Mahmut Ülger

Human Papillomavirus Genotype Distribution and E6/ E7 Oncogene Expression in Turkish Women with Cervical Cytological Findings

BACKGROUND Infection with certain human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes is the most important risk factor related with cervical cancer. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of HPV infection, the distribution of HPV genotypes and HPV E6/E7 oncogene mRNA expression in Turkish women with different cervical cytological findings in Mersin province, Southern Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 476 cytological samples belonging to women with normal and abnormal cervical Pap smears were enrolled in the study. For the detection and genotyping assay, a PCR/direct cycle sequencing approach was used. E6/E7 mRNA expression of HPV-16, 18, 31, 33, and 45 was determined by type-specific real-time NASBA assay (NucliSENS EasyQ(®)HPV v1.1). RESULTS Of the 476 samples, 106 (22.3%) were found to be positive for HPV DNA by PCR. The presence of HPV was significantly more common (p<0.001) in HSIL (6/8, 75%) when compared with LSIL (6/14, 42.9%), ASC-US (22/74, 29.7%) and normal cytology (72/380, 18.9%). The most prevalent genotypes were, in descending order of frequency, HPV genotype 66 (22.6%), 16 (20.8%), 6 (14.2%), 31 (11.3%), 53 (5.7%), and 83 (4.7%). HPV E6/E7 oncogene mRNA positivity (12/476, 2.5%) was lower than DNA positivity (38/476, 7.9%). CONCLUSIONS Our data present a wide distribution of HPV genotypes in the analyzed population. HPV genotypes 66, 16, 6, 31, 53 and 83 were the predominant types and most of them were potential carcinogenic types. Because of the differences between HPV E6/E7 mRNA and DNA positivity, further studies are required to test the role of mRNA testing in the triage of women with abnormal cervical cytology or follow up of HPV DNA positive and cytology negative. These epidemiological data will be important to determine the future impact of vaccination on HPV infected women in our region.

Synthesis and anti(myco)bacterial activity of novel 5,5-diphenylpyrrolidine N-aroylthiourea derivatives and a functionalized hexahydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazole

In this paper, five novel 5,5-diphenylpyrrolidine N-aroylthiourea derivatives were synthesized by stereoselective cycloaddition of N-diphenylmethylene-protected glycine methyl ester and methyl acrylate, and subsequent coupling with aroylisothiocyanates. The cis-stereochemistry of one of the heterocyclic thiourea derivatives was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The compounds showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia. coli and Acinetobacter baumannii with minimum inhibitory concentration values in the range of 62.5–1000 μg/mL against these bacterial strains. Antimycobacterial activity of the compounds was investigated against the M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain and all compounds exhibited antimycobacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration value of 80 μg/mL. Additionally, methyl 5,5-diphenylhexahydro-1-oxo-3-thioxo-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazole-6-carboxylate was synthesized by cyclization reaction of the 5,5-diphenylpyrrolidine N-aroylthiourea derivatives in the presence of hydrazine monohydrate and exhibited antibacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration value of 62.5 μg/mL against the same bacterial strains and exhibited antimycobacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration value of 80 μg/mL against the M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain.

Design of potent fluoro-substituted chalcones as antimicrobial agents

Abstract Owing to ever-increasing bacterial and fungal drug resistance, we attempted to develop novel antitubercular and antimicrobial agents. For this purpose, we developed some new fluorine-substituted chalcone analogs (3, 4, 9–15, and 20–23) using a structure–activity relationship approach. Target compounds were evaluated for their antitubercular efficacy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and antimicrobial activity against five common pathogenic bacterial and three common fungal strains. Three derivatives (3, 9, and 10) displayed significant antitubercular activity with IC50 values of ≤16,760. Compounds derived from trimethoxy substituent scaffolds with monofluoro substitution on the B ring of the chalcone structure exhibited superior inhibition activity compared to corresponding hydroxy analogs. In terms of antimicrobial activity, most compounds (3, 9, 12–14, and 23) exhibited moderate to potent activity against the bacteria, and the antifungal activities of compounds 3, 13, 15, 20, and 22 were comparable to those of reference drugs ampicillin and fluconazole.

Synthesis, antimicrobial activity and acid dissociation constants of methyl 5,5-diphenyl-1-(thiazol-2-yl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate derivatives

In this study, a series of polysubstituted methyl 5,5-diphenyl-1-(thiazol-2-yl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate derivatives were designed and synthesized by the cyclization reaction of methyl 1-(benzoylcarbamothioyl)-5,5-diphenylpyrrolidine-2-carboxylates and 2-bromo-1-(4-substituted phenyl)ethanones in 70-96% yield. The starting pyrrolidine derivatives were synthesized via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction in 83-88% yield. The stereochemistry of one of these methyl 5,5-diphenyl-1-(thiazol-2-yl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate derivatives was characterized by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study and the acid dissociation constants of these compounds were determined. An antimicrobial screening was performed against different bacterial and fungal strains and against the M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Interesting antibacterial activity was observed for two compounds against the A. baumannii strain with MIC values of 31.25 µg/mL (Ampicillin: 125 µg/mL) and against the M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain with MIC values of 0.98-1.96 µg/mL (Isoniazid: 0.98 µg/mL, Ethambutol: 1.96 µg/mL). Therefore, these structures can be considered as good starting points for the development of new powerful antimycobacterial agents.

Study of the anti(myco)bacterial and antitumor activities of prolinate and N-amidocarbothiolprolinate derivatives based on fused tetrahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,3(2H,3aH)-dione, bearing an indole ring

A series of prolinate and N-amidocarbothiolprolinate derivatives based on a fused pyrrole-3,4-dione core, bearing indole ring systems, are prepared from the corresponding amino acid and an aldehyde via thermal 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides and condensation with benzoylisothiocyanate. Products are fully characterized by NMR, FT-IR, MS, and an X-ray crystal structure. The prepared compounds are screened for their antibacterial activity against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and their antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain. In addition, two selected target compounds are evaluated for cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and anti-inflammatory effects on MCF-7 (breast carcinoma) cell lines. The incorporation of indole ring and –C(O)NHC(S)– moiety resulted to be beneficial since the biological point of view.Graphical abstract