Structures of americanol A and isoamericanol A having a neurotrophic property from the seeds of Phytolacca americana.

The structures of new neo-lignans, isoamericanol A (1) and americanol A (2) isolated from the seeds of Phytolacca americana have been elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and then confirmed by chemical correlation with the previously known isoamericanin A (3) and americanin A (4). Isoamericanol A, americanol A, and americanin A have been found to enhance choline acetyltransferase activity at 10(-5) M in a cultured neuronal cell system derived from fetal rat hemisphere.     

Enhancement of electronic excitation energy transfer in the colloidal crystals of colloidal silica suspensions doped with fluorescent dyes

The efficiency of electronic excitation energy transfer from photo-excited rhodamine 110 (Rh110, energy donor) to rhodamine B (RhB, energy acceptor) in an exhaustively deionized colloidal silica suspension has been studied. This colloidal suspension shows Bragg reflection due to the formation of colloidal crystals and the Bragg-peak wavelength is controllable by the volume fraction of the silica spheres. When the Bragg-peak wavelength matches with the fluorescence band of Rh110, a depletion was observed in the Rh110 fluorescence spectrum. This means the fluorescence of Rh110 is partially trapped due to the Bragg reflection inside the crystal lattice. In the coexistence of RhB, the enhancement of RhB fluorescence intensity was observed. These facts clearly indicate the trapped photon energy of Rh110 is efficiently transferred to RhB within the colloidal crystals. The quantitative measurements showed that the enhancement of the transfer efficiency is 20% (or slightly more) in the present experimental conditions.     

Electrode reaction of zinc ions at a dropping mercury electrode in ammonium sulphate solutions

The electrode reaction of Zn(II) at a DME in aqueous solutions of (NH₄)₂SO₄ has been studied by d.c. and square-wave polarography at 25.0±0.1°C. The electrochemical kinetic parameters for the reaction are determined. The appearance of the second wave in the square-wave polarogram has been attributed to the low values of the rate parameter and the transfer coefficient.     

Spectroscopic study on the crystal growth in gas evaporation: emission and absorption spectra from Cu smoke

Optical emission and absorption spectra from a growth zone in Cu smoke were measured by using a quartz prism spectrograph and a single-grating spectrophotometer. Atomic lines of Cu, band systems of Cu₂ were observed. Two new band systems with 0–0 band heads at 252.88 and 238.79 nm were found. The continuous spectra due to Rayleigh scattering by fine particles were also observed. Variations of density of various species as a function of vertical position were revealed.     

Synthesis and application of chiral bisphosphines through lithiation-conjugate addition tandem cyclization of chiral alpha,beta,psi,omega-unsaturated bisphosphine oxide

Upon treatment with lithium diisopropylamide achiral and chiral alpha,beta,psi,omega-unsaturated bisphosphine oxides underwent lithiation-conjugate addition tandem cyclization to afford the corresponding endo-alpha,beta-unsaturated cyclic bisphosphine oxides; sequential stereoselective reduction of the cyclized bisphosphine oxide gave the corresponding trans- and cis-bisphosphines that were successfully applicable in a catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation as chiral bisphosphine ligands.     

Formation of non-racemic E- and Z-olefins based on discrimination of enantiotopic carbonyl groups in α-diketones by a chiral phosphonate reagent

A chiral HWE reagent reacted with an alternative carbonyl group of meso-α-diketones of bicyclo[2.2.1] system to give non-racemic (Z)- and (E)-olefins, respectively.     

A study of embolizing materials for chemo-embolization therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma: embolic effect of cisplatin albumin microspheres using chitin and chitosan in dogs, and changes of cisplatin content in blood and tissue.

Hepatic artery of dogs was embolized with cisplatin (CDDP) albumin microspheres containing chitin and chitosan to investigate the in vivo CDDP release kinetics from CDDP albumin microspheres, the CDDP cumulative characteristics in the liver, and the influence of microsphere administration on hepatic tissue. Results showed that changes in blood CDDP content were dependent on CDDP albumin microsphere type and that release kinetics were better sustained when chitin was added to the microspheres or when the microspheres were treated with chitosan. In particular, the administration of CDDP in the chitin-containing CDDP chitosan albumin microspheres showed a blood CDDP content of approximately 0.26 micrograms Pt/ml 14 d after administration. The administration of chitin-containing or chitosan treated CDDP microspheres showed a CDDP content in the hepatic tissue of 0.14 to 0.23 micrograms Pt/g 28 d after administration. They also showed better control of CDDP release than those without chitin or chitosan treatment. No CDDP influence on hepatic tissue was observed. We conclude that, even in vivo, chitin and chitosan are effective embolic materials.     

Spectrofluorimetric assay for acyl CoA-cholesterol acyltransferase

A sensitive assay for acyl CoA-cholesterol acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.26) in rat liver microsomal and mitochondrial preparations is described. The lowered cholesterol concentration in the enzyme reaction with oleoyl CoA is determined spectrofluorimetrically by using the cholesterol oxidase/peroxidase/p-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid system. The assay requires as little as 20 μg of protein in the enzyme preparation.