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Introduction: Steroid sulfatase (STS) enzyme is responsible for transforming the inactive sulfate metabolites of steroid sex hormones into the active free steroids. Both the deficiency and the over-expression of STS are associated with the pathophysiology of certain diseases. This article provides the readership with a comprehensive review about STS enzyme and its recently reported inhibitors.Areas covered: In the present article, we reviewed the structure, location, and substrates of STS enzyme, physiological functions of STS, and disease states related to over-expression or deficiency of STS enzyme. STS inhibitors reported during the last five years (2016-present) have been reviewed as well.Expert opinion: Irosustat is the most successful STS inhibitor drug candidate so far. It is currently under investigation in clinical trials for treatment of estrogen-dependent breast cancer. Non-steroidal sulfamate is the most favorable scaffold for STS inhibitor design. They can be beneficial for the treatment of hormone-dependent cancers and neurodegenerative disorders without significant estrogenic side effects. Moreover, dual-acting molecules (inhibitors of STS + another synergistic mechanism) can be therapeutically efficient.

Item does not contain fulltext Die Ursachen und die qualitative Struktur des Fatigueerlebens bei MS sind weiterhin nicht wirklich geklärt. Die Untersuchung des Fatigueerlebens bei unterschiedlichen Autoimmunerkrankungen könnte hilfreich sein, um hier Fortschritte zu erzielen, da diese im Unterschied zur MS weniger oder keine kortikalen Herde aufweisen oder eine schnellere Progression der körperlichen Behinderung. Wir verglichen 12 Neuromyelitis-optica-Patienten, 22 MS-Patienten und 22 gesunde Kontrollen mit der Modifizierten Fatigue Impact Scale, wobei wir uns auf die physische und mentale Fatigue konzentrierten. Zudem wurden diese Gruppen hinsichtlich ihrer körperlichen Einschränkung mit dem EDSS beurteilt und neuropsychologisch untersucht. MS- und NMO-Patienten litten unter einer vergleichbar hohen Fatigue, allerdings war bei NMO-Patienten die physische Fatigue gegenüber der Kontrollgruppe erhöht, die mentale Fatigue nicht. NMO-Patienten zeigten eine höhere globale Beeinträchtigung im EDSS, unterschieden sich aber nicht von den MS Patienten in ihrer kognitiven Leistungsfähigkeit (worin beide signifikant unterhalb des Niveaus der Kontrollgruppe lagen). Unsere Untersuchung ergibt, dass die Unterscheidung zwischen mentaler und physischer Fatigue wesentlich ist, wenn verschiedene Autoimmunerkrankungen hinsichtlich der Fatigue verglichen werden. Unidimensionale Fatigueskalen dürften damit nicht hinreichend sein, um Fatigue zu erfassen. Wir spekulieren, dass möglicherweise die Erfahrung der Qualität der primären objektiven Beeinträchtigung für die Selbstbeurteilung der Fatigue eine Rolle spielen könnte, dass aber weitere vergleichende Untersuchungen geeignet sein könnten, um die Fatigueforschung auf ein festeres Fundament zu stellen. English abstract: The causes and the qualitative structure of the fatigue experience in MS are still not clear. Investigating the fatigue experience in various autoimmune diseases could be helpful in making progress since, unlike MS, these have fewer or no cortical foci or a faster progression of physical disability. We compared 12 neuromyelitis optica patients, 22 MS patients, and 22 healthy controls using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, focusing on physical and mental fatigue. In addition, these groups were assessed using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) concerning their physical limitations, and we also examined them neuropsychologically. MS and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients suffered from a comparably high level of fatigue, but in NMO patients physical fatigue was increased compared to the control group, while mental fatigue was not. NMO patients showed a higher global impairment as measured by the EDSS, but they did not differ from the MS patients in cognitive performance; both patient groups scored significantly below the level of the control group. Our study shows that the distinction between mental and physical fatigue is essential when comparing different autoimmune diseases in terms of fatigue. One-dimensional fatigue scales are therefore sufficient to record fatigue. We speculate that the experience of the quality of primary objective impairment may play an important role in the self-assessment of fatigue, but that further comparative studies could be suitable for putting fatigue research in MS on a firmer footing. Keywords: multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, cognitive fatigue, physical fatigue, cognitive impairment. 6 p.

Azo dyes are generally used in food, cosmetic, textile, pharmaceutical, and leather industries. Many of these dyes are carcinogens and need a treatment. The aim of the present study was to use chitosan (CHT), phosphogypsum (PG) and natural phosphate (NP) powders for the removal of Disperse Blue 79 (DB 79) from aqueous solution. The effects of contact time, initial dye concentration, absorbents doses, solution pH, and temperature on the batch adsorption process were systematically studied. Isotherm models were applied to the experimental equilibrium data and pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order kinetic models were used to describe the kinetic data and to evaluate the rate constants. The thermodynamic parameters, such as the changes in enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy were also studied. The results show that the chitosan, phosphogypsum and natural phosphate could be used for the removal of DB 79 in wastewater treatment.