User friendly and flexible Kiliani reaction on ketoses using microreaction technology

The Kiliani reaction, i.e. the elongation of the carbon chain by means of cyanide addition to the carbonyl group of carbohydrate derivatives, is studied on lower C3-, C4- and C6-ketoses under continuous flow conditions. Depending on the process parameters, the corresponding cyanohydrins or alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids are obtained. A simple on-line purification of the effluent is studied using cation exchange resins. Reactions provide high yields and selectivity within short residence times, emphasizing the assets of the continuous flow process versus the batch process

A novel behavioral fish model of nociception for testing analgesics

Pain is a major symptom in many medical conditions, and often interferes significantly with a person's quality of life. Although a priority topic in medical research for many years, there are still few analgesic drugs approved for clinical use. One reason is the lack of appropriate animal models that faithfully represent relevant hallmarks associated with human pain. Here we propose zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a novel short-term behavioral model of nociception, and analyse its sensitivity and robustness. Firstly, we injected two different doses of acetic acid as the noxious stimulus. We studied individual locomotor responses of fish to a threshold level of nociception using two recording systems: a video tracking system and an electric biosensor (the MOBS system). We showed that an injection dose of 10% acetic acid resulted in a change in behavior that could be used to study nociception. Secondly, we validated our behavioral model by investigating the effect of the analgesic morphine. In time-course studies, first we looked at the dose-response relationship of morphine and then tested whether the effect of morphine could be modulated by naloxone, an opioid antagonist. Our results suggest that a change in behavioral responses of zebrafish to acetic acid is a reasonable model to test analgesics. The response scales with stimulus intensity, is attenuated by morphine, and the analgesic effect of morphine is blocked with naloxone. The change in behavior of zebrafish associated with the noxious stimulus can be monitored with an electric biosensor that measures changes in water impedance. © 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Reductive amination of carbohydrate derivatives as a simple route to building blocks for biologically active compounds

5-(Hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) has recently attracted a significant amount of revived attention. It is produced from hexoses via acid-catalyzed dehydratation and as a renewable building block used for the conversion to a wide range of useful derivatives. The most remarkable examples are 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and 2,5-di(hydroxymethyl)furan, used in the production of polymers, and 2,5-dimethylfuran, a potential fuel additive with very promising features. Another group of molecules that can easily be produced from HMF are 2-alkyl- and 2-arylaminomethylfurans. These structures are often found in various types of molecules with pharmacological activity, such as antihistaminics, glutamate modulators, glycine antagonists, muscarinic agonists, renin inhibitors, antifungal agents, kinase inhibitors, etc. In most of the patents covering production of these structures, furfural is used as a starting material. However, these procedures include long reaction times and rather drastic temperature and pressure conditions. On the contrary, the here presented reactions of a two-step reductive amination of HMF were conducted in a very straightforward fashion: water and simple alcohols were used as reaction media, no catalyst was used and very mild conditions were employed. Starting from HMF and several aliphatic and aromatic amines, a small library of novel simple-structured derivatives was produced, in high yields and requiring only minimal purification. Conventional and microwave heating were successfully used as a means of enhancing reaction rates. This route therefore presents a novel way for the production of furan-based renewable building blocks

Smart Alarms: Multivariate Medical Alarm Integration for Post CABG Surgery Patients

In order to monitor patients in the Intensive Care Unit, healthcare practitioners set threshold alarms on each of many individual vital sign monitors. The current alarm algorithms elicit numerous false positive alarms producing an inefficient healthcare system, where nurses habitually ignore low level alarms due to their overabundance. In this paper, we describe an algorithm that considers multiple vital signs when monitoring a post coronary artery bypass graft (post-CABG) surgery patient. The algorithm employs a Fuzzy Expert System to mimic the decision processes of nurses. In addition, it includes a Clinical Decision Support tool that uses Bayesian theory to display the possible CABG-related complications the patient might be undergoing at any point in time, as well as the most relevant risk factors. As a result, this multivariate approach decreases clinical alarms by an average of 59% with a standard deviation of 17% (Sample of 32 patients, 1,451 hours of vital sign data). Interviews comparing our proposed system with the approach currently used in hospitals have also confirmed the potential efficiency gains from this approach

Soil-Transmitted Helminths, Poverty, and Malnutrition in Honduran Children Living in Remote Rural Communities

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are endemic in Honduras, but their prevalence according to the levels of poverty in the population has not been examined. The present cross-sectional study is aimed to determine the role of different levels of poverty in STH prevalence and infection intensity as well as the potential associations of STH infections with malnutrition and anemia. Research participants were children attending a medical brigade serving remote communities in Northern Honduras in June 2014. Demographic data were obtained, and poverty levels were determined using the unsatisfied basic needs method. STH infections were investigated by the Kato-Katz method; hemoglobin concentrations were determined with the HemoCue system; and stunting, thinness, and underweight were determined by anthropometry. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariable logistic regression models. Among 130 children who participated in this study, a high prevalence (69.2%) of parasitism was found and the poorest children were significantly more infected than those living in less poor communities (79.6% vs. 61.8%; P = 0.030). Prevalence rates of Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, and hookworms were 69.2%, 12.3%, and 3.85%, respectively. In total, 69% of children had anemia and 30% were stunted. Households’ earthen floor and lack of latrines were associated with infection. Greater efforts should be made to reduce STH prevalence and improve overall childhood health, in particular, among the poorest children lacking the basic necessities of life

Teaching for implementation: A framework for building implementation research and practice capacity within the translational science workforce

Implementation science offers a compelling value proposition to translational science. As such, many translational science stakeholders are seeking to recruit, teach, and train an implementation science workforce. The type of workforce that will make implementation happen consists of both implementation researchers and practitioners, yet little guidance exists on how to train such a workforce. We-members of the Advancing Dissemination and Implementation Sciences in CTSAs Working Group-present the Teaching For Implementation Framework to address this gap. We describe the differences between implementation researchers and practitioners and demonstrate what and how to teach them individually and in co-learning opportunities. We briefly comment on educational infrastructures and resources that will be helpful in furthering this type of approach