Modeling of the Tricuspid Valve and Right Ventricle in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome With a Fontan Circulation.

BACKGROUND: In hypoplastic left heart syndrome, tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with circulatory failure and death. We hypothesized that the tricuspid valve (TV) structure of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome with a Fontan circulation and moderate or greater TR differs from those with mild or less TR, and that right ventricle volume is associated with TV structure and dysfunction. METHODS: TV of 100 patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and a Fontan circulation were modeled using transthoracic 3-dimensional echocardiograms and custom software in SlicerHeart. Associations of TV structure to TR grade and right ventricle function and volume were investigated. Shape parameterization and analysis was used to calculate the mean shape of the TV leaflets, their principal modes of variation, and to characterize associations of TV leaflet shape to TR. RESULTS: In univariate modeling, patients with moderate or greater TR had larger TV annular diameters and area, greater annular distance between the anteroseptal commissure and anteroposterior commissure, greater leaflet billow volume, and more laterally directed anterior papillary muscle angles compared to valves with mild or less TR (all P<0.001). In multivariate modeling greater total billow volume, lower anterior papillary muscle angle, and greater distance between the anteroposterior commissure and anteroseptal commissure were associated with moderate or greater TR (P<0.001, C statistic=0.85). Larger right ventricle volumes were associated with moderate or greater TR (P<0.001). TV shape analysis revealed structural features associated with TR, but also highly heterogeneous TV leaflet structure. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate or greater TR in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome with a Fontan circulation is associated with greater leaflet billow volume, a more laterally directed anterior papillary muscle angle, and greater annular distance between the anteroseptal commissure and anteroposterior commissure. However, there is significant heterogeneity of structure in the TV leaflets in regurgitant valves. Given this variability, an image-informed patient-specific approach to surgical planning may be needed to achieve optimal outcomes in this vulnerable and challenging population.

Untargeted metabolite profiling and phytochemical analysis of Micromeria fruticosa L. (Lamiaceae) leaves.

Micromeria fruticosa is an important crop, is widely used in the Mediterranean basin as food and in folk medicine, owing to its health-promoting properties, partially due to the secondary metabolite composition. However, complete information on the phyto-metabolites in M. fruticosa is still lacking. Plant leaves were extracted in methanol (80%), then the phyto-metabolites were separated on C18 column and an extensive characterization using UHPLC-DAD-ESI-QTOF-MS2 method in two ionization modes was established. A total of 215 phenolics and other compounds were tentatively identified, offering the first comprehensive study available on the phytochemicals from M. fruticosa. Over 180 phytochemicals (87 flavonoids, 41 phenolic acids, 16 terpenoids, 8 sulfate derivatives, 7 iridoids, and others) are reported in Micromeria for the first time. M. fruticosa can be a promising source of functional ingredients and has use in the food, pharma and nutraceutical industries.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of novel curcumin derivatives containing heterocyclic moiety.

A series of curcumin derivatives containing heterocyclic moiety have been synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial activities. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were verified on the basis of spectral data and elemental analyses. Investigation of antimicrobial activity of the derivatives demonstrated the ability to inhibit Gram-positive microorganisms with zone of inhibition ranging from 14-18 mm, MIC ranging between 0.0625 and 0.25 mg/mL. Among all tested derivatives, diazepine 4 exhibited remarkable potency against Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus. An extensive study is underway to optimize the effectiveness of diazepine type of compounds and to determine their mode of action.

Synthesis and characterization of hybrid materials consisting of n-octadecyltriethoxysilane by using n-hexadecylamine as surfactant and Q(0) and T(0) cross-linkers.

Novel hybrid xerogel materials were synthesized by a sol-gel procedure. n-octadecyltriethoxysilane was co-condensed with and without different cross-linkers using Q(0) and T(0) mono-functionalized organosilanes in the presence of n-hexadecylamine with different hydroxyl silica functional groups at the surface. These polymer networks have shown new properties, for example, a high degree of cross-linking and hydrolysis. Two different synthesis steps were carried out: simple self-assembly followed by sol-gel transition and precipitation of homogenous sols. Due to the lack of solubility of these materials, the compositions of the new materials were determined by infrared spectroscopy, (13)C and (29)Si CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

N'-(Di-2-pyridylmethyl-ene)benzo-hydrazide.

In the title Schiff base, C(18)H(14)N(4)O, the amido -NH- unit is connected to one of the two pyridyl N atoms at an N(-H)⋯N distance of 2.624 (2) Å. The mol-ecular packing features an inter-molecular C-H⋯N R(2) (2)(6) hydrogen-bonding ring motif.