Epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus in Europe

Sexually transmitted infections and HIV in Europe present considerable social and medical problems and are not always adequately controlled. The recent trends for sexually transmitted infections and HIV in Western and Eastern Europe are reviewed.     

Toenail onychomycosis in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome: treatment with terbinafine

Skin infections caused by dermatophytes are one of the most frequent dermatological complications in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) resulting from infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Tinea unguium associated with AIDS is characterized by being clinically more aggressive and therapeutically more difficult to treat than in the general population. Terbinafine is considered to be a first-choice option for the treatment of dermatophyte onychomycosis in immunocompetent individuals. This drug has been used in a series of 21 HIV-positive patients diagnosed with tinea unguium for 1 year in the University Hospital La Paz, Madrid. All patients underwent a subsequent clinical follow-up for 6 months. The results showed a high percentage of clinical and mycological cures, as well as maintenance of the response after follow-up; no drug interactions or significant adverse effects related to the drug under study were recorded.     

2,4-二氨基5-氟-6-取代苄氨基喹唑啉的合成及生物活性

本文报道2,4-二氨基-5-氟-6-取代苄氨基喹唑啉类化合物的合成及抗疟、抗肿瘤和抗菌活性,这类化合物的合成是由5-氟-2,4,6-三氨基喹唑啉(6a)与取代苯甲醛缩合成Schiff碱,然后经还原、甲酰化、亚硝化或甲基化制得。5-氟-2,4,6-三氨基喹唑啉(6a)尚未见文献报道,由5-氟-2,4-二氨基喹唑啉(4)经硝化生成异构体5a和5b分离得5a后再经还原制得。经对伯氏鼠疟原虫Plasmodium berghei抑制性治疗筛选,有6个化合物I_2,4.5,6和II_5,6以每日1mg·kg^-1,给药4天,抑制率为100%;体外抗肿瘤活性以I4最强,对L1210白血病细胞的IC₅₀为9.86×10^-4μg·mL^-1,优于氨甲蝶呤(MTX);经对18种常见菌进行体外筛选,发现对肺炎双球菌Diplococcus pneumoniae活性较好。     

Anti-Streptococcal activity of Brazilian Amazon Rain Forest plant extracts presents potential for preventive strategies against dental caries

Caries is a global public health problem, whose control requires the introduction of low-cost treatments, such as strong prevention strategies, minimally invasive techniques and chemical prevention agents. Nature plays an important role as a source of new antibacterial substances that can be used in the prevention of caries, and Brazil is the richest country in terms of biodiversity.

Objective

In this study, the disk diffusion method (DDM) was used to screen over 2,000 Brazilian Amazon plant extracts against Streptococcus mutans.

Material and Methods

Seventeen active plant extracts were identified and fractionated. Extracts and their fractions, obtained by liquid-liquid partition, were tested in the DDM assay and in the microdilution broth assay (MBA) to determine their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). The extracts were also subjected to antioxidant analysis by thin layer chromatography.

Results

EB271, obtained from Casearia spruceana, showed significant activity against the bacterium in the DDM assay (20.67±0.52 mm), as did EB1129, obtained from Psychotria sp. (Rubiaceae) (15.04±2.29 mm). EB1493, obtained from Ipomoea alba, was the only extract to show strong activity against Streptococcus mutans (0.08 mg/mL<MIC<0.16 mg/mL; MBC=0.16 mg/mL) in the MBA.

Conclusions

The active extracts, discovered in the Amazon rain forest, show potential as sources of new antibacterial agents for use as chemical coadjuvants in prevention strategies to treat caries.     

Migration of the femoral stem after impaction bone grafting. First results of an ongoing,randomised study of the exeter and elite plus femoral stems using radiostereometric analysis

We report the initial results of an ongoing randomised, prospective study on migration of the Exeter and Elite Plus femoral stems after impaction allografting, as measured by radiostereometry. Clinically, the impaction technique gave good results for both stems. The mean subsidence in the first year was 1.30 mm and 0.20 mm for the Exeter and the Elite Plus stems, respectively. In the second year, the Exeter stem continued to subside further by a mean of 0.42 mm, while the Elite Plus stem did not do so. Subsidence of the Exeter stem correlated with deficiency of bone stock as graded on the Gustilo and Pasternak scale. This correlation was not found for the Elite Plus stem. None of the other parameters which were studied predisposed to subsidence. There was no significant association between the amount of subsidence and the radiological appearance of the graft for either stem. Our findings do not support the theory that radial compression, due to subsidence of the Exeter stem, is the essential stimulus for remodelling in impaction allografting.     

Cytotoxic and Antiproliferative Activity of Polyisoprenoids in Seventeen Mangroves Species Against WiDr Colon Cancer Cells

Background: Secondary metabolites from the group of isoprenoid compounds are widely distributed in mangroveplants. Polyisoprenoids (dolichol and polyprenol) are known to have benefits as anticancer agents. The present studywas conducted to determine the cytotoxic potential of polyisoprenoids in leaves from seventeen selected mangrovespecies against colon cancer (WiDr) cells. Methods: Cytotoxic activity was evaluated by MTT assay in vitro usingWiDr human colon cancer cells and 3T3 fibroblasts from Swiss albino mouse embryo tissue as controls. Mechanismsof action were approached by assessing apoptosis and the cell cycle using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopywith annexin V-FITC, as well as expression of Bcl-2 and cyclin D1 by immunocytochemistry. Results: Polyisoprenoidsfrom N. fruticans leaves demonstrated the highest anticancer activity, with an IC50 of 180.2 μg/mL, as compared to397.7 μg/mL against 3T3 normal cells. Significant decrease in the expression of Bcl-2 and cyclin D1 was also noted,facilitating apoptosis and arrest of the cell cycle in the G0-G1 phase in WiDr cells. The present study showed for thefirst time that polyisoprenoids from N. fruticans exhibit concrete anticancer activity in vitro, decreasing cell proliferationand inducing apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Conclusions: Polyisoprenoids isolated from N. fruticans leaves may havepromise as a source of anticancer agents.