Comparison of the DNA Damage Photoinduced by Fenofibrate and Ketoprofen, Two Phototoxic Drugs of Parent Structure

Fenofibrate and ketoprofen (KP) are two drugs of similar structure derived from that of benzophenone. Both are photoallergic and promote cross reactions in patients. However, the cutaneous photosensitizing properties of KP also include phototoxic effects and are more frequently mentioned. To account for this difference in their in vivo properties, their in vitro photosensitizing properties on DNA were compared. First, it was shown that under irradiation at 313 nm, fenofibric acid (FB), the main metabolite of fenofibrate, photosensitized DNA cleavage by a radical mechanism similar to that proposed for KP but with a 50 times lower efficiency. Furthermore, FB did not photosensitize the formation of pyrimidine dimers into DNA in contrast to KP, which did promote this type of DNA damage. Their difference in efficiency as DNA breakers was compared to their relative photochemical reactivity and the quantum yield of FB photolysis was found to be eightfold lower than that of KP. The reactivity of these drugs cannot explain alone the difference in their photosensitizing properties. Other factors such as the magnitude of the ionic character of the pho-todecarboxylation pathway of these benzophenone-like drugs are considered in the discussion.     

Advances in the chemical synthesis of brassinosteroids

This review generalizes the latest advances in the chemical synthesis of the plant growth regulators brassinosteroids in 1990–1994.Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Belarus Academy of Sciences, 220141, Minsk, ul. Zhodinskaya, 5/2. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 507–544, July–August, 1997.     

Polymer creep in a static magnetic field

By noting changes in the color of samples in a polarization microscope with varying degree of birefringence, the effect of a weak static magnetic fields (2 and 4 kOe) on molecules of glassy polymers has been observed. Variations in the nonmonotonicity of the rate of discontinuous creep at +18° were studied interferometrically. It is shown that the abruptness of the deformation jumps varies in a magnetic field, where this abruptness is assumed to be due to the existence of strong physical junctions between the kinetic units of deformation. The reactivity of the polymers to the magnetic field stands in satisfactory correspondence with their magnetic susceptibilities. Results show that such nonmagnetic materials as glassy polymers can noticeably alter their deformational properties in response to the action of magnetic fields. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 1690–1692 (September 1997)     

Intravascular and Intracellular Hepatic Relaxivities of Superparamagnetic Particles: An Isolated and Perfused Organ Pharmacokinetics Study

The relative contributions of intravascular and intracellular compartments to the proton transverse relaxation of the isolated and excised rat liver were determined during the phagocytosis of superparamagnetic particles. The evolution of the proton transverse magnetization of the organ perfused with increasing doses of starch-coated magnetic microspheres was followed up using a Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill sequence with various echo times. From the multiexponential fit of the echo train, the amplitudes and the relaxation ratesR₂of the liver tissue were obtained. The results clearly indicate that shortly after contrast medium administration, an internalization takes place which can be followed by the rapid and biphasic evolution of the transverse relaxation rate of the water protons. A very fast decaying component looking like an initial loss of the magnetization is observed together with an increase of the relaxation rate of the remaining water tissue. This regime is strongly dependent on both the echo time and the iron concentration, a behavior characteristic of the agglomeration of magnetic particles. The examination of the liver tissues by electron microscopy shows that this clustering arises in cytoplasmic vacuoles.     

Distribution of melamine in polyester–melamine surface coatings cured under nonisothermal conditions

The influence of experimental cure parameters on the diffusion of reactive species in polyester–melamine thermoset coatings during curing has been investigated with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared. The diffusion of melamine plays a vital role in the curing process and, therefore, in the ultimate properties of coatings. At a low (<20%) hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM) crosslinker concentration, the matrix composition is uniform, but at high HMMM concentrations, excess HMMM rapidly segregates to the air–coating interface. The rate of migration is governed by the difference in the surface free energies of polyester and HMMM and the concentration gradient of HMMM between the bulk and the surface. An increased rate of energy absorption also increases the rate of migration of HMMM to the surface. A physical model has been proposed to explain this surface segregation phenomenon in terms of cocondensation and self‐condensation reactions. It suggests that an appropriate amount of melamine can be segregated on the surface and allowed to self‐condense to form a desired thickness of a melamine topcoat through the control of the binder composition and cure conditions. This technique can be implemented to apply a melamine topcoat during cure. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 83–91, 2004     

Mineral and chemical compositions and structure-sorption properties of bottom sediments as the basic components of enterosorbents and application materials

The mineral and chemical compositions, as well as some structure-sorption characteristics were determined for clay minerals selected for examination. The integrated coefficients of contamination of bottom sediments with each of the toxicant metals (Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn) were calculated. The minerals examined presumably can be used in medicine as efficient application materials, cosmetic agents, and sorbents (enterosorbents).