Trichomonicidal activity of a new anthraquinone isolated from the roots of Morinda panamensis Seem

Trichomoniasis, caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, is the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Although drug treatment is available, unpleasant side effects and increased resistance to the nitroimidazole family have been documented. Hence, there is a need for the identification of new and safe therapeutic agents against T. vaginalis. Antimicrobial activity of anthraquinone compounds has been reported by a number of authors. The genus Morinda is well known for the diversity of anthraquinones with numerous biological activities. A new anthraquinone, lucidin-ω-isopropyl ether, was isolated from the roots of Morinda panamensis Seem. The structure of the compound was determined by ¹H and ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analyses, in addition to comparison with literature reports. Using in vitro susceptibility assay, the half inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of lucidin-ω-isopropyl ether for T. vaginalis (1.32 μg/mL) was found similar to that of metronidazole concentration tested (6 μM = 1.03 μg/mL). In addition, this anthraquinone was capable of inhibiting the parasite's ability to kill HeLa cells and decreased proteolytic activity of the proteinase TvMP50 from T. vaginalis. This was associated with the decreased expression of the mp50 gene. These results demonstrate the trichomonicidal potential by lucidin-ω-isopropyl ether. Further action-mode studies are necessary to elucidate the antiparasitic mechanism of this new anthraquinone to develop a more potent antitrichomonal agent.     

Low Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among HIV-Positive Patients: Data From a Large-Scale Cohort Study in Istanbul,Turkey

Background:

Rate of coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) varies in different countries. This may be attributable to common transmission routes as well as social, economic, and cultural factors.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of HCV infection among HIV-positive patients in Istanbul, Turkey.

Patients and Methods:

Since January 2006 to November 2013, 949 HIV-positive patients that were enrolled in this study by ACTHIV-IST (Action Against HIV in Istanbul) Study Group, which consists of five centers to follow up HIV-positive patients in Istanbul. Epidemiologic and clinical data were collected retrospectively from medical records and were transferred to an HIV database system.

Results:

Among 949 patients, 84% were men and the mean age was 37.92 ± 11.54 years (range, 17-79). The most frequent route of transmission was heterosexual intercourse (48.8%), followed by men having sex with men (30.5%). Only nine patients (0.9%) had history of injection drug use (IDU). The prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection was 0.9% (9:949). The IDU rate was 44.4% (4:9) in patients with HIV/HCV coinfection (three of them were not Turkish citizens), whereas this rate was only 0.6% (5:881) in patients with only HIV infection (P < 0.01). Genotypes 1b, 2a/2c, and 3 were determined in five, one, and two patients, respectively. Genotype could not be determined in one patient. History of residence in a foreign country (P < 0.01) and imprisonment (P < 0.01) were also considered as risk factors in terms of HIV/HCV coinfection.

Conclusions:

Prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection is considerably low in Turkey. The extremely rare prevalence of IDU might have a role in this low prevalence.     

Evaluation of indirect microparticle activity and parameters of thrombin generation test in healthy infants

Introduction

Circulating microparticles support thrombin generation. The aim of this study is to determine the indirect microparticle activity and the parameters of thrombin generation in healthy infants.

Materials and methods

A total of 85 infants who were brought to follow-up visits were taken into the study. Blood samples were collected. Thrombin generation parameters and indirect microparticle activity were measured.

Results

The infants were divided into four groups according to the time of follow-up visits. Mean ages were 1.18 ± 0.19 months in Group 1, 6.15 ± 0.16 months in Group 2, 12.38 ± 0.46 months in Group 3 and 24.53 ± 0.39 months in Group 4, respectively. There was no statistical difference among the age-based groups with respect to the indirect microparticle activity. The lag time and the TTP levels in Group 1 were lower than that found in Group 2. The ETP and peak levels were higher in Group 1 than that of Group 2. The ETP and peak levels in Group 2 were found lower than those found in older children, but the TTP level was found relatively higher. Statistically correlations were found between indirect microparticle activity and all parameters of thrombin generation.

Conclusions

The absence of a difference in terms of age-based microparticle levels may suggest that the features of microparticles in healthy children of this age group are similar. Age-dependent changes in thrombin generation parameters may suggest a regulation mechanism for the thrombin generation system over the first years of life. The results may provide mean values for indirect microparticle activity and thrombin generation in this healthy group.     

Aortic arch repair: let it beat!

Objective aortic arch repair (AAR) on the beating heart may reduce cross-clamping times and offer improved postoperative cardiac function.Methods A single-center review of all patients (n = 24) who underwent surgical AAR during biventricular repair between 01/2006 and 01/2008 was done. All patients were operated on under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP). During AAR, 13 patients (group 1) received cardioplegic arrest, and were compared to 11 patients (group 2) who underwent a beating-heart modification with selective myocardial perfusion. Seventeen patients had additional intracardiac lesions and underwent simultaneous correction during the procedure.Results Durations of CPB, AAR and ACP did not differ statistically between groups. Cardioplegic arrest time was significantly lower in group 1 (34 ± 13 vs. 76 ± 11 min, p = 0.02) and resulted in a subsequent reduction of myocardial ischemic damage as borne out by lower postoperative levels of troponin T and CK-MB (2.5 ± 0.7 vs. 7.1 ± 1.4 ng/mL, p = 0.02; 68.7 ± 11.5 vs. 149.1 ± 27.2 U/l, p = 0.03). We observed an enhanced patient recovery with shorter inotropic and ventilatory support times (p < 0.05).Conclusion Pediatric aortic arch correction on a CPB beating heart with selective myocardial perfusion is technically feasible and safe. The reduction of the myocardial ischemic time is effective and results in less myocardial damage.