Total synthesis and biological evaluation of the tetramic acid based natural product harzianic acid and its stereoisomers

Financial support for this project was provided by Cancer Research UK (Grant No. C21383/A6950)The bioactive natural product harzianic acid was prepared for the first time in just six steps (longest linear sequence) with an overall yield of 22%. The identification of conditions to telescope amide bond formation and a Lacey-Dieckmann reaction into one pot proved important. The three stereoisomers of harzianic acid were also prepared, providing material for comparison of their biological activity. While all of the isomers promoted root growth, improved antifungal activity was unexpectedly associated with isomers in the enantiomeric series opposite that of harzianic acid.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Rapid, selective and stable HaloTag-Lb ADH immobilization directly from crude cell extract for the continuous biocatalytic production of chiral alcohols and epoxides

A strategy for biocatalyst immobilization in flow directly from the crude cell extract is described.EPSRC (Award Nos. EP/K009494/1 and EP/K039520/1), the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the project “Molecular Interaction Engineering” (funding code 031A095)

Efficacy of Oral Administration of Sodium Iodide to Prevent Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex

Background: The prevention of bovine respiratory disease complex (BRD) in beef cattle is important to maintaining health and productivity of calves in feeding operations. Objective: Determine whether BRD bacterial and viral pathogens are susceptible to the lactoperoxidase/hydrogen peroxide/ iodide (LPO/H2O2/I-) system in vitro and to determine whether the oral administration of sodium iodide (NaI) could achieve sufficient concentrations of iodine (I) in the respiratory secretions of weaned beef calves to inactivate these pathogens in vivo. Animals: Sixteen weaned, apparently healthy, commercial beef calves from the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine teaching herd. Methods: In vitro viral and bacterial assays were performed to determine susceptibility to the LPO/H2O2/I- system at varying concentrations of NaI. Sixteen randomly selected, healthy crossbred beef weanlings were administered 70 mg/kg NaI, or water, orally in a blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Blood and nasal secretions were collected for 72 hours and analyzed for I- concentration. Results: Bovine herpesvirus-1, parainfluenza-3, Mannheimia haemolytica and Bibersteinia trehalosi were all inactivated or inhibited in vitro by the LPO/H2O2/I- reaction. Oral administration of NaI caused a marked increase in nasal fluid I concentration with a Cmax = 181 (1,420 mM I), T12, a sufficient concentration to inactivate these pathogens in vitro. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: In vitro, the LPO/H2O2/I- system inactivates and inhibits common pathogens associated with BRD. The administration of oral NaI significantly increases the I concentration of nasal fluid indicating that this system might be useful in preventing bovine respiratory infections

Enabling Technologies for the Future of Chemical Synthesis.

Technology is evolving at breakneck pace, changing the way we communicate, travel, find out information, and live our lives. Yet chemistry as a science has been slower to adapt to this rapidly shifting world. In this Outlook we use highlights from recent literature reports to describe how progresses in enabling technologies are altering this trend, permitting chemists to incorporate new advances into their work at all levels of the chemistry development cycle. We discuss the benefits and challenges that have arisen, impacts on academic-industry relationships, and future trends in the area of chemical synthesis.We are grateful to the Woolf Fisher Trust (D.E.F), Syngenta Crop Protection AG (C.B.) and EPSRC (S.V.L., grant codes EP/K009494/1, EP/M004120/1 and EP/K039520/1) for financial assistance.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from the American Chemical Society via https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.6b0001

Study of Helical Coiled Tubular Reactors in Laminar Flow

Chemical Engineerin

Prevention and management of type 2 diabetes: dietary components and nutritional strategies

In the past couple of decades, evidence from prospective observational studies and clinical trials has converged to support the importance of individual nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. The quality of dietary fats and carbohydrates consumed is more crucial than is the quantity of these macronutrients. Diets rich in wholegrains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts; moderate in alcohol consumption; and lower in refined grains, red or processed meats, and sugar-sweetened beverages have been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes and improve glycaemic control and blood lipids in patients with diabetes. With an emphasis on overall diet quality, several dietary patterns such as Mediterranean, low glycaemic index, moderately low carbohydrate, and vegetarian diets can be tailored to personal and cultural food preferences and appropriate calorie needs for weight control and diabetes prevention and management. Although much progress has been made in development and implementation of evidence-based nutrition recommendations in developed countries, concerted worldwide efforts and policies are warranted to alleviate regional disparities

Continuous flow chemistry: a discovery tool for new chemical reactivity patterns

Continuous flow chemistry as a process intensification tool is well known. However, its ability to enable chemists to perform reactions which are not possible in batch is less well studied or understood. Here we present an example, where a new reactivity pattern and extended reaction scope has been achieved by transferring a reaction from batch mode to flow. This new reactivity can be explained by suppressing back mixing and precise control of temperature in a flow reactor set up.EPSRC/EP/F069685/1EPSRC/ EP/F069685/1Fonds der Chemischen Industri

Chronic venous leg ulcer care: Putting the patient at the heart of leg ulcer care Part 2: Development and evaluation of the consultation template

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by MA Healthcare Ltd in British Journal of Community Nursing on 25/05/2018, available online: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2018.23.Sup6.S20 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.Part 2 in this article series summarises the final two phases of a study which explored the experiences of patients with leg ulcers and the impact of this condition on their quality of life. Early phases of the study revealed a mismatch between issues that affected a patient's quality of life and what they discussed during subsequent health care consultations. In light of this, a nominal group technique was employed to facilitate the development of a new leg ulcer consultation template with patient partners. The aim of this was to include many of the issues raised in phases 1. The new template was evaluated in terms of its utility, significance and clinical potential. The application of this template during routine consultations appears to encourage the patient to disclose issues that are important to them and may have otherwise been overlooked