Pseudoprolines as stereoelectronically tunable proline isosteres

The cyclic structure of proline (Pro) confers unique conformational properties on this natural amino acid that influences polypeptide structure and function. Pseudoprolines are a family of Pro isosteres that incorporate a heteroatom, most prominently oxygen or sulfur but also silicon and selenium, to replace the C_β or C_γ carbon atom of the pyrrolidine ring. These readily synthetically accessible structural motifs can facilitate facile molecular editing in a fashion that allows modulation of the amide bond topology of dipeptide elements and influence over ring pucker. While the properties of pseudoprolines have been exploited most prominently in the design of oligopeptide analogues, they have potential application in the design and optimization of small molecules. In this Digest, we summarize the physicochemical properties of pseudoprolines and illustrate their potential in drug discovery by surveying examples of applications in the design of bioactive molecules.

Study on Electrophysiological Findings of Guillain Barre Syndrome Patients Attending the Department of Neurology in BSMMU

Incidence and predominant subtype of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) differ geographically. Electrophysiology has an important role in the early diagnosis and prediction of the prognosis. This study conducted to determine the predominant subtype of Guillain Barre Syndrome in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh and to compare the nerve conduction study finding between the axonal and demyelinating form of GBS. To analyze the nerve conduction study findings of Guillain Barre Syndrome patients attending the department of Neurology in BSMMU. This observational, descriptive and cross sectional study was carried out in the department of Neurology, BSMMU, Dhaka from July 2014 to June 2016. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 50 patients recruited as the study population. Then after performing the nerve conduction study, patients classified into three groups: acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP), acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN), acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN). Among the 50 patients that are finally included in the study; about 50%, 42%, 8% had the AIDP, AMAN and AMSAN variety of GBS respectively. Out of all patients, 64% were male and 34% were female. GBS was seen in a wide range of age (18-75 years). In AIDP, maximum clustering of the cases was seen in the elderly population and in the AMAN it was seen in the younger age group. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis did not show any significant difference between the AIDP and AMAN variant of GBS. Distal latency prolonged in at least one nerve in all patients with AIDP. In axonal form of GBS (AMAN and AMSAN), the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude was 80% of the lower limit of the normal in at least two motor nerves. Prolonged F wave latency by >80% of the upper limit of the normal was seen in 40% of the AIDP patients. According to the nerve conduction study, finding- acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) is the predominant subtype. Although the electrophysiology and the CSF analysis are the important tools for the diagnosis of GBS, classification should not be making based on a distinct finding alone. If all the NCS parameters in multiple nerves tested after one week and within four weeks of onset of symptoms, definite diagnosis is possible in almost all the patients of Guillain Barre Syndrome.

Etiological pattern of demented patients attending in a tertiary hospital

This is a cross sectional study where 125 demented patients were enrolled who attended in neurology department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital. The purpose of the study was to find out the etiology of dementia. Dementia was diagnosed by the criteria indicated by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV and confirmed by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. Diagnosis of specific type of dementia was made on the basis of established criteria. The most common etiological factor was post stroke dementia (PSDE) (36%) followed by Alzheimer's disease (AD) (14.4%), multi infarct dementia (MID) (8%), Mixed AD and PSDE (6.4%), vitamin B₁₂ deficiency (4.8%) etc. Vascular dementia is the most common etiological factor. Next to this is the Alzheimer disease. This study will provide baseline information regarding the types of dementia occurring in Bangladeshi population and will be the basis of planning health program and data for future research.

Association of serum uric acid with ischemic stroke

The present study has examined the association between ischemic stroke and hyperuricemia in Bangladeshi population. This age and sex matched case control study was carried out in the Department of Neurology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period of January 2007 to December 2008. A total of 120 subjects were included in this study, among them 60 were cases and another 60 were controls. Data were collected purposively. Multiple logistic regressions were done to identify the risk factors for ischemic stroke. In this study 68.3% were male and 31.7% were female in both the groups. Male and female ratio of stroke patients was 2.16:1. Mean±SD of serum uric acid level of case and control group was 4.94±1.76 and 3.72±1.09 respectively. Among the case group 76.7% had normal and 23.3% had abnormal serum uric acid level. On the other hand, 93.3% respondents of control group had normal and 6.7% had abnormal serum uric acid (SUA) level. Significant differences was found between case and control group in term of SUA level (p<0.05). Since SUA level is a quantitative numerical variable, an increase in 1mg/dl has a 47.0% (95% CI 1.0% to 2.16%) increase in odds ratio (OR) of having ischemic stroke. This 47.0% is obtained by taking OR for uric acid-1. Elevated serum uric acid level is not significant for ischemic stroke among the Bangladeshi population.

Intracranial aneurysm surgery in Bangladesh

In this study of 1000 cerebrovascular disease patients, the commonest age are 50 to 70 years with male predominance. The urban patients are large in number and the risk factors are sedentary life, stress and strain, smoking, and hypertension. The patients are more chronic than acute and transport facilities are poor. Fifteen percent are hemorrhagic stroke, some of them may be due to intracranial aneurysm. In the absence of proper diagnostic facilities and adequate neurosurgeons, infrequent surgical treatment, and lack of statistics of intracranial aneurysm, this study may be a basis for further study of aneurysmal surgery in Bangladesh.

Loss of vision: a manifestation of TURP syndrome. A case report

We report a case of transient blindness, part of a TURP syndrome, in a 65 year old man undergoing TUR of the prostate under centro-neuron block. Irrigating fluid consisted of 1.5% glycine. As a result, serum levels of glycine increased to 12,470 mols.l-1 (N176-332 mumols.l-1). We attribute this loss of vision to glycine toxicity.