Evaluation of Aortic Elasticity Parameters Measured by Transthoracic Echocardiography in a Normotensive Population: A Single-Center Study.

OBJECTIVE: Impaired arterial elastic features is one of the earliest manifestations of atherosclerosis in the vessel wall and is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and increased mortality and morbidity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mean values of aortic elasticity parameters in a normotensive population with transthoracic echocardiography and to evaluate these values in different age groups and their relationship with other risk factors. METHODS: This retrospective study included 405 subjects who met the inclusion criteria among 2880 individuals screened between 2020 and 2022. The study population was divided into 5 groups according to their age. Aortic elasticity parameters (aortic strain, aortic stiffness index, and aortic distensibility) were calculated from the associated formulas by measurements made from the ascending aorta in the parasternal long axis. RESULTS: In 405 subjects (mean age 42.18 ± 10.39, 54.3% female), the mean aortic strain value was 15.14 ± 3.56%, the mean aortic stiffness index was 3.24 ± 1.05, and the mean aortic distensibility was 7.48 ± 2.36 cm2/dyn1/103. It was observed that aortic strain and distensibility values significantly decreased with increasing age groups, while aortic stiffness significantly increased. All 3 aortic elasticity parameters were strongly correlated to age. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, age was found to be an independent factor for all aortic elasticity parameters. CONCLUSION: Aortic elasticity parameters can be evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography in daily practice. Comparing these measurements with normal values in similar age groups may help to detect patients with increased cardiovascular risk in the early period, regardless of the other risk factors.

The impact of financial tools in environmental degradation management: the relationship between Co2 emission and ESG funds.

This study aims to determine whether ESG funds can be used as an effective tool for environmental sustainability. ESG funds, which first appeared in the 2000s and were exported by environmentally friendly companies, are among the most effective tools for increasing firm value and managing environmental degradation. The causality relationship between the ESG funds, one of the environmentally friendly investment instruments, and the CO2 emission values, which are used as an environmental degradation criterion, was investigated in this study. The study used 209 daily data sets from July 31, 2020, to May 28, 2021. The symmetric developed by Hacker and Hatemi-J (Appl Econ 38:1489-1500, 2006), the asymmetric developed by Hatemi-J (Empir Econ 43:447-456, 2012), and time-varying asymmetric causality tests were used as models. According to the study results, while there is no symmetric causality between CO2 emissions and ESG funds, there is causality between CO2 emissions and ESG funds prices for negative shocks and between CO2 emissions and ESG funds trade volume for positive shocks. The results of a time-varying asymmetric causality test also support that this causality relationship varies by period. As a result, ESG funds can be used as a strategic financial tool to improve environmental quality during the COVID-19 period; however, this may vary for different sub-sample periods.

Why we should be more careful using hydroxychloroquine in influenza season during COVID-19 pandemic?

The aim of this study was to describe the QTc prolongation and related adverse cardiac events during the administration of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and its combinations for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Hospitalized patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) who received HCQ and had initial and follow-up electrocardiograms performed between March 10 and May 30, 2020 were included. Critical QTc prolongation was detected in 12% of the patients. On multivariate analysis, diabetes mellitus (odds ratio 5.8, 95% confidence interval 1.11-30.32, p = 0.037) and the use of oseltamivir (odds ratio 5.3, 95% confidence interval 1.02-28, p = 0.047) were found to be associated with critical QTc prolongation.

Curcumin on the "flying carpets" to modulate different signal transduction cascades in cancers: Next-generation approach to bridge translational gaps.

Curcumin, a bioactive and pharmacologically efficient component isolated from Curcuma longa has attracted considerable attention because of its ability to modulate diverse cellular and physiological pathways. WNT, TGF/SMAD, NOTCH, and SHH are fundamentally different signaling cascades, but their choreographed activation is strongly associated with cancer development and progression. In this review we have attempted to set spotlight on regulation of different cell signaling pathways by curcumin in different cancers. We partition this multi-component review into in-depth biological understanding of various signal transduction cascades and how curcumin targets intracellular signal transducers of deregulated pathways to inhibit cancer development and progression. Rapidly broadening landscape of both established and candidate oncogenic driver mutations identified in different cancers is a major stumbling block in the standardization of drugs having significant clinical outcome. Intra and inter-tumor heterogeneity had leveraged the complexity of therapeutic challenges to another level. Multi-pronged approach and molecularly guided treatments will be helpful in improving the clinical outcome.

Synthesis, characterization and antiglaucoma activity of a novel proton transfer compound and a mixed-ligand Zn(II) complex.

A novel proton transfer compound, pyridin-2-ylmethanaminium 2,4-dichloro-5-sulfamoylbenzoate (1), and a mixed-ligand Zn(II) complex, bis(2,4-dichloro-5-sulfamoylbenzoate)(2-aminomethylpyridine)aquazinc(II) monohydrate (2), have been synthesized from the same free ligands, which are 2,4-dichloro-5-sulfamoylbenzoic acid (Hsba) and 2-aminomethylpyridine (amp). They have been characterized by elemental, spectral ((1)H NMR, IR and UV-vis.) and thermal analyses. Additionally, magnetic measurement and single crystal X-ray diffraction technique were applied to compound 2. In the complex, Zn(II) ion exhibits a distorted octahedral configuration coordinated by O1 and O1(i) atoms of two mono dentante sba anions and N1, N2, N2(i) atoms of bidentante amp anion and a water molecule (O1w). The free ligands Hsba and amp, and the products 1 and 2, and acetazolamide (AAZ) as the control compound, were also evaluated for their in vitro inhibitor effects on human Carbonic Anhydrase isoenzymes (hCA I and hCA II) purified from erythrocyte cell by affinity chromatography for their hydratase and esterase activities. The IC(50) values of products 1 and 2 for hydratase activity are 0.26 and 0.13microM for hCA I and 0.30 and 0.15microM for hCA II, respectively. The IC(50) values of the same inhibitors for esterase activity are 0.32 and 0.045microM for hCA I and 0.29 and 0.23microM for hCA II, respectively. In relation to esterase activities, the inhibition equilibrium constants (K(i)) were also determined and found 0.25 and 0.058microM on hCA I and 0.22 and 0.24microM on hCA II for 1 and 2, respectively. The comparison of the inhibition studies of newly synthesized compounds 1 and 2 to parent compounds Hsba and amp and to AAZ indicated that 1 and 2 have effective inhibitory activity on hCA I and II, and might be used potential inhibitors.