Properties of calcium-induced gel beads prepared with alginate and hydrolysates

Calcium-induced alginate gel beads (Alg-Ca) containing alginate hydrolysate, such as the guluronic acid block (GB), was prepared and the drug release profiles were investigated under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The addition of GB to Alg-Ca altered its rheological properties. A model drug (hydrocortisone) was incorporated at 78% of its theoretical yield within the dried Alg-Ca containing 5% GB and it was gradually released from the beads in JP XIV 1st medium for disintegration test (pH 1.2), while it was rapidly released with disintegration of the gel matrix in JP XIV 2nd medium (pH 6.8). In contrast, for Alg-Ca containing GB and chitosan, disintegration was not observed in these media and the drug release rate was markedly different. These results demonstrate that the release profiles of drugs incorporated into Alg-Ca can be controlled by adding these polysaccharides.     

Highly diastereoselective chemoenzymatic synthesis of (2′R)- and (2′S)-2′-deoxy[2′-H]guanosines

In an effort to develop an efficient synthetic method of highly diastereoselective (2′R)- and (2′S)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]guanosines, chemoenzymatic conversion was investigated. The synthesis of (2′R > 98% de)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]guanosine was achieved by biological transdeoxyribosylation using (2′R > 98% de)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]uridine, 2,6-diaminopurine, and Enterobacter aerogenes AJ-11125, followed by treatment with adenosine deaminase. (2′S > 98% de)-2′-Deoxy[2′-²H]guanosine was synthesized from (2′S > 98% de)-2′-deoxy[2′-²H]uridine and 2,6-diaminopurine using thymidine phosphorylase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase instead of E. aerogenes AJ-11125.     

Flow-injection determination of copper(II) based on its catalysis on the redox reaction of cysteine with iron(III) in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline

A redox reaction of cysteine with iron(III) proceeds slowly in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen). However, this reaction is accelerated in the presence of copper(II) as a catalyst, producing an iron(II)-phen complex (lambda(max)=510 nm). A sensitive spectrophotometric flow-injection method is proposed for the determination of copper(II) based on its catalytic action on this redox reaction. The dynamic range was 0.1-10 ng ml(-1) of copper(II) with a relative standard deviation of 1.0% (n=10) for 1.0 ng ml(-1) of copper(II) at a sampling rate of 30 h(-1). The detection limit (S/N=3) is 0.04 ng ml(-1). The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of copper in river water as a certified reference material.     

Synthesis of [5'-13C]ribonucleosides and 2'-deoxy[5'-13C]ribonucleosides

The present efficient synthesis of [5'-13C]ribonucleosides and 2'-deoxy[5'-13C]ribonucleosides is characterized by the synthesis of the D-[5-13C]ribose derivative as an intermediate via the Wittig reaction of 4-aldehydo-D-erythrose dialkyl acetals with Ph3P13CH3I-BuLi to introduce the 13C label at the 5-position of a pentose. This was followed by the highly diastereoselective osmium dihydroxylation for the preparation of 2,3-di-O-benzyl-D-[5-13C]ribose dialkyl acetal and the cyclization from D-[5-13C]ribose dialkyl acetal derivatives to the alkyl D-[5-13C]ribofuranoside derivative by the use of LiBF(4). The obtained D-[5-13C]ribose derivative was converted into [5'-13C]ribonucleosides and subsequently into the corresponding 2'-deoxynucleosides.     

Kinetic-catalytic determination of traces of iron by the oxidative coupling reaction of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone with N,N-dimethylaniline

A new kinetic-catalytic method by the initial rate procedure for the determination of nanogram level of iron(III) is developed, which is based on its catalytic effect on the oxidative coupling of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone (MBTH) with N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) to form an indamine dye (λ_max=590 nm) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Iron(II) is also determined, being oxidized to iron(III) by hydrogen peroxide. Calibration graphs obtained by the initial rate method are linear in the range 1–1000 ng ml⁻¹ Fe and as low as 10⁻⁸ M Fe(II, III) can easily be determined. The relative standard deviations are 6.6, 2.5 and 1.5% for ten determinations of 1, 20 and 60 ng ml⁻¹ of Fe(III), respectively. The method is applicable to the determination of iron in natural waters without preconcentration and separation.     

Combined analysis of microwave and infrared spectra of methyl iodide: rotational and l-type doubling constants of the v5, v3+v6 and v2 states

The rotational constant B and the l-type doubling constant q were determined for the v₅, v₃+v₆ and v₂, states of CH₂I from the microwave transition frequencies, in combination with the infrared data previously reported. Since these vibrational states were coupled through the Fermi resonance and the xy-type E-E and A₁-E Coriolis resonances, the analysis was made by setting up and solving the complete form of the secular determinants of the energy matrices. The rotational and l-type doubling constants were determined as B₅, = 0.250 173 cm^?1, B₃₆ = 0.247 600 cm^?1, B₂ = 0.249 369 cm^?1, q₅ = ?0.000 027 cm^?1 and q₃₆ = ?0.000 179 cm^?1, which are unperturbed by Fermi and Coriolis interactions. Other band constants for v₅ and v₃+v₆ were also refined in accordance with the new values of B₅ and B₃₆. The present study indicated that the combined analysis of microwave and infrared spectral data was useful for the precise determination of vibration-rotation, levels in the perturbed system.     

One-step analysis of testis steroidogenesis from neonatal exposure to synthetic estrogen by normal-phase HPLC

Neonatal exposure to synthetic estrogen endocrine disruptors or estrogen-receptor inhibitors induces developmental abnormalities in the male reproductive system. To investigate whether neonatal exposure affects spermatogenesis in juvenile and pubertal testis, Sprague-Dawley rat pups were given synthetic estrogen endocrine disruptors or estrogen-receptor inhibitors by a single injection on the day of birth at concentrations ranging between 2 to 40 mm, and sacrificed on day 21 (juvenile), 35 (prepuberty) or 50 (puberty). The testes were weighed and examined histologically at each stage. Further, the metabolites of steroidogenesis were analyzed using normal-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Neonatal exposure significantly reduced testis weights and steroidogenesis to one- fifth to one-half of that of the juvenile control, and further suppressed irreversible steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis during puberty.     

Five new nortropane alkaloids and six new amino acids from the fruit of Morus alba LINNE growing in Turkey

Investigation of the constituents of the fruits of Morus alba LINNE (Moraceae) afforded five new nortropane alkaloids (1-5) along with nor-psi-tropine (6) and six new amino acids, morusimic acids A-F (7-12). The structures of the new compounds were determined to be 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxynortropane (1), 2beta,3beta-dihydroxynortropane (2), 2alpha,3beta,6exo-trihydroxynortropane (3), 2alpha,3beta,4alpha-rihydroxynortropane (4), 3beta,6exo-dihydroxynortropane (5), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1S,4S)-4-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]-pyrrolidin-1-yll-dodecanoic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1S,4S)-4-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]-pyrrolidin-1-yll-dodecanoic acid (8), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-1(1R,4R,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-piperidin-1-yll-dodecanoic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (9), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1R,4R,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-piperidin-1-yll-dodecanoic acid (10), (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1R,4R,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethyl-piperidin-1-yl]-dodecanoic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (11), and (3R)-3-hydroxy-12-[(1R,4S,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-piperidin-1-yl]-dodecanoic acid (12) on the basis of spectral and chemical data.     

Preparation of prolonged-release spherical micro-matrix of ibuprofen with acrylic polymer by the emulsion-solvent diffusion method for improving bioavailability

Prolonged-release spherical micro-matrices of ibuprofen with acrylic polymer (Eudragit RS) were prepared using a novel emulsion-solvent diffusion method. It was found by examining cross sections of the spherical matrix before and after dissolution tests with a scanning electron microscope and a porosimeter that the resultant micro-matrix had a sponge-like internal structure. The spherical matrices were successfully recovered with a relatively high concentration of the drug in ethanol (0.4-0.6 g/ml) and over a wide range of temperatures (5-35 degrees C). The size of the spherical matrix could be easily controlled by varying the agitation speed of the system and the concentration of emulsifier added to the aqueous medium. The drug release rate from the spherical matrix decreased with increasing concentration of polymer formulated due to the reduced diffusion path and increased tortuosity in the matrix. Spherical matrices with ibuprofen:Eudragit RS = 3:1 improved the bioavailability of the drug and prolonged the drug action in beagle dogs.     

Synthesis and calcium antagonistic activity of (+)-(R)- and (-)-(S)-3-acetyl-2-[5-methoxy-2-[4-[N-methyl-N-(3,4,5- trimethoxyphenethyl)amino]butoxy]phenyl]benzothiazoline hydrochloride

SA2572 ((+)-1), 3-acetyl-2-[5-methoxy-2-[4-[N-methyl-N-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethyl) amino] butoxy]phenyl]-benzothiazoline hydrochloride is a newly synthesized Ca2+ antagonist having a inhibitory effect on the fast Na+ inward channel. In order to clarify the absolute configurations and the pharmacological properties of both enantiomers, compounds ((+)-1 and (-)-1) were synthesized. The configurations of these compounds were assigned on the basis of an X-ray crystallographic analysis of synthetic precursor (5). The in vitro Ca2+ channel blocking activities of (+)-1 and (-)-1 were evaluated in terms of the inhibitory activities on depolarization-induced contraction of guinea pig taenia cecum and rabbit aorta. The in vivo efficacy of the enantiomers was evaluated with their hypotensive effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Compound (-)-1 showed more potent Ca2+ antagonistic activities on guinea pig taenia cecum and rabbit aorta and the hypotensive effect than those activities of (+)-1. In the electrophysiological study of Langendorff perfused rabbit hearts, compound (+)-1 showed more potent inhibitory effect on the fast Na+ inward channel than that of compound (-)-1, and an approximately equal potent inhibitory effect on the slow Ca2+ inward channel as compared with compound (-)-1. Stereoselectivity of the pharmacological activity was found.