Synthesis of N-substituted isocyanocarboxamides with antimicrobial activity.

The Ugi four-component condensation between isocyanides 1, cycloketones 2, and ammonium formate affords N-substituted formylaminocarboxamides 3 which are dehydrated with POCl3/NEt3 to give the title compounds 4. The structure of the compounds 3 and 4 was confirmed by spectral data and elemental analyses. In vitro tests of antibacterial activity showed that compounds 4 are ineffective against E. coli and fairly active against K. pneumoniae, B. subtilis and S. aureus. A very good antimicotic activity was shown against C. albicans.     

Systematic evaluation of distribution of transgene expression after adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to the transplanted heart

In the transplantation setting, the study and potential treatment of acute and chronic rejection by means of gene therapy will require widespread transgene expression in the donor organ. The distribution of transgene expression after adenovirus-mediated gene transfer via the coronary vasculature in a model of abdominal heterotopic heart transplantation in syngeneic rats (n = 6) was evaluated at 1 week. Reporter gene expression was evenly distributed in the base, the midventricle, and the apex of the transplanted hearts. This study demonstrates that intracoronary administration of the adenoviral vector to the donor heart results in widespread transgene expres- sion. Received: 9 December 1997 Received after revision: 24 March 1998 Accepted: 15 April 1998     

Is caring the ethical ideal?

This paper will examine the claim that caring is an appropriate ethical ideal for nursing. Initially it will examine nursing's philosophy of care and caring, highlighting some areas of difficulty and dissatisfaction articulated by many of its contemporary theorists Evaluation of the notion of caring as an appropriate ethical ideal for nursing will be balanced against those in opposition, and in this process their critique will be discussed This discussion will focus on areas such as virtue, virtue ethics, moral responsibility, feminine values, mothering and the debate between male and female caring Different forms of caring will be evaluated and balanced against different forms of nursing The paper will then suggest that current views which hold aloft nursing as a bedmate of caring may be detrimental to both the cared-for and the carer, advocating in the process a move toward change     

The caecocolonic junction in humans has a sphincteric anatomy and function.

Sphincteric anatomy and function are present at the caecocolonic junction in several mammals. In humans, radiologists and endoscopists have respectively reported a circumferential contraction and a prominent ileocaecal fold at the border area between the caecum and the ascending colon. Anatomical findings on necropsy material failed to confirm its presence. Microscopic studies on surgical specimens showed the existence of muscular and innervational patterns different from those of adjacent areas. The aim of this work was to confirm the existence of a specialised fold at the caecocolonic junction in humans and to ascertain its role by carrying out a study of functional anatomy. Pancolonoscopies were performed on 100 patients and ileocaecal fold behaviour was observed before and after mechanical stimulation. Isolated ileocaecocolonic regions, surgically obtained, were filled with a fixative solution to study their macro and microscopic morphology after stimulation. Endoscopically, the ileocaecal fold was semilunar or circular in shape and spontaneous or evoked spasms occurred in 52 patients. A prominent circular fold could be seen in surgical specimens after stimulation. The entire muscle coat deeply penetrated this fold, showing the features characteristic of the ileocaecal junction. In particular, the inner portion of the circular muscle showed a peculiar arrangement and was thicker than elsewhere. These results show that in humans the caecocolonic junction is provided with a sphincter morphology and function. Little is known about its physiological relevance in ileal flow accommodation and caecal filling and emptying but it should not be underestimated with regard to some colonic motility disorders.     

Ultrastructure of supraspinal dorsal root projections in the toads. I. The obex region

The ultrastructure of the dorsal column nucleus (DCN) has been investigated at the level of the obex region in normal and experimental toads. Large 'isolated' neurons (greater than 20 micrometer) and clusters of small neurons (less than 20 micrometer) have been identified in this region. Synaptic profiles have been classified into three types: large 'en passant' LR boutons, containing round synaptic vesicles and neurofilaments, small R boutons with round vesicles and F boutons with pleomorphic vesicles. The axon terminals exhibited synaptic contacts with cell somata, with dendrites of varying calibers and with other axons. The terminals involved in the axo-axonic contact were the F boutons which were presynaptic to the LR boutons, thus representing the morphological basis for presynaptic inhibition. Transection of the second dorsal root was performed in order to identify the terminals of the primary afferents to the DCN, after different survival periods (16 h--50 days). Only the LR boutons underwent degeneration, thus representing the central endings of the primary dorsal root afferents. The functional significance of these findings was discussed.     

Skeletal muscle glycogenosis type II: Biochemical and electron microscopic investigations of one case

Summary A 7 year-old boy suffering since early infancy from muscular weakness with diffuse hypotrophy and hypotonia is described. There was a remarkable intellectual retardation, but not hepato or cardiomegaly.A muscle biopsy revealed large quantities of glycogen stored inside the muscular fibres; electron-microscopic investigations indicated that glycogen was lying free between the myofilaments and was also stored in membrane-bound vescicles, possibly lysosomes. Biochemical studies showed the absence of acid maltase in muscular tissue.The case has been considered as a mild form of glycogenosis type II (Pompe's disease) without visceral involvement and with survival into adult life.The possibility that a peculiar metabolic pattern could be present in this form of glycogenosis is discussed along with other existing hypotheses seeking to explain the relative mildness of the disease in spite of the huge accumulation of glycogen.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird ein 7jähriger Knabe beschrieben, welcher seit früher Kindheit eine Muskelschwäche mit diffuser Hypotrophie und Hypotonie aufwies. Psychischer Entwicklungsrückstand, aber keine Hepato- oder Kardiomegalie.Eine Muskelbiopsie zeigte große Mengen von Glykogen innerhalb der Muskelfasern. Die elektronenoptische Untersuchung zeigte, daß das Glykogen sowohl frei zwischen den Myofilamenten als auch in membranumgebenen Vesikeln, möglicherweise Lyosomen gespeichert war. Es konnte biochemisch das Fehlen der sauren Maltase im Muskelgewebe gezeigt werden. Es wurde angenommen, daß es sich um eine milde Form der Glykogenose vom Typus II (Pompe) handelt ohne viscerale Beteiligung und mit Überleben bis in das Erwachsenenalter. Es wurde die Möglichkeit diskutiert, daß im vorliegenden Fall eine besondere Form der Stoffwechselstörung vorlag, welche den relativ milden Verlauf der Erkrankung trotz der hochgradigen Glykogenspeicherung erklären könnte.