Totally normothermic aortic arch replacement without circulatory arrest.

BACKGROUND: Various techniques have been proposed for cerebral protection during the surgical treatment of complex aortic disease. The authors propose a revisited strategy of normothermic replacement of the aortic arch to avoid limitations and complications of profound hypothermic circulatory arrest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2000 to May 2006, 19 patients with an aneurysm of the aortic arch and 10 patients with an acute (7) or a chronic (3) aortic dissection underwent a totally normothermic, complete replacement of the aortic arch using three pumps: One pump ensured antegrade cerebral perfusion, at a flow rate adapted to obtain a pressure of 70 mmHg in the right radial artery, and required a selective cannulation of the supra-aortic vessels. A second pump ensured body perfusion at a flow rate adapted to obtain a pressure of 55 mmHg in the left femoral artery and was situated between the right femoral artery and the right atrium. A special balloon aortic occlusion catheter was placed in the descending thoracic aorta. A third pump ensured intermittent normothermic myocardial perfusion via the coronary venous sinus. The arch reconstruction was performed with no time limit. RESULTS: There were two operative, in-hospital (6.8%) mortalities. All others patients were rapidly extubated, except one, with no neurological sequelae, and postoperative course was uneventful, without coagulopathy or hepato-renal impairment. CONCLUSIONS: In the light of these results, a normothermic procedure is possible for arch surgery and may ensure a more physiological autoregulation of cerebral blood flow while maintaining body perfusion without high vascular resistances.     

Tetrahydrobenzo- and benzofurobenzopyrones as a new class of potential photoreagents toward DNA

The synthesis and the photobiological activity of new tetrahydrobenzo- and benzofurobenzopyrone derivatives carrying at position 4 of benzopyrone ring of furobenzopyrone moiety a phenyl, or a methyl group with a linear structure or with various angular arrangements, are reported. The new compounds are characterized by having an additional cyclohexene or phenyl ring condensed at the 2, 3 double bond of the furan ring of furobenzopyrone nucleus. The syntheses were performed starting from the appropriate hydroxybenzopyrones on which the tetrahydrobenzofuran or benzofuran moiety was built, which look most promising for enhancement of photoreactivity of compounds toward DNA. All the synthesized compounds were screened for photosensitizing activity and some of them exhibited good activity also a certain effect was observed in the dark.     

Synthesis of metal(II) [M = Cu, Mn, Zn] Schiff base complexes and their Pro-apoptotic activity in liver tumor cells via caspase activation

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common cancer responsible for more than 600,000 deaths per year. It is a typical vascular tumor which at earlier stages does not exhibit remarkable development of tumor; however, at advance stages, it is richly supplied by blood vessels and damages hepatocyte, the main functional cell types in the liver. Currently, surgery and chemotherapy are the main treatment strategies. However, the chemotherapeutic agents are usually unable to discriminate between normal and cancerous cells, and hence adverse effects of drug toxicities have become the major concerns in chemotherapy. Thus, inducing caspase dependent cytotoxicity in cancer cells via apoptosis has become one of the interesting and effective strategies for fighting this disease. The current study is an effort to further explore this area of research. Mn(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) Schiff base complexes were prepared by condensation of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with either 4-nitrobenzene-1,2-diamine or 4-methylbenzene-1,2-diamine and characterized by Spectroscopic (FT-IR, UV–Vis, NMR, and MS) and microanalysis. The ligands, in comparison to their metal complexes, were evaluated for their anticancer and proapoptotic properties in human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells. Results showed that the complexes are more potent proapoptotic agents than the parent ligands. All the tested compounds showed dose-dependent antiproliferative activity comparable with 5-fluorouracil (IC₅₀ = 4.6 μg/mL). All the synthesized Schiff base ligands and respective metal complexes showed potential anticancer activity. Out of them, some compounds showed IC₅₀ value as low as 1.24–3.56 μg/mL. Compounds 3 and 7 inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis via activation of caspase cascade.     

Metabolome classification of commercial Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) preparations via UPLC-qTOF-MS and chemometrics

The growing interest in the efficacy of phytomedicines and herbal supplements but also the increase in legal requirements for safety and reliable contents of active principles drive the development of analytical methods for the quality control of complex, multicomponent mixtures as found in plant extracts of value for the pharmaceutical industry. Here, we describe an ultra-performance liquid chromatography method (UPLC) coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (qTOF-MS) measurements for the large scale analysis of H. perforatum plant material and its commercial preparations. Under optimized conditions, we were able to simultaneously quantify and identify 21 metabolites including 4 hyperforins, 3 catechins, 3 naphthodianthrones, 5 flavonoids, 3 fatty acids, and a phenolic acid. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to ensure good analytical rigorousness and define both similarities and differences among Hypericum samples. A selection of batches from 9 commercially available H. perforatum products available on the German and Egyptian markets showed variable quality, particularly in hyperforins and fatty acid content. PCA analysis was able to discriminate between various preparations according to their global composition, including differentiation between various batches from the same supplier. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first approach utilizing UPLC-MS-based metabolic fingerprinting to reveal secondary metabolite compositional differences in Hypericum extract.     

Predictors of diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients representing a huge health and economic burden. Alarming recent data described diabetes as an unprecedented worldwide epidemic, with a prevalence of ～6.4% of the world population in 2010, while the prevalence of CKD among diabetics was approximately 40%. With a clinical field hungry for novel markers predicting DN, several clinical and laboratory markers were identified lately with the promise of reliable DN prediction. Among those are age, gender, hypertension, smoking, sex hormones and anemia. In addition, eccentric left ventricular geometric patterns, detected by echocardiography, and renal hypertrophy, revealed by ultrasonography, are promising new markers predicting DN development. Serum and urinary markers are still invaluable elements, including serum uric acid, microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria, urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (u-LFABP), and urinary nephrin. Moreover, studies have illustrated a tight relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and the development of DN. The purpose of this review is to present the latest advances in identifying promising predictors to DN, which will help guide the future research questions in this field. Aiming at limiting this paramount threat, further efforts are necessary to identify and control independent modifiable risk factors, while developing an integrative algorithm for utilization in DN future screening programs.     

Links between oral health and personality at a law enforcement school

One of the territories of dental psychosomatics is the link between personality characterisctics and dental status. The aim of the present study was to survey the relationship between temperament and character factors and dental status in police students. It can be hypothesized, that some temperament factors can increase the risk for dental health problems. After dental screening 792 police students completed the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) devised by Cloninger. 57.5% of students rated their own teeth as being in good or very good condition, and only 2.8% as bad condition. In persons rating their dental status as “good”, the average DMFT was 9.23±5.01 (mean±S.D.). In students assessing their own oral health as bad, TCI results showed that a higher percentage of students displayed extravagance, impulsiveness, disorderliness than the overall population. Among the students with good self-assessment but bad teeth, there was a higher percentage of students displaying passivity, low assertiveness, and introversion. The temperament and character factors may have negative consequences for students in an institution which exposes them to high stress level. It may be useful to screen these students using subjective health questionnaires in order to permit more effective efforts to positive health behaviour.     

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluations of Dihydroquinoline- and Dihydroisoquinoline-based Targetor Moieties for Brain-specific Chemical Delivery Systems

Brain-targeted delivery of various drugs can be successfully achieved by chemical delivery systems (CDS) that contain a 1,4-dihydropyridine-based redox targetor moiety and undergo a sequential metabolism. However, the susceptibility of this moiety toward hydration in acidic media may limit the shelf-life of such compounds in aqueous formulation. Here, a systematic investigation of the chemical stability toward oxidation and hydration of ester and amide derivatives of 3-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridine, 1,4-dihydroquinoline, and 4-substituted 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline is reported, together with the in vitro stability and in vivo (rat) distribution of isoquinoline-based testosterone and hydrocortisone chemical delivery systems, which were selected as having the most suitable acid-resistant targetor moieties.     

An indoor bio-contaminants air quality

Both the quantity and quality of microorganisms (mold, actinomycetes and bacteria) were investigated in the air of five clean rooms indoors, outdoor air sampling was a routine work of the present study. Total viable bacterial counts were recorded in a mean value of 103 cfu/m3, whereas mold counts ranged between 102-103 cfu/m3. The highest mold counts were recorded at some places investigated such as research laboratories and a library. Moreover, the types, percentages and frequencies of occurance of viable mold were studied. Penicillium, Cladosporium and Aspergillus were the predominant mold genera. These organisms are aeroallergens. Actinomycetes were detected in low numbers compared with other organisms (range between 0-102 cfu/m3). Yellow, grey and white colour series were dominant streptomycetes. The mold and streptomycetes spore sizes were measured microscopically. The sizes of major mold spores ranged between 2.5-10 mum, whereas that of streptomycetes spores ranged between 1.2-2.5 mum. The particles < 5 mum in sizes are likely to reach the alveoli which may elicit potential risk for exposed residents. However, a low number of air microorganisms does not mean a clean and healthy environment.     

The effect of chronic chromium exposure on the health of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

This study was designed to determine fish health impairment of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) exposed to chromium. Juvenile Chinook salmon were exposed to aqueous chromium concentrations (0-266 microgl(-1)) that have been documented in porewater from bottom sediments and in well waters near salmon spawning areas in the Columbia River in the northwestern United States. After Chinook salmon parr were exposed to 24 and 54 microg Crl(-1) for 105 days, neither growth nor survival of parr was affected. On day 105, concentrations were increased from 24 to 120 microg Crl(-1) and from 54 to 266 microg Crl(-1) until the end of the experiment on day 134. Weight of parr was decreased in the 24/120 microg Crl(-1) treatment, and survival was decreased in the 54/266 microg Crl(-1) treatment. Fish health was significantly impaired in both the 24/120 and 54/266 microg Crl(-1) treatments. The kidney is the target organ during chromium exposures through the water column. The kidneys of fish exposed to the greatest concentrations of chromium had gross and microscopic lesions (e.g. necrosis of cells lining kidney tububules) and products of lipid peroxidation were elevated. These changes were associated with elevated concentrations of chromium in the kidney, and reduced growth and survival. Also, variations in DNA in the blood were associated with pathological changes in the kidney and spleen. These changes suggest that chromium accumulates and enters the lipid peroxidation pathway where fatty acid damage and DNA damage (expressed as chromosome changes) occur to cause cell death and tissue damage. While most of the physiological malfunctions occurred following parr exposures to concentrations > or =120 microg Crl(-1), nuclear DNA damage followed exposures to 24 microg Crl(-1), which was the smallest concentration tested. The abnormalities measured during this study are particularly important because they are associated with impaired growth and reduced survival at concentrations > or =120 microg Crl(-1). Therefore, these changes can be used to investigate the health of resident fish in natural waters with high chromium concentrations as well as provide insight into the mechanisms of chromium toxicity.     

Form conversion of anhydrous lactose during wet granulation and its effect on compactibility

The purpose of this study was (a) to evaluate the factors affecting the form conversion of anhydrous lactose to the monohydrate form during wet granulation using water as the granulating agent and (b) study the effect of lactose form conversion on its compaction properties. A two-level full factorial design with two center points was used to evaluate the factors affecting form conversion. The three variables evaluated were percentage of microcrystalline cellulose (low 0 and high 20), water to intragranular solids ratio (low 0.10 and high 0.18) and drying conditions (tray drying and fluid bed drying). The presence of microcrystalline cellulose in the formulation did not provide any benefit in reducing the percent lactose conversion. But, the conversion was significantly reduced by decreasing the amount of water added to the granulation and/or by decreasing the drying time, using a fluid bed dryer compared to a tray dryer. In the second part of the study, complete conversion of the anhydrous lactose to monohydrate was achieved by storing the anhydrous form under 25 °C/97% RH for 4 weeks. Physical characterization (compactibility, surface area and surface morphology) was performed on the form converted material and compared to the as received anhydrous lactose. The physical characterization results indicated that even though anhydrous lactose undergoes complete form conversion to monohydrate form under high humidity and/or during wet granulation, it retains its inherent higher as received material compactibility and the BET surface area and porosity of the form converted material are higher than that of the as received anhydrous lactose.