A specific sensitive HPLC method for determination of plasma dopamine

Summary We describe here a sensitive, selective and rapid method to quantitate plasma catecholamines, especially dopamine, using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. This method requires a 10-minute run time and has a threshold for detection of 2 picograms, (10pg/ml).A number of commonly employed mobile phases for catecholamine analysis have been tested and have failed to detect dopamine in biological samples. Neither acetonitrile (3–7%) or methanol, (5–8%) in the mobile phase has produced consistently interpretable data either due to inability to detect or interference from co-eluting substances. Optimal detection was achieved with a mobile phase containing sodium acetate (6.8g), citric acid (5.9g), EDTA (48mg), di-n-butylamine (270l), Na-1-octane sulfate (850mg), methanol (100 ml) (amounts refer to 1 liter aqueous solution) (pH 4.3). The mobile phase was passed through a Waters 5 resolve C₁₈ column using a Waters 590 pump and m460 electrochemical detector and 740 data module, Flow rate was 0.9ml/min. Using this method, normal values in human and swine left ventricular myocardium and human and swine plasma have been established for norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine.     

聚苯醚砜在二甲基甲酰胺中稀溶液性质的研究(Ⅱ)

本文用广角及准弹性光散射法测定了聚苯醚砜各级分在DMF中和在θ溶剂中25℃时的均才半径R_G,第二维利系数A_2,流体力学半经R_H,扩散系数D_O,扩散系数的浓度依赖性k_F以及这些参数与分子量M的关系。它们的结果如下R_G=0.031MO~(0.55) D_O(θ)=0.906×10~(-4)M~(0.5) D_0=1.445×10~(-4)M~(0.55)A_2=0.033M~(-0.35) k_D(θ)=0.5M~(0.34) k_D=2.3×10~(-6)M~(1.36)α_H=R_H/R_H(θ)=0.63M~(0.05)R_H(θ)=0.0299M~(0.5)R_H=0.0188M~(0.55) 作者讨论了静态与动态两种高分子尺寸之间的关系;三种溶胀因子α_η和、α_H、α_G之间的关系;以及摩擦系数的浓度系数k_F与流体力学体积V_H之间的关系。它们的结果满足下面各关系式: R_H/R_G=[π(v+1)(2v+1)/3]~(1/2)(2-v)(1-v)/2, α_η~3=α_(G)~2α_H, k_F=1.2A_2M+N_AV_H/M,K_F(θ)=N_AV_H/M     

Titanium-dioxide-mediated photocatalysis reaction of three selected pesticide derivatives

The photocatalysis reaction of three selected pesticide derivatives, namely methoxychlor (1), chlorothalonil (2) and disulfoton (3), has been investigated in an acetonitrile/water mixture in the presence of titanium dioxide and oxygen. The change as a function of irradiation time has been monitored using the UV spectroscopic analysis technique. An attempt has been made to identify the product formed during the photooxidation process through GC/MS analysis technique. The photolysis of methoxychlor (1) led to the formation of methoxychlor olefin (4) and 4,4-dimethoxybenzophenone (9), whereas chlorothalonil (2) gave rise to 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol (17) as the only product. On the other hand, the photolysis of disulfoton (3) under analogous conditions gave disulfoton sulfoxide (25) and phosphorodithioic acid (21). All the products have been identified by comparing the molecular ion and mass fragmentation peaks of the products with those reported in the library. A probable mechanism for the formation of the products has been proposed.     

A novel chaos control strategy for discrete-time Brusselator models

This article deals with the dynamical analysis of discrete-time Brusselator models. Euler’s forward and nonstandard difference schemes are implemented for discretization of Brusselator system. We investigate the local dynamics related to equilibria of both discrete-time models. Furthermore, with the help of bifurcation theory and center manifold theorem, explicit parametric conditions for directions and existence of flip and Hopf bifurcations are investigated. A novel chaos control method is implemented in order to control chaos in discrete-time Brusselator models under the influence of flip and Hopf bifurcations. Numerical simulations are provided to illustrate theoretical discussion and effectiveness of newly introduced chaos control strategy.     

Medicinal Potential of Isoflavonoids: Polyphenols That May Cure Diabetes

In recent years, there is emerging evidence that isoflavonoids, either dietary or obtained from traditional medicinal plants, could play an important role as a supplementary drug in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) due to their reported pronounced biological effects in relation to multiple metabolic factors associated with diabetes. Hence, in this regard, we have comprehensively reviewed the potential biological effects of isoflavonoids, particularly biochanin A, genistein, daidzein, glycitein, and formononetin on metabolic disorders and long-term complications induced by T2DM in order to understand whether they can be future candidates as a safe antidiabetic agent. Based on in-depth in vitro and in vivo studies evaluations, isoflavonoids have been found to activate gene expression through the stimulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) (α, γ), modulate carbohydrate metabolism, regulate hyperglycemia, induce dyslipidemia, lessen insulin resistance, and modify adipocyte differentiation and tissue metabolism. Moreover, these natural compounds have also been found to attenuate oxidative stress through the oxidative signaling process and inflammatory mechanism. Hence, isoflavonoids have been envisioned to be able to prevent and slow down the progression of long-term diabetes complications including cardiovascular disease, nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. Further thoroughgoing investigations in human clinical studies are strongly recommended to obtain the optimum and specific dose and regimen required for supplementation with isoflavonoids and derivatives in diabetic patients.     

Carbon/carbon supercapacitors

Supercapacitors, or electrochemical capacitors, are a power storage system applied for harvesting energy and delivering pulses during short periods of time. The commercially available technology is based on charging an electrical double-layer (EDL), and using high surface area carbon electrodes in an organic electrolyte. This review first presents the state-of-the-art on EDL capacitors, with the objective to better understand their operating principles and to improve their performance. In particular, it is shown that capacitance might be enhanced for carbons having subnanometric pores where ions of the electrolyte are distorted and partly desolvated. Then, strategies for using environment friendly aqueous electrolytes are presented. In this case, the capacitance can be enhanced through pseudo-faradaic contributions involving i) surface functional groups on carbons, ii) hydrogen electrosorption, and iii) redox reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface. The most promising system is based on the use of aqueous alkali sulfate as electrolyte allowing voltages as high as 2 V to be reached, due to the high overpotential for di-hydrogen evolution at the negative electrode.     

Preparation and dispersion stability of aqueous metal oxide nanofluids for potential heat transfer applications: a review of experimental studies

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Nanofluids have recently attracted attention of many researchers due to their growing potential applications in heat transfer devices. They possess...     

Methoxy-Substituted Tyramine Derivatives Synthesis,Computational Studies and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Kinetics

Targeting tyrosinase for melanogenesis disorders is an established strategy. Hydroxyl-substituted benzoic and cinnamic acid scaffolds were incorporated into new chemotypes that displayed in vitro inhibitory effects against mushroom and human tyrosinase for the purpose of identifying anti-melanogenic ingredients. The most active compound 2-((4-methoxyphenethyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl (E)-3-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl) acrylate (Ph9), inhibited mushroom tyrosinase with an IC₅₀ of 0.059 nM, while 2-((4-methoxyphenethyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl cinnamate (Ph6) had an IC₅₀ of 2.1 nM compared to the positive control, kojic acid IC₅₀ 16700 nM. Results of human tyrosinase inhibitory activity in A375 human melanoma cells showed that compound (Ph9) and Ph6 exhibited 94.6% and 92.2% inhibitory activity respectively while the positive control kojic acid showed 72.9% inhibition. Enzyme kinetics reflected a mixed type of inhibition for inhibitor Ph9 (K_i 0.093 nM) and non-competitive inhibition for Ph6 (K_i 2.3 nM) revealed from Lineweaver–Burk plots. In silico docking studies with mushroom tyrosinase (PDB ID:2Y9X) predicted possible binding modes in the catalytic site for these active compounds. Ph9 displayed no PAINS (pan-assay interference compounds) alerts. Our results showed that compound Ph9 is a potential candidate for further development of tyrosinase inhibitors.     

Formulation of Piperine–Chitosan-Coated Liposomes: Characterization and In Vitro Cytotoxic Evaluation

The present research work is designed to prepare and evaluate piperine liposomes and piperine–chitosan-coated liposomes for oral delivery. Piperine (PPN) is a water-insoluble bioactive compound used for different diseases. The prepared formulations were evaluated for physicochemical study, mucoadhesive study, permeation study and in vitro cytotoxic study using the MCF7 breast cancer cell line. Piperine-loaded liposomes (PLF) were prepared by the thin-film evaporation method. The selected liposomes were coated with chitosan (PLFC) by electrostatic deposition to enhance the mucoadhesive property and in vitro therapeutic efficacy. Based on the findings of the study, the prepared PPN liposomes (PLF3) and chitosan coated PPN liposomes (PLF3C1) showed a nanometric size range of 165.7 ± 7.4 to 243.4 ± 7.5, a narrow polydispersity index (>0.3) and zeta potential (−7.1 to 29.8 mV). The average encapsulation efficiency was found to be between 60 and 80% for all prepared formulations. The drug release and permeation study profile showed biphasic release behavior and enhanced PPN permeation. The in vitro antioxidant study results showed a comparable antioxidant activity with pure PPN. The anticancer study depicted that the cell viability assay of tested PLF3C2 has significantly (p < 0.001)) reduced the IC₅₀ when compared with pure PPN. The study revealed that oral chitosan-coated liposomes are a promising delivery system for the PPN and can increase the therapeutic efficacy against the breast cancer cell line.