Biobased chemicals are one of the main missions of bioeconomy. In this special issue, we reviewed the recent progress in the metabolic engineering and fermentation control study on biobased succinic acid, adipic acid, lactic acid, 3-hydroxypropanoic acid, glucaric acid, glycerol, xylitol, higher alcohols and ethylene, recombinant construction for the direct utilization of lignocelluloses, biotransformation of bio-based lactic acid, and salting-out extraction of bio-based chemicals. Some research articles on biobased succinic acid, D-mannitol, malic acid, 5-aminolevulinic acid, 1,3-propanediol, and butanol are also included.
Adipates ; metabolism ; Biotechnology ; methods ; Biotransformation ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Industrial Microbiology ; methods ; Lactic Acid ; metabolism ; Lignin ; metabolism ; Metabolic Engineering ; methods ; Organic Chemicals ; metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Succinic Acid ; metabolism

No abstract available.
Ganglion Cysts ; Organic Chemicals

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of labrasol, solutol HS 15 and transcutol P on the corneal permeability of mangiferin in vitro.

METHODThe effects of three penetration enhancers on the corneal permeability of mangiferin were investigated in vitro by using isolated rabbit corneas.

RESULTThe apparent Papp enhancements were increased 1.80, 3.27, 3.41 and 4.76-folds with Lab at 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0% and 3.0% (P < 0.01), respectively. The apparent Papp increased 1.98 and 3.07-folds with Sol at 0.2% and 0.4% (P < 0.01), respectively, but reduced with 0.010%-0.03% Trans.

CONCLUSIONThe Papp value of mangiferin is significantly enhanced by 1.0%-3.0% Lab, 0.2% and 0.4% Sol, however the Papp value of mangiferin is reduced by 0.01%-0.03% Trans.

Animals ; Cornea ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Ethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Glycerides ; In Vitro Techniques ; Organic Chemicals ; chemistry ; Permeability ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacokinetics ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Stearic Acids ; chemistry ; Xanthones ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents from Hedyotis diffusa.

METHODThe compounds were isolated and purified by various chromatographic techniques and identified by their physicochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTEight compounds had been reported in last paper, and this time eight more compounds were isolated and identified as 6-hydroxystigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one (1), 3-hydroxystigmasta-4,22-dien-7-one (2), 2-hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone (3), 2,6-dihydroxy-3-methyl-4-methoxyanthraquinone (4), iso-scutellarein (5), isoetin (6), aesculetin (7), gypsogenic acid (8).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-3, 5-8 were obtained from the genus Hedyotis for the first time.

Hedyotis ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Usnea longissima.

METHODThe compounds were isolated and purified by the methods of solvent extraction and chromatographic technique, and their structures were identified on the basis of the analysis of spectral data or comparison with those of authentic sample.

RESULTThirteen compounds were obtained and identified as ethyl hematommate (1), friedelin (2), beta-amyrin (3), beta-sitosterol (4), methyl-2,4-dihydroxy-3,6-dimethylbenzoate (5), barbatinic acid (6), zeorin (7), ethyl orsellinate (8), 3beta-hydroxy-glutin-5-ene (9), oleanolic acid (10), (+)-usnic acid (11), methylorsellinate (12), and 4-methyl-2,6-dihydroxy-benzaldehyde (13).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 2, 3, 5, and 8-10 were isolated from this genus for the first time, and compounds 1,4 were obtained from this plant for the first time.

Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Usnea ; chemistry

Bio-based materials are new materials or chemicals with renewable biomass as raw materials such as grain, legume, straw, bamboo and wood powder. This class of materials includes bio-based polymer, biobased fiber, glycotechnology products, biobased rubber and plastics produced by biomass thermoplastic processing and basic biobased chemicals, for instance, bio-alcohols, organic acids, alkanes, and alkenes, obtained by bio-synthesis, bio-processing and bio-refinery. Owing to its environmental friendly and resource conservation, bio-based materials are becoming a new dominant industry taking the lead in the world scientific and technological innovation and economic development. An overview of bio-based materials development is reported in this special issue, and the industrial status and research progress of the following aspects, including biobased fiber, polyhydroxyalkanoates, biodegradable mulching film, bio-based polyamide, protein based biomedical materials, bio-based polyurethane, and modification and processing of poly(lactic acid), are introduced.
Biomass ; Biotechnology ; Organic Chemicals ; Plastics ; Polymers ; Rubber

Drunk driving is a serious social problem. We estimated the blood alcohol concentration of a defendant on the request of local prosecutor's office in Korea. Based on the defendant's history, and a previously constructed pharmacokinetic model for alcohol, we estimated the possible alcohol concentration over time during his driving using a Bayesian method implemented in NONMEM®. To ensure generalizability and to take the parameter uncertainty of the alcohol pharmacokinetic models into account, a non-parametric bootstrap with 1,000 replicates was applied to the Bayesian estimations. The current analysis enabled the prediction of the defendant's possible blood alcohol concentrations over time with a 95% prediction interval. The results showed a high probability that the alcohol concentration was ≥ 0.05% during driving. The current estimation of the alcohol concentration during driving by the Bayesian method could be used as scientific evidence during court trials.
Bayes Theorem ; Blood Alcohol Content ; Driving Under the Influence ; Forensic Sciences* ; Korea ; Pharmacology, Clinical* ; Social Problems ; Uncertainty

With the environmental pollution caused by waste plastics becoming increasingly serious, biodegradable polyester has become the focus of public attention. Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is a biodegradable polyester formed by the copolymerization of aliphatic and aromatic groups, which has excellent performance of both. The degradation of PBAT under natural conditions requires strict environmental conditions and long degradation cycle. To address these shortcomings, this study explored the application of cutinase in PBAT degradation and the impact of butylene terephthalate (BT) content on the biodegradability of PBAT, so as to improve the degradation rate of PBAT. Five Polyester degrading enzymes from different sources were selected to degrade PBAT to pick out the most efficient enzyme. Subsequently, the degradation rate of PBAT materials with different BT content were determined and compared. The results showed that cutinase ICCG was the best enzyme for PBAT biodegradation, and the higher the BT content, the lower the degradation rate of PBAT. Furthermore, the optimum temperature, buffer type, pH, the ratio of enzyme to substrate (E/S) and substrate concentration in the degradation system were determined to be 75 ℃, Tris HCl, 9.0, 0.4% and 1.0% respectively. These findings may facilitate the application of cutinase in PBAT degradation.
Polyesters/chemistry* ; Adipates

PURPOSE: An osteoma is one of the common benign tumors that penetrate the nasal portion, paranasal and frontal sinus. This tumor is mostly found by radiation test accidentally, however in rare cases; it can be found to be touched or with its symptoms as the tumor grows. We report this case since we found and healed the benign tumor which was affecting orbit and the both sides of fronal sinus. METHODS: A 19 year old female patient visited to our hospital due to the mass on her forehead. The symptoms began 3 years ago but no special symptom was found except for touchable mass. She was diagnosed as the osteoma of superior orbital parts and both sides of frontal sinus using X-ray and CT scanning. The size of osteoma was 5x2.5x3.5cm and indicated the patterns penetrated to the right side of orbital region. The osteoma excision was conducted with coronal incision and wide area of defect part in frontal sinus and superior orbital part were reconstructed by cranial bone graft and resorbable fixation plates. RESULTS: The patient recovered without any postoperative infections or complications and symptoms. Dysaesthesia was found on her frontal area but improved in 1 month after the surgery. CONCLUSION: The occurrences of osteoma in frontal sinus are rare and can be treated with conservative methods if there are no infections and symptoms. We report this case since we found the benign tumor, which was affecting orbit and the both sides of fronal sinus and healed it with coronal resectomy without any complications.
Female ; Forehead ; Frontal Sinus ; Humans ; Orbit ; Organic Chemicals ; Osteoma ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical results between the extensile lateral approach and sinus tarsi approach in the open reduction of the Sanders type II calcaneal fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2002 to Februry 2007, thirty two patients having thirty three calcaneal fractures of Sanders type II were managed with open reduction and internal fixation using the extensile lateral approach or sinus tarsi approach. The mean age of 19 patients using extensile lateral approach was 43.3 years. The mean age of 13 patients using sinus tarsi approach was 46.3 years. Clinical outcome, radiographic parameters, and postoperative complications were compared between both groups. RESULTS: There was no difference between two groups associated with patients demographs. The mean AOFAS score and VAS between both groups were not different (p=0.716, p=0.774). The mean Bohler's angle and Gissane's angle between both groups were not different (p=0.343, p=0.357). Two cases of sural nerve injury, one malunion, and one deep infection were occurred in the group of extensile lateral approach. However, patients using sinus tarsi approach had no postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The clinical results of sinus tarsi approach may be comparable with those of extensile lateral approach, with the advantages of reduced risk of postoperative complications.
Calcaneus ; Humans ; Organic Chemicals ; Postoperative Complications ; Sural Nerve