Incretin-based therapies: new treatments for type 2 diabetes in the new millennium

The advent of ‘incretin-based therapies’ – GLP-1 agonists and dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 inhibitors – which result in improvements in glycemic control comparable to those with existing oral hypoglycemic agents, and potentially improve cardiovascular and pancreatic β-cell function, represents a major therapeutic advance in the management of type 2 diabetes. Gastrointestinal adverse effects occur commonly with GLP-1 agonists, and rarely with DPP-4 inhibitors, but are dose-dependent and usually transient. The low risk of hypoglycemia, and beneficial or neutral effects on body weight, render GLP-1 agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors suitable alternatives to insulin secretagogues and insulin in overweight and elderly patients. Incretin-based therapies also improve quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes, and may be cost-effective in the long term

Model Order Reduction for Determining Bubble Parameters to Attain a Desired Fluid Surface Shape

In this paper, a new methodology for predicting fluid free surface shape using Model Order Reduction (MOR) is presented. Proper Orthogonal Decomposition combined with a linear interpolation procedure for its coefficient is applied to a problem involving bubble dynamics near to a free surface. A model is developed to accurately and efficiently capture the variation of the free surface shape with different bubble parameters. In addition, a systematic approach is developed within the MOR framework to find the best initial locations and pressures for a set of bubbles beneath the quiescent free surface such that the resultant free surface attained is close to a desired shape. Predictions of the free surface in two-dimensions and three-dimensions are presented.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA

Coordination chemistry and bioactivity of some metal complexes containing two isomeric bidentate NS schiff bases derived from S-benzyldithiocarbazate and the x-ray crystal structures of S-benzyl-β-N-(5-methyl-2-furylmethylene)dithiocarbazate and bis[S-benzyl-β-N-(2-furylmethylketone)dithiocarbazato]cadmium(II).

someric bidentate ligands having nitrogen–sulfur donor sequence were prepared by condensing S-benzyldithiocarbazate (SBDTC) with 5-methyl-2-furyladehyde (NS) and 2-furylmethylketone (NS′). Complexes of these ligands with lead, tin, iron, cobalt and cadmium gave complexes of [M(L)2] (M=Pb, Fe and Cd) and [M(L)2]Cln (M=Sn, n=2 and Co, n=1) (L=NS and NS′). The compounds have been characterized by spectroscopic studies (infrared, 1H NMR and electronic spectra). X-ray crystallographic analysis of S-benzyl-β-N-(5-methyl-2-furylmethylene)dithiocarbazate shows the presence of two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. The molecule adopts a trans–cis configuration, as was observed in other analogues, such as SBDTC where the furylmethylene and benzyl groups are trans and cis about the N-C and C-S bonds, respectively. The molecular structure of bis[S-benzyl-β-N-(2-furylmethylketone)dithiocarbazato]cadmium(II) shows a tetrahedral geometry about the central cadmium atom with the bidentate ligand coordinating through the thioketo sulfur and the azomethine nitrogen atoms. The lead(II) complex of the NS ligand was highly cytotoxic against leukemic cells (CEM-SS) with a CD50 of 3.25 μg cm−3 while antimicrobial screening showed that the [Fe(NS)2]Cl2·H2O complex was effective against Aspergillus achraceous

Coordination chemistry and bioactivity of Ni2+, Cu2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ complexes containing bidentate schiff bases derived from S-benzyldithiocarbazate and the X-ray crystal structure of bis[S-benzyl-β-N-(5-methyl-2-furylmethylene)dithiocarbazato]cadmium(II).

New bidentate isomeric NS and NS′ Schiff bases were derived from the condensation of S-benzyldithiocarbazate (SBDTC) with 5-methyl-2-furyldehyde and 2-furyl-methylketone. Reaction of NS ligand with Ni(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) salts gave solid complexes. Only the Ni(II) complex of the NS′ ligand was isolated. All complexes were characterized by a variety of physico-chemical techniques, viz. elemental analyses, molar conductivity, i.r. and electronic spectral studies. The Schiff bases behaved as uninegatively charged bidentate ligands. Square-planar structures have been proposed for the Cu(II) complex containing the NS Schiff base ligand and the Ni(II) complexes of the bidentate NS and NS′ Schiff base ligands. Single crystal X-ray diffraction study of [Cd(NS)2] showed that the complex was bis chelated with a distorted tetrahedral structure. The antimicrobial properties of the Schiff bases and their metal complexes indicate that the organic compounds are stronger antifungal agents than their complexes with the metals studied. However, the zinc complex of the Schiff base, S-benzyl-β-N-(5-methyl-2-furyl)methylenedithiocarbazate, (NS), was found to be highly active against CEM-SS (Human cell T-lymphoblastic leukemia) with a CD50 value of 2.0 μg cm−3, while [Cd(NS)2] was moderately active with a CD50 value of 4.95 μg cm−3. None of the compounds were found to be active against HT-29 (Human colon adenocarcinoma cells). The bioactivity of a previously reported tridentate NNS Schiff base (SBD1) and its metal complexes with nickel(II) and copper(II) are also discussed

Macrophage depletion reduces postsurgical tumor recurrence and metastatic growth in a spontaneous murine model of melanoma

International audienceSurgical resection of tumors is often followed by regrowth at the primary site and metastases may emerge rapidly following removal of the primary tumor. Macrophages are important drivers of tumor growth, and here we investigated their involvement in postoperative relapse as well as explore macrophage depletion as an adjuvant to surgical resection. RETAAD mice develop spontaneous metastatic melanoma that begins in the eye. Removal of the eyes as early as 1 week of age did not prevent the development of metastases; rather, surgery led to increased proliferation of tumor cells locally and in distant metastases. Surgery-induced increase in tumor cell proliferation correlated with increased macrophage density within the tumor. Moreover, macrophages stimulate tumor sphere formation from tumor cells of post-surgical but not control mice. Macrophage depletion with a diet containing the CSF-1R specific kinase inhibitor Ki20227 following surgery significantly reduced postoperative tumor recurrence and abrogated enhanced metastatic outgrowth. Our results confirm that tumor cells disseminate early, and show that macrophages contribute both to post-surgical tumor relapse and growth of metastases, likely through stimulating a population of tumor-initiating cells. Thus macrophage depletion warrants exploration as an adjuvant to surgical resection

(E)-[({[(3-Methyl­phen­yl)meth­yl]sulfan­yl}methane­thio­yl)amino](1-phenyl­pentyl­idene)amine

In the structure of the title compound, C20H24N2S2, the central CN2S2 atoms are planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0205 Å) but both benzene rings are twisted out of this plane forming dihedral angles of 23.03 (6) and 84.75 (4)° (tol­yl); the n-butyl group occupies a position normal to the plane [N—C—C—C torsion angle = −84.33 (16)°]. The conformation of the imine bond [1.2888 (18) Å] is E. The syn arrangement of the thione S and amino H atoms enables the formation of N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds between centrosymmetrically related mol­ecules. These lead to eight-membered {⋯HNC=S}2 synthons which are further stabilized by proximate C—H⋯S interactions. The resulting dimeric aggregates are connected into a supra­molecular chain along the c axis by C—H⋯π(tol­yl) inter­actions

Synthesis, Characterization, and Bioactivity of Schiff Bases and Their Cd2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, and Ni2+ Complexes Derived from Chloroacetophenone Isomers with S-Benzyldithiocarbazate and the X-Ray Crystal Structure of S-Benzyl-β-N-(4-chlorophenyl)methylenedithiocarbazate

Two bidentate Schiff base ligands having nitrogen sulphur donor sequence were derived from the condensation of S-benzyldithiocarbazate (SBDTC) with 2-chloroacetophenone and 4-chloroacetophenone to give S-benzyl-β-N-(2- chlorophenyl)methylenedithiocarbazate (NS2) and S-benzyl-β-N-(4- chlorophenyl)methylenedithiocarbazate (NS4) isomers. Each of the ligands was then chelated with Cd2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, and Ni2+. The compounds were characterized via IR spectroscopy and melting point while the structure of NS4 was revealed via X-ray crystallography. Finally, the compounds were screened for antimicrobial activity to investigate the effect that is brought by the introduction of the chlorine atom to the benzene ring. X-ray crystallographic analysis showed that the structure of NS4 is planar with a phenyl ring that is nearly perpendicular to the rest of the molecules. The qualitative antimicrobial assay results showed that NS4 and its complexes lacked antifungal activity while Gram-positive bacteria were generally inhibited more strongly than Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, NS4 metal complexes were inhibited more strongly than the ligand while the opposite was seen with NS2 ligand and its complexes due to the partial solubility in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). It was concluded that generally NS2 derivatives have higher bioactivity than that of NS4 derivatives and that the Cd complexes of both ligands have pronounced activity specifically on K. rhizophila

Bis{(Z)-[(E)-2-(pyridin-2-ylmethylidene)hydrazin-1-ylidene][(pyridin-2-yl) methylsulfanyl]methanethiolato}nickel(II)

The title compound, [Ni(C13H11N4S 2)2], was obtained by the reaction of S-2- picolyldithiocarbazate and pyridine-2-carbaldehyde with nickel(II) acetate. The NiII atom is located on a twofold rotation axis and is bonded to four N atoms at distances of 2.037 (8) and 2.109 (9) Å, and to two S atoms at a distance of 2.406 (3) Å, leading to a distorted octahedral coordination. The angle between the mean planes of the coordinating moieties of the two symmetry-related tridentate ligands is 83.3 (2)°. In the crystal, complex molecules are linked by weak C - H⋯S hydrogen bonds, π-π interactions between the pyridine rings [centroid-centroid distance = 3.775 (9) Å] and C - H⋯π interactions. The hydrogen-bonding interactions lead to the formation of layers parallel to (010); π-π interactions link these layers into a three-dimensional network

Benzyl 3-(2-methyl­phen­yl)dithio­carbazate

In the title compound, C15H16N2S2, the central C2N2S2 unit is essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.047 Å) and forms dihedral angles of 68.26 (4) and 65.99 (4)° with the phenyl and benzene rings, respectively, indicating a twisted mol­ecule. Supra­molecular chains with a step topology and propagating along [100] feature in the crystal packing, mediated through N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds. The chains are consolidated into a three-dimensional architecture by C—H⋯π inter­actions