(C) 2009 Society of Chemical Industry”
“Objective: To estimate the epidemiological impact of syphilis in pregnancy and congenital syphilis in Tuscany and to better delineate their determinants in this region. Methods: Features of pregnant women with syphilis attending the Tuscany Reference Center for Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy between 2000 and 2010 and their infants were retrospectively reviewed. Results: One hundred and eighty-seven pregnancies were observed. The number of pregnancies evaluated Selleckchem VX-770 increased steadily from 24 in 2000-2002 to 70 in 2009-2010. The majority of women were Italian (20.32%) and

East European (44.39%). Eight cases of congenital syphilis were diagnosed (5.60% of pregnancies with known outcome). Italian women had more often an early stage of syphilis (11.76 vs. 1.34%; p = 0.016), an rapid plasma regain (RPR) title >= 1:8 (15.79 vs. 5.37%; p = 0.041) and a partner with positive test (60.00 vs. 21.69%; p < 0.001) compared with migrant women.

Migrant women received treatment after the first trimester more often compared with Italian ones BI 6727 order (40.94 vs. 18.42%; p = 0.013). Conclusions: Syphilis in pregnancy is emerging in Tuscany. Italian and migrant women with syphilis show two different “”risk patterns”" of vertical transmission. An additional screening test for syphilis in the third trimester and educational campaigns about maternal and sexual health could be effective in combating congenital syphilis in Italy.”
“In vitro synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) on a hydrophobic support, i.e. highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), was performed using class II PHA synthase (PhaC1(pp)) from Pseudomonas THZ1 concentration putida and class III PHA synthase (PhaEC(AV)) from Allochromatium vinosum. Using PhaC1(pp) and 3-hydroxyoctanoyl-CoA,

a poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) [P(3HO)] film was formed on the hydrophobic support with a thickness of a few nanometers, as revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). A poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] film was also formed using PhaEC(AV), and 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. AFM observations of the HOPG surface during P(3HB) film formation revealed that polymerized P(3HB) covered HOPG surface within the reaction time, resulting in the formation of a homogeneous ultra-thin film. This method of ultra-thin PHA film formation on a hydrophobic support may be applicable to the surface-coating technique of materials with biodegradable, bioabsorbable, and biocompatible PHAs. (C) 2009 Society of Chemical Industry”
“Objective: To investigate whether obstetrical complications are increased in pregnancies with a normal karyotype and an abnormal triple test (TT) (>= 1:380 or more) where all analytes were within the normal range. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of women who underwent a TT and delivered in a tertiary medical center, was conducted. Patients were divided into a study group (pregnancies with abnormal TT) and a control group (normal TT).