From undisturbed Antarctic habitats (permafrost sediments 30-150 thousand years of age, water of Radok Lake) and superficial deposits contaminated with petroleum products, we isolated 14 and 9 strains of Penicillium fungi, respectively. Comparison of the fungal complexes showed them to differ by species composition; only two species-P. palitans and P. solitum-were in the species lists of both groups. The identified secondary metabolites in the investigated strains belonged to diketopiperazine (group of roquefortines, rugulosuvin B), benzodiazepine (anacin, cyclopenins), quinoline alkaloids (viridicatins), clavine ergot alkaloids (α-cyclopiazonic acid, festuclavine, fumigaclavines), polycyclic indole alkaloids (communesin B, chaetoglobosin A), amino acid derivatives (N-acetyltryptamine, chrysogins, penicillin G), polyketides (citreoviridin A, mycophenolic acid), and terpenes (andrastins, phomenone). Strains isolated from anthropogenically altered habitats produced a more complete and characteristic profile of exometabolites, as compared with strains isolated from undisturbed habitats. It is only from contaminated soils there were isolated fungi that produced more structurally diverse secondary metabolites pertaining to polycyclic indole alkaloids and terpenoids. The fungi isolated from contaminated samples can be used in biodegradation of oil spills and bioremediation of the environment, and also as producers of promising biologically active compounds.

Caffeine appears in breastmilk rapidly after maternal ingestion. Insufficient high-quality data are available to make good evidence-based recommendations on safe maternal caffeine consumption.[1] Fussiness, jitteriness and poor sleep patterns have been reported in the infants of mothers with very high caffeine intakes equivalent to about 10 or more cups of coffee daily. Studies in mothers taking 5 cups of coffee daily found no stimulation in breastfed infants 3 weeks of age and older. A maternal intake limit of 300 to 500 mg daily might be a safe level of intake for most mothers.[2][3] However, preterm and younger newborn infants metabolize caffeine very slowly and may have serum levels of caffeine and other active caffeine metabolites similar to their mothers' levels,[2][4][5] so a lower intake level preferable in the mothers of these infants. Other sources of caffeine, such as cola and energy drinks, yerba mate or guarana, will have similar dose-related effects on the breastfed infant. Coffee intake of more than 450 mL daily may decrease breastmilk iron concentrations and result in mild iron deficiency anemia in some breastfed infants.[6]

After aspirin ingestion, salicylic acid is excreted into breastmilk, with higher doses resulting in disproportionately higher milk levels. Long-term, high-dose maternal aspirin ingestion probably caused metabolic acidosis in one breastfed infant. Reye's syndrome is associated with aspirin administration to infants with viral infections, but the risk of Reye's syndrome from salicylate in breastmilk is unknown. An alternate drug is preferred over continuous high-dose, aspirin therapy. After daily low-dose aspiring (75 to 325 mg daily), no aspirin is excreted into breastmilk and salicylate levels are low. Daily low-dose aspirin therapy may be considered as an antiplatelet drug for use in breastfeeding women.[1][2][3]. If it is used by a nursing mother, monitor the infant for bruising and bleeding.

Acetaminophen is a good choice for analgesia, and fever reduction in nursing mothers. Amounts in milk are much less than doses usually given to infants. Adverse effects in breastfed infants appear to be rare.

The Squash bug, Anasa tristis (De Geer), is a major piercing/sucking pest of cucurbits, causing extensive damage to plants and fruits, and transmitting phytopathogens. No genomic resources to facilitate field and laboratory studies of this pest were available; therefore the first de novo exome for this destructive pest was assembled. RNA was extracted from insects challenged with bacterial and fungal immunoelicitors, insects fed on different cucurbit species, and insects from all life stages from egg to adult. All treatments and replicates were separately barcoded for subsequent analyses, then pooled for sequencing in a single lane using the Illumina HiSeq2000 platform. Over 211 million 100-base tags generated in this manner were trimmed, filtered, and cleaned, then assembled into a de novo reference transcriptome using the Broad Institute Trinity assembly algorithm. The assembly was annotated using NCBIx NR, BLAST2GO, KEGG and other databases. Of the >130,000 total assemblies 37,327 were annotated identifying the sequences of candidate gene silencing targets from immune, endocrine, reproductive, cuticle, and other physiological systems. Expression profiling of the adult immune response was accomplished by aligning the 100-base tags from each biological replicate from each treatment and controls to the annotated reference assembly of the A. tristis transcriptome.

A 72-year-old white woman presented with progressively increasing slate-gray pigmentation of the face and extensor aspect of the forearms, which she had been suffering from for 8 years. She had been taking imipramine for approximately 30 years. Her other medications included ranitidine and anacin. Physical examination revealed slate-gray hyperpigmentation of the skin photodistributed on the face (Figs 1, 2) and extensor aspects of the forearms. Relative sparing of the skin folds, mucous membranes, sclerae, teeth, and nails was noted. The remainder of the physical examination revealed no abnormalities. Skin biopsy specimens from the right cheek and right forearm were obtained. Histologic examination revealed collections of variably sized, round to ovoid, yellow-brown globular deposits in the upper and mid dermis (Fig. 2). The deposits were identified within macrophages and free within the dermis. The epidermis was unremarkable and free of deposits. The deposits stained for melanin with a Fontana-Masson stain, but did not stain for iron.

Reported herein are two endoscopic studies performed to compare the gastrointestinal mucosal effects of encapsulated enteric-coated aspirin granules with several other well-known aspirin products. The first study compared the effects of Ascriptin A/D, Bayer, Bufferin, and 325 mg enteric-coated aspirin granules (325 mg Ecotrin capsules); the second study compared Anacin Arthritis Pain Formula, Arthritis Strength Bufferin, Ascriptin A/D, Bayer, and 500 mg enteric-coated aspirin granules (500 mg Ecotrin capsule). In both of these studies the Ecotrin capsule induced less stomach damage than did any of the other aspirin products tested. The Ecotrin capsule was also shown to cause less damage to the proximal duodenum than did Bayer.