ABSTRACT
Background: The trans-radial approach significantly reduces access bleeding and underlying vascular complications and is associated with lower health care costs than the transfemoral approach. One of the most common complications, however, is radial artery occlusion (RAO). Methods: This study investigates the effects of verapamil on radial artery thrombosis in patients referred to Taleghani Hospital in Tehran between 2020 and 2021. Patients were randomized into 2 groups: the first group received verapamil, nitroglycerin, and heparin and the second group nitroglycerin and heparin. To randomly assign 100 cases to the 2 experimental and control groups, we first formed a framework for sampling 100 people (from 1 to 100); then, based on the table of random numbers, we assigned the first 50 numbers to the experimental group and the remainder to the control group. The 2 groups were compared for radial artery thrombosis. Results: This study evaluated 100 candidates for coronary angiography in 2 groups of 50 with and without verapamil. The mean age was 58.6±11.2 years in the group with verapamil and 58.1±12.7 years in the group without verapamil (P=0.84). The difference between the 2 groups in terms of heart failure was statistically significant (P<0.028). The prevalence of clinical thrombosis was 2.0% in the group with verapamil and 22.0% in the group without verapamil (P<0.004). The prevalence of ultrasound-confirmed thrombosis was 4.0% in the group with verapamil and 36.0% in the group without verapamil (P<0.001). Conclusion: Intra-arterial injection of verapamil added to heparin and nitroglycerine during trans-radial angiography could significantly reduce RAO.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death (SCD). QT dispersion (QTD) is an important predictor of cardiac arrhythmia. The aim of this study was to assess the acute effect of smoking a single standard cigarette containing 1.7 mg nicotine on QT interval and QTD in healthy smokers and nonsmokers. METHODS: The study sample population consisted of 40 healthy male hospital staff, including 20 smokers and 20 nonsmokers. They were asked to refrain from smoking at least 6 h before attending the study. A 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG), recorded at paper speed of 50 mm/s, was obtained from all participants before and 10 min after smoking of a single complete cigarette. QT interval, corrected QT interval, QTD, and corrected QT dispersion (QTcD) were measured before and after smoking. RESULTS: Smokers and nonsmokers did not have any significant differences in heart rate (HR) (before smoking = 67.35 ± 5.14 vs. 67.70 ± 5.07, after smoking = 76.70 ± 6.50 vs. 76.85 ± 6.50, respectively), QTD (before smoking = 37.75 ± 7.16 vs. 39.15 ± 6.55, after smoking = 44.75 ± 11.97 vs. 45.50 ± 9.58, respectively), and QTcD (before smoking = 39.85 ± 7.40 vs. 41.55 ± 6.57, after smoking = 50.70 ± 14.31 vs. 51.50 ± 11.71, respectively). However, after smoking a single cigarette, HR, mean QTD, and QTcD significantly increased (all had P value <0.001) in comparison to the measures before smoking. CONCLUSION: Smoking of a single complete cigarette in both smokers and nonsmokers results in significant QTD increase, which can cause arrhythmia and SCD.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite established effects of atorvastatin on level of serum lipid profile in patients with different underlying clinical conditions, the effects of this drug on other serum biomarkers remain uncertain. We examined the effects of atorvastatin therapy on lipid profile, glycemic control, and liver enzymes in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular accident without any history or clinical evidences of diabetes, heart failure, renal failure, or hepatic disease. METHODS: In a randomized double-blinded controlled trial, 140 hospitalized patients with an ischemic cerebrovascular accident were included and randomly assigned to receive either atorvastatin 40 mg (n = 70) or atorvastatin 20 mg daily (n = 70) for 3 months. The levels of biomarkers were measured at the time of administrating drugs as well as at the time of completing the treatment. RESULTS: A significant reduction was revealed in serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and also aspartate aminotransferase levels as well as a significant increase in serum HDL level following administration of atorvastatin in both case and control groups who received the atorvastatin 40 mg/day and 20 mg/day, respectively (all P < 0.050). Although a significant increase in fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c was observed in the case group received atorvastatin 40 mg/day (both P < 0.001), but this elevation was not occurred in another group treated with lower dose of the drug (both P > 0.050). CONCLUSION: Daily administration of 20 mg and 40 mg doses of atorvastatin for 3 months provides improvement in serum lipid profiles; however, because of interfering effect of high-dose atorvastatin on glycemic control status, the use of the former dose may be preferred. This is very important in these patients because the positive effects of high-dose atorvastatin in stroke patients are not confirmed.
