Doxorubicin cardiotoxicity and Camellia sinensis cardioprotection determined by speckle-tracking echocardiography

Abstract Doxorubicin (Dox) is a medication used in the treatment of cancerous tumors and hematologic malignancies with potentially serious side effects, including the risk of cardiotoxicity. Flavonoids are plant metabolites with antioxidant properties and can be extracted from Camellia sinensis (CS). The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible cardioprotective effect of CS against injuries induced by Dox in rats. A total of 32 animals were distributed into four groups: (1) control - intraperitoneal injection (I.P.) of 0.5 mL saline weekly and 1.0 mL water by gavage daily; (2) CS - 0.5 mL saline I.P. weekly and 200 mg/kg CS by gavage daily; (3) Dox - 5.0 mg/kg Dox I.P. weekly and 1.0 mL water by gavage daily; and (4) Dox+CS -5.0 mg/kg Dox I.P. weekly and 200 mg/kg CS by gavage daily. Clinical examinations, blood profiles, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and histological analyses of hearts were performed over 25 days. The animals in the Dox group showed changes in body weight and in erythrogram, leukogram, electrocardiography, and echocardiography readings. However, animals from the dox+CS group had significantly less change in body weight, improved cardiac function, and showed more preserved cardiac tissue. This study demonstrated that CS prevents dox-induced cardiotoxicity, despite enhancing the cytotoxic effect on blood cells

18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid attenuates global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced cardiac damage in C57BL/J6 mice

Abstract The aim of the present study is to investigate the cardioprotective effects of 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid (18ß -GA) against oxidative and histological damage caused by global cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) in C57BL/J6 mice. All male mice (n:40) were randomly divided into four groups: (1) sham-operated (Sham), (2) I/R, (3) 18ß-GA, and (4) 18ß -GA+I/R. Ischemia was not applied to the sham and 18ß-GA groups. In the I/R group, the bilateral carotid arteries were clipped for 15 min to induce ischemia, and the mice were treated with the vehicle for 10 days. In the 18ß-GA group, the mice were given 18ß-GA (100 mg/kg) for 10 days following a median incision without carotid occlusion. In the 18ß-GA+I/R group, the ischemic procedure performed to the I/R model was applied to the animals and afterwards they were intraperitoneally (i.p.) treated with 18ß-GA (100 mg/kg) for 10 days. It was found that global cerebral I/R increased TBARS levels and decreased antioxidant parameters. The 18ß-GA treatment decreased the level of TBARS and increased GSH, GPx, CAT, SOD activities. Also, the control group cardiac tissue samples were observed to have a normal histological appearance with the Hematoxylin-Eosin staining method. Histopathological damage was observed in the heart tissue samples belonging to the I/R group. The 18ß-GA treatment ameliorates oxidative and histological injury in the heart tissue after global ischemia reperfusion, and may be a beneficial alternative treatment

Spontaneous poisoning by Palicourea marcgravii in bovine in the Federal District, Brazil / Intoxicação espontânea por Palicourea marcgravii em bovino no Distrito Federal, Brasil

Palicourea marcgravii é considerada a planta tóxica mais importante do Brasil e, até os anos 90, a planta mais importante do Centro-Oeste. Esse fator é explicado devido à sua extensa distribuição, boa palatabilidade, alta toxicidade e efeito cumulativo. Um bovino, Nelore, macho, dois anos, de uma propriedade no Distrito Federal, foi encontrado morto. A propriedade apresentava histórico de acesso à floresta e morte de outros animais. Não foram observadas alterações macroscópicas. Microscopicamente, nos rins, foi observada degeneração hidrópico-vacuolar das células epiteliais do túbulo contorcido distal urinário. Áreas multifocais de cardiomiócitos com necrose de coagulação foram observadas no coração, apresentando núcleos picnóticos com citoplasma hipereosinofílico e perda de estriação. Durante uma visita à propriedade rural, foram encontrados galhos e arbustos com frutos reconhecidos como P. marcgravi. Este relato apresenta os achados patológicos de intoxicação espontânea por P. marcgravii em bovino no Distrito Federal.

Palicourea marcgravii is considered the most important toxic plant in Brazil and, until the 1990s, the most important plant in the Central-Western. This factor is explained due to its extensive distribution, good palatability, high toxicity and cumulative effect. A bovine, Nelore, male, two years old, of a property in the Federal District, was found dead. The property presented history of access to the forest and death of other cattle. No macroscopic changes were observed. Microscopically, in the kidneys, were observed hydropic-vacuolar degeneration of distal contoured urinary tubule epithelial cells. Multifocal areas of cardiomyocytes with coagulation necrosis were noted in the heart presenting pycnotic nuclei with hypereosinophilic cytoplasm and loss of striations. During a visit to the rural property, were found branches and shrubs with fruits recognized as P. marcgravii. This report presents the pathological findings of spontaneous poisoning by P. marcgravii in bovine in the Federal District, Brazil.

Spontaneous poisoning by Palicourea marcgravii in bovine in the Federal District, Brazil / Intoxicação espontânea por Palicourea marcgravii em bovino no Distrito Federal, Brasil

Palicourea marcgravii é considerada a planta tóxica mais importante do Brasil e, até os anos 90, a planta mais importante do Centro-Oeste. Esse fator é explicado devido à sua extensa distribuição, boa palatabilidade, alta toxicidade e efeito cumulativo. Um bovino, Nelore, macho, dois anos, de uma propriedade no Distrito Federal, foi encontrado morto. A propriedade apresentava histórico de acesso à floresta e morte de outros animais. Não foram observadas alterações macroscópicas. Microscopicamente, nos rins, foi observada degeneração hidrópico-vacuolar das células epiteliais do túbulo contorcido distal urinário. Áreas multifocais de cardiomiócitos com necrose de coagulação foram observadas no coração, apresentando núcleos picnóticos com citoplasma hipereosinofílico e perda de estriação. Durante uma visita à propriedade rural, foram encontrados galhos e arbustos com frutos reconhecidos como P. marcgravi. Este relato apresenta os achados patológicos de intoxicação espontânea por P. marcgravii em bovino no Distrito Federal.(AU)

Palicourea marcgravii is considered the most important toxic plant in Brazil and, until the 1990s, the most important plant in the Central-Western. This factor is explained due to its extensive distribution, good palatability, high toxicity and cumulative effect. A bovine, Nelore, male, two years old, of a property in the Federal District, was found dead. The property presented history of access to the forest and death of other cattle. No macroscopic changes were observed. Microscopically, in the kidneys, were observed hydropic-vacuolar degeneration of distal contoured urinary tubule epithelial cells. Multifocal areas of cardiomyocytes with coagulation necrosis were noted in the heart presenting pycnotic nuclei with hypereosinophilic cytoplasm and loss of striations. During a visit to the rural property, were found branches and shrubs with fruits recognized as P. marcgravii. This report presents the pathological findings of spontaneous poisoning by P. marcgravii in bovine in the Federal District, Brazil.(AU)

Incisión de Spangaro en lesiones cardiacas penetrantes, reporte de casos.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El trauma en México es un problema mayor de salud pública, siendo una de las principales causas de mortalidad en personas jóvenes. La incidencia reportada de trauma cardiaco varía. El sitio primario de lesión miocárdica es la pared libre del ventrículo derecho. CASOS CLÍNICOS: Se reportan dos casos de pacientes lesionados con un instrumento punzocortante en el tórax, sufriendo lesión miocárdica que requirió tratamiento quirúrgico de urgencia. DISCUSIÓN: Existen diversas incisiones del tórax. La elección dependerá de la situación a tratar, el estado hemodinámico y el número de lesiones. Ante una lesión cardiaca, el abordaje de Spangaro es una prudente elección. INTRODUCTION: Trauma in Mexico is a major public health problem, being one of the main causes of mortality in young people. The reported incidence of cardiac trauma complications. The primary site of myocardial injury is the free wall of the right ventricle. CLINICAL CASES: Two cases of injured patients with a throbbing instrument in the chest are reported, suffering from myocardial injury that required emergency surgical treatment. DISCUSSION: There are various chest incisions. The choice will depend on the entity to be treated, the hemodynamic state, number of injuries. Faced with a heart injury, Spangaro's approach is a prudent choice.

A Dedicated Stitch to Allow Early Safe Mobilization Avoiding Drain-Induced Heart Injury.

Placement of a mediastinal drain is a routine procedure following heart surgery. Postoperative bed rest is often imposed due to the fear of potential risk of drain displacement and cardiac injury. We developed an encapsulating stitch as a feasible, effective and low-cost technique, which does not require advanced surgical skills for placement. This simple, novel approach compartmentalizes the drain allowing for safe early mobilization following cardiac surgery.

A dedicated stitch to allow early safe mobilization avoiding drain-induced heart injury

Abstract Placement of a mediastinal drain is a routine procedure following heart surgery. Postoperative bed rest is often imposed due to the fear of potential risk of drain displacement and cardiac injury. We developed an encapsulating stitch as a feasible, effective and low-cost technique, which does not require advanced surgical skills for placement. This simple, novel approach compartmentalizes the drain allowing for safe early mobilization following cardiac surgery.

Penetrating cardiac trauma: analysis of 240 cases from a hospital in Bogota, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Trauma characteristics and its management is influenced by socioeconomic context. Cardiac trauma constitutes a challenge for surgeons, and outcomes depend on multiple factors including initial care, characteristics of the wounds, and surgical management. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional case series of patients with penetrating cardiac injuries (PCI) from January 1999 to October 2009 who underwent surgery in a trauma referral center in Bogotá, Colombia. Demographic variables, trauma characteristics, treatment, and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 240 cases: 96.2% males, mean age of 27.8 years. Overall mortality was 14.6%: 11.7% from stab wounds and 41.2% from gunshot wounds. Upon admission, 44% had a normal hemodynamic status and 67% had cardiac tamponade. About 32% had Grade II injuries and 29% Grade IV injuries. In 85% of the cases, there were ventricular compromise and 55% of patients had associated lesions. In 150 cases, a pericardial window was performed. Highest mortality occurred in wounds to the right atrium. In tamponade patients, mortality was 20% being higher for gunshot wounds (54.5%) than for stab wounds (18%) (p = 0.0120). CONCLUSIONS: The study evidenced predominance of stab wounds. Based on characteristics of the trauma, patients, and survival rate, there is most likely a high pre-hospitalization mortality rate. The difference in mortality due to stab wounds and those produced by gunshots was more related to technical difficulties of the surgical repair than with the type of injury established by the Injury Grading Scale. Mortality was higher in patients with cardiac tamponade. Surgical management was satisfactory using pericardial window as the diagnostic method and sternotomy as the surgical approach.