Coronary microvascular dysfunction in diabetes mellitus.

The significance, mechanisms and consequences of coronary microvascular dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus are topics into which we have insufficient insight at this time. It is widely recognized that endothelial dysfunction that is caused by diabetes in various vascular beds contributes to a wide range of complications and exerts unfavorable effects on microcirculatory regulation. The coronary microcirculation is precisely regulated through a number of interconnected physiological processes with the purpose of matching local blood flow to myocardial metabolic demands. Dysregulation of this network might contribute to varying degrees of pathological consequences. This review discusses the most important findings regarding coronary microvascular dysfunction in diabetes from pre-clinical and clinical perspectives.

From Postpartum Metastatic Cancer to Parathyroid Adenoma: A Case Report.

We present a 36 year old female patient with suspected postpartum advanced metastatic cancer and multiple osteolytic lesions due to which she was referred to the Internal medicine clinic for further diagnostic evaluation. After extensive investigation, it was discovered that the underlying condition was a parathyroid gland adenoma and the patient was treated surgically. Clinicians should note that parathyroid adenoma can mimic metastatic malignant disease, and should make appropriate diagnostic tests that will lead to the correct diagnosis.

Blood pressure, acid-base and blood gas status and indicators of oxidative stress in healthy male rats exposed to acute hyperbaric oxygenation.

Different protocols of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO2) are used for research purposes; however, data on the changes in blood pressure, oxidative stress and acid-base and gas status induced by various oxygenation protocols are scarce and conflicting. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an acute session of HBO2 [2 bar (200 kPa) for two hours] on arterial systolic and diastolic blood pressure, arterial blood gases and acid-base status, and oxidative stress in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats (12-15 weeks) were examined prior to, immediately and 24 hours after a two-hour HBO2 exposure at 2 bars. The femoral artery was cannulated to determine blood pressure, and blood samples were collected to measure blood gases and acid-base status, Ferric reducing antioxidant power ability of plasma (FRAP) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Immediately after HBO2 systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased (from 138 +/- 14/103 +/- 13 to 113 +/- 12/72 +/- 16 mmHg). However, these values were still inside the normal physiological range. pH decreased (from 7.34 +/- 0.05 to 7.28 +/- 0.05), pCO2 decreased (from 7.07 +/- 0.89 to 5.76 +/- 0.50 kPa), pO2 increased (from 12.48 +/- 0.88 to 13.68 +/- 2.4 kPa), plasma bicarbonate decreased (from 27.04 +/- 3.25 to 20.52 +/- 3.02 mmol/L). Exposure to HBO2 immediately increased TBARS levels (from 0.17 +/- 0.09 to 21.79 +/- 1.05 microM/MDA), while FRAP levels were not significantly changed. Measurements on separate animals 24 hours after a single HBO2 exposure showed no differences in comparison to control animals, except for pO2, which was significantly lower (11.10 +/- 0.31 kPa). The results define values of important parameters, serving as a necessary basis for complex analysis of HBO2 effects in research on rat animal models.