Chemical Variability of the Essential Oil of Pituranthos scoparius from Algeria

The chemical composition of 93 oil samples from the aerial parts of Pituranthos scoparius, harvested in three regions of Algeria, was investigated by GC‐FID, GC/MS and ¹³C‐NMR. Monoterpene hydrocarbons dominated in association with phenylpropanoids and a chemical variability was found highlighting three clusters. The composition of group I (36 samples) exhibited an atypical composition characterized by a very high contents of 6‐methoxyelemicine (13.0 – 59.6%), followed by sabinene (1.1 – 43.0%) and limonene (6.6 – 39.0%), while the samples of group II (12 samples) contained a high content of limonene (9.2 – 44.0%), followed by myristicine (0.0 – 29.4%) and a lower amount of sabinene (0.8 – 2.3%). Group III (45 samples) could be divided in two subgroups. Subgroup SGIIIA was characterized by a very high content of sabinene (28.0 – 55.6%), followed by elemicine (0.0 – 29.1%), while the samples belonging to SGIIIB were characterized by the lower content of sabinene (6.2 – 35.5%) and a significant content of myristicine (1.5 – 32.4%), α‐pinene (4.2 – 31.0%) and dill apiole (0.1 – 31.4%). Each harvested region was characterized by a different chemical composition.     

Local recurrence of primary non-ampullary adenocarcinoma of duodenum after surgical treatment--a case report and a literature review

Worldwide there is no general attitude on optimal surgical procedure in treatment of primary non-ampullary adenocarcinoma of duodenum, especially for early stage of duodenal cancer. Some authors prefer local excision and segmental resection while others rather perform duodenopancreatic resection, even in the case of early stage of duodenal cancer with aim to avoid tumor recurrence. In this paper we present a rare clinical course of a 60-year-old male patient with an endoscopically and pathohistologically proven early stage duodenal cancer that was treated by wide local excision. Three years after operation, control endoscopy showed "flat" polyp in the duodenum and radical duodenopancreatic resection was performed. Pathohistological examination of resected specimen showed cancer that had spread throughout the duodenal wall with metastases in the regional lymph nodes. According to our findings and literature review we gave some direction concerning the optimal diagnostic and surgical procedure for this rare tumor.     

Trans-species polymorphism of the Mhc class II DRB-like gene in banded penguins (genus Spheniscus)

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) class II DRB locus of vertebrates is highly polymorphic and some alleles may be shared between closely related species as a result of balancing selection in association with resistance to parasites. In this study, we developed a new set of PCR primers to amplify, clone, and sequence overlapping portions of the Mhc class II DRB-like gene from the 5′UTR end to intron 3, including exons 1, 2, and 3 and introns 1 and 2 in four species (20 Humboldt, six African, five Magellanic, and three Galapagos penguins) of penguin from the genus Spheniscus (Sphe). Analysis of gene sequence variation by the neighbor-joining method of 21 Sphe sequences and 20 previously published sequences from four other penguin species revealed overlapping clades within the Sphe species, but species-specific clades for the other penguin species. The overlap of the DRB-like gene sequence variants between the four Sphe species suggests that, despite their allopatric distribution, the Sphe species are closely related and that some shared DRB1 alleles may have undergone a trans-species inheritance because of balancing selection and/or recent rapid speciation. The new primers and PCR assays that we have developed for the identification of the DRB1 DNA and protein sequence variations appear to be useful for the characterization of the molecular evolution of the gene in closely related Penguin species and might be helpful for the assessment of the genetic health and the management of the conservation and captivity of these endangered species. The nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence data reported in this paper have been submitted to the DDBJ database and have been assigned the accession numbers AB301478, AB301944–AB301950, AB302087–AB302090, AB302190–AB302192, AB302843, AB302844, and AB303942–AB303945.     

Wet Chemical Colorimetric Estimation of CO: An Update on the Reduced Silver Sol Spectral and Kinetic Transformations to Silver nanoparticle

Measurements of ppm (v/v) level CO_g concentration is conveniently performed by its preconcentration in alkaline absorber solution of Ag⁺-(4)- HCO₂-C₆H₄-SO₂NH₂ complex, followed by a spectral measurement of the reduced silver sol. In this study, the transitory nature of this latter species and its subsequent real-time transformation to silver nanoparticle are presented. These results were based on spectral measurements made under varying concentrations of alkali, (4)-HCO₂-C₆H₄-SO₂NH₂, and Ag⁺ in the absorber solution, and in the presence of a wide range of sampled CO_g concentration. The initially created light yellow colored sol with its broad absorption profile peaking at 380 nm and absorption coefficient 3500?±?300 cm^?1 M^?1 (related to the amount of sampled [CO_g] as standardized by gas chromatographic analysis) changed into the characteristic yellow orange nanoparticle with its plasmon band peak absorption at 425 nm and absorption coefficient 6350?±?300 cm^?1 M^?1. Under different sampling conditions, the respective first-order conversion rates varied between 0.03 and 0.15 h^?1, whereas simultaneous dynamic light scattering measurements revealed steady growth of the averaged particle size ranging from 60 to 300 nm.     

An introduction of a pyridine group into the structure of prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitors

A series of ionizable prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitors were developed through the introduction of a pyridyl group to the P3 position of the prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitor structure. The study was performed on previously developed prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitors with proline mimetics at the P2 position. The 3-pyridyl group resulted in equipotent compounds as compared to the parent compounds. It was shown that the pyridyl group improves water solubility and, in combination with a 5(R)-tert-butyl-l-prolyl group at the P2 position, good lipophilicity can be achieved.     

Development of printable bioactive paper containing laccase

Compatibility of Trametes versicolor and Trametes hirsuta laccases was studied with polymers used for flexographic inks. The aim was to produce bioactive paper with ability to change color. Optimum pH for the stability of Trametes versicolor and Trametes hirsuta laccases was determined during storage at room temperature for 60 days. The optimum pH for the stability of both laccases was 8–9. The stabilization effect of flexo printing inks on the enzymes was tested in liquid form and when coated on paper. Sulfo polyester resin HZ1100D stabilized the two laccases both in solution and on paper. For example, Trametes versicolor laccase remained stable for at least 8 weeks when coated with HZ1100D polymer. Furthermore, the adsorption of the flexo inks to cellulose was studied with quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). It was observed that HZ1100D also adsorbs well on cellulose over a wide pH range. The results suggested that laccases are well suited to bioactive paper applications. Large scale manufacturing of bioactive paper products by flexo printing would be possible because of the compatibility of laccases with flexo inks.