Effect of renal sympathetic denervation used in the treatment of resistant arterial hypertension on left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic function

Background: Hypertension [HTN] results in structural and functional cardiac changes which increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The effect of renal denervation [RD] on left ventricular hypertrophy [LVH] and left ventricular [LV] diastolic function is still unclear

Objective: This study investigated the effect of catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation on LVH and diastolic function in patients with resistant hypertension

Methods: We evaluated systolic and diastolic blood pressure [SBP and DBP, LV size, mass and diastolic function before and 6 months after RD in 68 patients with resistant hypertension by transthoracic echocardiography and Doppler

Results: SBP and DBP reduced 6 months after RD [-22 +/- 3 mmHg and -10 +/- 12mmHg; P<0.0001 respectively] LV mass index decreased similarly independent on BP response [-19.37 +/- 2.6 gm/m[2]: P<0.0001]. Diastolic parameters E/A ratio, E-wave deceleration time and intra-ventricular relaxation time improved similarly in all patients after 6 months [0.89 +/- 0.04; P=0.001, -24.85 +/- 8.93 ms; P=0.007 and -6.97 +/- 2.57 ms; P=0.012 respectively]

Conclusion: In patients with resistant hypertension and beside blood pressure lowering effect, renal denervation improves left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic function. The relation of BP reduction effect and the improvement of cardiac hypertrophy and systolic function suggests a direct effect of sympathetic activity on LV remodeling and function which needs to be confirmed in larger prospective cohorts

Effect of administration of L-tyrosine and L-carnitine on onset of puberty in rabbits

The present study was conducted on 72 New Zealand white rabbits assigned into two age groups] two and three months]: 36 rabbits for each group of the same age [18 males and 18 females]. For treatment, 24 rabbits [males and females] were given orally a single dose of L-tyrosine, 100 mg/kg body weight; the other 24 rabbits [males and females] were given a daily oral dose of 1 gm L-carnitine/kg. The other 24 rabbits were left as control. All rabbits were kept under complete observation during the experimental period and data obtained were statistically analyzed. There was a steady increase in the body weight with advancement of age; it seemed to be similar for males and females. The treated group revealed a significant higher body weight [P<0.05] when compared to control and treated females, exhibited higher body gain than males. In the treated group, the testicular descent in males and the first onset of male acceptance by females occurred much earlier during the second month of age compared to control. Successful mounting and ejaculation of semen containing spermatozoa for the first time was recorded in the treated bucks at the beginning of the third month of age, much earlier than in control. Testes and ovaries size increased significantly with advancement of age. L-tyrosine and L-carnitine treated groups revealed significant increase in the testicular and ovarian size compared to those in the control group [P<0.01]. It could be concluded that L-tyrosine and L-carnitine, both act as growth promoting factors. They could be used in rabbits for enhancement of puberty in both males and females

comparative study for monitoring of irrigating fluid absorption during transurethral resection of prostate [TURP]

The study objective was to compare the ethanol concentrations [end expiratory] with serial serum sodium estimations and volumetric analysis of irrigatant balance. Thirty-eight male patients undergoing elective transurethral resection of prostate [TURP] with an anesthetic risk classification not higher than ASA II were chosen. A simple, reliable method to detect absorption of irrigating fluid during transurethral resection of prostate [TURP] was used to tag irrigating fluid with 1% ethanol and monitor expiratory breath ethanol concentrations. This method correlated well with other existing methods of absorption monitoring in 38 anesthetized patients. Ethanol [1%] tagging did not alter the optical quality of the irrigating fluid and is harmless to the patients. The technique is noninvasive, repeatable, cheap and gives instant results. It can be used in anesthetized or awake patients and can detect absorption of as little as 100-150 ml in any 10-minute period

Some characteristics of hospitalized HIV seropositive patients in Myanmar.

Twenty-two hospitalized HIV seropositive patients were studied prospectively between July 1991 and January 1992. The majority of the patients were intravenous drug users (IVDUs). Their age ranged from 20 to 38 years with a male preponderance of 12 to 1. Anemia, lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in 100%, 36% and 41%, respectively. The common pathogens like malaria parasites, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Entamoeba histolytica, Streptococcus and Salmonella were isolated/identified rather than opportunistic organisms.