Dithiinmaleimide Functionalized ET Derivatives: Syntheses, Characterization and X-ray Structure

Dithiinmaleimide (ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (1) and N-phenyldithiinmaleimide (ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (2) have been synthesized from bis(tetraethylammonium)bis(ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalenyldithiolato)-zincate (3) in high yields. Their electrochemical properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements which show two reversible redox potentials of the tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) moiety and an irreversible reduction potential of the maleimide ring. The X-ray structure of 1 shows close S···S contacts in the range of the van der Waals radii (3.6 Å) and hydrogen bonds between the maleimide unite

Structure and Magnetic Properties of the Radical Cation Salt of a TTF-based NiII Complex

Chemical oxidation of a TTF-based NiII complex with I2 produces the corresponding radical cation salt 1, [Ni2Cl2(L)2](I3)2(I5)2(I2)(H2O)2(C4H8O)3, (L=4,5-bis(2-pyridylmethylsulfanyl)-4',5'-ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalene). The results of magnetic susceptibility measurements show the occurrence of intramolecular magnetic exchange interactions in 1. The lack of close S···S contacts, confirmed by crystal structure analysis, results in an insulating behavio

Dados preliminares sobre partículas semelhantes a virus em células de triatomíneos

Viral particles distributed within cytolysomes or other cytoplasmic globule types, giving rise to membrane enclosed paracrystalline arrays, and between membranes of contiguous cells, were found in the Malpighian tubes of Triatoma infestans Klug and Panstrongylus megistus Burmeister. Other tissues of the same insects also display paracrystalline arrays of these viruses. A RNP composition is assumed for the viruses based on their response to cytochemical methods at the EM level. Drastic morphological changes were not found in the injected tissues. This infection assumed to be promoted by ingestion of a bird infected blood meal.Nos tubos de Malpighi de Triatoma infestans Klug e de Panstrongylus megistus Burmeister foram encontradas estruturas víricas distribuídas no citoplasma, no interior de citolissomos ou outros tipos de glóbulos, formando às vezes arranjos para cristalinos envolvidos por membrana, e entre plasmalemas de células contíguas. Outros tecidos dos mesmos insetos apresentam arranjos paracristalinos desses virus. A análise citoquímica ao nível da microscopia eletrônica indica serem estes virus compostos de RNP. Não são encontradas alterações morfológicas drásticas nos tecidos infectados. Admite-se que tais virus tenham sido ingeridos durante uma alimentação de sangue infectado de ave

Acute effects of LSD on amygdala activity during processing of fearful stimuli in healthy subjects

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) induces profound changes in various mental domains, including perception, self-awareness and emotions. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the acute effects of LSD on the neural substrate of emotional processing in humans. Using a double-blind, randomised, cross-over study design, placebo or 100 μg LSD were orally administered to 20 healthy subjects before the fMRI scan, taking into account the subjective and pharmacological peak effects of LSD. The plasma levels of LSD were determined immediately before and after the scan. The study (including the a priori-defined study end point) was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov before study start (NCT02308969). The administration of LSD reduced reactivity of the left amygdala and the right medial prefrontal cortex relative to placebo during the presentation of fearful faces (P<0.05, family-wise error). Notably, there was a significant negative correlation between LSD-induced amygdala response to fearful stimuli and the LSD-induced subjective drug effects (P<0.05). These data suggest that acute administration of LSD modulates the engagement of brain regions that mediate emotional processing

Effect of grain orientation and magnesium doping on β-tricalcium phosphate resorption behavior

The efficiency of calcium phosphate (CaP) bone substitutes can be improved by tuning their resorption rate. The influence of both crystal orientation and ion doping on resorption is here investigated for beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). Non-doped and Mg-doped (1 and 6 mol%) sintered β-TCP samples were immersed in acidic solution (pH 4.4) to mimic the environmental conditions found underneath active osteoclasts. The surfaces of β-TCP samples were observed after acid-etching and compared to surfaces after osteoclastic resorption assays. β-TCP grains exhibited similar patterns with characteristic intra-crystalline pillars after acid-etching and after cell-mediated resorption. Electron BackScatter Diffraction analyses, coupled with Scanning Electron Microscopy, Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry and X-Ray Diffraction, demonstrated the influence of both grain orientation and doping on the process and kinetics of resorption. Grains with c-axis nearly perpendicular to the surface were preferentially etched in non-doped β-TCP samples, whereas all grains with simple axis (a, b or c) nearly normal to the surface were etched in 6 mol% Mg-doped samples. In addition, both the dissolution rate and the percentage of etched surface were lower in Mg-doped specimens. Finally, the alignment direction of the intra-crystalline pillars was correlated with the preferential direction for dissolution. Statement of significance: The present work focuses on the resorption behavior of calcium phosphate bioceramics. A simple and cost-effective alternative to osteoclast culture was implemented to identify which material features drive resorption. For the first time, it was demonstrated that crystal orientation, measured by Electron Backscatter Diffraction, is the discriminating factor between grains, which resorbed first, and grains, which resorbed slower. It also elucidated how resorption kinetics can be tuned by doping β-tricalcium phosphate with ions of interest. Doping with magnesium impacted lattice parameters. Therefore, the crystal orientations, which preferentially resorbed, changed, explaining the solubility decrease. These important findings pave the way for the design of optimized bone graft substitutes with tailored resorption kinetics

Sodium-dependent phosphate transporters in osteoclast differentiation and function.

Osteoclasts are multinucleated bone degrading cells. Phosphate is an important constituent of mineralized bone and released in significant quantities during bone resorption. Molecular contributors to phosphate transport during the resorptive activity of osteoclasts have been controversially discussed. This study aimed at deciphering the role of sodium-dependent phosphate transporters during osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Our studies reveal RANKL-induced differential expression of sodium-dependent phosphate transport protein IIa (NaPi-IIa) transcript and protein during osteoclast development, but no expression of the closely related NaPi-IIb and NaPi-IIc SLC34 family isoforms. In vitro studies employing NaPi-IIa-deficient osteoclast precursors and mature osteoclasts reveal that NaPi-IIa is dispensable for bone resorption and osteoclast differentiation. These results are supported by the analysis of structural bone parameters by high-resolution microcomputed tomography that yielded no differences between adult NaPi-IIa WT and KO mice. By contrast, both type III sodium-dependent phosphate transporters Pit-1 and Pit-2 were abundantly expressed throughout osteoclast differentiation, indicating that they are the relevant sodium-dependent phosphate transporters in osteoclasts and osteoclast precursors. We conclude that phosphate transporters of the SLC34 family have no role in osteoclast differentiation and function and propose that Pit-dependent phosphate transport could be pivotal for bone resorption and should be addressed in further studies

Direct and indirect methods for the quantification of leg volume: Comparison between water displacement volumetry, the disk model method and the frustum sign model method, using the correlation coefficient and the limits of agreement

Volume changes can be measured either directly by water-displacement volumetry or by various indirect methods in which calculation of the volume is based on circumference measurements. The aim of the present study was to determine the most appropriate indirect method for lower leg volume calculation using water displacement volumetry as a ‘golden standard’. For 20 male volunteers, age range: 20–35 years, the volume of both lower legs was determined directly by water-displacement volumetry, and indirectly by the frustum sign model method and the disc model method. Calculation of the correlation coefficient and the limits of agreement showed that water-displacement volumetry and the disc model method are interchangeable (r = + 0.99, mean ± 2s = − 45 ± 78 ml), whereas this does not hold for the frustum sign model (r = + 0.93, mean ± 2s = 521 ± 238 ml). In the clinical situation volume measurement can be valuable for monitoring of the severity of oedema or haematoma occurrence after surgery or severe trauma. This non-invasive diagnostic aid may be a valuable adjuvant means of diagnosis for several volume dependent disorders of the extremities

The effects of cyclosporin a and heteropterys tomentosa on the rat liver

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a widely employed immunosuppressive drug that is associated with several side effects, among then hepatotoxicity. Heteropterys tomentosa is a Brazilian plant efficient in reducing damage caused by CsA on the rat testis and prostate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CsA and H. tomentosa (administered isolated or simultaneously) on the liver of Wistar rats. The animals were treated daily with water (control), CsA (15mg/kg/day), H. tomentosa infusion or CsA+H. tomentosa, for 21 or 56 days. The treatments did not alter liver morphology or cause fibrosis. H. tomentosa administered for 21 days increased the number of hepatocyte nuclei and Kupffer cell volumetric proportion. After 56 days of treatment, H. tomentosa administration did not alter the parameters analyzed. Biochemical plasma dosages and liver stereology showed impairment caused by CsA-treatment after 21 days; these results were not observed after 56 days of treatment. The simultaneous treatment with CsA and H. tomentosa for 21 or 56 days did not alleviate nor accentuate CsA hepatic effects. The present study showed that the 21 days treatment with CsA caused more alteration to the liver than the 56 days treatment; this could be related to hepatic recovery after the long term treatment871369379FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP2011/01160-

The Effects Of Cyclosporin A And Heteropterys Tomentosa On The Rat Liver.

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a widely employed immunosuppressive drug that is associated with several side effects, among then hepatotoxicity. Heteropterys tomentosa is a Brazilian plant efficient in reducing damage caused by CsA on the rat testis and prostate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CsA and H. tomentosa (administered isolated or simultaneously) on the liver of Wistar rats. The animals were treated daily with water (control), CsA (15mg/kg/day), H. tomentosa infusion or CsA+H. tomentosa, for 21 or 56 days. The treatments did not alter liver morphology or cause fibrosis. H. tomentosa administered for 21 days increased the number of hepatocyte nuclei and Kupffer cell volumetric proportion. After 56 days of treatment, H. tomentosa administration did not alter the parameters analyzed. Biochemical plasma dosages and liver stereology showed impairment caused by CsA-treatment after 21 days; these results were not observed after 56 days of treatment. The simultaneous treatment with CsA and H. tomentosa for 21 or 56 days did not alleviate nor accentuate CsA hepatic effects. The present study showed that the 21 days treatment with CsA caused more alteration to the liver than the 56 days treatment; this could be related to hepatic recovery after the long term treatment.87369-7