Topical application of a novel, water-soluble gamma-tocopherol derivative prevents UV-induced skin damage in mice

We investigated whether the topical application of a novel, water-soluble gamma-tocopherol (gamma-Toc) derivative, gamma-tocopherol-N,N-dimethylglycinate hydrochloride (gamma-TDMG), could protect against UV-induced skin damage in hairless mice. Topical pre- or post-application of a 5% (93 mM) gamma-TDMG solution in water/propylene glycol/ethanol (2:1:2) significantly prevented sunburn cell formation, lipid peroxidation and edema/inflammation that were induced by exposure to a single dose of UV irradiation of 5 kJ/m2 (290-380 nm, maximum 312 nm). This effect was greater than that seen with two alpha-Toc derivatives, alpha-tocopherol acetate (alpha-TA) and alpha-tocopherol-N,N-dimethylglycinate (alpha-TDMG). When a 5% solution of gamma-TDMG was applied to mouse skin for 1 h, cutaneous gamma-Toc increased by 25-fold after 24 h; levels of cutaneous alpha-Toc increased by only two- and eight-fold in alpha-TDMG and alpha-TA treated skins, respectively. These findings indicated that gamma-TDMG immediately converted to gamma-Toc in the skin and suggest that ability of gamma-TDMG to protect the skin from the damaging effects of irradiation was due to its conversion to gamma-Toc. When a 5% solution of gamma-Toc was applied to mouse skin for 1 h, cutaneous gamma-Toc rapidly increased by 25-fold, but fell to baseline levels by 24 h. In contrast, the concentration of gamma-Toc in skin that was treated with gamma-TDMG similarly increased, but these high levels were maintained after 24 h. These results suggest that gamma-TDMG may be a more effective source of gamma-Toc in skin. Thus, the topical application of gamma-TDMG may be efficacious for the prevention of UV-B-induced skin damage.     

The molecular structure of chlorothiomethoxymethyltriphenylphosphinepalladium(II) at −160 and 20°C

The molecular structure of [PdCl(CH₂SCH₃)(PPh₃)] has been determined from three-dimensional X-ray diffraction data collected at both ?160 and 20°C. The crystal belongs to the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c, with four formula units in a cell of dimensions: a 11.398(2), b 9.788(1), c 17.267(2) Å and β 95.38(1)° at ?160°C; a 11.454(3), b 9.880(2), c 17.459(2) Å and β 95.84(1)° at 20°C. The structure was solved by the conventional heavy atom method, and refined by the least-squares procedure to R = 0.049 (?160°C) and 0.068 (20°C) for observed reflections. No essential difference is observed between molecular structures at ?160 and 20°C. The geometry around the palladium atom is square-planar. The CH₂SCH₃ group, bonded to the palladium atom through PdC and PdS bonds, forms a metallocyclic three-membered ring [PdC(1) 2.042(6), PdS 2.371(1), SC(1) 1.756(6) and SC(2) 1.807(7) Å, PdC(1)S 76.9(2), PdC(1)H 113(3) and 122(4)°, SC(1)H 115(3) and 112(4) and HC(1)H 113(5)° at ?160°C].     

Muon spin resonance by strong pulsed r.f. field with pulsed muons

Muon spin resonance experiments have been performed for the ⁺ in H₂O and for some other cases, and the first observation has been made of the time-differential pattern of muon spin resonance, namely, spin precession around the r.f. field vector under various resonance conditions. In the present experiment, a high-power pulsed r.f. field was effectively applied to the pulsed muon beam in our laboratory of the KEK-Booster Meson Facility (BOOM). Potential uses of muon spin resonance, particularly for research in the border regions of solid state and nuclear physics, are discussed in comparison with the conventional spin rotation method.     

Zero- and low-field μ+ spin relaxation behavior in MnSi

Conclusion As is demonstrated in the present work, the zero-field technique is a powerful method in studying diffusion/trapping of the ⁺, especially for the case of slow hopping. In the case of MnSi, the hopping time _c has been determined to be longer than 20 sec, with the width of the nuclear random fields / = 3.80 ± 0.4 Oe. The role of the ⁺ in low-field relaxation studies is unique, since it provides information inaccessible to NMR techniques.Work supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the Toray Science Foundation, the Grant-in-Aid of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, and the Atomic Energy Control Board and National Research Council of Canada.     

Structural and dehydriding properties of Ca(BH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

We have investigated the structural and dehydriding properties of Ca(BH₄)₂. It was found that Ca(BH₄)₂ undergoes a structural phase transformation from an orthorhombic low-temperature (LT) modification into a tetragonal high-temperature (HT) modification between 433 K and 523 K. The amount of hydrogen desorbed from Ca(BH₄)₂ during the pressure–composition (p–c) isotherm measurement was 5.9 mass%. This hydrogen desorption is caused by the partial dehydrogenation of Ca(BH₄)₂ accompanied by the formation of CaH₂ and orthorhombic intermediate phases.     

Copper NQR study of the La 214 system from an aspect of microscopic environment of copper

The nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) has been investigated for Cu in La_2–x A _x CuO _y (A=Sr and Ba). Three Cu NQR lines, A, B and C, have been observed, which correspond to three different Cu sites. From the analysis of these NQR intensities, site assignments are possibly as follows. These lines A, B and C are attributed to CuO₆ octahedral, CuO₅ pyramidal and CuO₄ planar sites, respectively. The apical oxygen O(2) is induced to transfer to the interstitial O(3) site between LaO planes when two or more Sr²⁺ ions are located in its neighboring La sites. The excess holes doped into the CuO₂ plane are provided mainly by O(3) as well as the unpaired Sr²⁺ ion.