A New Case of Association of Megaloblastic Anemia and Pancytopenia of Infants.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin B12, or cobalamin deficiency, an infrequent clinical entity in pediatric age, is found almost solely in breastfed infants whose mothers are purely vegetarian, non-supplemented or with pernicious anemia. Megaloblastic anemia in infants presents with generalized weakness or irritability. METHODS: Diagnosis is usually centered on complete blood count, vitamin dosing, and peripheral smear, which may show macrocytes, hypersegmented neutrophils, reticulocytopenia and a raised mean corpuscular volume (MCV ˃ 100 fL). Pancytopenia has also been noted. RESULTS: We report an exclusive breastfed nine-month-old female child who presented with irritability, developmental delay, and difficulties in introducing new foods. Her initial blood count revealed pancytopenia. Vitamin B12 levels were found to be reduced. Maternal levels of Vitamin B12 were also found to be borderline low. The child was treated as per protocols, and improvement was evidenced with the return of hematological parameters to the regular and gradual advancement of milestones. CONCLUSIONS: We aim to underscore the importance of megaloblastic anemia as an important and rare cause of anemia in infancy.

Glycosylation reaction via a mild and efficient one-pot reaction using doped natural phosphate with iodine as catalyst.

Several alpha/beta-D-ribonucleosides were synthesized in good yields under mild conditions by N-glycosylations of acetyl 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-ribofuranose with silylated nucleobases in acetonitrile using NP doped with iodine as catalyst.

A glutaric acid ester as carrier system for sustained delivery of lamuvidine (3TC) dimers.

We report the synthesis of homo and heterodimers of 3TC conjugates. All new dimers were screened for their ability to inhibit HIV-1 in MT4 cell line and were compared to AZT alone and showed marked antiviral activity.

Homo and heterodimers of ddI, d4T and AZT: influence of (5'-5') thiolcabonate-carbamate linkage on anti-HIV activity.

New homo and heterodimers of ddI, d4T and AZT with (5-5) thiolcarbonate-carbamate linkages have been prepared with the aim of testing them against wild type and NNRTI resistant HIV mutants. The prepared dimers showed a low activity in comparison to the parent drug.

Natural phosphate doped with KI in HMDS: a mild and efficient reagent for alkylation and glycosylation of nucleobases.

Several D-ribonucleosides are prepared from 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-ribofuranoside and trimethylsilylated nucleobases under mild conditions by using natural phosphate doped with KI as catalyst.

The hypoglycemic activity of Zygophyllum gaetulum extracts in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats.

The aqueous infusion of the aerial parts of Zygophyllum gaetulum Emb. and Maire was tested orally (1 g/kg body weight) for hypoglycemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The infusion was partitioned between water and butanol to yield a butanol soluble fraction (B), and an aqueous fraction (W) which on reduction in volume gave a precipitate (WP) and supernatant (WS). Fractions (B) and (WP) caused significant reduction in blood glucose concentration, while the ingestion of (WS) produced no significant reduction in blood glucose level.

Hypoglycaemic response to Zygophyllum gaetulum extracts in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Zygophyllum gaetulum leaves are one of several traditional remedies used for diabetes treatment in Morocco. Its ability to lower the blood glucose was studied in 13 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The reaction time of the Z. gaetulum aqueous extract at a single oral dose (440 mg/kg) producing a significant hypoglycaemic effect is 6 h after administration. The same dose ingested twice daily resulted in a significant reduction of blood glucose during the first week, and maintained the patient in normoglycaemia throughout the 2 week course of treatment, with no change in body weight.

Investigation of antifungal and analgesic activities of extracts from Sium nodiflorum.

Different extracts of aerial parts of Sium nodiflorum were examined for their antifungal activity against two groups of fungi: the growth of both yeast and mold was significantly inhibited. Analgesic activity study of these extracts was also carried out but showed no significant effect in mice on the writhing induced by acetic acid.

Larvicidal activity of extracts from Quercus lusitania var. infectoria galls (Oliv.).

The present study indicates the efficacy of extracts and fractions of Quercus lusitania var. infectoria galls (Oliv.) as larvicidal agents and their possible use in biological control of Culex pipiens, the urban nuisance mosquito. Extracts and fractions were tested against second and fourth instar larvae. The LC(50) values of gallotannins were 335 and 373 ppm, respectively for the 2nd and 4th instar period. The most interesting value of LC(50) (24 h) is obtained with the fraction F(2) (60 ppm).

Evaluation of some Moroccan medicinal plant extracts for larvicidal activity.

The larvicidal properties of 16 extracts of four Moroccan medicinal plants: Calotropis procera (Wild.), Cotula cinerea (L.), Solanum sodomaeum (L.) and Solanum elaeagnifolium (CAV.) were tested against Anopheles labranchiae mosquito larvae. Among the extracts tested, nine exhibited high larvicidal activity with LC(50) (24 h) ranging from 28 to 325 ppm.

Synthesis of 3'-deoxy-3'-[4-(pyrimidin-1-yl)methyl-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]thymidine via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.

The synthesis of new 3'-deoxy-3'-[4-(pyrimidin-1-yl)methyl-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]-thymidine 6a-f, from 3'-azido-3'-deoxy-5'-O-monomethoxytrityl-thymidine is described. The key step is the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between the azido group of the protected AZT 3 and N-1-propargylpyrimidine derivatives 2a-f. All new derivatives 6a-f were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against the replication of HIV-1 (IIIB), HIV-2 (ROD). No marked activity was found.

Synthesis of new homo and heterodinucleosides containing the 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides AZT and D4T.

The synthesis of new dinucleosides of AZT and D4T is described.

Synthesis of some acyclonucleosides alpha-(pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-ylthio)alkylamides.

The synthesis of some acyclic alpha-(pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-ylthio)alkylamide nucleosides is described.

Doped natural phosphate: a new and environmentally friendly catalyst in nucleoside synthesis.

Doped natural phosphate is used as acidic or basic catalyst in nucleoside and acyclonucleoside synthesis. Some examples are given.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of some acyclic alpha-(1H-pyrazolo-[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)thioalkylamide nucleosides.

The chemical synthesis of some acyclic alpha-(1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)thioalkylamide nucleosides (10-12)a-c is described. The treatment of IH-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-thione 1 with compounds 2a-c gave, regioselectively, ethyl alpha-(1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)thioalkylates 3a-c, respectively. These heterocycles were alkylated, separately, with alkylating agents 4, 5 and 6 to give, regioselectively, the N1-acyclic nucleosides (7-9)a-c which were deprotected to afford the desired products (10-12)a-c. All synthetic compounds were characterized on the basis of their physical and spectroscopic properties. The products (10-12)a-c were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against the replication of HIV-1 (III(B)), HIV-2 (ROD), various DNA viruses, a variety of tumor-cell lines and M. tuberculosis. No marked biological activity was found.

Building blocks for polyamide nucleic acids: facile synthesis using potassium fluoride doped natural phosphate as basic catalyst.

Potassium fluoride doped natural phosphate, inexpensive and environmentally friendly catalyst, is shown to be an efficient basic catalyst for the N1/N9 alkylation of different nucleobases as synthons for PNAs.

Synthesis and anti-HIV activity of new modified 1,2,3-triazole acyclonucleosides.

The synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole acyclonucleosides 7a-h via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of N-9/N-1-propargylpurine/pyrimidine 2a-h with azido-pseudo-sugar 4 is described and none of them had anti-HIV activity.

Synthesis and biological activity of 4-substituted 1-[1-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-methyl-1,2,3-triazol-(4 & 5)-ylmethyl]-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines.

The chemical synthesis of some 4-substituted 1-[1-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-methyl-1,2.3-triazol-(4 and 5)-ylmethyl]-1-H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines 12a,b, 13a,b and 14-23 as acyclic nucleosides is described. Treatment of (2-acetoxyethoxy)methylbromide with sodium azide afforded (2-acetoxyethoxy)methylazide 9. The heterocycles 6a,b were alkylated, separately, with propargyl bromide to obtain. regioselectively, 4-(methyl and benzyl)thio-1-(prop-2-ynyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines 7a,b. These N-alkylated products were condensed with compound 9 via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction to obtain, after separation and deprotection, 1,4- and 1,5-regioisomers 12a,b and 13a,b. The deprotected acyclic nucleosides 12a and 13a served as precursors for the preparation of 4-amino (14 and 15), 4-methylamino (16 and 17). 4-benzylamino (18 and 19), 4-methoxy (20 and 21) and 4-hydroxy (22 and 23) analogues. Compounds 7a,b and all deprotected acyclic nucleosides were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against the replication of HIV-(IIIB) and HIV-2(ROD) in MT-4 cells and for their anti-tumor activity. No marked activity was found. However, initial evaluation of 6a,b, 7a,b. 12a,b, 13a,b and 14-23 showed that compound 7b has marked activity against M. tuberculosis.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of some 4-substituted 1-[1-(4-hydroxybutyl)-1,2,3-triazol-(4 &5)-ylmethyl]-1H-pyrazolo- 13,4-dipyrimidines.

The synthesis of 1-[1-(4-hydroxybutyl)-1,2,3-triazol-(4 and 5)-ylmethyl]-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines 11a,b, 12a,b and 13-17 as carboacyclic nucleosides is described. The compounds 8a,b were condensed, separately, with compound 7 via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction to afford, after separation and deprotection. 1,4-regioisomers 11a,b and 1,5-regioisomers 12a,b. The deprotected carboacyclic nucleosides 11a served as precursor for the preparation of 4-amino 13. 4-methylamino 14, 4-benzylamino 15, 4-methoxy 16 and 4-hydroxy 17 analogues. All deprotected carboacyclic nucleosides were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against the replication of HIV-1(III), HIV-2(ROD), various DNA viruses, a variety of tumor-cell lines and tuberculosis. No marked biological activity was found.

Synthesis and biological activities of (Z) and (E) alpha-ethenyl acyclonucleosides.

Synthesis of Z and E ethenyl acyclonucleosides (6a-e and 7a-e) via Michael addition of nucleobases with the diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate is described. The structures of compounds have been confirmed by spectral data. New compounds were found to be inactive against DNA and RNA viruses.