Whitfield Matthews (yearvan16)

A new series of N-substituted pyrazoline derivatives 6a-g, 7a-g, 8a-g, and 9a-g was synthetized by reaction of hydrazine derivatives and chalcone-thiazole hybrids bearing nitrogen mustard 5a-g. The chalcones 5a-g were obtained by Claisen-Schmidt condensation of thiazole-2-nitrogen mustard 3 and selected acetophenones 4a-g. These new compounds 6/7/8/9a-g were screened for their antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, with IC50 values of 3.9-7.8 µg/ml for the N-3,5-dichlorophenyl pyrazolines 9e-g. Interestingly, those compounds show low cytotoxic effects toward erythrocytes (RBC). In addition, N-acetyl (6a,b) and N-formyl pyrazolines (7a, 7b, 7c, and 7g) showed inhibitory activity against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus, with the most important minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 31.25 to 125 µg/ml. Regarding the antiprotozoal activity, thiazolyl-pyrazolines 9g, 8f, and 7c display high activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania (V) panamensis, and Trypanosoma cruzi, with EC50 values of 11.80, 6.46, and 4.98 μM, respectively, and with 7c being approximately 2.6-fold more potent than benznidazole with a selectivity index of 1.61 on U-937 human cells, showing promising potential as a novel antitrypanosomal agent. © 2020 Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft.AIMS To identify and evaluate available evidence on the effectiveness of character strengths-based intervention on the psychological well-being of patients with chronic illnesses. DESIGN A systematic review with meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES Six electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, EBSCO (CINAHL® and MEDLINE), Web of Science and PsycINFO, were searched from inception to December 2018. REVIEW METHODS The quality appraisal of evidence and summary of studies were undertaken following Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklists and the standard guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Meta-analysis was conducted according to Cochrane methods using RevMan 5.1. RESULTS Clinical studies on the character strengths-based intervention for patients with chronic illnesses are limited. Eight studies involving 692 patients were identified and critically appraised in this review. Meta-analysis results for three comparable studies indicated that character patients suffering from chronic illnesses are recommended in the future. The character strengths-based intervention should be replicated in various inpatient facilities and include a larger and a more ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.The Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, one of the last wild areas of the planet, is not exempt from the pressures of global change, such as non-native species introductions. During 2018 and 2019 we studied the Róbalo river basin in order to update the diversity and distribution of fishes. Here, we report for the first time the native and endangered "Peladillas" Aplochiton taeniatus and the non-native coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch. The coexistence of native and non-native fishes poses a challenge for the management and conservation of aquatic biota from the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve. © 2020 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.BACKGROUND Metabolomics may represent an avenue for diagnosis of equine ascending placentitis. OBJECTIVES To characterise the plasma metabolomic profile in healthy mares and mares with induced ascending placentitis, with the goal of identifying metabolites with potential clinical value for early diagnosis of placentitis. STUDY DESIGN Controlled in vivo experiment. METHODS Placentitis was induced in 10 late-term pregnant pony mares via Streptococcal equi subsp. zooepidemicus inoculation in five mares between days 285 and 290 of gestation, while five mares served as healthy controls. Repeated ultrasound examinations and ju