scholarly journals Perioperative use of levosimendan in cardiac surgery

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
V. V. Lomivorotov ◽  
A. A. Yeremenko ◽  
V. A. Boboshko ◽  
M. N. Abubakirov

<div data-canvas-width="623.7918644546122">It is known that low cardiac output in patients undergoing cardiac surgery is associated with organ dysfunction and mortality in the postoperative period. Catecholamines have been the standard therapy for many years, although they carry substantial risks for adverse cardiac and systemic effects, and have been reported to be associated with increased mortality. On the other hand, the calcium sensitiser and potassium channel opener levosimendan has been shown to improve the cardiac function with</div><div data-canvas-width="623.8018800588713">no imbalance in oxygen consumption, and to have protective effects in other organs. Several clinical trials have found beneficial effects of cardiogenic and non-cardiogenic perioperative use of levosimendan. The aim of this article was to describe the mechanism of levosimendan action, as well as to overview the current data regarding its clinical application.</div><div data-canvas-width="623.8018800588713"><span><br /></span></div><div data-canvas-width="623.8018800588713"><span>Received 22 April 2015. Accepted 18 June 2015.</span></div><div data-canvas-width="311.3250427845475"> </div><div data-canvas-width="311.3250427845475"> </div>

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (03) ◽  
pp. 587-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willmann Liang ◽  
David T. Yew ◽  
Kam Lun Hon ◽  
Chun Kwok Wong ◽  
Timothy C. Y. Kwok ◽  
...  

The last decade has seen a wealth of information reporting the beneficial effects of Chinese herbal medicines. While a lot more studies were done using in vitro and in vivo research platforms, much fewer investigations were conducted according to evidence-based requirements in clinical settings. The Institute of Chinese Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has had the opportunity to collaborate with clinicians over the years to initiate and conduct dozens of clinical trials investigating and verifying the therapeutic values of Chinese herbs in selected disease conditions. Of the many disorders, we chose to focus on those that are known for their difficulties achieving perfect results with conventional treatment methods. Examples include non-healing ulcers, allergic conditions, degenerative diseases and cancer. Protective effects of the herbs in such chronic diseases as coronary artery disease and osteoporosis were also part of our focus. Even in healthy individuals and those recovering from chemotherapy, Chinese herbs could help with the immune system and were studied in our clinical trials as well. This paper aims to highlight the important findings from these clinical studies while at the same time, stressing the indispensable value of clinical trials in modernizing the use of Chinese herbs in present-day medicine.


2017 ◽  
Vol 158 (5) ◽  
pp. 163-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Attila Frigy ◽  
Márta Germán-Salló ◽  
Lehel Máthé ◽  
Mónika Szabó

Abstract: The association of diabetes and heart failure is very common, furthermore, the pathophysiology and clinical course of the two entities have many crossing-points. Today, the spectrum of available anti-diabetic drugs is extremely wide, ranging from the classical (insulin, biguanides, sulphonylureas) to the most recent agents (gliptins, gliflozins). The cardiovascular effects of these drugs are multiple, their knowledge is important in the everyday practice, as the use of safe drugs regarding of heart failure is preferred. Our work provides an overview of each class of drugs after the presentation of the mechanism of action and the main representatives, the effects on the cardiovascular system, including those on heart failure will be described, mentioning the results of the most important clinical trials. The available data confirm the beneficial effects of metformin and gliflozins and the harmful effect of thiazolidinediones in heart failure. The other classes of drugs are permitted in heart failure, but it is important to continuously monitor the signs of decompensation. Orv. Hetil., 2017. 158(5), 163–171.


2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (S 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Deiters ◽  
H Welp ◽  
J Graf ◽  
A Löher ◽  
S Schneider ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
G.G. Khubulava ◽  
A.B. Naumov ◽  
S.P. Marchenko ◽  
O.Yu. Chupaeva ◽  
A.A. Seliverstova ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Guang-Yi ◽  
Ge Li-Sha ◽  
Li Yue-Chun

The morbidity of myocarditis demonstrates an upward tendency by years, is commonly defined as the inflammation of myocytes and is caused by multiple factors. With the development of the molecular biological technique, great breakthroughs in the diagnosis and understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of myocarditis have recently been achieved. Several questions remain unresolved, however, including standard treatment approaches to myocarditis, which remain controversial and ambiguous. Heart rate, as an independent risk factor, has been shown to be related to cardiac disease. Recent studies also show that the autonomic nervous system is involved in immunomodulatory myocarditis processes. Heart rate reduction treatment is recommended in myocarditis based on a number of animal experiments and clinical trials. It is possible that heart rate-lowering treatments can help to attenuate the inflammatory response and myocyte injury and reverse ventricular remodeling. However, how to execute the protective effects of heart rate reduction on myocarditis is still not clear. In this review, we discuss the pathogenesis and pathophysiological process of viral myocarditis and propose heart rate lowering as a therapeutic target for myocarditis, especially in light of the third-generation β-blockade carvedilol and funny channel blocker ivabradine. We also highlight some additional beneficial effects of such heart rate reduction agents, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidation, anti-nitrosative stress, anti-fibrosis and antiapoptosis properties.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Sur ◽  
Andrei Havasi ◽  
Alecsandra Gorzo ◽  
Claudia Burz

Background: Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have become a relevant solution for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Current anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies face a series of problems, including resistance and non-durable response, and RAS and BRAF mutations serve as exclusion criteria for treatment with anti-EGFR mAbs. Advances in molecular tumor profiling and information on subsequent pathways responsible for disease progression and drug resistance helped develop a new generation of anti-EGFR mAbs. These second-generation mAbs have been developed to overcome existing resistance mechanisms and to limit common side effects. For the moment, existing literature suggests that these novel anti-EGFR mAbs are far from finding their way to clinical practice soon. Objective: In this review, we summarize and evaluate current data regarding ongoing research and completed clinical trials for different second-generation anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies. Conclusion: Anti-EGFR mAbs exhibit efficacy in advanced colorectal cancer, but second-generation mAbs failed to prove their benefit in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Understanding the biological basis of primary and acquired drug resistance could allow scientists to design better clinical trials and develop improved second-generation mAbs.


Author(s):  
Jiyune Yi ◽  
Seul Gee Kim ◽  
Taegyu Khil ◽  
Minja Shin ◽  
Jin-Hee You ◽  
...  

We developed two distinct forest therapy programs (FTPs) and compared their effects on dementia prevention and related health problems for older adults. One was focused on Qigong practice in the forest (QP) and the other involved active walking in the forest (WP). Both FTPs consisted of twelve 2-h sessions over six weeks and were conducted in an urban forest. We obtained data from 25, 18, and 26 participants aged 65 years or above for the QP, WP, and control groups, respectively. Neuropsychological scores via cognition (MoCA), geriatric depression (GDS) and quality of life (EQ-5D), and electrophysiological variables (electroencephalography, bioimpedance, and heart rate variability) were measured. We analyzed the intervention effects with a generalized linear model. Compared to the control group, the WP group showed benefits in terms of neurocognition (increases in the MoCA score, and alpha and beta band power values in the electroencephalogram), sympathetic nervous activity, and bioimpedance in the lower body. On the other hand, the QP group showed alleviated depression and an increased bioimpedance phase angle in the upper body. In conclusion, both active walking and Qigong in the forest were shown to have distinctive neuropsychological and electrophysiological benefits, and both had beneficial effects in terms of preventing dementia and relieving related health problems for elderly individuals.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 469
Author(s):  
Atsushi Kurahashi

The sweet drink amazake is a fermented food made from Aspergillus oryzae and related koji molds in Japan. There are two types of drinks called amazake, one made from koji (koji amazake) and the other made from sake lees, a by-product of sake (sakekasu amazake). The sweetness of koji amazake is from glucose, derived from starch broken down by A. oryzae amylase. The other, sakekasu amazake, depends on added sugar. The main components are glucose and sucrose, but they also contain more than 300 other ingredients. Koji amazake contains oligosaccharides and ergothioneine, and sakekasu amazake has a resistant protein and α-ethyl glucoside, which are characteristic ingredients of each amazake. However, there are also common ingredients such as glycosylceramide. Functionality is known to include anti-fatigue, bowel movement, skin barrier, and other effects on human health. In particular, the bowel movement-improving effects have been well studied for both amazakes. These functions result from ingesting approximately 100 mL per day, but human clinical trials have clarified that this amount has no effect on blood glucose levels and weight gain. In the future, the identification of substances associated with each function is required.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3081
Author(s):  
Mohammad Amin Atazadegan ◽  
Mohammad Bagherniya ◽  
Gholamreza Askari ◽  
Aida Tasbandi ◽  
Amirhossein Sahebkar

Background: Among non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in global communities. By 2030, CVD-related deaths are projected to reach a global rise of 25 million. Obesity, smoking, alcohol, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hyperhomocysteinemia are several known risk factors for CVDs. Elevated homocysteine is tightly related to CVDs through multiple mechanisms, including inflammation of the vascular endothelium. The strategies for appropriate management of CVDs are constantly evolving; medicinal plants have received remarkable attention in recent researches, since these natural products have promising effects on the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases. The effects of nutraceuticals and herbal products on CVD/dyslipidemia have been previously studied. However, to our knowledge, the association between herbal bioactive compounds and homocysteine has not been reviewed in details. Thus, the main objective of this study is to review the efficacy of bioactive natural compounds on homocysteine levels according to clinical trials and animal studies. Results: Based on animal studies, black and green tea, cinnamon, resveratrol, curcumin, garlic extract, ginger, and soy significantly reduced the homocysteine levels. According to the clinical trials, curcumin and resveratrol showed favorable effects on serum homocysteine. In conclusion, this review highlighted the beneficial effects of medicinal plants as natural, inexpensive, and accessible agents on homocysteine levels based on animal studies. Nevertheless, the results of the clinical trials were not uniform, suggesting that more well-designed trials are warranted.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document