First record of Metzgeriinean bryophyte Pantiathallites gondwanensis gen. et sp. nov. in the Glossopteris floral assemblage of late early Permian of India

Beautifully preserved coalified specimens of dichotomously branched elongated, ribbon like thalloid metzgeriinean bryophyte, Pantiathallites gondwanensis gen. et sp. nov. is described from the late early Permian of Gondwana, India. The thalloid bryophytes once or twice forked with wider midrib occur abundantly in a rich assemblage of Glossopteris and Gangamopteris species and diverse sterile and fertile sphenophyte genera, including Annularia spp. in the Saharjuri basin of eastern India. The close association of the bryophytic remains with the rich assemblage of Glossopteris and Gangamopteris species and the diverse sphenophytes (Sphenophyllum, Phyllotheca common in the Saharjuri basin) suggest that P. gondwanensis was growing in tropical, subtropical, wet moist environment as under growth of the Glossopteris forest in lowland areas. The occurrence of microplankton cf. microforaminifera in groups on the thalloid branches suggest, the plants were thriving in estuarine environment.     

Novel Cell-Based Hepatitis C Virus Infection Assay for Quantitative High-Throughput Screening of Anti-Hepatitis C Virus Compounds

Therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has advanced with the recent approval of direct-acting antivirals in combination with peginterferon and ribavirin. New antivirals with novel targets are still needed to further improve the treatment of hepatitis C. Previously reported screening methods for HCV inhibitors either are limited to a virus-specific function or apply a screening method at a single dose, which usually leads to high false-positive or -negative rates. We developed a quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) assay platform with a cell-based HCV infection system. This highly sensitive assay can be miniaturized to a 1,536-well format for screening of large chemical libraries. All candidates are screened over a 7-concentration dose range to give EC₅₀s (compound concentrations at 50% efficacy) and dose-response curves. Using this assay format, we screened a library of pharmacologically active compounds (LOPAC). Based on the profile of dose-dependent curves of HCV inhibition and cytotoxicity, 22 compounds with adequate curves and EC₅₀s of <10 μM were selected for validation. In two additional independent assays, 17 of them demonstrated specific inhibition of HCV infection. Ten potential candidates with efficacies of >70% and CC₅₀s (compound concentrations at 50% cytotoxicity) of <30 μM from these validated hits were characterized for their target stages in the HCV replication cycle. In this screen, we identified both known and novel hits with diverse structural and functional features targeting various stages of the HCV replication cycle. The pilot screen demonstrates that this assay system is highly robust and effective in identifying novel HCV inhibitors and that it can be readily applied to large-scale screening of small-molecule libraries.     

An echocardiographic assessment of cardiovascular hemodynamics in patients with large pleural effusion

BackgroundThe close relationship between pleural space and pericardial space and the dependence of their pressure kinetics are well known. This study evaluates the effects of increased intra pleural pressure due to pleural effusion on cardiovascular system.MethodsForty patients above the age of 12 who had massive unilateral/bilateral pleural effusion due to non-cardiac etiology were included in the study. Therapeutic thoracocentesis was done for massive pleural effusion. The echocardiographic parameters measured before and after thoracocentesis were compared.ResultsMean age of the patients 46.6 years. Out of 40 patients 8 were females (20%). 7 patients had right atrial collapse on echo. 85% of patients had significant flow velocity changes across both tricuspid valve and mitral valve during phases of respiration.11 patients (47.82%) had IVC compressibility of <50% during inspiration. Mean flow velocity respiratory variations across tricuspid valve before thoracocentesis and after thoracocentesis E 45.04 ± 10.3,32 ± 11.3% (p value <0.001), A 53.71 ± 28%, 32.08 ± 12.5% (p < 0.001) across mitral valve E 32.30 ± 12%, 19.78 ± 7.8% (p < 0.001), A 26 ± 11.2%, 21 ± 9.3% (p 0.006) across pulmonary artery 42.63 ± 31.3%, 17.70 ± 6.2% (p < 0.001), across aorta 21.57 ± 11.4%, 14.08 ± 7.6% (p < 0.001).ConclusionLarge pleural effusion has a potential to cause adverse impact on the cardiovascular hemodynamics, which could manifest as tamponade physiology. Altered cardiac hemodynamics could be an important contributor in the mechanism of dyspnea in patients with large pleural effusion.     

Apical ballooning syndrome complicated by acute severe mitral regurgitation with left ventricular outflow obstruction – Case report

Background  

Apical ballooning syndrome (or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy) is a syndrome of transient left ventricular apical ballooning. Although first described in Japanese patients, it is now well reported in the Caucasian population. The syndrome mimicks an acute myocardial infarction but is characterised by the absence of obstructive coronary disease. We describe a serious and poorly understood complication of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.