OBJECTIVE - Studies have shown that therapy with beta-blockers reduces mortality in patients with heart failure. However, there are no studies describing the effects of propranolol on the QT ...dispersion in this population. The objective of this study was to assess the electrophysiological profile, mainly QT dispersion, of patients with heart failure regularly using propranolol. METHODS - Fifteen patients with heart failure and using propranolol were assessed over a period of 12 months. Twelve-lead electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded prior to the onset of beta-blocker therapy and after 3 months of drug use. RESULTS - A significant reduction in heart rate, in QT dispersion and in QTc dispersion was observed, as was also an increase in the PR interval and in the QT interval, after the use of propranolol in an average dosage of 100 mg/day. CONCLUSION - Reduction in QT dispersion in patients with heart failure using propranolol may explain the reduction in the risk of sudden cardiac death with beta-blocker therapy, in this specific group of patients.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the population of intact and degranulated MCs in oral inflammatory lesions.
A cross sectional study of 48 samples, including inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia, ...pyogenic granulomas, periapical granulomas and radicular cysts, was performed. Samples of normal gingival mucosa were used as controls. The degree of edema and lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate was determined by the analysis of hematoxylin-eosin (HE)-stained sections. To determine the collagen fibers contents and correlate it with the MC count, sections stained with Sirius red and Toluidine blue were used. Immunohistochemistry with an antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was also used to count endothelial cells.
Although the total number of intact MCs was higher in the oral inflammatory lesions, these differences were not statistically significant (P=0.33). There were statistically significant differences between the numbers of degranulated MCs from the lesions and those from the normal oral mucosae (P=0.001) and a positive correlation between the number of MCs and the degree of inflammation (P<0.001). The MC count did not correlate with the collagen fibers or VEGF positive cells (P>0.05).
The involvement of MCs in the pathogenesis of the oral inflammatory lesions is suggested. However, there was no positive correlation with these cells and collagen fibers or angiogenesis in the lesions studied.
PDF
