Mechanisms of reduced human vascular cell migration after photodynamic therapy

Restenosis results from intimal hyperplasia and constrictive remodeling following cardiovascular interventions. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been shown to inhibit intimal hyperplasia in vivo by preventing neointimal repopulation of the treated vessel. This study was undertaken in an attempt to further dissect the mechanisms by which PDT acts on secreted and extracellular matrix proteins to inhibit migration of cultured human vascular cells. PDT of three-dimensional collagen gels inhibited invasive human smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration, whereas cell-derived matrix metalloproteinase production remained unaltered. Additionally, PDT generated cross-links in the collagen gels, a result substantiated in an ex vivo model whereby PDT rendered the treated vessels resistant to pepsin digestion and inhibited invasive migration of SMC and fibroblasts. These data support the premise that by inducing matrix protein cross-links, rendering the vessel resistant to degradation, in vivo PDT inhibits repopulation of the vessel and therefore intimal hyperplasia.     

Comparison of three sequential extraction procedures used to study trace metal distribution in an acidic sandy soil

On an acid sandy soil contaminated with trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb and Zn), three sequential extraction procedures were compared to determine the efficiency of the reagents used and the effects of the step order on the fractionation of metal species. In all cases, a magnesium nitrate solution (MgNIT) was previously used to extract exchangeable forms. In the first procedure (I), the next extraction step was performed with sodium acetate buffer (NaOAc), as used on calcareous soils, to dissolve active calcium carbonate. Then trace metals bound to different forms of oxi-hydroxides (NH(2)OH, TAMOx and TAMAs fractions) were extracted before organic matter/sulfide oxidation with hydrogen peroxide at pH 2.0 in nitric acid medium (OMHyd). Finally, residual bound metals (RESID) in each procedure were extracted with a nitric-hydrofluoric-perchloric acid mixture. The second procedure (II) was the same as I, but without the NaOAc step, because of the absence of carbonate in the study soil. In procedure III, the NaOAc step was omitted and the oxidizable organic/sulfide fraction was extracted with sodium hypochlorite at pH 8.5 (OMOCl) before the reducible fractions. This study first showed that NaOAc may remove considerable amounts of metals (especially Mn and Zn) in other forms than exchangeable ones. Procedures II and III give similar results for Fe, Mn and Zn forms, which were mainly found in fractions of inorganic soil components, but not for Cu and Pb. Copper distribution was affected by the position of the oxidation step in the sequence. In procedure II, where the oxidation step (OMHyd) ended the sequence, Cu was mainly recovered in the TAMOx fraction. However, in procedure III, where the oxidation step (OMOCl) preceded the NH(2)OH, TAMOx and TAMAs steps, Cu was found in both OMOCl and TAMOx fractions. Lead distribution varied with oxidation reagent: it was partly removed in the OMHyd fraction of procedures I and II, and to a much lower extent in the OMOCl fraction of procedure III, probably due to the alkaline pH of the reagent in the latter case.     

Strain-induced yielding in bubble clusters

We study how shearing clusters of two or four bubbles induces bubble separation or topological rearrangement. The critical deformation at which this yielding occurs is measured as a function of shear rate, liquid composition, and liquid content in the cluster. We establish a geometrical yield criterion in the quasistatic case on the basis of these experimental data as well as simulations. In the dynamic regime, the deformation where the cluster yields increases with the strain rate, and we derive a scaling law describing this phenomenon based on the dynamical inertial rupture of the liquid meniscus linking the two bubbles. Our experiments show that the same scaling law applies to two- and four-bubble clusters.     

Towards dual photodynamic and antiangiogenic agents: design and synthesis of a phthalocyanine-chalcone conjugate

A phthalocyanine-chalcone conjugate has been designed to combine the vascular disrupting effect of chalcones with the photodynamic effect of phthalocyanines. This potential dual photodynamic and antiangiogenic agent was obtained by the condensation of a tetrahydroxylated non-peripherally substituted Zn(ii) phthalocyanine with an amino chalcone converted into the corresponding activated isocyanate. The conjugate was fully characterized.     

Fluoride-assisted trifluoromethylation of aromatic thiones with (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane

In the presence of a stoichiometric amount of Bu₄NF·3H₂O, (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane reacts with aromatic thiones in both thiophilic and carbophilic ways to deliver, in medium yield, a mixture of (trifluoromethylthio)diarylmethane and 1,1-diaryl-2,2,2-trifluoroethanethiol, the former product being the major one.     

A new analytical method for anchoring quantification of amines on resin support

A rapid and quantitative method for monitoring the efficiency of coupling of amino compounds to polystyrene resin through a carbamate linker has been developed. para-Nitrophenyl carbonate activating group has been shown to release a valuable chromophore for quantitatively monitoring the progress and the yield of the reaction.