Heart failure （HF） is a potentially fatal disease that affects increasing number of people worldwide. Although heart transplant is the ＂gold standard＂ therapy for HF, due to the limited availability of organs, man...Heart failure （HF） is a potentially fatal disease that affects increasing number of people worldwide. Although heart transplant is the ＂gold standard＂ therapy for HF, due to the limited availability of organs, many patients died when waiting for the transplant. Left ventricular assist device （LVAD）, as a mechanical circulatory support, has become a new light for patients with HF. With the technical advancements, LVADs work not only as a bridge to transplant, but also assist heart recovery and even as a destination therapy in long-term treatment. This observation paper reviewed the development of LVAD and its clinical roles. The challenges and possible solutions in nursing care for pa- tients with LVAD at different stage of implantation were discussed. The healthcare professionals could obtain a better understanding about the LVAD treatment for HF patients.展开更多
Objective： Statins＇ therapy in osteoporosis can aggravate muscle damage. This study was designed to assess which agent, L-carnitine or coenzyme Q10, could enhance the anti-osteoporotic effect of atorvastatin while a...Objective： Statins＇ therapy in osteoporosis can aggravate muscle damage. This study was designed to assess which agent, L-carnitine or coenzyme Q10, could enhance the anti-osteoporotic effect of atorvastatin while antagonizing myopathy in ovariectomized rats. Methods： Forty-eight female Sprague Dawley rats were used; forty rats were ovariectomized while eight were sham-operated. Eight weeks post-ovariectomy, rats were divided into ovariectomized-untreated group and four ovadectomized-treated groups （n=8） which received by gavage （mg/（kg.d）, for 8 weeks） 17^-estradiol （0.1）, atorvastatin （50）, atorvastatin （50）＋L-carnitine （100）, or atorvastatin （50）＋coenzyme Q10 （20）. At the end of therapy, bone mineral density （BMD）, bone mineral content （BMC）, and serum levels of bone metabolic markers （BMMs） and creatine kinase （CK） were measured. Femurs were used for studying the breaking strength and histopathological changes. Results： Treatment with atorvastatin＋L-carnitine restored BMD, BMC, and bone strength to near normal levels. Estrogen therapy restored BMD and BMC to near normal levels, but failed to increase bone strength. Although atorvastatin and atorvastatin＋coenzyme Q10 improved BMD, BMC, and bone strength, they failed to restore levels to normal. All treatments decreased BMMs and improved histopathological changes maximally with atorvastatin＋L-carnitine which restored levels to near normal. Atorvastatin aggravated the ovariectomy-induced increase in CK level while estrogen, atorvastatin＋L-carnitine, and atorvastatin＋coenzyme Q10 decreased its level mainly with atorvastatin＋L-camitine which restored the level to near normal. Conclusions： Co- administration of L-carnitine, but not coenzyme Q10, enhances the anti-osteoporotic effect of atorvastatin while an- tagonizing myopathy in ovariectomized rats. This could be valuable in treatment of osteoporotic patients. However, further confirmatory studies are needed.展开更多
文摘Heart failure （HF） is a potentially fatal disease that affects increasing number of people worldwide. Although heart transplant is the ＂gold standard＂ therapy for HF, due to the limited availability of organs, many patients died when waiting for the transplant. Left ventricular assist device （LVAD）, as a mechanical circulatory support, has become a new light for patients with HF. With the technical advancements, LVADs work not only as a bridge to transplant, but also assist heart recovery and even as a destination therapy in long-term treatment. This observation paper reviewed the development of LVAD and its clinical roles. The challenges and possible solutions in nursing care for pa- tients with LVAD at different stage of implantation were discussed. The healthcare professionals could obtain a better understanding about the LVAD treatment for HF patients.
文摘Objective： Statins＇ therapy in osteoporosis can aggravate muscle damage. This study was designed to assess which agent, L-carnitine or coenzyme Q10, could enhance the anti-osteoporotic effect of atorvastatin while antagonizing myopathy in ovariectomized rats. Methods： Forty-eight female Sprague Dawley rats were used; forty rats were ovariectomized while eight were sham-operated. Eight weeks post-ovariectomy, rats were divided into ovariectomized-untreated group and four ovadectomized-treated groups （n=8） which received by gavage （mg/（kg.d）, for 8 weeks） 17^-estradiol （0.1）, atorvastatin （50）, atorvastatin （50）＋L-carnitine （100）, or atorvastatin （50）＋coenzyme Q10 （20）. At the end of therapy, bone mineral density （BMD）, bone mineral content （BMC）, and serum levels of bone metabolic markers （BMMs） and creatine kinase （CK） were measured. Femurs were used for studying the breaking strength and histopathological changes. Results： Treatment with atorvastatin＋L-carnitine restored BMD, BMC, and bone strength to near normal levels. Estrogen therapy restored BMD and BMC to near normal levels, but failed to increase bone strength. Although atorvastatin and atorvastatin＋coenzyme Q10 improved BMD, BMC, and bone strength, they failed to restore levels to normal. All treatments decreased BMMs and improved histopathological changes maximally with atorvastatin＋L-carnitine which restored levels to near normal. Atorvastatin aggravated the ovariectomy-induced increase in CK level while estrogen, atorvastatin＋L-carnitine, and atorvastatin＋coenzyme Q10 decreased its level mainly with atorvastatin＋L-camitine which restored the level to near normal. Conclusions： Co- administration of L-carnitine, but not coenzyme Q10, enhances the anti-osteoporotic effect of atorvastatin while an- tagonizing myopathy in ovariectomized rats. This could be valuable in treatment of osteoporotic patients. However, further confirmatory studies are needed.
