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AbstractBackgroundHeart failure (HF) is a global growing health threat. This case-control clinical trial aimed to detect the predictive value and difference in aldosterone level between right side heart failure, heart failure with decreased ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and compare the efficacy and safety of adding mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) for treatment.Patients and methodsWe recruited 151 participants, 135 HF patients divided equally into 45 patients in each group:(1) right side HF (2) HFrEF and (3) HFpEF and 16 healthy controls. Serum aldosterone, troponin and echocardiography were evaluated at the beginning of the study, three and six months after administration of MRA.ResultsAldosterone level was significantly greater in HF patients relative to controls. Aldosterone level can detect HF with excellent accuracy. There were significantly lower levels of aldosterone in right side HF compared to left side HF. There was a significant decrease in right ventricle dimensions, pulmonary artery systolic pressure and pulmonary artery size and significant increase in tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion after treatment in patients with right side HF. In the HFrEF group, there was a significant decrease in left ventricular end diastolic dimension and a significant increase in left ventricular EF after treatment. In the HFpEF group, there was a significant decrease in E/A and E/e′ after treatment.ConclusionsAldosterone may have pathogenic role in HF. Measuring and follow-up of aldosterone levels should be considered in HF patients. MRA treatment gives a significant improvement in right side HF group.

N‐Phenyl‐3‐substituted 5‐pyrazolone derivatives were investigated as organic photostabilizers for rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). Their stabilizing efficiency was evaluated by the determination of the weight loss of the polymer after irradiation for different periods and by the determination of the amount of gel formation as well as the intrinsic viscosity of the soluble fraction of the degraded polymer. Moreover, the efficiency was evaluated from the extent of the discoloration of the degraded polymer. This was attributed not only to the radical trapping potency of the pyrazolone derivatives, which intervened with the radical degradation species in the degradation process of PVC, but also to the blocking of the newly formed radical sites on the polymeric chains. Their stabilizing efficiencies were compared with those of phenyl salicylate and 2‐hydroxy‐4‐(octyloxy)phenyl benzophenone, industrially known UV absorbers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 1543–1555, 2006

The reaction of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with 5-pyrimidine carbonitrile (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-4-oxo-6-phenyl-2-thioxo) has been studied. The thermal stability of the modified polymer is improved markedly compared with the unmodified polymer. The stability improvement is attributed to the replacement of the labile chlorine atoms by more stable thio groups. The modified polymer also showed a lower extent of discoloration against ultraviolet rays compared with the unmodified PVC. © 1998 SCI.

Medication noncompliance is one of the daily problems of the physician. Improving the medication adherence allows better management of hypertension. The aim of this study is to assess adherence to medication in hypertensive Moroccans and to look for factors of bad compliance.