scholarly journals COVID-19 associated changes in the right departments of the heart in the elderly people

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3 2021) ◽  
pp. 22-26
Author(s):  
Larysa Bodretska ◽  
Iryna Shapovalenko ◽  
Ivanna Antonyuk-Shcheglova ◽  
Olena Bondarenko ◽  
Svitlana Naskalova ◽  
...  

Abstract. Purpose of the work: to study the indicators characterizing heart lesions in elderly patients who had carried COVID-19. Materials and methods: 86 patients older than 60 years old, were examined, of whom 56 (32 women and 24 men) who have carried COVID-19 between 3 and 6 months before the study, and 30 patients (12 men and 18 women) who did not have COVID - 19 in the anamnesis. The patients have been examined clinically, electro and echocardiography have been performed. The results. Elderly patients during the post-covid period have complaints of shortness of breath, pain in the heart, swelling, coughing, weakness, which are more stable and intense than before the infection. Patients who have carried COVID-19 demonstrate the signs of a chronic pulmonary heart disease: increase in the size of a right ventricle and decrease of its contractile ability, increase in pressure in a pulmonary artery. Signs of a statistically significant moderate decrease of the contractility in the left ventricular were also identified. Conclusions. The statistically significant changes in the right departments of the heart among the patients with carried COVID-19 with persistent symptoms after infection were defined. Patients who have carried COVID-19 but have no symptoms did not differ statistically from the control group. Key words: COVID-19, old age, post- COVID period, right departments of the heart.

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venera Cristina Dinescu ◽  
Ileana Puiu ◽  
Sorin Nicolae Dinescu ◽  
Diana Rodica Tudorascu ◽  
Elena Catalina Bica ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to identify correlations between electrocardiographic and echocardiographic changes in patients with silicosis prior to the occurrence of chronic pulmonary heart disease. We conducted a prospective, descriptive, analytical study, in which we included a group of 67 patients consecutively admitted to the Health Promotion and Occupational Medicine Clinic between December 2016 and January 2018, aged 47 to 78 years.There was a biochemical and electrocardiographic evaluation for each patient as well as a right ventricle echocardiographic evaluation (diameters, volumes, function). A control group, including 25 patients with benign minor diseases that required a cardiologist consultation, was also used. From the electrocardiographic point of view, slight changes were observed regarding the waves of electrical activity of the right ventricle. Taking into account the degree of ventilatory dysfunction (depending on FEV1), changes in right heart echocardiographic parameters were identified. Thus, in what the most important right ventricular parameters, including the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) or the RV index of myocardial performance (RVMPI) were concerned, values at the upper limit of normality were recorded in most patients with moderate and severe ventilatory dysfunction. Values of echocardiographic parameters of the right heart at the upper limit of normality, correlated with the degree of ventilatory dysfunction, are early markers for cardiovascular damage in patients with pulmonary silicosis prior to the occurrence of chronic pulmonary heart disease also known ascor pulmonale.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 742-752
Author(s):  
Pengcheng Ren ◽  
Ming Zhang ◽  
Shuren Dai

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of coronary granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on rats with chronic ischemic heart disease (CIHD).MethodsThirty healthy rats were randomly divided into control, subcutaneous and intracoronary G-CSF injection groups (n = 10) after the CIHD model was established. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), myocardial injury area, myocardial perfusion area and viable myocardium were observed by coronary angiography, dual-isotopic myocardial imaging and first-pass delayed myocardial perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before modeling as well as 2 and 4 weeks after surgery.ResultsThe peak times of peripheral blood and subcutaneous G-CSF levels were 3 and 5 days after mobilization, respectively. The peripheral blood CD34+/CD133+ cell ratio of subcutaneous or intracoronary G-CSF injection group significantly exceeded that of the control group (P < 0.05). The distal stenosis degrees of target lesions in subcutaneous and intracoronary G-CSF injection groups were significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the situation before mobilization, LVEF was significantly improved after 2 weeks in intracoronary and subcutaneous G-CSF injection groups (P < 0.01). Their infarcted myocardial areas were reduced, the left ventricular remodeling was relieved, the percentage of viable myocardium was increased, angiogenesis was promoted and cardiomyocyte apoptosis was inhibited.ConclusionIntracoronary G-CSF injection is safe and effective as subcutaneous injection, improving the cardiac function of CIHD rats.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agata Popielarz-Grygalewicz ◽  
Jakub S. Gąsior ◽  
Aleksandra Konwicka ◽  
Paweł Grygalewicz ◽  
Maria Stelmachowska-Banaś ◽  
...  

To determine whether the echocardiographic presentation allows for diagnosis of acromegalic cardiomyopathy. 140 patients with acromegaly underwent echocardiography as part of routine diagnostics. The results were compared with the control group comprising of 52 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Patients with acromegaly presented with higher BMI, prevalence of arterial hypertension, and glucose metabolism disorders (i.e., diabetes and/or prediabetes). In patients with acromegaly, the following findings were detected: increased left atrial volume index, increased interventricular septum thickness, increased posterior wall thickness, and increased left ventricular mass index, accompanied by reduced diastolic function measured by the following parameters: E’med., E/E’, and E/A. Additionally, they presented with abnormal right ventricular systolic pressure. All patients had normal systolic function measured by ejection fraction. However, the values of global longitudinal strain were slightly lower in patients than in the control group; the difference was statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences in the size of the right and left ventricle, thickness of the right ventricular free wall, and indexed diameter of the ascending aorta between patients with acromegaly and healthy volunteers. None of 140 patients presented systolic dysfunction, which is the last phase of the so-called acromegalic cardiomyopathy. Some abnormal echocardiographic parameters found in acromegalic patients may be caused by concomitant diseases and not elevated levels of GH or IGF-1 alone. The potential role of demographic parameters like age, sex, and/or BMI requires further research.


1993 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-22
Author(s):  
P. Bassi ◽  
M. Gholam Alipour ◽  
G.L. Drago Ferrante ◽  
N. Piazza ◽  
N. Panza ◽  
...  

Radical cystectomy is the most common treatment for deeply invasive bladder cancer; due to reported operative risks, concerns have been expressed regarding the suitability of this operation in elderly patients. We reviewed the morbility and mortality rates in 50 patients aged 70 years and over (elderly group), undergoing radical cystectomy and urinary diversion, to verify if this procedure could be considered as initial treatment in older-age patients. The findings were compared with those observed in 50 patients aged 40 to 69 years (control group). In the elderly group there was no operative mortality; however 2 patients (4%) died post-operatively due to pulmonary embolism and multi-organ-failure syndrome respectively. Four patients (8%) were re-operated due to intestinal obstruction (2 pts), pelvic hematoma (1 pt) and wound dehiscence (1 pt). Wound separation was the more frequent complication (15%); 6% of patients experienced extended intestinal atonia. The length of hospital stay was 17.1 days. In the control group, surgical complications were comparable to those observed in the elderly group: furthermore medical complications were more frequent. In conclusion, these data suggest that radical cystectomy and urinary diversion can be safely performed in the elderly. Radical surgery is an effective treatment modality for elderly individuals who are in reasonably good general health. A higher incidence of medical complications must be expected in elderly patients.


Author(s):  
Donatus Onukwufor Onwuli ◽  
Sandra A. Jones

Cardiac arrhythmia affects ~ 6% in those over 65 years of age (old), but with 0.2% occurrence in those of 45 years and below (young). Arrhythmia can result from dysregulation of the cardiac impulse generation and its conduction. Connexin proteins are responsible for cardiac impulse conduction, and phosphorylation of connexin 43 determines its functional ability. In this study, Phosphorylated connexin 43, density and expression were assessed in ventricular tissues from young (6 months old) and old (24 months old) Wister rats, using the techniques of western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results show that phosphorylated Cx43 in the left ventricle of 24 months old rats significantly declined (P=0.04 & 0.01) by method of western blot and immunohistochemistry respectively, but did not differ in the right ventricle. The left ventricle is known to be responsible for cardiac output. This data suggest an age-associated decline in the expression of phosphorylated connexin 43 in the left ventricle, which may play a significant role in the development of cardiac arrhythmia in the elderly.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. e288-e288
Author(s):  
Niusha Barzideh ◽  
Arezoo Alaee ◽  
Arash Azizi

Objectives: We investigated the existence of any connection between smoking and sublingual varices (SLV) in the older population. Methods: This case-control study was conducted in 2019 on adults > 65 years old at Kahrizak Charity Nursing Home, Alborz, Iran. We conducted clinical examination and inspection of 222 elderly patients. Both the case group and control group contained the same number of patients (n = 111). SLV were classified as grade 0 (few or none visible) and grade 1 (moderate or severe). The case group included patients with SLV and the control group consisted of those older adults without SLV and who were matched with the case group based on age, gender, blood pressure, denture wearing, and varicose veins in their legs. Cigarette smoking habits were investigated in both groups. Smokers were considered those who smoked at least one cigarette per day for more than six months. Chi-square and odds ratio (OR) were used to statistically analyze the exposure of participants to smoking in both groups. Results: Among 222 participants, 21.6% and 5.4% were smokers in the case and control groups, respectively. The results of our data analysis revealed that SLV were significantly associated with smoking (p < 0.001, OR = 4). Conclusions: Elderly patients with SLV are more likely to be cigarette smokers. Therefore, cigarette smoking cessation programs are recommended for older adults in society.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoye Wang

【Abstract】Objective: Toanalyze the efficacy of combined drug therapy for elderly patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension.METHODS:Sixty-six elderly patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension were enrolled from December 2017 to November 2018. They were randomly divided into two groups, 33 patients in each group. Patients in the experimental group received nifedipine. In combination with enalapril, patients enrolled in the control group received nifedipine monotherapy.RESULTS:Compared with the control group, the total effective rate, Serum Nitric Oxide (Serum NO) after treatment, CRP after treatment, HCY after treatment, and blood pressure after treatment were significantly improved (P<0.05). Serum NO and treatment before treatment in the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in pre-CRP, pre-treatment HCY, pre-treatment blood pressure, and adverse reactions during treatment (P>0.05).Conclusion: Theelderly patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension are treated with nifedipine and enalapril.


2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (12) ◽  
pp. H1644-H1650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori A. Walker ◽  
David A. Fullerton ◽  
Peter M. Buttrick

Human heart failure has been associated with a low level of thin-filament protein phosphorylation and an increase in calcium sensitivity of contraction relative to both “control” human heart tissue and tissue from small animal models. However, diverse strategies of human tissue procurement and the reliance on tissue obtained from subjects with end-stage heart failure suggest this may be an incomplete characterization. Therefore, we evaluated cardiac left ventricular (LV) biopsy samples from patients with aortic stenosis undergoing valve replacement who presented either with LV hypertrophy and preserved systolic function (Hyp) or with LV dilation and reduced ejection fraction (Dil). In Hyp, total troponin I (TnI) phosphorylation was markedly increased and myosin light chain 2 (MLC2) phosphorylation was unchanged relative to a control group of patients with normal LV function. Conversely, in Dil, total TnI phosphorylation was significantly reduced compared with control subjects and MLC2 phosphorylation was increased. Site-specific analysis of TnI phosphorylation revealed phenotype-specific differences such that Hyp samples demonstrated significant increases in phosphorylation at serine 22/23 and Dil samples had significant decreases at serine 43. The ratio of phosphorylation at the two sites was biased toward serine 22/23 in Hyp and toward serine 43/45 in Dil. Western blot analysis showed that protein phosphatase-1 was reduced in Hyp and protein phosphatase-2 was reduced in Dil. These data suggest that posttranslational modifications of sarcomeric proteins, both singly and in combination, are stage specific. Defining these changes in progressive heart disease may provide important diagnostic and treatment information.


2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 482-488

Objective: To compare drug adherence with or without pharmaceutical pictograms in the elderly with chronic diseases. Materials and Methods: The present study was a randomized controlled trial conducted between April 2019 and June 2019 at a primary health care center in Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand. The elderly patients with chronic diseases were randomly allocated to the experimental group (n=25) and the control group (n=25). The experimental group received pictogram labels, text labels, and verbal information on the consumption of medications from the pharmacist. The control group received text labels and verbal information from the pharmacist. Both groups received follow-up home visits two weeks later. Results: The present study results showed that medication adherence using pill counts in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group. The median medication adherence scores from pill counts was (interquartile range, IQR) 100 (100, 100) versus 95.56 (90.25, 100), respectively, p=0.011. The medication adherence with the medication taking behavior measure for Thai patients (MTB-Thai) significantly increased in the experimental group (100.0%) compared with the control group (45.8%) (p=0.0002). Conclusion: The present study showed that medication adherence is greatly improved when the medication instruction is supplemented with pictograms. Therefore, medication should include pictograms on labels to better convey medical instructions to elderly patients with chronic diseases. Keywords: Pharmaceutical pictograms, Medication adherence, Chronic disease, Elderly patients


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