Impact of a nutrition/educational program in a group of type 2 diabetes patients, already involved in a wider "Group Care" plan and not achieving complete target: an observational study.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the most frequent chronic degenerative diseases in the world (5.4% in Italy); it has many chronic consequences with a significant impact either on expectation or quality of life. About 80-90% of type 2 diabetes patients is either overweight or obese, condition that can cause many more negative consequences than in individuals in the same conditions but with normal weight.

Prognostic Value of Different Allelic Polymorphism of Aldosterone Synthase Receptor in a Congestive Heart Failure European Continental Ancestry Population.

Unlabelled: Aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) is as an 9-exon gene on chromosome 8q22 and exists as a common single nucleotide polymorphism C-T transition for position -344. The aim of this study was to assess the -344T/C polymorphism of the aldosterone synthase promoter in a European continental ancestry congestive heart failure (CHF) population.

Methods: Patients discharged after an acute decompensation were enrolled and underwent echocardiography, determination of BNP, evaluation of non-invasive cardiac outputs and determination of -344 T/C SNP in the aldosterone synthase gene.

Role of galectin-3 and plasma B type-natriuretic peptide in predicting prognosis in discharged chronic heart failure patients.

Galectin-3 demonstrated to be a robust independent marker of cardiovascular mid-term (18-month) outcome in heart failure (HF) patients. The objective of this study was to analyze the value of a predischarged determination of plasma galectin-3 alone and with plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in predicting mid-term outcome in frequent-flyers (FF) HF (≥2 hospitalization for HF/year)/dead patients discharged after an acute decompensated HF (ADHF) episode.All FF chronic HF subjects discharged alive after an ADHF were enrolled.

The predictive value of plasma biomarkers in discharged heart failure patients: role of plasma NT-proBNP.

Background: Natriuretic peptides (NPs) have demonstrated their value to support clinical diagnosis of heart failure (HF); furthermore they are also studied for their prognostic role using them to guide appropriate management strategies. The present review gathers available evidence on prognostic role of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Methods: We searched Medline for English-language studies with the sequent key-words: "acute heart failure/acute decompensated heart failure", "NT-proBNP/N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide" and "prognosis/mortality/readmission".

Correlation between B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and Functional/Cognitive Parameters in Discharged Congestive Heart Failure Patients.

The determination of B-type natriuretic peptides (BNP) may have a role in the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) or guiding HF therapy. This study investigated the role of BNP determination in a cohort of elderly patients admitted to hospital with acute decompensated HF and its correlation with main demographic, clinical, and instrumental data and evaluated possible association with major outcome such as mortality or readmission after a 6-month period of follow-up. Methods.

Cognitive impairment in heart failure patients.

Cognitive damage in heart failure (HF) involves different domains thus interfering with the ability for single patient to self-care and to cope with treatment regimens, modifying symptoms and health behaviours. Many cerebral and functional changes were detected in brain imaging, involving areas of both grey and white matter deputed to cognition. Although various instruments are available to explore cognition, no consensus was obtained on better tools to be used in HF population.

Relationship between Cognitive Function, Depression/Anxiety and Functional Parameters in Patients Admitted for Congestive Heart Failure.

Unlabelled: Cognitive impairment, anxiety and depression have been described in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). We analyzed in-hospital CHF patients before discharge with neuropsychological tests attempting to correlate with prognostic parameters.

Methods: All subjects underwent a mini mental state examination (MMSE), geriatric depression scale (GDS), anxiety and depression scale test (HADS).

Efficacy and safety of loop diuretic therapy in acute decompensated heart failure: a clinical review.

Intravenous loop diuretics are widely used to treat the symptoms and signs of fluid overload in acute heart failure (AHF). Although diuretic therapy is widely used and strongly recommended by most recent clinical guidelines, prospective studies and randomized clinical trials are lacking and so reliable evidence is missing about the best therapy in terms of doses and methods of administration. In addition, clinical efficacy and safety outcomes are often affected by the presence of contrasting evidence.

[Continuous infusion versus bolus injection of loop diuretics in acute heart failure: a literature review].

Intravenous loop diuretics are increasingly used to treat symptoms and signs of fluid overload in acute heart failure, a clinical condition associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Although diuretic therapy is widely used and strongly recommended by most recent clinical guidelines, prospective studies and randomized clinical trials are lacking and hence there is no reliable evidence regarding the best therapy in terms of doses, ways and methods of administration. With heart failure progression, the efficacy of loop diuretics is impaired by diuretic resistance characterized by a decreased diuretic and natriuretic effect of drugs.