Prognostic factors of the probability of the occurrence of complications in the radiation therapy of malignant neoplasms

The authors present an analysis of the causes of radiation induced complications in 383 patients referred to the Chair of Clinical Radiology from different medical institutions of the country. It was found that under distant gamma therapy, to prevent the development of complications the value of TDF-factor should not exceed 105--110, for the associated radiotherapy--130--140, and that for close focal roentgenotherapy--130--150. In vast majority of patients (95.3%) the complications resulted from surpassing the normal tissue tolerance. To prevent radiation injuries it is suggested to take into consideration the TDF-factor values, while in planning radiotherapy to choose such schedules of irradiation, which preclude any surpassing of the tolerance of normal tissues and organs adjacent to the tumor.     

Quadricuspid aortic valve: diagnosis by multiple transesophageal echocardiography

The case of a quadricuspid aortic valve diagnosed in adult age is reported. A 67-year-old patient, who had no previous diseases or cardiovascular complaints, presented in the clinic for an embolic occlusion of the left retinal artery. Isolated moderate aortic regurgitation was diagnosed clinically and echocardiographically. For its further evaluation and for seeking embolic sources, multiplane transesophageal echocardiography was performed, which discovered a quadricuspid aortic valve as the cause of aortic regurgitation and major atherosclerotic lesions in the ascending aorta and the aortic arch as possible cause of the embolic event. The fourth, accessory cusp, smaller than the other three, was localized between the non-coronary and left coronary cusp. In the short axis view the quadricuspid aortic valve showed in diastole a "X"-configuration, with a persistent central orifice between the commissures, which was the cause of the regurgitation jet in color Doppler examination, and in the systole a trapezoid opening pattern. In the long-axis view the valve showed a tricuspid closing pattern. The quadricuspid aortic valve can be exactly diagnosed by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography.     

N-glycosylation of recombinant human interferon-gamma produced in different animal expression systems

Recombinant human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells, baculovirus-infected Sf9 insect cells and the mammary gland of transgenic mice. The N-linked carbohydrate populations associated with both Asn25 and Asn97 glycosylation sites were characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) in combination with exoglycosidase array sequencing. A site-specific analysis of dual (2N) and single (1N) site-occupancy variants of IFN-gamma derived from Chinese hamster ovary cells showed that N-glycans were predominantly of the complex bi- and triantennary type. Although Asn25-linked glycans were substituted with a core fucose residue, Asn97 N-glycans were predominantly non-fucosylated, and truncated complex and high-mannose oligosaccharide chains were also evident. Transgenic mouse derived IFN-gamma exhibited considerable site-specific variation in N-glycan structures. Asn25-linked carbohydrates were of the complex, core fucosylated type, Asn97-linked carbohydrates were mainly of the oligomannose type, with smaller proportions of hybrid and complex N-glycans. Carbohydrates associated with both glycosylation sites of IFN-gamma from Sf9 insect cells were mainly tri-mannosyl core structures, with fucosylation confined to the Asn25 site. These data demonstrate the profound influence of host cell type and protein structure on the N-glycosylation of recombinant proteins.     

Evaluation of the cellulolytic capacity of Ascobolus furfuraceus (Fungi, Ascomycotina)

Growth kinetic variables (dry weight, mycelial protein, extracellular protein and pH evolution) were measured in Ascobolus furfuraceus cultures either with soluble cellulose (CMC) or crystalline cellulose as only carbon sources. When growing on CMC the mycelial protein production reached a maximum at 14 days, while the extracellular protein was maximal at 17 days. On crystalline cellulose more delay was observed (4 and 14 days, respectively). Straight lineal correspondence (r = 0.9883) was observed between the extracellular protein production and enzymatic activity kinetics, showing parallel behavior of these variables. When the biomass and extracellular protein production rates were analysed, the maxima were observed at diverse growth stages. For CMC, the dry weight production rythm precedes the cellulolytic system liberation rythm (maxima at 9 and 14 days, respectively). When crystalline cellulose was the substrate, the maximal rates were inverse, 16th day for biomass production rythm and 12th day for enzyme release rythm. On the basis of such tests and analyses, a model to explain cellulose degration by A. furfuraceus, is proposed.     

Synthesis and elastase inhibitory activity of 6 alpha-chloro-2,2-dimethyl-3 alpha-(pivaloyloxy)methylpenam sulfone, 6 alpha-chloro-2,2-dimethyl-3-exo-methylenepenam sulfone, benzyl and methyl 6 alpha-substituted penicillanate sulfones

The triflates and pivalates of 3 alpha-hydroxymethyl-6-substituted-2,2-dimethylpenam sulfones 3, 5; methyl and benzyl 6-substituted penicillanates 6-9 and 3-exo-methylene-6-substituted-2,2-dimethylpenam sulfone 4 were synthesized. These novel compounds were evaluated as elastase inhibitors using porcine pancreatic elastase. The effects that structural modifications of substituents on C-3 and C-6 in the penam nucleus have on elastase activity were examined and several similarities and distinctions were identified when compared to the reported penicillin esters and amides elastase inhibitors.