Versatile Synthetic Methods for Photoluminescent Pyrylium Tosylates

Pyrylium salts are an important class of cationic organic molecules that exhibit good absorption, fluorescence, and photo-induced electron transfer properties. They can also function as precursors for synthesis of different heterocyclic organic molecules such as furan, pyridine, pyridinium salt, and betaine dyes. This thesis describes versatile methods of synthesis for a series of 2,4,6-triarylsubstitued pyrylium tosylates with different substituents by using p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate instead of conventional acid catalysts including perchloric acid or boron trifluoride diethyl etherate that accompany explosion danger and difficult storage problem, respectively. The chemical structures were established by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis, and their thermal properties were studied by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Their optical properties including quantum efficiency were measured by UV-Vis and photoluminescent spectroscopy, and they emitted blue and green color depending on the substituents in 2- and 6-positions of phenyl groups

Down-regulation of ARC contributes to vulnerability of hippocampal neurons to ischemia/hypoxia

AbstractARC is a caspase recruitment domain-containing molecule that plays an important role in the regulation of apoptosis. We examined ARC expression during neuronal cell death following ischemic injury in vivo and in vitro. After exposure to transient global ischemic conditions, the expression of ARC was substantially reduced in the CA1 region of hippocampus in a time-dependent manner with concomitant increase of TUNEL-positive cells. Quantitative analysis using Western blotting exhibited that most of ARC protein disappeared in the cultured hippocampal neurons exposed to hypoxia for 12 h and showing 60% cell viability. Forced expression of ARC in the primary cultures of hippocampal neurons or B103 neuronal cells significantly reduced hypoxia-induced cell death. Further, the C-terminal P/E rich region of ARC was effective to attenuate hypoxic insults. These results suggest that down-regulation of ARC expression in hippocampal neurons may contribute to neuronal death induced by ischemia/hypoxia

Real-Time Monitoring of Neural Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing

Stem cells are useful for cell replacement therapy. Stem cell differentiation must be monitored thoroughly and precisely prior to transplantation. In this study we evaluated the usefulness of electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) for in vitro real-time monitoring of neural differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). We cultured hMSCs in neural differentiation media (NDM) for 6 days and examined the time-course of impedance changes with an ECIS array. We also monitored the expression of markers for neural differentiation, total cell count, and cell cycle profiles. Cellular expression of neuron and oligodendrocyte markers increased. The resistance value of cells cultured in NDM was automatically measured in real-time and found to increase much more slowly over time compared to cells cultured in non-differentiation media. The relatively slow resistance changes observed in differentiating MSCs were determined to be due to their lower growth capacity achieved by induction of cell cycle arrest in G0/G1. Overall results suggest that the relatively slow change in resistance values measured by ECIS method can be used as a parameter for slowly growing neural-differentiating cells. However, to enhance the competence of ECIS for in vitro real-time monitoring of neural differentiation of MSCs, more elaborate studies are needed

The Genome Sequence of 'Mycobacterium massiliense' Strain CIP 108297 Suggests the Independent Taxonomic Status of the Mycobacterium abscessus Complex at the Subspecies Level

Members of the Mycabacterium abscessus complex are rapidly growing mycobacteria that are emerging as human pathogens. The M. abscassus complex was previously composed of three species, namely M. abscessus sensu strict, 'M. massiliense', and M. bolletii', In 2011, 'M. massiliense' and 'M. bolletre' were united and reclassified as a single subspecies within M. abscessus: M. abscessus subsp. bolletii. However, the placement of 'M. massiliense' Within the boundary of M. abscessus subsp. balletii remains highly controversial with regard to clinical aspects. In this study, we revisited the taxonomic status of members of the M. abscessus complex based on comparative analysis of he whole-genome sequences of 53 strains, The genome sequence of the previous type strain of 'Mycobacterium massiliense' (CIP 108297) was determined using next-generation sequencing. The genome tree based on average nucleotide identity (AN I) values supported the differentiation of M. bolletii' and M. massiliense' at the subspecies level. The genome tree also clearly illustrated that 'M. bolletil' and 'M. massiliense' form a distinct phylogenetic clade within the radiation of the M. abscessus complex. The genomic distances observed in this study suggest that the current M. abscessus subsp. bolletii taxon should be divided into two subspecies, M. abscessus subsp. massiliense subsp. nov. and M. abscessus subsp. bolletii, to correspondingly accommodate the previously known 'M. assiliense' and 'M. bolletii' strains.

Novel CFTR Mutations in a Korean Infant with Cystic Fibrosis and Pancreatic Insufficiency

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease that is very rare in Asians: only a few cases have been reported in Korea. We treated a female infant with CF who had steatorrhea and failure to thrive. Her sweat chloride concentration was 102.0 mM/L. Genetic analysis identified two novel mutations including a splice site mutation (c.1766+2T>C) and a frameshift mutation (c.3908dupA; Asn1303LysfsX6). Pancreatic enzyme replacement and fat-soluble vitamin supplementation enabled the patient to get a catch-up growth. This is the first report of a Korean patient with CF demonstrating pancreatic insufficiency. CF should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of infants with steatorrhea and failure to thrive

Virilizing Adrenocortical Oncocytoma in a Child: A Case Report

Functioning adrenocortical oncocytomas are extremely rare and most reported patients are 40-60 yr of age. To our knowledge, only 2 cases of functioning adrenocortical oncocytomas have been reported in childhood. We report a case of functioning adrenocortical oncocytoma in a 14-yr-old female child presenting with virilization. She presented with deepening of the voice and excessive hair growth, and elevation of plasma testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. She had an adrenalectomy. The completely resected tumor composed predominantly of oncocytes without atypical mitosis and necrosis. A discussion of this case and a review of the literature on this entity are presented

Induction of IL-10-producing CD4(+)CD25(+ )T cells in animal model of collagen-induced arthritis by oral administration of type II collagen

Induction of oral tolerance has long been considered a promising approach to the treatment of chronic autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Oral administration of type II collagen (CII) has been proven to improve signs and symptoms in RA patients without troublesome toxicity. To investigate the mechanism of immune suppression mediated by orally administered antigen, we examined changes in serum IgG subtypes and T-cell proliferative responses to CII, and generation of IL-10-producing CD4(+)CD25(+ )T-cell subsets in an animal model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). We found that joint inflammation in CIA mice peaked at 5 weeks after primary immunization with CII, which was significantly less in mice tolerized by repeated oral feeding of CII before CIA induction. Mice that had been fed with CII also exhibited increased serum IgG(1 )and decreased serum IgG(2a )as compared with nontolerized CIA animals. The T-cell proliferative response to CII was suppressed in lymph nodes of tolerized mice also. Production of IL-10 and of transforming growth factor-β from mononuclear lymphocytes was increased in the tolerized animals, and CD4(+ )T cells isolated from tolerized mice did not respond with induction of IFN-γ when stimulated in vitro with CII. We also observed greater induction of IL-10-producing CD4(+)CD25(+ )subsets among CII-stimulated splenic T cells from tolerized mice. These data suggest that when these IL-10-producing CD4(+)CD25(+ )T cells encounter CII antigen in affected joints they become activated to exert an anti-inflammatory effect

Methotrimeprazine-induced Corneal Deposits and Cataract Revealed by Urine Drug Profiling Test

Two schizophrenic patients who had been taking medication for a long period presented with visual disturbance of 6-month duration. Slit-lamp examination revealed fine, discrete, and brownish deposits on the posterior cornea. In addition, bilateral star-shaped anterior subcapsular lens opacities, which were dense, dust-like granular deposits, were noted. Although we strongly suspected that the patient might have taken one of the drugs of the phenothiazine family, we were unable to obtain a history of medications other than haloperidol and risperidone, which were taken for 3 yr. We performed a drug profiling test using urine samples and detected methotrimeprazine. The patient underwent surgery for anterior subcapsular lens opacities. Visual acuity improved in both eyes, but the corneal deposits remained. We report an unusual case of methotrimeprazine-induced corneal deposits and cataract in a patient with psychosis, identified by using the urine drug profiling test

Synthesis, Optical, and Thermal Properties of 2,4,6-Tris(4-Substituted Phenyl)Pyrylium Tosylates And Triflimides

A group of five 2,4,6-tris(4-substituted phenyl)pyrylium tosylates were synthesized in one-pot reaction from para-substituted benzaldehyde and para-substituted acetophenones using tosic acid as a condensing agent. The tosylate salts were converted to the corresponding triflimide salts by metathesis reactions. Chemical structures, as well as optical spectroscopic and thermal properties of these salts were studied using pertinent experimental techniques. Trimethyl- and trihalo-substituted pyrylium salts emitted strong blue light with peaks in the 456 nm–479 nm range and trimethoxy-pyrylium salts emitted intense green light with maxima around 526 nm in acetonitrile solution. Quantum yields of the solutions were rather low, but the salts were also fluorescent in the solid state. Acetonitrile solution of trichloro-substituted pyrylium triflimide showed significant spectral line narrowing and fluorescence lifetime shortening under intense excitation, and laser action with minimal feedback. The salts have low melting transitions compared to the corresponding –BF4 salts, and their thermal stability is excellent with decomposition temperature in the 268–402 °C range in nitrogen