Prognostic value of body mass index and waist circumference in patients with chronic heart failure (Spanish REDINSCOR Registry).

Introduction And Objectives: To analyze the association between higher body mass index and waist circumference, and the prognostic values of both indicators in total and cardiac mortality in patients with chronic heart failure.

Methods: The study included 2254 patients who were followed up for 4 years. Obesity was classified as a body mass index ≥30 and overweight as a body mass index of 25.

Spanish Heart Transplantation Registry. 24th official report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Heart Failure and Heart Transplantation (1984-2012).

Introduction And Objectives: The present article reports the characteristics and results of heart transplantation in Spain since this therapeutic modality was first used in May 1984.

Methods: We summarize the main features of recipients, donors, and surgical procedures, as well as the results of all heart transplantations performed in Spain until December 31, 2012.

Results: A total of 247 heart transplantations were performed in 2012.

Expression of the pupal determinant broad during metamorphic and neotenic development of the strepsipteran Xenos vesparum Rossi.

Derived members of the endoparasitic order Strepsiptera have acquired an extreme form of sexual dimorphism whereby males undergo metamorphosis and exist as free-living adults while females remain larviform, reaching sexual maturity within their hosts. Expression of the transcription factor, broad (br) has been shown to be required for pupal development in insects in which both sexes progress through metamorphosis. A surge of br expression appears in the last larval instar, as the epidermis begins pupal development.

Umbilical artery Doppler at 19 to 22 weeks of gestation in the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical utility of Doppler assessment of the umbilical artery in the second trimester scan for predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: Singleton pregnancies that had undergone routine anomaly scan at 19 to 22 weeks of gestation with umbilical and uterine artery Doppler measurements. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to evaluate the ability of umbilical artery pulsatility index (PI) to predict small for gestational age and preeclampsia.

The association between experience and proficiency with robotic-enhanced coronary intervention-insights from the PRECISE multi-center study.

Objectives: The PRECISE multi-center study demonstrated the safety and feasibility of robotic-enhanced coronary intervention (PCI). We studied the learning curve associated with the robotic PCI approach.

Methods: The CorPath 200 robotic system was used to perform clinically indicated PCI.

Paediatric celiac patients carrying the HLA-DR7-DQ2 and HLA-DR3-DQ2 haplotypes display small clinical differences.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the relevance of HLA-DR7-DQ2 typing in a prospective cohort of paediatric coeliac disease patients from Southern Europe.

Methods: This cross-sectional study tested 249 paediatric patients with coeliac disease. HLA-DR3-DQ2 was typed in combination with HLA-DR7-DQ2 to screen for the HLA-DQ2 haplotype.

The impact of the prevention strategies on the indirect effects of CMV infection in solid organ transplant recipients.

Transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy are at increased risk of active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease. Without appropriate prophylaxis, as many as 80% of solid organ transplant recipients may experience CMV infection. In addition to the direct effects of CMV, infection may be associated with a range of indirect effects, including an increase in risk of other infections, as well as a higher incidence of rejection, graft loss and death.

The impact of PKR activation: from neurodegeneration to cancer.

An inverse association between cancer and neurodegeneration is plausible because these biological processes share several genes and signaling pathways. Whereas uncontrolled cell proliferation and decreased apoptotic cell death governs cancer, excessive apoptosis contributes to neurodegeneration. Protein kinase R (PKR), an interferon-inducible double-stranded RNA protein kinase, is involved in both diseases.

ESR1 gene promoter region methylation in free circulating DNA and its correlation with estrogen receptor protein expression in tumor tissue in breast cancer patients.

Background: Tumor expression of estrogen receptor (ER) is an important marker of prognosis, and is predictive of response to endocrine therapy in breast cancer. Several studies have observed that epigenetic events, such methylation of cytosines and deacetylation of histones, are involved in the complex mechanisms that regulate promoter transcription. However, the exact interplay of these factors in transcription activity is not well understood.

Contributions of an artistic educational program for older people with early dementia: an exploratory qualitative study.

Objective: To describe a contemporary artistic educational program based on photographic cyanotype techniques and to present the results of the program carried out with older people with early dementia. We determined whether these people could participate in the program, their viewpoint about it, and what this program could contribute to their experience.

Method: Twenty-one people diagnosed with mild or moderate dementia participated in a series of artistic education workshops.

Primary graft failure after heart transplantation: characteristics in a contemporary cohort and performance of the RADIAL risk score.

Background: Primary graft failure (PGF) is the leading cause of early heart transplantation (HT) mortality. Our aim was to analyze PGF currently and explore the ability of a dedicated score for PGF risk stratification.

Methods: After applying a dedicated PGF definition, we analyzed its incidence, mortality, and associated factors in a multicenter cohort of 857 HTs performed in 2006 to 2009.

Analysis of conservation priorities of Iberoamerican cattle based on autosomal microsatellite markers.

Background: Determining the value of livestock breeds is essential to define conservation priorities, manage genetic diversity and allocate funds. Within- and between-breed genetic diversity need to be assessed to preserve the highest intra-specific variability. Information on genetic diversity and risk status is still lacking for many Creole cattle breeds from the Americas, despite their distinct evolutionary trajectories and adaptation to extreme environmental conditions.

Rejection after conversion to a proliferation signal inhibitor in chronic heart transplantation.

We sought to determine the incidence, risk factors, and consequences of acute rejection (AR) after conversion from a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) to a proliferation signal inhibitor (PSI) in maintenance heart transplantation. Relevant clinical data were retrospectively obtained for 284 long-term heart transplant recipients from nine centers in whom CNIs were replaced with a PSI (sirolimus or everolimus) between October 2001 and March 2009. The rejection rate at one yr was 8.

Gold nanoparticles protected by fluorinated ligands for 19F MRI.

Gold nanoparticles coated with fluorinated ligands (F-MPCs) present features suitable for (19)F MRI as observed from phantom experiments. Cellular uptake, by HeLa cells, and toxicity of fluorescent dye-decorated F-MPCs are presented together with their ability to bind hydrophobic molecules allowing for a potential combination of targeting, delivery and imaging features.

Efficient light harvesters based on the 10-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)anthracene core.

Three new push-pull chromophores based on the 10-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)anthracene core were synthesized and fully characterized. The new chromophores display broad absorption spectra, nearly covering the whole visible region, with high extinction coefficients. Electrochemistry and theoretical calculations allowed the understanding of these singular electronic properties.

Analysis of macroscopic gunshot residues by Raman spectroscopy to assess the weapon memory effect.

Gunshot residues (GSR) are valuable evidence which provide the forensic analyst with useful information about a crime scene when proper analytical methods are used. Nowadays, the method of choice for analyzing GSR is scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX). However, SEM/EDX presents limitations when the GSR identification of "non-toxic" ammunition types is performed.

Dramatic effect of redox pre-treatments on the CO oxidation activity of Au/Ce(0.50)Tb(0.12)Zr(0.38)O(2-x) catalysts prepared by deposition-precipitation with urea: a nano-analytical and nano-structural study.

Nano-structural and nano-analytical studies show that the dramatic difference in CO oxidation activity observed between two Au/Ce0.50Tb0.12Zr0.

Genetic structure, relationships and admixture with wild relatives in native pig breeds from Iberia and its islands.

Background: Native pig breeds in the Iberian Peninsula are broadly classified as belonging to either the Celtic or the Mediterranean breed groups, but there are other local populations that do not fit into any of these groups. Most of the native pig breeds in Iberia are in danger of extinction, and the assessment of their genetic diversity and population structure, relationships and possible admixture between breeds, and the appraisal of conservation alternatives are crucial to adopt appropriate management strategies.

Methods: A panel of 24 microsatellite markers was used to genotype 844 animals representing the 17 most important native swine breeds and wild populations existing in Portugal and Spain and various statistical tools were applied to analyze the results.

Study of the electrocatalytic activity of cerium oxide and gold-studded cerium oxide nanoparticles using a Sonogel-Carbon material as supporting electrode: electroanalytical study in apple juice for babies.

The present work reports a study of the electrocatalytic activity of CeO2 nanoparticles and gold sononanoparticles (AuSNPs)/CeO2 nanocomposite, deposited on the surface of a Sonogel-Carbon (SNGC) matrix used as supporting electrode and the application of the sensing devices built with them to the determination of ascorbic acid (AA) used as a benchmark analyte. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were used to investigate the electrocatalytic behavior of CeO2- and AuSNPs/CeO2-modified SNGC electrodes, utilizing different concentrations of CeO2 nanoparticles and different AuSNPs:CeO2 w/w ratios. The best detection and quantification limits, obtained for CeO2 (10.

Interplay between right ventricular function and cardiac resynchronization therapy: an analysis of the CARE-HF trial (Cardiac Resynchronization-Heart Failure).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on right ventricular (RV) function and the influence of RV dysfunction on the echocardiographic and clinical response to CRT among patients enrolled in the CARE-HF (Cardiac Resynchronization-Heart Failure) trial.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy prolongs survival in appropriately selected patients with heart failure but the benefit might be diminished in patients with RV dysfunction.

Methods: Of 813 patients enrolled in the CARE-HF study, 688 had tricuspid plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) measured at baseline, and 345 of these were assigned to CRT.

Buckyballs.

Buckyballs represent a new and fascinating molecular allotropic form of carbon that has received a lot of attention by the chemical community during the last two decades. The unabating interest on this singular family of highly strained carbon spheres has allowed the establishing of the fundamental chemical reactivity of these carbon cages and, therefore, a huge variety of fullerene derivatives involving [60] and [70]fullerenes, higher fullerenes, and endohedral fullerenes have been prepared. Much less is known, however, of the chemistry of the uncommon non-IPR fullerenes which currently represent a scientific curiosity and which could pave the way to a range of new fullerenes.

Management of influenza infection in solid-organ transplant recipients: consensus statement of the Group for the Study of Infection in Transplant Recipients (GESITRA) of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) and the Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI).

Background: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at greater risk than the general population for complications and mortality from influenza infection.

Methods: Researchers and clinicians with experience in SOT infections have developed this consensus document in collaboration with several Spanish scientific societies and study networks related to transplant management. We conducted a systematic review to assess the management and prevention of influenza infection in SOT recipients.

Executive summary. Management of influenza infection in solid-organ transplant recipients: consensus statement of the Group for the Study of Infection in Transplant Recipients (GESITRA) of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) and the Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI).

Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at greater risk than the general population for complications and mortality from influenza infection. We have conducted a systematic review to assess the management and prevention of influenza infection in SOT recipients. Recommendations are provided about the procurement of organs from donors with influenza infection.

Differential clinical characteristics and prognosis of intraventricular conduction defects in patients with chronic heart failure.

Aims: Intraventricular conduction defects (IVCDs) can impair prognosis of heart failure (HF), but their specific impact is not well established. This study aimed to analyse the clinical profile and outcomes of HF patients with LBBB, right bundle branch block (RBBB), left anterior fascicular block (LAFB), and no IVCDs.

Methods And Results: Clinical variables and outcomes after a median follow-up of 21 months were analysed in 1762 patients with chronic HF and LBBB (n = 532), RBBB (n = 134), LAFB (n = 154), and no IVCDs (n = 942).