Sterically hindered complexes of platinum(II) with planar heterocyclic nitrogen donors. A novel complex with 1-methyl-cytosine has a spectrum of activity different from cisplatin and is able of overcoming acquired cisplatin resistance.

A very interesting series of water soluble platinum compounds violating some of the classical structure-activity relationships, but still showing antitumor activity, was reported by Hollis and collaborators some 25 years ago [L.S. Hollis, A.

Neutrophil recruitment and airway epithelial cell involvement in chronic cystic fibrosis lung disease.

The pathological hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF) chronic inflammatory response is the massive neutrophil influx into the airways. This dysregulated neutrophil emigration may be caused by the abnormal secretion of chemoattractants by respiratory epithelial cells and polarised lymphocyte T-helper response. Neutrophils from CF patients have a different response to inflammatory mediators than neutrophils from normal subjects, indicating that they are primed in vivo before entering the CF airways.

Platinum complexes with imino ethers or cyclic ligands mimicking imino ethers: synthesis, in vitro antitumour activity, and DNA interaction properties.

Both trans- and cis-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(L)] compounds have been synthesized, L representing either the imino ether HN=C(OMe)Me having a Z or E configuration at the C=N double bond, or the cyclic ligands N = C(OMe)CH2CH2CH2 and N = C(Me)OCH2CH2 (compounds 1-4 for trans geometry and 5-8 for cis geometry, respectively). The cyclic ligands mimic the imino ether ligands but, differently from imino ethers, cannot undergo change of configuration. In a panel of human tumor cells, trans compounds inhibit growth much more than transplatin.

Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein stimulates tissue factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 production by human blood mononuclear cells.

Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP) is a virulence factor that activates phagocytic NADPH-oxidase. The effect of HP-NAP on the production of tissue factor (TF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2), and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) by human blood mononuclear cells (MNC) was evaluated by using functional and immunological assays and mRNA analysis. HP-NAP induced time- and dose-dependent increases in TF and PAI-2, with a maximal effect at 300 nmol/L (>15-fold increase in antigens).

Sulfide enhancement of PMN apoptosis.

Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic metabolite released by several bacterial agents under anaerobic conditions. In the present paper, we investigated the effects of sulfide on polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) apoptosis, a mechanism suggested for limiting the toxic potential of neutrophils in inflammatory sites. We showed that 1 mM sulfide (concentration not conditioning PMN viability) is able to enhance the apoptotic fate of human granulocytes by increasing: i) the number of cells containing pyknotic nuclei, ii) the internucleosomal cleavage, and, iii) the intensity of tubulin immunofluorescence staining.