Transfection-capable polycationic nanovectors which include PEGylated-cyclodextrin structural units: a new synthesis pathway.

Efficient tools are still being searched for to substitute the viral vectors in nucleic acid delivery applications. One of the most severe constraints in producing them is related to the strict reproducibility of their molecular characteristics, which is ensured through the synthesis. In this work, we report an original route to obtain polycationic nanoentities with low variability, which are able to act as cooperating carriers for dsDNA complexation and transport. The carriers are synthesized by rigorous conjugation of ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) with precise ratios of 2 kDa branched poly(ethyleneimine) (b-PEI) and 0.75 kDa poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Low cytotoxicity was the key parameter of the carrier design, besides the highest possible transfection ability, and both of these features were proven by HeLa cell culture assays. A reporter gene which induces the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP), inserted in a plasmid, was used to perform the necessary quantitative measurements. In silico molecular modelling guided the carrier design and confirmed the functional mimicry of histones in the tight and compact nucleosome-like spiral packaging of dsDNA. The carrier molecules, synthesized with high reproducibility, are expected to be feasible for application in gene transfection.

[Staphylococcal infections in the Cluj-Napoca Clinic of Infectious Diseases during the years 1967-1972]. / Infectiile stafilococice in Clinica de boli infectioase, Cluj-Napoca, pe anii 1967--72.

Over a six year period, in the Clinic of Communicable Diseases of Cluj Napoca, 2301 patients with staphylococcal infections were admitted to the Clinic, representing 8% of the total number of patients admitted, and 3513 staphylococcal strains were isolated. A number of 43 of the 2301 patients died (1.8%), but staphylococcal infection was actually the cause of death in only 35 cases (1.5%) (septicemia, staphylococcal meningitis and pulmonary infections). Eight of the patients died from the basic disease (hepatitis, tetanus, paratyphoid C fever etc.). A number of 2246 Staphylococcus hemolyticus aureus, 80 non-hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus and 162 Staphylococcus albus strains were isolated; most of the strains were resistant to antibiotics in different proportions.