Synthesis and biological testing of certain 2-(5-substituted-2-thienylthio)benzoic acid derivatives

The syntesis of a number of 2-(5-substituted-2-thienylthio)benzoic acid derivatives is described. The synthesized compounds were screened for their muscle relaxant and parasympatholytic activities and the results are reported.     

Superior quality chemically reduced graphene oxide for high performance EMI shielding materials

The chemical reduction process of graphene oxide combined with a mild and controllable thermal treatment under vacuum at 200 °C for 4 hours provided a cost-effective, scalable, and high-yield route for Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) industrial production and became a potential candidate for producing electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. We investigated graphite, and RGO using l-ascorbic acid and Sodium borohydride before and after thermal treatment by carefully evaluating the chemical and morphological structures. The thermally treated l-ascorbic Acid reduction route (TCRGOL) conductivity was 2.14 × 10³ S m⁻¹ and total shielding efficiency (SET) based on mass loadings per area of shielding was 94 dB with about one-tenth less graphite weight and surpassing other graphene reduction mechanisms in the frequency range of 8.2–12.4 GHz, i.e., X-band, at room temperature while being tested using the waveguide line technique. The developed treatment represents valuable progress in the path to chemical reduction using a safe reducing agent and offering superior quality RGO rarely achieved with the top-down technique, providing a high EMI shielding performance.

The developed two-step protocol offers a superior reduced graphene oxide TCRGOL quality (7 layers), and its SET was 94 dB over the X-band.     

Dicarbonyl Electrophiles Mediate Inflammation-Induced Gastrointestinal Carcinogenesis

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Clinical Correlates of the Anatomical Relationships of the Foramen Ovale: A Radioanatomical Study

Introduction Endonasal endoscopic transpterygoid approaches are commonly used techniques to access the infratemporal fossa and parapharyngeal space. Important endoscopic endonasal landmarks for the poststyloid parapharyngeal space, hence the internal carotid artery, include the mandibular nerve at the level of foramen ovale and the lateral pterygoid plate. This study aims to define the anatomical relationships of the foramen ovale, establishing its distance to other important anatomical landmarks such as the pterygoid process and columella. Methods Distances between the foramen ovale, foramen rotundum, and fixed anatomical landmarks like the columella and pterygoid process were measured using computed tomography (CT) scans and cadaveric dissections of the pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossae. Results The mean distances from the foramen ovale to columella and from the foramen rotundum to columella were found to be 9.15 cm and 7.09 cm, respectively. Analysis of radiologic measurements detected no statistically significant differences between sides or gender. Conclusions The pterygoid plates and V3 are prominent landmarks of the endonasal endoscopic approach to the infratemporal fossa and poststyloid parapharyngeal space. A better understanding of the endoscopic anatomy of the infratemporal fossa and awareness of the approximate distances and geometry among anatomical landmarks facilitates a safe and complete resection of lesions arising or extending to these regions.     

Cognitive decline and depressive symptoms: early non-motor presentations of parkinsonism among Egyptian Gaucher patients

neurogenetics - Evidence about the link between glucocerebrosidase (GCase) and parkinsonism is growing. Parkinsonism was described in adult type 1 Gaucher disease (GD); few case reports described...     

Magnetic resonance imaging of the proximal tibial epiphysis: could it be helpful in forensic age estimation?

There is an increasing demand for age estimations of living persons who are involved in civil and criminal procedures but lack a valid birth certificate indicating their date of birth. Several studies have recommended the application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and assessment of the stage of epiphyseal fusion in age estimation. This study involved retrospective MRI analysis of 335 cases (217 males and 118 females) whose ages ranged from 8 to 28 years (yrs). We assessed the degree of ossification of the proximal tibial epiphysis depending on the classifications of Schmeling and Kellinghaus used for the main stages (I, II, III, IV & V) and substages (IIa, b, c & IIIa, b, c). Significant differences between males and females at stages IIIc, IV and V (p < 0.001) were observed. Additionally, the ossification of the proximal tibial epiphyses occurred earlier in females than in males (2–4 yrs). The mean of ages in stage IV was approximately 18.6 yrs. in females and 22.5 yrs. in males, meaning that stage IV can be used as a valuable forensic marker to determine whether the person in question has reached the age of 18 yrs. We concluded that the application of MRI in the assessment of the ossification status of the proximal tibial epiphysis could be helpful in age estimation for various forensic purposes.     

Flow cytometric assessment of circulating platelet and erythrocytes microparticles in young thalassemia major patients: relation to pulmonary hypertension and aortic wall stiffness

Heart disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in β‐thalassemia major (β‐TM). Aggregability of abnormal red cells and membrane‐derived microparticles (MPs) stemming from activated platelets and erythrocytes are responsible for thrombotic risk. We measured platelet and erythrocyte MPs (PMPs and ErMPs) in 60 young β‐TM patients compared with 40 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls and assessed their relation to clinicopathological characteristics and aortic elastic properties. Patients were studied stressing on transfusion history, splenectomy, thrombotic events, chelation therapy, hematological and coagulation profiles, flow cytometric measurement of PMPs (CD41b⁺) and ErMPs (glycophorin A⁺) as well as echocardiographic assessment of aortic elastic properties. Aortic stiffness index and pulmonary artery pressure were significantly higher, whereas aortic strain and distensibility were lower in TM patients than controls (P < 0.001). Both PMPs and ErMPs were significantly elevated in TM patients compared with controls, particularly patients with risk of pulmonary hypertension, history of thrombosis, splenectomy or serum ferritin >2500 μg/L (P < 0.001). Compliant patients on chelation therapy had lower MPs levels than non‐compliant patients (P < 0.001). PMPs and ErMPs were positively correlated to markers of hemolysis, serum ferritin, D‐dimer, vWF Ag, and aortic stiffness, whereas negatively correlated to hemoglobin level and aortic distensibility (P < 0.05). We suggest that increased MPs may be implicated in vascular dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension risk, and aortic wall stiffness observed in thalassemia patients. Their quantification could provide utility for early detection of cardiovascular abnormalities and monitoring the biological efficacy of chelation therapy.     

Single photon emission tomography (SPECT) study of regional cerebral blood flow in normoalbuminuric children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Abstract: Cerebral damage in diabetes can be related to chronic hyperglycemia and recurrent severe hypoglycemia as well as due to the associated vasculopathy. The pattern of regional cerebral blood flow using cerebral single photon emission tomography (SPECT) was evaluated in normoalbuminuric type 1 diabetic children and adolescents and its relation to the metabolic control and cognitive functions. Thirty-one type 1 diabetics aged 10–18 yr (mean 14.7 ± 3.4) were included, 16 males and 15 females, divided into four groups: group I (n = 8) with history of recurrent severe hypoglycemia (≥ 3); group II (n = 8) with history of severe diabetic ketoacidosis (≥ 3); group III (n = 7) with recurrent minor hypoglycemia (≥ 3/week); and group IV (n = 8) with controlled diabetes. The control group (V) comprised seven healthy children, aged 10–18 yr (mean 14.2 ± 3.1). SPECT was done using technetium-99m hexamethyl propylene amine oxime. There was significant brain hypoperfusion in diabetics compared with controls, mainly in the basal ganglia (p < 0.01) and frontal regions (p < 0.01), with less changes in parietal and temporal regions. These changes were not related to the age, sex, diabetes duration, mean blood glucose or HbA1C. Basal ganglia hypoperfusion was significant in groups I (p < 0.01) and II (p < 0.01) compared with controlled diabetics. There was no correlation between cerebral SPECT changes and cognitive scores in type 1 diabetics.
Conclusion: Subclinical alterations in cerebral blood flow (hypoperfusion) are present in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mainly affecting the basal ganglia and frontal regions, usually not associated with measurable alterations of the cognitive functions     

A scoring system as a method to evaluate pilonidal sinus disease to make an easy decision for its management

This study was planned to evaluate prospectively the results of 150 patients with pilonidal sinus treated surgically after planning a score system. The aim was to choose the proper technique for the proper pilonidal sinus disease. From November 2002 to December 2006, 150 patients [130 male, 20 female; average age = 22.65 ± 4.2 (range, 15-46) years] with primary or recurrent pilonidal sinus diseases, operated under spinal anaesthesia or general anaesthesia. All patients were classified into three groups A, B and C. According to the clinical presentations we had three groups of patients: Group A with a score number n = 8 to 10, Group B with a score number n = 11 to 13, and Group C had the number n = 14 to 16. The study helped us in our surgical decision making, particularly in choosing the type of surgery for a given patient by our new scoring system, with promising results and low failure rate.     

Synthesis of certain 2-aminoadamantane derivatives as potential antimicrobial agents

1-(2-Adamantyl-3-(5-arylhydrazono-6-methyl-4-oxopyrimidin -2-yl)guanidines, 2-(2-adamantylamino)-4-amino-s-triazine and its 6-chloromethyl derivative were prepared by cyclization of 1-(2-adamantyl)biguanide.HCl with ethyl 2-arylhydrazono-3-oxobutyrates, ethyl formate and ethyl chloroacetate, respectively. 1-(2-damantyl)-3-(4,5-dioxo-2-imidazolidinylidene)guanidine was used as intermediate for the synthesis of amides, hydrazide and azomethine derivatives of alkyl 2-(2-adamantylamino)-4-amino-s-triazine-6-carboxylates. The antimicrobial testing of the prepared compounds proved that an azomethine derivative was the most active. It showed a marked bacteriostatic effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis.