Catalytic and Multicomponent Reactions for Green Synthesis of Some Pyrazolone Compounds and Evaluation as Antimicrobial Agents.

A green synthetic approach and facile method was developed to produce pyrazole compounds (6a-d) by the reaction of ethyl acetoacetate (1), hydrazines (2a-d), and catalytic imidazole (3) in aqueous media. 4-Dicyanomethylene-2-pyrazoline-5-one derivatives (14a-d) were synthesized through the reaction of 2-pyrazoline-5-one derivatives (6a-d) with tetracyanoethylene (TCE) (7) by using catalytic imidazole (3) in an aqueous medium. Moreover, the 4-dicyanomethylene derivative (16) was obtained via treatment of 1-phenyl-3,5-pyrazolidinedione (15) with TCE (7). The spiropyrazoleoxirane derivatives (18 and 20) were prepared by treating the precursor 4-dicyanomethylene-2-pyrazoline-5-one derivative (14b) with hydrogen peroxide in various polar solvents under alkaline conditions. The spiropyrazole oxirane derivative (18) was used as a precursor for the design of functionalized pyrazolone derivatives (24 and 27a, b). The chemical structure of the novel designed derivatives was ascertained based on elemental analyses, mp, thin-layer chromatography, and spectral analyses. Furthermore, some of the synthesized derivatives were examined against different pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. Their results demonstrated that some of them revealed notable antimicrobial activities.

Compact characterization of liquid absorption and emission spectra using linear variable filters integrated with a CMOS imaging camera.

A compact analysis platform for detecting liquid absorption and emission spectra using a set of optical linear variable filters atop a CMOS image sensor is presented. The working spectral range of the analysis platform can be extended without a reduction in spectral resolution by utilizing multiple linear variable filters with different wavelength ranges on the same CMOS sensor. With optical setup reconfiguration, its capability to measure both absorption and fluorescence emission is demonstrated. Quantitative detection of fluorescence emission down to 0.28 nM for quantum dot dispersions and 32 ng/mL for near-infrared dyes has been demonstrated on a single platform over a wide spectral range, as well as an absorption-based water quality test, showing the versatility of the system across liquid solutions for different emission and absorption bands. Comparison with a commercially available portable spectrometer and an optical spectrum analyzer shows our system has an improved signal-to-noise ratio and acceptable spectral resolution for discrimination of emission spectra, and characterization of colored liquid's absorption characteristics generated by common biomolecular assays. This simple, compact, and versatile analysis platform demonstrates a path towards an integrated optical device that can be utilized for a wide variety of applications in point-of-use testing and point-of-care diagnostics.

[Skin sensitisation profiles to inhalant allergens for patients in Tétouan city (North West of Morocco)]. / Profils de sensibilisation cutanée aux allergènes respiratoires des patients de la ville de Tétouan (Nord Ouest du Maroc).

The prevalence of respiratory allergies is increasing and is a serious global health problem. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of skin sensitization to inhalant allergens in patients consulting for respiratory allergy, to identify the main allergens involved and to evaluate the profile of skin prick-test reactivity related to sex, age and season. This retrospective study included 379 patients consulting during 2009-2012 in three private medical offices of Tetouan. Of the 379 patients, 39.6% were monosensitized and 60.4% polysensitized. The percentages of polysensitized patients were higher in patients exhibiting rhinoconjunctivitis and astma-rhinoconjunctivitis than in subjects with asthma. The prevalence of symptoms according to sex showed no significant difference (P=0.64). Regarding age, a significant difference was observed in the case of rhinoconjunctivitis (P<0.01), while asthma and asthma-rhinoconjunctivitis showed no significant difference. Sensitization to house dust mites was the most frequent followed by grasses, olives and Parietaria. The multiple correspondence analyses (ACM) showed that patients under 20-years of age with asthma and asthma-rhinoconjunctivitis profile are more associated with sensitization to mites during the spring and autumn. The 20-49-year age group was represented mainly by polysensitized patients with rhinoconjunctivitis. Sensitization to mites ranks first in Tetouan followed by the percentage of sensitized patients to grass pollen and olive. The ACM showed that the house dust mite asthma seems to affect more children and adolescents while the 20-49 year age of polysensitized group suffers significantly rhinoconjunctivitis.

Fresh-water amoebae from four aquatic sites in Egypt.

Water samples from four aquatic sites in Egypt were examined for the presence of free-living amoebae. Amoebae were isolated and cultured on 1.5% non-nutrient agar with bacteria. They were studied morphologically and tested for production of flagellated forms, encystment, excystment, nuclear division, temperature tolerance and pathogenicity in young mice (8 - 10 gm). Didascalus thorntoni and Naegleria gruberi were dominant in all surface waters. Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba glebae, A. culbertsoni and A. rhysodes were found in Lower Egypt, while Vahlkampfia avara and V. thornata were found in Upper Egypt. All species tolerated incubation temperatures of up to 36 degrees C except for A. rhysodes which degenerated at 34 degrees C. A. culbertsoni tolerated 38 degrees C but died at 40 degrees C. Amoebae were detected histologically in a necrotic brain tissue from only one mouse which was inoculated with A. culbertsoni.

Weaning from ventilation after cardiopulmonary bypass: evaluation of a non-invasive technique.

Weaning of patients from IPPV after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is usually monitored by frequent arterial blood gas analysis. Non-invasive monitoring has the advantage of providing continuous and instantaneous information and could reduce the frequency of arterial blood gas sampling. Twenty patients were studied to determine the reliability of capnometry and pulse oximetry in this situation. The effects of hypothermia and moderate haemodynamic instability were examined. A further 40 patients were then weaned using non-invasive monitoring. Correlation between PaCO2 and PETCO2 was 0.64-0.79 for the mass spectrometer and 0.67-0.81 for the infra-red analyser. No clinical problems arose. The detection rate for mild hypercarbia was 78.6 per cent and 50 per cent for hypoxia. Possible reasons for this are discussed. Once CO2 and O2 gradients are established, pulse oximetry and capnometry provide sufficiently reliable monitoring to enable weaning from IPPV, with the advantage of continuous display, and allow a reduction in the use of arterial blood gas analyses.