Artur Cieślewicz

Coenzyme Q10 - A new player in the treatment of heart failure?

Coenzyme Q10 is the only endogenously synthesized lipid with a redox function which exhibits broad tissue and intracellular distribution in mammals. Beneficial effects of Coenzyme Q10 supplementation were observed in several age-related diseases including heart failure. CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10) level is significantly decreased in patients with this disease, which correlates with severity of clinical symptoms. Supplementation with various pharmaceutical formulations of CoQ10 improves impaired cardiac function and clinical course of heart failure. Current data from clinical trials indicate that CoQ10 can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality of heart failure patients in addition to guideline recommended pharmacotherapy.

Influence of short-term L-arginine supplementation on carbohydrate balance in rats with ischemia-reperfusion syndrome

BACKGROUND There are studies showing stimulative effect of arginine on insulin secretion. This mechanism is not fully explained. The effects of the impact of arginine on carbohydrate balance under the conditions of ischemia and reperfusion remain to be determined. The aim of this study is the evaluation of the influence of short-term L-arginine supplementation on the concentration of glucose and insulin in blood and insulin binding in rat skeletal muscle under the conditions of ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS The study was conducted on male Wistar rats with average body mass 250 ± 30 g. Animals were divided into four groups: Group I - control, Group II - placebo, Group III - L-arginine 500 mg/kg/24 h for 5 days, Group IV - L-arginine and L-NAME (75 μmol/rat/24 h) for 5 days. Each group was divided into subgroups depending on duration of ischemia and reperfusion. Acute ischemia of hind limb was induced in each group by putting pneumatic tourniquet on the thigh. Blood samples and skeletal muscles were collected from the rats. Plasma concentrations of glucose and insulin were measured. Insulin binding to insulin receptors was determined in skeletal muscle. RESULTS A clear reduction of insulin binding to receptor was found in the group of animals without ischemia and the group supplemented with L-arginine and subjected to 4-h ischemia and 30- and 120-min reperfusion. A significant increase in insulin level was found in groups of animals with L-arginine and/or L-NAME subjected to 4-h ischemia at all times of reperfusion. Supplementation with L-arginine and/or L-NAME decreased levels of glucose in blood serum of animals undergoing ischemia-reperfusion syndrome compared to the control and placebo groups. CONCLUSION Under conditions of ischemia-reperfusion, short-term administration of L-arginine causes a decrease in insulin binding capacity of insulin receptors in skeletal muscle, an increase in insulin level and a decrease in the concentration of glucose in blood serum.

Current approach for detection of sub-clinical left ventricular dysfunction associated with chemotherapy

The article describes the current knowledge concerning approaches for detection of sub-clinical left ventricular dysfunction associated with chemotherapy. The authors focused on the problem of defining cardiotoxicity as well as diagnostic methods, which may be useful in predicting the occurrence of such complications. Currently, cardiac biomarkers measurement (troponin, NT-proBNP), tissue Doppler-based strain imaging and peak systolic longitudinal strain rate are most useful for detection of early myocardial changes during therapy, whereas speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and peak systolic global longitudinal strain (GLS) appear to be the best measure. The problem of cardiotoxicity requires close cooperation between oncologists and cardiologists, particularly in light of the growing number of cancer cases.

Evaluation of antihypertensive effect of l-arginine supplementation in patients with mild hypertension assessed with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

BACKGROUND Arterial hypertension is one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors, featuring the unsatisfactory efficacy of current therapies. The cardiovascular disease paradigm which assumes a crucial role of the endothelial phenotype in shaping the state of the circulatory system has become increasingly dominant and endothelial dysfunction should be treated as avidly as the diseases of other organs. The most valued current anti-hypertensive therapies exert a positive influence on the endothelium due to their pleiotropic effects, but the search for new effective strategies aimed at improving endothelial function is underway. L-arginine trials are part of this quest. The few L-arginine studies in hypertension have brought inconclusive results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-hypertensive efficacy and safety profile of L- arginine during four weeks of oral supplementation to healthy subjects and patients diagnosed with primary mild hypertension. MATERIAL/METHODS The study was completed by 54 participants. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was used to allot patients to either a healthy control group (19 subjects) or the hypertensive treatment group (35 patients). Later the patients were randomized to either L-arginine (2 or 4 g three times daily or placebo. All participants underwent physical examination and had all basic lab tests and ABPM performed. RESULTS Blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) by ABPM showed statistically significant lowering after 4 weeks of L-arginine supplementation only in the subgroup of patients treated with 12 g of L-arginine daily, with a stronger hypotensive effect observed during the day. CONCLUSIONS The present findings demonstrate a strong association between L-arginine supplementation and blood pressure reduction.

Phytoestrogens use by Polish women

The aim of the study was to evaluate knowledge about phytoestrogens among Polish menopausal women, and to assess their applicability and safety. The study included 300 women from the Wielkopolska Region, aged 40-60 years. The questionnaire was designed especially for the study. Crosstabulation tables and Pearsonís chi-squared test was used for the statistical analysis. 147 respondents continued to menstruate. Hormone Replacement Therapy was used by 69 subjects; 114 respondents, used phytoestrogens. The place of inhabitance influenced the reasons for not using phytoestrogens. Media, healthcare providers, and personnel were the main sources of information about phytoestrogens. Most of the respondents perceived phytoestrogens as substances displaying a beneficial effect on health. 69% of the subjects reported positive effects of non-hormonal preparations for the relief of climacteric symptoms, mainly reduction in hot flushes and alleviation of joint pain. Our results support the postulate of efficacy and safety of phytoestrogen use to relieve climacteric symptoms. Both education and place of inhabitance appear to affect the opinions of the affected females about phytoestrogen use during menopause.

Influence of selected angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on alloxan-induced diabetic cataract in rabbits

BACKGROUND Hyperglycemia enhances cataractogenesis. Elevated glucose level is commonly accompanied by arterial hypertension, for which angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (ACEIs) are a widely used intervention. ACE inhibitors exert some endothelial pleiotropic actions and can beneficially modulate glucose control and some other metabolic pathways. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ACEIs on cataract formation in experimental alloxan-induced diabetes in rabbits and assess the role of the reactive function group of the ACEIs in this process. MATERIAL/METHODS Two study and two control groups of rabbits were examined. In the study groups and in one of the control groups, diabetes was induced by alloxan. The study groups were assigned to receive captopril or enalapril for six months; the controls received distilled water. Glucose concentration was monitored with a glucometer. A biomicroscope and an ophthalmoscope were used to evaluate lens opacity and cataractogenesis. RESULTS Six-month administration of ACEI to rabbis resulted in a delay of diabetic cataractogenesis. The rate of cataract formation was significantly lower in the group treated with captopril than in the enalapril group. A difference in morphology of lens opacity formation between the two study groups was observed. CONCLUSIONS ACEIs delay diabetic cataractogenesis in an experimental animal model. The ACEI functional groups have different influences on the pattern and rate of lens opacity.