Influence of antibiotic-regimens on intensive-care unit-mortality and liver-cirrhosis as risk factor.

Aim: To assess the rate of infection, appropriateness of antimicrobial-therapy and mortality on intensive care unit (ICU). Special focus was drawn on patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: The study was approved by the local ethical committee.

Investigations into the Manzamine Alkaloid Biosynthetic Hypothesis.

The biomimetic synthesis of a pentacyclic alkaloid (keramaphidin B, 1), an intermediate in the biogenetic pathway to the manzamine alkaloids, has been achieved. Compound 1 was formed by an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of macrocycle 2 in buffer followed by reduction with NaBH . This reaction provides the first direct expeimental evidence for the authors' biosynthetic hypothesis.