Gluconic acid aqueous solution: A bio-based catalytic medium for organic synthesis

Gluconic acid is non-toxic, non-volatile, non-corrosive, and easily biodegradable chemical, which can be produced from biomass using several methods: oxidation by molecular oxygen using heterogeneous catalysis, enzymatic oxidation, and microbial fermentation. Being highly soluble in water, gluconic acid can form concentrated aqueous solutions, and its 50% aqueous solution has found application as a catalytic medium for organic synthesis. For some reactions, gluconic acid aqueous solutions (GAAS) outperform conventional and green solvents when used as media for organic synthesis. GAAS was found to be particularly efficient in the Knoevenagel condensation, the Michael addition, and multicomponent reactions based on them. These and other chemical transformations utilizing GAAS as a medium are discussed in this review. We also compare the effectiveness of GAAS as a new green catalytic medium and the performance of other solvents and catalysts.     

Allergic reaction to abciximab with atypical manifestations

Abciximab (ReoPro, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana) is an intravenous agent that had been approved for treatment of acute coronary syndrome undergoing coronary interventions. It is a chimeric monoclonal antibody fragment that binds to the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor with a potential for the development of an immune response to variable portions within the antigen binding site following its administration.We describe a 58-year-old man who developed sudden headache, short of breath, choking and restlessness after receiving Abciximab for coronary intervention. Discontinuation of abciximab and administration of intravenous fluids, steroid and antihistamines led to improvement of his symptoms gradually.     

右美托咪啶对幕上病灶切除术后患者镇静作用的临床效果观察

目的观察右美托咪啶应用于幕上病灶切除术后镇静作用的临床效果。方法选择幕上病灶切除术后患者40例(均在麻醉恢复室),年龄18～60岁,随机分为两组,每组20例。试验组:10min静脉泵注右美托咪啶0.8μg/kg后,以0.6μg.kg-1.h-1维持40min;对照组:10min静脉泵注生理盐水10ml后,20ml生理盐水静脉泵注40min。记录患者血压、心率、呼吸等变化,观察给药后患者镇静作用以及不良反应的发生情况。结果试验组给入右美托咪啶后HR、MAP均低于基础值,对比对照组差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);RR各个时间点则无明显变化;试验组均达到Ramsay镇静分级Ⅳ级状态。结论右美托咪啶(负荷量0.8μg/kg,维持0.6μg.kg-1.h-1)应用于幕上病灶切除术后患者取得了满意的镇静效果。     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of novel quinoline [4,3-b]chromene derivatives as AChE inhibitors through an efficient one-pot,four-component microwave-mediated reaction

An efficient synthesis of chromeno[4,3-b]quinoline derivatives via one-pot, four-component reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin, formaldehyde, cyclohexanedione, ammonium ceric nitrate under microwave irradiation was accomplished. The structures of these compounds were unambiguously confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, the anti-AChE activities of these compounds in vitro were investigated at concentrations of 20 μM and 50 μM by using a standard Ellman’s method. The relationship of inhibitory activities and structures of these chromeno [4,3-b]quinolines was also systematically studied. Of all the compounds investigated, 4ag emerged as the most potent AChE inhibitor with IC₅₀ values of 5.63 µM, and it might be used as potent lead for the development anti-AChE agents. Moreover, molecular modelling was conducted to understand the optimal interaction of AChE with these types of compounds.     

Time-integrated propulsive and braking impulses do not depend on walking speed

BackgroundEnhancing propulsion during walking is often a focus in physical therapy for those with impaired gait. However, there is no consensus in the literature for assessing braking and propulsion. Both are typically measured from the anterior-posterior ground reaction force (AP-GRF). While normalization of AP-GRF force by bodyweight is commonly done in the analysis, different methods for AP-GRF time axis normalization are used.Research questionDoes walking speed affect propulsion and/or braking, and how do different methods for calculating propulsion and braking impact the conclusion, in both healthy adults and those with lower limb impairment?MethodsWe investigated three different analysis methods for assessing propulsion. 1. BW-TimeIntegration: Bodyweight (BW) normalized time integration of AP-GRF (units of BWs). 2. BW-%StanceIntegration: BW normalized AP-GRF is resampled to percent stance phase prior to integration (units of BW%Stance). 3. BW-Peak: BW normalized peak force (units of BW). We applied these methods to two data sets. One data set included AP-GRFs from trials of slow, self-selected, and fast walking speeds for 203 healthy controls (HCs); a second data set included subjects with lower limb orthopedic injuries.ResultsUsing the BW-TimeIntegration method, we found no effect of walking speed on propulsion for HCs. Time integration over the longer stance phase of slower walking balanced the lower magnitude AP-GRFs of slower walking, resulting in a time-integrated impulse that was the same regardless of walking speed. In contrast, the other two methods that are not time integration methods found that propulsion increased with walking speed. Similarly, in the gait pathology data set, differences in results were found depending on the analysis method used.SignificanceFor many gait studies concerning propulsion and/or braking, the impulse measure used should be related to the body’s change of momentum, necessitating an analysis method with a time integration of the AP-GRF.     

Effects of midazolam and phenobarbital on brain oxidative reactions induced by pentylenetetrazole in a convulsion model

Context: Brain oxidative reactions are involved in epilepsy as well as neurodegenerative diseases. In animal convulsion models, some anticonvulsants have been found to suppress oxidative reactions associated with convulsions. However, the effect of anticonvulsants on brain oxidative reactions has not fully been clarified.

Objective: Midazolam and phenobarbital are often used as an intravenous anesthetic, and are known to have anticonvulsive effect, but antioxidative effect of these drugs has rarely been studied. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of these drugs on the degree of convulsions and brain oxidative reactions in an animal convulsion model.

Materials and methods: In order to evaluate brain oxidative reactions, we measured malondialdehyde (MDA) level and heme oxygenase (HO)-1 mRNA expression level in the brain of mice in a convulsion model generated by a single injection of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). We evaluated the effects of midazolam and phenobarbital on the degree of PTZ-induced convulsions and on the changes in brain MDA level and HO-1 mRNA expression level.

Results: After PTZ injection, severe convulsions were observed in all mice. MDA level was increased in the whole brain, while HO-1 mRNA expression level was increased only in the hippocampus. Both midazolam and phenobarbital prevented the convulsions and suppressed the increase in both MDA level and HO-1 mRNA expression level in the brain.

Conclusion: In this study, both midazolam and phenobarbital suppressed PTZ-induced MDA and HO-1 reactions in the brain, suggesting that these drugs inhibit brain oxidative reactions in a convulsion model.     

3-Aminobenzamide,a Poly ADP Ribose Polymerase Inhibitor,Attenuates Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Introduction. This study was designed to investigate whether 3-amino benzamide (3-AB), a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, has a protective effect on kidney injury induced by renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) by decreasing oxidative and nitrosative stress on renal dysfunction and injury. Materials and Methods. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: sham-operated, sham-operated + 3-AB, I/R, I/R + 3-AB. Rats were given 3-AB (100 mg/kg/day ip) 14 days prior to I/R. I/R and I/R + 3-AB groups underwent 60 min of bilateral renal ischemia followed by 6 h of reperfusion. After reperfusion, kidneys and blood were obtained for evaluation. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehide, protein carbonyl content, and nitrite/nitrate level (NO_x) were determined in the renal tissue. Serum creatinine (S_Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined in the blood. Additionally, renal sections were used for histological grade of renal injury. Results. 3-AB significantly reduced the I/R-induced increases in S_Cr, BUN, and AST. In addition, 3-AB markedly reduced elevated oxidative stress product, restored decreased antioxidant enzymes, and attenuated histological alterations. Moreover, 3-AB attenuated the tissue NO_x levels, indicating reduced NO production. Conclusions. 3-AB has beneficial effect on renal glomerular and tubular dysfunction in rats' kidneys subjected to I/R injury. Moreover, 3-AB has ameliorating effect on both oxidative stress and nitrosative stress of the kidneys, which correlated with histopathological evaluation.     

Comparison of Long-Term Biocompability of PVDF and PP Meshes

ABSTRACT

Background: Abdominal hernia repair is the most frequently performed operation in surgery. Mesh repair in hernia surgery has become an integral component. Although meshes made of PVDF are already in clinical use, so far no data of long-term biocompability are available. Methods: In this study a PVDF mesh was compared to a polypropylene mesh with regard to its long-term biocompatibility. A total of 28 rats were randomized to two groups. Mesh material was implanted subcutaneously; animals were euthanized seven days and six months postoperatively. The quantity of inflammatory tissue response was characterized by measuring the diameter of the foreign body granuloma. Furthermore quality of cellular immune response (T-lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils), and inflammation (COX-2) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore the collagen type I/III ratio was determined. Results: Macrophages, T-lymphocytes, neutrophiles, and COX-2 declined significantly up to six months postoperatively in comparison to day 7 for both PVDF and PP meshes, and in both groups the collagen ratio increased significantly in the course of time. PVDF meshes showed a foreign body granuloma size significantly reduced compared to PP (7 days: 20 ± 2 μm vs. 27 ± 2 μm; 6 months 15 ± 2 μm vs. 22 ± 3 μm; p < .001). However no significant differences were found analyzing cellular response six months postoperatively. Conclusions: Our current data suggest that even in the long-term course after six months and despite a higher effective surface of the PVDF samples it showed a smaller foreign body granuloma than with PP whereas the cellular response was similar.