2-Hydroxyethylammonium acetate as a reusable and cost-effective ionic liquid for the efficient synthesis of bis(pyrazolyl)methanes and 2-pyrazolyl-1-nitroalkanes

A new and convenient method for the synthesis of bis(pyrazolyl)methanes by one-pot tandem Knoevenagel–Michael reaction of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-5-pyrazolone with aryl, heteroaryl, or alkyl aldehydes in the presence of 2-hydroxyethylammonium acetate (2-HEAA) as a task-specific ionic liquid is described. This method was also successfully applied for the synthesis of 2-pyrazolyl-1-nitroalkanes by Michael addition of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-5-pyrazolone with β-nitrostyrenes in short reaction times. The present protocol offers several advantages such as using a reusable and cost-effective ionic liquid, an environmentally benign reaction media, being amenable to scale-up and good to high yields of the products.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in coronary artery disease and effect of its eradication on coronary lumen reduction after percutaneous coronary angioplasty

BACKGROUND

Gastric infection caused by Helicobacter pylori has recently been associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease.

AIM

To: 1) determine seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori and its cytotoxin associated gene A in patients with/without coronary artery disease (group A), 2) assess influence of Helicobacter pylori eradication on coronary artery lumen reduction after percutaneous coronary angioplasty (group B) and 3) determine influence of Helicobacter pylori eradication on plasma cytokines, lipids and coagulation factors in patients subjected to percutaneous coronary angioplasty (group B).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Group A included 100 patients with coronary artery disease (subgroup 1) and 100 patients without (subgroup II). For Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence, plasma anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-cytotoxin associated gene A IgG were examined. Group B included 40 patients with significant single-vessel coronary arterial disease and Helicobacter pylori infection confirmed by 13C-urea breath test and serologically using anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-cytotoxin associated gene A IgG. Six months after percutaneous coronary angioplasty and triple anti-Helicobacter pylori therapy, the Helicobacter pylori status reassessed by urea breath test was negative in all but two patients of subgroup I subjected to Helicobacter pylori therapy. Coronary angiography and laboratory tests were repeated in both subgroups of group B included in the trial and reduction in coronary artery lumen in these subgroups was compared to baseline after percutaneous coronary angioplasty considered as 100%.

RESULTS

Helicobacter pylori seropositivity reached 81.5% of coronary artery disease (subgroup I) and was significantly higher than that in controls without coronary artery disease (subgroup II) (51%), the odds ratio being 4.3 for Helicobacter pylori in coronary artery disease. Cytotoxin associated gene A IgG detection was also significantly higher (47.3%) in coronary artery disease than in controls (28%) giving the odds ratio about 2.3. Mean coronary artery lumen reduction in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary angioplasty + Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy (subgroup I) was significantly (p<0.05) smaller compared to percutaneous coronary angioplasty + placebo-treated subgroup II (22% vs 41%).

CONCLUSIONS

1) There is a significant link between coronary artery disease and infection with Helicobacter pylori, especially expressing CagA proteins, 2) Helicobacter pylori eradication significantly attenuates reduction in coronary artery lumen in coronary artery disease patients after percutaneous coronary angioplasty possibly by elimination of chronic inflammation and decline in proinflammatory cytokine release, and 3) Infection of Chlamydia pneumoniae in these percutaneous coronary angioplasty patients is not affected by eradication therapy.

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: results and long-term outcome of critically ill patients following cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND

Tracheostomy is widely regarded as the method of choice for long-term airway control in critically ill patients. The advantages of tracheostomy have to be balanced against the surgical risks of conventional surgical tracheostomy. However, the alternative technique of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) has been associated with fewer procedure-related complications.

METHODS

The results of PDT following cardiac surgery were investigated in a prospective study (1/1995-9/1997). The procedure of Ciaglia (1985), a modified Seldinger technique, was performed under endoscopic guidance in 88 patients, 30 women and 58 men, with a mean age of 56.6+/-14.5 years.

RESULTS

PDT was successfully performed in all cases after a mean of 14.6+/-9.0 days of translaryngeal intubation. No serious procedural complications occurred; a minor hemorrhage occurred in 12 patients and a cuff defect in 2 patients. 49 patients (55.7%) were weaned from mechanical ventilation, and 45 patients (51.1%) were decannulated after a mean tracheostomy duration of 18.9+/-27.2 days. 38 patients died of their underlying disease while still being mechanically ventilated. A total of 20 postprocedural complications were observed in 15 patients: stomal infection (7), minor hemorrhage (4), tracheal stenosis (3), tube displacement (2), delayed wound healing (2), soft-tissue hemorrhage (1), and organ hemorrhage (1). During long-term follow-up a good functional and cosmetic result could be documented in the majority of 35 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

PDT can be performed safely in patients following cardiac surgery as a bedside technique with a low incidence of procedural and postprocedural complications and an acceptable functional and cosmetic long-term outcome. Further studies are needed to define the optimal timing of PDT after translaryngeal intubation.

Interactions between the oocyte and cumulus cells in the ovary of the B6.Y(TIR) sex-reversed female mouse

The XY (B6.Y(TIR)) sex-reversed female mouse is infertile, primarily because of the early death of its embryos. We have previously determined that the XY oocyte itself, not the surrounding somatic cells, is responsible for its failure in postfertilization development. In the present study, we assessed the ability of the XY oocyte to regulate granulosa cell differentiation and functions. Oocyte-cumulus complexes (OCC) were isolated from antral follicles and were cultured in the presence of FSH and testosterone. Microsurgical removal of oocytes prevented cumulus cell expansion and suppressed estradiol production while it promoted progesterone production. Coculture with denuded oocytes from either XX or XY ovaries restored cumulus expansion and the endocrine profile observed in intact OCC. Morphology of oocytes and OCC in the preantral and antral follicles in situ as well as after isolation was compared for XX and XY ovaries. The average area of XY oocytes was smaller by 20% only at the preantral stage, whereas the zona pellucida layer was thinner by 20% at all stages. Furthermore, the XY oocyte was found to be attached to fewer cumulus cells (60% of XX control) in antral follicles and isolated OCC. In conclusion, the XY oocyte develops the normal ability of regulating granulosa cell differentiation despite its inferiority with respect to some morphometric parameters when compared to the XX oocyte.