Synthesis of 1-alkyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline derivatives and study of their effect on arterial pressure

A series of 1-alkyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines and the related 4-alkyl-1,2-dihydro-benzo[f]isoquinolines was synthesized using reactions of dialkylbenzylcarbinols and their naphthyl analogs with alkylcyanides. Experiments showed that 1-alkyl-6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines typically produce a hypotensive action, while the benzo-annelated structures usually exhibit a hypertensive effects. The most active compound decreases the arterial pressure in cats by 52 Torr and the effect lasts for about 4 hours. __________ Translated from Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 15–17, March, 2006.     

Falls and consequent injuries in hospitalized patients: effects of an interdisciplinary falls prevention program

Background  

Patient falls in hospitals are common and may lead to negative outcomes such as injuries, prolonged hospitalization and legal liability. Consequently, various hospital falls prevention programs have been implemented in the last decades. However, most of the programs had no sustained effects on falls reduction over extended periods of time.     

Isolation and analysis of partial cDNA sequence coding for superoxide dismutase in Wuchereria bancrofti.

Molecular characterization of Wuchereria bancrofti is essential to develop suitable anti-filarial drugs and vaccines. We describe here isolation, sequence analysis and cloning of a partial cDNA of an enzyme superoxide dismutase from this parasite. The immunoscreening of a lambda zap W. bancrofti microfilarial (Mf) cDNA library with microfilaremic sera had resulted in the isolation of several seroreactive clones including, WbSOD. This clone contained a 309 bp insert and showed significant nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence homologies to the superoxide dismutases of other nematode parasites. The antioxidant property of this enzyme may have important contribution in the defense mechanism of the parasite against host immune response.     

Outcomes of low-vision services using optometric and multidisciplinary approaches: a non-randomized comparison

Consecutive patients (n = 215) who were referred to optometric (55%) or multidisciplinary (45%) low-vision services and above 50 years of age were recruited from four hospitals in the Netherlands. They completed two vision-related quality of life questionnaires, the Vision Quality of Life Core Measure (VCM1) and the Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire (LVQOL), before their first visit with low-vision services and 1 year later. At follow-up, patients referred to multidisciplinary low-vision services had lower scores on the mobility subscale of the LVQOL than patients referred to optometric low-vision services [5.3 points; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.2-10.5]. Paired sample t-tests for the two groups of patients taken together show improvement for the VCM1 (3.1 points; 95% CI: 0.6-5.6) and deterioration for the basic aspects of vision (3.5 points; 95% CI: 1.1-5.9) and the mobility (6.6 points; 95% CI: 3.7-9.5) subscales of the LVQOL. In conclusion, people referred to optometric services showed less deterioration in mobility than those referred to multidisciplinary services. No differences were observed for any of the other subscales of the LVQOL and the VCM1. Future research in this field should include randomized controlled designs comparing low-vision services with no treatment or placebo.     

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in callers to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic, impairing and often comorbid disorder. METHODS: 1000 subjects who called the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) were surveyed and divided in three groups: (a) callers with OCD (OCD) and two overlapping control groups: (b) callers with no axis I disorder (NAC) and (c) with no-OCD (NOC) using a 97-item questionnaire. RESULTS: The rate of OCD was 14.5% (N = 145). Relative to the NOC group, OCD subjects were more likely to be female, White, younger and not married. Relative to the NAC group, subjects with OCD were more likely to be White, not married and younger. OCD was accompanied by significant comorbidity and was associated with an increased number of visits to health professionals than NAC subjects. There was no significant difference regarding unemployment rates among the three groups. However, OCD callers were more likely than both control groups to have missed work or have decreased productivity due to their mental condition. OCD subjects took an average of 1 psychotropic medication in the past year and were statistically more likely than the control groups to experience sleepiness and nervousness as side effects. CONCLUSIONS: OCD was fairly prevalent among ADAA callers and presented high levels of comorbidity, impairment, health care utilization and sensitivity to psychotropic side effects.     

Notification of rheumatic fever in South Africa -- evidence for underreporting by health care professionals and administrators.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether under-reporting of rheumatic fever occurs at hospital, municipal, provincial and national levels of the South African health system. BACKGROUND: Information on the incidence of rheumatic fever (RF) and the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is required for the prevention of valvular heart disease in developing countries. In South Africa, RF was made a notifiable condition in 1989. It has recently been suggested that the reporting of RF cases may be incomplete, possibly because of underreporting by health care professionals and deficient administration of the disease notification system in South Africa. METHOD AND RESULTS: We assessed whether underreporting of RF cases occurs by comparing the numbers of RF cases reported per year at hospital, municipal, provincial and national levels from 1990 to 2004. There was a fall in the number of RF cases reported per year at national and provincial level over the 15 years of observation. A detailed analysis of the number of RF cases reported at hospital, municipal and provincial level for a 5-year period showed that more cases were diagnosed in one hospital (serving a smaller population) than were captured at municipal and provincial level (serving a larger population), suggesting underreporting by health care professionals. There were discrepancies in the number of cases reported at municipal, provincial and national level, suggesting poor administration of the notification system. CONCLUSION: There appears to be underreporting of RF cases by health care professionals, and poor administration of the RF notification system. Health care professionals need to be educated about the statutory requirement to notify all RF cases in South Africa. An effective national disease notification system is required.     

Academic Degrees and Clinical Practice Characteristics: The University of Washington Physician Assistant Program: 1969-2000

CONTEXT: The physician assistant profession has been moving toward requiring master's degrees for new practitioners, but some argue this could change the face of the discipline. PURPOSE: To see if there is an association between physician assistants' academic degrees and practice in primary care, in rural areas, and with the medically underserved. METHODS: Surveys were sent to 880 graduates of the first 32 University of Washington physician assistant classes through 2000. Respondents noted their academic degree at program entry and the highest degree attained at any time up to the time of survey. Relationships between practice characteristics and academic degree levels were tested by unadjusted odds ratios and logistic regression after controlling for year of graduation and sex. RESULTS: Of the 478 respondents, 54% worked in primary care, about 30% practiced in nonmetropolitan communities, and 42% reported providing care for the medically underserved. Respondents with no degree (33% of total at entry, 24% at survey) were significantly more likely than degree holders to work in primary care and nonmetropolitan areas. Respondents with no degree at program entry were significantly more likely, and those with no degree at the time of the survey were marginally more likely, to self-report work with the medically underserved. CONCLUSION: Respondents with no academic degree are significantly more likely to demonstrate a commitment to primary, rural, and underserved health care. These findings may inform the national debate about the impact of required advanced degrees on the practice patterns of nonphysician providers.