Cigarette Smoke-Induced Left Ventricular Remodelling Is Associated With Activation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Aim: To determine the effects of cigarette smoke (CS) exposure on the expression/activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) (extracellular signal-regulated kinase [ERK1/2], p38-kinase [p38] and c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase [JNK]), norepinephrine (NE) levels and myocardial structure and function. Methods: Rats were randomised to two groups: CS-exposed (n=12) or room air (CON) (n=10). After 5 weeks, the animals underwent echocardiography with pulse-wave Doppler flow measurements. Hearts were removed for microscopy and Western blot analysis. Results: CS exposure was associated with significant increases in NE urinary levels and larger ventricular dimensions (mm) (CON=left ventricular end diastolic dimension [LVEDD] 7.99±0.10, LVend systolic dimension [LVESD] 4.55±0.20, CS=LVEDD 8.3±0.10, LVESD 5.3±0.09, p=0.026, p=0.003). There was also evidence of systolic dysfunction in the CS-exposed group compared to the CON group (fractional shortening %, CON=43±2, CS=36±.09, p=0.010). In CS-exposed hearts, significant increases in phosphorylated p38/total p38 (0.975±0.05) and phosphorylated ERK1/2/totalERK1/2 (1.919±0.050) were found compared to CON hearts (0.464±0.008, 0.459±0.050, respectively). No significant differences were found in JNK levels between the groups. Conclusions: Increased NE levels and MAPK activation are associated with CS-related left ventricular remodelling. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of European Society of Cardiology

A 37-year-old man presented with abdominal distention and shortness of breathing

This article has no abstract. The first 100 words appear below: A 37-year-old man hailing from Comilla, Bangladesh (about 100 km from the capital, Dhaka, Bangladesh) got admitted himself into out department on 18th  February 2020 with the complaints of abdominal distention for 9 months and shortness of breathing for 7 months. The abdominal distension was sudden in onset, progressive in nature, but there was no history of jaundice, oliguria, any heart disease, or abdominal pain. About 7 months ago, the patient experienced shortness of breathing, which was sudden in onset, gradually progressive, and occurring in mild exertion. It was so severe that the patient was unable to perform his day to day activities

System Biology and Machine Learning Framework for Prostate Cancer Survival Prediction

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most commonly diagnosed and the second most lethal malignancy in men. Proper understanding about the factors influencing the disease mechanism, response to the treatment and long term survival could facilitate effective disease management, treatment planning and decision making. Previous research initiatives reported a number of genes having impact on PC development but their genetic influence on the overall survival of the patients is still obscure. In this study, we fist identified PC related signature genes by analysing the RNA-seq transcriptomic data. Then we investigated the influence of those genes on the survival of PC patients using the clinical and transcriptomic data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Considering the univariate and multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional-hazards (CoxPH) model, we evidenced notable variation in the survival period between the altered and normal groups for two genes (APLN, and DUOXA1). We also identified ten hub genes such as CAV1, RHOU, TUBB4A, RRAS, EFNB1, ZWINT, MYL9, PPP3CA, FGFR2 and GATA3 in protein-protein interaction analysis that could be the source of potential therapeutic intervention. Moreover, several significant molecular pathways through functional enrichment analysis was obtained. After verification through functional studies, the identified genetic determinants could serve as therapeutic target for prolonged PC survival

Correlation of troponin-I level with left ventricular systolic dysfunction after first attack of non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common category of the heart disease and is found to be the single most important cause that leads to premature death in the developed world. Recognizing a patient with ACS is important because the diagnosis triggers both triage and management. cTnI is 100% tissue-specific for the myocardium and it has shown itself as a very sensitive and specific marker for AMI. Ventricular function is the best predictor of death after an ACS. It serves as a marker of myocardial damage and provides information on systolic function as well as diagnosis and prognosis. The study aimed at investigating the impact of LVEF on elevated troponin-I level in patients with first attack of NSTEMI.Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the department of cardiology in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital from December, 2015 to November, 2016. Total 130 first attack of NSTEMI patients were included considering inclusion and exclusion criteria. The sample population was divided into two groups: Group-I: Patients with first attack of NSTEMI with LVEF: ≥55%. Group-II: Patients with first attack of NSTEMI with LVEF: <55%. Then LVEF and troponin-I levels were correlated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient test.Results: In this study mean troponin-I of group-I and group-II were 5.53±7.43 and 16.46±15.79ng/ml respectively. It was statistically significant (p<0.05). The mean LVEF value of groups were 65.31±10.30% and 40.17±4.62% respectively. It was statistically significant (p<0.05). The echocardiography showed that patients with high troponin-I level had low LVEF and patients with low troponin-I level had preserved LVEF. Analysis showed that patients with highest level of troponin-I had severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF <35%) and vice versa-the patients with the lowest levels of troponin-I had preserved systolic function (LVEF ≥55%). In our study, it also showed that the levels of troponin-I had negative correlation with LVEF levels with medium strength of association (r= -0.5394, p=0.001). Our study also discovered that Troponin-I level ≥6.6ng/ml is a very sensitive and specific marker for LV systolic dysfunction.Conclusions: The study has enabled the research team to conclude that the higher is the Troponin-I level the lower is the LVEF level and thus more severe is the LV systolic dysfunction in first attack of NSTEMI patients

Volumetric Properties of Binary Mixtures of 2-Ethoxyethanol and 2-Butoxyethanol with 1,4-Dioxane

Densities, r, of 2-Ethoxyethanol (EGMEE) + 1,4-Dioxane (DXN) and  2-Butoxyethanol (EGMBE) + 1,4-Dioxane (DXN) systems have been measured in the whole range of composition at an interval of 5 K ranging from 303.15 to 323.15 K. Excess molar volumes, , partial molar volumes, , thermal expansivities,a, and excess thermal expansivities, aE, have been estimated from the experimental values of ρ. All of the derived properties have been fitted to appropriate polynomials. Values of   and aE were fitted to the Redlich-Kister polynomial equation and their variations with composition and temperature have been discussed in terms of molecular interaction in the mixtures. Values of  and aE were all positive and were attributed due to specific interactions

Evaluation of Nutrition Surveys in Flood-affected Areas of Pakistan: Seeing the Unseen!

In 2010 Pakistan experienced the worst floods recorded in its history; millions of people were affected and thousands lost their lives. Nutrition assessment surveys led by UNICEF were conducted in flood?affected areas of Punjab and Sindh provinces to assess the nutrition status of children between 6–59 months while Aga Khan University (AKU) undertook a parallel assessment including micronutrient status in their project areas within Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab. Standardised Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transition (SMART) methodology was used. 881 children from Sindh, 1,143 from Punjab and 817 from AKU project areas were measured for anthropometry and their households were interviewed. The findings indicated that while immediate life?saving interventions were essential, there was also an urgent need to address chronic malnutrition. Through high?level dissemination of the survey results, treatment and prevention of malnutrition has become a priority for the provincial and federal government in Pakistan and for donors

Maternal Depression and Its Associated Factors among the Mothers at Narayanganj in Bangladesh

Maternal depression is becoming a serious public health concern in the world day by day. The purpose of the current study was to assess the maternal depression and its associated factors among the mothers of Narayanganj city in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted in six different areas at Narayanganj in Dhaka among 377 mothers having children of five to ten years between the periods of May, 2019 to September, 2019. The respondents were selected by simple random sampling method. All data analysis was done by using IBM SPSS version 20.0. The mean age of the pregnant women was 26±4 years. It was found that about 77% of mothers had high depressive symptoms whereas 10.7%, 6.63% and 6.36% of mothers had moderate, mild and no depressive symptoms, respectively.  It was observed that family income, family size, age of children and age at marriage were significantly (p&lt;0.05) associated with maternal depression status. Further investigations might be carried out to assess the effect size of the associated factors mentioned above. Keywords: Maternal depression, mothers, children, associated factors. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/102-06 Publication date:September 30th 2022