FAMILIAL VALVULAR PULMONIC STENOSIS INVOLVING THREE SIBLINGS

This report describes the cases of three mentally and physically well-developed siblings, 12, 10, and 8 years of age, with varying degrees of isolated valvular pulmonic stenosis not related to age. The severest lesion occurred in the middle patient and was associated with a right-to-left shunt through a patent foramen ovale. The three children had no other siblings, and there was no history of congenital heart disease among close relatives. These cases support the conclusion that genetic factors play a significant role in the development of certain congenital cardiac disorders.     

First novel synthesis of triazole thioglycosides as ribavirin analogues

This study reports a novel and efficient method for the synthesis of the first reported novel class of triazole thioglycosides. These series of compounds were designed through the reaction of potassium cyanocarbonimidodithioate 2 with hydrazine derivatives 3a-d in EtOH at room temperature to give the corresponding potassium 5-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiolates 4a-d. The latter compounds were treated with tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-glucopyranosyl bromide 6a and tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-galactopyranosyl bromide 6b in DMF at room temperature to give in high yields the corresponding triazole thioglycosides 7a-h. Treatment of triazole salts 4a–d with hydrochloric acid afforded the corresponding 3-mercaptotriazoles 5a-d. Compounds 5a-d were then reacted with bromoperacetylated sugars 6a,b in sodium hydride-DMF at ambient temperature to afford the thioglycosyl compounds 7a-h. Ammonolysis of the triazole thioglycosides 7a-h afforded the corresponding free thioglycosides 8a-h. The scope and limitation of the method is demonstrated. The structure of the reaction products was confirmed on the basis of their elemental analysis and spectral data (IR, ¹H NMR, MS and ¹³C NMR).     

Nucleic Acid Related Compounds: A Convenient Synthesis of 3-Deazauridine Analogues

Abstract

A novel synthesis of 3-deazapyrimidine glycosides utilizing pyridine-2(1H)-ones or their sodium salts and α-halomonosugars namely D-glucose or D-galactose as starting components is described.     

The economic burden of dengue fever in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Rapid urbanization, global trade, and the exceptionally great numbers of worldwide visitors during Hajj and Umrah have all placed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at a significant risk of introducing several vector-borne tropical diseases, such as dengue fever virus (DENV) infection. In this study we estimated DENV infection cost of illness (COI) in Saudi Arabia in the period 2013–2017, by processing national data including all declared cases recorded in referral centers in the western region, being the endemic region of the country. Using a statistically validated predictive model that was built on a representative sample of 717 laboratory-confirmed cases of DENV infection, direct costs, due to care-related expenditures, were estimated by applying the predictive equation to national data. However, indirect costs, which are due to productivity loss, were estimated using the human capital model based on gross domestic product adjusted for invalidity duration. Further, under-reporting was adjusted by using an expansion factor EF = 3. We observed highest estimated costs in 2016 with over US$168.5 Million total costs, including direct (US$29.0 Million) and indirect (US$139.5 Million) costs, for a total 4415 confirmed cases. The total DENV COI for the five years was estimated as US$551.0 Million for a total 15,369 patients (59.7%) out of 25,745 declared cases, resulting in an average cost of US$11 947.6 by patient. Depending on the year, productivity years loss costs accounted for 63.3% to 83.8% of the estimated total costs. Dengue has a substantial local economic burden that costs US$110.2 Million per year, stressing the urgent need for an effective national prevention strategy to perform considerable cost-savings besides reducing morbidity.     

Nutrient sequestration potential of water primrose Ludwigia stolinefera (Guill. & Perr.) P.H. Raven: A strategy for restoring wetland eutrophication

The current work investigates the capacity of the water primrose (Ludwigia stolinefera) to sequester inorganic and organic nutrients in its biomass to restore eutrophic wetlands, besides its nutritive quality as fodder for animals. The nutrient elements and nutritive value of the water primrose were assessed seasonally in polluted and unpolluted watercourses. The water primrose plants’ highest biomass was attained during summer; then, it was significantly reduced till it reached its lowest value during winter. In the polluted canal, the plant root and shoot accumulated higher contents of all nutrient elements (except Na and Mg) rather than in the unpolluted Nile. They accumulated most investigated nutrients in the growing season during summer. The shoots accumulated higher contents of N, P, Ca, and Mg than the root, which accumulated higher concentrations of Na and K. Therefore, summer season is the ideal time to harvest water primrose for removing the maximum nutrients for restoring eutrophic watercourses. The aboveground tissues had the highest values of ether extract (EE) during spring and the highest crude fibers (CF) and total proteins (TP) during summer. In contrast, the belowground tissues had the lowest EE, CF, and TP during winter. In spring, autumn, and winter seasons, the protein content in the grazeable parts (shoots) of the water primrose was within the range, while in summer, it was higher than the minimum requirement for the maintenance of animals. There was a decrease in crude fibers and total proteins, while an increase in soluble carbohydrates content in the below- and above-ground tissues of water primrose under pollution stress. The total protein, lipids, and crude fibers of the aboveground parts of water primrose support this plant as a rough forage.     

Synthesis of 1-(β-D-Glycopyranosyl)-3-Deazapyrimidines from 2-Hydroxy and 2-Mercaptopyridines

Abstract

The synthesis of new 4- and 5-substituted-3-cyanopyridine nucleosides has been performed by reacting the silylated pyridines and penta-O-acetyl-α -D-glycopyranose in dichloroethane in the presence of SnCl₄. The free nucleosides were tested for their potential activity against HIV and different types of tumor.     

Synthesis and Anti-HIV Activity of Different Novel Nonclassical Nucleosides

Abstract

A series of different novel nonclassical nucleosides have been synthesised and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in MT-4 cells.     

Growth and nutrients accumulation potentials of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) in different habitats in Egypt

Arundo donax L. has a high biomass production and a tendency toward community dominance in many habitats and thereby a tolerance to a wide range of environmental conditions. Therefore, the present study investigated the potentiality of A. donax to accumulate nutrients and trace metals in its biomass. Six main habitats (Nile Bank, Drain Bank, Canal Bank, Field Edges, Railways and Roadsides) were recognized. At each habitat, six quadrats (each 1 m²), distributed equally in two sites, were selected for growth measurements (e.g., density, shoot height, diameter, leaf area and biomass), plant and soil analyses. Plants from Nile, Canal and Drain Banks had the highest values of most growth measurements, while those from Railways and Roadsides had the lowest. Canal Bank plants accumulated the highest concentrations of P, Cu and Pb in their leaves; Zn in the stem; and Mg, Cd and Fe in the rhizome. The bioaccumulation factor (BF) of A. donax, for Cd, Fe, Mn and Zn, was greater than 1, while the translocation factor (TF) of most trace metals was less than unity in most habitats. In conclusion, A. donax showed morphological plasticity in response to habitat heterogeneity, and its growth was most vigorous in the riparian habitats. The high BF, as well as the significant positive correlations between trace metals, especially Cd, in soil and plant, renders A. donax a powerful phytoremediator.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of eptifibatide in human plasma and dosage form

A spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of eptifibatide is presented based on its native fluorescence. The type of solvent and the wavelength of maximum excitation and emission were carefully selected to optimize the experimental conditions. Under the specified experimental conditions, the linearities obtained between the emission intensity and the corresponding concentrations of eptifibatide were in the range 0.1–2.5 μg/ml for the calibration curve constructed for direct determination of eptifibatide in dosage form and 0.05–2.2 μg/ml for the calibration curve constructed in spiked human plasma with a good correlation coefficient (r > 0.99). The lower limit of quantification for the calibration curve constructed in human plasma was 0.05 μg/ml. Recovery results for eptifibatide in spiked plasma samples and in dosage form, represented as mean ± % RSD, were 95.17 ± 1.94 and 100.29 ± 1.33 respectively. The suggested procedures were validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines for the direct determination of eptifibatide in its pure form and dosage form and United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) Guidance for Industry, Bioanalytical Method Validation for the assay of eptifibatide in human plasma.