Diode laser emission linewidth determination: application to H2O line profile studies in the 5 and 1.4 microm regions

In order to study absorption line profiles using the stabilized diode laser spectrometer of Laboratoire de Physique Moléculaire et Applications (LPMA), a reliable determination of the emission line shape of different diodes laser is needed. In the near infrared region (1.39 and 1.66 microm) we used Distributed Feed Back diode lasers which operate around room temperature and in the middle infrared (5 and 8 microm) we used lead salt diode lasers cooled in a helium closed cycle cryostat or in a liquid nitrogen dewar. Some results obtained in H2O line profile studies in the 1.39 and 5 microm regions are presented as examples demonstrating how absorption line profile measurements can lead to erroneous values of the spectroscopic parameters when the contribution of the diode laser emission line width is neglected.

In vitro antiplasmodial activity of extracts of Alchornea cordifolia and identification of an active constituent: ellagic acid

Extracts of leaves of Alchornea cordifolia were studied for their antiplasmodial activities. Chloroformic and ether extracts were found to be inactive while the ethanolic extract exhibited mild in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Fractionation of this extract led us to isolate ellagic acid as the active constituent of the extract with IC(50) in the range of 0.2-0.5 microM. Cytotoxicity of ethanolic fraction and ellagic acid was also estimated on human fibroblasts cells (IC(50) on Hela cells = 7.3 microM at 24 h for ellagic acid).

Antiplasmodial activity of aspidosperma indole alkaloids

The antiplasmodial activity of twelve alkaloids with an aspidospermane skeleton was estimated in vitro on chloroquine-resistant and sensitive strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Seven tetracyclic alkaloids possessing a free ethyl chain such aspidospermine, showed IC50 after incubation for 72 h between 3.2 and 15.4 microM. Moreover, four pentacyclic alkaloids with ethyl chain included in a tetrahydrofuran, such haplocine, showed a reduced activity, with IC50, after 72 h, between 22.6 and 52.6 microM. According to these results, a chloroquine-potentiating experiment was also performed with two of the most active compounds. Isobolograms were obtained and demonstrated a synergic effect of N-formyl-aspidospermidine and aspidospermine when associated with chloroquine. The cytotoxicity and the selectivity index of some alkaloids were also estimated.

Bioactive acridone alkaloids from Swinglea glutinosa

A new prenylated acridone alkaloid, 1,3,5-trihydroxy-2,8-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-10-methyl-9-acridone (1), was isolated from the stembark of Swinglea glutinosa, along with three known acridone alkaloids, 5-hydroxynoracronycine (2), 1,3,5-trihydroxy-4-methoxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-10-methyl-9-acridone (3), and 1,3,5-trihydroxy-4-methoxy-10-methylacridone (4). The isolated alkaloids were assessed in vitro against chloroquine-sensitive and -resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains and for cytotoxicity using HeLa cells.

CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBP beta) activates CCR5 promoter: increased C/EBP beta and CCR5 in T lymphocytes from HIV-1-infected individuals

C/EBPbeta is a member of a family of leucine zipper transcription factors that are involved in regulating the expression of several cytokines, including IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF, and macrophage-inflammatory protein-1alpha. We identified multiple C/EBPbeta binding sites within the gene for CCR5, suggesting that C/EBPbeta may be involved in its regulation. Transient transfection experiments in both myeloid and lymphoid cells showed an increase in CCR5 promoter-driven green fluorescent protein production in the presence of C/EBPbeta. Deletion analysis identified two C/EBPbeta-responsive regions in the CCR5 gene, one in the promoter region and one at the 3' part of the intron. We provide evidence that, in myeloid cells (U937), C/EBPbeta independently activates CCR5 expression through sites located either in the promoter region or in the intron of the CCR5 gene. In contrast, in lymphoid cells (Jurkat) the presence of the intronic cis-regulatory regions is required for C/EBPbeta-mediated activation. In agreement with the functional data, EMSA demonstrated that in both myeloid and lymphoid cells C/EBPbeta binds specifically to sites present in the intron, whereas interaction with the sites located in the promoter was cell type specific and was detected only in myeloid cells. Analysis of C/EBPbeta in primary PBMCs obtained from HIV-1-infected individuals revealed a significant increase in C/EBPbeta expression. The enhanced C/EBPbeta activity correlated with a higher frequency of circulating CCR5(+) lymphocytes in AIDS patients and with a decline in CD4 lymphocyte numbers. Taken together, these results suggest that C/EBPbeta is an important regulator of CCR5 expression and may play a relevant role in the pathogenesis of HIV disease.

Torsional Splitting in the nu(5) Fundamental Infrared Band of CH(3)CD(3) and (13)CH(3)CD(3)

The nu(5) fundamental (C-C stretching) of CH(3)CD(3) shows a resolved torsional structure, caused by perturbations due mainly to the linear dependence of the torsional potential barrier on the normal coordinate Q(5). We were able to analyze this structure and to assign vibration-rotation transition wavenumbers for all five torsional components, classified according to the symmetry species of the G(18)((3)) extended molecular group. The torsional splitting pattern is qualitatively similar to that of a nondegenerate vibrational state with an even number of excited torsional quanta v(6). Explorative calculations show that the main perturber system should consist of the torsional components of the vibrational ground state correlating with v(6)=4 in the high barrier limit. The strength of the perturbation on the E(r0) torsional components of nu(5) increases rapidly with r, the E(40) component being the most affected. The observed transition wavenumbers can be reasonably fitted by a simplified model containing independent effective vibration-rotation parameters for the five different torsional components of nu(5), for both CH(3)CD(3) and (13)CH(3)CD(3). The trend of the determined values of the effective vibrational wavenumbers and rotational parameters over the torsional components supports the proposed vibration-torsion interaction mechanism, responsible for the observed torsional splittings. A strong anomaly observed in the rotational intensity distribution of nu(5) is discussed. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Evaluation of the logistic organ dysfunction system for the assessment of organ dysfunction and mortality in critically ill patients

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the performance of the logistic organ dysfunction (LOD) system for the assessment of morbidity and mortality in multiple organ dysfunction/failure (MOD/F) in an independent database and to evaluate the use of sequential LOD measurements for the prediction of outcome.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Prospective, multicentric cohort study in 13 adult medical, surgical, and mixed intensive care units (ICUs) in Austria.

PATIENTS

A total of 2,893 consecutive admissions to the ICUs.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Patient vital status at ICU and hospital discharge was recorded. Univariate analysis showed that the LOD was able to distinguish between survivors and nonsurvivors (2 vs. 6 median score). Within organ systems, higher levels of the severity of organ dysfunction were consistently associated with higher mortality. For the prediction of hospital mortality, the original prognostic LOD model did not perform well in our patients, as indicated by the goodness-of-fit C statistic. Using multiple logistic regression we developed a prognostic model with a satisfactory fit in our patients. The integration of further measurements during the ICU stay increased discrimination but not calibration.

CONCLUSIONS

The LOD system is well correlated well with the numbers and levels of organ dysfunctions and discriminates well between survivors and nonsurvivors. It can thus be used to quantify the baseline severity of organ dysfunction. Moreover, after customization of the predictive equation the LOD predicted hospital mortality in our patients with high precision. It thus provides a combined measure of morbidity and mortality for critically ill patients with MOD/F.

Stabilized Tunable Diode Laser Measurements of the P(2) Line in the (13)CO Fundamental Band Broadened by Helium at Temperatures between 11.5 and 298.6 K

We determined accurate He-broadening parameters and collisional cross sections for the P(2) line in the fundamental band of CO at room temperature and at intermediate temperatures down to 11.5 K. We also determined a precise value for the temperature dependence of the line-broadening parameter on (T)(-n) with n equal to 0.548+/-0.010. Our results validate the microwave results for the J=1 to J=2 rotational transitions measured over the same range of temperatures which were reported previously by Beaky et al. (1996, J. Chem. Phys. 105, 3994-4004). Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Absolute Intensities of the nu(1) and nu(3) Bands of (16)O(3)

New experimental data on the nu(1) and nu(3) bands of (16)O(3) improving the value of absolute line intensities have been obtained. The intensities of 295 lines have been measured with an average accuracy between 2.5% and 3% and the rotational expansion of the transition moment operators for the nu(1) and nu(3) bands has been deduced. Finally, a complete listing of line intensities has been computed with an intensity cutoff of 1x10(-25) cm(-1)/molecule cm(-2). Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Assessment of functional knee bracing: an in vivo three-dimensional kinematic analysis of the anterior cruciate deficient knee

OBJECTIVE

To describe three-dimensional tibial and femoral movements in vivo and examine the effect of a brace on knee kinematics during moderate to intense activity.

DESIGN

Skeletal kinematics of anterior cruciate ligament deficient knees was measured with and without braces during moderate to intense activity.

BACKGROUND

Invasive markers implanted into the tibia and femur are the most accurate means to directly measure skeletal motion and may provide a more sensitive measure of the differences between brace conditions.

METHODS

Steinmann traction pins were implanted into the femur and tibia of four subjects having a partial or complete anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Non-braced and braced conditions were randomly assigned and subjects jumped for maximal horizontal distance to sufficiently stress the anterior cruciate ligament.

RESULTS

Intra-subject peak vertical force and posterior shear force were generally consistent between conditions. Intra-subject kinematics was repeatable but linear displacements between brace conditions were small. Differences in angular and linear skeletal motion were observed across subjects. Bracing the anterior cruciate ligament deficient knee resulted in only minor kinematic changes in tibiofemoral joint motion.

CONCLUSION

In this study, no consistent reductions in anterior tibial translations were observed as a function of the knee brace tested. Relevance. Investigations have reported that knee braces fail when high loads are encountered or when load is applied in an unpredictable manner. Questions remain regarding tibiofemoral joint motion, in particular linear displacements. The pin technique is a means for direct skeletal measurement and may provide a more sensitive measure of the differences between brace conditions.

New potential antimalarial agents: synthesis and biological activities of original diaza-analogs of phenanthrene

Several diaza-analogs of phenanthrene derived from 3-amino, 5-amino, 6-amino, 8-aminoquinolines, and 5-aminoisoquinoline were prepared to evaluate their antiplasmodial activities. All compounds showed mild to good activitiy in vitro, both on a Nigerian chloroquino-sensitive strain and on the chloroquino-resistant FcB1-Columbia and FcM29 strains. The position of the intracyclic nitrogen atom is shown to be crucial for the activities (best results are obtained with a 1,10-phenanthroline skeleton). In regard to the particular properties of this structure (metalloprotease inhibition activitiy by chelating divalent metal ions), the potential chelating site of the molecule was blocked. In this case, the biological activity of the compound was greatly enhanced, showing that the mechanism of action of such a compound is probably not correlated to metalloprotease inhibition activity.

Antiplasmodial activity of plant extracts used in west African traditional medicine

Five plants originating from Ivory Coast were selected after an ethnobotanical survey, Alchornea cordifolia, Mitragyna inermis, Nauclea diderrichii, Pterocarpus santalinoides, and Terminalia glaucescens. Traditional healers for the treatment of malaria commonly used these plants. Extracts of these plants were tested on three strains of Plasmodium falciparum, FcB1-Colombia and FcM29-Cameroon (chloroquine-resistant strains) and a Nigerian chloroquine-sensitive strain. Extracts were obtained by preparing decoction in water of the powdered plant, the technique used by most of the traditional healers. A radioactive micromethod allowed the evaluation of the in vitro activity of the extracts on P. falciparum. Concentrations inhibiting 50% of the parasite growth (IC(50)) ranged from 2.34 to more than 500 microg/ml according to the plant. For the most active plants (A. cordifolia and T. glaucescens) ethanol and pentane extracts were made and tested. The IC(50) values obtained for these extracts ranged from 0.35 to 43.40 microg/ml. The stage specificity of the ethanol extracts of A. cordifolia and T. glaucescens and pentane extract of T. glaucescens on the parasite erythrocytic cycle were determined. The ethanol extract of T. glaucescens showed its highest activity at the transition from the trophozoite to the schizont stages. Cytotoxicity was estimated on human fibroblasts (HeLa) cells and a cytotoxicity/antiplasmodial index was calculated, it ranged between 5 and 21, and the best antiplasmodial extract (T. glaucescens ethanol extract) had the higher index (>20).

Fulminant septic melioidosis after a vacation in Thailand

Severe infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei (formerly Pseudomonas pseudomallei), the bacterium causing melioidosis, is a common cause of acquired septicaemia in south-east Asia and northern Australia. A few cases of infected travellers returning to European countries have been reported. Melioidosis is a tropical disease, the clinical presentation ranging from asymptomatic infection to fulminant sepsis. Predisposing conditions such as impaired cellular immunity, preexisting renal failure or diabetes mellitus seem to enhance the severity of the disease. For a definite diagnosis the bacterium has to be isolated. The antimicrobial treatment of choice is ceftazidime in combination with co-trimoxazole or doxycycline. Even with correct antibiotic treatment the mortality rate is high in cases of fulminant sepsis. We report a 29-year old man with Type I diabetes who acquired melioidosis during a vacation in Thailand. After returning to Austria he was admitted to the intensive care unit with multiple organ failure. Despite intensive care treatment the patient's infection proved lethal. Burkholderia pseudomallei was isolated from the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage.

Ratios of observed to expected mortality are affected by differences in case mix and quality of care

OBJECTIVES

To validate SAPS II-AM, a recently customized version of the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) in a larger cohort of Austrian intensive care patients and to evaluate the effect of the customization process on the ratio of observed to expected mortality.

DESIGN

Prospective, multicentric cohort study.

PATIENTS AND SETTING

A total of 2,901 patients consecutively admitted to 13 adult medical, surgical, and mixed intensive care units (ICUs) in Austria.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

After the database was divided randomly into a development sample (n = 1,450) and a validation sample (n = 1,451), logistic regression was used to develop a new model (SAPS II-AM2). The original SAPS II, the SAPS IIAM, and the newly developed SAPS II-AM2 were then compared by means of calibration, discrimination and O/E ratios. Differences in O/E ratios before and after customization (deltaO/E) were calculated. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit H and C statistics revealed poor calibration of the original SAPS II on the database. The new model, SAPS II-AM2, performed better than the SAPS II-AM and excellent in the validation data set. However, mean O/E ratios varied widely among diagnostic categories (range 0.55-1.05 for the SAPS II). Moreover, the deltaO/E of the 13 ICUs ranged from -3.6 % to +25 %.

CONCLUSIONS

Today's severity scoring systems, such as the SAPS II, are limited by not measuring (and adjusting for) a profound part of what constitutes case mix. Changes in the distribution of patient characteristics (known and unknown) therefore affect prognostic accuracy. First-level customization was not able to solve all these problems. Using O/E ratios for quality of care comparisons one must therefore be critical when using these data and should search for possible confounding factors. In the case of unsatisfactory calibration, customized severity of illness models may be useful as an adjunct for quality control.

CXCR4 mediates entry and productive infection of syncytia-inducing (X4) HIV-1 strains in primary macrophages

CCR5 and CXCR4 are the main coreceptors for non-syncytia-inducing (NSI) and syncytia-inducing (SI) HIV-1 strains, respectively. NSI HIV-1 isolates do not infect either human lymphoid or monocytoid cell lines, and this inability correlates with the absence of CCR5 expression in these cell types. The ability of SI HIV-1 isolates to infect human primary macrophages has been disputed. Here, we report that CXCR4 is expressed in primary blood-derived human mononuclear phagocytes at all stages of differentiation, although the maturation process correlates with downregulation of CXCR4 mRNA. Infection experiments with the SI molecular clone NL4-3 tagged with a mutant of the green fluorescent protein established that both monocytes and attached macrophages are susceptible to infection with CXCR4-restricted HIV-1 strains. NL4-3 entry into primary macrophages could be blocked by SDF-1alpha in a dose-dependent manner, or by the anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibody 12G5. HIV-1 entry led to productive infection. No evidence of postentry defects or nuclear import delay for CXCR4-restricted HIV-1 strains was detected using a quantitative real-time PCR assay measuring HIV-1 DNA entry into the nucleus. Macrophages infected by HIV-1 and expressing virus were maintained in culture for long periods of time (up to 5 months). These results demonstrate that CXCR4 is the main HIV-1 SI coreceptor in human primary macrophages and underline the importance of the macrophage as a long-living viral reservoir for HIV-1.

The nu(1) and nu(3) Bands of the (17)O(16)O(17)O Isotopomer of Ozone

Using 0.002 cm(-1) resolution Fourier transform absorption spectra of an (17)O-enriched ozone sample, an extensive analysis of the nu(3) band together with a partial identification of the nu(1) band of the (17)O(16)O(17)O isotopomer of ozone has been performed for the first time. As for other C(2v)-type ozone isotopomers [J.-M. Flaud and R. Bacis, Spectrochim. Acta, Part A 54, 3-16 (1998)], the (001) rotational levels are involved in a Coriolis-type resonance with the levels of the (100) vibrational state. The experimental rotational levels of the (001) and (100) vibrational states have been satisfactorily reproduced using a Hamiltonian matrix which takes into account the observed rovibrational resonances. In this way precise vibrational energies and rotational and coupling constants were deduced and the following band centers nu(0)(nu(3)) = 1030.0946 cm(-1) and nu(0)(nu(1)) = 1086.7490 cm(-1) were obtained for the nu(3) and nu(1) bands, respectively. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Multivariate analysis-based prediction rule for pulmonary embolism

The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) is still an unresolved problem. The aim of this prospective observational study was to derive and validate a prediction rule (PEscore) by which PE can be diagnosed by easily obtainable and rapidly available investigations. Included were consecutive patients with a clinical suspicion of PE admitted to a community hospital. Risk factors and clinical and instrumental investigations were registered. PE was diagnosed by angiography, scintigraphy, or autopsy. In 168 patients, PE was either diagnosed (angiography, n = 28; autopsy, n = 18) or excluded (angiography, n = 12; scintigraphy, n = 99; autopsy, n = 11). Based on the results of clinical and instrumental findings, a PEscore was derived by a multiple regression analysis, calculated as: [0.29 x proven leg vein thrombosis (0 = no, 1 = yes)] + [0.25 x ECG right heart strain (0 = no, 1 = yes)] + [0.22 x neck vein distension (0 = no, 1 = yes)] + [0.20 x dyspnoea (0 = no, 1 = yes)] + [0.13 x suspicious chest X-ray (0 = no, 1 = yes)] - [0.17 (constant)]. The PEscore was tested further in 139 subsequent cases. In these patients, the PEscore was 0.65+/-0.17 (diagnosed PE, n = 47) and 0.18+/-0.17 (excluded PE, n = 92), respectively (p = 0.0001). Depending on a given PE-score, the level of probability of PE can be assessed. Calculation of the PEscore can be helpful in clinical decisions when PE is suspected.

Outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage: predictors of survival

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine in-hospital mortality and morbidity secondary to intracerebral hemorrhage and to analyse variables considered to be significantly associated with survival in these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study cohort consisted of 135 consecutive patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, admitted to a large community hospital in the urban area of Vienna. The diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage was established in all cases with axial computed tomography. The following variables were analysed: age, sex, Glasgow coma score on admission, location of hematomas, intraventricular hemorrhage, neurosurgical interventions and medical complications.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven (49.6%) of the 135 patients died, 50 (37%) of them during the first 4 days after the acute event, 13 within the 1st week and 4 within one month. In a multivariate analysis the risk of death was significantly increased by the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (p < 0.01), a Glasgow coma score of 6 or less (p < 0.0001) and age greater than 60 years (p < 0.001). Gender, medical complications and surgical removal of hemorrhage with or without additional ventriculostomy did not correlate significantly with outcome while an infratentorial location of hematoma showed a trend (p < 0.15) towards a higher mortality.

CONCLUSION

A Glasgow coma score of 6 or less on admission, age greater than 60 years and the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage appear to be predictors of mortality in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

The Water-Vapor nu(2) Band Lineshift Coefficients Induced by Nitrogen Pressure

The water-vapor lineshift coefficients in the nu(2) band induced by nitrogen pressure were measured with a FT spectrometer of Paris University at the spectral resolution of 0.005 cm(-1) for the line with angular moment of upper states up to 16. Calculations were made using Anderson formulation of semiclassical impact theory. The calculated lineshifts agree satisfactorily with measured values, but for some lines, deviations were found. The analysis revealed the systematic J trend in subbranches, which consists of transitions with the same values of quantum number K(a) and equally changing K(a) and K(c). Copyright 1999 Academic Press.