Nutrient and antinutrient content of an underexploited Malawian water tuber Nymphaea Petersiana (Nyika)*

Uncooked/sun‐dried (UCSD) and boiled/freeze‐dried (BFD) flours of the Malawian water tuber Nymphaea petersiana (Nyika) were analyzed for selected nutrients and antinutrients. On a wet weight basis, the flours contained 8.1 and 8.0% crude protein; 0.8 and 1.0% crude fat; 12.0 and 13.0% dietary fiber; and 2.2 and 1.9% ash, respectively. The flours also contained 928 and 1300 μg/g of calcium; 2600 and 2200 μg/g of phosphorus; 88 and 20 μg/g of iron; and 22 and 20 μg/g of zinc, respectively. USCD and BFD flours were limiting in lysine and had amino acid scores of 91 and 84. The predominant fatty acids in the tubers were oleic (47%), linoleic (32%), palmitic (21%), and linolenic (7%). Tannin content was 1.5 and 1.0%; phytate content was 5.4 and 3.9 μg/g; trypsin activity was reduced from 400 to 55 TIU/g of tuber and chymotrypsin activity was reduced from 240 to 50 CIU/g by moist heat. Hydrogen cyanide levels were below detection limits (LOD < 16 nmoles/L) for both UCSD and BFD flour samples.     

Experimental Study on Metal Parts under Variable 3D Printing and Sintering Orientations Using Bronze/PLA Hybrid Filament Coupled with Fused Filament Fabrication

Producing metal parts from Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printing coupled with a metal/polymer hybrid filament, considering the advantages of high-performance and low cost, has generated considerable research interest recently. This paper addresses the studied relationship between variable printing/sintering directions and the properties of the sintered metal parts. It was shown that the printing directions played a significant role in determining the properties of final products, such as shrinkage, tensile stress, and porosity. The shrinkage in the layer direction because of anisotropic behavior is more minor than in the other dimensions. The microstructural analysis indicated that the printing directions had influenced the form and position of porosity on the produced metal parts. Most porosities occurred on the surfaces printed parallel to the printing bed. Furthermore, the sintering orientations had no possible benefits for dimension shrinkage, weight shrinkage, density, and porosity position of produced metal parts. However, the sintering direction “upright” resulted in parting lines inside the sintered tensile samples and made them fragile. The best printing-sintering combination was “on-edge-flat”.     

Modulation of steady-state kinetics of digoxin by haplotypes of the P-glycoprotein MDR1 gene

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of polymorphisms in the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) MDR1 gene on steady-state pharmacokinetics of digoxin in Caucasians. According to earlier data, homozygous TT of the exon 26 complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) 3435C>T polymorphism was associated with low P-gp expression in the human intestine. METHODS: Eight healthy male homozygous carriers of the wild-type exon-26 3435C>T (CC), 8 heterozygous subjects (CT), and 8 homozygous mutant (TT) subjects were selected. Seven further MDR1 polymorphisms were determined. Digoxin was administered orally twice daily on the first two study days; on days 3 to 5, 0.25 mg was given in the morning. On day 5, kinetic parameters were analyzed for genotype-phenotype and haplotype-phenotype relationships. RESULTS: The area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 4 hours [AUC(0-4)] (P =.042) and C(max) (P =.043) values of digoxin were higher in subjects with the 3435TT genotype than in those with the 3435CC. No influence of other single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on digoxin parameters was detected. Comparison of genotypes deduced from SNPs 2677G>T (exon 21) and 3435C>T revealed significant differences for AUC(0-4) (P =.034) and C(max) (P =.039), which were substantiated by haplotype analysis. Haplotype 12 (2677G/3435T), which had a frequency of 13.3% in a randomly drawn Caucasian sample (n = 687), was associated (Mann-Whitney test) with higher AUC(0-4) values (P =.009) than were found in noncarriers (mean +/- SD, 5.7 +/- 0.9 microg. h/L [n = 7] versus 4.8 +/- 0.9 microg. h/L [n = 17]). Haplotype 11 (2677G/3435C) had lower AUC(0-4) values (P =.013) compared with those of noncarriers (mean +/- SD, 4.7 +/- 0.9 microg. h/L [n = 16] versus 5.6 +/- 0.9 microg. h/L [n = 8]). Results of haplotype analysis match data of other MDR1 studies. CONCLUSION: Haplotype 12 codes for high values of AUC(0-4) and C(max) of orally administered digoxin. Analysis of MDR1 haplotypes is superior to unphased SNP analysis to predict MDR1 phenotype.     

First diagnosis of Martin‐Albright syndrome in a 58‐year‐old patient

Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO), also known as Martin‐Albright syndrome (MAS), is a rare autosomal dominantly transmitted disease characterized by short stature, obesity, mental retardation, a round facies, and brachymetacarpia and ‐tarsia, as well as cutaneous calcification. The disease is caused by mutations in the GNAS gene localized on chromosome 20q13.2 encoding for an adenyl‐cyclase‐stimulating protein (Gsα). A 58‐year‐old patient presented with small stature since childhood, moderate mental retardation, round facies and soft tissue masses on the thighs. A biopsy of the latter showed subcutaneous ossification. Laboratory results showed hypocalcemia, as well as increased plasma levels of PTH and calcitonin. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by detection of reduced activity of Gsα. In patients with cutaneous calcification and disturbed calcium metabolism, AHO is an important differential diagnostic consideration.     

Remote iliac artery endarterectomy with selective stent use at the proximal dissection zone in TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus C and D lesions

Background

Remote iliac artery endarterectomy (RIAE) is a challenging technique in the treatment of arterial occlusive disease. The impact of proximal transection zone stenting on patency rates is still unclear.