A highly efficient, asymmetric synthesis of benzothiadiazine-substituted tetramic acids: potent inhibitors of hepatitis C virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

[reaction: see text] An efficient two-pot, asymmetric synthesis of benzothiadiazine-substituted tetramic acids is reported. Starting from commercially available alpha-amino acids or esters, reductive amination followed by a novel one-pot amide bond formation/Dieckmann cyclization provided the desired products in high yield and optical purity. An analogous solid-phase approach to the same targets is also presented.

The use of calcium hydroxylapatite for nipple projection after failed nipple-areolar reconstruction: early results.

Numerous studies have shown that the final stage in breast reconstruction, creation of the nipple-areolar complex, correlates highly with patient satisfaction and acceptance of body image. There are many different techniques, including nipple sharing, free-composite grafts, and local "pull-out" flaps, all of which are vulnerable to an unpredictable degree of loss of projection and possible need for reoperation. This leads to problems with symmetry and overbuilding the initial reconstruction with wider-based, larger flaps, which may cause breast-contour changes.

Time to development of symptomatic urinary calculi in a high risk environment.

Purpose: While seasonal variation of stone disease is well described, the time to formation of urinary calculi is unknown. Because southwestern Asia is a high risk environment for stone disease, the date of entry into this region is a definitive beginning to a period of increased risk of urinary calculi. The recent influx of Department of Defense personnel into southwestern Asia provided the opportunity to observe stone disease in a cohort of healthy personnel during a well-defined period of increased risk of stone formation.

Rapidly growing adenomatoid tumor extending into testicular parenchyma mimics testicular carcinoma.

A 40-year-old man presented with a 1-month history of a large, painless, rapidly growing right scrotal mass. Examination, ultrasonography, and intraoperative inspection did not exclude an intratesticular tumor, and a radical orchiectomy was performed. Histology was typical for adenomatoid tumor, but gross and microscopic inspection revealed bundles of tumor extending from the tunica albuginea into the testicular parenchyma.

Concentrations of organochlorines in sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) from Southern Australian waters.

Concentrations of DDTs, PCBs and HCHs were measured in sperm whales involved in two mass stranding events on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia in February 1998. DDTs and PCBs were present in all samples analysed, while only three contained HCHs. The relationships between organochlorines, sex, age and reproductive groups were marked by high variability.

Body fat and condition in sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus, from southern Australian waters.

Blubber thickness (n=102) and lipid content (n=37) were measured in sperm whales from three mass stranding events on the west and north-west coasts of Tasmania, Australia in February 1998. Blubber thickness was highly variable, ranging from 43.0 to 168.

Synthesis of biotin conjugates of the antifungal compound cymoxanil.

Biotin conjugates are of considerable value in investigating the mode of action of biologically active compounds. Two biotin conjugates related to the antifungal compound cymoxanil [1-(2-cyano-2-methoximinoacetyl)-3-ethyl urea] were prepared as the first step in an effort to employ display cloning to identify the compound's target site. In the first conjugate, prepared in five steps, the biotin moiety was attached at the position occupied by the ethyl group in cymoxanil.

Over-expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein-1(IGFBP-rP1/mac25) in the M12 prostate cancer cell line alters tumor growth by a delay in G1 and cyclin A associated apoptosis.

In the present study, we examined the effects of over-expression of the potential tumor suppressor gene IGFBP-rP1/mac25 on cell-cycle kinetics in prostate cancer cells. The majority of the high expressing IGFBP-rP1/mac25 cell population was located in the G1 and sub-G0/G1 peaks; synchronizing cells in G2/M with nocodazole demonstrated the high expressing IGFBP-rP1/mac25 clones were delayed in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Unscheduled expression of cyclin A in the sub-G0/G1 peak occurred in the IGFBP-rP1/mac25 clones.