Poly(N-vinylimidazole/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) for the purification and isolation of phenolic acids.

In this study we report the novel polymeric resin poly(N-vinyl imidazole/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) for the purification and isolation of phenolic acids. The monomer to crosslinker ratio and the porogen composition were optimized for isolating phenolic acids diluted in acetonitrile at normal phase chromatography conditions, first. Acetonitrile serves as polar, aprotic solvent, dissolving phenolic acids but not interrupting interactions with the stationary phase due to the approved Hansen solubility parameters. The optimized resin demonstrated high loading capacities and adsorption abilities particularly for phenolic acids in both, acetonitrile and aqueous solutions. The adsorption behavior of aqueous standards can be attributed to ion exchange effects due to electrostatic interactions between protonated imidazole residues and deprotonated phenolic acids. Furthermore, adsorption experiments and subsequent curve fittings provide information of maximum loading capacities of single standards according to the Langmuir adsorption model. Recovery studies of the optimized polymer in the normal-phase and ion-exchange mode illustrate the powerful isolation properties for phenolic acids and are comparable or even better than typical, commercially available solid phase extraction materials. In order to prove the applicability, a highly complex extract of rosemary leaves was purified by poly(N-vinyl imidazole/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and the isolated compounds were identified using UHPLC-qTOF-MS.

Anatomic significance of a positive barium enema in deep infiltrating endometriosis of the large bowel.

PURPOSE: The anatomopathological significance of a positive double-contrast barium enema (DCBE) for suspicion of deep infiltrating endometriosis of the large bowel was studied. This is a retrospective study of a prospective database. METHODS: A large-bowel resection was proposed for patients who were suspicious for large-bowel endometriosis and had a positive DCBE. In a series of 73 patients, 71 large-bowel resections were performed. Histology and immunohistochemistry with the monoclonal antibody CD-10 were performed on the resection specimen. Outcome measures were the length of the resected specimen, the largest diameter of the lesion, the positivity of the resection margins, and the degree of infiltration of the large bowel. We also compared the mean largest diameters of the lesions with the degree of infiltration of the large bowel. RESULTS: Between December 1997 and October 2005, 80 patients were suspicious for large-bowel endometriosis: 73 (91%) had positive DCBEs, and 7 (9%) had negative DCBEs. Of the 73 with positive DCBEs, 4 (5%) refused digestive resection and 1 (1.4%) was excluded. Three patients underwent two large-bowel resections because of the presence of bifocal lesions (left and right colon). A total of 71 resections were performed. In case of positive DCBE, the perivisceral fat and the whole muscularis were infiltrated in 100% of cases. The infiltration reached the submucosa and the mucosa respectively in 82% and 18% of cases. A total of 9.9% of resection margins were positive at histology but only focally. The mean largest diameter of the lesions infiltrating the whole thickness of the large bowel was not statistically different from the mean largest diameter of more superficial lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of mass effect with indentations and ridging of the mucosa on DCBE in a setting suspicious for large-bowel endometriosis correspond well with pathologic findings of deep infiltration of the large-bowel wall. Clinicians dealing with deep infiltrating endometriosis should be aware of these findings, which could influence their choice of surgical treatment.

Ureteral mullerian carcinosarcoma (mixed mullerian tumor) associated with endometriosis occurring in a patient with a concentrated soy isoflavones supplementation.

Malignant transformation and particularly malignant mixed mullerian tumor arising in extragenital endometriosis is extremely rare and occurs in the majority of cases after estrogen replacement therapy. We present a case of a 75-year-old woman who developed a ureteral malignant mullerian carcinosarcoma in a context of florid endometriosis. The patient had a history of total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy 30 years earlier for extensive endometriosis. Since 5 years, the patient has been on phytoestrogen supplementation consisting of 72 mg/day of superconcentrated soy isoflavones. This is the first case of ureteral mullerian carcinosarcoma arising in endometriosis foci after extensive phytoestrogen supplementation. Our data suggest that phytoestrogens at least in concentrated form may play a role not only in maintenance of endometriosis but also in its malignant transformation. Given the extraordinary popularity and availability of these dietary supplements, several studies are indispensable regarding their safety particularly in women with extensive endometriosis.

Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of iron chelators on human cervical carcinoma cells.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical carcinoma is a human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancer for which treatment options still mainly rely on surgical procedures, with or without adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. As iron may participate in the pathogenesis of viral infections and cancer in several ways, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of iron chelation on HPV-16- and HPV-18-positive cervical carcinoma cell lines. METHODS: Desferrioxamine and deferiprone, two chemically unrelated iron chelators, were used to investigate the effect of iron chelation on SiHa and HeLa cells. Proliferation was investigated by cells counts, by [(3)H]thymidine uptake assay, and by immunostaining with Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Apoptosis was determined by morphological analysis, by a TUNEL assay, and by flow cytometry detecting FITC-conjugated annexin-V. RESULTS: Desferrioxamine and deferiprone induced a time- and dose-dependent inhibition of SiHa and HeLa cell growth. The inhibition of cell growth was associated with a decrease in the expression of both stable and total PCNA and Ki-67, a proliferation marker whose expression may predict survival in uterine cervical carcinoma. TUNEL assay, flow cytometry with annexin-V-fluorescein, and morphological analysis indicated that iron chelation also induced a time- and dose-dependent apoptosis of both cell lines. This apoptotic effect was prevented by the addition of exogenous iron. CONCLUSION: These results show that iron chelation inhibits the growth and induces the apoptosis of HPV-positive carcinoma cells. This suggests that iron chelators may represent a potential therapeutic approach for the management of cervical carcinoma.