Synthesis, molecular modeling, and biological evaluation of novel benzimidazole derivatives as inhibitors of hepatitis C virus RNA replication.

In this study, synthesis and docking studies of a series of new benzimidazole derivatives linked to substituted pyrimidines either through the methylenethio linkage or its bioisosteric methylene amino bridge were carried out. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication-inhibitory activity. Compounds 4d, 4f, and 4h were found to be more potent than VX-950 (IC50/90 of 4d=0.

Preparation and evaluation of polyamidoamine dendrimer conjugate with glucuronylglucosyl-β-cyclodextrin (G3) as a novel carrier for siRNA.

Abstract In this study, we newly synthesized the polyamidoamine STARBURST dendrimer (dendrimer, generation 3: G3) conjugates with 6-O-α-(4-O-α-D-glucuronyl)-D-glucosyl-β-cyclodextrin [GUG-β-CDE (G3)] having the various degrees of substitution (DS) of GUG-β-cyclodextrin of 1.6, 3.0, 3.

Redescription of Sarcocystis fusiformis sarcocysts from the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

Four valid species of Sarcocystis have been reported from the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): Sarcocystis fusiformis, Sarcocystis buffalonis, Sarcocystis levinei and Sarcocystis dubeyi. Here, we redescribe structure of S. fusiformis sarcocysts by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM).

Effects of material, coating, design and plaque composition on stent deployment inside a stenotic artery--finite element simulation.

Finite-element simulations have been carried out to study the effects of material choice, drug eluting coating and cell design on the mechanical behaviour of stents during deployment inside a stenotic artery. Metallic stents made of materials with lower yield stress and weaker strain hardening tend to experience higher deformation and stronger dogboning and recoiling, but less residual stresses. Drug eluting coatings have limited effect on stent expansion, recoiling, dogboning and residual stresses.

Reactive iron sulfide (FeS)-supported ultrafiltration for removal of mercury (Hg(II)) from water.

This study investigated removal of Hg(II) from water using FeS(s) with batch and continuous contact filtration systems. For the batch system, kinetic experiments showed that removal of Hg(II) by FeS(s) was rapid at lower concentration (500 μM), but at higher concentration (1000 and 1250 μM), more time was required to achieve greater than 99% removal. The concentration of iron released to the solution remained relatively low, typically below 3 μM.

Penetration of cutting tool into cortical bone: experimental and numerical investigation of anisotropic mechanical behaviour.

An anisotropic mechanical behaviour of cortical bone and its intrinsic hierarchical microstructure act as protective mechanisms to prevent catastrophic failure due to natural loading conditions; however, they increase the extent of complexity of a penetration process in the case of orthopaedic surgery. Experimental results available in literature provide only limited information about processes in the vicinity of a tool-bone interaction zone. Also, available numerical models the bone-cutting process do not account for material anisotropy or the effect of damage mechanisms.

Advanced Reduction Processes: A New Class of Treatment Processes.

A new class of treatment processes called advanced reduction processes (ARPs) is proposed. ARPs combine activation methods and reducing agents to form highly reactive reducing radicals that degrade oxidized contaminants. Batch screening experiments were conducted to identify effective ARPs by applying several combinations of activation methods (ultraviolet light, ultrasound, electron beam, and microwaves) and reducing agents (dithionite, sulfite, ferrous iron, and sulfide) to degradation of four target contaminants (perchlorate, nitrate, perfluorooctanoic acid, and 2,4 dichlorophenol) at three pH-levels (2.

Anteroseptal basal right ventricular entrainment is simple and superior to apical entrainment in identifying mechanism of supraventricular tachycardia.

Background: Differentiation between atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) and atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) can be sometimes challenging. Apical right ventricular (RV) entrainment can help in differentiation; however, it has some fallacies. We thought to compare the accuracy of anteroseptal basal RV entrainment to RV apical entrainment in identifying the mechanism of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

Degradation of vinyl chloride (VC) by the sulfite/UV advanced reduction process (ARP): effects of process variables and a kinetic model.

Vinyl chloride (VC) poses a threat to humans and environment due to its toxicity and carcinogenicity. In this study, an advanced reduction process (ARP) that combines sulfite with UV light was developed to destroy VC. The degradation of VC followed pseudo-first-order decay kinetics and the effects of several experimental factors on the degradation rate constant were investigated.

Negative correlation between fetuin-A and indices of vascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with and without lupus nephritis.

Introduction: Fetuin-A, a systemic calcification inhibitor, has been negatively related to vascular calcification (VC) and cardiovascular mortality. In this study we investigated the association between fetuin-A levels and atherosclerotic vascular complications in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with and without lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: We recruited 20 SLE patients without LN, 20 SLE patients with LN and 20 healthy controls.

Removal of arsenite(As(III)) and arsenate(As(V)) by synthetic pyrite (FeS2): synthesis, effect of contact time, and sorption/desorption envelopes.

Reliable techniques for synthesizing pyrite are necessary in order to develop effective treatment methods that use pyrite to remove arsenic from water and to stabilize arsenic in wastes. The Fe(3+)/HS(-) values of 0.500 and 0.

Reduction of perchlorate using zero-valent titanium (ZVT) anode: kinetic models.

The kinetics of perchlorate reduction by zero-valent titanium (ZVT) undergoing electrical pitting corrosion was described by interactions of two domains (pit and solution). Two kinetic models were developed based on two possible inhibition mechanisms. A competitive adsorption model was developed based on surface coverage of perchlorate and chloride on bare ZVT, and a Ti(II) consumption model was developed based on Ti(II) oxidation by electrochemically developed chlorine.

Correlation of serum antibody titres with invasive methods for rapid detection of Helicobacter pylori infections in symptomatic children.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is causally associated with peptic ulcer disease and gastric carcinoma. Typically, children get infected during the first decade of life, but diseases associated with H.

As(V) adsorption onto nanoporous titania adsorbents (NTAs): effects of solution composition.

This study has focused on developing two nanoporous titania adsorbents (NTA) to enhance removal efficiency of adsorption process for As(V) by characterizing the effects of pH and phosphate concentration on their sorption capacities and behaviors. One type of adsorbent is a mesoporous titania (MT) solid phase and the other is group of a highly ordered mesoporous silica solids (SBA-15) that can incorporate different levels of reactive titania sorption sites. Microscopic analysis showed that Ti((25))-SBA-15 (Ti/SBA=0.

Degradation of perchlorate in water using aqueous multivalent titanium: effect of titanium type, ionic strength, and metal and solid catalysts.

In this study, chemical degradation of perchlorate was investigated using partially oxidized titanium ions (Ti(II) and Ti(III)). Results of UV spectra showed that the patterns of absorbance at all ratios of F/Ti(0) were similar each other, except the lowest F/Ti(0) of 0.5 (25 mM F(-)) where mixture of Ti(II) and Ti(III) might be present, resulted in shift of the peak to wavelength of 480 nm.

Clinical relevance of cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MT1-MMP) in human breast cancer tissue.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common neoplasm among women in most developed countries, including Egypt. Elevated levels of certain proteins in human BC are associated with unfavorable prognosis and progressive stages of the disease. The aim of our study was to evaluate the protein expression profile and prognostic significance of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and membrane type 1-MMP (MT1-MMP) and their interaction in operable BC patients.

Antibacterial and anticancer activity of ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) produced by a marine Bacillus subtilis sp.

A marine Bacillus subtilis SDNS was isolated from sea water in Alexandria and identified using 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The bacterium produced a compound active against a number of gram negativeve bacteria. Moreover, the anticancer activity of this bacterium was tested against three different human cell lines (Hela S3, HepG2 and CaCo).

Sorption of selenium(IV) and selenium(VI) onto synthetic pyrite (FeS2): spectroscopic and microscopic analyses.

Pyrite was hydrothermally synthesized and used to remove Se(IV) and Se(VI) selectively from solution. Surface analyses of pyrite before and after contact with Se(IV) and Se(VI) were conducted using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). All solid samples were acquired by allowing 3.

Perchlorate reduction during electrochemically induced pitting corrosion of zero-valent titanium (ZVT).

Zero-valent metals and ionic metal species are a popular reagent for the abatement of contaminants in drinking water and groundwater and perchlorate is a contaminant of increasing concern. However, perchlorate degradation using commonly used reductants such as zero-valent metals and soluble reduced metal species is kinetically limited. Titanium in the zero-valent and soluble states has a high thermodynamic potential to reduce perchlorate.

Subclinical atherosclerosis in obese adolescents with normal left ventricular function.

Objective: To assess the impact of obesity on carotid intima media thickness and left ventricular (LV) mass in obese adolescents.

Methods: The study included 52 obese adolescents (mean age 14.16+/-2.

Analysis of anisotropic viscoelastoplastic properties of cortical bone tissues.

Bone fractures affect the health of many people and have a significant social and economic effect. Often, bones fracture due to impacts, sudden falls or trauma. In order to numerically model the fracture of a cortical bone tissue caused by an impact it is important to know parameters characterising its viscoelastoplastic behaviour.

Diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin levels in children with meningitis: a comparison with blood leukocyte count and C-reactive protein.

Objectives: To determine the level of serum procalcitonin, blood leukocyte count (TLC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in children with bacterial and non bacterial meningitis and document their efficacy in differential diagnosis. Also described are procalcitonin levels variation during treatment.

Methods: From March 2005 to February 2008, we evaluated 38 clinically suspected meningitis patients in the paediatric departments, Al-Jedaany Hospital, Jeddah, KSA, for Serum procalcitonin, CRP, TLC and Lumbar punctures and CSF analysis.

[Ventricular tachycardia caused by a left ventricular aneurysm in a patient with previous surgery for ventricular septal defect].

Ventricular mural aneurysms especially in the left ventricle represent an increased risk for life-threatening arrhythmias. We present a case of ventricular tachycardia originating from an inferobasal left ventricular aneurysm. A 25-year-old male patient presented with complaints of palpitation, breathlessness, and dizziness of two-hour onset.

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of mesotrione degradation in aqueous medium by Fenton process.

In this work, chemical oxidation of mesotrione herbicide by Fenton process in acidic medium (pH 3.5) was investigated. Total disappearance of mesotrione and up to 95% removal of total organic carbon (TOC) were achieved by Fenton's reagent under optimized initial concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and ferrous iron (Fe(2+)) at pH 3.

Management strategies for acute brain lesions presenting during pregnancy: a case series.

Background: The management of brain lesions diagnosed during pregnancy is challenging to both obstetricians and neurosurgeons. In this study, a series of nine pregnant women were admitted to neurosurgery presenting with different acute brain lesions.

Objective: To establish guidelines for the management of acute brain lesions that present during pregnancy.