Volatile components of selected liverworts, and cytotoxic, radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities of their crude extracts

Crude extracts of the Tahitian liverworts Mastigophora diclados and Frullania sp., the Indonesian Frullania sp., Dumortiera hirsuta and Marchantia sp., and the Japanese Porella perrottetiana were investigated chemically by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). All extracts contained various volatile sesqui- and diterpenoids and a few aromatic compounds. The Tahitian M. diclados and Frullania sp., and the Indonesian Frullania sp. exhibited cytotoxic activity against HL-60 and KB cell lines. The extracts of the Tahitian M. diclados and the Indonesian Marchantia sp. showed radical scavenging activity, whereas the crude extracts of the Tahitian M. diclados and Frullania sp., and the Indonesian Frullania and Marchantia sp. showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis.     

Reducing nuclear danger through intergovernmental technical exchanges on nuclear materials safety management

The United States (U.S.) and Russia are dismantling nuclear weapons and generating hundreds of tons of excess plutonium and high-enriched uranium fissile nuclear materials that require disposition. The U.S. Department of Energy and the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Atomic Energy (Minatom) organizations are planning and implementing safe, secure storage and disposition operations for these materials in numerous facilities. This provides a new opportunity for technical exchanges between Russian and U.S. scientists that can establish an improved and sustained common safety culture for handling these materials. An initiative that develops and uses personal relationships and joint projects among Russian and U.S. participants involved in nuclear materials safety management contributes to improving nuclear materials nonproliferation and to making a safer world. Technical exchanges and workshops are being used to systematically identify opportunities in the nuclear materials facilities to improve and ensure the safety of workers, the public, and the environment.     

Spectrophotometric and fluorimetric determination of diazepam, bromazepam and clonazepam in pharmaceutical and urine samples

New spectrophotometric and fluorimetric methods have been developed to determine diazepam, bromazepam and clonazepam (1,4-benzodiazepines) in pure forms, pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluid. The new methods are based on measuring absorption or emission spectra in methanolic potassium hydroxide solution. Fluorimetric methods have proved selective with low detection limits, whereas photometric methods showed relatively high detection limits. Successive applications of developed methods for drugs determination in pharmaceutical preparations and urine samples were performed. Photometric methods gave linear calibration graphs in the ranges of 2.85-28.5, 0.316-3.16, and 0.316-3.16 microgml-1 with detection limits of 1.27, 0.08 and 0.13 microgml-1 for diazepam, bromazepam and clonazepam, respectively. Corresponding average errors of 2.60, 5.26 and 3.93 and relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) of 2.79, 2.12 and 2.83, respectively, were obtained. Fluorimetric methods gave linear calibration graphs in the ranges of 0.03-0.34, 0.03-0.32 and 0.03-0.38 microgml-1 with detection limits of 7.13, 5.67 and 16.47 ngml-1 for diazepam, bromazepam and clonazepam, respectively. Corresponding average errors of 0.29, 4.33 and 5.42 and R.S.D.s of 1.27, 1.96 and 1.14 were obtained, respectively. Statistical Students t-test and F-test have been used and satisfactory results were obtained.     

智能响应材料在磷酸化肽和糖肽富集中的应用

蛋白质的磷酸化和糖基化作为研究最广泛的两种翻译后修饰(PTMs),在疾病的早期无创诊断、预后和治疗评估中表现出越来越大的潜力。蛋白质的异常磷酸化和糖基化经常被用于临床蛋白质组学研究和疾病相关生物标志物的发现。目前已有多种材料被开发用于磷酸化肽和糖肽的富集研究,其中,智能响应材料由于具有独特的响应特性,已被陆续报道用于磷酸化肽和糖肽的富集。智能响应材料可对外界刺激做出响应,发生结构和性质上的变化,将光、电、热、机械等信号转化为生物化学信号。响应分子是决定智能响应材料响应特性的先决条件,它们在不同刺激条件下(如温度、pH、光、机械应力、电磁场等)的可逆异构化将导致材料的宏观物理和化学性质的动态变化。与传统材料相比,智能响应材料可以可逆地“打开”和“关闭”,具有更好的可调控性。由于引起智能材料响应的刺激信号对其性能具有重要的影响,综述根据施加的刺激种类对智能响应材料进行分类,具体分为外源性响应材料和内源性响应材料,且分别总结了外源性响应材料、内源性响应材料以及内外源共同响应材料在磷酸化肽和糖肽富集方面的工作。此外,综述对智能响应材料在磷酸化肽和糖肽富集方面的发展前景进行了展望,并且提出了智能响应材料在其他蛋白质翻译后修饰方面的应用中存在的挑战。     

重组嗜热β-葡萄糖苷酶转化稀有人参皂苷Rd和CK

利用高效液相色谱(HPLC)法,对重组嗜热β-葡萄糖苷酶(Fpglu1)转化稀有人参皂苷(Rd和CK)进行研究,并表征了其催化动力学参数.利用同源模建和分子动力学模拟等生物信息学技术,探究了Fpglu1转化人参皂苷的结构基础及其相互作用.结果表明,Fpglu1能够水解人参总皂苷生成稀有皂苷Rd和CK,其催化人参皂苷Rb_1,Rb_2和Rc的K_m值分别为0.318,1.840和5.269 mmol/L;酶的转换数(k_(cat))值分别为144.191,0.572和0.011 s~(-1).当转化时间分别为6和102 h时,Rd和CK的产率达到最大,分别为60%和93%.通过对该酶的结构预测及皂苷分子的对接研究发现,底物位于由疏水性氨基酸构成的底物口袋中,氨基酸残基Glu194和Glu367是参与催化作用的关键,且实验测得的酶促反应动力学参数(K_m)与对接的相互作用能量值存在线性关系.     

A comparative study of chiral separation of proton pump inhibitors by supercritical fluid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography

A comparative study of chiral separation of pantoprazole and rabeprazole is carried out using supercritical fluid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The columns used were Chiralpak IA and Chiralpak IE. The best mobile phase in supercritical fluid chromatography was carbon dioxide-0.2% triethylamine in methanol (60:40) and 0.1% triethylamine in n-hexane-ethanol (50:50) in high-performance liquid chromatography. For supercritical fluid chromatography, values of the retention factor of pantoprazole enantiomers were 3.97 and 4.88. These values for rabeprazole enantiomers were 6.10 and 7.52. The values of separation and resolution factor for pantoprazole and rabeprazole were 1.23 and 1.23 and 2.20 and 3.36, respectively. Similarly, for high-performance liquid chromatography, the values of retention factor for enantiomers of pantoprazole were 4.02 and 7.32. These values for rabeprazole enantiomers were 5.32 and 7.88, respectively. The values of separation and resolution factor for pantoprazole and rabeprazole were 1.82 and 1.48 and 9.22 and 6.58, respectively. A comparison was carried out, which confirmed supercritical fluid chromatography as the best method due to its fastness, eco-friendly, and inexpensiveness. The reported methods are effective, efficient, and reproducible and may be used to separate and identify pantoprazole and rabeprazole in any unknown samples.     

Effects of Cryoprotective Agents on the Bovine Articular Chondrocyte Viability

ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＡｌｌｏｇｒａｆｔｓａｎｄａｕｔｏｇｒａｆｔｓｈａｖｅｂｅｅｎｕｓｅｄｉｎｃｌｉｎｉ ｃａｌｏｐｅｒａｔｉｏｎｓｔｏｒｅｐａｉｒｄａｍａｇｅｄｃａｒｔｉｌａｇｅ .Ｔｈｉｓｐｒａｃ ｔｉｃｅｉｓｏｆｔｅｎｌｉｍｉｔｅｄ ,ｈｏｗｅｖｅｒ ,ｂｙｔｈｅａｖａｉｌａｂｉｌｉｔｙｏｆｃａｒｔｉｌａｇｅｔｉｓｓｕｅ .Ｍｏｒｅｏｖｅｒｉｔｉｓｎｏｔｐｏｓｓｉｂｌｅｔｏｐｒｅｄｉｃｔｗｈｅｎｆｒｅｓｈｈｕｍａｎｔｉｓｓｕｅｓｗｉｌｌｂｅｃｏｍｅａｖａｉｌａｂｌｅ .Ａｐｒｏｍｉｓｉｎｇａｌｔｅ…     

California Lomatiums, Part X. Comparison of composition of the hydrodistilled oils from two subspecies of Lomatium mohavense

The hydrodistilled oils from the fruits as well as the stems/leaves of Lomatium mohavense ssp. longilobum and Lomatium mohavense ssp. mohavense were analysed by GC and GC/MS. The respective oils from L. mohavense ssp. longilobum show (Z)-3-hexenol at 9.3% and 7.5%, β-sinensal at 18.8% and 6.8% and iso-α-sinensal at 18.9% and 19.3% as the major compounds. The corresponding oils from L. mohavense ssp. mohavense show β-phellandrene/limonene at 12.2% and 6.0%, β-elemene at 1.8% and 17.8%, β-caryophyllene at 8.9% and 7.8% and germacrene D at 18.8% and 10.8% as the predominant compounds.     

Analysis of anti-inflammatory dehydrodiisoeugenol and metabolites excreted in rat feces and urine using HPLC-UV

Dehydrodiisoeugenol (DDIE) is a lignan in the fruit of Myristica fragrans. It can be converted into several metabolites in in vitro and in vivo metabolism. In this study, the excretion of DDIE in urine and feces was investigated after intravenous (i.v.) and intragastric (i.g.) administration to rats. DDIE and its metabolites (M-1 and M-2) were measured using HPLC. The amount of DDIE and its metabolites excreted was higher in feces than in urine, suggesting that DDIE and its metabolites are eliminated primarily in the feces. Significant differences in the excretion levels of DDIE and its metabolites were seen between i.v. and i.g. administration. Greater amounts of DDIE and its metabolites were excreted following i.v. administration, suggesting that DDIE can exert a longer period of anti-inflammatory activity following i.g. administration. The accuracy, precision, recovery and stability of the analytical method in this study were satisfactory for the measurement of DDIE and its metabolites in rat urine and feces. Observations made in this study will contribute to understanding of the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion pathway of DDIE and will aid decision-making regarding the best mode of DDIE administration during treatment to maximize its anti-inflammatory effects.     

Nature spermidine and spermine alkaloids: Occurrence and pharmacological effects

Spermidine and spermine are special polyamines in organisms, and produced in vivo by putrescine and S-adenosylmethionine catalyzed by a variety of enzymes. Spermidine and spermine possess multiple amino groups, and are closely related to cell division, growth and survival. Spermidine and spermine alkaloids are widely distributed in plants, bacteria and marine organisms, and can be divided into macrocyclic and open chain according to the skeletons. Spermidine and spermine alkaloids exhibited numerous pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antibiotics, anti-tumor, anti-Alzheimer and anti-virus. However, up to now, there are few systematic reviews on spermidine and spermine alkaloids. In this review, based on the number of atoms in the ring, we summarized the distributions and pharmacological effects of spermidine and spermine alkaloids. Spermidine and spermine alkaloids have special chemophenetic significances in the plant kingdom, especially the macrocyclic spermidine and spermine alkaloids. Spermidine alkaloids are much more abundant in nature than spermine alkaloids. The pharmacological activities of the open chain spermidine and spermine alkaloids are studied in depth. Polycyclic guanidine spermidine alkaloids, isolated from marine sponge, exhibit great potential in various cancer cells. However, pharmacological studies of macrocyclic spermidine and spermine alkaloids are scarce. Synthesis is an effective way to get more spermidine and spermine alkaloids and their analogues for further study.     

Carotenoids and their isomers: color pigments in fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are colorful pigment-containing food sources. Owing to their nutritional benefits and phytochemicals, they are considered as 'functional food ingredients'. Carotenoids are some of the most vital colored phytochemicals, occurring as all-trans and cis-isomers, and accounting for the brilliant colors of a variety of fruits and vegetables. Carotenoids extensively studied in this regard include β-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Coloration of fruits and vegetables depends on their growth maturity, concentration of carotenoid isomers, and food processing methods. This article focuses more on several carotenoids and their isomers present in different fruits and vegetables along with their concentrations. Carotenoids and their geometric isomers also play an important role in protecting cells from oxidation and cellular damages.     

剌梨利康饮对汞中毒大鼠汞铜锌含量的影响

用高汞水喂养大鼠８周,复制出慢性汞中毒模型,再分别自由饮用利康饮饮料和腹腔注射二巯基丙磺酸钠３周,探讨剌梨利康饮和二巯基丙磺酸钠对慢性汞中毒大鼠体内汞、铜、锌含量的影响。结果显示：慢性汞中毒引起血清、肝、脑和肾中汞含量升高的同时,引起血清、脑和肾中铜、锌含量及肝中锌含量降低;利康饮可降低血清和肾中汞含量,并可提高血清、脑和肾中铜、锌含量及肝含量;二巯基丙磺酸钠虽可降低血清、肝和肾中汞含量,升高血清     

Mutual physiological genetic mechanism of plant high water use efficiency and nutrition use efficiency

Water deficiency and lower fertilizer utilization efficiency are major constraints of productivity and yield stability. Improvements of crop water use efficiency (WUE) and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) is becoming an important objective in crop breeding. With the introduction of new physiological and biological approaches, we can better understand the mutual genetics mechanism of high use efficiency of water and nutrient. Much work has been done in past decades mainly including the interactions between different fertilizers and water influences on root characteristics and crop growth. Fertilizer quantity and form were regulated in order to improve crop WUE. The crop WUE and NUE shared the same increment tendency during evolution process; some genes associated with WUE and NUE have been precisely located and marked on the same chromosomes, some genes related to WUE and NUE have been cloned and transferred into wheat and rice and other plants, they can enhance water and nutrient use efficiency. The proteins transporting nutrient and water were identified such as some water channel proteins. The advance on the mechanism of higher water and nutrient use efficiency in crop was reviewed in this article, and it could provide some useful information for further research on WUE and NUE in crop.     

某些海生毒素(TTX、STX)对钠离子通道的作用研究

研究了河豚毒素（TTX）和石房蛤毒素（STX）及其衍生物的电子结构和分子构型．结果表明TTX中的胍基和半缩醛内酯环以及STX中的两个胍基均形成具有一个碳正电中心的两个高极性平面构型，三角形三个顶点的氮和氧原子分别带有大量负电荷．TTX和STX具有相似的电子结构和空间结构．对于TTX和STX及其衍生物的作用机理以及分子构型与毒性之间的关系也进行了讨论．     

Contributions to the Chemistry of the Binary Compounds of the Transition Elements

Phase and structural relationships of the sulfur, selenium, and tellurium compounds of the 4d and 5d transition elements of groups IV to VII of the periodic system are discussed. Homologous elements behave very similarly with respect to the chalcogens, and this is particularly the case for niobium and tantalum, and for molybdenum and tungsten. However, zirconium, niobium, and molybdenum have a greater tendency towards formation of chalcogen-poor phases than their homologues hafnium, tantalum, and tungsten. Subchalcogenides are known only for zirconium and niobium. The number of phases and the tendency towards formation of solid solutions are considerably smaller among the tellurides than among the sulfides and selenides. The crystal structures of the telluride phases also differ from those of the sulfide and selenide phases of analogous composition. In addition, a review of the phase and structural relationships of the arsenic and antimony compounds of the 4d and 5d transition elements of groups V to VII is given.     

Nonisotopic single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of sequence variability in ribosomal DNA expansion segments within the genus Trichinella (Nematoda: Adenophorea)

A nonisotopic single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) approach was employed to 'fingerprint' sequence variability in the expansion segment 5 (ES5) of domain IV and the D3 domain of nuclear ribosomal DNA within and/or among isolates and individual muscle (first-stage) larvae representing all currently recognized species/genotypes of Trichinella. In addition, phylogenetic analyses of the D3 sequence data set, employing three different tree-building algorithms, examined the relationships among all of them. These analyses showed strong support that the encapsulated species T. spiralis and T. nelsoni formed a group to the exclusion of the other encapsulated species T. britovi and its related genotypes Trichinella T8 and T9 and T. murrelli, and T. nativa and Trichinella T6, and strong support that T. nativa and Trichinella T6 grouped together. Also, these eight encapsulated members grouped to the exclusion of the nonencapsulated species T. papuae and T. zimbabwensis and the three representatives of T. pseudospiralis investigated. The findings showed that nonencapsulated species constitute a complex group which is distinct from the encapsulated species and supported the current hypothesis that encapsulated Trichinella group external to the nonencapsulated forms, in accordance with independent biological and biochemical data sets.     

可控阵列微纳结构超疏水铜表面冰霜传质特性

金属表面粗糙结构及其润湿性对其露、霜、冰的相变及传质现象有重要影响. 通过电火花微加工和化学氧化法,本文首先实现了铜片表面微米、纳米阵列结构的可控制备. 针对条纹,方柱和四棱锥三种典型微米结构特征,对比研究了单级粗糙结构和二级复合结构超疏水表面的润湿性、结露、结霜、结冰及其融化过程. 微纳复合结构可有效增强超疏水性,减少霜晶形核和生长速度,同时还能大幅度延缓结冰的时间,多次冷热循环处理后,表面仍能保持较好的防霜抗冰性能. 通过经典形核理论,Brown 凝并,一维传热及传质理论,综合分析了冰霜在这种表面的传质特性.     

Epimerization and racemization of some chiral drugs in the presence of cyclodextrin and liposomes

The effects of alpha-, beta-, gamma- and dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrins (alpha-, beta-, gamma- and DM-beta-CyDs) and liposomes on epimerization or racemization of etoposide, ethiazide and carbenicillin were examined kinetically. alpha- and beta-CyDs accelerated both epimerization and hydrolysis of carbenicillin. They had no effect on epimerization of etoposide, and did not affect racemization and hydrolysis of ethiazide. DM-beta-CyD retarded epimerization of etoposide, hydrolysis of picroetoposide (which is an epimer of etoposide), and racemization and hydrolysis of ethiazide, but had no effect on epimerization and hydrolysis of carbenicillin. gamma-CyD retarded epimerization of etoposide and hydrolysis of picroetoposide. On the other hand, gamma-CyD accelerated epimerization of carbenicillin. It is suggested that the formation of inclusion complexes between CyDs and etoposide, picroetoposide and ethiazide inhibited the attack of bases such as OH- and buffer components, thereby retarding epimerization, racemization and hydrolysis. On the other hand, alpha-, beta- and gamma-CyDs increased the reactivity of carbenicillin through the OH group, accelerating its epimerization and hydrolysis. Liposomes retarded epimerization of etoposide, hydrolysis of picroetoposide and racemization of ethiazide. Liposomes did not affect epimerization and hydrolysis of carbenicillin. These differences in the effect of liposomes on reactivity may be interpreted in terms of the solubility of the drugs.     

VI. Direct titrimetric microdetermination of L-serine and L-lysine VII. Simultaneous stepwise microdetermination of combinations of amino acids without separating

-Serine and -lysine have been quantitatively determined in microamounts separately and in presence of each by direct titrations against mercuric and zinc chlorides, respectively. The two amino acids form complexes with mercuric and zinc ions in the ratio of 1:2. Maximum error for -serine and -lysine is 0.5 and 0.9%, respectively. These two amino acids in double and triple combinations with -histidine and -arginine have been titrated successfully in one solution without separation. In separate titrations, and in other combinations, congo red and xylenol orange solutions have been used only as indicators. Titrations are accurate, quick, and reproducible.     

Anti-Platelet Aggregation and Anti-Cyclooxygenase Activities for a Range of Coffee Extracts (Coffea arabica)

Coffee is rich in caffeine (CF), chlorogenic acid (CGA) and phenolics. Differing types of coffee beverages and brewing procedures may result in differences in total phenolic contents (TPC) and biological activities. Inflammation and increases of platelet activation and aggregation can lead to thrombosis. We focused on determining the chemical composition, antioxidant activity and inhibitory effects on agonist-induced platelet aggregation and cyclooxygenase (COX) of coffee beverages in relation to their preparation method. We prepared instant coffee and brewed coffee beverages using drip, espresso, and boiling techniques. Coffee extracts were assayed for their CF and CGA contents using HPLC, TPC using colorimetry, platelet aggregation with an aggregometer, and COX activity using ELISA. The findings have shown all coffee extracts, except the decaffeinated types, contained nearly equal amounts of CF, CGA, and TPC. Inhibitory effects of coffee extracts on platelet aggregation differed depending on the activation pathways induced by different agonists. All espresso, drip and boiled coffee extracts caused dose dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, epinephrine, and arachidonic acid (ARA). The most marked inhibition was seen at low doses of collagen or ARA. Espresso and drip extracts inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation more than purified caffeine or CGA. Espresso, boiled and drip coffee extracts were also a more potent inhibitors of COX-1 and COX-2 than purified caffeine or CGA. We conclude that inhibition of platelet aggregation and COX-1 and COX-2 may contribute to anti-platelet and anti-inflammatory effects of espresso and drip coffee extracts.