Human pilot study of bare-metal stent: INC-01

ABSTRACT Background: The cost of performing a percutaneous coronary intervention is considerably high for the patient as well as for health systems, which have promoted the development of local technology to help meet the need for these devices. Methods: The INC-01 bare-metal stent was developed at the National Institute of Cardiology in Mexico City and was first implanted on porcine models with technical success in 100% of the evaluated parameters. Presentation of Cases: We present the first three cases of patients with ischemic heart disease, to whom the INC-01 bare-metal stent was implanted. Intracoronary ultrasonography was performed post-stent implantation, showing all the characteristics of implant success during evaluation and clinical follow-up. Conclusions: Angiography and intracoronary ultrasound were carried out demonstrating that the INC-01 bare-metal stent has physical, biological, and histological characteristics similar to those found in commercial metallic stents.

Effect of Combined Aerobic and Anaerobic Training on Hemodynamic Response, Serum Oxidative Stress Markers and Platelet ATP Synthase Activities in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A Pilot Study.

Background: The overall aim of this work was to study the impact of combined aerobic and anaerobic training in relation to hemodynamic response (heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and double product), serum oxidative stress markers (lipoperoxides, nitrites-nitrates) and platelet ATP synthase activities in patients with coronary heart disease. Materials and Methods: Ten subjects, 9 male and 1 female, (mean age 57.7±7.2 years) with coronary heart disease participated in this study. Patients performed combined aerobic and anaerobic exercise for 24 sessions (three times a week). Results: The results suggest myocardium adaptations, manifested in the reduction of heart rate with increased workloads and increased double product [(heart rate) x (systolic blood pressure)] according to the intensity, frequency and duration of training. The ATP synthesis rate was significantly increased at session 3 (post-exercise) compared to session 1 (pre exercise). Furthermore, rate of ATP hydrolysis was significantly decreased at session 24 (post-exercise 3) compared to session 1 (post-exercise 1). Serum lipid peroxidation products and nitric oxide catabolites were significantly diminished at session 24 (pre-exercise). Conclusion: In some patients hemodynamic responses showed improvements in response to exercise. The exercise sessions induced lower levels of lipid peroxidation products, nitric oxide catabolites and ATPase activity. Conversely, ATP synthase activity showed higher values at the end of the experiment. These results confirm the beneficial effect of combined aerobic and anaerobic exercise.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Review of a Child Onset Disease.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a group of inherited disorders that involve mainly bulbar and spinal motor neurons; causing muscle weakness and atrophy of proximal and symmetrical predominantly in lower extremities, without affecting the facial muscles and the intellectual ability. It is also unclear if SMA is a developmental or a neurodegenerative disease and occurs predominantly in childhood. The continuous clinical spectrum of SMA has been divided into 3 types based on the age at onset and highest motor milestones achieved. SMA type I was described by Hoffman in 1894 and in 1900 was reported as a disease characterized by hypotonia during the first 3 months of life, as well, is considered as the leading cause of death in children under two years of age among genetic diseases worldwide. SMA type II patients can achieve sitting but not walking. While SMA type III patients achieve full milestones with a progressive loss of walking ability. Deterioration in muscle strength and motor function eventually occurs in SMA type II and III. SMA occurs due to depletion of SMN, a ubiquitously expressed protein, which in all cells regulates RNA biogenesis and splicing through its role in the assembly of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) complexes.