Arya Atherosclerosis
Volume:11 Issue: 2, Mar 2015

The effect of legume-based hypocaloric diet on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in women is unclear. This study provides an opportunity to find effects of high-legume diet on CVD risk factors in women who consumed high legumes at baseline. This randomized controlled trial was undertaken in 34 premenopausal women with central obesity. After 2 weeks of a run-in period on an isocaloric diet, subjects were randomly assigned into two groups: (1) hypocaloric diet enriched with legumes (HDEL) (n = 17) (two servings per day) and (2) hypocaloric diet without legumes (HDWL) (n = 17) for 6 weeks. The following variables were assessed before intervention, 3, and 6 weeks after it: Waist to hip ratio (WHR), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-sensitive-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), nitric oxides (NOx), and Malondialdehyde (MDA). Both hypocaloric diets reduced hs-CRP in 3 weeks and returned it to basal values after 6 weeks (P = 0.004). HDWL significantly reduced WHR [P = 0.010 (3.2%)] and increased TC [P = 0.000 (6.3%)]. Despite the significant effect of HDEL on increasing TAC in 3 weeks [P = 0.050 (4%)], the level of TAC remained the same in 6 weeks. None of the diets had any significant effects on NOx and MDA. The study indicated that beneficial effects of legumes on TC, LDL-C, and hs-CRP were achieved by three servings per week, and consuming more amounts of these products had no more advantages.

Cardiovascular diseases such as acute coronary syndrome and myocardial infarction are often accompanied by severe anxiety over the likelihood of death. Cortisol has been known as a stress hormone. However, there are controversies about the effect of massage therapy on blood cortisol level. Furthermore, no study is available on the difference between massage applied by a nurse specialist or by patients’ relatives on blood cortisol level. This study was aimed to compare the effect of massage applied by a nurse specialist and patients’ relatives on blood cortisol level among the patients admitted in coronary care unit (CCU). In a randomized controlled trial, ninety patients hospitalized at CCU were randomly placed in three groups: massage by a nurse; massage by patients’ relatives and control group. The two massage groups received a session of whole body massage. The control group received the routine care. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, chi-square and Fischer exact tests, Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests. The mean age of participants was 58.43 ± 14.23 years. None of the participants had the history of massage therapy. In the group massaged by a nurse, the median blood cortisol level was 281.90 nanomoles, which were decreased to 197.00 after the intervention (P < 0.007). The median blood cortisol level in the group massaged by the patients’ relatives and the control group did not affect significantly. Massage therapy decreased the blood cortisol level in the group that received massage by a specialist nurse. It can be recommended that massage therapy be used in patients admitted in CCU.

Non-enzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin is complications of diabetes. Antioxidant system imbalance can result in the emergence of free radicals’ destructive effects in the long-term. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) contain isoflavonoids and have antioxidant activity. This experimental study evaluated the inhibitory activity of pure isoflavonoids (daidzein and genistein), red clover and alfalfa extracts on hemoglobin glycosylation. This study was performed in Iran. Stock solution of hydroalcoholic extracts of red clover and alfalfa in concentrations of 1 and 10 g/100 ml and stock solution of daidzein and genistein in concentrations of 250 ng, 500 ng, 25 µg and 250 µg/100 ml were prepared as case groups. Control group was without hydroalcoholic extracts of plants and pure isoflavonoids. All experiments were performed in triplicate. Hemoglobin was prepared and antioxidant activities were investigated to estimate degree of nonenzymatic hemoglobin glycosylation. There was no significantly difference between used extracts (extract of red clover and alfalfa) and control of the hemoglobin glycosylation but using daidzein (P = 0.046, 0.029 and 0.021, respectively) and genistein (P = 0.034, 0.036 and 0.028) significantly inhibited (P < 0.050) this reaction in 25 µg/100 ml, 250 and 500 ng/100 ml concentrations when compared to control. in 25 µg/100 ml, 250 ng and 500 ng/100 ml concentrations percentage of inhibition were 32, 80 and 74.5% respectively with used of daidzein and were 21, 83 and 76% respectively with consumption of genistein. According to decrease of glycation of hemoglobin with isoflavonoids, two used plant in this study containing isoflavonoid may be useful on diabetes

Dietary assessment is the first step of dietary modification in community-based interventional programs. This study was performed to validate a simple food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) for assessment of selected food items in epidemiological studies with a large sample size as well as community trails. This validation study was carried out on 264 healthy adults aged ≥ 41 years old living in 3 district central of Iran, including Isfahan, Najaf Abad, and Arak. Selected food intakes were assessed using a 48-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The FFQ was interviewer-administered, which was completed twice; at the beginning of the study and 2 weeks thereafter. The validity of this SFFQ was examined compared to estimated amount by single 24 h dietary recall and 2 days dietary record. Validation of the FFQ was determined using Spearman correlation coefficients between daily frequency consumption of food groups as assessed by the FFQ and the qualitative amount of daily food groups intake accessed by dietary reference method was applied to evaluate validity. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to determine the reproducibility. Spearman correlation coefficient between the estimated amount of food groups intake by examined and reference methods ranged from 0.105 (P = 0.378) in pickles to 0.48 (P < 0.001) in plant protein. ICC for reproducibility of FFQ were between 0.47-0.69 in different food groups (P < 0.001). The designed SFFQ has a good relative validity and reproducibility for assessment of selected food groups intake. Thus, it can serve as a valid tool in epidemiological studies and clinical trial with large participants.

Since some degrees of functional mitral regurgitation (MR) may be seen in patients who are candidate for undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR), determining the effectiveness of AVR surgery on MR rate improvement can be effective in designing a protocol to deal with patients with functional MR. The purpose of this study was to examine the echocardiographic changes after AVR surgery with a focus on changes in MR. The research was conducted as a before-after observational study on patients hospitalized in Baqiyatallah Hospital who were undergone AVR surgery between 2011 and 2012. After selecting the patients and obtaining informed consent to participate in the project, transthoracic echocardiographic data were collected by a specialist in Cardiology Echocardiography using ViVid 7 device before and till one week after AVR surgery. The MR rate was measured using methods; including Color Flow Doppler, PISA, Vena Cava Width and Effective Regurgitant Orifice. Finally, the study was conducted on 85 patients (mean age: 56.23 ± 6.10 years, 27 women: 31.8%). Of 21 patients with preoperative MR more than mild (moderate, mild to moderate), 20 patients (95%) showed at least one degree decrease in MR. Among 64 patients who had mild MR before the surgery, 29 patients improved (45%), that this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The study results showed that in patients with preoperative MR degree higher than mild, after AVR the MR rate improved 24 times more than those who had preoperative MR degree equivalent to mild and lower. However, these changes are not affected by other echocardiographic changes and patients demographic characteristics.

Oleuropein is a natural antioxidant and scavenging free radicals. In the present study, we examined effect of oleuropein on paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity, lipid peroxidation, lipid profile, atherogenic indices, and relationship of PON1 activity by high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and atherogenic indices in gentamicin (GM)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. This is a lab trial study in Khorramabad, Lorestan province of Iran (2013). Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups to receive saline; GM, 100 mg/kg/d; and GM plus oleuropein by 15 mg/kg i.p daily, respectively. After 12 days, animals were anaesthetized, blood samples were also collected before killing to measure the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), HDL-C, atherogenic index, lipid peroxidation and the activities of PON1 of all groups were analyzed. Data were analyzed, and P < 0.050 was considered significant. Oleuropein significantly decreased lipid peroxidation, TG, TC, LDL, VLDL, atherogenic index, atherogenic coefficient (AC), and cardiac risk ratio (CRR). HDL-C level was significantly increased when treated with oleuropein. The activity of PON1 in treated animals was (62.64 ± 8.68) that it was significantly higher than untreated animals (47.06 ± 4.10) (P = 0.047). The activity of PON1 in the untreated nephrotoxic rats was significantly lower than that of control animals (77.84 ± 9.43) (P = 0.030). Furthermore, the activity of PON1 correlated positively with HDL-C and negatively with AC, CRR1, and CRR2 in the treated group with oleuropein. This study showed that oleuropein improves PON1 activity, lipid profile, and atherogenic index and can probably decrease the risk of cardiovascular death in nephrotoxic patients.

There are some reports in the literature, which suggest that cardiac tamponade drainage may transiently affect systolic function and also cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We did not find any reports of acute ventricular failure and ARDS secondary to mediastinal tumor resection without tamponade.Case Report: Here we report a 48-year-old woman presenting with massive pericardial effusion without tamponade in whom tumor was resected through median sternotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass. ARDS and acute heart failure were two rare complications that happened at the end of the operation secondary to a sudden decompression of the heart from tumor pressure. ARDS and acute heart failure are two rare complications, which can happen after large mediastinal tumor resection.

The present study aimed to describe the long-term alterations of pulmonary function and also to describe its association with post-operative pain after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. In this prospective study, thirty non-smoker male patients undergoing isolated on-pump CABG were consecutively included in this study. Pulmonary function measurements were performed, in a sitting position, preoperatively, a week postoperatively, and 6 months after the surgery using a Medical Graphics PF/Dx pulmonary function system. Pain was determined by using visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores with a standardized questionnaire’s. Regarding functional class, all patients had NYHA Class II to III. A week after operation, a severe restrictive pulmonary impairment was revealed with a mean decrease in VC to 60.9 ± 9.2% and in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) to 64.6 ± 12.2% of pre-operative values (P < 0.001). Regarding sternotomy related pain, the mean pain VAS score was preoperatively 3.3 ± 1.5 that reached to 6.2 ± 2.5 and 4.8 ± 2.2 1 week and 6 months after the operation (P < 0.001). The trend of the changes in pain score within 6 months of operation was significantly similar to the trend of the changes in some pulmonary function indices such as FEV% and RV. A significant reduction is expected in most pulmonary functional parameters following CABG despite normal pulmonary function state preoperatively. Severe pain originated from sternotomy may be an important factor related to pulmonary dysfunction following CABG.