X-ray Reflectivity Study of the Interaction of an Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid with a Soft Supported Lipid Membrane

Ionic liquids (ILs) are important for their antimicrobial activity and are found to be toxic to some microorganisms. To shed light on the mechanism of their activities, the interaction of an imidazolium-based IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrfluoroborate ([BMIM][BF₄]) with E. coli bacteria and cell-membrane-mimicking lipid mono- and bilayers has been studied. The survival of the bacteria and corresponding growth inhibition are observed to be functions of the concentration of the IL. The IL alters the pressure-area isotherm of the monolayer formed at an air-water interface by the 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) lipid. The in-plane elasticity of the lipid layer is reduced as a consequence of the insertion of this IL. The X-ray reflectivity study from a polymer-supported lipid bilayer shows strong perturbation in the self-assembled structure of the bilayer due to the interaction. As a consequence, there is a considerable decrease in bilayer thickness and a corresponding increase in electron density. These results, however, depend on the chain configurations of the lipid molecules.

The Relationship Between Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW CV) And C Reactive Protein (CRP) With The Clinical Outcomes In Non-St Elevation Myocardial Infarction And Unstable Angina Pectoris: A 6 Months Follow Up Study

<p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">OBJECTIVES </span></strong><strong> </strong><span style="font-size: medium;">RDW CV</span><strong></strong><span style="font-size: medium;">is a marker of variation in size of rbc.</span><span style="font-size: medium;">RDW has been reported to be a predictor of cardiac events in CAD . </span><span style="font-size: medium;">CRP is a pentameric protein, an acute phase reactant and an independent marker of mortality in ACS .Here </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">we hypothesized that RDW CV level on admission and CRP would be predictive of adverse outcomes in NSTEMI and USAP</span><span style="font-size: medium;">  </span><span style="font-size: medium;">patients.</span></span></p><p><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">METHODS</span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;">319 patients with ACS (240 males and</span><span style="font-size: medium;">  </span><span style="font-size: medium;">79 females) were prospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the fiftieth percentile of admission RDW levels.</span><span style="font-size: medium;">  </span><span style="font-size: medium;">High RDW group (n=214) was defined as those patients having RDW levels of &gt;14.0.Qualitative CRP positivity was observed in 113 patients.The relationship between RDW </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">and CRP and primary endpoint (cardiovascular deaths), secondary end points (reinfarction, repeat TVR) and MACE were assessed. The median follow-up was 6 months.</span></span></p><p><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"> </span></strong></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">RESULTS </span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Patients in high RDW group were older (p=0.16), females with</span><span style="font-size: medium;">  </span><span style="font-size: medium;">history of HT diabetes and MI. They had higher admission creatinine , Killip class &gt;1 ,TIMI risk score,</span><span style="font-size: medium;">  </span><span style="font-size: medium;">CK-MB,</span><span style="font-size: medium;">  </span><span style="font-size: medium;">peak creatinine Ldl and TLC and lower lvef . They had more </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">killip&gt;1 (p=0.020) in hospital and at 6-months significantly increased mortality,reinfarction rates and hospitalization for heart failure was seen.</span><span style="font-size: medium;">Patients with positive crp and high rdw had</span><span style="font-size: medium;">  </span><span style="font-size: medium;">significantly increased adverse outcomes.</span></span></p><p><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"> </span></strong></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">CONCLUSIONS</span></strong> <span style="font-size: medium;">Given the advantages of the RDW levels </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">it may be used as a marker of cardiovascular risk management in NSTEMI and USAP</span><span style="font-size: medium;">  </span><span style="font-size: medium;">along with crp and plan early invasive strategy.</span></span></p>

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy for rheumatic mitral stenosis with impaired left ventricular function: an echocardiographic follow-up study

Sixty consecutive patients of rheumatic mitral stenosis who underwent percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy were evaluated and followed up for 3 months in order to study the effect of the procedure on left ventricular ejection fraction and to elucidate the pathophysiology of impaired left ventricular function. The response in 16 patients (26.7%) with left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction less than 50%) was compared to that in 44 patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction. Patients with left ventricular dysfunction had relatively larger left ventricular end-diastolic (84 +/- 15 vs. 76 +/- 14 ml) and end-systolic (45 +/- 11.5 vs. 35 +/- 12 ml) volumes. Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy was successful in all patients. Mitral valve area increased in all patients, from 0.8 +/- 0.2 cm2 to 1.82 +/- 0.37 cm2. After commissurotomy there was a trend towards increase of the left ventricle end-diastolic volumes in both groups of patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction also marginally increased in both groups. A reduced left ventricular compliance due to thickened and fibrotic mitral valve apparatus and excessive afterload due to increased systemic vascular resistance because of low output are possible mechanisms for left ventricular dysfunction in patients with mitral stenosis.