Accidental neck and chest penetration by a metal sliver derived from an axe for wood chopping: A case report

Background: Penetrating neck and chest trauma is a very common entity in emergency medicine that usually requires surgical treatment. Our case report illustrates the case of a 27-year-old Arabian man with hemopneumothorax associated with pneumomediastinum due to an unusual occupational injury. Case presentation: A metal sliver, coming from an axe using for wood chopping, penetrated the neck of a 27-year-old Arabian man in the left supraclavicular region mimicking a gun bullet; the entrance hole was at the left pleural dome where the sliver had just penetrated the apex of the lung passing through the upper lobe of his left lung creating an exit wound in the dorsal segment of the same lobe arriving in the posterior thoracic wall. Biportal video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed to remove blood clots and the unusual foreign body. Conclusion: In the literature, there are several case series about this topic, with some of them reporting unusual foreign bodies that lead to penetrating trauma. However, to the best of our knowledge, no cases like the one we have reported are described in the current literature

Ilmu Kimia Tanaman Lauraceae Indonesia: V. Eritrodiol 3-Asetat dari Litsea elliptica Bl. (Lauraceae)

Suatu triterpen, jenis oleanan, yang diperoleh dari kulit akar tanaman Litsea elliptica Bl. (Lauraceae) telah diidentifikasi sebagai olean-12-en-3,28-diol-3-asetat atau eritrodiol 3-asetat (I). Telah ditemukan pula suatu ftalat dan telah diidentifikasi sebagai bis(2-etilheksil) ftalat (III). Struktur kedua senyawa ini telah ditetapkan dengan menggunakan cara spektroskopi. Isolat lain, suatu triterpen yang diberi nama litselligenin, masih terus diteliti. Baik eritrodiol 3-asetat (I) maupun bis(2-etilheksil)ftalat (III) tidak pernah ditemukan sebelumnya pada tanaman Lauraceae, sedangkan senyawa terakhir merupakan senyawa ftalat kedua yang ditemukan pada Luaraceae. An oleanane-type triterpene isolated from the root bark of Litsea elliptica Bl. (Lauraceae) has been identified as olean-12-en-3,28-diol-3-acetate or erythrodiol 3-acetate (I). A phthalate has also been isolated and identified as bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (III). The structure of both compounds have been elucidated based on spectroscopic methods. Work on another isolate, a triterpenoid named litselligenin, is in progress. Neither erythrodiol 3-acetate (l) nor bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (III) have been isolated previously from the Lauraceae, and the latter compound represents a second phthalate to be isolated from Lauraceae

Spermidine Associated to Non-Surgical Treatment of Periodontal Disease: Split Mouth Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Objectives. Spermidine is an endogenous polyamine whose increase induces the autocrine remodeling into targeted cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the adjunctive beneficial effects of the local delivery of spermidine to periodontal non-surgical therapy on reduction of periodontal pocket. Methods. In this split mouth, blind, randomized controlled clinical trial, 20 patients with severe chronic generalized periodontal disease scheduled for cause related non-surgical periodontal treatment were enrolled. In three quadrants for each patients, three experimental teeth with probing pocket depth (PPD) 65 6mm were selected and randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: scaling and root planning (SRP)+ spermidine gel (spermidine + alginate) (group a), SRP+ placebo gel (only alginate) (positive control, group b) or SRP (negative control, group c). PPD at baseline, 3 and 6 months after treatment was assessed. Descriptive and inferential statistics was done. Results. After periodontal treatment, a reduction of PPD was observed in all sites. No differences emerged between groups at each time point. In all groups, a significant PPD reduction was observed at T1 and T2 compared to baseline (p<0.05 and p<0.001). PPD reduction from T1 to T2 was significant only in group a (p<0.001). Conclusions. After non-surgical treatment, local delivery of spermidine may induce prolonged improvement of clinical outcome

P-226 * DOES BODY MASS INDEX IMPACT ON THE SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OR POSTOPERATIVE OUTCOME IN ROBOTIC THYMECTOMY?

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Factors affecting the production of Trichoderma harzianum secondary metabolites during the interaction with different plant pathogens

Strains of Trichoderma spp. produce numerous bioactive secondary metabolites. The in vitro production and antibiotic activities of the major compounds synthesized by Trichoderma harzianum strains T22 and T39 against Leptosphaeria maculans, Phytophthora cinnamomi and Botrytis cinerea were evaluated. Moreover, the eliciting effect of viable or nonviable biomasses of Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium ultimum or B. cinerea on the in vitro production of these metabolites was also investigated. T22azaphilone, 1-hydroxy-3-methyl-anthraquinone, 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-anthraquinone, T39butenolide, harzianolide, harzianopyridone were purified, characterized and used as standards. In antifungal assays, T22azaphilone and harzianopyridone inhibited the growth of the pathogens tested even at low doses (1-10 mu g per plug), while high concentrations of T39butenolide and harzianolide were needed (> 100 mu g per plug) for inhibition. The in vitro accumulation of these metabolites was quantified by LC/MS. T22azaphilone production was not enhanced by the presence of the tested pathogens, despite its antibiotic activity. On the other hand, the anthraquinones, which showed no pathogen inhibition, were stimulated by the presence of P. ultimum. The production of T39butenolide was significantly enhanced by co-cultivation with R. solani or B. cinerea. Similarly, viable and nonviable biomasses of R. solani or B. cinerea increased the accumulation of harzianopyridone. Finally, harzianolide was not detected in any of the interactions examined. The secondary metabolites analysed in this study showed different levels of antibiotic activity. Their production in vitro varied in relation to: (i) the specific compound; (ii) the phytopathogen used for the elicitation; (iii) the viability of the elicitor; and (iv) the balance between elicited biosynthesis and biotransformation rates. The use of cultures of phytopathogens to enhance yields of Trichoderma metabolites could improve the production and application of novel biopesticides and biofertilizers based on the active compounds instead of the living microbe. This could have a significant beneficial impact on the management of diseases in crop plants

Ilmu Kimia Tanaman Lauraceae Indonesia: VI. Kriptokaryon dari Cryptocarya Laevigata BL. (Lauraceae)

Ekstraksi kulit akar dan kulit barang tanaman Cryptocarya laevigata Bl. (Lauraceae) dengan n-heksan menghasilkan suatu calkon yang diidentifikasi sebagai kriptokaryon (I). Struktur senyawa ini ditetapkan berdasarkan data spektroskopi dan analisis Kristal sinar-X. Kesimpulan mengenai struktur kriptokaryon (I) mendukung saran peneliti sebelumnya, yang terlah merevisi struktur (II) yang pertama kali disarankan. C. laevigata adalah spesies kedua anggota suku Lauraceae yang telah ditemukan mengandung kriptokaryon (I). Tambahan pula, kriptokaryon (I) adalah senyawa alam kedua dari jenis flavonoid yang mengandung cincin A yang tereduksi sebagian, yang pernah ditemukan. Extraction of the root and the tree barks of Cryptocarya laevigata Bl. (Lauraceae) with n-hexane yielded a chalcone identified as cryptocaryone (I). The structure of this compound had been elucidated based on spectroscopic measurements and X-ray crystal analysis. Conclusions about the structure of cryprocaryone (I) confirm the previous suggestion, which revised the structure (ll) suggested earlier. C. laevigata is the second species of Lauraceae which contains cryptocaryone (I). Furthermore, cryptocaryone (I) is a second naturally occurring flavonoid containing a reduced A ring system which has so far been isolated

Identification of the Cat Attractants Isodihydronepetalactone and Isoiridomyrmecin from Acalypha indica

Acalypha indica is a herb that grows throughout the tropical regions of the world. As well as being exploited for medicinal use, the roots of this plant are known to elicit a drug-like effect in cats. Recent research into feral cat control on Christmas Island has investigated whether a preparation of the roots of A. indica might be effective in traps to attract feral cats. However, the volatile nature of the attractants made it unviable for use in traps for more than a few days. In this study, we investigated the volatile components emitted by the plant roots and identified two iridoid compounds, (4R,4aR,7S,7aR)- isodihydronepetalactone and (4R,4aS,7S,7aR)-isoiridomyrmecin, which are known to affect behavioural activity in cats. Synthesis of standards confirmed the stereochemistry of both compounds emitted by the plant. Potential application of these compounds in feral cat control is discussed.The Australian Research Council is also gratefully acknowledged for funding for G.F. (FT110100304) and B.B. (LP130100162)

Trichoderma secondary metabolites active on plants and fungal pathogens

Beneficial microbes typically produce bioactive molecules that can affect the interactions of plants with their pathogens. Many secondary metabolites may also have antibiotic properties, which enable the producing microbe to inhibit and/or kill other microorganisms i.e. competing for a nutritional niche. Indeed, some of these compounds have been found to play an important role in the biocontrol of plant diseases by various beneficial microbes used world-wide for crop protection and bio-fertilization. In addition to direct toxic activity against plant pathogens, biocontrol-related metabolites may also increase disease resistance by triggering systemic plant defence activity, and/or enhance root and shoot growth. Fungi belonging to the Trichoderma genus are well known producers of secondary metabolites with a direct activity against phytopathogens and compounds that substantially affect the metabolism of the plant. The widescale application of selected metabolites to induce host resistance and/or to promote crop yield may become a reality in the near future and represents a powerful tool for the implementation of IPM strategies

3D Ordering at the Liquid–Solid Polar Interface of Nanowires

The nature of the liquid–solid interface determines the characteristics of a variety of physical phenomena, including catalysis, electrochemistry, lubrication, and crystal growth. Most of the established models for crystal growth are based on macroscopic thermodynamics, neglecting the atomistic nature of the liquid–solid interface. Here, experimental observations and molecular dynamics simulations are employed to identify the 3D nature of an atomic‐scale ordering of liquid Ga in contact with solid GaAs in a nanowire growth configuration. An interplay between the liquid ordering and the formation of a new bilayer is revealed, which, contrary to the established theories, suggests that the preference for a certain polarity and polytypism is influenced by the atomic structure of the interface. The conclusions of this work open new avenues for the understanding of crystal growth, as well as other processes and systems involving a liquid–solid interface

Heterotwin Zn3P2 superlattice nanowires: the role of indium insertion in the superlattice formation mechanism and their optical properties

Zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) nanowires constitute prospective building blocks for next generation solar cells due to the combination of suitable optoelectronic properties and an abundance of the constituting elements in the Earth’s crust. The generation of periodic superstructures along the nanowire axis could provide an additional mechanism to tune their functional properties. Here we present the vapour–liquid–solid growth of zinc phosphide superlattices driven by periodic heterotwins. This uncommon planar defect involves the exchange of Zn by In at the twinning boundary. We find that the zigzag superlattice formation is driven by reduction of the total surface energy of the liquid droplet. The chemical variation across the heterotwin does not affect the homogeneity of the optical properties, as measured by cathodoluminescence. The basic understanding provided here brings new propsects on the use of II–V semiconductors in nanowire technology