[Nuchal translucency measurement--the effect of 3D/4D ultrasound].

INTRODUCTION: Nuchal translucency thickness has undoubtedly been proven as an important marker in screening for chromosomal abnormalities. It is measured in the first trimester by ultrasound. This study was aimed at determining the effect of 3D/4D ultrasound on standard error of mean nuchal translucency measurements. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Having satisfied the inclusion criteria, 430 nuchal translucency measurements were analyzed (singleton pregnancies, 11(+0)-13(+6) weeks of gestation, crown rump length 45-84mm, postnatally confirmed absence of anomalies). The data were divided into two groups, depending on the method used (older generation 2D ultrasound or 3D/4D ultrasound). The reported nuchal translucency measurements were converted into multiple of median values of nuchal translucency and 95% confidence interval was calculated for the two sets of data. RESULTS: The standard error of mean values has decreased from 0.027, when nuchal translucency was mea-sured via 2D ultrasound, to 0.016 when 3D/4D ultrasound was used for the measurements. DISCUSSION: The detection rates of prenatal screening tests can be increased and the false positive rates can be decreased by lowering the standard error of mean value. CONCLUSION: Advanced technology and developed automated measuring ofnuchal translucency should result in further enhancements in early detection of fetal abnormalities.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from Centaurea pannonica and C. jacea.

The chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from Centaurea pannonica (Heufel) Simonkai and C. jacea L. (Asteraceae), were investigated. The essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Forty five and twenty nine compounds were identified in the two oils, respectively. C. pannonica oil was rich in fatty acids (43.7%), with 9-octadecanoic acid (34.0%) and (Z,Z)-9,12-octadecadienoic acid (8.6%) as the major compounds. In contrast, the essential oil of C. jacea was dominated by oxygenated sesquiterpenes (43.2%), among which caryophyllene oxide (23.5%) and spathulenol (8.9%) were the major constituents. However, the oil was also characterized by an important fatty acid fraction (15.5%), with 9-octadecanoic acid (8.9%) and hexadecanoic acid (6.6%) being the main components. The antimicrobial activities of the essential oils were evaluated by the microdilution method against three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria, and one yeast. Both oils exhibited significant antimicrobial activity, especially against Gram-positive bacteria.

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of some novel 2-aminothiazole derivatives of 4-hydroxy-chromene-2-one.

Syntheses of 2-aminothiazole derivatives of 4-hydroxy-chromene-2-one 2c-10c are reported in this paper. These compounds 2c-10c were prepared from 3-(2-bromoacetyl)-4-hydroxy-chromene-2-one 1 and corresponding thiourea derivatives 2b-10b using Hantzsch reaction. The structures of all compounds were confirmed by IR and( 1)H-NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The molecules 2c-10c were evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial activity against ten bacteria and twelve fungi. All tested compounds exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activity.

Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oil and Methanol Extract of Teucrium montanum.

This study was designed to examine the chemical composition of essential oil and the in vitro antimicrobial activities of essential oil and methanol extract of Teucrium montanum. The inhibitory effects of essential oil and methanol extracts of T. montanum were tested against 13 bacterial and three fungal species by using disc-diffusion method. GC/MS analyses revealed that essential oil contains mainly delta-cadinene (17.19%), beta-selinene (8.16%) alpha-calacorene (4.97%), 1,6-dimethyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-naphthalene (4.91%), caryophyllene (4.35%), copaene (4.23%), torreyol (3.91%), 4-terpineol (3.90%), cadina-1,4-diene (3.39%), beta-sesquiphellandrene (3.34%), tau-cadinol (3.12%) and gamma-curcumene (3.18%). The essential oil has antibacterial as well as antifungal effect.