bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ferulago nodosa Subsp. geniculata (Guss.) Troia & Raimondo from Sicily (Italy): Isolation of Essential Oil and Evaluation of Its Bioactivity
Authors: Badalamenti Natale , Ilardi Vincenzo , Rosselli Sergio , Bruno Maurizio , Maggi Filippo , Leporini Mariarosaria , Falco Tiziana , Loizzo Monica R. , Tundis Rosa
Published: July 2020

Ferulago nodosa (L.) Boiss. (Apiaceae) is a species occurring in the Balkan-Tyrrhenian area. The object of the present study is Sicilian F. nodosa subsp. geniculata (Guss.) Troia & Raimondo, classified as an endemic F. nodosa subspecies. Aerial parts of this plant species were subjected to hydrodistillation to obtain an essential oil. A total of 93 compounds were identified with 2,3,6-trimethyl benzaldehyde (19.0%), spathulenol (9.0%), (E)-caryophyllene (5.4%), and caryophyllene oxide (5.4%) as the main components. The biological activities of F. nodosa essential oil were also investigated. This oil showed an interesting antioxidant potential in a 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) test (IC50 of 14.05 μg/mL). Additionally, hypoglycemic and antilipidemic effects were evaluated. Lipase enzyme was inhibited with an IC50 value of 41.99 μg/mL. Obtained data demonstrated that F. nodosa could be considered a promising source of bioactive compounds useful for the treatment and management of obesity.
Development of an Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Interface for GC-MS
Authors: Lipok Christian , Uteschil Florian , Schmitz Oliver J.
Published: July 2020

A closed atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) ion source as interface between a gas chromatograph (GC) and a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (QqQ-MS) was developed. The influence of different ion source conditions, such as humidity, make-up gas flow, and the position of the GC column, were investigated and determined as main factors to increase sensitivity and repeatability of the system. For a performance test under real conditions, the new APCI ion source was used for the determination of plant protection products in commercially available coffee beans from Vietnam. The ionization behavior was investigated and the majority of the analytes were detected as [MH]+, [M]+∙, or as characteristic fragment ions, which have been assigned to ion source fragmentation. The developed GC-MS methods are based on tandem MS (MS/MS) and revealed for the plant protection products limits of detection (LOD) between 1 and 250 pg on column and relative standard derivations for all compounds < 16%. The used ultrasonic solid–liquid extraction yielded recovery rates of approximately 60 to 100%. Residues of herbicide methyl esters, organophosphorus compounds, and organonitrogen compounds have been detected in the analyzed coffee beans.
Microsphere Polymers in Molecular Imprinting: Current and Future Perspectives
Authors: Orowitz Tirza Ecclesia , Ana Sombo Patria Pari Agnes Ago , Rahayu Driyanti , Hasanah Aliya Nur
Published: July 2020

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are specific crosslinked polymers that exhibit binding sites for template molecules. MIPs have been developed in various application areas of biology and chemistry; however, MIPs have some problems, including an irregular material shape. In recent years, studies have been conducted to overcome this drawback, with the synthesis of uniform microsphere MIPs or molecularly imprinted microspheres (MIMs). The polymer microsphere is limited to a minimum size of 5 nm and a molecular weight of 10,000 Da. This review describes the methods used to produce MIMs, such as precipitation polymerisation, controlled/‘Living’ radical precipitation polymerisation (CRPP), Pickering emulsion polymerisation and suspension polymerisation. In addition, some green chemistry aspects and future perspectives will also be given.
Determination of Tryptophan Metabolites in Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples Using Microextraction by Packed Sorbent, Silylation and GC–MS Detection
Authors: Pautova Alisa , Khesina Zoya , Getsina Maria , Sobolev Pavel , Revelsky Alexander , Beloborodova Natalia
Published: July 2020

Indole-containing acids—tryptophan metabolites—found in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of patients with diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) were determined with the use of microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) followed by silylation and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. MEPS with the following silylation led to the reproducible formation of derivatives with an unsubstituted hydrogen ion in the indole ring, the chromatographic peaks of which are symmetric and can be used for GC–MS analysis without additional derivatization. The recoveries of analytes at the limit of quantitation (LOQ) levels were 40–80% for pooled CSF and 40–60% for serum. The limit of detection (LOD) and LOQ values were 0.2–0.4 and 0.4–0.5 µM, respectively, for both CSF and serum. The precision (the reproducibility, RSD) value of less than 20% and the accuracy (the relative error, RE) value of less than ±20% at the LOQ concentrations meet the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations. Linear correlations for all analytes were determined over a potentially clinically significant range of concentrations (0.4–10 µM for serum, R2 ≥ 0.9942, and 0.4–7 µM for CSF, R2 ≥ 0.9949). Moreover, MEPS significantly reduced the matrix effect of serum compared to liquid–liquid extraction (LLE), which was revealed in the example of reducing the amount of cholesterol and its relative compounds.
Determination of Polypeptide Antibiotic Residues in Food of Animal Origin by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Bladek Tomasz , Szymanek-Bany Iwona , Posyniak Andrzej
Published: July 2020

A novel UHPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of polypeptide antibiotic residues in animal muscle, milk, and eggs was developed and validated. Bacitracin A, colistin A, colistin B, polymyxin B1, and polymyxin B2 were extracted from the samples with a mixture of acetonitrile/water/ammonia solution 25%, 80/10/10 (v/v/v), and put through further evaporation, reconstitution, and filtration steps. The chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column in gradient elution mode. Mass spectral acquisitions were performed in selective multiple reaction monitoring mode by a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The method was validated according to the criteria of Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The method quantifies polypeptides in a linear range from 10 to 1000 μg kg−1, where the lowest concentration on the calibration curve refers to the limit of quantification (LOQ). The recoveries ranged from 70 to 99%, the repeatability was below 13%, and within-laboratory reproducibility was lower than 15%. The decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) values were calculated, and ruggedness and stability studies were performed, to fulfill the criteria for confirmatory methods. Moreover, the developed method may also be used for screening purposes by its labor efficiency.
Asymmetric Preparation of α-Quaternary Fluorinated β-keto Esters. Review
Authors: Granados Albert , Vallribera Adelina
Published: July 2020

In this review, recent advances over the past decade in the preparation of fluorinated stereogenic quaternary centers on β-keto esters compounds are analyzed. Since the incorporation of fluorine and fluorinated groups is of special interest in pharmaceutical chemistry, a range of metal-catalyzed and organocatalyzed methods have been developed. Herein, we review the enantioselective fluorination, trifluoromethylation and trifluoromethylthiolation of 3-oxo esters. The scope, the induction of enantioselectivity and mechanistic investigations are presented.
Quantification of Veterinary Antibiotics in Pig and Poultry Feces and Liquid Manure as a Non-Invasive Method to Monitor Antibiotic Usage in Livestock by Liquid Chromatography Mass-Spectrometry
Authors: Patyra Ewelina , Kwiatek Krzysztof , Nebot Carolina , Gavilán Rosa Elvira
Published: July 2020

Antibiotics are active substances frequently used to treat and prevent diseases in animal husbandry, especially in swine and poultry farms. The use of manure as a fertilizer may lead to the dispersion of antibiotic residue into the environment and consequently the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Most pharmaceutical active ingredients are excreted after administration, in some cases up to 90% of the consumed dose can be found in the feces and/or urine as parent compound. Therefore, due to antibiotic metabolism their residues can be easily detected in manure. This article describes a method for simultaneous analysis of ciprofloxacin, chlortetracycline, doxycycline, enrofloxacin, lincomycin, oxytetracycline, tetracycline, tiamulin, trimethoprim and tylosin in feces, liquid manure and digestate. Antibiotics were extracted from the different matrices with McIlvaine-Na2EDTA buffer solution and the extract was purified by the use two techniques: d-SPE and SPE (Strata-X-CW cartridges) and final eluent was analyzed by LC-MS and LC-MS/MS. The European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC was followed to conduct the validation of the method. Recoveries obtained from spiked pig and poultry feces and liquid manures samples ranged from 63% to 93% depending on analytes. The analysis of 70 samples (feces, liquid manure and digestate) revealed that 18 samples were positive for the presence of doxycycline, oxytetracycline, tetracycline, chlortetracycline, enrofloxacin, tiamulin and lincomycin. The results obtained in the presented study demonstrated that animal feces can be used as a non-invasive method detection antibiotic usage in animal production.
Effect of Quercetin on Dexamethasone-Induced C2C12 Skeletal Muscle Cell Injury
Authors: Chen Chun , Yang Jai-Sing , Lu Chi-Cheng , Chiu Yu-Jen , Chen Hung-Che , Chung Mei-Ing , Wu Yu-Tse , Chen Fu-An
Published: July 2020

Glucocorticoids are widely used anti-inflammatory drugs in clinical settings. However, they can induce skeletal muscle atrophy by reducing fiber cross-sectional area and myofibrillar protein content. Studies have proven that antioxidants can improve glucocorticoid-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. Quercetin is a potent antioxidant flavonoid widely distributed in fruits and vegetables and has shown protective effects against dexamethasone-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. In this study, we demonstrated that dexamethasone significantly inhibited cell growth and induced cell apoptosis by stimulating hydroxyl free radical production in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Our results evidenced that quercetin increased C2C12 skeletal cell viability and exerted antiapoptotic effects on dexamethasone-treated C2C12 cells by regulating mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and reducing oxidative species. Quercetin can protect against dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy by regulating the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio at the protein level and abnormal ΔΨm, which leads to the suppression of apoptosis.
Comparison of Chemotherapeutic Activities of Rhodamine-Based GUMBOS and NanoGUMBOS
Authors: Bhattarai Nimisha , Chen Mi , L. Pérez Rocío , Ravula Sudhir , M. Strongin Robert , McDonough Karen , M. Warner Isiah
Published: July 2020

Rhodamine derivatives have been widely investigated for their mitochondrial targeting and chemotherapeutic properties that result from their lipophilic cationic structures. In previous research, we have found that conversion of Rhodamine 6G into nanoGUMBOS, i.e., nanomaterials derived from a group of uniform materials based on organic salts (GUMBOS), led to selective chemotherapeutic toxicity for cancer cells over normal cells. Herein, we investigate the chemotherapeutic activity of GUMBOS derived from four different rhodamine derivatives, two bearing an ester group, i.e., Rhodamine 123 (R123) and SNAFR-5, and two bearing a carboxylic acid group, i.e., rhodamine 110 (R110) and rhodamine B (RB). In this study, we evaluate (1) relative hydrophobicity via octanol–water partition coefficients, (2) cytotoxicity, and (3) cellular uptake in order to evaluate possible structure–activity relationships between these different compounds. Intriguingly, we found that while GUMBOS derived from R123 and SNAFR-5 formed nanoGUMBOS in aqueous medium, no distinct nanoparticles are observed for RB and R110 GUMBOS. Further investigation revealed that the relatively high water solubility of R110 and RB GUMBOS hinders nanoparticle formation. Subsequently, while R123 and SNAFR-5 displayed selective chemotherapeutic toxicity similar to that of previously investigated R6G nanoGUMBOS, the R110 and RB GUMBOS were lacking in this property. Additionally, the chemotherapeutic toxicities of R123 and SNAFR-5 nanoGUMBOS were also significantly greater than R110 and RB GUMBOS. Observed results were consistent with decreased cellular uptake of R110 and RB as compared to R123 and SNAFR-5 compounds. Moreover, these results are also consistent with previous observations that suggest that nanoparticle formation is critical to the observed selective chemotherapeutic properties as well as the chemotherapeutic efficacy of rhodamine nanoGUMBOS.
A Fast and Reliable UHPLC–MS/MS-Based Method for Screening Selected Pharmacologically Significant Natural Plant Indole Alkaloids
Authors: Tarkowská Danuše
Published: July 2020

Many substances of secondary plant metabolism have often attracted the attention of scientists and the public because they have certain beneficial effects on human health, although the reason for their biosynthesis in the plant remains unclear. This is also the case for alkaloids. More than 200 years have passed since the discovery of the first alkaloid (morphine), and several thousand substances of this character have been isolated since then. Most often, alkaloid-rich plants are part of folk medicine with centuries-old traditions. What is particularly important to monitor for these herbal products is the spectrum and concentrations of the present active substances, which decide whether the product has a beneficial or toxic effect on human health. In this work, we present a fast, reliable, and robust method for the extraction, preconcentration, and determination of four selected alkaloids with an indole skeleton, i.e., harmine, harmaline, yohimbine, and ajmalicine, by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The applicability of the method was demonstrated for tobacco and Tribulus terrestris plant tissue, the seeds of Peganum harmala, and extract from the bark of the African tree Pausinystalia johimbe.
Horticultural Plant Residues as New Source for Lignocellulose Nanofibers Isolation: Application on the Recycling Paperboard Process
Authors: Bascón-Villegas Isabel , Espinosa Eduardo , Sánchez Rafael , Tarrés Quim , Pérez-Rodríguez Fernando , Rodríguez Alejandro
Published: July 2020

Horticultural plant residues (tomato, pepper, and eggplant) were identified as new sources for lignocellulose nanofibers (LCNF). Cellulosic pulp was obtained from the different plant residues using an environmentally friendly process, energy-sustainable, simple, and with low-chemical reagent consumption. The chemical composition of the obtained pulps was analyzed in order to study its influence in the nanofibrillation process. Cellulosic fibers were subjected to two different pretreatments, mechanical and TEMPO(2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-piperidin-1-oxyl)-mediated oxidation, followed by high-pressure homogenization to produce different lignocellulose nanofibers. Then, LCNF were deeply characterized in terms of nanofibrillation yield, cationic demand, carboxyl content, morphology, crystallinity, and thermal stability. The suitability of each raw material to produce lignocellulose nanofibers was analyzed from the point of view of each pretreatment. TEMPO-mediated oxidation was identified as a more effective pretreatment to produce LCNF, however, it produces a decrease in the thermal stability of the LCNF. The different LCNF were added as reinforcing agent on recycled paperboard and compared with the improving produced by the industrial mechanical beating. The analysis of the papersheets’ mechanical properties shows that the addition of LCNF as a reinforcing agent in the paperboard recycling process is a viable alternative to mechanical beating, achieving greater reinforcing effect and increasing the products’ life cycles.
Role of Phase Change Materials Containing Carbonized Rice husks on the Roof-Surface and Indoor Temperatures for Cool Roof System Application
Authors: Kim Hong Gun , Kim Yong-Sun , Kwac Lee Ku , Park Mira , Shin Hye Kyoung
Published: July 2020

This study researches the effect of phase change materials (PCMs) containing carbonized rice husks (CRHs) in wood plastic composites (WPCs) as roof finishing materials on roof-surface and indoor temperatures. A cool roof miniature model was prepared, and measurements were taken using three fixed temperatures of 30 to 32 °C, 35 to 37 °C, and 40 to 42 °C. Sodium sulfate decahydrate (Na2SO4·10H2O) and paraffin wax were selected as the PCMs. CRHs were used as additives to improve the thermal conductivities of the PCMs. At lower fixed temperatures such as 30 to 32 °C and 35 to 37 °C, the rates of increase of the surface temperatures of roofs containing CRHs with Na2SO4·10H2O, and paraffin wax, were observed to gradually decrease compared to those of the roofs without PCMs. The indoor temperatures for the above-mentioned PCMs containing CRHs were maintained to be lower than those of the indoors without PCMs. Additionally, as the CRH content in the PCM increased, the rates of increase of the roof-surface and indoor temperatures decreased due to a faster roof heat absorption by PCMs through the improved thermal conductivity of CRHs. However, under higher artificial temperatures such as 40 to 42 °C, Na2SO4·10H2O with CRHs exhibited no effect due to being out of latent heat range of Na2SO4·H2O. For paraffin wax, as CRH content increased, their roof- surface and indoor temperatures decreased. Especially, the surface temperature of the roof containing paraffin contained 5 wt.% CRHs reduced by 11 °C, and its indoor temperature dropped to 26.4 °C. The thermal conductivity of PCM was enhanced by the addition of CRHs. A suitable PCM selection in each location can result in the reduction of the roof-surface and indoor temperatures.
Insights into the Properties and Potential Applications of Renewable Carbohydrate-Based Ionic Liquids: A Review
Authors: Gaida Bartłomiej , Brzęczek-Szafran Alina
Published: July 2020

Carbohydrate-derived ionic liquids have been explored as bio-alternatives to conventional ionic liquids for over a decade. Since their discovery, significant progress has been made regarding synthetic methods, understanding their environmental effect, and developing perspectives on their potential applications. This review discusses the relationships between the structural properties of carbohydrate ionic liquids and their thermal, toxicological, and biodegradability characteristics in terms of guiding future designs of sugar-rich systems for targeted applications. The synthetic strategies related to carbohydrate-based ionic liquids, the most recent relevant advances, and several perspectives for possible applications spanning catalysis, biomedicine, ecology, biomass, and energy conversion are presented herein.
Preparation of Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) and Amine Modified PGMA Adsorbents for Purification of Glucosinolates from Cruciferous Plants
Authors: Cheng Li , Wu Jianpeng , Liang Hao , Yuan Qipeng
Published: July 2020

Glucosinolates (GLs) are of great interest for their potential as antioxidant and anticancer compounds. In this study, macroporous crosslinked copolymer adsorbents of poly (glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) and its amine (ethylenediamine, diethylamine, triethylamine)-modified derivatives were prepared and used to purify the GLS glucoerucin in a crude extract obtained from a cruciferous plant. These four adsorbents were evaluated by comparing their adsorption/desorption and decolorization performance for the purification of glucoerucin from crude plant extracts. According to the results, the strongly basic triethylamine modified PGMA (PGMA-III) adsorbent showed the best adsorption and desorption capacity of glucoerucin, and its adsorption data was a good fit to the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetics; the PGMA adsorbent gave the optimum decolorization performance. Furthermore, dynamic adsorption/desorption experiments were carried out to optimize the purification process. Two glass columns were serially connected and respectively wet-packed with PGMA and PGMA-III adsorbents so that glucoerucin could be decolorized and isolated from crude extracts in one process. Compared with KCl solution, aqueous ammonia was a preferable desorption solvent for the purification of glucoerucin and overcame the challenges of desalination efficiency, residual methanol and high operation costs. The results showed that after desorption with 10% aqueous ammonia, the purity of isolated glucoerucin was 74.39% with a recovery of 80.63%; after decolorization with PGMA adsorbent, the appearance of glucoerucin was improved and the purity increased by 11.30%. The process of using serially connected glass columns, wet-packed with PGMA and PGMA-III, may provide a simple, low-cost, and efficient method for the purification of GLs from cruciferous plants.
Covalent Organic Frameworks in Sample Preparation
Authors: González-Sálamo Javier , Jiménez-Skrzypek Gabriel , Ortega-Zamora Cecilia , González-Curbelo Miguel Ángel , Hernández-Borges Javier
Published: July 2020

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) can be classified as emerging porous crystalline polymers with extremely high porosity and surface area size, and good thermal stability. These properties have awakened the interests of many areas, opening new horizons of research and applications. In the Analytical Chemistry field, COFs have found an important application in sample preparation approaches since their inherent properties clearly match, in a good number of cases, with the ideal characteristics of any extraction or clean-up sorbent. The review article is meant to provide a detailed overview of the different COFs that have been used up to now for sample preparation (i.e., solid-phase extraction in its most relevant operational modes—conventional, dispersive, magnetic/solid-phase microextraction and stir-bar sorptive extraction); the extraction devices/formats in which they have been applied; and their performances and suitability for this task.
Royal Jelly—A Traditional and Natural Remedy for Postmenopausal Symptoms and Aging-Related Pathologies
Authors: Bălan Andreea , Moga Marius Alexandru , Dima Lorena , Toma Sebastian , Elena Neculau Andrea , Anastasiu Costin Vlad
Published: July 2020

Women’s life stages are based on their reproductive cycle. This cycle begins with menstruation and ends with menopause. Aging is a natural phenomenon that affects all humans, and it is associated with a decrease in the overall function of the organism. In women, aging is related with and starts with menopause. Also, during menopause and postmenopausal period, the risk of various age-related diseases and complaints is higher. For this reason, researchers were pushed to find effective remedies that could promote healthy aging and extended lifespan. Apitherapy is a type of alternative medicine that uses natural products from honeybees, such as honey, propolis, royal jelly, etc. Royal jelly is a natural yellowish-white substance, secreted by both hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nurse bees, usually used to feed the queen bees and young worker larvae. Over the centuries, this natural product was considered a gold mine for traditional and natural medicine, due to its miraculous effects. Royal jelly has been used for a long time in commercial medical products. It has been demonstrated to possess a wide range of functional properties, such as: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, vasodilatative, hypotensive, anticancer, estrogen-like, antihypercholesterolemic, and antioxidant activities. This product is usually used to supplement various diseases such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, sexual dysfunctions, diabetes or cancer. The main objective of this study is to highlight the effectiveness of royal jelly supplementation in relieving menopause symptoms and aging-related diseases. We also aimed to review the most recent research advances regarding the composition of royal jelly for a better understanding of the effects on human health promotion.
Flavanone-Based Fluorophores with Aggregation-Induced Emission Enhancement Characteristics for Mitochondria-Imaging and Zebrafish-Imaging
Authors: Li Na , Liu Liyan , Luo Huiqing , Wang Huaqiao , Yang Depo , He Feng
Published: July 2020

Fluorophores with aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) characteristics applied in bioimaging have attracted more and more attention in recent years. In this work, a series of flavanone compounds with AIEE characteristics was developed and applied to fluorescence imaging of mitochondria and zebrafish. The compounds were readily prepared by the thermal dehydration of chalcone that was obtained by the reaction of o-hydroxyacetophenone and benzaldehyde. Two of these compounds showed significant AIEE characteristics by fluorescence performance experiments, including optical spectra, fluorescence spectra, fluorescence quantum yield (φF), fluorescence lifetime, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Compared with traditional organic fluorescent dyes, these compounds have high fluorescence emission and high fluorescence quantum yield in solid or aggregated state, which overcomes the shortcoming of aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). More importantly, the two compounds exhibited low cytotoxicity and good cytocompatibility in A549 lung cells at the experimental concentration range and they specifically targeted mitochondria, which make it of great potential use in mitochondria labeling. In addition, they were embryonic membrane permeable and had different affinities for different tissues and organs of zebrafish, but mainly distributed in the digestive system, providing a basis for the application of such compounds in bioimaging. These AIEE compounds with superior properties could be of great potential use in mitochondria imaging and other in vivo studies.
Properties of Polyhexamethylene Guanidine (PHMG) Associated with Fatal Lung Injury in Korea
Authors: Park Dong-Uk , Park Jihoon , Yang Kee Won , Park Ju-Hyun , Kwon Jung-Hwan , Oh Han Bin
Published: July 2020

The use of humidifier disinfectant (HD) has been determined to be associated with lung injuries (HDLI) in Korea. Although HD brands containing polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) oligomers have been found to cause more HDLI compared to brands containing other disinfectants, the physicochemical properties of PHMG have been poorly defined. We aimed to quantify the PHMG dissolved in HD brands, characterize the number-average (Mn) and weight-average (Mw) molecular masses, and identify the polymerization degree of PHMG. Analysis of the PHMG oligomers was performed using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS) operated in positive-ion reflectron mode. Eight brands of HD containing PHMG were identified. The PHMG concentrations in these brands ranged from 160 to 37,200 ppm (mean = 3100.9 ppm). Concentration was a significant variable among and within HD brands. The degree of PHMG oligomerization fell within the range of two to four. The averages of Mn and Mw were 517.2 g/mol (range: 422–613 g/mol) and 537.3 g/mol (range: 441.0–678.0 g/mol), respectively. Based on the average molecular weight and the degree of polymerization, the PHMG examined here could be regarded as oligomers, which may be associated with the highest proportion of HDLI being caused by PHMG.
Cassaine Diterpenoid Amide from Stem Bark of Erythrophleum fordii Suppresses Cytotoxic and Induces Apoptosis of Human Leukemia Cells
Authors: Nguyen Tu Thanh Thi , To Dao Cuong , Vo Phuong Hien Thi , Tran Thanh Hoa , Nguyen Phi Hung , Nguyen Hien Minh , Tran Manh Hung
Published: July 2020

Cassaine diterpenoids amides from the stem bark of Vietnamese Erythrophleum fordii Oliver were screened for their cytotoxic activity against human cancer cells. The cell proliferation assay results showed that, among the active compounds, 3β-acetyl-nor-erythrophlamide (3AEP) exhibited the most potential cytotoxicity against human leukemia HL-60 and KG cells with IC50 values of 12.0 ± 1.2 and 18.1 ± 2.7 µM, respectively. Treatment of 3AEP resulted in the apoptosis of HL-60 cells via the activation of caspase 3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Molecular docking in silico results showed that the 3AEP can bind to both the procaspase-3 allosteric site and the PARP-1 active site, with binding energies of −7.51 and −9.63 kcal/mol respectively. These results indicated that the stem bark of Vietnamese E. fordii and its cassaine diterpenoid amides may be useful in the apoptosis induction of human leukemia cancer cells.
Study on the Microwave-Assisted Batch and Continuous Flow Synthesis of N-Alkyl-Isoindolin-1-One-3-Phosphonates by a Special Kabachnik–Fields Condensation
Authors: Tajti Ádám , Tóth Nóra , Rávai Bettina , Csontos István , Szabó Pál Tamás , Bálint Erika
Published: July 2020

A simple and efficient microwave (MW)-assisted method was elaborated for the catalyst-free synthesis of isoindolin-1-one-3-phosphonates by the three-component condensation of 2-formylbenzoic acid, aliphatic primary amines and various dialkyl phosphites. The batch and the continuous flow reactions were optimized in respect of the temperature, the reaction time and the molar ratio of the starting materials. To evaluate the potential of MW irradiation, comparative thermal experiments were also carried out. In order to obtain “real time” information about the condensation, the special Kabachnik–Fields reaction of 2-formylbenzoic acid, butylamine and diethyl phosphite was monitored by in situ FT-IR spectroscopy. The novel title compounds could be prepared in high yields at low temperature under a short reaction time. A suitable method could also be developed for the preparation of the isoindolin-1-one-3-phosphonates at a “few g” scale by using a continuous flow MW reactor.
Design of Healthy Snack Based on Kiwifruit
Authors: Tylewicz Urszula , Nowacka Malgorzata , Rybak Katarzyna , Drozdzal Kinga , Dalla Rosa Marco , Mozzon Massimo
Published: July 2020

Kiwifruit is an excellent source of vitamin C and other bioactive compounds, which contribute to its high antioxidant activity. However, the fruits with small size and low weight are considered waste and are unprofitable; therefore, the production of healthy kiwifruit-based dried snacks, which contain a lot of health-beneficial ingredients, could be a viable alternative for their use. The aim of this study was to develop formulations and methods to produce attractive and nutritionally valuable dried snacks based on yellow kiwifruit. Three different puree formulations (kiwifruit; fennel; and strawberry, lemon, or spinach) with or without addition of sugar were subjected to two drying methods: freeze-drying (fruit bars) and conventional hot air drying (fruit leathers). The obtained products were analysed for their content of total polyphenols (TPs), flavonoids, and vitamin C, as well as their antioxidant activity. The results showed that snacks prepared by freeze-drying (fruit bars) presented higher TP, vitamin C, and flavonoids content than those prepared by convective drying; however, the antioxidant activity did not always follow this trend. The amount of bioactive compounds depended on the formulation used for the preparation of snacks. The effect of the sugar addition seems to be strictly related to the mix used and specific bioactive compound investigated.
Advanced Extraction of Lipids with DHA from Isochrysis galbana with Enzymatic Pre-Treatment Combined with Pressurized Liquids and Ultrasound Assisted Extractions
Authors: Señoráns María , Castejón Natalia , Señoráns Francisco Javier
Published: July 2020

Microalgal biomass is a sustainable and valuable source of lipids with omega-3 fatty acids. The efficient extraction of lipids from microalgae requires fast and alternative extraction methods, frequently combined with biomass pre-treatment by different procedures. In this work, Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was optimized and compared with traditional lipid extraction methods, Folch and Bligh and Dyer, and with a new Ultrasound Assisted Extraction (UAE) method for lipids from microalgae Isochrysis galbana. To further optimize PLE and UAE, enzymatic pre-treatment of microalga Isochrysis galbana was studied with commercial enzymes Viscozyme and Celluclast. No significant differences were found for lipid yields among different extraction techniques used. However, advanced extraction techniques with or without pre-treatment are a green, fast, and toxic solvent free alternative to traditional techniques. Lipid composition of Isochrysis was determined by HPLC-ELSD and included neutral and polar lipids, showing that each fraction comprised different contents in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The highest polar lipids content was achieved with UAE (50 °C and 15 min) and PLE (100 °C) techniques. Moreover, the highest omega-3 PUFA (33.2%), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (3.3%) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (12.0%) contents were achieved with the advanced technique UAE, showing the optimized method as a practical alternative to produce valuable lipids for food and nutraceutical applications.
Novel Biocompatible Polysaccharide-Based Eutectogels with Tunable Rheological, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties: The Role of Water
Authors: Xia Huiping , Ren Meijie , Zou Yue , Qin Si , Zeng Chaoxi
Published: July 2020

The natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) is an excellent solvent for insoluble natural products and medicines. Eutectogels formed by gelation of NADESs are interesting materials that deserve attention. In this study, xanthan gum was used as a gelator to gel choline chloride-xylitol with different water contents in virtue of the excellent solubility of choline chloride-xylitol (1:1) to quercetin. We observed that water was critical to the formation of eutectogels. An MTT assay indicated that our eutectogel had excellent biocompatibility as its corresponding hydrogel. According to rheological tests, xanthan gum-based eutectogels had better viscoelastic properties, higher thermal stability, and more defined shear thinning behavior than its corresponding hydrogel. Texture profile analysis showed that eutectogels with less water content had higher hardness and adhesiveness. Meanwhile, Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) results suggested that the various rheological and texture properties of eutectogels could be attributed to changes in the water state, which was influenced by the hydrogen bonding network of NADES. This biocompatible eutectogel with tunable properties was expected to find applications in novel drug delivery vehicles, which are widely used in the fields of medicine and food.
Synthesis of New Planar-Chiral Linked [2.2]Paracyclophanes-N-([2.2]-Paracyclophanylcarbamoyl)-4-([2.2]Paracyclophanylcarboxamide, [2.2]Paracyclophanyl-Substituted Triazolthiones and -Substituted Oxadiazoles
Authors: Aly Ashraf A. , Bräse Stefan , Hassan Alaa A. , Mohamed Nasr K. , El-Haleem Lamiaa E. Abd , Nieger Martin
Published: July 2020

The manuscript describes the synthesis of new racemic and chiral linked paracyclophane assigned as N-5-(1,4(1,4)-dibenzenacyclohexaphane-12-yl)carbamoyl)-5’-(1,4(1,4)-dibenzenacyclohexaphane-12-yl)carboxamide. The procedure depends upon the reaction of 5-(1,4(1,4)-dibenzenacyclohexaphane-12-yl)hydrazide with 5-(1,4(1,4)-dibenzenacyclohexaphane-12-yl)isocyanate. To prepare the homochiral linked paracyclophane of a compound, the enantioselectivity of 5-(1,4(1,4)-dibenzenacyclohexaphane-12-yl)carbaldehyde (enantiomeric purity 60% ee), was oxidized to the corresponding acid, which on chlorination, gave the corresponding acid chloride of [2.2]paracyclophane. Following up on the same procedure applied for the preparation of racemic-carbamoyl and purified by HPLC purification, we succeeded to obtain the target Sp-Sp-N-5-(1,4(1,4)-dibenzenacyclohexaphane-12-yl)carbamoyl)-5’-(1,4(1,4)-dibenzenacyclohexaphane-12-yl)carboxamide. Subjecting N-5-(1,4(1,4)-dibenzenacyclohexaphane-12-yl)hydrazide to various isothiocyanates, the corresponding paracyclophanyl-acylthiosemicarbazides were obtained. The latter compounds were then cyclized to a new series of 5-(1,4(1,4)-dibenzenacyclohexaphane-12-yl)-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-thiones. 5-(1,4(1,4)-Dibenzenacyclohexaphane-12-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-amines were also synthesized in good yields via internal cyclization of the same paracyclophanyl-acylthiosemicarbazides. NMR, IR, and mass spectra (HRMS) were used to elucidate the structure of the obtained products. The X-ray structure analysis was also used as an unambiguous tool to elucidate the structure of the products.
Refractometric Sensitivity Enhancement of Weakly Tilted Fiber Bragg Grating Integrated with Black Phosphorus
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Liu Kun , Jiang Junfeng , Xu Tianhua , Wang Shuang , Ma Jinying , Chang Pengxiang , Zhang Jiahang , Liu Tiegen
Published: July 2020

The sensitivity enhancement of the weakly tilted fiber Bragg grating (WTFBG) integrated with black phosphorus (BP) was investigated via numerical simulations and experimental demonstrations. BP nanosheets were deposited twice on the cylindrical WTFBG surface using the in situ layer-by-layer (i-LbL) deposition technique. The resonance intensity of the deepest cladding mode located around 1552 nm of WTFBG had a 9.2 dB decrease after the BP deposition process. This allows for the application of the intensity-modulated refractive index (RI) sensor. The sensing platform was implemented on the use of the BP integrated with WTFBG (BP-WTFBG). The refractometric sensing was achieved with the sensitivity enhancement of the resonance intensity modulation of the deepest cladding mode for the BP-WTFBG. The sensitivities were 137.6 dB/RIU and 75.6 dB/RIU in the RI region of 1.33–1.35 and 1.35–1.38, respectively. This platform shows great potential applications for biochemical sensing because of its highly sensitive RI sensing ability around the biochemical sensing window.
Impact of Treatment with RUTF on Plasma Lipid Profiles of Severely Malnourished Pakistani Children
Authors: Shokry Engy , Sadiq Kamran , Soofi Sajid , Habib Atif , Bhutto Naveed , Rizvi Arjumand , Ahmad Imran , Demmelmair Hans , Uhl Olaf , Bhutta Zulfiqar , Koletzko Berthold
Published: July 2020

(1) Background: Little is known on impacts of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) treatment on lipid metabolism in children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). (2) Methods: We analyzed glycerophospholipid fatty acids (FA) and polar lipids in plasma of 41 Pakistani children with SAM before and after 3 months of RUTF treatment using gas chromatography and flow-injection analysis tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using univariate, multivariate tests and evaluated for the impact of age, sex, breastfeeding status, hemoglobin, and anthropometry. (3) Results: Essential fatty acid (EFA) depletion at baseline was corrected by RUTF treatment which increased EFA. In addition, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) and the ratio of arachidonic acid (AA)/linoleic acid increased reflecting greater EFA conversion to LC-PUFA, whereas Mead acid/AA decreased. Among phospholipids, lysophosphatidylcholines (lyso.PC) were most impacted by treatment; in particular, saturated lyso.PC decreased. Higher child age and breastfeeding were associated with great decrease in total saturated FA (ΣSFA) and lesser decrease in monounsaturated FA and total phosphatidylcholines (ΣPC). Conclusions: RUTF treatment improves EFA deficiency in SAM, appears to enhance EFA conversion to biologically active LC-PUFA, and reduces lipolysis reflected in decreased ΣSFA and saturated lyso.PC. Child age and breastfeeding modify treatment-induced changes in ΣSFA and ΣPC.
Monitoring Mycoplasma bovis Diversity and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Calf Feedlots Undergoing a Respiratory Disease Outbreak
Authors: Becker Claire A.M. , Ambroset Chloé , Huleux Anthéa , Vialatte Angélique , Colin Adélie , Tricot Agnès , Arcangioli Marie-Anne , Tardy Florence
Published: July 2020

Bovine respiratory diseases (BRD) are widespread in veal calf feedlots. Several pathogens are implicated, both viruses and bacteria, one of which, Mycoplasma bovis, is under-researched. This worldwide-distributed bacterium has been shown to be highly resistant in vitro to the main antimicrobials used to treat BRD. Our objective was to monitor the relative prevalence of M. bovis during BRD episodes, its diversity, and its resistance phenotype in relation to antimicrobial use. For this purpose, a two-year longitudinal follow-up of 25 feedlots was organized and 537 nasal swabs were collected on 358 veal calves at their arrival in the lot, at the BRD peak and 4 weeks after collective antimicrobial treatments. The presence of M. bovis was assessed by real-time PCR and culture. The clones isolated were then subtyped (polC subtyping and PFGE analysis), and their susceptibility to five antimicrobials was determined. The course of the disease and the antimicrobials used had no influence on the genetic diversity of the M. bovis strains: The subtype distribution was the same throughout the BRD episode and similar to that already described in France, with a major narrowly-variable subtype circulating, st2. The same conclusion holds for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenotypes: All the clones were already multiresistant to the main antimicrobials used (except for fluoroquinolones) prior to any treatments. By contrast, changes of AMR phenotypes could be suspected for Pasteurellaceae in two cases in relation to the treatments registered.
Correlation of Feline Coronavirus Shedding in Feces with Coronavirus Antibody Titer
Authors: Felten Sandra , Klein-Richers Ute , Hofmann-Lehmann Regina , Bergmann Michèle , Unterer Stefan , Leutenegger Christian M. , Hartmann Katrin
Published: July 2020

Background: Feline coronavirus (FCoV) infection is ubiquitous in multi-cat households. Responsible for the continuous presence are cats that are chronically shedding a high load of FCoV. The aim of the study was to determine a possible correlation between FCoV antibody titer and frequency and load of fecal FCoV shedding in cats from catteries. Methods: Four fecal samples from each of 82 cats originating from 19 German catteries were examined for FCoV viral loads by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Additionally, antibody titers were determined by an immunofluorescence assay. Results: Cats with antibodies were more likely to be FCoV shedders than non-shedders, and there was a weak positive correlation between antibody titer and mean fecal virus load (Spearman r = 0.2984; p = 0.0072). Antibody titers were significantly higher if cats shed FCoV more frequently throughout the study period (p = 0.0063). When analyzing only FCoV shedders, cats that were RT-qPCR-positive in all four samples had significantly higher antibody titers (p = 0.0014) and significantly higher mean fecal virus loads (p = 0.0475) than cats that were RT-qPCR-positive in only one, two, or three samples. Conclusions: The cats’ antibody titers correlate with the likelihood and frequency of FCoV shedding and fecal virus load. Chronic shedders have higher antibody titers and shed more virus. This knowledge is important for the management of FCoV infections in multi-cat environments, but the results indicate that antibody measurement cannot replace fecal RT-qPCR.
Heterologous Expression of the Pathogen-Specific LIC11711 Gene in the Saprophyte L. biflexa Increases Bacterial Binding to Laminin and Plasminogen
Authors: Kochi Leandro Toshio , Fernandes Luis Guilherme Virgílio , Nascimento Ana Lucia Tabet Oller
Published: July 2020

Leptospirosis is a febrile disease and the etiological agents are pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The leptospiral virulence mechanisms are not fully understood and the application of genetic tools is still limited, despite advances in molecular biology techniques. The leptospiral recombinant protein LIC11711 has shown interaction with several host components, indicating a potential function in virulence. This study describes a system for heterologous expression of the L. interrogans gene lic11711 using the saprophyte L. biflexa serovar Patoc as a surrogate, aiming to investigate its possible activity in bacterial virulence. Heterologous expression of LIC11711 was performed using the pMaOri vector under regulation of the lipL32 promoter. The protein was found mainly on the leptospiral outer surface, confirming its location. The lipL32 promoter enhanced the expression of LIC11711 in L. biflexa compared to the pathogenic strain, indicating that this strategy may be used to overexpress low-copy proteins. The presence of LIC11711 enhanced the capacity of L. biflexa to adhere to laminin (Lam) and plasminogen (Plg)/plasmin (Pla) in vitro, suggesting the involvement of this protein in bacterial pathogenesis. We show for the first time that the expression of LIC11711 protein of L. interrogans confers a virulence-associated phenotype on L. biflexa, pointing out possible mechanisms used by pathogenic leptospires.
NIR Stimulus-Responsive PdPt Bimetallic Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery and Chemo-Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Chu Chun , Bao Zhihong , Sun Meng , Wang Xiaowei , Zhang Hongyan , Chen Weiguo , Sui Yang , Li Ji , Zhuang Yuanyuan , Wang Dongkai
Published: July 2020

The combination of chemotherapy and phototherapy has attracted increasing attention for cancer treatment in recent years. In the current study, porous PdPt bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized and used as delivery carriers for the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). DOX@PdPt NPs were modified with thiol functionalized hyaluronic acid (HA-SH) to generate DOX@PdPt@HA NPs with an average size of 105.2 ± 6.7 nm. Characterization and in vivo and in vitro assessment of anti-tumor effects of DOX@PdPt@HA NPs were further performed. The prepared DOX@PdPt@HA NPs presented a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 49.1% under the irradiation of a single 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) laser. Moreover, NIR laser irradiation-induced photothermal effect triggered the release of DOX from DOX@PdPt@HA NPs. The combined chemo-photothermal treatment of NIR-irradiated DOX@PdPt@HA NPs exerted a stronger inhibitory effect on cell viability than that of DOX or NIR-irradiated PdPt@HA NPs in mouse mammary carcinoma 4T1 cells in vitro. Further, the in vivo combination therapy, which used NIR-irradiated DOX@PdPt@HA NPs in a mouse tumor model established by subcutaneous inoculation of 4T1 cells, was demonstrated to achieve a remarkable tumor-growth inhibition in comparison with chemotherapy or photothermal therapy alone. Results of immunohistochemical staining for caspase-3 and Ki-67 indicated the increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation of tumor cells contributed to the anti-tumor effect of chemo-photothermal treatment. In addition, DOX@PdPt@HA NPs induced negligible toxicity in vivo. Hence, the developed nanoplatform demonstrates great potential for applications in photothermal therapy, drug delivery and controlled release.