All current rotavirus vaccine studies have been conducted in the context of trivalent OPV. An interesting study would be to compare

the effects of monovalent (type-1 or type-3 strains) and bivalent OPV (type-1 and type-3) versus trivalent OPV on immune response to rotavirus vaccines. In summary, our review indicates that data on the http://www.selleckchem.com/products/iox1.html differences in immunogenicity after rotavirus vaccination with and without OPV could be important to better understand the emerging data on efficacy and safety of the recommended rotavirus vaccines. Data are clear that rotavirus vaccines do not adversely affect OPV immunogenicity when they are administered simultaneously and thus should not compromise the protective efficacy of OPV or interfere with the goal of polio eradication globally. Available evidence Selleckchem Trichostatin A indicates that OPV does interfere with immune response to the first dose of rotavirus vaccine, but this interference is largely overcome after completion of the full vaccine series. Efficacy of Rotarix™ at the WHO recommended ages of 6 and 10 weeks warrants further evaluation

in Asia and Africa because the interference from OPV on take of rotavirus vaccine is likely to be greatest during the first EPI visit at 6 weeks of age, when circulating maternal antibodies are also high and are known to also interfere with vaccine take [13]. While limited evidence from middle and high income settings suggests that almost OPV does not interfere with efficacy of rotavirus vaccines, caution should be exercised in extrapolating results to the developing world. Further research to understand the full impact of OPV interference on rotavirus vaccines is necessary to the development and deployment of safe and effective rotavirus vaccines to target populations worldwide.

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. “
“Diarrhoeal disease continues to represent a major threat to global child health, and was recently estimated to account for 15% of all deaths among children below 5 years of age [1]. Rotavirus is the most important aetiological agent of severe gastroenteritis, and is responsible for an estimated 453,000 childhood deaths annually [2], with over 230,000 rotavirus deaths occurring in the African continent [2], [3] and [4]. Hence, rotavirus disease prevention in Africa through vaccination is a public health priority [5]. Two live, oral, attenuated rotavirus vaccines are globally licensed for the prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis. These include a monovalent serotype G1P[8] human rotavirus vaccine RIX4414 (Rotarix, GSK Biologicals, Belgium) and a multivalent, human-bovine reassortant rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq, Merck & Co, USA) which contains the most common human rotavirus G-types (G1–G4), and P[8], the most common human rotavirus P-type.

1), by means of computer generated random numbers, printed and placed in opaque envelopes, sealed and numbered. After signing the consent form the envelopes were opened in the order of presentation of the volunteers. Randomization used permutation blocks of size 6, ratio of 1:1. The codes were opened after statistical analysis. Each vial of vaccine was used in only one participant. The MMR vaccine was administered according to routine immunization services, Rucaparib without interference

from the study. The number of participants was calculated using the following parameters: beta = 0.2, alpha = 0.05 (two-tailed test), 90% seroconversion in one group (p1), and minimum difference between the groups (p1 − p2) of 5 percentage points [11]. The sample size with a 20% correction for loss of follow up was 1740 children, 870 in each comparison group. A questionnaire was administered before vaccination with items on age, sex, birth weight and weight at vaccination, immunization history and history

of allergies to food and drugs. We asked the children’s parents to record daily, in a diary, during the 10 days after the vaccination, the adverse events expected for the yellow fever Metformin molecular weight vaccine (fever, vomiting, pain and redness at the injection site and irritability) and any health problems observed in that period. The clinical events occurring after this period were recorded on a postvaccination questionnaire. Samples of 4 mL of blood were collected on the day of MMR vaccination and 30 days after yellow fever vaccination to titrate antibodies against yellow whatever fever, rubella, measles and mumps. Thus, subgroups

defined by the interval between the vaccines also differed in the interval between post-vaccination blood collection and MMR: 30 days in those who received the vaccines on the same day and 60 days in those who received YFV 30 days after. The titration of antibodies against yellow fever and the antibodies against measles was performed at Virologic Technology Laboratory of Bio-Manguinhos (LATEV, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro) with Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT). PRNT was conducted in serial twofold dilutions starting at 1:5, in 50 μL aliquots of heat inactivated (at 56 °C for 30 min) serum, in 96-well tissue culture plates. A positive monkey serum sample with yellow fever antibody content calibrated by a WHO International Reference Preparation, with 1115 mIU/mL was the standard serum for each set of tests [12]. For measles the standard serum contained 3000 mUI/mL [13]. The log10 dilution of the test sera and the standard serum, which reduced the plaque numbers by 50% relative to the virus control, was determined by linear interpolation. To convert reciprocal dilutions into mIU/mL a unitage constant was calculated for each assay run, dividing the antibody concentration in the standard serum by the reciprocal dilution of the standard serum in that assay run.

In this work, we contribute to improve the knowledge of the adjuvant activity of the saponins fraction named QB-90U prepared from leaves of Q. brasiliensis collected in Uruguay, in comparison to two of the most commonly used adjuvants (alum and Quil A). We analyze the haemolytic activity and cytotoxicity

of QB-90U and evaluate its potential as vaccine adjuvant using another viral antigen as model, by comparing its performance with those of Quil A and alum. For the latter purpose, we assess the antibody (IgG and its buy Osimertinib subclasses) and cellular (DTH assay) responses of mice immunized with a preparation of inactivated BoHV-5. In addition, we specifically evaluate whether QB-90U is capable of inducing the generation UMI-77 price of Th1 CD4+ T cells by assessing the expression levels of Th1 cytokines in splenocytes from immunized mice. Q. brasiliensis (A. St.-Hil.

et Tul.) Mart. leaves were collected in Parque Battle, Montevideo, Uruguay. The samples were identified by Eduardo Alonso of the Botany Department, Facultad de Química, UdelaR, and a voucher sample was kept at the Herbarium of the Faculty (MVFQ 4321). Air-dried powdered leaves were extracted in distilled water (1:10, w/v) under constant stirring at room temperature for 8 h. The extract was then filtered and lyophilized to obtain the aqueous extract from which fraction QB-90U was purified following the procedure described by Fleck et al. [17]. Briefly, the aqueous saponin extract was applied to a silica Lichroprep column and eluted with a stepwise gradient of aqueous methanol 0–100% methanol. The fractions were analyzed by TLC, Metalloexopeptidase and those with a similar saponin composition were pooled together to give the QB-90U fraction. The haemolytic activity of QB-90U and Quil A (BRENNTAG, Denmark) was assessed as described before [10], except that guinea

pig red blood cells at a 1% concentration were used for the assays. Concentration ranges from 500 μg/mL to 50 μg/mL (500, 250, 230, 200, 180, 160, 150, 130, 110, 100, 70 and 50 μg/mL) and from 110 μg/mL to 10 μg/mL (110, 100, 80, 60, 50, 30, 20, 15 and 10 μg/mL) were used for QB-90U and Quil A, respectively, each sample was tested in triplicate. Saline and Q. saponaria saponins (250 μg/mL) were used as references for 0% and 100% haemolysis, respectively. The mixture of Q. saponaria saponins was prepared by dialysis against distilled water from a commercial sample [10]. The haemolytic activity was expressed as the concentration producing 50% of the maximum haemolysis (HD50). Cytotoxicity was determined using the MTT assay, in general following the original procedure [18].

However among responders, children who were seropositive at baseline showed a much larger increase in the amount of antibody than children who were initially seronegative. Children seropositive at baseline who received and responded to three doses

of vaccine and showed an at least phosphatase inhibitor library twofold response, had GMCs >200; while children seronegative at baseline who responded to 5 doses of vaccine and had a >4 fold response, had a GMC of 83 units (Table 2A and Table 2B). Most vaccine studies worldwide with Rotarix have measured antibody titer at baseline and after two doses. In this study, a high baseline seropositivity was found with 51/88 (57.9%) of the recruited healthy infants aged six weeks having ≥20 U of RV serum IgA at baseline. We have previously reported detection of rotavirus in 43.9% of 1411 hospitalized neonates in Vellore in south India, including those with and without gastrointestinal disease [24]. In a community-based

study from Vellore, rotavirus infections were detected in about 56% of children by about six months of age [25]. The high baseline IgA rates in this study appear to indicate that hospital-born children where rates of neonatal infection with G10P[11] strains are high [24] do mount an IgA response post-infection, but the reason why there was a low response in children Smad signaling given a vaccine based on a G1P[8] strain is unknown. A pre-licensure vaccine trial conducted in India for Rotarix observed that 27% of eight week old infants were initially seropositive; the seroconversion rate observed one month after two doses was 58.3% (95% CI: 48.7; 67.4) [23]. On the other hand, the study evaluating immunogenicity of Rotateq in India observed that 20% of 6–12 week old infants were seropositive at baseline and about 83% infants demonstrated a three fold increase in anti rotavirus IgA titers from baseline up to approximately six months post vaccination [26].

Both vaccine studies found comparatively higher levels of baseline seropositivity, and lower seroconversion rates following vaccination than studies conducted in western countries, but not as low as reported here. However, both vaccines have been licensed in India to be administered along Dipeptidyl peptidase with other EPI vaccines, starting at six weeks of age. Although 42/88 (47.7%) infants had a response to Rotarix vaccine (Table 2A and Table 2B), there was no significant difference in the proportion and GMC of infants who responded to three and five doses of vaccination. No study has previously used five doses of Rotarix, but two studies from South-Africa [27] and Malawi [28] have assessed two versus three doses. Data from these trials showed higher although not significant seroconversion rates among the infants who received three doses (66.7% in South African infants and 57.1% in Malawian infants) versus two doses (57.1% in South African infants and 47.2% in Malawian infants). A trend toward higher GMCs was observed in the three dose group (94.

It is expected that CMIILs need to be written at the level of fifth or sixth standard level to help the consumers with limited reading skill. In our study most of the CMILs assessed by the FRE and FK-GL methods were either eighth standard level or above that. This observation shows that there is a lack of awareness among the providers regarding ISRIB clinical trial the readability issues. This highlights the need for development of scales for which will match Indian education levels. Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) and Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level (FK-GL) methods were used for readability assessment and Baker Able Leaflet Design (BALD) method was used for assessing layout and designing. When consumers’

perceptions were assessed for readability, most of them were graduates and could read the CMILs tested. But with consumers of high school level could not read the CMILs tested. Consumer perception on readability and layout and design reflected the need

for improvement of CMILs in these aspects. Consumers were not satisfied with the layout and design of the leaflets tested. Readability scores showed by the standard methods did not match the perception of the consumers studied. This is because the consumers were either highly qualified like graduates or with high school level education who cannot read English properly. Consumers find more with college level education only can understand the CMILs provided by pharmaceutical companies. This study concludes that many of the pharmaceutical companies (leaflets providers) are not taking the reading level of consumers into consideration which may not achieve the intended purpose. There is a need for developing CMILs having good readability

score according to Indian set up. The companies should also look for the possible ways to produce leaflets in national language of the country. All authors have none to declare. “
“Cancer is the fundamental cause of death in developed countries. Cancer affects people at all ages and is classified as uncontrolled division of cells.1 Cancer is spread either by direct growth invading the adjacent tissue or by metastasis. Severity in symptoms Ketanserin depends on the site, character of malignancy and metastasis.2 This unregulated growth may be caused by DNA damage, which may result in gene mutation that is responsible for cell division controlling proteins.3 and 4 Cell proliferation or division exists in relatively all tissues. The equilibrium between cell proliferation and programmed cell death is habitually monitored by uprightness of organs and tissues. This unsuppressed cell proliferation guides to either a benign or malignant tumour.5 Cancer can be treated by many therapies and the choice of therapy eternally depends on the location, tumour grade and disease stage depends on patients’ natural stage.6 Histones acetylation state modulation plays a substantial role in administration of gene expression.

Chloromphenical find more is used as standard for gram + ve and–ve organisms. The zone of inhibition was compared with that of the standard in terms of millimeters. The extracts did not produce any toxic signs during the observation period for 24 h in any of the rats they were tested. Results from the Table 1 revealed that Silymarin (standard drug) at the dose of 25 mg/kg significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the increased levels of SGOT, SGPT, ALKP, TBL and CHL with the values 100.4 ± 1.71, 101.2 ± 0.80, 207.5 ± 1.68, 1.28 ± 0.05, and 111.1 ± 0.42 respectively and increased the levels of TPTN and ALB 6.76 ± 0.17 and 3.61 ± 0.18 respectively.

The methanolic extract of S. swietenoides at 400 mg/kg significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the increased levels of SGOT,

SGPT, ALKP, TBL and CHL with the values 127.8 ± 0.92, 131.4 ± 2.23, 245.0 ± 4.90, 1.56 ± 0.17 and 126.4 ± 2.60 respectively and increased the levels of TPTN and ALB 5.55 ± 0.20 and 3.30 ± 0.17, where as methanolic extract of S. swietenoides at 800 mg/kg produced SGOT, SGPT, ALKP, TBL and CHL levels 102.5 ± 2.07, 116.3 ± 1.51, 228.5 ± 2.61, 1.75 ± 0.16, 115.6 ± 2.21 respectively and increased the levels of TPTN and ALB in a manner like 5.81 ± 0.18 and 3.34 ± 0.20. The methanolic extract of S. swietenoides showed moderate activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria and also showed moderate activity against selleck chemicals fungi at a dose levels of 100 mg/ml and 200 mg/ml and was represented Idoxuridine in Table 2 and Table 3. The phytochemical analysis of S. swietenoides afforded six compounds and the spectral data are given under. β-sitosterol: colorless needles, m.p 136–138 °C, (C, 1.123 in chloroform)-−37.0°. IR (KBr, cm−1): 3405 (–OH), 1374 and 802 (trisubstituted double bond) cm−1; 1H NMR (DMSO, 400 MHz): 3.52 (1H, m, H-3), 5.35 (1H, m, H-6), 0.68 (3H, s, Me-18), 0.98 (3H, s, Me-19), 0.91 (3H, d, Me-21), 0.83 (3H, d, Me-26), 0.81 (3H, d, Me-27), 0.85 (3H, t, Me-29). EIMS m/z

414 [M]+(25%) 397 (14%), 331 (21%), 155 (100%) 70 (5%). Lupeol: colorless needles, m.p. 212–214°, (C, 4.8 in chloroform) +27.2°, IR (KBr, cm−1): 3404, 2934 cm−1 (OH absorption), 1665, 1374 and 1427 cm−1 (gem-methyls) and at 860 cm−1(vinyl methylene). 1H NMR spectrum (MeOD, 400 MHz): 0.76 (d, 3H); 0.78, 0.80, 0.90, 1.02 (s, 15H); 1.63 (s, 3H); 0.91 (s, 6H) and 3.18 (m, 1H). EIMS: m/z 426(M+) (10%) 401 (12%), 329 (50%), 191 (100%), 85 (5%). Stigmasterol: colorless feathery needles, m.p. 169–170 °C, (C, 1.123 in chloroform) −37.0°, IR (KBr, cm-1): 3431 (OH), 2933, 1693, 1455, 1265, 802, 718 cm−1 (trans double bond Δ22). 1H NMR (DMSO, 400 MHz): 7.22 (m, 1H, H-6), 7.09 (m, 1H, H-22), 6.97 (m, 1H, H-23), 3.46 (dd, OH, H-3), 1.27 (s, 3H, Me-21), 1.19 (s, 3H, Me-29), 1.07 (s, 3H, Me-27), 0.99 (s, 3H, Me-18), 0.91 (s, 3H, Me-19). EIMS m/z: 412 (M+)(25%), 375 (15%), 332 (30%), 153 (100%), 70 (5%).

Streeten, MD, Eye Pathology Laboratory. We also describe a unique type of hemorrhage that may be associated with abusive head trauma. Finally,

we report unique ocular findings on autopsy of 2 survivors who died 2 years after abusive head trauma diagnosis. This monocenter, retrospective, case-control series was reviewed at the Barbara W. Streeten, MD, Eye Pathology Laboratory at the State University of New York, Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York over a 21-year period (1994–2014). This study met Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Talazoparib clinical trial requirements for research on decedents. Institutional review board review was waived by the State University of New York, Upstate Medical University Institutional Review Board, as the research did not involve information about living individuals. One hundred and ten autopsy eyes from 55 cases suspicious selleck chemicals for child abuse were examined. All eyes were formalin-fixed before gross and histopathologic examination (A.B.G.). Their eye pathology reports were retrospectively tabulated (M.P.B., K.H.U.) for the following findings: subdural hemorrhage

in the optic nerve sheath, intrascleral hemorrhage, any retinal hemorrhage, hemorrhage extending to the ora serrata, cherry hemorrhage, perimacular ridge, and internal limiting membrane (ILM) tear (separated/detached from retina). Photomicroscopy was performed using the Olympus D28-CB apparatus (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used for 1 autopsy specimen sample. It required fixation in glutaraldehyde, post-fixation

in osmium tetroxide, ethanol dehydration, infiltration with propylene oxide, and embedding before imaging by means of a Tecnai 12 BioTwin transmission electron microscope (Field Emission Incorporated, Hillsboro, Oregon, USA). Statistical analysis was performed by hand for odds ratios, proportion calculations, and population estimations, as well as oxyclozanide using Microsoft Excel 2011 (Microsoft Inc, Seattle, Washington, USA) for independent t tests. The pathologic data and findings were analyzed with respect to the medico-legal and clinical history. Based on histopathologic, clinical, and legal findings, each case (n = number of eyes) was placed in 1 of 3 causal groups: “abusive head trauma” (n = 60), “abusive head trauma survivor” (n = 4), and “alternative cause” (n = 46). All abusive head trauma cases, except 1, were legally verified by confession or conviction. With abusive head trauma survivor eyes, both cases involved severe, documented, nonaccidental shaking at least 2 years prior to death with significant neurologic and visual deficits; ultimate causes of death were most likely from indirectly related, chronic sequellae of the initial abuse. The alternative cause group was composed of eyes inconsistent with abusive head trauma, including suffocation, drowning, other bodily trauma, and sudden infant death syndrome/unknown.

Any active intervention would then convert a potential transient intussusception to level 1

diagnostic certainty. Therefore, standardized clinical algorithms for decision on radiological or surgical intervention would be central Ibrutinib to sentinel surveillance programs for intussusception that categorize intussusception based on Brighton criteria. It is important to note that the Brighton criteria were evolved as a tool for use in relating an adverse event to vaccination [16] and not for use in clinical diagnosis of intussusception. It is likely that the sensitive screening criteria and heightened awareness of the risk of intussusception in the context of a phase III rotavirus trial among the study physicians, increased the probability of referral for symptoms that might normally be ignored. The relatively early referral and ultrasound screening of suspected cases clearly contributed to transient, spontaneously

resolving intussusceptions being picked buy Trametinib up on radiological examination. Of the intussusceptions identified during the vaccine trial, 9 of 16 were small bowel intussusceptions, and the majority resolved spontaneously and none required surgical intervention. A study which examined small bowel intussusceptions, showed that most ileal intussusceptions (84%) were transient and the only cases where ileal intussusceptions were persistent or interventions were required, there was underlying pathology such as infection, stricture or abscess [14]. In the retrospective analysis, the number of cases of intussusception had tripled at this referral facility in Vellore since the last report by Bhowmik between 2001 and 2004 [21]. This may reflect a number of factors including the improved diagnostic facilities, widening catchment population and changes in health seeking

practices. About 51% of intussusceptions presenting in the tertiary care hospital were referred to the center after receiving preliminary treatment elsewhere, and fewer children had an evident lead point for intussusception in below this cohort as compared to previous studies from Vellore [21] and [22], but those studies included older children as well. This study demonstrates intussusceptions identified through active surveillance and those identified through retrospective hospital based surveillance, differ in the presentation, severity of illness, need for intervention and outcomes. Transient intussusception happens frequently in children and rarely requires intervention [14], and most likely is without a temporal relationship to vaccination. When considering intussusception as a possible consequence of rotavirus vaccination, it is important to consider which outcomes are important for safety monitoring.

faecalis to S. aureus 14 have been reported. Vancomycin-resistance gene acquisition

by S. aureus from Enterococcus faecium in the clinical environment has also been reported earlier. 15 In view of the increased spreading vancomycin-resistant vanA gene through conjugation, compelled us to explore chemicals that could be used as non-antibiotic adjuvants to control the spreading of resistance gene via conjugation from one gram-positive bacterial species to another species Ibrutinib purchase of bacteria. There are no recent study regarding controlling of the spreading of vanA gene among the clinical isolates. The aim of the present study was to identify the vanA gene among clinical isolates of vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA). Thereafter, transfer of vanA gene through

conjugation from vanA positive VRSA to a vancomycin-sensitive S. aureus (VSSA) was evaluated. Next, we examined the effect of various concentrations of chemicals including ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (disodium edetate), acid (EGTA) and boric acid on conjugation. All of the chemicals, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (disodium edetate), ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and boric acid were procured from Himedia (Mumbai, India) and were reconstituted with water for injection. Working solutions were prepared using MH (Mueller Hinton, Himedia, Bombay, India) broth. A total of fourteen clinical isolates of VRSA were used in the present study of which four from patients suffering from surgical wounds and three from bacteremia and seven from patients suffering Talazoparib research buy with burns were recovered. All of the isolates were obtained from Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), Bellary, India. Re-identification of these clinical isolates was done using standard microbiological and biochemical tests.16 and 17 The vanA positive isolate of VRSA served as donor and was grown overnight at 37 °C in Mueller-Hinton broth (MHB, Himedia, Mumbai, India) new and S. aureus (MTCC 737) obtained from

Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India, served as recipient as well as negative control was also grown overnight in MHB. These bacterial suspensions were used as the inoculum at a concentration of 106 colony-forming units/milliliter (cfu/ml). E. faecium ATCC 51559, which contains vanA gene served as a positive control. All of the clinical isolates were processed for screening of vanA gene. DNA from all of the clinical isolates, recipient, transconjugants, positive and negative controls was isolated using following methods: five ml of each at concentration of 1010 cfu/ml was centrifuged at 5000 revolutions per minute (rpm) for 4 min at 25 degree celsius (°C) and pellet was washed once in phosphate buffer saline (0.05 Molar (M) pH 7.2). After addition of 0.2 ml ice-cold solution 1 [25 millimolar (mM) Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane hydrochloride (Tris–HCl) pH 8.0, 10 mM ethylenediaminete-traacetic acid (EDTA) pH 8.0 and 50 mM glucose] and 0.

In vitro cytotoxicity of (R)-5, (S)-5 and the racemate was tested against a Chinese Hamster Ovarian (CHO-K1) cell line using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide

(MTT) assay. This cell line was obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, CCL-61). The MTT assay is a colourimetric assay to determine cellular growth and survival, and compares well with other available assays. 11 and 12 The tetrazolium salt MTT was used to measure cell viability. The test compounds were prepared in a 2 mg/ml stock solution containing 10% v/v DMSO. Emetine was used as the reference drug at an initial concentration of 100 μg/ml and serially diluted in 10-fold to obtain six concentrations, the lowest being 0.001 μg/ml. Compounds (R)-5, (S)-5 and the racemate were diluted similarly. The DMSO solvent system had PF-02341066 in vitro no measurable effect on cell Alectinib datasheet viability (data not shown). Data are reported as the mean ± standard error of the mean of at least three independent experiments with duplicate measurements. Oedema was quantified by calculating the difference in weights of the right and left auricular biopsy specimens. The value is expressed as a percentage of the croton oil control. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50)

values of the cytotoxicity assays were obtained from full dose–response curves using a non-linear dose–response curve fitting analysis. GraphPad Prism version 5 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA) was used Carnitine dehydrogenase to analyse and present the data. Statistical comparisons were made by one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s post-test for multiple comparisons, or by Student’s two-tailed paired t test for individual comparisons to determine P values. A value of P < 0.05 was considered significant. The synthesis of the enantiomers of the homoisoflavanone from commercially available reagents

was carried out using the general synthetic approach shown in the synthetic scheme (Scheme 1). The homoisoflavanone 4 were synthesized from the corresponding 3,5-dimethoxyphenol 1via chromman-4-one in three steps. 8 Subsequent reduction of the olefinic double bond of 4 by passing hydrogen gas in the presence of palladium on charcoal gave the racemate (R/S)-5. 13 Reduction of the carbonyl group in (R/S)-5, using sodium borohydrate afforded a diastereomeric mixture of (R,R)-6 and (R,S)-6 in a ratio of 2:1 with an 88% yield. 14 An appreciable difference in Rf values between these compounds allowed separation of the two diastereomers by column chromatography. Finally, (R,R)-6 and (R,S)-6 were separately oxidized by using CrO3 in acetic acid which afforded pure enantiomers (R)-5 and (S)-5 with an approximate yield of 40%. 15 The optical rotation of both the enantiomers was measured and correlated with literature values of the natural homoisoflavanone to establish the absolute stereochemistry (Koorbanally et al, 2006).