Glucocorticoids Directly Affect Hyaluronan Production of Orbital Fibroblasts; A Potential Pleiotropic Effect in Graves’ Orbitopathy

Orbital connective tissue expansion is a hallmark of Graves’ orbitopathy (GO). In moderate-to-severe active GO, glucocorticoids (GC) are the first line of treatment. Here we show that hydrocortisone (HC), prednisolone (P), methylprednisolone (MP), and dexamethasone (DEX) inhibit the hyaluronan (HA) production of orbital (OF) and dermal (DF) fibroblasts. HA production of GO OFs (n = 4), NON-GO OFs (n = 4) and DFs (n = 4) was measured by ELISA. mRNA expression of enzymes of HA metabolism and fibroblast proliferation was examined by RT-PCR and BrdU incorporation, respectively. After 24 h of GC treatment (1µM) HA production decreased by an average of 67.9 ± 3.11% (p < 0.0001) in all cell cultures. HAS2, HAS3 and HYAL1 expression in OFs also decreased (p = 0.009, p = 0.0005 and p = 0.015, respectively). Ten ng/mL PDGF-BB increased HA production and fibroblast proliferation in all cell lines (p < 0.0001); GC treatment remained effective and reduced HA production under PDGF-BB-stimulated conditions (p < 0.0001). MP and DEX reduced (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively) PDGF-BB-induced HAS2 expression in OFs. MP and DEX treatment decreased PDGF-BB stimulated HAS3 expression (p = 0.035 and p = 0.029, respectively). None of the GCs tested reduced the PDGF-BB stimulated proliferation rate. Our results confirm that GCs directly reduce the HA production of OFs, which may contribute to the beneficial effect of GCs in GO.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of both enantiomers of 3-hydroxy- and 3-amino-3-phenylpropanoic acid

Ethyl (S)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate (S)-2 was obtained by the asymmetric reduction of ethyl 3-phenyl-3-oxopropionate 1 with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ATCC 9080). The kinetic resolution of racemic ethyl 2-acetoxy-3-phenyl-propionate rac-3 with the same microorganism, gave after hydrolysis ethyl (R)- and (S)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionates (R)-2 and (S)-2 which were converted by a straightforward series of reactions to the enantiomers of 3-amino-3-phenyl-propionic acids (S)-6 and (R)-6. The asymmetric reduction and hydrolytic kinetic resolution were also tested with several other whole cell systems under a variety of conditions.     

A support for the identification of non-tryptic peptides based on low resolution tandem and sequential mass spectrometry data: The INSPIRE software

A simple software, to be used as an aid in the identification of non-tryptic peptides based on low resolution (3D-ion trap) tandem (MS/MS) and sequential (MS³) mass spectrometry data, is presented.     

Optofluidic droplet router

This contribution presents an optofluidic droplet router which is able to route and steer microdroplets using optically induced forces created solely by the bulk photovoltaic effect on a nonlinear substrate. The combination of microfluidic tools with the properties of a photorefractive crystal allows for the generation of dielectrophoretic forces that can be either repulsive, leading to virtual barriers, or attractive, creating virtual rails. The sign of these forces is solely determined by the electrical properties of the liquid medium under investigation. Moreover, the induced structures on the bottom of the microfluidic channel are optically reconfigurable, so that the same device can easily be adopted for different purposes. Appropriate droplet‐generating devices are fabricated by UV illumination of SU‐8 and polydimethylsiloxane replica molding of the master structures. The bottom of the channels is formed by an iron‐doped lithium niobate crystal, whose internal electric fields are induced by structured illumination patterns and exert dielectrophoretic forces on droplets in the microfluidic section.

     

Flexural,impact, rheological and physical characterizations of POM reinforced by carbon nanotubes and paraffin oil

The paraffin oil dispersion technique innovated in the recent years to synthesize bulk polymer nanocomposite materials has a uniform dispersion. This research work aims to study the effect of added carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on flexural, impact and rheology behaviors of polyoxymethylene (POM) reinforced by 0–0.03 wt% of CNT using paraffin oil dispersion technique. The wettability and lamellar thickness were measured and rheological performance investigated using a parallel plate rheometer. The flexural and impact mechanical properties were also evaluated. The fracture surfaces were then examined by microscopy. The results showed that the energy to break, flexural strength and modulus increased proportionally with the addition of the amount of CNT in the matrix. For the rheology behavior, the viscosity decreased at the low percentage of CNT and then increased with increase in the percentage weight ratio of CNT in the POM matrix. It was also noted that the water contact angle rose with the increase the CNT percentages. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stereoselective synthesis of spirocyclic ketones by Nazarov reaction

[reaction: see text] The Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction between alpha-ethoxydienyl boronates and lactone-derived vinyl triflates affords functionalized 6-(1-ethoxy-1,3-butadienyl)dihydropyran derivatives that undergo a Nazarov electrocyclic reaction under mild acidic conditions to give functionalized spirocyclic ketones. The product distribution and the stereoselectivity of the process are strongly dependent on the substitution of both the alpha-ethoxydiene and dihydropyran moieties. High stereoselectivity is observed in the presence of a C2-substituent on the dihydropyran moiety. The results are explained in terms of transition state geometries.     

Dynamic-mechanical properties and melting points of some aliphatic and partially aromatic polyamides

Some aliphatic and partially aromatic polyamides have been prepared from hexamethylene diamine and the following dicarboxylic acids: deca-, octa-, hexa-methylenedicarboxylic, p-carboxymethylphenoxyacetic, p-carboxyethylphenoxyacetic, p-phenylenedipropionic, p-phenylenediacetic, p-carboxymethoxyphenoxyacetic, β(p-carboxymethyl)phenylpropionic.The dynamic-mechanical properties at 110 Hz have been measured between ?140° and about 200. Three relaxation processes α β and γ have been found: only the main transition α appreciably depends on chemical structure.The influences of the length of repeating unit and of in-chain substitution on melting points, crystallinity and the dynamic-mechanical α transition have been investigated. The results have been discussed in terms of chain flexibility, chain packing and intermolecular forces.