Early diagnosis HFpEF, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in cardiomyopathy, a chance to treat and reduce morbidity and mortality

Background: Cardiomyopathy as a diagnosis almost signifies a kind of end stage disease of the myocardium. With conditions like hypertension, diabetes and ischemic heart disease on the rise, we are seeing a large number of cases diagnosed as cardiomyopathy, most common presenting feature being Heart failure. Echocardiography (ECG), is non-invasive and easily available and can pick up early signs of failure in the form of diastolic and systolic dysfunction. To study patients with cardiac symptoms, by clinical, ECG, and Echocardiography parameters.Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study of 50 patients aged 18-80 years with cardiac symptoms (dyspnoea, palpitations, pedal odema) was carried out over a period of 3 years in a semi-urban Medical College Hospital in Western Maharashtra. Patients of Acute coronary disease, valvular and congenital heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were excluded from the study. Data collected, tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis.Results: Our study of 50 patients had 50% Diabetic and 42% Hypertensive patients. 2D echo findings were clinically significant in the form of diastolic dysfunction (36%), systolic dysfunction (12%). Ejection fraction (EF) was significantly reduced, in most patients, but 4% patients had HFpEF, i.e. EF=55% and 24% had EF between 30-55%Conclusions: Our study of 50 patients of Cardiomyopathy had more hypertensives and diabetics, and most of them less than 60 years of age and mostly male. HFpEF was detected in 4% and 76% had EF30-60% and 24% had EF<30%. Diastolic dysfunction was diagnosed in more than half and systolic dysfunction in few on ECG. 

Fatty Acid and Antioxidant Profile of Eggs from Pasture-Raised Hens Fed a Corn- and Soy-Free Diet and Supplemented with Grass-Fed Beef Suet and Liver

There is increasing interest in using grass-fed beef (GFB) by-products to augment the nutrient profile of eggs among local pasture-raising systems in the US. The objective of this study was to characterize egg yolk fatty acid and antioxidant profiles using eggs from pasture-raised hens fed a corn- and soy-free diet and supplemented with GFB suet and liver compared to eggs from pasture-raised hens fed a corn and soy layer hen feed and commercially obtained cage-free eggs. The egg yolk vitamin and mineral profile was also assessed by a commercial laboratory. Both pasture-raised groups had twice as much carotenoid content, three times as much omega-3 fatty acid content, and a 5&ndash;10 times lower omega-6:omega-3 fatty acid ratio compared to the cage-free eggs (p &lt; 0.001). Eggs from hens fed a corn- and soy-free feed and GFB by-products had half as much omega-6 fatty acid content and five times more conjugated linoleic acid, three times more odd-chain fatty acid, and 6&ndash;70 times more branched-chain fatty acid content (p &lt; 0.001). Feeding pasture-raised hens GFB suet and liver reduces agricultural waste while producing improved egg products for consumers, but further research is needed to quantify optimal supplementation levels and the efficacy of corn- and soy-free diets

Thermoelectric power of single-phase samples of Tl<SUB>2</SUB>CaBa<SUB>2</SUB>Cu<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>y</SUB> and Ba<SUB>2</SUB>CaSr<SUB>2</SUB>Cu<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>y</SUB>

Single-phase 2122 samples of thallium and bismuth superconductors were made by the precursor matrix method. The thermopower of these samples was measured in the temperature range 250 K-Tc . The thermopower was positive and decreased linearly with increasing temperature above Tc (onset). The exponential enhancement of thermopower seen in the undoped and doped YBCO was not observed in these samples. The linear variation of thermopower can be explained on the basis of either a two-band model or a narrow band model