Outbreaks of epidemic kerato-conjunctivitis in two hospital wards.

The authors analyzed two hospital outbreaks of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), one at the Department of Ophthalmology (30 cases) and another one at the Department of Premature Newborns (22 cases). In both outbreaks, EKC was diagnosed in inpatients (16 and 6 respectively), outpatients (5 and 3 respectively), healthcare workers (HCWs) (3 and 5 respectively), and relatives of EKC patients (6 and 8 respectively). Implemented infection control measures included isolation precautions, improved disinfection and hand-washing of both hospital and outpatient department personnel. Shortly after implementation of control measures the rate of infection transmission started to decrease significantly.

[Anti-inflammatory activity of (o-cresotinate) copper and zinc aquacomplexes]. / Protizápalová aktivita (o-krezotináto)mednatého a-zinocnatého akvakomplexu.

Using rat paw dextran-induced and carrageenan-induced edemas, the antiedematous activities of monohydrate of the diaquatetrakis(o-cresotato)dicopper(II) complex (CuoC) and the diaquabis(o-cresotato)zinc(II) complex (ZnoC) were assayed plethysmometrically. Dihydrate of the diaquabis(salicylato)copper(II) complex (CuS) and the diaquabis(salicylato)zinc(II) complex (ZnS) were used as the standards of comparison. All compounds were administered i.p. in a single dose of 50 mumol/kg body weight (calculated for the RCOO-fragment) 30 min before injecting the irritants. The antidextran/anticarrageenan activities of the species (expressed as a mean edema reduction) were found: CuoC 36/54%--ZnoC 59/65%--CuS 71/52%--ZnS 63/10%. The relationships between the coordination-chemical properties and the biological effects of the corresponding complexes are discussed.

[Anti-inflammatory activity of copper and zinc p-cresol dihydrate]. / Protizápalová aktivita dihydrátu p-krezotínanu mednatého a zinocnatého.

Using rat paw dextran-induced and carrageenan-induced edemas, the antiedematous activities of dihydrate of diaquatetrakis(p-cresotato)dicopper(II) complex (CupC) and diaquabis(p-cresotato)zinc(II) complex (ZnpC) were assayed plethysmometrically. Dihydrate of diaquabis(salicylato)copper(II) complex (CuS) and diaquabis(salicylato)zinc(II) complex (ZnS) were used as standards of comparison. All compounds were applied i.p. in a single dose of 50 mumol/kg body weight (calculated for the RCOO-fragment) 30 min before injecting the irritant. The antidextran/anticarrageenan activities of the species (expressed as a mean edema reduction) were found: CupC 46/74%--ZnpC 50/26%--CuS 71/52%--ZnS 63/10%. The relationships between the coordination-chemical properties and the biological effects of the corresponding complexes are discussed.

[Preparation and antiinflammatory activity of selected aqua-(aryloxyacetate) zinc complexes]. / Príprava a protizápalová aktivita vybraných akva-(aryloxyacetáto)zinocnatých komplexov.

Mononuclear aqua(aryloxyacetato)zinc(II) complexes of the composition [Zn(H2O)2(ROCH2COO)2] (R = phenyl, o-, m-, p-tolyl) were prepared as potential anti-inflammatory agents. The results of elemental analysis and parameters of IR spectra allow to classify the above-mentioned compounds to the group of carboxylatozinc(II) complexes with a distorted octahedral structure. They were assayed in rat paw carrageenan-induced edema and antiedematous effects were compared to those of free acids. Salicylic acid and its zinc(II) and copper(II) salts were used as the standards of comparison. All compounds were administered i.p. in a single dose of 50 mumol/kg body weight (calculated for the carboxylate fragment). In general, the zinc(II) complexes tested were clearly more effective (expressed as a mean edema reduction of 58-70-68-59%), including zinc(II) salicylate dihydrate (64%), than the uncomplexed acids (37-26-50-48%). Copper(II) salicylate tetrahydrate (60%) and salicylic acid (57%) exhibited comparable effects under the same conditions. The observed activities of the complexes are discussed in relation to their structures as well as to the coordination-chemical properties of the acidoligands under study.

[Anti-inflammatory activity of (cresoxyacetate)copper complexes]. / Protizápalová aktivita (krezoxyacetáto)mednatých komplexov.

In groups of mononuclear aqua(cresoxyacetato)copper(II) complexes of the composition [Cu(ROCH2COO)2(H2O)n] (R= 2- and 3-methylphenyl, n = 2; 4-methylphenyl, n = 3) and binu- clear phenazone(o-, m-, p-cresoxyacetato)copper(II) complexes of the composition [Cu2(ROCH2COO)4(phz)2] the anti-inflammatory activity was assayed in rat paw carrageenan-induced edema. The effects of the complexes were compared with each other and with those of the free acids. Salicylic acid and its cupric salt (tetrahydrate) were used as standards of comparison. All copounds were applied i.p. in a single dose of 50 mumol/kg body weight (calculated for the RCOO-fragment). In general, all Cu(II) complexes tested were clearly more effective (71-88%) than the corresponding free isomeric cresoxyacetic acids (47, 37, 45%), with the exception of diaquabis (o-cresoxyacetato)copper(II) complex (43%). Copper(II) salicylate tetrahydrate (57%) and salicylic acid (41%) were less active, too. The observed activities of complexes are discussed in relation to their structures.

[Antimicrobial activity of (N-salicylidene-DL-aspartate- and (N-salicylidene-L-asparaginate)-copper complexes with pyrazole-type ligands]. / Antimikróbna aktivita (N-salicylidén-DL-aspartáto)- a (N-salicylidén-L-asparagináto) mednatých komplexov s ligandmi pyrazolového typu.

By a reaction of salicylaldehyde (Scl) with the corresponding amino acids and by the next complexation reaction of the formed Schiff bases with Cu2+ ions in an aqueous-alcoholic medium, aqua (N-salicylideneaminoalkanoato)copper(II) complex chelates of the composition Cu(Scl-DL-Asp(2-)) (H2O)2, Ip and Cu(Scl-L-Asn(2-)(H2O), In were prepared. The monodiazole complexes with pyrazole IIp and IIn (as monohydrate) as well as with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole IIIp a IIIn were prepared by replacing the molecule of H2O in the parent aquacomplexes with the diazoles under the same reaction conditions. Using a routine dilution micromethod, the antimicrobial activity of the prepared complexes and free diazoles was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Only a significant antistaphylococcus activity was found (highest for the complex IIn; MIC = 39 micrograms/cm3). All chelates (Ip,n-IIIp,n) were more effective (MIC = 39-156 micrograms/cm3) than both pyrazole (312 micrograms/cm3)and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (625 micrograms/cm3) alone. The relationship between the coordination-chemical properties and the biological effects of the complexes studied is discussed.

[Antiedematous activity of certain arylcarboxylate copper aquacomplexes]. / Antiedematózna aktivita vybraných arylkarboxylátomednatých akvakomplexov.

Using rat paw carrageenan edema, the anti-inflammatory activity of nine selected arylcarboxylatocopper(II) aquacomplexes of the general composition Cu(RCOO)2.nH2O, where R represents 2-hydroxy-Y-methylphenyl, Y = 3 (n = 1.5), 4 (4) or 5 (2); 2-hydroxy-3,6-dimethylphenyl (n = 4); 2,5-diacetoxyphenyl (1); 2-methoxy-(1) and 4-methoxyphenyl (3); 2-furyl (3) and 2-thienyl (1), was assayed and compared to that of the free acids. Copper(II) salicylate tetrahydrate and salicylic acid were used as standards for comparison. All compounds were applied i.p. in a single dose of 50 mumol/kg body weight, calculated for the RCOO-fragment. m-Cresotato- (mean edema reduction 70%) and p-cresotatocopper(II) (80%) aquacomplexes were clearly more effective than copper(II) salicylate tetrahydrate (55%). The nonsubstituted hydroxyl of the salicylate skeleton of acidoligands is required for the activity of the complexes and of free acids tested. Isomeric cresotic acids (82-47-62%) and 2-furoic acid (48%) exhibited a higher effect than salicylic acid (42%). The relationship between the coordination-chemical properties and the biological effects of the complexes studied is discussed.

[Antiedema activity of selected compounds with a gallate skeleton]. / Antiedematózna aktivita vybraných zlúcenín s galátovým skeletom.

Using rat paw dextran-induced and carrageenan-induced edemas, the anti-inflammatory activity of gallic acid (I), triacetylgallic acid (II) and monohydrate copper(II) triacetylgallate (III) was assayed. All compounds tested were applied i.p. in a single dose of 50 mumol/kg body weight, calculated for the RCOO-fragment. The average antiedematous activities in dextran/carrageenan edemas were decreasing in the following order: III (55.9/41.8%) > I (38.6/31.1%) > II (-3.4/13.3%). The relationship between the biological effects found and gallic acid as well as its structural derivatives is discussed.

[Anti-inflammatory activity of aqua-bis(2,Y-diacetoxybenzoate)-copper complexes (Y=4, 5 or 6)]. / Protizápalová aktivita akva-bis(2,Y-diacetoxybenzoáto)-mednatých komplexov (Y = 4, 5 alebo 6).

In a group of binuclear copper (II) complexes of the composition [Cu2(RCOO)4(H2O)2] (R = 2,4-diacetoxyphenyl (I), 2,5-diacetoxyphenyl (II) and 2,6-diacetoxyphenyl (III)), the anti-inflammatory activity was assayed in rat paw carrageenan-induced edema. Copper (II) salicylate tetrahydrate (IV) and salicylic acid were used as standards for comparison. All compounds were applied i.p. in a single dose of 50 mumol/kg body weight, calculated for the R-COO-fragment. The Cu(II) complexes tested were clearly more effective than the corresponding free diacetoxybenzoic acids, with an exception for the 2,5-diacetoxy derivative. The average anti-inflammatory activities of copper (II) complexes were decreasing in the following order: III (71.0%) = (70.6%) > IV (57.4%) > II (18.0%). Of the acids, only 2,6-diacetoxybenzoic acid (45.2%) was effective at the level of salicylic acid (44.9%). The relationship between the coordination-chemical properties and the biological effects of the complexes tested is discussed.

Mutagenicity of 4-nitroquinoline n-oxide after its complexation with copper (II) 2-chlorophenoxyacetate.

Using the AMes test with Salmonella typhimurium strains TA97, TA100 and TA102, it was found that the mutagenicity of 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide was much lower than that of the tetrakis[mu-2-chlorophenoxyacetato(1-)-O,O[bis(4-nitro-quinoline- N-oxide-O)dicopper(II) complex.

[Antiexsudative activity of (methylsalicylate)copper-water compounds]. / Antiexsudacná aktivita (metylsalicyláto)mednatých akvakomplexov.

Using rat paw dextran edema, the antiexudative activity of the complexes of the composition Cu(RCOO)2.nH2O--R represents 2-hydroxy-Y-phenyl: Y = 3 (n = 1,5), Y = 4 (4), Y = 5 (2) or 2-hydroxy-3,6-dimethylphenyl (n = 4)--and of the corresponding uncomplexed acids was assayed. Salicylic and acetylsalicylic acids and their Cu(II) salts were used as standards of comparison. The compounds were administered i.p. in a single dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. In general, the acids were more effective than their copper(II) salts except for the pair m-cresotic acid--Cu(II) complex. Only p-cresotic acid (mean edema reduction 56%) and copper(II) m-cresotate tetrahydrate (43%) exhibited a biological activity comparable to those of salicylic acid (62%) and copper(II) salicylate tetrahydrate (70%). The observed activities of complexes are discussed in relation to their proposed structures.

[Radioprotective effects of basic copper carboxylate complexes]. / Radioprotektivní úcinek nekterých základních karboxylatomednatých komplexu.

The radioprotective activity of eight selected copper (II) carboxylates--Cu (RCOO)2.nL (R = alkyl, aryl, 2-furyl and 2-thienyl; L usually represents water)--was assayed in a model of lethally gamma-irradiated (9 Gy, 0.97 Gy/min) mice. The compounds tested were applied (as solutions in saline) s.c. in three single doses of 20 mumol/kg 48.24 and 6 h before irradiation. The highest radioprotective effects were measured by survival of mice achieved after premedication of animals with copper (II) 2-thenoate monohydrate (77%), copper (II) acetylsalicylate (64%), copper (II) 2-methoxybenzoate monohydrate (62%) and copper (II) acetate monohydrate (54%). On the other hand, survival of vehicle-pretreated mice was only 10%. The observed biological properties of complexes are discussed in relation to their structures.

[Mutagenic activity of copper phenoxyacetate complexes]. / Mutagénna aktivita fenoxyacetátomednatých komplexov.

The mutagenic activity of phenoxyacetatocopper (II) complexes of the composition Cu(R-COO)2Ln-R = phenoxymethyl, L represents H2O (n = 3), phenazone (1), 4-nitropyridine N-oxide (1)--as well free phenoxyacetic acid and uncoordinated 4-nitropyridine N-oxide was tested against strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA 100, TA 97 and TA 102) with or without metabolic activation. Using Ames methods in vitro, of the above-mentioned compounds only the 4-nitropyridine N-oxide complex in a concentration of 75 micrograms/dish, with 27.7% content of this neutral ligand) and this molecule ligand alone (in a concentration of 12.5 micrograms/dish) exhibited genotoxic effects. The relationship between the coordination-chemical properties and the biological effects of the compounds tested is discussed.

[Anti-pyretic activity of aqua-(diacetoxybenoate)-copper complexes]. / Antipyretická aktivita akva-(diacetoxybenzoáto)-mednatých komplexov.

The antipyretic activity of binuclear (diacetoxybenzoato)-copper(II) aquacomplexes [Cu2(2,Y-DAB)4(H2O)2] (Y = 4 and 5) as well as cupric acetylsalicylate [Cu2(AcSal)4] was assayed in a rabbit model of endotoxin-induced fever. The complexes and uncomplexed carboxylic acids (administered i.p. in a dose of 20 mg/kg) exhibited even a subnormothermic course in lowering of febrile animals' body temperature in the order: 2,5-diacetoxybenzoic acid (-0.09 degree C) < 2,4-diacetoxybenzoic acid (-0.35 degree C) < Cu(AcSal)2(-0.39 degree C) approximately equal to acetylsalicylic acid (-0.40 degree C) < Cu(2,4-DAB)2.H2O (-0.61 degree C) < Cu(2.5-DAB)2.H2O (-0.97 degree C). On the other hand, the mean value of untreated fevered animals was +0.67 degree C.

[Anti-inflammatory activity of aqua-(aryloxyacetate) copper complexes]. / Protizápalová aktivita niektorých akva-(aryloxyacetáto)mednatých komplexov.

The anti-inflammatory activity of selected mononuclear Aqua(aryloxyacetato)copper(II) complexes with the composition [Cu(R-O-CH2COO)2(H2O)n].mH2O (R = phenyl, n = 3; m = 0), 4-chlorophenyl (2; 0), 4-chloro-2-methylphenyl (2; 0) and naphthyl (2; 2) was examined using rat paw dextrano edema. The antiphlogistic effects of the tested complexes were compared to those for corresponding aryloxyacetic acids and salicylic acid and its Cu(II) salt. The compounds were administered i.p. in a single effective dose of 10 mg/kg. The complexes with R = phenyl, 4-chlorophenyl and 4-chloro-2-methylphenyl exhibited a biological activity comparable to that of copper(II) salicylate tetrahydrate.