Natriuretic peptides and soluble ST2 improves echocardiographic diagnosis of elevated left ventricular filling pressures.

Elevated filling pressure of the left ventricle (LV) defines diastolic dysfunction. The gold standard for diagnosis is represented by the measurement of LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) during cardiac catheterization, but it has the disadvantage of being an invasive procedure. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between LVEDP and cardiac serum biomarkers such as natriuretic peptides (mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide [MR-proANP], B-type natriuretic peptide [BNP], and N-terminal prohormone BNP [NT-proBNP]), soluble ST2 (sST2), galectin-3 and mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proAMD).

Opposite Roles of Bacterial Cellulose Nanofibers and Foaming Agent in Polyhydroxyalkanoate-Based Materials.

In this work, an economically feasible procedure was employed to produce poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)-based foams. Thermally expandable microspheres (TESs) were used as a blowing agent, while bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers served both as a reinforcing agent and as a means of improving biocompatibility. PHBV was plasticized with acetyltributylcitrate to reduce the processing temperature and ensure the maximum efficiency of the TES agent.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin monitoring reveals persistent subclinical kidney injury following intraarterial administration of iodinated contrast agents.

Clinically overt contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is one of the most feared complications in patients exposed to iodinated contrast media and has been extensively studied over the years. Meanwhile, the incidence and evolution of subclinical contrast-induced kidney injury remain elusive. With the continuous increase in the number of patients that are repeatedly exposed to contrast media, elucidating these issues is of critical importance.

Spectroscopic studies on photodegradation of atorvastatin calcium.

In this work, the photodegradation process of atorvastatin calcium (ATC) is reported as depending on: (1) the presence and the absence of excipients in the solid state; (2) the chemical interaction of ATC with phosphate buffer (PB) having pH equal to 7 and 8; and (3) hydrolysis reaction of ATC in the presence of aqueous solution of NaOH. The novelty of this work consists in the monitoring of the ATC photodegradation by photoluminescence (PL). The exposure of ATC in solid state to UV light induces the photo-oxygenation reactions in the presence of water vapors and oxygen from air.

Vibrational and Photoluminescence Properties of Composites Based on Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, Poly(o-phenylenediamine) and Poly(ethylene oxide).

Chemical polymerization of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) in the presence of poly(ethylene oxide), double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) and ferric chloride is carried out in order to obtain composites based on the poly(o-phenylenediamine)-poly(ethylene oxide) (POPD-PEO) fibres covered and interconnected with DWNTs. Vibrational and photoluminescence properties of these composite materials as well as their morphologies are shown by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, Raman scattering, photoluminescence (PL) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An adsorption of DWNTs onto the POPD rods surface in the absence and in the presence of PEO is highlighted by SEM.