Protonation and anion-binding properties of aromatic sulfonylurea derivatives.

In this work the anion-binding properties of three aromatic sulfonylurea derivatives in acetonitrile and dimethyl sulfoxide were explored by means of NMR titrations. It was found that the studied receptors effectively bind anions of low basicity (Cl-, Br-, I-, NO3 - and HSO4 -). The stoichiometry of the complexes with receptors containing one binding site was 1 : 1 exclusively, whereas in the case of the receptor containing two sulfonylurea groups 1 : 2 (receptor : anion) complexes were also detected in some cases. The presence of strongly basic anions (acetate and dihydrogen phosphate) led to the deprotonation of the sulfonylurea moiety. This completely hindered its anion-binding properties in DMSO and only proton transfer occurred upon the addition of basic anions to the studied receptors. In MeCN, a complex system of equilibria including both ligand deprotonation and anion binding was established. Since ionisation of receptors was proven to be a decisive factor defining the behaviour of the sulfonylurea receptors, their pK a values were determined using several deprotonation agents in both solvents. The results were interpreted in the context of receptor structures and solvent properties and applied for the identification of the interactions with basic anions.

Acid-base properties of phosphoric and acetic acid in aprotic organic solvents - A complete thermodynamic characterisation.

Knowledge regarding the acid-base behaviour in non-aqueous media has remained relatively scarce in spite of its importance for many aspects of chemistry. The research presented in this work fills some of particularly important gaps in the corresponding thermodynamic data. We report on a detailed study of acid-base properties of dihydrogen phosphate and acetate in aprotic organic solvents (acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, and dimethylformamide). It was found that several processes, i.e. protonation, homoassociation, and dimerisation play important roles in defining the basicity of these widely important anions. In the case of dihydrogen phosphate, formation of higher homoassociates (two anions, one acid molecule and vice versa) was detected, whereas acetate formed only simple homoassociates of 1:1 stoichiometry. The dimerisation of dihydrogen phosphate and acetic acid were confirmed to be important processes as well. The thermodynamics of the above mentioned reactions was characterised in detail by means of various experimental methods: ITC, spectrophotometry, NMR-spectroscopy, and conductometry. Reliable equilibrium constants and other thermodynamic reaction functions were determined. The obtained results were discussed in terms of hydrogen bonding potential of the anions and their conjugated acids, as well as solvent properties, i.e. their ability to solvate the species involved in the studied processes.

Application of mathematical calibrations in measurements of gamma emitting radionuclides in honey samples and borosilicate filters.

Mathematical efficiency calibrations for the specific matrices such as honey and borosilicate filters are performed. Their reliability is experimentally tested. The influence of the choice of the matrix composition in the mathematical calibration on the results is investigated. After the verification of the mathematical models, the results for activity concentrations in the test samples are presented.

137Cs concentration in meat of wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Croatia a decade and half after the Chernobyl accident.

Gamma-spectrometric measurements of 137Cs activities in meat of wild boars collected in Croatia at several locations with different levels of 137Cs contamination are presented. Samples were collected during the period between 2000 and 2002, about 15 years after the Chernobyl accident. 137Cs concentrations ranged over three orders of magnitude: 0.4-611.5 Bq kg(-1). On the basis of these results, 137Cs concentrations at researched areas could be categorized into three groups: (i) the area of Slavonski Brod, Lipik and Slunj with 137Cs concentrations in meat of only a few Bq kg(-1); (ii) the area of Vrbovsko and Sirac with 137Cs concentrations of a few tens of Bq kg(-1); and (iii) the Fuzine area with 137Cs values in wild boar meat of a few hundreds of Bq kg(-1). In areas with approximately equal contamination level, 137Cs concentrations in wild boar meat varied over two orders of magnitude. This fact suggests that the main reason for high 137Cs values in wild boar meat could be due to food consumed by wild boars, and only secondarily in contamination level of area where they live. Intensive mushroom consumption during autumn months could be one of the factors responsible for high 137Cs values in wild boar meat. An average dose arising from 137Cs due to ingestion of wild boar meat in Croatia is below radiological health concern except in the area of Fuzine, and only in cases of high annual wild boar meat intake, probably by hunters or members of their families.

The effect of preincubation of human spermatozoa in milk on sperm penetration into zona-free hamster oocytes and on sperm binding to the human zona pellucida.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether preincubation of sperm in milk enhances the outcome of sperm penetration assay (SPA) and hemizona assay (HZA) when compared with preincubation in TES and Tris (TEST)-yolk. DESIGN: Sperm penetration assay and HZA were performed on milk and TEST-yolk preincubated spermatozoa. INTERVENTIONS: Ejaculates were washed and divided into two equal aliquots. An equal volume of heat-inactivated cow's milk (95 degrees C, 10 minutes) was added to one aliquot and an equal volume of TEST-yolk was added to the other aliquot. Both sperm mixtures were cooled slowly to 5 degrees C and incubated for 2 hours. They were then washed twice (400 x g for 8 minutes) with culture medium at 37 degrees C and processed for SPA and HZA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentage of oocytes penetrated and the penetration index for the SPA. The number of sperm bound to hemizona and hemizona index for the HZA. RESULTS: Sperm preincubated in milk yielded significantly higher SPA results and hemizona index when compared with TEST-yolk. The penetration index and the number of sperm bound were high but were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Preincubation of sperm in milk enhances the SPA and HZA outcome when compared with TEST-yolk.

Bilateral tubal torsion treated by laparoscopy: a case report.

The history is described of a patient with bilateral torsion of the fallopian tubes successfully managed by laparoscopy.

Pregnancy following the laparoscopic bipolar electrocoagulation of polycystic ovaries resistant to medicamentous ovulation induction--a case report.

The case of a primarily infertile patient with polycystic ovaries (PCOS) resistant to medicamentous ovulation induction is presented. The preoperative condition, laparoscopic ovarian drilling using an original technique of bipolar electrocoagulation and consecutive spontaneous pregnancy and delivery are described. This case suggests that bipolar forceps with jaws 1 mm wide could be a useful instrument for laparoscopic ovarian drilling.

Milk versus TEST-yolk--preincubated sperm; in vitro fertilization outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Preincubation of sperm in TEST-yolk medium enhances in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. However preincubation of sperm in milk at 5 degrees C enhances the results of sperm penetration assay and hemizona assay. This study was therefore performed to determine the influence of milk on in vitro fertilization rate of human oocytes, as compared with TEST-yolk medium. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-one consecutive couples undergoing an IVF procedure were randomized. Of these 20 couples were admitted for the milk study (group 1) and 21 couples for the TEST-yolk study (group 2). Each ejaculate was Percoll-processed and the sperm pellet was resuspended in 0.5 ml of culture medium. An equal volume of heat-inactivated homogenized cow's milk (95 degrees C, 10 min) was added to sperm suspension from group 1 and an equal volume of TEST-yolk medium was added to sperm suspension from group 2. After 2 h of incubation at 5 degrees C and washing with culture medium at 37 degrees C, oocytes were inseminated. Oocytes from group 1 couples were inseminated with milk-treated spermatozoa and those from group 2 couples with yolk-treated spermatozoa. Oocytes were evaluated for fertilization after 18 h. RESULTS: Sperm preincubated in milk fertilized 75 out of 100 mature oocytes (75%). TEST-yolk-treated sperm fertilized 45 out of 64 mature oocytes (70%). The difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Preincubation of spermatozoa in milk, as compared with preincubation in TEST-yolk medium yields a similar IVF outcome, so milk may be a suitable alternative medium for preincubation of spermatozoa to enhance its fertilizing potential.

[Immunologic and clinical definition of the rejection reaction in kidney transplantation]. / Imunolosko i klinicko definiranje reakcija odbacivanja transplantiranog bubrega.

In the evaluation of the immunological state of a kidney transplant there is no reliable diagnostic test. Therefore, several various tests should always be applied. The aim of this study was to define the type of immunological reaction (cellular or humoral) that causes the rejection of transplanted kidney. A group of 45 patients with a kidney transplant were tested 175 times, in various phases of the kidney transplant, starting on the day of transplantation up to several months posttransplant. Specific antibodies (SA) and specific cytotoxic lymphocytes (SCL) directed against donor cells in lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis tests in the presence of antibodies (ADLMC) or without them (LMC) were determined. LMC was significantly correlated with acute rejection (85%). In the phase of clinical quiscence of the kidney transplant LMC was positive in 4% of the cases. During the period of chronic rejection it was positive in 75% of the cases. ADLMC test is significantly correlated with chronic rejection (88%). In the period of acute rejection it was positive in 27% while in clinical quiscence in 11% of the cases. Twenty-two patients with non-immunological disorders of the kidney transplant were tested 62 times. LMC test was always negative, while ADLMC test was positive in 6.4% of the cases. These tests prove to be good parameters for defining immunological reaction. Thus, they can be of great importance in determining adequate immunosuppressive therapy. Negative results of tests in non-immunological disorders of graft function are highly significant.

A single, continuous spiraling suture for uterine wall reconstruction after laparoscopic enucleation of intramural myomas.

After laparoscopic enucleation of intramural myomas in eight women, the uterine wall defect was reconstructed with a single continuous spiraling suture. The procedure contained cost and reduced operating time. No patients had postoperative intramural hematoma. Although this is a reproducible method of laparoscopic uterine wall reconstruction, long-term results must be obtained to determine safety in pregnancy and extent of postoperative adhesions.

[Relation between fetal hypoxia, neonatal asphyxia and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy]. / Povezanost fetalne hipoksije, neonatalne asfiksije i hipoksicko-ishemicke encefalopatije.

Clinical data, duration of labour, mode of delivery and possibilities of fetal heart rate monitoring in predicting perinatal asphyxia and neonatal encephalopathy in 143 consecutively delivered asphyxiated infants and 143 paired healthy infants are analyzed. Perinatal asphyxia occurred in only 2.6% of normal pregnancies and significantly more frequently in pregnancies complicated by gestosis. It is far more common in children subject to operative deliveries (15-20%) and when labour lasts longer than 12 hours, either in vertex or breech presentations. The occurrence of encephalopathy is less frequent in children delivered by cesarean section (1.6%) and almost three times more frequent than in vaginal breech deliveries. In asphyxiated children delivered vaginally, significantly more frequently CTG scores were prepathologic (38% versus 3.4%). In the cesarean section group the differences are not significant in prepathologic CTG scores but are highly significant when CTG scores were pathologic (36% versus 2.7%). The mean duration of the pathologic heart rate pattern is significantly longer in mild asphyxia in comparison to the control group (45 minutes versus 12.5 minutes). In moderate asphyxia the pathologic CTG pattern lasted 72.1 minutes and in severe asphyxia 52 minutes.

Laparoscopic management of the cornual pregnancy.

Traditional treatment of interstitial pregnancy includes cornual resection or hysterectomy by laparotomy, but advanced minimally invasive surgery allows successful endoscopic management. We report a case where interstitial pregnancy was successfully diagnosed by ultrasound and treated by laparoscopy. Patient had an unremarkable postoperative course. This case demonstrates that a laparoscopic approach toward cornual pregnancy is possible.

A significance of immunohistochemical determination of steroid receptors, cell proliferation factor Ki-67 and protein p53 in endometrial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to preoperatively predict the biologic behavior of the endometrial carcinoma using immunohistochemical analysis of the p53 protein and Ki-67 expression, and estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status, in the material obtained by fractional curettage. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-six patients with primary endometrial carcinoma were included in the study. In all 136 patients, the fractional curettage was performed before the hysterectomy, and the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma was confirmed pathohistologically after the surgical procedure on the hysterectomy specimens. The significance of the prognostic factors was assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. The cutoff values of the percentage of ER, PR, p53, and Ki-67 positive cells in terms of survival probability determination were obtained as the values of the highest chi-square test, using proportional-risk regression method. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to estimate the influence of several clinical, pathohistologic, and immunohistochemical covariates to patients' survival. Survival curves were determined by the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method based on the most recent clinical status. RESULTS: According to the histologic type of the tumor, fractional curettage specimens revealed 111 histologically favorable types (81.6%) and 25 unfavorable types (18.4%). The data indicate that ER, PR, Ki-67, and p53 levels of the hysterectomy specimens and those of the preoperative specimens were in fairly good agreement. The patients with the most favorable tumor grade (G I) had significantly better prognosis when the percentage of p53 positive cells was less than 15%. In the group of patients with histologic grade II, the survival was affected by ER expression (more than 30% of positive cells) and p53 levels (less than 15% of positive cells). None of the parameters was predictive in the group of patients with histologic grade III. CONCLUSIONS: We found that determination of immunohistochemical parameters (ER, PR, and p53) on well-differentiated and moderately differentiated endometrial carcinoma of favorable histologic type obtained by curettage enables the recognition of the patients with favorable prognosis, who should not be treated by radical surgery.

TEST-yolk media and sperm quality.

Media prepared with egg yolk and two buffers, TES and Tris, called TEST-yolk have been shown to have beneficial effects on the survivability, fertilizing capacity and storage potential of human spermatozoa. Egg yolk lipoproteins are the critical compounds for the beneficial effects, with a synergistic effect due to the TES-Tris buffer component. TEST-yolk media have been used in the sperm penetration assay, the hemizona assay, sperm preparation for clinical in-vitro fertilization, artificial insemination with homologous spermatozoa, cryopreservation, sperm samples with a positive antisperm antibody test, and preparation for techniques requiring capacitated spermatozoa. Few harmful consequences of TEST-yolk have been reported, although controlled trials are required to evaluate therapeutic effects in the treatment of male infertility.