Metronidazole Interaction with Cu and Zn: Speciation Study in Aqueous Solution and Biological Activity Evaluation.

Metronidazole (2-methyl-5-nitro-1-imidazole-1-ethanol, MNZ) is a well-known and widely used drug for its excellent activity against various anaerobic bacteria and protozoa. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the ability of MNZ to form metal complexes with Cu and Zn and to demonstrate that complexation increases its bioactivity profile against different pathogenic microorganisms. The interaction of MNZ with Cu and Zn was investigated in NaCl aqueous solution under different conditions of temperature (15, 25, and 37 °C) and ionic strength (0.

Design and Synthesis of 1,3-Diarylpyrazoles and Investigation of Their Cytotoxicity and Antiparasitic Profile.

Herein, we report a series of 1,3-diarylpyrazoles that are analogues of compound /HIT 8. We previously identified this molecule as a 'hit' during a high-throughput screening campaign for autophagy inducers. A variety of synthetic strategies were utilized to modify the 1,3-diarylpyrazole core at its 1-, 3-, and 4-position.

Novel quinoline derivatives with broad-spectrum antiprotozoal activities.

Several quinoline derivatives incorporating arylnitro and aminochalcone moieties were synthesized and evaluated in vitro against a broad panel of trypanosomatid protozoan parasites responsible for sleeping sickness (Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense), nagana (Trypanosoma brucei brucei), Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi), and leishmaniasis (Leishmania infantum). Several of the compounds demonstrated significant antiprotozoal activity. Specifically, compounds 2c, 2d, and 4i displayed submicromolar activity against T.

Hit-to-lead optimization of a 2-aminobenzimidazole series as new candidates for chagas disease.

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Because current treatments present several limitations, including long duration, variable efficacy and serious side effects, there is an urgent need to explore new antitrypanosomal drugs. The present study describes the hit-to-lead optimization of a 2-aminobenzimidazole hit 1 identified through in vitro phenotypic screening of a chemical library against intracellular Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes, which focused on optimizing potency, selectivity, microsomal stability and lipophilicity.

Cardiac Computed Tomography to exclude left atrial appendage thrombus in atrial arrhythmias prior to electrical cardioversion during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nil.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome following mild COVID-19 in an unvaccinated Tongan adult.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A), is a rare post-infectious complication of COVID-19. We describe an illustrative case of MIS-A in an otherwise well, SARS-CoV-2 unvaccinated 25-year-old Tongan man who presented to hospital 30 days after mild COVID-19 illness. We highlight the progression of his illness, including treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for cardiogenic shock, and detail temporal evolution of clinical, laboratory and radiographic features of his illness.

Antiplasmodial activity of constituents and their metabolites after in vitro gastrointestinal biotransformation of a Nauclea pobeguinii extract.

Nauclea pobeguinii is traditionally used for treatment of malaria. Previous studies on the plant extract and strictosamide, the putative active constituent, showed a profound in vivo activity of the extract but no in vitro activity of strictosamide. This might indicate that one or more compounds present in the extract, most likely alkaloids, act as prodrugs undergoing biotransformation after oral administration resulting in the active compounds.

ICare-ACS (Improving Care Processes for Patients With Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome): A Study of Cross-System Implementation of a National Clinical Pathway.

Background: Efforts to safely reduce length of stay for emergency department patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have had mixed success. Few system-wide efforts affecting multiple hospital emergency departments have ever been evaluated. We evaluated the effectiveness of a nationwide implementation of clinical pathways for potential ACS in disparate hospitals.

Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand Position Statement: Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring.

Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring (CAC) is a non-invasive quantitation of coronary artery calcification using computed tomography (CT). It is a marker of atherosclerotic plaque burden and an independent predictor of future myocardial infarction and mortality. Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring provides incremental risk information beyond traditional risk calculators (eg.

The value of CT cardiac angiography and CT calcium score testing in a modern cardiology service in New Zealand: a report of a single centre eight-year experience from 5,237 outpatient procedures.

Background: Computed tomographic (CT) cardiac angiography is of increasing value in several areas of patient management in cardiology. We assessed the ability of CT cardiac angiography to effectively 'rule out' severe coronary stenoses in patients presenting with 'atypical' symptoms and/or an equivocal stress test, which offers a new approach to the management of coronary artery disease. We also examined the use of the CT calcium score test in cardiovascular (CVS) risk assessment.

Plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentrations in patients with valvular heart disease.

Objective: Plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations predict prognosis in patients with valvular heart disease (VHD), but it is unclear whether this directly relates to disease severity. We assessed the relationship between BNP and echocardiographic measures of disease severity in patients with VHD.

Methods: Plasma BNP concentrations were measured in patients with normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function and isolated VHD (mitral regurgitation (MR), n=33; aortic regurgitation (AR), n=39; aortic stenosis (AS), n=34; mitral stenosis (MS), n=30), and age-matched and sex-matched controls (n=39) immediately prior to exercise stress echocardiography.

Exercise stress echocardiography in patients with valvular heart disease.

Stress echocardiography is recommended for the assessment of asymptomatic patients with severe valvular heart disease (VHD) when there is discrepancy between symptoms and resting markers of severity. The aim of this study is to determine the prognostic value of exercise stress echocardiography in patients with common valve lesions. One hundred and fifteen patients with VHD (aortic stenosis (n=28); aortic regurgitation (n=35); mitral regurgitation, (n=26); mitral stenosis (n=26)), and age- and sex-matched controls (n=39) with normal ejection fraction underwent exercise stress echocardiography.

Evaluation of Previously Cannulated Radial Arteries as Patent Coronary Artery Bypass Conduits.

In coronary artery bypass grafting, good-quality conduits are needed to maximize the potential for long-term patency. Revascularization has traditionally been achieved with use of the saphenous vein and the internal thoracic arteries. In recent years, total arterial revascularization with use of the radial arteries has been promoted.

Two causes of ventricular tachycardia in a 26 year-old male.

We present the case of a 26 year-old man who presented to hospital with monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) at a rate of 170bpm after exercising on a treadmill. Multimodality imaging with transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) and computed tomography coronary angiogram (CTCA) demonstrated two causes for ventricular tachycardia; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and an anomalous right coronary artery (RCA) arising from the left coronary sinus, with a potentially malignant interarterial course. Both conditions can be associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Renal denervation for resistant hypertension using an irrigated radiofrequency balloon: 12-month results from the Renal Hypertension Ablation System (RHAS) trial.

Aims: Renal denervation using the point-by-point application of radiofrequency energy delivered by the first-generation Symplicity system is effective in lowering office blood pressure but may be time-consuming. The OneShot Renal Denervation System with a balloon-mounted spiral electrode potentially shortens and simplifies the procedure. This study is a hypothesis-generating first-in-human study to assess feasibility, and to provide preliminary efficacy and safety data.

First-in-human use of the OneShot™ renal denervation system from Covidien.

Percutaneous transcatheter renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) is a promising treatment for refractory hypertension (HT). RDN was found in one series of clinical studies to reduce systolic blood pressure (SBP) by as much as a mean of 30 mmHg with 85% of subjects experiencing sustained reductions of 10 mm or more out to two years after RDN. This degree of blood pressure reduction may reduce stroke and myocardial infarction rates and is anticipated to translate into improved life expectancy.

High calcium scores in patients with a low Framingham risk of cardiovascular (CVS) disease: implications for more accurate CVS risk assessment in New Zealand.

Aims: New Zealand (NZ) patients are recommended to undergo an 'adjusted' Framingham score to assess their cardiovascular (CVS) risk. The current (2009) NZ CVS Risk Guideline does not recommend the use of a 'calcium score' as an additional risk tool, although it has been shown to be powerfully predictive of CVS events above the predictive power of traditional Framingham risk factors. Calcium scores of >400 are very strongly predictive of a future CVS event and give direct evidence of atheromatous disease in the coronary circulation.

Magnetic resonance assessment of left ventricular volumes and mass using a single-breath-hold 3D k-t BLAST cine b-SSFP in comparison with multiple-breath-hold 2D cine b-SSFP.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of single-breath-hold three-dimensional cine b-SSFP (balanced steady-state free precession gradient echo) sequence (3D-cine), accelerated with k-t BLAST (broad-use linear acquisition speed-up technique), compared with multiple-breath-hold 2D cine b-SSFP (2D-cine) sequence for assessment of left ventricular (LV) function.

Methods: Imaging was performed using 1.5-T MRI (Achieva, Philips, The Netherlands) in 46 patients with different cardiac diseases.