Radiation-associated cardiovascular disease

As the number of cancer survivors grows because of advances in therapy, it has become more important to understand the long-term complications of these treatments. This article presents the current knowledge of adverse cardiovascular effects of radiotherapy to the chest. Emphasis is on clinical presentations, recommendations for follow-up, and treatment of patients previously exposed to irradiation. Medline™ literature searches were performed, and abstracts related to this topic from oncology and cardiology meetings were reviewed. Potential adverse effects of mediastinal irradiation are numerous and can include coronary artery disease, pericarditis, cardiomyopathy, valvular disease and conduction abnormalities. Damage appears to be related to dose, volume and technique of chest irradiation. Effects may initially present as subclinical abnormalities on screening tests or as catastrophic clinical events. Estimates of relative risk of fatal cardiovascular events after mediastinal irradiation for Hodgkin's disease ranges between 2.2 and 7.2 and after irradiation for left-sided breast cancer from 1.0 to 2.2. Risk is life long, and absolute risk appears to increase with length of time since exposure. Radiation-associated cardiovascular toxicity may in fact be progressive. Long-term cardiac follow-up of these patients is therefore essential, and the range of appropriate cardiac screening is discussed, although no specific, evidence-based screening regimen was found in the literature

Cardiac toxicity of intravenous terbutaline for the treatment of severe asthma in children: A prospective assessment

Objective: To examine the cardiac toxicity as measured by elevations in serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and to compare creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) and findings on electrocardiography (ECG) as markers of cardiac toxicity with cTnT during the infusion of intravenous terbutaline for the treatment of severe asthma in children. Study design: Prospective cohort study of patients receiving intravenous terbutaline for severe asthma. Results: Only 3 (10%) of the 29 patients had elevations in cTnT. Each underwent mechanical ventilation for >72 hours, which was the earliest point at which cTnT elevations were identified. Eighteen (62%) patients had an elevation in CK, and 3 had an elevation in CK-MB fraction without an elevated cTnT. Twenty (69%) patients had ECG findings consistent with ischemia, and 19 of these patients had the ischemic findings on their preterbutaline ECG. Elevations in CK and CK-MB and ischemic changes on ECG did not correlate with elevations in cTnT. Both mechanical ventilation (P =.02) and prolonged administration (>72 hours) of intravenous terbutaline (P =.02) were significantly associated with elevations in cTnT. Conclusions: We found no clinically significant cardiac toxicity from the use of intravenous terbutaline for severe asthma as measured by serum cTnT elevations. (J Pediatr 2000;137:73-7

Radiation-associated cardiovascular disease: manifestations and management

Irradiation of the heart incidental to the treatment of malignancies can cause a spectrum of cardiovascular complications. These include pericarditis, myocardial fibrosis, muscular dysfunction, valvular abnormalities, and conduction disturbances. Survivors of Hodgkin’s disease and breast cancer survivors treated with radiotherapy after mastectomy appear to be the groups at highest risk for radiation-associated cardiovascular disease. Although modern techniques of chest radiotherapy have decreased its frequency by reducing the dose and volume of radiation exposure to the heart, survivors treated with radiation remain at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The risk of fatal cardiovascular disease increases with younger age at treatment, longer follow-up, and higher dose volumes of exposure to the heart. Certain chemotherapeutic agents, such as anthracyclines, also increase the risk of damage to the heart. Cardiac damage associated with radiotherapy may be progressive. Screening of survivors may help identify those at highest risk for serious cardiovascular disease. The broad range of radiation-associated cardiovascular disease makes it necessary for survivors to be examined with multiple screening modalities, although data do not exist to support definitive recommendations on test frequency

Mathematics Students’ Readiness for Mobile Learning

Mobile learning technologies and wireless networks are being increasingly used in educational settings. Mobile learning (M-learning) through wireless technology can deliver information access to anyone any time in any place. A study was conducted to investigate the readiness of Mathematics students in Brunel University to move towards using Mobile Learning in their studies, and also to explore the factors that might affect the implementation of this technology. A total number of 82 students participated in an online questionnaire in May 2011. The questionnaire was designed in order to determine the availability of the appropriate devices, students’ perceptions about M-learning and their expectations of mobile learning services. The findings of the study show that students have a positive perspective of using M-learning and they look at it as a support system for traditional class-based learning