A New Effective Method for the Synthesis of 1,2,4-Triazole-3-carboxamide and Ribavirin Derivatives

A new method for the synthesis of 1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide and its 5-substituted analogs has been developed. The substrate specificity of purine nucleoside phosphorylase from E. coli with respect to the synthesized bases has been studied. __________ Translated from Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 43 – 46, April, 2005.     

Intraoperative Doppler testing of the efficacy of correcting the valves of deep veins with a framework coil

The ultrasonic dopplerography was used in 37 patients as control of correction of profound vein valves. Local anesthesia was used in 12 patients, general anesthesia was used in 25 patients. The first group of patients performed the Valsalva test themselves, in the second group it was substituted by manual compression of the frontal abdominal wall. The results obtained show that intraoperative dopplerography allows methodological and technical errors to be corrected during the operation. The control is found to be more effective provided that the patient performs the Valsalva test himself during correction of the valve. The routine method of selection of the spiral diameter is thought to be fairly rational.     

Effect of antioxidants on the HeLa cell infection process in culture

A certain role in the outcome of virus infection of cells was assumed to belong to cell membrane lipids peroxidation. The influence of known inhibitors of lipid peroxidation, beta-naphthol and ionol, on HeLa cells infection with human adenovirus type 2 was studied. These antioxidants in certain concentrations were found to be capable of effectively inhibiting virus infection of HeLa cell cultures. At the same time, beyond these concentration levels these antioxidants did not inhibit but stimulated virus infection of HeLa cell cultures. It is concluded that inhibition of virus infection of cells by antioxidants in moderate concentrations is due to their blocking of membrane lipids peroxidation. The opposite effect of antioxidants in much higher or lower concentrations may be due to their membranotropic effect which enhances the development of virus infection. The results of the study attest to the possible use of antioxidants in appropriate concentrations for control of virus infection.     

Severe malaria in children in Papua New Guinea

The clinical features of severe falciparum malaria and risk factors for mortality were studied in 489 children admitted with malaria to Madang Hospital, Papua New Guinea. The most common severe manifestations of malaria were severe anaemia (22%) and coma (16%). Children with severe anaemia were younger than those with coma (median age 2.2 vs. 3.7 years) and had been ill for longer before admission (median 7 vs. 4 days, respectively). Although the clinical features of coma in Madang children with malaria resembled closely those reported in African children, mortality was lower (8% vs. 17-25%, respectively). Overall, 17 (3.5%) children died, most within 12 h of admission. A high level of plasma lactate (> or = 5 mmol/l) was common (20%) and was the major predictor of death in multiple regression analysis. Raised plasma creatinine and decreased plasma bicarbonate were also independent predictors of mortality. Coma was not predictive of death, although a high proportion of children with profound coma died. Investigation of the causes of acidosis in children with malaria is a high research priority. In view of the short time interval between admission and death in many children, emphasis must be placed on the prevention or early recognition and treatment of acidosis in the district health clinic as well as the central hospital.      

Patterns of Depressive Symptoms in Children

PROBLEM: Depressive symptoms in children have been linked to recurrent problems with depression, school problems, and risky health behaviors. Adolescent girls report depressive symptoms three to four times more frequently than adolescent boys. Few studies, however, have examined gender-related depressive symptoms in younger, school-aged children. METHODS: In the present study, gender differences in depressive symptoms in children ages 10-12 years were explored using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) with a convenience sample of 122 suburban middle-class public school fifth and sixth graders. FINDINGS: A distinct pattern of depressive symptom expression was found with girls reporting more internalizing and more negative self-esteem, and boys reporting more externalizing and more school problems. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that despite similarities on a total depressive symptom score, there are distinct gender differences in depressive symptom expression that are identifiable before adolescence and may be associated with normative development.     

Antihypertensive efficacy of metoprolol XL/Low dose chlorthalidone (6.25 mg) combination: a randomized,comparative study in Indian patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension

Objective

High blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors, directly responsible for increasing the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of metoprolol XL/chlorthalidone against metoprolol XL/hydrochlorothiazide with respect to mean fall in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The secondary objective was to compare the response rates and to evaluate the tolerability of study medications in patients with mild-tomoderate essential hypertension.

Methods

Total 130 eligible patients (65: metoprolol XL 25 mg/chlorthalidone 6.25 mg; 65: metoprolol XL 25 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg) were enrolled in this randomized, comparative, multicentric, 12-weeks study. Sixty-two patients from each group completed the study. After 4-weeks of treatment, non-responders from chlorthalidone 6.25 mg combination group were shifted to metoprolol XL 50 mg/chlorthalidone 12.5 mg and non-responders from HCTZ 12.5 mg combination group were escalated to metoprolol XL 50 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg.

Results

The study treatment groups were comparable with respect to demography and baseline disease characteristics. Both the starting therapies were comparable with respect to mean fall in SBP (p = 0.788) and DBP (p = 0.939), and response rates (p = 1.0) after 4-weeks of therapy. Also both the step-up therapies showed similar mean fall in SBP (p = 0.277) and DBP (p = 0.507) at the end of 12-weeks. However, significantly more number of patients from chlorthalidone 12.5 mg/metoprolol XL 50 mg group responded to therapy as compared to that from HCTZ 12.5 mg/metoprolol XL 50 mg group (p = 0.045). All the reported adverse events were of mild-to-moderate intensity. There were no clinically significant trends in electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^-)and fasting blood sugar, evident across the treatment groups.

Conclusion

Chlorthalidone in combination with metoprolol XL is as effective and well tolerated as widely used combination of metoprolol XL/HCTZ, thus providing an alternative therapeutic option.