Maternal Nutrition, Body Composition and Gestational Weight Gain on Low Birth Weight and Small for Gestational Age-A Cohort Study in an Indian Urban Slum.

Maternal nutritional status and care during pregnancy are essential for adequate birth weight. In this prospective cohort study (N = 1061) in an urban slum, we investigated the association of maternal anthropometry, body composition, gestational weight gain and dietary intakes with low birthweight (LBW, <2.5 kg). About one-third of the women were short (<150 cm), 35% were underweight (<45 kg), 23% suffered from chronic energy deficiency (CED, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) and another 30% were overweight/obese. The mean age and BMI were 23 years and 21.7 kg/m2, respectively, and haemoglobin was 10.73 g/dL. The mean birthweight (N = 605) was 2.81 ± 0.5 kg, and the average gestational age was 38 ± 2 weeks. About 15% of infants had LBW, and 48% were small for gestational age (SGA). Maternal body composition was assessed by skinfold thickness (SFT) in all trimesters. In the first trimester (N = 762), we found that mean fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM) and body fat percentage (% BF) were 38.86 kg, 11.43 kg and 21.55%, respectively. Low birthweight was significantly associated with preterm deliveries (p < 0.001) and less fat free mass (p = 0.02) in the third trimester. Among other factors were age (p = 0.017), maternal anthropometry (height: p = 0.031; weight: p = 0.059) and fewer antenatal check-ups (p = 0.037). Small size (SGA) was consistently associated with maternal bodyweight at all trimesters (term I, p = 0.013, term II, p = 0.003 and term III, p < 0.001), fat mass in the third trimester (p < 0.001) and maternal height (p = 0.003).

Design, synthesis, structure-activity relationship and antibacterial activity series of novel imidazo fused quinolone carboxamides.

A series of novel 7,8 and 1,8 imidazo fused quinolone carboxamides are synthesized and evaluated against antibacterial activity. 1,8 Imidazo fused quinolones exhibit moderate antibacterial activity. Molecular modeling studies were carried out to optimize the pharmacophore.

Asymmetric Synthesis of 2H-Azirine 2-Carboxylate Esters.

2H-Azirine 2-carboxylate esters (5), the smallest unsaturated nitrogen heterocycle, are readily prepared in enantiomerically pure form via the base-induced elimination of sulfenic acid (RSOH) from nonracemic N-sulfinylaziridine 2-carboxylate esters (4). Optimum yields were obtained when the aziridine was treated with TMSCl at -95 degrees C followed by LDA, which was attributed to the improved leaving group ability of an silicon-oxonium species. By using this new methodology the first asymmetric syntheses of the marine cytotoxic antibiotics (R)-(-)- and (S)-(+)-dysidazirine (2) were accomplished.

Asymmetric Synthesis and Properties of Sulfinimines (Thiooxime S-Oxides).

Enantiomerically pure sulfinimines (thiooxime S-oxides 10), important building blocks in the asymmetric synthesis of amine derivatives, are prepared in good to excellent yields in one step from aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic aldehydes. This protocol involves treating commercially available (R)- or (S)-menthyl p-toluenesufinate (Andersen reagent 4) with LiHMDS, followed by the aldehyde, affording (E)-10 exclusively. The sulfinimines 10 are formed via a Peterson-type olefination reaction of silylsulfinamide anion 13 with the aldehyde. Anion 13 is generated by reaction of lithium menthoxide (12a) with bis(trimethylsilyl)sulfinamide 11, which is formed in the reaction of 4 with LiHMDS. The other product formed is O-(trimethylsilyl)menthol (12c), which is isolated in >80% yield for recycling. Two other less efficient methods for the asymmetric synthesis of 10 are discussed: (i) the asymmetric oxidation of sulfenimines 6 with chiral nonracemic oxaziridines and (ii) the reaction of metal aldimines, prepared from nitriles, with 4. All of these protocols fail with ketones.