Human cytomegalovirus DNA detection in a recurrent glioblastoma multiforme tumour,but not in whole blood: a case report and discussion about the HCMV latency and therapy perspectives

Journal of NeuroVirology - In the current study, a 58-year-old male patient presented with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The patient underwent surgical resection, 4 months...     

A case of pelvic bone hydatidosis--diagnosis and treatment

INTRODUCTION: Echinococcosis is a frequent helminthiasis in Bulgaria. Hydatid cysts commonly affect the liver and the lung. Echinococcosis rarely involves bones (0.5 to 2.5%) and vertebral column is affected in 50% of the cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report a case of a 67-year-old female with echinococcosis of the pelvic bone clinically manifested by pain and swelling of the right iliac region and complicated by abscess of the surrounding soft tissue. The patient underwent surgery at the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University hospital "St. George", Medical University, Plovdiv. Diagnosis was based on imaging findings, serologic and histological methods. Biopsy material was investigated by standard histological methods hematoxilin-eosin (H-E),PAS and hydrargyrum impregnation after Gommori, which presented both chitin and germinative membranes of the hydatid cyst. RESULTS: The patient underwent complete resection of the bone lesion along with the surrounding soft tissue. Purulent collection of 1200 ml was evacuated. A six months follow-up of the patient revealed no pathology of the cyst and other organs. She walked unaided. No echinococcosis recurrence was observed on control examinations. CONCLUSIONS: Hydatid bone disease is usually difficult to diagnose. Its treatment includes excision of bone lesion, curettage and oral therapy. It is not always possible to fully remove all the affected bone fragments especially when cysts are located in the femoral and pelvic bones. In the reported case the hydatid cyst was fully removed by resection of the right iliac ala and the patient's mobility was preserved.     

Effect of tacrine on cytosolic Ca2+ level and calmodulin in gastric muscle tissues of rat

INTRODUCTION: Tacrine is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. It has an indirect cholinomimetic effect inducing contractions of the gastric smooth muscles. The contractions are related to the effect of the accumulated acetylcholine in tissues on the respective choline receptors. There is a well defined direct correlation between tacrine concentrations and the inhibition of cholinesterase activity. That suggest simultaneous increase of the strength of tacrine-induced contractions. Instead, at concentrations above 1 x 10(-5) mol/l, tacrine causes permanent relaxation with yet unknown causing mechanism. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate if tacrine induces reduction of calcium ions through chelation and/or inhibits directly calmodulin's participation in the contractile processes, thus causing smooth muscle relaxation which is not characteristic of a typical acetylcholinesterase blocker. METHODS: The contractile activity of smooth muscle preparations was measured isometrically with a Microtechna (Czech Republic) amplifier and recorded by a Linseis (Germany) recorder. The absorption electron spectrum of tacrine (1 x 10(-4) mol/l) was determined with a Cary 1 (Varian, Australia) spectrophotometer. The concentration of ionized CaCa2+ was measured with the ISE-block of a clinical-chemical analyzer Konelab 60 (Finland). RESULTS: The presence of Ca2+ (10(-2) mol/l) does not alter tacrine characteristic absorption spectrum at pH values corresponding to the SM cell cytosolic pH. The presence of 1 x 10(-4) mol/l tacrine does not affect Ca2+ concentration in the Krebs solution (pH = 7.4). In the presence of trifluoperazine (a calmodulin blocker) 1 x 10(-4) mol/l tacrine causes relaxation which is commensurable with that in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Tacrine-induced smooth muscle relaxation is not a result of the reduction of the effective Ca2+ concentrations as a result of chelation between tacrine and Ca2+ and it is not related to the tacrine effects on calmodulin.     

6-(Propan-2-yl)-3-methyl-morpholine-2,5-dione,a novel cyclodidepsipeptide with modulatory effect on rat thymocytes

A study has been carried out on the potential effect of a novel cyclodidepsipeptide, 6-(propan-2-yl)-3-methyl-morpholine-2,5-dione (PMMD), on rat thymocytes. Rat thymocytes were cultivated with increasing PMMD concentrations (0.1, 1, 10 μg/well), for 24 h, and evaluated for proliferative activity, viability, reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential. The higher PMMD concentrations inhibited thymocytes proliferative activity mainly through induction of oxidative stress and resulting cytotoxicity, without any mitochondrial membrane potential alterations in thymocytes. The obtained results are correlated with previously published data on effects of 6-(propan-2-yl)-4-methyl-morpholine-2,5-diones on rat thymocytes. The presence of methyl group in position 4 or/and the length of alkyl chain in position 3 of 6-(propan-2-yl)-morpholine-2,5-dione core plays a role for the obtained differences in the biological response between PMMD and two previously tested 6-(propan-2-yl)-4-methyl-morpholine-2,5-diones.     

The current availability of neurological in-patient services in post-communist central and eastern European countries

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Limited information can be obtained as to the availability of neurological in-patient services in the former communist countries of Eastern and Central Europe. The objective was to analyse data received directly from representatives of the particular countries. METHODS: The data were collected under the auspices of the 'First European Cooperation Neurology Workshop' held in April 2000, in Trest, Czech Republic. Neurologists from 15 post-communist countries provided information from their respective countries. Linear trends in graphs including the reliability value R(2) were used in the analysis of correlations. RESULTS: Data from 14 countries were assembled and trends were analysed. CONCLUSIONS: Direct relationships were found between: (1) the average department size and the average catchment area (R(2) = 0.1015); (2) the percentage of districts with a neurological in-patient department and the gross national product (GNP) per capita (R(2) = 0.1359); (3) the average neurological department size and the GNP per capita (R(2) = 0.1135), and (4) the average length of treatment and the number of neurological beds/100,000 inhabitants (R(2) = 0.1745). Inverse relationships were found between: (1) the number of neurological beds/100,000 inhabitants and the average hospital catchment area (R(2) = 0.2105), and (2) the number of neurological beds/100,000 inhabitants and the GNP per capita (R(2) = 0.1144).     

Maternal factors and associated anomalies in NTD fetuses from Tunisia

Aim of the study

To determine the impact of maternal age, consanguinity, season of conception and variation in the amount of amniotic fluid for the appearance of anomalies associated with neural tube defects (NTDs).

Materials and methods

150 NTD fetuses, a result from autopsies (macroscopic autopsy; microscopic study of biopsy fragments; macro and microscopic brain examination), have been examined during a period of three years (01.2006, 01.2009), in the Clinic of Fetopathology, at the Center of Maternity and Neonatology — Tunisia.

Results

Anomalies associated with NTDs occur three times more often in pregnancies with an abnormal amount of amniotic fluid. Also, their likelihood of cardiovascular and reproductive system anomalies is increased four times. Nearly 80% of the NTD fetuses conceived during the autumn-winter period have acrania. Women older than 35, are twice more likely to have underweight children and children with defects of the digestive system and hand. They are also three times more likely to have fetuses with endocrine system abnormalities. Anomalies incompatible with life occur twice as often in consanguineous unions.

Conclusion

The mother’s age, consanguinity, season of conception, and variation in the amount of amniotic fluid have considerable impact on the emergence of associated anomalies in fetuses with NTDs.     

Stimulatory effect on rat thymocytes proliferation and antimicrobial activity of two 6-(propan-2-yl)-4-methyl-morpholine-2,5-diones

Recently we reported the identification and synthesis of cyclodidepsipeptides, 3,6-di(propan-2-yl)-4-methyl-morpholine-2,5-dione (PPM) and 3-(2-methylpropyl)-6-(propan-2-yl)-4-methyl-morpholine-2,5-dione (BPM), as potential precursors of enniatin B in Fusarium sporotrichioides. No data concerning biological activity of PPM and BPM have hitherto been published. The possible immunomodulatory effect and antimicrobial activity of PPM and BPM were investigated in this study, due to well known biological activities of enniatin B. The cytotoxicity effect of PPM and BPM on rat thymocytes demonstrated that increasing concentrations (0.1, 1, 10 μg/well) of PPM and BPM to cell culture, showed no significant effect on thymocytes toxicity. Simultaneously, incubation with studied cyclodidepsipeptides did not result with decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Further, thymocytes exposure to increasing concentration of PPM and BPM was not able to induce significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in rat thymocytes. PPM and BPM administrations to cell culture in concentrations of 0.1 and 1 μg/well resulted with no significant increase of proliferative activity. However, significantly increased proliferative activity was detected with 10 μg of PPM (p<0.001) and BPM (p<0.05), as compared to their respective controls. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of PPM and BPM was tested against two Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria. The results indicated that MIC values against tested strains ranged between 2.00 and 25.00 mg/ml. PPM showed much better activity against all tested bacteria in comparison with BPM. PPM was equally effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, at the dose of 2.00 mg/ml.     

Comparative Characteristics of the Methods of Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis Using Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy (Per One Visit) and Calasept Preparation

Background

The article describes the results of research on efficiency of using antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in treatment of chronic periodontitis.