International Cardiovascular Research Journal
Volume:5 Issue: 1, Mar 2011

In Iran’s traditional medicine, the leaves of olive tree are of value for the treatment of hypertension. This study was designed to examine the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of olive leaves in rat model of two-kidney, one-clip hypertension and to further explore whether its hypotensive activity was mediated by enhancing the basal release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide. Animals were divided into two main groups including sham-operated and renal artery-clipped ones. The latter was further divided into 5 groups of untreated rats, vehicle-treated rats, which received daily oral administrations of one ml distilled water, and extract-treated rats receiving olive leaves extract at 50, 150 or 500 mg/kg in the same volume of vehicle starting the next day after the operation. Four weeks later, mean blood pressure and heart rate were measured under anesthesia before and after the administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Mean arterial pressures, and right kidney and heart weights of untreated and vehicle-treated renal artery-clipped rats were significantly higher but left kidney weights were significantly lower than those of shamoperated animals. However, there was no significant difference between the heart rates of these groups. Compared to vehicle-treated renal artery-clipped rats, treatment with hydroalcoholic extracts of olive leaves at 50, 150 or 500 mg/kg/day was associated with significantly lower mean arterial pressure, right kidney and heart weights but did not affect heart rate or left kidney weights. The intravenous administration of L-NAME resulted in a significant increase in mean arterial pressure in sham-operated and extract-treated rats whereas there was no change in renal artery clipped or vehicle-treated groups. The findings of the study show that hydroalcoholic extract of olive leaves prevents the clipinduced increase in mean arterial pressure, which might be partly mediated by enhancing the basal release of nitric oxide.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors are increasing in developing counties. Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of CAD risk factors in Iran but Geographical prevalence is not uniform. The present study was performed to determine the prevalence of CAD risk factors among Yazd urban population. This cross- sectional study performed in 2004, comprised a total 2000 Yazd citizens (1000 males), and the corresponding data were recorded in questionnaires carrying 500 items. About 85% of Yazd citizens had at least one and 61.1% had at least two coronary artery diseases. The following data in brackets refer to the males and females respectively. The present study showed obesity in 16.38% of Yazd citizens (9.2 and 24.2%). The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia 12.1% (10.6 and 13.8%), dyslipidemia 58.5% (59% and 57.6%), high blood pressure 25.6% (27.5% and 23.5%), diabetes mellitus 11% (10.48% and 11.5%), impaired glucose tolerance test 8.5% (7.9% and 9.1%) and cigarette smoking 13.12% (24.45% and 0.5%). Also 43.3% of men and 62.05% of women had excess weight. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertention (HTN), and abdominal obesity increased significantly with age (P< 0.005). The prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, hypercholesterolemia and DM were significantly higher in women. Yazd did not carry the highest levels of risk factors in Iran, but the present study showed excess weight, dislipidemia and HTN were the most prevalent risk factors found in this region. Thus it is recommended to consider the preventive and therapeutic measures as the major hygienic priorities in this area

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the major cause of morbidity and mortality. The knowledge about correlation between the different risk factors of CAD provides valuable information for prediction and prevention of the disease in a specific population.The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between fasting blood sugar (FBS) and resting blood pressure in teachers residing in Shiraz, Iran A total of 3115 teachers from different educational centers of Shiraz, Iran were interviewed in this cross sectional study. The data obtained comprised demographic information including age, sex, and history of hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), and current use of medications. Other parameters measured were height, weight, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and resting blood pressure (BP) as well as calculating the body mass index (BMI). Out of all the cases studied, undiagnosed and/or untreated cases of diabetes and hypertension were 1.5% and 15.2% respectively. FBS was higher in the elderly and in cases with higher BMI, but without any significant difference in relation to sex. The prevalence of HTN was higher in males, in older cases and in those with higher BMI. A significant relationship was observed between FBS and resting BP in hypertensive and prehypertensive groups (P < 0.001) as compared to normotensive subjects. There was a significant correlation between FBS and resting BP in hypertensive and prehypertensive teachers residing in Shiraz,Iran. The prevalence of neglected DM and HTN in this population was high enough to warrant regular screening.

Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is a sensitive and specific marker of myocardial necrosis. Prognostic significance of isolated minor elevations of cTnT is a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of minor elevations of cTnT on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We measured cTnT levels before and after PCI and evaluated the outcomes of 112 patients with normal baseline cTnT and complex coronary artery disease who required nonemergency PCI. Elevations (more than 0.03ng/ml) in cTnT were seen in 39 patients (34.8%).The angiographic characteristics of patients with increased cTnT levels had borderline differences compared to those with normal post PCI cTnT levels. Over a mean follow-up duration of 22 months, myocardial infarction (p<0.01) and the combined rate of death, myocardial infarction and revascularization (p<0.001) were significantly higher in patients with increased levels of post PCI cTnT. Estimated 22-month MACE-free survival for patients with increased and normal cTnT levels were 93.2% and 66.7%, respectively Isolated minor elevations in cTnT after elective PCI in complex coronary lesions affect long-term prognosis regarding death, myocardial infarction and the need for repeated revascularization procedures.

We evaluated the effects of tissue and organ perfusion during and after coronary artery bypass graft surgery with either colloid (Voluven) or crystalloid (Lactated ringer’s) as prime solution. In this prospective randomized-controlled trial study, 70 patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery were randomly assigned to receive either colloid (Voluven) or crystalloid (Lactated ringer’s) as prime solution, for initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass machine procedure. Tissue and organ perfusion markers including lactate, troponin I, liver and renal function tests and electrolytes were measured sequentially, before induction (T1) to second days after surgery (T5). With exception of chloride and potassium levels no significant differences detected in other measurements, and the laboratory results were entirely identical in both procedures. There was no significant difference between Voluven® (hydroxyethyl starch, HES 130/0.4) and crystalloid (Lactated ringer’s) as priming solution on the basis of organ and tissue perfusion tests assessment.

Complete heart block is a rare manifestation of various cardiac involvements seen in Wegener’s granulomatosis. To our knowledge there have only been two previous cases of complete heart block reported in patients with limited form of Wegener’s granulomatosis in English literature. We describe a 62-year-old Iranian woman presenting with complete heart block who was candidate for pacemaker installation. Limited Wegener’s granulomatosis was suspected because of bloody nasal discharge, fatigue, fever, arthralgia, dacrocystitis, and history of recurrent subglutic stenosis, but no renal involvement. The diagnosis was subsequently confirmed by presence of granuloma in nasal mucosal biopsy and also high level of serum anti-proteinase 3. Prednisolone and cyclophosphamide therapy were initiated and her electrocardiography returned to normal sinus rhythm without any pacemaker installation. Awareness of unusual presentation of Wegener’s granulomatosis is important in proper diagnosis and management of the potentially fatal cardiac involvement of the disease. Complete heart block may be reversed by appropriate medical therapy of Wegener’s granulomatosis.

Uhl’s anomaly is characterized by complete or partial absence of the myocardium of the right ventricle, with apposition of the endocardium and epicardium. We report our experience with surgical treatment of this anomaly.