Measurement of LAL using DBS is made difficult by the presence of other lipases in whole blood. Lalistat 2 is a specific inhibitor of LAL which allows the determination of LAL in DBS. Results show the method differentiates clearly between normal controls, carriers and affected cases.

This work was done to determine the salicylate content of a variety of commonly used spices and to assess whether this potential dietary source of salicylate was bioavailable. Spices, Indian cooked dishes, and blood and urine samples taken after ingestion of a test meal were investigated for their salicylate content using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The serum salicylic acid concentrations in samples from villagers in southern India were also measured and have been compared with typical European values. Salicylic acid was determined in all spices (up to 1.5 wt %) and cooked dishes. The salicylate content of blood and urine was shown to increase following consumption of the meal, indicating that this dietary source of salicylic acid was bioavailable. Salicylic acid levels in the serum from rural Indians were significantly (median almost 3-fold) higher than values previously measured in Western vegetarians. Chemoprotective aspirin is rapidly hydrolyzed to salicylic acid, and this phytochemical may contribute to the low cancer incidence in rural India.

Licochalcone A (I), isolated from the roots of Chinese licorice, is the most promising antimalarial compound reported so far. In continuation of our drug discovery program, we isolated two similar chalcones, medicagenin (II) and munchiwarin (III), from Crotalaria medicagenia , which exhibited antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum . A library of 88 chalcones were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antimalarial activity. Among these, 67, 68, 74, 77, and 78 exhibited good in vitro antimalarial activity against P. falciparum strains 3D7 and K1 with low cytotoxicity. These chalcones also showed reduction in parasitemia and increased survival time of Swiss mice infected with Plasmodium yoelii (strain N-67). Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that low oral bioavailability due to poor ADME properties. Molecular docking studies revealed the binding orientation of these inhibitors in active sites of falcipain-2 (FP-2) enzyme. Compounds 67, 68, and 78 showed modest inhibitory activity against the major hemoglobin degrading cysteine protease FP-2.

Wastewater treatment has been a challenge throughout the years due to varying influent characteristics and stringent effluent regulations. In response to this dilemma, a reliable, cost-effective and high-efficiency sequencing batch reactor (SBR) technology has been recently developed. SBRs are variations of the activated sludge process that operates on a fill-and-draw basis. It combines both aerobic-anaerobic phases in one unit and saves up to 25% of the aeration costs concomitant with low sludge production. Consequently, simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal from the wastewater could be achieved by adjusting the actual operating cycle. This review paper discusses the technical description and operational flexibility of SBR for the treatment of wide range of effluent under different operational conditions, together with its modifications that could increase the effectiveness of SBR systems in the future.