These substances were tested for their activity against P. larvae strains. The most active constituents were pinocembrin, 3-O-acetyl pinobanksin, and the caffeate mixture. This is the first communication of antimicrobial activity of individual propolis constituents against P. larvae; their important advantage is the fact that they are naturally present in the hive.”
“Antimicrobial peptides are active against a diverse spectrum of microorganisms. Using a bioinformatics

selleckchem method, six potential novel antimicrobial peptides, A1, C1, A2, A3, C2 and A4, were identified in the C8 alpha complement component. The corresponding genes were then cloned into a new vector as fusions with the self-cleavage protein N-pro protein mutant EDDIE gene. The expressed or synthetic peptides, A1, A2, A3 and A4, showed antimicrobial activities against several bacteria, while peptides C1 and C2 did not. Peptides A1 to A4 showed no hemolytic activities over 3 h when at 500 mu g/ml. Thus, A1, A2, A3 and A4, derived from the C8 alpha complement system, are novel antimicrobial peptides.”
“Purpose: To compare corneal thickness measurements using Pentacam (Oculus, Germany), Sirius (CSO, Italy), Galilei (Ziemer, Switzerland), and RTVue-100 OCT (Optovue Inc., USA). Methods: Sixty-six eyes of 66 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Three consecutive measurements were performed with each device. The mean value of the

three measurements was used for subsequent analysis. Central corneal thickness (CCT), thinnest corneal Cytoskeletal Signaling inhibitor thickness (TCT), and midperipheral corneal thickness (MPCT; measured at superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal locations with a distance of 1 mm (CT2mm) or 2.5 mm (CT5mm) from the corneal apex) were analyzed. Differences and agreement between measurements were assessed using the repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bland-Altman analyses, respectively. Results: Statistically significant differences (p smaller than 0.001) among the four devices were revealed in CCT, TCT and CT2mm measurements. The CCT, TCT, and CT2mm values were ranked from the thickest to the thinnest as follows: Galilei

bigger than Sirius bigger than Pentacam bigger than RTVue OCT. For Proton Pump inhibitor these measurements, agreement between measurements by Sirius and Pentacam was good, whereas Galilei overestimated and RTVue underestimated corneal thickness compared to Sirius and Pentacam. As regards CT5mm measurements, Pentacam provided the largest values, whereas RTVue OCT yielded the smallest values. Agreement of the CT5mm measurements was good between the Pentacam, Sirius, moderate between Galilei and the other two Scheimpflug systems, and poor between the RTVue OCT and the remaining devices. Conclusions: The Pentacam and Sirius can be used interchangeably for CCT measurements, while the Galilei and RTVue systematically over- and underestimate CCT, respectively.