Heart Mitochondrial Metabolic Flexibility and Redox Status Are Improved by Donkey and Human Milk Intake

The biological mechanisms linking nutrition and antioxidants content of the diet with cardiovascular protection are subject of intense investigation. It has been demonstrated that dietary supplementation with cow, donkey or human milk, characterized by distinct nutritional properties, triggers significant differences in the metabolic and inflammatory status through the modulation of hepatic and skeletal muscle mitochondrial functions. Cardiac mitochondria play a key role for energy-demanding heart functions, and their disfunctions is leading to pathologies. Indeed, an altered heart mitochondrial function and the consequent increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and inflammatory state, is linked to several cardiac diseases such as hypertension and heart failure. In this work it was investigated the impact of the milk consumption on heart mitochondrial functions, inflammation and oxidative stress. In addition, it was underlined the crosstalk between mitochondrial metabolic flexibility, lipid storage and redox status as control mechanisms for the maintenance of cardiovascular health.

Self-scored impairments in functioning and disability in post-COVID syndrome following mild COVID-19 infection

Objectives: To investigate functioning, activity and disability in people with post-COVID syndrome. Design: Cross-sectional. Subjects/patients: Participants were recruited online via Facebook and a stakeholders’ organization for post-COVID syndrome in Sweden. Methods: Sociodemographic data and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)-based questionnaires were collected via an online platform and analysed. Results: A total of 100 participants were included (mean age 44.5 years, 82% women, 61% with higher education, and 56% working full- or part-time). For the ICF component Body Functions, the most impaired functions were: fatigability and energy drive (98–99%); higher cognitive functions (74–94%); sleep functions (98%); muscle functions (93%); respiratory functions (92%); heart functions (82%); emotional functions (80%); sexual functions (77%); pain problems (56–90%); and thermoregulatory functions (68%). For the component Activity, the most frequent limitations were: handling stressful situations (98%); remunerative employment (95%); recreation and leisure (94%); climbing the stairs (94%); doing housework (84%); and informal socializing (64%). The most frequent degrees of impairment/limitations were light and moderate, except for severe-complete for fatigue, higher cognitive functions, multitasking, handling stressful situations; and recreation and leisure activities. Conclusion: Post-COVID syndrome following a mild COVID-19 infection can result in impaired body functions and activities. These results support the importance of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach for these patients.

Efficiency of dimephosphonum, cytochrom cand mexidol in the treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders in children

The efficiency of dimephosphonum, cytochrom c and mexidol in the treatment of ventricular, supraventricular arrhythmias in children is shown. Dimephosphonum (100 mg/kg i.v.), mexidol (10 mg/kg p.o.) and cytochrom c (0,5 mg/kg i.v.) were studied in comparison with cordaron, finoptin and also with the standard neurometabolic therapy. It is shown that dimephosphonum was the most effective drug in all kinds of disturbances of cardiac rhythm and conductivity in children. In supraventricular arrithmias and sinus node dysfunction it surpasses traditional drugs. At ventricular arrhythmias dimephosphonum was less effective than cordaron. However, cordaron induced cardiac (20%) and extracardiac (20%) negative effects. The dimephosphonum treatment was safe and was accompanied by favourable influence on the basic heart functions

Suppressing Pyroptosis Augments Post-Transplant Survival of Stem Cells and Cardiac Function Following Ischemic Injury

The acute demise of stem cells following transplantation significantly compromises the efficacy of stem cell-based cell therapeutics for infarcted hearts. As the stem cells transplanted into the damaged heart are readily exposed to the hostile environment, it can be assumed that the acute death of the transplanted stem cells is also inflicted by the same environmental cues that caused massive death of the host cardiac cells. Pyroptosis, a highly inflammatory form of programmed cell death, has been added to the list of important cell death mechanisms in the damaged heart. However, unlike the well-established cell death mechanisms such as necrosis or apoptosis, the exact role and significance of pyroptosis in the acute death of transplanted stem cells have not been explored in depth. In the present study, we found that M1 macrophages mediate the pyroptosis in the ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injured hearts and identified miRNA-762 as an important regulator of interleukin 1b production and subsequent pyroptosis. Delivery of exogenous miRNA-762 prior to transplantation significantly increased the post-transplant survival of stem cells and also significantly ameliorated cardiac fibrosis and heart functions following I/R injury. Our data strongly suggest that suppressing pyroptosis can be an effective adjuvant strategy to enhance the efficacy of stem cell-based therapeutics for diseased hearts.

Induced Cardiomyocyte Proliferation: A Promising Approach to Cure Heart Failure

Unlike some lower vertebrates which can completely regenerate their heart, the human heart is a terminally differentiated organ. Cardiomyocytes lost during cardiac injury and heart failure cannot be replaced due to their limited proliferative capacity. Therefore, cardiac injury generally leads to progressive failure. Here, we summarize the latest progress in research on methods to induce cardiomyocyte cell cycle entry and heart repair through the alteration of cardiomyocyte plasticity, which is emerging as an effective strategy to compensate for the loss of functional cardiomyocytes and improve the impaired heart functions.

CONVENTIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, AORTIC ELASTICITY AND LIPID PROFILES IN OBESE VERSUS HEALTHY CHILDREN

Objectives: To compare conventional echocardiography, aortic elasticity and lipid profiles in overweight or obese children with healthy controls. Methodology: This case control study was conducted on 49 obese or overweight children aged 4 to 16 years, equally matched in age and sex of control that were normal regarding body mass index. Echocardiography and aortic elasticity findings measured for both groups and lipid profiles measured for overweight or obese children only. Data analyzed by SPSS 20 considering 0.05 as significant level. Results: Most of the echocardiography findings such as LVDS(P<0.001), LVDD(P<0.001), PWD(P<0.001), IVSS(P<0.001), LVMI(P<0.001), AS(P<0.001), AD(P<0.001) were higher significantly in obese children whereas, FS(P<0.001), FS(P<0.001), AS beta index(P<0.001) and PSEM(P<0.001) were lower compared to healthy. PWD was higher in obese (0.51±0.08 vs 0.46±0.07) compared to healthy children. Among obese or overweight children, aortic diameter in systole (AoS) (p=0.025) was higher in those with high triglyceride level. LVMI changed from those who had LDL >130. Those who had abnormal LDL (>130) had lower value of AOS (p=0.017). Systolic BP was correlated with AD (p=0.007), Diastolic BP with AS beta Index (p=0.006), AoD with AS (p=0.002), with AD (p<0.001), with AS beta Index (p=0.001) and with PSEM (P<0.001) Conclusion: Heart functions were most at risk in obese children. Amongst obese or overweight children, PWD was higher, when all other heart function were similar. LVMI was higher in children with elevated LDL level.

Cardiac nicotinic receptors show β-subunit dependent compensatory changes

Nicotinic receptors (NR) play an important role in the cholinergic regulation of heart functions, and converging evidence suggests a diverse repertoire of NR subunits in the heart. A recent hypothesis about the plasticity of β NR subunits suggests that β2 and β4 subunits may substitute for each other. In our study, we assessed the hypothetical β subunit interchangeability in the heart at the level of mRNA. Using two mutant mice strains lacking β2 or β4 NR subunits, we examined the relative expression of NR subunits and other key cholinergic molecules. We investigated the physiology of isolated hearts perfused by Langendorff's method at basal conditions and after cholinergic and/or adrenergic stimulation. Lack of β2 NR subunit was accompanied with decreased relative expression of β4 and α3 subunits. No other cholinergic changes were observed at the level of mRNA, except for increased M3 and decreased M4 muscarinic receptors. Isolated hearts lacking β2 NR subunit showed different dynamics in heart rate response to indirect cholinergic stimulation. In hearts lacking β4 NR subunit, increased levels of β2 subunits were observed together with decreased mRNA for acetylcholine-synthetizing enzyme and M1 and M4 muscarinic receptors. Changes in the expression levels in β4-/- hearts were associated with increased basal heart rate and impaired response to a high dose of acetylcholine upon adrenergic stimulation. In support of the proposed plasticity of cardiac NRs, our results confirmed subunit-dependent compensatory changes to missing cardiac NRs subunits with consequences on isolated heart physiology.

The heart: an amazing organ

This article provides an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the heart. The heart is an amazing organ that continuously pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body to sustain the life of the various organs. The heart pumps out around 7500 litres of blood per day. The heart functions without us having to think about it, beating around 70 times per minute, this equates to just over 100 000 heart beats each day. This article discusses the structure of the heart, along with its various functions. The conduction system is outlined, as well as the blood flow through the heart. A glossary of terms is provided and a short test to check your knowledge.