Ultrastructure of the Purkinje cells in the subendocardium and pseudo-tendons of the left ventricle in dogs with experimental infarct complicated by fibrillation

Ultrastructural changes of Purkinje cells located on the periphery of the cardiac conductive system (subendocardium and false tendons) were studied in dogs in the presence of ventricular fibrillation developed in 30 minutes after coronary artery ligation. Ventricular fibrillation at the early stages of experimental myocardial infarction was invariably associated with the development of multiple ultrastructural lesions in the conductive Purkinje cells of subendocardium and false tendons. These changes are without any doubt important for the pathogenesis of ventricular fibrillation in myocardial infarction and they possibly take place in cases of sudden cardiac death.     

Hydrochlorides of N-hydroxyalkyl-alpha-piperidine carboxylic arylamides possessing antiarrhythmic activity

It has been demonstrated in experimental arrhythmias of animals (aconitine one in rats, strophanthine in guinea-pigs, creation of an "ectopic focus of excitation" in cats by electric stimulation) that new compounds, the derivatives of piperidine carboxylic acids, possess antiarrhythmic activity. In doses of 6-23 mg/kg, the compounds under study prevented the development of the mixed type arrhythmia induced by intravenous injection of aconitine, prolonged the time of survival and prevented the animals' death during intravenous injection of the arrhythmogenic doses of strophanthine, prolonged the refractory period, and increased the threshold of ventricular fibrillation in cats. As regards the power of the antiarrhythmic effect, the compounds under study--hydrochlorides of arylamides of N-hydroxyalkly-alpha-piperidine carboxylic acids--approach lidocaine, yield to marcaine, and exhibit a broader range of therapeutic action.     

Synthesis and Antiarrhythmic Activity of N-Substituted 1-(2,4,6-Trimethylphenyl)-2-[N-(2′-hydroxy-3′-phenyloxypropyl)-aminomethyl]pyrroles

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal -     

Recent advances in diagnosis and management of pulmonary hypertension in chronic lung disease

Pulmonary hypertension with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance is a common cardiovascular complication associated with increased morbidity and mortality in preterm infants with chronic lung disease. Injury to the developing pulmonary circulation results in structural and functional abnormalities of the pulmonary vasculature. Animal studies have demonstrated that disruption of angiogenesis may contribute to the failure of normal alveolarisation in chronic lung disease. Levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are lower in infants with chronic lung disease compared to preterm controls. Supplemental oxygen is commonly used to prevent and treat pulmonary hypertension, although optimal arterial oxygen saturation levels remain uncertain. Other vasodilators such as inhaled nitric oxide appear promising, but as yet have not been evaluated in the form of randomised controlled trials. Further studies are required to investigate the long-term effectiveness of pulmonary vasodilator therapy.     

Nonachlasine--a new drug for treatment of ischemic heart disease]

Data on the pharmacology of a new antianginal drug--Nonachlasine--are presented. Nonachlasine was found to increase the blood flow intensively and for long periods of time, increasing the oxygen reserve of the myocardium, thus increasing the cardiac output and the contractile function of the heart. The prevailing action of Nonachlasine on the blood supply and the function of the myocardium seems to be the result of several mechanisms: decreasing resistance of the coronaries due to the activation of the beta2-adrenergic structures; influence upon the extravascular factors of the regulation of the coronary circulation (changes in the metabolism and cardiac activity due to the excitation of the beta-adrenergic structures). The mechanism of the positive effect of Nonachlasine upon the blood supply and function of the heart is connected with its action on the adrenergic processes. The drug accumulates noradrenaline in the myocardium and increases the activity of phosphorilase-a. This coincides in time with the increased blood supply and contractile capacity of the heart. The beta-adrenoblocking agents prevent these effects. It was postulated that the effect of Nonachlasine in the blood supply and the activity of the heart is connected with its ability to utilize the energy reserve of the myocardium by way of switching over to the anaerobic way.     

Relationship of Quality of Life with Disability Grade in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Dysthymic Disorder

Background:

There is paucity of information on the relationship of quality of life (QOL) in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and dysthymic disorder (DD) with disability grade in India.

Aim:

To assess the relation of QOL with disability level in OCD and DD.

Materials and Methods:

This hospital based study was conducted in a medical institution in Davanagere, Karnataka, India. Data was collected by using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV Text Revision (DSM IV TR) criteria, WHO QOL BREF and IDEAS. Relationship between disability grade and QOL was assessed by independent sample t test.

Results:

Mild disabled OCD patients had a significantly better QOL in the Q1 domain i.e. perception on quality of life as compared to moderately disabled patients (P < 0.05), while in other domains of QOL, there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). But, QOL score in physical domain showed significant difference across disability grades (56.00, SD = 6.89; 48.50, SD = 12.28) in DD, but not in other domains.

Conclusion:

Perception of QOL is better in those with mild disability in OCD, but in DD, physical domain of QOL score is more in mild disability compared to moderate disability.     

Role of mobile intensive care team in reducing maternal mortality in Moscow

As of now, exit intensive care teams (EICT) are a mobile service of the S. P. Botkin City Clinical Hospital. The main area of their activity is to deliver intensive care to 35 Moscow obstetric hospitals. In 2003-2006, the EICT mates performed 1159 calls, delivered care to 783 puerperas and parturiants, and transferred patients to the specialized intensive care units and research centers of Moscow. Throughout the existence of the exit intensive care center and EICT, none patient died during interhospital transportation. The concentration of these patients at 4 specialized Moscow hospitals could improve a therapeutic process, gain uniqe clinical experience, and reduce mortality by 3-fold (from 45.2 to 14.6%).     

Analysis of N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression in human hepatocellular carcinomas

AIM:To study the relationship between N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression in the carcinogenesis and the development of human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC).METHODS:The N-ras gene mutation and the p53 gene expression were analyzed in 29 cases of HCC by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:Thirteen cases of HCCs were p53 positive (44.8%), which showed a rather high Cpercen-tage of p53 gene mutation in Guangxi. The aberrations at N-ras codon 2-37 were found in 79.31% of HCCs and 80.77% of adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues. More than 2 point mutations of N-ras gene were observed in 22 cases (75.86%). Twelve cases (41.37%) of HCCs showed both N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression.CONCLUSION:N-ras gene and p53 gene may be involved in the carcinogenesis and the development of HCC.That 38% of HCCs with N-ras gene mutation did not express p53 protein indicates that some other genes or factors may participate in the carcinogenesis and the development of HCC.     

Electrophysiological effects of ethacizine in experimental myocardial infarction and stimulation of sympathetic heart innervation

The electrophysiological effect of ethacizine, an antiarrhythmic agent of class IC, was studied in dogs with experimental myocardial infarction under the beta-adrenergic stimulation conditions. It was found that ethacizine (i) slows down the atrioventricular conduction and the AV-node conduction; (ii) increases the time of the sinus node function recovery; and (iii) increases the effective atrioventricular refractory periods. Under the conditions of isoproterenol-induced stimulation of the beta-adrenergic structures, some of the ethacizine effects (e.g., increased refractoriness) completely disappeared and the other (slowed down conduction) decreased. As the stimulation frequency was increased, the effect of ethacizine upon the conduction exhibited a decrease. Upon the isoproterenol injection, dependence of the QRS complex on the forced rhythm frequency disappeared.