Additional polymorphisms of the <i>PRNP</i> gene significantly decrease the susceptibility to scrapie of ARQ/ARQ sheep

The aim of this work was to investigate the risk of scrapie of the ARQ/ARQ genotype carrying at least one point mutation at codons 112, 137, 141, 142, 154 and 176 in comparison with the ARQ/ARQ without any point mutations

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, thermal behavior and spectroscopic analysis of 1-(1-naphthoyl)-3-(halo-phenyl)-thioureas complemented with quantum chemical calculations

Two novel 1-(1-naphthoyl)-3-(halo-phenyl) substituted thioureas, namely 1-(1-naphthoyl)-3-(2,4-di-fluoro-phenyl)-thiourea (1) and 1-(1-naphthoyl)-3-(3-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl)-thiourea (2), were synthesized and fully characterized. The X-ray crystal and molecular structures have been determined resulting in a planar acylthiourea group, with the Cdouble bondO and Cdouble bondS adopting a pseudo-antiperiplanar conformation. An intramolecular Nsingle bondH⋯Odouble bondC hydrogen bond occurs between the thioamide and carbonyl groups. The crystal packing of both compounds is characterized by extended intermolecular Nsingle bondH⋯Sdouble bondC and Nsingle bondH⋯Odouble bondC hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the acylthiourea moiety. Compound 2 is further stabilized by π-stacking between adjacent naphthalene and phenyl rings. The thermal behavior, as well as the vibrational properties, studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopy data complemented by quantum chemical calculations at the B3PW91/6-311++G(d,p) support the formation of these intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, the UV–Vis spectrum is interpreted in terms of TD-DFT quantum chemical calculations with the shapes of the simulated absorption spectra in good accordance with the experimental data.Centro de Química Inorgánic

PrP^Sc deposition in mammary gland of sheep experimentally coinfected with scrapie and Maedi-Visna virus

Scrapie, a fatal neurodegenerative disorder of sheep, is characterized by deposition of an abnormal isoform of prion protein (PrPSc) in the central nervous system (CNS) and within the lymphoreticular system (LRS). Recent studies in mice transgenically engineered to develop organ specific inflammation demonstrated the cooccurrence of PrPSc in the inflamed organs (kidney, pancreas and liver)

Vimentin-typing in diagnostic surgical pathology: a comparative study using four antibodies after different fixations

Vimentin-typing was carried out on various normal and neoplastic tissues using four anti-vimentin antibodies in order to evaluate the effect of different fixation treatments on tissue reactivity in comparison to the results obtained on frozen sections. All antisera were reactive on frozen material; on paraffin embedded material staining of tissues depended on the type of fixation method applied (formalin, methacarn or absolute alcohol) and each antibody behaved differently in relation to the fixative used. Only mesenchymal normal structures were revealed on frozen material whilst on paraffin embedded material three of the four antibodies reacted also with non-mesenchymal normal structures (epithelia, central and peripheral nervous system cells). All four antibodies decorated, regardless of treatment, neoplastic cells of mesenchymal and non-mesenchymal derivation, but not germ cells or germ cell tumors. The reactivity of vimentin to its specific antibodies depends on the fixative used: therefore, in routine pathology more than one antiserum should be available for testing. Furthermore, given the variety of non-mesenchymal structures stained by the anti-vimentin antibodies, the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated tumors must not be based on vimentin positivity alone. The expression of vimentin by non-mesenchymal neoplastic cells seems to parallel that of normal tissues during embryogenesis; therefore, this intermediate filament appears to be not only a marker of mesenchymal cells but also of many immature elements

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, thermal behavior and spectroscopic analysis of 1-(1-naphthoyl)-3-(halo-phenyl)-thioureas complemented with quantum chemical calculations

Two novel 1-(1-naphthoyl)-3-(halo-phenyl) substituted thioureas, namely 1-(1-naphthoyl)-3-(2,4-di-fluoro-phenyl)-thiourea (1) and 1-(1-naphthoyl)-3-(3-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl)-thiourea (2), were synthesized and fully characterized. The X-ray crystal and molecular structures have been determined resulting in a planar acylthiourea group, with the C=O and C=S adopting a pseudo-antiperiplanar conformation. An intramolecular NA...O=C hydrogen bond occurs between the thioamide and carbonyl groups. The crystal packing of both compounds is characterized by extended intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the acylthioureamoiety. Compound 2 is further stabilized by p-stacking between adjacent naphthalene and phenyl rings. The thermal behavior, as well as the vibrational properties, studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopy data complemented by quantum chemical calculations at the B3PW91/6-311++G(d,p) support the formation of these intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, the UV?Vis spectrum is interpreted in terms of TD-DFT quantum chemical calculations with the shapes of the simulated absorption spectra in good accordance with the experimental data.Fil: Saeed, Aamer. Quaid-i-Azam University; PakistánFil: Ashraf, Saba. Quaid-i-Azam University; PakistánFil: White, Jonathan M.. University of Melbourne; AustraliaFil: Soria, Delia Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; ArgentinaFil: Franca, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; ArgentinaFil: Erben, Mauricio Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; Argentin

Bacterial community acquired pneumonia in HIV-infected inpatients in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era

Introduction: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has deeply modified HIV/AIDS related morbidity and mortality. However, bacterial community acquired pneumonia (BCAP) still represents one of the most frequent causes of morbidity in HIV-infected patients with an inpatient 10% mortality rate. Objectives: We retrospectively studied the characteristics of BCAP in consecutive HIV-infected inpatients hospitalized from 1999 to 2004 and evaluated the presence of risk factors and the influence of combination antiretroviral therapy receipt on BCAP outcomes. Results: We studied 84 BCAP episodes in 76 HIV-infected inpatients (63 males and 13 females) aged 27–80 years. Thirty-two (42.1%) patients were receiving combination antiretroviral treatment (CART) while 44 (57.9%) were not treated (NART). BCAP incidence progressively increased from 1999 to 2004. The overall percentage of injection drug users was &gt; 84%, of smokers &gt; 88% and alcohol abusers &gt; 32% with no statistical difference between CART and NART. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequently identified pathogen (60%). Time to clinical stability was significantly longer in NART in respect of CART (p = 0.011). In multivariate analysis, CDC stage C, CD4 cell count &lt; 100 × 106 cells/l, and S. pneumoniae etiology were predictors for time to clinical stability &gt; 7 days, while receipt of antiretroviral therapy was protective. The percentage of deaths did not differ between CART and NART; most patients had a CD4 count &lt; 200 × 106 cells/l or severe concomitant diseases. Conclusions: The incidence of BCAP was high in HIV-infected inpatients observed in the present study mainly due to HIV infection itself, IVDU, alcohol abuse and smoking habit. A longer time to clinical stability was associated with advanced HIV infection and with S. pneumoniae etiology, while receipt of antiretroviral therapy was protective. Injection drug abuse treatment, alcohol abuse and smoking cessation programs, antiretroviral treatment adherence support and pneumococcal vaccination should be implemented to reduce the incidence and to improve the outcomes of BCAP in HIV-infected patients

Detection of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> by PCR analysis of urine and other clinical samples from AIDS and non-HIV-infected patients

A number of different clinical specimens, such as sputum, cerebrospinal fluid and blood, have been reported to be good substrates for the detection ofMycobacterium tuberculosisby PCR assay. We wanted to search for the presence of mycobacteria in other body fluids, such as urine. Urine samples and other samples obtained from AIDS patients and non HIV-infected patients were analysed by PCR. The results were compared with those obtained using conventional methods (Bactec 460 TB and AFB (acid fast bacilli strain)). We analysed 412 urine samples and 210 different other samples (sputum and cerebrospinal fluid) obtained from AIDS patients by PCR; almost identical levels of PCR-positive (14–17%) results were observed in all samples analysed. The results were then compared with those obtained with the Bactec 460 TB and AFB. PCR, Bactec 460 TB and acid fast stain were also used to analyse 190 urine samples and 230 other samples from non-HIV infected patients in the consumption ward of Sassari Hospital. The number of urine samples positive by PCR (6.3%) and Bactec 460 TB (2.1%) was half that obtained from samples taken from the AIDS patients. As expected, an increase in the number of positive sputum samples was observed with all methods. The results indicate that PCR analysis of urine samples represents a valid alternative for fast and sensitive detection ofM. tuberculosis. This method can be routinely used in the clinical laboratory, especially in HIV-infected patients