In a biorefinery process, 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a promising biomass-derived chemical with diverse industrial applications. The biotransformation of HMF to different high-valued furanic derivatives, such as 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, 2,5-diformylfuran, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid, and 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid, has led to the transition from fossil-derived products to bio-based chemicals through sustainable routes. Although, chemocatalytic conversion of HMF has been extensively studied in the recent years, the higher selectivity, environment friendliness, and mild reaction conditions of HMF bioconversion has established these processes as a promising alternative to harsh chemical conditions. To understand the present status and challenges of HMF bioconversion, this review retrospects and describes the recent advancements in the biotransformation of HMF and systematically assesses the recent findings and developments in the HMF biotransformation through various reaction schemes. Further, this review illustrates, in comprehensive detail, the merits and challenges of various biological processes and it proposes a few research trends for economical and facile HMF bioconversion for commercialization.

Soil contaminated with hydrophobic organic hydrocarbons, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pose a serious threat to the ecosystem and human health. Moreover, the sorption and desorption of the PAHs, due to the interaction with the soil organic matter (SOM) and other contaminants, greatly affect the fate and mycoremediation efficiency of the contaminated soil. On the other hand, the application of surfactants with or without additives for the mobilization of PAHs from contaminated soil has garnered increasing attention for soil remediation. In this context, several commercial surfactants and biosurfactants were reported either as soil flushing agents or soil additives, followed by either in situ or ex situ mycoremediation of the PAHs from contaminated soil. Hence, for a successful implementation of surfactants for mycoremediation of contaminated soil, a comprehensive introspection on its chemistry and mechanism is necessary. Thus, this review focuses primarily on understanding the effect of surfactants and the mechanism of desorption of PAHs from the soil. This work also emphasizes the effect of surfactants on the efficiency of mycoremediation of contaminated soil. Further, the review summarizes various surfactant-assisted mycoremediation strategies of contaminated soil. Finally, the limitations of surfactant-assisted mycoremediation, precipitative, and partitioning loss, along with toxicity of the surfactants, were reviewed. Thus, this review will aid in understanding the underlying mechanism and efficiency of surfactant-assisted mycoremediation and it also proposes current research trends to improve the efficiency and enhance the bioremediation of PAHs-contaminated soil.

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4 CASE REPORTThyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is an uncommon disorder characterized by simultaneous thyrotoxicosis, hypokalaemia, and paralysis and is the most common acquired form of periodic paralysis. It is usually associated with low plasma potassium levels and is often precipitated by physical activity or ingestion of carbohydrates. We presented a 35-year-old man with hyperthyroidism who admitted applied to the emergency department with an episode of flaccid quadriparalysis following oral diclophenac sodium usage for lumbar disk hernia and the review of the literature on this subject. Physical and laboratory examination revealed sinus tachycardia, diffuse toxic goiter, flaccid quadriparalysis, a low serum potassium level (1.51 mmol/L), ST segment depression, coincidental horseshoe kidney. Potassium chloride was admitted via both parenteral and orally. Meanwhile antithyroid treatment (propylthiouracil and propranolol) was also given. Early diagnosis is important for planning antithyroid treatment, protecting the patient from further episodes of paralysis and avoidance of precipitating factors. In our patient, electrolyte imbalance appeared secondary to polyuria and vomiting, serious pain and physical stress may have triggered TTP.

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