Simple, quick and green isolation of cannabinoids from complex natural product extracts using sustainable mesoporous materials (Starbon®)

The current process to purify cannabidiol (CBD) from C. sativa extract is long and intensive, requiring several steps such as winterification for 48 hours at 45°C and high-temperature, high vacuum distillation. These processes are capital intensive and generate large amounts of toxic solvent waste. In contrast, the solid phase extraction (SPE) methodology proposed herein will change the way CBD is obtained, doing so in a single step that is fast and reusable. Furthermore, the new process is simple and easily implemented and does not require any intensive operator training. Starbon® A300 was successfully employed as the stationary phase in SPE taking Cannabis sativa extract in hexane to selectively physisorb the cannabinoids onto the surface, followed by ethanol to bring about desorption at up to 93 (by GC-FID). A similar one pot system was also proven, using Fedora hemp stem dust as feedstock, with extraction and adsorption in supercritical CO2 followed by desorption in ethanol. © 2022 The Royal Society of Chemistr

Small intestinal polyp burden in pediatric Peutz–Jeghers syndrome assessed through capsule endoscopy: a longitudinal study

The management of pediatric Peutz–Jeghers Syndrome (PJS) focuses on the prevention of intussusception complicating small intestinal (SI) polyposis. This hinges on the accurate appraisal of the polyp burden to tailor therapeutic interventions. Video Capsule Endoscopy (VCE) is an established tool to study SI polyps in children, but an in-depth characterization of polyp burden in this population is lacking. Methods: We performed a retrospective longitudinal cross-sectional analysis of VCE studies in pediatric PJS patients at our institution (CMKC) from 2010 to 2020. Demographic, clinical, and VCE findings reported by three reviewers in tandem were accrued. Polyp burden variables were modeled as functions of patient and study characteristics using linear mixed models adjusted for clustering. Results: The cohort included 15 patients. The total small bowel polyp count and largest polyp size clustered under 30 polyps and <20 mm in size. Luminal occlusion correlated closely with the estimated polyp size. Polyp distribution favored proximal (77%) over distal (66%) small bowel involvement. The adjusted largest polyp size was greater in males. Double Balloon Enteroscopy was associated with a decreased polyp burden. Conclusions: The polyp burden in pediatric PJS patients favors the proximal third of the small intestine, with relatively small numbers and a polyp size amenable to resection through enteroscopy. Male gender and older age were related to an increased polyp burden

Counterion Condensation and Fluctuation-Induced Attraction

We consider an overall neutral system consisting of two similarly charged plates and their oppositely charged counterions and analyze the electrostatic interaction between the two surfaces beyond the mean-field Poisson-Boltzmann approximation. Our physical picture is based on the fluctuation-driven counterion condensation model, in which a fraction of the counterions is allowed to ``condense'' onto the charged plates. In addition, an expression for the pressure is derived, which includes fluctuation contributions of the whole system. We find that for sufficiently high surface charges, the distance at which the attraction, arising from charge fluctuations, starts to dominate can be large compared to the Gouy-Chapmann length. We also demonstrate that depending on the valency, the system may exhibit a novel first-order binding transition at short distances.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, to appear in PR

Chapter 5: Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC)

This chapter offers an introduction into supercritical chromatography, from its inception as a modified type of gas chromatography through to the robust packed column systems now increasingly more available to chemists in many fields. The role of co-solvents, additives and stationary phases are covered, including the wide array of choices on offer, the flexibility they provide and the effects that they impart. Obviously, the detectors employed play a large role on the types of compounds that can be observed; the transition from flame ionised detectors, UV-visible spectroscopy, evaporative light scattering detectors through to mass spectroscopy is discussed. The use of two-dimensional chromatography and its usefulness in resolving difficult to separate analytes is the final technique covered. Examples of applications of SFC are then given, with special emphasis on polymer and natural product separation. The chapter closes with green considerations for this analytical tool

Management of Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer: Report from the Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference 2021

Background Innovations in treatments, imaging, and molecular characterisation in advanced prostate cancer have improved outcomes, but various areas of management still lack high-level evidence to inform clinical practice. The 2021 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) addressed some of these questions to supplement guidelines that are based on level 1 evidence. Objective To present the voting results from APCCC 2021. Design, setting, and participants The experts identified three major areas of controversy related to management of advanced prostate cancer: newly diagnosed metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), the use of prostate-specific membrane antigen ligands in diagnostics and therapy, and molecular characterisation of tissue and blood. A panel of 86 international prostate cancer experts developed the programme and the consensus questions. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis The panel voted publicly but anonymously on 107 pre-defined questions, which were developed by both voting and non-voting panel members prior to the conference following a modified Delphi process. Results and limitations The voting reflected the opinions of panellists and did not incorporate a standard literature review or formal meta-analysis. The answer options for the consensus questions received varying degrees of support from panellists, as reflected in this article and the detailed voting results reported in the Supplementary material. Conclusions These voting results from a panel of experts in advanced prostate cancer can help clinicians and patients to navigate controversial areas of management for which high-level evidence is scant. However, diagnostic and treatment decisions should always be individualised according to patient characteristics, such as the extent and location of disease, prior treatment(s), comorbidities, patient preferences, and treatment recommendations, and should also incorporate current and emerging clinical evidence and logistic and economic constraints. Enrolment in clinical trials should be strongly encouraged. Importantly, APCCC 2021 once again identified salient questions that merit evaluation in specifically designed trials. Patient summary The Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference is a forum for discussing current diagnosis and treatment options for patients with advanced prostate cancer. An expert panel votes on predefined questions focused on the most clinically relevant areas for treatment of advanced prostate cancer for which there are gaps in knowledge. The voting results provide a practical guide to help clinicians in discussing treatment options with patients as part of shared decision-making.Silke Gillessen, Andrew Armstrong, Gert Attard, Tomasz M. Beer, Himisha Beltran, Anders Bjartell, Alberto Bossi, Alberto Briganti, Robert G. Bristow, Muhammad Bulbul, Orazio Caffo, Kim N. Chi, Caroline S. Clarke, Noel Clarke, Ian D. Davis, Johann S. de Bono, Ignacio Duran, Ros Eeles, Eleni Efstathiou, Jason Efstathiou, Onyeanunam Ngozi Ekeke, Christopher P. Evans, Stefano Fanti, Felix Y. Feng, Karim Fizazi, Mark Frydenberg, Dan George, Martin Gleave, Susan Halabi, Daniel Heinrich, Celesta Higano, Michael S. Hofman, Maha Hussain, Nick James, Robert Jones, Ravindran Kanesvaran, Raja B. Khauli, Laurence Klotz, Raya Leibowitz, Chris Logothetis, Fernando Maluf, Robin Millman, Alicia K. Morgans, Michael J. Morris, Nicolas Mottet, Hind Mrabti, Declan G. Murphy, Vedang Murthy, William K. Oh, Piet Ost, Joe M. O, Sullivan, Anwar R. Padhani, Chris Parker, Darren M.C. Poon, Colin C. Pritchard, Danny M. Rabah, Dana Rathkopf, Rob E. Reiter, Mark Rubin, Charles J. Ryan, Fred Saad, Juan P. Sade, Oliver Sartor, Howard I. Scher, Neal Shore, Iwona Skoneczna, Eric Small, Matthew Smith, Howard Soule, Daniel E. Spratt, Cora N. Sternberg, Hiroyoshi Suzuki, Christopher Sweeney, Matthew R. Sydes, Mary-Ellen Taplin, Derya Tilki, Bertrand Tombal, Levent Turkeri, Hiroji Uemura, Hirotsugu Uemura, Inge van Oort, Kosj Yamoah, Dingwei Ye, Almudena Zapatero, Aurelius Omli

Management of patients with advanced prostate cancer: Recommendations of the St Gallen Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) 2015

The first St Gallen Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) Expert Panel identified and reviewed the available evidence for the ten most important areas of controversy in advanced prostate cancer (APC) management. The successful registration of several drugs for castration-resistant prostate cancer and the recent studies of chemo-hormonal therapy in men with castration-naïve prostate cancer have led to considerable uncertainty as to the best treatment choices, sequence of treatment options and appropriate patient selection. Management recommendations based on expert opinion, and not based on a critical review of the available evidence, are presented. The various recommendations carried differing degrees of support, as reflected in the wording of the article text and in the detailed voting results recorded in supplementary Material, available at Annals of Oncology online. Detailed decisions on treatment as always will involve consideration of disease extent and location, prior treatments, host factors, patient preferences as well as logistical and economic constraints. Inclusion of men with APC in clinical trials should be encouraged. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved