Thermal studies of pre-formulates of metronidazole obtained by spray drying technique

Compatibility studies between active drugs and excipients are substantial in the pharmaceutical technology. The objective of the present work was to develop pre-formulated mixtures of metronidazole (MT) obtained by spray drying (SPDR) and their thermoanalytical characterization. Dynamic and isothermal TG, conventional DSC and DSC coupled to a photovisual system were used. DSC experiments with both techniques confirmed the homogeneity of the conventional and pre-formulated mixtures. The TG data made possible the comparison the thermal stability of the different mixtures. Similar thermal stabilities were found of the conventional and pre-formulated mixtures, with slower particles sizes of MT.     

马来酸酐与1，2－环己烷二羧酸二异丁酯的气液平衡

采用小沸点仪测定了马来酸酐和1,2－环己烷二羧酸二异丁酯二元系统在不同配料组成条件下的温度与压力数据，并通过内插法得到不同压力下的温度与配料组成的数据.进一步采用单纯形法优化NRTL方程参数，推算了平衡气液相组成，发现该二元系统具有最高压力恒沸点，且该恒沸点随压力的变化显著.当压力降低至20 kPa时, 由温度随气相组成的变化趋势知该恒沸点将趋于消失.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a Novel Compound of （C2N2H8O2） H6V10O28

A novel vanadate decamer, involving all vanadium atoms present in +5 oxidation and one formhydroxamic acid dimer cation readical, has been synthesized. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the orange crystal is formed in the triclinic system, space group Pi, a = 8. 4960 (17), b = 10.447 (2), c = 11.299 (2) A, α= 68. 82 (3)°,β= 87.35 (3)°, γ = 66.97(3)°. V = 855. 3(3) A3, Z = 8, R1 = 0. 0857, wR2=0. 2551. X-ray crystallographic and packing in superlattice studies showed that the crystal structure was constructed by electrostatic attraction of O-H…O hydrogen bonds between formhydroxamic acid dimer cation and decavanadate polyanion. Formhydroxamic acid dimer is got through controlling the condition of the reaction using formhydroxamic acid.     

Heterocyclic inflammation inhibitors

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most widely used medicines for relief of pain. These drugs have some side effects, particularly toxicity in the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys. Various approaches have been used for obtaining safer anti-inflammatory drugs. In this review we have summarized the recent developments in the following areas; (i) mode of action of NSAIDs (ii) Role of COX-1 & COX-2 in inflammation, (iii) Different approaches used to improve gastric tolerance i.e. chemical manipulation, formulation & co-administration, development of non specific (COX-1 & COX-2 inhibitors) and specific (COX-2 inhibitors) inflammation inhibitors, and development of inflammation inhibitors having a mode of action other than COX-1 & COX-2 inhibition. We have also focused on the safety of COX-2 inhibitors and the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds and their role as inflammation inhibitors.     

Two 3D supramolecular polymers constructed from an amino acid and a high-nuclear Ln6Cu24 cluster node

The first successful attempt to construct 3D supramolecular frameworks with high-nuclear 3d-4f heterometallic clusters as a node is reported. The self-assembly of Ln3+, Cu2+ and amino acid in solution leads to the formation of two polymers, 35-nuclear complex [Sm6Cu29] 1 with a primitive cubic net-like structure and 36-nuclear complex [Nd6Cu30] 2 with a face-centred cubic network type structure. Glycine and L-proline, respectively, were used as ligands. It should be noted that 2 has a chiral framework. X-ray structure analyses show that 1 crystallizes in the triclinic P1 space group (a=19.6451(8), b=20.4682(8), c=20.7046(8) A, alpha=89.453(1), beta=66.290(1), gamma=68.572(1) degrees, V=7003.0(5) A3 and Z=1) and 2 belongs to the cubic P2(1)3 space group (a=b=c=32.4341(3) A, V=34 119.7(5) A3 and Z=4). Both complexes utilize Ln6Cu24 octahedral clusters as nodes and trans-Cu(amino acid)2 groups as bridges. Electrical conductivity measurements reveal that both polymers behave as semiconductors.     

Lysophosphatidic acid induces astrocyte proliferation in hippocampus slices partially through activating extracellular signal-regulated kinases

The goal of the present study is to test the hypothesis that LPA induces proliferation of astrocytes in hippocampus in vivo via phosphorylation of ERK 1/2. We first characterized the expression of GFAP, a special marker fiber protein of astrocytes, in brain slices after direct injection of LPA into hippocampus by immunohistochemistry, and found that LPA induced a remarkable proliferation of astrocytes. Then double-lablled immunofluorescence was used to detect GFAP and phosphorylation ERK 1/2 (p-ERK 1/2), LPA induced an immediate (10 min) and transient (<30 min) phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, and sequence sustained activation of ERK 1/2 was observed, which last for at least 3 weeks after injection of LPA. Reactions are inhibited by U0126, a specific pharmacological mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor. Laser confocal scanning was used to study spatial relationship of p-ERK and astrocytes. Amazingly, the early (<7 days) phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 is not expressed in astrocytes but in area where neurons and/or in other cell type(s) occupied, expression of p-ERK 1/2 in astrocytes is not detected until 14 days after LPA injection and lasts for at least 3 weeks. Taken together, these data suggest that LPA play an important role in proliferation of astrocytes through phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 in hippocampus. It provides further proof for the functions of LPA in CNS injury, and may contribute to clinical therapy for relative diseases.     

Analysis of flavonoids in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ginkgo biloba</Emphasis> L. and its phytopharmaceuticals by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection

A high-performance capillary electrophoretic (CE) method with electrochemical detection (ED) has been developed for determination of the pharmacologically active flavonoids in Ginkgo biloba L. and phytopharmaceuticals containing its extract. Epicatechin, catechin, rutin, apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin are important flavonoids in this plant. Operated in a wall-jet configuration, a 300 micro m diameter carbon-disk electrode was used as working electrode with good response to the six analytes at +1000 mV (relative to the SCE). Under the optimum conditions, the analytes were separated within 22 min in a borax buffer (pH 9.0). Excellent linearity was obtained over two orders of magnitude and detection limits (S/N=3) ranged from 1.4 x 10(-7) to 5.0 x 10(-7) g mL(-1) for all six analytes. The method was successfully used for assay of Ginkgo biloba L. and its phytopharmaceuticals after a relatively simple extraction procedure; the results obtained were satisfactory.     

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     

Electrochromic properties of WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>:P thin films

WO₃ and WO₃:P (5 mol% H₃PO₄) thin films were prepared using the sol-gel route and the electrochromic properties of the films were investigated using in situ spectroelectrochemical methods. The measurements were performed in propylene carbonate solution with 0.1 M LiClO₄ as electrolyte. During the cathodic polarization at –0.8 V a blue coloration is observed with a reversible variation between 14% and 84% of the transmittance at λ=633 nm. The kinetics for the bleaching process is faster for the WO₃:P film than for the undoped WO₃ film. Electronic Publication     

Metal Nanoparticles on Stainless Steel Surfaces as Novel Heterogeneous Catalysts

The goal of this work was the development of a novel type of heterogeneous catalyst, consisting of bare metal nanoparticles on stainless steel foils, which can be shaped to any kind of architecture and, if necessary, heated electrically. Solutions of pre-prepared, ligand protected and monodispersed gold, palladium, platinum and rhodium nanoparticles were sprayed onto stainless steel foils, followed by the careful removal of the ligand molecules by an oxygen plasma treatment. Due to this, bare particles become irreversibly fixed on the steel support. It could be shown that the original particle sizes do not change during the plasma treatment. Foils, densely coated with the nanoparticles, were used for gas phase catalyses in a self-made reactor at room temperature or at 60 °C. Hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene at 15 nm Pd and 2 nm Pt, CO oxidation at 16 nm, 8 nm and 1.4 nm gold and NO reduction with NH₃ at 2 nm Rh particles were performed, indicating that the novel catalysts might in principle be applicable in technical processes if the experimental conditions like form and temperature would be optimized. Dedicated to Professor Dieter Fenske on the occassion of his 65th birthday.