Tolerability and efficacy of retard form of indapamide in the treatment of hypertension in elderly patients (results of multicenter open non-comparative trial in Russian program ARGUS)

Open noncomparative multicenter study of tolerability and efficacy of a retard form of indapamide (1.5 mg o.d. for 3 months) in patients older then 55 years was conducted in 14 centers in Russia. Numbers of patients included into was analysis of safety and tolerability were 1277 and 1121, respectively. After 3 months systolic, diastolic and pulse blood pressure (BP) decreased by 20.2, 13.2, 27.5% (supine) and by 19.4, 11.8, 26.9% (standing), respectively. There were no significant changes of heart rate. Effect of treatment was considered positive in 92.4% of patients. Normalization of blood pressure occurred in 51.8% of patients (in 46.2% and 53.4% among men and women, respectively, p=0.0252; in 55.7% and 48% among patients aged <65 and >65 years, respectively). In patients with type II diabetes rates of positive effect and achievement of target BP <130/85 mm Hg were 60.8% and 31.4%, respectively. Hypokaliemia (3.0-3.5 mmol/l) was registered in 43 patients (3.4%), age of 27 of these patients was 65 years. There were no pronounced changes of blood serum levels of creatinine, glucose and uric acid. Significant lowering of atherogeneity cholesterol index occurred in the whole group while both this index and total cholesterol significantly decreased in patients with baseline hypercholesterolemia. Thus in patients older that 55 years monotherapy with retard form of indapamide was demonstrated to be safe and effective antihypertensive intervention.     

An analysis of the linkage of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the delta locus of the T-cell receptor (TCRD) chain in the family of P]

AIM: To estimate probability of location of the gene determining family hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP) in family P. on the 14th chromosome in segment 14q11 using parametric method "lod score". MATERIALS AND METHODS: The family of proband P. had multiple cases of HCMP. Dinucleotide GT repeat and NT 256 point variation located in the cluster of genes coding synthesis of TCRD (14q11 chromosome segment) were used as markers of HCMP gene (FHC-1 gene 14q1 chromosome segment). Allele polymorphism of the two markers was defined at polymerase chain reaction, restriction of the amplificate by restrictase BamHI (for NT 256 point variation) and vertical electrophoresis in polyacrylamide and agar gels. RESULTS: Basing on the distribution of the above markers in P. family, lod score estimates in all the standard values of recombination frequency were determined (0-0,45, step 0.05). The maximal estimate corresponded to zero recombination frequency and was equal to 1.17 (this was below the critical value 3). However, the obtained lod score value satisfied the chance ratio 15:1 in favor of the link presence. CONCLUSION: The data obtained evidence for the presence of the link of HCMP gene with marker locus TCRD which is nearby the identified locus of the disease (FHC-1-14q11.2 segment). This suggests that HCMP in family P may be due to mutant allele of the gene coding synthesis of beta-polypeptide chains of cardial myosin.     

Congenital tuberculosis

Congenital tuberculosis is a rare disease. The non-specific nature of presenting signs and symptoms (because of the lack of host response) and the fatal outcome in the absence of early therapy all underscore the importance of early diagnosis and treatment in infants. Recognition requires awareness that tuberculosis at this age has manifestations not found in older children. Here a case of congenital tuberculosis is presented, where changes were confined only to the thorax. Tuberculosis in the mother could be diagnosed only retrospectively.     

A correlative study of gliomas usingIn vivo bromodeoxyuridine labeling index and computer-aided malignancy grading

An in vivo bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling index (LI) was estimated in 43 cases of astrocytic tumors and mixed gliomas by one hour intra-operative intravenous infusion at a dose of 200 mg/m2 and correlated with (a) histological grading using a computer aided malignancy classifier TESTAST-268; and (b) histological typing using WHO classification. The lowest BrdU LI was seen in pilocytic and gemistocytic astrocytomas followed by astrocytomas, anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastoma multiforme in that order. Mixed oligoastrocytomas followed the pattern of their astrocytic counterparts. Tumors of similar histological type showed different BrdU LI values especially amongst astrocytomas and glioblastomas. A statistically significant difference in the BrdU LI was also noted between the higher TESTAST grades of astrocytomas (T III and IV) versus the lower TESTAST grades (T II). Unlike earlier reports in literature, in the present study the category of BrdU LI of <1 contained no case of anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma multiforme (TESTAST grades III and IV). Likewise, the category of BrdU LI >5 contained only anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme (TESTAST grades III and IV). Maximum spread of cases was seen in the BrdU LI category of 1-5, not only in terms of histological types but also TESTAST grades. Thus there appeared to be a positive trend of increasing BrdU LI values both with histological types and increasing TESTAST grades. Further, an interesting observation was that by using a combination of TESTAST grades and BrdU LI, the histologically homogenous glioblastoma group could be further subdivided into 4 categories which showed a trend towards prognostic correlation. Thus, this study though preliminary with number of cases being small in some groups, highlights the possible usefulness of combined histological typing, TESTAST grading and in vivo BrdU LI for prognostication of gliomas especially glioblastoma multiforme.     

Antiviral Activity of Compounds Based on (1-Adamantyl)bromomethyl Ketone

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal -