Determination of HPLC-UV Fingerprints of Spanish Paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) for Its Classification by Linear Discriminant Analysis.

The development of a simple HPLC-UV method towards the evaluation of Spanish paprika's phenolic profile and their discrimination based on the former is reported herein. The approach is based on C18 reversed-phase chromatography to generate characteristic fingerprints, in combination with linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to achieve their classification. To this aim, chromatographic conditions were optimized so as to achieve the separation of major phenolic compounds already identified in paprika. Paprika samples were subjected to a sample extraction stage by sonication and centrifugation; extracting procedure and conditions were optimized to maximize the generation of enough discriminant fingerprints. Finally, chromatograms were baseline corrected, compressed employing fast Fourier transform (FFT), and then analyzed by means of principal component analysis (PCA) and LDA to carry out the classification of paprika samples. Under the developed procedure, a total of 96 paprika samples were analyzed, achieving a classification rate of 100% for the test subset (n = 25).

Characterization and classification of Spanish paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) by liquid chromatography coupled to electrochemical detection with screen-printed carbon-based nanomaterials electrodes.

Screen-printed electrodes based on graphite, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, and graphene were tested as amperometric detectors for the determination of phenolic compounds by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The chromatographic performance as well as the obtained sensitivity, detection and quantification limits suggest that carbon nanofibers modified screen-printed electrode (SPCE-CNF) is the amperometric sensor that provides the best analytical performance. Upon this confirmation, chromatographic data obtained using SPCE-CNF were exploited by means of linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to successfully characterize and classify 96 Spanish paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) samples with different origin and type: from La Vera (including sweet, bittersweet and spicy types) and from Murcia (including sweet and spicy types).

Simultaneous determination of hydroquinone, catechol and resorcinol by voltammetry using graphene screen-printed electrodes and partial least squares calibration.

Catechol (CC), resorcinol (RC) and hydroquinone (HQ) are dihydroxybenzene isomers that usually coexist in different samples and can be determined using voltammetric techniques taking profit of their fast response, high sensitivity and selectivity, cheap instrumentation, simple and timesaving operation modes. However, a strong overlapping of CC and HQ signals is observed hindering their accurate analysis. In the present work, the combination of differential pulse voltammetry with graphene screen-printed electrodes (allowing detection limits of 2.7, 1.7 and 2.4µmolL(-1) for HQ, CC and RC respectively) and the data analysis by partial least squares calibration (giving root mean square errors of prediction, RMSEP values, of 2.6, 4.1 and 2.3 for HQ, CC and RC respectively) has been proposed as a powerful tool for the quantification of mixtures of these dihydroxybenzene isomers. The commercial availability of the screen-printed devices and the low cost and simplicity of the analysis suggest that the proposed method can be a valuable alternative to chromatographic and electrophoretic methods for the considered species. The method has been applied to the analysis of these isomers in spiked tap water.

[C-reactive protein changes with antihypertensive and statin treatment]. / Variaciones de la proteína C reactiva inducidas por el tratamiento antihipertensivo e hipolipemiante.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the modifications of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) with antihypertensive and statin treatment in a hypertensive population with a wide range of coronary risks (CR). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective follow-up study in 665 hypertensive patients: 556 (52% male) without dyslipidemia and CR (Framingham at 10 years) of 8.3 (7.6) as a control group (C) and 109 (61% male) with dyslipidemia and CR of 13.1 (8.8) who were treated with statins (T). Statins treatment was established according to NCEP-ATP-III. In both groups, the antihypertensive treatment was optimized in order to achieve blood pressure (BP) control (< 140/90 mmHg). A lipid profile and high sensitivity CRP (analyzed by nephelometry) was performed at the beginning and at the end of follow up [14.3 (3.6) months]. RESULTS: CRP levels were reduced in the T group -0.17 (0.2) mg/L vs. 0.14 (0.09) mg/L (p = 0.003, Mann-Whitney) in C. The lessening of CRP was not related to the reduction of lipids levels: total cholesterol (r = 0.06; p = 0.49), LDL-C (r = 0.11; p = 0.24), triglycerides (r = -0.02; p = 0.81) (Spearman), or to the reduction of systolic BP (r = -0.07; p = 0.44) and diastolic BP (r = -0.121; p = 0.21). The T group was treated with more antihypertensive drugs than C (2.2 [2.3] vs. 2.5 [1.2]; p = 0.02). Patients treated with ECA inhibitors or angiotensin II antagonist showed a tendency to decreasing the CRP levels more (p = 0.08). CONCLUSION: In hypertensive populations, statins induce a reduction of CRP levels. The reduction is not related to the lowering of lipids levels or BP values. The effect of statins on the reduction of CRP in hypertensive patients is not related to the lowering of lipids or BP.

Variaciones de la proteína C reactiva inducidas por el tratamiento antihipertensivo e hipolipemiante / C-reactive protein changes with antihypertensive and statin treatment

Fundamento y objetivo: Valorar las alteraciones de la proteína C reactiva (PCR) inducidas por el tratamiento con estatinas y fármacos antihipertensivos en una población de hipertensos con riesgo coronario (RC) diverso. Pacientes y método: Estudio retrospectivo longitudinal de seguimiento en el que se incluyó a 665 pacientes con hipertensión arterial: 556 (52% varones) pacientes sin dislipemia y con RC (Framingham a los 10 años) de 8,3 (7,6) que se utilizaron como grupo control y 109 (un 61% varones) pacientes con dislipemia y RC de 13,1 (8,8) que recibieron tratamiento con estatinas. El tratamiento con estatinas se indicó de acuerdo con los criterios de RC según el National Cholesterol Education Program in Adults (Adults Treatment Panel III). En caso necesario se les optimizó el tratamiento antihipertensivo aumentando la dosis del fármaco que estaban tomando y/o añadiendo diurético. Al principio y al final del estudio, se determinó a todos los pacientes el perfil lipídico (colesterol total [CT], colesterol unido a lipoproteínas de alta densidad [c-HDL] y triglicéridos [TG]) y la PCR por un método de alta sensibilidad. El tiempo medio de seguimiento fue de 14,3 (3,6) meses. Resultados: Los valores de PCR disminuyeron en el grupo de tratamiento respecto al control (media de ­0,17 [0,2] frente a a 0,14 [0,09] mg/l; p = 0,003, prueba de la U de Mann-Whit-ney). En el grupo de tratamiento, el descenso de los valores de PCR no guardó relacion (coeficientes de correlacion de Spearman) con el descenso de los valores lipídicos: colesterol total (r = 0,06; p = 0,49), colesterol unido a lipoproteínas de baja densidad [cLDL] (r = 0,11; p = 0,24) y triglicéridos (r = ­0,02; p = 0,81). Para la variación de la presión arterial, los resultados fueron para la presión arterial sistólica, r = ­0,07 y p = 0,44, y para la presión arterial diastólica, r = ­0,121 y p = 0,21. El grupo de tratamiento recibió más fármacos antihipertensivos que el control (2,2 [2,3] frente a 2,5 [1,2]; p = 0,02). Al agrupar a los pacientes tratados con estatinas según el grupo farmacológico de antihipertensivos que recibían, los que tomaban inhibidores de la enzima conversiva de la angiotensina o antagonistas del receptor de la angiotensina de tipo II tuvieron una mayor tendencia a disminuir sus valores de PCR (p = 0,08) que el resto. Conclusión: En pacientes hipertensos, las estatinas inducen un descenso de los valores de la PCR. Dicho descenso no guardó relación con la disminución de los valores de colesterol total, cLDL, ni triglicéridos ni con la variación de la presión arterial. El efecto de la disminución de los valores de PCR inducido por estatinas en pacientes hipertensos es independiente de la disminución de los valores de LDL y de la presión arterial

Background and objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the modifications of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) with antihypertensive and statin treatment in a hypertensive population with a wide range of coronary risks (CR). Patients and method: Retrospective follow-up study in 665 hypertensive patients: 556 (52% male) without dyslipidemia and CR (Framingham at 10 years) of 8.3 (7.6) as a control group (C) and 109 (61% male) with dyslipidemia and CR of 13.1 (8.8) who were treated with statins (T). Statins treatment was established according to NCEP-ATP-III. In both groups, the antihypertensive treatment was optimized in order to achieve blood pressure (BP) control (< 140/90 mmHg). A lipid profile and high sensitivity CRP (analyzed by nephelometry) was performed at the beginning and at the end of follow up [14.3 (3.6) months]. Results: CRP levels were reduced in the T group ­0.17 (0.2) mg/L vs. 0.14 (0.09) mg/L (p = 0.003, Mann-Whitney) in C. The lessening of CRP was not related to the reduction of lipids levels: total cholesterol (r = 0.06; p = 0.49), LDL-C (r = 0.11; p = 0.24), triglycerides (r = ­0.02; p = 0.81) (Spearman), or to the reduction of systolic BP (r = ­0.07; p = 0.44) and diastolic BP (r = ­0.121; p = 0.21). The T group was treated with more antihypertensive drugs than C (2.2 [2.3] vs. 2.5 [1.2]; p = 0.02). Patients treated with ECA inhibitors or angiotensin II antagonist showed a tendency to decreasing the CRP levels more (p = 0.08). Conclusion: In hypertensive populations, statins induce a reduction of CRP levels. The reduction is not related to the lowering of lipids levels or BP values. The effect of statins on the reduction of CRP in hypertensive patients is not related to the lowering of lipids or BP