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- Cowie, MR, et al.
(författare)
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Clinical applications of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) testing
- 2003
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 24:19, s. 1710-1718
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many claims have been made in recent years regarding the utility of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration measurements in the diagnosis, risk stratification and monitoring of patients with heart failure. This paper summarizes the current evidence and provides guidance for practising clinicians. Overall, plasma BNP testing appears to be of most value in the diagnostic arena, where it is likely to improve the performance of non-specialist physicians in diagnosing heart failure. In clinical practice, BNP testing is best used as a 'rule out' test for suspected cases of new heart failure in breathless patients presenting to either the outpatient or emergency care settings, it is not a replacement for echocardiography and full cardiological assessment, which will be required for patients with an elevated BNP concentration. Although work is ongoing in establishing the 'normal' values of BNP, heart failure appears to be highly unlikely below a plasma concentration of 100 pg/ml. However, as BNP levels rise with age and are affected by gender, comorbidity and drug therapy, the plasma BNP measurement should not be used in isolation from the clinical context.
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- Kao-Walter, Sharon, et al.
(författare)
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A study of the relation between mechanical properties and adhesion level in a laminated packaging material
- 2004
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Ingår i: Mechanics of composite materials. - Riga, Latvia : Zinatne. - 0191-5665 .- 1573-8922. ; 40:1, s. 29-36
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The mechanical properties of a laminate consisting of aluminum-foil, adhesive, and polymer layers were studied in relation to the adhesion level. A special application for liquid-food packaging materials was considered. In experiments, laminates with and without adhesive layers were tested. Tensile tests were first run for every layer of the laminate, and the data obtained were then used in analyzing the results of tensile tests on the entire laminate, as well as in theoretical and finite-element calculations. Relations between different mechanical properties (such as Young's modulus, the peak stress, and the strain at the peak stress) and the adhesion level were analyzed. It was found that the tensile strength and the strain at the peak stress increased with adhesion level. Only slight differences in Young's modulus were observed at different adhesion levels.
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- Moller, JE, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of losartan and captopril on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function after acute myocardial infarction : Results of the Optimal Trial in Myocardial Infarction with Angiotensin II Antagonist Losartan (OPTIMAAL) echocardiographic substudy
- 2004
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Ingår i: American Heart Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-8703 .- 1097-6744. ; 147:3, s. 494-501
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have been shown to attenuate adverse remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and the same has been suggested for angiotensin 11 type I receptor antagonists in animal models. Therefore the aim of the study was to compare the effects of losartan and captopril on regional systolic, diastolic, and overall left ventricular (LV) function after AMI. Methods Two hundred twenty-five patients aged 50 years with documented AMI and heart failure and/or LV dysfunction were randomly assigned treatment with either losartan (50 mg/d) or captopril (50 mg 3 times/d). Echocardiography was performed at randomization and after 3 months, echocardiograms were analyzed blinded at the core laboratory. Main outcome measures were changes in wall motion score index (WMSI), E-wave deceleration time (E-DT), and Tei index of overall LV function. Results WMSI decreased in both groups (losartan 1.58 +/- 0.23 to 1.52 +/- 0.26, P = .009, captopril 1.60 +/- 0.24 to 1.48 +/- 0.22, P < .001), although the decrease was greater in patients allocated to captopril (captopril -0.12 &PLUSMN, 0.17 vs losartan -0.05 &PLUSMN, 0.19, P = .007). In both groups E-DT increased, although the increase was significant only in patients treated with captoril (193 &PLUSMN, 61 ms to 208 &PLUSMN, 70 ms, P = .05). The change in E-DT was not different between treatment groups (captopril 14 &PLUSMN, 74 ms vs losartan 7 &PLUSMN, 80 ms, P = .52). Tei index decreased in both groups (losartan 0.59 &PLUSMN, 0.13 to 0.55 &PLUSMN, 0.15, P = .04, captopril 0.62 &PLUSMN, 0.15 to 0.55 &PLUSMN, 0.13, P < .001). However, the reduction was significantly greater in patients treated with captopril (captopril -0.08 +/- 0.14 vs losartan -0.03 +/- 0.14, P = .01). Conclusion Losartan and captopril improve systolic and overall IV function after AMI, but the benefit is greater for patients treated with captopril.
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