Aldosterone synthase inhibition improves cardiovascular function and structure in rats with heart failure: a comparison with spironolactone.

Aims: Inhibition of aldosterone synthase, the key enzyme in aldosterone formation, could be an alternative strategy for mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonists in congestive heart failure (CHF), but its effect in CHF is unknown.

Methods And Results: We compared, in rats with CHF, the effects of a 7 day and a 12 week treatment with the aldosterone synthase inhibitor FAD286 (4 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) with those induced by spironolactone (80 mg kg(-1) day(-1)). FAD286/spironolactone increased cardiac output without modifying arterial pressure.

Triple ACE-ECE-NEP inhibition in heart failure: a comparison with ACE and dual ECE-NEP inhibition.

Mortality remains high in chronic heart failure (CHF) because under ACE inhibitor treatment other neurohumoral systems remain/become (de)activated, such as the endothelin and atrial natriuretic peptide pathways. Dual endothelin-converting enzyme-neutral endopeptidase (ECE-NEP) inhibition exerts beneficial effects in experimental CHF, but whether "triple" ACE-ECE-NEP inhibition is superior to ACE or ECE-NEP inhibition is unknown. We compared, in rats with CHF, ACE-ECE-NEP to ACE or ECE-NEP inhibition in terms of left ventricular (LV) hemodynamics and remodeling.

Transient reduction in myocardial free oxygen radical levels is involved in the improved cardiac function and structure after long-term allopurinol treatment initiated in established chronic heart failure.

Aims: Oxidative stress, i.e. imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defences, contributes to the progression of chronic heart failure (CHF).

Effect of particle morphology on the triboelectrification in dry powder inhalers.

Electrostatic charge of lactoses of different particle morphology and amorphous contents were measured during actuation from two different dry powder inhalers (DPIs). Triboelectric studies may give important information when new inhaler devices, materials and formulations are designed in order to improve the drug deposition. Two inhalers, Taifun (Focus Inhalation Oy, Finland) and Clickhaler (Innovata Biomed Ltd.

The stimulated acoustic relaxation emission of maize starch tablets.

Stimulated acoustic relaxation emissions from maize starch tablets after compression were detected and recorded in the audible region. Stimulation was found to enhance the detected acoustic emission and to maintain recordable acoustic emission level longer. Based on the fact, that the stimulation by a halogen lamp and a preheated chamber produced similar results, the effect of stimulation on acoustic relaxation emission is proposed to be connected to the temperature rather than the visible emission.

[Some aspects of the complex treatment of acute suppurative perionitis].

The authors present an analysis of the results of complex treatment in 4318 patients operated upon for acute peritonitis, caused by acute appendicitis, perforating gastric and duodenal ulcers, acute cholecystitis, ruptures and perforations of the intestine and other surgical and gynecological diseases. Patients with diffuse purulent peritonitis showed marked disorders in protein-aminoacid, nitrogen, and water electrolyte metabolism, acid-base balance, a reduced nonspecific immune responsiveness of the organism. Therpeutic tactics was delineated taking into account the revealed changes.