A First Attempt into the Production of Acylglycerol Mixtures from Echium Oil.

Enzymatic glycerolysis of Echium oil (Echium plantagineum) has been carried out in the presence of four commercial lipases. Different pretreatments of the reaction mixture, such as high pressure homogenization and addition of food grade monoolein as an emulsifier, were evaluated to test their influence on the glycerolysis reaction. In addition, the impact of reducing temperature and the utilization of a solvent generally recognized as safe as a flavoring agent, such as limonene, were also investigated.

[Long-term prognosis of serum and urine n-terminal proBNP levels and glomerular filtration rate in heart failure patients].

Background And Objective: The amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values are related to short prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). This study evaluates the prognostic power of serum and urinary NT-proBNP levels, and eGFR values, in HF patients during a 60-month follow-up.

Patients And Methods: We studied 93 HF outpatients (66 males, age 65+/-12).

Inflammatory activation and left ventricular mass in essential hypertension.

Background: Inflammation is an independent risk factor for high blood pressure, and as a consequence inflammatory cytokines could be related with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We sought to assess the association and predictive role of different cytokine levels with LVH in a group of patients with essential hypertension (HT).

Methods: We studied 251 asymptomatic hypertensive patients (142 with LVH and 109 without LVH), referred from 11 hospitals.

Effect of statin treatment on mortality in a large cohort of heart failure patients.

We studied 3162 heart failure patients included in the Spanish BADAPIC registry in order to determine whether statin treatment influences prognosis. Patients were followed up for 35 +/- 22 months (median, 32 months). Patients on statins were more often male and had higher prevalences of risk factors, ischemic heart disease and systolic dysfunction (P< .

[Interleukin-4 and cardiac fibrosis in patients with heart failure].

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) stimulates inflammatory responses, activates collagen synthesis, promotes fibrosis progression, and inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines. We studied the relationship between the urinary IL-4 level and levels of markers of cardiac fibrosis and left ventricular volume in 98 patients with heart failure (HF). The left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) were calculated, and IL-4, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, and aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen type III (PIIINP) levels were recorded.

[8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and lipid peroxidation in patients with heart failure].

Introduction And Objectives: Heart failure is associated with increased free radical production, which leads to a state of oxidative stress. Known markers of oxidative stress include 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, which reflects oxidative damage to DNA, and lipid peroxidation, which can be used to quantify damage to lipid-rich structures. The aims of this study were to compare 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and lipid peroxidation levels in heart failure patients and healthy subjects and to assess how these levels are influenced by heart failure etiology.

[Myocardial remodeling and immunologic activation in patients with heart failure].

Introduction And Objectives: Immune response-mediated regulation of myocardial collagen remains poorly understood. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between ventricular remodeling and immunologic activation in patients with heart failure (HF) by comparing dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: We studied 94 patients with HF and dilated cardiomyopathy (n=46) or ischemic cardiomyopathy (n=48).

[Utility of NT-proBNP for diagnosing heart failure in a heterogeneous population of patients with dyspnea. Spanish multicenter study].

Introduction And Objectives: Recent studies have shown that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) are useful in the diagnosis of heart failure in patients presenting with dyspnea. However, the cutoff values used with these markers vary according to patient characteristics and dyspnea severity. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of using the plasma NT-proBNP level for identifying heart failure in a heterogeneous population of patients with dyspnea.

Maximum longitudinal relaxation velocity of the left ventricle: its clinical value and relationship with NT-proBNP plasma levels in heart failure.

Background: M-mode recordings of the mitral annulus to measure the maximum ascending velocity during early diastole as an expression of maximum longitudinal relaxation velocity of the left ventricle (RVm) can be used as an index of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of RVm with LV functional parameters in patients with heart failure, with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) plasma levels, and with their functional classification.

Methods And Results: RVm was recorded in 97 patients by M-mode echocardiography.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of urine NT-proBNP levels in heart failure patients.

Background: Plasma NT-proBNP levels are sensitive markers of ventricular dysfunction. However, studies of natriuretic peptides in urine are limited.

Aims: To compare urine and plasma NT-proBNP levels and to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of urine levels in heart failure (HF).

[Plasma concentration of big endothelin-1 and its relation with plasma NT-proBNP and ventricular function in heart failure patients].

Introduction And Objectives: Elevated plasma concentrations of big endothelin-1 (big ET-1) are related with severity and prognosis in patients with heart failure, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a marker of ventricular remodeling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma levels of big ET-1 and NT-proBNP, and between the former and ventricular function.

Patients And Method: We studied 103 patients with heart failure (75 men, mean age 63 [13] years).

Ventricular hypertrophy increases NT-proBNP in subjects with and without hypertension.

Background: It has been published that hypertension (HT) must be taken into account when using NT-proBNP, but left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy without HT could be a cause of NT-proBNP elevation. In a population study we compared NT-proBNP in subjects with hypertrophy, with and without diagnosis of HT.

Methods: We studied 215 subjects from a random sample of 432 people who had declared to suffer from dyspnea.

[NT-proBNP levels and hypertension. Their importance in the diagnosis of heart failure].

Introduction: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is useful in the diagnosis of heart failure. We compared NT-proBNP levels in patients with and without a diagnosis of arterial hypertension.

Patients And Method: Participants were recruited from a random sample of 999 inhabitants from the Community of Valencia (eastern Spain).

[NT-proBNP and atrioventricular plane displacement. Relationship and diagnostic implications].

Introduction And Objectives: NT-proBNP is useful in the diagnosis of heart failure and ventricular dysfunction. Left atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) is a consolidated index of ventricular function. Our objective was to carry out a multicenter population-based study to establish the relationship between plasma NT-proBNP levels with AVPD values.

[Prognostic value of serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with heart failure].

Introduction And Objective: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is an inflammatory cytokine which rises in heart failure and has prognostic value in severe cases. Its value is less established in moderate cases. Our aim was to determine its prognostic value in cases from a community hospital.

[Assessment of three activity questionnaires in patients with heart failure].

The activity questionnaire most frequently used in heart failure, the New York Heart Association Classification, does not correlate well with peak oxygen uptake. The correlation of this variable with other activity questionnaires was analyzed in 83 patients (69 with heart failure and 14 control patients), 61.5 11 years old, who were interviewed and classified according to the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Classification.

[Angina related to 5-Fluorouracil].

Treatment with 5-fluorouracil is common in oncological patients. Side effects on bone marrow, skin, and mucous membranes have been reported. Cardiotoxicity, which is less predictable, can be life-threatening.