Rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry and chemometrics for high-throughput screening of growth promoters in meat producing animals.

In a proof of concept perspective, Rapid Evaporative Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (REIMS) was explored for the direct analysis of meat samples from β-agonist treated livestock. In this context, the combination of REIMS with untargeted metabolomics was investigated to identify carcasses from treated animals on the basis of a modification of indirect metabolites profile. The REIMS analysis generated specific lipid profiles which enabled the differentiation of meat samples collected from pigs treated with ractopamine via their feeding regime.

Rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry for high-throughput screening in food analysis: The case of boar taint.

Boar taint is a contemporary off-odor present in meat of uncastrated male pigs. As European Member States intend to abandon surgical castration of pigs by 2018, this off-odor has gained a lot of research interest. In this study, rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (REIMS) was explored for the rapid detection of boar taint in neck fat.

MicroRNA-125b: association with disease activity and the treatment response of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that regulate gene expression by targeting mRNA. It was proved that some miRNAs are significantly deregulated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MicroRNA-125b negatively regulates expression of TNF-α, which plays a crucial role in RA pathogenesis.

Interleukin 35 Synovial Fluid Levels Are Associated with Disease Activity of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objectives: To study the association of systemic and local interleukin-35 (IL-35) levels in rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: 37 patients with treatment naïve early RA, 49 with established RA and 29 control patients with osteoarthritis (OA) were studied. Serum and paired synovial fluid samples were analysed for IL-35.

Clinical characteristics of patients undergoing surgical ventricular reconstruction by choice and by randomization.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to confirm the generalizability of the conclusions of the STICH (Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure) trial.

Background: Surgical ventricular reconstruction (SVR) added to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) did not decrease death or cardiac hospitalization in STICH patients randomized to CABG with (n = 501) or without (n = 499) SVR.

Methods: Baseline clinical characteristics of 1,000 STICH SVR hypothesis patients and 1,036 STICH-eligible Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) National Cardiac Database patients undergoing CABG plus SVR were entered into a multivariate model equation to predict a mortality that placed these 2,036 patients in 1 of 32 risk at randomization (RAR) groups.

Short to long term mortality of patients hospitalised with heart failure in the Czech Republic--a report from the EuroHeart Failure Survey.

Background And Aim: The European Society of Cardiology initiated the EuroHeart Failure Survey to obtain more data about the quality of care in patients hospitalised with suspected heart failure (HF). The Czech Republic was 1 of the 24 European Society countries included in the survey. The aim of this report is to extend the original follow-up period of 12 weeks out to 4 years to assess mortality.

Prognostic importance of lower extremity arterial disease in patients undergoing coronary revascularization in the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic importance of lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.

Background: The presence of clinically evident LEAD increases the risk of death in patients with known coronary artery disease. Because studies have lacked noninvasive measures of subclinical LEAD, the true prognostic importance of lower extremity atherosclerosis in this population has probably been underestimated.

Increased incidence of periprocedural complications among patients with peripheral vascular disease undergoing myocardial revascularization in the bypass angioplasty revascularization investigation.

Background: Risks of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) may be different in the presence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD).

Methods And Results: We analyzed outcomes of 550 patients with PVD enrolled in the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation randomized trial and registry. Compared with 1770 patients without PVD, those with PVD were older and had a greater prevalence of medical comorbid conditions.

Long-term prognostic value of clinically evident noncoronary vascular disease in patients undergoing coronary revascularization in the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI).

In the general population, peripheral atherosclerosis is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease and death. In patients with known coronary artery disease, it is unclear whether the presence of additional noncoronary atherosclerosis is of further prognostic value. In the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation, 5-year outcome was compared between patients with and without clinically evident noncoronary atherosclerosis.

[The patient after heart transplantation].

The data of the first 100 patients undergoing heart transplantation in the period between January 1984 and May 1993 were analyzed. Of this group, 57 patients are alive. Out of the total of 43 deaths, 14 patients died from graft failure within the first postoperative days, 6 died from surgical complications, 11 from infection, 10 deaths were due to accelerated coronary atherosclerosis, and 2 patients died from tumours.

[The anticardiolipin syndrome after breast reconstruction].

In a 38-year-old patient 17 years previously silicone prostheses of both breasts were implanted. Three years after operation spontaneous abortions developed, later repeated venous and arterial thromboses. Laboratory examinations revealed antibodies against cardiolipin and the diagnosis of anticardiolipin syndrome was established.

[Incidence of systemic hypertension after orthotopic heart transplantation].

In a group of 18 patients after orthotopic transplantation of the heart (OTH) operated, 4-56 months previously and treated by combined immunosuppression (Cyclosporin A, corticoids, azathioprine), systemic hypertension was revealed in six and borderline hypertension in three patients. The mechanism of the development of hypertension, after OTH has not been elucidated. As to the circadian rhythm of the blood pressure, as compared with normotensive subjects and patients with essential hypertension, in patients after OTH usually the drop of systemic pressure values does not occur during the night; on the contrary the blood pressure rises during the night.

Anticardiolipin syndrome in plastic surgery of the breast.

A 38-year-old female patient had bilateral silicone-made prosthesis implantation performed 17 years ago. Three years after surgery, she had a series of spontaneous miscarriages, later she developed recurrent venous and arterial thromboses. Laboratory tests detected antibodies against cardiolipin and the diagnosis of cardiolipin syndrome was established.

Equilibrium radionuclide right ventriculography at rest and during exercise in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Using the method of equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography (RNV), the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) at rest and at a standard workload of 250 kpm per min was determined in 25 control subjects and in 30 patients with pulmonary hypertension (8 patients with chronic obstructive bronchopulmonary disease, 12 with recurrent pulmonary embolism and 10 with pure mitral stenosis). In the same week as RNV, pulmonary artery pressure was registered in patients with pulmonary hypertension at rest and at standard workload. RVEF was significantly higher (45 +/- 5%) in normal subjects than in patients with pulmonary hypertension (33 +/- 5%) and during exercise increased, whereas in patients with pulmonary hypertension it did not markedly change or decreased.

Central haemodynamics in different stages of hypertension.

Central and systemic haemodynamics were investigated in 53 juvenile hypertensives (JH) and in 43 older hypertensives aged over 30 (OH). The cardiac index at rest was significantly higher in JH, stage I and II according to the WHO, than in OH, stage I and II. Hyperkinetic circulation was present in systolic as well as in systolic-diastolic hypertension.

Transcapillary escape rate of albumin in juvenile hypertension.

The transcapillary escape rate of albumin was studied in 24 juvenile hypertensives and in 13 controls on the basis of the radioactivities determined in the blood during 60 min after i.v. injection of human 131I-labelled albumin.

Long-term prognosis in juvenile hypertension--a 20 and 28-year experience.

In 1952-1954, 96 out 256 students aged 14-29 years and registered for juvenile hypertension, had systolic BP of 170/100 mmHg or higher. Of this original group, 73% and 74% could be reexamined after 20 and 28 years, resp. After 20 years, a spontaneous regression of hypertension (HPT) without any therapy occurred in 35.

Calf vascular resistance in middle-aged subjects with mild chronic hypertension.

To ascertain the effect of elevated blood pressure in adolescence and its 28-year persistence on the arterial haemodynamics in the legs, calf blood flow during dilatation was determined plethysmographically in 52 middle-aged subjects. Blood pressure was measured by auscultation on the arm at rest and during peak hyperaemia. Local vascular resistance during dilatation was calculated from the men blood pressure and maximal flow and was expressed in resistance units.