A simple and efficient approach for profiling the greenness of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods is presented. This environmental assessment tool (EAT) takes into consideration the environmental, health and safety issues for all solvents involved in the chromatographic method, and calculates a total score that can be used for comparison of the greenness of different methods. A software, HPLC-EAT, has been designed to facilitate the calculation and can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.biotek.lu.se/hplc-eat/. HPLC-EAT was successfully applied for a set of different HPLC methods from the literature, including both analytical and preparative chromatography. The performance of the tool was validated and it was further combined with another free software Eco-solvent tool to perform life cycle assessments of waste disposal options of distillation or incineration. HPLC-EAT can be routinely used in method development to calculate the greenness beside the conventional standards of accuracy, robustness and reproducibility.

A general approach, based on heterogeneous nucleation and growth of CdSe nanostructures on Au or Ag nanocrystals, for the synthesis of AuCdSe and AgCdSe hybrid nanostructures is developed. The new approach provides a versatile one-pot route for the synthesis of hybrid nanoflowers consisting of a gold or silver core and multipod CdSe rods or an intact CdSe shell with controlled thickness, depending on the nucleation and growth parameters. At lower growth temperatures such as 150 degrees C, the CdSe clusters are adsorbed on the surface of the metal cores in their surface defects, then multiple arms and branches form, resulting in nanoflower-shaped hybrid structures. Increasing the size of the metal core through the choice of the reducing and capping agents results in an improvement of the interface between the metal and CdSe domains, producing coreshell structures. The growth temperature appears to be the most important factor determining the nature of the interface between the metal and CdSe domains. At relatively high temperatures such as 300 degrees C, the formation of large, faceted Au cores creates preferential growth sites for the CdSe nanocrystalline shell, thus resulting in well-defined AuCdSe coreshell structures with large interfaces between the Au and CdSe domains. The present approach is expected to foster systematic studies of the electronic structures and optical properties of the metal semiconductor hybrid materials for potential applications in photovoltaic and nanoelectronic devices.

Two types of supramolecular liquid crystals were prepared through the formation of double hydrogen-bonded complexes between isophthalic acid (A) and two different groups of pyridine-based derivatives ( In and Ia-e). The first group of the base, In (molecular formula 4-CnH2n+1OC6H4COOC6H4-N=N-C5H4N) homologues differ from each other by the number of carbon atoms (n) in the alkoxy chain, which varies between 8, 10, 12 and 14 carbons. The second group of the pyridine-based derivatives, Ia-e (molecular formula 4-X-C6H4COOC6H4-N=N-C5H4N) analogues differ from each other by the terminal polar substituent, X, that changes between OCH3, CH3, H, NO2 and Br groups. In this manner two different groups of complexes are formed, one of them is A : 2In, (Group A), and the other is A : 2Ia-e, (Group B). All complexes were investigated for their mesophase behaviour by differential scanning calorimetry and polarised light microscopy. The formation of 1:2 hydrogen-bonded complexes was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy and binary phase diagrams. Most complexes A and B show nematic and/or SmA phases. X-ray diffraction of the SmA phase of a representative complex of type A indicates a layer distance corresponding to only half of the length of the H-bonded complexes which is interpreted by a phase structure where these complexes adopt a U-shape which intercalate and form non-polar SmA phases.

The synthesis and characterization of a new mesityl ring substituted pyrylogen with a substantially decreased rate of reaction with water is reported. Computational and experimental data are presented that suggest that addition of water to the pyrylium ring of this highly sterically shielded pyrylogen is reversible. On the other hand, experimental data suggest that the overall hydrolysis of this new sterically

The present work was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of ginger, chicory and their mixture against carbon tetrachloride intoxication in rats. Carbon tetrachloride treatment significantly elevated the alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltransferase activities and the serum triglycerides and cholesterol concentration as compared to control group. It also increased RBCs counts and Hb concentration, total or differential leucocytes counts. However it decreased platelet counts, platelet distribution width, mean platelet volume, platelet larger cell ratio. Methanol extract of ginger (250 and 500 mg/kg) and chicory (250 and 500 mg/kg) given alone or mixed (1:1 wt/wt) significantly restored the carbon tetrachloride-induced alterations in the biochemical and cellular constituents of blood. No toxic symptoms were reported in doses up to 5 g/kg. Alkaloids and/or nitrogenous bases, carbohydrates and/or glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, saponins and unsaturated sterols and/or triterpenes are the main active constituents of their methanol extract. The hepatoprotective effect of ginger and chicory was also confirmed by the histopathological examination of liver tissue.

INTRODUCTION: Gynecomastia denotes benign enlargement of the male breast. It is a common belief that gynecomastia is stigmatizing and may frequently cause social embarrassment and psychological stress. It is possible that this may reflect on erectile function of the afflicted. High grade gynecomastia requires radical breast tissue excision and skin reduction ending up in aesthetically unappealing scars.

AIM: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the reduction mammaplasty using no vertical scar technique in males with high grade gynecomastia; as regards technical refinements and outcome in the hope of providing a cosmetically appealing solution to this condition. This study also reports on the effect of high grade gynecomastia on erectile function, as well as the effect of surgery.

METHODS: Fifteen male patients with gynecomastia underwent breast reduction using the "no vertical scar reduction mammaplasty." Erectile function was evaluated before and after surgery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surgical outcome and erectile function.

RESULTS: All patients but one were satisfied with the outcome. Complications were minimal and manageable. Eleven out of 15 patients had a preoperative International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score less than 20 denoting erectile dysfunction. All but one (n = 10) showed improvement in their IIEF score following surgery. The difference between pre-operative IIEF (average 17.8) and postoperative (average 23.5) was statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: The "no vertical scar reduction mammaplasty" is a reliable technique in cases with gynecomastia and significant ptosis. It has the added benefits of avoiding the vertical scar, hiding the transverse scar in the shadow of the inferior aspect of the breast, with minimal complications. Gynecomastia as a condition causing a feminized outlook may have a negative impact on self confidence and body image. We suggest that this may have a potential negative effect on erectile function, that can be improved by adequate surgical correction.

Cats are important in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii because they are the only hosts that excrete environmentally resistant oocysts in feces. In the present study, 158 feral cats from Giza, Egypt, were examined for T. gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 97.4% with the modified agglutination test. Viable T. gondii was isolated from tissues (brain, heart, tongue) of 115 of 137 cats by bioassay in mice. These isolates were designated TgCatEg 1-115; none of these isolates was virulent to out-bred Swiss Webster mice. Of the 112 seropositive cats whose tissues were bioassayed individually, T. gondii was isolated from the hearts of 83 (74.1%), tongues of 53 (47.3%), and brains of 36 (32.1%). Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were not detected in rectal contents of any of the 158 cats, probably related to high seropositivity (chronic infection) of cats surveyed. The high prevalence of T. gondii in feral cats in Egypt reported here indicates a high environmental contamination with oocysts.

OBJECTIVES: To report our experience with the first 230 cases of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) performed in a single center.

METHODS: A total of 230 cases of HoLEP were performed between June 2007 and June 2008. Mean age of patients was 69.8 +/- 10.3 years, and 21.3% of patients were either on anticoagulant or antiplatelet treatment. There was no limit for prostate size, with a mean prostate size of 86.5 +/- 65.4 g (range: 20-350 g). Follow-up was performed regularly at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, assessing the Q(max), PVR, and International Prostate Symptom Score.

RESULTS: Weight of prostate chips retrieved after morcellation was 78.6 +/- 61.3 g (range: 10-350), with enucleation time 102.2 +/- 55.4 minutes and morcellation time 19.3 +/- 10.1 minutes, leading an estimated efficiency rate of 0.64 g/min. The rate of decrease in prostate volume and prostate-specific antigen was 90.8% and 82.5%, respectively. At 1 month, mean Q(max) increased from 7.7 +/- 2.3 to 25.8 +/- 10.1 mL/s (P

Iron is essential for a wide range of cellular processes. Here we show that the bZIP-type regulator HapX is indispensable for the transcriptional remodeling required for adaption to iron starvation in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. HapX represses iron-dependent and mitochondrial-localized activities including respiration, TCA cycle, amino acid metabolism, iron-sulfur-cluster and heme biosynthesis. In agreement with the impact on mitochondrial metabolism, HapX-deficiency decreases resistance to tetracycline and increases mitochondrial DNA content. Pathways positively affected by HapX include production of the ribotoxin AspF1 and siderophores, which are known virulence determinants. Iron starvation causes a massive remodeling of the amino acid pool and HapX is essential for the coordination of the production of siderophores and their precursor ornithine. Consistent with HapX-function being limited to iron depleted conditions and A. fumigatus facing iron starvation in the host, HapX-deficiency causes significant attenuation of virulence in a murine model of aspergillosis. Taken together, this study demonstrates that HapX-dependent adaption to conditions of iron starvation is crucial for virulence of A. fumigatus.

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