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Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa
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ISSN (Print) 1680-0745
Published by Sabinet Online Ltd

[185 journals]

From the editor's desk
- Authors: Andries Brink
  PubDate: 2007-03-01T00:00:00Z
Cardiovascular effects of Persea americana Mill (Lauraceae) (avocado)
aqueous leaf extract in experimental animals : cardiovascular topic
- Authors: C.T. Musabayane; K. Moodley, M.M. Gondwe, D.R. Kamadyaapa J.A.O. Ojewole
  Abstract: The cardiovascular effects of Persea Americana Mill (Lauraceae) aqueous leaf extract (PAE) have been investigated in some experimental animal paradigms. The effects of PAE on myocardial contractile performance was evaluated on guinea pig isolated atrial muscle strips, while the vasodilatory effects of the plant extract were examined on isolated portal veins and thoracic aortic rings of healthy normal Wistar rats in vitro. The hypotensive (antihypertensive) effect of the plant extract was examined in healthy normotensive and hypertensive Dahl salt-sensitive rats in vivo. P americana aqueous leaf extract (25-800 mg/ml) produced concentration-dependent, significant (p < 0.05-0.001), negative inotropic and negative chronotropic effects on guinea pig isolated electrically driven left and spontaneously beating right atrial muscle preparations, respectively. Moreover, PAE reduced or abolished, in a concentration-dependent manner, the positive inotropic and chronotropic responses of guinea pig isolated atrial muscle strips induced by noradrenaline (NA, 10-10-10-5 M), and calcium (Ca2+, 5-40 mM). PAE (50-800 mg/ml) also significantly reduced (p < 0.05-0.001) or abolished, in a concentration-dependent manner, the rhythmic, spontaneous, myogenic contractions of portal veins isolated from healthy normal Wistar rats. Like acetylcholine (ACh, 10-8-10-5 M), the plant extract (25-800 mg/ml) produced concentration-related relaxations of isolated endothelium-containing thoracic aortic rings pre-contracted with noradrenaline. The vasorelaxant effects of PAE in the isolated, endothelium-intact aortic rings were markedly inhibited or annulled by NG-nitro- L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10-5 M), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Furthermore, PAE (25-400 mg/kg iv) caused dose-related, transient but significant reductions (p < 0.05-0.001) in the systemic arterial blood pressure and heart rates of the anaesthetised normotensive and hypertensive rats used. The results of this laboratory animal study indicate that PAE caused bradycardia, vasorelaxation and hypotension in the mammalian experimental models used. The vasorelaxant action of PAE was endothelium dependent, and was, therefore, possibly dependent on the synthesis and release of nitric oxide (NO). The vasorelaxant effects of PAE appeared to contribute significantly to the hypotensive (antihypertensive) effects of the plant extract. However, the findings of this study tend to suggest that P Americana leaf could be used as a natural supplementary remedy in essential hypertension and certain cases of cardiac dysfunctions in some rural Africa communities.
  PubDate: 2007-03-01T00:00:00Z
Unexpectedly high prevalence of target-organ damage in newly diagnosed
Nigerians with hypertension : cardiovascular topic
- Authors: Ikechi Okpechi; T.S. Oluleye, C.O. Bekibele, K.S. Adedapo, A.A. Adebiyi, O.S. Ogah B.L. Salako
  Abstract: Introduction: Hypertension remains a formidable cardiovascular problem in the entire world. Untreated or poorly controlled hypertension predisposes to target-organ damage and is often followed by serious cardiovascular events. Knowledge of the type and distribution of endorgan damage in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients would help to determine the interventions or preventative measures needed in such patients. Objective: To assess target-organ involvement in newly diagnosed, untreated hypertensive patients presenting at the University College Hospital, ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: Newly diagnosed hypertensive men and women were recruited consecutively into the study. Target-organ damage was assessed using electroctrocardiography, echocardiography, renal function assessment (including tests for albuminuria) and fundoscopy. Results: A total of 68 subjects were recruited, but only 54 (79.4%), with a mean age of 59.1 (+ 12.4) years, completed the study. There were 29 (+ 53.7%) men, mean age 63.5 (+ 12.6) years, and 25 (46.3%) women, mean age 54.1 (+ 10.4) years. Fifty per cent of the subjects had no symptoms. Some form of albuminuria was found in about 40.7%. Seventy-one per cent (71%) had between grade 1 and 2 hypertensive retinopathy. Only six (11.1%) had glomerular filtration rate greater than 90 ml/min. Systolic function was impaired in three (5.6%) of the subjects. Diastolic dysfunction was present in 36 (66.7%) subjects. Conclusion: Target-organ damage already exists in newly diagnosed hypertensive subjects before presentation. We suggest early screening for cardiovascular risk factors and possibly a reduction in the criteria for the definition of hypertension in black Africans.
  PubDate: 2007-03-01T00:00:00Z
Pulmonary arterial hypertension after splenectomy for hereditary
spherocytosis : case report
- Authors: V.J. Louw; J.P. Smedema
  Abstract: Hereditary spherocytosis consists of a group of haemolytic anaemias caused by defects in the proteins involved in the vertical interactions between the membrane skeleton and the lipid bilayer of the red blood cell. inheritance is most commonly autosomal dominant with variable expression. Splenectomy may be indicated because of anaemia or for the prevention of gall-stones. We describe a patient who presented with symptoms of pulmonary hypertension 32 years after splenectomy. idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (iPAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) have been associated with splenectomy, while chronic haemolysis may result in haemolysis-associated pulmonary hypertension. We briefly discuss the current views on the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of this rare condition.
  PubDate: 2007-03-01T00:00:00Z
Beta-blockers in 2007' : the cardiovascular prescriber
- Authors: John L. Straughan
  PubDate: 2007-03-01T00:00:00Z
Eprosartan in secondary prevention of stroke : the economic evidence :
short communication
- Authors: Francois Wessels
  PubDate: 2007-03-01T00:00:00Z
Pan-African Society of Cardiology, Nairobi, Kenya, 13-16 May 2007 :
congress abstracts
- PubDate: 2007-03-01T00:00:00Z
Clinical results of GENRES should provide a platform to guide the choice
of antihypertensive drug treatment : the AB/CD scheme : drug trends in
cardiology
- PubDate: 2007-03-01T00:00:00Z
Cardiologists applaud drug duet : drug trends in cardiology
- PubDate: 2007-03-01T00:00:00Z
Atorvastatin cuts risk of coronary events by half in recurrent stroke
patients : drug trends in cardiology
- PubDate: 2007-03-01T00:00:00Z
Targeting the reduction of atherosclerosis in low-risk individuals. METEOR
trial provides support for rosuvastatin (Crestor) atherosclerosis
regulatory submission : drug trends in cardiology
- PubDate: 2007-03-01T00:00:00Z
Cardio news
- PubDate: 2007-03-01T00:00:00Z
A statement of intent on the formation of the NCRP on Cardiovascular and
Metabolic Disease : a new initiative to fight heart disease, stroke,
diabetes and obesity in South Africa : editorial
- Authors: B. Mayosi
  PubDate: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z
From the editor's desk
- Authors: A.J. Brink
  PubDate: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z
Hypoglycaemic and hypotensive effects of Globimetula cupulata (DC) Van
Tieghem (Loranthaceae) aqueous leaf extract in rats : cardiovascular
topics
- Authors: Stephen O. Adewole; John A.O. Ojewole
  Abstract: The leaves of some mistletoes, specifically Loranthus micranthus Linn, Tapinanthus dodoneifolius (DC) Danser and Globimetula cupulata (DC) Van Tieghem (family:Loranthaceae), are used traditionally in Nigerian folk medicine to manage, control and / or treat a plethora of human ailments, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension. In order to scientifically appraise some of the folkloric, ethnomedical uses of Globimetula species, the present study was undertaken to investigate the hypoglycaemic and hypotensive effects of Globimetula cupulata aqueous leaf extract (GCE, 50-800 mg/kg po) in rat experimental paradigms. The hypoglycaemic effect of the plant extract was examined in normal (normoglycaemic) and diabetic (hyperglycaemic) rats using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes model.Normotensive Wistar and hypertensive Dahl salt sensitive-rats were used to investigate the hypotensive (antihypertensive) effect of the plant extract. Metformin (MFM, 500 mg/kg po) was used as the reference hypoglycaemic agent for comparison. Acute oral administrations of G cupulata aqueous leaf extract (GCE, 50-800 mg/kgpo) caused dose-related, significant (p < 0.05-0.001) hypoglycaemia in normal and STZ-treated diabetic rats. Furthermore, acute intravenous administrations of GCE (50-800 mg/kg iv) produced dose-dependent, significant reductions (p < 0.05-0.001) in systemic arterial blood pressure and heart rates of the normotensive and hypertensive rats used.Although the exact hypoglycaemic and hypotensive mechanisms of action of the plant extract still remain speculative, it is unlikely that the extract induced hypotension in the mammalian experimental animal model via cholinergic mechanisms, since its cardiovascular effects were resistant to atropine pretreatment. However, the findings of this experimental study indicated that Globimetula cupulata aqueous leaf extract possesses hypoglycaemic and hypotensive properties. This therefore lends pharmacological support to the folkloric, ethnomedical uses of the plant in the management and / or control of diabetes mellitus and hypertension among the Yoruba-speaking people of western Nigeria.
  PubDate: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z
From the editor
- PubDate: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z
Uric acid : a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis' :
cardiovascular topics
- Authors: B. Soleimani; H. Shams OL Ketabi, Z. Talaee, E. Shirzadi, L. Moghadas, I. Shaigannia, H. Taheri, N. Amiri, M. Yavari M. Hashemi
  Abstract: Background and objectives: It is uncertain whether high serum uric acid levels are a true independent risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis or whether the association is due to other confounding variables. We therefore studied the relationship between elevated serum uric acid levels and coronary atherosclerosis after adjustment was made for confounding factors such as age, gender, body mass index, smoking, lipid profile, blood pressure and blood glucose levels. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 240 patients referred for coronary angiography to heart centres in the Shahid-Chamran and Sina hospitals, Isfahan, Iran. Blood chemistry data as well as traditional risk factors and uric acid levels were measured at enrollment. We used vessel, stenosis and extent scores to indicate the degree of coronary artery involvement. Results: This study was conducted on 240 patients with a mean age of 56 + 10.9 years (66% male; 37% female) who underwent coronary angiography. Student's t-test analyses revealed that there were significant differences in the mean uric acid levels between male and female patients (p = 0.001). We found no statistically significant correlation between serum uric acid levels and coronary atherosclerosis (p > 0.05). In addition, multivariate logistic regression analyses, using coronary atherosclerosis as dependent variable and traditional risk factors and uric acid levels as independent variables, did not show any significant difference. Conclusion: These findings indicated that uric acid is not associated with coronary atherosclerosis. Any correlation reported in other studies was probably due to the relationship between high serum uric acid levels and other cardiovascular risk factors.
  PubDate: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z
The management of tuberculous pericardial effusion : experience in 233
consecutive patients : cardiovascular topics
- Authors: Anton F. Doubell; Vernon J. Louw, Lesley J. Burgess Helmuth Reuter
  Abstract: Aim: We report on the 30-day and one-year outcome of consecutive effusive pericarditis patients, including those with tuberculous pericarditis, over a six-year-period. Methods and Results: Patients with large pericardial effusions requiring pericardiocentesis were included in the study after having given written informed consent. Clinical and radiological evaluations were followed by echo-guided pericardiocentesis, and extended daily intermittent drainage via an indwelling pigtail catheter. A standard short-course anti-tuberculous regimen was initiated. A total of 233 patients was included. One hundred and sixty-two patients had pericardial tuberculosis (TB), including 118 (73%) with microbiological and / or histological evidence of TB and 44 (27%) diagnosed on clinical and supportive laboratory data. Over the six-year period, two patients developed fibrous constrictive pericarditis after receiving adjuvant corticosteroid therapy. The 30-day mortality (8.0%) was statistically higher for HIV-positive patients (corresponding mortality 9.9%) than for HIV-negative patients (6.2%; p 5 0.04). The one year all-cause mortality was 17.3%. It was also higher for HIV-positive (22.2%) than for HIV-negative patients (12.3%; p 5 0.03). Cardiac mortality was equal for HIV-positive and -negative patients. Conclusion: Tuberculous pericardial effusions responded well to closed pericardiocentesis and a six-month treatment of antituberculous chemotherapy. The former was effective and safe irrespective of HIV status.
  PubDate: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z
Off-pump coronary bypass for advanced left ventricular dysfunction :
cardiovascular topics
- Authors: Gungor Kucuk; S. Tolga Kutlu Feza Nurozler
  Abstract: Background: In this study the results of off-pump bypass in patients with advanced left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) and without bypassable circumflex disease were analysed retrospectively. Methods: Fifty-five patients with advanced LVD underwent off-pump coronary bypass. Their ages ranged from 39 to 82 years (mean 62.3 + 8.4). Forty-two of the patients (76.3%) were in NYHA class III or IV. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 23.8 + 5.1%. Pre- and intra-operative variables, and postoperative complications and mortality of the patients were analysed. Mid-term follow-up was done telephonically either with the referring cardiologist or the patients. Results: The mean number of coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) per patient was 2.22 + 0.63. Eight coronary endarterectomies were achieved; early mortality was 3.6%. Pre-operative myocardial infarction (MI) occurred in one patient (1.8%). Two patients (3.6%) were supported with an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and 10 (18.1%) needed inotropic support. Mean postoperative blood loss was 425 + 50 cm3. A significant improvement in ejection fraction was observed in the postoperative course. Mean intensive care unit stay was 2.1 + 1.1 days and mean hospital stay was 7.2 + 1.3 days. The mean follow-up period was 21.8 + 6.2 months and mid-term survival was 92.4%. Freedom from cardiac events requiring hospital admission was 89.7%. Most of the patients enjoyed symptomatic relief, however 16 patients (32.6% of survivors) remained in NYHA class III. Conclusion: These results support the effectiveness of off-pump coronary bypass with good early and mid-term results in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy and without bypassable circumflex lesion.
  PubDate: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z
Frequency of the metabolic syndrome in screened South African corporate
executives : cardiovascular topics
- Authors: R. Van Tonder; P. Rheeder J.A. Ker
  Abstract: Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of the metabolic syndrome in a specific group of people. Patients and methods: The ATP III criteria were used to identify the metabolic syndrome in a group of 1 410 corporate executives belonging to a specialist health and fitness company in South Africa. Results: Using three criteria as specified by the ATP III panel, 31% of this group of corporate executives fulfilled the criteria for the diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome. In a small subset of black executives, a similar finding was obtained. Another one-third of the executives had two criteria of the metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: The metabolic syndrome was common in a group of corporate executives.
  PubDate: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z
The William Nelson ECG quiz
- PubDate: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z
Inadvertent retrieval of a broken PTCA catheter from the aorta during
off-pump coronary bypass : case report
- Authors: Gungor Kucuk; S. Tolga Kutlu Feza Nurozler
  Abstract: To cut costs, many centres around the world utilise previously used, resterilised balloon catheters to perform coronary angioplasty. The fracture and lodging of an angioplasty device within the coronary arteries is a rare but increasingly noted complication. In this article, we report on the inadvertent retrieval of a coronary angioplasty catheter during off-pump coronary bypass. The accidental removal of the catheter, which extended to the descending aorta, has obviously been life saving. This experience has shown that a high degree of caution is required when planning an operation for the retrieval of PTCA hardware.
  PubDate: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z
The positive predictive value of myocardial perfusion imaging in screening
patients for suspected coronary artery disease : short communication
- Authors: S. Ellemdin; P. Soma
  Abstract: Background: In patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease, diagnosis and risk stratification can be aided by non-invasive tests for myocardial ischaemia. The main indications for the use of radionuclide perfusion imaging (sestamibi) rather than exercise electrocardiography include complete left bundle branch block, inconclusive stress electrocardiography and an inability to exercise. The published data on myocardial perfusion imaging is limited to eight studies of only 628 patients with widely varying ranges of sensitivities and specificities and the major problem being the bias created when patients with positive test results are referred far more frequently for coronary angiography than those with negative results. Furthermore, certain categories of patients are postulated to have a high number of false positives, especially obese patients and women, but this hypothesis has not been tested. Methods and Results: A retrospective descriptional study on patients with positive sestamibi scans, who had coronary angiography within six months of each other, was performed. The study population consisted of 132 patients, 53.8% of whom were male and 44.7% had a body mass index of less than 28. The overall positive predictive value of the sestamibi scan in predicting significant coronary angiographic stenosis was 63.6%. This value increased significantly to 80.3% in males (p 5 = 0.000). The positive predictive value did not differ in the different age categories, nor did it change with the different indications for sestamibi scanning. Conclusions: The sestamibi scan remains a useful screening test for coronary artery disease in patients who are exercise intolerant or those with inconclusive stress electrocardiography. The test is highly predictive in males rather than females.
  PubDate: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z
Grapefruit-drug interactions : the cardiovascular prescriber
- Authors: John L. Straughan
  PubDate: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z
Enteric-coated aspirin : review shows similar inhibition of platelet
aggregation to ordinary dispersible aspirin : drug trends in cardiology
- PubDate: 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z