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This review aims to understand the impacts of plasticizers on the thyroid system of animals and humans. The thyroid gland is one of the earliest endocrine glands that appear during embryogenesis. The thyroid gland synthesizes thyroid hormones (TH), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) that are important in the regulation of body homeostasis. TH plays critical roles in regulating different physiological functions, including metabolism, cell growth, circadian rhythm, and nervous system development. Alteration in thyroid function can lead to different medical problems. In recent years, thyroid-related medical problems have increased and this could be due to rising environmental pollutants. Plasticizers are one such group of a pollutant that impacts thyroid function. Plasticizers are man-made chemicals used in a wide range of products, such as children’s toys, food packaging items, building materials, medical devices, cosmetics, and ink. The increased use of plasticizers has resulted in their detection in the environment, animals, and humans. Studies indicated that plasticizers could alter thyroid function in both animals and humans at different levels. Several studies demonstrated a positive and/or negative correlation between plasticizers and serum T4 and T3 levels. Plasticizers could also change the expression of various TH-related genes and proteins, including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), and transporters. Histological analyses demonstrated thyroid follicular cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia in response to several plasticizers. In conclusion, plasticizers could disrupt TH homeostasis and the mechanisms of toxicity could be diverse.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in which demyelination and neurodegeneration occurs. The immune system of MS patients is characterized by a dysregulation in the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory immune cells, whereby both the innate and adaptive immune system are involved. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) was licensed in 2013 as an oral first-line therapy for relapsing-remitting (RR)MS patients. It has a strong efficacy with neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects and a favourable benefit-risk profile. However, the effects of DMF on the immune system of MS patients were not clear before entering the market. During the last years, numerous in vitro and ex vivo studies have clarified the working mechanism of DMF in MS. Here, we discuss the pharmacokinetics of DMF and its effect on molecular immune-related pathways, which is further linked to the clinical and immunological effects of DMF treatment. The efficacy and safety of DMF treatment for RRMS is discussed as reported from clinical trials. Further, the immunological effects of DMF treatment in RRMS patients are addressed in more detail, including the distribution and function of immune cells. Taken together, evidence from recent studies points to a multifactorial working mechanism of DMF treatment in MS which leads to a restored immune balance favouring a more tolerogenic or anti-inflammatory immune profile.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in which demyelination and neurodegeneration occurs. The immune system of MS patients is characterized by a dysregulation in the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory immune cells, whereby both the innate and adaptive immune system are involved. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) was licensed in 2013 as an oral first-line therapy for relapsing-remitting (RR)MS patients. It has a strong efficacy with neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects and a favourable benefit-risk profile. However, the effects of DMF on the immune system of MS patients were not clear before entering the market. During the last years, numerous in vitro and ex vivo studies have clarified the working mechanism of DMF in MS. Here, we discuss the pharmacokinetics of DMF and its effect on molecular immune-related pathways, which is further linked to the clinical and immunological effects of DMF treatment. The efficacy and safety of DMF treatment for RRMS is discussed as reported from clinical trials. Further, the immunological effects of DMF treatment in RRMS patients are addressed in more detail, including the distribution and function of immune cells. Taken together, evidence from recent studies points to a multifactorial working mechanism of DMF treatment in MS which leads to a restored immune balance favouring a more tolerogenic or anti-inflammatory immune profile.

The effects of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) on the immune system in multiple sclerosis (MS) are not completely elucidated. In this study, an extensive immunophenotypic analysis of innate and adaptive immune cells of DMF-treated MS patients was performed. Peripheral blood immune cell phenotypes were determined using flow cytometry in a follow-up study of 12 MS patients before, after 3 and 12 months of DMF treatment and a cross-sectional study of 25 untreated and 64 DMF-treated MS patients. Direct effects of DMF on B cells were analyzed in vitro. After 12 months of DMF treatment, percentages of monocytes, natural killer cells, naive T and B cells and transitional B cells increased. Percentages of (effector) memory T cells, (non) class-switched memory B cells and double negative B cells decreased together with CD4(+) T cells expressing interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-17 (IL-17). DMF treatment was fully effective as of 6 months and directly induced apoptosis and decreased expression of costimulatory CD40, antigen presentation molecule MHCII and B cell activating factor receptor (BAFFR) on B cells. DMF induced a persistent change of the immune system of MS patients, directly induced apoptosis and reduced expression of functional markers on B cells. We thank Igna Rutten and Kim Ulenaers (Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute and UBilim), Rehabilitation & MS Center (Overpelt), Sandra Liedekerken, Tiny Kempkens, Judith Poeth, Lianne van Gennip and all MS nurses at Zuyderland Medisch Centrum (Sittard) for patient recruitment and sample collection. We thank prof. dr. Niels Hellings for critical reading. This work was supported by Hasselt University and Maastricht University. Funding was provided via an investigator-initiated trial grant from Biogen. J. Fraussen is a postdoctoral fellow of the Fund for Scientific Research, Flanders.

This paper describes a systematic study on the synthesis of higher fatty esters of corn starch (starch laurate and starch stearate) by using the corresponding vinyl esters. The reactions were carried out in DMSO using basic catalysts (Na(2)HPO(4), K(2)CO(3), and Na-acetate). The effect of the process variables (vinyl ester to starch ratio, catalyst intake, reaction temperature and type of the catalyst) on the degree of substitution (DS) of the starch laurate and starch stearate esters was determined by performing a total of 54 experiments. The results were adequately modeled using a non-linear multivariable regression model (R(2)>= 0.96). The basicity of the catalyst and the reaction temperature have the highest impact on the product DS. The thermal and mechanical properties of some representative product samples were determined. High-DS products (DS = 2.26-2.39) are totally amorphous whereas the low-DS ones (DS = 1.45-1.75) are still partially crystalline. The thermal stability of the esterified products is higher than that of native starch. Mechanical tests show that the products have a tensile strength (stress at break) between 2.7-3.5 MPa, elongation at break of 3-26%, and modulus of elasticity of 46-113 MPa.

Selective catalytic carbonylation of the trisubstituted double bond of citronellic acid is enabled via an isomerization–functionalization approach. Alkoxycarbonylation with [{1,2-(tBu2PCH2)2C6H4}Pd(OTf)2] as a catalyst precursor occurs with >97% selectivity for the terminal diester dimethyl-3,7-dimethylnonane-dioate. This prevails much over the typical cationic methoxyaddition. The reactive primary carboxy group formed allows for e.g. the preparation of the high molecular weight novel polyester poly[3,7-dimethylnonanediyl-3,7-dimethylnonanedioate].

Poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-N-methacryloyl-L-tryptophan methyl ester) [poly(EGDMA-MATrp)] beads (average diameter = 106-300 mu m) were synthesized by copolymerizing of N-methacryloyk-L-typtophan methyl ester (MATrp) with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). The usability of newly synthesized material for the removal of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) from aqueous phase was investigated. The poly (EGDMA-MATrp) beads were characterized by N-2 adsorption/desorption isotherms (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and swelling studies. Initial concentration, pH, contact time and temperature effects on the adsorption of DMP from aqueous solutions were analyzed. An optimum adsorption capacity of 237.3 mg g(-1), for DMP was obtained at 25 degrees C. The present adsorption process obeyed pseudo-second-order kinetic model. All the isotherm data can be fitted with both the Langmuir, and the Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models with high correlation coefficients. Thermodynamic parameters Delta N = 2.398 kJ mol(-1), Delta S = 65.76 J K-1 mol(-1), and Delta G = 17.20 kJ mol(-1) to -18.57 kJ mol(-1) with the rise in temperature from 25 degrees C to 45 degrees C indicated the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. The DMP adsorption capacity did not change after 10 batch successive reactions, demonstrating the usefulness of the beads in applications.

Department of Petroleum Engineering, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad-826 004 Manuscriptreceived6 July 1990, revised 25 October 1990, accepted 14 January 1991 UNSATURATED ethy lenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) hydroxyesters have shown good deemulsifying activity for petroleum emulsions1.In this paper the preparation of some of the EDT A esters and their de-emulsifying activity are reported. N.N,N',N'-Tetrakis(cyclohexyl acetate)ethylenediamine has been prepared by retluxing H2SO4 salt of EDTA and cyclohexanol in xylene, N,N,N',N'- Tetrakis(1-octyl acetate)ethylenediamine and N,N, N',N'-tetrakis(1-cetyl acetate)ethylenediamine havealso been synthesised by treating EDT A with 1-octyl and 1-cetyl alcohols in the presence of thionyl chloride. Higher yields have been obtained than that reported in the literature 2 and at the same time the reaction time has been drastically reduced. All EDT A esters show sharp carbonyl stretching peak at 1 747-1 742 cm- 1 in the ir spectra.