Redox Properties of Flavin in BLUF and LOV Photoreceptor Proteins from Hybrid QM/MM Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

Flavins play an important role in many oxidation and reduction processes in biological systems. For example, flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) are common cofactors found in enzymatic proteins that use the special redox properties of these flavin molecules for their catalytic or photoactive functions. The redox potential of the flavin is strongly affected by its (protein) environment; however, the underlying molecular interactions of this effect are still unknown. Using hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulation techniques, we have studied the redox properties of flavin in the gas phase, aqueous solution, and two different protein environments, in particular, a BLUF and a LOV photoreceptor domain. By mapping the changes in electrostatic potential and solvent structure, we gain insight into how specific polarization of the flavin by its environment tunes the reduction potential. We find also that accurate calculation of the reduction potentials of these systems by using the hybrid QM/MM approach is hampered by a too limited sampling of the counterion configurations and by artifacts at the QM/MM boundary. We make suggestions for how these issues can be overcome.

Palladium Metal Nanocomposites Based on PEI-Functionalized Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Characterization, Density Functional Theory Modeling, and Cell Cycle Arrest Effects on Human Ovarian Cancer Cells.

In this study, the synthesis, characterization, density functional theory calculations (DFT), and effect of polyethylenimine (PEI)-functionalized nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (PEI N-GQDs) and their palladium metal nanoparticles nanocomposites (PdNPs/PEI N-GQDs) on cancer cells were extensively investigated. The focus also includes investigating their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on ovarian cancer cells, which pose a serious risk to women's health and have high death rates from delayed diagnosis, inadequate response to treatment, and decreased survival. Graphene quantum dots and their palladium nanocomposites were differentially effective against ovarian cancer cell lines. In particular, the smaller particle size and morphology of PdNPs/PEI N-GQDs nanocomposites compared with PEI N-GQDs probably enhance their activity through highly improved uptake by cells. These findings emphasize the importance of particle size in composite drugs for efficient cancer treatment. DFT results revealed that the Pd-containing nanocomposite, with a smaller highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap, exhibited higher reactivity and anticancer effects in human ovarian cancer cell line, OVCAR-3. Significantly, the application of nanocomposites to ovarian cancer cells initiated apoptosis, offering valuable insights into the intricate interplay between nanomaterials and cancer biology.

Recent outcomes of liver transplantation for Budd-Chiari syndrome: A study of the European Liver Transplant Registry (ELTR) and affiliated centers.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Management of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) has improved over the last decades. The main aim was to evaluate the contemporary post-liver transplantant (post-LT) outcomes in Europe. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Data from all patients who underwent transplantation from 1976 to 2020 was obtained from the European Liver Transplant Registry (ELTR). Patients < 16 years with secondary BCS or HCC were excluded. Patient survival (PS) and graft survival (GS) before and after 2000 were compared. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified predictors of PS and GS after 2000. Supplemental data was requested from all ELTR-affiliated centers and received from 44. In all, 808 patients underwent transplantation between 2000 and 2020. One-, 5- and 10-year PS was 84%, 77%, and 68%, and GS was 79%, 70%, and 62%, respectively. Both significantly improved compared to outcomes before 2000 ( p < 0.001). Median follow-up was 50 months and retransplantation rate was 12%. Recipient age (aHR:1.04,95%CI:1.02-1.06) and MELD score (aHR:1.04,95%CI:1.01-1.06), especially above 30, were associated with worse PS, while male sex had better outcomes (aHR:0.63,95%CI:0.41-0.96). Donor age was associated with worse PS (aHR:1.01,95%CI:1.00-1.03) and GS (aHR:1.02,95%CI:1.01-1.03). In 353 patients (44%) with supplemental data, 33% had myeloproliferative neoplasm, 20% underwent TIPS pre-LT, and 85% used anticoagulation post-LT. Post-LT anticoagulation was associated with improved PS (aHR:0.29,95%CI:0.16-0.54) and GS (aHR:0.48,95%CI:0.29-0.81). Hepatic artery thrombosis and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) occurred in 9% and 7%, while recurrent BCS was rare (3%). CONCLUSIONS: LT for BCS results in excellent patient- and graft-survival. Older recipient or donor age and higher MELD are associated with poorer outcomes, while long-term anticoagulation improves both patient and graft outcomes.

The knockdown of stathmin with si-RNA inhibits invasion of mesothelioma.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the mechanism of action of stathmin1 (STMN1) in mesothelioma (MSM) and whether it has any role in its treatment. METHODS: STMN1 expression was examined using immunohistochemistry in biopsy tissues taken from MSM patients. The relationships between the levels of STMN1 expression in the pathology preparations of MSM patients, and the clinicopathological characteristics of these patients, and their survival times were investigated. Transfection of STMN1-specific siRNA into SPC212 cells was compared to negative control siRNAs. The mRNA levels of genes that may play a role in invasion, apoptosis, and autophagy were evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The expression of STMN1 was shown to be high in MSM tissues (p < 0.05). It was found that the only independent predictor factor affecting the survival time of MSM patients was the disease stage (p < 0.05). STMN1 was significantly reduced after siRNA intervention (81.5%). STMN1 with specific siRNA has been shown to suppress invasion by reducing the mRNA levels of cadherin-6 (CDH6), fibroblast growth factor-8 (FGF8), hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1A), matrix metallopeptidase 1-2 (gelatinase A) (MMP1-2), and TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 2 (TIMP2), which are important markers for invasion. Although the expression of apoptosis and autophagy-related genes, caspase-2 (Casp2) and LC-3, was reduced by silencing STMN1 with specific siRNA in western blot analysis, this effect was not observed in PCR results. CONCLUSIONS: Immunohistochemical analysis of STMN1 may contribute to the differential diagnosis of MSM, and STMN1 may also be considered as a potential therapeutic target in the early invasive stage of MSM therapy.

Development of a model to predict the risk of early graft failure after adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation: An ELTR study.

Graft survival is a critical end point in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT), where graft procurement endangers the lives of healthy individuals. Therefore, ALDLT must be responsibly performed in the perspective of a positive harm-to-benefit ratio. This study aimed to develop a risk prediction model for early (3 months) graft failure (EGF) following ALDLT. Donor and recipient factors associated with EGF in ALDLT were studied using data from the European Liver Transplant Registry. An artificial neural network classification algorithm was trained on a set of 2073 ALDLTs, validated using cross-validation, tested on an independent random-split sample (n=518), and externally validated on United Network for Organ Sharing Standard Transplant Analysis and Research data. Model performance was assessed using the AUC, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis. Graft type, graft weight, level of hospitalization, and the severity of liver disease were associated with EGF. The model ( http://ldlt.shinyapps.io/eltr_app ) presented AUC values at cross-validation, in the independent test set, and at external validation of 0.69, 0.70, and 0.68, respectively. Model calibration was fair. The decision curve analysis indicated a positive net benefit of the model, with an estimated net reduction of 5-15 EGF per 100 ALDLTs. Estimated risks>40% and<5% had a specificity of 0.96 and sensitivity of 0.99 in predicting and excluding EGF, respectively. The model also stratified long-term graft survival ( p <0.001), which ranged from 87% in the low-risk group to 60% in the high-risk group. In conclusion, based on a panel of donor and recipient variables, an artificial neural network can contribute to decision-making in ALDLT by predicting EGF risk.

Redox-Based Defect Detection in Packed DNA: Insights from Hybrid Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanics Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

The impact of an 8-oxoguanine (8oxoG) defect on the redox properties of DNA within the nucleosome core particle (NCP) was investigated employing hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) molecular dynamics simulations of native and 8oxoG-containing NCP systems with an explicit representation of a biologically relevant environment. Two distinct NCP positions with varying solvent accessibility were considered for 8oxoG insertion. In both cases, it is found that the presence of 8oxoG drastically decreases the redox free energy of oxidation by roughly 1 eV, which is very similar to what was recently reported for free native and 8oxoG-containing DNA. In contrast, the effect of 8oxoG on the reorganization free energy is even smaller for packed DNA (decrease of 0.13 and 0.01 eV for defect-free and defect-containing systems, respectively) compared to the one for free DNA (0.25 eV), consistent with the increased rigidity of the NCP as compared to free DNA. Furthermore, the presence of an 8oxoG defect does not yield any significant changes in the packed DNA structure. Such a conclusion favors the idea that in the case of chromatin, defect-induced changes in DNA redox chemistry can also be exploited to detect damaged bases via DNA-mediated hole transfer.

The feasibility of falciformopexy in the repair of peptic ulcer perforation.

BACKGROUND: Modified Graham omentopexy is the most commonly used operative technique in the repair of peptic ulcer perfo-ration (PUP); however, there is little data on falciformopexy in the literature. The aim is to investigate the feasibility of falciformopexy in the repair of PUP, comparing with modified Graham omentopexy. METHODS: Data of 471 patients who were operated for PUP were retrospectively analyzed. Patients' demographics, pre-operative basic laboratory findings, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status, operative findings, and post-operative complications were recorded. The patients were classified into two groups modified Graham omentopexy and falciformopexy, and then compared with each other in terms of clinical characteristics, operative findings, and post-operative complications. RESULTS: Modified Graham omentopexy and falciformopexy were performed in 425 (90.2%) and 46 (9.8%) patients, respectively. The two groups were similar in terms of basic patient characteristics and pre-operative laboratory findings (P>0.05). ASA physical status was significantly different between the groups (P=0.001). No statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of complications, except for an anastomotic leak. Anastomotic leak was observed more frequently in patients who underwent falciformopexy than in patients with modified Graham omentopexy (P=0.017). CONCLUSION: Although falciformopexy technique has a higher rate of leak compared to the modified Graham omentopexy method, it should be kept in mind as an alternative method for repair of PUP, especially in cases where omentopexy cannot be applied for various reasons such as the presence of unavailable or unsuitable omentum.

Reduced-Size Left Lateral Segment Grafts in Infants Weighing <10 kg.

BACKGROUND: Live donor liver transplantation for infants weighing <10 kg has unique complexities, as patient/graft size discrepancies may cause vascular perfusion deficiencies. Failure of the abdominal closure further complicates this already challenging procedure. To overcome these potential problems, several techniques for graft size reduction-either anatomic or nonanatomic-have been proposed in the literature. Technically easier and less time-consuming, nonanatomic size reductions have the advantage of avoiding the risk of injury to the portal pedicle. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of nonanatomic graft size reduction in infants weighing <10 kg with a large estimated preoperative graft recipient weight ratio. METHODS: We enrolled 106 infants weighing <10 kg. Of these infants, 50 received reduced-size grafts. The outcomes were compared between the groups. RESULTS: No difference was observed between the groups according to survival and vascular or biliary complications. None of the patients required an open abdomen or mesh closure. CONCLUSION: Nonanatomic size reduction of left lateral segment grafts can be safely applied without compromising vascular supply, graft function, and patient survival with comparable vascular and biliary complication rates. This technique is safe and efficient in overcoming the complications caused by large-for-size syndrome in infants weighing <10 kg.

Expression Levels of Glutathione S-Transferase and Cytochrome P450 Isoenzymes in Nasal Polyp Tissue.

Nasal polyps are benign sinonasal masses composed of eosinophils and extracellular edema. Pathogenesis of the polyp formation is unclear but several studies strongly suggest a correlation with infection, inflammation and allergy conditions. Our aim is to investigate the potential link between allergy and nasal polyp in tissue level. Nasal polyp group included 60 patients whose diagnosis was confirmed with biopsy and the control group included 38 healthy patients. Tissue sample of the control group was taken from inferior turbinate mucosa under local anesthesia and nasal polyp tissue was collected from functional endoscopic sinus surgery. The glutathione S-transferase (GST) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzyme expressions of the tissue samples were investigated under light microscopy and graded by a senior pathologist. GSTP1 protein expression was significantly higher in tissue samples from nasal polyp group compared to that of control group (p < 0.05). However, CYP1A1, GSTM1 and GSTA1 isoenzymes were not different between the two groups (p > 0.05). We have found that GSTP1 isoenzyme was elevated in nasal polyp tissue compared to the control. The increase in protein expression of GSTP1 might have occured as a tissue response to the increased oxidative stress thus suggesting a role of GSTP1 in polyp formation.

Portal Vein Pull-Through Technique and Thrombectomy for Extensive Portal Vein Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Herein, a different technique is presented describing complete dissection of the entire portal vein (PV), superior mesenteric vein (SMV), and splenic vein, thus enabling a complete thrombectomy without the risk of uncontrolled hemorrhage due to blind thrombectomy. METHODS: In cases where a thrombectomy would not be an option because of extensive thrombosis involving the confluence of the PV and SMV, small branches of the SMV, including the inferior mesenteric vein, were divided. Both the SMV and splenic vein were encircled separately. Then, the side branches of the PV above the pancreas, left gastric vein on the left side, and superior pancreatoduodenal vein on the right side were divided. The lateral and posterior part of the PV were dissected within the pancreas both from above and below, allowing the main PV completely free from attachments. At this point, the splenic vein and SMV were clamped, and the main PV was divided above the pancreas and then pulled back through the pancreatic tunnel. The thrombus was easily dissected of the vein under direct visualization, and afterward the PV was redirected to its original position. Then, the liver transplant was carried out in a regular fashion. RESULTS: This technique was applied to 2 patients. The first was a 43-year-old man who underwent a right lobe living donor liver transplant because of hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis. The patient is still alive and well with stable liver function after 15 years of follow-up. The second was a 69-year-old woman who underwent a right lobe living donor liver transplant because of hepatitis C virus and hepatocellular carcinoma. She survived the procedure and her liver function was entirely normal afterward. She died of pneumonia and sepsis 5 months after transplant. CONCLUSIONS: This technique enables complete dissection of the entire PV, SMV, and splenic vein. Thus, complete thrombectomy under direct visualization without the risk of uncontrolled hemorrhage can be performed.

Tramates trogii biomass in carboxymethylcellulose-lignin composite beads for adsorption and biodegradation of bisphenol A.

Tramates trogii biomass was immobilized in carboxymethyl cellulose-lignin composite beads via cross-linking with Fe(III) ions (i.e., Fe(III)-CMC@Lig(1-4)@FB). The composite beads formulations were used for the adsorption and degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) using the free fungal biomass as a control system. The maximum adsorption capacity of the free fungal biomass and Fe(III)-CMC@Lig-3@FB for BPA was found to be 57.8 and 95.6, mg/g, respectively. The degradation rates of BPA were found to be 87.8 and 89.6% for the free fungal biomass and Fe(III)CMC@Lig-3@FB for 72 h in a batch reactor, respectively. Adsorption of BPA on the free fungal biomass and Fe(III)CMC@Lig-3@FB fungal preparations described by the Langmuir and Temkin isotherm models, and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The values of Gibbs free energy of adsorption (ΔG°) were - 20.7 and - 25.8 kJ/mol at 298 K for BPA on the free fungal biomass and Fe(III)-CMC@Lig-3@FB beads, respectively. Moreover, the toxicities of the BPA and degradation products were evaluated with three different test organisms: (i) a freshwater micro-crustacean (Daphnia magna), (ii) a freshwater algae (Chlamydomonas reinhardti), and (iii) a Turkish winter wheat seed (Triticum aestivum L.). After treatment with the Fe(III)CMC@Lig-3@FB formulation, the degradation products had not any significant toxic effect compared to pure BPA. This work shows that the prepared composite bioactive system had a high potential for degradation of BPA from an aqueous medium without producing toxic end-products. Thus, it could be a good candidate for environmentally safe biological methods.

Surrogate Based Genetic Algorithm Method for Efficient Identification of Low-Energy Peptide Structures.

Identification of the most stable structure(s) of a system is a prerequisite for the calculation of any of its properties from first-principles. However, even for relatively small molecules, exhaustive explorations of the potential energy surface (PES) are severely hampered by the dimensionality bottleneck. In this work, we address the challenging task of efficiently sampling realistic low-lying peptide coordinates by resorting to a surrogate based genetic algorithm (GA)/density functional theory (DFT) approach (sGADFT) in which promising candidates provided by the GA are ultimately optimized with DFT. We provide a benchmark of several computational methods (GAFF, AMOEBApro13, PM6, PM7, DFTB3-D3(BJ)) as possible prescanning surrogates and apply sGADFT to two test case systems that are (i) two isomer families of the protonated Gly-Pro-Gly-Gly tetrapeptide (Masson, A.; J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom.2015, 26, 1444-1454) and (ii) the doubly protonated cyclic decapeptide gramicidin S (Nagornova, N. S.; J. Am. Chem. Soc.2010, 132, 4040-4041). We show that our GA procedure can correctly identify low-energy minima in as little as a few hours. Subsequent refinement of surrogate low-energy structures within a given energy threshold (≤10 kcal/mol (i), ≤5 kcal/mol (ii)) via DFT relaxation invariably led to the identification of the most stable structures as determined from high-resolution infrared (IR) spectroscopy at low temperature. The sGADFT method therefore constitutes a highly efficient route for the screening of realistic low-lying peptide structures in the gas phase as needed for instance for the interpretation and assignment of experimental IR spectra.

The method development for elimination of matrix interferences in seawater monitoring to determine elements by ICP-MS.

A simple, versatile, and economical method development with matrix elimination to determine the elements As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn in seawater by using the technique of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is reported. Real seawater was used as a matrix for the standard adding calibration and other validation parameters. The samples were open digested at 80 °C with 2 mL HNO3 and 0.25 mL HF under the hood. A two-step digestion procedure was applied, and the volume was completed to 10 mL with deionized water. Chloride removal was accomplished by using this procedure. The concentrations of Ca and Mg ions were lessened by 15% and 20%, respectively. These results were verified with ion chromatography, SEM-EDS, and mass difference analyses. It was observed that there was a 40% loss in the average mass of particulate matter on the filter media after applying the two-step digestion procedure. Recovery and trueness values were in the range of 86 and 109%. The average precision amounts for elements were determined as RSD (%) in the range of 1.0% and 3.4%. The concentrations of elements determined in the 18 samples collected from the Konyaalti Beach located in Antalya were higher than the maximum allowable concentrations of the Directive 2013/39/EU.

Appendiceal neuroendocrine neoplasia: analysis of 50 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical, surgical, and pathological findings of appendiceal neuroendocrine neoplasms (ANNs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The demographic, clinical, surgical, and pathological characteristics of 50 patients with ANN were analyzed. The patients were also classified as Group 1 (< 40 years, n = 37) and Group 2 (≥ 40 years, n = 13), and compared each other in terms of all parameters. RESULTS: Acute appendicitis was the pre-operative clinical presentation in 48 (96%) patients. Appendectomy (94%) was the most common surgical procedure. Mean tumor size was 8.6 mm (1-70 mm). Approximately half of the tumors (46%) were T1. There was no lymphatic and distant metastasis. The patients in Group 2 (15.4 mm) had a higher mean tumor size than patients in Group 1 (6.3 mm) (p < 0.001). The two groups were similar in other characteristics (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ANNs are usually diagnosed after histopathological evaluation due to the lack of specific clinicoradiological signs. Therefore, carefull intraoperative examination of appendectomy specimens may increase the possibility of suspecting these tumors. The results also showed that ANNs were bigger in patients above 40-years-old. Although not statistically significant, ANNs tended to have higher grade and to be more located at the base of the appendix in this group of patients.

OBJETIVO: Investigar los hallazgos clínicos, quirúrgicos y patológicos de las neoplasias neuroendocrinas (RNA) apendiculares. MÉTODO: Se analizaron las características demográficas, clínicas, quirúrgicas y patológicas de 50 pacientes con RNA. Los pacientes también fueron clasificados como Grupo 1 (< 40 años, n = 37) y Grupo 2 (≥ 40 años, n = 13), y se compararon entre sí en términos de todos los parámetros. RESULTADOS: La apendicitis aguda fue la presentación clínica preoperatoria en 48 (96%) pacientes. La apendicectomía (94%) fue el procedimiento quirúrgico más común. El tamaño medio del tumor fue de 8,6 mm (1-70 mm). Aproximadamente la mitad de los tumores (46%) eran T1. No hubo metástasis linfáticas ya distancia. Los pacientes del Grupo 2 (15.4 mm) tenían un tamaño tumoral medio mayor que los pacientes del Grupo 1 (6.3 mm) (p < 0.001). Los dos grupos fueron similares en otras características (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONES: Las RNA suelen diagnosticarse tras evaluación histopatológica debido a la falta de signos clínico-radiológicos específicos. Por lo tanto, el examen intraoperatorio cuidadoso de las muestras de apendicectomía puede aumentar la posibilidad de sospechar estos tumores. Los resultados también mostraron que las ANN eran más grandes en pacientes mayores de 40 años. Aunque no estadísticamente significativas, las ANN tendieron a tener mayor grado y estar más ubicadas en la base del apéndice en este grupo de pacientes.

Evaluation of Psychosocial Outcomes of Living Liver Donors in Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors affecting psychosocial outcomes of living liver donors after liver transplantations. METHODS: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of living liver donors followed by 2 liver transplantation centers in 2 private hospitals in 2 different provinces, between August 2017 and October 2019. All the living liver donors were contacted without a time frame after donation and all the participants were evaluated once. The Beck Depression Scale, SF-36, General Self- Efficacy Scale, and Perceived Available Support Scale were used to collect data. The t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Pearson correlation analysis were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 34.31 ± 8.22 years. There was a positive, weak correlation between age and physical func- tion. Gender, marital status, financial status, and education levels significantly affected physical components, social function, vitality, depression, and self-efficacy scores. High depression levels negatively affected the physical component, self-efficacy, and social sup- port scores of the living liver donors. High self-efficacy positively affected social support. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that gender, marital status, employment status, and education levels were associated with psychosocial outcomes. The financial status was the main factor affecting each psychosocial variable. Financial status needs to be assessed in detail before and after the operation.

A Case Report of Primary Malignant Pulmonary Melanoma.

We operated on primary malignant melanoma of the lung, attaching the pericardium, diaphragm, and parietal pleura. A 48-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of persistent dyspnea and cough. A preoperative computed tomography of the chest revealed 3 lesions in the right lung and a mass on the diaphragm between the right lung's lower lobe and heart. A middle lobectomy was performed. The mass on the diaphragm had invaded the diaphragm and pericardium strictly. With a pericardiectomy and a diaphragmatic resection, the mass was removed in an en-bloc manner. Adjuvant chemotherapy was started 1 month after surgery and consisted of 5 days course of iv injection of cisplatin (90 mg/kg). The follow-up period was 5 years and uneventful. For primary pulmonary melanoma, even if it has intrapulmonary metastases, surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy can provide uneventful survival for more than 5 years.

Selective isolation and sensitive detection of lysozyme using aptamer based magnetic adsorbent and a new quartz crystal microbalance system.

Magnetic chitosan beads and quartz crystal microbalance chip were decorated with lysozyme specific aptamer for isolation and detection of lysozyme, respectively. The lysozyme specific aptamer was immobilized on poly (dopamine) coated magnetic chitosan beads and the chip via Schiff base reaction. The percentage of the removal efficiency and purity of the isolated lysozyme from egg white were 87.6% and 91.8%, respectively. Further, the sensor system was contacted with different concentrations of lysozyme and other test proteins. This sensor system provided a method for the label-free, concentration-dependent, and selective detection of lysozyme with an observed detection limit of 17.9 ± 0.6 ng/mL. The sensor system was very selective and not significantly responded to the other tested proteins such as ovalbumin, trypsin, cytochrome C, and glucose oxidase. The prepared new sensor system showed a good durability and a high sensitivity for determination of lysozyme from solutions and whole egg white.

European Liver Transplant Registry: Donor and transplant surgery aspects of 16,641 liver transplantations in children.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The European Liver Transplant Registry (ELTR) has collected data on liver transplant procedures performed in Europe since 1968. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Over a 50-year period (1968-2017), clinical and laboratory data were collected from 133 transplant centers and analyzed retrospectively (16,641 liver transplants in 14,515 children). Data were analyzed according to three successive periods (A, before 2000; B, 2000-2009; and C, since 2010), studying donor and graft characteristics and graft outcome. The use of living donors steadily increased from A to C (A, n = 296 [7%]; B, n = 1131 [23%]; and C, n = 1985 [39%]; p = 0.0001). Overall, the 5-year graft survival rate has improved from 65% in group A to 75% in group B (p < 0.0001) and to 79% in group C (B versus C, p < 0.0001). Graft half-life was 31 years, overall; it was 41 years for children who survived the first year after transplant. The late annual graft loss rate in teenagers is higher than that in children aged <12 years and similar to that of young adults. No evidence for accelerated graft loss after age 18 years was found. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric liver transplantation has reached a high efficacy as a cure or treatment for severe liver disease in infants and children. Grafts that survived the first year had a half-life similar to standard human half-life. Transplantation before or after puberty may be the pivot-point for lower long-term outcome in children. Further studies are necessary to revisit some old concepts regarding transplant benefit (survival time) for small children, the role of recipient pathophysiology versus graft aging, and risk at transition to adult age.

Immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase on magnetic chitosan beads and application in flavor esters synthesis.

In this work, magnetic chitosan (MCH) beads were synthesized by phase-inversion method, and grafted with polydopamine (PDA) and then used for direct immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase by Schiff base reaction. The amount of immobilized enzyme and the retained activity were found to be 47.3 mg/g and 72.8%, respectively, at pH 7.0, and at 25 °C. The apparent Km (9.7 mmol/L), and Vmax (384 U/mg) values of the immobilized lipase were significantly changed compared to the free lipase. The MCH@PDA-lipase was better thermal and storage stability at different temperatures than those of the free lipase. In hexane medium, the esterification reaction results showed that the maximum conversions of isoamylalcohol and isopentyl alcohol to isoamyl acetate and isopentyl acetate using the MCH@PDA-lipase were found to be 98.4 ± 1.3% and 73.7 ± 0.7%, respectively. These results showed that the MCH@PDA-lipase can be used as an operative immobilized enzyme system for many biotechnological applications.

A larval granuloma in the lung: An extremely rare phenomenon.

The formation of pulmonary nodules is associated with benign or malignant pathologies. Based on the sizes, growth rates, and morphological features of nodules, surgical treatment or follow-up can be performed. Pulmonary nodules are frequently encountered in the practice of thoracic surgery. A 37-year-old male patient who had a 2.0x1.9 cm nodule in the right lung was followed. His medical history revealed no chronic disease. During follow-up, the sizes of the nodule increased and, therefore, it was removed by wedge resection. The pathological examination result was reported as a larval granuloma. In conclusion, larval granulomas in the lung are extremely rare phenomena and should be further examined.