Novel bioactive bromopyrrole alkaloids from the Mediterranean sponge Axinella verrucosa.

The Mediterranean sponge Axinella verrucosa has been investigated for its alkaloid composition and has been found to produce a complex mixture of bromopyrrole alkaloids. Along with the previously isolated compounds 5-18, four novel alkaloids of this class, compounds 1-4, have been isolated, and their structures established through spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-4 were found to display neuroprotective activity against the agonists serotonin and glutamate in vitro.

Role of spatial coherence in polarization tomography.

We analyze an experimental setup in which a quasi-monochromatic spatially coherent beam of light is used to probe a paraxial optical scatterer. We discuss the effect of the spatial coherence of the probe beam on the Mueller matrix representing the scatterer. We show that, according to the degree of spatial coherence of the beam, the same scattering medium can be represented by different Mueller matrices.

A case of palpebral dirofilariasis.

Purpose: Dirofilaria repens infection is the most frequent and widespread dirofilariasis in the world. In Italy subcutaneous dirofilariasis is present especially in Northern-Central areas.

Methods: A woman with a palpebral lump is presented.

Assessing nurses' hand hygiene practices by direct observation or self-report.

Methods of obtaining data on hand hygiene practices have not been well validated. The purpose of this study was to compare two methods of assessment of hand hygiene practices--direct observation and self-report using diaries. For 22 months, nursing staff (n = 119) from two neonatal ICUs recorded their hand hygiene practices on a diary card one shift/month (n = 1,071 diary cards).

Antitumor effects of two novel naturally occurring terpene quinones isolated from the Mediterranean ascidian Aplidium conicum.

The ascidian Aplidium conicum collected along Sardinia coasts (Italy) contained two novel prenylated benzoquinones, designated thiaplidiaquinone A (1) and thiaplidiaquinone B (2). These compounds showed an unprecedented tetracyclic structure. We have studied the pro-apototic mechanisms of both prenylated benzoquinones in the Jurkat cell line that is derived from a human T lymphoma, and we show that both compounds induce a strong production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this cell line.

Sustainable production of bioactive compounds from sponges: primmorphs as bioreactors.

Sponges [phylum Porifera] are a rich source for the isolation of biologically active and pharmacologically valuable compounds with a high potential to become effective drugs for therapeutic use. However, until now, only one compound has been introduced into clinics because of the limited amounts of starting material available for extraction. To overcome this serious problem in line with the rules for a sustainable use of marine resources, the following routes can be pursued; first, chemical synthesis, second, cultivation of sponges in the sea (mariculture), third, growth of sponge specimens in a bioreactor, and fourth, cultivation of sponge cells in vitro in a bioreactor.

Physical bounds to the entropy-depolarization relation in random light scattering.

We present a theoretical study of multimode scattering of light by optically random media, using the Mueller-Stokes formalism which permits us to encode all the polarization properties of the scattering medium in a real 4 x 4 matrix. From this matrix two relevant parameters can be extracted: the depolarizing power D(M) and the polarization entropy E(M) of the scattering medium. By studying the relation between E(M) and D(M), we find that all scattering media must satisfy some universal constraints.

Multilevel analysis of infectious diseases.

Traditional study designs, such as individual-level studies and ecological studies, are unable to simultaneously examine the effects of individual-level and group-level factors on risk of disease. Multilevel analysis overcomes this limitation by allowing the simultaneous investigation of factors defined at multiple levels. Areas in which multilevel modeling can be applied to sexually transmitted infection (STI) research include examining how both group-level and individual-level factors are related to individual-level STI outcomes, assessing interactions between individual-level and group-level constructs, and exploring how factors at multiple levels contribute to group-to-group differences in rates of disease.

Relationship between triclosan and susceptibilities of bacteria isolated from hands in the community.

The possible association between triclosan and bacterial susceptibility to antibiotic was examined among staphylococci and several species of gram-negative bacteria (GNB) isolated from the hands of individuals in a community setting. Hand cultures from individuals randomized to using either antibacterial cleaning and hygiene products (including a hand soap containing 0.2% triclosan) or nonantibacterial cleaning and hygiene products for a 1-year period were taken at baseline and at the end of the year.

How to observe high-dimensional two-photon entanglement with only two detectors.

We propose a novel setup to investigate the entanglement of orbital angular momentum states living in a high-dimensional Hilbert space. We incorporate noninteger spiral phase plates in spatial analyzers, enabling us to use only two detectors. The two-photon states that are produced are not confined to a 2 x 2-dimensional Hilbert space, and the setup allows the probing of correlations in a high-dimensional space.

Chaotic ray dynamics in an optical cavity with a beam splitter.

We investigate the ray dynamics in an optical cavity when a ray-splitting mechanism is present. The cavity is a conventional two-mirror stable resonator, and the ray splitting is achieved by inserting an optical beam splitter perpendicular to the cavity axis. Using Hamiltonian optics, we show that such a simple device presents surprisingly rich chaotic ray dynamics.

Ray splitting in paraxial optical cavities.

We present a numerical investigation of the ray dynamics in a paraxial optical cavity when a ray-splitting mechanism is present. The cavity is a conventional two-mirror stable resonator and the ray splitting is achieved by inserting an optical beam splitter perpendicular to the cavity axis. We show that depending on the position of the beam splitter the optical resonator can become unstable and the ray dynamics displays a positive Lyapunov exponent.

Prophylactic thyroidectomy in MEN 2A syndrome.

Genetic testing is the appropriate procedure in MEN 2A syndrome for the early diagnosis of medullary carcinoma even at a preclinical stage. Prophylactic total thyroidectomy represents the standard preventive and therapeutic surgical approach in the treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma in MEN 2A syndrome. Our experience has confirmed the presence of CCH and medullary thyroid carcinoma even in clinically negative patients, in agreement with reports in the literature.

Ray chaos in optical cavities based upon standard laser mirrors.

We present a composite optical cavity made of standard laser mirrors; the cavity consists of a suitable combination of stable and unstable cavities. In spite of its very open nature the composite cavity shows ray chaos, which may be either soft or hard, depending on the cavity configuration. This opens a convenient route for experimental studies of the quantum aspects of a chaotic wave field.

Conicamin, a novel histamine antagonist from the mediterranean tunicate Aplidium conicum.

In addition to the known 6-bromo-hypaphorine (2) and plakohypaphorine-A (3), the methanol extract of the Mediterranean tunicate Aplidium conicum was shown to contain conicamin, a novel indole alkaloid having histamine-antagonistic activity which structure was determined to be 1 on the basis of the spectral data.

Aplidiasterols A and B, two new cytotoxic 9,11-secosterols from the Mediterranean ascidian Aplidium conicum.

Two novel 9,11-secosterols, aplidiasterols A (3beta,6beta,11-trihydroxy-9,11-seco-5alpha-cholest-7-en-9-one, 1) and B (3beta,5alpha,6beta,11-tetrahydroxy-9,11-secocholest-7-en-9-one, 2), along with the known secosterols 3 and 4, were isolated from the Mediterranean ascidian Aplidium conicum and their structures were determined by spectroscopic data. Aplidiasterols A and B were found to be cytotoxic against rat glioma (C6) and murine monocyte/macrophage (J774) tumor cells in vitro. Compounds 1-4 represent the first example of secosterols isolated from tunicates.

A comparison of the bacteria found on the hands of 'homemakers' and neonatal intensive care unit nurses.

This prevalence study was conducted to compare the counts, types and antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial flora on the hands of individuals in the community to that of nurses at a nearby university teaching hospital, with an intense hand hygiene regimen. Hand cultures were obtained from 204 individuals during a home visit and 119 nurses in two neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The mean total log counts of organisms were 5.

Antibacterial cleaning and hygiene products as an emerging risk factor for antibiotic resistance in the community.

Antibiotic resistance within the community setting is an emerging public-health concern. Infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms in the community among people lacking traditional risk factors has been reported. In addition, prevalence studies have identified individuals carrying antibiotic-resistant organisms in the absence of known risk factors.

Patient satisfaction with nursing care: a multilevel analysis.

Although prior research has suggested that satisfaction with nursing care is affected by multilevel factors (e.g., patient characteristics, episode-of-care, the institution providing care), these studies typically focused only on a single level of analysis.

Effects of age and race on skin condition and bacterial counts on hands of neonatal ICU nurses.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between demographic factors such as age and race and skin condition and bacterial counts on hands of nurses.

Methods: Nurses (n = 111) working in 1 of 2 neonatal ICUs in New York City were surveyed regarding reported hand care practices and demographics, the condition of their hands was assessed by a trained observer and by themselves using validated instruments, and a hand culture was obtained.

Results: There were no significant differences in any skin care practices by race, but nurses who wore powder-free gloves were significantly younger than those who did not (P =.

Short- and long-term effects of handwashing with antimicrobial or plain soap in the community.

Little is known about effects of public use of antimicrobial handwashing soap. A double-blinded, randomized clinical trial of hands of primary caretakers in 238 inner city households was conducted in which effects of plain or antimicrobial (containing 0.2% triclosan) handwashing soap on bacterial counts of the hands were compared before and after a single wash and before and after handwashing following a year of product use.

Mechanism of cytotoxicity of turbinamide in vitro.

Background: Previously, we demonstrated that turbinamide isolated from the marine ascidia Sydnium Turbinatum, exerts a selective cytotoxicity on glioma cells. Now we have investigated the mechanism of its cytotoxic effect on two different cell lines: C6 rat glioma cells and J774 murine monocyte/macrophages.

Materials And Methods: Cell viability, membrane lipoperoxidation, DNA fragmentation and apoptosis were studied in C6 and J774 cells incubated with turbinamide for 24 hours.

Hepatic resection and percutaneous ethanol injection as treatments of small hepatocellular carcinoma: a Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP 08) retrospective case-control study.

Background: Patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are usually treated with hepatic resection or percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI).

Goals: To compare the effects of hepatic resection versus PEI on survival in a matched case-control study. STUDY Patients with single-nodule HCC ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF