BACKGROUND: alpha 1-antitrypsin (A-1-AT) is an acute-phase protein. It is present in plasma and other extracellular fluids and in human trophoblastic tissue. It accounts for 80 to 90 per cent of antiprotease reactions occurring in plasma. It has the ability to greatly affect enzyme activity and plays an important role in immunomodulatory processes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The purpose of the study was to determine the plasma concentration of A-1-AT in mothers giving birth to hypotrophic (small for gestational age, SGA), and eutrophic (appropriate for gestational age, AGA) infants. 33 women who gave birth to SGA infants and 36 women who gave birth to AGA infants participated in the study. The control group consisted of 30 non-pregnant women who were of reproductive age. All women gave birth at term. To measure A-1-AT concentration, we used the diffusion method described by Mancini et al. RESULTS: The highest concentration of A-1-AT (379 mg/dl) was found in women giving birth to SGA infants, compared with 345 mg/dl for women giving birth to AGA infants. In the control group, the concentration was found to be 270 mg/dl. CONCLUSIONS: Statistical analysis of the results showed a significant difference between the two groups of women gave birth and between each parturient compared with control subjects. Increasing concentration of A-1-AT in the plasma of women in labor may be the result of an acute phase reaction triggered by the stress during parturition. Additionally, increased concentrations of A-1-AT in women who gave birth to SGA rather than AGA infants suggest that it may play a role in the processes of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pyrrole analogues of chloramphenicol. I. Synthesis and antibacterial activity of DL-threo-1-(1-methyl-4-nitropyrrole-2-yl)-2-dichloroacetamidopropane-1,3-diol.

The seven-stage synthesis of a pyrrole analogue of chloramphenicol [IX] was described. The compound exhibits a significant antibacterial activity, over the 12-50% range of the chloramphenicol activity.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Toxic megacolon in the course of ulcerative colitis].

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Colitis, Ulcerative↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Antibacterial peptide derivatives. Part VI. Derivatives of the L-lysine and L-ornithine dipeptides and their effect on the morphology of bacterial cells.

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Dipeptides↗

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Derivatives of the L-lysine-peptides with antibacterial activity.

A number of derivatives of the L-lysine peptides has been obtained and their antibacterial properties were evaluated and compared with those of the ethyl ester of Nalpha-palmitoyl-L-lysyl-L-lysine dihydrochloride. Some correlations have been found between the chemical structure and antibacterial activity of the compounds.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗