Biallelic KITLG variants lead to a distinct spectrum of hypomelanosis and sensorineural hearing loss

BACKGROUND: Pathogenic variants in KITLG, a crucial protein involved in pigmentation and neural crest cell migration, cause non-syndromic hearing loss, Waardenburg syndrome type 2, familial progressive hyperpigmentation and familial progressive hyper- and hypopigmentation, all of which are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. OBJECTIVES: To describe the genotypic and clinical spectrum of biallelic KITLG-variants. METHODS: We used a genotype-first approach through the GeneMatcher data sharing platform to collect individuals with biallelic KITLG variants and reviewed the literature for overlapping reports. RESULTS: We describe the first case series with biallelic KITLG variants; we expand the known hypomelanosis spectrum to include a 'sock-and-glove-like', symmetric distribution, progressive repigmentation and generalized hypomelanosis. We speculate that KITLG biallelic loss-of-function variants cause generalized hypomelanosis, whilst variants with residual function lead to a variable auditory-pigmentary disorder mostly reminiscent of Waardenburg syndrome type 2 or piebaldism. CONCLUSIONS: We provide consolidating evidence that biallelic KITLG variants cause a distinct auditory-pigmentary disorder. We evidence a significant clinical variability, similar to the one previously observed in KIT-related piebaldism

Characterization of Glyceridic and Unsaponifiable Compounds of Sacha Inchi ( Plukenetia huayllabambana

This work deals with the characterization of the main glyceridic and unsaponifiable components of oils obtained from Sacha inchi (Plukenetia huayllabambana L.) seed ecotypes collected during two harvests in the Department of Amazonas in Peru. The seed-oil yield was 30.3-41.2%; standing out are the high percentages of the ¿3- and ¿6-fatty acids series whose ranges lie within those of the present Regulation for Sacha inchi oils. Triacylglycerols with even equivalent carbon number (ECN; 36-42) were the main components. Minor glyceridic polar compounds such as oxidized triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, and free fatty acids were determined by high-performance size exclusion chromatography. The low campesterol/stigmasterol ratio (1:6), unusual in the majority of vegetable oils, stands out. Regarding aliphatic hydrocarbons, these oils showed a particular profile for the saturated series of odd and even carbon atom numbers. According to our results Sacha inchi P. huayllabambana oils can be offered as a good alternative to P. volubilis, the species mainly commercialized for this vegetable oil

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules (THYCOVID): a retrospective, international, multicentre, cross-sectional study

Background Since its outbreak in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has diverted resources from non-urgent and elective procedures, leading to diagnosis and treatment delays, with an increased number of neoplasms at advanced stages worldwide. The aims of this study were to quantify the reduction in surgical activity for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the COVID-19 pandemic; and to evaluate whether delays in surgery led to an increased occurrence of aggressive tumours.Methods In this retrospective, international, cross-sectional study, centres were invited to participate in June 22, 2022; each centre joining the study was asked to provide data from medical records on all surgical thyroidectomies consecutively performed from Jan 1, 2019, to Dec 31, 2021. Patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules were divided into three groups according to when they underwent surgery: from Jan 1, 2019, to Feb 29, 2020 (global prepandemic phase), from March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021 (pandemic escalation phase), and from June 1 to Dec 31, 2021 (pandemic decrease phase). The main outcomes were, for each phase, the number of surgeries for indeterminate thyroid nodules, and in patients with a postoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancers, the occurrence of tumours larger than 10 mm, extrathyroidal extension, lymph node metastases, vascular invasion, distant metastases, and tumours at high risk of structural disease recurrence. Univariate analysis was used to compare the probability of aggressive thyroid features between the first and third study phases. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05178186.Findings Data from 157 centres (n=49 countries) on 87 467 patients who underwent surgery for benign and malignant thyroid disease were collected, of whom 22 974 patients (18 052 [78 center dot 6%] female patients and 4922 [21 center dot 4%] male patients) received surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules. We observed a significant reduction in surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the pandemic escalation phase (median monthly surgeries per centre, 1 center dot 4 [IQR 0 center dot 6-3 center dot 4]) compared with the prepandemic phase (2 center dot 0 [0 center dot 9-3 center dot 7]; p<0 center dot 0001) and pandemic decrease phase (2 center dot 3 [1 center dot 0-5 center dot 0]; p<0 center dot 0001). Compared with the prepandemic phase, in the pandemic decrease phase we observed an increased occurrence of thyroid tumours larger than 10 mm (2554 [69 center dot 0%] of 3704 vs 1515 [71 center dot 5%] of 2119; OR 1 center dot 1 [95% CI 1 center dot 0-1 center dot 3]; p=0 center dot 042), lymph node metastases (343 [9 center dot 3%] vs 264 [12 center dot 5%]; OR 1 center dot 4 [1 center dot 2-1 center dot 7]; p=0 center dot 0001), and tumours at high risk of structural disease recurrence (203 [5 center dot 7%] of 3584 vs 155 [7 center dot 7%] of 2006; OR 1 center dot 4 [1 center dot 1-1 center dot 7]; p=0 center dot 0039).Interpretation Our study suggests that the reduction in surgical activity for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the COVID-19 pandemic period could have led to an increased occurrence of aggressive thyroid tumours. However, other compelling hypotheses, including increased selection of patients with aggressive malignancies during this period, should be considered. We suggest that surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules should no longer be postponed even in future instances of pandemic escalation.Funding None.Copyright (c) 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Valorisation of Biowastes for the Production of Green Materials Using Chemical Methods

With crude oil reserves dwindling, the hunt for a sustainable alternative feedstock for fuels and materials for our society continues to expand. The biorefinery concept has enjoyed both a surge in popularity and also vocal opposition to the idea of diverting food-grade land and crops for this purpose. The idea of using the inevitable wastes arising from biomass processing, particularly farming and food production, is, therefore, gaining more attention as the feedstock for the biorefinery. For the three main components of biomass—carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins—there are long-established processes for using some of these by-products. However, the recent advances in chemical technologies are expanding both the feedstocks available for processing and the products that be obtained. Herein, this review presents some of the more recent developments in processing these molecules for green materials, as well as case studies that bring these technologies and materials together into final products for applied usage

Antioxidants from laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) berries: Influence of extraction procedure on yield and antioxidant activity of extracts

The antioxidant activities of laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) berries extracts were evaluated using a DPPH assay, a β-carotene/linoleic acid assay and the Rancimat method. Pericarp and kernel of berries were extracted by different extraction methods with solvents of different polarities. Extraction method and extracting solvents significantly affected the yield, total phenolics and antioxidant activity of the extracts. Total phenolic content varied from 142.4 to 168.1 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) g−1 in pericarp extracts and from 233–240.4 mg GEA g−1 in kernel extracts. Kernel extract by Soxhlet method with 80% ethanol showed the highest scavenging activity of 50.78% at 12 µg ml−1 by the DPPH. Fifty percent ethanol extract of pericarp exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity (85.56%) by the β-carotene/linoleic acid system. Protection Factor of all kernel extracts determined by the Rancimat method was comparable with that of BHT. No correlation was found between the total phenolics and antioxidant activities of the extracts

Electrical stimulation of wrist and fingers for sensory and functional recovery in acute hemiplegia

Objective: To investigate the effects of a short-term electrical stimulation in conjunction with neurodevelopmental exercises on sensory and functional recovery of hemiparetic upper limb in acute stroke patients