Clinical utility of contrast echocardiography in the management of patients with acute myocardial infarction

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Mediterranean diet adherence and synergy with acute myocardial infarction and its determinants. a multicenter case-control study in Italy.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in Western countries. The possible synergistic effect of poor adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MD) and other risk factors for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) such as hypertension, cholesterol, ever smoker, BMI> 25, diabetes, has not been deeply studied. Design Case-control study. Methods Patients with first AMI and controls from four tertiary referral Italian centers were screened for enrolment. Dietary information was collected through a questionnaire and a MD adherence score was calculated. Physical activity and smoking habits were also registered. The Synergy Index was calculated according to Rothman. Results 127 cases and 173 controls were enrolled. The analysis was conducted using a dichotomous variable for the MD score with values 7 representing good adherence. Multivariate analysis showed the following variables associated to AMI: ever smoker (OR = 2.08), diabetes (OR = 1.42), hypertension (OR = 2.08), hypercholesterolemia (OR = 2.47), BMI> 25 (OR = 1.99), while a protective effect emerged both in subjects scoring > 7 on the MD score(OR = 0.55) and in subjects resident of Southern Italy (OR = 0.38). A synergistic effect does exist between poor adherence to the MD and the following risk factors: hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, BMI >25, diabetes and being a resident in central and northern Italy. Conclusion Synergy between heart disease risk factors and MD underlines the need to enlarge the list of known modifiable cardiovascular risk factors to include and promote adherence to Mediterranean dietary habits

Rapid and non-destructive method to assess in the vineyardgrape berry anthocyanins under different seasonal andwater conditions

Abstract Background and Aims: Monitoring of anthocyanins (Anth) in winegrape (Vitis vinifera L.) is fundamental for the production of top-quality red wines. This work was aimed at testing a new fluorescence-based sensor for Anth detection in the vineyard. Significance of the Study: The present study showed a new important innovative technology for viticulture. The sensor evaluation of the large spatial and temporal heterogeneity in Anth accumulation can be useful as support parameter in the harvest date decision or for vineyard zoning of phenolic maturity. Methods and Results: Anth in grape (cv. Aleatico) bunches attached to the vine were monitored non-destructively in the field using a fluorescence-based sensor during the 2008 and 2009 seasons and under different water regimes. The ANTHRG index = log(far-red-fluorescenceR/far-red-fluorescenceG), with fluorescence signals excited with red (R) and green (G) light, was inversely correlated through an exponential function (r2 = 0.875) to the Anth concentration derived from the HPLC analysis of berry skin extracts. ANTHRG was effective in detecting the earlier ripening process in 2009 with respect to 2008 and differences in the Anth accumulation between seasons and in relation to different water regimes.Water deficit imposed in 2009 enhanced Anth concentration in berries because of a reduction in berry size but also an increase of Anth biosynthesis. This effect was observed by both destructive and ANTHRG non-destructive measurements. Conclusions: Our results show that the employed fluorescence sensor represents a reliable, rapid and non-invasive tool for monitoring and determining Anth accumulation in situ

Short-Term Pre-Harvest UV-B Supplement Enhances the Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Ocimum basilicum Leaves during Storage

Ocimum basilicum (basil) leaves are rich in polyphenols, conferring them a high antioxidant activity. The application of UV-B can be used to maintain the post-harvest nutraceutical quality of basil leaves. We aimed to investigate the effects of pre-harvest UV-B application on polyphenolic and pigment contents, antioxidant capacity, and the visual quality of basil stored leaves. We also evaluated the applicability of the non-invasive Dualex® for monitoring the accumulation of leaf epidermal phenolics (Flav Index). After exposing plants to white light (control) and to supplemental UV-B radiation for 4 d, the leaves were harvested and stored for 7d (TS7). The UV-B leaves showed both a higher phenolic content and antioxidant capacity than the controls at TS7. In addition, the correlations between the Flav Index and phenolic content demonstrated that Dualex® can reliably assess the content of epidermal phenolics, thus confirming its promising utilization as a non-destructive method for monitoring the phytochemical quality of O. basilicum leaves. In conclusion, a pre-harvesting UV-B application may be a tool for enhancing the content of polyphenols and the antioxidant potential of basil stored leaves without detrimental effects on their visual quality. These results are important considering the nutraceutical value of this plant and its wide commercial distribution

Myocarditis and intramural coronary vasculitis in polyarteritis nodosa: an unusual treatable form of heart failure

We describe an uncommon cardiac presentation of polyarteritis nodosa. A 68-year-old woman, with a history of fatigue, weight loss, and myalgia of the lower extremities, was admitted for congestive heart failure. Coronary arteries were normal. Endomyocardial biopsy showed active lymphocytic myocarditis with associated intramural small vessels necrotizing vasculitis. The overexpression of TLR-4 and the negativity for myocardial viruses suggested an immune mediated mechanism of cardiac damage. These histologic findings associated to weight loss >4 kg not due to dieting or other factors, myalgias, and polyneuropathy, were consistent with the diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa. Immunosuppressive treatment, consisting of cyclophosphamide and prednisolone, led to a significant improvement of cardiac function. Polyarteritis nodosa can be the cause of unexplained heart failure due to myocarditis and intramural vessels vasculitis. Its recognition is crucial to obtain a cardiac recovery with a tailored immunosuppressive treatment

Application of Vis/Nir spectroscopy to establish peach ripening as affected by rootstock

The objective of this paper was to monitor peach ripeness of “Chimarrita” and “Maciel” cultivars, grafted on different rootstocks, using the pulp firmness parameter, as an indicator of harvest time through equipment based on Vis/Nir spectroscopy. The orchard was installed in 2005, has a "V" conduction system with spacing of 5.0 x 1.5 m, and the cultivars are grafted on seven rootstocks: “Capdeboscq”, “Flordaguard”, “Nemaguard”, “Okinawa”, “Tsukuba”, “Umezeiro” and “Viamão”. After harvesting, the fruits were evaluated by the NIR CASE spectrophotometer, establishing categories of pulp firmness, between 40N and 60N for fruits consumed in a long term and <40N for immediate consumption. The analyzed rootstocks alter the peach ripeness of the “Chimarrita” and “Maciel” cultivars. The “Umezeiro” rootstock anticipates harvest for the “Chimarrita” cultivar. The “Nemaguard”/ “Maciel” combination provides fruits with a superior harvest period than the other ones evaluated. The Vis/Nir Spectroscopy is a useful tool to monitor the harvest of “Chimarrita” and “Maciel” cultivars

POS1240 HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE CARDIOTOXICITY: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY COMPARING PATIENTS WITH COVID19 AND PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Background:Antimalarials have been associated with QT prolongation in COVID19 patients but are generally safe in patients with rheumatologic disease.Objectives:Aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of QTc prolongation between COVID19 and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients treated with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).Methods:We included consecutive patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by nasopharyngeal swab and patients taking HCQ for SLE. A prolonged QTc was defined as an increase in QTc intervals >60 ms (compared with baseline) or as a QTc of ≥500 ms.Results:We enrolled 58 COVID19 patients (median age 70.5 years, IQR 25). HCQ, without or with azithromycin, was given to 26 (44.8%) and 15 patients (25.9%), respectively; 17 (29.3%) had not received either drug. The median baseline QTc was 432 (IQR 36) and prolonged QTc was observed in 15 (26%) patients (12 QTc≥500 ms and 3 patients ΔQTc>60 ms). We didn't find significant differences in QTc prolongation among the three treatment groups. Baseline QTc (OR 111.5) and D-dimer (OR 78.3) were independently associated to QTc prolongation.Compared to the 50 SLE patients (median age of 38.5 years, IQR 22), chronically treated with HCQ, patients with COVID19 showed significantly longer QTc (p < 0.001) (Table 1).Conclusion:This is the first study demonstrating that, differently from COVID19 patients, patients with SLE are not susceptible to HCQ-induced long QT syndrome and arrhythmia. The combined arrhythmogenic effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection and HCQ could account for the excess of QTc prolongation and fatal arrhythmias described in patients with COVID19.Table 1.Difference in clinical and demographic features between Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and COVID19 patients.Demographic FeaturesSLE patientsCovid-19 patientsp-ValueN°5058Female4323< 0.001Age (years)45 (17)70.5 (25)< 0.001Comorbidities N %Hypertension15 (30)24 (48)0.2Cardiovascular diseses8 (16)13 (22.4)0.4COPD1 (2)9 (15.5)0.016Thyroid disease8 (16)8 (13.8)0.75Chronic kidney disease4 (8)5 (8.6)0.91Population characteristics Median (IQR)HCQ (mg/die)400 (125)400< 0.001HCQ Time (days)3255 (5790)7< 0.001QTc (ms)SLEDAI-2KSDI432 (36.25)0 (4)0395 (80)--< 0.001--Disclosure of Interests:None declare