Enzymatic epimerization of monoterpene indole alkaloids in Kratom.

Monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) are a large, structurally diverse class of bioactive natural products. These compounds are biosynthetically derived from a stereoselective Pictet-Spengler condensation that generates a tetrahydro-β-carboline scaffold characterized by a 3 stereocenter. However, a subset of MIAs contain a non-canonical 3 stereocenter.

Buffalo milk quality: a study of seasonal influence on composition and somatic cell count.

Despite buffalo milk being an important food worldwide, not much is known about factors that influence its quality on Brazilian buffalo milk farms. It ranks second in total volume of milk production, with cow milk in first place, but a lack of minimum legal parameters for buffalo milk is another problem faced by some countries, as it happens in Brazil where buffalo population represents less than one percent of dairy cows, even though Brazilian buffalo herd is one of the largest in Latin America, with a successful dairy processing chain. This study investigated the composition and somatic cell counts (SCC) of buffalo milk produced in a high-altitude tropical region in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, where buffalo calving naturally happens from February to May.

The role of the radiologist in the dengue endemic: a pictorial essay.

The dengue virus, a member of the family Flaviviridae, is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes a viral disease known as dengue fever that is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. It is estimated that there are 100-400 million new infections every year, with underreporting due to limited surveillance systems. The presentation ranges from asymptomatic to dengue shock syndrome.

Sustained improvement of obsessive-compulsive symptoms following interruption of deep brain stimulation.

A 59-year-old male with severe treatment-resistant OCD achieved sustained symptom improvement after discontinuing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for over four years. Despite partial relief with ventral capsule/ventral striatum (VC/VS) DBS, complications led to device removal in 2018. Remarkably, the patient remained largely symptom-free, suggesting neuroplasticity changes in dysfunctional neurocircuits.

A comprehensive study of common and rare genetic variants in spermatogenesis-related loci identifies new risk factors for idiopathic severe spermatogenic failure.

Study Question: Can genome-wide genotyping data be analysed using a hypothesis-driven approach to enhance the understanding of the genetic basis of severe spermatogenic failure (SPGF) in male infertility?

Summary Answer: Our findings revealed a significant association between SPGF and the gene and identified three novel genes (, , and ) along with 32 potentially pathogenic rare variants in 30 genes that contribute to this condition.

What Is Known Already: SPGF is a major cause of male infertility, often with an unknown aetiology. SPGF can be due to either multifactorial causes, including both common genetic variants in multiple genes and environmental factors, or highly damaging rare variants.