[Multipurpose treatment of vaginal infections]

Untreated bacterial vaginosis is related with many complications for non-pregnant women in reproductive age, most common from them are vaginal discharge and postoperative infections. The aim of our investigation was to compare the effectiveness of two therapeutic regimes which consist in Macmiror/Macmiror Complex alone and in combination with Feminella Vagi C for treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and/or mycotic infection. 117 non-pregnant women with symptoms of vaginal infection were prospectively enrolled into two groups according their treatment. First group consist 66 women treated with Macmiror tablets and vaginal capsules followed with local application of Feminella Vagi C, the second group consist 54 women treated with Macmiror tablets and vaginal capsules only. The impact of treatment on clinical symptoms was observed at the end of medication and 20 days after it. Microbiological testing was repeated 20 days after treatment. Over than 80% (78.6 divided by 86.7%) of the cases with vaginal infection (BV and mycotic one) were successfully treated with Macmiror/Macmiror Complex. Supplement treatment with Feminella Vagi C lead to higher percentage of clinically recovery (86.7% vs 84.6%), better microbiological cleaning (86.7% vs 82.1%) and longer effect of treatment. Used medication showed higher efficacy against BV than to fungal infection. According obtained results we may conclude that bacterial vaginosis was better treated with multipurpose treatment (Nifuratel, Nistatin and vit. C) than with Macmiror alone.

Determination of the diffusion coefficient and solubility of radon in plastics

This paper describes a method for determination of the diffusion coefficient and the solubility of radon in plastics. The method is based on the absorption and desorption of radon in plastics. Firstly, plastic specimens are exposed for controlled time to referent (222)Rn concentrations. After exposure, the activity of the specimens is followed by HPGe gamma spectrometry. Using the mathematical algorithm described in this report and the decrease of activity as a function of time, the diffusion coefficient can be determined. In addition, if the referent (222)Rn concentration during the exposure is known, the solubility of radon can be determined. The algorithm has been experimentally applied for different plastics. The results show that this approach allows the specified quantities to be determined with a rather high accuracy-depending on the quality of the counting equipment, it can be better than 10 %.

Logistic of surveys of retrospective radon concentrations by home-stored CDs/DVDs

Recently, a method for rather precise retrospective (222)Rn measurements, based on home-stored compact disks (CDs)/DVDs, has demonstrated a promising potential for wide application. In Bulgaria, pilot surveys have been initiated based on voluntarily provided CDs/DVDs. The results showed that large-scale surveys could be efficiently organised. However, several problems were identified and are discussed in the report. The first is the relatively small proportion of participants (30-50 %) that actually provided disks. Other addressed topics include the compatibility between results of different disks from one place, the accuracy of dating CDs/DVDs and the possibility for individual a posteriori calibration of each disk. The possibility to follow year-to-year variations by disks of different age is also discussed.

Radon mapping by retrospective measurements - an approach based on CDs/DVDs

This article points out the ability to map retrospective (222)Rn concentrations by home stored CDs/DVDs. The method employs the high radon absorption ability of the polycarbonate material of CDs and DVDs and their track-etch properties. The principle steps for the application of the method are addressed. The possibility for individual a posteriori calibration is studied, demonstrating that better than 10% accuracy in retrospective measurements is potentially achievable. Results from retrospective measurements in three different regions are shown, demonstrating the potential of the method for large-scale radon mapping. Comparison with independently evaluated retrospective (222)Rn concentrations in places with known radon history was made and very good correspondence was observed. The experience indicates that the method can be used for large scale retrospective radon mapping and its applications can be expanded towards mapping of radon concentrations in water and soil gas.

[Congenital rhabdomyoma--prenatal diagnosis with three-dimensional ultrasound of two cases with different pregnancy outcome]

Congenital rhabdomyoma is the most common benign tumor of the fetal heart. Usually it occurs as a single or multiple lesions located within the ventricles and it is often associated with tuberous sclerosis after birth. We present two cases of congenital rhabdomyoma diagnosed in the third trimester with three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound. Both cases had different pregnancy outcome.

pVHL and PTEN tumour suppressor proteins cooperatively suppress kidney cyst formation

In patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, renal cysts and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) arise from renal tubular epithelial cells containing biallelic inactivation of the VHL tumour suppressor gene. However, it is presumed that formation of renal cysts and their conversion to ccRCC involve additional genetic changes at other loci. Here, we show that cystic lesions in the kidneys of patients with VHL disease also demonstrate activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. Strikingly, combined conditional inactivation of Vhlh and the Pten tumour suppressor gene, which normally antagonises PI3K signalling, in the mouse kidney, elicits cyst formation after short latency, whereas inactivation of either tumour suppressor gene alone failed to produce such a phenotype. Interestingly, cells lining these cysts frequently lack a primary cilium, a microtubule-based cellular antenna important for suppression of uncontrolled kidney epithelial cell proliferation and cyst formation. Our results support a model in which the PTEN tumour suppressor protein cooperates with pVHL to suppress cyst development in the kidney.

[Autoimmune thrombocytopenia during pregnancy (case report and review of literature)]

A case of autoimmune thrombocytopenia [AIT], diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy is described. Despite the active treatment with steroids and IVIG the platelet count dropped to extremely low levels in the third trimester--8 x 10(9)/l. Labor was induced in 34 w.g. because of the ineffective treatment of AIT, clinical and sonographic evidence of IUGR and favorable pelvic score. Before and during labor induction platelets were transfused and recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) was applied. After delivery antifibrinolytics as well as low molecular weight heparin [LMWH] were applied also. Laboratory tests demonstrated transient fibrinolysis activation after delivery. Mild transient thrombocytopenia of the newborn was found that was successfully treated with steroids. Review of contemporary literature is made with analysis of the therapeutic approaches in cases of AIT during pregnancy. The impact of thrombocytopenia on pregnancy, labor and delivery, the fetus and the newborn and the route of delivery are discussed. The clinical course and the therapeutic strategies in the particular case are analyzed. A nouvelle approach during labor and after delivery was the application of rFVIIa (because of the tendency for elevation of the titers of allogenic antibodies due to platelet transfusions) and of antifibrinolytics (preserving platelet functions).

High-resolution ultraviolet spectroscopy of p-fluorostyrene-water: Evidence for a σ-type hydrogen-bonded dimer

Ab initio calculations predict four stable conformational structures of the singly hydrated cluster of p-fluorostyrene: two out of plane with pi- and two in plane with sigma-type intermolecular hydrogen bonding between p-fluorostyrene and water. We employed mass-selective resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization high-resolution (70-MHz FWHM laser bandwidth) spectroscopy to partially resolve the rotational structure of the 0(0) (0) origin band of the S(1) <--S(0) electronic transition. A computer-aided fit based on genetic algorithms was used to analyze the experimental high-resolution spectrum and to determine the observed conformational structure. The good agreement between the experimental and the simulated spectra of the 0(0) (0) band and the assignment of the other prominent bands as inter- and intramolecular vibrational progressions clearly demonstrates that the anti in-plane conformer is the most abundant one in the molecular beam. The existence of the sigma-type hydrogen bond between p-fluorostyrene and water manifests that the electron attracting effect of fluorine dominates over the releasing mesomeric effect of the vinyl group and thus a pi-type hydrogen bonding with the aromatic ring is not favored in this case.

Spontaneous chromosome doubling results from nuclear fusion during in vitro maize induced microspore embryogenesis

A multidisciplinary study was carried out to analyse the chromosome doubling process during the early stages of in vitro maize microspore embryogenesis. The main stages (microspore derivatives) that were formed in the course of the culture were analysed. Chromosome number was determined from squashed cells, and DNA content was measured by cytometry. In parallel, an ultrastructural analysis of the microspore derivatives demonstrated the occurrence of a nuclear fusion process. It seems likely that nuclear fusion ensures chromosome doubling at early stages of induced microspore embryogenesis. It occurs precisely at the 5/7 day stage in the embryonic domain and probably leads to polyploidy in the endosperm domain of the microspore derivatives. As a conclusion a scheme summarises the results and proposes an interpretation of the sequence of chromosome doubling events during early maize microspore embryogenesis. Understanding of this process will be important for future efforts to increase the percentage of homozygous plants for crop improvement.