Seroprevalence and correlates of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection among young adults in Arkhangelsk, Northwest Russia: A population-based cross-sectional study

Published version. Source at http://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-016-1954-8. License CC BY 4.0.Background: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection is the most common cause of genital ulcer disease (GUD) worldwide. Mother to child transmission causes high morbidity and mortality among infants. Russia is on the brink of a generalized HIV-epidemic, but Arkhangelsk is still a low-prevalence area. HSV-2 infection is associated with a three-fold increased risk of HIV-infection. The evidence on the seroprevalence of HSV-2 in Russia is limited. The aim of this study was to assess HSV-2 seroprevalence and correlates among young adults in the city of Arkhangelsk. Methods: 1243 adults aged 18-39 years participated in a cross-sectional population-based study, recruited by a public opinion agency applying a quota sampling method to achieve a data set with similar age- and sex-distribution as the population in Arkhangelsk. All participants completed a standardized, self-administrated questionnaire and were tested for HSV-2. Associations between HSV-2 seropositivity and selected sociodemographic and behavioral factors, and self-reported history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were studied by multivariable logistic regression. Results: HSV-2 seroprevalence was 18.8 %: 12.2 % (95 % confidence interval, CI 9.7-15.2) among men and 24.0 % (95 % CI 20.1-27.3) among women. Among men, HSV-2 positivity was associated with being divorced/widowed (OR = 2.85, 95 % CI 1.06-7.70), cohabitation (OR = 2.45, 95 % CI 1.07-5.62), and a history of STIs (OR = 2.11, 95 % CI 1.14-3.91). In women, HSV-2 positivity was associated with high income (OR = 3.11, 95 % CI 1.45-6.71) and having a lifetime number of sexual partners between 2 and 5 (OR = 2.72, 95 % CI 1.14-6.51), whereas sexual debut at age 18 years or older was inversely associated with the outcome (OR = 0.47, 95 % CI 0.31-0.72). In both sexes, increasing age was the strongest correlate of HSV-2 seropositivity in multivariable analyses. Conclusion: The HSV-2 seroprevalence was twice as high in women than in men and increased with age in both sexes, and similar to that reported from high-prevalence countries in Europe and the USA. The high prevalence of HSV-2 among women in childbearing age reveals the potential for HSV-2 transmission from mothers to infants and increased risk of acquisition HIV-infection; it also contributes to the burden GUD among both sexes. This emphasizes the public health implications of the HSV-2 epidemic in an urban population in North-West Russia

Introducing Complex NMR Mixtures at the Undergraduate Level: Isomerization, Separation and Analysis of the Diels-Alder Adducts from the Reaction of Methylcyclopentadiene and Maleic Anhydride (Part II)

This paper introduces undergraduate students to advanced NMR techniques to help elucidate the structures of endo and exo norbornene isomers formed during the Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and methylcyclopentadiene with maleic anhydride. The microwave assisted isomerization of the norbornene derivatives resulted in a mixture of endo and exo isomers that were separated and analyzed using advanced NMR spectroscopy techniques, with a focus on the spectral interpretation and unequivocal assignment of the endo and exo stereoisomerism when possible

Introducing Complex NMR Mixtures at the Undergraduate Level: Analysis of the Diels-Alder Reaction Between Methylcyclopentadiene and Maleic Anhydride (Part I)

Analysis of a simple NMR spectrum is fairly easy and straight forward for undergraduate students but analyzing a fairly complex NMR can be very daunting and requires a methodical approach. This work uses the ubiquitous Diels-Alder reaction of methylcyclopentadiene and maleic anhydride to introduce students to an NMR spectrum that consist of inseparable mixtures of isomers and their analysis using advanced NMR spectroscopic techniques. This laboratory experiment further outlines the use of derivatization techniques for the separation of isomeric mixtures by preparing diastereomers and using NMR spectroscopy for their identification

Динамическая контрастная магнитно-резонансная ангиография сосудов головного мозга и перфузионное исследование в диагностике рецидивов опухолей головного мозга

Aim. To evaluate the possibility of differential diagnosis of progression and stabilization of brain tumor process by methods of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic-resonance angiography (DCE-MRA) and perfusion MRI in patients after surgical treatment. Materials and methods. The study included 13 patients who were imaged with suspected recurrent tumor disease after surgery. Pathological diagnosis: anaplastic astrocytoma (G3) - 6, astrocytoma (G2) - 4, anaplastic meningeoma - 1, meningioma - 1, cyst - 1. DCE-MRA was performed in 3DFFE imaging technique and in result we got a 3 phase: arterial, venous and equilibrium with slice thickness 1.2 mm. Tumor image and hemodynamics by DCE- MRA imaging and perfusion maps using a 3-point scale were assessed. In addition, it was used three-point scale to determine the contribution PWI and DCE-MRA in addition to the diagnosis of the main results of the contrast study. To describe the changes in the centers of lesions between the images which were obtained after the first and second administration of contrast agent we used a 4-point scale. Results. By comparing evaluation of hemodynamics there were detected significant differences in arterial and venous phase DCE-MRA (p 0.06). Between the ranks of the perfusion maps (rCBV, rCBF and rMTT) there were not found any significant differences, and no differences between the ranks of venous phases DCE-MRA and PWI (p > 0.7). Evaluation of ranks contribution DCE-MRA and pWi for the decision on a definitive diagnosis showed no significant difference between them (p > 0.7). By comparative analysis of DCE-MRA contributions to the final diagnosis on the results of the study in contrasting with double dose there were revealed significant differences (p 0,06). Между рангами карт перфузии (rCBV, rCBF и rMTT) значимых различий не выявлено, а также не выявлено значимых различий между рангами венозных фаз ДК-МРА и PWI (р > 0,7). Оценка рангов вклада ДК-МРА и PWI в решение о постановке окончательного диагноза показала отсутствие значимых различий между ними (р > 0,7). При сравнительном анализе вклада ДК-МРА в постановку окончательного диагноза относительно результатов контрастного исследования в двойной дозе выявлены значимые различия (р < 0,0003). Выводы. ДК-МРА сосудов головного мозга может рассматриваться в качестве биомаркера неоваскуляризации опухолей, позволяет выявить патологическую сосудистую сеть в послеоперационном периоде у пациентов с прогрессированием заболевания и оценить состояние гемодинамики в области оперативного вмешательства при стабилизации процесса

Synthesis of conformationally constrained inhibitors for glycoside hydrolases

Glycoside hydrolase (GH) enzymes are clinically relevant biological targets for drug development. Disfunction of the two lysosomal GHs β-glucocerebrosidase and α-galactosidase can lead to Gaucher and Fabry’s disease, respectively. With knowledge of their mechanisms of action it is possible to create compounds that would effectively modulate their activity and potentially restore the activity of dysfunctional enzymes. Therefore, this work considers the approach to the synthesis of such compounds and determination of their mode of action. In the future, these compounds can be used for the development of drug candidates

Antiproliferative Fatty Acids Isolated from the Polypore Fungus <i>Onnia tomentosa</i>

Onnia tomentosa is a widespread root rot pathogen frequently found in coniferous forests in North America. In this study, the potential medicinal properties of this wild polypore mushroom collected from north–central British Columbia, Canada, were investigated. The ethanol extract from O. tomentosa was found to exhibit strong antiproliferative activity. Liquid–liquid extraction and bioactivity-guided fractionation, together with HPLC-MS/MS and 1D/2D NMR analyses of the ethanol extract of O. tomentosa, led to the identification of eight known linoleic oxygenated fatty acids (1.1–1.4 and 2–5), together with linoleic (6) and oleic acids (7). The autoxidation of linoleic acid upon isolation from a natural source and compound 5 as an autoxidation product of linoleic acid are reported here for the first time. GC-FID analysis of O. tomentosa, Fomitopsis officinalis, Echinodontium tinctorium, and Albatrellus flettii revealed linoleic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids as the major fatty acids. This study further showed that fatty acids were the major antiproliferative constituents in the ethanol extract from O. tomentosa. Linoleic acid and oleic acid had IC50 values of 50.3 and 90.4 µM against human cervical cancer cells (HeLa), respectively. The results from this study have implications regarding the future exploration of O. tomentosa as a possible edible and/or medicinal mushroom. It is also recommended that necessary caution be taken when isolating unstable fatty acids from natural sources and in interpreting the results