Rubella antibodies in cord blood sera in Portugal: association with maternal age and vaccination status.

This study evaluated the impact of maternal vaccination against rubella on the levels of specific rubella IgG (rIgG) in 198 newborn cord sera samples. Detailed maternal vaccination data were available. Specific rIgG was measured using a commercial enzyme immunoassay. Most mothers (78.8%) had been vaccinated against rubella at least once in their lives. In 15 (7.6%) cord sera samples, the concentration of specific rIgG was below 11 IU/ml, which was classified as seronegative. Statistical analysis using multiple logistic regression (n = 198) showed that newborns of mothers born between 1986 and 1995, and those born to unvaccinated mothers, were more likely to be seronegative (odds ratio (ORs) 5.2 and 4.9, respectively, adjusted for sex and gestational age). For vaccinated mothers (n = 156), those born between 1986 and 1995 were more likely to have seronegative newborns (OR 11.5 adjusting for sex, gestational age and time since last vaccination). Mothers of the 15 (7.6%) seronegative newborns might have been susceptible to rubella during pregnancy. Checking the vaccination status therefore recommended.

Outbreak of acute gastroenteritis caused by adenovirus type 41 in a kindergarten.

In response to an alert due to epidemic gastroenteritis in children in a kindergarten, an outbreak investigation was carried out in a Portuguese municipality. The objectives were to establish an aetiological diagnosis, assess vaccine efficacy if possible, and to take corrective measures if necessary. The warden at the kindergarten was interviewed, and we visited the premises. The overall attack rate was 11·4% and most cases were mild. Stool samples from three symptomatic children were collected and screened for the presence of noroviruses, rotaviruses and adenoviruses. High vaccination coverage against rotaviruses was recorded in children aged <2 years. We initially thought that noroviruses and rotaviruses were more likely to have been the aetiological cause of the disease, but the outbreak was caused by infection with adenovirus 41. These viruses should not be overlooked in the laboratory protocol in the study of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks.

Novel 6-[(hetero)arylamino]thieno[3,2-b]pyridines: synthesis and antitumoral activities.

Several novel 6-[(hetero)arylamino]thieno[3,2-b]pyridines were prepared by palladium-catalyzed C-N Buchwald-Hartwig coupling of the methyl 3-amino-6-bromothieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate with aryl and heteroarylamines, using different reaction conditions. The antitumoral activity of the di(hetero)arylamines obtained was evaluated against three representative human tumor cell lines, namely breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), melanoma (A375-C5), and non-small cell lung cancer (NCI-H460) and some structure-activity relationships were established within each series. The most promising compounds were shown to be a benzothiazole derivative with GI50 3.5-6.9 µM followed by an indole derivative with GI50 13-21 µM.

Synthesis of novel 3-(aryl)benzothieno[2,3-c]pyran-1-ones from Sonogashira products and intramolecular cyclization: Antitumoral activity evaluation.

Several novel 3-(aryl)benzothieno[2,3-c]pyran-1-ones (tricyclic lactones) were prepared either by a tandem one-pot Sonogashira coupling and intramolecular cyclization, reacting the 3-bromobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid with arylacetylenes, or by Sonogashira coupling of the methyl 3-bromobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate or the methyl 3-bromo-6-methoxybenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate with arylacetylenes followed by an electrophilic intramolecular cyclization using iodine or TFA in two separate steps. The Sonogashira products and the tricyclic lactones obtained were evaluated for their capacity to inhibit the in vitro growth of three human tumor cell lines, MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer) and SF-268 (CNS cancer). Most of the compounds showed a high growth inhibitory effect on all the tested cell lines, with GI(50) values in the muM range. A structure-activity relationship was established for the Sonogashira products and for the tricyclic lactones, namely related to the presence and position of substituents (OMe and/or F) in the benzothiophene moiety or in the phenyl ring.

Synthesis of new heteroaryl and heteroannulated indoles from dehydrophenylalanines: Antitumor evaluation.

A 3-(dibenzothien-4-yl)indole and a phenylbenzothienoindole or a 3-(dibenzofur-4-yl)indole and a phenylbenzofuroindole were prepared by a metal-assisted C-N intramolecular cyclization of the methyl esters of N-Boc-(E) or (Z)-beta-dibenzothien-4-yl or beta-dibenzofur-4-yl dehydrophenylalanines. The latter were obtained by Suzuki cross-coupling of the methyl esters of N-Boc-(E) or (Z)-beta-bromodehydrophenylalanines with dibenzothien-4-yl or dibenzofur-4-yl boronic acids, in high yields. The intramolecular cyclization from E or Z pure Suzuki-coupling products gave the corresponding heteroaryl and heteroannulated indoles, in different ratios, by either direct cyclization or cyclization after isomerisation. Three of the cyclized compounds, the two heteroarylindoles and the phenylbenzothienoindole, were evaluated for their capacity to inhibit the in vitro growth of three human tumor cell lines, MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer), and SF-268 (CNS cancer). The methyl 3-(dibenzothien-4-yl)indole-2-carboxylate was the most potent compound with GI(50) values ranging from 11 to 17microM.