CuI nanoparticles supported on a novel polymer-layered double hydroxide nanocomposite: an efficient heterogeneous nanocatalyst for the synthesis of bis-N-arylsulfonamides

A new type of polymer-layered double hydroxide nanocomposite bearing thiazole moieties was used to support CuI nanoparticles (NPs) as a heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of bis-N-arylsulfonamides. The prepared nanostructured catalyst (LDH@MPS-GMA-TZ-CuI) showed high catalytic activity, as well as excellent recyclability for the preparation of bis-N-arylsulfonamides via the chemoselective reaction of 1,3-disulfonyl chloride and nitroarenes. The superior catalytic activity of the LDH@MPS-GMA-TZ-CuI is related to the high loading of CuI NPs and favorable surface properties.

CuI NPs supported on novel polymer–LDHs nanocomposite was investigated for the synthesis of bis-N-arylsulfonamides.     

The Frequency and Functional Impact of Overlapping Hypertension on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Single-Center Experience

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) Between 1995 and 2005, 196 adults with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) were evaluated. Among these, 122 (62%, group 1) patients also had systemic hypertension. The clinical presentation, management, outcome, and echocardiographic findings of these patients were compared with 74 (38%, group 2) patients without systemic hypertension. Patients in group 1 were older at the time of HCM diagnosis and had a higher prevalence of diabetes (28% vs 9%; P=.02) and coronary artery disease (40% vs 25%; P=.03). In addition, echocardiography showed a significantly higher prevalence of systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral valve in association with dynamic left ventricular outflow obstruction (52% vs 19%; P=.02) and mitral annular calcification (27% vs 13%; P=.03) in group 1 patients. Left ventricular wall thickness (17 mm vs 19 mm), end-diastolic diameter (42 mm vs 42 mm), resting outflow tract gradient >30 mm Hg (17% vs 16%), and ejection fraction (65% vs 64%) were similar in the two groups. HCM frequently coexists with systemic hypertension in the adult population. Presence of systemic hypertension in HCM patients is associated with older age and higher risk of diabetes, coronary artery disease, and noncardiac death.     

Characterization of spatial performance in male and female Long-Evans rats by means of the Morris water task and the ziggurat task

Sex differences are prominent influences on spatial performance. One of the most common tasks to assess sex differences in spatial navigation in rodents is the Morris water task (MWT). In this task rats swim in a pool of water to locate a hidden platform employing the topographical relationships among the distal visual cues, pool wall, and goal location. Some evidence suggests that male rats display superior performance relative to females in the MWT. It is unknown, however, to what extent the sex difference in rats is task-dependent. This study compared the performance of male and female Long-Evans rats in the wet-land MWT versus the dry-land ziggurat task (ZT). The ZT represents a new dry-land task in which rats explore an arena with 16 ziggurat pyramids to locate food rewards. Several behavioural parameters, including latency, path length, path speed, probe trial performance, errors, and the number of returns were used as indices of spatial learning and memory. While males and females did not display significant differences in the traditional measures of spatial navigation within MWT, they displayed a robust sex difference in all measures of the ZT. These results indicate task-specific sex differences in spatial performance. Our findings suggest that males and females may employ different learning strategies in the MWT and ZT and that the latter task provides a more favourable task for assessing sex differences in rats.     

Buprenorphine maintenance treatment of heroin dependence: the first experience from Iran

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of 1-, 2-, and 4-mg-per-day sublingual doses of buprenorphine in the maintenance treatment of heroin-dependent patients over a 17-week treatment period. Subjects were randomized to three dosage groups. Participants consisted of 105 heroin addicts (102 men and 3 women) who met the DSM-IV criteria for opioid dependence and were seeking treatment. Subjects received buprenorphine at a dose of 1, 2, or 4 mg per day and were treated in an urban outpatient clinic, including a weekly 1-hour individual counseling session. Days retained in treatment were measured. Overall, 49 patients (46.7%) completed the 17-week study. Completion rates by dosage group were 34.3% for the 1 mg dose group, 42.9% for the 2 mg dose group, and 62.9% for the 4 mg dose group. Retention in the 4 mg dose group was significantly better than in the 1 mg dose group (P = .017). None of the other comparisons was significant. The results support the efficacy and safety of buprenorphine for outpatient treatment of heroin dependence and seem to indicate that the highest dose (4 mg) of buprenorphine was the best of the three doses for Iranian heroin addicts to increase their retention in treatment.     

计算机断层成像（CT）结肠镜：结肠息肉直径和体积的自动测量与手工测量技术的比较——体外研究

[目标]：研究不同和相同读片人对息肉直径进行体外自动测量时所得结果的一致性。[方法]：用16排CT扫描两个模型（QRM和Whiting模型），两个模型都包含有直径和体积已知的模拟息肉。两位读片人用三种方式来估计息肉的直径：软件测量（手工）、手工边界识别（半自动）及自动软件分割（全自动）。[结果]：对同一读片人，当使用全自动方法时，95%一致性极限范围最小（QRM范围：0.39mm～0.48mm；Whiting范围：0.24mm～0mm）。手工估计测量的极限范围大约比全自动方法要大10倍（QRM范围：3.57mm～3.21mm,Whiting范围：3.2mm～2.02mm）。全自动方法对体积的估计范围最小（范围：24.2mm^3～24.1mm^3；而半自动测量的范围为97.9mm^3～102.9mm^3.对不同读片人，当使用全自动方法时，测得直径的一致性范围最小（QRM范围：0.12mm；Whiting范围：0.16mm），而使用手工方法的一致性范围大约是全自动方法的18倍（QRM范围2.87mm；Whiting范围：2.18mm）。[结论]：通过全自动方法来测量息肉直径和体积在技术上是可行的，可使不同和相同读片人的测量结果实现更高的一致性。