Novel neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) selective inhibitor, aplysinopsin-type indole alkaloid, from marine sponge Hyrtios erecta

Two novel aplysinopsin-type indole alkaloids, 1 and 2, and three known indole alkaloids were isolated from the marine sponge Hyrtios erecta. These compounds exhibited selective inhibitory activity against the neuronal isozyme of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Furthermore, new quinolone 7 was also isolated from the same marine sponge. The chemical structures of these new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.     

Determination of plasma protein binding of propafenone in rats, dogs and humans by highly sensitive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A highly sensitive method for the determination of propafenone in plasma has been established using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with the deuterium-labelled compound as an internal standard. Plasma levels as low as 1 ng/ml were measured using 0.5-ml plasma samples. Plasma protein binding of the drug in rats, dogs and humans in vitro and in vivo was determined by the proposed method. About 90% of the drug was bound to the plasma protein in all species in vitro (20-500 ng/ml) and 69-88% in rats, 90-95% in dogs and 77-89% in humans after oral administration of the drug at doses of 50 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg and 200 mg per person, respectively.     

Blood volume measurement of newborn using stable isotope 50Cr

A technique for the blood volume measurement of newborns was established in which nonradioactive 50Cr was used in patients for whom radioactive labels were not advisable. The red blood cells (RBC) in the newborn's blood withdrawn from umbilical cord after birth were tagged with enriched stable isotope 50Cr (96%, normal abundance 4.3%) and reinjected into the newborn. Blood samples (0.5 ml) were withdrawn at 30 min and thereafter at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 120 hours old. Samples were centrifugalized and portion of RBC was then freeze-dried, weighed and sealed into polyethylene sheet bag together with 50Cr standard. Neutron irradiation was performed in the reactors of the JAERI with thermal neutron flux 5 X 10(13), 2 X 10(13), 8 X 10(13) cm-2s-1 at JRR-2, -3 and -4 respectively for 20 min and samples were left for about two weeks after irradiation. Induced radioactivity (51Cr, 59Fe) of the sample was measured with a Ge(Li) gamma-ray detector system and 4096 channels pulse height analyzer. Analysis of activity data was carried out by BOB-76 code. The RBC and total blood volume of the newborn was calculated using an isotopic dilution technique. We have investigated on tagging efficiency of 50Cr to RBC, washing effect and dilution rate by 50Cr content or 51Cr/59Fe ratio. Significant difference was observed in the total blood volume of newborns depending on the delivery style and in addition, it changed dynamically along the time elapsed after birth.     

Crystal Structures of Mono-, Di-, and Tri(p-tert-butyl)-thiacalix[4]arenes: Dimeric Self-inclusion Behavior

X-Ray crystal structures of the mono-, di-, and tri(p-tert-butyl)-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes (TC4As; 1, 2, and 3, respectively) have beendetermined. TC4As 1–3 adopt a cone conformation and form dimeric self-inclusion units in such a manner that phenol moieties are inserted into the cavity of each molecule. In all the crystal structures of 1–3, lateralface-to-face interactions exist between the phenol rings that do not bear a tert-butyl substituent, and seemingly, this molecular assembly stabilizes the formation of self-inclusion. TC4As 1 and 2 adopt a cone conformation with C₂ symmetry, leading to the formation of rim-to-rim intermolecular hydrogenbonds so as to link the dimeric units up and down. On the other hand, 3 adopts a regular cone conformation with C₄ symmetry to form cyclic hydrogen bonds withinthe rim part of TC4A.     

Isolation and structure determination of six glucocerebrosides from the starfish Luidia maculata

Two new glucocerebrosides, luidiacerebroside A (2) and B (6), were isolated from the cerebroside molecular species obtained from the less polar fraction of the CHCl3/MeOH extract of the starfish Luidia maculata using HPLC. Four known cerebrosides, CE-2b (1), astrocerebroside B (3), acanthacerebroside B (4), and CE-3-2 (5) have also been isolated and characterized. The structures of these cerebrosides were determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. Mass spectrometry of dimethyl disulfide derivatives was useful for the determination of the double-bond position in the long-chain base.     

Molecular understanding of the adhesive interactions between silica surface and epoxy resin: Effects of interfacial water

The molecular mechanism of the adhesion between silica surface and epoxy resin under atmospheric conditions is investigated by periodic density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations. Slab models of the adhesion interface were built by integrating a fragment of epoxy resin and hydroxylated (0 0 1) surface of α-cristobalite in the presence of adsorbed water molecules. Effects of adsorbed water on the adhesion interaction are evaluated on the basis of geometry-optimized structures, adhesion energies, and forces. Calculated results demonstrate that adsorbed water molecules significantly reduce both the adhesion energies and forces of the silica surface–epoxy resin interface. The reduction of adhesion properties can be associated with structural deformation of water molecules confined in the tight space between the adhesive and adherend as well as structural flexibility of the hydrogen-bonding network in the interfacial region during detachment of the epoxy resin from the hydrophilic silica surface. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

TiO2 synthesis inspired by biomineralization: control of morphology, crystal phase, and light-use efficiency in a single process

Hydroxyapatite is mineralized along the long axis of collagen fiber during osteogenesis. Mimicking such biomineralization has great potential to control inorganic structures and is fast becoming an important next-generation inorganic synthesis method. Inorganic matter synthesized by biomineralization can have beautiful and functional structures that cannot be created artificially. In this study, we applied biomineralization to the synthesis of the only photocatalyst in practical use today, titanium dioxide (TiO(2)). The photocatalytic activity of TiO(2) mainly relates to three properties: morphology, crystal phase, and light-use efficiency. To optimize TiO(2) morphology, we used a simple sequential peptide as an organic template. TiO(2) mineralized by a β-sheet peptide nanofiber template forms fiber-like shapes that are not observed for mineralization by peptides in the shape of random coils. To optimize TiO(2) crystal phase, we mineralized TiO(2) with the template at 400 °C to transform it into the rutile phase and at 700 °C to transform it into a mixed phase of anatase and rutile. To optimize light-use efficiency, we introduced nitrogen atoms of the peptide into the TiO(2) structure as doped elemental material during sintering. Thus, this biomineralization method enables control of inorganic morphology, crystal phase, and light-use efficiency in a single process.