Introduction: The inducible form of nitric oxide (iNOS) is induced by cytokines and endotoxins. The cardiac-protective effects of nitric oxide (NO) secreted by endothelial NOS are dependent on arginine. Arginine production occurs mainly within the organism, with the kidneys playing a key role in its synthesis and the elimination of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADM). In the present study the relationship between iNOS, ADMA and left ventricular hypertrophy in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and the effect of treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) associated with vitamin C (Vit C) were investigated.
Material and methods: A longitudinal observational study was conducted on 153 patients with CKD. We studied the correlation between the mean values of iNOS and ADMA in CKD patients and its relationship with left ventricular hypertrophy and the benefit of treating these patients with an associated ACEI and Vit C.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 58.85 ±12.75 years. The mean values of iNOS and ADMA were 63.92 ± 0.59 μmol/l and 16.77 ±0.91 μmol/l, respectively. These values increased significantly with the degradation of the renal function (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and the two markers, ADMA (0.901 and p = 0001) and iNOS (0.718 and p = 0.0001). After 2 years of treatment with Vit C and ACEI, a significant decrease in LVMI was observed.
Conclusions: NO secreted by the iNOS system and ADMAs initiates cardiac remodeling to lead to left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis. ACEIs increase the expression and activity of eNOS and decrease iNOS. Vit C prevents oxidative damage by scavenging ROS species and reagents nitrogen while. iNOS and ADMA accelerate cardiac aging. We conclude that ACEIs combined with Vit C may improve heart health and limite left ventricular hypertrophy in CKD patients.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has revolutionized the priorities of the medical society worldwide. Although most patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 exhibit respiratory symptoms, other organs may also be involved, including the liver, often resulting in liver injury. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the world, and its prevalence is expected to increase together with the epidemics of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Data about liver injury during COVID-19 are numerous, while overviews of this infection in patients with NAFLD, both in terms of respiratory and liver, are emerging. In this review, we summarise the current research focusing on COVID-19 in NAFLD patients and discuss the association between liver injury in COVID-19 subjects and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.