Ethyl lactate as a potential green solvent to extract hydrophilic (polar) and lipophilic (non-polar) phytonutrients simultaneously from fruit and vegetable by-products

Phytonutrients extracted from natural resources are receiving much attention among researchers due to their highly antioxidative characteristics which prevent several degenerative diseases including cardiovascular diseases and cancers. These nutraceutical compounds can be used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products as natural antioxidants, preservatives, colourants and functional foods. Huge volume of food wastes are generated from the processing industry and these low-value food residues are rich in various phytonutrients worth recovering. This approach of valorisation reduces the generation of food wastes and is cost-effective considering the cheap feedstock, reduced waste management expenses and high market value of extracted compounds. In light of the health and safety risks posed by commonly used organic extraction solvents derived from the petrochemical industry, there is a need to recover the phytonutrients using green, sustainable and efficient solvents that are safe for human consumption. This work discusses ethyl lactate as a safe, green, efficient and potentially cheap solvent to recover phytonutrients from fruit and vegetable by-products. Ethyl lactate is compared with other organic solvents commonly used from the aspects of safety, environmental impacts and efficiency. Current challenges when employing ethyl lactate are also discussed.     

Emerging from their burrow: Hedgehog pathway inhibitors for cancer

Introduction: Cancer treatment is moving away from conventional cytotoxic drugs and towards agents that target specific proteins and mechanisms important to cancer development or survival. The Hedgehog Pathway (HhP) is a signal transduction pathway and its constitutive activation is tumorigenic in basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The HhP enables phenotypic flexibility, and channels tumor-stroma interactions. As a result, it is over-expressed in numerous cancers as well as in the tumor microenvironment and may represent a promising therapeutic target.

Areas covered: In this article, we review the rationale for targeting HhP and its role as an oncogenic driver, in tumor epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and in the tumor microenvironment and describe the results of preclinical and clinical studies involving HhP inhibitors.

Expert opinion: HhP activation plays an important role in both the tumor microenvironment and tumor EMT which can lead to treatment resistance for a number of different malignancies. In addition to standard use in BCC, several HhP inhibitors are in preclinical, early, and mid-stage clinical development for other solid and hematologic malignancies.     

NT-proBNP reflects right ventricular structure and function in pulmonary hypertension.

The aim of the current study was to investigate whether alterations in N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) reflect changes in right ventricular structure and function in pulmonary hypertension patients during treatment. The study consisted of 30 pulmonary hypertension patients; 15 newly diagnosed and 15 on long-term treatment. NT-proBNP, right heart catheterisation and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging measurements were performed, at baseline and follow-up. There were no significant differences between newly diagnosed patients and those on treatment at baseline or follow-up with respect to NT-proBNP, haemodynamics and right ventricular parameters. Relative changes in NT-proBNP during treatment were correlated to the relative changes in right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (r = 0.59), right ventricular mass index (r = 0.62) and right ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.81). N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide measurements reflect changes in magnetic resonance imaging-measured right ventricular structure and function in pulmonary hypertension patients. An increase in N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide over time reflects right ventricular dilatation concomitant to hypertrophy and deterioration of systolic function.     

对诊断PADAM的游离睾酮指数的评估

目的 评价诊断中老年男子部分雄激素缺乏综合征（PADAM）的游离睾酮指数（FTI）.方法 对129例45岁以上健康男性的FTI进行年龄相关分析.以推算的游离睾酮（CFT）值为依据,对FTI进行有效性检验.结果 男子在中老年期FTI与增龄呈明显的负相关.FTI敏感性97.78%,特异性58.33%.结论 计算简单的FTI可用于PADAM病人的筛选和随访,尤其对70岁以上男子是血清FT较为有效的参数.     

Heubner回返动脉显微外科解剖及其临床应用

目的 :为前交通动脉复合体部位显微手术避免损伤Heubner回返动脉提供相关的应用解剖学资料。方法 :对经双侧椎动脉 (VA)、颈内动脉 (ICA)乳胶灌注的尸头标本 2 2例 ,按翼点入路方向 ,在手术显微镜下解剖观测 2 0例Heubner回返动脉的起点、管径、行径及其毗邻关系。 2例模拟手术操作。结果 :(1)本组观测到 4 3支回返动脉 ,其中 39支Heubher回返动脉 ;4支副Heubner回返动脉。 (2 )Heubner回返动脉 4 6 .5 % (2 0 / 4 3)起于A2 段 ,2 5 .6 % (11/ 4 3)起于A1段 ,2 7.9% (12 /4 3)起于前交通动脉 (ACOA)水平的大脑前动脉 (ACA)。 (3)Heubner回返动脉起点管径 :左侧 0 .81± 0 .2 1mm(0 .35～ 1.17mm) ;右侧 0 .84± 0 .2 6mm(0 .37～ 1.2 1mm)。 (4 )回返动脉发出后 ,与ACA反方向成锐角 ,沿A1上壁、外侧及后内侧 ,越过ICA两分叉 ,经大脑中动脉 (MCA)始段前面穿通入脑 ,少数回返动脉行走于前穿质 (APS)的后部。A1近端 3～ 5mm或中 1/ 3段穿通支少。结论 :在前交通动脉复合体部位手术时 ,A1近端 3～ 5mm或中 1/ 3段夹闭 ,并解剖寻找、剥离Heubner回返动脉 ,可避免损伤Heubner回返动脉及其它穿通支 ,最大限度减少术后并发症     

Working‐correlation‐structure identification in generalized estimating equations

Selecting an appropriate working correlation structure is pertinent to clustered data analysis using generalized estimating equations (GEE) because an inappropriate choice will lead to inefficient parameter estimation. We investigate the well‐known criterion of QIC for selecting a working correlation structure, and have found that performance of the QIC is deteriorated by a term that is theoretically independent of the correlation structures but has to be estimated with an error. This leads us to propose a correlation information criterion (CIC) that substantially improves the QIC performance. Extensive simulation studies indicate that the CIC has remarkable improvement in selecting the correct correlation structures. We also illustrate our findings using a data set from the Madras Longitudinal Schizophrenia Study. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

再次泪囊鼻腔吻合术的临床分析

本文报告了１０例慢性泪囊炎患者，行泪囊鼻腔吻合术后，发生吻合口阻塞，再次行泪囊鼻腔吻合术，手术治愈率１００％。并就其阻塞的原因、防止方法、治疗方法进行了讨论     

改进后的腹腔镜腹腔内补片术在疝修补中的应用(附316例临床分析)

目的 腹腔镜腹腔内补片植入术(IPOM)，因有补片引起腹内组织粘连引发肠梗阻甚至复发等报道，目前争议较多，未能推广应用。作者改进了以上方法的多个步骤以克服该方法的不足。探讨改进后的方法在成人疝修补中的应用价值。方法 以缝合小儿疝的方法关闭内环口；把补片的中心固定在疝环口的中心：经腹壁用可吸收线代替钉合枪以针织的方法把补片四周牢牢地固定并展平紧贴在腹膜上。利用脐内侧韧带腹膜覆盖网片的内侧：减少网片外露的面积，减少粘连发生。结果 具有容易与腹膜相融合特性的网片能很快地与腹膜融合成一柔韧性组织，加强了疝环薄弱区，极少引起腹内肠管的粘连，更没有肠梗阻的发生，复发率低。结论 作者认为经过改进后的IPOM方法是一种效果确切、创伤少、并发症少、费用低、有微创优点。值得继续探索应用。