We aimed to address the relation of oxidative

stress markers to severity and prognosis in CHF secondary Pitavastatin Metabolism inhibitor to ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Methods and Results: Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), protein thiol groups (P-SH), reactive carbonyl derivatives (RCD), together with glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were determined in 120 CHF patients and 69 healthy controls. Increased lipid peroxidation (MDA) and oxidation of plasma proteins (RCD; P-SH) s well as downregulated GSH-Px activity were found in CHF patients compared with controls. Significant correlation was obtained only for RCD content and remodeling indices (LVEDV: r = 0.469, P = .008;

LVESV: r = 0.452; P = .011). Cox regression analysis demonstrated only MDA (HR = 3.33; CI: 1.55-7.12; P = .002) as independent predictor of death, whereas SOD was associated with unstable angina pectoris (HR = 2.09; CI: check details 1.16-3.78; P = .011).

Conclusions: In the course of CHF progression, carbonyl stress is implicated in the LV remodeling. Malondialdehyde level might be a useful parameter for monitoring and planning management of CHF patients. (J Cardiac Fail 2012;18:493-501)”
“The low frequency mechanical and dielectric behavior of three different elastomers has been investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis and dielectric spectroscopy, with the aim of accounting for the frequency dependence of the characteristics of the corresponding dielectric elastomer actuators. Satisfactory agreement was obtained between the dynamic response of the actuators and a simple model based on the experimental data for the elastomers, assuming that the relatively large prestrains employed in the actuators SGC-CBP30 in vitro to have little influence on the frequency dependence of their effective moduli. It was thus demonstrated that the frequency dependence of the actuator strain is dominated by that of the mechanical response of the elastomer, and that the frequency dependence of the dielectric

properties has a relatively minor influence on the actuator performance.”
“The effect of polycarbodiimide (PCD) on hydrolytic stability of poly(p-dioxanoiie) (PPDO) was investigated by hydrolytic degradation of PPDO and PPDO added with PCD (PPDOCD) in phosphate buffer solution (pH = 7.4) at 37 degrees C. The variation of weight, water absorption, pH, molecular weight, tensile properties, surface morphologies, and thermal properties with degradation time were evaluated. After 11 weeks, the weight loss and water absorption of PPDO was 24 and 30%, respectively, but the corresponding values were only 3 and 5% for PPDOCD5, where 5 represents the weight percentage of PCD added; the molecular weight of PPDO decreased much faster than that of PPDOCD.