X-Ray structure of cytotoxic trans-[PtCl(2)(dimethylamine)(isopropylamine)]: interstrand cross-link efficiency, DNA sequence specificity, and inhibition of the B-Z transition.

We report here the X-ray structure of cytotoxic trans-¿PtCl(2)(dimethylamine)(isopropylamine). This trans-platinum compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, with Z = 8, in the spatial group C2/c with unit cell parameters a = 19.862(17) A, b = 6.

Induction of apoptosis by the bis-Pt(III) complex [Pt(2)(2-mercaptopyrimidine)(4)Cl(2)].

We analyzed both the cytotoxicity and the type of cell death produced by the novel binuclear Pt(III) compound Pt-Spym ([Pt(2)(2-mercaptopyrimidine)(4)Cl(2)]) in kidney human fibroblasts and in human tumor cell lines (HeLa, CH1, CH1cisR and HL-60). The data showed that Pt-Spym displayed higher cytotoxicity against these tumor cells than cisplatin. In contrast, Pt-Spym had low toxicity against normal human fibroblasts.

[Clinical trial to evaluate trospium chloride (Uraplex) effectiveness and tolerance in patients with detrusor instability incontinence and its impact on quality of life].

Objective: To determine the efficacy, tolerance and quality-of-life effects of trospium chloride in women with overactive bladder.

Methods: An open, prospective multicenter trial was conducted on 75 women with urinary incontinence from overactive bladder (ICS criteria, urodynamic evaluation). Trospium chloride was administered at a dose of 20 mg twice daily for 8 weeks.

MRI evaluation of soft tissue hydatid disease.

Infestation in soft tissue by Echinococcus granulosus is not a common disease, and its diagnosis is based on clinical, laboratory data and radiological findings. The aim of our retrospective study is to give an overview of the different signs and patterns shown by MRI that can be useful in characterizing soft tissue hydatid disease. The MRI images obtained in seven patients with soft tissue and subcutaneous hydatidosis were reviewed.

Empirical validation of a two-state kinetic model for the B-Z transition of double-stranded poly[d(G-m5C)].

A formula based on a first-order kinetic equation is derived to evaluate the rate constant of the B-Z transition of a synthetic double-stranded poly[d(G-m5C)] in terms of the salt concentration, the absolute temperature, and the cooperativity index. The validity of the formula was tested using circular dichroism spectroscopy after variation of the type of salt (NaCl, MgCl2), the salt concentration, and the temperature of the polynucleotide solution. A consequence of the proposed function is that in conditions of high salt there is a predictable salt threshold which determines the particular molecular mechanism of the B-Z transition.

Cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma: diagnosis by MR imaging.

We report a case of cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma the initial clinical features of which were pericardial effusion, clinical symptoms of congestive heart failure and probable pulmonary thromboembolism, in which echocardiography constituted the first approach to the diagnosis of cardiac tumor and MRI confirmed it, precisely delimiting the tumoral extension and possible infiltration of pericardiac structures. A brief literature review of this entity is given, the MRI findings obtained in our case are described, and we discuss the advantages and limitations of this technique as compared with other alternatives of image diagnosis.

The formation of DNA interstrand cross-links by a novel bis-[Pt2Cl4(diminazene aceturate)2]Cl4.4H2O complex inhibits the B to Z transition.

We present data demonstrating that the cytotoxic compound [Pt2Cl4(diminazene aceturate)2]Cl4.4H2O (Pt-berenil) circumvents cisplatin resistance in ovarian carcinoma cells. The analysis of the interaction of Pt-berenil with linear and supercoiled DNA indicates that this compound induces the formation of a large number of covalent interstrand cross-links on DNA and that this number is significantly higher than that produced by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP).

Folding stability of the kinetoplastid membrane protein-11 (KMP-11) from Leishmania infantum.

Kinetoplastid membrane protein-11 (KMP-11) is a major component of the cell surface of kinetoplastids, and acts as a potent B- and T-cell immunogen during Leishmania infection. Here we report that the Leishmania infantum KMP-11 secondary structure adopts mainly an alpha-helical conformation at pH 7.5 and that its urea- and thermally-induced unfolding constitute a fully reversible two-step process.

[Hypercoagulability status previous to total hip and knee arthroplasty: the contribution of rheumatoid arthritis].

Purpose: Starting from a status hypercoagulability previous to substitutive hip and knee surgery, the aim of this work was to investigate the influence of different osteoarthropatic pictures for which arthroplasty is indicated in the activation of the clotting cascade, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) being one of such pictures.

Patients And Methods: Of 79 patients suitable for prosthetic surgery of hip (53) and knee (26), the preoperative values of several markers, namely, D dimers (D-D), thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complex, and F1 + 2 prothrombin fragment (F1 + F2) were assessed by enzymoimmunoasay. The mean age of the patients was 65.

[The evaluation of a self-measurement arterial pressure monitor: the OMRON-HM 722C].

Objective: To evaluate a self-measuring blood pressure (BP) monitor, the OMRON-HM 722C.

Design: Based on the protocol of the British Hypertension Society (BHS).

Setting: Urban health centre.

[Simplified Ramírez urethropexy in the treatment of genuine stress urinary incontinence in women. Multicenter study of clinical and urodynamic results].

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical and urodynamic data of a multicenter study on female urinary stress incontinence undergoing surgical repair with the Ramírez simplified urethropexy.

Methods: Clinical, urodynamic and videocystographic data were analyzed in a multicenter series of 340 female patients with urinary stress incontinence (mean age 51.7 +/- 9.

[Urodynamic results of the treatment of urinary incontinence with peripheral electric stimulation].

Objectives: To evaluate the urodynamic results achieved by electrostimulation in patients with different types of urinary incontinence.

Methods: 37 patients (32 females and 5 males) with urinary incontinence were treated with peripheral electrical stimulation. The urodynamic diagnosis were: detrusor instability (24.

Modification of the recognition of restriction sites of plasmid DNA by the antitumor drug Pt-pentamidine.

The rate of binding of the antineoplastic drugs Pt-pentamidine [(cis-PtCl2)3(pentamidine)3][PtCl4]2 and cis-DDP [cis-diamminedichloroplatimum(II)] to pUC8 DNA, as well as the effect of the binding of these platinum compounds on the cutting effectiveness of Bam HI, Hind III, and Sal I restriction endonucleases, were determined by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy and gel electrophoresis, respectively. The results show that covalent DNA platination is 12% to 22% lower in DNA: Pt-pentamidine complexes than in DNA: cis-DDP at the same molar rate of platinum/nucleotide, and the number of Pt-pentamidine molecules bound to DNA is significantly lower in Pt-pentamidine: DNA complexes than in cis-DDP: DNA complexes. Although both compounds inhibit Bam HI cleavage of pUC8 DNA, Pt-pentamidine does not prevent the cutting activity of Hind III, in contrast with cis-DDP.

Synthesis, characterization, and DNA modification induced by a novel Pt-berenil compound with cytotoxic activity.

In the present paper, we show that the reaction of the antipyranosomatid berenil drug with K2PtCl4 resulted in the synthesis of a covalent (Pt(II)-berenil compound of formula [Pt2Cl4(berenil)2]Cl4.4H2O as shown by IR, 1H, 13C, and 195Pt-NMR. The Pt-berenil compound was tested for in vitro antitumor activity against HL-60 and U-937 human leukemic cells.

Improvement of scleredema associated with IgA multiple myeloma after chemotherapy.

The presence of a monoclonal gammopathy in patients with chronic scleredema is a recently described, unusual association of unknown significance. There have been very occasional reports of multiple myeloma in such patients. We now report a patient with long-standing scleredema who developed an IgA-kappa multiple myeloma.

Atomic-absorption spectrometric determination of trace metals in zirconium and zircaloy by discrete sample nebulization.

A discrete sample nebulization technique was employed to determine trace metals in nuclear grade zirconium and Zircaloy by flame atomic-absorption spectrometry. With 10% (w v ) sample solutions, detection limits for Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Pb were 0.6, 2, 1,3, and 10 mug g .

[Myocardial infarction after mediastinal radiotherapy of Hodgkin's disease].

A 30 years old man having Hodgkin's disease was treated successfully by means of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Two years after treatment he developed a myocardial infarction that was ascribed to the atherosclerosis-inducing effects of radiations.

Cytostatic quinones. 3. Synthesis of benzotriazolequinones by a new oxidation with m-chloroperbenzoic acid. Biochemical studies.

Oxidation of N-1 and N-2 alkylbenzotriazoles with m-chloroperbenzoic acid afforded 1-alkylbenzotriazole 3-oxides and 2-alkylbenzotriazole-4,4-diones, respectively. The quinonic compounds inhibited the "in vitro" growth of both HeLa and KB cells, the synthesis of macromolecules (DNA, RNA, and proteins), and the uptake of glucose by Ehrlich carcinoma ascites cells. A possible mode of action is suggested.