Enhancement of Antibiotic Activity by 1,8-Naphthyridine Derivatives against Multi-Resistant Bacterial Strains

The search for new antibacterial agents has become urgent due to the exponential growth of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Nitrogen-containing heterocycles such as 1,8-naphthyridine derivatives have been shown to have excellent antimicrobial properties. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antibiotic-modulating activities of 1,8-naphthyridine derivatives against multi-resistant bacterial strains. The broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the following compounds: 7-acetamido-1,8-naphthyridin-4(1H)-one and 3-trifluoromethyl-N-(5-chloro-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)-benzenesulfonamide. The antibiotic-modulating activity was analyzed using subinhibitory concentrations (MIC/8) of these compounds in combination with norfloxacin, ofloxacin, and lomefloxacin. Multi-resistant strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus were used in both tests. Although the compounds had no direct antibacterial activity (MIC ≥ 1.024 µg/mL), they could decrease the MIC of these fluoroquinolones, indicating synergism was obtained from the association of the compounds. These results suggest the existence of a structure–activity relationship in this group of compounds with regard to the modulation of antibiotic activity. Therefore, we conclude that 1,8-naphthyridine derivatives potentiate the activity of fluoroquinolone antibiotics against multi-resistant bacterial strains, and thereby interesting candidates for the development of drugs against bacterial infections caused by multidrug resistant strains.     

Fast screening of 88 pharmaceutical drugs and metabolites in whole blood by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Forensic investigations involving acute or lethal intoxication, drug-facilitated sexual assault, driving or workplace impairment frequently require the analysis of fresh or postmortem blood samples to check out a wide variety of pharmaceutical and illicit drugs, even after single-dose consumption. A sensitive and selective ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) screening method was developed for fast screening of 88 psychoactive drugs and metabolites in blood samples, including the ones most frequently involved in acute intoxications and forensic investigations in Italy. The new method allows short sample processing and analysis time (the whole procedure can be accomplished in less than 30 min) together with the simultaneous monitoring of a large number of pharmaceutical substances. These features represent crucial factors in the approach of acute intoxications, when the patient requires urgent and appropriate therapy. Blood sample treatment was limited to protein precipitation. Two UHPLC–MS/MS runs in positive and negative electrospray ionization modes were performed. The data were acquired at unit mass resolution in the selected reaction monitoring mode. According to international guidelines, linearity range, precision, trueness, detection and quantification limits, recovery, selectivity, specificity, carryover, and matrix effect phenomena were determined. Despite the limited sample purification and the inherent decreased chance of eliminating any potential interference, the present multiresidue screening method proved extremely effective and sensitive, allowing the detection of all tested drugs, even those belonging to structurally different classes of substances. Moreover, the developed method is easily susceptible to further expansion to encompass more drugs, either new or those becoming important for criminal investigation. This protocol was also applied to the analysis of authentic blood samples collected from victims of various crimes in routine casework, whose relevance in forensic investigations is presented in five cases.     

The BIOREMA project—part 3: International interlaboratory comparison for bio-ethanol test methods

The main objective of the reference materials for biofuel specifications (BIOREMA) project is the development of two test materials (one bio-ethanol material and one biodiesel material) with well-established reference values. Of a series of three papers, this part describes the material preparation, homogeneity study, stability study, and characterisation of the bio-ethanol material. The test material thus obtained was used in an interlaboratory comparison (ILC) to assess current practices and comparability amongst laboratories providing bio-ethanol testing services. Only 13 participants provided data, resulting in a small dataset for evaluation. Further, it appeared that for a number of laboratories, there was not sufficient material for the determination of all requested parameters. In most cases, as far as the data permit, it can be concluded that the consensus values (based on participant’s results) are in good agreement with the reference or the BIOREMA values (obtained by NMIs participating in the project). For three parameters, namely ethanol content, water content, and density, there is good agreement between the reference and consensus values. For these parameters, the reproducibility standard deviation is close to, or even smaller than, the expanded uncertainty associated with the reference value. A number of parameters show very poor reproducibility, for example, pH_e, electrolytic conductivity, and acidity. The same applies to sodium and copper content, which are very low and therefore challenging parameters to measure accurately. The results of the ILC underpin the need for certified reference materials and demonstrate the requirement for more robust quality control to improve the precision and trueness of the results from testing laboratories.     

A simple catalytic system based on PdCl2(CH3CN)2 in water for cross-coupling reactions using diazonium salts

Aryl–heteroaryl and heteroaryl–heteroaryl compounds are obtained through the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions between diazonium salts and potassium trifluoroborates using PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂ as the catalyst in water and in the absence of any additive, ligand or base. In addition, the same mild catalytic system is effective for the Matsuda–Heck reaction between several monoolefins with aryldiazonium salts.     

4-Aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octanone Derivatives with Antiprotozoal Activities

Summary.  4-Aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octanones which were prepared in one-pot-reactions from benzylidene acetone and dialkylammonium rhodanides were reduced stereoselectively to their corresponding alcohols. The activities of the bicyclic compounds against causative organisms of tropical deseases were examined. The 4-aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-ols were in general more active against Trypanosoma b. rhodesiense and Plasmodium falciparum than the corresponding keto compounds. Corresponding author. E-mail: robert.weis@uni-graz.at Received November 27, 2002; accepted December 2, 2002 Published online May 2, 2003     

Mechanochemical preparation of hydrogen-bonded adducts between the diamine 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane and dicarboxylic acids of variable chain length: an X-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR study

Mechanical mixing of solid dicarboxylic acids of variable chain length HOOC(CH(2))(n)COOH (n = 1-7) with solid 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane generates the corresponding salts or co-crystals of the formula [N(CH(2)CH(2))(3)N]-H-[OOC(CH(2))(n)COOH] (n=1-7). Preparation of the same systems from solution has been instrumental for a full characterization of the mechanochemical products by means of single-crystal and powder-diffraction X-ray analyses, as well as by solid-state NMR. The acid-base adducts, whether involving proton transfer from the COOH group to the N-acceptor, that is having ((-))O...H-N((+)) interactions, or the formation of neutral O-H...N hydrogen bonds, show a melting point alternation phenomenon analogous to that shown by the neutral carboxylic acids. The carbon chemical shift tensors of the COOH group obtained from the sideband intensity of low speed spinning NMR spectra provide a reliable criterion for assigning the protonation state of the adducts.     

Pigment Production by Filamentous Fungi on Agro-Industrial Byproducts: an Eco-Friendly Alternative

The search for new sources of natural pigments has increased, mainly because of the toxic effects caused by synthetic dyes used in food, pharmaceutical, textile, and cosmetic industries. Fungi provide a readily available alternative source of natural pigments. In this context, the fungi Penicillium chrysogenum IFL1 and IFL2, Fusarium graminearum IFL3, Monascus purpureus NRRL 1992, and Penicillium vasconiae IFL4 were selected as pigments producers. The fungal identification was performed using ITS and part of the β-tubulin gene sequencing. Almost all fungi were able to grow and produce water-soluble pigments on agro-industrial residues, with the exception of P. vasconiae that produced pigments only on potato dextrose broth. The production of yellow pigments was predominant and the two strains of P. chrysogenum were the largest producers. In addition, the production of pigments and mycotoxins were evaluated in potato dextrose agar using TOF-MS and TOF-MS/MS. Metabolites as roquefortine C, chrysogine were found in both extracts of P. chrysogenum, as well fusarenone X, diacetoxyscirpenol, and neosolaniol in F. graminearum extract. In the M. purpureus extract, the pigments monascorubrin, rubropunctatin, and the mycotoxin citrinin were found. The crude filtrates have potential to be used in the textile industry; nevertheless, additional pigment purification is required for food and pharmaceutical applications.     

X-ray diffraction study of the smectic mesophase of some azobenzene-containing polyacrylates

Abstract

An X-ray study is performed on powder specimens and on stretched oriented fibres of two liquid crystalline polyacrylates containing the azobenzene mesogenic unit with either a 4′-n-pentyloxy (sample 1–4) or 4′-n-hexyloxy (sample 1–5) substituent. The X-ray diffraction patterns of both samples showed the presence of a bilayer smectic C mesophase with the mesogneic groups tilted by an angle β ～ 45° (1–4) or β ～ 38° (1–5) with respect to the layer normal. The electron density profile p(z) along the direction normal to the smectic layers was calculated by Fourier inversion and possible structural models of the smectic mesophase are discussed. A partial interdigitation of the terminal alkyloxy substituents appears to occur.     

X-ray structure and circular dichroism of pure rotamers of bis[guanosine-5'-monophosphate(-1)](N,N,N',N'-tetramethylcyclohexyl-1,2-diamine)platinum(II) complexes that have R,R and S,S configurations at the asymmetric diamine

The use of a sterically hindered diamine ligand (Me(4)DACH) has allowed for the first time, the isolation and characterization, both in the solid state (X-ray crystallography) and in solution (circular dichroism), of pure DeltaHT rotamers of [Pt(Me(4)dach)(5'-GMP)(2)] (compounds 1 and 2 for R,R and S,S configurations of the Me(4)DACH ligand, respectively). Comparison of the CD spectra obtained for each rotamer, which differ only in the chirality of the Me(4)DACH ligand (R,R or S,S) or in the chirality of the HT conformation (Delta or Lambda), allowed us to conclude that, in the 200-350 nm range, the contributions to the overall CD spectrum that stem from diamine chirality and diamine-induced chirality of platinum d--d transitions or from sugar chirality are negligible relative to the exciton chiral coupling that occurs for pi-pi* transitions of the cis guanines. Accurate molecular structures of 1.10 D(2)O and 2.14 D(2)O (conventional crystallographic agreement indexes R(1) convergent to 2.07 % and 2.18 %, respectively) revealed that the crystallized rotamers have a DeltaHT conformation that is in agreement with all previously reported X-ray structures of [Pt(diamine)(nucleos(t)ide)(2)] complexes. This conformation allows the 5'-phosphate to be located in proximity to the Me(4)DACH ligand so that (P)O...HC(N) hydrogen-bond interactions exists in both complexes. For both structures, the canting of the guanine planes on the coordination plane is right-handed (R; canting angle (Phi) of 80.9 degrees and 73.2 degrees, respectively); this indicates that the canting direction is driven by the HT conformation chirality (Delta for both compounds) and not by the chirality of the carrier ligand (different for the two compounds). Density functional theory analysis of the conformational space as a function of Phi indicated a good agreement between the computed and experimental structures. The increase in energy for Phi values below 65 degrees and 55 degrees (for 1 and 2, respectively) is mainly due to the short intramolecular contacts between C(8)H and the cis N-Me groups on the same side of the platinum coordination plane.