Research into the therapeutic roles of two-pore-domain potassium channels

The K(2P) potassium channels are responsible for the background conductance observed in several tissues. Their ubiquitous localization and thus their potential implications in diseases have led to increased research on these channels over the last few years. In this review, we outline different aspects of the research on K(2P) channels and highlight some of the latest discoveries in this area. We focus on research into K(2P) channels as potential therapeutic targets in ischemia/hypoxia, depression, memory disorders, pain, cardiovascular disease and disorders of the immune system. We address the challenge of developing novel pharmacological compounds to target these channels. We also discuss the regulation of expression of the K(2P) gene in health and disease, as well as the value of assessing the expression of K(2P) channels as potential biomarkers of disease.     

Analysis of hesperetin enantiomers in human urine after ingestion of blood orange juice by using nano-liquid chromatography

Hesperetin (HT) is a flavanone abundantly found in citrus fruits. It has been reported that HT possesses significant antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. This explains the necessity of developing new methods more powerful and sensitive for analyzing HT in biological fluids. Taking into account the chiral nature of HT, the study of the stereospecific kinetics of in vitro and in vivo metabolism and tissue distribution could be a useful tool for further understanding stereoselective biotransformations in human body. A simple nano-liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the enantiomeric composition of hesperetin in human urine was developed. Chiral separation was achieved using a 100 μm I.D. capillary, packed with phenyl-carbamate-propyl-β-cyclodextrin stationary phase, employing a mobile phase composed by a mixture of triethylammonium acetate buffer (1%, v/v, pH 4.5) and water/methanol (30:70, v/v) at room temperature. The detection was done by using on-column UV detector at 205 nm. Calibration curves were linear in the studied concentration range from 0.25 to 25 μg/mL (r² > 0.999). Precision assay was <4.5% and was within 3% at the limit of quantification (0.5 μg/mL). The recovery of 7-ethoxycoumarin (IS), R- and S-hesperetin was greater than 82.48%, utilizing a liquid–liquid extraction procedure. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of hesperetin enantiomers in urine samples obtained from a male volunteer, after the ingestion of 1 L of a commercial blood orange juice.     

Isolated extramedullary relapse in the breast of a patient with acute myeloid leukemia following allogeneic stem cell transplantation: case report and review of the literature

We report an unsual case of a woman with acute myeloid leukemia who showed an isolated extramedullary relapse (IEMR) in the breast following allogeneic stem cell transplantation and review the related literature. Eighty cases of IEMR following allogeneic stem cell transplantation, including our case, were identified. The review suggests that an M2 or M4 phenotype in the French-American-British classification and a favorable cytogenetic risk group are more frequently associated with the occurrence of IEMR. Combined treatment with radiation and high-dose chemotherapy may be effective.     

ASPECTS ÉPIDEMIOLOGIQUES ET THÉRAPEUTIQUES DES FRACTURES ACETABULAIRES CHEZ LE SUJET ÂGÉ

Introduction:

Management of acetabular fracture in the elderly patients is becoming an increasingly topic of debate. Data from different parts of the world specified particularities of their patients.

Aim:

To describe patterns of these fractures in the Tunisian patients aged > 60, which can contribute to management and preventive plans.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective review from 1997 to 2016 treated at the Charles Nicolle university hospital. Information regarding demographics, co morbidities, mechanism of injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), types and levels of injury, treatment type, and mortality were collected.

Results:

The mean age of our patients was 68,6 years (range 60–94 years). The male to female ratio was 3:85.Main causes were motor vehicle accident. Most of our patients were in good health. The associated lesions were very frequent and present in 64.7% of cases with a clear predominance of cranio-fascial trauma, with a median of the ISS score at 11. According to the Judet and Letournel classification, 18 elementary fractures and 16 complex fractures were reported with predominance of the anterior column-posterior hemitransverse fracture pattern. Posterior wall fracture in the elderly is often associated with comminution and / or marginal impaction and / or posterior dislocation of the hip. Fractures of the anterior segment are often associated with hip protrusion and / or quadrilateral plate involvement and / or the superomedial roof impaction or "Gull sign".

Conclusion:

As our population continues to age, traumatic acetabular fractures will become more prevalent. Appropriate screening strategies, treatment and prevention plans will need to be developed to improve outcomes in this devastating injury.     

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and pregnancy. Apropos of a case]

The authors report on a case of a woman with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with cortisone therapy during pregnancy. No problems were encountered during the gestational period or at parturition; and no maternal or neonatal complications were observed.     

Determination of Synthetic Musks in Surface Sediment from the Bizerte Lagoon by QuEChERS Extraction Followed by GC-MS

A new analytical method for the simultaneous determination of eight synthetic musks compounds (SMs) including five polycyclic musks (PCMs) and three nitro musks (NMs) was validated for sediment samples based on a simple QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) sample preparation procedure followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Good analytical performances were obtained for all the target compounds. For the validation of the method, internal calibration (IC) and internal calibration with QuEChERS (ICQ) were compared. Good linearity was obtained for both calibration methods with determination coefficients (R²) ranging between 0.990 for Musk Xylene (MX) and 0.999 for Tonalide (AHTN) with IC and between 0.991 for Musk Ketone (MK) and 0.999 for Traseolide (ATII) with ICQ. The repeatability ranges were 0.1?%–1.9?% with the IC and 0.1?%–2.6?% with the ICQ. The apparent recoveries obtained for SMs in the standard reference sediment (SRM1944) varied in the range of 70?%–98?% and 75?%–103?% in the sediment from the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia). The absolute recoveries ranged between 61?% and 92?% for the SRM1944 and between 61?% and 89?% in the sediment from the Bizerte Lagoon. The limits of detection (LOD) calculated for the two main compounds, Galaxolide (HHCB) and Tonalide (AHTN) were 0.3 and 0.1 ng g^?1 respectively. The LODs obtained for ADBI (Celestolide), AHMI (Phantolide), ATII (Traseolide), MM (Muks mosken), MK (Musk Ketone) and MX (Musk Xylene) were 0.08, 0.12, 0.03, 0.34, 0.11, 0.08, 0.10 and 0.15 ng g^?1 respectively. The levels of ∑SMs in surface sediments from the Bizerte Lagoon ranged from 1.4 to 4.5 ng g^?1, which are 1000 times lower that the predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) for marine organisms.     

The investigation of structural and vibrational properties and optical behavior of Ti-doped La0.67Ba0.25Ca0.08Mn(1−x)TixO3 (x = 0.00, 0.05 and 0.10) manganites

The influence of Ti⁴⁺ ions incorporated into the B site on the structural, vibrational and optical properties of La_0.67Ba_0.25Ca_0.08Mn_(1−x)Ti_xO₃ (LBCM_(1−x)T_x), a polycrystalline compound prepared by a molten salt method, was discussed. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies confirmed that at room temperature these compounds crystallize in the rhombohedral phases of R$\bar{3}$c. Rietveld refinement indicated that the octahedron (Mn/Ti)O₆ underwent a slight deformation and the θ_{(Mn/Ti)–O–(Mn/Ti)} bond angles decreased with the increase in the Ti content. Furthermore, Raman spectra were recorded at room temperature for the LBCM_(1−x)T_x ceramics to investigate the influence of incorporated Ti⁴⁺ ions in LBCM_(1−x)T_x. Moreover, we controlled the frequency and damping of the optic modes based on Ti incorporation. The infrared (IR) absorption spectrum (FTIR) analysis in the span of 420–750 cm⁻¹ supports the XRD results. The diffuse reflectance data at room temperature verified that both transition levels (⁵E_g → ⁵T_5g) and (⁴A_2g → ⁴T_2g) correspond to the Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ ions. The optical band gap (E_g) values decreased from 2.90 eV to 2.70 eV with the increase in the Ti⁴⁺ content, implying that our samples could be good candidates for some applications in luminescent devices, such as ultrafast optoelectronic devices. Moreover, the photoluminescence spectra (PL) features at room temperature decreased for all samples. CIE were estimated for all the concentrations of Ti⁴⁺ ions. The results indicated that are a shifts in the CIE values of the compounds.

The influence of Ti⁴⁺ ions incorporated into the B site on the structural, vibrational and optical properties of La_0.67Ba_0.25Ca_0.08Mn_(1−x)Ti_xO₃ (LBCM_(1−x)T_x), a polycrystalline compound prepared by a molten salt method, was discussed.