Violacein and its antifungal activity: comments and potentialities.

Violacein is an important natural antimicrobial pigment that is mainly produced by Chromobacterium violaceum and Janthinobacterium lividum. It presents a significant range of effects against phytopathogenic and human fungi, besides being featured as having low toxicity, and by its important ecological role in protecting amphibian species and applications in dyed medical fabric. The hypothesis about violacein's action mechanisms against mucormycosis (Rhizopus arrhizus) and candidiasis (Candida auris) is herein discussed based on data available in the scientific literature.

The impact of environmental and behavioural cofactors on the development of cervical disorders in HR-HPV-infected women in Serbia.

Persistent infection with one or more highly oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) or high-risk-HPV (HR-HPV) is necessary but not a sufficient aetiological agent for the development of cervical neoplasia. A number of viral, host, environmental and behavioural factors are suggested to be associated with the progression of cervical disorder. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of environmental and behavioural cofactors on the development of cervical disorders in HR-HPV-infected women in Serbia. A total of 541 women have been tested by PCR for the presence of HPV on the cervix. HPV genotypes were determined by direct DNA sequencing. Women identified as HR-HPV-positive were further classified into four subgroups according to their cytological status. All relevant information about demographical and behavioural factors was obtained by interviewer-based questionnaire. A number of analytical and descriptive statistical methods were used for processing the data. The cofactors found to be of significance for the progression of cervical disease were older age, body mass index >25, lower educational level, long-term smoking, previous genital infections and cervical interventions. On the other hand, condom use was found to have a protective role. Information about these cofactors might be very important for the development of more efficient cancer prevention programmes and promotion of anti-HPV vaccination.

Elucidating Protein Involvement in the Stabilization of the Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been broadly used as antibacterial and antiviral agents. Further, interests for green AgNP synthesis have increased in recent years and several results for AgNP biological synthesis have been reported using bacteria, fungi and plant extracts. The understanding of the role and nature of fungal proteins, their interaction with AgNPs and the subsequent stabilization of nanosilver is yet to be deeply investigated. Therefore, in an attempt to better understand biogenic AgNP stabilization with the extracellular fungal proteins and to describe these supramolecular interactions between proteins and silver nanoparticles, AgNPs, produced extracellularly by Aspergillus tubingensis-isolated as an endophytic fungus from Rizophora mangle-were characterized in order to study their physical characteristics, identify the involved proteins, and shed light into the interactions among protein-NPs by several techniques. AgNPs of around 35 nm in diameter as measured by TEM and a positive zeta potential of +8.48 mV were obtained. These AgNPs exhibited a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 440 nm, indicating the nanoparticles formation, and another band at 280 nm, attributed to the electronic excitations in tryptophan, tyrosine, and/or phenylalanine residues in fungal proteins. Fungal proteins were covalently bounded to the AgNPs, mainly through S-Ag bonds due to cysteine residues (HS-) and with few N-Ag bonds from H2N-groups, as verified by Raman spectroscopy. Observed supramolecular interactions also occur by electrostatic and other protein-protein interactions. Furthermore, proteins that remain free on AgNP surface may perform hydrogen bonds with other proteins or water increasing thus the capping layer around the AgNPs and consequently expanding the hydrodynamic diameter of the particles (similar to 264 nm, measured by DLS). FTIR results enabled us to state that proteins adsorbed to the AgNPs did not suffer relevant secondary structure alteration upon their physical interaction with the AgNPs or when covalently bonded to them. Eight proteins in the AgNP dispersion were identified by mass spectrometry analyses. All these proteins are involved in metabolic pathways of the fungus and are important for carbon, phosphorous and nitrogen uptake, and for the fungal growth. Thereby, important proteins for fungi are also involved in the formation and stabilization of the biogenic AgNPs

Simple route for nano-hydroxyapatite properties expansion.

Simple surface modification of nano-hydroxyapatite, through acid-basic reactions, allows expanding the properties of this material. Introduction of organic groups such as hydrophobic alkyl chains, carboxylic acid, and amide or amine basic groups on the hydroxyapatite surface systematically change the polarity, surface area, and reactivity of hydroxyapatite without modifying its phase. Physical and chemical properties of the new derivative particles were analyzed. The biocompatibility of modified Nano-Hap on Raw 264.7 cells was also assessed.

Simultaneous dermoid cyst and endometriosis in the same ovary: a case report.

The authors present a case of a 33-year-old infertile woman with coincidental dermoid cyst and ovarian endometriosis in the same ovary. She was admitted to the Clinic because of cystic tumor of the left adnexa. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) examination found a bilocular tumor of complex structure on the left ovary. Video-laparoscopy was also performed. On the left ovary, two adjacent cystic formations were found. Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy was performed and a surgical specimen was sent for histopathologic analysis. The diagnosis was a dermoid cyst and ovarian endometriosis. Without complications, the patient was released from the hospital. The patient was treated with an analogue of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) for three months as a preparation for in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Carcinosarcoma of the uterus in advanced stage: a case report.

This is the case of an advanced stage carcinosarcoma uteri, in a patient with limited therapy options. Carcinosarcomas (malignant mixed Müllerian tumors) are histologically composed of malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components. Sarcomatous component of this mixed tumor in the present patient was of heterologous-type chondrosarcoma. The primary treatment option for uterine carcinosarcomas is surgery, but adjuvant therapy is always necessary. The optimal treatment is still uncertain, as the histogenesis of this tumor remains controversial.

The management of fusion of the labia minora pudendi in adult women using a radiosurgical knife.

Fusion of the labia minora is a rare event in adult women and rarely seen as a clinical entity. We present a case of a 30-year-old woman with labial fusion, unmarried, a virgin, and sexually inactive with the complaint of discomfort during menstruation and difficulty in micturition since her puberty. The labia minora were fused in the midline with a pinpoint aperture for draining urine, while the clitoris could not be visualized. Previous history regarding a causal factor was perineal trauma in childhood. Effective surgical resection to separate the fusion was done by a radio frequency surgical knife. After the surgical separation, it was possible to expose the normal hymen behind the previously fused labia. We have shown that the separation of labial fusion in adult women with a radio frequency surgical knife, associated with topical application of estrogen cream, prevents re-fusion of the labia and leads to healing without scarring of the vulva.

Small-angle X-ray scattering and in silico modeling approaches for the accurate functional annotation of an LysR-type transcriptional regulator.

Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited, Gram-negative phytopathogen responsible for economically relevant crop diseases. Its genome was thus sequenced in an effort to characterize and understand its metabolism and pathogenic mechanisms. However, the assignment of the proper functions to the identified open reading frames (ORFs) of this pathogen was impaired due to a lack of sequence similarity in the databases. In the present work, we used small-angle X-ray scattering and in silico modeling approaches to characterize and assign a function to a predicted LysR-type transcriptional regulator in the X. fastidiosa (XfLysRL) genome. XfLysRL was predicted to be a homologue of BenM, which is a transcriptional regulator involved in the degradation pathway of aromatic compounds. Further functional assays confirmed the structural prediction because we observed that XfLysRL interacts with benzoate and cis,cis-muconic acid (also known as 2E,4E-hexa-2,4-dienedioic acid; hereafter named muconate), both of which are co-factors of BenM. In addition, we showed that the XfLysRL protein is differentially expressed during the different stages of X. fastidiosa biofilm formation and planktonic cell growth, which indicates that its expression responds to a cellular signal that is likely related to the aromatic compound degradation pathway. The assignment of the proper function to a protein is a key step toward understanding the cellular metabolic pathways and pathogenic mechanisms. In the context of X. fastidiosa, the characterization of the predicted ORFs may lead to a better understanding of the cellular pathways that are linked to its bacterial pathogenicity.

Treatment of early heterotopic interstitial (cornual) gestation with subsequent delivery of an intrauterine pregnancy--case report.

We present the case of a 38-year-old woman who was treated for a heterotopic interstitial (cornual) pregnancy diagnosed at the 7th week of gestation. The intervention was performed via transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration and instillation of a hypertonic solution of sodium chloride into the cornual sac. The heterotopic comrnual pregnancy was successfully aborted, and the intrauterine pregnancy was successfully maintained with delivery of a healthy newborn.

Successful pregnancy after uterovaginal anastomosis in patients with congenital atresia of cervix uteri.

We present a case of successful pregnancy after effective uterovaginal anastomosis in a 26-years-old patient with congenital atresia of the cervix uteri. She spontaneously achieved pregnancy after four years of uterovaginal anastomosis. Gestation was at the eighth lunar month and the delivery was done by cesarean section due to rapidly progressing fetal asphyxia. The patient gave birth to a live healthy male, weighing 1,950 g, with an Apgar score of 5 and 8 at 1 and 5 min, respectively. The postoperative course was uneventful, and leakage of lochia was normal.

Pregnancy following conservative surgical treatment of the malignant mixed germ-cell tumor of the ovary--case report.

We present a case of pregnancy after complete conservative surgical treatment in a young woman with malignant mixed germ-cell tumor of the ovary. She was submitted to surgical treatment involving only unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, with infracolic omentectomy and dissection of the pelvic and paraaortal lymph nodes. Three years after the operation and chemotherapy the patient spontaneously conceived and gave birth to a healthy baby. A patient who has malignant germ-cell tumor of the ovary in early stage, can successfully preserve fertility by conservative surgical treatment.

Endometrial carcinoma with ovarian metastases incidentally detected in a 30-year-old infertile patient--case report.

This is a case of invasive endometrial carcinoma with ovarian metastases incidentally detected in a 30-year-old infertile woman. The patient was asymptomatic. Carcinoma was discovered during hysteroscopy. She was submitted to surgical treatment involving total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and dissection of the pelvic and paraaortal lymph nodes. Postoperative irradiation therapy was performed. Since treatment the patient has been well.

[The role of insulin-like growth-factor binding proteins in normal and polycystic ovaries]. / Uloga vezujucih proteina za faktore rasta slicne insulinu u normalnom i u policisticnom ovarijumy.

The insulin-like growth factor binding proteins are single chain polypeptides, that can bind insulin-like growth factors, but not insulin. They can serve as autocrine or paracrine regulators of the actions of insulin-like growth factor. The human granulosa cells produce insulin-like growth factor-II but not insulin-like growth factor-I, while the human theca cells produce insulin-like growth factor-I and II. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a disorder which is characterised by hyperandrogenism and anovulation. In polycystic ovarian syndrome there is a disorder of follicular development, with the accumulation of antral follicles within the ovary which fail to respond appropriately to endogenous follicle-stimulating hormone. Significance is given to insulin-like growth factor binding proteins, which have an inhibitory action on follicle-stimulating hormone. No differences were found in the total level of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins follicular profiles between women with polycystic ovarian syndrome and without it. Serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-I levels are lower in polycystic ovarian syndrome with hyperinsulinaemia, probably as a consequence of insulin-mediated suppression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-I. Consequently, serum free insulin-like growth factor-I levels are higher. This alteration may cause an excessive thecal androgen production. The alterations in the insulin-like growth factor-insulin-like growth factor binding proteins axis may be one of several mechanisms that help to sustain the steady state of anovulation and follicular dysmaturation that are characteristic of this syndrome.

The influence of beta-cyclodextrin on the solubility and dissolution rate of paracetamol solid dispersions.

The effect of cyclodextrin (beta-CD) on the solubility and dissolution rate of various paracetamol dispersion powders (1:1 w/w), and tablets was studied. Lower solubility was exhibited by a spray dried solid dispersion made from paracetamol-Ethocel-Macrogol 6000 (95:2:3). The improvement in solubility was influenced by complexation with beta-CD and the crystalline nature of the powder products made by different procedures. The difference in crystallinity was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction patterns. The dissolution rate of paracetamol from tablets made from the solid dispersions was satisfactory compared with paracetamol alone. The differences between the dissolution rate from the examined paracetamol tablets resulted from the different solubility of each powder and from the structural changes of particles which influenced the consolidation of the tablet mass.