Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

Standardization of commercial cinnamon essential oils by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis

The chemical composition of seven Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume essential oils traded as spices and medicinal items has been determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Eighty-two compounds accounting for 95.39-99.03% of the total essential oil were identified. Qualitative and quantitative differences were found in the essential oils obtained from dried and powdered cinnamon bark purchased at supermarkets and cinnamon leaf essential oil from a pharmacy. The aromatic compound E-cinnamaldehyde (67.84±3.15%; 67.16±5.05%) was the principal component of the essential oil in commercial cinnamon bark employed as a spice; whereas eugenol was the main compound (81.51±0.21%), in commercial cinnamon leaf essential oil for medicinal purposes. The qualitative and quantitative differences in the analyzed essential oils can affect the organoleptic properties, mainly the spice’s flavor as well as the pharmacological properties of the cinnamon (bark and leaf) essential oils.Se ha determinado la composición química de siete aceites esenciales de Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume comercializados como especias y con fines medicinales, mediante cromatografía de gases-espectrometría de masas. Se identificaron un total de ochenta y dos compuestos que representaron entre 95,39-99,03% de la composición total del mismo. Se observaron diferencias tanto cualitativas como cuantitativas entre los aceites esenciales obtenidos de corteza seca y pulverizada de canela de venta en supermercados de alimentación y el aceite esencial de canela procedente de una farmacia. El compuesto aromático E-cinamaldehído (67,84±3,15%; 67,16±5,05%), fue el principal componente de la corteza de canela utilizada como especia, mientras que eugenol (81,51±0,21%) fue el compuesto mayoritario del aceite esencial de hoja de canela con fines medicinales. Las diferencias cualitativas y cuantitativas encontradas en la composición de los aceites esenciales analizados, pueden afectar tanto a las propiedades organolépticas, fundamentalmente al aroma de las especias, como a las propiedades farmacológicas de los aceites esenciales (corteza y hoja) de canela

Post-emergent herbicidal activity of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. essential oil

Weed resistances to synthetic herbicides, as well as consequent health and environmental problems, are important items to find more eco-friendly natural alternatives to weed control. Eucalyptus globulus Labill. essential oil has been traditionally used against respiratory troubles as well as an insect repellent due to 1,8-cineole content. Chemical composition of commercial E. globulus essential oil and its phytotoxic activity against three common annual weeds (Portulaca oleracea L., Echinochloa crus-galli (L) Beau. and Lolium multiflorum Lam.) has been studied. 28 compounds reaching 99.83% of the total essential oil were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The oxygenated monoterpene 1,8-cineole (76.43±0.35%), followed by the monoterpene hydrocarbon α-pinene (14.64±0.27%) were the main compounds. E. globulus essential oil lacks of phytotoxicity against the seed germination of the tested weed, showing significant effect on hypocotyl and radicle elongation of E. crus-galli at the highest dose (1 μL/mL) assayed and radicle inhibitory effects at all concentrations applied (0.125, 0.25, 0.50 and 1 μL/mL) against L. multiflorum. E. globulus essential oil could be used in the management of E. crus-galli due to its post-emergent herbicidal activity.La aparición de resistencias debido al uso de herbicidas sintéticos, así como los consiguientes problemas de salud y medioambientales, son factores importantes en la búsqueda de alternativas naturales respetuosas con el medio ambiente en el control de malas hierbas. El aceite esencial de Eucalyptus globulus Labill se ha empleado tradicionalmente en problemas respiratorios y como repelente de insectos por su contenido en 1,8-cineol. Se ha determinado la composición química del aceite esencial comercial de E. globulus y su actividad fitotóxica en tres conocidas malas hierbas anuales (Portulaca oleracea L., Echinochloa crus-galli (L) Beau y Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Se identificaron veintiocho compuestos que representan el 99,83 % de la composición total de este, mediante cromatografía de gases - espectrometría de masas. Los componentes ma-yoritarios fueron el monoterpeno oxigenado 1,8-cineol (76,43 ± 0,35 %) y el monoterpeno hidro-carbonado α-pineno (14,64 ± 0,27 %). El aceite esencial de E. globulus carece de actividad frente a la germinación de semillas de las malas hierbas ensayadas, mostrando efecto inhibitorio significativo sobre la elongación del hipocotilo y radícula de E. crus-galli a la dosis más alta (1 μL/mL) empleada y sobre el crecimiento de la radícula de L. multiflorum a todas las concentraciones (0,125, 0,25, 0,50 y 1 μL/mL) aplicadas. El aceite esencial de E. globulus puede utilizarse en el manejo de E. crus-galli debido a su actividad herbicida postemergente

Essential oils as natural antimicrobial and antioxidant products in the agrifood industry

Consumers are aware of the dangers arising from the use of synthetic antioxidants and antimicrobials in the agrifood industry, demanding safer and “greener” alternatives. In this study, the antioxidant activity of commercial essential oils through DPPH method, their antimicrobial effects against the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae and the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum by means of the standardized disk method were determined. Clove along with winter savory, cinnamon and oregano essential oils as well as carvacrol showed the highest antioxidant activity comparable to reference standards. Wintergreen essential oil was the most potent inhib-itor against P. syringae growth at the highest doses (20 and 10 μL). Oregano essential oil and its main component carvacrol were able to stop the bacterium growth even at the lowest treatment (1 μL). Cinnamon, oregano and peppermint essential oils inhibited F. oxysporum development at all doses (20, 10 and 5 μL) assayed. In general, most of the essential oils displayed more anti-fungal than antibacterial and antioxidant activities. KEYWORDS:Los consumidores son conscientes del peligro derivado del uso de antioxidantes y antimicrobianos sintéticos en la industria agroalimentaria, demandando alternativas más seguras y ecológicas. En este estudio, se ha determinado la actividad antioxidante de aceites esenciales comerciales mediante el método DPPH y su efecto antimicrobiano frente a la bacteria Pseudomonas syringaey el hongo fitopatógeno Fusarium oxysporum a través del empleo del método estandarizado de disco. Los aceites esenciales de clavo, ajedrea, canela y orégano, así como carvacrol, mostraron la máxima actividad antioxidante, comparable a antioxidantes establecidos. El aceite esencial de gaulteria fue el más potente inhibidor del crecimiento de P. syringae en las dosis más altas (20 y 10 μL) ensayadas. El aceite esencial de orégano, así como su componente principal carvacrol, detuvieron el crecimiento de la bacteria incluso a la dosis más baja ensayada (1 μL). Los aceites esenciales de canela, orégano y menta inhibieron el desarrollo de F. oxysporum en todas las dosis (20, 10 y 5 μL) aplicadas. En general, la mayoría de aceites esenciales mostraron más actividad antifúngica que antibacteriana y antioxidante

Cardiac troponin and COVID-19 severity: Results from BIOCOVID study.

Myocardial injury is a common finding in COVID-19 strongly associated with severity. We analysed the prevalence and prognostic utility of myocardial injury, characterized by elevated cardiac troponin, in a large population of COVID-19 patients, and further evaluated separately the role of troponin T and I. This is a multicentre, retrospective observational study enrolling patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who were hospitalized in 32 Spanish hospitals. Elevated troponin levels were defined as values above the sex-specific 99th percentile upper reference limit, as recommended by international guidelines. Thirty-day mortality was defined as endpoint. A total of 1280 COVID-19 patients were included in this study, of whom 187 (14.6%) died during the hospitalization. Using a nonspecific sex cut-off, elevated troponin levels were found in 344 patients (26.9%), increasing to 384 (30.0%) when a sex-specific cut-off was used. This prevalence was significantly higher (42.9% vs 21.9%; P  In this multicentre study, myocardial injury was a common finding in COVID-19 patients. Its prevalence increased when a sex-specific cut-off and cardiac troponin T were used. Elevated troponin was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality, irrespective of cardiac troponin assay and cut-offs to detect myocardial injury. Hence, the early measurement of cardiac troponin may be useful for risk stratification in COVID-19

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis.

The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327  There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in th