Sacubitril/valsartan and short-term changes in the 6-minute walk test: A pilot study.

Background: Impaired exercise capacity is the most disabling symptom in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Despite sacubitril/valsartan showing reduced long-term morbidity and mortality over enalapril in HFrEF, its effects on short-term functional capacity remain uncertain. We sought to evaluate the effects of sacubitril/valsartan on a 30-day six-minute walk test in eligible patients with HFrEF.

Metabolic Responses of Mytilus galloprovincialis to Fullerenes in Mesocosm Exposure Experiments.

In this study, Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were exposed through the diet to fullerene soot at three concentrations in parallel to a control group. Their metabolomics response was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS). The experiments were conducted in marine mesocosms, during 35 days (7 days of acclimatization, 21 days of exposure, and 7 days of depuration).

pH-Responsive Polyacetal-Protein Conjugates Designed for Polymer Masked-Unmasked Protein Therapy (PUMPT).

Polymer masked-unmasked protein therapy (PUMPT) employs polymer conjugation to protect therapeutic proteins during transit through the bloodstream and allow controlled release at a disease site via triggered degradation of the polymeric component. Most reported PUMPT systems are based on the specific enzymatic degradation of the polymeric component to release the protein and reinstate its activity. In these cases, therapeutic output is dependent on the presence of the required enzyme at the disease site at a sufficiently high concentration.

Cyclic Peptide-Polymer Nanotubes as Efficient and Highly Potent Drug Delivery Systems for Organometallic Anticancer Complexes.

Functional drug carrier systems have potential for increasing solubility and potency of drugs while reducing side effects. Complex polymeric materials, particularly anisotropic structures, are especially attractive due to their long circulation times. Here, we have conjugated cyclic peptides to the biocompatible polymer poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylamide) (pHPMA).

Ecotoxicological effects of carbon based nanomaterials in aquatic organisms.

An increasing amount of carbon-based nanomaterials (CNM) (mostly fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene) has been observed in aquatic systems over the last years. However, the potential toxicity of these CNM on aquatic ecosystems remains unclear. This paper reviews the existing literature on the toxic effects of CNM in aquatic organisms as well as the toxic effects of CNM through influencing the toxicity of other micro-pollutants, and outlines a series of research needs to reduce the uncertainty associated with CNMs toxic effects.

An Easy Assessment of Frailty at Baseline Independently Predicts Prognosis in Very Elderly Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Background: Information about the impact of frailty in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is scarce. No study has assessed the prognostic impact of frailty as measured by the FRAIL scale in very elderly patients with ACS.

Methods: The prospective multicenter LONGEVO-SCA registry included unselected patients with ACS aged 80 years or older.

Frailty and Mortality Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Frailty has been identified as a risk factor for mortality. However, whether frailty increases mortality risk in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been controversial. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the frailty measures and mortality outcomes in this setting.

Complex multiblock bottle-brush architectures by RAFT polymerization.

The combination of the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization R-group grafting from approach and RAFT one-pot acrylamide multiblock methodology is used to synthesise complex bottle-brush architectures. This is demonstrated for block copolymer grafted side chains and the insertion of ungrafted blocks into the backbone to yield multi-segmented bottle-brushes.

Long-Term Potassium Monitoring and Dynamics in Heart Failure and Risk of Mortality.

Background: The prognostic value of long-term potassium monitoring and dynamics in heart failure has not been characterized completely. We sought to determine the association between serum potassium values collected at follow-up with all-cause mortality in a prospective and consecutive cohort of patients discharged from a previous acute heart failure admission.

Methods: Serum potassium was measured at every physician-patient encounter, including hospital admissions and ambulatory settings.

Cytotoxic effects of commonly used nanomaterials and microplastics on cerebral and epithelial human cells.

Plastic wastes are among the major inputs of detritus into aquatic ecosystems. Also, during recent years the increasing use of new materials such as nanomaterials (NMs) in industrial and household applications has contributed to the complexity of waste mixtures in aquatic systems. The current effects and the synergism and antagonisms of mixtures of microplastics (MPLs), NMs and organic compounds on the environment and in human health have, to date, not been well understood but instead they are a cause for general concern.

Serum Neprilysin and Recurrent Admissions in Patients With Heart Failure.

Background: Our aim was to evaluate the association between the soluble form of neprilysin (sNEP) levels and long-term all-cause, cardiovascular, and acute heart failure (AHF) recurrent admissions in an ambulatory cohort of patients with heart failure. sNEP has emerged as a new biomarker with promising implications for prognosis and therapy in patients with heart failure. Reducing the recurrent admission rate of heart failure patients has become an important target of public health planning strategies.

Functional Mitral Regurgitation Predicts Short-Term Adverse Events in Patients With Acute Heart Failure and Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

Functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is a common finding in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (heart failure and reduced ejection fraction [HFrEF]). However, its clinical impact remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association between the severity of FMR after clinical stabilization and short-term adverse outcomes after a hospitalization for AHF.

Analysis of lipophilic marine biotoxins by liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry in seawater from the Catalan Coast.

Marine biotoxins regularly occur along the coast, with several consequences for the environment as well as the food industry. Monitoring of these compounds in seawater is required to assure the safety of marine resources for human consumption, providing a means for forecasting shellfish contamination events. In this study, an analytical method was developed for the detection of ten lipophilic marine biotoxins in seawater: azaspiracids 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, classified as azaspiracid shellfish poisoning toxins, and pectenotoxin 2, okadaic acid and the related dinophysistoxin 1, yessotoxin and homoyessotoxin, classified as diarrheic shellfish poisoning toxins.

Integrin-targeted nano-sized polymeric systems for paclitaxel conjugation: a comparative study.

The generation of rationally designed polymer therapeutics via the conjugation of low molecular weight anti-cancer drugs to water-soluble polymeric nanocarriers aims to improve the therapeutic index. Here, we focus on applying polymer therapeutics to target two cell compartments simultaneously - tumour cells and angiogenic endothelial cells. Comparing different polymeric backbones carrying the same therapeutic agent and targeting moiety may shed light on any correlation between the choice of polymer and the anti-cancer activity of the conjugate.

Peak Exercise Oxygen Uptake Predicts Recurrent Admissions in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Introduction And Objectives: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a highly prevalent syndrome with an elevated risk of morbidity and mortality. To date, there is scarce evidence on the role of peak exercise oxygen uptake (peak VO) for predicting the morbidity burden in HFpEF. We sought to evaluate the association between peak VO and the risk of recurrent hospitalizations in patients with HFpEF.

Sample treatment procedures for environmental sensing and biosensing.

During the last years, a lot of efforts have been put into developing novel sensors and biosensors systems for monitoring the occurrence of emerging pollutants in the environment. These analyses are often challenging because of the variety of physico-chemical properties of these substances, the extremely diluted concentrations at which they can be found, and the intrinsic complexity of environmental matrices. In order to improve the (bio)sensors' performance, preconcentration/pretreatment techniques may be implemented.

Echocardiographic pulmonary artery pressure estimation and heart failure rehospitalization burden in patients with acute heart failure.

Unlabelled: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a strong predictor of mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the relationship between PH, through echocardiographic pulmonary artery pressure (PASP) estimation, and the risk of HF rehospitalizations remains unclear.

Methods: We prospectively included 2343 consecutive patients discharged for acute heart failure (AHF).

Inspiratory Muscle Function and Exercise Capacity in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by impaired exercise capacity resulting from dyspnea and fatigue. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the exercise intolerance in HFpEF are not well established. We sought to evaluate the effects of inspiratory muscle function on exercise tolerance in symptomatic patients with HFpEF.