Three new sulfur-containing compounds were identified in Allium L. species belonging to the subgenus Melanocrommyum as the first examples of sulfur-containing pyrrole derivatives in nature. Some of these species are traditionally used in Southwest and Central Asia as vegetables and herbal drugs. A hypothetical biogenetic scheme is proposed in which L-(+)- S-(3-pyrrolyl)cysteine sulfoxide is enzymically degraded. The resulting 2-lactyl-3'-pyrrolyl sulfoxide is condensed readily to the red pigment 3,3'-dithio-2,2'-dipyrrole. All compounds are chemically unstable, rendering the analysis extremely difficult. Correlation NMR in combination with diffusion NMR allowed the identification of these low molecular weight compounds. For the first time, the compounds involved in the coloring process of Allium plant material have been identified from native plant material.

A new cysteine sulfoxide containing a pyridyl residue was identified in bulbs of Allium L. species belonging to the subgenus Melanocrommyum section Megaloprason. One of these species, Allium stipitatum, is widely used as a crop plant and in folk medicine in Central Asia. The new cysteine sulfoxide was identified as L-(+)-S-(2-pyridyl)-cysteine sulfoxide. Aside from this cysteine sulfoxide, several pyridyl compounds could be identified, which were formed out of cysteine sulfoxides by the action of alliinase. Found cysteine sulfoxides and their metabolites are chemically unstable; thus, the analysis is rather difficult. By combining high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), HPLC tandem mass spectrometry, NMR, IR, and photometric methods, full structure elucidation of the cysteine sulfoxide was possible. Alliinase reaction products were mainly determined by various MS techniques. The achieved results give new insights in the chemistry of Allium crop plants and are probably useful for chemotaxonomical classification of the subgenus Melanocrommyum.

Although hyperlipidemia is common in COPD, its relationship to comorbidities, risk factors and lung function in COPD has not been studied in detail. Using the baseline data of the COSYCONET cohort we addressed this question. Data from 1746 COPD patients (GOLD stage 1–4; mean age 64.6 y, mean FEV1%pred 57%) were evaluated, focusing on the comorbidities hyperlipidemia, diabetes and cardiovascular complex (CVC; including arterial hypertension, cardiac failure, ischemic heart disease). Risk factors comprised age, gender, BMI, and packyears of smoking. The results of linear and logistic regression analyses were implemented into a path analysis model describing the multiple relationships between parameters. Hyperlipidemia (prevalence 42.9%) was associated with lower intrathoracic gas volume (ITGV) and higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) when adjusting for its multiple relationships to risk factors and other comorbidities. These findings were robust in various statistical analyses. The associations between comorbidities and risk factors were in accordance with previous findings, thereby underlining the validity of our data. In conclusion, hyperlipidemia was associated with less hyperinflation and airway obstruction in patients with COPD. This surprising result might be due to different COPD phenotypes in these patients or related to effects of medication.

A shorter treatment duration, less variation in the prescribing pattern and a greater adherence to the use of recommended antimicrobials argue for a more rational antimicrobial drug use in Marburg than in Rijeka. However, a further identification of drug choice determinants is warranted.

Although hyperlipidemia is common in COPD, its relationship to comorbidities, risk factors and lung function in COPD has not been studied in detail. Using the baseline data of the COSYCONET cohort we addressed this question. Data from 1746 COPD patients (GOLD stage 1-4; mean age 64.6 y, mean FEV1%pred 57%) were evaluated, focusing on the comorbidities hyperlipidemia, diabetes and cardiovascular complex (CVC; including arterial hypertension, cardiac failure, ischemic heart disease). Risk factors comprised age, gender, BMI, and packyears of smoking. The results of linear and logistic regression analyses were implemented into a path analysis model describing the multiple relationships between parameters. Hyperlipidemia (prevalence 42.9%) was associated with lower intrathoracic gas volume (ITGV) and higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) when adjusting for its multiple relationships to risk factors and other comorbidities. These findings were robust in various statistical analyses. The associations between comorbidities and risk factors were in accordance with previous findings, thereby underlining the validity of our data. In conclusion, hyperlipidemia was associated with less hyperinflation and airway obstruction