(C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Benzoylformate decarboxylase (BFD, EC 4.1.1.7) is SIS3 a homotetrameric thiamine diphosphate (ThDP)-dependent enzyme which catalyzes the synthesis of chiral 2-hydroxyketones accepting a broad range of aldehydes as substrates. In this study the synthesis of 2-hydroxypropiophenone (2-HPP) from benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde was catalyzed by three BFD variants namely BFD F464I, BFD A460I and BFD A460I-F464I. This paper reports the effect of hydrostatic pressure up to 290 MPa when the reactions were carried out at

different benzaldehyde concentrations (5-40 mM) as well as at different pH values (7.0-8.5). Acetaldehyde concentration was fixed at 400 mM in all biotransformations. Reactions performed at high benzaldehyde concentrations and at high hydrostatic pressures showed an increase in (R)-2-HPP formation catalyzed by all BFD variants. R115777 For BFD A460I-F464I we observed an increase in the ee of (R)-2-HPP up to 80%, whereas at atmospheric conditions this variant synthesizes (R)-2-HPP with an ee of only 50%. Alkaline conditions (up to pH

8.5) and high hydrostatic pressures resulted in an increase of (R)-2-HPP synthesis, especially in the case of BFD A460I and BFD F464I. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Persistent diarrhea is commonly observed after solid organ transplantation (SOT). A few cases of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-induced duodenal villous atrophy (DVA) have been previously reported in kidney-transplant patients with chronic diarrhea. Herein, we report on the incidence and characteristics of DVA in SOT patients with chronic diarrhea. One hundred thirty-two SOT patients with chronic diarrhea underwent an oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy (OGD) and a duodenal

biopsy after classical causes of diarrhea have been ruled out. DVA was diagnosed in 21 patients (15.9%). It was attributed to mycophenolic acid (MPA) therapy in 18 patients (85.7%) (MMF [n = 14] and enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium [n = 4]). MPA withdrawal or dose reduction resulted in diarrhea cessation. The incidence of DVA was significantly higher in patients with chronic diarrhea receiving MPA compared to those who did not (24.6% vs. 5.1%, p = 0.003). DVA was attributed see more to a Giardia lamblia parasitic infection in two patients (9.5%) and the remaining case was attributed to azathioprine. In these three patients, diarrhea ceased after metronidazole therapy or azathioprine dose reduction. In conclusion, DVA is a frequent cause of chronic diarrhea in SOT recipients. MPA therapy is the most frequent cause of DVA. An OGD should be proposed to all transplant recipients who present with persistent diarrhea.”
“Background: Obesity is a serious health problem that leads to serious physical and psychological problems. The methods used in treating obesity include diet and behavioral changes, pharmacotherapy, and surgery.