Diels-Alder route to steroids and associated structures

The Diels-Alder reaction continues to dominate the developments in steroid synthesis. A review of literature on the Diels-Alder route to steroids is presented.     

Synthesis of pentacyclic steroids

Due to their high profile biological activity, the steroids are among the most important secondary metabolites. A review of literature on the synthesis of pentacyclic steroids is presented.     

Carbohydrate- and related polyol-derived fluorosurfactants: an update

A short review of recent literature is presented on the synthesis, biological properties, colloid and surface chemistry, and applications of carbohydrate- and related polyol-derived amphiphiles with perfluoroalkyl hydrophobes.     

How useful is the concept of habitat? – a critique

The following argument regarding the quantitative value of the habitat concept is presented for discussion purposes. The discussion is not intended as a review of the habitat-population literature (which is immense for any class of organism) and so does not include an exhaustive appeal to authority. Instead, the arguments are, largely, intended to stand or fall on their own merit, and the literature is used selectively to demonstrate a point.     

TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC EVENTS OF THE HEART (ANGINA PECTORIS)

In an attempt to clarify some of the controversy regarding the concepts of myocardial ischemia, various cardiac pathologies are presented to demonstrate several of the unusual mechanisms involved in the causes of transient ischemic events of the myocardium. A review of the literature is presented, with a discussion of the current approach to managing these unusual clinical conditions.     

Intact protein (antigen) absorption in fishes: mechanism and physiological significance

Although the literature indicates that there is no longer any reason to doubt that the fish gut possesses the capacity to absorb intact protein macromolecules, neither the exact mode of protein absorption nor the physiological significance of this phenomenon has been established. A review of the literature relating to evidence concerning the probable mechanism(s) of absorption and the means by which this process may confer physiological advantage is presented.     

Right lower lobe oedema as a rare sign of left heart failure

Two cases of right lower lobe oedema are presented as a supposedly very rare sign of left heart failure after myocardial infarction in the presence of acute mitral regurgitation. Causes of unilateral oedema and its clinical relevance in the diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives are discussed, and a review of the literature on this topic is presented.     

Petriellidium boydii fungus ball in a patient with active tuberculosis

A case ofP. boydii fungus ball occurring in a patient with an active tuberculosis is reported. A critical review on pertinent literature is also presented.     

An adult patient with a distal interstitial 14q deletion: clinical report and literature review

We report a patient with an interstitial 14q32.1-->q32.3 deletion and review the literature. The adult patient presented with moderate mental retardation, a friendly behavior and a non-specific phenotype. The deletion seemed to be terminal but with FISH probes appeared to be interstitial. Comparison with other 14q terminal and interstitial deletion patients reported in literature and those with a ring 14 chromosome is given.     

The toxicology of mercury and its compounds

A concentrated review on the toxicology of inorganic mercury together with an extensive review on the neurotoxicology of methylmercury is presented. The challenges of using inorganic mercury in dental amalgam are reviewed both regarding the occupational exposure and the possible health problems for the dental patients. The two remaining “mysteries” of methylmercury neurotoxicology are also being reviewed; the cellular selectivity and the delayed onset of symptoms. The relevant literature on these aspects has been discussed and some suggestions towards explaining these observations have been presented.     

Lobomicosis

The ninth Colombian case of Lobomycosis is presented, along with a review of the Colombian literature. The clinical, histopathological, and mycological aspects are summarized emphasizing the peculiar birefringent appearance of Lobomyces when examined under polarized light.     

Cutaneous cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii

A case of cutaneous cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii in an immunocompetent host is presented. In addition a review of the literature on this subject was carried out and a brief comment made on occurrence of the variety gattii in Brazil.     

Gigantic mammary hyperplasia in pregnancy associated with pseudohyperparathyroidism

This is the first report of hypercalcemia due to benign gigantic mammary hyperplasia in a pregnant women. Endocrinologic examinations did not disclose any known cause for the symptomatic hypercalcemia. Bilateral total mastectomy decreased the serum calcium level to normal. The case is presented with discussion and a literature review.     

Pathogenicity factors of various vibrios and aeromonads

A review of literature on the pathogenicity factors of non-cholera vibrios and Aeromonas is presented. A detailed analysis of such pathogenicity factors as hemolysins, lecithinases, cytotoxins, adhesins, etc. is given. Information on some mechanisms of the pathogenetic action of these factors on warm-blooded animals is presented. The necessity of more extensive research on pathogenicity and persistence factors in opportunistic bacteria causing sapronotic infections is emphasized.     

Opioid peptides

This review was presented as an overview at the meeting of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics in Portland, Oregon, in August, 1979. The intent of the talk was to briefly survey the current status of the field and to present some ideas as to future research. No attempt was made at an exhaustive review of the literature.     

A pericentric inversion in an X chromosome in the cow

Cytogenetic examination of a cow with some fertility problems showed a pericentric inversion in an X chromosome. Phenotype and milk production of the cow were not affected by this condition. A review of the literature concerning inversions of cattle chromosomes is presented.     

Mitochondrial Creatine Kinase: Properties and Function

This review describes properties of mitochondrial creatine kinase from heart and skeletal muscle studied in the author's group at the Department of Biochemistry of Moscow State University. The results are compared to the data in the literature. The author's point of view on the physiological role of mitochondrial creatine kinase is presented.     

MELAS as an example of a mitochondrial disease

MELAS (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes) is a disease mainly due to a mutation at position 3243 (A --> G) in the leucine tRNA gene in mitochondrial DNA. Symptoms of the disorder are complex and the exact pathogenesis is not understood. A review of the literature on the subject is presented.