<Emphasis Type="Italic">Punica granatum</Emphasis>(Pomegranate) juice provides an HIV-1 entry inhibitor and candidate topical microbicide

Background  

For ≈ 24 years the AIDS pandemic has claimed ≈ 30 million lives, causing ≈ 14,000 new HIV-1 infections daily worldwide in 2003. About 80% of infections occur by heterosexual transmission. In the absence of vaccines, topical microbicides, expected to block virus transmission, offer hope for controlling the pandemic. Antiretroviral chemotherapeutics have decreased AIDS mortality in industrialized countries, but only minimally in developing countries. To prevent an analogous dichotomy, microbicides should be: acceptable; accessible; affordable; and accelerative in transition from development to marketing. Already marketed pharmaceutical excipients or foods, with established safety records and adequate anti-HIV-1 activity, may provide this option.     

Ligands for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and the retinoid X receptor exert additive anti-inflammatory effects on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a member of the nuclear-receptor superfamily that binds to DNA with retinoid X receptors (RXRs) as PPAR-RXR heterodimers. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the gene expression of PPAR-gamma was demonstrated in spinal cord during the course of EAE. Administration of 15-deoxy-(12,14)-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) or 9-cis-retinoic acid (RA) alone at the onset of clinical signs of EAE reduced the severity of disease, however, their combination resulted in enhanced amelioration of disease. These results suggest that use of RXR specific ligands may be highly effective when combined with PPAR-gamma agonists in the treatment of autoimmune demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).     

Synthesis of some 2-[(benzazole-2-yl)thioacetylamino]thiazole derivatives and their antimicrobial activity and toxicity

Some 2-[(benzazole-2-yl)thioacetylamino]thiazole derivatives (III) were synthesized by reacting 4-methyl-2-(chloroacetylamino)thiazole derivatives (I) with benzazol-2-thiole (II) in acetone in the presence of K(2)CO(3). The chemical structures of the compounds were elucidated by (1)H NMR and FAB(+)-MS spectral data. The prepared compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity and toxicity.     

Adult type granulosa cell tumor causing precocious pseudopuberty in a 6 year-old girl

Malignant ovarian tumors are responsible for 2-3% of all cases of precocious pseudopuberty (PP) in girls. The most common forms of ovarian tumors presenting as PP are the granulosa cell tumors (GCT). The clinical and pathological features of granulosa cell tumors that occur frequently in young girls, so-called juvenile granulosa cell tumors (JGCT), differ histologically from those occurring in adults. As a cause of PP in young girls, adult type granulosa cell tumors (AGCT) are extremely rare. We report a 6 year-old girl presenting with early breast development and vaginal bleeding due to a well encapsulated ovarian tumor. Microscopic features of the resected tumor were characteristic of AGCT.     

Three-dimensional ultrasonographic ovarian measurements and in vitro fertilization outcome are related to age

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the number of ovarian antral follicles, ovarian volume, and ovarian stromal blood flow change with age and to prospectively analyze whether three-dimensional ultrasonographic measurements predict ovarian response and IVF outcome. DESIGN: Prospective analysis. SETTING: Assisted reproductive unit. PATIENT(S): Fifty-six consecutive women 22 to 43 years of age with normal basal serum FSH concentrations who were undergoing their first IVF cycle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Number of ovarian antral follicles, ovarian volume, and ovarian stromal flow index were determined by three-dimensional and power Doppler ultrasonography. Pretreatment measurements were compared with number of recovered oocytes, fertilization rates, and pregnancy rates. RESULT(S): As patient age increased, significant trends in ovarian volume, number of follicles, and stromal vascularity decreased. Three-dimensional ovarian measurements and fertilization rates differed significantly among age groups. For each age group, a higher number of antral follicles, greater ovarian volume, and favorable ovarian stromal vascularity was associated with higher number of retrieved oocytes and increased pregnancy rates. CONCLUSION(S): Increasing patient age is associated with poor ovarian response, as represented by smaller ovarian volume, lower antral follicle count, and poor stromal vascularity. Three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography can help to individualize IVF in patients regardless of age.     

Prenatal diagnosis: what does four-dimensional ultrasound add?

INTRODUCTION: The key benefit of 4D ultrasound lies in providing real-time 3D images of embryonic or fetal movements, previously limited by technological advancement. AIM: To classify types of first trimester embryonic and fetal movements in normal pregnancies as seen by 4D sonography. RESULTS: Three types of movements can be visualized in the first trimester: gross body between seven and eight weeks, limb movements after ten weeks and complex limb movements after 11 weeks of gestation. DISCUSSION: An alteration from the given pattern of motoric development should be considered as an indication for further investigation. CONCLUSION: 4D ultrasound enables visualization of more details of the dynamics of small anatomical structures. Therefore, body and limb movements can be visualized a week earlier than with 2D.     

Predicting death from HIV/AIDS: a case-control study from Florida public HIV/AIDS clinics

BACKGROUND: After markedly decreasing for 3 years, HIV/AIDS mortality declined only slightly in 1999. METHODS: The authors conducted a case-control study in four Florida urban public health HIV clinics to evaluate modifiable factors associated with HIV/AIDS mortality in a non-research setting. Structured chart review was conducted for 120 case-patients who died in 1999 and for 240 randomly selected control-patients. Risk factors associated with death in univariate analysis were entered into three conceptually related, matched logistic regression models. RESULTS: In the final multivariate model, homelessness (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 9.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.34-42.5), Medicaid insurance (AOR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.43-6.74), having a documented adherence problem (AOR, 3.50; 95% CI, 1.64-7.47), injection drug use (AOR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.11-5.43), non-specific liver failure (AOR, 76.9; 95% CI, 6.79-870.9), interrupted highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) secondary to side effects (AOR, 4.00; 95% CI, 1.46-10.9), and not receiving HAART (AOR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.03-6.68) were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to medical and clinical indicators, several sociobehavioral-demographic factors remained important throughout the multivariate analysis. Improvement in care should include a focus on social circumstances of infected people. Special attention to the homeless, those with adherence problems, and those with liver disease is clearly indicated.     

Concealed penis

A small phallus causes great concern regarding genital adequacy. A concealed penis, although of normal size, appears small either because it is buried in prepubic tissues, enclosed in scrotal tissue penis palmatus (PP), or trapped due to phimosis or a scar following circumcision or trauma. From July 1978 to January 2001 we operated upon 92 boys with concealed penises; 49 had buried penises (BP), while PP of varying degrees was noted in 14. Of 29 patients with a trapped penis, phimosis was noted in 9, post-circumcision cicatrix (PCC) in 17, radical circumcision in 2, and posttraumatic scarring in 1. The BP was corrected at 2-3 years of age by incising the inner prepuce circumferentially, degloving the penis to the penopubic junction, dividing dysgenetic bands, and suturing the dermis of the penopubic skin to Buck's fascia with nonabsorbable sutures. Patients with PP required displacement of the scrotum in addition to correction of the BP. Phimosis was treated by circumcision. Patients with a PCC were recircumcised carefully, preserving normal skin, but Z-plasties and Byars flaps were often required for skin coverage. After radical circumcision and trauma, vascularized flaps were raised to cover the defect. Satisfactory results were obtained in all cases although 2 patients with BP required a second operation. The operation required to correct a concealed penis has to be tailored to its etiology.