Co-circulation of Multiple SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in Dhaka, Bangladesh, during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Thirty partial coding DNA sequences (CDSs) of the spike gene of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were obtained from nasopharyngeal swab samples collected in March to July 2021 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, during the second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, using Sanger sequencing technology. Sequence analysis showed the presence of multiple WHO-designated variants of concern (VOCs), including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta, with predominant circulation of Delta variants during that period.

Genome Sequencing of Omicron Variants of SARS-CoV-2 Circulating in Bangladesh during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The coding-complete genome sequence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was obtained from 39 nasopharyngeal swab samples collected in January 2022 from Dhaka, Bangladesh, during the 3rd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, using Illumina MiniSeq sequencing technology. Sequence analysis showed that all of them belonged to the WHO-designated variant of concern (VOC) Omicron. The presence of different sublineages of Omicron was noted, among which sublineage BA.2 (Nextstrain clade 21L) was the most prevalent one.

Epilepsy - from mysticism to science.

The understanding of epilepsy has been in progressive evolution since Antiquity, with scientific advances culminating in the last few decades. Throughout history, epilepsy was plagued by mystical misconceptions involving either demonic possessions, witchcraft, or divine interventions. This has frequently altered or even halted any real progress in its scientific understanding or its social perception. This metaphysical context is also at the core of the stigma revolving around this condition, some of which still lingering today. This review explores the origins of these mystical beliefs, and describes the chronological evolution of epilepsy from mysticism to science across different civilizations and eras.

Acercamiento epidemiológico de la enfermedad arterial periférica en la República Argentina. Resultado de Encuesta nacional multicéntrica / Aproximaçâo epidemiológica da doença arterial periférica na República Argentina. Resultado de uma pesquisa nacional multicéntrica / Epidemiological analysis of peripheral arterial disease in Argentina. Results of a multicenter national survey

Objetivo: conocer la prevalencia de la enfermedad vascular periférica (Enfermedad Arterial Periféricay Enfermedad Cerebro Vascular extra craneana) en distintos puntos de la República Argentina, a través de una encuesta a representantes del CACCVE (Colegio Argentino de CirujanosCardiovasculares y Endovasculares).Material y métodos: mediante una encuesta que se detalla a continuación, se solicitó conocer en porcentajes distintos aspectos de los pacientes atendidos en 2009-2010 a distintos centros de atención vascular: Edad; Sexo; Grupo Étnico (Blanca, Mestiza, Criolla, Aborigen, etc.); Hábitos(Tabaquismo, Sedentarismo, Personalidad); Factores de Riesgo Asociados (Hipertensión Arterial,Diabetes, Dislipidemia, Coronariopatías, Insuficiencia Renal Crónica, Enfermedades Broncopulmonares);Estudios solicitados (Análisis Clínicos, Ecodoppler, Índice Tobillo-Brazo); Medicación (Vasodilatadores, anti agregantes, anti neuríticos y analgésicos); Estadificación (Fontaine, Rutherford, TASC, TASC II); Enfermedad Carotidea (ACAS, NASCET). Resultados: se evaluaron 9500 consultas de pacientes con patología arterial, en CABA, Pcia. Bs. As., Córdoba Capital, Ciudad de Tucumán, Ciudad de Bariloche (Río Negro) y Ciudad de Río Grande (Tierra del Fuego) Se observan diferencias con respecto a la metodología diagnóstica, manejo de factores de riesgo asociados y tratamiento médico con respecto a Guías Internacionales. Se discute sobre grupo etario sobre el que basamos nuestros tratamientos. Conclusión: en muchos aspectos se aplican guías de procedimiento internacionales, sin evaluar previamente sobre nuestras realidades, intentamos mostrar la prevalencia de la Enfermedad ArterialPeriférica considerándolo esencial para optimizar los programas de atención primaria tanto como el tratamiento médico y quirúrgico para esta enfermedad.

Objetivo: conhecer a prevalência da doença vascular periférica (Doença Arterial Periférica e Doença Cérebro Vascular extra craneana) em diferentes pontos da República Argentina, a travésde uma pesquisa realizada com representantes do CACCVE (Colégio Argentino de Cirurgiões Cardiovasculares e Endovasculares).Material e métodos: Utilizando uma pesquisa apresentada em detalhes em continuação, solicitou-se conhecer em porcentagens, diversos aspectos dos pacientes atendidos no período 2009-2010 em diferentes centros de atendimento vascular: Idade; Sexo; Grupo Étnico (Branco, Preto, Pardo, Indígena, etc.); Hábitos (Tabaquismo, Sedentarismo, Personalidade ); Fatores de Risco Associados (Hipertensão Arterial, Diabetes, Dislipidemia, Coronariopatias, Insuficiência RenalCrônica, Doenças Broncopulmonares); Exames solicitados (Análises Clínicas, Ecodoppler, Índice Tornozelo Braquial); Medicação (Vasodilatadores, antiagregantes, anti neuríticos e analgésicos); Classificação (Fontaine, Rutherford, TASC, TASC II); Doença Carotídea (ACAS, NASCET). Resultados: Avaliaram-se 9500 consultas de pacientes com patología arterial, em CABA, Província de Bs. As., Córdoba Capital, Cidade de Tucumán, Cidade de Bariloche (Rio Negro) e Cidade de Rio Grande (Terra do Fogo). Observam-se diferenças relacionadas à metodologia diagnóstica, manejo de fatores de risco associados e tratamento médico com respeito a Guias Internacionais.Discute-se sobre grupo etário no qual baseamos nossos tratamentos. Conclusão: Em muitos aspectos aplicam-se guias de procedimento internacionais, sem avaliar previamente sobre nossas realidades. Tentamos mostrar a prevalência da Doença Arterial Periféricaconsiderando-a essencial para otimizar os programas de atendimento primário como também o tratamento médico e cirúrgico para esta doença.

Objective: to collect information on the prevalence of peripheral vascular disease (Peripheral Arterial Disease and Extra-cranial Cerebrovascular Disease) in different regions of Argentina through a survey of CACCVE (Colegio Argentino de Cirujanos Cardiovasculares y Endovasculares) representatives.Material and Methods: the following survey was distributed to know the percentage of certain different criteria in the patients followed-up between 2009-2010 at different vascular centers: age; gender; ethnic group (Caucasian, Mestizos, Creole, Indigenous, etc.); Habits (Smoking,Sedentarism, Personality ); Associated Risk Factors (Arterial Hypertension, Diabetes, Dyslipidemia, Coronary Disease, Chronic Renal Failure, Bronchopulmonary Disease); Tests indicated (Clinical Laboratory, Ecodoppler, Ankle Arm Index); Medication ( vasodilators, antiagreggants, antineuritics and pain medication); Staging (Fontaine, Rutherford, TASC, TASC II); Carotiddisease (ACAS, NASCET). Results: 9,500 patients with arterial disease were followed in the city of Buenos Aires, the province of Buenos Aires, the capital city of Cordoba, city of Tucumán, City of Bariloche (Rio Negro) andCity of Rio Grande (Tierra del Fuego). Differences are seen in the diagnostic methodology, management of concomitant risk factors and medical treatment according to the internationalguidelines. Also the age group for treatment indication is taken into consideration. Conclusion: In many cases international operating guidelines are applied disregarding the local reality, we tried to indicate the prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease as we consider this information to be essential in order to optimize primary care programs both for the medical and surgical treatment of this disease.

Influence of tea and coffee beverages on prostacyclin synthesis by the rat aorta.

Influences of 2.5 and 5% (w/v) aqueous tea and coffee beverages administered ad lib. to rats for two weeks on PGI2 synthesis by the rat thoracic aorta in vitro were investigated using a rat platelet antiaggregatory bioassay and HPLC methods. The 2.5% beverages did not affect PGI2 synthesis; however, the 5% beverages significantly decreased PGI2 synthesis. The observed decreases were significantly abolished in presence of exogenous arachidonic acid suggesting a beverage-induced inhibition of precursor release. The ability of the beverages to inhibit PGI2 synthesis may partly contribute towards better understanding of the biochemical mechanisms underlying some of the beverages-induced actions in vivo.

Effects of sesame and cod liver oils on prostacyclin synthesis by the rat thoracic aorta.

The influence of sesame and cod liver oils (0.5 and 1 g/kg/day s.c. for 2 weeks) on arterial PGI2 synthesis in the rat was investigated using a rat platelet antiaggregatory bioassay and HPLC methods. Smaller doses did not affect PGI2 synthesis. However, sesame oil at a dose of 1 g/kg/day significantly stimulated PGI2 synthesis, whereas cod liver oil at the same dose significantly decreased the synthesis. Incubation of control tissues in presence of exogenous arachidonic acid (33 microM) significantly stimulated PGI2 synthesis, however, incubation of cod liver oil-treated tissues in presence of arachidonic acid resulted in PGI2 synthesis, similar to that observed in the nontreated controls. The changes observed in PGI2 synthesis in the tissues from oil-treated rats may have resulted from modulation in arachidonic acid release and/or direct effects on the enzymes involved in PGI2 synthesis. The oil-induced changes in PGI2 synthesis may partly contribute towards better understanding of the biochemical mechanisms that underly some of the in vivo actions of these oils.

The influence of oral hypoglycaemic sulfonyl ureas on prostacyclin release by the rat thoracic aorta.

The influence of some oral hypoglycaemic sulfonyl ureas on PGI2 release by the rat thoracic aorta in vitro was examined using reversed phase HPLC. The column (Micro Pack MCH-10) (30 cm X 4 mm) was eluted using the solvent mixture:acetonitrile:glacial acetic acid:water (23:0.1:76.9v/v/v). Preincubation of the aortae with the sulfonyl ureas (15 microM) enhanced PGI2 release. The control release (measured as 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha) was 1.15 +/- 0.1 ng/mg wet weight. This was significantly increased to 2.30 +/- 0.20, 2.50 +/- 0.30, 2.90 +/- 0.25, 2.10 +/- 0.20 and 2.40 +/- 0.30 ng/mg by glibenclamide, gliclazide, acetohexamide, glibornuride and chlorpropamide, respectively (P less than 0.01, n = 6). Mepacrine (0.5 mM) abolished both basal and stimulated release. Thus, the enhanced PGI2 release may probably involve activation of the enzyme phospholipase A2. None of the compounds affected ADP-induced rat platelet aggregation even when the platelets were preincubated for 10 min at a concentration of 100-180 microM. The enhanced release of PGI2 may help to delay the development and progression of retinopathy, nephropathy, hypertension and thrombosis in diabetic patients prone to these diseases. Furthermore, the enhanced PGI2 release may partly underly some of the previously observed and poorly explained findings following the administration of some sulfonyl ureas into mammals.