Dieth-yl[N-(3-meth-oxy-2-oxidobenzyl-idene)-N'-(oxidomethyl-ene)hydrazine-κO,N,O']tin(IV).

In the mol-ecule of the title compound, [Sn(C(2)H(5))(2)(C(9)H(8)N(2)O(3))], the Sn atom is five-coordinated in a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal configuration by two O and one N atoms of the tridentate Schiff base ligand in the equatorial plane, and by two C atoms of ethyl groups in the axial positions. In the crystal structure, inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into centrosymmetric dimers.

(2,2'-Bipyridine-κN,N'){[(3-meth-oxy-2-oxidobenzyl-idene-κO)hydrazono]methano-lato-κN,O}dimethyl-tin(IV).

In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Sn(CH(3))(2)(C(9)H(8)N(2)O(3))(C(10)H(8)N(2))], the Sn atom exhibits a penta-gonal bipyramidal coordination geometry defined by two C, three N and two O atoms. The bond distances for Sn-C, Sn-N and Sn-O are in the ranges 2.097 (3)-2.

Detection of acute Toxoplasma gondii infection in early pregnancy by IgG avidity and PCR analysis.

Acute Toxoplasma gondii infection in early pregnancy carries the risk of transmitting the infection to the fetus with serious sequelae. However, serological testing for IgG/IgM anti-Toxoplasma antibodies may fail to differentiate between a recent and past infection. Two hundred and twenty-four Kuwaiti women in their first trimester were screened for IgG/IgM antibodies by the Vitek Immuno Diagnostic Assay System (VIDAS) and VIDAS IgG-avidity tests.

Long circulating lipid nanocapsules for drug detoxification.

Uncoated and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-decorated lipid nanocapsules (NC) prepared from medium chain triglycerides were investigated both in vitro and in vivo as parenteral detoxifying colloids for their ability to sequester haloperidol, docetaxel and paclitaxel. In vitro studies showed that the uptake depended on the nature of the drug and the composition of NC core and shell. In the case of haloperidol, maximal affinity was achieved upon incorporation of a complexing fatty acid.

The effects of etomidate on seizure duration and electrical stimulus dose in seizure-resistant patients during electroconvulsive therapy.

Objective: Methohexital used to be the preferred anesthetic used in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Since 1999, there have been supply problems for this drug, and there has been no clear guidance regarding which anesthetic should be used preferably in ECT. Most clinics use thiopental or propofol, although these drugs may increase the seizure threshold.

Non-occupational lead exposure and hypertension in Pakistani adults.

Hypertension is one of the most prevalent diseases in the developed and developing countries. Based on the long historical association and the provocative findings of blood pressure effects at low level of lead exposure a study was carried out to determine if an association existed between low blood lead concentration and hypertension. In this study the effects of low-level exposure to lead on blood pressure were examined among 244 adults using atomic absorption spectrometer.

Inhibitory activity of cyclohexenyl chalcone derivatives and flavonoids of fingerroot, Boesenbergia rotunda (L.), towards dengue-2 virus NS3 protease.

Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) cyclohexenyl chalcone derivatives, 4-hydroxypanduratin A and panduratin A, showed good competitive inhibitory activities towards dengue 2 virus NS3 protease with the Ki values of 21 and 25 microM, respectively, whilst those of pinostrobin and cardamonin were observed to be non-competitive. NMR and GCMS spectroscopic data formed the basis of assignment of structures of the six compounds isolated.

A statistical method for predicting splice variants between two groups of samples using GeneChip expression array data.

Background: Alternative splicing of pre-messenger RNA results in RNA variants with combinations of selected exons. It is one of the essential biological functions and regulatory components in higher eukaryotic cells. Some of these variants are detectable with the Affymetrix GeneChip that uses multiple oligonucleotide probes (i.

Unique endemicity of cryptosporidiosis in children in Kuwait.

To understand the transmission of Cryptosporidium infection in children, fecal specimens from 62 Kuwaiti children with gastrointestinal symptoms found to be positive by microscopy were genotyped and subtyped with a small subunit rRNA-based PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and a 60-kDa glycoprotein-based DNA sequencing tool. The median age of infected children was 4.5 years, and 77% of infections occurred during the cool season of November to April.

A class of models for analyzing GeneChip gene expression analysis array data.

Background: Various analytical methods exist that first quantify gene expression and then analyze differentially expressed genes from Affymetrix GeneChip gene expression analysis array data. These methods differ in the choice of probe measure (quantification of probe hybridization), summarizing multiple probe intensities into a gene expression value, and analysis of differential gene expression. Research papers that describe these methods focus on performance, and how their approaches differ from others.

Cysticercosis: imported and autochthonous infections in Kuwait.

Intracerebral and non-central nervous system (non-CNS) cysticercosis caused by the larval pork tapeworm Taenia solium was diagnosed in patients in an Islamic state. The mode of transmission and challenges in diagnosis are highlighted. Sixteen patients with neurocysticercosis and six with non-CNS lesions were diagnosed by imaging studies (computerized tomography [CT]/magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) and serology (ELISA and/or enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot assay [EITB]).

Single-stranded linear amplification protocol results in reproducible and reliable microarray data from nanogram amounts of starting RNA.

The range of scientific questions utilizing DNA microarray techniques is limited by the fact that these methods require 5-40 microg of high-quality total RNA. Thus, methods that reliably amplify the starting RNA amount could expand the applicability of DNA microarray technology. We developed a single-stranded linear amplification protocol (SLAP) that combines the reproducibility of in vitro transcription and the amplification robustness of polymerase chain reactions.

Estimating haplotype frequencies and standard errors for multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Estimating haplotype frequencies becomes increasingly important in the mapping of complex disease genes, as millions of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are being identified and genotyped. When genotypes at multiple SNP loci are gathered from unrelated individuals, haplotype frequencies can be accurately estimated using expectation-maximization (EM) algorithms (Excoffier and Slatkin, 1995; Hawley and Kidd, 1995; Long et al., 1995), with standard errors estimated using bootstraps.

Performance of rapid malaria Pf antigen test for the diagnosis of malaria and false-reactivity with autoantibodies.

Recently introduced rapid nonmicroscopic immunocapture assays for the diagnosis of malaria infection are being evaluated for their sensitivity and specificity in various epidemiological settings. A Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein-2 (PfHRP-2)-based assay (ICT malaria Pf assay) was evaluated for its performance and compared to that of Giemsa-stained thick blood film microscopy. Of the 515 patients tested, 163 were positive for malaria parasites on thick blood film microscopy: 87 were infected with P.

Performance of the OptiMAL test for malaria diagnosis among suspected malaria patients at the rural health centers.

The OptiMAL test detects both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria infections. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the OptiMAL test at the Basic Health Units (BHUs) and the District Health Quarter (DHQ) Center in rural villages of Punjab, Pakistan that provide minimal health services.

Modified Giemsa staining for rapid diagnosis of malaria infection.

Objectives: To develop and evaluate a rapid method for the diagnosis of malaria infection by microscopy of stained blood films.

Subjects And Methods: Blood specimens were collected from randomly selected confirmed malaria cases (n = 75) and suspected malaria cases (n = 175). The microscopy was done on each set of blood films stained by modified and the standard Giemsa staining methods.

A method for the assessment of disease associations with single-nucleotide polymorphism haplotypes and environmental variables in case-control studies.

The rough draft of the human genome map has been used to identify most of the functional genes in the human genome, as well as to identify nucleotide variations, known as "single-nucleotide polymorphisms" (SNPs), in these genes. By use of advanced biotechnologies, researchers are beginning to genotype thousands of SNPs from biological samples. Among the many possible applications, one of them is the study of SNP associations with complex human diseases, such as cancers or coronary heart diseases, by using a case-control study design.

Comparison of two commercial assays with expert microscopy for confirmation of symptomatically diagnosed malaria.

Conventional light microscopy has been the established method for malaria diagnosis. However, recently several nonmicroscopic rapid diagnostic tests have been developed for situations in which reliable microscopy may not be available. This study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a recently introduced ICT Malaria Pf/Pv test.

Potential of rice husks for antimony removal.

The adsorption behavior of rice husks for antimony ions from aqueous solutions has been investigated as a function of appropriate electrolyte, equilibration time, hydrogen ions, amount of adsorbent, concentration of adsorbate, effect of diverse ions and temperature. The best conditions in which this material can be used as adsorbent have been explored. The radiotracer technique was employed to determine the distribution of antimony (122Sb) using a batch method.

Breast tumor characteristics as predictors of mammographic detection: comparison of interval- and screen-detected cancers.

Background: Although mammographic screening is useful for detecting early breast cancer, some tumors are detected in the interval between screening examinations. This study attempted to characterize fully the tumors detected in the two different manners.

Methods: Our study utilized a case-control design and involved a cohort of women undergoing mammographic screening within the defined population of a health maintenance organization (the Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound).

The relationship between Caesarean section and neonatal mortality in very-low-birthweight infants born in Washington State, USA.

We examined the associations between Caesarean section and neonatal mortality in singleton liveborn very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants (500-1499 g) born during 1984-95 in Washington State, USA, using data from the Washington State birth certificate files. The infants included in this study had no life-threatening congenital malformations and had not been delivered by a repeat Caesarean without a trial of labour (n = 5182). For infants weighing 500-749, 750-999, 1000-1249 and 1250-1499 g, the neonatal mortality rates were 57.