Baseline characteristics of patients in the reduction of events with darbepoetin alfa in heart failure trial (RED-HF)

<p>Aims: This report describes the baseline characteristics of patients in the Reduction of Events with Darbepoetin alfa in Heart Failure trial (RED-HF) which is testing the hypothesis that anaemia correction with darbepoetin alfa will reduce the composite endpoint of death from any cause or hospital admission for worsening heart failure, and improve other outcomes.</p> <p>Methods and results: Key demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings, along with baseline treatment, are reported and compared with those of patients in other recent clinical trials in heart failure. Compared with other recent trials, RED-HF enrolled more elderly [mean age 70 (SD 11.4) years], female (41%), and black (9%) patients. RED-HF patients more often had diabetes (46%) and renal impairment (72% had an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients in RED-HF had heart failure of longer duration [5.3 (5.4) years], worse NYHA class (35% II, 63% III, and 2% IV), and more signs of congestion. Mean EF was 30% (6.8%). RED-HF patients were well treated at randomization, and pharmacological therapy at baseline was broadly similar to that of other recent trials, taking account of study-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Median (interquartile range) haemoglobin at baseline was 112 (106–117) g/L.</p> <p>Conclusion: The anaemic patients enrolled in RED-HF were older, moderately to markedly symptomatic, and had extensive co-morbidity.</p&gt

Prewetting transition influenced by layeringlike transitions at a binary liquid/solid interface

International audienceThe prewetting transition in the silica-water-2,5-dimethylpyridine system has been studied through the adsorption isotherms. Steep wave shapes for these isotherms lead to the conclusion of alternate solid and liquid surface demixing very close to bulk coexistence and wetting temperature. Liquid demixing has the generic aspects of prewetting. An empirical model for demixings. surface phase diagrams in several representations, and critical end points are discussed, as well as the phenomena universality. © 1997 American Institute of Physics

Impact of bulk phase transitions and wetting transitions on adsorption isotherms in binary systems in contact with solid

International audienceThis paper presents several studies essentially on the solid/liquid interface. The studied system is the liquid binary mixture water- 2,5dimethylpyridine (2,5DMP) in contact with an amorphous silica (Aerosil type). The study of wetting along the two-liquid bulk phases coexistence in contact with silica allows the determination of a wetting transition temperature, which is an important parameter for the adsorption behavior at coexistence. The adsorption isotherms in a diluted phase and in a concentrated phase present some very significant features. In diluted solutions the isotherms show a succession of plateaus; these transitions of layers persist in concentrated phases presenting a sequence of maxima and minima of relative adsorption (Gibbs adsorption) of 2,5DMP with respect to water. In concentrated solutions, they interfere with the prewetting that gives an original shape to the isotherms in concentrated solutions. These adsorption measurements were completed by activity measurements which allow one to obtain the chemical potential of mixtures and linked information. The whole study shows the behavior of colloidal suspensions close to bulk phase changes

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants on Acanthoscelides obtectus, a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

cited By 18International audienceAcanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans, Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants from Thymus vulgaris and T. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, and Cymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts, Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle. © 1995 Birkhäuser Verlag

Analytical approach for the Lucas-Washburn equation

Porous media can be characterized by studying the kinetics of liquid rise within the pore spaces. Although porous media generally have a complex structure, they can be modeled as a single, vertical capillary or as an assembly of such capillaries. The main difficulties lie in separately estimating the effective mean radius of the capillaries and the contact angle between the liquid and the pore. In this paper we circumvent these obstacies by exploring another approach and suggest an analytical approach of the classical Lucas-Washburn equation (LWE). Specifically, we consider that the contact angle between the liquid meniscus and the inner surface of the capillary becomes a dynamic contact angle when the liquid front is in movement. It has previously been demonstrated that the resulting time dependence is due to frictional dissipation at the moving wetting front. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA)

Fumigant toxic activity and reproductive inhibition induced by monoterpenes on Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) (coleoptera), a bruchid of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

cited By 166International audienceThe toxic activity of some characteristic monoterpenoids: p-cymene, α-pinene, camphor, linalool, terpineol, cuminaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, anethole, carvacrol, thymol, estragole and eugenol, was tested against Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say), a bruchid pest of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). A fumigant toxic effect was observed and LC50 concentrations for 24h and 48h were calculated for adults. Besides this effect, a reproductive inhibition was observed. This inhibition involved female fecundity, oviposition, and the development of neonate and intracotyledonal larvae. The effects of monoterpenes on oviposition, larval penetration inside the seeds and emergence were determined. All monoterpenes revealed a more or less pronounced vapour toxicity and significantly inhibited beetle reproduction. Oxygenated monoterpenoids: carvacrol, thymol, eugenol, linalool and terpineol were identified as the most efficient compounds in both respects and the structure-activity relationship is discussed. © 1995

Comparaison des activités insecticides des monoterpènes sur deux espèces d'insectes ravageurs des cultures : Ceratitis capitata et Rhopalosiphum padi

cited By 14International audienceThe fumigant toxic effect of some monoterpenoids : α-pinene, linalol, carvacrol, eugenol, p-cymène, cinnamaldehyde, anethole, terpineol and cuminalde-hyde, was tested upon Rhopalosiphum padi and Ceratitis capitata. The sensitivity of both species to these compounds appears to be variable. The aldehyde and methoxyled monoterpenoids (cinnamaldehyde, cuminaldehyde and anethole) revealed to be more active than hydrogenated o es (α-pinene and p-cymene). The phenolic monoterpenoids present a great activity especially upon C. capitata

Lutte contre les insectes phytophages par les plantes aromatiques et leurs molécules allélochimiques

cited By 4International audienceSome ethnobotanical observations show that aromatic plants are used as traditional protectants of leguminosae seeds to avoid beetles attacks in southwestern France. The efficiency of this method was tested in laboratory. Aromatic plants present a double insecticidal effect : by direct toxicity on adults and also inhibition of the reproduction. The most efficient plants belong to Labiatae family. The insecticidal effect of water extracted and residual botanicals were tested. Several allelochemicals, especially monoterpenes and polyphenols, synthetized by the plants' secondary metabolism, are involved in this toxicity. The toxic ecochemical activity of these compounds could be considered as alternative or complementary method to classical pesticides for a better insect pest management

Inhibition of reproduction of Acanthoscelides obtectus Say (Coleoptera), a kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) bruchid, by aromatic essential oils

cited By 60International audienceAcanthoscelides obtectus Say (Coleoptera, Bruchidae), is a cosmopolitan pest that damages its host plant, the kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in the field and during storage. The use of aromatic essential oils from Labiatae, Umbelliferae and Lauraceae was investigated. In addition to a fumigant toxic effect on adult insects, inhibition of reproduction through ovicidal and larvicidal effects was also observed. These actions might be combined to improve the management of this bruchid: essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, T. serpyllum, Ocimum basilicum and Cinnamomum verum were very effective and completely controlled the biological development of this insect. © 1994