Homology modeling and SAR analysis of Schistosoma japonicum cathepsin D (SjCD) with statin inhibitors identify a unique active site steric barrier with potential for the design of specific inhibitors.

Proteases that digest the blood-meal of the parasitic fluke Schistosoma are potential targets for therapy of schistosomiasis, a disease of chronic morbidity in humans. We generated a three-dimensional model of the cathepsin D target protease of Schistosoma japonicum (SjCD) utilizing the crystal structure of human cathepsin D (huCD) in complex with pepstatin as template. A homology model was also generated for the related secreted aspartic protease 2 (SAP2) of the pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans .

[Non-invasive assessment of the efficacy of long-term vasodilator therapy of cardiac decompensation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy].

In 18 patients (14 men, 4 women, in the age of 37-52 years, mean = 43 years) with dilated cardiomyopathy allocated into NYHA functional classification groups III-IV, the efficacy of ambulatory long term (mean = 6 years) vasodilator therapy by means of non-invasive methods was evaluated. NITRO-MACK retard (venodilator) in the dosage of 20 mg per day and DIHYDRALAZIN (arteriodilator) in the dosage of 100-200 mg per day were combined simultaneously with continuous administration of cardiotonics and diuretics. Vasodilator therapy had a favourable effect on systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle with the mostly marked effect at the beginning of treatment.

[Indications for cardiac surgery on the basis of noninvasive examination methods with major emphasis on echocardiography].

Over the years 1983-1988 cardiosurgical procedures with extracorporeal circulation without catheterization of the heart were indicated in 191 patients, representing 19.8% of all the patients operated on at extracorporeal circulation (n--962). Indications for surgery were made on the basis of the clinical state of the patient and of the results of noninvasive methods, with main emphasis on echocardiographic findings.

[Valvular defects in advanced age].

Based on many years experience with the diagnosis and treatment of valvular defects in advanced age the authors present a review of the problem with emphasis on non-rheumatic degenerative damage of the cardiac valves and valvular apparatus. They draw attention to the reliability of non-invasive examination methods and prefer their routine use in cardiological geriatric practice. As regards therapeutic procedures, they draw attention to more progressive methods of treatment of valvular defects in old age such as percutaneous, transluminal balloon valvuloplasty of the aortic valve, open valvuloplasty of the mitral valve and replacement of damaged valves by prostheses, in particular biological ones.

The first heart sound abnormalities accompanied with alteration of systolic time intervals in incipient heart failure.

A phonocardiological analysis of the first heart sound was made and systolic time intervals were measured in 40 patients (ischaemic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, cardiomyopathies) with incipient cardiac failure (functional groups I--II according to the NYHA) with auscultatory changes of the first heart sound and in controls of randomly selected healthy persons or patients in whom cardiopulmonary disease was excluded. The patients in all diagnostic groups differed significantly (P less than 0.05--0.