Synthesis of alkyl chain-modified ether lipids and evaluation of their in vitro cytotoxicity.

A series of alkyl lysophospholipid (ALP) analogs of ET-18-OCH3 (1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine) containing modifications in the long C-1 chain has been synthesized and evaluated in human tumor cell line cytotoxicity assays. The compounds have also been evaluated in platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor agonism and hemolysis tests. Two modifications have been studied, introduction of a carbonyl group at different positions of the C-1 chain and branching of this chain, in some compounds with incorporation of a phenyl group. Several compounds showed a cytotoxic potency comparable to that of the reference compound ET-18-OCH3, associated with reduced proaggregating and hemolytic effects. The two enantiomers of 1-O-(7-oxooctadecyl)-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (2) showed the same level of cytotoxicity or antiproliferative activity, with the PAF-agonistic effect confined to R-2. The very low stereoselectivity found in the in vitro cytotoxicity confirms earlier results and indicates a lack of stereospecific interactions with a macromolecular target.

[Immunogenicity and long-term effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccine in newborns from HBsAg-positive mothers]. / Inmunogenicidad y eficacia a largo plazo de la vacuna de la hepatitis B en recién nacidos de madres portadoras de HBsAg.

We have followed up until age 2 years 25 infants who had received the hepatitis B vaccine to prevent being infected from their mothers who were HBsAg carriers. All had developed antibodies. At 2 years of age, 24% of infants had antiHBsAg titers lower than 10 mU/ml. The geometric mean of antiHBsAg titer in those infants who had received plasma derived vaccine was 660 mU/ml and in those having received recombinant vaccine was 903 mU/ml. HBsAg was negative in all the studied samples. In two infants positive antiHBc were detected.

Epidemiologic survey on hepatitis B in Gypsy women.

The determination of HBsAg in 3,404 pregnant women showed 84 positive cases (2.46%), which is above the average for the Spanish population. Notable risk factors were prior liver diseases, sexual promiscuity and spouse with liver disease. Other common, but less significant factors, were histories of transfusion or drug addiction. A very high proportion of the pregnant women were of the Gypsy race (12.1%), and these women showed a statistically higher (p less than 0.001) rate of chronic HBV infection (8.4%) than non-Gypsy population (1.4%). The Gypsy population showed a lower presence of known risk factors but a higher positivity for the e antigen. Our findings suggest that there is a higher prevalence of chronic HBV infection in pregnant Gypsy women and that the infection shows particular epidemiologic features.

[Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and atresia of the bile ducts]. / Déficit de alfa-1 antitripsina y atresia de vías biliares.

A newly-born male affected by extrahepatic biliary atresia with an alpha-1 antitrypsin pi ZZ deficiency is presented. Parents, Pi MZ, showing no signs of affection either in liver or lungs. His two brothers and one sister died at nine months, 7 years and 22 months respectively. Two brothers showed cirrhosis of the liver, the sister showed extrahepatic biliary atresia, and in all three patients there was an alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Authors want to emphasize the presence of extra-hepatic biliary atresia in both brother and sister who had also an alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency because this is an infrequent association which requires different treatment.

[Vertical transmission of hepatitis B from a maternal HBeAg-negative and antiHBe-positive carrier]. / Transmisión vertical de la hepatitis B a partir de madre portador HBeAg negativa y antiHBe positiva.

A case of vertical transmission of hepatitis B in an infant, born to a carrier mother HBeAg negative an anti Hbe positive, who developed and hyper-acute hepatitis, is presented. It was thought until quite recently, that perinatal hepatitis B was only transmitted by those HBsAg carrier mothers with positive HBeAg and negative anti Hbe. The infant here presented shows that all HBsAg carrier mothers are potential transmitters, and that all their newborns must have immunoprophylaxis. The current impression also confirms that, in the case of these children being infected, it does not follow that they will remain chronic carriers, as is so often seen when the mother is a positive HBeAg carrier.