Potential of magnetic resonance spectroscopy to detect metastasis in axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer

Focused pathological evaluation of axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer is gaining importance. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy that assesses the whole of the specimen has the potential in evaluating micrometastases. The biochemical changes associated with breast cancer metastases in axillary nodes by in vitro NMR and its use in the detection of axillary metastases in a clinical setting in comparison with conventional histopathology is presented in this study. Eighty-eight lymph nodes obtained from 30 patients with breast cancer were investigated. Histopathology revealed metastases in 20 nodes from 11 patients, while in vitro NMR spectroscopy revealed metastases in 22 nodes. Out of these 22 nodes, 16 were the same, which showed metastases on histopathology, while 6 nodes have shown metastases only on in vitro magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). These 6 nodes with suspicion of metastases on MRS were subjected to reevaluation with serial sectioning and immunohistochemistry, but no additional metastases were revealed. Forty metabolites could be identified from the MR spectrum of lymph nodes. The levels of the glycerophosphocholine-phosphocholine (GPC-PC), choline, lactate, alanine and uridine diphosphoglucose were elevated significantly in nodes with metastases. In addition, the intensity ratio of GPC-PC/threonine (Thr) was higher in nodes with metastases, and using this as marker, MRS detected the axillary metastases with a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 80%, 91% and 88%, respectively. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) lowered the concentrations of GPC-PC and GPC-PC/Thr ratio. The accuracy of MRS in detecting metastases was 75% in patients who received NACT (n=9) as compared to 96% in those who did not (n=21). Our results demonstrate the potential of in vitro MRS in characterizing the metabolite profile of the axillary nodes with breast cancer metastases. It detected axillary metastases with reasonable accuracy and can be complementary to histopathological evaluation and immunohistochemistry.     

Effect of sunlight on the preparation and properties of cellulose/silver nanoparticle composite films by in situ method using Ocimum sanctum leaf extract as a reducing agent

Cellulose/silver nanoparticle composite films with in situ-generated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared using Ocimum sanctum leaf extract as a reducing agent in the absence and presence of sunlight and were characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, and antibacterial tests. Sunlight hastened up the preparation of these composite films. The average size of the in situ-generated AgNPs was reduced by the sunlight. The antibacterial activity and other properties of the composites were enhanced by the sunlight. The cellulose/AgNP composite films with improved properties by sunlight can be considered for medical purpose as antibacterial dressing materials.     

Further polymers derived from bisazlactones and tetraamino compounds

New polymers containing benzimidazole in the polymeric backbone were obtained from the reaction of bis(oxazolones) with known and with a novel aromatic tetraamine. The polymers have inherent viscosities in the range of 0.1-0.4 dL/g (in DMF 30°C).     

Ketene dithioacetal mediated synthesis of 1,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted pyrazole derivatives and their biological evaluation

Abstract

Ketene dithioacetal mediated chemo- and regioselective synthesis of a series of novel 1,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted pyrazole derivatives (4a-l) integrated with a bioactive indole nucleus was achieved by reacting substituted 2-(1-methyl-1H-indole-3-carbonyl)-3,3-bis-(methylthio)-acrylonitrile (2) and substituted phenyl hydrazine hydrochloride (3) in the presence of a catalytic amount of anhydrous K₂CO₃ under reflux conditions. The structures were ascertained by ¹H NMR, NOESY, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, and HRMS data. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation of the synthesized compounds against MCF 7 (breast carcinoma) and normal Vero (monkey kidney) cell lines revealed that the compound 5-(5-Bromo-1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1-(4-cyano-phenyl)-3-methylsulfanyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile (4k) showed significant cytotoxicity against MCF 7 (GI₅₀ = 15.6 µM) with low cytotoxicity against normal Vero cell line. Most of the synthesized compounds were also found to possess excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant (DPPH, NO, H₂O₂ and SOR) potential.     

Spectrophotometric and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for simultaneous determination of escitalopram oxalate and clonazepam in combined tablet dosage form

Simple, accurate, precise, and sensitive ultraviolet spectrophotometric and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) methods for simultaneous estimation of escitalopram oxalate (ESC) and clonazepam (CLO) in combined tablet dosage form have been developed and validated. The spectroscopic method employs an absorbance correction method using 238.6 and 308 nm as 2 wavelengths for estimation with methanol and water as solvents. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 10.0-50.0 and 0.5-3.0 micro/mL for ESC and CLO, respectively. The RP-HPLC method uses a Jasco HPLC system with HiQ SiL C18 column (250 x 4.6 mm id) acetonitrile-0.005 M tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate (55 + 45, v/v) as the mobile phase, and satranidazole as an internal standard. The detection was carried out using an ultraviolet detector set at 287 nm. For the HPLC method, Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 10.0-60.0 and 0.5-3.0 microg/mL for ESC and CLO, respectively. Both methods have been successfully applied for the analysis of the drugs in a pharmaceutical formulation. Results of analysis were validated statistically and by recovery studies.     

Column reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous determination of rabeprazole sodium and domperidone in combined tablet dosage form

A new, simple column reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for simultaneous determination of rabeprazole sodium (RAB) and domperidone (DOM) in a combined tablet dosage form has been developed and validated. Determination was performed using a Jasco HPLC system with a HiQ SiL octadecylsilane (C18) column (250 x 4.6 mm id), acetonitrile-0.1 M ammonium acetate (50 + 50, v/v) mobile phase, and paracetamol as an internal standard. The detection was performed using a UV detector set at 280 nm. The method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 1.0-10.0 and 0.5-5.0 microg/mL for RAB and DOM, respectively. The method has been successfully applied for the analysis of drugs in a pharmaceutical formulation.     

Synthesis and properties of waterborne self‐crosslinkable sulfo‐urethane silanol dispersions

A novel type of crosslinkable waterborne polyurethane ionomer was prepared by the acetone process. Two new types of sulfonated diols compatible with this process were synthesized from dimethyl 5‐sodium sulfo isophthalate using a one‐ or two‐stage method. Isocyanate‐terminated polyurethane oligomers were prepared from the sulfonated diols with various combinations of diols and diisocyanates and subsequently reacted with amino silane derivatives. Stable, low‐volatile organic chemical, waterborne dispersions of the sulfo‐urethane silanol polymers spontaneously crosslink upon drying without extra additives or processing steps. Despite the lack of organic coalescing solvents, the dispersions have minimum film‐forming temperatures below 10 °C, regardless of glass‐transition temperature. Tensile strengths up to 6000 psi with elongations between 300 and 600% were obtained for the crosslinked films. The hard‐segment content of the films can be controlled to produce films with a Sward–Rocker hardness value up to 42. Through silane end‐group modification, the crosslinking density of the films can also be modified to produce polyurethanes with a wide range of physical properties. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3037–3045, 2002     

A Novel Synthesis of Benzothiazoles

Substituted azlactones react in acetic acid smoothly with o-aminothiophenol to give good yields of 2-(α-amidoalkyl)benzothiazoles.     

Antibacterial cotton fabric with in situ generated silver nanoparticles by one-step hydrothermal method

The cotton fabrics were immersed in 1–5?mM aqueous silver nitrate solutions maintained at 80°C for 24?h to in situ generate silver nanoparticles. The presence of silver nanoparticles in the nanocomposite films was proved by microscopic observation. Fourier transform infrared spectra indicated the role of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of cotton fabric in reducing the silver salt to nanosilver. The nanocomposite cotton fabrics showed good antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The antibacterial cotton fabrics can be considered for medical applications such as surgical aprons, wound cleaning, and dressing.