Pyrazoles and Pyrazolo[4,3-e]pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines II

in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). Synthesis of the title compounds was achieved using the anils 2a-e and 5a-c derived from the 4-aminopyrazole 1 as starting materials. These compounds were allowed to react with mercaptoacetic acid in boiling dry benzene to afford the corresponding thiazolidinones and spiro-thiazolidinones 3a-e and 6a-c, respectively. Pictet-Spengler reaction of the 4-aminopyrazole hydrochloride 7 with aromatic aldehydes and cyclic ketones resulted in the formation of new pyrazolo[4,3-e]pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazines 8a-e and 9a,b, respectively. Other derivatives of pyrazolo pyrrolopyrazines 10 and 11 were obtained via the reaction of the amino derivative 1 with 1,1 0 -carbonyldiimidazol and CS 2 , respectively

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Assessment of serum levels of soluble CD40L in Egyptian children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: Relationship to microalbuminuria and glycemic control

Context: Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) is known to be elevated in different clinical situations including hypercholesterolemia, acute coronary syndromes, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), Data about the relationship between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and sCD40L is limited. In addition, the potential role ofsCD40Lin the pathogenesis of vascular complications in children and adolescents with T1DM is to be clarified. Hence, the study aimed at assessment of sCD40L levels in children and adolescents with T1DM and correlation of these levels with glycemic control and microalbuminuria. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional controlled study. Materials and Methods: The study was performed in the Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, Assuit University Children Hospital, Assiut, Egypt. It included 70 children and adolescents with T1DM (mean age 14. 76 ± 2.21 years). Cases were further subdivided into 43 cases with normoalbuminuria and 27 cases with microalbuminuria according to presence or absence or microalbuminuria in fresh urine samples. Twentyfive healthy subjects, age- and sex-matched were included as control group (mean age = 13.62 ± 2.11 years). Studied cases were subjected to medical history, clinical examination, and laboratory assessment of fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and sCD40L were performed. Results: Mean HbA1c and sCD40L were significantly higher in diabetic children (n = 70) compared to control (n = 25) (P < 0.001 for each). Mean HbA1c and sCD40L levels were significantly higher in microalbuminuric cases (n = 27) compared to normoalbuminuric cases (n = 43) (P < 0.05 and <0.01, respectively).We also observed a significant positive correlation between sCD40L levels and the age, diabetes duration, HbA1c, and urinary albumin creatinine ratio. Conclusions: The high serum sCD40L levels in children and adolescents with T1DM particularly in those with microalbminuria and its positive correlation with diabetes duration, urinary albumin excretion, and glycemic control may reflect the role of sCD40L in diabetic vasculopathy in the pediatric age group. Moreover, measurement of serum sCD40L levels in poorly controlled patients would help to identify those at high risk of developing nephropathy

New pyrazole derivatives of potential biological activity

International audience5-Chloro-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxaldehyde (1) was reacted with hydrazine hydrate and thiosemicarbazide to afford the corresponding hydrazones 2 and thiosemicarbazones 4. The latter compounds were used to obtain the pyrazole derivatives 3, 5-7. A series of azines 8a-e were obtained by reacting 2 with aromatic aldehydes. Potassium permanganate oxidation of 1 gave the acid 9, which was transformed into the corresponding acid azide 11 then used to prepare diverse urea derivatives 13-18 via Curtius reaction

Pyridine-Based Heterocycles. Synthesis of New Pyrido [4',3':4,5]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines and Related Heterocycles

The synthesis of the title compounds was achieved using ethyl 2-amino-6-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothieno[2,3-c]pyridine-3-carboxylate (1) as starting material. The reaction of the amino ester 1 with phenylisothiocyanate in boiling ethanol afforded the thiourea derivative 5. The cyclization reactions of 5 under different reaction conditions led to different pyridothienopyrimidine derivatives. Other reactions of the latter derivatives leading to pyrido[4',3':4,5]thieno[2,3-d]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines are also presented