Synthesis and anti-hepatitis B activity of new substituted uracil and thiouracil glycosides

A number of N- and S-substituted uracil and thiouracil glycosides were synthesized by coupling reaction of 5,6-dibenzyle pyrimidine derivatives with the corresponding acetobromosugar. The synthesized compounds were tested for their antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus. Plaque reduction infectivity assay was used to determine virus count reduction as a result of treatment with tested compounds which showed moderate to high antiviral activities.     

Immunopathological study of vernal keratoconjunctivitis

The in situ immune reaction occurring in the conjunctival tissues of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis was studied using immunohistochemical techniques and a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Our data point to a complex immunopathogenesis of the disease. The anaphylactic response was demonstrated by the presence of many eosinophils and mast cells showing membranous IgE staining in the epithelial and stromal inflammatory infiltrate. IgE⁺ plasma cells were rare or absent in the conjunctival tissues and around the acini of accessory lacrimal glands, suggesting that IgE is not produced locally in the conjunctiva! tissues. A humoral immune response was evidenced by the presence of small B-lymphoid follicles, scattered B-lymphocytes, and many plasma cells in the stromal inflammatory infiltrate. IgA⁺ and IgG⁺ plasma cells were of more or less equal numbers and outnumbered IgM⁺ plasma cells. The majority of plasma cells around the acini of accessory lacrimal glands were IgA⁺. A role played by cell-mediated immunity was evident from the presence of scattered stromal T-lymphocytes and many dendritic cells in the epithelium and stroma. Some stromal dendritic cells carried IgE on their surfaces.This work was supported in part by the program of scientific and clinical co-operation in the field of ophthalmic medicine and surgery between the University of Mansoura, Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Catholic University, Leuven, Belgium     

Effects of lingual nerve and chewing cortex stimulation upon activity of the swallowing neurons located in the region of the hypoglossal motor nucleus

This study focuses on motoneurons and interneurons in the region of the hypoglossal nucleus (XIIth) related to swallowing and chewing. In sheep anesthetized with halothane, we have used extracellular microelectrodes to study the effects of stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN), the lingual nerve (LN) and the chewing cortex (CCx) upon activities of the swallowing neurons (SNs). Ipsilateral stimulation (1-5 pulses at 500 Hz) of the peripheral afferents or CCx did not generally induce a short latency activation of the hypoglossal swallowing motoneurons (Group I SNs) since only 4 motoneurons (69 tested) were activated by the SLN, 4 motoneurons (56 tested) by the LN and none by the CCx. In contrast, the same stimulations were more effective with swallowing interneurons (Group II SNs) located in the reticular formation close to the XIIth motor nucleus since 12 neurons (30 tested) were activated with short latencies (9 +/- 1.8 ms; mean latency +/- S.D.) by the SLN, 9 neurons (21 tested) by the LN (latency; 8 +/- 1.8 ms) and 5 neurons (18 tested) by the CCx (latency: 13 +/- 1.7 ms). Seven neurons were activated by two or three modes of stimulation indicating the existence of convergent inputs upon some Group II SNs. During chewing movements induced by a prolonged stimulation (20-40 Hz) of the CCx, 10 Group I SNs (16 tested) versus only one Group II SN (8 tested) were found to fire in association with the jaw opening. Moreover, 3 motoneurons and 4 interneurons inactive during swallowing discharged during chewing movements.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Preemptive treatment of early donor‐specific antibodies with IgA‐ and IgM‐enriched intravenous human immunoglobulins in lung transplantation

This retrospective study presents our 4‐year experience of preemptive treatment of early anti‐HLA donor specific antibodies with IgA‐ and IgM‐enriched immunoglobulins. We compared outcomes between patients with antibodies and treatment (case patients) and patients without antibodies (control patients). Records of patients transplanted at our institution between March 2013 and November 2017 were reviewed. The treatment protocol included one single 2 g/kg immunoglobulin infusion followed by successive 0.5 g/kg infusions for a maximum of 6 months, usually combined with a single dose of anti‐CD20 antibody and, in case of clinical rejection or positive crossmatch, with plasmapheresis or immunoabsorption. Among the 598 transplanted patients, 128 (21%) patients formed the case group and 452 (76%) the control group. In 116 (91%) patients who completed treatment, 106 (91%) showed no antibodies at treatment end. Fourteen (13%) patients showed antibody recurrence thereafter. In case versus control patients and at 4‐year follow‐up, respectively, graft survival (%) was 79 versus 81 (P = .59), freedom (%) from biopsy‐confirmed rejection 57 versus 53 (P = .34), and from chronic lung allograft dysfunction 82 versus 78 (P = .83). After lung transplantation, patients with early donor‐specific antibodies and treated with IgA‐ and IgM‐enriched immunoglobulins had 4‐year graft survival similar to patients without antibodies and showed high antibody clearance.     

Impact of body mass index on the oncological outcomes of patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Purpose

To evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and oncological outcomes in patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 237 consecutive patients treated with RNU for UTUC at our institution between 1990 and 2012. Univariable and multivariable cox regression models investigated the association of BMI with disease recurrence, cancer-specific mortality, and overall mortality.

Results

From the 237 patients, 104 (44%) had a BMI < 25 kg/m², 88 (37%) had a BMI between 25 and 29.9 kg/m², and 45 (19%) had a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² at the time of surgery. Within a median follow-up of 44 months (IQR: 24–79), 53 patients (22.4%) experienced a disease recurrence, 85 patients (35.9%) had bladder recurrence, and 44 patients (18.6%) died from the disease. The 5 year recurrence-free and cancer-specific survival rates were, respectively, 32 and 56% for BMI ≥ 30 kg/m², 45 and 74% for patients with BMI 25–29.9 kg/m², and 69 and 81% for patients with BMI < 25 kg/m². In multivariable analyses that adjusted for the effects of the standard clinico-pathological features, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² was associated with a higher risk of disease recurrence (HR 3.23; 95% CI 2.3–6.6, p < 0.001) and cancer-specific mortality (HR 3.84; 95% CI 2.8–6.5; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Obesity was independently associated with higher risks of disease recurrence and cancer-specific mortality in patients treated with RNU for UTUC.