Determination of the absolute stereochemistry of cyclosmenospongine

The absolute stereochemistry of the sponge metabolite cyclosmenospongine (1) was determined as 5R, 8S, 9R, 10S by chemical correlation. Substitution of the methoxyl group by an amino group in the cyclic product 3 of acid-catalyzed rearrangement of ilimaquinone (5) afforded cyclosmenospongine 1. Cyclosmenospongine was also obtained by acid-catalyzed cyclization of smenospongine (6).     

Comparative diagnostic value of the breath test and the urine test with 14C-urea in the detection of the Helicobacter pylori infection

Among 92 patients with chronic gastritis we conducted a synchronous diagnosis of the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection using a culture and a serological test (IFP), in conjunction with breath and urine tests involving (14)C-urea (BTU-C14 and UTU-C14). The infection was confirmed by isolation in 71 persons (77.2%), the presence of specific IgG in the blood serum was found in 75 (81.5%). In comparison, the BTU-C14 indicated a group of 77 people (83.7%) as infected, and the UTU-C14 a group of 76 (82.6%). In order to determine the diagnostic value (sensitivity, specificity and efficiency) of the latter tests, the results were compared with those of the culture and of the serological tests. It was found that the BTU-C14 test used showed a 100% sensitivity, a 89.5% specificity and a 97.9% efficiency. The UTU-C14 test showed a 100.0% sensitivity, a 94.4% specificity and a 98.9% efficiency in the detection of the H. pylori infection.     

Dicinnamoylquinides in roasted coffee inhibit the human adenosine transporter

Preliminary screening of a minor, non-xanthine constituent of roasted coffee, 3,4-diferuloyl-1,5-quinolactone (DIFEQ), showed inhibition of the adenosine transporter at low micromolar concentration. DIFEQ is a neutral derivative of the chlorogenic acids, i.e. isomeric mono- and di-substituted coumaroyl-, caffeoyl-, and feruloyl-esters of quinic acid, formed in the roasting process of coffee. Displacement of the adenosine transporter antagonist [(3)H](S)-(nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine binding by DIFEQ in cultured U-937 cell preparations, expressing the human adenosine transporter protein (hENT1), showed a K(i) of 0.96+/-0.13 microM. Extracts of regular and decaffeinated coffee showed binding activities equivalent to 30-40 mg DIFEQ per three cups of coffee. Acute administration of a high dose of DIFEQ (100 mg/kg i.p.) reduced open field locomotion in mice for 20 min in correlation with brain levels of DIFEQ. Both 3,4-dicaffeoyl-1,5-quinide and 3,4-dicoumaroyl-1,5-quinide, two close structural analogs of DIFEQ also present in roasted coffee, showed similar affinities for the adenosine transporter, while the corresponding 3- and 4-mono caffeoyl- and feruloyl-quinides were one to two orders of magnitudes less active. This suggests that 3,4-dicinnamoyl-1,5-quinides in coffee could have the potential to raise extra-cellular adenosine levels, thereby counteracting the stimulant effect of caffeine.     

Removal of luxated crystalline lenses by intravitreal phaco-emulsification

PURPOSE: To present the complex surgical technique used for the management of luxated crystalline lenses and to evaluate results of this treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between May 2001 and February 2002, ten patients (ten eyes) were treated for crystalline lens luxation. There were 4 females and 6 males in this group, their age ranged between 46 and 78 years (average 63 years). In all cases, the surgical technique comprised pars plana vitrectomy, perfluorocarbon liquid injection and crystalline lens phacoemulsification in the vitreous cavity. Simultaneously, anterior chamber IOLs were implanted in 8 eyes, and scleral-fixation, posterior chamber IOLs in 2 eyes. The follow-up ranged between 1 and 9 months (mean 2.7 months). RESULTS: All dislocated lenses were successfully removed. No complications occurred during phacofragmentation. We achieved improvement in visual acuity in 5 cases, while good pre-operative visual acuity (with aphakic correction) did not change postoperatively in remaining 5 eyes. The mean preoperative visual acuity was 0.52 (0.1-1.0), and it was 0.75 (0.2-1.0) postoperatively. In 9 cases very good visual acuity (6/6-6/12) was achieved. There were no serious complications. In the first postoperative days transient hypotonia and Descemet's membrane folds were observed in 8 eyes, fibrinous reaction in the anterior chamber in one eye, and dispersed blood in the vitreous cavity in 2 eyes. CONCLUSION: The management of luxated lenses using the described method is safe. Very good functional results and lack of severe complications are very encouraging. Additional cases with a longer follow-up study are necessary to support our opinion.     

Response to lithium prophylaxis: interaction between serotonin transporter and BDNF genes.

Both serotonin transporter and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genes have been previously implicated in the efficacy of lithium prophylaxis. The aim of the present study was to assess a possible interaction between serotonin transporter genotype (5HTTLPR) and BDNF Val66Met polymorphism, and the prophylactic response to lithium. The study was performed on 111 patients with bipolar mood disorders (43 male, 68 female), aged 30-77 (mean 54 years) who have been treated with lithium carbonate for at least 5 years (5-27 years, mean 15 years). In the group studied, 31 patients (28%) were classified as excellent responders (ER), 54 (49%) as partial responders (PR), and 26 (23%) as non-responders (NR) to lithium prophylaxis. Age at onset of the illness, duration of illness before treatment introduction and on lithium as well as number of affective episodes before lithium treatment did not differ between these three subgroups of patients. A significant interaction between BDNF and 5HTTLPR polymorphism and lithium response was found. S individuals (patients with s/s or s/l genotype) having Val/Val genotype were significantly more frequent in NR compared with ER or/and PR. Also, S individuals showed extreme differences in response to lithium prophylaxis depending on having either Val/Val or (Val/Met + Met/Met) genotypes of BDNF polymorphism: 9/48 (19%) of ER and 18/48 (37%) of NR in the first group, and 12/30 (40%) and 1/30 (3%) in the second group, respectively. The results obtained may show a significant epistatic interaction between 5-HTTLPR and BDNF polymorphism, and response to lithium prophylaxis.     

Sex-dependent effect of post-migration adaptation on height and relative lower leg length in Polish youth

Background: Growth in tibia length is considered to be particularly sensitive to environmental stress.

Aim: To estimate the effect of parental migration status on the relative length of the tibia in their school-age children.

Subjects and methods: Data included a nationwide random sample of 17,155 schoolchildren, 7–18?years of age, examined between 1966 and 1969 in Poland who provided information on anthropometric measurements and demographic and social characteristics. Parental migration status was based on paternal migration history. After standardisation by LMS method, z-scores of relative tibia length and z-scores of height were used for analysis. Three-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the influence of migration on tibia length-to-height ratio.

Results: Sons of migrants have a significantly higher tibia length-to-height ratio compared to sons of non-migrants. Children of non-migrants were taller than children of migrants among boys in medium SES and among girls in high and low SES. Relative tibia length indicated significant effects of migration among boys in all age categories and in late adolescent girls: sons of migrants had a higher ratio and daughters of migrants had a lower tibia length-to-height ratio.

Conclusion: It is possible that migration experiences of the parents may have influenced the growth of their offspring. The results emphasise the potential importance of research addressing the impact of different types of migration on growth of children.     

Experimental infection of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) with five Mycobacterium species.

The aim of the present study was to determine the susceptibility of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) to infections with different Mycobacterium species. For inoculations the following Mycobacterium species were used: Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium, Mycobacterium bovis subsp. bovis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis subsp. tuberculosis, Mycobacterium intracellulare and M. fortuitum subsp. fortuitum. The bacterial suspension was administrated intramuscularly and all the birds were monitored for 70 days starting from the day of inoculation. During the experiment clinical examination, X-ray scans, plate agglutination tests, tuberculin tests, faeces smear preparations and culture of mycobacteria were performed. The study showed that M. bovis subsp. bovis was the most pathogenic Mycobacterium species for budgerigars. After inoculation, the bacilli induced tuberculosis-typical, clinical signs and necropsy findings. In two out of six birds infected with M. bovis subsp. bovis radiological changes were also visible. Birds inoculated with other Mycobacterium species did not show any typical symptoms of infection, and only the results of histopathological and bacteriological examinations indicated the presence of infection.     

Expression of Y7 cross-reactive idiotope on human IgM molecules

In this paper we report data regarding the IgM Y7 cross-reactive idiotope (CRIo) obtained by analysis of: 1) its V-gene subgroup dependance, 2) the frequency of its expression on human monoclonal IgMs and IgM molecules from normal and pathological sera. Furthermore, comparison of epitopic repertoire and nature of binding of human monoclonal IgMs expressing Y7 CRIo was performed to confirm the natural antibody properties of these molecules. IgM isolated from sera of patient DJ (IgM DJ) which expresses the Y7 idiotope has been classified to VH3/VL2 subgroup. From ten IgMs tested only IgM from patient RD (IgM RD) has been shown to express Y7 idiotope. Y7+ human IgMs bound to ssDNA, lactic acid bacteria, mouse laminin, porcine thyroglobulin and mouse IgG. Higher percentage of the expression of Y7 CRIo was detected in the sera of patients suffering from autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis vulgaris as well as in patients suffering from chronic infections of the lower urinary tract. Antigen binding repertoire and properties of Y7+ monoclonal IgM, frequency of Y7 expression on monoclonal IgMs and its concentration in normal and pathological sera indicate the important biological role of this CRIo within the immune system.     

Changes in pools of autoantibodies and anti-bacterial antibodies in patients suffering from recurrent infections of the urinary tract and undergoing bacterial immunization treatment

Antibodies (Abs) (IgM, IgA, IgG and IgG subclasses) specific for several uropathogenic strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp. and Klebsiella sp.) as well as anti-phospholipids, anti-beta2-glycoprotein I and anti-laminin antibodies were analyzed in the sera of 20 patients with long-lasting uncomplicated recurrent infections of the lower urinary tract who underwent immunization treatment with a mixture of heat-inactivated bacteria. Immunization had a dual effect: a marked prolongation of the infection-free period in more than half of tested patients (which could be related to the profiles of anti-bacterial antibodies), and the induction of a significant decrease in autoreactivity. The results obtained showed that prolonged infections resulted in a significant rise in IgG specific for phospholipids, beta2-glycoprotein I and mouse laminin. However, irrespective of the effect on urinary tract infection per se, immunization induced a noticeable decrease in reactivity toward those antigens (Ag). The most abundant autoantibodies prior to immunization treatment were of IgG2 subclass. A statistically significant decrease in phospholipid specific antibodies belonging to this subclass, and in the concentration of Y7 cross-reactive idiotope, registered only in the responder group; this indicates the significance of natural antibody pool involvement in a proper anti-bacterial immune response.