Biosynthesis of polyacetylenes in Ambrosia maritima hairy roots

Thiophene A and thiophene A diol are the major polyacetylenes isolated from the hairy roots of Ambrosia maritima (Asteraceae) cultured under continuous light irradiation. The biosynthesis of thiophene A was studied using [1-(13)C]-, [2-(13)C]-, [1,2-(13)C]-acetates. The biosynthesis of thiarubrine A, produced by hairy roots cultured in the dark, was studied using [1,2-(13)C]-acetates and [18-(13)C]-linoleic acid. Our results suggest a catabolic pathway for polyacetylenes biosynthesis from linoleic acid in hairy roots of Ambrosia maritima.     

Selective synthesis of alpha monoglycerides by a clean method: Techno-economic and environmental assessment

This work proposes an alternative green and selective biocatalytic route for Glycerin Monostearate (α-monostearin) production. The conventional method of production uses an elevated temperature. Apart from the high energy consumption, such high temperatures darken the final product's color, lead to random reactions, and produce high orders of diglycerides and triglycerides instead of monoglycerides. The proposed production process was performed by esterifying stearic acid with glycerin in an organic medium using Candida antarctica lipase (Novozym 435) at a mild temperature. The reaction conditions were optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM): optimum conditions were a temperature of 60 °C, glycerin to stearic acid molar ratio of 8:1, and Novozym 435 amount of 6% w/w. The solvent addition remarkably improved the α-monostearin yield to nearly 80% without the need for the energy-intensive distillation step. The conventional autocatalytic esterification (AUT) process was also performed to investigate the comparative monoglyceride yield, and it was found to be 22.5%. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance and gas-chromatography confirmed that α-monostearin could be produced with the highest purity using the proposed enzymatic method (ENZ). Economic and environmental analyses were also conducted for the proposed ENZ process, and the results were compared with those of the AUT process. The total capital investment of α-monostearin production, considering a projected capacity of 4950 t year^?1 and 11% interest for the proposed ENZ process, was favorably 2.5 times lower than that of the AUT process, suggesting a promising investment opportunity. However, the total production costs showed unfavorable negative net present value (NPV) and return on investment (ROI) for the ENZ process and favorable positive NPV and ROI for the AUT process, indicating that the proposed venture is not profitable for α-monostearin production. However, the process can be profitable at improved operational stability of Novozym 435 up to 1 kg per 3-ton product. The carbon footprint was calculated on the basis of the given capacity and conditions of 50 and 656 t CO₂ eq./year for the ENZ and AUT processes, respectively. The synthesis of α-monostearin using the proposed route can be considered a building block toward a cleaner large-scale production of α-monoglycerides.     

Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with chronic and aggressive periodontitis in Jordanian patients

Vitamin D acts through binding with vitamin D receptor (VDR) and is responsible for regulating bone metabolism and mineralization; it also suppresses the immune system. The aim of this study was to investigate if VDR gene polymorphisms are associated with chronic periodontitis (CP) and aggressive periodontitis (AgP) in a Jordanian population. A total of 99 patients with CP, 63 patients with AgP, and 126 controls were genotyped using PCR‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The association was determined after correcting for confounding factors using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Estimation of haplotype frequencies was carried out using the EH program, and haplotypes were constructed using the phase 2.1 program. After correcting for confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that inheritance of the BsmI bb genotype or the ApaI aa genotype was associated with increased risk of developing CP (OR = 2.4 and OR = 3.4, respectively) but with reduced risk of developing AgP (OR = 0.4 and OR = 0.3, respectively). This was further supported by association of the ba haplotype with CP but not with AgP. This study supports an association of VDR gene polymorphisms with CP and AgP in a Jordanian population; however, the pattern of association was different between the two diseases.     

Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia With Eosinophilia: A Classic Clinical Presentation With Histologic Features of Angiosarcoma

BACKGROUND: Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is a rare disease manifested by the proliferation of morphologically distinct endothelial cells. OBJECTIVE: To illustrate by a case report the clinical and varied histopathologic findings of ALHE. METHODS: A 29-year-old woman presented with a clinical picture of ALHE but had several histologic features of angiosarcoma. RESULTS: Management of this patient included repeat biopsies of the lesions, excision of the involved areas, careful histologic examination of the entire specimen, and appropriate follow-up. CONCLUSION: ALHE may present with various histologic features. Knowledge of the spectrum of benign and malignant vascular neoplasms helps manage these challenging cases.     

Orofacial dyskinesia associated with tiemonium

Tiemonium, an anti-spasmodic drug, can have adverse effects related to its anti-muscarinic effect. Dyskinesia is described with other anti-cholinergic drugs, but there are no reports of dyskinesia associated with tiemonium. We report a reversible orofacial dyskinesia following tiemonium intake (contained in Viscéralgine forte) in a woman with positive rechallenge. She presented these symptoms two times after two separate injections with an interval of 2 months. The case was reported to the Tunisian Centre of Pharmacovigilance.     

Systemic and regional hemodynamic effects of high-dose epinephrine infusion in hypoxic piglets resuscitated with 100% oxygen

Shock and poor regional perfusion are common in asphyxiated neonates. We compared the systemic and regional hemodynamic effects of high-dose epinephrine (E) with those of dopamine combined with low-dose epinephrine (DE) infusions in a neonatal model of hypoxia-reoxygenation. Neonatal piglets (1-3 days, 1.5-2.5 kg) were acutely instrumented to continuously monitor systemic arterial pressure (SAP), pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac index (CI), and blood flows at the left common carotid, superior mesenteric, and renal arteries. Either epinephrine (1 microg.kg(-1).min(-1)) or dopamine (10 microg.kg(-1).min(-1)) and epinephrine (0.2 microg.kg(-1).min(-1)) were given for 2 h in hypoxic piglets resuscitated with 100% oxygen (n = 8 per group) in a randomized blinded fashion. Control piglets received hypoxia and reoxygenation but no catecholamine infusion (n = 7). Alveolar hypoxia (PaO2, 33-37 mmHg) caused reduced CI (89-92 vs. 171-186 mL.kg(-1).min(-1) of baseline, P < 0.05), hypotension (SAP, 28-32 mmHg) with pH 7.05 to 7.10, and decreased regional flows. Upon reoxygenation, CI and SAP improved but gradually deteriorated to 131 to 136 mL.kg(-1).min(-1) and 41 to 49 mmHg at 2 h of reoxygenation, respectively. E and DE administration similarly improved CI (167 +/- 60 and 166 +/- 55 vs. 121 +/- 35 mL.kg(-1).min(-1) of controls) and SAP (53 +/- 7 and 56 +/- 10 vs. 39 +/- 8 mmHg of controls), respectively, and the pulmonary vascular resistance (vs. controls, all P < 0.05). Heart rate and pulmonary artery pressure were not different between groups. Systemic oxygen delivery and consumption were increased in E- and DE-treated groups with no difference in extraction ratio between groups. There were no differences in regional blood flows and oxygen delivery between groups. After hyperlactatemia with hypoxia, plasma lactate levels decreased with no difference between groups. Epinephrine given as the sole agent is as effective as dopamine and low-dose epinephrine combined in treating shock and hypotension that follow the resuscitation of hypoxic neonatal piglets, with no reduction in regional perfusion.