Tocopheryl Phosphate Inhibits Rheumatoid Arthritis-Related Gene Expression In Vitro and Ameliorates Arthritic Symptoms in Mice

Anti-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) effects of α-tocopherol (α-T) have been shown in human patients in a double-blind trial. However, the effects of α-T and its derivatives on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) during the pathogenesis of RA remain unclear. In the present study, we compared the expression levels of genes related to RA progression in FLS treated with α-T, succinic ester of α-T (TS), and phosphate ester of α-T (TP), as determined via RT-PCR. The mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, and MMP-13 were reduced by treatment with TP without cytotoxicity, while α-T and TS did not show such effects. Furthermore, intraperitoneal injection of TP ameliorated the edema of the foot and joint and improved the arthritis score in laminarin-induced RA model mice. Therefore, TP exerted anti-RA effects through by inhibiting RA-related gene expression.     

Basic study of probabilistic approach to prediction of soil trafficability — Statistical characteristics of cone index

The principal purpose of this study is to present some of the fundamental data which might be used in the prediction of soil trafficability. These data are based on some sets of random cone index measurements which were taken from the areas of interest. In all cases, it was assumed that the individual measurements of the cone index being investigated would be independent. It is shown that the cone indices at critical layer depth can be regarded as normal random variables. The discussion in this study may be valid for the probabilistic approach of soil trafficability     

Measurements of Optical Trapping Efficiency for Micron-Sized Dielectric Particles in Various Surrounding Media

The maximum axial trapping efficiency Q_max has been measured in water, ethanol, butanol and octanol for polystyrene latex spheres having a diameter of 2–15μm. The effects of the diameter of the particle as well as the refractive index and the viscosity of surrounding medium have been investigated. For particles of d≥7 μm, Q_max is almost independent of particle size, while it decreases as the diameters decrease to d≦5 μm. It is also noted that Q_max is affected by the viscosity rather than the refractive index of the surrounding medium.     

Cerebral energy metabolism in rats studied by phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance using surface coils

Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance with surface coils was used to investigate the regional metabolism of the rat brain in vivo under conditions of normoxia, severe hypoxemia, partial necrosis, and partial ischemia. The results show an increase in sugar phosphate and/or inorganic phosphate with injury in accordance with in vivo assays. The technique provides a powerful means of monitoring the metabolism of stroke and its response to therapy in vivo.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of a pentacyclic lycopodium alkaloid: huperzine-q

Right on Q: The first asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-huperzine-Q, which possesses six stereogenic centers and a spiroaminal moiety, has been achieved in 19 steps and 16.4?% overall yield. This synthesis involved a novel stereoselective Pauson-Khand reaction, a vinyl Claisen rearrangement, and a biomimetic spiroaminal formation. TBDPS=tert-butyldiphenylsilyl.     

Characterization of ramiform precipitates formed on SiO2–TiO2 gel coatings by electric field hot water treatment

The shape of the precipitates on sol–gel derived SiO₂–TiO₂ coatings at the negative electrode changed from granular to ramiform by applying an electric field to the substrates during a hot water treatment, whereas such changes in the shape of titania nanocrystals with the electric field were not observed at the positive electrode. The granular and ramiform precipitates were identified as anatase (TiO₂) and hydrated titania (n(TiO₂) · mH₂O), respectively. The ramiform shape of the titania precipitates became significant with increasing the applied voltage, while the coatings gradually became dark-colored due to the reduction of Ti⁴⁺ to Ti³⁺. The coatings with ramiform precipitates showed an excellent wettability for water.     

Humidity-sensitive electrical conductivity of a Langmuir-Blodgett film of titania nanosheets: surface modification as induced by light irradiation under humid conditions

Electrical conductivity of titania nanosheets was investigated for a single-layered Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film deposited onto a comb-type electrode (5 or 10 microm (electrode spacing) x 8 mm (electrode width)). The photoresponsive electrical properties of the film were investigated by irradiating with a Xe lamp under various atmospheric conditions. The atmosphere was controlled by introducing either oxygen or nitrogen gases containing different amounts of water vapor. As a result, the LB film behaved as an insulator with little photoresponse under dry atmospheric conditions. It became conductive on illuminating with a Xe lamp under a wet oxygen atmosphere. Conductivity increased with the increase of irradiation time (0-30 min) to attain a stationary value in 1 h. The highest conductive state thus attained lasted for several hours in the dark. The impedance of the film was measured over the frequency range of 1 MHz to 50 Hz by varying the relative humidity of an atmosphere from 0 to 100%. The results were analyzed by assuming an equivalent circuit consisting of one resistance (R) with constant Warburg component (W) and one capacitance (C) in parallel. The R component depended remarkably on the relative humidity, while the C component stayed nearly at the constant value. The dependence of R on water vapor (PH2O) was expressed by R = A[PH2O]n with A = constant and n = -2.9. The results were rationalized in terms of the surface modification of titania nanosheets to hydrophilic nature under the illumination of UV light.     

Novel and stereocontrolled synthesis of (+/-)-tetrodotoxin from myo-inositol

[reactions: see text] The novel and stereocontrolled synthesis of (+/-)-tetrodotoxin from myo-inositol is described. The key steps involve the stepwise oxidation of hydroxyl groups to the carbonyl function, followed by the addition of specific nucleophiles, including the successive spiro alpha-chloroepoxide formation and its ring-opening with the azide anion, to give the desired branched chain structures (5-->6, 17-->18-->19-->20 and 23-->24-->25) with the desired regio- and stereoselectivities in high yields. The stepwise conversion of the alpha-azido aldehyde 25 to the delta-lactone 29, followed by reduction of the azide, introduction of a guanidine moiety, aldehyde formation, and deprotection, produced the (+/-)-tetrodotoxin.     

Formation of Anatase Nanocrystals in Sol-Gel Derived TiO2-SiO2 Thin Films with Hot Water Treatment

We have successfully prepared transparent and porous anatase nanocrystals-dispersed films by treating the sol-gel derived TiO₂-SiO₂ films containing poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, with hot water. This process was done at temperatures lower than 100°C under atmospheric pressure, and thus anatase nanocrystals-dispersed films can be formed on various kinds of substrates including organic polymers with poor heat resistance. The changes in structure and composition of the TiO₂-SiO₂ gel films with hot water treatment were related to the formation process of anatase nanocrystals in the TiO₂-SiO₂ gel films with hot water treatment. The formation of anatase nanocrystals was found to proceed to hydrolysis of Si–O–Ti bonds and dissolution of SiO₂ component. In addition, porous film structure formed by leaching of PEG with hot water treatment led to homogenous dispersion of anatase nonocrystals in the films.