THE EFFECTS OF PERFUSION OF LATERAL VENTRICLE WITH CaCl_2 ON THE FEBRILE RESPONSE AND cAMP CONTENT IN PLASMA AND CEREBROSPINAL FLUID DURING LP-INDUCED FEVER

Artificial cerebrospinal fluid (c.s.f.) containing 40 mmol/L excess calcium was perfus-ed through the lateral ventricles of New Zealand white rabbits in order to reduce the Na~+/Ca~(++) ratio in the brain and the effects on both the febrile response and adenosine cyclic mo-nophosphate (cAMP) concentration in plasma and c.s.f, during leucocytic pyrogen (LP)-induced fever were observed. The results showed that cAMP concentration in c.s.f, increas-ed significantly during LP-induced fever while the cAMP level in Plasma remained unchang-ed, and the perfusion of artificial c.s,f, containing 40 mmol/L excess calcium can signif-icantly inhibit not only the febrile response but also the increase in c.s.f, cAMP level,while there appears no effect on plasma cAMP concentration, thus demonstrating that theincrease of Na~+/Ca~(++) ratio causing the increase of cAMP content in the brain may be anessential link in the pathogenesis of LP-induced fever.     

Two-dimensional protein database of human pancreas

We report here the two-dimensional protein database of human pancreas. The proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Totally, 302 proteins were identified, of which about 27% were enzymes with a broad range of catalytic activities. Several of these are specifically expressed in pancreas, such as pancreatic amylase, pancreatic stone protein, pancreatitis-associated protein, pancreatic lipase, pancreatic elastase, etc. Structural and cytoskeletal proteins are also strongly represented on the gels. Thus, the pancreatic proteome reflects the organ's function. This work paves the way for further studies on pancreatic protein expression in health and disease, such as diabetes and pancreatic cancer.     

Two new compounds from Zingiber officinale

A new cyclic diarylheptanoid,1,5-epoxy-3-hydroxy-1-(3-methoxy-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-heptane (1),as well as a new monoterpene,10-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-hydroxy cineole (2) were isolated from the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were established based on their spectral data.In addition,the antioxidant activities of these compounds were also measured.     

Alkaloids from stems of Ervatamia yunnanensis

Six indole alkaloids were isolated from the stems of Ervatamia yunnanensis. Among them, yunnanensine (I) is new. The other five are known alkaloids, namely: 19,20-E-vallesamine (II), 19s-heyneanine (HI), ibogaine (IV), ibogamine (V), coronaridine (VI). The structural elucidation of the alkaloids was based on spectral means.     

DNA-mediated coordinative assembly of upconversion hetero-nanostructures for targeted dual-modality imaging of cancer cells

We reported a simple and universal strategy for DNA-mediated assembly of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) and lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). Such DNA-QD/UCNPs heterostructures not only maintains both fluorescent properties of QDs and upconversion luminescence behaviors of UCNPs, but also offers a polyvalent DNA surface, allowing for targeted dual-modality imaging of cancer cells using an aptamer     

INFLUENCE OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT AND PERIODATE-MODIFICATION OF β-D-GLUCANS FROM PORIA COCOS SCLEROTIUM ON ANTITUMOR ACTIVITIES*

In this work, influence of molecular weight and periodate modification ofβ-D-glucans isolated from Poria cocos sclerotium on the antitumor activities against Sar-coma 180 and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) tumor was studied. The results show thattwo glucans PC3 (linear β-(1→3)-D-glucan) and PC4 [β-(1→3)-D-glucan with a fewof branches and glucuronic acid] are devoid of antitumor activity. However, when theglucans were modified by periodate oxidation, borohydride reduction and mild hydrolysisor partially hydrolysis, the derivatives have obvious antitumor activities. The decreasein molecular weight of glucans after periodate modification hardly affects their antitumoractions, but on the other hand, the decrease of molecular weight without periodate modi-fication could lead to an enhancement of the antitumor activities. Moreover, the glucansand these derivatives have much higher enhancement ratios of body weight of mice thanthat of 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu), suggesting that they are less toxic than 5-Fu.     

A Study of the Uptake of Toluidine Blue O by Porphyromonas gingivalis and the Mechanism of Lethal Photosensitization

The purpose of the study was to determine the distribution of the photosensitizer toluidine blue O (TBO) within Porphyromonas gingivalis and the possible mechanism(s) involved in the lethal photosensitization of this organism. The distribution of TBO was determined by incubating P. gingivalis with tritiated TBO (³H-TBO) and fractionating the cells into outer membrane (OM), plasma membrane (PM), cytoplasmic proteins, other cytoplasmic constituents and DNA. The percentage of TBO in each of the fractions was found to be, 86.7, 5.4, 1.9, 5.7 and 0.3%, respectively. The involvement of cytotoxic species in the lethal photosensitization induced by light from a helium-neon (HeNe) laser and TBO was investigated by using deuterium oxide (D₂O), which prolongs the lifetime of singlet oxygen, and the free radical and singlet oxygen scavenger L-tryptophan. There were 9.0 log₁₀ and 2 log₁₀ reductions in the presence of D₂O and H₂O (saline solutions), respectively, at a light dose of 0.44 J (energy density = 0.22 J/cm²), suggesting the involvement of singlet oxygen. Decreased kills were attained in the presence of increasing concentrations of L-tryptophan. The effect of lethal photosensitization on whole cell proteins was determined by measuring tryptophan fluorescence, which decreased by 30% using 4.3 J (energy density = 4.3 J/ cm²) of light. Effects on the OM and PM proteins were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. There was evidence of change in the molecular masses of several PM proteins and OM proteins compared to controls. There was evidence of damage to the DNA obtained from irradiated cells. Scanning electron microscopic studies showed that there was coaggre-gation of P. gingivalis cells when sensitized and then exposed to laser light. These results suggest that lethal photosensitization of P. gingivalis may involve changes in OM and/or PM proteins and DNA damage mediated by singlet oxygen.     

Insecticidal Activity and Free Radical Scavenging Properties of Isolated Phytoconstituents from the Saudi Plant Nuxia oppositifolia (Hochst.)

Chromatographic purification of the alcoholic extract from the aerial parts of the Saudi plant Nuxia oppositifolia (Hochst.), Benth., resulted in five isolated phenolic compounds. Two flavones, hispidulin (1) and jaceosidin (2), and the phenylethanoid glycosides, verbascoside (3), isoverbascoside (4), and conandroside (5), were identified and their chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses. The insecticidal activity of compounds 1 and 2, in addition to 11 compounds isolated in a previous research (6–16), was evaluated against the Yellow Fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Four compounds displayed adulticidal activity with LD₅₀ values of 2–2.3 μg/mosquito. Free radical scavenging properties of the plant extracts and compounds (1–5) were evaluated by measuring the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate radical cation (ABTS^•+) scavenging activity. All compounds exhibited notable activity, compared with the positive control, l-Ascorbic acid. This study suggests that N. oppositifolia could be a promising source of secondary metabolites, some with lethal adulticidal effect against Ae. aegypti.     

Pyrrole-2-carboxylate dimer: a robust supramolecular synthon for crystal engineering

Two pyrrole-2-carboxylates, tris[2-(2-pyrryl-carboxy)ethyl]amine (1) and tetrakis(2-pyrryl-carboxy-methyl)methane (2), were prepared by the treatment of 2-trichloroacetylpyrrole with tri(2-hydroxylethyl)amine and pentaerythritol, respectively. Hexagonal and grid supramolecular structures were obtained from the self-assembly of 1 and 2, respectively. From the assembly structure, a novel supramolecular synthon of the pyrrole-2-carbonyl dimer has been found. The synthon was demonstrated to be robust by our density functional calculation. It is expected to be useful in the self-assembly of crystal engineering.     

Synthesis of new polymetallic carbene complexes: Uracil analogs

The easy cycloaddition of ureas with alkynyl alkoxy biscarbene complexes afforded, in fairly good yields, new biscarbene uracil analogs. X-ray structural data is reported for the dimethyluracil biscarbene complex. By changing the reaction conditions, a new non symmetric complex was obtained whose reaction with ethylenediamine afforded a new tetrakis amino carbene complex.