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Although several left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have been used widely, remote monitoring of LVAD parameters has been available only recently. We present our remote monitoring experience with an axial-flow LVAD (HeartAssist-5, MicroMed Cardiovascular, Inc., Houston, TX, USA). Five consecutive patients who were implanted a HeartAssist-5 LVAD because of end-stage heart failure due to ischemic (n=4) or idiopathic (n=1) cardiomyopathy, and discharged from hospital between December 2011 and January 2013 were analyzed. The data (pump speed, pump flow, power consumption) obtained from clinical visits and remote monitoring were studied. During a median follow-up of 253 (range: 80-394) days, fine tuning of LVADs was performed at clinical visits. All patients are doing well and are in New York Heart Association Class-I/II. A total of 39 alarms were received from three patients. One patient was hospitalized for suspected thrombosis and was subjected to physical examinations as well as laboratory and echocardiographic evaluations; however, no evidence of thrombus washout or pump thrombus was found. The patient was treated conservatively. Remaining alarms were due to insufficient water intake and were resolved by increased water consumption at night and summer times, and fine tuning of pump speed. No alarms were received from the remaining two patients. We believe that remote monitoring is a useful technology for early detection and treatment of serious problems occurring out of hospital thereby improving patient care. Future developments may ease troubleshooting, provide more data from the patient and the pump, and eventually increase physician and patient satisfaction. Despite all potential clinical benefits, remote monitoring should be taken as a supplement to rather than a substitute for routine clinical visits for patient follow-up.

Our aim was to determine whether lipoprotein lipase gene PvuII polymorphism can be considered as an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) by conducting a meta-analysis of all available published trials, including our own study. In 7 seperate studies, 3289 subjects were screened for this substitution; meta-analysis included only some of these individuals. Among the 7 studies, 6 were performed on white subjects, whereas 1 was on patients with Saudi Arabic descent.Subgroup analysis indicated that individuals with PvuII substitution does not have an increased risk for CAD. The LPL-PvuII genotype and allele frequency distributions did not differ significantly between CAD patients and healthy controls. There was no difference in the distribution of LPL-PvuII genotypes between the healthy subjects and the patients with CAD. However, no significant differences in lipid variables (triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol) were determined for the PvuII polymorphisms in the patients with CAD. No significant differences were found in serum triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol levels for LPL-PvuII genotypes when the control and CAD groups were pooled. In conclusion, LPL-Pvu II polymorphism cannot be used as independent genetic risk factor for CAD.

ABSTRACT. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD-1) 3123©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 11 (3): 3122-3132 (2012) 11β-HSD-1 expressed in ascending aorta of MS patient with CAD activity and mRNA levels are increased in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues of metabolic syndrome subjects. We analyzed 11β-HSD-1 expression in human epicardial adipose (EA) and ascending aorta (AA) tissues of metabolic syndrome patients and examined their contribution to the development of coronary atherosclerosis. The 11β-HSD-1 expression was evaluated by qRT-PCR in EA and AA tissues of 20 metabolic syndrome patients with coronary artery disease (metabolic syndrome group) and 10 non-metabolic syndrome patients without coronary artery disease (controls). 11β-HSD-1 expression was increased in EA and AA tissues of the metabolic syndrome group (4.1-and 5.5-fold, respectively). A significant positive correlation was found between 11β-HSD-1 expression in EA tissue and waist hip ratio and 11β-HSD-1 expression in AA tissue and body mass index, while a negative correlation was found between 11β-HSD-1 expression in EA tissue and HDL. Expression of CD68, a macrophage marker, was significantly increased in both tissues of the metabolic syndrome group; it was 2-fold higher in AA tissue compared to EA tissue in the metabolic syndrome group. Our findings of increased expression of 11β-HSD-1 and CD68 in AA tissue of the metabolic syndrome group lead us to suggest that they contribute to coronary atherosclerosis in metabolic syndrome. This positive correlation between obesity markers and 11β-HSD-1 in AA and EA tissues strengthens the evidence that 11β-HSD-1 has a role in metabolic syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing 11β-HSD-1 and CD68 expression in AA tissue of metabolic syndrome patients. We suggest that there is tissue-specific expression of 11β-HSD-1 in metabolic syndrome and associated cardiovascular disorders.

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Background/Aim: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) has deeply affected life all over the World. The World Health Organization named this disease as COVID-19. The most important factor in the transmission of the disease is asymptomatic carriers. We’ve tested all oncology patients, that receive anti-cancer therapy, for COVİD-19 to prevent asymptomatic oncology patients from spreading infection and to make the decision to postpone chemotherapy in infected patients. Then, we analyzed the clinical and radiological findings of infected patients.Materials and Methods: Oncology patients who have indications of receiving anti-cancer treatment in the hospital were tested for COVID-19, two day prior to their treatment even if they were asymptomatic by collecting nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab specimens for RT-PCR for viral RNA detection. Positive patients, underwent inspiratory phase of chest computed tomography (CT) examination. Infected patients were given the recommended treatment for COVID-19. Anti-cancer treatment of all patients that had positive PCR results was delayed for 14 days.Results: PCR test was positive in 28 of 312 patients that we tested, and the positivity rate was 8.9%. Three patients (10.7%) had symptoms; 2 of whom had dyspnea and cough, and 1 had headache, and 25 patients (89.3%) had no symptoms.Conclusion: In oncology patients, who are receiving anti-cancer treatment, we have to recognize the asymptomatic COVID-19 infection. We recommend testing for COVID-19 in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy, periodically or before each anti-cancer treatment, in order to continue their treatment without any problems and to prevent the risk of transmission.

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