Crystal and molecular structure of a 1:1 complex of a chiral α-d-glucosido-benzo-18-crown-6 and potassium thiocyanate

C₂₈H₃₆O₁₀. KSCN is monoclinic, space groupP2₁ withZ=2,a=10.390(3),b=8.959(7),c=16.377(7) Å, =92.49(5)°. FinalR=0.053 for 1437 reflections measured at room temperature. The K^– ion lies on the least-squares plane formed by the six oxygen atoms in the macrocyclic ring. The SCN^– ion was found on the same face of the macrocycle as the chiral glucopyranoside moiety.Methyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-O-(1,2-bis(ethoxyethoxy)benzenediyl)--d-glucopyranoside.     

Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Model of Neuroinflammation: Mechanisms of Action,Research Application and Future Directions for Its Use

Despite advances in antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapies, inflammation and its consequences still remain a significant problem in medicine. Acute inflammatory responses are responsible for directly life-threating conditions such as septic shock; on the other hand, chronic inflammation can cause degeneration of body tissues leading to severe impairment of their function. Neuroinflammation is defined as an inflammatory response in the central nervous system involving microglia, astrocytes, and cytokines including chemokines. It is considered an important cause of neurodegerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a strong immunogenic particle present in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. It is a major triggering factor for the inflammatory cascade in response to a Gram-negative bacteria infection. The use of LPS as a strong pro-inflammatory agent is a well-known model of inflammation applied in both in vivo and in vitro studies. This review offers a summary of the pathogenesis associated with LPS exposure, especially in the field of neuroinflammation. Moreover, we analyzed different in vivo LPS models utilized in the area of neuroscience. This paper presents recent knowledge and is focused on new insights in the LPS experimental model.     

Photoelectrochemical Properties of Annealed Anodic TiO2 Layers Covered with CuOx

In this work, we present a systematic study on the influence of Cu²⁺ ion concentration in the impregnation solution on the morphology, structure, optical, semiconducting, and photoelectrochemical properties of anodic CuO_x-TiO₂ materials. Studied materials were prepared by immersion in solutions with different concentrations of (CH₃COO)₂Cu and subjected to air-annealing at 400 °C, 500 °C, or 600 °C for 2 h. The complex characterization of all studied samples was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), reflectance measurements, Mott–Schottky analyses, and photocurrent measurements. It was found that band gap engineering based on coupling CuO with TiO₂ (E_g~3.3 eV) is an effective strategy to increase the absorption in visible light due to band gap narrowing (CuO_x-TiO₂ materials had E_g~2.4 eV). Although the photoactivity of CuO-TiO₂ materials decreased in the UV range due to the deposition of CuO on the TiO₂ surface, in the Vis range increased up to 600 nm at the same time.     

Targeted Hybrid Nanocarriers as a System Enhancing the Skin Structure

The skin is constantly exposed to external and internal factors that disturb its function. In this work, two nanosystems-levan nanoparticles and a surfactin-stabilized nanoemulsion were preserved (tested for microbial growth) and characterized (size, polydispersity, Zeta potential, and stability). The nanosystems were introduced in the model formulations-cream, tonic, and gel, and confirmed by TEM. The analysis showed that nanoemulsion has a spherical morphology and size 220–300 nm, while levan nanoparticles had irregular shapes independently of the use of matrix and with particle size (130–260 nm). Additionally, we examined the antiradical effect of levan nanoparticles and nanoemulsion in the prototype of formulations by scavenging DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; EPR spectroscopy). The model cream with both nanosystems and the whole range of products with nanosystems were evaluated in vivo for hydration, elasticity, smoothness, wrinkles and vascular lesions, discoloration, respectively. The cream improved skin condition in all tested parameters in at least 50% of volunteers. The use of more comprehensive care, additionally consisting of a tonic and gel, reduced the previously existing skin discoloration to 10.42 ± 0.58%. The presented prototype formulations are promising in improving skin conditions.     

The Microglial Activation Inhibitor Minocycline,Used Alone and in Combination with Duloxetine,Attenuates Pain Caused by Oxaliplatin in Mice

The antitumor drug, oxaliplatin, induces neuropathic pain, which is resistant to available analgesics, and novel mechanism-based therapies are being evaluated for this debilitating condition. Since activated microglia, impaired serotonergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission and overexpressed sodium channels are implicated in oxaliplatin-induced pain, this in vivo study assessed the effect of minocycline, a microglial activation inhibitor used alone or in combination with ambroxol, a sodium channel blocker, or duloxetine, a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, on oxaliplatin-induced tactile allodynia and cold hyperalgesia. To induce neuropathic pain, a single dose (10 mg/kg) of intraperitoneal oxaliplatin was used. The mechanical and cold pain thresholds were assessed using mouse von Frey and cold plate tests, respectively. On the day of oxaliplatin administration, only duloxetine (30 mg/kg) and minocycline (100 mg/kg) used alone attenuated both tactile allodynia and cold hyperalgesia 1 h and 6 h after administration. Minocycline (50 mg/kg), duloxetine (10 mg/kg) and combined minocycline + duloxetine influenced only tactile allodynia. Seven days after oxaliplatin, tactile allodynia (but not cold hyperalgesia) was attenuated by minocycline (100 mg/kg), duloxetine (30 mg/kg) and combined minocycline and duloxetine. These results indicate a potential usefulness of minocycline used alone or combination with duloxetine in the treatment of oxaliplatin-induced pain.     

Lipophilicity study of eight cephalosporins by reversed‐phase thin‐layer chromatographic method

The lipophilicity (R_M0) and specific hydrophobic surface area for the representatives of four generation cephalosporins have been determined by reversed‐phase thin‐layer chromatography, and the effect of different mobile‐phase modifiers (such as methanol, acetonitrile, acetone, 1,4‐dioxane and 2‐propanol) on the retention has been studied. The compounds studied showed typical retention behavior; their R_M values decreased linearly with increasing concentration of the organic modifier in the eluent. The linear correlations between the volume fraction of the organic solvent and the R_M values over a limited range were established for each solute, resulting in high values of correlation coefficients (>0.95 in most cases). R_M values were determined by various concentrations of organic modifier, and the correlation obtained was extrapolated to 0% of organic modifier. Chromatographically established logP (R_M0) parameters were compared with computationally calculated partition coefficients values (AClogP, ALOGP, KOWWIN, ALOGPs, XLOGP2, MLOGP and XLOGP3) and experimental octanol–water logP values (measured by the shake flask method). The received results demonstrate that RP‐TLC may be a good alternative technique for analytics in describing the lipophilic nature of investigated cephalosporins as well as the activity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Free Radicals, Salicylic Acid and Mycotoxins in Asparagus After Inoculation with Fusarium proliferatum and F. oxysporum

Electron paramagnetic resonance was used to monitor free radicals and paramagnetic species like Fe, Mn, Cu generation, stability and status in Asparagus officinalis infected by common pathogens Fusarium proliferatum and F. oxysporum. Occurrence of F. proliferatum and F. oxysporum, level of free radicals and other paramagnetic species, as well as salicylic acid and mycotoxins content in roots and stems of seedlings were estimated on the second and fourth week after inoculation. In the first term free and total salicylic acid contents were related to free radicals level in stem (P?=?0.010 and P?=?0.033, respectively). Concentration of Fe(3+) ions in porphyrin complexes (g?=?2.3, g?=?2.9) was related to the species of pathogen. There was no significant difference between Mn(2+) concentrations in stem samples; however, the level of free radicals in samples inoculated with F. proliferatum was significantly higher when compared to F. oxysporum.     

Strategy of Cr detoxification by Callitriche cophocarpa

The present work focused on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of Cr detoxification strategy of aquatic cosmopolitan plant Callitriche cophocarpa. This plant species has just been described in the context of its unusual accumulation potential of Cr. The emphasis of the work was placed on the redox reaction Cr(VI)→Cr(III) which is considered to be remediation mechanism of highly reactive and mobile Cr(VI) ions. Plants were immersed for 5 days in 1 mM of Cr(VI) (potassium dichromate) or 1 mM of Cr(III) (chromium sulphate) solutions in semi-natural conditions. Cr was effectively removed from the solution up to the extent of ca.58% or 35% of the starting amount, in the case of Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively. No plant-induced Cr(VI) reduction accompanying Cr accumulation was observed in Cr(VI) solutions except from the apparent one, noticed at the fourth day of incubation. On the contrary to these results, according to the method of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (L-band EPR), biphasic signal of Cr(V) attending Cr(VI) to Cr(III) reduction was detected inside the plant tissue every day of investigations. Our results show that phytoextraction but not phytostabilization is the main strategy of Cr detoxification by C. cophocarpa in aquatic systems.      

Equilibrium Formation of Stable All‐Silicon Versions of 1,3‐Cyclobutanediyl

Main group analogues of cyclobutane‐1,3‐diyls are fascinating due to their unique reactivity and electronic properties. So far only heteronuclear examples have been isolated. Here we report the isolation and characterization of all‐silicon 1,3‐cyclobutanediyls as stable closed‐shell singlet species from the reversible reactions of cyclotrisilene c‐Si₃Tip₄ (Tip=2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl) with the N‐heterocyclic silylenes c‐[(CR₂CH₂)(NtBu)₂]Si: (R=H or methyl) with saturated backbones. At elevated temperatures, tetrasilacyclobutenes are obtained from these equilibrium mixtures. The corresponding reaction with the unsaturated N‐heterocyclic silylene c‐(CH)₂(NtBu)₂Si: proceeds directly to the corresponding tetrasilacyclobutene without detection of the assumed 1,3‐cyclobutanediyl intermediate.