A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of Mavacamten therapy in international cohort of 524 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heritable myocardial disorder worldwide. Current pharmacological treatment options are limited. Mavacamten, a first-in-class cardiac myosin inhibitor, targets the main underlying pathology of HCM. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Mavacamten in patients with HCM. PRISMA flow chart was utilized using PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases for all up-to-date studies using pre-defined keywords. Pre-specified efficacy outcomes comprised several parameters, including an improvement in peak oxygen consumption (pVO2) and ≥ 1 NYHA class, the need for septal reduction therapy (SRT), change from baseline in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), changes in biochemical markers and LVEF, along with peak left ventricular outflow tract gradient at rest and after Valsalva maneuver. Safety outcomes included morbidity and serious adverse events. This systematic review included five studies, four RCTs and one non-randomized control trial comprised a total of 524 (Mavacamten [273, 54.3%] vs placebo [230, 45.7%] adult (≥ 18 years) patients with a mean age of 56 years. The study. comprised patients with Caucasian and Chinese ethnicity and patients with obstructive (oHCM) and non-obstructive (nHCM) HCM. Most baseline characteristics were similar between the treatment and placebo groups. Mavacamten showed a statistically significant increase in the frequency of the primary composite endpoint (RR = 1.92, 95% CI [1.28, 2.88]), ≥ 1 NYHA class improvement (RR = 2.10, 95% CI [1.66, 2.67]), a significant decrease in LVEF, peak left ventricular outflow tract gradient at rest and after Valsalva maneuver. Mavacamten also showed a significant reduction in SRT rates (RR = 0.29, 95% CI [0.21, 0.40], p < 0.00001), KCCQ clinical summary scores (MD = 8.08, 95% CI [4.80, 11.37], P < 0.00001) troponin levels and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels. However, there was no statistically significant difference between Mavacamten and placebo regarding the change from baseline peak oxygen consumption. Mavacamten use resulted in a small increase in adverse events but no statistically significant increment in serious adverse events. Our study showed that Mavacamten is a safe and effective treatment option for Caucasian and Chinese patients with HCM on the short-term. Further research is needed to explore the long-term safety and efficacy of Mavacamten with HCM. In addition, adequately powered studies including patients with nHCM is needed to ascertain befits of Mavacamten in those patients.

Functional analysis of a novel I71N mutation in the GJB2 gene among Southern Egyptians causing autosomal recessive hearing loss.

Mutations in GJB2, a gene encoding the gap junction protein connexin 26 (Cx26), are a major cause for inherited and sporadic non-syndromic hearing loss, albeit with highly variable clinical effects. To determine new mutations and their frequencies in a Southern Egyptian population restriction fragment length polymorphism, gene sequencing, and single strand conformational polymorphism revealed only 2 mutations for GJB2: c.35delG and p.I71N. The allelic frequency of the c.35delG mutation was 8.7% (found in 27 out of 310 investigated alleles) resulting in a relatively low carrier frequency (1.6%) in Upper Egypt. The new mutation, a substitution of isoleucin (I) (a non-polar amino acid) by the polar amino acid asparagin (N), was localized within the conserved Cx26 structure. The functional significance of p.I71N was tested by injection of cRNA into Xenopus laevis oocytes. Cx26 hemi-channel activity was measured by depolarization activated conductance in non-coupled oocytes. As a result, the p.I71N mutated channel was non-functional. The study discloses a novel, functionally relevant GJB2 mutation and defines the contribution of Cx26 alterations to the hearing loss in the Southern Egyptian population.

Spectrophotometric studies on the complexation equilibria of Ni and Pb with 2-carboxy-2-hydroxy-5'-sulfo-formazylbenzene. Simultaneous determination of trace amounts of Ni and Pb.

Spectrophotometric studies have been made to investigate the reaction of Nickel and Lead with 2-carboxy-2'-hydroxy-5'-sulfoformazyl-benzene (zincon) in 50%(v/v) ethanol-water at 25 degrees C and an ionic strength of 0.1 M NaClO4. A complete picture of the complexation equilibria in the pH range (4.2-12.0) for nickel and (1.9-11.5) for lead are presented. Simple, rapid, selective and sensitive methods for the spectro-photometric determination of nickel and lead has been developed based on the color reaction of their complexes with zincon. The methods allow the determination of 4.69 microg mL(-1) of nickel at pH = 6.3 (lambdamax = 665 nm) and 10.3 microg ml(-1) of lead at pH = 5.6 (lambdamax = 610 nm). The apparent molar absorptivities were epsilon = 1.3 x 10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1) for nickel and epsilon = 0.6 x 10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1) for lead. The interference of a large number of foreign ions and complexing agents has been studied. Thiosulphate, as masking agent allows the simultaneous determination of nickel and lead in the presence of high concentrations of copper. Ascorbic acid, sodium cyanide and or sodium fluoride provide the elimination of many other interferences. The methods have been applied successfully to the simultaneous determination of nickel and lead in an aluminium and non-ferrous alloy.