Effect of Stool Sampling on a Routine Clinical Method for the Quantification of Six Short Chain Fatty Acids in Stool Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are primarily produced in the caecum and proximal colon via the bacterial fermentation of undigested carbohydrates that have avoided digestion in the small intestine. Increasing evidence supports the critical role that SCFAs play in health and homeostasis. Microbial SCFAs, namely butyric acid, serve as a principal energy source for colonocytes, and their production is essential for gut integrity.

High performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry quantification of tryptophan metabolites in human serum and stool - Application to clinical cohorts in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, and its metabolites are involved in many physiological processes including neuronal functions, immune system, and gut homeostasis. Alterations to tryptophan metabolism are associated with various pathologies such as neurologic, psychiatric disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), metabolic disorders, and cancer. It is consequently critical to develop a reliable, quantitative method for the analysis of tryptophan and its downstream metabolites from the kynurenine, serotonin, and indoles pathways.

Effect of PET Size, Content and Mixing Process on the Rheological Characteristics of Flexible Pavement.

The performance of asphalt binder reinforced with waste plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was investigated. Penetration, ductility, softening point, and rotational viscosity tests were conducted to check the performance of the PET-reinforced pavement. The rheological properties of the binder were determined using amplitude sweep and frequency sweep tests and performance grade (PG) measurements of aged and unaged specimens.

Diaphragmatic Hernia with Gastric Volvulus and Complete Gastric Outlet Obstruction.

A combination of Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) along with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) considers a crucial approach in treating designated patients with alimentary and gynecological malignancies with the involvement of the peritoneal cavity. The foremost frequent surgical complications are leakage, digestive perforations, fistulas, intestinal obstruction, abscess, and peripancreatitis. This report presents a case of a patient with a late acquired herniation of guts through the diaphragm after CRS and HIPEC that were already done 6 months back.

Sox5 regulates beta-cell phenotype and is reduced in type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion, but the mechanisms underlying insulin secretion failure are not completely understood. Here, we show that a set of co-expressed genes, which is enriched for genes with islet-selective open chromatin, is associated with T2D. These genes are perturbed in T2D and have a similar expression pattern to that of dedifferentiated islets.

Characteristics of Lymphoproliferative Disorders with More Than One Aberrant Cell Population as Detected by 10-Color Flow Cytometry.

Background: We have evaluated the frequency of lymphoproliferative disorders with more than one aberrant population of monotypic B-cells detected during routine hematopathological diagnostics.

Materials And Methods: 2600 samples peripheral (blood, bone marrow, fine-needle aspirate, lymph node, and pleural fluid cell suspensions) were analyzed using a 10-color B-cell panel and a 10-color T-cell panel. A 10-color plasma cell/lymphoplasmacytic panel was performed when appropriate.

Valproic acid may exerts its cytotoxic effect through rassf1a expression induction in acute myeloid leukemia.

In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), despite the acceptance of standard intensive chemotherapy as an optimal induction regimen for all age groups, in the elderly patients, the best treatment should meet the challenge of multiple factors like age, comorbidities, and cytogenetics, making them ineligible for standard induction chemotherapy. Using the current low-intensity therapies like decitabine, azacitidine, and low-dose cytarabine as a single arm, outcomes for these patients remain poor. As a histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid (VPA) exhibit anticancer activity by triggering apoptosis, the mechanism of which is not yet completely clarified.

Stoichiometric and catalytic inter- and intramolecular hydroamination of terminal alkynes by frustrated Lewis pairs.

Frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) based on sterically encumbered anilines and the Lewis acid B(C6 F5 )3 were found to react with terminal alkynes effecting intermolecular hydroamination affording iminium alkynylborate species of the form [RPhNC(R')Me][R'CCB(C6 F5 )3 ]. In these cases, the reagent ratio of borane, aniline, and alkyne is 1:1:2. These reactions could also be performed in an intramolecular fashion by using anilines with alkynyl substituents effecting cyclization reactions.

Electrophilic phosphonium cations catalyze hydroarylation and hydrothiolation of olefins.

Electrophilic phosphonium cations (EPCs) are efficient main group catalysts for the hydroarylation of olefins under mild conditions, providing a facile route to substituted aniline, bis-arylamine, phenol, furan, thiophene, pyrrole, and indole derivatives. Similarly, EPCs catalyze the hydrothiolation of aryl olefins with thiophenol affording a series of alkyl aryl thioethers. Experimental data support a mechanism for these reactions that involves initial activation of the olefin.

Facile Protocol for Catalytic Frustrated Lewis Pair Hydrogenation and Reductive Deoxygenation of Ketones and Aldehydes.

A series of ketones and aldehydes are reduced in toluene under H2 in the presence of 5 mol % B(C6F5)3 and either cyclodextrin or molecular sieves affording a facile metal-free protocol for reduction to alcohols. Similar treatment of aryl ketones resulted in metal-free deoxygenation yielding aromatic hydrocarbons.

B(C6F5)3 mediated arene hydrogenation/transannulation of para-methoxyanilines.

The stoichiometric reaction of para-methoxyanilines and B(C6F5)3 under H2 results in reduction of the N-bound phenyl ring(s), and subsequent transannular ring closure with elimination of methanol, affording the respective 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives.

Mathematical modeling of a single stage ultrasonically assisted distillation process.

The ability of sonication phenomena in facilitating separation of azeotropic mixtures presents a promising approach for the development of more intensified and efficient distillation systems than conventional ones. To expedite the much-needed development, a mathematical model of the system based on conservation principles, vapor-liquid equilibrium and sonochemistry was developed in this study. The model that was founded on a single stage vapor-liquid equilibrium system and enhanced with ultrasonic waves was coded using MATLAB simulator and validated with experimental data for ethanol-ethyl acetate mixture.

Enabling catalytic ketone hydrogenation by frustrated Lewis pairs.

Hydrogenation of alkyl and aryl ketones using H2 is catalytically achieved in 18 examples using 5 mol % B(C6F5)3 in an ethereal solvent. In these cases the borane and ether behave as a frustrated Lewis pair to activate H2 and effect the reduction.

Frustrated Lewis pair-mediated C-O or C-H bond activation of ethers.

Protocols for the FLP-mediated transformation of ethers are presented. Distinct reaction pathways involving either C-O or C-H bond activation occur depending on the application of oxophilic B(C6F5)3 or hydridophilic tritylium ions as the Lewis acid.

Frustrated Lewis pair catalyzed hydroamination of terminal alkynes.

Catalytic amounts of the Lewis acid B(C6 F5 )3 enable the hydroamination of terminal alkynes by aryl amines to the corresponding enamines. In accord with the results of stoichiometric reactions, the mechanism of this reaction involves a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP). The hydroamination can be followed by an FLP-catalyzed hydrogenation, resulting in a one-pot stepwise synthesis of amine derivatives.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit e controls intracellular calcium homeostasis by regulation of cav1.2 surface expression.

Inappropriate surface expression of voltage-gated Ca(2+)channels (CaV) in pancreatic ß-cells may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. First, failure to increase intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations at the sites of exocytosis impedes insulin release. Furthermore, excessive Ca(2+) influx may trigger cytotoxic effects.

Tautomerism and metal complexation of 2-acylmethyl-2-oxazolines: a combined synthetic, spectroscopic, crystallographic and theoretical treatment.

A synthetic, structural and theoretical investigation into the solid-state, solution and gas phase structure(s) of six 2-acylmethyl-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolines is reported. Four of these materials, viz.α-[(4,5-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolyl)methylene]benzenemethanol (3a), α-[(4,5-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolyl)methylene]-(4-nitrobenzene)methanol (3b), 1-(4,5-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolyl)-3,3-dimethyl-1-buten-2-ol (3d) and (E)-1-phenyl-2-((3aR)-3,3a,8,8a-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[1,2-d]oxazol-2-ylidene)ethanone (3f) have been characterised in the solid-state by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.

Secreted frizzled-related protein 4 reduces insulin secretion and is overexpressed in type 2 diabetes.

A plethora of candidate genes have been identified for complex polygenic disorders, but the underlying disease mechanisms remain largely unknown. We explored the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by analyzing global gene expression in human pancreatic islets. A group of coexpressed genes (module), enriched for interleukin-1-related genes, was associated with T2D and reduced insulin secretion.

Reduced insulin exocytosis in human pancreatic β-cells with gene variants linked to type 2 diabetes.

The majority of genetic risk variants for type 2 diabetes (T2D) affect insulin secretion, but the mechanisms through which they influence pancreatic islet function remain largely unknown. We functionally characterized human islets to determine secretory, biophysical, and ultrastructural features in relation to genetic risk profiles in diabetic and nondiabetic donors. Islets from donors with T2D exhibited impaired insulin secretion, which was more pronounced in lean than obese diabetic donors.

Metal-free aromatic hydrogenation: aniline to cyclohexyl-amine derivatives.

Hydrogenation of the N-bound phenyl rings of amines, imines, and aziridine is achieved in the presence of H(2) and B(C(6)F(5))(3), affording the corresponding N-cyclohexylammonium hydridoborate salts.

Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of posterior lumbar interbody fusion.

Study Design: A prospective study investigated the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning in the assessment of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using carbon fiber cages.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether MRI scans in the coronal plane allow proper evaluation of interbody fusion through carbon cages.

Summary Of Background Data: Currently, there is no universally accepted radiologic assessment tool for evaluating fusion status after PLIF.

Rescue of K562 cells from MDM2-modulated p53-dependent apoptosis by growth factor-induced differentiation.

The wild-type human MDM2 protooncogene was tested for its ability to modulate apoptotic activity of the de novo expressed p53 tumor suppressor gene in K562 cells. We also studied the role of some cytokines in this phenomenon. K562, a human myeloid leukemia cell line, does not express p53 at the mRNA or protein level.

Role of p53 and RB on in vitro growth of normal umbilical cord blood cells.

Human umbilical cord blood (UCB) is rich in hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors and recently has been used in the clinic as an alternative source for graft and marrow repopulation. We tried to determine in vitro the roles of wild-type (wt) p53 and wt RB tumor/growth suppressor genes in the regulation of proliferation and maturation of hematopoietic UCB cells. CD34+ cells, isolated from mononuclear cells of UCB, were cultured in semisolid medium under conditions that favor growth of hematopoietic cells.