Investigation of several aminoglycoside solutions containing one or more components by positive electrospray mass spectrometry

Solutions containing one or more aminoglycosides have been investigated by positive electrospray mass spectrometry. The lack of extensive fragmentation in the acquired mass spectra permitted reliable identification of the individual components within the electrosprayed solutions. Results obtained at relatively high cone voltage allowed confident assignment of the major fragmentation pathways under electrospray conditions. The presented data also indicate that higher cone voltage favours the observation of sodium adduct ions, [M + Na]⁺. This experimental observation is tentatively attributed to a less efficient cone-assisted collision-induced dissociation of these species compared to their [M + H]⁺ counterparts.     

Identification of the SO2 cold vibronic bands in the 32 200–33 300 cm−1 region

Summary The fluorescence excitation spectrum of SO₂ in the 32 200–33 300 cm⁻¹ energy region was recorded, at very low rotational temperature, in a pulsed supersonic jet. The band centres and relative intensities of about 60 well-resolved vibronic bands were determined in this region, which extends the previously available data by 800 cm⁻¹. Single vibronic level fluorescence spectra of two neighbouring vibronic bands in theD-band region along with a few filtered excitation spectra are also presented as an example of the resolution for the listed bands. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

Probing acrylamide alkylation sites in cysteine-free proteins by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight

It is recognised that gel-separated proteins can experience a frequent modification provoked by the interaction of unpolymerized acrylamide monomers with the thiol group of cysteine to form a beta-cysteinyl-S-propionamide adduct. Other groups which have been implicated in this reaction include the hydroxyl group of tyrosine, the straightepsilon-amino group of lysine, and the free N-terminus. In a series of recent publications it has been demonstrated that at pH approximately 9.5 and in the presence of cysteine, none of these groups experienced measurable interaction with acrylamide monomers. To emphasise this conclusion we have used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation with a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer to examine a number of cysteine-free proteins incubated for various intervals with 30 mM acrylamide monomers at pH 9.5. These high resolution data suggest that, for short incubation times (>/=1 hour) and in the absence of cysteine, the straightepsilon-NH(2) group of lysine is the likely adduction site of acrylamide. Longer incubation times (>/=24 hours) with acrylamide monomers rendered the role of Cys as the favourite alkylation site less evident.     

Effect of Fasting on Voice in Women

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: To study the effect of fasting on voice in women: abstinence from food and water intake between 14 and 18 hours. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study on female subjects. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 28 female subjects were included in this study. Their age ranged between 21 and 45 years. Subjects with vocal symptoms or vocal fold lesions were excluded. The subjects were tested when they were not fasting and while fasting after the first week of intermittent fasting during Ramadan. Each subject was first asked about her vocal symptoms and the ease of phonation or phonatory effort. Then each underwent acoustic analysis and laryngeal video-endostroboscopy. RESULTS: Vocal fatigue was the most common reported complaint (53.6%) followed by deepening of the voice (21.4%) and harshness (10.2%). Self-reported phonatory effort was significantly affected by fasting (P value < 0.001). Out of the 28 subjects, 23 had an increase in their phonatory effort. Vocal acoustic parameters did not change markedly except for the maximum phonation time, which decreased significantly. Laryngeal video-endostroboscopy did not reveal any significant changes during fasting. All stroboscopic parameters were the same except for a decrease in the amplitude of the mucosal waves in one subject and the presence of a posterior chink in three subjects. CONCLUSION: Fasting affects voice. There is an increase in the phonatory effort, and vocal fatigue is the most common symptom.     

Selective Synthesis of 2D Mesoporous CuO Agglomerates by Pulsed Spark Discharge in Water

Metal oxide nanomaterials, including copper oxide, have attracted great attention due to their unique physical and chemical properties that are dependent on particle size and morphology. In this study, we propose an alternative technique for the synthesis of 2D mesoporous CuO agglomerates that is both efficient and ecological. This technique is based on the use of pulsed spark discharges between copper electrodes immersed in deionized water. Detailed TEM analyses show that the synthesized CuO nanostructures are composed of elementary nanocrystals with sizes in the order of a few nanometers. Assessments of the effects of applied voltage (5 and 20 kV) and discharge pulse width (100 and 500 ns) demonstrate that the latter parameter influences the size and density of nanocrystals in a nanostructure. Moreover, voltage and pulse width may both be used to finely control the direct optical band gap energy of CuO nanostructures between 3.0 and 3.4 eV. The efficient and ecological technique developed in this study produces 2D mesoporous CuO agglomerates that can be readily used in other processes.

     

Sodium mefenamate as a solution for the formulation and dissolution problems of mefenamic acid

Sodium salt formation of mefenamic acid (MA) was studied as a way to solve the formulation and dissolution problems of MA. For this purpose, sodium salt of mefenamic acid (Na-MA) was prepared by reacting MA powder with equimolar sodium hydroxide in an aqueous phase, and consequently, Na-MA solution was obtained. The resultant solution was lyophilized and Na-MA powder was collected. The salt formation was confirmed by the results of fourier transformation-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies on Na-MA powder in comparison to MA powder. Na-MA powder was assessed for direct compressibility, in comparison to MA powder, when formulated as a mixture with minimum amount of Avicel((R)) pH 101 and then compressed into tablets using a hydraulic tablet press. Na-MA tablets exhibited satisfactory hardness and friability, and did not show capping or lamination. On the other hand, some MA tablets showed capping or lamination upon compression and all the tested MA tablets for friability capped. Na-MA tablets were also studied for drug dissolution, in comparison to MA tablets, in water, a pH 7.4 phosphate buffer, and a pH 7.4 phosphate buffer after soaking in 0.1 m HCl. Under these different dissolution conditions, Na-MA tablets showed much higher dissolution rate and extent than MA tablets. The results of the study suggested that Na-MA can be considered as a solution form for the formulation and dissolution problems of MA.     

Antioxidant, total phenolic content and cytotoxicity evaluation of selected Malaysian plants

Aqueous and ethanol extracts of different traditional Malaysian plants (Polygonum minus, Andrographis paniculata, Curcuma xanthorrhiza, Momordica charantia and Strobilanthes crispus) were evaluated for their antioxidant properties, total phenolic content and cytotoxic activity. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by using 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The results showed that ethanol extracts contain high antioxidant activities compared to aqueous extracts. The findings exhibited a strong correlation between antioxidant activity and the total phenol contents. In addition, all the plant extracts showed non-toxic effects against a normal human lung fibroblast cell line (Hs888Lu). Although traditionally aqueous extracts are used, we determined that ethanol extracts usually achieved better activity in the assays.     

The Synthesis and Biological Activities of N-(3-pyridylmethyl) N ′-(trans-2-thio-4-substitutedphenyl- 5,5-dimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinane-2-yl)thioureas

A series of novel title compounds were synthesized by the addition reaction of trans 2-isothiocyano-4-substitutedphenyl-5, 5-dimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinane 2-sulfide to 3-aminomethylpyridine or 2-chloro-5-amino methylpyridine. Their structures were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, IR, MS, and elemental analyses. Results of preliminary bioassay showed that all new compounds possess good fungicidal activity and insecticidal activity to some extent.     

Spring response to precipitation events using δ18O and δ2H in the Tanour catchment,NW Jordan

The Tanour spring is one of the several karst springs located in the northern part of Jordan. Water samples from the Tanour spring and precipitation were collected in the area of Ajloun in NW Jordan for the analysis of stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes to evaluate the spring response to precipitation events. Rainwater and snow samples were collected from different elevations during winters of 2013–2014 and 2014–2015. In addition, spring samples were collected between December 2014 and March 2015. δ¹⁸O values in rainwater vary from ?3.26 to ?17.34?‰ (average: ?7.84?±?3.23?‰), while δ²H values range between ?4.4 and ?110.4?‰ (average: ?35.7?±?25.0?‰). Deuterium excess ranges from 17.8 to 34.1?‰ (average: 27.1?±?4.0?‰). The Local Meteoric Water Line for the study area was calculated to be δ²H?=?7.66*δ¹⁸O?+?24.43 (R²?=?0.98). Pre-event spring discharge showed variation in δ¹⁸O (range ?6.29 to ?7.17?‰; average ?6.58?±?0.19?‰) and δ²H values (range ?28.8 to ?32.7?‰; average: ?30.5?±?1.0?‰). In contrast, δ¹⁸O and δ²H rapidly changed to more negative values during rainfall and snowmelt events and persisted for several days before returning to background values. Spring water temperature, spring discharge, and turbidity followed the trend in isotopic composition during and after the precipitation events. The rapid change in the isotopic composition, spring discharge, water temperature, and turbidity in response to recharge events is related to fast water travel times and low storage capacity in the conduit system of the karst aquifer. Based on the changes in the isotopic composition of spring water after the precipitation events, the water travel time in the aquifer is in the order of 5–11 days.     

Morus alba Prevented the Cyclophosphamide Induced Somatic and Germinal Cell Damage in Male Rats by Ameliorating the Antioxidant Enzyme Levels

Cytogenetic analysis is essential to determine the effect of mutagens and antimutagens on genetic material. This study was done to evaluate the protective effect of root bark extract of Morus alba (M. alba) against cyclophosphamide induced somatic and germinal cell damage in male rats. The ethanolic extract of M. alba (0.25, 0.5 and 1 g/kg, 2 weeks) was evaluated against cyclophosphamide (75 mg/kg, single dose) induced nuclear damage. The sampling was done after 48 h of the clastogen treatment. The somatic and germinal nuclear damage was studied by bone marrow micronucleus and sperm analysis, respectively. Serum superoxide and catalase levels were estimated to determine the antioxidant status in each group. The results were analyzed statistically to find the significant variation. The administration of M. alba for 2 weeks suppressed dose-dependently the changes induced by cyclophosphamide. M. alba (0.5 g/kg) decreased the frequency of micronucleated erythrocyte, sperm shape abnormality and enhanced the sperm count, sperm motility and polychromatic-normochromatic erythrocytes ratio significantly (p < 0.05) in comparison with the cyclophosphamide treated group. The highest tested dose of M. alba (1 g/kg) produced more prominent suppression (p < 0.01) in the cyclophosphamide-induced somatic and germinal cell defects. The results also showed significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the serum antioxidant enzymes levels with M. alba when compared with the challenge group. The lower dose of M. alba extract (0.25 g/kg) prevented the CP-induced changes but was found to be statistically insignificant. Therefore, antimutagenic potential of the high dose of the extract of M. alba is possibly due to its antioxidant nature. The ability of the M. alba extract to prevent the nuclear damage could play an important role in overcoming several mutational defects that are associated with anticancer chemotherapy.