Synthesis, crystal structures, and anti-convulsant activities of ternary [Zn(II)(3,5-diisopropylsalicylate)(2)], [Zn(II)(salicylate)(2)] and [Zn(II)(aspirinate)(2)] complexes.

Following observations that bis(3,5-diisopropylsalicylato)diaquazinc(II), [Zn(II)(3,5-DIPS)(2)(H(2)O)(2)], had anti-convulsant activity, bis(acetylsalicylate)diaquazinc(II), [Zn(II)(aspirinate)(2)(H(2)O)(2)], and the Zn(II) ternary 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine, NC) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) complexes of Zn(II)3,5-diisopropylsalicylate, salicylate, and acetylsalicylate were synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. Anti-convulsant and Rotorod toxicity activities of these complexes were determined to examine their anti-convulsant and undesirable central nervous stimulant or depressant activities of these Zn(II) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent complexes. Bis(3,5-diisopropylsalicylato)-1,10-phenanthorlinezinc(II), [Zn(II)(3,5-DIPS)(2)(phen)], (1) has one bidentate phen ligand and two mono-deprotonated 3,5-DIPS ligands.

Proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in humans with Japanese encephalitis.

Background: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), the mosquito-borne flavivirus, annually causes an estimated 35,000-50,000 encephalitis cases and 10,000-15,000 deaths in Asia, and there is no antiviral treatment. The role played by the immune response in determining the outcome of human infection with JEV is poorly understood, although, in animal models of flavivirus encephalitis, unregulated proinflammatory cytokine responses can be detrimental.

Methods: We studied the innate, cellular, and humoral immune responses in 118 patients infected with JEV, of whom 13 (11%) died.

Peptides eluted from HLA-B27 of human splenocytes and blood cells reveal a similar but partially different profile compared to in vitro grown cell lines.

The sequences and profiles of peptides which bind to HLA-B*2705 splenocytes and peripheral blood cells were compared with those previously published from in vitro long-term cell cultures. B*2705 peptide profile analysed by solid-phase Edman degradation and 15 individual peptide sequences determined by LC-MS/MS were partially similar to those defined from in vitro long-term cell cultures. Arg at P2 was found in 11 of 15 sequenced peptides (73.

Size and charge characteristics of the protein leak in dengue shock syndrome.

Background: he mechanism underlying the transient vascular leak syndrome of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is unknown. We aimed to determine whether molecular size and charge selectivity, which help restrict plasma proteins within the intravascular space, are altered in patients with DHF and whether a disturbance of the anionic glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer on the luminal endothelial surface contributes to disease pathogenesis.

Methods: We measured serial plasma levels and fractional clearances of proteins with different size and charge characteristics in 48 children with dengue shock syndrome (DSS) and urinary excretion profiles of heparan sulfate, chondroitin-4-sulfate, and chondroitin-6-sulfate in affected children and healthy control subjects.

Comparison of conventional bacteriology with nucleic acid amplification (amplified mycobacterium direct test) for diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis before and after inception of antituberculosis chemotherapy.

The role of nucleic acid amplification techniques in the rapid diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis remains uncertain. We compared the performance of Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining, the Gen-Probe amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis direct test (MTD), and culture with 341 cerebrospinal fluid specimens from 152 adults (73 with and 79 without tuberculous meningitis) before and after inception of antituberculosis chemotherapy. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of ZN staining before treatment were 34/66 (52%), 79/79 (100%), 34/34 (100%), and 79/111 (71%), compared with 25/66 (38%), 78/79 (99%), 25/26 (96%), and 79/120 (66%) for MTD.

Gadd45 beta mediates the NF-kappa B suppression of JNK signalling by targeting MKK7/JNKK2.

NF-kappa B/Rel transcription factors control apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death. This control is crucial for oncogenesis, cancer chemo-resistance and for antagonizing tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)-induced killing. With regard to TNFalpha, the anti-apoptotic activity of NF-kappa B involves suppression of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) cascade.

The KNOTTIN website and database: a new information system dedicated to the knottin scaffold.

The KNOTTIN website and database organize information about knottins or inhibitor cystine knots, small disulfide-rich proteins with a knotted topology. Thanks to their small size and high stability, knottins provide appealing scaffolds for protein engineering and drug design. Static pages present the main historical and recent results about knottin discoveries, sequences, structures, folding, functions, applications and bibliography.

The autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinson disease gene product, parkin, interacts with and ubiquitinates synaptotagmin XI.

Inactivating mutations of the gene encoding parkin are responsible for some forms of autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinson disease. Parkin is a ubiquitin ligase that ubiquitinates misfolded proteins targeted for the proteasome-dependent protein degradation pathway. Using the yeast two-hybrid system and co-immunoprecipitation methods, we identified synaptotagmin XI as a protein that interacts with parkin.

Low-temperature (180 K) crystal structure, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and propitious anticonvulsant activities of CuII2(aspirinate)4(DMF)2 and other CuII2(aspirinate)4 chelates.

The purpose of this research was to characterize by X-ray crystallography the ternary dimethylformamide (DMF) Cu(II) complex of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), in an effort to compare the structure-activity relationships for the anticonvulsant activity of this and other Cu(II)aspirinate chelates. The ternary DMF Cu(II) complex of aspirin was synthesized and crystals grown from a DMF solution were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. This crystalline material was analyzed for anticonvulsant activity in the Maximal Electroshock (MES) Grand Mal and subcutaneous Metrazol (scMET) Petit Mal models of seizure used to detect anticonvulsant activity.

Expansion of the polyQ repeat in ataxin-2 alters its Golgi localization, disrupts the Golgi complex and causes cell death.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat in ataxin-2, the SCA2 gene product. In contrast to other polyQ diseases, intranuclear inclusions are not prominent in SCA2. In animal models with expression of mutant ataxin-2 targeted to Purkinje cells, neuronal dysfunction and morphologic changes are observed without the formation of intranuclear aggregates.

Interferon alfa-2a in Japanese encephalitis: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), although confined to Asia, causes about 35000-50000 cases and 10000 deaths every year, and is the most important cause of encephalitis worldwide. There is no known antiviral treatment for any flavivirus. Results from in-vitro studies and work in animals have shown inteferon alfa has antiviral activity on Japanese encephalitis and other flaviviruses; therefore, we aimed to assess the efficacy of inteferon alfa-2a in Japanese encephalitis.

Epidemiological features of rotavirus infection among hospitalized children with gastroenteristis in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

An epidemiological study of the G serotype and P genotype distribution of group A rotaviruses by using ELISA and/or RT-PCR was conducted in children (aged 1 month to 15 years) with diarrhea that were admitted to the General Children's Hospital No. 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from December 1999 to November 2000. The results showed that rotavirus is associated with 65.

Four new species of Kockovaella isolated from plant leaves collected in Vietnam.

Five ballistoconidiogenous yeast strains, isolated from plant leaves at Cuc Phuong National Forest of Ninh Binh, Vietnam, were assigned to the genus Kockovaella based on morphological and chemotaxonomical characteristics. They represent four new species based on analyses of 18S rDNA sequence, sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions, and DNA-DNA reassociation experiments. Four new species, Kockovaella calophylli (1 strain), Kockovaella cucphuongensis (2 strains), Kockovaella litseae (1 strain), and Kockovaella vietnamensis (1 strain) are proposed for these strains.

Treatment of severe diphtheritic myocarditis by temporary insertion of a cardiac pacemaker.

Vietnamese children and adolescents with diphtheritic myocarditis and severe conduction abnormalities were treated prospectively with temporary insertion of a cardiac pacemaker. Five of 32 patients died before the procedure could be performed; the remaining 27 patients underwent successful pacemaker insertion. In children and adolescents with diphtheritic myocarditis and severe conduction defects, temporary insertion of a cardiac pacemaker may improve the outcome.

Regulation of the gadd45beta promoter by NF-kappaB.

In addition to coordinating immune and inflammatory responses, NF-kappaB/Rel transcription factors control cell survival. The NF-kappaB antiapoptotic function is crucial to oncogenesis, cancer chemoresistance, and to antagonize tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-induced killing. Recently, we have shown that the suppression of the c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) cascade is a pivotal protective mechanism by NF-kappaB, and that this suppression involves the upregulation of gadd45beta/myd118.

Control of vitamin A deficiency in Vietnam: achievements and future orientation.

Vitamin A deficiency is one of the major nutritional deficiencies in Vietnam. The first survey, conducted in 1985-1988 showed that the prevalence of severe xerophthalmia was seven times higher than the cutoff point established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to define vitamin A deficiency as a public health problem. The result of this survey strongly convinced the government to launch a program to control vitamin A deficiency, which started in 1988.

Iridoid glucosides from roots of Vietnamese Paederia scandens.

Four iridoid glucosides, three of which are dimeric were isolated from the methanol extract of roots of Vietnamese Paederia scandens (Lour) Merrill together with the five known glucosides, paederoside, asperuloside, paederosidic acid, asperulosidic acid and geniposide. Seven sulfur-containing iridoid glucosides were also isolated. The structures of the iridoid glucosides were determined by a combination of high-resolution NMR, MS, IR and UV spectra, and chemical reaction such as acetylation.

Seizures and raised intracranial pressure in Vietnamese patients with Japanese encephalitis.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) causes at least 10 000 deaths each year. Death is presumed to result from infection, dysfunction and destruction of neurons. There is no antiviral treatment.

Synthesis, crystal structure, EPR properties, and anti-convulsant activities of binuclear and mononuclear 1,10-phenanthroline and salicylate ternary copper(II) complexes.

Two ternary Cu(II) complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and singly (Hsal(-)) or dideprotonated (sal(2-)) salicylate ligands were synthesized, their X-ray crystal structure and electron paramagnetic resonance spectral characteristics determined, and evaluated for anti-convulsant activities in the maximal electroshock (MES) and Metrazol models of seizure and Rotorod toxicity. The X-ray crystal structure of [bis(1,10-phenanthroline)-mu-bis(salicylato-O,O')dicopper(II)] dihydrate, 1, ([Cu(II)(2)(phen)(2)(sal)(2)].2[H(2)O]), shows it to be binuclear.