New sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of clomipramine-HCl in pure form and pharmaceutical preparations

A simple, rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the assay of clomipramine-HCl is described. It has been found that clomipramine-HCl reacts with ammonium molybdate in acetic medium to give blue color product exhibiting maximum absorbance at 712 nm. The reaction is selective for clomipramine-HCl with 1 μg/mL as visual limit of detection. It provides a basis for a sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of clomipramine-HCl. The method obeys Beer’s Law from 0.001 to 0.250 mg/mL. The standard deviation does not exceed 0.005 mg/mL. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of clomipramine-HCl in pure form and pharmaceutical preparations. The quantitative assessment of tolerable amounts of possible interferants was also studied. The results are reproduced within ±1% and are in good agreement with those obtained by the standard procedure.     

Effect of Adenine Sulphate Interaction on Growth and Development of Shoot Regeneration and Inhibition of Shoot Tip Necrosis Under In Vitro Condition in Adult Syzygium cumini L.—a Multipurpose Tree

An efficient method for cloning Syzygium cumini (above 40 years old) through mature nodal segments has been successfully developed and that could be exploited for large-scale production of this valuable multipurpose tree. Nodal segments from mature tree were taken as explants and cultured on MS basal medium with different cytokinins (BA, Kin, AdS). The application of BA proved to be the best responsive cytokinin for the induction of shoot buds and shoots, but the proliferated shoots exhibited slower and stunted growth accompanied with abscission of leaves and shoot tip necrosis (STN). The problem of leaf abscission and STN was considerably reduced by the application of an adjuvant, adenine sulphate (AdS) in the optimal medium which led to the production of a maximum of 14 shoots. Further improvement in shoot bud regeneration and improved growth pattern of the regenerating tissue was obtained on the media comprised of MS?+?BA (10 μM)?+?GA₃ (2.5 μM). A total number of 15 shoots with mean shoot length of 5.9 cm was obtained. The healthy elongated shoots were then rooted on MS basal augmented with NAA (5 μM). The plantlets obtained were healthy and were successfully acclimatized and transferred under field condition with 70 % survival rate.     

Bucillamine Inhibits UVB-Induced MAPK Activation and Apoptosis in Human HaCaT Keratinocytes and SKH-1 Hairless Mouse Skin

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is known as a culprit in skin carcinogenesis. We have previously reported that bucillamine (N-[2-mercapto-2-methylpropionyl]-L-cysteine), a cysteine derivative with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, protects against UVB-induced p53 activation and inflammatory responses in mouse skin. Since MAPK signaling pathways regulate p53 expression and activation, here we determined bucillamine effect on UVB-mediated MAPK activation in vitro using human skin keratinocyte cell line HaCaT and in vivo using SKH-1 hairless mouse skin. A single low dose of UVB (30 mJ cm⁻²) resulted in increased JNK/MAPK phosphorylation and caspase-3 cleavage in HaCaT cells. However, JNK activation and casaspe-3 cleavage were inhibited by pretreatment of HaCaT cells with physiological doses of bucillamine (25 and 100 µm ). Consistent with these results, bucillamine pretreatment in mice (20 mg kg⁻¹) inhibited JNK/MAPK and ERK/MAPK activation in skin epidermal cells at 6–12 and 24 h, respectively, after UVB exposure. Moreover, bucillamine attenuated UVB-induced Ki-67-positive cells and cleaved caspase-3-positive cells in mouse skin. These findings demonstrate that bucillamine inhibits UVB-induced MAPK signaling, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Together with our previous report, we provide evidence that bucillamine has a photoprotective effect against UV exposure.     

Thermal dry reforming of methane over La2O3 co-supported Ni/MgAl2O4 catalyst for hydrogen-rich syngas production

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The excess emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as CO2 and CH4 is posing an acute threat to the environment, and efficient ways are being sought to utilize...     

A Novel Docetaxel-Biotin Chemical Conjugate for Prostate Cancer Treatment

A novel conjugate of docetaxel and biotin (designated as IDD-1010) was designed and chemically synthesized via an ester linkage at position 2’ carbon in docetaxel. The synthesized pure IDD-1010 exhibits a potent anti-cancer activity in in vitro and in vivo studies. At 10 nM, IDD-1010 has induced increased apoptosis and mitotic arrest of PC3-Luc prostate cancer cells, causing aneuploidy and cell death at higher concentrations. Toxicology studies indicate that the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of IDD-1010 is 150 mg/kg in mice; equivalent to about 12.2 mg/kg of body weight, or to about an 850 mg dose for a patient weighing 70 kg. The MTD-treated mice exhibited weight gain similar to that of the control group, with no gross pathological signs at 14 days post-dosing. At a lower dose, IDD-1010 treatment did not lead to any significant weight loss in mice, although decreased the tumor volume stemming from injecting cancer cells into the dorsal loop of mouse prostate, and it was found to be more potent than Paclitaxel (reference drug). Similarly, IDD-1010 treatment significantly reduced tumor weight and thereby increased the percentage of mice survival as compared to reference drug-treated and control groups. To summarize, the described experiments using IDD-1010, as compared to the reference drug, strongly suggest a potential treatment utility with a wider therapeutic window for prostate cancer. Henceforth, clinical research on such a novel drug candidate would be greatly worthwhile.     

On the wake of a circular cylinder with nodal and saddle attachment

Flow field of a cylinder with a mid-span curvature was experimentally investigated in a wind tunnel and a water tunnel. The azimuthal orientation of the cylinder was changed to obtain a nodal, saddle and a mixed nodal–saddle type of flow attachment. Surface flow topology suggested that the nature of the attachment strongly influenced the spanwise distributions of foci structures that play a significant role in introducing three-dimensionality in the immediate wake. Flow visualization in the water tunnel revealed that the length of a vortex formation region also followed the changes in the nature of the attachment. A symmetric shedding of vortices was observed with a saddle type of attachment. Wake mean velocity profiles showed that the velocity defect and therefore the drag of a curved cylinder was minimum for nodal, and maximum for saddle type of attachment. Nomenclature of the wake was compared with asymptotic profiles and equilibrium parameters. Approach to self-preservation, similarity and other features are discussed.     

Simultaneous determination of ofloxacin,tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride,and prednisolone acetate by high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple, specific, and precise high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of ofloxacin (OFX), tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride (THC), and prednisolone acetate (PAC) in ophthalmic suspension using propylparaben (POP) as the internal standard. The mobile phase consists of 0.05 M phosphate buffer-acetonitrile (65:35, v/v), and the pH is adjusted to 2.7 with orthophosphoric acid. A column containing octadecyl silane chemically bonded to porous silica particles (Waters Spherisorb, 5 microm ODS 1, 4.6 x 150 mm) is used as the stationary phase. The detection is carried out using a variable wavelength UV-vis detector set at 210 nm for OFX and THC and 254 nm for POP (internal standard) and PAC. The solutions are chromatographed at a constant flow rate of 1.2 mL/min. Retention times for OFX, THC, POP, and PAC are approximately 2.5, 4.5, 7.8, and 9.5 min, respectively. The relative retention times are approximately 0.14 min for OFX, 0.35 min for THC, 1.00 min for POP, and 1.22 min for PAC. The linearity range and percent recoveries for OFX, THC, and PAC are 24-120, 4-16, and 16-80 microg/mL and 100.48%, 100.34%, and 100.21%, respectively.     

新疆阿拉山口地区鼠类群落物种多样性的初步研究

根据阿拉山品地区环境和鼠类分布的差异将该地区的鼠类划分为５种鼠类群落，（１）红尾沙鼠＋五趾跳鼠群落，（２）五趾跳鼠＋小家鼠群落；（３）红尾沙鼠群落；（４）褐家鼠＋小家鼠群落；（５）小家鼠＋灰仓鼠群落，同时对鼠类群落的多样性－均匀度和相似性等进行了初步分析。