Metabolomic investigation of cholestasis in a rat model using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Metabolomics follows the changes in concentrations of endogenous metabolites, which may reflect various disease states as well as systemic responses to environmental, therapeutic, or genetic interventions. In this study, we applied metabolomic approaches to monitor dynamic changes in plasma and urine metabolites, and compared these metabolite profiles in Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats (EHBR, an animal model of cholestasis) with those in the parent strain of EHBR - Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats - in order to characterize cholestasis pathophysiologically. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry-based analytical methods were used to assay metabolite levels. More than 250 metabolites were detected in both plasma and urine, and metabolite profiles of EHBR differed from those of SD rats. The levels of antioxidative and cytoprotective metabolites, taurine and hypotaurine, were markedly increased in urine of EHBR. The levels of many bile acids were also elevated in plasma and urine of EHBR, but the extent of elevation depended on the particular bile acid. The levels of cytoprotective ursodeoxycholic acid and its conjugates were markedly elevated, while that of cytotoxic chenodeoxycholic acid remained unchanged, suggesting the balance of bile acids had shifted resulting in decreased toxicity. In EHBR, reduced biliary excretion leads to increased systemic exposure to harmful compounds including some endogenous metabolites. Our metabolomic data suggest that mechanisms exist in EHBR that compensate for cholestasis-related damage.     

High-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection for determination of nobiletin content in the brain and serum of mice administrated the natural compound

We recently demonstrated that nobiletin, a citrus flavonoid, exhibits anti-dementia action in animals. However, no determination methods for the content of nobiletin with beneficial action in the brain of nobiletin-administered animals have been developed, nor has its pharmacokinetics been revealed completely. Here, we established the high-performance liquid chromatography/photodiode array detection method for nobiletin determination using Bond Elut C18 SPE cartridges for extraction, where the calibration curve was linear over 0.025-10 ng, with coefficient of variation of less than 6.76%. This method enabled us to determine pharmacokinetic parameters of nobiletin given intraperitoneally or per os in the brain of mice.     

Dyscusins A-C, three new steroids from the leaves of Dysoxylum cumingianum

Three new steroids dyscusins A-C (1-3), including a stigmastane-type sterol and two pregnanes, together with two known steroids were isolated from the leaves of Dysoxylum cumingianum (Meliaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. In a cytotoxicity assay, compound 1 showed ten-fold enhanced cytotoxicity against multi-drug resistant cancer cells (KB-C2) in the presence of 2.5 μM colchicine as compared with the absence of colchicine. This notable finding indicated that 1 possessed a multi-drug resistant reversal effect.     

Spicachlorantins G-J, new lindenane sesquiterpenoid dimers from the roots of Chloranthus spicatus

Four new lindenane sesquiterpenoid dimers, spicachlorantins G-J (1-4), were isolated from the roots of Chloranthus spicatus together with seven known compounds, including chloramultilide A, shizukaol B, shizukaol D, shizukaol F, shizukaol P, chlorahololide D, and cycloshizukaol A. The planar structures of the new compounds were established by 1D-, 2D-NMR, and MS analyses. The absolute configurations of these compounds were determined by analyzing rotating Overhauser enhancement and exchange spectroscopy (ROESY) and circular dichroism (CD) spectra.     

Two new phenylethanoid glycosides from the roots of Phlomis umbrosa

Two new phenylethanoid glycosides were isolated from the roots of Phlomis umbrosa. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.     

Hydrostatic compression of the monoclinic form of polyethylene

Lattice constants of the monoclinic form of polyethylene under pressures up to 1.8 GPa at 298 K are investigated by x-ray diffraction. The thermal expansion from 100 K to 300 K at atmospheric pressure is also studied. The equation of state is calculated by Pastine's method, taking into account the zero-point vibration, and is compared with experimental results. The calculated results depend largely on the interatomic potential used and the limit of the interatomic distance for summation of the potentials. A change in the angle γ between the a and b axes results in an anisotropic change in the unit cell dimension with both pressure and temperature; the a and b axes change at nearly the same rate. The monoclinic form may have a higher density than the orthorhombic form at pressures above 1.0 GPa.     

Crystal structure of acetyl 29-methyl-29-methylidene-D:C-friedoolean-8-en-3beta-ol.

Acetyl 29-methyl-29-methylidene-D:C-friedoolean-8-en-3beta-o1 (2), derived from bryonolic acid (D:C-friedoolean-8-en-3beta-ol-29-oic acid) (1), was crystallographically analyzed. Rings A-E of 2 adopted chair, half-chair, half-chair, boat (with bow and stern at C-13 and C-16), boat (with bow and stem at C-19 and C-22) conformations, respectively. Good agreement was found between the structures from X-ray crystallography and that from MM2 calculations.     

Synthesis and reduction ability of borane complexes of 2-aminopyridine derivative having a chiral center at the amino nitrogen

A novel method for synthesis of a chiral amine borane is described and selective reductions of carbonyl compounds with the amine borane are investigated.     

Testing the PCAC prediction for the π0 lifetime

We compare the PCAC prediction based on the chiral anomaly for the π⁰ lifetime with a recent experiment. We find that the QED corrections are as large as 3%. After these corrections the experiment and the PCAC prediction disagree by 8.5 ± 2%. We estimate the corrections to the PCAC prediction. We find that reliably calculable corrections are not large enough to account for the discrepancy. However, contributions from the excited π⁰'s may be able to explain the difference.     

Hydrolysis of 4-cyano-1-ethoxypyrimido[1,6-a]benzimidazole: Formation of a ynaminonitrile and benzimidazolidines

The title compound 4 was hydrolyzed to a new type of ynaminonitrile 5 and benzimidazolidines 7 and 9 under acidic or basic conditions. Reaction mechanisms were proposed.