Identification of potent inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin II from an encoded statine combinatorial library

An encoded 13,020-member combinatorial library was synthesized containing a statine core. Evaluation of this library with plasmepsin II, an aspartyl protease required for hemoglobin metabolism in the malaria parasite, led to the identification of potent and selective inhibitors as well as novel structure-activity relationships.     

The relationship between arm-ankle pressure difference and peak systolic velocity in patients with stenotic lower extremity vein grafts

The relationship between the measured arm-ankle pressure difference (AAPD), or the ankle/arm index (AAI), and the focal peak systolic velocity (PSV) at stenotic sites of infrainguinal vein grafts has not been determined. We attempted to relate these two parameters. We used Doppler systolic pressures and duplex ultrasonography to study 35 infrainguinal vein bypass grafts followed in a surveillance protocol. The following graft groups were identified: grafts in nondiabetic patients (n = 26), grafts in diabetic patients (n = 9), nonrevised stenotic grafts (n = 14), revised stenotic grafts (n = 14), and normal grafts (n = 7). AAPD and AAI were measured in both lower extremities. Pressure gradients across graft stenoses were indirectly estimated using the modified Bernoulli equation (delta P =4V2). Measured AAPDs and estimated pressure gradients showed moderate correlation in nondiabetic (r = 0.58) and diabetic (r = 0.63) patients. Correlation was fair (r = 0.3) prior to graft revision. There was no correlation (r = 0.1) in the nonrevised stenotic grafts. For individual patients with stenotic grafts who were followed in consecutive visits, the correlation varied from none to good (r range 0.01 to 0.71). We conclude that there is a lack of consistent correlation between the measured AAPD, or AAI, and the estimated stenotic graft pressure gradient. This finding illustrates the limitation of the AAI as a monitoring test to predict failure of stenotic infrainguinal vein grafts.     

Dichlorvos space treatment for protection of packaged flour against insect infestation

Dichlorvos vapor was applied weekly from dichlorvos-impregnated resin pellets into 42·5 m³ (1500 ft³) chambers. The chambers contained insect-free flour packaged in cotton sheeting, and in multiwall paper bags stacked at various distances from similar bags of infested flour. The dichlorvos concentration attained in the chambers from the weekly application of vapor was about 3 μg/1. After 5 months of storage, the number of insects found in the flour indicated that the dichlorvos applications retarded the infestation of flour in cotton bags and prevented the infestation of flour in the multiwall paper bags. Chemical analysis showed that dichlorvos residues were less than 0·1 ppm in the flour and, in general, less than 1·1 μg/dm² (10 μg/ft²) on the packaging materials.     

Crystallization of PbO·2B2O3 from Its Supercooled Melt

The growth of lead diborate and the viscosity of its melt were determined as a function of temperature. These data were used to examine several theories of the growth of crystals from the melt. The data were in good agreement with the theory of Tornbull and Cohen. At large under coolings the growth rate appeared to be controlled by the rate of diffusion across the crystal-melt interface, whereas at smaller undercoolings the growth rate appeared to be controlled by reaction at the crystal-melt interface.     

Systemic lupus erythematosus with a protein-losing enteropathy

Anasarca with pronounced hypoalbuminemia developed in a young woman 15 months after the onset of a mild, arthralgic type of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without evidence of active nephritis. Investigation indicated a gastrointestinal rather than a renal site for protein loss. A full clinical remission was achieved with low-dose corticosteroid therapy.     

Usefulness of chromosome examination in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions

To determine whether chromosome analysis could facilitate the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions, we examined chromosomes in effusions from 104 unselected patients. An effusion was regarded as malignant if at least three of 30 metaphase cells were hyperdiploid or contained a marker chromosome. Results were compared with standard cytologic diagnoses. All 22 benign effusions were diagnosed correctly by cytologic examination, but one nosed correctly by cytologic examination, but one (acute rheumatoid lung disease) was misclassified as positive by chromosome criteria. Of the 82 malignant effusions, 53 (65 per cent) were diagnosed correctly by cytologic tests, as compared with 58 (71 per cent) by chromosome analysis (P greater than 0.2). Among patients with malignant neoplasms, 13 had leukemia or lymphoma; only four of these (31 per cent) were diagnosed by cytologic tests as compared with 11 (85 per cent) by chromosome analysis (P less than 0.01). The combination of standard cytologic and chromosome analyses correctly identified 83 per cent of the neoplasms, a result significantly better than that with either technic alone (P less than 0.01).