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In heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFREF) patients, the dosage of sacubitril/valsartan is modulated according to a gradual increase regimen. Nevertheless, if patients exhibit tolerability problems, a provisional reduction of the dose of sacubitril/valsartan or even its interruption are recommended. This study provides estimates of respective proportions of patients receiving minimum or intermediate doses of sacubitril/valsartan. In addition, a comparison was made to detect possible differences regarding all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization in patients treated with the recommended optimum dose compared to those receiving submaximum maintenance doses of sacubitril/valsartan. Patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan in addition to beta-blocker and mineralocorticoid receptor blocker were 68. Among them, 20 patients (29.4%), were identified as having clinical features that were contraindications to the administration of sacubitril/valsartan at full dose. The subsequent decision was to maintain an intermediate dose in 11 patients and to reduce the dose to the minimum level allowed, i.e., 24 mg/26 mg twice daily in nine patients. After a median follow-up of 5.25 months, no differences were found concerning the risk of all-cause death by comparing patients treated with reduced versus those subjected to target doses of sacubitril/valsartan (odds ratio [OR] = 1.666; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.256–10.823; p = 0.6266). Patients taking reduced doses had a similar risk of heart failure hospitalizations when compared to patients treated with the target dose (OR = 0.789; 95% CI: 0.077–8.0808; p = 1.00). During a median follow-up of 5.25 months, in the group of patients who had proven to be intolerant to the maximum dose of sacubitril/valsartan, use of reduced doses of the drug did not result in increased all-cause mortality or heart failure hospitalization compared to patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan at the target dose.

Sacubitril, a neprilysin inhibitor in the combination molecule sacubitril/valsartan, slows down degradation of endogenous natriuretic peptides, thereby enhancing their beneficial cardiovascular effects. However, sacubitril might also promote neuronal dysfunction and cognitive impairment in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) treated with sacubitril/valsartan, due to possible neprilysin inhibition at the level of Central Nervous System. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken to detect the effects exerted by sacubitril/valsartan on cognitive function in CHF patients. The patients’ clinical data were examined for information provided in the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), which was routinely administered during clinical visits at two centers from 15 March to 31 October 2017. Patients in the sacubitril/valsartan group had a clinical history of at least 3 months of continuous sacubitril/valsartan administration. The control group comprised CHF patients on conventional therapy not taking sacubitril/valsartan. In the between-group comparison, patients were matched for mean age, educational level, sex, NYHA class, and comorbidities. In the present retrospective study only patients in NYHA class II-III were enrolled. The mean MMSE score was 22.72 ± 2.68 (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) in the sacubitril/valsartan group (n = 51 patients) vs. 21.96 ± 2.73 (mean ± SD) in the control group (n = 51; p = 0.1572, independent samples t-test). Thus, a similar mild-to-moderate impairment in cognitive performance was found in the comparison between the two groups. In our study, we did not find any evidence of the alleged harmful influence of sacubitril/valsartan on cognitive function. Patients taking sacubitril/valsartan for at least 3 months had similar mean MMSE scores to control subjects.

The combination drug sacubitril/valsartan was reported to be superior to enalapril in reducing all-cause death, cardiovascular mortality, and heart failure (HF) hospitalizations in patients with cardiac insufficiency and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFREF) with NYHA class II–IV. Our retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the effects of sacubitril/valsartan in addition to a beta-blocker and mineral receptor antagonist (MRA) in a group of HFREF patients with NYHA class II–III HF vs. conventional therapy (ACE inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker added to a beta-blocker plus an MRA) administered to a control group of HFREF patients with comparable clinical features. In both groups, treatment was supplemented by a loop diuretic, usually furosemide, at variable doses. The primary outcomes were all-cause death and HF hospitalizations. Safety outcomes were symptomatic hypotension, angioedema, hyperkalemia, and worsening renal function. Mortality at 6 months was 6.8% in patients taking sacubitril/valsartan vs. 34% in those on conventional therapy (odds ratio [OR] = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.04–0.49). Moreover, there was a 4.5% rate of HF hospitalizations in the sacubitril/valsartan group vs. 59% in the control group (OR = 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01–0.14). Safety outcomes were comparable in the two groups, although hypotension (systolic blood pressure

The present meta-analysis attempted to assess whether an unfavourable cardiovascular risk profile could be identified in the case of two COX2 selective inhibitors (COXIBs), namely celecoxib and etoricoxib. Based on the data from the literature, our meta-analysis aimed to assess the probability of major cardiovascular events reported with the use of celecoxib or etoricoxib and compare this with the results seen in patients assigned to the placebo group. Furthermore, the risk of cardiovascular events found by using celecoxib or etoricoxib was also compared with that associated with the use of naproxen, a nonselective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) chosen as our reference drug.The studies had to be randomized controlled trials with at least 4-week duration. Studies were included if they compared celecoxib or etoricoxib against placebo or naproxen. Moreover, the selected studies had to have determined the risk, odds or incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke or cardiovascular death. For the comparisons versus placebo, the endpoints of interest were "serious vascular events", "non-fatal myocardial infarction", "non-fatal stroke" and "death from cardiovascular causes", whereas "myocardial infarction" and "stroke" were the endpoints of interest concerning the comparison versus naproxen.From the evaluation of 41 studies comparing celecoxib with placebo, we found a significantly higher incidence of serious vascular events in the celecoxib group compared to controls treated with placebo (rate ratio 1.598, 95% CI: 1.048 to 2.438; P=0.029). Furthermore, in patients allocated to treatment with celecoxib, we found an incidence rate of non-fatal acute myocardial infarction that was three times higher compared with the placebo group (rate ratio 3.074, 95% CI: 1.375-6.873, P=0.006). In contrast, we did not find any significant difference with regard to the incidence of nonfatal stroke and that of death from cardiovascular causes by comparing celecoxib and placebo. In addition, by examining cardiovascular outcomes that emerged from the 17 trials which compared etoricoxib with placebo, it was not possible to demonstrate statistically significant differences in incidence for each of the explored endpoints. With regard to the comparison of each coxib with the non-selective COX2 inhibitor naproxen, we did not find any significant difference for either the odds of myocardial infarction or that of stroke.On the basis of our meta-analysis, we can state that symptomatic benefits induced by the prolonged administration of celecoxib may be partially invalidated by a concomitant increase in vascular risk, particularly the increased risk of myocardial infarction found in celecoxib-treated patients, compared to controls taking placebo. In contrast, treatment with etoricoxib proved not to result in an increased risk of serious vascular events when compared with both the placebo and naproxen. Our meta-analysis also denotes that the alternative to COXIBs, represented by naproxen, does not show significant benefit in terms of reduced cardiovascular risk. Therefore, considering that the increase in incidence rate of cardiovascular events associated with treatment with celecoxib is small in absolute terms, it is reasonable to state that celecoxib is still a drug whose benefits outweigh the potential adverse effects on the cardiovascular system.

Beaucoup de l’action de Macbeth se caractérise par ce que la théorie des actes de parole appellerait des actes performatifs, des actes de nomination qui non seulement identifient la personne ou la chose nommée mais aussi effectuent un changement dans le monde de la pièce. Tels actes de parole, compris dans toutes leurs manifestations multiples, sont étroitement liés à la motivation de Macbeth ainsi qu’à d’autres aspects de la pièce, y compris quelques-uns de ses moments les plus obscurs.

The authors summarize some current views regarding the pharmacologic therapies of hepatorenal and cardiorenal syndromes, respectively. A common pathogenetic background of the two edematous disorders is outlined, consisting in reduced effective blood arterial volume ‑ due to the splanchnic vasodilation in the hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) and to the fall in cardiac output and the rise in central venous pressure in cardiorenal syndrome (CRS). In both diseases, arterial underfilling elicits multiple water- and sodium- retentive mechanisms, by activating sympathetic nervous system and stimulating both rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone and vasopressin systems. These neurohormonal adjustments subsequently concur to a vasomotor nephropathy which originates - as a same kind of vasoconstrictor reflex renal response ‑ from the splanchnic vasodilation, in the case of liver cirrhosis, or from the fall in renal perfusion and filtration gradients in the case of cardiorenal syndrome. Despite these pathogenetic similarities, the renal insufficiency of HRS compared to that of CRS is treated using diametrically opposite approaches: actually withdrawal of diuretics and administration of vasoconstrictor agents is the first choice in the case of HRS, while CRS is tackled by forcing diuretic regimen and by continuing vasodilator treatment with ACE-inhibitors. The pros and cons of these strategies ‑ which are still matter of debate among the physicians and researchers ‑ are then succinctly presented and discussed.

It is not known whether therapy assisted by determinations of serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) may improve the outcome for outpatients with chronic heart failure (CHF).A retrospective case-control study was carried out, enrolling patients with acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF) who were followed up for a mean period of four months. The patients who had died or had new episodes of ADHF were studied as the cases. For each case, one living patient who was free from ADHF-related re-hospitalisations was recruited as control. Cases and controls were also matched for some variables to minimise possible confounding. The possible role of BNP-guided therapy as a predictor of decreased risk of deaths or new hospitalisations related to heart failure was explored.Twenty-eight cases and 44 controls were enrolled. A fall in BNP on the fifth day after admission was found to be a predictor of a decreased risk of the composite endpoint "death or new hospitalisation, heart failure-related" (hazard ratio=0.1508; 95% CI: 0.049 to 0.463; P=0.001). On the other hand, low glomerular filtration rate at admission (60 mL/min/1.73 m2) was associated with increased risk of the abovementioned endpoint (hazard ratio=7.1785; 95% CI: 1.574 to 32.725; P=0.0113). On the contrary, BNP-guided therapy was associated with a similar risk of death and/or CHF-related hospitalisation, compared to the conventional clinical approach.A fall in BNP ≥60% from baseline on the fifth day after admission was found to be associated with a favorable clinical outcome in outpatients with CHF after four months of follow-up, irrespective whether this finding had been detected in patients treated according to the BNP-guided therapy or in patients treated with conventional clinical criteria. However, among the outpatients with previous ADHF, a substantial improvement in cardiovascular event rates could not be demonstrated in those treated with BNP-guided therapy compared with those undergoing usual, symptom-guided treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the characteristics of cardiac involvement in the self-induced starvation phase of anorexia nervosa. METHODS: Doppler echocardiographic indices of left ventricular geometry,function, and filling were examined in 21 white women (mean (SD) 22 (5) years) with anorexia nervosa according to the DSMIII (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) criteria, 19 women (23 (2) years) of normal weight, and 22 constitutionally thin women (21 (4) years) with body mass index < 20. RESULTS: 13 patients (62%) had abnormalities of mitral valve motion compared with one normal weight woman and two thin women (p < 0.001) v both control groups). Left ventricular chamber dimension and mass were significantly less in women with anorexia nervosa than in either the women of normal weight or the thin women, even after standardisation for body size or after controlling for blood pressure. There were no substantial changes in left ventricular shape. Midwall shortening as a percentage of the values predicted from end systolic stress was significantly lower in the starving patients than in women of normal weight: when endocardial shortening was used as the index this difference was overestimated. The cardiac index was also significantly reduced in anorexia nervosa because of a low stroke index and heart rate. The total peripheral resistance was significantly higher in starving patients than in both control groups. The left atrial dimension was significantly smaller in anorexia than in the women of normal weight and the thin women, independently of body size. The transmitral flow velocity E/A ratio was significantly higher in anorexia than in both the control groups because of the reduction of peak velocity A. When data from all three groups were pooled the flow velocity E/A ratio was inversely related to left atrial dimension (r = -0.43, p < 0.0001) and cardiac output (r = -0.64, p < 0.0001) independently of body size. CONCLUSIONS: Anorexia nervosa caused demonstrable abnormalities of mitral valve motion and reduced left ventricular mass and filling associated with systolic dysfunction.

Basal energy expenditure (BEE) was either measured by indirect calorimetry or predicted by different formulae in 104 young women: 74 lean and overweight subjects (normal weight, NWt) and 30 obese subjects. The predictive equations were based on weight alone (Owen, FAO-1, Schofield-1) or on weight and height (Harris-Benedict, Mifflin, Kleiber, and again FAO-2 and Schofield-2). With the exception of the Owen equation all the equations over-estimated measured BEE in both study groups. The ratio between measured and predicted value (% MP) varied between 102.3 (Owen) and 87.7 (Kleiber) in the NWt subjects and between 113.2 (Owen) and 89.3 (Schofield-1) in the obese subjects. The range including 95% of the predicted-measured differences (PMdiff) was larger than 1700 kJ/d in the NWt group and 2300 kJ/d in the obese group. In both study groups most of the equations showed a significant relationship between PMdiff and/or % MP with body weight and the magnitude of BEE. In conclusion, these equations are of little help in predicting BEE in a single subject and should be used with caution when assessing energy requirements in populations or groups of subjects.

Introduction: The pre-ureteral vena cava anomaly, erroneously termed the retrocaval or circumcaval ureter, is a relative rare condition of extrinsic ureteral obstruction. Despite being more common on the right kidney, when present on the left side, it is usually associated with sites inverses. The laparoscopic approach, with all of its know advantages, has good results when used to treat this congenital anomaly. The present surgical video shows a ureteral transposition with ureteropyolostomy, associated with a nephroscopic calyceal calculi extraction. Case Report: A 54 years old man, with discomfort in the right flank and abdominal echography showing a pelvicalyceal dilatation of this side and a calculus of 1.5 cm in a lower calyx. An intravenous pyelogram and abdominal computed tomography showed an S-shaped (Atkinson classification) pre-ureteral vena cava, and a mid-ureteral extrinsic stricture associated with it. There were no patient pre-operative comorbities and a percutaneous nephrolithotripsy was done 4 years prior on the right kidney. In the present video, a transperitoneal laparoscopic approach was conducted, with 4 trocars. In a stepwise fashion, the ureter suband supracaval was gently dissected, sectioned near the renal pelvis, transposed, and spatulated .A ureteropyelostomy was done over a double J stent, which was placed in an antegrade manner. After the posterior wall anastomosis completed, we performed a nephroscopy through the left hand trocar and the calyceal stone was removed by percutaneous stone instrumentation. Result: The surgery lasted 240 minutes, with minimum blood loss. The diet was resumed on the first postoperative day and he was discharged home on the third postoperative day. After 8 months of follow up, the patient remains asymptomatic and his excretory urography shows good drainage of the right kidney as well a diuretic renography reveals good response following 20 minutes after furosemide intravenous administration. Furthemore, the pelvicalyceal dilatation improved and there are no subsequent calculi. Conclusion: The laparoscopic approach to circumcaval ureteral anomalies is a feasible option, with concomitant endourologic procedures possible with good results. Int Braz J Urol. 2009; 35 (Video #2): 753_4 Available at: www.brazjurol.com.br/videos/november_december_2009/Curcio_753_754video.htm Accepted: November 8, 2009 Correspondence address: Dr. Lessandro Curcio Goncalves Section of Urology Ipanema General Hospital Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil E-mail: lessandrocg@ig.com.br doi: 10.1590/S1677-553820090006000031

In this study in 437 women born in 1948 selected from five European towns we show that several anthropometric measurements are consistently and significantly associated with a metabolic risk profile in premenopausal women of 38 years of age. Among the circumferences, breast and waist circumference were, after adjustment for body mass index positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol (negative associations), serum triglycerides, and serum insulin. The optimal level for measuring waist circumference was determined as being midway between the lower rib margin and the superior anterior iliac crest. Circumference ratios generally did show less consistent and similar or lower correlations with diastolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol and serum insulin. Waist/thigh circumference ratio showed the strongest partial associations with HDL-cholesterol and serum triglycerides among all anthropometric variables studied. The authors conclude that, independently of the degree of fatness, indicators of truncal fat distribution (in the region of the breast as well as the abdomen) are related to an unfavourable risk profile in European premenopausal women. The study gives a rationale for selecting the most informative anthropometric measurements to be added to height and weight in epidemiological studies.

Carmine G. DI BIASE: Introduction: The Example of the Early Modern Lexicographer Section 1: Towards the Vernacular Russel LEMMONS: "If there is a hell, then Rome stands upon it": Martin Luther as Traveler and Translator Erika RUMMEL: Fertile Ground: Erasmus's Travels in England Stella P. REVARD: Across the Alps-an English Poet Addresses an Italian in Latin: John Milton in Naples Anthony M. CINQUEMANI: Milton Translating Petrarch: Paradise Lost VIII and the Secretum. Section 2: The English in Italy and Spain Joseph KHOURY: Writing and Lying: William Thomas and the Politics of Translation Donald BEECHER: John Frampton of Bristol, Trader and Translator Kenneth R. BARTLETT: Thomas Hoby, Translator, Traveler Brenda M. HOSINGTON: "A poore preasant off Ytalyan costume": The Interplay of Travel and Translation in William Barker's Dyssputacion off the Nobylytye off Wymen Section 3: The European as Other and the Other in Europe Kristiaan AERCKE: The Pilgrimage of Konrad Grunemberg to the Holy Land in 1486 Oumelbanine ZHIRI: Leo Africanus and the Limits of Translation James Nelson NOVOA: From Incan Realm to the Italian Renaissance: Garcilaso el Inca and his Translation of Leone Ebreo's Dialoghi d'Amore Maria Antonia GARCES: The Translator Translated: Inca Garcilaso and English Imperial Expansion Section 4: Towards Art and Parody Randall C. DAVIS: Early Anglo-American Attitudes to Native American Languages Jack D'AMICO: "Where the devil should he learn our language?"-Travel and Translation in Shakespeare's The Tempest Howard MILLER: Tamburlaine: the Migration and Translation of Marlowe's Arabic Sources Joanne E. GATES: Travel and Pseudo-Translation in the Self-Promotional Writings of John Taylor, Water Poet Index

INTRODUCTION: Renal hemangioma is a relatively rare benign tumor, seldom diagnosed as a cause of hematuria. CASE REPORT: A female 40-year old patient presented with continuous gross hematuria, anemia and episodic right lumbar pain, with onset about 3 months previously. The patient underwent multiple blood transfusions during her hospital stay and extensive imaging propedeutics was performed. Semi-rigid ureterorenoscopy evidenced a bleeding focus in the upper calix of the right kidney, with endoscopic treatment being unfeasible. The patient underwent right upper pole nephrectomy and presented a favorable outcome. Histopathological analysis of the surgical specimen showed that it was a renal hemangioma. COMMENTS: Imaging methods usually employed for diagnostic investigation of hematuria do not have good sensitivity for renal hemangioma. However, they are important to exclude the most frequent differential diagnoses. The ureterorenoscopy is the diagnostic method of choice and endoscopic treatment can be feasible when the lesion is accessible and electrocautery or laser are available. We emphasize the open surgical treatment as a therapeutic option upon failure of less invasive methods.

Total body water (TBW) was measured by deuterium oxide (D2O) dilution and predicted from bioelectrical impedance (Z) in nineteen anorexic and twenty-seven control women. The equation of Kushneret al.(1992) based on the impedance index (ZI = height2/Z) gave biases of 0.9 (sd2.5) and 0.8 (sd2.5) litres in controls and patients respectively (NS, ANOVA). The ZI-based equation of Deurenberget al.(1993) gave biases of 1.5 (sd2.4) litres (NS) and 3.0 (sd2.1) litres (Pn46,r20.90,P< 0.0001,seof the estimate 1.6 litres, CV 5.7%), the formulas of Segalet al.(1991) and Kushneret al.(1992) based on the association of weight and ZI gave an inaccurate prediction of TBW in both control and anorexic subjects, with a bias ranging from -3.2 (sd2.4) to 2.9 (sd2.1) litres (P≤0.001). Population-specific formulas based on ZI (n46) gave a more accurate prediction of TBW by bioelectrical impedance analysis on the study subjects, with biases of -0.1 (sd1.8) and 0.5 (sd1.7) litres in controls and patients respectively (NS). However, the individual bias was sometimes high. It is concluded that bioelectrical impedance analysis can be used to predict TBW in anorexic women at a population level, but the predictions are less good than those based on body weight alone.

Anthropometry, bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and resting energy expenditure (REE) were evaluated in young female patients affected by anorexia nervosa who were either severely malnourished (MnA) or already refed (RfA) and in a control group of healthy young women (WnC). Fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM), evaluated from skinfold thickness, were severely decreased in the MnA group while they were very similar in the RfA group and in the WnC group. With respect to BIA parameters, impedance (Z) was significantly higher in absolute terms in the MnA but lower than in the other groups when expressed as specific impedance, i.e. after normalization for both FFM and height. Phase angle significantly differed between the three groups, being significantly (P < 0.01) lower in the MnA (3.70+/- 0.83 degrees) and the RfA (4.36 +/- 0.82) than in the WnC (5.17 +/- 0.40). REE was comparable in RfA subjects and WnC subjects, while it was sharply decreased (P < 0.01) in the MnA patients both in absolute value and after adjustment for body composition (FFM and FM) or body weight. This cross-sectional study shows that marked changes in BIA parameters occur in undernourished anorectic patients and also in the anorectic subjects who were previously very underweight but studied only after having already regained a normal body size. REE was deeply decreased in the undernourished anorectic women even when the differences in body composition or Wt were taken into account, indicating the occurrence of a significant adaptation of energy expenditure to chronic underfeeding.

The wide use of pesticides in modern agriculture has stimulated the study of their side-effects on non-target soil microorganisms, including the N2-fixing bacterium Azospirillum sp., whose agronomic use has been recently adapted (1). Little information has been available on the detoxification processes of agrochemicals in the bacterial cell. Recent studies have suggested a possible involvement of glutathione (GSH), and its metabolyzing enzymes, in counteracting the toxicity of some pesticides (2). The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of different pesticides (ten fungicides, six herbicides and four insecticides) on the growth of A.brasilense. The effect of the combined use of two fungicides (captan and thiram) and 1,8-naphthalic anhydride (NAF) antidote, on the growth, nitrogenase activity and GSH content was also investigated.

Patient L.A. (f., 20 yrs), affected by bulimia and self-induced vomiting, was hospitalized because of severe malnutrition (BMI 13.1), hypopotassemia (2.8 mEq/l) and prolonged QTc interval (0.469"). Intensive care treatment aimed to normalize mineral balance mainly serum potassium, consisted of administering e.v. potassium (mg 2346/day), magnesium (mg 72/day), calcium (mg 80/day), phosphorus (mg 769/day), chloride (mg 710/day), iron (mg 40/day). Dietary treatment was deliberately chosen to be slightly above minimum energy requirements in order to avoid possible side effects of forced hyperalimentation. The patient, immediately after hospitalization, interrupted vomiting and 2 wks later weight increased by 5 kg (from 34.9 kg to 40.0 kg). On the other hand normalization of serum potassium levels was slow and QTc interval reached normal range only after the 10th day of treatment (0.447"). This case supports the hypothesis that major ECG abnormalities may be present in severe malnutrition due to anorexia nervosa or bulimia with self-induced vomiting. The dangers of these complications were substantiated by the fact that intensive care treatment allowed prompt body weight recovery but normalization of electrolytic balance and cardiac function was very slow. For such patients, electrocardiographic monitoring should be routine.

Background: The delay between onset of symptoms and coronary care unit admission is decisive in the outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Objective: To evaluate the influence of the factors that affect the delay in acute myocardial infarction treatment. Methods: Multicenter case-control study conducted by 118 coronary care units in Italy. The median and mean times in cases and controls were compared for decision time, home-to-hospital time, and in-hospital time, and the influence of several potential risk factors on the delay was evaluated by comparison of patients admitted more than 6 hours after onset with those admitted within 6 hours after onset. Results: Among 5301 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 590 who came to a coronary care unit after 12 hours were considered cases. Controls included 600 patients treated within 2 hours, 603 between 2 and 6 hours, and 466 between 6 and 12 hours. The median decision time among cases was 50-fold higher than that of controls who presented within 2 hours. Home-to-hospital time and in-hospital time appeared to play a less important role. Among the patient-related variables, advanced age, living alone, low intensity of initial symptoms, history of diabetes, strong pain at onset of the infarction, occurrence of symptoms at night, and involvement of a general practitioner seemed to affect delay significantly. Conclusion: Interventions aimed at reducing the delay in acute myocardial infarction treatment should primarily focus on the help-seeking behavior of patients. (Arch Intern Med. 1995;155:1481-1488)

Nitrogen balance has been measured in 25 (18 f, 7m) obese non-diabetic patients submitted for four weeks to different versions of very-low-calorie diets (VLCD). Patients were divided into four groups and treated as follows: Gp 1 (6f, 4m) by 80 kcal (0.34 MJ) VLCD (17 g protein [= 2.6 g N], tr CHO and fat); Gp 2 (4f, 1m) by 180 kcal (0.76 MJ) VLCD (40 g protein [= 6.4 g N], 2 fat, tr CHO); Gp 3 (4f, 1m) by 80/180 kcal (0.34/0.76 MJ) VLCD (80 kcal during the 1st and 2nd week and 180 kcal during the 3rd and 4th week with the same nutrients as Gps and 1 and 2, respectively). Gps 1-3 received VLCD which essentially contained only protein. Gp 4 (4f, 1m) was treated by a 'mixed' VLCD containing protein and CHO (80 kcal, as in Gp 1 during the 1st and 2nd week; and 180 kcal, 17 g protein + 25.5 g CHO during the 3rd and 4th week of treatment). Weight loss was similar in Gps 1, 3 and 4 (-11 kg) and lower (-8 kg) in Gp 3. Mean daily nitrogen loss was lower in Gp 2 and 3 (-3.2 and -2.9 g N/day respectively). From the 3rd week of treatment nitrogen loss was reduced in Gps 1 and 2 and virtually absent in Gp 3. In Gp 4 nitrogen loss was persistently high (4.3-5.8 g N/day) during the whole period of observation.at a very low energy intake of below 200 kcal (0.84 MJ)/day dietary substitution of protein with carbohydrates does not ameliorate the nitrogen balance.

Dietary intake for 18 nutrients in a sample of 230 free-living elderly people in Naples was assessed by three dietary assessment methods (diet history, 24-h recall and 3-d record). Different statistical criteria (the correlation coefficient, the mean difference and the proportion of individuals placed in the same thirds of distribution) were used to evaluate the agreement among different methods. Theoretical considerations are shown demonstrating the uselessness of the correlation coefficient in evaluating the agreement. In analysing the mean differences, diet history gave higher estimates of nutrient intake and 24-h recall gave lower estimates, when compared to the 3-d record. Large standard errors for the mean differences and small proportions of individuals placed in the same thirds of the distribution, for nearly all the nutrients examined, showed poor agreement among the three different methods. These findings strongly suggest the presence of bias in, at least, two of the three dietary assessment methods. Some statistical techniques for improving the diet record method in epidemiological studies are discussed: the need to transform nutrient intake data to achieve normality in the distribution; the number of days of recording required to produce a valid study; and the need to evaluate the bias in the diet record.

Nutritional status (anthropometry, food habits, thiamin and riboflavin status) has been evaluated in 136 (70 males and 66 females) free living healthy elderly individuals (age range 65-69 yrs) from the district of San Carlo Arena that can be considered representative of the sociocultural and economic level of the city of Naples. By assuming as reference values those of middle aged individuals, 50 percent of elderly men and 85 percent of elderly women showed different degree of excess body fat. As far as food habits are concerned legumes, vegetables and fruit daily intake was quite high whilst alcohol consumption was low. Furthermore milk and eggs intake was low and infrequent. Although prevalence of excess body weight was high, total daily energy intake was found to be equal or slightly above dietary recommendations for the elderly. Diet composition showed a high protein intake whilst CHO and fat intake was slightly below recommendations. Micronutrients' intake was insufficient for calcium in 10 percent of both males and females and for iron in 20 percent of men and 40 percent of women. Niacin intake was low in about 50 percent of both men and women. Thiamin nutritional status was found low in 20 percent of men and women and riboflavin status in 40 percent of men and 20 percent of women. In conclusion obesity and overweight are very frequent in an urbanized sample of free living healthy elderly individuals of Naples. On the other hand serum calcium and iron and some vitamin deficiency is not uncommon. The composition of the diet seems to be also poor in some micronutrients.

Aim of this study was to evaluate whether the age of onset of obesity might affect the prevalence of CV risk factors in severely obese patients. Five hundred forty-five (385 F aged 42.3 +/- 7.1 yrs, BMI 47.3 +/- 5.1 w/h2 and 160 M of 39.0 +/- 1.1 yrs and BMI of 41.8 +/- 5.3 w/h2) severely obese patients hospitalized in the Metabolic Unit between 1972 and 1985 were subdivided in four classes according to the age of onset of obesity. Severely obese women with maturity onset obesity (i.e. onset greater than or equal to 20 yrs) (MOO) had higher (p less than or equal to .01) serum glucose (118 vs 103 mg/dl) and triglyceride (167 vs 126 mg/dl) than those with early onset obesity (EOO) (i.e. onset less than or equal to 3 yrs) with the same age, BMI and smoking habits. Similar trend was also found in men. In males arterial blood pressure was found to be higher (p less than or equal to .01) in EOO than in MOO (SBP = 152 vs 133 mmHg and DBP = 92 vs 83 mmHg). Similar trend was found in females. In conclusion age of onset of obesity may, at least in part, affect the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in severe obesity.