2,4-Dimethyl-L-phenylalanine

Structural conversion of [Fe4S4] clusters into [Fe2S2] clusters has been suggested to be a fundamental process for some O2-sensing proteins. While the formation of [Fe2S2] clusters from synthetic [Fe4S4] clusters has been unprecedented, an all-ferric [Fe4S4]4+ cluster Fe4S4{N(SiMe3)2}4 (1) was found to split in the presence of pyridines, giving [Fe2S2] clusters Fe2S2{N(SiMe3)2}2(L)2 (2, L = pyridines). The structural conversion between [Fe4S4] and [Fe2S2] clusters appeared to be reversible, and the thermodynamic parameters for the equilibrium reactions between 1 + L and 2 were determined. Assembly of two [Fe2S2] clusters was also induced by chemical reductions of Fe2S2{N(SiMe3)2}2(Py)2 (Py = pyridine), and the resultant [Fe4S4] clusters [1]- and [1]2- were found to split into two [Fe2S2] clusters by oxidation with [Cp2Fe]+ in the presence of pyridine.

Drinking water is a main source of human exposure to arsenic. Hence, the determination of arsenic in groundwater is essential to assess its impact on public health. Here, we report arsenic levels in the groundwater of 722 sites covering all six major provinces of Korea. Water was sampled in two occasions (summer, 722 sites and winter, 636 sites) and the arsenic levels were measured with highly sensitive inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry method (limit of detection, 0.1 μg/l) to encompass the current drinking water standard (<10 μg/l). Seasonal variation was negligible, but the geographical difference was prominent. Total arsenic in groundwater ranged from 0.1 to 48.4 μg/l. A 88.0-89.0% of sites were <2.0 μg/l and the remaining ones generally did not exceed 10 μg/l (6.4-7.0%, 2.0-4.9 μg/l; 2.4-3.0%, 5.0-9.9 μg/l). However, some areas (1.0-9.2%) exhibited >10 μg/l. Notably, urinary arsenic excretion of people around these regions was markedly higher compared with non-contaminated areas (<5 μg/l) (79.

INTRODUCTION    Increased C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations during pregnancy are associated with several perinatal complications. OBJECTIVES    The aim of the study was to assess serum CRP concentrations and identify its determinants in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. PATIENTS AND METHODS    CRP concentrations were determined using a high-sensitivity assay (hs-CRP) in the first trimester (I, week <12 of gestation), in mid-pregnancy (II, weeks 20 to 24 of gestation), and in the late third trimester (III, weeks 34 to 39 of gestation) in a group of 73 patients with type 1 diabetes. RESULTS    There was a significant increase in CRP concentrations between the first trimester and mid‑pregnancy (median [interquartile range], 2.5 mg/l [1.3-4.5 mg/l] and 5.6 mg/l [2.5-11.6 mg/l]; P = 0.0001), which then stabilized with no further change between mid-pregnancy and the late third trimester (5.7 mg/l [2.5-9.6 mg/l]). CRP concentrations in all 3 trimesters were positively correlated with the waist‑to-hip ratio (I, P <0.

Autoimmune thyroid disease associated with interferon therapy can manifest as destructive thyroiditis, Graves' Hyperthyroidism, and autoimmune (often subclinical) hypothyroidism, the latter persisting in many patients. There are scare reports of a single patient developing extremes of autoimmune thyroid disease activated by the immunomodulatory effects of interferon. A 60-year-old man received 48 weeks of pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy for chronic HCV. Six months into treatment, he reported fatigue, weight gain, and slowed cognition. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was 58.8 mIU/L [0.27-4.2], fT4 11.1 pmol/L [12-25], and fT3 4.2 pmol/L [2.5-6.0] with elevated anti-TPO (983 IU/mL [<35]) and anti-TG (733 U/mL [<80]) antibodies. He commenced thyroxine with initial clinical and biochemical resolution but developed symptoms of hyperthyroidism with weight loss and tremor 14 months later. Serum TSH was <0.02 mIU/L, fT4 54.