Infrared spectroscopy: A new diagnostic tool in Alzheimer disease

Biological markers play an evolving role in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD). We compare conventional measurements of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau and β-amyloid_1–42 proteins to a novel approach – Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy – a simple technique derived from chemical and physical sciences that characterizes intramolecular bonds. For automatic diagnostic analysis, we developed an artificial neural network (ANN). We examined 71 patients with a clinical diagnosis of AD and 66 controls. β-Amyloid_1–42 was decreased (sensitivity 80% and specificity 78%); tau was elevated (sensitivity 76% and specificity 88%) in CSF of AD patients. The combined tau/β-amyloid_1–42 quotient was able to distinguish healthy from diseased subjects with 99% sensitivity and 86% specificity. The ANN could separate FT-IR spectroscopy data with 88.5% sensitivity and 80% specificity. FT-IR spectroscopy proved to be cost-effective and simple to perform. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity is in the range of CSF tau and β-amyloid_1–42 protein analysis. Larger sample numbers for ANN training and validation could increase diagnostic accuracy and thus prove to be a useful screening tool.     

The immobilization response in rhesus monkey: a behavioral and electroencephalographic study.

Rhesus monkeys maintained in individual cages are rarely inactive when observed by humans unfamiliar to them. It has been observed that these animals display a greatly reduced behavioral repertoire after they are transferred to primate chairs. The present study used systemic behavioral observations to document those changes and to examine additional changes produced by arm restraint. Chair restraint was associated with a reduction in activity which was intensified when animals were further immobilized by arm restraint. This immobilization produced a reduction of tone in all limbs, a reduction of spontaneous behavior, and the appearance of eye closure. Electroencephalographic (EEG) correlates of the behavioral changes were examined also, using quantitative data generated through power spectral analysis of sensorimotor cortical EEG signals. Immobilization was accompanied by a significant increase in spectral density at 12 to 15 Hz which was most marked at mid and far lateral rholandic recording sites. No other significant changes were seen in the frequency bands studied. When the immobilized animal was alerted with novel stimuli, lower frequencies were attenuated but 12- to 15-Hz activity remained enhanced. These findings indicate that a unique immobilization response is elicited by restraint in the rhesus monkey which is associated with discrete changes in both behavior and accompanying EEG patterns.     

CBN对脑缺血再灌注小鼠线粒体损伤的影响

目的：观察CBN对脑缺血再灌注小鼠的线粒体损伤的影响。方法：分离提纯脑缺血再灌注小鼠脑的线粒体。用分光光度法检测线粒体的膜肿胀度，用激光拉曼光谱检测脑线粒体的生物大分子的变化。结果：小鼠脑缺血再灌注后。其线粒体出现膜肿胀，CBN50、100mg／kg iv对此有明显的抑制作用。各组脑线粒体的Raman和IR光谱基本一致。CBN组与假手术组比较接近。模型组只是在量上有一些差异。结论：CBN对脑缺血再灌注小鼠的线粒体损伤的有一定的保护作用。     

代谢综合症基线调查

目的：通过对豫宛市30岁以上人群代谢综合症（MS）发病率的词查、统计和分析，旨在唤起人们对此病的重视和预防。方法：利用年度体检之机采用三级分组法对30岁以上人群进行有关MS指标的检测和统计，依据亚洲及我国体重指数标准及2004年中华医学会糖尿病分会诊断代谢综合症标准。共计调查人数3987人（男1981人，女2006人）。结果：30岁以上MS患病率，青年有10％～13％，中老年后可渐增至20％～30％。结论：MS是中老年多见的代谢异常疾病。已严重威胁着人们的生命健康。     

西地那非原料及其中成药制剂的红外光谱鉴别

目的检查非法生产的枸橼酸西地那非原料和非法加入补肾壮阳中成药及性保健药品中的枸橼酸西地那非.方法建立化学分离方法,从高效液相色谱法初步确认含有枸橼酸西地那非的原料药、中成药及性保健品中分离提取西地那非,并用中红外分光光度法(溴化钾压片)进行定性鉴别.结果对高效液相色谱法检测含有西地那非的28批原料、62批各种剂型的中成药,进行红外鉴定,均检出含有西地那非.结论该方法专属性强,快速,简便.     

Fast volumetric imaging of bound and pore water in cortical bone using three‐dimensional ultrashort‐TE (UTE) and inversion recovery UTE sequences

We report the three‐dimensional ultrashort‐TE (3D UTE) and adiabatic inversion recovery UTE (IR‐UTE) sequences employing a radial trajectory with conical view ordering for bi‐component T₂* analysis of bound water (T₂*^BW) and pore water (T₂*^PW) in cortical bone. An interleaved dual‐echo 3D UTE acquisition scheme was developed for fast bi‐component analysis of bound and pore water in cortical bone. A 3D IR‐UTE acquisition scheme employing multiple spokes per IR was developed for bound water imaging. Two‐dimensional UTE (2D UTE) and IR‐UTE sequences were employed for comparison. The sequences were applied to bovine bone samples (n = 6) and volunteers (n = 6) using a 3‐T scanner. Bi‐component fitting of 3D UTE images of bovine samples showed a mean T₂*^BW of 0.26 ± 0.04 ms and T₂*^PW of 4.16 ± 0.35 ms, with fractions of 21.5 ± 3.6% and 78.5 ± 3.6%, respectively. The 3D IR‐UTE signal showed a single‐component decay with a mean T₂*^BW of 0.29 ± 0.05 ms, suggesting selective imaging of bound water. Similar results were achieved with the 2D UTE and IR‐UTE sequences. Bi‐component fitting of 3D UTE images of the tibial midshafts of healthy volunteers showed a mean T₂*^BW of 0.32 ± 0.08 ms and T₂*^PW of 5.78 ± 1.24 ms, with fractions of 34.2 ± 7.4% and 65.8 ± 7.4%, respectively. Single‐component fitting of 3D IR‐UTE images showed a mean T₂*^BW of 0.35 ± 0.09 ms. The 3D UTE and 3D IR‐UTE techniques allow fast volumetric mapping of bound and pore water in cortical bone. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solubility Properties of Racemic Praziquantel and Its Enantiomers

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to characterize the solubility and thermodynamic properties of the optical isomers of the anti-schistosomal drug, praziquantel (PZQ) and to compare these properties to those of the racemic product used in commercial preparations (Biltricide®, generic drugs), The crystalline enantiomers of PZQ exhibited different thermal properties than the racemic drug. The melting points and the enthalpies of fusion obtained from the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) scans were nearly identical between the isomers and were substantially lower than those of racemic PZQ [(±)-PZQ]. The DSC results indicate that (±)-PZQ is a racemic compound and not a racemic mixture. This was confirmed by powder x-ray diffraction analysis and the IR spectra. The 30° decrease in the melting point was reflected in increased solubility of the enantiomers, which amounted to twice that of the racemic PZQ. The behavior of the isomers in the presence of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was studied in water at 37°C. The solubility data (phase solubility diagrams) were linear for up to the highest concentration of added β-CD investigated. The apparent stability constants determined from the phase solubility diagrams showed that both the (+) and (-) enantiomers as well as (&[±)-PZQ exhibited moderate affinity to form a 1:1 complex in solution with β-CD. The findings of this study may be of importance when efforts are considered to improve pharmaceutical formulation of this anti-schistosomal drug.     

Hypothalamic insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 levels in an animal model of depression and their effect on corticotropin-releasing hormone promoter gene activity in a hypothalamic cell line

Background

In depression, excessive glucocorticoid action may cause maladaptive brain changes, including in the pathways controlling energy metabolism. Insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), besides regulation of glucose homeostasis, also possess neurotrophic properties. Current study was aimed at investigating the influence of prenatal stress (PS) on insulin, GLP-1 and their receptor (IR and GLP-1R) levels in the hypothalamus. GLP-1 and GLP-1R were assayed also in the hippocampus and frontal cortex – brain regions mainly affected in depression. The second objective was to determine the influence of exendin-4 and insulin on CRH promoter gene activity in in vitro conditions.

Ellagic acid ameliorates cisplatin induced hepatotoxicity in colon carcinogenesis

The clinical application of cisplatin (CP), one of the most extensively used antineoplastic drug, is restricted by its numerous side effects. CP's antitumor potential resides in the free generation of reactive oxygen species leading to oxidative stress. This stress is a source of the side effects associated with its use. Ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenol is known to possess multiple health benefits owing to its antioxidant properties. EA is largely metabolized by the colon microbiota of different mammals and therefore was a polyphenol of choice in the present study. The present study was thus carried out to explore the protective potential of EA on CP induced hepatotoxicity in colon tumor bearing mice. The administration of EA (10 mg/kg bwt po daily for 6 weeks) significantly ameliorated the toxicity caused by CP (5 mg/kg bwt ip once a week for 4 weeks). Activities of liver marker enzymes and lactate dehydrogenase were brought back to normal. EA cotreatment also led to a marked reduction in the extent of peroxidative damage to liver tissue as was evident from the improvement in the histopathological changes observed and FT‐IR analysis. The present study, therefore, suggests that the administration of EA reduces the CP‐induced hepatotoxicity, thereby emerging out as a potential candidate for chemopreventive action.