From Anionic Ring-Opening Polymerization of β-Butyrolactone to Biodegradable Poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s: Our Contributions in This Field

The feasibility of synthesis of functionalized poly(3-hydroxybutanoic acid) analogue and its copolymers via ring-opening polymerization of β-butyrolactone mediated by activated anionic initiators is presented. Using these new synthetic approaches, polyesters with a defined chemical structure of the end groups, as well as block, graft, and random copolymers, have been obtained and characterized by modern instrumental techniques, with special emphasis on ESI-MS. The relationship between the structure and properties of the prepared polymeric materials is also discussed.

Novel Metabolic Biomarker for Early Detection and Prognosis to the Patients with Gastric Cardia Adnocarcinoma

Background: Gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA), which has been normalized as type II of adenocarcinoma at esophagogastric junction in western countries. In clinical, most of the GCA patients are lack of early alarming symptoms, more than 90% of GCA patients were diagnosed at advanced stage, resulted in a very poor prognosis, with less than 20% of 5-year survival. Obviously, early detection for GCA plays crucial role in decreasing the high mortality. Metabolomics allows for appraisal of small molecular mass compounds in a biofluid, which may provide a way for finding biomarkers for GCA. Methods: The serum metabolic features of 276 curatively resected GCA patients and 588 healthy control participates were collected from the database of State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment and Henan Key Laboratory for Esophageal Cancer Research of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University to discover the metabolic dysregulation by using the ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Joint pathway analysis with metabolites identified, survival analysis and auxiliary diagnosis metabolites were discussed in present work. Results: A sum of 200 known differential metabolites were obtained with p＜0.05 and fold change FC≥1.25 or FC≤0.8 by comparison GCA and healthy control participates. 12 metabolites significant correlated with survival (p＜0.05) and 17 metabolites for potential auxiliary diagnosis(FC＞1.5 or FC＜0.67) for GCA. Dysregulated arginine biosynthesis was an important pathway of GCA. 9 differential metabolites of 12-ketolithocholic acid, 2-Hydroxybutanoic acid, Aldosterone, All-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol, Hododeoxycholic acid, L-histidine, Malonic acid, Prostaglandin E2 and Sphingosine were identified as potential metabolic markers for distinguishing the GCA and healthy control (AUC=0.976, sensitivity =0.913, specificity =0.027, optimal cut off value=0.470). Conclusions: This work was first identified 12 metabolites significant correlated with survival and 17 metabolites for potential auxiliary diagnosis for GCA. In addition, arginine biosynthesis pathway metabolism showed important roles in GCA. Results provide the understanding of the molecular difference between GCA and healthy control. The novel plasma biomarkers panel could clearly distinguish GCA patients from the healthy control group. This finding may form the basis for the development of a minimally invasive method for GCA detection.

Phenolic Compounds of Rumex roseus L. Extracts and Their Effect as Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities

Rumex roseus L. (R. roseus) is acknowledged as an aromatic plant. For its excellent biological properties, it was used as a traditional medicine. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the chemical components and their effect as the biological activities of Tunisian extracts of R. roseus. Consecutive extractions by cold maceration of the aerial part with solvents of increasing polarity (cyclohexane (CYH), dichloromethane (DCM), and methanol (MeOH)) were performed, and the different chemical groups (phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins, etc.) were identified. In addition, the volatile compounds of the obtained extracts were identified before and after derivatization. Moreover, their antioxidant and anticancer activities were evaluated. The analysis of HPLC-DAD revealed the identification of 18 components from organic extracts, among them are, for example, chlorogenic acid and shikonin, while GC-MS analysis allowed the detection of 34 volatile compounds. Some of those compounds were identified for the first time in plant extracts such as pyrazolo[3,4-d] pyrimidine-3,4(2H,5H)-dione (1); L-proline (16); 2-amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid (19); L-(-)-arabitol (23); D-(-)-fructopyranose (25); and D-(+)-talopyranose (27). DPPH tests revealed that the most important antioxidant activity was found in the methanolic extract with 75.2% inhibition at 50 mg/L and that the highest cytotoxic activity against HCT-116 and MCF-7 was recorded in the dichloromethane extract with 62.1 and 80.0% inhibition at 50 mg/L, respectively. The biological activities were fully correlated with the chemical composition of the different extracts. So, we can suggest that R. roseus is a source of bioactive molecules that could be considered potential alternatives for use in dietary supplements for the prevention or treatment of diseases.

Pathomorphological changes in internal organs in acute poisoning with 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (according to the data of the Bureau of forensic medical expertise)

The aim of the study was to establish objective reliable morphological signs of fatal poisoning with 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HBA).Material and methods. The 49 acts of forensic medical examination of corpses with «Acute poisoning with 4-hydroxybutanoic acid» as the main cause of death were analyzed. The work was done in the Saint Petersburg Bureau of Forensic Medical Expertise.The results of morphological (macro - and microscopic) as well as forensic chemical studies of biological tissues were evaluated.The results were statistically processed using Statistic for Windows software (version 10). The numerical characteristics of the variables (M ± SD, Me [Q25; Q75]), χ2 — Pearson's criterion, and Spearman's correlation coefficient were applied for statistical processing.Results. The average lethal dose of 4-HBA in arterial blood was found to be equal to 273,6 ± 125,1 mg/l. In a forensic chemical study the combined use of 4-HBA and other narcotic substances (NS) and psychoactive substances (PAS) was diagnosed in 48.9% of cases. Of the causes leading to death, non-violent and «non-criminal» death due to 4-HBA poisoning was established more often - in 67.3% (33) of cases, a fall of the victim from a height with a fatal outcome - in 22.4% (11), less often violent death as a result of blunt and acute trauma - in 4.09% (2) cases.Among the macroscopic signs of acute lethal poisoning with 4-HBA were an increased mass of internal organs (heart, lungs, spleen, liver) in direct connection with the concentration of the toxicant in the blood. Microscopic signs of acute lethal poisoning by a toxicant included blood circulation features characteristic of sudden death.Concomitant pathology was diagnosed in 32.6% of cases in the form of degenerative changes in internal organs. In turn, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were detected in 26.5% (13) of the dead.Conclusions. Thus, the signs characteristic for acute fatal poisoning with 4-HBA include the features of hemocirculation characteristic of sudden death. The brain is most severely affected, which is manifested by destructive edema. Poisoning is also characterized by the presence of serous pulmonary edema. Macroscopic signs of poisoning were revealed, including an increase in the weight of the heart, lungs, spleen and liver in direct connection with the concentration of the toxicant in the blood.It should be noted that the concomitant pathology in the form of dystrophic changes in the internal organs indicates the long-term nature of the use of the toxicant leading to pronounced metabolic disorders.

Metabolic Profiling Indicates Diversity in the Metabolic Physiologies Associated With Maternal Postpartum Depressive Symptoms

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a devastating disease requiring improvements in diagnosis and prevention. Blood metabolomics identifies biological markers discriminatory between women with and those without antenatal depressive symptoms. Whether this cutting-edge method can be applied to postpartum depressive symptoms merits further investigation.Methods: As a substudy within the Biology, Affect, Stress, Imagine and Cognition Study, 24 women with PPD symptom (PPDS) assessment at 6 weeks postpartum were included. Controls were selected as having a score of ≤ 6 and PPDS cases as ≥12 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Blood plasma was collected at 10 weeks postpartum and analyzed with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry metabolomics.Results: Variations of metabolomic profiles within the PPDS samples were identified. One cluster showed altered kidney function, whereas the other, a metabolic syndrome profile, both previously associated with depression. Five metabolites (glycerol, threonine, 2-hydroxybutanoic acid, erythritol, and phenylalanine) showed higher abundance among women with PPDSs, indicating perturbations in the serine/threonine and glycerol lipid metabolism, suggesting oxidative stress conditions.Conclusions: Alterations in certain metabolites were associated with depressive pathophysiology postpartum, whereas diversity in PPDS physiologies was revealed. Hence, plasma metabolic profiling could be considered in diagnosis and pathophysiological investigation of PPD toward providing clues for treatment. Future studies require standardization of various subgroups with respect to symptom onset, lifestyle, and comorbidities.

Synthesis and stereocomplex formation of enantiomeric alternating copolymers with two types of chiral centers, poly(lactic acid-alt-2-hydroxybutanoic acid)s

Stereocomplex formation was reported for alternating copolymers of chiral α-substituted 2-hydroxyalkanoic acids which can be utilized for preparation of biodegradable materials with a variety of physical properties and biodegradability.

Metabolomic Variability of Different Genotypes of Cashew by LC-Ms and Correlation with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool for Fast Phenotyping

The objective of the present work was to develop an advanced fast phenotyping tool to explore the cashew apple compositions from different genotypes, based on a portable near-infrared (MicroNIR) spectroscopy. This will be in addition to associating the variability of the respective cashew apple pulps with the genotypes by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The NIR analysis is a non-destructive, low-cost procedure that provides prompt results, while considering the morphology of different cashew apples (shape, size, and color). The UPLC-HRMS analysis is characterized by specific bioactive compounds, such as the derivatives of hydroxybutanoic acid, galloyl, and flavonoids. Furthermore, both techniques allowed the identification of a group of accessions, which presented similarities among the chemical profiling. However, to improve the understanding of cashew chemical and physical variability, further variables related to the cashew apple composition, such as edaphoclimatic conditions, should be considered for future studies. These approaches lead to the conclusion that these two tools are useful for the maintenance of BAG-Caju (Cashew Germplasm Bank) and for the cashew-breeding program.