Optimisation of biologically active compounds ultrasound assisted extraction from potatoes using response surface methodology

ArticlePotato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) is source of p henolic compounds and from plant matrixes can be extracted by several methods. In recent years ultrasound assisted extraction has become more popular due to its efficiency for recovery of phenolic compounds and antioxidants and response surface methodology is an effective tool for optimisation of extraction procedure by evaluating different variables and their interaction. The aim of the current research was to optimize ultrasound assisted extraction of biologically active compounds from potatoes by respons e surface methodology. For experiment purple - flesh potato variety ‘Blue Congo’ was selected. Control sample was extracted by stirring for 1 hour. Box - Behnken design was used for optimization of extraction conditions from fresh potatoes and as variables wer e selected: ethanol concentration (% v/v), hydrochloric acid concentration (molarity) and time (min). For extracts as responses total phenolic, total flavonoid, total anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS+ scavenging activity) were deter mined using a spectrophotometric methods. Significant models were obtained for antocyanins, total phenols and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Optimisation of extraction showed that for maximising all responses optimal HCl concentration is 2.5M, ethanol c oncentration 79.4% and extraction time 60 minutes, resulting in following responses: 57.41 mg 100 g - 1 of anthocyanins, 238.52 mg 100 g - 1 of TPC, 24.58 mM TE 100 g - 1 of DPPH scavenging activity and 12.99 mM TE 100 g - 1 of ABTS scavenging activity. Convention al extraction method showed significantly lower results. It could be concluded that ultrasound assisted extraction is effective method for recovery of phenolic compounds and solvents and extraction time is significant parameter influencing efficiency

Hypogastric artery bypass to preserve pelvic circulation: improved outcome after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

AbstractObjectiveThis study was carried out to compare the functional outcomes after hypogastric artery bypass and coil embolization for management of common iliac artery aneurysms in the endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms (EVAR).MethodsBetween 1996 and 2002, 265 patients underwent elective or emergent EVAR. Data were retrospectively reviewed for 21 (8%) patients with iliac artery aneurysms 25 mm or larger that involved the iliac bifurcation. Patients underwent hypogastric artery bypass (n = 9) or coil embolization (n = 12). Interviews about past and current levels of activity were conducted. A disability score (DS) was quantitatively graded on a discrete scale ranging from 0 to 10, corresponding to “virtually bed-bound” to exercise tolerance “greater than a mile.” Worsening or improvement of symptoms was expressed as a difference in DS between two time points (-, worsening; +, improvement).ResultsThere was no difference in age (72.6 ± 7.3 years vs 73.1 ± 6.4 years), sex (male-female ratio, 8:1 vs 11:1), abdominal aortic aneurysm size (60.1 ± 5.9 mm vs 59.3 ± 7.0 mm), or number of preoperative comorbid conditions (1.9 ± 0.8 vs 2.1 ± 0.8) between hypogastric bypass and coil embolization groups, respectively. Mean follow-up was shorter after hypogastric bypass (14.8 vs 20.5 months; P < .05). There was no difference in the mean overall baseline DS between the bypass and the embolization groups (8.0 vs 7.8). Six (50%) of the 12 patients with coil embolization reported symptoms of buttock claudication ipsilateral to the occluded hypogastric artery. No symptoms of buttock claudication were reported after hypogastric bypass (P < .05). There was a decrease in the DS after both procedures; however, coil embolization was associated with a significantly worse DS compared with hypogastric artery bypass (4.5 vs 7.3; P < .001). In 4 (67%) of 6 patients with claudication after coil embolization symptoms improved, with a DS of 5.4 at last follow-up. This was significantly worse than in patients undergoing hypogastric artery bypass, with a DS of 7.8 at last follow-up (P < .001). There was no difference between the groups in duration of procedure, blood loss, length of hospital stay, morbidity, or mortality (0%).ConclusionsHypogastric artery bypass to preserve pelvic circulation is safe, and significantly decreases the risk for buttock claudication. Preservation of pelvic circulation results in significant improvement in the ambulatory status of patients with common iliac artery aneurysms, compared with coil embolization

Explant analysis of AneuRx stent grafts: relationship between structural findings and clinical outcome

AbstractObjectiveWe reviewed the structural findings of explanted AneuRx stent grafts used to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms, and relate the findings to clinical outcome measures.MethodsWe reviewed data for all bifurcated AneuRx stent grafts explanted at surgery or autopsy and returned to the manufacturer from the US clinical trial and worldwide experience of more than 33,000 implants from 1996 to 2003. Devices implanted for more than 1 month with structural analysis are included in this article. Explant results were analyzed in relation to cause of explantation and pre-explant evidence of endoleak, enlargement, or device migration.ResultsOne hundred twenty explanted stent grafts, including 37 from the US clinical trial, were analyzed. Mean implant duration was 22 ± 13 months (range, 1-61 months). Structural abnormalities included stent fatigue fractures, fabric abrasion holes, and suture breaks. The mean number of nitinol stent strut fractures per explanted device was 3 ± 4, which represents less than 0.2% of the total number of stent struts in each device. The mean number of fabric holes per explanted device was 2 ± 3, with a median hole size of 0.5 mm2. Suture breaks were seen in most explanted devices, but composed less than 1.5% of the total number of sutures per device. “For cause” explants (n = 104) had a 10-month longer implant duration (P = .007) compared with “incidental” explants (n = 16). “For cause” explants had more fractures (3 ± 5; P = .005) and fabric holes (2 ± 3; P = .008) per device compared with “incidental” explants, but these differences were not significant (P = .3) when adjusted for duration of device implantation. Among clinical trial explants the number of fabric holes in grafts in patients with endoleak (2 ± 3 per device) was no different from those without endoleak (3 ± 4 per device; P = NS). The number of fatigue fractures or fabric holes was no different in grafts in clinical trial patients with pre-explant aneurysm enlargement compared with those without enlargement. Pre-explant stent-graft migration was associated with a greater number of stent strut fractures (5 ± 7 per device; P = .04) and fabric holes (3 ± 3 per bifurcation; P = .03) compared with explants without migration. Serial imaging studies revealed inadequate proximal, distal, or junctional device fixation as the probable cause of rupture or need for conversion to open surgery in 86% of “for cause” explants. Structural device abnormalities were usually remote from fixation sites, and no causal relationship between device findings and clinical outcome could be established.ConclusionsNitinol stent fatigue fractures, fabric holes, and suture breaks found in explanted AneuRx stent grafts do not appear to be related to clinical outcome measures. Longer term studies are needed to confirm these observations

The Red Sea, Coastal Landscapes, and Hominin Dispersals

This chapter provides a critical assessment of environment, landscape and resources in the Red Sea region over the past five million years in relation to archaeological evidence of hominin settlement, and of current hypotheses about the role of the region as a pathway or obstacle to population dispersals between Africa and Asia and the possible significance of coastal colonization. The discussion assesses the impact of factors such as topography and the distribution of resources on land and on the seacoast, taking account of geographical variation and changes in geology, sea levels and palaeoclimate. The merits of northern and southern routes of movement at either end of the Red Sea are compared. All the evidence indicates that there has been no land connection at the southern end since the beginning of the Pliocene period, but that short sea crossings would have been possible at lowest sea-level stands with little or no technical aids. More important than the possibilities of crossing the southern channel is the nature of the resources available in the adjacent coastal zones. There were many climatic episodes wetter than today, and during these periods water draining from the Arabian escarpment provided productive conditions for large mammals and human populations in coastal regions and eastwards into the desert. During drier episodes the coastal region would have provided important refugia both in upland areas and on the emerged shelves exposed by lowered sea level, especially in the southern sector and on both sides of the Red Sea. Marine resources may have offered an added advantage in coastal areas, but evidence for their exploitation is very limited, and their role has been over-exaggerated in hypotheses of coastal colonization

Significant association between host transcriptome‐derived HPV oncogene E6* influence score and carcinogenic pathways, tumor size, and survival in head and neck cancer

BackgroundHuman papillomavirus (HPV) oncogenes E6, E7, and shorter isoforms of E6 (E6*) are known carcinogenic factors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Little is known regarding E6* functions.MethodsWe analyzed RNA‐seq data from 68 HNSCC HPV type 16‐positive tumors to determine host genes and pathways associated with E6+E7 expression (E6E7) or the percent of full‐length E6 (E6%FL). Influence scores of E6E7 and E6%FL were used to test for associations with clinical variables.ResultsFor E6E7, we recapitulated all major known affected pathways and revealed additional pathways. E6%FL was found to affect mitochondrial processes, and E6%FL influence score was significantly associated with overall survival and tumor size.ConclusionsHPV E6E7 and E6* result in extensive, dose‐dependent compensatory effects and dysregulation of key cancer pathways. The switch from E6 to E6* promotes oxidative phosphorylation, larger tumor size, and worse prognosis, potentially serving as a prognostic factor for HPV‐positive HNSCC.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156432/2/hed26244.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156432/1/hed26244_am.pd

Childhood cancer incidence and survival in Thailand: A comprehensive population‐based registry analysis, 1990–2011

BackgroundSoutheast Asia is undergoing a transition from infectious to chronic diseases, including a dramatic increase in adult cancers. Childhood cancer research in Thailand has focused predominantly on leukemias and lymphomas or only examined children for a short period of time. This comprehensive multisite study examined childhood cancer incidence and survival rates in Thailand across all International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC) groups over a 20‐year period.MethodsCancer cases diagnosed in children ages 0‐19 years (n = 3574) from 1990 to 2011 were extracted from five provincial population‐based Thai registries, covering approximately 10% of the population. Descriptive statistics of the quality of the registries were evaluated. Age‐standardized incidence rates (ASRs) were calculated using the Segi world standard population, and relative survival was computed using the Kaplan‐Meier method. Changes in incidence and survival were analyzed using Joinpoint Regression and reported as annual percent changes (APC).ResultsThe ASR of all childhood cancers during the study period was 98.5 per million person‐years with 91.0 per million person‐years in 1990–2000 and 106.2 per million person‐years in 2001–2011. Incidence of all childhood cancers increased significantly (APC = 1.2%, P < 0.01). The top three cancer groups were leukemias, brain tumors, and lymphomas. The 5‐year survival for all childhood cancers significantly improved from 39.4% in 1990–2000 to 47.2% in 2001–2011 (P < 0.01).ConclusionsBoth childhood cancer incidence and survival rates have increased, suggesting improvement in the health care system as more cases are identified and treated. Analyzing childhood cancer trends in low‐ and middle‐income countries can improve understanding of cancer etiology and pediatric health care disparities.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146559/1/pbc27428_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146559/2/pbc27428.pd

Fracture–dislocation of the shoulder and brachial plexus palsy: a terrible association

Primary post-traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder with associated fracture of the greater tuberosity and brachial plexus injury is rare and, to our knowledge, has never previously been reported in the literature. We present a case of this unhappy triad in which a brachial plexus injury was diagnosed and treated 3 weeks later. The characteristics of this rare condition are discussed on the basis of our case and the published literature in order to improve early diagnosis and treatment of this lesion