Accumulation of photofrin in lesions of airway stenosis rabbit models

Airway stenosis in childhood is resistant to conventional treatments. Endoscope-assisted photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a potent candidate for the therapeutic modality owing to the easy approach to the tracheal lesion and low degree of invasiveness. The aim of the present study was to examine whether a photosensitizer preferentially accumulates in the lesion of airway stenosis in order to explore the possible applicability of PDT. The tracheal mucosa of rabbits was scraped off, and the rabbits were intravenously administered with Photofrin. The tissue concentration of Photofrin was quantitatively measured by fluorometric analysis. Granulation formation was seen in the mucosa-deprived lesion, causing airway stenosis. Photofrin concentration in the granulation tissue was four-fold higher than that in the intact trachea and 10-fold higher than that in the liver, spleen, skin and muscle. Photofrin preferentially accumulated in the lesion of airway stenosis. A preliminary experiment on PDT using transtracheal illumination showed an amelioration of airway stenosis, resulting in reduction in respiratory stridor.     

Protonation states of buried histidine residues in human deoxyhemoglobin revealed by neutron crystallography

The protonation states of buried histidine residues in human deoxyhemoglobin were unambiguously identified by using a neutron crystallographic technique. Unexpectedly, the neutron structure reveals that both the alpha- and beta-distal histidines (Hisalpha58 and Hisbeta63) adopt a positively charged, fully (doubly) protonated form, suggesting their contribution to the Bohr effect. In addition, the neutron data provide an accurate picture of the alpha1beta1 hydrogen-bonding network and allow us to observe unambiguously the nature of the intradimeric interactions at an atomic level.     

Molecular assembly of artificial photosynthetic antenna core complex on an amino-terminated ITO electrode

Bacterial photosynthetic membrane proteins, light-harvesting antenna complex (LH1), reaction center (RC), and their combined ‘core’ complex (LH1–RC) are functional elements in the primary photosynthetic events, i.e., capturing and transferring light energy and subsequent charge separation. These photosynthetic units (PSUs) isolated from Rhodospirillum rubrum (Rs. rubrum) were assembled onto an ITO electrode modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS–ITO). The near IR absorption spectra of PSUs on the assembled electrodes were identical to those of solutions, indicating that the LH1 and LH1–RC core complexes were native on the electrode. Photocurrent response of PSUs on the electrode was examined upon illumination of the LH1 complex at 880 nm. The LH1–RC and a mixed assembly of LH1 and RC exhibited photocurrent response, but not LH1 only, consistent with the function of these PSUs, capturing light energy and transferring electron. This result provides useful methodology for building an artificial fabrication of PSUs on the electrode.     

Versatile direct dehydrative approach for diaryliodonium(III) salts in fluoroalcohol media

We have found that the use of fluoroalcohol media greatly enhanced the efficiency and scope of the direct dehydrative condensation of arenes and hypervalent iodine(III) compounds; the present clean method has a broad range of applicability as well as unique selectivity in the aromatic substrates, and is highly efficient even in polymer functionalization.     

Metal ion effect on the switch of mechanism from direct oxygen transfer to metal ion-coupled electron transfer in the sulfoxidation of thioanisoles by a non-heme iron(IV)-oxo complex

The mechanism of sulfoxidation of thioaniosoles by a non-heme iron(IV)-oxo complex is switched from direct oxygen transfer to metal ion-coupled electron transfer by the presence of Sc(3+). The switch in the sulfoxidation mechanism is dependent on the one-electron oxidation potentials of thioanisoles. The rate of sulfoxidation is accelerated as much as 10(2)-fold by the addition of Sc(3+).     

Constituents of the green tea seeds of Camellia sinensis

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves are known to contain active ingredients such as catechins and caffeine, and are widely useful materials. Recently, green tea flowers also have been in the spotlight. However, little attention has been paid to the tea seeds. In this work, the constituents of green tea seeds and green tea leaves were compared. Caffeine was found in the seeds, whereas catechins (usually obtained from green tea leaves) were not observed. Next, we investigated the constituents of hexane extracts and methanol extracts of green tea seeds. We found that the hexane extracts contained high amounts of oleic glyceride (79.9%) in addition to linoleic glyceride (20%). We confirmed the structures of these glycerides by NMR spectroscopy and by synthesis from a fatty acid and glycerol. The methanol extract was found to contain naringenin glucosides by mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopic analysis.     

The Boltzmann Equation Without Angular Cutoff in the Whole Space: Qualitative Properties of Solutions

This is a continuation of our series of works for the inhomogeneous Boltzmann equation. We study qualitative properties of classical solutions; the full regularization in all variables, uniqueness, non-negativity and convergence rate to the equilibrium, to be precise. Together with the results of Parts I and II about the well-posedness of the Cauchy problem around the Maxwellian, we conclude this series with a satisfactory mathematical theory for the Boltzmann equation without angular cutoff.     

Magnetic field effect on chemical wave propagation from the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction

Effects of magnetic field (maximum field, 4 and 93 T(2) m(-1)) on the propagation speed of a chemical wavefront from the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction were studied in a thin glass tube. The downward and upward speed and the horizontal one are, respectively affected significantly by vertical and horizontal magnetic fields. Observations of the wavefront shape in magnetic fields showed that the magnetic force-induced convection causes the observed effects.     

Synthesis of isochromene and related derivatives by rhodium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of benzyl and allyl alcohols with alkynes

The straightforward synthesis of isochromene derivatives and related cyclic ethers is achieved by the rhodium-catalyzed oxidative coupling of α,α-disubstituted benzyl and allyl alcohols with alkynes. The hydroxy groups effectively act as the key function for the regioselective C-H bond cleavage.     

Photochemical control of a highly efficient addition reaction between electron-rich alkynes and tetracyanoethylene

The electron density of an alkyne moiety is enhanced by the photochromic ring closure of a diarylethene derivative, which allows the thermal addition reaction with a small π-acceptor, tetracyanoethylene, at room temperature.