Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty versus Thrombolysis in Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Prospective,Matched, Controlled Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography (PTCA) in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) The study included patients with electrocardiographic signs of transmural AMI, symptom duration of less than 12 h, and with no contraindications to thrombolytic therapy. Patients who had undergone primary PTCA were matched consecutively, for age, gender, infarct localization and duration of symptoms, to patients who had received thrombolytic therapy (82 patients to each group). Patients who were admitted to hospital during daytime had a primary PTCA, whereas those admitted outside daytime were given thrombolytic therapy. In the primary PTCA group, 9 patients had a combined endpoint compared with 22 patients in the thrombolysis group (p < 0.02 ). In-hospital mortality was 3.7% in the PTCA group and 4.9% in the thrombolysis group (ns). At six months, a combined endpoint occurred in 23 patients in the primary PTCA group and in 50 patients in the thrombolysis group (p < 0.00005). Six months' mortality was 4.9% in the PTCA group and 7.3% in the thrombolysis group (ns). Among patients in the PTCA group, left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher, stay in hospital was shorter and there were significantly fewer incidences of heart failure and severe arrhythmias than among patients in the thrombolysis group. The results of primary PTCA implemented in our departments are comparable with those reported in randomized trials from experienced centres. Our study indicates that patients treated with primary PTCA have fewer complications, a better left ventricular systolic function and a shorter hospital stay compared with patients treated with thrombolysis.     

A Novel Missense Mutation,Leu390Val,in the Cardiac ß-myosin Heavy Chain Associated with Pronounced Septal Hypertrophy in Two Families with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Objective: An examination of the genetic background and phenotypic presentation of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) with respect to specific mutations in the MYH7     

C‐type natriuretic peptide slows down wound healing but promotes angiogenesis in SKH1‐hr hairless mice

C‐type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is known to increase growth rate of endothelial cells in vitro. In addition, gene transfer of CNP into ischaemic muscle was shown to induce angiogenesis. So far, no study has addressed the effect of CNP on dermal wound healing. The ear wound model in mice was used in this study. The first group was treated with dsRed‐CNP plasmid, whereas the second group was transfected with the empty dsRed‐sine plasmid, lacking sequence coding for CNP. The third group was sham operated and treated with saline to serve as second control. Wound size was measured on days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 14. On days 7 and 14 capillary density was analysed. Wound closure rate was significantly reduced in mice treated with CNP [dsRed‐CNP 73·3 ± 3·2% versus dsRed‐sine 94·5 ± 2·4% versus saline 92·1 ± 2·4%, n = 8 per group, analysis of variance (ANOVA) P < 0·001] at day 7 postop. Capillary density was found to be significantly higher in CNP‐treated mice (dsRed‐CNP 18·7 ± 3·9 versus dsRed‐sine 12·3 ± 2·7 versus control 10·1 ± 4·7, CD31⁺ capillaries per microscope field, ANOVA P = 0·018) at day 14 postoperative. CNP significantly reduces wound closure rate in hairless mice but promotes the development of new blood vessels. A possible explanation is the dual effect of CNP, inhibiting growth of fibromyoblasts but stimulating growth of endothelial cells. Thus, CNP may serve as a therapeutic approach to diseases caused by hyperfibrosis.     

Subcortical auditory structures in the mongolian gerbil: I. Golgi architecture

By means of the Golgi–Cox and Nissl methods we investigated the cyto‐ and fiberarchitecture as well as the morphology of neurons in the subcortical auditory structures of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus), a frequently used animal model in auditory neuroscience. We describe the divisions and subdivisions of the auditory thalamus including the medial geniculate body, suprageniculate nucleus, and reticular thalamic nucleus, as well as of the inferior colliculi, nuclei of the lateral lemniscus, superior olivary complex, and cochlear nuclear complex. In this study, we 1) confirm previous results about the organization of the gerbil's subcortical auditory pathway using other anatomical staining methods (e.g., Budinger et al. [2000] Eur J Neurosci 12:2452–2474); 2) add substantially to the knowledge about the laminar and cellular organization of the gerbil's subcortical auditory structures, in particular about the orientation of their fibrodendritic laminae and about the morphology of their most distinctive neuron types; and 3) demonstrate that the cellular organization of these structures, as seen by the Golgi technique, corresponds generally to that of other mammalian species, in particular to that of rodents. J. Comp. Neurol., 521:1289–1321, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Silent brain infarcts: A cause of depression in the elderly?

The present study included 1047 elderly participants. At baseline, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to detect infarcts and white matter lesions; further, depressive disorders were assessed. Participants were followed up during 3.6 years to determine incident and recurrent depression. We found an increased risk of recurrent depression associated with silent brain infarcts.     

Tamil Version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction -