To the Editor, Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite. Immunocompetent persons with primary infection are usually asymptomatic, but latent infection can persist for the life of the host [1]. In immunocompromised patients, however, a risk exists of reactivating the infection, which may become life-threatening [1]. Toxoplasmosis appears to be a rare opportunistic infection after...

The introduction of exogenous DNA sequences into cultured cells is a cornerstone in the study of mammalian gene expression. For most cell types, the efficiency of stable gene transfer is usually quite low, which mandates the use of selectable markers to isolate a population of transfected cells with the desired phenotype. In simple gene expression experiments, only one type of selectable marker...

A high incidence of HBV-related hepatitis is associated with the use of HBsAg-positive marrow for transplantation, and the high viral load in the donor appears to predispose recipients to the development of HBV-related hepatitis postransplant. Preemptive use of lamivudine has proved to reduce hepatitis B exacerbation in HBsAgpositive recipients of allogeneic HCT. Since 2000, the policy in our m...

The eradication of tumours by targeting malignant stem cell populations, or cancer stem cells (CSCs), is a promising new strategy for cancer treatment. In a paper published in a recent issue of The EMBO Journal, pharmacogenetic evidence has been obtained that this is indeed feasible in a mouse model of human chronic myeloid leukaemia. These and further similar experiments will be essential to d...

N-1 regioselective Michael-type addition of 5-substituted uracils to (2-hydroxyethyl) acrylate is presented. The reactions were performed in polar aprotic solvents and with avoidance of polymerization of acrylic substrate. The obtained adducts may serve as versatile substrates for further functionalization, e.g. into (3-uracil-1-yl)propanoic acids or transformations, with participation of hydro...