Detection of experimental brain tumor in rat by computed tomography

The feasibility of the use of computerized tomographic (CT) scanning for detecting an experimental brain tumor in rats was evaluated. Tumors were induced in newborn rats by intracerebral inoculation of Rous sarcoma virus. At varying times contrast-enhanced scans were obtained on an Ohio Nuclear 2010 scanner, the brains examined, and the findings at autopsy correlated with the CT findings. Five tumors were demonstrated by CT scans and their presence confirmed at autopsy. Four small tumors were not detected by CT scans. In 1 animal, multiple tumors were demonstrated by a CT scan, and in another a large cyst was correctly diagnosed. It is concluded that the technology currently available can be used to identify some tumor-bearing animals and should be useful for following the change in size of tumors in response to therapy. Further improvements in scanner resolution should make this technique more useful for animal research.     

Idiopathic granulomatous hepatitis

A 12-year-old male child reported with history of fever for last seven years. Hepatosplenomegaly, hepatic and bone marrow granulomas were the main features. Idiopathic Granulomatous Hepatitis (IGH), a rare syndrome amenable to immunosuppressive therapy was diagnosed.     

One pot synthesis of thiazolodihydropyrimidinones and evaluation of their anticancer activity

2-(5-Arylfurfurylidene/5-nitrofurfurylidene)-5-aryl-7-(2,4-dichloro-5-fluorophenyl)-5H-thiazolo[2,3-b]-pyrimidin-2(1H)-ones 5 and 6 are synthesized by a novel three component reaction of 4,6-diarylpyrimidino-2(1H)-thiones 4, monochloroacetic acid, arylfurfuraldehydes and 5-nitro-2-furfuraldenediacetate, respectively. The newly synthesized compounds are characterized by elemental analysis, IR, (1)H NMR and mass spectral studies. These compounds exhibited in vitro antitumour activity with moderate to excellent growth inhibition against a panel of 60 cell lines of leukemia, non-small cell lung cancer melanoma, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer.     

Anomalous flexor digiti minimi brevis in Guyon's canal

In an adult male cadaver, the flexor digiti minimi brevis, a muscle of the hypothenar eminence, was found to arise from the superficial transverse septum (between the superficially placed flexor carpi ulnaris, palmaris longus, and flexor carpi radialis muscles, and the deeply placed flexor digitorum superficialis muscle) in the distal fourth of the flexor aspect of the left forearm. The muscle exhibited two strata of muscle fibers at its origin. The superficial stratum was a thin layer of transversely running fibers confined to the forearm, which has not been previously reported. The deep stratum, a thick layer of longitudinally running fibers, formed the bulk of the muscle. It traversed Guyon's canal superficial to the ulnar nerve and vessels to reach the hypothenar eminence. Its course through Guyon's canal could be a cause for ulnar tunnel syndrome. The ulnar nerve trunk innervated not only the anomalous flexor digiti minimi brevis muscle, but also abductor digiti minimi and palmaris brevis. This may be due to the common phylogeny of these three muscles from the same muscle mass.     

Synthesis of some new 2,4-disubstituted thiazoles as possible antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents

A series of arylthioureas (1), aromatic aldehyde thiosemicarbazones (2) and 5-aryl-2-furfuraldehyde thiosemicarbazones (3) were condensed with 2,4-dichloro-5-fluorophenacyl bromide to yield respective arylaminothiazoles, arylidene/5-aryl-2-furfurylidene hydrazinothiazoles (4). The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR and mass spectral studies. These compounds were also screened for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. Two of the newly synthesized compounds showed anti-inflammatory activity comparable with that of Ibuprofen.     

Synthetic and antibacterial studies on some new furanopeptides

A series of new furanopeptides (3) are prepared by the coupling of arylsubstituted furoic acids (1) with amino acid methyl esters, di and tetra-peptide methyl esters using dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC) as coupling agent. Some of the newly synthesized compounds are characterized on the basis of IR, 1H NMR, mass spectral data and elemental analysis. Some of the selected compounds are also tested for their antibacterial properties.     

Studies on nitrophenylfuran derivatives part Xii. synthesis, characterization, antibacterial and antiviral activities of some nitrophenylfurfurylidene-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazines

Synthesis of four 1-aryl-3-[5-(p-nitrophenyl)-2-furyl]-2-propen-1-ones starting from substituted acetophenones and p-nitrophenylfurfuraldehyde is described. These propenones were then converted into corresponding dibromo derivatives which on dehydrobromination afforded alpha-bromopropenones rather than acetylenic ketones. Condensation of these dibromopropanones with 4-amino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazoles yielded a new class of nitrophenylfurfurylidene-1,2,4-triazolothiadiazines. The structures of nitrophenylfurfurylidene-1,2,4-triazolothiadiazines were established on the basis of analytical, IR, NMR and mass spectral studies. The formation of 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazines rather than 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazepines in the above condensation was unambiguously confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis of one of them. A possible mechanism is proposed to account for the formation of nitrophenylfurfurylidene-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazines. Some of the newly synthesized triazolothiadiazines were screened for their antibacterial and antiviral properties.     

Relationship between the 17q21 locus and adult asthma in a Czech population

Several whole-genome association studies have shown a significant link between childhood asthma and the 17q12 chromosome region. We selected tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ORMDL3 gene (17q12) to investigate gene variability in relation to adult allergic asthma and asthma/atopy traits in a Czech Caucasian population of adults. We conducted a case-control association study comprising 668 unrelated subjects (337 asthmatic and 331 control subjects). Four selected SNPs (rs17608925, rs12603332, rs8076131, and rs3169572) were genotyped using the TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays. The single locus analysis showed only a borderline association between rs3169572 variant and asthma (p = 0.030, p(corr) > 0.05). However, seven different haplotypes were identified; among them, the TTAA haplotype was marginally associated with asthma (p = 0.045, p(corr) > 0.05) and TCAG haplotype was significantly associated with asthma in males (p = 0.009, p(corr) < 0.05, odds ratio = 1.48, 95% confidence interval = 1.10-2.00). In addition, associations between the ORMDL3 genotypes and the total IgE level (p = 0.05, p(corr) > 0.05) and hypersensitivity to the pollen (p = 0.007, p(corr) < 0.05) were established. However, no relationship between ORMDL3 SNPs and the pulmonary functions was found (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that the genetic variability in the 17q21 region may be one of the risk factors also for adult asthma, especially in male individuals.     

Malignancy in common variable immune deficiency: report of two rare cases of gastrointestinal malignancy and a review of the literature

Patients can develop malignancies due to various reasons including genetic factors, chemical carcinogens, radiation, and defects in their immune system. The immune system is postulated to carry out routine surveillance for malignancy. Patients who have defective immune responses may be susceptible to malignancies due to complicated underlying mechanisms. These include defective immune response to cancer-causing bacteria, transforming viruses, and concomitant molecular, cellular and immunoregulatory defects. Common variable immune deficiency (CVID) is characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia, impaired antibody responses and an increased susceptibility to infections. A disorderly immune response, or immune dysregulation, may also lead to autoimmune complications and possibly to malignancy. The treatment of CVID involves infusion of replacement doses of immunoglobulin, either intravenously (IGIV) or subcutaneously (SCIG). However, it is unclear whether adequate replacement of immunoglobulins is sufficient to prevent the increased risk of malignancy seen in this disease. We present two cases of unusual solid tumors complicating CVID treated with adequate doses of intravenous immunoglobulins. In this study we review the occurrence of malignancy in patients with CVID and postulate mechanisms that may be involved indigent to this disease. We will also review the role of replacement immunoglobulin and discuss cancer screening in these high risk individuals.