Relationship of serum uric Acid level and angiographic severity of coronary artery disease in male patients with acute coronary syndrome

Background and objective: The association between serum uric acid and ischemic heart disease remains controversial and it has not yet been established as cardiovascular risk factor. Our objective was to study the association of serum uric acid level with angiographic severity of coronary artery disease in men with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 consecutive male patients presenting with ACS at Punjab Institute of Cardiology. Hyperuricemia was defined as serum uric acid level > 6.5 mg/dl. Severity of ischemic heart disease was assessed on the basis of Gensini score, number of diseased vessels, critical lesions and total occlusions on coronary angiogram.

Results: Mean age of normouricemic group (n=59) was 52.62 ± 9.46 years and mean age of hyperuricemic group (n=41) was 50.52 ± 9.40 years (p=0.273). Mean uric acid level; normouricemic group (4.75 ± 1.05), hyperuricemic group (7.61 ± 1.24), p<0.001. Mean Gensini score; normouricemic group (22.15 ± 21.52), hyperuricemic group (35.69 ± 26.80). Mann Whitney U test was applied to compare the Gensini score of two groups and it showed statistically significant difference (p value <0.006). Critical lesions, total occlusions and multi-vessel disease were more frequent in hyperuricemic group but statistically significant difference was found only for total occlusions (p=0.013) and critical lesions (p=0.046).

Conclusions: Hyeruricemia is associated with higher Gensini score and more frequent total occlusions and critical lesions in men presenting with acute coronary syndrome.

Use of vascularised free fibula in limb reconstruction (for non-malignant defects)

The case series was conducted at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from June 2009 to May 2011, and comprised 19 patients in whom free fibula flap was performed for upper and lower limb reconstruction, using SPSS 16. Results showed that flap survival was 100%. One (5.2%) flap was re-explored for venous congestion and was salvaged. One (5.2%) patient of congenital pseudoarthrosis of tibia had a fracture of the fibula and was treated with external fixation. Average follow up was 8 months. Mean union time and full weight-bearing was 6.5 +/- 1.34 months (range 3-8 months) and 9 months, respectively. No recurrence of pseudoathrosis was observed until the last follow up, with only a 1.5 cm length discrepancy in one patient. The results proved that a microvascular free fibular flap heals rapidly, causes early functional recovery and it can be raised as an osteocutaneous flap.

N′-[(E)-3-Bromobenzylidene]pyrazine-2-carbohydrazide

In the title compound, C12H9BrN4O, the dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 12.16 (12)°. An intramolecular N—H...N hydrogen bond closes anS(5) ring. In the crystal, C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules intoC(6) chains propagating in [010]. Very weak aromatic π–π stacking [centroid–centroid separations = 3.9189 (15) and 3.9357 (15) Å] is also observed.

N'-[(E)-4-Bromo-benzyl-idene]pyrazine-2-carbohydrazide

In the title compound, C₁₂H₉BrN₄O, the N′-methyl­idene­pyrazine-2-carbohydrazide and 4-bromobenzene groups are oriented at a dihedral angle of 10.57 (7)°. The hydrazide N—H group is involved in intra­molecular N—H⋯N inter­action, which generates an S(5) motif. A short C—H⋯O inter­action is formed between the methyl­idene H atom and the carbonyl O atom. It connects mol­ecules into chains extending along [100]. In addition, mol­ecules are arranged into stacks extending along [010] via π–π inter­actions between pyrazine and benzene rings, with centroid–centroid distances of 3.837 (2) and 3.860 (2) Å.

Complementary therapies in hemifacial spasm and comparison with other movement disorders

OBJECTIVES

We determined the prevalence, range and factors influencing the use of complementary therapy among hemifacial spasm patients and compared the patterns of use of complementary therapies across different movement disorders in a systematic pooled analysis of published literature.

METHODS

A structured questionnaire was administered to 96 hemifacial spasm patients evaluating frequency of complementary therapy use, and factors influencing patients' decision to seek these therapies. We also performed a PubMed search of epidemiology studies on use of complementary therapies in movement disorders.

RESULTS

Fifty-one per cent of patients had tried complementary therapies, of which 47% reported some perceived benefit and 4.1% informed their doctor. Acupuncture (71.4%) and facial massage (17.6%) were most commonly used. Complementary therapy use was associated with greater HFS severity. The mean cost of treatment was about $78 per month. We identified eight articles on use of complementary therapies in movement disorders; Parkinson's disease (5), Tourette syndrome (2) and dystonia (1). Twenty-five to 88% of patient had tried complementary therapies, of which 32-70% reported some benefit. Trials of acupuncture (2-63%) and massage (7-38%) were reported across the spectrum of movement disorders studied. Mean cost of complementary therapies varied from 43 to 102 USD per month.

CONCLUSION

Complementary therapies are used by over 50% of HFS patients, and the use is correlated with severity of disease. Despite differences in race, culture and population demographics, acupuncture and massage are used by patients across the spectrum of movement disorders.

4,4,6a,6b,11,12,14b-Heptamethyl-16-oxo-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,6b,7,8,9,10,11,12,12a,14a,14b-octa-deca-hydro-12b,8a-(epoxy-methano)-picen-3-yl acetate

The title compound, C32H48O4, which was extracted from the bark of Rhododendron arboreum, consists of five fused rings to which an acetate and seven methyl groups are attached. The A, D and E rings adopt chair conformations, the B ring is in a distorted chair and the C ring is in a half-chair conformation. The five-membered ring formed by the lactone group, which bridges from the A/B to the B/C ring junctions, is an approximate envelope with the C atom of the methyne group as the flap [displacement from the other four atoms = 0.753 (2) Å]. There are no identified directional inter-actions in the crystal structure.

Coat protein based molecular characterization of Barley yellow dwarf virus isolates identified on oat plants in Pakistan

Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) is a potential threat to the agriculture production. The amplified complete coat protein sequences of the isolate M07 and M12 were determined to be 597 bp and 603bp, respectively. M07 showed maximum nucleotide sequence identity of 87.6% (84.3% amino acid sequence identity) to a Chinese isolate of BYDV-PAV. Whereas, the isolate M12 showed maximum nucleotide sequence identity of 94.5% (94.0% amino acid sequence identity) to French isolate BYDV-PAV. Since more than 10 o/o differences, among the amino acid level of any gene product, is the sole criterion to discriminate between species within the family Luteoviridae, the isolate M07 that shows maximum of 84.3% (less than 90%) amino acid sequence identity with previously known Luteovirus species, is thus, recommended to be a distinct PAV species within the genus Luteovirus.

4-Eth-oxy-benzohydrazide

The title compound, C₉H₁₂N₂O₂, is approximately planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.13 Å for all non-H atoms). The carbonyl O atom is involved as acceptor in three different hydrogen-bond inter­actions. One N—H⋯O and the C—H⋯O(carbonyl) contact together with a weak C—H⋯O(eth­oxy) interaction link the mol­ecules into sheets parallel to (102). These are further linked into a three-dimensional network via the remaining C—H⋯O(carbon­yl) hydrogen bond and a C(methyl­ene)—H⋯π inter­action

Synthesis, crystal structure and anti-HIV activity of 2-adamantyl/adamantylmethyl-5-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles

Two series of 2-adamantyl/adamantylmethyl-5-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles (4a-l and 5a-l) were synthesized by cyclodehydration of adamantan-1-carboxylic acid/adamantylacetic acid with various aryl hydrazides (3a-l) in the presence of POCl(3). The synthesis was supported by spectroanalytical techniques and verified further by crystal structure determination of compounds 4e and 5k. The synthesized compounds were screened for their inhibitory activity against HIV-1 and HIV-2 in MT-4 cells. Compound 5b exhibited a moderate activity in vitro for the replication of both virus types, suggesting for further structural modification as a new lead in the development of an antiviral agent.

A Ca(v)3.2/syntaxin-1A signaling complex controls T-type channel activity and low-threshold exocytosis

T-type calcium channels represent a key pathway for Ca(2+) entry near the resting membrane potential. Increasing evidence supports a unique role of these channels in fast and low-threshold exocytosis in an action potential-independent manner, but the underlying molecular mechanisms have remained unknown. Here, we report the existence of a syntaxin-1A/Ca(v)3.2 T-type calcium channel signaling complex that relies on molecular determinants that are distinct from the synaptic protein interaction site (synprint) found in synaptic high voltage-activated calcium channels. This interaction potently modulated Ca(v)3.2 channel activity, by reducing channel availability. Other members of the T-type calcium channel family were also regulated by syntaxin-1A, but to a smaller extent. Overexpression of Ca(v)3.2 channels in MPC 9/3L-AH chromaffin cells induced low-threshold secretion that could be prevented by uncoupling the channels from syntaxin-1A. Altogether, our findings provide compelling evidence for the existence of a syntaxin-1A/T-type Ca(2+) channel signaling complex and provide new insights into the molecular mechanism by which these channels control low-threshold exocytosis.