Potentially inappropriate prescribing of drugs in elderly patients on chronic hemodialysis treatment
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PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate drug prescription (PIP) in older patients who were on chronic hemodialysis treatment and to explore the factors that lead to PIP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed at the Department of Nephrology, Clinical Center Nis, Serbia. It included patients who were 65 years old and older who suffered from the end-stage of kidney failure and were treated by hemodialysis. Univariate and subsequent multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors for PIP or omission (PPO) according to the STOPP and START criteria. RESULTS: The study included 83 patients. According to the START criteria, PPO was found in 18 (22%) patients, and 32 (39%) patients experienced PIPs according to the STOPP criteria. The following factors were associated with PIP according to the START criteria: a number of comorbidities, reading the patient leaflet, and having the habit of drinking coffee. According to the STOPP criteria, polypharmacy was associated with PIP (OR = 1.287, p = 0.021): each additional drug increased the risk of potentially inadequate medications (PIM) by 28.7%. CONCLUSION: Adequate consideration of potential risk factors, as well as the implementation of valid criteria for assessment of PIP, are just some of the measures that would contribute to solving complex therapeutic problems and designing strategies for rational prescribing according to the individual characteristics of patients.
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An inverse correlation between TNF alpha serum levels and heart rate variability in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence indicates that chronic heart failure (CHF) is accompanied by both activation of the immune system and autonomic imbalance. There is a growing body of evidence that increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and other inflammatory markers have important roles as mediators of disease progression and markers of mortality in patients with CHF. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate connection between autonomic imbalance [obtained by analysis of heart rate variability (HRV)] and activation of the immune system [as measured by serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] in patients with chronic heart failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 21 patients with CHF and 8 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects. We assessed HRV by 24-hour electrocardiographic Holter monitoring and measured serum levels of TNF-α using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Clinical assessment and echocardiography were also performed. RESULTS: There was an inverse correlation between serum level of TNF-α and a time-domain parameter of HRV - SDNN (r=-0.542, p<0.05). A similar result was found for HRV triangular index, a geometric measure of HRV (r=-0.556; p<0.05). The correlation was stronger for subjects with a diabetes mellitus, females, and TNFA2 allele carriers (an "A" at position -308A). The pNN50, indirect marker of cardiac vagal activity, was not significantly associated with serum concentration of TNF-α. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that increased serum TNF-α level is significantly associated with reduced HRV indices, suggesting that activation of the immune system in patients with CHF is closely related to autonomic imbalance.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased IL-17 and TNFα levels in patients with chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies revealed a strong association between vitamin D (VD) status and chronic heart failure (CHF). It is now commonly considered that proinflammatory immune response underlies CHF development. OBJECTIVE: Since VD expresses anti-inflammatory properties, we investigated its impact on cytokines implicated in CHF, such as TNFα and IL-17, in patients suffering from CHF. METHODS: Blood was obtained from forty patients with CHF secondary to hypertension and/or coronary heart disease. VD status, IL-17 and TNFα levels were assessed using 25-hydroxy VD3 EIA and cytokine ELISAs. Clinical assessment and echocardiography was also performed. RESULTS: Elderly patients with CHF in Nis (Southeast Europe, latitude 43ºN) exhibited 25-hydroxy VD3 levels below normal. Our data identified that patients with CHF secondary to hypertension have significantly lower 25-hydroxy VD3, increased TNFα and IL-17A levels in comparison to donors with CHF secondary to coronary disease. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that even in regions with a lot of sunny days VD deficiency represents a concerning issue. Data suggest that impaired VD status contributes to high IL-17 and TNFα levels and thereby may support CHF development.

Effects of physical exercise on inflammatory parameters and risk for repeated acute coronary syndrome in patients with ischemic heart disease.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Inflammation is an important factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and several markers of inflammation have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Physical activity may lower the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) by mitigating inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic physical exercise on systemic inflammatory response in patients with stable coronary disease participating in a cardiovascular rehabilitation exercise program. METHODS: Male (n=29) and female (n=23) patients with stable coronary heart disease were enrolled in this study. All the patients were divided into two groups: the group with regular aerobic physical training during cardiovascular rehabilitation program phase II for 3 weeks in our rehabilitation center and 3 weeks after that in their home setting, and sedentary lifestyle group. There were no significant differences in gender distribution among the analysed groups. Student's t-test showed no significant differences in average age, waist circumference (OS) and waist/hip ratio (WHR). RESULTS: The degree of obesity was measured by BMI and there was a significant improvement in BMI in the patients who undertook 6-week physical training compared to the controls (p<0.05). Physical training during 6-week appeared not to have any effects on leukocite count and ICAM-1 levels compared to controls. Exercise induced reduction in plasma CRP levels by 23.72% (p<0.001) and reduction in plasma VCAM-1 levels by 10.23%, (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Moderate aerobic exercise resulted in a significant reduction of inflammatory state by decreasing CRP and VCAM-1 levels with significant obesity reduction but without visceral obesity reduction. The obtained results indicate that regular physical activity is clinically desirable in primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disases.

A Deficiência de vitamina d está associada com níveis aumentados de il-17 e tnfα em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca crônica / Vitamin d deficiency is associated with increased il-17 and tnfα levels in patients with chronic heart failure / La deficiencia de vitamina D está asociada a niveles aumentados de IL-17 y Tnfα en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca crónica

FUNDAMENTO: Estudos recentes revelaram uma forte associação entre o estado de vitamina D (VD) e a insuficiência cardíaca crônica (ICC). Hoje, é normalmente aceito que a resposta imune pró-inflamatória é subjacente ao desenvolvimento de ICC. OBJETIVO: Uma vez que a VD possui propriedades anti-inflamatórias, pesquisamos o seu impacto sobre as citocinas envolvidas na ICC, como TNFα e IL-17, em pacientes portadores de ICC. MÉTODOS: Foi extraído sangue de quarenta pacientes com ICC secundária à hipertensão arterial e/ou doença coronariana. Os níveis de VD status, IL-17 e TNFαforam avaliados através de 25-hidroxi VD3 EIA e ELISA de citocinas. Também foram realizadas avaliação clínica e ecocardiograma. RESULTADOS: Pacientes idosos com ICC em Nis (Sudeste da Europa, latitude 43ºN) apresentaram níveis de 25-hidroxi VD3 abaixo do normal. Nossos dados demonstraram que pacientes com ICC secundária à hipertensão arterial têm níveis significativamente menores de 25-hidroxi VD3, e maiores de TNFαe IL-17A, se comparados com os níveis de pacientes com ICC secundária à doença coronariana. CONCLUSÃO: É demonstrado aqui que, mesmo em regiões com muitos dias ensolarados a deficiência de VD é motivo de preocupação. Os dados sugerem que o déficit de VD contribui para os elevados níveis de IL-17 e TNFα e, assim, contribuir ao desenvolvimento de ICC.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies revealed a strong association between vitamin D (VD) status and chronic heart failure (CHF). It is now commonly considered that proinflammatory immune response underlies CHF development. OBJECTIVE: Since VD expresses anti-inflammatory properties, we investigated its impact on cytokines implicated in CHF, such as TNFα and IL-17, in patients suffering from CHF. METHODS: Blood was obtained from forty patients with CHF secondary to hypertension and/or coronary heart disease. VD status, IL-17 and TNFαlevels were assessed using 25-hydroxy VD3 EIA and cytokine ELISAs. Clinical assessment and echocardiography was also performed. RESULTS: Elderly patients with CHF in Nis (Southeast Europe, latitude 43ºN) exhibited 25-hydroxy VD3 levels below normal. Our data identified that patients with CHF secondary to hypertension have significantly lower 25-hydroxy VD3, increased TNFα and IL-17A levels in comparison to donors with CHF secondary to coronary disease. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that even in regions with a lot of sunny days VD deficiency represents a concerning issue. Data suggest that impaired VD status contributes to high IL-17 and TNFα levels and thereby may support CHF development.

FUNDAMENTO: Estudios recientes revelaron una fuerte asociación entre el estado de la vitamina D (VD) y la insuficiencia cardíaca crónica (ICC). Hoy, es normalmente aceptado que la respuesta inmune pro-inflamatoria es subyacente al desarrollo de ICC. OBJETIVO: Una vez que la VD posee propiedades antiinflamatorias, investigamos su impacto sobre las citocinas envueltas en la ICC, como TNFα y IL-17, en pacientes portadores de ICC. MÉTODOS: Fue extraída sangre de cuarenta pacientes con ICC secundaria a la hipertensión arterial y/o enfermedad coronaria. Los niveles de VD status, IL-17 y TNFα fueron evaluados a través de 25-hidroxi VD3 EIA y ELISA de citocinas. También fueron realizadas evaluación clínica y ecocardiograma. RESULTADOS: Pacientes añosos con ICC en Nis (Sudeste de Europa, latitud 43ºN) presentaron niveles de 25-hidroxi VD3 debajo de lo normal. Nuestros datos demostraron que pacientes con ICC secundaria a la hipertensión arterial tienen niveles significativamente menores de 25-hidroxi VD3, y mayores de TNFα y IL-17A, si son comparados con los niveles de pacientes con ICC secundaria a la enfermedad coronaria. CONCLUSIONES: Es demostrado aquí que, aun en regiones con muchos días de sol la deficiencia de VD es motivo de preocupación. Los datos sugieren que el déficit de VD contribuye para los elevados niveles de IL-17 y TNFα y, así, al desarrollo de ICC.