Raman spectroscopic analysis of breast cancer tissues: identifying differences between normal,invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast tissue

A relatively non‐destructive method employing Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of histopathological specimens is described. Raman spectroscopy has allowed qualitative analysis of the same specimen used for histopathological evaluation. Breast cancer tissues have been analysed to demonstrate the feasibility of the chemical changes taking place in the biological tissue, which can be identified precisely, and the results are reproducible. Raman analysis of tissue sections provides distinct spectra that can be used to distinguish between the nuclear grades of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. Sixty cases of breast carcinoma including DCIS and IDC and seven cases of normal breast tissues were studied employing the Raman spectroscopic technique. This study reports for the first time spectral differences between DCIS grades. It is concluded that Raman spectroscopy can objectively distinguish between DCIS and IDC grades and is non‐destructive and reproducible. It should become possible in future to use Raman spectroscopy as an informative and quantitative method suitable for classification of grades and diagnosis of breast carcinoma. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal Degradation Studies of Complexes of a Derivative of Phenhomazine (Dibenzo[b,f][1:5]diazocine‐6:12‐Dione (PHZD)) by Thermoanalytical Techniques

Some of the bis‐complexes of a derivative of phenhomazine (dibenzo[b,f][1:5]diazocine‐6:12‐dione; PHZD) with Ni(II), Cu(II), Co(II), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Hg(II) of the general formula M(PHZD)₂X₂ [where X = C1, Br and I], were prepared and identified. These complexes have been characterised on the basis of elemental analysis, and spectroscopic, magnetic and conductance data. The thermal mode of decomposition and thermal stability of these complexes was investigated on the basis of the respective thermal curves in a static air atmosphere. The thermoanalytical investigations indicate that these complexes undergo two‐step changes as temperature is raised, except for Cd(II) and Hg(II) complexes, with the formation of metal oxides as end product. The degradation mechanism of the complexes has also been proposed.     

A macromonomer approach to the synthesis of poly(1,1‐bis(ethoxycarbonyl)‐2‐vinyl cyclopropane‐graft‐dimethyl siloxane)

Poly(1,1‐bis(ethoxycarbonyl)‐2‐vinyl cyclopropane (ECVP)‐graft‐dimethyl siloxane) copolymers were prepared using a macromonomer approach. Poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) macromonomers were prepared by living anionic polymerization of cyclosiloxanes followed by sequential chain‐end capping with allyl chloroformate. These macromonomers were then copolymerized with ECVP. MALDI‐ToF mass spectrometry and ¹H NMR spectroscopy were used to show that the macromonomers had approximately 80% of the end groups functionalized with allyl carbonate groups. Gradient polymer elution chromatography showed that high yields of the graft copolymers were obtained, along with only small fractions of the PECVP and PDMS homopolymers. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that the low glass transition temperature (T_g) of the PDMS component could be maintained in the graft copolymers. However, the T_g was a function of polymer composition and the polymers produced had T_gs that ranged from ?50 to ?120 °C. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Correction to: Thermal performance enhancement of shell and helical coil heat exchanger using MWCNTs/water nanofluid

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry -     

Self‐Assembled Heteroleptic Zn(II) Dithiocarbamate‐Based 2D‐Interwoven Supramolecular Giant Macrocycles and Their Redox Properties

This article presents a new heteroleptic Zn(II) dithiocarbamate ( 1 ) having molecules linked together via H···H and π···π interactions to form a giant hexanuclear macrocycle. These macrocycles are connected together through S···H interactions to offer a unique two‐dimensional cloth‐like interwoven architecture in the solid state. The redox behavior of the complex deposited on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode was investigated in different pH media. The analyte was found to oxidize and reduce in a pH‐dependent irreversible manner. On the basis of the electrochemical findings, redox mechanistic pathways were proposed.     

Effect of Sodium Alkanoates on Micellization of Dodecylbenzyldimethylammonium Chloride in Aqueous Medium

The present study deals with the interaction of sodium alkanoates viz. sodium acetate, sodium propionate, sodium butanoate, sodium hexanoate and sodium benzoate on the micellization of dodecylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride using conductometeric and flourscence quenching experiments carried out at 25°C. The analysis has been made through study of variation of critical micelle concentration (cmc), degree of counterion binding (β), aggregation number (N), and micropolarity with the concentration of these hydrophobic salts. The differentiation between the effects of hydrophobic and inorganic salts was made by comparing the above results with the influence of NaCl on cmc, β, and N.     

Development of a fast and efficient CE enzyme assay for the characterization and inhibition studies of α‐glucosidase inhibitors

The inhibition of the α‐glucosidase enzyme plays an important role in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. We have established a highly sensitive, fast, and convenient CE method for the characterization of the enzyme and inhibition studies of α‐glucosidase inhibitors. The separation conditions were optimized; the pH value and concentration of the borate‐based separation buffer were optimized in order to achieve baseline separation of p‐nitrophenyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranoside and p‐nitrophenolate. The optimized method using 25 mM tetraborate buffer, pH 9.5, was evaluated in terms of repeatability, LOD, LOQ, and linearity. The LOD and LOQ were 0.32 and 1.32 μM for p‐nitrophenyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranoside and 0.83 and 3.42 μM for p‐nitrophenolate, respectively. The value of the Michaelis–Menten constant (K_m) determined for the enzyme is 0.61 mM, which is in good agreement with the reported data. The RSDs (n = 6) for the migration time was 0.67 and 1.83% for substrate and product, respectively. In the newly established CE method, the separation of the reaction analytes was completed in <4 min. The developed CE method is rapid and simple for measuring enzyme kinetics and for assaying inhibitors.     

Formation of methylated oxyarsenicals and thioarsenicals in wild-type and arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase knockout mice exposed to arsenate

Arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (As3mt) plays a central role in the enzymatically catalyzed conversion of inorganic arsenic into methylated metabolites. Most studies of the metabolism and disposition of arsenicals following exposure to inorganic arsenic focus on the formation and fate of methylated oxyarsenicals. However, recent research has shown methylated thioarsenicals to be another important class of metabolites of inorganic arsenic. Here, we report on the presence of methylated oxy- and thioarsenicals in urine and liver from wild-type mice that efficiently methylate inorganic arsenic and from As3mt knockout mice that lack arsenic methyltransferase activity. Following a single oral dose of 0.5 mg of arsenic as arsenate/kg body weight, urine from wild-type mice contained methylated oxyarsenicals and unknown arsenicals. Further analysis identified one unknown arsenical in urine of wild-type mice as dimethylmonothioarsinic acid. In addition, another unknown arsenical in urine of wild-type mice that occurred in the urine of about 20 % of arsenate-treated mice. The presence of low levels of methylated arsenicals in liver digests of As3mt knockout mice may reflect the activity of other methyltransferases or the absorption of methylated arsenicals formed by the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract. The lack of methylated thioarsenicals in urine of As3mt knockout mice suggests a close link between the processes that form methylated oxy- and thioarsenicals.