pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Advances in isoflavone profile characterisation using matrix solid-phase dispersion coupled to HPLC/DAD in medicago species

Analytical methods used in phytochemistry analysis are limited by the sample preparation step, which should ideally be fast, accurate, ecofriendly and achievable using low quantities of the sample. Matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) may be a good alternative for combining extraction and purification procedures, thereby reducing the indicated limitations. Objective-Applying an MSPD extraction procedure coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography diode-array detection (HPLC/DAD) as an alternative methodology to evaluate isoflavone profiles. Methods-Isoflavone profiles were determined for the leaves of nine species of Medicago in the late flower phenological stage (one or more nodes with 50% open flowers, no seed pods). Extraction was performed following MSPD, and isoflavone profiles were characterised using HPLC/DAD. The quantified amounts were compared with previous results in different species commonly recognised as good sources of isoflavones. Results-Formononetin was the major isoflavone in most species, except M. polymorpha and M. truncatula. The isoflavone amounts were significantly different among the assayed species, with M. orbicularis and M. arabica as the major isoflavone sources, while M. rigidula presented the lowest contents. Furthermore, the detected differences allow electing the best species as a primary source of a specific isoflavone. Conclusion-The MSPD allowed good extraction efficiency, reproducibility and recovery. Some of the species showed relevant isoflavone contents, even when compared with acknowledged plant sources such as soy or red clover. To the best of our knowledge the results presented are reported for the first time in these species.T. Visnevschi-Necrasov and João C.M. Barreira are grateful to ‘FCT -
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia’ for their grants (BD/
31734/2006 and SFRH/BPD/72802/2010, respectively). S.C. Cunha
is grateful to ‘POPH-QREN - Tipologia 4.2, Fundo Social Europeu
e Fundo Nacional MCTES’.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
In situ detection and identification of hesperidin crystals in satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu) peel cells.

[Introduction]Hesperidin, a flavonoid known to have important pharmacological effects, accumulates particularly in the peels of satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu). Although histochemical studies have suggested that hesperidin forms crystals in some tissues of the Rutaceae and Umbelliferae, there has been no rigorous in situ detection or identification of hesperidin crystals in C. unshiu. [Objective]To characterise the chemical component of the crystals found in C. unshiu peels using Raman microscopy. [Methods]Sections of C. unshiu peels were made. The distribution and morphology of crystals in the sections were analysed microscopically. Raman microscopy was used to detect hesperidin in the sections directly. [Results]The crystals were more abundant in immature peel and were observed particularly in areas surrounding vascular bundles, around the border between the flavedo and albedo layers and just below the epidermal cells. In the morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy, needle-shaped crystals aggregated and formed clusters of spherical crystals. Spectra obtained by Raman microscopy of the crystals in the peel sections were consistent with those of the hesperidin standard. [Conclusion]This study showed the detailed distribution of crystals in C. unshiu peels and their main component was identified using Raman microscopy to be hesperidin for the first time
The minor ecdysteroids from Ajuga turkestanica

International audienceIntroduction : Ajuga turkestanica is a plant used in traditional medicine for its high ecdysteroid content, including the presence of the particularly active turkesterone, which possess efficient anabolic activity.Objectives : To isolate and identify minor ecdysteroids present in a semi-purified plant fraction containing ca. 70% turkesterone.Material and Methods : Multi-step preparative HPLC (combining RP- and NP-HPLC systems) was used to purify the different components present in the turkesterone fraction. Isolated compounds were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry and 2D-NMR.Results : Fourteen ecdysteroids (including turkesterone and 20-hydroxyecdysone) were isolated. Seven of these, all bearing an 11α-hydroxy group, were previously unreported.Conclusion : Ajuga turkestanica ecdysteroids are characterised by the abundance of 11α-hydroxylated compounds and by the simultaneous presence of 24C, 27C, 28C and 29C ecdysteroids. It is expected that even more ecdysteroids are to be found in this plant since the starting material for this study lacked the less polar ecdysteroids. The simultaneous presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone and turkesterone (its 11α-hydroxy analogue) as the two major ecdysteroids suggests that every ecdysteroid is probably present in both 11α-hydroxy and 11-deoxy forms
Application of diffusion-edited and solvent suppression 1H NMR to the direct analysis of markers in valerian-hop liquid herbal products

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Jose M. Prieto, Maria Mellinas-Gomez, Mire Zloh, ???Application of diffusion-edited and solvent suppression 1H-NMR to the direct analysis of markers in valerian-hop liquid herbal products???, Phytochemical Analysis, Vol 27(2): 100-106, first published online January 13, 2016, which has been published in final form at doi: 10.1002/pca.2603 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving Copyright ?? 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.The rising trend to consume herbal products for the treatment and/or prevention of minor ailments together with their chemical and pharmacological complexity means there is an urgent need to develop new approaches to their quality and stability. This work looks at the application of one-dimensional diffusion-edited ??H NMR spectroscopy (1D DOSY) and ??H NMR with suppression of the ethanol and water signals to the characterization of quality and stability markers in multicomponent herbal medicines/food supplements. The experiments were performed with commercial tinctures of Valeriana officinalis L. (valerian), expired and non-expired, as well as its combination with Hummulus lupulus L. (hops), which is one of the most popular blends of relaxant herbs. These techniques did not require purification or evaporation of components for the qualitative analysis of the mixture, but only the addition of D2O and TSP. The best diagnostic signals were found at ??? 7 ppm (H-11, valerenic acid), ??? 4.2 ppm (H-1, hydroxyvalerenic acid) and ??? 1.5-1.8 ppm (methyl groups in prenylated moieties, ??-acids/prenylated flavones). This work concludes on the potential value of 1D DOSY ??H NMR to provide additional assurance of quality in complex natural mixtures
Chemical characterisation of Nigerian red propolis and its biological activity against Trypanosoma Brucei

INTRODUCTION: A previous study showed the unique character of Nigerian red propolis from Rivers State, Nigeria (RSN), with regards to chemical composition and activity against Trypanosoma brucei in comparison with other African propolis. OBJECTIVE: To carry out fractionation and biological testing of Nigerian propolis in order to isolate compounds with anti-trypanosomal activity. To compare the composition of the RSN propolis with the composition of Brazilian red propolis. METHODOLOGY: Profiling was carried out using HPLC-UV-ELSD and HPLC-Orbitrap-FTMS on extracts of two samples collected from RSN with data extraction using MZmine software. Isolation was carried out by normal phase and reversed phase MPLC. Elucidation of the compounds with a purity > 95% was performed by 1D/2D NMR HRMS and HRLC-MS(n) . RESULTS: Ten phenolic compounds were isolated or in the case of liquiritigenin partially purified. Data for nine of these correlated with literature reports of known compounds i.e. one isoflavanone, calycosin (1); two flavanones, liquiritigenin (2) and pinocembrin (5); an isoflavan, vestitol (3); a pterocarpan, medicarpin (4); two prenylflavanones, 8-prenylnaringenin (7) and 6-prenylnaringenin (8); and two geranyl flavonoids, propolin D (9) and macarangin (10). The tenth was elucidated as a previously undescribed dihydrobenzofuran (6). The isolated compounds were tested against Trypanosoma brucei and displayed moderate to high activity. Some of the compounds tested had similar activity against wild type T. brucei and two strains displaying pentamidine resistance. CONCLUSION: Nigerian propolis from RSN has some similarities with Brazilian red propolis. The propolis displayed anti-trypanosomal activity at a potentially useful level
Myrosinase Compatible Simultaneous Determination of Glucosinolates and Allyl Isothiocyanate by Capillary Electrophoresis Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography (CE-MEKC)

Introduction. The functional food Cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates which are\ud
decomposed by the myrosinase enzyme upon tissue damage. The isothiocyanates are the most frequent\ud
decomposition products. Because of their various bioactivities, these compounds and the myrosinase is\ud
of high interest to many scientific fields.\ud
Objective. Development of a capillary electrophoresis method capable of myrosinase-\ud
compatible, simultaneous quantification of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates.\ud
Methods. Capillary electrochromatography parameters were optimized, followed by\ud
optimization of a myrosinase-compatible derivatization procedure for isothiocyanates. Vegetable\ud
extracts (Brussels sprouts, horseradish, radish and watercress) were tested for myrosinase activity,\ud
glucosinolate content and isothiocyanate conversion rate. Allyl isothiocyanate was quantified in some\ud
food products.\ud
Results. The method allows quantification of sinigrin, gluonasturtiin and allyl isothiocyanate\ud
after myrosinase compatible derivatization in-vial by mercaptoacetic acid. The chromatograhpic\ud
separation takes 2.5 minutes (short end injection) or 15 minutes (long end injection). For the tested\ud
vegetables, measured myrosinase activity was between 0.960 – 27.694 and 0.461 – 26.322 μmol min-1\ud
mg-1 protein, glucosinolate content was between 0 – 2291.8 and 0 – 248.5 μg g-1 fresh weight for\ud
sinigrin and gluconastrutiin, respectively. The possible specificity of plants to different glucosinolates\ud
was also shown. Allyl isothiocyanate release rate was different in different vegetables (73.13 to 102.13\ud
%). The method could also be used for quantification of allyl isothiocyanate from food products.\ud
Conclusions. The presented capillary electrophoresis method requires a minimal amount of\ud
sample and contains only a few sample preparation steps, and can be used in several applications\ud
(glucosinolate determination, myrosinase activity measurement, isothiocyanate release estimation)
Identification of hydrolysable tannins in the reaction zone of Eucalyptus nitens wood by high performance liquid chromatrography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

The first detailed analysis of the phenolic constituents of the reaction zones (tissue of antimicrobial defence) from the sapwood of a Eucalyptus spp. is presented. Plantation-grown Eucalyptus nitens trees with stem decay resulting from pruning wounds were sampled and extracts were prepared from healthy sapwood and from reaction zone tissue. Analysis by HPLC with ESI-MS revealed that a diverse range of hydrolysable tannins are present in both healthy sapwood and in reaction zone extracts, including over 30 gallotannins, ellagitannins and phenols. Eight tannins were unequivocally identified, including the gallotannins tri-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose, tetra-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose and penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose, and the ellagitannins pedunculagin, tellimagrandin I, casuarinin, casuarictin and tellimagrandin II. The phenols gallic acid, ellagic acid and catechin were also identified. The ellagitannins (particularly pedunculagin) are considerably more abundant in the reaction zone than in the healthy sapwood and may contribute to the effectiveness of the reaction zone as an antimicrobial barrier
The contribution of single case studies to the neuroscience of vision.

Visual neuroscience is concerned with the neurobiological foundations of visual perception, that is, the morphological, physiological, and functional organization of the visual brain and its co-operative partners. One important approach for understanding the functional organization of the visual brain is the study of visual perception from the pathological perspective. The study of patients with focal injury to the visual brain allows conclusions about the representation of visual perceptual functions in the framework of association and dissociation of functions. Selective disorders have been reported for more “elementary” visual capabilities, for example, color and movement vision, but also for visuo-cognitive capacities, such as visual agnosia or the visual field of attention. Because these visual disorders occur rather seldom as selective and specific dysfunctions, single cases have always played, and still play, a significant role in gaining insights into the functional organization of the visual brain
An attempt at revisiting the factor structure of the Dysexecutive Questionnaire in the Chinese setting

This study examined the factor structure of the Chinese version of the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX) in a large nonclinical sample of college students (n = 1,586). All participants completed the self‐report version of the DEX. An exploratory factor analysis was first performed on a sub‐sample (randomly split, n = 766) and produced a four‐factor model (Volition, Intentionality, Inhibition, and Abstract Problem‐Solving), which was similar to previous models reported in Western samples. In addition, a series of confirmatory factor analyses was conducted on the remaining sample (n = 820). The findings suggested that a four‐factor solution of the self‐report DEX might better explain the latent structure in the present healthy Chinese sample.Full Tex
Tunable polarization components and electric field induced crystallization in polyvinylidenefluoride: A piezo polymer

Polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) a semicrystalline pieozoelectric polymer was synthesized with varying process conditions and its ferroelectric domain orientations were studied using piezoresponse force microscope (PFM). PVDF thin films fabricated using tape casting technique with precursor solutions of varying viscosities reveal that the polarization components transform from a dominant planar to an out‐of‐plane configuration with increase in viscosity. Interestingly the planar components possessed a head to head or tail to tail kind of paired domains separated by a distance of ~ 380‐400 nm. Electrostatic energy minimization of an electrically inhomogeneous system containing similar domain arrangements as the experiments shows that the head to head and tail to tail arrangements with a minimum separation distance are more favorable than head to tail arrangements of domains. With increment of applied field, the domains grew in size and shape indicating amorphous to crystalline transformation of PVDF films. Such transformation was evident from X‐ray diffraction studies performed in‐situ in the presence of an applied electric field
The consanguinity effect on QF‐PCR diagnosis of autosomal anomalies

Objectives
Quantitative Fluorescent PCR (QF-PCR) is a simpler and faster method of detecting common chromosomal abnormalities when compared to cytogenetic analysis. The aim of our study is to investigate the applicability of this methodology in a population where consanguineous marriages are common and to estimate the heterozygous frequency of the PCR markers used.

Methods
Four hundred and twenty-three DNA samples were extracted from uncultured amniocytes and amplified with 18 short tandem repeats (STR) markers specific to chromosomes 13, 18 and 21. Amplification products were analyzed using the GeneScan software.

Results
QF-PCR correctly identified all the numerical abnormalities related to chromosomes 13, 18 and 21. A total of 24 autosomal trisomies (5.7%) were detected. The markers D21S1432 and D21S11 were the most consistent in providing unequivocal positive results for chromosome 21 and the heterozygosity percentages of the markers used were lower than the values reported in Western populations.

Conclusion
QF-PCR is reliable for the prenatal diagnosis of numerical anomalies of the chromosomes 13, 18 and 21 in our study population. The absence of STR heterozygosity data from Lebanon and surrounding countries makes our study very useful for the development of a reliable QF-PCR trisomy detection test. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.PublishedN/
How important is consent in maternal serum screening for Down syndrome in France? Information and consent evaluation in maternal serum screening for Down syndrome: a French study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the level of information and informed consent for maternal serum screening (MSS) for Down syndrome (DS) in the second trimester of pregnancy and analyse the exercise of autonomy towards the test by the women concerned. METHODS: We studied the population of pregnant women attending obstetric consultations in two French hospitals over a 3-month period. The women were assigned to three groups according to MSS results for DS: women at high risk of having a child with DS (group 1), women at low risk (group 2) and women who did not undergo the test (group 3). A questionnaire was completed before the medical consultation, to assess the quality of consent before amniocentesis for the group at high risk and before the second-trimester ultrasound scan for the other two groups. RESULTS: We analysed 305 questionnaires for 89, 137 and 79 women belonging to groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. In total, 123 women (40.3% [IC 95%, 35-46%]) were considered to be well informed; 33 (10%, [IC 95%, 8-12%]) had a high level of knowledge, but made choices not consistent with their stated attitude, and 149 (49.7% [IC 95%, 45-56%]) were considered uninformed. Logistic regression analysis showed that maternal consent depended on three independent components: The score attributed to the doctor for information about MSS (t = 4.216, p < 0.001).Whether the patient belonged to group 1 (t = -2.631, p < 0.009).Educational level (< high-school diploma, high-school diploma or at least two years of higher education after high school) (t = 2.324, p < 0.02). The rate of consent increased with educational level and was highest for the women in group 1 and for those whose doctor had a high information score. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings clearly show that women are provided with insufficient information concerning MSS screening for DS in the second trimester of pregnancy for real and valid consent to be obtained. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Prenatal diagnosis of morquio disease type A using a simple fluorometric enzyme assay

A new fluorogenic substrate, 4 methylumbelliferyl B-D-6-sulphogalactoside, was used for the\ud
assay of galactose-6-sulphate sulphatase activity in chorionic villi, cultured villus cells, and\ud
amniocytes. The fluorometric assay is much more convenient than the conventional assay\ud
using radiolabelled, sulphated oligosaccharides. Both types of substrate were used in the\ud
prenatal diagnosis of three pregnancies at risk for Morquio type A disease using amniocytes.\ud
These enzyme tests, as well as electrophoresis of glycosaminoglycans in the amniotic fluid,\ud
indicated affected fetuses in two pregnancies and a non-affected fetus in one
Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels and fetal outcome in early second-trimester oligohydramnios

Abstract \ud
Early second-trimester oligohydramnios was associated with normal maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) levels in nine out of 26 cases (35 per cent). Congenital malformations of the fetal urinary tract resulting in fetal anuria were present in nine cases; in seven of them, normal MSAFP levels were measured. In contrast, normal MSAFP levels were established in only 2 out of the 17 cases without fetal malformations. These data suggest that fetal urine is the major source of elevated AFP in the maternal compartment in early second-trimester oligohydramnios. This is further supported by the lack of any relationship between concentrations of MSAFP non-reactive with Concanavalin A, originating mainly from the yolk sacderived amniotic fluid AFP pool, and the presence of fetal diuresis. Three out of 26 women had experienced early second-trimester oligohydramnios in a previous pregnancy, suggesting the existence of a recurrence risk for this condition
Early invasive prenatal diagnosis in HBsAg-positive women

From 1982 to 1989, pregnant women in two large city hospitals in The Netherlands had serum samples screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Infants of mothers found to be HBsAg-positive received hepatitis B immune globulin immediately after birth and hepatitis B vaccine in the first year of life. Blood samples of infants were regularly tested for HBsAg and antibodies directed against HBsAg. A retrospective analysis of the pregnancy outcome in HBsAg-positive women who had invasive tests for prenatal diagnosis was carried out to determine whether amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) are risk factors for the intrauterine transmission of the hepatitis B virus. Amniocentesis was carried out in 17 HBsAg-positive women and CVS in one case. Only two women were HBsAg- and HBeAg-positive. Prenatal diagnosis led to the termination of pregnancy for fetal chromosome abnormality in three cases. The remaining 15 pregnancies were uneventful; all infants were negative for HBsAg and developed an active immune response to the vaccine. These data suggest that amniocentesis in HBsAg-positive women constitutes a low risk for the intrauterine transmission of the hepatitis B virus, but definite conclusions in HBeAg-positive women cannot be drawn
Maternal serum markers in second-trimester oligohydramnios

The levels of the maternal serum markers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), and unconjugated oestriol (uE3) in 35 pregnant women with early second-trimester oligohydramnios differed from those in a reference population of 1699 singleton pregnancies. Maternal serum AFP levels above the 95th centile of the population distribution were observed in 80 per cent (16/20) of oligohydramnios cases with a normal fetus and in only 20 per cent (3/15) of the cases with a fetus displaying urogenital tract malformations. Elevated levels of hCG (above the 95th centile) and decreased levels of uE3 (below the fifth centile) were encountered in 26 per cent (9/35) and 17 per cent (6/35) of the women, irrespective of the fetal condition. The abnormal profile of the serum markers in early second-trimester oligohydramnios resulted in 57 per cent (20 out of 35) of screen-positive cases for either fetal Down's syndrome or neural tube defects, compared with 8·4 per cent (143 out of 1699) in the reference population
Prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis of obstructive bowel disease: A retrospective analysis

Fetal obstructive bowel disease was diagnosed in 29 patients at 22–37 weeks (median 32 weeks) of gestation, seven (24 per cent) of whom also displayed other anomalies. Polyhydramnios was present in 20/29 cases (69 per cent). An abnormal karyotype existed in 7/29 cases (24 per cent), of which six were diagnosed prenatally (trisomy 21, n = 5; 69, XXX, n = 1) and one postnatally (trisomy 21). There was always an association with the ultrasonic ‘double bubble’ sign. Obstructive bowel disease was confirmed postnatally in 20/29 (69 per cent) cases, i.e., oesophageal atresia (n = 1), duodenal obstruction (n = 12), and small bowel obstruction (n = 7). Other anomalies existed in 6/29 (21 per cent) cases, i.e., multicystic kidney (n = 1) and multiple congenital anomalies (n = 5). The perinatal mortality rate was 35 per cent (7/20)