Atorvastatin induces associated reductions in platelet P-selectin, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and interleukin-6 in patients with coronary artery diseases.

The development and progression of atherosclerosis comprises various processes, such as endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, thrombus formation, and lipid profile modification. Statins are 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors that have pleiotropic effects in addition to cholesterol-lowering properties. However, the mechanisms of these effects are not completely understood. Here, we investigated whether atorvastatin affects the levels of malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDALDL), an oxidized LDL, the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), or platelet P-selectin, a marker of platelet activation, relative to that of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). Forty-eight patients with coronary artery disease and hyperlipidemia were separated into two groups that were administered with (atorvastatin group) or without (control group) atorvastatin. The baseline MDA-LDL level in all participants significantly correlated with LDL-C (r = 0.71, P < 0.01) and apolipoprotein B levels (r = 0.66, P < 0.01). Atorvastatin (10 mg/day) significantly reduced the LDL-C level within 4 weeks and persisted for a further 8 weeks of administration. Atorvastatin also reduced the MDA-LDL level within 4 weeks and further reduced it over the next 8 weeks. Platelet P-selectin expression did not change until 4 weeks of administration and then significantly decreased at 12 weeks, whereas the IL-6 level was gradually, but not significantly, reduced at 12 weeks. In contrast, none of these parameters significantly changed in the control group within these time frames. The reduction (%) in IL-6 between 4 and 12 weeks after atorvastatin administration significantly correlated with that of MDALDL and of platelet P-selectin (r = 0.65, P < 0.05 and r = 0.70, P < 0.05, respectively). These results suggested that the positive effects of atorvastatin on the LDL-C oxidation, platelet activation and inflammation that are involved in atherosclerotic processes are exerted in concert after lowering LDL-C

Electronic and Steric Influences of Pendant Amine Groups on the Protonation of Molybdenum Bis(dinitrogen) Complexes

The synthesis of a series of P^EtP^{NRR^′} (P^EtP^{NRR^′} = Et₂PCH₂CH₂P­(CH₂NRR′)₂, R = H, R′ = Ph or 2,4-difluorophenyl; R = R′ = Ph or ^<i>i</i>Pr) diphosphine ligands containing mono- and disubstituted pendant amine groups and the preparation of their corresponding molybdenum bis­(dinitrogen) complexes <i>trans</i>-Mo­(N₂)₂­(PMePh₂)₂­(P^EtP^{NRR^′}) is described. In situ IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopic studies monitoring the stepwise addition of triflic acid (HOTf) to <i>trans</i>-Mo­(N₂)₂­(PMePh₂)₂­(P^EtP^{NRR^′}) complexes in tetrahydrofuran at −40 °C show that the electronic and steric properties of the R and R′ groups of the pendant amines influence whether the complexes are protonated at Mo, a pendant amine, a coordinated N₂ ligand, or a combination of these sites. For example, complexes containing monoaryl-substituted pendant amines are protonated at Mo and the pendant amine site to generate mono- and dicationic Mo–H species. Protonation of the complex containing less basic diphenyl-substituted pendant amines exclusively generates a monocationic hydrazido (Mo­(NNH₂)) product, indicating preferential protonation of an N₂ ligand. Addition of HOTf to the complex featuring more basic diisopropyl amines primarily produces a monocationic product protonated at a pendant amine site, as well as a trace amount of dicationic Mo­(NNH₂) product that is additionally protonated at a pendant amine site. In addition, <i>trans</i>-Mo­(N₂)₂­(PMePh₂)₂­(depe) (depe = Et₂PCH₂CH₂PEt₂) was synthesized to serve as a counterpart lacking pendant amines. Treatment of this complex with HOTf generated a monocationic Mo­(NNH₂) product. Protonolysis experiments conducted on several complexes in this study afforded trace amounts of NH₄⁺. Computational analysis of <i>trans</i>-Mo­(N₂)₂­(PMePh₂)₂­(P^EtP^{NRR^′}) complexes provides further insight into the proton affinity values of the metal center, N₂ ligand, and pendant amine sites to rationalize differences in their reactivity profiles

Synthetic and Mechanistic Interrogation of Pd/Isocyanide-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling: π‑Acidic Ligands Enable Self-Aggregating Monoligated Pd(0) Intermediates

Despite the large number of judiciously designed ligands that have been exploited in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling protocols, the incorporation of ligands bearing appreciable π-acidic properties has remained significantly underexplored. Herein, we demonstrate that well-defined and low-coordinate Pd⁰ complexes supported by <i>m</i>-terphenyl isocyanides function as competent catalysts for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of aryl bromides and arylboronic acids. Two-coordinate Pd­(CNAr^Dipp2)₂ was active for the coupling of unhindered aryl bromides at room temperature in 2-propanol, while increasing the temperature to 60 °C allowed for the use of mono- or di-<i>ortho</i>-substituted aryl bromides. Oxidative addition of the aryl bromide was shown to proceed via a dissociative mechanism, implicating monoligated Pd­(CNAr^Dipp2) as the catalytically active intermediate. Attempts to access this fleeting species via activation of the Pd^II monoisocyanide PdCl­(η³-C₃H₅)­(CNAr^Dipp2) with alkoxide base yielded the dinuclear Pd^I species (μ-C₃H₅)­(μ-O^<i>i</i>Pr)­[Pd­(CNAr^Dipp2)]₂. Although dinuclear Pd^I complexes are often produced as off-cycle species when using complexes of the type PdCl­(η³-allyl)­L as precatalysts, this represents the first time that the comproportionation product (μ-allyl)­(μ-Cl)­[PdL]₂ has been observed to undergo nucleophilic substitution with alkoxide, despite the fact that activating conditions for these precatalysts typically employ alkoxide bases. Remarkably, this alkoxide complex can undergo β-hydride elimination with expulsion of acetone and propene to produce two equivalents of catalytically active Pd­(CNAr^Dipp2), which can self-aggregate to yield the isolable tripalladium cluster Pd₃(η²-Dipp-μ-CNAr^Dipp2)₃. This cluster is catalytically competent for the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction and functions as a formal source of monoligated Pd­(CNAr^Dipp2) in solution

Proton and Electron Additions to Iron(II) Dinitrogen Complexes Containing Pendant Amines

Protonation of an iron C–H activated complex containing pendant amines in the presence of N₂ generated a <i>cis</i>-(H)­Fe^II–N₂ complex. Addition of acid protonates the pendant amines. Reduction of the protonated complex results in N₂ loss and H₂ formation, followed by N₂ binding. The origin of H₂ formation in this Fe system is compared to proposed mechanisms for H₂ loss and N₂ coordination in the E₄ state of nitrogenase

Systematic review of Carrageean hydrogels : drug delivery system for controlled-release

The methodological and analytical approach of the researchers were based on the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement in order to assess the eligibility of chosen literature based on the aim of the study and the the chosen studies were selected through the used of databases and Boolean operators that fit the chosen criteria. Studies regarding the rate of absorption, the onset of action, duration of action and the Nano composites of carrageenan were gathered. Several studies have shown that the use of carrageenan increases the rate of absorption of the drug through excellent mechanical, swelling and absorption properties. Carrageenan can also increase the porosity of hydrogel which is directly proportional to the diffusion of drugs but up to a certain extent because very high porosity would not translate to higher drug release. Studies have stated that high pH of the media can lead to a higher release of drug content. A concentration of the carrageenan gels can also effect the sustained release increasing the encapsulation efficiency and may cause burst effect of the drug, which in turn is responsible for sustaining drug release in a prolonged period of time. Studies have also mentioned that carrageenan may enhance the bioavailability of the drug. Lastly, for the Nano composites, kappa-carrageenan can be used as an ideal drug delivery for controlled-release of drugs as it is considered thermoreversible and provides a more stable swelling behavior