On the photodegradation of azithromycin,erythromycin and tylosin and their transformation products – A kinetic study

In this study, the photo-induced degradation of azithromycin (Azi), erythromycin (Ery) and tylosin (Tyl) was investigated. The three macrolides are regularly found in different kinds of water, and are thus considered a potential environmental risk. In search of efficient ways for elimination, the compounds were systematically irradiated with a polychromatic UVC light source emitting 185, 254 and discretely further up to 580 nm. Due to their specific structural features, the macrolides possess different optical absorption characteristics leading to photodegradation pathways with dissimilar kinetic properties. Hence, the photodegradation products and their kinetics were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Among the degradants, i.e. the products formed during UV irradiation, both sugar moieties and lactone macrocycles were observed. Applying a first order kinetic model, the half-life of Azi was determined as 1.0?3.7 min, that of Ery as 1.0?14.2 min depending on the reaction conditions. The two compounds possess much lower absorption cross-sections than Tyl, in particular at 254 nm. Their half-lives appeared at least three times higher than that of Tyl that has t_1/2 of 0.2?1.0 min. Based on quantum efficiency considerations, it was assumed that the degradation of Ery and Azi was mainly due to hydroxyl radical formation, which originated from water irradiation below 200 nm, whereas Tyl experienced predominantly photo induced degradation. The photodegradants of Azi exhibited half-lives of over 200 min, whereas most of the photo-products of Ery and Tyl showed half-lives of less than 10 min. Photodegradation processes were investigated at pH 3, pH 7 and pH 9 and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Both the educts and the photo-products were degraded more rapidly under neutral and acid conditions.     

Konservative und operative Therapie der Klavikulaschaftfrakturen

Nonoperative treatment, e.g. with a sling or a figure-of-eight bandage, has so far been considered to be the gold standard for midshaft clavicle fractures even when substantial displacement has been present. However, more recent studies have shown poorer results following nonoperative treatment of dislocated clavicle fractures compared with operative treatment. The main reasons are a higher nonunion and shortening rate of displaced midshaft fractures, which often result in poor functional outcome and low patient satisfaction. Operative methods, e.g. locking plates or intramedullary fixation technique have proven to have much better outcome in the treatment of midshaft clavicle fractures with displacement and comminution than conservative methods. Adults with a displaced midshaft fracture have for example a nonunion rate of up to 15% after conservative therapy whereas it is 2–3% after operative treatment. The traditional view that clavicular midshaft fractures no matter what grade of dislocation and what type of fracture should be treated conservatively is no longer valid today. Instead possible complications and risks of the conservative and operative treatment always have to be taken into account and weighed individually for therapy decision-making in the clinical routine. The analysis of current studies shows that patients with dislocated comminuted fractures benefit from surgery.     

HDAC and MAPK/ERK Inhibitors Cooperate To Reduce Viability and Stemness in Medulloblastoma

Journal of Molecular Neuroscience - Medulloblastoma (MB), which originates from embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs) or neural precursors in the developing cerebellum, is the most common malignant...     

Preimplantation Genetic Testing

The application of genetic technologies to the field of reproductive medicine has ushered in a new era of medicine that is likely to greatly expand in the coming years. Concurrent with an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle, it is now possible to obtain a cellular biopsy from a developing embryo and genetically evaluate this sample with increasing sophistication and detail. Information obtained from this analyzed sample may then guide which embryos are selected for uterine transfer. Applications for this technology are currently being employed to avoid the propagation of certain genetically based diseases and to increase the efficiency of assisted reproductive technologies in general. The way such technologies are implemented, however, has caused a continuous and ever evolving debate among reproductive medicine physicians and geneticists. This article will define the current uses of preimplantation genetic testing and discuss the benefits and limitations of this technology.     

Reflections on MUC1 glycoprotein: the hidden potential of isoforms in carcinogenesis

Mucin 1 (MUC1) has been described as the renaissance molecule due to the large set of functions it displays in both normal and neoplastic cells. This membrane‐tethered glycoprotein is overexpressed and aberrantly glycosylated in most epithelial cancers, being involved in several processes related with malignant phenotype acquisition. With a highly polymorphic structure, both in the polypeptide and glycan counterparts, MUC1 variability has been associated with susceptibility to several diseases, including cancer. Biochemical features and biological functions have been characterized upon the full‐length MUC1 protein, remaining to clarify the real impact on cell dynamics of the plethora of MUC1 isoforms. This review aims to encompass a detailed characterization of MUC1 role in carcinogenesis, highlighting recent findings in cell differentiation and uncovering new evidences of MUC1 isoforms involvement in malignant phenotype.     

Anaplasma platys in Bone Marrow Megakaryocytes of Young Dogs

Anaplasma platys is an obligate intracellular rickettsial pathogen that infects platelets of dogs, forming basophilic intracellular morulae. In the present report, cellular inclusions were documented in bone marrow thrombocyte precursors of two young naturally infected dogs, indicating that A. platys can infect megakaryocytes and promegakaryocytes.