Photochemistry of α-diketones in carbohydrates: anomalous Norrish type II photoelimination and Norrish-Yang photocyclization promoted by the internal carbonyl group.

A series of four α-diketones placed as 1α-pyruvoyl tethers on D-glucopyranose and D-glucopyranosiduronic acid skeletons was prepared in order to determine the influence of captodative and stereoelectronic effects on the regioselectivity of the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) in Norrish type II photochemical processes. We observed that the 1,5-HAT regioselectivity can be switched between the two potentially abstractable syn-1,3-diaxial hydrogens at H6 and H8. Highly unusual photoproducts from Norrish type II photoelimination and Norrish-Yang photocyclization initiated by the excited internal carbonyl group were obtained, in some cases in excellent synthetic yield.

Tertiary mutations stabilize CD8+ T lymphocyte escape-associated compensatory mutations following transmission of simian immunodeficiency virus.

Compensatory mutations offset fitness defects resulting from CD8(+) T lymphocyte (CD8(TL))-mediated escape, but their impact on viral evolution following transmission to naive hosts remains unclear. Here, we investigated the reversion kinetics of Gag(181-189)CM9 CD8(TL) escape-associated compensatory mutations in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected macaques. Preexisting compensatory mutations did not result in acute-phase escape of the SIVmac239 CD8(TL) epitope Gag(181-189)CM9 and instead required a tertiary mutation for stabilization in the absence of Gag(181-189)CM9 escape mutations.

Podocyte injury in pure membranous and proliferative lupus nephritis: distinct underlying mechanisms of proteinuria?

Proteinuria is a major feature of lupus nephritis (LN) and reflects podocyte injury. Analysis of podocyte biomarkers was performed attempting to identify if podocyte phenotype is distinct in pure membranous and proliferative LN. Expression of synaptopodin, Wilms tumor protein 1 (WT1), glomerular epithelial protein 1 (GLEPP1) and nephrin was evaluated in 52 LN biopsies by immunohistochemistry.

Expansion of the TARP syndrome phenotype associated with de novo mutations and mosaicism.

The TARP syndrome (Talipes equinovarus, Atrial septal defect, Robin sequence, and Persistent left superior vena cava) is an X-linked disorder that was determined to be caused by mutations in RBM10 in two families, and confirmed in a subsequent case report. The first two original families were quite similar in phenotype, with uniform early lethality although a confirmatory case report showed survival into childhood. Here we report on five affecteds from three newly recognized families, including patients with atypical manifestations.

Suboptimal vitamin D screening in older patients with compromised skeletal health.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: Increasing number of primary care visits for osteoporosis by older patients combined with new vitamin D screening recommendations necessitate primary care providers (PCPs) to identify and screen at-risk patients. We described prevalence and determinants of vitamin D screening among older patients treated for osteopoenia, osteoporosis and related fractures in academic outpatient primary care clinics (family medicine and geriatric medicine) in Houston, TX.

Methods: Electronic chart review collected data on patients ≥50 years old from January 2008 to December 2010.

Neutralizing polyclonal IgG present during acute infection prevents rapid disease onset in simian-human immunodeficiency virus SHIVSF162P3-infected infant rhesus macaques.

Simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) models for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have been widely used in passive studies with HIV neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) to test for protection against infection. However, because SHIV-infected adult macaques often rapidly control plasma viremia and any resulting pathogenesis is minor, the model has been unsuitable for studying the impact of antibodies on pathogenesis in infected animals. We found that SHIVSF162P3 infection in 1-month-old rhesus macaques not only results in high persistent plasma viremia but also leads to very rapid disease progression within 12 to 16 weeks.

Parental stress and children adjustment in kinship foster families.

This work focuses on a multidimensional exploration of the stress experienced by kinship foster carers. This study is the first one conducted on Spanish sample, with 116 kinship foster families and foster children, between the ages of 4 and 11 years. In general, data indicate that the carer's parental stress scores are within the normative range.

Gas-phase interactions of organotin compounds with glycine.

Gas-phase interactions of organotins with glycine have been studied by combining mass spectrometry experiments and quantum calculations. Positive-ion electrospray spectra show that the interaction of di- and tri-organotins with glycine results in the formation of [(R)2Sn(Gly)-H](+) and [(R)3Sn(Gly)](+) ions, respectively. Di-organotin complexes appear much more reactive than those involving tri-organotins.

Sequential Norrish type II photoelimination and intramolecular aldol cyclization of α-diketones: synthesis of polyhydroxylated cyclopentitols by ring contraction of hexopyranose carbohydrate derivatives.

The excitation of the innermost carbonyl of nono-2,3-diulose derivatives by irradiation with visible-light initiates a sequential Norrish type II photoelimination and aldol cyclization process that finally gives polyfunctionalized cyclopentitols. The rearrangement has been confirmed by the isolation of stable acyclic photoenol intermediates that can be independently cyclized by a thermal 5-(enolexo)-exo-trig uncatalyzed aldol reaction with high diastereoselectivity. In this last step, the large deuterium kinetic isotope effect found for the 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer seems to indicate that the aldol reaction runs through a concerted pericyclic mechanism.

Dependence measures for non-cigarette tobacco products within the context of the global epidemic: a systematic review.

Objectives: Validated metrics of tobacco dependence exist, but their value for global surveillance of tobacco dependence and development of tobacco control interventions is not well understood. This paper reviews tobacco dependence metrics for non-cigarette products, and whether measures of tobacco dependence have been validated in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC).

Data Sources: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL and Global Health databases using variant terms for types of tobacco, dependence, measures and validity/reliability.

Mechanism considerations for photocatalytic oxidation, ozonation and photocatalytic ozonation of some pharmaceutical compounds in water.

Aqueous solutions of four pharmaceutical compounds, belonging to the group of emergent contaminants of water: atenolol (ATL), hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), ofloxacin (OFX) and trimethoprim (TMP), have been treated with different oxidation systems, mainly, photocatalytic oxidation, ozonation and photocatalytic ozonation. TiO2 has been used as semiconductor for photocatalytic reactions both in the presence of air, oxygen or ozone-oxygen gas mixtures. Black light lamps mainly emitting at 365 nm were the source of radiation.

Anti-ribosomal P protein: a novel antibody in autoimmune hepatitis.

Background: Autoantibodies to ribosomal P proteins (anti-rib P) are specific serological markers for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are associated with liver involvement in this disease. The similarity in autoimmune background between autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and SLE-associated hepatitis raises the possibility that anti-rib P antibodies might also have relevance in AIH.

Aims: To evaluate the frequency and clinical significance of anti-rib P antibodies in a large AIH cohort.

A de novo T73I mutation in PTPN11 in a neonate with severe and prolonged congenital thrombocytopenia and Noonan syndrome.

We observed a neonate with severe congenital thrombocytopenia and features of Noonan syndrome where evaluations were negative for immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, congenital infections, and Fanconi anemia. The marrow findings and a significantly elevated plasma thrombopoietin (Tpo) level were consistent with congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia; we sought a genetic mutation that could explain this phenotype. No mutations were identified in c-MPL (the Tpo receptor gene).

Initial assessment of strategic plans for improving the performance of veterinary services in developing countries: a review of OIE PVS gap analysis reports.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) carries out Gap Analysis missions (if a country so wishes) as part of its programme to assess and improve the Performance of Veterinary Services (the 'PVS Pathway') in Member Countries. These Gap Analysis missions have found that many national Veterinary Services comply to only a limited extent with the international standards established by the OIE and that their competence is compromised by poor governance. This failure threatens animal and public health not only nationally but also internationally.

Single-step selection of drug resistant Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 mutants reveals a functional redundancy in the recruitment of multidrug efflux systems.

Members of the genus Acinetobacter have been the focus recent attention due to both their clinical significance and application to molecular biology. The soil commensal bacterium Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 has been proposed as a model system for molecular and genetic studies, whereas in a clinical environment, Acinetobacter spp. are of increasing importance due to their propensity to cause serious and intractable systemic infections.

Short and long-term effects of pandemic unadjuvanted influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine on clinical manifestations and autoantibody profile in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Despite WHO recommendations about the A/California/7/2009/H1N1-like virus vaccination, studies evaluating its possible influence on clinical manifestations and autoantibody profile in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible influence of the unadjuvanted A/California/7/2009/H1N1-like virus vaccination on clinical manifestations and autoantibody profile in SS in the short/long-term. Thirty-six SS patients (The American-European Consensus Group Criteria, 2002) and 36 healthy controls with comparable mean age and gender were evaluated before and 21-days after this vaccination regarding seroprotection/seroconversion, factor increase in geometric mean titer (FI-GMT) and side effects.

Neuropharmacological in vivo effects and phytochemical profile of the extract from the aerial parts of Heteropterys brachiata (L.) DC. (Malpighiaceae).

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Heteropterys brachiata is a plant species that has been used in traditional Mexican medicine for the treatment of nervous disorders.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, antidepressant and sedative effects produced by the methanolic extract of Heteropterys brachiata (HbMeOH) in ICR mice. Additionally, we determine the acute toxicity profiles of the extract and the presence of its main constituents.

"Transfusion indication RBC (PBM-02)": gap analysis of a Joint Commission Patient Blood Management Performance Measure at a community hospital.

Background: The Joint Commission accredits health care organisations in the USA as a prerequisite for licensure. In 2011, TJC published seven Patient Blood Management Performance Measures to improve the safety and quality of care. These Measures will provide hospital-specific information about clinical performance.

Pulmonary artery sarcoma with angiosarcoma phenotype mimicking pleomorphic malignant fibrous histiocytoma: a case report.

Primary sarcomas of the major blood vessels can be classified based on location in relationship to the wall or by histologic type. Angiosarcomas are malignant neoplasms that arise from the endothelial lining of the blood vessels; those arising in the intimal compartment of pulmonary artery are rare. We report a case of pulmonary artery angiosarcoma in a 36-year old female with pulmonary masses.

CD8+ and CD4+ cytotoxic T cell escape mutations precede breakthrough SIVmac239 viremia in an elite controller.

Background: Virus-specific T cells are critical components in the containment of immunodeficiency virus infections. While the protective role of CD8+ T cells is well established by studies of CD8+ T cell-mediated viral escape, it remains unknown if CD4+ T cells can also impose sufficient selective pressure on replicating virus to drive the emergence of high-frequency escape variants. Identifying a high frequency CD4+ T cell driven escape mutation would provide compelling evidence of direct immunological pressure mediated by these cells.

Dual-grating confocal-rainbow volume holographic imaging system designs for high depth resolution.

Confocal microscopy rejects out-of-focus light from the object by scanning a pinhole through the image and reconstructing the image point by point. Volume holographic imaging systems with bright-field illumination have been proposed as an alternative to conventional confocal-type microscopes that does not require scanning of a pinhole or a slit. However, due to wavelength-position degeneracy of the hologram, the high Bragg selectivity of the volume hologram is not utilized and system performance is not optimized.

EBV reactivation serological profile in primary Sjögren's syndrome: an underlying trigger of active articular involvement?

Antibody to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) early antigen diffuse (anti-EA-D) is associated with viral replication. However, their possible associations with clinical/therapeutic features in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) were not established. We evaluated 100 pSS patients (American-European Criteria) and 89 age/gender/ethnicity-matched healthy controls.

Intramolecular 1,8-hydrogen atom transfer reactions in disaccharide systems containing furanose units.

A previously developed 1,8-hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reaction promoted by 6-O-yl alkoxyl radicals between the two pyranose units in Hexp-(1→4)-Hexp disaccharides has been extended to other systems containing at least a furanose ring in their structures. In Penf-(1→3)-Penf (A) and Hexp-(1→3)-Penf (B) disaccharides, the 1,8-HAT reaction and concomitant cyclization to a 1,3,5-trioxocane ring are in competition with radical β-scission of the C4-C5 bond and formation of dehomologated products. The influence of the stereoelectronic β-oxygen effect on the β-scission and consequently on the 1,8-HAT reaction has been studied using the four possible isomeric d-furanoses.

RASA1 analysis guides management in a family with capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation.

Capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation (CM-AVM; MIM 60354) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by multifocal cutaneous capillary malformations, often in association with fast-flow vascular lesions, which may be cutaneous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraosseus, or cerebral arteriovenous malformations or arteriovenous fistulas. CM-AVM results from heterozygous mutations in the RASA1 gene. Capillary malformations of the skin are common, and clinical examination alone may not be able to definitively diagnose-or exclude- CM-AVM.

Experimental analysis of sources of error in evolutionary studies based on Roche/454 pyrosequencing of viral genomes.

Factors affecting the reliability of Roche/454 pyrosequencing for analyzing sequence polymorphism in within-host viral populations were assessed by two experiments: 1) sequencing four clonal simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) stocks and 2) sequencing mixtures in different proportions of two SIV strains with known fixed nucleotide differences. Observed nucleotide diversity and frequency of undetermined nucleotides were increased at sites in homopolymer runs of four or more identical nucleotides, particularly at AT sites. However, in the mixed-strain experiments, the effects on estimated nucleotide diversity of such errors were small in comparison to known strain differences.