Blue Pigmentation Research Articles

8403 A Rare Presentation: Mucosal Melanoma with Pituitary Gland Involvement

Abstract Disclosure: L.R. Sepulveda-Garcia: None. L. El Musa Penna: None. W. Medina-Torres: None. J. Segarra-Villafane: None. Z. Maisonet-Feliciano: None. I. Arroyo-Gomez: None. L.A. Gonzalez-Rodriguez: None. M. Alvarado-Santiago: None. M. Ramirez-Vick: None. Introduction: Sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM) is a rare form of aggressive melanoma with poor prognosis, compromising less than 1% of all melanoma. The most frequently reported symptoms include nasal obstruction and epistaxis, but the manifestation of symptoms may occur late and be nonspecific, causing delays in diagnosis and resulting in a less favorable prognosis. Here we report a rare case of mucosal melanoma with pituitary gland involvement initially thought to be a pituitary adenoma. Clinical Case Description: A 22-year-old male with no previous medical history was found with a biopsy proven pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma (PEM) in the palate. Three weeks after the biopsy, the patient presented with a severe headache, prompting the performance of a CT scan that revealed a pituitary macroadenoma. Several days later he developed acute right eye ptosis requiring emergency evaluation. The patient reported mild epistaxis, headaches, and nausea of 2 weeks duration associated with lack of erections and diminished libido. Physical exam was remarkable for sinus bradycardia, right eye ptosis, and a palate bluish pigmentation. Hormonal work up revealed a prolactin of 23 ng/mL (3.46-19.40), TSH of 2.22 uIU/mL (0.27-4.20), fT4 of 0.37 ng/dL (0.93-1.70), total testosterone <0.007 ng/mL (1.88-6.84), free testosterone of 0.001 ng/mL (0.032-0.168), FSH of 0.41 mIU/mL (2.6-11.0), and LH of 0.27 mIU/mL (0.4-7). Serum cortisol and ACTH levels were found to be low at <1.00 µg/dL (3.7-19.40) and 5.98 pg/mL (0.00-46.00), respectively, but these were taken while patient was given dexamethasone by neurosurgery for headaches. Brain MRI was remarkable for 3.4 cm x 3.3 cm x 3.5 cm sellar mass extending inferior into the sphenoid sinus, posteriorly into the right ethmoid air cells, superiorly into the suprasellar cistern with upward displacement of the optic chiasm, as well as bilateral cavernous sinus invasion. Case outcomes: A diagnosis of hypopituitarism was made. Physiologic doses of hydrocortisone were started after being found with central adrenal insufficiency. This replacement unmasked an arginine vasopressin deficiency also requiring desmopressin therapy. Central hypothyroidism was treated with levothyroxine and treatment for the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism was deferred in the meantime. Biopsy of right sphenoid sinus revealed a mucosal melanoma. Revised pathology slides led to the conclusion that palate PEM was an independent entity to the mucosal melanoma Case discussion: Prognosis is poor in patients with SNMM since this tumor is usually diagnosed at advanced stages. In this case, the sellar mass was initially thought to be a pituitary adenoma that later was found to be an extension of a mucosal melanoma. This case serves as a reminder of the critical role that differential diagnosis plays in evaluating sellar masses. Presentation: 6/1/2024

Spectrum of blue nevus-like lesions, including blue nevus, pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma & animal-type melanoma

Blue nevus-like lesions constitute a category of melanocytic lesions clinically identified by their blue coloration. Histologically, they exhibit two primary features: a dermal location and intense pigmentation. The latest World Health Organization (WHO) classification categorizes blue melanocytic lesions into benign entities (dermal melanocytoses, blue nevus, and deep penetrating nevus), melanocytic tumors with low to intermediate malignant potential (pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma, PEM), and malignant lesions (blue nevus-like melanoma and melanoma arising in blue nevus).Clinically, blue nevi are enduring and stable lesions, displaying a structureless blue pigmentation both clinically and dermatoscopically, with a straightforward histologic diagnosis. Conversely, lesions with recent onset and/or rapid growth are more commonly associated with diagnoses falling within the intermediate part of the spectrum or with melanoma. These lesions often present with a blue color along with additional features such as black blotches, irregular vessels, and irregular pigmented globules. They typically emerge de novo without recognizable precursors, they pose significant challenges for patient management.Melanoma on a blue nevus is an exceedingly rare entity with only a few cases described to date. Histologically, differentiating between lesions with intermediate malignant potential and melanoma is always challenging, necessitating a comprehensive evaluation of all morphologic findings of the lesion.

The Pigmentation of Blue Light Is Mediated by Both Melanogenesis Activation and Autophagy Inhibition through OPN3–TRPV1

Blue light, a high-energy radiation in the visible light spectrum, was recently reported to induce skin pigmentation. In this study, we investigated the involvement of TRPV1-mediated signaling along with OPN3 in blue light-induced melanogenesis, as well as its signaling pathway. Operating downstream target of OPN3 in blue light-induced melanogenesis, blue light activated TRPV1 and upregulated its expression, resulting in calcium influx. [Ca2+] induced activation of CaMKII and MAPK. It also downregulated clusterin expression, leading to the nuclear translocation of PAX3, ultimately affecting melanin synthesis. In addition, blue light interfered with autophagy-mediated regulation of melanosomes by decreasing not only the interaction between CLU and LC3B but the expression of ATF family. These findings demonstrate that the pigmenting effects of blue light are mediated by CaMKII- and MAPK-mediated signaling, as well as CLU-dependent inhibition of autophagy through OPN3-TRPV1-calcium influx, suggesting a new signaling pathway by which blue light regulates melanocyte biology. Furthermore, these results suggest that TRPV1 and CLU could be potential therapeutic targets for blue light-induced pigmentation due to prolonged exposure to blue light.

Regulation of blue infertile flower pigmentation by WD40 transcription factor HmWDR68 in Hydrangea macrophylla 'forever summer'.

WD40 transcription factors are crucial in plant growth and developmental, significantly impacting plant growth regulation. This study investigates the WD40 transcription factor HmWDR68's role in developing the distinctive blue infertile flower colors in Hydrangea macrophylla 'Forever Summer'. The HmWDR68 gene was isolated by PCR, revealing an open reading frame of 1026 base pairs, which encodes 341 amino acids. Characterized by four WD40 motifs, HmWDR68 is a member of the WD40 family. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that HmWDR68 shares high homology with PsWD40 in Camellia sinensis and CsWD40 in Paeonia suffruticosa, both of which are integral in anthocyanin synthesis regulation. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis demonstrated that HmWDR68 expression in the blue infertile flowers of 'Forever Summer' hydrangea was significantly higher compared to other tissues and organs. Additionally, in various hydrangea varieties with differently colored infertile flowers, HmWDR68 expression was markedly elevated in comparison to other hydrangea varieties, correlating with the development of blue infertile flowers. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant association between HmWDR68 expression and the concentration of delphinidin 3-O-glucoside, as well as key genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis (HmF3H, HmC3'5'H, HmDFR, and HmANS) in the blue infertile flowers of 'Forever Summer' hydrangea (P < 0.01). These findings suggest HmWDR68 may specifically regulate blue infertile flower formation in hydrangea by enhancing delphinidin-3-O-glucoside synthesis, modulating expression of HmF3H, HmC3'5'H, HmDFR and HmANS. This study provides insights into HmWDR68's role in hydrangea's blue flowers development, offering a foundation for further research in this field.

Bilateral nevus of Ota: A case series and literature review

Nevus of Ota is a dermal melanocytic hamartoma clinically characterized by confluence of blue-to-gray macules, distributed along the ophthalmic and the maxillary divisions of the trigeminal nerve. It is usually unilateral and only 5–15% of cases have been reported to have bilateral involvement. This entity has been reported predominantly in darkly pigmented individuals, particularly in Asians and blacks. Case reports and case series describing this unique entity are very rare in literature. Herein, we report three cases of bilateral nevus of Ota at a tertiary care center in Eastern India. A detailed history, clinical examination, Wood’s lamp examination, and histopathological correlation were done in all the cases. In all the cases, lesions started with bluish pigmentation on the sclera and out of three cases, two had palatal involvement as well.

Broad-spectrum sunscreens containing the TriAsorB™ filter: In vitro photoprotection and clinical evaluation of blue light-induced skin pigmentation.

Blue light (BL), particularly high-energy visible (HEV) light (400-450 nm), can cause skin damage and pigmentation. Therefore, effective sunscreens should offer photoprotection beyond ultraviolet (UV) radiation to also prevent or limit BL-induced cutaneous effects. To evaluate the in vitro BL photostability and photoprotection properties of nine sunscreens containing the broad-spectrum UV/BL phenylene bis-diphenyltriazine (PBDT or TriAsorB™) filter, together with three other organic UV filters, and to assess the in vivo photoprotection level provided by two of these products against BL-induced skin pigmentation. In vitro BL photostability and photoprotection factors, comprising the percentage of BL radiation stopped by the product (%BL) and the critical wavelength extended to BL (BL-CW), were determined by spectrophotometry. The in vivo photoprotection provided by two representative sunscreens (i.e. similar formulations, one non-tinted and one tinted) was assessed in two open randomized studies (20 and 16 women, respectively) after exposure of two test areas (with and without sunscreen) on the back of each subject to a 412-nm irradiation dose at 50 J/cm2 , using instrumental and clinical measurements of skin pigmentation. The percentage sunscreen photoprotective effectiveness (%PPE) was calculated by comparing intrasubject post-exposure pigmentation changes between the with and without sunscreen test areas. In vitro, the nine PBDT-containing products were highly photostable and had a BL-CW ≥385 nm and a %BL ≥30% (range: 30%-50%), thus allowing effective BL photoprotection. In vivo, both representative sunscreens prevented BL-induced immediate skin pigmentation (1 and 24 h post-exposure) with %PPE values ranging from 50.7% to 75.5% for colorimetric assessments (p < 0.001) and from 31.2% to 72.7% for visual scores (p ≤ 0.001). All PBDT-containing sunscreens were considered effective at absorbing BL radiation in vitro. The two representative broad-spectrum sunscreens tested in subjects significantly reduced BL-induced immediate skin pigmentation following single exposure to monochromatic BL radiation.

Copepods' true colors: astaxanthin pigmentation as an indicator of fitness

AbstractPigmentation is often overlooked in zooplankton, since these organisms are mostly colorless to fit the translucid water medium. However, one of the dominant zooplankton taxa in aquatic ecosystems—copepods—often show a bright red‐orange or blue coloration owing to the accumulation of carotenoid pigments in some parts of their bodies. Even though there are many functional traits describing copepod's performance (e.g., size, feeding, and reproductive modes), it is surprising that the role of such a simple and visible trait as coloration has not been studied in a coherent manner yet. Here, by reviewing 95 studies, we demonstrate that carotenoid‐based pigmentation (mainly caused by astaxanthin molecules) is a widespread functional trait in freshwater and marine copepods. We propose a way to disentangle the complex and thus intriguing patterns of pigment expression along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients, addressing its relationship to diet quality and quantity, temperature, ultraviolet radiation stress, predation pressure, lipid metabolism, and reproduction. We show that large‐scale variations in pigmentation are difficult to tackle because of the fundamental plasticity of this trait at short time scales (i.e., hours, days), and the most recent information about carotenoid bioconversion are addressed (genes and enzyme identification, and influence of microbiota). From this literature review, we hypothesize that pigments play a “Swiss‐army knife” role for copepod's fitness, useful in various ecosystem conditions owing to the strong antioxidant power and the finely‐tuned metabolism of astaxanthin. With larger antioxidant capacities (survival), higher metabolisms (growth), and more offspring in better condition (reproduction), red morphs appear more successful than their uncolored siblings. Also, the potential camouflage strategies allowed by red and blue pigmentation are discussed. We finally formulate new directions and future research fields from molecular to ecosystem scales. Routine quantifications of copepod's pigmentation through trait‐based approaches could be useful (1) to obtain an accurate copepod fitness indicator and (2) to better estimate the transfer of antioxidant to higher trophic levels in ecosystems, including humans.

Anthocyanin metabolic engineering of Euphorbia pulcherrima: advances and perspectives.

The range of floral colors is determined by the type of plant pigment accumulated by the plant. Anthocyanins are the most common flavonoid pigments in angiosperms; they provide a wide range of visible colors from red-magenta to blue-purple, products of cyanidin and delphinidin biosynthesis, respectively. For the floriculture industry, floral color is one of the most important ornamental characteristics for the development of new commercial varieties; however, most plant species are restricted to a certain color spectrum, limited by their own genetics. In fact, many ornamental crops lack bluish varieties due to the lack of activity of essential biosynthetic enzymes for the accumulation of delphinidin. An example is the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch), the ornamental plant symbol of Christmas and native to Mexico. Its popularity is the result of the variety of colors displayed by its bracts, a kind of modified leaves that accumulate reddish pigments based mainly on cyanidin and, to a lesser extent, on pelargonidin. The commercial success of this plant lies in the development of new varieties and, although consumers like the typical red color, they are also looking for poinsettias with new and innovative colors. Previous research has demonstrated the possibility of manipulating flower color through metabolic engineering of the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway and plant tissue culture in different ornamental plant species. For example, transgenic cultivars of flowers such as roses, carnations or chrysanthemums owe their attractive bluish colors to a high and exclusive accumulation of delphinidin. Here, we discuss the possibilities of genetic engineering of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway in E. pulcherrima through the introduction of one or more foreign delphinidin biosynthetic genes under the transcriptional control of a pathway-specific promoter, and the genome editing possibilities as an alternative tool to modify the color of the bracts. In addition, some other approaches such as the appropriate selection of the cultivars that presented the most suitable intracellular conditions to accumulate delphinidin, as well as the incorporation of genes encoding anthocyanin-modifying enzymes or transcription factors to favor the bluish pigmentation of the flowers are also revised.

Clitoria flower food and medicinal: A review

The World Health Organization defines a medicinal plant as any and all vegetables that present, in one or more organs, substances that can be used for therapeutic purposes or that are precursors of semi-synthetic drugs, while PANC's are vegetables from the past, present and future that are positively impacting academia, family farming, open-air markets, in addition to nutritionally enriching the school meals of several schools. From this perspective, the objective of this literature review was to report the benefits of bioactive, nutritional and medicinal compounds from the clitoris for human consumption. The scientific survey carried out resulted from the composition of 23 files collected in the Scielo, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Semantic Scholar databases with published articles. From reading several scientific researches, the rich potential of the clitoral flower as a natural dye was verified, due to its intense indigo blue pigmentation, nutritional benefits and the results obtained allow an expansion of the study with the determination of new functional properties for potential technological application.

Blue light exposure intensifies leaf red pigmentation and enhances oxidative stress tolerance in the ornamental bromeliad Neoregelia ‘Fireball’

Neoregelia is a genus of attractive, eye-catching foliage plants in the family Bromeliaceae. Blue light globally regulates multiple biological processes and secondary metabolism in plants. Recently, addition of blue light to the spectrum was reported to intensify pigmentation in some ornamental pot plants. Nevertheless, how blue light influences leaf red pigmentation and oxidative stress tolerance in Neoregelia is unclear. In this study, we performed RNA-seq analysis and a series of assays related to biological, physiological, and phenotypic characteristics. We found that exposure to blue light not only inhibits chlorophyll biosynthesis and accelerates the degradation of chlorophylls, but also up-regulates several flavonoid biosynthesis genes and significantly increases the accumulation of anthocyanins in Neoregelia ‘Fireball’ plants. Ultimately, this response leads to the presence of pure dark red leaves. We also found that blue light enhances oxidative stress tolerance in Neoregelia by promoting the expression of antioxidant-related genes and the accumulation of more proanthocyanidins (PAs). Our results also showed that blue light plays a positive role in lignin biosynthesis by activating the transcription of lignin biosynthesis-related genes in Neoregelia plants exposed to blue light. Furthermore, co-expression network analyses of RNA-seq data indicated that NfWRKY70 may be a key gene involved in the intensified leaf red pigmentation and enhanced oxidative tolerance caused by blue light exposure. Our findings provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying blue light-induced leaf red pigmentation and oxidative tolerance, and offer new clues for the coordination between flavonoid and lignin biosynthesis in the plant phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway.

Establishing regularities in the application of dry pine wood

The issue related to using dry wood products for building structures is to ensure their stability and durability during operation while it is necessary to take into consideration changes in their properties and structure. Therefore, the object of this study was pine wood struck by drying out. It is proved that in the process of drying, wood porosity decreases, and, accordingly, the tensile strength, depending on the degree of damage by the fungus. Specifically, with the area of damage in the range of 30‒50 %, the strength limit decreases by more than 1.3 times, and if the fungus affects the area within 80÷100 %, the wood becomes softer, more ductile while the strength limit is reduced by 1.1 times. Based on the results of physicochemical studies, discrepancies in the IR spectra were identified, indicating structural changes in the constituent components of wood. There is a decrease or absence of intensities of absorption bands of some functional groups and the appearance or intensification of others. Wood samples, in determining the highest calorific value, show a difference in values, which is explained by structural changes in wood components caused by biological processes. Thermogravimetric analysis data indicate complete burnout of dry pine wood. However, for wood with tree stands not weakened by drying, the coke residue burns out at a higher temperature. Wood with blue pigmentation affected by microorganisms has significant differences in the heating area of 400÷700 °C. The nature of coke burnout allows us to make assumptions about the different qualitative and quantitative composition of the coke residue, which is formed due to structural changes. The practical significance is the fact that the results of determining the properties and structure of dry wood make it possible to establish the operating conditions for articles and building structures

Prevalence of Cryptococcus gattii in Ugandan HIV-infected patients presenting with cryptococcal meningitis.

IntroductionCryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a life threatening disease and leading cause of opportunistic fungal-related mortality in HIV/AIDS. Most CM infections are caused by C. neoformans species complexes but the prevalence of Cryptococcus gattii species complexes in Uganda is unknown however, it is known in a few other parts of Africa. We estimated the prevalence of C. gattii in patients living with HIV and a diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis in Uganda.MethodsCryptococcus isolates (n = 200) obtained from cerebrospinal fluid of patients with CM recruited at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda, were tested by phenotypic methods. The Cryptococcus isolates were sub-cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar plates for 48 hours. The yeast colonies were examined by India ink stain, urea hydrolysis, and C. gattii was identified by blue pigmentation on CGB agar. The results were analyzed for frequency of C. gattii. Patient demographic characteristics were collected from the case record forms.ResultsFrom the 200 patients’ case record forms, 87 (43.5%) were female and 113 (56.5%) were male. The median age was 35 (19–64) years. Most patients, 93% (187/200) were from Central Uganda in the districts of Kampala and Wakiso. 97.51% (157/161) of the patients had absolute CD4 lymphocyte counts of less than 200 cells per cubic millimeter; 1.86% (3/161) 200–350 cells per cubic millimeter and 0.62% (1/161) above 500 cells per cubic millimeter. 45.4% (74/163) were not yet on HAART and 54.6% (89/163) were on HAART. 66.7% (58/87) had poor adherence to HAART treatment and 33.3% (29/87) had reported good adherence to HAART treatment. A total of 200 clinical isolates of Cryptococcus isolates were tested. No (0% (0/200) C. gattii was identified among the Cryptococcus isolates.ConclusionIn this study among patients living with HIV and a diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis in Uganda, we found no C. gattii infections.

Pseudomonas fluorescens group bacteria as responsible for chromatic alteration on rabbit carcasses. Possible hygienic implications.

Bacteria belonging to the genus Pseudomonas are ubiquitous and characterized by a high adaptation capability to different environmental conditions and wide range of temperatures. They may colonize food, sometimes causing alteration. Quite recently, a blue pigmentation due to Pseudomonas fluorescens has been widely reported in mozzarella cheese. In this report, we describe a blue coloration occurred on rabbit meat stored in the refrigeration cell of a slaughterhouse. The alteration was observed after about 72 hours of storage at 4-6°C. Bacteriological analyses were performed, and a microorganism included in the Pseudomonas fluorescens group was identified. The experimental contamination was planned, using a bacterial suspension with 1×108 UFC/ml load to spread on rabbit carcasses. The blue pigmentation appeared after 24 hours of storage in a cell with the same conditions of temperature. The bacterium was reisolated and identified as responsible for the alteration on meat. These findings highlight the importance of considering the members of the genus Pseudomonas and, more specifically, of the P. fluorescens group when the microbiological quality of food is to be ascertained. In fact, even if these bacteria are not considered a public health problem, their presence should be monitored by food industry operators in self-control plans because they may cause alteration in food. In fact, any altered product should be withdrawn from the market in agreement with Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Mechanism of bluish pigment formation in lotus rhizome starch with ferrous sulfate and its application in rapid detection of adulteration

ABSTRACT Lotus rhizome starch (LRS) is an important traditional processed product of lotus rhizome in China due to its good taste and high nutritional value. However, adulterated lotus rhizome starches are prevalent on the market. In this study, a novel method for the rapid detection of adulteration in LRS based on color reaction between ferrous sulfate (FS) and (-)-gallocatechin (GC) in LRS was studied. The polyphenols in LRS were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) as GC and (+)-catechin, and GC could show a bluish color with FS solution. LRS showed a bluish color when FS solution (0.01 mol/L) was used as the chromogenic agent, which was not observed for other ten kinds of starches tested in this work. There was an obvious color gradient when FS solution was used to react with adulterated LRS at different proportions, and the change in blue color was obvious when maize starch or cassava starch was adulterated in LRS at the ratio of 6:4. Then, a semi-quantitative method was used to make a color card according to the color gradient, which was then successfully used to detect the adulteration of four kinds of commercial LRS. The results indicate that the proposed method may facilitate the simple, effective and efficient detection of adulteration in LRS.

Magnifying observation by flooding immersion for duodenal pseudomelanosis.

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Dermal Melanocytic Disorders

Dermal melanocytic disorders present as bluish pigmentation on the skin. Several entities including Mongolian spot, aberrant Mongolian spot, nevus of Ota, and nevus of Ito have been reported. It is often difficult to distinguish between the different entities from their overlapping features. Although they share similar etiologies and histologic findings, their co-morbidities and prognosis differ. In this paper, we report four cases of dermal melanocytic disorders of which we were not able to make a clear-cut diagnosis. Also, we briefly review the dermal melanocytic disorders.

Blue Lunula Due to a Combination Chemotherapy Not Reported Before.

A dermatology consultation was sought for a 32-year-old lady admitted to the medical oncology ward. She was a known case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) on chemotherapy. The cutaneous examination revealed blue pigmentation of the lunulae of all her fingernails, bilateral great toenails, and two adjacent toenails [Figures 1 and 2]. The oral cavity and other mucosae were within normal limits. The present nail changes occurred around 20 days ago, 10 days after she underwent bone marrow transplantation. These nail changes had been appearing 10 to 15 days after each chemotherapy cycle and would resolve partially until the next chemotherapy cycle [Figure 3a and 3b]. She had received five such cycles, comprising fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, idarubicin (FLAG IDA) regimen) and azacytidine plus sorafenib.Figure 1: Blue pigmentation of the lunula of all fingernailsFigure 2: Blue pigmentation of the lunula of bilateral great toenails and two adjacent toenailsFigure 3: After 6 weeks, (a) near-complete resolution of the blue pigmentation of fingernails. (b) partial resolution of the pigmentation of toenailsBlue lunula can be caused by multiple chemotherapeutic drugs including hydroxyurea,[12] docetaxel, and combination chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin; 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide; vinblastine, dactinomycin, bleomycin).[3] The drugs implicated in our case have not been reported before. It is, however, difficult to ascribe it to a particular drug(s) in our patient. The mechanism by which this pigmentation occurs is not very clear; it is, however, postulated to be due to the toxic effect on the distal nail matrix basal cells or the pigment deposition in the nail matrix, or due to focal stimulation of melanocytes to produce melanin.[24] Apart from chemotherapeutic drugs, blue lunula can also be caused by zidovudine, phenolphthalein, and silver. It can also occur in Wilson’s disease, and as a normal finding in black races.[13] This case adds another chemotherapy combination as a cause of blue lunula. Declaration of patient consent The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.

Natural Blues: Structure Meets Function in Anthocyanins.

Choices of blue food colourants are extremely limited, with only two options in the USA, synthetic blue no. 1 and no. 2, and a third available in Europe, patent blue V. The food industry is investing heavily in finding naturally derived replacements, with limited success to date. Here, we review the complex and multifold mechanisms whereby blue pigmentation by anthocyanins is achieved in nature. Our aim is to explain how structure determines the functionality of anthocyanin pigments, particularly their colour and their stability. Where possible, we describe the impact of progressive decorations on colour and stability, drawn from extensive but diverse physico-chemical studies. We also consider briefly how this understanding could be harnessed to develop blue food colourants on the basis of the understanding of how anthocyanins create blues in nature.

Anthraco-fibrosis-A masquerader?

Introduction Anthraco fibrosis is a rare condition which has many clinical and radiological features mimicking or masquerading as pulmonary tuberculosis, carcinoma bronchus and silicosis. The biopsy from the lung lesion is the clincher in the diagnosis. Abstract We are presenting here a case of anthracofibrosis in a manual labourer who was working in the stone -cutting and tiles industry. He was engaged in the job actively for years though he was having co- morbidities like diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis etc. A heavy smoker with a smoking index of 600, he presented with chronic cough, dyspnoea, chest pain and melena. His investigations showed ECG changes suggestive of coronary artery disease and chest X-ray with right upper lobe cavitation and nodules in both lungs. Bronchoscopy revealed bluish pigmentation and nodules in the air ways and narrowing of the bronch in certain areas suggestive of bronchial stenosis. Bronchoscopic biopsy revealed only chronic inflammatory cells. Subsequently, CT guided tru-cut biopsy from the right upper lobe lesion confirmed features of anthracofibrosis. Though there are lakhs of people in India working in the construction industry with work involving stone and tile cutting etc., reports about anthraco fibrosis have been few and far between. Hence this report.

A Review on Anthocyanin Pigments with respect to its Nutraceutical Properties

Anthocyanin pigments are readily degraded during processing and storage of foodstuffs that can have a dramatic impact on color quality and may also affect the nutritional properties. Total anthocyanin pigment content and indices for polymeric color and browning are easily measured with simple spectrophotometric methods. Once individual pigments are identified, their changes can be monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The edible fruits of 12 plants were extracted in methanol and subjected to solvent–solvent partitioning to yield three fractions, hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous. A number of factors affecting anthocyanin stability and color are discussed in this review. Anthocyanins are probably the most spectacular of plant pigments since they are responsible for most of the red, purple and blue pigmentation of flowers, hits and vegetables. However, because of their highly reactive nature, anthocyanins readily degrade, or react with other constituents in the media, to form colorless or brown colored compounds. The presence of an oxonium ion adjacent to carbon 2 makes the anthocyanins particularly susceptible to nucleophilic attack by such compounds as sulfur dioxide, ascorbic acid, hydrogen peroxide and even water. Loss of anthocyanin pigmentation also occurs in the presence of oxygen and various enzymes, and as a result of high temperature processing. Certain degree of pigment stabilization may be conferred by acylation with various organic acids, co pigmentation, self-association and/or metal chelation. In addition, pH has a marked effect on anthocyanin stability, and on the color of media containing these pigments. A number of anthocyanin-rich sources have been investigated for their potential as commercial pigment extracts. Although their application is primarily limited to acidic media, continued research on the chemistry of anthocyanins may lead to application and stabilization of these pigments in a wider variety of food products.