We evaluated the effect of UA and allopurinol use on clinical outcome in patients with HF.

Methods and Results: We evaluated patients with a diagnosis of HF at a Health Maintenance Organization (n = 6204). Patients

were followed for cardiac-related hospitalizations and death. Mean UA levels were 6.5 +/- 1.9 mg/dL. Median follow-up was 498 days. We divided patients into quartiles of serum UA; 22.6% (n = 1,568) were in the highest UA level quartile (> 7.7 mg/dL). Cox regression analysis after adjustment for significant predictors including age, sex, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, body mass index, hemoglobin, sodium, estimated glomerular filtration rate, urea levels, standard HF drug therapies, and allopurinol demonstrated that high UA levels (> 7.7 mg/dL) were a predictor of increased mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-1.60; NVP-AUY922 cost P < .0001) and increased cardiac hospitalizations (HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.22; P < BTSA1 concentration .05). An increase in UA levels during follow-up was also an independent predictor of mortality (HR

1.46, 95% CI 1.25-1.71; P < .00001) and cardiac hospitalizations (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.06-1.23; P < .00001). Treatment with allopurinol was independently associated with improved survival (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.64-0.98; P < .05). Echocardiographic data demonstrated a significant correlation between UA levels and E/A ratio, a marker of diastolic dysfunction.

Conclusions: Increased UA levels and an increase in UA during follow-up were independent predictors of increased morbidity and mortality. Treatment with allopurinol was associated with improved survival. (J Cardiac Fail 2012;18:694-701)”
“Novel temperature-sensitive poly[N-isopropylacrylamide-co-2-hydroxyethylacrylate] [P(NIPAAm-HEAc)] colloidal crystals containing beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) were prepared. These reversibly tunable supramolecular

inclusion complexes display brilliant colors, due to the self-assembly SBC-115076 cost of several structured nanoparticles to form crystal structures. The hydrogels displayed rainbow colors upon the variation of the P-CD concentration and can be made either visible or invisible by simply changing the temperature. The inclusion complexes were characterized using NMR spectroscopy, laser light scattering, UV-visible spectroscopy, and viscometer measurements. Compared with the conventional poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gel, the beta-CD-incorporated hydrogels in aqueous solution showed a lower critical solution temperature of about 57 degrees C, which can be attributed to the hydrogen bonding between P(NIPAAm-HEAc) included in P-CD and water, which is enhanced by the hydrophilic groups of beta-CD. The use of these materials as drug carriers was also evaluated by making use of their thermo-responsive behavior.