Lembehsterols A and B,novel sulfated sterols inhibiting thymidine phosphorylase,from the marine sponge Petrosia strongylata

Lembehsterols A (1) and B (2), two novel sulfated sterols, were isolated from the marine sponge Petrosia strongylata. Both sterols showed inhibitory activity against thymidine phosphorylase, which is an enzyme related to angiogenesis in solid tumors. The structures of these sulfated sterols were established on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.     

Metallic conductivity and ferromagnetic interaction of iron(III) d spins in the needle crystals of (ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalenoquinone-1,3-dithiolemethide)(2).FeBr(4) salt

The 2:1 charge-transfer (CT) salts (1(2).FeBr(4) and 1(2).GaBr(4)) of ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalenoquinone-1,3-dithiolemethide (1) with FeBr(4)(-) and GaBr(4)(-) counteranions were obtained as needle crystals, whose structures are almost the same as each other. The 1 molecules form a one dimensionally stacked column with alternation of their molecular axis direction, while the counteranions are aligned in parallel with the 1-stacked columns with the direction of their distorted-tetrahedral geometry maintained. The room-temperature electrical conductivities measured on the single crystals of 1(2).FeBr(4) and 1(2).GaBr(4) were 4.6 and 2.1 S cm(-1), respectively. From the temperature dependences of their electrical conductivities in both cases the electrical conducting properties were metallic between ca. 170 and 300 K, but below ca. 170 K converted to be semiconducting and continued till 5 K, although the activation energies are very small (4-10 meV). For 1(2).FeBr(4) very weak and antiferromagnetic interaction occurred between the d spins of FeBr(4)(-) ions in the temperature range of ca. 1-300 K. However, below ca. 15 K the ferromagnetic interaction was reversely preferential possibly by participation of the pi spin of 1.     

The Effects of Comprehensive Exercise Program on the Adjustments of Standing Balance in Community-Dwelling Elderly Persons

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of comprehensive exercise program widely accepted as a community-based physical intervention for the prevention of falling in the elderly persons on their controlling standing balance. Twenty-six community-dwelling elderly persons (13 males and females; 69.8 ± 2.8 years old) participated in this study. Daily exercise was comprised of walking for more than 30 min, stretching, muscle strengthening and balance exercise without exercise equipments. The intervention was continued for three months. Indicators of standing balance related to static balance, dynamic balance and postural response were measured before and after the intervention. As an effect of the intervention on static balance, the sway of center of pressure (COP) in the static stance significantly increased. In the dynamic balance, significant improvements were observed in one leg standing time, the 10-m gait time, functional reach. Additionally, the maximal movable length of COP which subjects can move voluntarily to right and left significantly increased. In the postural response, the integrated electromyography (IEMG) induced by postural response for sudden postural perturbation significantly decreased in the lower leg muscles. Since less muscular activities were sufficient to maintain posture, it was suggested that postural response was elicited more efficiently following the intervention. This study suggested that the comprehensive exercise program, which has been widely introduced as community-based interventions for the prevention of falling, have extensive effects on the control of standing balance covering static balance, dynamic balance and postural response in the elderly persons.     

Sonochemical preparation of composite nanoparticles of Au/gamma-Fe2O3 and magnetic separation of glutathione

We prepared Au/gamma-Fe2O3 composite nanoparticles by sonochemically reducing Au(III) ions employing no stabilizer in the aqueous solution to form stable Au nanoparticles and allowing them to attach onto the surface of gamma-Fe2O3 particles with an average size of 21 nm. Size of the formed Au nanoparticle depended on the initial concentration of Au(III) ions. The number of the Au nanoparticles, supported on each gamma-Fe2O3 particle was controlled by changing the relative amounts of Au(III) ions and gamma-Fe2O3 particles. The composite nanoparticles exhibited a high affinity with glutathione, a tripeptide with mercapto group so that separation and manipulation of glutathione in aqueous solutions could be performed by application of external magnetic field. Because the surfaces of the Au nanoparticles were not shielded by any stabilizers, or naked, sonochemically prepared Au/gamma-Fe2O3 composite nanoparticles seemed to show stronger affinity to the glutathione than those by the radiochemical method.     

Molybdenum-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis of allenynes

A ring-closing metathesis reaction of allenynes occurred at room temperature in the presence of a molybdenum alkylidene complex to give ring-closed vinylallenes. The vinylallene skeletons were constructed by a metathesis-type reaction between the alkyne moiety and the proximal carbon-carbon double bond of the allene moiety. [reaction: see text]     

Peak effect and dynamic melting of vortex matter in NbSe2 crystals

We present a mode locking (ML) phenomenon of vortex matter observed around the peak effect regime of 2H-NbSe2 pure single crystals. The ML features allow us not only to trace how the shear rigidity of driven vortices persists on approaching the second critical field, but also to demonstrate a dynamic melting transition of driven vortices at a given velocity. We observe the velocity dependent melting signatures in the peak effect regime, which reveal a crossover between the disorder-induced transition at small velocity and the thermally induced transition at large velocity. This uncovers the relationship between the peak effect and the thermal melting.     

Tumor-infiltrating effector cells of alpha-galactosylceramide-induced antitumor immunity in metastatic liver tumor

BACKGROUND: alpha-Galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) can be presented by CD1d molecules of antigen-presenting cells, and is known to induce a potent NKT cell-dependent cytotoxic response against tumor cells. However, the main effector cells in alpha-GalCer-induced antitumor immunity are still controversial. METHODS: In order to elucidate the cell phenotype that plays the most important role in alpha-GalCer-induced antitumor immunity, we purified and analyzed tumor-infiltrating leukocytes (TILs) from liver metastatic nodules of a colon cancer cell line (Colon26), comparing alpha-GalCer- and control vehicle-treated mice. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze cell phenotype in TILs and IFN-gamma ELISA was performed to detect antigen-specific immune response. RESULTS: Flow cytometry analysis showed a significantly higher infiltration of NK cells (DX5+, T cell receptor alphabeta (TCR)-) into tumors in alpha-GalCer-treated mice compared to vehicle-treated mice. The DX5+TCR+ cell population was not significantly different between these two groups, indicating that these cells were not the main effector cells. Interestingly, the CD8+ T cell population was increased in TILs of alpha-GalCer-treated mice, and the activation level of these cells based on CD69 expression was higher than that in vehicle-treated mice. Moreover, the number of tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells (DCs) was increased in alpha-GalCer-treated mice. IFN-gamma ELISA showed stronger antigen-specific response in TILs from alpha-GalCer-treated mice compared to those from vehicle-treated mice, although the difference between these two groups was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: In alpha-GalCer-induced antitumor immunity, NK cells seem to be some of the main effector cells and both CD8+ T cells and DCs, which are related to acquired immunity, might also play important roles in this antitumor immune response. These results suggest that alpha-GalCer has a multifunctional role in modulation of the immune response.     

A series of trinuclear Cu(II)Ln(III)Cu(II) complexes derived from 2,6-Di(acetoacetyl)pyridine: synthesis, structure, and magnetism

A series of trinuclear Cu(II)Ln(III)Cu(II) complexes with the bridging ligand 2,6-di(acetoacetyl)pyridine have been prepared by one-pot reaction with Cu(NO(3))(2).3H(2)O and Ln(NO(3))(3).nH(2)O in methanol. X-ray crystallographic studies for all the complexes indicate that two L(2)(-) ligands selectively sandwich two Cu(II) ions with the 1,3-diketonate entities and one Ln(III) ion with the 2,6-acetylpyridine entity to form a trinuclear CuLnCu core bridged by the enolate oxygen atoms. Cryomagnetic properties of the complexes are studied with respect to the electronic structure of the Ln ion.