RESULTS: The imaging results of 279 patients were reviewed. One hundred and twenty-two females (43.7%) and 157 males (56.3%) [age range, 26-82 years] were reviewed for coronary artery variants and anomalies with post-processing images. The right coronary dominance was the most common dominant type (91.4%). The prevalence of ramus intermedius was 68.8%; those of the absence of the left main coronary artery and left circumflex artery were 0.4%, respectively; and of the high takeoff of the coronary artery was 3.6%. Anomalies of origin and course were detected as the right coronary artery originating from the left coronary sinus in 1.1% of the patients. Myocardial bridging and coronary fistulas were demonstrated in 55.6% and 0.7% of our subjects, respectively.
CONCLUSION: A coronary CTA can effectively represent the complex anatomy of the coronaries as well as their anatomic variations and anomalies. The prevalence of most coronary variations were in concordance with the data of previous reports.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Lactic acid bacteria strains were isolated and examined for acid tolerance, bile salt resistance and hypocholesterolemic properties. Among the isolates, Lactobacillus plantarum TAR4 showed the highest cholesterol reduction ability (48·01%). The focus in the in vivo trial was to elucidate the cholesterol balance from findings pertaining to serum cholesterol reduction in rat model fed with high fat diet via oral administration. Rats fed with high-cholesterol diet supplemented with Lact. plantarum TAR4 showed significant reduction in serum total cholesterol (29·55%), serum triglyceride (45·31%) and liver triglyceride (23·44%) as compared to high-cholesterol diet (HCD) group. There was a significant increment in faecal triglyceride (45·83%) and faecal total bile acid (384·95%) as compared to HCD group.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that probiotic Lact. plantarum TAR4 supplementation reduced the absorption of bile acids for enterohepatic recycling and increased the catabolism of cholesterol to bile acids and not by suppressing the rate of cholesterol synthesis.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: Probiotic supplements could provide a new nonpharmacological alternative to reduce cardiovascular risk factors.
METHODS: Seventy-three consecutive patients who required antenatal corticosteroids for either preterm labour or prelabour caesarean section were recruited and given a standard course of 12mg dexamethasone phosphate, twelve hours apart. Venous blood samples were taken before administration, at six hours and 36 hours after the first dose of dexamethasone.
RESULTS: The total white count trend was 10.31±2.62 at baseline, 11.44±3.05 at six hours and 12.20±3.49 at 36 hours. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was 3.60±1.31, 8.73±3.63 and 3.24±1.49 respectively, reflecting relative neutrophilia and lymphopenia which normalised by 36 hours.
CONCLUSION: In contrast to previous studies, we found only a slight increment in total white cell count of about 10%. The marginal changes described in our study would not normally raise any clinical concern, although vigilance should be exercised if higher levels were observed.