The liquid C-13-NMR analysis indicated that methylolureas had the dominant content in MMU with the reaction between urea and formaldehyde Under the alkaline condition. The PUF cocondensed resins had no free formaldehyde. methylolureas were well incorporated into the cocondensed resins by reacting with phenolic units to form cocondensed methylene bridges.

The second formaldehyde influenced the further reaction and the structure of the PUF resins. The resins with the prepared method of PUFB possessed relatively high degree of polymerization and low proportion of unreacted methylol groups. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 112: 2195-2202, 2009″
“Background Hypertrophic selleck kinase inhibitor and contracture scars are common problems after burn injuries and cause functional and cosmetic deformities. A wide variety of treatments has been advocated for postburn Selleck Flavopiridol pathologic scars regression. Unfortunately, the reported efficacy has been variable.

Objectives To investigate the use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), which mainly targets the fibroblasts in scar tissue, as an effective modality for scar treatment in burn patients.

Materials and Methods An experimental study with ESWT was performed in 16 patients with postburn scars contractures, hypertrophic

scars, or keloids twice a week for 6 weeks. Digital photographs were obtained and visual analogue scales were completed before and after treatment. Results Already after the first session, scars appeared more pliable, and color mismatch was less evident. At the end of the study period, all treated scars obtained a more acceptable appearance.

Conclusions Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is a feasible

and cost-effective treatment in the management of postburn pathologic scars.”
“Study Design. Controlled clinical study.

Objective. To compare muscle and platelet calmodulin and melatonin concentrations of scoliotic and nonscoliotic populations.

Summary of Background Data. Melatonin and Selleckchem Wnt inhibitor calmodulin are potential key molecules in scoliosis etiology. Calmodulin is not only a second messenger of melatonin but also has been shown to have effects on muscle contractility. There is a possibility that it may be of importance in the regulation of spinal alignment. Platelets have been defined as mini muscles calmodulin and melatonin levels of which may be the projections of muscle values.

Methods. Twenty patients undergoing posterior surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and 9 thoracic-lumbar trauma patients undergoing posterior surgery constituted the population. Autologous bloods were collected and processed to obtain platelets. Paravertebral muscle tissue samples from both sides were obtained at T12-L1 level intraoperatively.

Results Among all patients, 31 (38.75 %) patients had preoperative anxiety, and significant correlation was found between the days of hospitalization and preoperative score of BAI. Savolitinib solubility dmso In group L, extubation time, the time for the modified Aldrete score to reach 9, was seen as significantly shorter and fewer postoperative side effects were determined. Also in group L, postoperative VAS score and tramadol consumption were significantly lower, and less tenoxicam was needed.

Conclusion A high preoperative anxiety level negatively affects recovery from anesthesia and control of postoperative pain. In this patient

group, the increased need for postoperative analgesia must be adequately met.”
“Few multimodal strategies to minimize postoperative pain and improve recovery have been examined in morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric

surgery. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of systemic intraoperative lidocaine on postoperative quality of recovery when compared to saline.

The study was a prospective randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial. Subjects undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery were randomized to receive lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg bolus followed by a 2 mg/kg/h infusion BKM120 cell line until the end of the surgical procedure) or the same volume of saline. The primary outcome was the quality of recovery 40 questionnaire at 24 h after surgery.

Fifty-one subjects were recruited and 50 completed the study. The global QoR-40 scores at 24 h were greater in the lidocaine group median (IQR) of 165 (151 to 170) compared Copanlisib clinical trial to the saline group, median (IQR) of 146 (130 to 169), P = 0.01. Total 24 h opioid consumption was lower in the lidocaine group, median (IQR) of 26 (19 to 46) mg IV morphine equivalents compared to the saline group, median (IQR) of 36 (24 to 65) mg IV morphine equivalents, P = 0.03. Linear regression demonstrated an inverse relationship between the total 24 h opioid consumption (IV morphine equivalents) and 24 h postoperative quality of recovery

(P < 0.0001).

Systemic lidocaine improves postoperative quality of recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Patients who received lidocaine had a lower opioid consumption which translated to a better quality of recovery.”
“OBJECTIVE: Hospitals provide clinical care to many tuberculosis (TB) patients, but limited linkage with public health programmes is contributing to low TB case detection and rising TB drug resistance. We evaluated a hospital-public health collaboration to improve the follow-up of TB patients initially seen in hospitals.

DESIGN: In nine counties in eastern China, we evaluated a collaboration with three interventions: hospitals carried out internet-based reporting and patient referral to the local Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Methods: In a single center, 101 consecutive patients treated with HAI through SIC over 10 years were retrospectively reviewed. The studied group (+IR) was composed of patients referred to interventional radiology for repair of catheter malfunctions. The overall patency of catheters in the +IR group was compared with the overall patency of a control group composed of patients without catheter malfunction (no IR).

Results: 86 patients were included with no difference in baseline characteristics between +IR (n = 40) and no IR (n = 46). There were no significant differences in overall patency between both groups (8.4 courses

vs. 8.4 courses, p = 0.99). Furthermore, with an overall success rate of 72.5%, IR significantly improved the mean primary patency from 2.4 to 8.4 courses (p

< 0.0001) in the +IR group.

Conclusion: see more By restoring a normal patency to SIC affected by different types of malfunctions, IR improves feasibility of HAI. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The ultimate sensitivity of any solid state device is limited by fluctuations. Fluctuations are manifestations of the thermal motion of matter and the discreteness of its structure which are also inherent ingredients during the resistive switching process of resistance random access memory (RRAM) devices. In quest for the role of fluctuations in different memory states and to develop resistive selleck chemicals llc switching based nonvolatile memory devices, here we present our study on random telegraph noise (RTN) resistance fluctuations in Cu doped Ge0.3Se0.7 based RRAM cells. The influence of temperature and electric field on the RTN fluctuations is studied on different resistance states of the memory cells to reveal the dynamics of the underlying fluctuators. Our analysis indicates that the observed fluctuations could arise from thermally activated transpositions of Cu ions inside ionic or redox “”double-site traps”" triggering fluctuations in the current transport

through a filamentary conducting path. Giant RTN fluctuations characterized by relative resistance U0126 price variations of up to 50% in almost macroscopic samples clearly point to the existence of weak links with small effective cross-sectional areas along the conducting paths. Such large resistance fluctuations can be an important issue for the industrial applications of RRAM devices because they might lead to huge bit-error rates during reading cycles.”
“As children’s perceptions of their quality of life are unique, it is essential to elicit their concerns directly rattler than from proxy informants. This Study therefore aimed to investigate the impact of childhood epilepsy oil quality of life directly from the child’s perspective. Focus group techniques and qualitative analysis were utilized. Twenty-two children between 7 years 4 months and 12 years 6 months of age (11 females, 11 males) were stratified by age (7-8, 9-10.

The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.2593 to 0.8966 and from 0.3047 to 0.8454, respectively. Two loci deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; linkage disequilibrium among the 12 loci was non-significant. These polymorphic microsatellite loci will be useful for genetic diversity analysis and molecule-assisted breeding of the gray mullet.”
“KCNJ11-encoded Kir6.2 assembles with ATP-binding cassette sulphonylurea receptors to generate ATP-sensitive K C (K(ATP)) channel complexes.

CYT387 JAK/STAT inhibitor Expressed in tissues with dynamic metabolic flux, these evolutionarily conserved yet structurally and functionally unique heteromultimers serve as high-fidelity rheostats that Ro-3306 cell line adjust membrane potential-dependent cell

functions to match energetic demand. Genetic defects in channel subunits disrupt the cellular homeostatic response to environmental stress, compromising organ tolerance in the adult. As maladaptation characterizes malignant K(ATP) channelopathies, establishment of platforms to examine progression of K(ATP) channel-dependent adaptive behaviour is warranted. Chimeras provide a powerful tool to assay the contribution of genetic variance to stress intolerance during prenatal or post-natal development. Here, KCNJ11 K(ATP) channel gene knockout <-> wild-type chimeras were engineered through diploid aggregation. Integration of wildtype embryonic stem cells into zona

pellucida-denuded morula derived from knockout embryos achieved varying degrees of incorporation of stress-tolerant tissue within the K(ATP) channel-deficient background. Despite the stress-vulnerable phenotype of the knockout, ex vivo derived mosaic blastocysts tolerated intrauterine transfer and implantation, followed by full-term embryonic development in pseudopregnant surrogates to produce live chimeric offspring. The development of adult chimerism from the knockout <-> wild-type mosaic embryo offers thereby a new paradigm to probe the ecogenetic control of the K(ATP) channel-dependent stress selleckchem response.”
“Freestanding nanocrystalline beta-Ga2O3 particles with an average grain size of 14 nm prepared by chemical method was investigated by angle-dispersive synchrotron x-ray diffraction in diamond-anvil cell up to 64.9 GPa at ambient temperature. The evolution of x-ray diffraction patterns indicated that nanocrystalline monoclinic beta-Ga2O3 underwent a phase transition to rhombohedral alpha-Ga2O3. It was found that beta- to alpha-Ga2O3 transition began at about 13.6-16.4 GPa, and extended up to 39.2 GPa. At the highest pressure used, only alpha-Ga2O3 was present, which remained after pressure release. A Birch-Murnaghan fit to the P-V data yielded a zero-pressure bulk modulus at fixed B-0(‘)=4: B-0=228(9) GPa and B-0=333(19) GPa for beta-Ga2O3 and alpha-Ga2O3 phases, respectively.

4 V; -0.2 V) or positive (0.2 V; 0.4 V) redox potentials who alter the redox status of redox-centers (i.e., become permanently reduced or oxidized). This view has been demonstrated by testing the effect of several redox active agents on cellular senescence. Methylene blue (MB, redox potential SB525334 ?10 mV) appears to readily cycle between the oxidized and reduced forms using specific mitochondrial and cytosolic redox centers. MB is most effective in delaying cell senescence and enhancing mitochondrial function in vivo and in vitro. Mild-redox agents can alter the biochemical

activity of specific mitochondrial components, which then in response alters the expression of nuclear and mitochondrial genes. We present the concept of mitochondrial electron-carrier bypass as a potential result of mild-redox agents, a method to prevent ROS production, improve mitochondrial function, and delay cellular aging. Thus, mild-redox agents may prevent/delay mitochondria-driven disorders.”
“There are currently no universally accepted indications and criteria for additional gastrectomy after endoscopic resection of submucosally invasive buy Sonidegib cancer. The purpose of the present study was to establish accurate indications and criteria for such additional gastrectomy on the basis

of lymph node metastasis risk.

We investigated 130 submucosally invasive gastric cancers and analyzed the pathological risk factors for lymph node metastasis. The tumors were evaluated for pathological LCL161 mouse factors in the area of invasion, and factors were compared between the cases with lymph node metastasis and those without.

Univariate logistic regression

analysis showed that tumor minor axis length, depth of invasion, histological classification of the area of submucosal invasion, absence of lymphoid infiltration, ulceration or scar in the lesion, and lymphatic and venous invasion are statistically significant risk factors for lymph node metastasis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the absence of lymphoid infiltration and the presence of lymphatic invasion are statistically significant as risk factors for lymph node metastasis.

We present a scoring system on the basis of the pathological criteria tested in this study. Our findings enable more accurate identification of patients who should undergo additional gastrectomy after endoscopic resection.”
“The evaluation of ventricular function is important for the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. It typically involves measurement of the left ventricular (LV) mass and LV cavity volume. Manual delineation of the myocardial contours is time-consuming and dependent on the subjective experience of the expert observer. In this paper, a multi-atlas method is proposed for cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) image segmentation. The proposed method is novel in two aspects. First, it formulates a patch-based label fusion model in a Bayesian framework.

The frequencies of Haplotype13 (Hap13) of PPARG in Yin-deficiency, Hap25 of APM1 in Yang-deficiency and Hap2 of PPARD and Hap14 of PPARG in Phlegm-wetness, were significantly different from those in Normality, suggesting those might be group-associated selleck chemical haplotypes. These results suggested that single SNP and haplotypes of PPARD, PPARG and APM1 may underlie the genetic basis of the constitutions classified in TCM.”
“Background: Coinfection with influenza virus and Staphylococcus aureus can cause severe illness or death, and may be increasing. During the 2006-2007 influenza season, 30% of influenza-associated

pediatric deaths reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had S. aureus coinfection, compared with 2% to 7% in 2004-2006. The overall occurrence, however, remains unclear.

Methods: To assess the burden of coinfection with influenza and community-onset S. aureus in hospitalized children, we conducted a retrospective medical

record review of all children admitted to Atlanta pediatric hospitals from October 2006 to April 2007 with laboratory-confirmed influenza or S. aureus cultured from a respiratory or sterile site within 72 hours of admission.

Results: Of 65 children with influenza, 7 AZD1152 (11%) had influenza-S. aureus coinfection; an additional 155 had community-onset S. aureus alone. Of S. aureus isolates, 43% were methicillin-resistant. Coinfected selleck chemicals llc children were more frequently

admitted to the intensive care unit (71%, P = 0.05) than other children with influenza (28%) or S. aureus (36%) alone and also had a significantly higher case fatality (29%, P = 0.01; 0% influenza, 5% S. aureus). Recent skin or soft tissue infection was documented in 29% of coinfected children, compared with 2% with influenza alone (P = 0.03).

Conclusions: Children with influenza-S. aureus coinfection had a higher frequency of severe outcomes than children hospitalized with influenza or S. aureus alone. Coinfection should be considered in children with severe respiratory illness during the influenza season.”
“As immunosuppressive therapy has advanced, we have markedly improved the outcome of ABO blood group incompatible living donor kidney transplantation. Consequently, graft survival at early phase after ABO-incompatible transplantation has been favorable than ABO-compatible transplantation in Japan. But in these days, it has been assumed that transplant glomerulopathy within one yr after ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation might be significantly precipitated. That may be because of chronic, active antibody-mediated rejection (AMR).

The AcOEt extract of the fermented broth by Gliocladium sp. showed potent activity against the cancer cell lines MDA-MB435 (human breast cancer cells), HCT-8 (human colorectal cancer cells) and SF-295 (human glioblastoma cancer cells). Compound 1 exhibited a strong antimicrobial activity against Micrococcus luteus at a concentration of 43.4 mu M.”
“Based on the advances in research LDC000067 manufacturer on the clinicopathophysiology of adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL), Japanese researchers collected and evaluated cases of smoldering ATL exhibiting primary cutaneous manifestation but showing poor prognosis. Macroscopic

findings of skin eruptions were categorized into the patch, plaque, multipapular, nodulotumoral, erythrodermic and purpuric types, as previously reported. Pathological findings were divided into low or high grade based on epidermotropism, tumor cell size and perivascular infiltration. Eight eligible cases were evaluated among 14 collected cases. Macroscopic findings were nodulotumoral in six cases, a subcutaneous tumor in one case and plaque in one case, and the number and size were heterogeneous in each case. Pathological findings of all eight cases were T-cell lymphoma, high-grade type (pleomorphic, medium or large size), with prominent perivascular infiltration and scant epidermotropism. To diagnose such cases as the lymphoma type of ATL, extranodal

primary cutaneous variant, it is essential to examine each case carefully, including cutaneous lesions at onset, lymph nodes and other organ involvement using computed tomography (CT) and/or positron emission tomography/CT, as well as the click here HM781-36B concentration percentage of abnormal lymphocytes in peripheral blood. Based on the results of an ongoing nationwide survey on ATL, ATL with cutaneous lesions will be analyzed to investigate the incidence and prognosis of the so-called lymphoma type of ATL, extranodal primary

cutaneous variant.”
“Background: The intraoperative estimation of the anteversion of the femoral component of a total hip arthroplasty is generally made by the surgeon’s visual assessment of the stem position relative to the condylar plane of the femur. Although the generally accepted range of intended anteversion is between 10 degrees and 20 degrees, we suspected that achieving this range of anteversion consistently during cementless implantation of the femoral component was more difficult than previously thought.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated the accuracy of femoral component anteversion in 109 consecutive total hip arthroplasties (ninety-nine patients), in which we implanted the femoral component without cement. In all hips, we measured femoral stem anteversion postoperatively with three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction of the femur, using both the distal femoral epicondyles and the posterior femoral condyles to determine the femoral diaphyseal plane. The bias and precision of the measurements were calculated.

Methods: Data from the National Health Interview Survey was used to calculate prevalence and incidence of IBD among adults (>= 18 years) in 1999. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried to ascertain rates of IBD-related hospitalizations and the Underlying Cause of Death Database was accessed to quantify IBD-related mortality.

Results: An estimated 1,810,773 adult Americans were affected by IBD yielding a prevalence of 908/100,000, which was higher in Non-Hispanic Whites (1099/100,000) compared with Non-Hispanic Blacks (324/100,000),

Hispanics (383/100,000), and non-Hispanic Other (314/100,000). Relative to Non-Hispanic Whites, the odds ratios for having a diagnosis of IBD associated with being Non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Other Non-Hispanic race after adjusting for age, sex, and geographic region were 0.33 (95% CI: 0.19 – 0.57), 0.45 (95% CI:

0.26 – 0.77), https://www.selleckchem.com/products/BafilomycinA1.html and 0.34 (95% CI: 0.12 – 0.93), respectively. IBD incidence was similarly lower in Non-Hispanic Blacks (24.9/100,000) and Hispanics (9.9/100,000) compared to Non-Hispanic Whites (70.2/100,000). The ratio of IBD hospitalizations to prevalence was disproportionately higher among Non-Hispanic Blacks (7.3%) compared with Non-Hispanic Whites (3.0%) and Hispanics buy IPI-145 (2.7%). Similarly, the ratio of IBD-related mortality was greater in Non-Hispanic Blacks (0.061%) compared to Non-Hispanic Whites (0.036%) and Hispanics (0.026%).

Conclusions: IBD disease burden is lower in ethnic minorities compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. However, IBD-related hospitalizations and deaths seem disproportionately high in Non-Hispanic Blacks. (C) 2013 European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Introduction: Pulmonary venous antra isolation (PVAI) is the cornerstone

of catheter ablation procedure for drug refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the procedure is technically challenging. Robotic navigation has a potential Batimastat molecular weight to expedite and facilitate the procedure.

Methods: A robotic catheter control system was used for remote navigation-supported PVAI in 22 patients (mean age = 55 +/- 9 years, 16 males, study group). An irrigated-tip catheter with estimate of catheter force on the tissue was used. This was compared in nonrandomized fashion with conventional hand-controlled catheter oblation in 16 patients (mean age = 55 +/- 9 years, 13 males, control group). The procedures were performed under guidance of Ensite NavX navigation system (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) and intracardiac echocardiography.

Results: Robotic navigation was associated with significantly shorter overall duration of radiofrequency delivery (1,641 +/- 609 vs 2,188 +/- 865 seconds, P < 0,01), shorter total procedural time (207 +/- 29 vs 250 +/- 62 minutes, P = 0.007), fluoroscopy exposure (15 +/- 5 vs 27 +/- 9 minutes, P < 0.

Recent findings

The clinical presentation of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is different from that of non-HBV-PAN and requires antiviral treatment. In hepatitic C virus (HCV)-associated autoimmune diseases, type 2 cryoglobulinemia is present in 52% of cases. Chronic nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus is related to endonasal

activity of Wegener’s granulomatosis and recurrent relapses, and prophylactic treatment with Akt inhibition co-trimoxazole is effective in reducing relapse rate.

Summary

Patients with PAN should be tested for HBV, and patients with type 2 cryoglobulinemia for HCV. When tested positive, antiviral treatment should be considered. Patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis should be tested for nasal carriage of S. PD0332991 research buy aureus, and prophylactic treatment with co-trimoxazole should be considered in case of persistent endonasal activity of Wegener’s granulomatosis together with S. aureus carriage. The efficacy of S. aureus elimination for preventing relapses of Wegener’s granulomatosis should be evaluated.”
“Normal

progression of osteoporosis or the rigid reinforcement of the fractured vertebral body with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) cement is being discussed as a cause for adjacent-level fractures after vertebroplasty. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether augmentation with low stiffness cement can decrease the risk of adjacent-level fractures in low-quality bone.

Eighteen female osteoporotic lumbar specimens (L1-L5) were harvested and divided into three groups according to bone mineral density: (I) native; (II) PMMA; (III) modified PMMA (lower stiffness). For the PMMA and modified PMMA groups, a compression

fracture was first mechanically induced in L3, and then the fracture received vertebroplasty treatment. The cement stiffness reduction of the modified PMMA group was achieved via an addition of 8 mL of serum to the typical PMMA base. All specimens were exposed to cyclic loading (4 Hz) and a stepwise increasing applied peak force. Cement stiffness was tested according to ISO 5833.

A 51 % decrease in cement AZD6244 mw stiffness was achieved in the modified PMMA group (954 +/- A 141 vs. 1,937 +/- A 478 MPa, p < 0.001). Fatigue fracture force (the force level during cyclic loading at which the deformation experienced a sudden increase; FFF) was significantly affected by bone quality (r (2) = 0.39, p = 0.006) and by the initial fracture force (the force necessary to create the initial fracture in L3 prior to augmentation; r (2) = 0.82, p < 0.001). Using initial fracture force as a covariate, the FFF of the modified PMMA group (1,764 +/- A 49 N) was significantly higher than in the PMMA group (1,544 +/- A 55 N; p = 0.03).

A possible method to reduce adjacent-level fractures after vertebroplasty in patients with reduced bone quality could be the use of a lower modulus cement.

“
“Purpose: Bisphosphonates relieve metastatic bone pain, prevent, reduce and delay skeletal morbidity in metastatic bone disease and are recommended in European guidelines but safety concerns,

specifically renal dysfunction and osteonecrosis of the jaw, necessitate specific precautions when administered intravenously. Pan-European guidance for nurses at the forefront of patient-focussed cancer care is required to minimise patient risk.

Methods: A panel of urology and oncology nurses from seven European countries collaborated to decide what constituted best practice for bisphosphonate administration when indicated for prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with advanced urological malignancies.

Results: The panel agreed that urology, oncology, and home-care nurses who are at the forefront GNS-1480 purchase of patient-focussed care are well placed to ensure best practice is followed but across Europe

nurses have insufficient training on bisphosphonate SRT2104 cell line administration for urological cancers. Based on extensive clinical experience in administering bisphosphonates the panel propose best practice for identifying those patients who could benefit, for example those with bone pain or at risk of fracture, and for minimising risk of adverse events by checking renal function, adjusting dosing, ensuring adequate hydration, and regularly assessing dental health, as well as providing information and support.

Conclusions: Sharing this best practice across Europe could assist nurses who care for patients with urological cancers and bone metastases or indeed those caring for cancer patients in general, to take the lead, or at least be aware of what is the best practice that helps to ensure effective and safe IV bisphosphonates KPT-8602 administration to patients under their care. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Guar gum was partially carboxymethylated by the reaction of the base polysaccharide

with the sodium salt of monochloroacetic acid in presence Of Sodium hydroxide. The resulting products (carboxymethyl guar with different degrees of substitution) were characterized by a variety of material characterization techniques, such as intrinsic viscosity measurement, determination of molecular weight, elemental analysis, thermal analysis, (13)C-NMR spectra, and Fourier transform infrared analysis. Various grades of carboxymethyl guar gum, which were synthesized in the laboratory, were studied for their suitability as flocculants and viscosifiers. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 2630-2636, 2009″
“P>Benzoic acid (BA) is an important building block in a wide spectrum of compounds varying from primary metabolites to secondary products. Benzoic acid biosynthesis from l-phenylalanine requires shortening of the propyl side chain by two carbons, which can occur via a beta-oxidative pathway or a non-beta-oxidative pathway, with benzaldehyde as a key intermediate.