Ramipril and Risk of Hyperkalemia in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors provide well known cardiorenal-protective benefits added to antihypertensive effects in chronic renal disease. These agents are underused in management of patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) because of common concern of hyperkalemia. However, few studies have investigated effect of renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade on serum potassium in hemodialysis patients. We assessed the safety of ramipril in patients on maintenance HD. We enrolled 28 adult end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients treated by maintenance HD and prescribed them ramipril in doses of 1.25 to 5 mg per day. They underwent serum potassium concentration measurements before ramipril introduction and in 1 to 3 months afterwards. No significant increase in kalemia was found. Results of our study encourage the use of ACE inhibitors in chronically hemodialyzed patients, but close potassium monitoring is mandatory

Array of opto-chemical sensors based on fiber-optic spectroscopy

A compact, flexible platform for reading out the variation of the optical absorption spectra in the visible range in a number of sensing materials is illustrated in this paper. This apparatus is based on an integrated spectrophotometer, an array of suitably controlled LEDs, optical fibers to carry and collect light, and a mechanical arrangement that makes possible the measurement, in sequence, of up to 15 different sensing layers. The unit was tested with a number of metalloporphyrins, known for their outstanding sensorial and optical properties. Data were analyzed using a multiway chemometrics approach. In this regard, a methodology to investigate the properties of an array of chemical sensors is introduced. This approach allowed an evaluation of the role played in the array by each sensing material in each spectral region to be performed. The analysis revealed interesting insight into the classification properties of the sensor array and the interaction mechanisms of porphyrins. The set of metalloporphyrins showed a variety of interaction mechanisms, and the relation of these mechanisms to the structure of the metalloporphyrins was evidenced by an accurate interpretation of the loadings of the multiway analysis

Quality monitoring of extra-virgin olive oil using an optical sensor

An optical sensor for the detection of olive oil aroma is presented. It is capable of distinguishing different ageing levels of extra-virgin olive oils, and shows effective potential for achieving a non destructive olfactory perception of oil ageing. The sensor is an optical scanner, fitted with an array of metalloporphyrin-based sensors. The scanner provides exposure of the sensors to the flow of the oil vapor being tested, and their sequential spectral interrogation. Spectral data are then processed using chemometric methodologies

An optical fiber spectroscopic platform for multiple sensor interrogation

A fiber optic multimeter is presented, consisting of a platform for interrogating an array of absorption-based chemical sensors. It has been validated on a set of porphyrin-based materials having gas-sensor potential. Discrimination between different kinds of gases has been demonstrated

Attivita' svolta durante lo svolgimento della borsa di studio 'Optospec sensori in ottica guidata per la misura di specie liquide tramite spettroscopia diretta e specie gassose tramite spettroscopia assistita chimicamente' del Progetto Finalizzato MADESS II

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7 Rome / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

Attivita' svolta durante lo svolgimento della borsa di studio 'Optospec sensori in ottica guidata per la misura di specie liquide tramite spettroscopia diretta e specie gassose tramite spettroscopia assistita chimicamente' del Progetto Finalizzato MADESS II

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7 Rome / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

Fiber-optic multimeter for interrogating an array of absorption-based optochemical sensors

A fiber optic multimeter is presented, consisting of a platform for interrogating an array of absorption-based chemical sensors. It has been validated on a set of porphyrin-based materials having gas-sensor potential. Discrimination between different kinds of gases has been demonstrated