[BCG-induced (bacillus Calmette-Guérin) abdominal granulomatosis after occult bladder perforation]

We present the case of a 57-year-old man who developed an intraperitoneal bladder fistula with BCG-induced (bacillus Calmette-Guérin) abdominal granulomatosis after transurethral resection of a papillary non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and subsequent BCG-instillation therapy. The bladder fistula was eliminated surgically. The detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the operative sample drawings as well as the histological detection of BCG-granuloma led to specific treatment and a report to the responsible health department.

Silencing of USP18 potentiates the antiviral activity of interferon against hepatitis C virus infection

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Modulation of the host innate immune response is an attractive means of inhibiting hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. Having previously determined that expression of the interferon-sensitive gene (ISG)15 protease USP18 is increased in the liver biopsy specimens of patients who do not respond to interferon (IFN)-alfa therapy, we hypothesized that USP18 might hinder the ability of IFN to inhibit HCV replication.

METHODS

The role of USP18 in IFN antiviral activity was examined using an in vitro model of HCV replication that reproduces the full viral life cycle. USP18 was silenced specifically using small inhibitory RNAs (siRNAs), and the dose response of HCV replication and infectious virus production to IFN-alfa was measured.

RESULTS

The siRNA knockdown of USP18 in human cells consistently potentiated the ability of IFN to inhibit HCV-RNA replication and infectious virus particle production by a factor of 1-2 log(10). USP18 knockdown also resulted in a number of cellular changes consistent with increased sensitivity to IFN. Decreasing USP18 expression led to increased cellular protein ISGylation in response to exogenous IFN-alfa, prolonged tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducer and activation of transcription (STAT1), and a general enhancement of IFN-stimulated gene expression.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that USP18 modulates the anti-HCV type I IFN response, and is a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of HCV infection.

Heterodi- [MAg, MAu (M = Pd, Pt)], Tri- [PdAg(2), PtAg(2), PtAu(2), Pt(2)M (M = Ni, Pt, Cd, Hg)], and Tetranuclear (Pt(2)Ag(2), Pt(2)Au(2)) 1,1-ethylenedithiolato complexes

The reactions of [M(PPh(3))(2)[S(2)C=C[C(O)Me](2)]] [M = Pd (1a), Pt (1b)] with AgClO(4) and PPh(3) or with [Au(PPh(3))(OCMe(2))]ClO(4) afford heterodinuclear [[M(PPh(3))(2)][M'(PPh(3))][S(2)C=C[C(O)Me](2)]]ClO(4) [M = Pd, M' = Ag (2a), M = Pt, M' = Ag (2b), Au (4)] or trinuclear [[M(PPh(3))(2)][M'(PPh(3))](2)[S(2)C=C[C(O)Me](2)]](ClO(4))(2) [M = Pd, M' = Ag (3a), M = Pt, M' = Ag (3b), Au (5)] 1,1-ethylenedithiolato complexes, depending on the molar ratio of the reagents. We have recently reported that, in the absence of added PPh(3), the reactions of [Pt[S(2)C=C[C(O)Me](2)]L(2)] [L = PPh(3) (1b), L(2) = 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod) (1c)] with AgClO(4) produce the heterotetranuclear derivatives [[PtL(2)](2)Ag(2)[S(2)C=C[C(O)Me](2)](2)]](ClO(4))(2) [L = PPh(3) (6a), L(2) = cod (6b)], which have been used now as efficient transmetallating agents toward gold, platinum, mercury, nickel, copper, or cadmium metal centers to give new types of 1,1-ethylenedithiolato complexes: [[Pt(PPh(3))(2)](2)Au(2)[S(2)C=C[C(O)Me](2)](2)](ClO(4))(2) (7), [(PtL(2))(2)M[S(2)C=C[C(O)Me](2)](2)](ClO(4))(2) [L(2) = cod, M = Pt (8), L = PPh(3), M = Hg (9)], [[Pt(PPh(3))(2)](2)[S(2)C=C[C(Me)=O](2)](2)Ni](ClO(4))(2) (10), and [[Pt(PPh(3))(2)](2)[S(2)C=C[C(Me)=O](2)](2)[M(OClO(3))(2)]] [M = Cu (11), [C(O)Me](2)] moieties but, whereas in 7 they bridge two gold(I) centers through the sulfur atoms, in 11 they chelate the copper(II) center through the oxygen atoms. The last one is the first example of such a coordination mode for the 2,2-diacetyl-1,1-ethylenedithiolato ligand.

Polysulfonylamines. CXLV. N-diethylcarbamoyl-o-benzenedisulfonimide, a urea with non-planar geometry at nitrogen and an amide single bond

The prominent features in the molecular structure of the title compound (alternative name: 2-diethylcarbamoyl-1,1,3,3-tetraoxo-1,3,2-benzodithiazole), C(11)H(14)N(2)O(5)S(2), arise in the urea moiety S(2)N-C(O)-N'C(2): the sum of the angles at N is 332.3 (1) degrees, the N-C(O)-N'C(2) unit is planar, and distances N-C(O) = 1.494 (3) A, N'-C(O) = 1.325 (2) A and C-O = 1.215 (2) A. The molecules are associated via five C-H...O hydrogen bonds to form layers parallel to the yz plane. This compound and its dimethyl homologue, which were synthesized by treating the silver salt of o-benzenedisulfonimide with carbamoyl chlorides, are prone to rapid hydrolysis at the weak N-C(O) bond. For both molecules, the rotational barrier about the partial N'-C(O) double bond is ca 50 kJ mol(-1) at 250 K (from dynamic (1)H NMR experiments).

Mononuclear (Pd, Pt), heterodinuclear (PdAg, PtAg), and tetranuclear (Pd2Ag2, Pt2Ag2) 1,1-ethylenedithiolato complexes

lp;&-5q;1 The reactions of [Tl2[S2C=C[C(O)Me]2]]n with [MCl2L2] (1:1) or with [MCl2(NCPh)2] and PPh3 (1:1:2) give complexes [M[eta2-S2C=C[C(O)Me]2]L2] [M = Pt, L2 = 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod) (1); L2 = bpy, M = Pd (2a), Pt (2b), L = PPh3, M = Pd (3a), Pt (3b)] whereas with MCl2 and QCl (2:1:2) anionic derivatives Q2[M[eta2-S2C=C[C(O)Me]2]2] [M = Pd, Q = NMe4 (4a), Ph3P=N=PPh3 (PPN) (4a'), M = Pt, Q = NMe4 (4b)] are produced. Complexes 1 and 3 react with AgClO4 (1:1) to give tetranuclear complexes [[ML2]2Ag2[mu2,eta2-(S,S')-[S2C=C[C(O)Me]2]2]](ClO4)2 [L = PPh3, M = Pd (5a), Pt (5b), L2 = cod, M = Pt (5b')], while the reactions of 3 with AgClO4 and PPh3 (1:1:2) give dinuclear [[M(PPh3)2][Ag(PPh3)2][mu2,eta2-(S,S')-S2C=C[C(O)Me]2]]]ClO4 [M = Pd (6a), Pt (6b)]. The crystal structures of 3a, 3b, 4a, and two crystal forms of 5b have been determined. The two crystal forms of 5b display two [Pt(PPh3)2][mu2,eta2-(S,S')-[S2C=C[C(O)Me]2]2] moieties bridging two Ag(I) centers.

Synthesis and structural characterization of luminescent trinuclear gold(I) complexes with dithiocarbamates

We have synthesized a series of trinuclear gold(I) complexes, namely, [Au3(mu-dpmp)(S2CNR2)nCl3-n] (n = 0-3; R = Me, CH2Ph), [Au3(mu-dpmp)(mu-S2CNR2)Cl](CF3SO3) (R = Me, CH2Ph), and [Au3(mu-dpmp)(mu-S2CNMe2)(C6F5)]X (X = Cl, CF3SO3), containing the triphosphine dpmp [bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphine] and varying amounts of dithiocarbamate. NMR experiments show fluxional behavior in solution for most of these derivatives because several arrangements of the ligands are possible. The crystal structure of [(mu-dpmp)(AuCl)3] has been determined by X-ray diffraction studies; the molecule displays mirror symmetry and involves an angular arrangement of the gold atoms [Au-Au-Au 119.603(14) degrees, Au-Au 3.3709(4) A]. We have studied the optical properties of these derivatives in the solid state, finding a red shift as a function of the dithiocarbamate number and, for some derivatives, wavelength-dependent emission spectra at low temperature.

[Color reactions for identification of nalidixic acid]

Nalidixic acid (1) gives with 2-naphthol a yellow charge-transfer complex. The 7-methyl group of 1 condenses with vanillin (2) and Ehrlich's reagent (4) to the coloured (E)-benzylidene compounds 3 and 5. Treating 1 with thionyl chloride and subsequent reaction with aminopyrazolone (6) and sodium acetate leads to a mixture of trichloronalidixic acid (7) and its 3-carboxamide 8. The trichloromethyl group of 7 is converted with 6 in pyridine to form the amide 9. Nalidixic acid reacts with 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid (10) in acetanhydride/acetic acid to yield the polymethine dyes 11-13, whose structures are confirmed by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The dyes 3 and 12 inhibit the growth of staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively.

Patient expectations of dental services. Image affects expectations, and expectations affect perceived service quality

The authors construct a theoretical model of the antecedents of expectations for dental services by analyzing survey responses from 240 dental patients. The patients' image of the dentist, tangible cues, situational factors, and patient satisfaction with prior service encounters have the greatest influence on expectations of service, whereas marketing variables, such as price and advertising, appear to have no effect.

The Midtown Manhattan Longitudinal Study vs 'the Mental Paradise Lost' doctrine. A controversy joined

The "Mental Paradise Lost" school in psychiatry propounds a historical trend of deteriorating mental health in the general population, particularly among women, and especially in big cities. The socio-epidemiological Midtown Manhattan Longitudinal Study, covering four decade-of-birth cohorts born since 1895, has yielded data that challenge those claims. To explain serendipitous findings of intergeneration differences between Midtown men and women on measures of subjective well-being, a theory is advanced based on changes in the status and roles of women since the late Victorian era. Possible policy implications for preventive psychiatry are discussed, and further follow-up research outlined for the specialty field of socio-psychiatric history.