The Influence of Lifestyle Factors on the Occurrence and Severity of Premature Ventricular Contractions: A Comprehensive Review.

Premature ventricular contractions (PVC) are a type of ventricular arrhythmias, occurring as a result of formation or reentry of an abnormal impulse in the ventricular myocardium or in the Purkinje system. PVC occurs commonly in healthy individuals and is observed in 1%-4% of the population. Several lifestyle factors like stress levels, caffeine, drugs, alcohol, nicotine, sleep, and physical exercise have been implicated in increasing the risk. Caffeine and drugs precipitate heightened cardiac stimulation, precipitating PVCs. Excessive alcohol and nicotine disturb the electrical pathways resulting in PVCs. Higher rates of PVCs have been associated with obesity. Individuals with insomnia and increased stress levels are also at an increased risk due to an imbalance in the autonomic system. Exercise is known to induce PVCs, including in healthy, asymptomatic individuals. Modification of these factors can decrease PVC risk. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the effects of lifestyle factors on PVC.

Biomimetic Growth of Hydroxyapatite on SiO2 Microspheres to Improve Its Biocompatibility and Gentamicin Loading Capacity.

The interest in multifunctional biomaterials to be implanted are also able to release drugs that reduce pain and inflammation or prevent a possible infection has increased. Bioactive materials such as silica (SiO2) containing surface silanol groups contribute to the nucleation and growth of hydroxyapatite (HAp) in a physiological environment. Regarding biocompatibility, the spherical shape of particles is the desirable one, since it does not cause mechanical damage to the cell membrane. In this work, the synthesis of SiO2 microspheres was performed by the modified Stöber method and they were used for the biomimetic growth of HAp on their surface. The effect of the type of surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and polyethylene glycol (PEG)), and heat treatment on the morphology and size of SiO2 particles was investigated. Monodisperse, spherical-shaped SiO2 microparticles with an average particle size of 179 nm, were obtained when using PEG (SiO2-PEG). The biomimetic growth of HAp was performed on this sample to improve its biocompatibility and drug-loading capacity using gentamicin as a model drug. Biomimetic growth of HAp was confirmed by FTIR-ATR, SEM-EDX and TEM techniques. SiO2-PEG/HAp sample had a better biocompatibility in vitro and gentamicin loading capacity than SiO2-PEG sample.

Comparison Between a Standard and SalivaDirect RNA Extraction Protocol for Molecular Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Using Nasopharyngeal Swab and Saliva Clinical Samples.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a certified laboratory of Tamaulipas, Mexico has processed over 100,000 samples of COVID-19 suspected patients, working a minimum of 100 tests daily. Thus, it would be beneficial for such certified laboratories nationwide to reduce the time and cost involved in performing the diagnosis of COVID-19, from sample collection, transportation to local lab, processing of samples, and data acquisition. Here, 30 nasopharyngeal swab and saliva samples from the same COVID-19 individuals were assessed by a standard nucleic acid extraction protocol, including protein lysis with proteinase K followed by binding to column, washing, and elution, and by the SalivaDirect protocol based on protein lysis, skipping the other steps to reduce processing time and costs. The genomic RNA was amplified using a SARS-CoV-2 Real-Time PCR kit. A variation (P > 0.05) in the 95% CIs = 72.6%-96.7% was noted by using the SalivaDirect protocol and saliva samples (sensitivity of 88.2%) in comparison to those of standard protocol with oropharyngeal swab samples (95% CIs = 97.5%-100%; sensitivity of 100%) as reported elsewhere. However, when using nasopharyngeal swab samples in the SalivaDirect protocol (sensitivity of 93.6%; 95% CIs = 79.2%-99.2%), it was in concordance (P < 0.05) with those of the standard one. The logical explanation to this was that two samples with Ct values of 38, and 40 cycles for gene E produced two false negatives in the SalivaDirect protocol in relation to the standard one; thus, there was a reduction of the sensitivity of 6.4% in the overall assay performance.

Spectrum of CFTR gene mutations in Ecuadorian cystic fibrosis patients: the second report of the p.H609R mutation.

BACKGROUND: High heterogeneity in the CFTR gene mutations disturbs the molecular diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF). In order to improve the diagnosis of CF in our country, the present study aims to define a panel of common CFTR gene mutations by sequencing 27 exons of the gene in Ecuadorian Cystic Fibrosis patients. METHODS: Forty-eight Ecuadorian individuals with suspected/confirmed CF diagnosis were included. Twenty-seven exons of CFTR gene were sequenced to find sequence variations. Prevalence of pathogenic variations were determined and compared with other countries' data. RESULTS: We found 70 sequence variations. Eight of these are CF-causing mutations: p.F508del, p.G85E, p.G330E, p.A455E, p.G970S, W1098X, R1162X, and N1303K. Also this study is the second report of p.H609R in Ecuadorian population. Mutation prevalence differences between Ecuadorian population and other Latin America countries were found. CONCLUSION: The panel of mutations suggested as an initial screening for the Ecuadorian population with cystic fibrosis should contain the mutations: p.F508del, p.G85E, p.G330E, p.A455E, p.G970S, W1098X, R1162X, and N1303K.

Respuesta de la frecuencia cardiaca y presión arterial en la fase II del programa de rehabilitación cardiaca en Costa Rica / Heart rate and blood pressure response in phase II cardiac rehabilitation program in Costa Rica

Objetivo: describir el comportamiento de la frecuencia cardiaca y presión arterial en pacientes participantes de la fase II del programa de rehabilitación cardiaca del Centro Nacional de Rehabilitación. Métodos: 175 pacientes portadores de enfermedad arterial coronaria admitidos en la fase II del programa de rehabilitación cardiaca, del Centro Nacional de Rehabilitación, entre junio de 2009 y junio de 2011, con una duración de 12 semanas. Se les midió la frecuencia cardiaca y la presión arterial sistólica y diastólica antes del ejercicio y 3 minutos después de finalizado, con seguimiento a 2 años plazo...

[Motives of requirement for health care consultations and factors associated to mortality due to poisoning]. / Motivos que generan demanda de atención y factores asociados a mortalidad en un centro especializado en toxicología.

BACKGROUND: The poisoning is a public health problem. This problem requires continuous evaluation to decrease it. Our objective was to identify causes of requirement for health care consults and factors associated to mortality due to poisoning. METHODS: We assessed the requirements for health care consults during one year and the outcomes of these consultations in a center of toxicology. Odds ratios (OR) were used as risk estimator. RESULTS: There were 3116 consultations due to poisons. From these 79% required hospitalization. The identified causes were: be bite and wound inflected by poisonous animals in 57 % (44 % of these were due to scorpions); medications in 15 %; agrochemicals in 5 % and in 4 % prohibit substances (marihuana or cocaine). A poisoning caused by suicidal attempt was observed in 28 %. Mortality rate was 3/1000, and the mortality rate for suicidal attempt was 0.7 % meaning an OR = 6 (95 % CI = 1.3 to 31) compared with the overall mortality rate. The most frequent cause of mortality was organophosphorates poisoning (OR = 30, 95 % CI = 2.86-759). CONCLUSIONS: The poisoning secondary to animals represented the most frequent cause for consultation. The suicidal attempt and organophosphorates intoxication were associated with higher mortality.