Asymmetric cationic coordination environments in new oxide materials: synthesis and characterization of Pb(4)Te(6)M(10)O(41) (M = Nb(5+) or Ta(5+))

Two new isostructural tellurites, Pb(4)Te(6)M(10)O(41) (M = Nb(5+) or Ta(5+)), have been synthesized by standard solid-state techniques using PbO, Nb(2)O(5) (or Ta(2)O(5)), and TeO(2) as reagents. The structures of Pb(4)Te(6)Nb(10)O(41) and Pb(4)Te(6)Ta(10)O(41) were determined by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. The materials exhibit a three-dimensional framework consisting of layers of corner-shared NbO(6) octahedra connected by TeO(3) and PbO(6) polyhedra. The Nb(5+), Te(4+), and Pb(2+) cations are in asymmetric coordination environments attributable to second-order Jahn-Teller effects. The Nb(5+) cations undergo an intraoctahedral distortion either toward a face or a corner, whereas the Te(4+) and Pb(2+) cations are in distorted environments attributable to their lone pair. In addition, the TeO(3) polyhedra strongly influence the direction of the Nb(5+) intraoctahedral distortion. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dielectric measurements are also presented. Crystal data: Pb(4)Te(6)Nb(10)O(41), monoclinic, space group C2/m (No. 12), with a = 23.412(3) A, b = 20.114(3) A, c = 7.5008(10) A, beta = 99.630(4) degrees, V = 3482.4(8) A(3), and Z = 4; Pb(4)Te(6)Ta(10)O(41), monoclinic, space group C2/m (No. 12), with a = 23.340(8) A, b = 20.068(5) A, c = 7.472(2) A, beta = 99.27(3) degrees, V = 3453.8(2) A(3), and Z = 4.     

A new isoprenyl phenyl ether compound from mangrove fungus

A new isoprenyl phenyl ether, 3-hydroxy-4-(3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)benzoic acid methyl ester (1), together with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (2), 2-hydroxy-6-methylbenzoic acid (3), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (4) were isolated from Mangrove fungus (No. B60) from the South China Sea. The structures of the compounds were established on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. In the preliminary bioassay, compound 1 exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activities. Compound 1 also inhibited cytotoxicity to the hepG2 cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 10.0 μg/mL. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 313–314, July–August, 2007.     

Global Forcing Number of Benzenoid Graphs

A global forcing set in a simple connected graph G with a perfect matching is any subset S of E(G) such that the restriction of the characteristic function of perfect matchings of G on S is an injection. The number of edges in a global forcing set of the smallest cardinality is called the global forcing number of G. In this paper we prove several results concerning global forcing sets and numbers of benzenoid graphs. In particular, we prove that all catacondensed benzenoids and catafused coronoids with n hexagons have the global forcing number equal to n, and that for pericondensed benzenoids the global forcing number is always strictly smaller than the number of hexagons.     

Thermal studies of pre-formulates of metronidazole obtained by spray drying technique

Compatibility studies between active drugs and excipients are substantial in the pharmaceutical technology. The objective of the present work was to develop pre-formulated mixtures of metronidazole (MT) obtained by spray drying (SPDR) and their thermoanalytical characterization. Dynamic and isothermal TG, conventional DSC and DSC coupled to a photovisual system were used. DSC experiments with both techniques confirmed the homogeneity of the conventional and pre-formulated mixtures. The TG data made possible the comparison the thermal stability of the different mixtures. Similar thermal stabilities were found of the conventional and pre-formulated mixtures, with slower particles sizes of MT.     

Liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry/nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of the anti-hyperglycemic flavonoid extract of Genista tenera. Structure elucidation of a flavonoid-C-glycoside

The anti-hyperglycemic flavonoid extract obtained from Genista tenera was first studied by liquid chromatography (LC)-diode array detection (DAD) which showed the presence of two major compounds. One of them was identified as genistein-7-O-glucoside. Luteolin-7-O-glucoside was detected as a minor constituent, while luteolin-7,3'-di-O-glucoside and rutin were found in trace amounts. LC-DAD-ESI-MS and NMR were used to confirm the structure of these compounds and allowed the elucidation of the structure of the unknown major compound, which is the flavonoid 5,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone-8-C-glucoside.     

Analysis of transient membrane protein interactions by single-molecule diffusional mobility shift assay

Various repertoires of membrane protein interactions determine cellular responses to diverse environments around cells dynamically in space and time. Current assays, however, have limitations in unraveling these interactions in the physiological states in a living cell due to the lack of capability to probe the transient nature of these interactions on the crowded membrane. Here, we present a simple and robust assay that enables the investigation of transient protein interactions in living cells by using the single-molecule diffusional mobility shift assay (smDIMSA). Utilizing smDIMSA, we uncovered the interaction profile of EGFR with various membrane proteins and demonstrated the promiscuity of these interactions depending on the cancer cell line. The transient interaction profile obtained by smDIMSA will provide critical information to comprehend the crosstalk among various receptors on the plasma membrane.Subject terms: Fluorescence imaging, Super-resolution microscopy, Single-molecule biophysics     

Heterocyclic inflammation inhibitors

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most widely used medicines for relief of pain. These drugs have some side effects, particularly toxicity in the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys. Various approaches have been used for obtaining safer anti-inflammatory drugs. In this review we have summarized the recent developments in the following areas; (i) mode of action of NSAIDs (ii) Role of COX-1 & COX-2 in inflammation, (iii) Different approaches used to improve gastric tolerance i.e. chemical manipulation, formulation & co-administration, development of non specific (COX-1 & COX-2 inhibitors) and specific (COX-2 inhibitors) inflammation inhibitors, and development of inflammation inhibitors having a mode of action other than COX-1 & COX-2 inhibition. We have also focused on the safety of COX-2 inhibitors and the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds and their role as inflammation inhibitors.     

Characterization of amiodarone metabolites and impurities using liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Using the high performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS/MS) technique, together with established trends from the literature, the structures of metabolites and impurities of amiodarone, an anti-arrhythmic drug, have been assigned. By comparing analyses of products of incubation with rat liver microsomes with controls in which glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was omitted, metabolites could be distinguished from impurities. Structures for the two proposed metabolites and four impurities are proposed.     

Lysophosphatidic acid induces astrocyte proliferation in hippocampus slices partially through activating extracellular signal-regulated kinases

The goal of the present study is to test the hypothesis that LPA induces proliferation of astrocytes in hippocampus in vivo via phosphorylation of ERK 1/2. We first characterized the expression of GFAP, a special marker fiber protein of astrocytes, in brain slices after direct injection of LPA into hippocampus by immunohistochemistry, and found that LPA induced a remarkable proliferation of astrocytes. Then double-lablled immunofluorescence was used to detect GFAP and phosphorylation ERK 1/2 (p-ERK 1/2), LPA induced an immediate (10 min) and transient (<30 min) phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, and sequence sustained activation of ERK 1/2 was observed, which last for at least 3 weeks after injection of LPA. Reactions are inhibited by U0126, a specific pharmacological mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor. Laser confocal scanning was used to study spatial relationship of p-ERK and astrocytes. Amazingly, the early (<7 days) phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 is not expressed in astrocytes but in area where neurons and/or in other cell type(s) occupied, expression of p-ERK 1/2 in astrocytes is not detected until 14 days after LPA injection and lasts for at least 3 weeks. Taken together, these data suggest that LPA play an important role in proliferation of astrocytes through phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 in hippocampus. It provides further proof for the functions of LPA in CNS injury, and may contribute to clinical therapy for relative diseases.     

聚N—异丙基丙烯酰胺溶液的温度依赖关系

用自由基聚合法合成了聚Ｎ－异丙基丙烯酰胺（ＰＮＩＰＡＡＭ）样品，用乌氏粘度计考查了该聚合物的四氢呋喃（ＴＨＦ）溶液和水溶液的粘度与温度的依赖关系。发现ＰＮＩＰＡＡＭ－ＴＨＦ体系的特性粘数随温度升高而增大，ＰＮＩＰＡＡＭ－Ｈ２Ｏ体系的特性粘数－温度曲线表现出较为复杂的变化规律。并用实验确定的特性粘数对合成样品的分子量进行了表征Ｍｎ＝８．４４×１０＾５ｇ·ｍｏｌ＾－１。