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.     

Endotoxin-induced suppression of erythropoiesis: the role of erythropoietin and a heme synthesis stimulating factor

The regulation of erythropoiesis is primarily controlled by erythropoietin (Ep). Recently, however, other factors that both stimulate and inhibit erythropoiesis have been reported. Using an in vitro liquid culture of bone marrow cells, a factor in normal mouse serum was demonstrated that markedly stimulated heme synthesis by marrow erythroid cells. In this study, the role of this heme synthesis stimulating factor (HSF) and Ep in the erythropoietic suppression caused by endotoxin administration to mice was examined. Although HSF levels did not alter appreciably after endotoxin injection, marrow erythroid cells from these animals became unresponsive to the factor. This could be reversed if Ep was added to the culture in vitro or if the hormone was injected into the mice 18 hr prior to harvesting the marrow. This marrow erythroid cell response is identical to that seen in animals in whom Ep levels are markedly reduced, such as that found in exhypoxic polycythemia, and suggest a decrease in the hormone following endotoxin administration. Additional studies demonstrated that when Ep was injected into mice 6 hr after endotoxin administration, an increase in femoral erythroid colony-forming units (CFU-E), proerythroblast number, and 59 Fe incorporation into femoral marrow cells could be demonstrated. These findings, together with the marrow erythroid cell response to the hormone, suggest that the mechanism for suppression of erythropoiesis after endotoxin injection is a reduction in the level of circulating Ep.     

Congenital midline sinus of the upper lip

A congenital lip sinus is a rare condition that has been reported to occur in both the upper and lower lips, either in isolation or in association with congenital deformities such as a cleft lip and palate in Van der Woude syndrome. The prevalence of lower lip sinuses has been estimated to be about 0.00001% of the white population. Upper lip sinuses are even more uncommon. To date, there have been several case reports of upper lip sinuses and fistulas, but no similar cases have been described in Singapore. We herein report a case of congenital upper lip sinus presenting as a recurring upper lip abscess and review the current literature on this condition.     

Clinical investigation of human alpha interferon in chronic myelogenous leukemia

Fifty-one patients with previously untreated or minimally treated chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase received human alpha interferon 3 to 9 X 10(6) units intramuscularly (IM) daily until complete hematologic remission, then at doses ranging from 3 X 10(6) units every other day to 9 X 10(6) units daily. Forty-one (80%) patients achieved a hematologic response, 36 (71%) of them attaining a complete hematologic remission with normal peripheral WBC and differential counts. Responding patients showed continuous but slow normalization of several other blood and marrow parameters including platelet counts, serum lactic dehydrogenase and B12 levels, and marrow cellularity and maturation index. Suppression of the Philadelphia chromosome on serial cytogenetic studies of marrow metaphases was documented in 20 of the 36 patients who achieved complete hematologic remission (56%; 39% of total group), eight of whom (22%) had a decrease of the Philadelphia chromosome-positive metaphases to less than 35%. These changes were persistent for 6 months or longer in 18 patients, seven of whom had continuous suppression of the Philadelphia chromosome to less than 90% for a median of 30+ months (range 21+ to 39+ months). After a median follow-up period of 37 months, 25 patients remain in continued disease control with interferon therapy. The projected 3-year survival rate is 76%, with a yearly death rate of 6%, 9%, and 9% in the first 3 years. Response, Philadelphia chromosome suppression, and survival were significantly better among patients in the low-risk category compared to intermediate- and high-risk categories, as defined by a multivariate analysis-derived prognostic model. The projected 3- year survival rate was 94% for patients who achieved a complete hematologic remission on interferon therapy and 45% for those who did not. Thirteen patients have developed blastic crisis, six with lymphoid and three with undifferentiated morphology. We conclude that human leukocyte alpha interferon effectively controls chronic myeloid leukemia and allows reappearance of diploid hemopoietic cells in some patients.