2,3,5,6-Tetra­methoxy­piperazine-1,4-dicarbaldehyde

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C10H18N2O6, contains two halves of two independent centrosymmetric mol­ecules with almost identical conformations. Weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds consolidate the crystal packing

Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery of a Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Parturient; A Case Report

Anesthesia for parturients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is challenging. Successful management of anesthesia in PAH parturients during labor requires an interdisciplinary approach and a multidisciplinary team. During parturition, neuraxial anesthesia can be a safe and reasonable choice in this group of patients. Choosing the safest anesthesia method is always a challenge in this scenario. In a case report study, the current researchers used management of anesthesia with neuraxial block and preserving afterload and meticulous control of pulmonary hypertensio

Učinak kratkotrajne primjene hormona rasta i treninga snage na histopatološke promjene tkiva štitnjače i mutaciju gena BRAF (T1799A) u smeđeg štakora (Rattus norvegicus)

High levels of growth hormone accelerate mitosis rate but decrease the apoptosis process in its target organs. These events might cause the initiation of different cancer types. Thus, the main aims of this study were assessing the effects of short term growth hormone administration and resistance training on the histopathology and detection of the BRAF-V600E mutation in the thyroid tissue of male Rattus norvegicus brown rats. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups. After 8 weeks of the experiment (i.m), thyroid tissue and blood samples of saline (CS), resistance training+saline (RS), growth hormone (2 mg/kg) (GI) and resistance training+growth hormone (2 mg/kg) (RG) were taken to evaluate histopathology, the BRAF T1799A mutation of thyroid tissue, and circulating levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3. The protocol of training consisted of rats climbing a ladder while carrying weights (3 sets/5 reps). Microscopic evaluation of thyroid tissue did not show any histopathological changes, and there were no mutations in the studied region of the BRAF sequence. Serum IGF-1 concentration was significantly lower in the RS group than in other groups (P<0.05). However, serum IGFBP-3 concentration did not change significantly in the RS group. Moreover, serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations were significantly higher in the GI and RG groups than in the others (P<0.05). In conclusion, the decrement of serum IGF-1 concentration and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio after resistance training might decrease the risk of cancer. Furthermore, short term growth hormone administration, with and without resistance training, might increase the risk of cancer through the high levels of serum IGF-1 concentration and IGF-1/ IGFBP-3 ratio in male rats.Visoke razine hormona rasta povećavaju brzinu mitoze, ali smanjuju proces apoptoze u ciljnim organima, što može uzrokovati nastanak različitih tipova raka. Stoga je glavni cilj ovoga istraživanja bio utvrditi učinak kratkotrajne primjene hormona rasta i treninga snage na histopatološke promjene tkiva štitnjače i nalaz mutacije gena BRAF-V600E u mužjaka smeđeg štakora Rattus norvegicus. Ukupno 32 štakora nasumično su podijeljena u četiri skupine koje su ovisno o primjenjenom tretmanu označene kao CS (fiziološka otopina), RS (trening snage + fiziološka otopina), GI (hormone rasta, 2 mg/kg) i RG (trening snage+hormone rasta, 2 mg/kg). Nakon osam tjedana pokusa (i.m.) uzeti su uzorci tkiva štitnjače i uzorci krvi kako bi se procijenila histopatološka svojstva, mutacija BRAF T1799A tkiva štitnjače te razine cirkulacijskog IGF-1 i IGFBP-3. Trening se sastojao od toga da se štakori penju ljestvama noseći težinu (3 seta vježbi, 5 ponavljanja). Mikroskopska procjena tkiva štitnjače nije pokazala histopatološke promjene i nije bilo mutacija u promatranoj regiji sekvencija gena BRAF. Koncentracija serumskog IGF-1 bila je znakovito manja u skupini RS nego u ostalim skupinama (P < 0,05), no u toj skupini nije bilo znakovite promjene u koncentraciji serumskog IGFBP-3. Štoviše, koncentracije serumskog IGF-1 i IGFBP-3 bile su znakovito veće u skupinama GI i RG nego u ostalim skupinama (P < 0,05). Stoga smo zaključili da bi smanjenje koncentracije serumskog IGF-1 i IGF-1/IGFBP-3 nakon treninga snage moglo smanjiti rizik od raka. Osim toga kratkotrajna primjena hormona rasta, s treningom snage kao i bez njega, mogla bi povećati rizik od raka povećavajući koncentracije serumskog IGF-1 i IGF-1/IGFBP-3 u mužjaka štakora

(1R,2S)-N,N′-(1,2-Dihydroxy­ethyl­ene)diformamide

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C4H8N2O4, contains one half-mol­ecule which is completed via a crystallographic inversion centre. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are arranged in undulating layers parallel to (001). Inter­molecular N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds consolidate this arrangement

Side-hole catheters have higher thrombus aspiration efficiency than regular end-hole catheters in an in vitro model

PURPOSEWe aimed to evaluate and compare thrombus aspiration efficiency between side-hole and end-hole thrombus-aspirating catheters.METHODSUsing an in vitro model of acute thrombus occlusion, we performed thrombus aspiration with two catheter designs. Two end-hole and two side-hole catheters, 8 F and 10 F in diameter, were examined. Thrombus aspiration was performed with each catheter 30 times, and the amount of thrombotic material aspirated in each attempt was determined. The mean weight of the thrombotic material and the mean weight of the non-fluid thrombotic material extracted in all 30 attempts by each catheter were also determined.RESULTSThe 10 F side-hole catheter aspirated more thrombotic material than did the 10 F end-hole catheter (44.76 g vs. 28.35 g). The 8 F side-hole catheter had higher thrombus aspiration capacity than did the 8 F end-hole catheter in terms of the mean weight of the aspirated thrombus at each aspiration attempt (1.41 g vs. 0.58 g; P < 0.001) and the mean volume of the aspirated thrombotic material at each aspiration attempt (1.79 mL vs. 1.01 mL; P < 0.001). The mean weight of the non-fluid thrombotic material aspirated with the side-hole catheters was higher than that aspirated by the end-hole catheters with the same diameter size (31.06 g vs. 22.41 g for the 10 F catheters; P < 0.001; and 4.54 g vs. 2.99 g for the 8 F catheters; P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSide-hole catheters are more effective in aspirating acute thrombi. The added benefit of the side-hole design is more remarkable in smaller-sized catheters. Animal models are needed to examine their aspiration capacity in a real elastic vascular conduit and in the presence of wall-adherent thrombi

Nurses’ understanding of evidence-based practice: Identification of barriers to utilization of research in teaching hospitals

BACKGROUND: In medical organizations, utilizing evidence-based practice (EBP) helps nurses and patients make the best decision in health care in certain clinical settings. Hence, recognizing its educational barriers is so important.METHODS: The present study was a descriptive-analytical research that was conducted using a cross-sectional design in 6 teaching hospitals of Qazvin City, Iran, in 2014. The study sample consisted of 260 nurses. Based on the number of the nurses working in each hospital, the study sample was chosen by a stratified random method. Two questionnaires were employed to collect the required data. The first questionnaire was Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (EBPQ) that evaluates nurses’ understanding of EBP. The second questionnaire was related to measuring the barriers to utilization of research by the nurses that was developed by Funk et al. For analyzing the collected data, frequency distribution tables, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression coefficient were used.RESULTS: The total mean of EBP among the nurses was at a level above average. The subscales of knowledge/skill (3.74) and attitude (3.87) had a lower average compared to the subscale of practice (4.14). The total mean of the barriers was 3.07. According to the results of the present study, organization and adopter had the highest and lowest means, respectively.CONCLUSION: Identifying the barriers that affect effective EBP implementation can help nurses achieve their goals by removing these obstacles, building the necessary infrastructure, and providing human, physical, and financial resources

Effect of Exogenous Application of Several Plant Growth Regulators on Photosynthetic Pigments of Fennel Plants

In order to investigate the effects of some plant growth regulators on photosynthetic pigments and growth of fennel plants, a greenhouse experiment was conducted based on the randomized complete block design with three replicates in 2017. Treatments were the application of methyl jasmonate (25, 50, 100 and 200 μM), putrescine (0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM) and 24-Epibrassinolide at 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 μM and distilled water as a control. The results indicated that application of 0.5 Mm putrescine, exhibited significant effects on the chlorophyll a (62%), b (104%), total chlorophyll (72%), carotenoids (51%), flavonoids (51%), anthocyanin content (-14%), phenolic compounds (13%) and maximum quantum efficiency (17%) in dark condition and in light condition. Application of 24-Epibrassinolide resulted in a significant increase of chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll, carotenoids, phenol content, maximum quantum efficiency in the dark condition and photochemical quenching of fluorescence. The highest chlorophyll content and carotenoids were observed in treated plants with 0.1 µM 24-Epibrassinolide, while the maximum phenol content was obtained by application of 0.01 µM 24-Epibrassinolide. The application of methyl jasmonate significantly affected the major chlorophyll and accessory pigments (except phenol) of fennel. Plants treated with 50 µM methyl jasmonate exhibited higher concentrations of chlorophyll a (3.25 mg per g FW-1), total chlorophyll (4.35 mg per g FW-1), carotenoids (0.87 mg per g FW-1) and flavonoids (4.75 µg per g FW-1). A significant dry weight increased after the application of methyl jasmonate and it can be concluded that the most effective treatment in this regard for fennel plants was 50 µM methyl jasmonate

N 3,N 6,2,5,7-Penta­phenyl-2,5,7-triaza­bicyclo­[2.2.1]heptane-3,6-diamine

In the title compound, C34H31N5, the observed molecular geometry suggests that anomeric effects are present in terms of short C—N bond lengths and reduced pyramidality of the N atoms

Targeting enteroviral 2A protease by a 16-mer synthetic peptide: Inhibition of 2Apro-induced apoptosis in a stable Tet-on HeLa cell line

AbstractEnteroviridae such as coxsackievirus are important infectious agents causing viral heart diseases. Viral protease 2A (2Apro) initiates the virus life cycle, and is an excellent target for developing antiviral drugs. Here, to evaluate the validity of the 2Apro as a proper therapeutic target, and based on the existing information and molecular dynamics, a 16-mer peptide was designed to specifically target the active site of protease 2Apro in order to block the activity of CVB3 2Apro. We showed that the peptide could compete with endogenous substrate in a concentration-dependent manner. Further, we established a HeLa cell line that expressed 2Apro. Expression of 2Apro resulted in significant morphological alteration and eventual cell death. Western blot and viability assay showed that the 16-mer peptide (200 μg/ml) could significantly block 2Apro activity and its cytotoxic effect. Future modification of the 16-mer peptide can improve its affinity for 2Apro and therefore develop effective antiviral drug