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A new sulfated sterol, phallusiasterol C (1), has been isolated from the Mediterranean ascidian Phallusia fumigata and its structure has been determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic (mainly 2D NMR) analysis. The possible role in regulating the pregnane X receptor (PXR) activity of phallusiasterol C has been investigated; although the new sterol resulted inactive, this study adds more items to the knowledge of the structure-PXR regulating activity relationships in the case of sulfated steroids.

The efficaciousness of ACE inhibitors in arterial blood hypertension is well known. These drugs decreased the incidence of hypertension and myocardial infarction in population. However, they increase tissue levels of some kinines, that may be responsible of some adverse reactions (cough, etc.). Angiotensin-receptor antagonists can minimize the adverse reactions due to kinine accumulation and may increase the safety of the antihypertensive drug-treatment. Pharmacological and clinical aspects of angiotensin-receptor antagonists are discussed.

We examined the protective activity of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) on mortality and delayed hippocampal cell death induced by transient cerebral ischemia in the Mongolian gerbil. Forebrain ischemia was produced by bilaterally occluding the common carotid arteries for 15 min using microaneurysm clips; then the blood supply to the brain was restored. The number of survivors was counted for 8 days, and the histopathological damage in the CA1 region of the hippocampus was scored according to the semiquantitative scale of Rudolphi and colleagues. When injected 15 min before the ischemic insult, FBP (100 and 333 mg/kg, i.v.) significantly reduced the rate of mortality during the 8-day observation period. Equivalent doses of fructose and fructose monophosphate did not improve survival, and neither did low doses (33 mg/kg) of FBP. FBP also produced a significant degree of protection against the CA1 pyramidal cell loss in comparison with its vehicle (distilled water). Conversely, when we administered the compound, at the same dose, 15 min after the release of the arterial occlusion, we observed neither a significant reduction of mortality nor significant protection against hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell loss. These results suggest that FBP possesses salutary properties against the damages induced by transient cerebral ischemia, although they are evident only when the compound is administered before the resolution of the ischemic injury.

The authors report the study of a clinical case, which presented eosinophilia both in the secretion of the nasal mucosa and in the blood count. After a careful examination of all the pathologies related to hypereosinophilia, through a clinical study, they have documented the presence of an adenocarcinoma located in the ileocecal junction of the colon. From what has been documented it is clear that only a clinical observation of precision, carried out above all through nasal cytology and colonoscopy, is able to diagnose an important pathology, such as oncology. For the literature review we used the Scopus and PubMed search engines to analyze other authors who were interested in the relationship between eosinophilia and colorectal cancer. Much of the studies analyzed reported a close relationship between the presence of tissue eosinophilia and tumor, and the prognosis of colorectal cancer. KEY WORD: Colorectal cancer, Eosinophils, Hypereosinophilia.

Interactions of novel bi-dimensional nanomaterials and live matter such as bacteria and viruses represent an extremely hot topic due to the unique properties of the innovative nanomaterials, capable in some cases to exhibit bactericide and antiviral actions. The interactions between bacteria and viruses and two dimensional nanosheets are here investigated. We extensively studied the interaction between a gram-negative bacterium, Escherichia coli, and a gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, with two different types of 2D nanoflakes such as MoS2, belonging to the Transition Metal Dichalcogenides family, and Graphene Oxide. The same two types of nanomaterials were employed to study their antiviral action toward the Herpes simplex virus type-1, (HSV-1). The experimental results showed different bactericide impacts as well as different antiviral power between the two nanomaterials. The experimental findings were interpreted in bacteria on the base of the Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek theory. A simple kinetic model of bacterial growth in the presence of the interacting nanosheets is also elaborated, to explain the observed results. The experimental results in viruses are really novel and somewhat surprising, evidencing a stronger antiviral action of Graphene Oxide as compared to MoS2. Results in viruses are complicated to quantitatively interpret due to the complexity of the system under study, constituted by virus/host cell and nanoflake, and due to the lack of a well assessed theoretical context to refer to. Thus, these results are interpreted in terms of qualitative arguments based on the chemical properties of the interactors in the given solvent medium.

Introduction In post-traumatic deviations, the operative realignement of the joint axis is mandatory to prevent an early joint degeneration. Moreover, the angular deformity may cause a reduction in the normal R.O.M when it lies close to the joint. Post-traumatic deformities are usually multiplanar and deviations on the frontal, sagittal or horizontal plane can be mutually associated. The aim of this paper is to report on the results of surgical treatment of these deformities by osteotomy and unilateral external fixation (EF). Patients and Methods We reviewed the files of all patients affected by long bones post-traumatic deformities treated in the 2000–2006 period. We selected only patients in whom the correction was obtained by osteotomy and EF. A total of 16 patients fulfilled these inclusion criteria. In all cases a MMF or Orthofix device was used. Fourteen deformities occurred in tibia and two in humerus. The osteotomy level was set preoperatively according to Paley et al. The postoperative angular correction, the mechanical axis, as well as the development of osteoarthritic changes were clinically and radiographicallyradiographically evaluated on follow-up controls. Results No patient had undergone total arthroplasty or reported disabling pain in the joints nearby the operated bone segment. A nearly normal ROM was detected in these joints in all patients but one, affected by preoperative knee osteoarthritis. The mean time until consolidation of the osteotomy was 3.8 months (2.2– 4.8). Complete normalisation of the frontal axis of the involved bone was observed in 12 tibial and in the 2 humeral cases. In two tibial deformities we were forced to carry out the osteotomy far away from the centre of rotational angulation (C.O.R.A.), because of a skin dystrophy. In these cases a clinically silent translational deformity developed. Discussion and Conclusions The results of surgical correction of posttraumatic deformities with osteotomy and EF were satisfactory. The main advantage of EF is represented by its flexibility which enables the surgeon to correct even complex deformities, allowing postoperative adjustments of the bone axis. Moreover, no iterative surgery is required to remove the hardware.

An open, randomized clinical study was carried out to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of pefloxacin with that of chloramphenicol in the treatment of typhoid fever. Sixty hospitalized patients (40 men and 20 women, aged from 17 to 64 years), affected by severe proven typhoid sepsis, were randomly assigned to treatment with pefloxacin at a daily dose of 1,200 mg for 15 days (Group A) or with chloramphenicol at a daily dose of 2 g for 15 days (Group B). The two groups of patients were statistically homogeneous regarding both age and sex and all patients were followed for 30 days after the end of therapy. In Group A all the patients completely recovered from infection and all the isolated strains of Salmonella typhi were eradicated by pefloxacin treatment. In Group B two patients had a relapse, two patients became chronic enteric carriers of S. typhi and only 26 patients recovered from infection with complete eradication of the pathogen. The results indicate that pefloxacin is as active as chloramphenicol in the therapy of typhoid fever and that pefloxacin could be a valid antibacterial agent to be used together with appropriate hygienic measures for an eradication program of typhoid fever in the endemic countries.