Three new steroidal saponins from Aspidistra letreae plants and their cytotoxic activities

Three new steroidal saponins, aspiletreins A–C (1–3), together with 2H-chromen-2-one (4), and α-tocopherol (5), were isolated from whole Aspidistra letreae plants collected in Vietnam. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses, including 1D- and 2D-NMR, IR, and HRESIMS, and by comparison with the reported data in the literature. Compounds 1–3 exhibited moderate cytotoxicities against the LU-1, HeLa, MDA-MB-231, HepG2, and MKN-7 human cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 7.69?±?0.40 to 20.46?±?3.11 µM.

     

Short report: isolation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from fecal samples of cows in Vietnam

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 was isolated for the first time in Vietnam. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli were isolated from 8 of 100 cows examined. The two strains showing serotype O157:H7 carried the eae, ehxA, and stx2c genes, but the other six were negative for the eae gene.     

Percutaneous embolisation of a iatrogenic fistula between the internal mammary artery and the coronary vein

Latrogenic fistula between the aorta and coronary vein is a rare complication of coronary bypass surgery due to accidental venous or arterial graft onto a coronary vein. The authors report a case of a patient admitted to hospital 2 months after coronary bypass surgery for cardiac failure due to a iatrogenic fistula by implantation of the left internal mammary artery on the great coronary vein. This presentation led to the choice of percutaneous embolisation of the fistula by the release of 6 coils. Based on a review of the literature, this clinical case illustrates the feasibility and value of percutaneous embolisation of iatrogenic fistulae.     

Effect of antituberculosis drug resistance on response to treatment and outcome in adults with tuberculous meningitis

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to 1 or more antituberculosis drugs is an increasingly common clinical problem, although the impact on outcome is uncertain. METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 180 Vietnamese adults admitted consecutively for TBM. M. tuberculosis was cultured from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of all patients and was tested for susceptibility to first-line antituberculosis drugs. Presenting clinical features, time to CSF bacterial clearance, clinical response to treatment, and 9-month morbidity and mortality were compared between adults infected with susceptible and those infected with drug-resistant organisms. RESULTS: Of 180 isolates, 72 (40.0%) were resistant to at least 1 antituberculosis drug, and 10 (5.6%) were resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin. Isoniazid and/or streptomycin resistance was associated with slower CSF bacterial clearance but not with any differences in clinical response or outcome. Combined isoniazid and rifampicin resistance was strongly predictive of death (relative risk of death, 11.63 [95% confidence interval, 5.21-26.32]) and was independently associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection. CONCLUSIONS: Isoniazid and/or streptomycin resistance probably has no detrimental effect on the outcome of TBM when patients are treated with first-line antituberculosis drugs, but combined isoniazid and rifampicin resistance is strongly predictive of death.     

An efficient multicomponent synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted and 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles catalyzed by a magnetic nanoparticle supported Lewis acidic deep eutectic solvent

A mild and highly efficient reaction for the synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted and 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles catalyzed by a magnetically supported Lewis acidic deep eutectic solvent on magnetic nanoparticles (LADES@MNP) has been developed via one-pot multicomponent processes under solvent-free sonication. These reactions have good to excellent yields, mild conditions, and work-up simplicity. This method represents a new method for the preparation of 2,4,5-trisubstituted and 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles. More importantly, LADES@MNP can be easily recovered by magnetic separation and reused five times without significant loss of catalytic activity.

A mild and highly efficient method for the synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted and 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles catalyzed by a Lewis acidic deep eutectic solvent on magnetic nanoparticles (LADES@MNP).     

Combined administration of microdoses of growth hormone and erythropoietin: Effects on performance and evaluation of GH detection capability using anti‐doping methods

The combination of growth hormone (GH) and recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) is thought to be used particularly in endurance sports. Our objective was to reproduce a 2‐week administration of rEPO microdoses alone or in combination with GH microdoses (three times a week) on healthy and athletic male subjects and to evaluate if GH had any additional effects compared to EPO treatment alone. The effects of the treatments on hematological parameters and VO2max were studied as well as the detection of GH in serum. While the rEPO microdose regimen was associated with a significant increase in reticulocytes, no clear elevation in hemoglobin concentration (HGB) was observed. Using a correction by plasma volume did not reveal more effects of EPO on HGB. Our results did not show any additional effect when the GH microdoses were co‐administered. In addition, no clear increase in VO2max was observed after treatment, with an elevation in only half the subjects in both groups (EPO and EPO+GH). A clear effect of GH on insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) was seen but it was lower on procollagen III amino‐terminal propeptide (P‐III‐NP). GH detection using the direct isoform test identified only one subject 24 hours after receiving GH. The GH biomarker test combining IGF‐I and P‐III‐NP was not able to detect the GH administration. However, a longitudinal follow‐up of the intraindividual variations showed a significant increase in IGF‐I 24 and 48 hours after GH administration in most subjects, while the effect of GH microdoses on P‐III‐NP was less straightforward.