The role of IgG avidity in diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in newborns and infants [Uloga IgG aviditeta u dijagnostici infekcije citomegalovirusom u novorođenčadi i dojenčadi]

To evaluate the value of IgG avidity in diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in newborns and infants we collected serum samples from 40 infants under 12 months of age with suspected congenital CMV infection. Sera were tested for IgM, IgG and IgG avidity. For 25 of them, virus isolation and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on urine specimens were performed. Thirteen (32.5%) patients showed the presence of CMV IgM antibodies, 3 (7.5%) had equivocal IgM result, and 24 (60.0%) patients had IgG antibodies only. Using IgG avidity, CMV infection (low avidity index-AI) was documented in 61.5% IgM positive and 54.2% IgM negative patients. Eight of nine (88.8%) IgM positive patients were positive either on virus isolation or PCR. In IgM negative patients, 46.6% urine cultures were positive for CMV and 66.6% were PCR positive. According to age, IgG avidity demonstrated acute/recent primary CMV infection in 58.8% patients younger than three months compared with 91.7% and 81.8% in 3-6 and 6-12 months old babies, respectively. In conclusion, IgG avidity is useful in diagnosis of CMV infection either in IgM positive or IgM negative children older than 3 months of age. In infants less than 3 months, transplacentally derived maternal IgG antibodies of high avidity influence on the IgG avidity result. In these children, CMV infection should be confirmed by direct virologic methods such as virus isolation or PCR

Novel 1,4-Disubstituted Adamantane Stereoisomers: Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization

A series of new 1,4-disubstituted adamantane derivatives [e.g., 1-chloro-4-(carbethoxymethylene) adamantane (3), 1-chloro-4-(carbethoxymethyl)adamantane (4), 1-chloro-4-(2-hydroxyethyl) adamantane (5), 1-chloro-4-(2-bromoethyl)adamantane (6), 1-bromo-4-(2-bromoethyl)- adamantane (7), 1-hydroxy-4-(carbethoxymethylene)adamantane (8), 1-hydroxy-4-(carbethoxymethyl) adamantane (9), 1-acetoxy-4-(carbethoxymethyl)adamantane (10), 1-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxyethyl) adamantane (11), 1-hydroxy-4-cyanoadamantane (12), 1-hydroxy-4-carboxyadamantane (13), and 1-hydroxy-4-carbmethoxyadamantane (14)] have been synthesized, and their respective syn- and anti-isomers have been separated and identified

Photolysis of 11-Methylenepentacyclo-[5.4.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]undecan-8-spiro-3\u27-diazirine. Medium Dependent Reaction

11-Methylenepentacyclo-[5.4.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]undecan-8-spiro-3\u27-diazirine (1) has been synthesized and its photochemical decomposition in different media has been investigated. Irradiation of N2-purged benzene solution of diazirine 1 produced a mixture of four azine-isomers 7a-d. However, photolysis of 1 in pentane gave a mixture of hydrocarbons 6 as the main insertion products and traces of 1,3-bishomopentaprismane (5). The photolytic decomposition of 1 in N2-matrix at -196 °C proved the formation of diazo-compound 8, which upon warm-up gave traces of 1,3-bishomopentaprismane (5)

In vitro Investigation of the Antimicrobial Activity of a Series of Lipophilic Phenols and Naphthols

Five groups of phenols/naphthols (42 compounds in total) were synthesized and screened against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the fungus Candida albicans. Whereas compounds were found inactive against Gram-negative bacteria, potent activities against Gram-positive bacteria were observed. The activities correlate with the ability of molecules to form quinone methides, suggesting potential new modes of action.KEYWORDS Antimicrobial activity, phenols, naphthols, quinone methides

Correlation between Cholelithiasis and Gallbladder Carcinoma in Surgical and Autopsy Specimens

Gallbladder (GB) cancer is the most common malignant lesion of the biliary tract. The decision for a cholecystectomy in asymptomatic cholelithiasis as a measure of the secondary prevention of gallbladder cancer is based on the data of incidence and selected predictive factors for a specific population. A consecutive series of 3351 cholecystectomies in five year period was reviewed. That data was compared with the data from 2395 consecutive autopsies from the same period. Possible risk factors for gallbladder cancer were analysed. In surgical specimens, the incidence of gallbladder carcinoma was 0.62%. Of those, 24% were in patients younger than 60 years and 95.24% were associated with cholelithiasis. In autopsy material, in cases in which cholelithiasis was present, the incidence of gallbladder carcinoma was 3.4%. All cases were in patients older than 60 years and all were associated with cholelithiasis. Correlation between cholelithiasis and gallbladder carcinoma was most significant for women in the surgical group while it was not as strong for men or in the autopsy group. The results vary whether we analyse surgical or autopsy material, but in both cases female gender and the duration of cholelithiasis were significant risk factors. In our population GB cancer is not uncommon in elderly women with gall stones and is diagnosed in advanced stage if one waits for symptoms