Synovial sarcoma: MR imaging

Ten patients with biopsy-proved synovial sarcoma were evaluated by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging on a 1.5-T unit. The lesions showed intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images and heterogeneous high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Tumors were well-demarcated from normal tissues. Additional information included adjacent bone involvement (one case), femoral vein invasion by tumor (one case), and hemorrhage within the tumors (one case). Four patients underwent a repeat MR examination following chemotherapy. This showed a decrease in size and increase in the signal intensity of three tumors on T2-weighted images, proven to be due to necrosis in one. These changes correlated with clinical regression of disease. While MR in synovial sarcoma does not have any specific signal intensity, it proved to be useful in defining the extent of disease and in determining the response to chemotherapy.     

In Vitro Evaluation and Statistical Optimization of Antimicrobial Activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus cerasoides</Emphasis> Stem Bark

Nature is a generous source of compounds with the potential for prevention of infections. Antimicrobial screening of aqueous extract from bark of wild Himalayan cherry (Prunus cerasoides) was carried out against various pathogenic microorganisms with inhibition zone ranging from 19 to 24 mm. An optimization strategy, which included classical method and statistical method (RSM), was applied to optimize the effect of process variables. Fifteen percent plant material extracted at 40 °C for 60 min and at its natural pH (4.5) exhibited best antimicrobial activity with an average zone of inhibition ranging from 19 to 29 mm. Statistical optimization using RSM further enhanced the activity by 1.09–1.24 folds. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the aqueous extract against different microorganism ranged from 1 to 10 mg/ml. The aqueous extract was found to be reasonably thermostable at boiling temperature for 1 h. Viable cell count (VCC) studies of the extract showed it to be bactericidal in nature. Further, the aqueous extract was found to be neither cytotoxic nor mutagenic, when evaluated by MTT assay and Ames mutagenicity test. The results suggest that the aqueous extract of P. cerasoides could be a potential source to obtain new antimicrobials and effective herbal medicines to combat the problem of ever emerging microbial resistance.     

Convenient synthesis of 5-methylene-4-substituted-2(5H)-furanones

A synthesis of novel 4-(substituted)benzyl-5-methylene-2(5H)-furanones involving Stobbe condensation of substituted aldehydes with ethyl levulinate followed by treatment with acetic anhydride in the presence of sodium acetate, has been developed.     

Stabilisation of tetravalent cerium in perchloric acid medium and measurement of the stability constants of its fluoride complexes using ion selective potentiometry

The stability constants of the fluoride complexes of cerium(IV) in 1 M (HClO(4), NaClO(4)) medium have been measured potentiometrically using a fluoride ion-selective electrode. Quantitative oxidation of cerium to its tetravalent state and its stabilisation in the perchlorate medium were accomplished by oxidation with AgO followed by quick addition of a known amount of fluoride ion. This procedure ensures stability of the oxidation state and prevents hydrolysis and polymerisation of Ce(IV). Logarithms of the average values of beta(1), beta(2), beta(3) and beta(4) were estimated to be 7.57+/-0.04, 14.50+/-0.03, 20.13+/-0.37 and 24.14+/-0.10 respectively.     

Chemoselective hydrogenation of substituted nitroaromatics using novel water-soluble iron complex catalysts

Chemoselective hydrogenation of substituted nitroaromatic compounds by water-soluble iron complex catalysts with molecular hydrogen has been reported for the first time. This biphasic catalyst presents an opportunity for a solvent-free hydrogenation. This catalyst system provides a low-cost, efficient alternative to the selective but environmentally unacceptable stoichiometric reductions as well as the supported noble metal catalysts used for hydrogenation. An efficient recycling strategy has resulted in a cumulative turnover number above 6000.     

Determination of fluoride by spectrophotometry of Arsenazo(III) complex of the back-extracted Th(IV)

A method based on the back-extraction of Th(IV) from its TTA complex in benzene by aqueous F^– followed by spectrophotometric measurement of Th(IV), for the determination of fluoride has been developed. The coefficients of variation obtained are 2.4% and 1.4% in 11 determinations at F^– concentration levels of 1.0 g ml^–1, respectively.     

Novel approaches to the purification of penicillin acylase

Penicillin acylase ofE. coli NCIM 2400 has been purified to homogeneity using a combination of hydrophobic interaction chromatography and DEAE-cellulose treatment. A variety of substituted matrices were synthesized using D- or DL-phenylglycine, norleucine, ampicillin, or amoxycillin as ligands, all of which retained penicillin acylase at high concentrations of ammonium sulfate or sodium sulfate. The enzyme could be eluted nonbiospecifically by buffer of lower ionic strength with over 95% recovery of the activity. Ammonium chloride, ammonium nitrate, sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, and potassium chloride were ineffective in either adsorption or elution of the enzyme on these columns. Further purification of this partially pure enzyme with DEAE-cellulose at pH 7.0–7.2 yielded an enzyme preparation of very high purity according to electrophoretic and ultracentrifugal analyses, its specific activity being as high as 37 U/mg protein. The purifiedf enzyme has a molecular weight of 67,000 a sedimentation coefficient of 4.0S, and resolves into two forms upon isoelectric focusing. Overall recoveries ranged between 75 and 85%. Ease of operation, high recoveries, high purity of the enzyme and prolonged reuse of the conjugates make the process economically feasible and possibly of great commercial importance.     

Protonated chiral prolinamide catalyzed enantioselective direct aldol reaction in water

Protonated chiral prolinamide organocatalysts have been shown to catalyze an enantioselective direct aldol process in water to provide the aldol product in high yield and good enantioselectivity. The two diastereomeric catalysts (S,R)-4b and (S,S)-4c show different reactivity.