Comparing cardiac CT angiography and MR angiography in evaluating left ventricular function and volumes / Comparación de la angiografía por TC y la angiografía por RM para evaluar la función y los volúmenes del ventrículo izquierdo

Abstract Background: cardiovascular diseases are among the principal causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Prevention, early diagnosis and treatment can play an important role in reducing complication of cardiovascular diseases. Objectives: Considering increasing popularity of cardiac computed tomography CT angiography (CTA) in one side and also magnetic esonance angiography (MRA) as gold standard modality on the other side, we decided to perform this meta-analysis study to compare cardiac CTA and MRA in evaluating left ventricular volumes. Method: this study is a systematic review in which we included all studies with inclusion criteria and without exclusion criteria up to 30 December, 2019. Studies were selected after searching on different databases and articles in bibliography of included studies. Obtained studies were screened for quality. Required data were extracted and were then analyzed via STATA 11 statistical package. Results: among 90 articles obtained in primary search, finally 19 studies entered data extraction and synthesis. Based on our meta-analysis, standardized mean difference was -0.09 (95% CI -0.2, 0.02) for end systolic volume (ESV), -0.10 (95% CI -0.22, 0.01) for end diastolic volume (EDV), 0.10 (95% CI -0.01, 0.22) for ejection fraction (EF) and -0.09 (95% CI -0.23, 0.04) for stroke volume (SV). Conclusion: Results of this systematic review and meta-analysis showed that there is no statistically significant difference between CTA and MRA in evaluating ESV, EDV, EF and SV. Based on our findings, it can be interpreted that CTA has similar accuracy with MRA in evaluating ventricular volumes.

Resumen Introducción: Las enfermedades cardiovasculares están entre las principales causas de morbimortalidad global. La prevención, el diagnóstico precoz y el tratamiento pueden desempeñar un papel importante en la reducción de las complicaciones de las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Objetivo: Teniendo en cuenta la creciente popularidad de la angiografía por tomografía computarizada (ATC) cardiaca, por un lado, y también la angiografía por resonancia magnética (ARM) como el método de referencia, por el otro, decidimos llevar a cabo un metaanálisis para comparar la ATC y la ARM cardiaca en la evaluación de los volúmenes del ventrículo izquierdo. Método: Revisión sistemática en la cual incluimos todos los estudios con criterios de inclusión y sin criterios de exclusión hasta el 30 de diciembre de 2019. Los estudios se seleccionaron de diferentes bases de datos y artículos de las bibliografías de los estudios incluidos. Los estudios obtenidos se examinaron para evaluar su calidad. Los datos requeridos fueron extraídos y luego analizados utilizando el paquete estadístico STATA 11. Resultados: De los 90 artículos obtenidos en la búsqueda primaria, finalmente 19 estudios entraron a extracción de datos y síntesis. Según nuestro metaanálisis, la diferencia de medias estandarizada fue de −0.09 (intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%] −0.2 a 0.02) para el volumen sistólico final (VSF), −0.10 (IC95%: −0.22 a 0.01) para el volumen diastólico final (VDF), 0.10 (IC95%: −0.01 a 0.22) para la fracción de eyección (FE) y − 0.09 (IC95%: −0.23 a 0.04) para el volumen sistólico (VS). Conclusiones: Los resultados de esta revisión sistemática y metaanálisis mostraron que no existe una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre la ATC y la ARM en la evaluación del VSF, el VDF, la FE y el VS. Basado en nuestros hallazgos, se puede interpretar que la ATC tiene una precisión parecida a la ARM en la evaluación de los volúmenes ventriculares.

Effects of exercise training and supplementation with selenium nanoparticle on T-helper 1 and 2 and cytokine levels in tumor tissue of mice bearing the 4 T1 mammary carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Physical exercise decreases the incidence of breast cancer and also improves survival in breast cancer patients. However, the mechanistic basis of these protective effects of exercise is not well known. Changes in tumor cytokines, such as oncostatin-M (OSM), have been associated with modulation of antitumor immune responses in breast cancer. Exercise and antioxidants such as selenium affect both antitumor immune responses as well as tumor cytokine expression. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of aerobic exercise training (AET) and selenium nanoparticle (SeNP) administration on T-helper 1 and 2 and tumor tissue cytokines in mice bearing the 4 T1 mammary carcinoma. METHODS: We examined the effects of 6 wk of AET and SeNP administration (100 µg three times/wk) on tumor size, concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-4 and OSM in tumor tissue and INF-γ and IL-4 in splenocytes of 64 mice bearing the 4 T1 mammary carcinoma. RESULTS: AET increased OSM levels in tumor tissue. Moreover, AET increased levels of TNF-α in tumor tissue, whereas SeNP supplementation decreased IL-4 levels tumor tissue. Also, the combination of AET and SeNP administration decreased tumor volume and increased T-helper 1 cytokines in the splenocytes of tumor-bearing mice. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the combination of AET and SeNP supplementation effects antitumor immune responses in splenocytes, whereas AET induced antitumor cytokines, such as OSM and TNF-α in tumor tissue.

Oral administration of synthetic selenium nanoparticles induced robust Th1 cytokine pattern after HBs antigen vaccination in mouse model.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is known as a life-threatening liver infection and leads to chronic liver disease if left untreated. Nevertheless, the prevalence of HBV infection has been reduced by an approved vaccination approach using recombinant Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) and Alum, known as the HBV vaccine. Alum can be used as an adjuvant to increase HBsAg immunogenicity as a strong Th2 stimulator. There is a vital need to stimulate Th1 immunity by HBsAg vaccination; however, the present vaccine does not induce a prophylactic immune response in some groups. The main aim of the present study was to induce a Th1 cytokine pattern and stimulate an immune response after HBsAg vaccination. Experimental mice were fed selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and were later immunized with 5µg of Hepatitis B Vaccine. After a period of 30 days, the experimental animals were given two booster doses of SeNPs during their vaccination course. Group one, i.e., the control vaccine group, was only administered the HBsAg vaccine. The two treated groups, Groups 2 and 3, were daily fed different doses of SeNPs (100µg and 200µg, respectively) via gavage. Group four was considered the control group and was only given phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Lymphocyte proliferation, IFN-γ and IL-4 levels, total antibody and the isotypes of IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgM were measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The administration of SeNPs and the HBs antigen vaccine affected the lymphocyte proliferation; moreover, the total antibody responses also increased the IFN-γ level and induced a Th1 response. CONCLUSIONS: The present study proposed that the administration of SeNPs with a conventional HBs antigen vaccine induces a better immune response with a Th1 bias.