Synthesis of β-Alanine From Isoleucine and Propionate Catabolism via Aminotransferases.

In plants, the nonproteinogenic amino acid β-alanine plays a role in response to hypoxia, flooding, drought, heat, and heavy metal stress conditions. It is also a key intermediate in the synthesis of essential molecules including vitamin B5 and coenzyme A (CoA) through the condensation reaction with pantoate. While the syntheses of pantoate, vitamin B5, and CoA appear to be conserved across plants and bacteria, the synthesis of β-alanine is not.

Opioid toxicity after oxycodone/naloxone to oxycodone conversion: case series.

Combination preparations of oxycodone/naloxone are marketed to aid in the management of opioid induced bowel dysfunction, with caution advised in prescribing in cases of liver dysfunction.This case series demonstrates four cases of patients with normal liver function tests who developed significant opioid toxicity on conversion from combination oxycodone/naloxone to oxycodone at equivalent doses, necessitating significant dose reduction.In each case, a cause for intra-hepatic shunting such as cirrhosis, porto-systemic collaterals or thrombosis were identified, highlighting these as cautionary features when prescribing combination preparations of oxycodone/naloxone and the possible need for dose reduction if converting to oxycodone.