Updates on the diagnosis and management of celiac disease.

Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune enteropathy affecting about 1% of the population. Gluten ingestion triggers an immune response in genetically susceptible patients, resulting in intestinal and extraintestinal disease manifestations. Current recommendations for diagnosis include serology for celiac-specific antibodies to transglutaminase, endomysium, and deamidated gliadin, and IgA serology.

Lactones: Part 11. Feeding-deterrent activity of some bi- and tricyclic terpenoid lactones.

The feeding-deterrent activities of thirteen synthetic terpenoid lactones, including isomeric bicyclic gamma-spirolactones with the limonene system and tricyclic gamma-lactones with the pinane system, were determined towards three storage pest insects: the adults of Sitophilus granarius, the adults and larvae of Tribolium confusum and the larvae of Trogoderma granarium. The configuration of chiral centres, as well as the presence of additional functional groups (double bond, iodine and hydroxy group) are important for antifeeding activity.

Lactones. 9. Synthesis of terpenoid lactones-active insect antifeedants.

Starting from (+)- and (-)-perillyl alcohols, via Claisen rearrangement and iodolactonization, four enantiomeric pairs of gamma-lactones were obtained. The structures of compounds were established by both spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. The lactones were tested for antifeeding activity toward grain storage pests-the granary weevil beetle (Sitophilus granarius L.