Detection of sub-micro quantities of thorium by solocnrome azurine B. S.

Summary Solochrome Azurine B. S. has been introduced as a new colour reagent for the detection of thorium in sub-micro quantities. Thorium gives a bluish violet colour with the dye at p_H 4. The limit of identification is 0.22g of thorium.

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Zusammenfassung Solochrom Azurin B. S. wird als neues Farbreagens für den Nachweis von Thorium in Mikrogrammengen vorgeschlagen. Thorium gibt mit dem Farbstoff bei p_H 4 eine blauviolette Farbe. Die Erfassungsgrenze beträgt 0,22g Thorium.

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Résumé On a introduit la Solochrome Azurine B. S. comme nouveau réactif colorimétrique pour déceler les quantités submicro de thorium. Celui-ci donne une couleur violet bleuâtre avec le colorant à p_H 4. La limite de dilution est de 0,22g de thorium.

     

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits photocarcinogenesis through inhibition of angiogenic factors and activation of CD8+ T cells in tumors

There has been considerable interest in the use of botanical supplements to protect skin from the adverse effects of solar UV radiation, including photocarcinogenesis. We and others have shown that topical application of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) from green tea prevents photocarcinogenesis in mice; however, the chemopreventive mechanism of EGCG in an in vivo tumor model is not clearly understood. In this study, UV-B-induced skin tumors with and without treatment of EGCG ( approximately 1 mg/cm(2)) and age-matched skin biopsies from SKH-1 hairless mice were used to identify potential molecular targets of skin cancer prevention by EGCG. These biopsies were analyzed for various biomarkers of angiogenesis and antitumor immune response using immunostaining, Western blotting and gelatinolytic zymography. We report that compared to non-EGCG-treated tumors, topical application of EGCG in UV-induced tumors resulted in inhibition of protein expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, which play crucial roles in tumor growth and metastasis. In contrast, tissue inhibitor of MMP-1 (TIMP-1), which inhibits MMP activity, was increased in tumors. With respect to the tumor vasculature, EGCG decreased the expression of CD31, a cell surface marker of vascular endothelial cells, and inhibited the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in tumors, which are essential for angiogenesis. EGCG inhibited proliferating cell nuclear antigen in UV-B-induced tumors as well. Additionally, higher numbers of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8(+) T cells) were detected in EGCG-treated tumors compared with non-EGCG-treated tumors. Together, these in vivo tumor data suggested that inhibition of photocarcinogenesis in mice by EGCG is associated with inhibition of angiogenic factors and induction of antitumor immune reactivity.     

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in murine and human nonmelanoma skin cancers: implications for therapeutic approaches

Inflammatory stimuli result in the production of cutaneous eicosanoids, which are known to contribute to the process of tumor promotion. Cyclooxygenase (COX), the rate-limiting enzyme for the production of prostaglandins (PG) from arachidonic acid, exists in at least two isoforms, COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 is constitutively expressed in most tissues and plays various physiological roles, whereas increased COX-2 expression is known to occur in several types of epithelial neoplasms. Enhanced PG synthesis is a potential contributing factor in UVB-induced nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Increased COX-2 staining occurs in murine skin neoplasms after chronic exposure to carcinogenic doses of UVB. In this study, immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses were employed to assess longitudinally COX-2 expression in a standard mouse UVB complete carcinogenesis protocol and in human basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). During UVB irradiation of mice, COX-2 expression consistently increased in the hyperplastic skin, the benign papillomas and the SCC. COX-2 expression was also increased in human actinic keratoses, SCC and BCC as well as in murine SCC and BCC. The pattern of COX-2 expression was quite variable, occurring in a patchy distribution in some lesions with staining confined mainly to suprabasal cell layers. In general, COX-2 expression progressively became more extensive in benign papillomas and well-differentiated murine SCC. The staining was predominantly cytoplasmic and perinuclear in some focal areas in tissue stroma around both murine and human tumors. Western blot analysis confirmed negative COX-2 expression in normal skin, whereas acute UVB exposure resulted in increased enzyme expression, which continued to increase in developing papillomas and SCC. Because of the evidence indicating a pathogenic role for eicosanoids in murine and human skin neoplasms, we performed studies to assess the anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic effects of green tea extracts, which are potent antioxidants. Acute exposure of the human skin to UVB (minimum erythema dose x 4) caused a transient enhancement of the COX-2 expression, which reverted to baseline within hours; however, in murine skin the expression persisted for several days. Pretreatment with the topically applied green tea extract (1 mg/cm2) largely abrogated the acute COX-2 response to UVB in mice or humans. In summary, enhanced COX-2 expression serves as a marker of epidermal UVB exposure for murine and human NMSC. These results suggest that COX-2 inhibitors could have potent anticarcinogenic effects in UVB-induced skin cancer.     

Kinetics of UV light-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in human skin in vivo: an immunohistochemical analysis of both epidermis and dermis

It is well known that UV exposure of human skin induces DNA damage, and the cumulative effect of such repeated damage is an important contributor to the development of skin cancer. Here, we demonstrate UV dose- and time-dependent induction of DNA damage in the form of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) in skin cells following a single exposure of human skin to UV radiation. CPD+ cells were identified by an immunohistochemical technique using monoclonal antibodies to thymine dimers. The percentage of CPD+ cells was UV dose-dependent, even a suberythemal (0.5 minimal erythemal dose [MED]) dose resulted in detectable level of cells that contained pyrimidine dimers. Forty-eight hours after irradiation the percent of total epidermal cells positive for CPD ranged from 19 +/- 8, 36 +/- 10, 57 +/- 12 and 80 +/- 10, and total percent dermal cells positive for CPD ranged from 1 +/- 1, 7 +/- 3, 16 +/- 3 and 20 +/- 5, respectively, following 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 MED. CPD were also observed in deeper reticular dermis, which suggest the penetrating ability of UV radiation into the skin. The change in CPD+ cells from 0.5 to 240 h post-UV exposure in both epidermal and dermal compartments of the skin was also quantitated. CPD+ cells were observed in skin biopsies at early time points after UV exposure which remained elevated for 48 h, then declined significantly by 3 days post-UV. A close examination of the skin at and after 3 days following UV exposure indicates the significant removal of DNA damaged cells from the epidermis. Ten days after UV exposure the levels of CPD+ cells in both epidermis and dermis were not significantly different from that in unirradiated skin.     

Collision-induced decompositions of metal-cationized methyl-6-deoxy-6-bromo-α-D-glucopyranoside derivatives

Collision-induced decompositions (CIDs) of the [M + H]⁺, [M + Li]⁺, [M + Na]⁺, [M + K]⁺ and [M + Ag]⁺ ions of some methyl-6-deoxy-6-bromo-α-D-glucopyranoside derivatives are discussed. Elimination of MeOH resulting in the glycosidyl cation is the predominant reaction of the [M + H]⁺ ion. This process is completely suppressed during CID of the metal-cationized species, which, surprisingly, show elimination of the added metal in the form of RCOO-metal and metal bromide in the case of the ester derivatives. These reactions appear to be assisted by neighbouring group participation. Because of the proximity of the C(3)-oxygen with C(6), the benzyl ether derivative is characterized by the loss of PhCH₂Br from the [M + metal]⁺ ion.     

Synthesis of 2‐Coumarinyl and Spiroindolyl‐5‐Phenyl‐1,3,4‐Oxadiazoles

The 2H‐1‐benzo/naphthopyran‐2‐one‐4‐yl (un)substituted phenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles has been synthesized by the oxidative cyclization of benzoic acid hydrazides formed in situ by the condensation of the respective 2H‐1‐benzo/naphthopyran‐2‐one‐4‐carboxaldehyde and (un)substituted monobenzoyl hydrazide in moderate yields. Also, spiro[indoline‐thiozolidine]‐2,4′‐diones has been syhthesized in a similar way from 3‐phenyl‐spiro[3H‐indoline‐3,2′‐thiozolidine]‐2,4′‐(1 H)dione monohydrazide and (un)substituted benzaldehydes.     

Studies on the electrochemical and thermodynamic behaviour of Hg-HgS electrode in the presence of sulphide ions

Mercury-mercury (II) sulphide electrode has been prepared and its electrochemical and thermodynamic behaviour has been studied in different media. The electrode is found to show Nernstian response to pS (− log [S²⁻]) over the range 5.19–10.38. In the pH range 7.96–11.98, at constant [S²⁻]_v, its response is also Nernstian. The values of thermodynamic functions, viz., ΔG⁰. ΔH⁰, and ΔS⁰ for the electrode reaction: Hg₍₃)+S²⁻ _aμ ⇌HgS_(s)+2e, have been determined. Further, the standard free energy of formation (ΔG _f ⁰ ) and solubility product constant (K _vp ) of HgS in aqueous medium at 25±0.1°C have also been determined.     

Effect of Cd1−xZnxS/ZnS core/shell quantum dot on the optical response and relaxation behaviour of ferroelectric liquid crystal

Dielectrics, polarizing optical microscopic and electro-optical measurements have been carried out on a core/shell quantum dot Cd_1?xZn_xS/ZnS dispersed ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC). In the present study, quantum dots were dispersed into two different concentrations of 0.1 and 0.25 wt./wt.% in pure FLC. The electro-optical parameters of pure and QDs dispersed FLC were carried out as a function of applied voltage. A significant improvement in optical response time of QDs dispersed FLC system is one of the major finding of the present study which may be useful for fabrication of faster liquid crystal system.     

One-magnon light scattering and spin-reorientation transition in epitaxial BiFeO3 thin films

Raman scattering from one-magnon excitation has been observed for the first time in epitaxial BiFeO₃ thin films grown on (1 1 1) SrTiO₃ substrates. The intensities and the frequency of the magnon mode at 18.9 cm⁻¹ (M₁) showed a discrepancy at the characteristic temperatures of ∼140 and 200 K and the magnon mode at 27.9 cm⁻¹ (M₂) disappeared at ∼200 K suggesting spin-reorientation (SR) transition in the epitaxial BFO film. The dc susceptibility measurement showed a large discrepancy near these two temperatures evidently elucidating the spin-reorientation transition mechanism. The partial spectral weight of the magnon modes is believed to be transferred to the lowest phonon mode appearing at 72.8 cm⁻¹ and higher magnon mode M₂ disappearing near 200 K reveal magnon-phonon coupling near to SR transition.     

Raman spectral studies of Zr4+‐rich BaZrxTi1−xO3(0.5⩽x⩽1.00) phase diagram

This paper reports a systematic study of the composition and the temperature‐dependent‐Raman spectra of Zr⁴⁺‐rich BaZr_xTi_1−xO₃ (BZT) ceramic compositions (0.50⩽x⩽1.00). On the basis of the dielectric behavior of Zr rich BZT ceramics, the observed relaxor behavior has been hypothesized as a result of increasing long‐range interactions of nanosized, Ti⁴⁺‐rich polar regions in a Zr⁴⁺‐rich nonpolar matrix. Beyond an optimum concentration of BaTiO₃ (BT) in the nonpolar matrix of BaZrO₃ (x⩽0.75), a critical size and density of the polar regions is reached when the polar clusters start showing the relaxor like behavior, which finally show classical relaxor behavior for compositions with x = 0.5 and 0.6. This hypothesis is strongly supported from the Raman data on Zr‐rich BZT presented in this paper. Well‐defined BT Raman spectra for 5% BT in BZT composition were recorded, which followed completely up to the 50% Ti addition in the BZT samples. The temperature‐dependent Raman spectra collected on the BZT ceramics far beyond the dielectric transition temperatures supported the existence of the nano‐polar BT regions, like in typical relaxor samples. The full width at half‐maximum (FWHM), integrated intensity of the peaks in the Raman spectra has been analyzed to further support the conclusions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.