A new xenicane norditerpene from the Indian marine gorgonian Acanthogorgia turgida.

Chemical investigation of the liposoluble extract of the gorgonian Acanthogorgia turgida, from Indian coasts, led us to isolate a new xenicane-based norditerpene, isoacalycixeniolide-A (1), along with the known structurally related compounds 2-6. The structure of the norditerpene (1) was elucidated by spectral methods (mainly by NMR techniques), whereas the absolute stereochemistry was suggested by the application of circular dicroism methodology.

Solvent effect on the isomeric equilibrium of carbohydrates: the superior ability of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol for intramolecular hydrogen bond stabilization.

The higher aptitude of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol for intramolecular hydrogen bond stabilization in carbohydrates is suggested. This belief, arising from the analysis by 1H NMR spectroscopy of the solvent effect of D2O, DMSO-d6, and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol-d3 on the isomeric equilibrium of caryophyllose, was also confirmed by shifting of the conformational equilibria of beta-ribopyranose and of its methyl glycoside.

[IVF-ET and extrauterine pregnancy. Report of a clinical case]. / Fivet e gravidanza extra-uterina. Descrizione di un caso clinico.

A lot of hypothesis have been advanced to explain the aetiology of the ectopic pregnancy, even if this one isn't clear yet. We report a case of ectopic pregnancy in a patient who was included in an egg-donation program. The patient, who was hospitalised urgently, showed symptoms that underlined extra-uterine pregnancy which was also confirmed by the ultrasonography. The case was solved by salpingectomy during a laparoscopic treatment. Sure, the techniques of the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer are an important risk factor of extra-uterine pregnancy. Among the qualitative and quantitative aspects, we have to consider: the negative influence that the excess of E2 and progesterone has on the tubal and endometrial epithelium, modalities of accomplishment of the transfer, and at last, the tubal factor infertility. Our conclusion don't support the theory which considers E2 and progesterone as the principal cause of ectopic pregnancy.

A very efficient method to cleave Lipid A and saccharide components in bacterial lipopolysaccharides.

A novel mild procedure for the selective cleavage of ketosidic linkages is developed using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) in anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide. Its application to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) is very significant because in the so far investigated LPS, the connection between the Lipid A region and the oligo(poly)saccharide part is always a keto-sugar. This procedure has been tested on LPS of Escherichia coli which contains Kdo as a linker between Lipid A and OPS and on Acinetobacter haemoliticus which contains D-glycero-D-talo-2-octulopyranosonic acid (Ko) as a linker and it performed efficiently in both cases.

Induced abortion and contraception: survey of 576 young women in Naples.

The aim of the study was to investigate the link between induced abortion and contraceptive methods. Five hundred and seventy-six women who underwent induced abortions at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Institute of the Second University of Naples were interviewed. They were asked about their knowledge of contraception methods; age, school attendance rate and marital status were also considered. The women were 27.8 (mean age) years old, high school educated (58.5%), married (41%), nulliparous (63%). Twenty-four percent of the women admitted a previous induced abortion. Withdrawal (176 women), condoms (104) and oral contraceptives (74 women) were the most widely used contraceptive methods. Withdrawal (37%) resulted in being the most utilized method during the cycle in which conception occurred; no method had been employed by 31% of the women. We found that 35% of the women had used their contraceptive method in a regular way but become pregnant nevertheless. Another group of 40% had forgotten to use their contraceptives for a few days and became pregnant by accident. In the last group of 25% of the women had not used any contraceptive methods. The diffusion of modern methods of fertility regulation influences the number of induced abortions as shown by its reduction since 1982. Our data confirm that induced abortion is the consequence of an insufficient use of modern contraceptives. Therefore more information is necessary to get women and men to use contraceptive methods regularly.

Inhibitory effect of exogenous oxytocin on ACTH and cortisol secretion during labour.

Complex mechanisms which are still not completely defined, are responsible for the spontaneous onset of labour: an essential role is attributed to endocrine factors. A massive increase, even three times higher than normal physiological values of ACTH and cortisol, has been reported during labour. Similar behaviour has also been recorded for oxytocin at the end of pregnancy as well as during labour. The relationship between oxytocin and the adrenal axis are still debated thus the goal of our study was to attempt to clarify this rapport. Sixty-two women at the end of a term-pregnancy agreed to participate in this study: 46 were innoculated with oxytocin (syntocinon) every 20 minutes for 1 hour; 16 were administered a natural placebo every 20 minutes for 1 hour (control group). ACTH and cortisol values from plasma samples were taken every 20 minutes and analyzed. Our results demonstrated an inhibitory effect of exogenous oxytocin on ACTH and cortisol release. This inhibitory effect, as shown by our results, is time and dose-related. High oxytocin levels, as during exogenous infusion, could induce an effect opposite a normal physiologic one.