Anaerobic degradation of protocatechuate (3,4-dihydroxybenzoate) by Thauera aromatica strain AR-1.

The denitrifying bacterium Thauera aromatica strain AR-1 grows anaerobically with protocatechuate (3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (DHB)) as sole energy and carbon source. This bacterium harbors two distinct pathways for degradation of aromatic compounds, the benzoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) pathway for benzoate degradation and the hydroxyhydroquinone (HHQ) pathway for degradation of 3,5-DHB. In order to elucidate whether protocatechuate is degraded via the benzoyl-CoA or the HHQ pathway, induction experiments were carried out.

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study of the effect of pentoxifylline on ocular fundus pulsations.

Purpose: To estimate the short-term effects of pentoxifylline on ocular blood flow in healthy volunteers.

Methods: In ten healthy subjects, either 200 or 400 mg of pentoxifylline or placebo was administered intravenously over 90 minutes in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way crossover study design. Noninvasive measurements of blood pressure, pulse rate, flow variables in the radial artery, ocular fundus pulsations, and whole blood viscosity and filterability were performed at baseline and at 30-minute intervals until four hours after the start of drug infusion.