Stereospecific consecutive epoxide ring expansion with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide.

Consecutive ring-expansion reactions of oxiranes with dimethylsulfxonium methylide were studied experimentally and modeled computationally at the density functional theory (DFT) and second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) levels of theory utilizing a polarizable continuum model (PCM) to account for solvent effects. While the epoxide to oxetane ring expansion requires 13-17 kcal mol(-1) activation and occurs at elevated temperatures, the barriers for the ring expansions to oxolanes are higher (ca. 25 kcal mol(-1)) and require heating to 125 °C.

Stem cell therapies for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

Human epidermis is composed of a stratified squamous epithelium that provides a mechanical barrier against the external environment and which is renewed every 3-4 weeks by resident stem cells in the epidermis. However, in the inherited skin fragility disorder, recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), there is recurrent trauma-induced subepidermal blistering that disrupts epidermal homeostasis and is likely to deplete the epidermal stem cell pool. This review article discusses the nature of epidermal stem cells and other stem cell populations in the skin, as well as other possible extracutaneous sources of stem cells, that might have physiological or therapeutic relevance to cell therapy approaches for RDEB.

Assessment of the emotional responses produced by exposure to real food, virtual food and photographs of food in patients affected by eating disorders.

Background: Many researchers and clinicians have proposed using virtual reality (VR) in adjunct to in vivo exposure therapy to provide an innovative form of exposure to patients suffering from different psychological disorders. The rationale behind the 'virtual approach' is that real and virtual exposures elicit a comparable emotional reaction in subjects, even if, to date, there are no experimental data that directly compare these two conditions. To test whether virtual stimuli are as effective as real stimuli, and more effective than photographs in the anxiety induction process, we tested the emotional reactions to real food (RF), virtual reality (VR) food and photographs (PH) of food in two samples of patients affected, respectively, by anorexia (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) compared to a group of healthy subjects.

Biologically active breast milk proteins in association with very preterm delivery and stage of lactation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the independent effect of very preterm gestation on breast milk content of biologically active proteins (secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), lysozyme, lactoferrin, osteoprotegerin (OPG), leptin, adiponectin and β-endorphin (b-EP)) during the first month of lactation.

Study Design: We collected samples of transitional (6 to 8 and 13 to 15 days) and mature (20 to 22 and 27 to 29 days) milk from mothers after term (38 to 41 weeks) or very preterm (24 to 31 weeks) delivery. The levels of sIgA, lysozyme, lactoferrin, OPG, leptin, adiponectin and b-EP in the breast milk were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or enzyme immunoassay kits.

New biologically active compounds from Kenyan propolis.

From propolis samples from Kenya, two new arylnaphtalene lignans were isolated, tetrahydrojusticidin B 1 and 6-methoxydiphyllin 2, along with four known phenolic compounds 5-8, found for the first time in propolis. The structures of the compounds were elucidated based on their spectral properties. The geranylstilbenes 7 and 8 demonstrated antibacterial activity against S.

[Quantitative assessment of pain tolerance].

Pain tolerance was assessed in 44 volunteers by the analysis of their reports during blood collection using a 12-point verbal rating scale. Thereafter, pain intensity in response to 5 successive pricks was measured with a mechanical algesimeter, and the participants of the study were asked to evaluate pain sensation based on a 0-100 score visual-analogous scale. The test was discontinued as soon as a patient reported painful feeling in excess of 50 scores.

[The relatioship between decomposition of amino acid chloramines and their structures].

Rate constants of the decomposition of monoamine alpha-amino acid chloramine derivatives were determined by a spectrophotometeric method. Several amino acid chloramines with elevated stability have been found. These included n-chloroglycine, n-chlorovaline, n-chlorothreonine, and n-chloroisoleucine.

[Amino acid chloramines and chlorimines as antiplatelet agents: reactive properties and mechanism of action].

Oxidative modifications of thiols, disulfide, and thioester atomic groups in proteins, peptides, and amino acids induced by chloramines or chloramine derivatives of amino acids and other reactive oxidants are considered. In the case of disulfide and thiol groups, production of sulfur-reactive groups may take place, such as disulphide S-oxides and sulphenic groups. Various chloramines and chloramines differently modify sulfur-containing groups.

Regional tissue oxygenation in association with duration of hypoxaemia and haemodynamic variability in preterm neonates.

Objective: To assess the effect of the duration of spontaneous hypoxic episodes and variations in haemodynamic parameters on cerebral and renal tissue oxygenation (rSo(2)C and rSo(2)R) in clinically stable preterm infants.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: Neonatal intensive care unit of a university-affiliated children's hospital.

Antiaggregant effect of taurine chloramines in the presence of serum albumin.

The effects of taurine chloramine derivatives on initial aggregation of isolated platelets suspended in buffered saline were studied. Inhibition of ADP-induced aggregation in pure cell suspension depended on the structure of chloramine antiaggregants. The most effective of them was N,N-dichlorotaurine; its concentration needed for 50% inhibition of aggregation was about 0.

Ultrasonic studies of the magnetic phase transition in MnSi.

Measurements of the sound velocities in a single crystal of MnSi were performed in the temperature range 4-150 K. Elastic constants, controlling propagation of longitudinal waves, reveal significant softening at a temperature of about 29.6 K and small discontinuities at ∼28.

Disparity in hospital utilization of rapid HIV-1 testing for women in labor with undocumented HIV status.

Objectives: The implementation of rapid HIV-1 testing for women in labor with undocumented HIV status is an essential tool for the prevention of perinatal HIV transmission. Unfortunately, practices of rapid HIV testing for women with unknown HIV status in labor have not been studied. We evaluated the utilization of rapid HIV testing prior to and after implementation of CDC recommendations as well as factors that may affect the utilization rate.

Effectiveness of exclusive breastfeeding promotion in low-income mothers: a randomized controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a breastfeeding promotion program in the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program participants.

Study Design: This randomized clinical trial included 52 women in the intervention group who received one-to-one pre- and postnatal breastfeeding education and support from a lactation consultant. Women (n = 52) randomized to controls received standard breastfeeding services.

Heat capacity and thermal expansion of the itinerant helimagnet MnSi.

The heat capacity and thermal expansion of a high quality single crystal of MnSi were measured at ambient pressure at zero and high magnetic fields. The calculated magnetic entropy change in the temperature range 0-30 K is less than 0.1R, a low value that emphasizes the itinerant nature of magnetism in MnSi.

Antiaggregant effects of biogenic chloramines.

Alanine and taurine sharply potentiate antiaggregant effects of hypochlorite on platelets in platelet-rich plasma. This effect is determined by more pronounced action of chloramine derivatives, products of interaction of added amino acids with hypochlorite. Platelets are more sensitive to the inhibitory effects of amino acid chloramine derivatives (biogenic chloramines) compared to erythrocytes and neutrophils.

Feedback consistency effects in visual and auditory word recognition: where do we stand after more than a decade?

The role of phonology-to-spelling consistency (i.e., feedback consistency) was investigated in 3 lexical decision experiments in both the visual and auditory modalities in French and English.

Metabolic profiling of lignan variability in Linum species of section Syllinum native to Bulgaria.

Lignans in eighteen samples of Linum species ( L. tauricum ssp. tauricum, serbicum, bulgaricum and linearifolium; L.

GC-MS studies of the chemical composition of two inedible mushrooms of the genus Agaricus.

Background: Mushrooms in the genus Agaricus have worldwide distribution and include the economically important species A. bisporus. Some Agaricus species are inedible, including A.

Ionized magnesium and gestational age.

Objective: Investigation of magnesium (Mg) homeostasis has re-emerged as an area of interest in preterm born neonates who are at risk for brain pathology. However, data regarding the association between the biologically active ionized form of Mg and gestational age (GA) at an early stage of life in newborn infants are controversial.

Methods: We evaluated the total and ionized Mg electrolyte (TMg and IMg) as well as the calcium (TCa and ICa) and pH in the cord blood and on day 2 of life in 22 neonates born at different gestational ages (< 32, 32-34 and > or =35 week) without magnesium tocolysis and absence of serious complications during pregnancy and delivery.

Maternal race/ethnicity and one-month exclusive breastfeeding in association with the in-hospital feeding modality.

There are a few studies on the consequence of the use of breastmilk substitutes during the postpartum hospital stay on the duration of breastfeeding in the culturally diverse populations of the United States. The main purpose of this study was to identify the association between the in-hospital feeding pattern and the infant's postdischarge feeding modality during the first month of life in a culturally diverse population of women. Demographic, clinical, and feeding practice data was collected from the medical charts and interviews of mothers conducted in the first month after singleton delivery of healthy term newborns.

Protease inhibitor associated mutations compromise the efficacy of therapy in human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infected pediatric patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Although the introduction of combined therapy with reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors has resulted in considerable decrease in HIV related mortality; it has also induced the development of multiple drug-resistant HIV-1 variants. The few studies on HIV-1 mutagenesis in HIV infected children have not evaluated the impact of HIV-1 mutations on the clinical, virological and immunological presentation of HIV disease that is fundamental to optimizing the treatment regimens for these patients.

Results: A cross sectional study was conducted to evaluate the impact of treatment regimens and resistance mutation patterns on the clinical, virological, and immunological presentation of HIV disease in 41 children (25 male and 16 female) at the Robert Wood Johnson Pediatric AIDS Program in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

A new triterpenic alcohol from Fomitopsis pinicola.

From a biologically active fraction of extract from the fungus Fomitopsis pinicola, a new lanostane triterpene was isolated, 3alpha-acetyloxylanosta-8,24-diene-21-ol (1), along with two known triterpenic acids, (2) and (3). The structures of the compounds were elucidated based on their spectral properties. [structure: see text]

Thrombocytopenia related neonatal outcome in preterms.

Objective: To investigate the thrombocytopenia and platelet transfusion related outcome in very preterm infants.

Methods: Cases (n=94) with at least one episode of thrombocytopenia (platelet counts < 150 x 10(9)/L) and controls (n=70) were identified from a database of 1054 neonates with gestational age < or = 32 weeks admitted to a level III NICU. Thrombocytopenia and platelet transfusion related morbidity (IVH, sepsis, NEC, and bleeding) and mortality were analyzed with respect to gestational age (< 28 weeks and 28-32 weeks), severity of thrombocytopenia (mild if platelet count > or = 100 and < 150 x 10(9)/L, moderate if count > or = 50 and < 100 x 10(9)/L, and severe if platelets < 50 x 10(9)/L), age of thrombocytopenia onset (early < 72 hours and late > or =72 hours).

Dysfunction of innate immunity and associated pathology in neonates.

The neutrophils and complement system are the critical elements of innate immunity mainly due to participation in the first line of defense against microorganisms by means of phagocytosis, lysis of bacteria and activation of naive B-lymphocytes. In this report we provide an overview of the up to date information regarding the neutrophil and complement system's functional ability in newborn infants in association with the maternal conditions that exist during the intrauterine stage, gestational age and post-neonatal pathology. The neonates' capacity to control the neutrophil and complement protein activation process has also been discussed because of the evidence that uncontrolled activation of these immune elements provides a significant contribution to the tissue damage and subsequent pathology.