41 research outputs found
Synthesis and characterization of new aromatic esters based on 4,16-pregnadiene-6,20-dione skeleton
A series of new aromatic esters based on 4,16-pregnadiene-6,20-dione skeleton, namely 3β-benzoyloxy-4,16-pregnadiene-6,20-dione and 3β-furoyloxy-4,16-pregnadiene- 6,20-dione, which may be good inhibitors for the 5α-reductase enzyme and show high antiandrogenic activity, were synthesized starting from diosgenin. The structures of the steroids were characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR and mass spectrum. Single crystal X-ray diffraction measurement on one of the new compounds, 3β-(p-methoxybenzoyloxy)-4,16-pregnadiene-6,20-dione revealed that the A, B, C, and D ring adopted half chair, distorted chair, distorted chair, and distorted envelope conformation, respectively. The molecules in the crystal were packed face-to-face at the normal van der Waals distances
Complement lectin pathway activation is associated with COVID-19 disease severity, independent of MBL2 genotype subgroups
IntroductionWhile complement is a contributor to disease severity in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, all three complement pathways might be activated by the virus. Lectin pathway activation occurs through different pattern recognition molecules, including mannan binding lectin (MBL), a protein shown to interact with SARS-CoV-2 proteins. However, the exact role of lectin pathway activation and its key pattern recognition molecule MBL in COVID-19 is still not fully understood.MethodsWe therefore investigated activation of the lectin pathway in two independent cohorts of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, while also analysing MBL protein levels and potential effects of the six major single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found in the MBL2 gene on COVID-19 severity and outcome.ResultsWe show that the lectin pathway is activated in acute COVID-19, indicated by the correlation between complement activation product levels of the MASP-1/C1-INH complex (p=0.0011) and C4d (p<0.0001) and COVID-19 severity. Despite this, genetic variations in MBL2 are not associated with susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection or disease outcomes such as mortality and the development of Long COVID.ConclusionIn conclusion, activation of the MBL-LP only plays a minor role in COVID-19 pathogenesis, since no clinically meaningful, consistent associations with disease outcomes were noted
lmmunofluorescent examination of the kidney post mortem
106 selected kidneys removed at autopsy were
studied by direct immunofluorescence using polyvalent
antisera against human immunoglobulins, light chains,
complement fractions and fibrinogen. The
immunofluorescence was a suitable me'thod to solve
differential diagnostic problems that arose at autopsy. The
diagnostic value was the most obvious in cases of
immunologically mediated renal diseases and in
immunologically mediated systemic diseases involving the
kidneys. Negative immunofluorescence findings were also
useful to determine the pathogenesis of renal lesions,
especially in vasculopathies. The immunofluorescence of
postmortem material showed similar disturbances to that
obtained with biopsy material. At various sites, especially
in the tubulo-interstitium, additional electron microscopical
study was sometimes needed to localise the immune deposits
exactly. The fluorescent microscopical examination of
frozen sections of kidney taken at necropsy turned out to
be more adequate than the immunoperoxidase examination
of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections