparation was investigated. Design: Prospective, single centre study. Methods: The AA plasma concentration was analysed in arterial and venous blood with added ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) from 165 subjects. In addition, EDTA or heparin was added as an anticoagulant in venous blood of 79 subjects. Analyses were carried out using high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Results: In samples of…

2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of self-reported restrictive eating, current or past eating disorder, and menstrual dysfunction and their relationships with injuries. Furthermore, we aimed to compare these prevalences and associations between younger (aged 15–24) and older (aged 25–45) athletes, between elite and non-elite athletes, and between athletes competing in lean and non-lean sports. Data were collected using a web-based questionnaire. Participants were 846 female athletes representing 67 different sports. Results showed that 25%, 18%, and 32% of the athletes reported restrictive eating, eating disorders, and menstrual dysfunction, respectively. Higher ra…

Effects of alfa-hydroxy-isocaproic acid on body composition, DOMS and performance in athletes

2010

Abstract Background Alfa-Hydroxy-isocaproic acid (HICA) is an end product of leucine metabolism in human tissues such as muscle and connective tissue. According to the clinical and experimental studies, HICA can be considered as an anti-catabolic substance. The present study investigated the effects of HICA supplementation on body composition, delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) and physical performance of athletes during a training period. Methods Fifteen healthy male soccer players (age 22.1+/-3.9 yr) volunteered for the 4-week double-blind study during an intensive training period. The subjects in the group HICA (n = 8) received 583 mg of sodium salt of HICA (corresponding 500 mg of …