Stenotrophomonas maltophilia : a gram-negative bacterium useful for transformations of flavanone and chalcone

A group of flavones, isoflavones, flavanones, and chalcones was subjected to small-scale biotransformation studies with the Gram-negative Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2 strain in order to evaluate the capability of this strain to transform flavonoid compounds and to investigate the relationship between compound structure and transformation type. The tested strain transformed flavanones and chalcones. The main type of transformation of compounds with a flavanone moiety was central heterocyclic C ring cleavage, leading to chalcone and dihydrochalcone structures, whereas chalcones underwent reduction to dihydrochalcones and cyclisation to a benzo-pyrone moiety. Substrates with a C-2-C-3 double bond (flavones and isoflavones) were not transformed by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2

Easy and versatile coating approach for long-living white hybrid light-emitting diodes

Herein, we provide a new easy-to-do protocol for preparing luminescent rubber-like materials based on a wide palette of compounds, such as small-molecules, quantum dots, polymers, and coordination complexes. The combination of this new protocol with that for preparing similar rubbers based on fluorescent proteins states the universal character of our approach. This is further assessed by using comprehensive spectroscopic and rheological investigations. Furthermore, the novel luminescent rubbers are applied as down-converting packing systems to develop white hybrid light-emitting diodes (WHLEDs), which are heralded as a solid alternative to achieve energy-saving, solid-state, and white-emitting sources in the coming future. As such, the current work also provides a clear prospect of this emerging lighting technology by means of a direct comparison among WHLEDs fabricated with all the above-mentioned down-converting systems. Here, the use of rubbers based on coordination complexes outperforms the others in terms of both luminous efficiency and colour quality with an unprecedented stability superior to 1000 h under continuous operation conditions. This represents an order of magnitude enhancement compared to the state-of-the-art WHLEDs, while keeping luminous efficiencies of around 100 lm W−1

Salpingotomia vs salpingektomia – porównanie płodności kobiet po operacyjnym leczeniu jajowodowej ciąży ektopowej, 24-miesięczne badanie obserwacyjne

Introduction: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is usually located in the Fallopian tube and it has a significant adverse effect on women’s fertility. Three types of EP treatment include: expectant, medical, and surgical radical (salpingectomy) or conservative (salpingotomy) management. Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare women’s fertility after surgical radical or conservative treatment of tubal ectopic pregnancy. Materials and methods: Out of the 58 patients operated because of tubal EP pregnancy, 22 underwent laparoscopic salpingotomy (group 1) and 36 laparoscopic salpingectomy (group 2). EP-related data were obtained from medical documentation (the symptoms, diagnostic tests, EP risk factors, medical reproductive and surgical history, clinical status during EP surgery). Follow-up data were collected by means of a telephone interview. The survey included questions focused on women’s fertility during a 24-month period following the surgical treatment of EP (conception, subsequent intrauterine pregnancies and ectopic pregnancy). Results: A 24-month follow-up period revealed that the cumulative intrauterine pregnancy rate was higher in group 1 (salpingotomy) as compared to group 2 (salpingectomy), i.e. 50% vs. 41.5%, respectively. Tubal EP returned in 13.6% cases (group 1) vs. 19.4% (group 2). All submitted results are statistically insignificant. Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with the literature which reports a trend of higher odds for intrauterine pregnancy after salpingotomy for surgical treatment of EP as compared to salpingectomy. Moreover, the risk for recurrent tubal EP is comparable for both methods. Regardless, the decision about the operating range in case of EP always depends on the actual clinical state of the patient.Ciąża ektopowa (CE) najczęściej lokalizuje się w jajowodzie i jest czynnikiem wpływającym istotnie na płodność kobiet. Jajowodową ciążę ektopową można leczyć na trzy sposoby: farmakologiczne, operacyjnie zachowawczo (salpingotomia) oraz radykalnie (salpingektomia). Cel pracy: Celem tej pracy jest porównanie płodności kobiet po operacyjnym laparoskopowym leczeniu jajowodowej ciąży ektopowej przez salpingotomię i salpingektomię. Materiały i metody: Do badania zakwalifikowano 58 pacjentek operowanych z powodu jajowodowej ciąży ektopowej metodą laparoskopowej salpingotomii (Grupa 1) lub salpingektomii (Grupa 2). Na podstawie dokumentacji medycznej oceniono przebieg CE (objawy, badania diagnostyczne, czynniki ryzyka CE, wywiad położniczo-ginekologiczny, przebieg operacji). Następnie na podstawie telefonicznej ankiety uzupełniano dane na temat płodności pacjentek starających się o dziecko w okresie 24 miesięcy od operacji (ciąże wewnątrzmaciczne, ciąże pozamaciczne). Wyniki: W ciągu 24 miesięcy po operacji CE ciąża wewnątrzmaciczna występowała częściej w Grupie 1 (salpingotomia) 50% vs 41,5% w Grupie 2 (salpingektomia). Ciąża ektopowa jajowodowa ponownie wystąpiła w 13,6% przypadków w Grupie 1 vs 19,4% w Grupie 2. Powyższe wyniki nie są istotne statystycznie. Wnioski: W tym badaniu jak i w literaturze obserwowany jest pewien trend sugerujący większą szansę na ciążę wewnątrzmaciczną po operacji jajowodowej CE metodą salpingotomii w porównaniu do salpingektomii. Natomiast ryzyko wystąpienia ponownej jajowodowej CE jest porównywalne dla obu metod operacji. Jednakże, decyzja o zakresie operacji CE jajowodowej zależy przede wszystkim od aktualnego obrazu klinicznego pacjentek

Kreacja w ubiorze jako element twórczej ekspresji i komunikacji artefaktycznej w kontekście zachodzących zmian w estetyce wyglądu kobiety. Na podstawie autorskich doświadczeń i dokonań artystyczno-dydaktycznych

Kreacja w ubiorze jako element twórczej ekspresji i komunikacji artefaktycznejw kontekście zachodzących zmian w estetyce wyglądu kobiety. Na podstawieautorskich doświadczeń i dokonań artystyczno-dydaktycznyc

Influence of MAD Application on Episodes of Obstructive Apnea and Bruxism during Sleep—A Prospective Study

The condition of sleep bruxism (SB) is defined by many authors as the body’s response to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In the conservative treatment of OSA, mandibular advancement devices (MADs) have found their application. The aim of the study iso assess the impact of MADs on the occurrence of episodes and the intensity of OSA and SB. The study sample consisted of eight patients with OSA and SB diagnosed with these conditions on the basis of clinical examinations and polysomnography (PSG). The prospective study was designed to assess the use of MADs for OSA and SB. MADs were prepared for the patients who subsequently underwent control examinations after one week of wear, and another PSG (PSG II) with an MAD was performed in conditions resembling the first qualification examination (PSG I). The same parameters were assessed in both PSG examinations. Following treatment with the MAD, a favorable lowering of the mean values of the examined parameters was observed. The statistically significant differences were demonstrated only for the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), the oxygen desaturation index (ODI), and the number of apneas and hypopneas, obstructive apneas, apneas in OSA, and phasic episodes of bruxism. The application of MADs in patients with OSA has a beneficial effect on the same manifestations of OSA and SB, even though only the number of phasic episodes of bruxism was statistically significant

Highly Enantioselective Production of (R)-Halohydrins with Whole Cells of Rhodotorula rubra KCh 82 Culture

Biotransformation of ten α-haloacetophenones in the growing culture of the strain Rhodotorula rubra KCh 82 has been carried out. Nine of the substrates underwent an effective enantioselective reduction to the respective (R)-alcohols according to Prelog’s rule, with the exception of 2-chloro-1,2-diphenylethan-1-one that was not transformed by this strain. The expected reduction proceeded without dehalogenation, leading to the respective (R)-halohydrins in high yields. The use of this biocatalyst yielded (R)-2-bromo-1-phenyl-ethan-1-ol (enantiomeric excess (ee) = 97%) and its derivatives: 4'-Bromo- (ee = 99%); 4'-Chloro- (ee > 99%); 4'-Methoxy- (ee = 96%); 3'-Methoxy- (ee = 93%); 2'-Methoxy- (ee = 98%). There were also obtained and characterized 2,4'-dichloro-, 2,2',4'-trichloro- and 2-chloro-4'-fluoro-phenyetan-1-ol with >99% of enantiomeric excesses

Glycosylation of Methoxylated Flavonoids in the Cultures of Isaria fumosorosea KCH J2

Flavonoids are widely described plant secondary metabolites with high and diverse pro-health properties. In nature, they occur mostly in the form of glycosides. Our research showed that an excellent way to obtain the sugar derivatives of flavonoids is through biotransformations with the use of entomopathogenic filamentous fungi as biocatalysts. In the current paper, we described the biotransformations of five methoxylated flavonoid compounds (2′-methoxyflavanone, 3′-methoxyflavanone, 4′-methoxyflavanone, 6-methoxyflavanone, and 6-methoxyflavone) in cultures of Isaria fumosorosea KCH J2. As a result, we obtained twelve new flavonoid 4-O-methylglucopyranosides. The products were purified with methods that enabled the reduction of the consumption of organic solvents (preparative TLC and flash chromatography). The structures of the products were confirmed with spectroscopic methods (NMR: 1H, 13C, HSQC, HMBC, COSY). The compounds obtained by us expand the library of available flavonoid derivatives and can be used in biological research

Biotransformations of Flavones and an Isoflavone (Daidzein) in Cultures of Entomopathogenic Filamentous Fungi

Entomopathogenic filamentous fungi of the genus Isaria are effective biocatalysts in the biotransformation of flavonoids as well as steroids. In the present study, the species Isaria fumosorosea and Isaria farinosa isolated from the environment were used. Their catalytic capacity to carry out biotransformations of flavones—unsubstituted, with hydroxy- and amino-substituents as well as a hydroxylated isoflavone—was investigated. Biotransformations of flavone, 5-hydroxyflavone, 6-hydroxyflavone, 7-hydroxyflavone, and daidzein resulted in the formation of O-methylglucosides, in the case of flavone and 5-hydroxyflavone with additional hydroxylations. 7-Aminoflavone was transformed into two acetamido derivatives. The following products were obtained: From flavone–flavone 2′-O-β-d-(4′′-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside, flavone 4′-O-β-d-(4′′-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside and 3′-hydroxyflavone 4′-O-β-d-(4′′-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside; from 5-hydroxyflavone–5-hydroxyflavone 4′-O-β-d-(4′′-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside; from 6-hydroxyflavone–flavone 6-O-β-d-(4′′-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside; from 7-hydroxyflavone–flavone 7-O-β-d-(4′′-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside; from daidzein–daidzein 7-O-β-d-(4′′-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside; and from 7-aminoflavone–7-acetamidoflavone and 7-acetamido-4′-hydroxyflavone. Seven of the products obtained by us have not been previously reported in the literature

Health Outcomes of Judo Training as an Organized Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents: A Literature Review

Judo, an organized physical activity for children and adolescents, has gained popularity worldwide. Physical activity is vital during times of rising obesity and a sedentary lifestyle in this age group. The article aims to review the current knowledge of the health benefits of judo-specific exercises for children and youth. Six international scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, UpToDate, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar) were searched from 1 January 2007 to 30 September 2022. The search focused on health-related factors regarding healthy preschool and school-aged judo practitioners. Sixteen original studies met the inclusion criteria. School-aged children aged 7–15 years were included in the analysis. The average training time was between two and six hours a week, with the judo intervention mainly ranging from nine months to three years. Most studies registered positive changes caused by judo training. The outcomes focused on maintaining or reducing body fat, increasing bone mineralization, and improving the function of the cardiorespiratory system compared to the non-practicing control group. However, there were no differences between judo and other sports groups. The main conclusions presented health benefits from judo-specific training in school-aged children and may support the World Health Organization recommendations concerning daily physical activity