Recent catalytic routes for the preparation and the upgrading of biomass derived furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural.

Furans represent one of the most important classes of intermediates in the conversion of non-edible lignocellulosic biomass into bio-based chemicals and fuels. At present, bio-furan derivatives are generally obtained from cellulose and hemicellulose fractions of biomass via the acid-catalyzed dehydration of their relative C6-C5 sugars and then converted into a wide range of products. Furfural (FUR) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) are surely the most used furan-based feedstocks since their chemical structure allows the preparation of various high-value-added chemicals. Among several well-established catalytic approaches, hydrogenation and oxygenation processes have been efficiently adopted for upgrading furans; however, harsh reaction conditions are generally required. In this review, we aim to discuss the conversion of biomass derived FUR and HMF through unconventional (transfer hydrogenation, photocatalytic and electrocatalytic) catalytic processes promoted by heterogeneous catalytic systems. The reaction conditions adopted, the chemical nature and the physico-chemical properties of the most employed heterogeneous systems in enhancing the catalytic activity and in driving the selectivity to desired products are presented and compared. At the same time, the latest results in the production of FUR and HMF through novel environmental friendly processes starting from lignocellulose as well as from wastes and by-products obtained in the processing of biomass are also overviewed.

Neurophysiological marker of inhibition distinguishes language groups on a non-linguistic executive function test.

Successful interaction with the environment depends on flexible behaviors which require shifting attention, inhibiting primed responses, ignoring distracting information, and withholding motor responses. These abilities, termed executive function (EF), are believed to be mediated by inhibitory processes in the frontal lobes. Superior performance on EF tests (i.e., faster reaction times (RT), and fewer errors) has been shown in bilinguals compared to monolingual speakers. However, findings are inconsistent, and no study has directly linked this bilingual advantage to frontal lobe inhibitory processes. To clarify this uncertainty, we concomitantly tested neural inhibitory processes and behavioral responses on an EF test in bilinguals and monolinguals. Specifically, we compared English monolinguals (N=15) to Spanish/English bilinguals (N=13) on event-related brain potentials (ERP) during a non-linguistic, auditory Go/NoGo task, a task linked to non-motor, cognitive inhibition in monolinguals. Participants responded with a button press on trials in which target tone-pairs (Go trials) were presented and withheld their responses on non-target trials (NoGo trials). Results revealed significantly greater inhibition (i.e., greater mean N2 amplitude) in bilinguals compared to monolinguals during NoGo trials even though both groups performed the task equally well (i.e., withheld a motor response). On Go trials where participants pressed a response button, neither ERPs nor RT distinguished the groups. Additionally, scores on a second language proficiency test (i.e., English in our bilingual group) were positively correlated with N2 amplitude. These findings are the first to directly link this bilingual advantage to a neural correlate of inhibition and to reveal that inhibition in bilinguals is moderated by second language proficiency. Results are discussed in the context of plasticity, and we propose that evaluating bilinguals at varying levels of second-language proficiency may serve as a model of human neuroplasticity.

Distribution of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor genes in the mestizo population from Venezuela.

This study represents the first report on the distribution of KIR genes in 205 unrelated healthy mestizo Venezuelan individuals. Genotyping analysis showed that all KIR genes are present in this population. Frequency of inhibitory killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) exceeded 0.69, except for KIR2DL2 (0.29) and 2DL5 (0.37). Activating KIRs showed low frequencies (0.11-0.29), except for KIR2DS4 (0.68). Forty-five different KIR genotypes were identified, with a predominance of three genotypes found in 50.7% of the population of which 25.9% were individuals homozygous for haplotype A. The frequencies of KIR genes reflect the ethnic admixture existing in the mestizo Venezuelan population.

Polimorfismo HLA-DQ en pacientes pediátricos con enfermedad Celíaca

La Enfermedad celíaca es una enteropatía caracterizada por malabsorción y daño epitelial del intestino delgado, del cual se han aislado células T específicas al gluten y restringidas a los heterodímeros DQ2-DQ8, sugiriendo que los alelos DQ juegan un papel clave en la patogénesis de la enfermedad por la presentación de péptidos derivados del gluten a linfocitos T de la mucosa. En nuestro estudio evaluamos el polimorfismo HLA-DQA y DQB en pacientes pediátricos con Enfermedad Celiaca. Se estudiaron 16 pacientes que acudieron al Servicio de Gastroenterología Pediátrica del Hospital "JM de los Ríos". Los polimorfismos se definieron mediante PCR-secuenciación; las asignaciones alélicas y haplotípicas se determinaron por contaje directo. En concordancia con estudios realizados en otras poblaciones, este estudio sugiere que los heterodímeros HLA-DQ2 y DQ8 son marcadores genéticos de predisposición al desarrollo de la enfermedad celíaca. Siendo este reporte el primero en el País en resaltar la presencia de los HLA en la enfermedad celíaca.

The celiac disease is an enteropathy characterized by malabsortion and epitelial damage of the small bowel, of the one which cells specific T has been isolated to gluten and restricted to the DQ2-DQ8 heterodímers, suggesting that the DQ alelles play a key role in the pathogenesis of the disease for the presentation of derived péptides from the gluten to T linfocites. In our study we evaluate the HLA-DQA and DQB polymorphism in pediatric patients with celiac Disease. 16 patients were studied from Gastroenterology service of the "Hospital de Niños JM de los Ríos". The polymorphism was defined through PCR-sequence; the assignments of alleles and haplotype were determined by direct count. Similar to other reports which suggest HLA DQ2 y DQ8 as markers in genetic predisposition in celiac disease, this study is the first in Venezuela in screened HLA in Celiac Disease.

[Cystic dilatation of the prostatic utricle]. / Dilatación quística del utrículo prostático.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of cystic dilatation of the prostatic utricle. METHODS: A case of cystic dilatation of the prostatic utricle associated with right renal agenesis in a 26-year-old patient who consulted for recurrent orchiepididymitis and a history of hemospermia is presented. RESULTS: Physical examination showed a hypogastric tumor mimicking a vesical globus that was palpable on digital rectal examination. Ultrasonography and urethrocystoscopy were decisive in the diagnosis of this anomaly. The utricle was removed by the transperitoneal approach. Gross examination showed opening of both deferent ducts and right ureter (blind-ending) into the utricle. CONCLUSION: The pathological characteristics of this anomaly permitted its identification as cystic dilatation of the prostatic utricle, a condition that should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of pelvic tumors in the male.

Is fluid-phase endocytosis conserved in hepatocytes of species acclimated and adapted to different temperatures?

Our primary objective was to determine if rates of fluid-phase endocytosis (FPE) were conserved in hepatocytes from organisms acclimated and adapted to different temperatures. To this aim, the fluorescent dye Lucifer yellow was employed to measure FPE at different assay temperatures (AT) in hepatocytes from 5 degrees C- and 20 degrees C-acclimated trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (at 5 and 20 degrees C AT), 22 degrees C- and 35 degrees C-acclimated tilapia, Oreochromis nilotica (at 22 and 35 degrees C AT), and the Sprague-Dawley rat (at 10, 20, and 37 degrees C AT). FPE was also studied in rats fed a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-enriched diet (at 10 degrees C AT). Despite being temperature dependent, endocytic rates (values in pl. cell(-1). h(-1)) in both species of fish were compensated after a period of acclimation. For example, in 20 degrees C-acclimated trout, the rate of endocytosis declined from 1.84 to 1.07 when the AT was reduced from 20 to 5 degrees C; however, after a period of acclimation at 5 degrees C, the rate (at 5 degrees C AT) was largely restored (1.80) and almost perfectly compensated (95%). In tilapia, endocytic rates were also temperature compensated, although only partially (36%). Relatively similar rates obtained at 5 degrees C in 5 degrees C-acclimated trout (1.8), at 20 degrees C in 20 degrees C-acclimated trout (1.84), and at 22 degrees C in 22 degrees C-acclimated tilapia (2.2) suggest that endocytic rates are somewhat conserved in these two species of fish. In contrast, the rate in rat measured at 37 degrees C (16.83) was severalfold greater than in fish at their respective body temperatures. A role for lipids in determining rates of endocytosis was supported by data obtained at 10 degrees C in hepatocytes isolated from rats fed a long-chain PUFA-enriched diet: endocytic rates were higher (5.35 pl. cell(-1). h(-1)) than those of rats fed a standard chow diet (2.33 pl. cell(-1). h(-1)). The conservation of endocytic rates in fish may be related to their ability to conserve other membrane characteristics (i.e., order or phase behavior) by restructuring their membrane lipid composition or by modulating the activities of proteins that regulate endocytosis and membrane traffic, whereas the lack of conservation between fish and rat may be due to differences in metabolic rate.

Changes in lipid composition during metamorphosis of bonefish (Albula sp.) leptocephali.

During metamorphosis of bonefish (Albula sp.) larvae (leptocephali) all energy requirements are provided by breakdown of endogenous compounds, with lipid catabolism accounting for about 80% of total energy production. The principal objective of the present study was to characterize the lipid classes and fatty acids utilized. Analysis of whole-body lipid content indicated that larvae lost about half (3.6 mg) of their total lipid during the 10-d period. Percentages of neutral and polar lipid in early metamorphosing larvae were 64.2 and 35.8%, respectively; these values showed little change during metamorphosis, indicating that both lipid classes were catabolized. Triacylglycerols, the principal neutral lipid of all metamorphic stages, decreased by 1.8 mg, accounting for half of the decrease in total lipid. Levels of phosphatidylethanolamine, the principal polar lipid in early larvae, decreased by more than 50% during metamorphosis; levels of phosphatidylcholine, which was not detected in early larvae, increased. Fatty acids showing the largest net decreases, presumedly used as energy sources, were 16:0 (30.4%), 14:0 (13.8%), 16:1n-7 (12.2%), 20:5n-3 (7.7%), 18:1n-9 (7.4%), and 18:4n-3 (6.9%). Most of 22:6n-3, the second most abundant fatty acid of early larvae, was conserved.

[A xanthogranulomatous psoas abscess 4 years after nephrectomy for xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis]. / Absceso xantogranulomatoso del psoas 4 años después de nefrectomía por pielonefritis xantogranulomatosa.

We report a case of xanthogranulomatous abscess of the left psoas muscle in a patient who underwent nephrectomy for xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis four years earlier. Pathogens unlike those usually found in this type of inflammatory reaction were grown on culture. The possible relationship between the two infectious disease processes is analyzed.