Human cytokines characterized by dielectric thermal analysis, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry

Malaria affects over 500 million people worldwide leading to 1–2 million deaths each year, the majority of whom are children. Four Plasmodium species cause malaria in humans. To properly diagnose, and correctly treat malarial infections, accurate diagnosis of infection is required. Proper diagnosis of infection will result in a reduction of morbidity, mortality, and of drug resistant parasites. However, the current tests for malaria diagnosis do not efficiently identify the appropriate human and parasite biomarkers associated with disease. Detection of specific inflammatory mediators such as cytokines associated with malaria pathogenesis will aid the determination of disease progression, disease prognosis, and the early diagnosis of malaria infection. In this study, we used dielectric thermal analysis (DETA), thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to characterize five human cytokines (IL-1α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10), to demonstrate how their thermoanalytical properties can be investigated for sensor design. Analysis for DETA was performed at a frequency range of 0.1–300,000 Hz. Permittivity and loss factor measurements were used to calculate tan δ values. Peak frequencies were used to determine dielectric signatures for each cytokine. The peak frequencies were different for each cytokine analyzed. In addition, activation energies were frequency dependent for IL-2 but frequency independent for the remaining four cytokines. Cytokines were also examined using DSC which established variance in heat of crystallization and heat of fusion of solvent among the five cytokines. A noticeable differentiation was observed with IL-1α among the other four cytokines when analyzed using trend analysis. Detection of unique dielectric signals will aid development of sensitive dielectric sensors capable of detecting cytokines in various human samples.     

Four spectrophotometric methods for determination of nitrofurazone in pharmaceutical formulations

Four simple and sensitive visible spectrophotometric methods (A-D) for the determination of nitrofurazone in bulk samples and pharmaceutical formulations are described. They are based on the formation of colored species by treating either its reduction product with 3-methylbenzothiazolin-2-one hydrazone in the presence of ferric chloride (method A: _max 600 nm) or its hydrolysis product with thiobarbituric acid (method B: _max 520 nm, 440 nm) or barbituric acid (method C: _max 400 nm) or by oxidizing it with excess N-bromosuccinimide and determining the consumed NBS using metol-isonicotinic acid hydrazide (method D: _max 620 nm).     

Analytical properties of 2-nitro-5,6-dimethyl-1,3-indanedione dithiosemicarbazone

The synthesis, characterization and analytical properties of 2-nitro-5,6-dimethyl-1,3-indanedione dithiosemicarbazone (NDIDT) are described. NDIDT is used as a chromogenic reagent for the rapid spectrophotometric determination of cobalt(II), palladium(II) and osmium(VIII). The spectrophotometric method developed for cobalt has been used in the analysis of alloys.     

L‐Proline–H2O2: A New Chemoselective Approach for Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides

A facile and selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides using an L‐proline–H₂O₂ system for structurally divergent sulfide substrates with excellent yields at ambient conditions is reported.     

Efficient Method of Synthesis of N,N′-Disubstituted Ureas/Thioureas by a Zinc Chloride Catalyzed Thermal Reaction

Symmetrically N,N′-disubstituted ureas/thioureas were synthesized by heating amines or phenyl hydrazine and urea/thiourea on a preheated hot plate at 80–85°C under solvent-free conditions in the presence of a catalytic amount of ZnCl₂ as a catalyst. The protocol has the advantages of not using toxic phosgene and other hazardous substrates or organic solvents. Increased reaction rate, good yield, and a simple workup procedure are involved.     

Facile Synthesis of Imidazole Fused Fluoroquinolones

Studies on synthetic design of 7,8‐imidazole fused fluoroquinolones from 8‐amino‐6‐fluoro‐4‐hydroxy‐N‐methyl‐7‐(methyl amino)quinoline‐3‐carboxamide and ketones/carboxylic acids and their antibacterial activity.     

Application of INAA for phyto-accumulation study of selenium by chickpea plant

The phyto-accumulation efficacy of selenium (Se) from soil by chickpea plant is reported. Chickpea plants were grown in soil having different concentrations (1–4 mg kg^?1) of Se. Samples of soil and different parts of chickpea plants in Se rich soil were analyzed for determination of Se concentrations by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Samples were irradiated in self-serve facility of CIRUS reactor, BARC, Mumbai at a neutron flux of the order of 10¹³ cm^?2 s^?1. The gamma activity at 264.7 keV of ⁷⁵Se (119.8 d) was measured using a 45% relative efficiency HPGe detector coupled to MCA. Dependence of Se distribution in soil and plants on its spiking concentration was evaluated in this work. The Se concentrations determined in plant parts grown in control soil and in soil spiked with Se (4 mg kg^?1) are in the range of 0.6–0.8 and 65–68 mg kg^?1 respectively.     

A novel Prins-alkynylation reaction for the synthesis of 4-phenacyl tetrahydropyrans

Aldehyde, homoallylic alcohol, and alkyne undergo smooth Prins-type cyclization in the presence of BF₃·OEt₂/CuCl (10 mol % each) in dichloromethane under mild reaction conditions to afford 4-phenacyl tetrahydropyran derivatives in good yields. This method is highly stereoselective, affording cis-tetrahydropyrans exclusively. The salient features of this method are high conversions, mild reaction conditions, short reaction times, high selectivity, and operational simplicity.     

The stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-garvensintriol

A simple and highly efficient stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-garvensintriol, isolated from the stem bark of Goniothalamus arvensis, is described using Sharpless kinetic resolution, MacMillan α-hydroxylation, and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination as the key steps.