4-Nitro­phenyl N-phenyl­carbamate

The title compound, C13H10N2O4, was synthesized as an inter­mediate for the preparation of ureas. The two aromatic rings are twisted about the central carbamate group with a C—C—N—C torsion angle of 139.6 (2)° and a C—C—O—C torsion angle of 95.9 (2)°. The mol­ecules are linked into one-dimensional chains by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds along the b axis. Weak inter­actions between O atoms of the nitro groups (O⋯O = 3.012 Å) connect two adjacent chains

Undifferentiated (Spindle Cell) Pancreatic Carcinoma: A Case Report with Osteochondroid Differentiation

Context Undifferentiated (spindle cell) carcinomas of the pancreas are rare anaplastic variants of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with a frequency of 2% of pancreatic exocrine tumors. Their clinicopathological features are limited and obtained by few previously case reports. We report a case of undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with a rare focal osteochondroid differentiation. Case report A sixty-six-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for abdominal pain and nonspecific nausea for almost 40 days. Imaging studies revealed a well-defined cystic–solid mass with heterogeneous density involving the tail of the pancreas. We performed an en bloc distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy for radical excision, as well as regional lymphadenectomy. The resected specimen revealed a 4.0×5.0 cm exophytic clear-bordered neoplasm of the tail of the pancreas containing necrotic and calcified areas, without splenic invasion. The lymph node involvement was not detected (0/5) and the surgical margins were negative. Microscopy showed pleomorphism with giant cells, spindle-shaped cells with anaplasia, and osteochondroid differentiation. A diagnosis of undifferentiated (spindle cell) carcinoma of the pancreas with focal osteochondroid differentiation was made. The patient declined chemotherapy and extended lymphadenectomy. She suffered from liver and lymph nodes metastasis 9 months after surgery, and she subsequently died 4 months later due to high tumor burden. Conclusions Undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with osteochondroid differentiation is rare but associated with extremely poor prognosis. It should be included in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic mass lesions.Image: Ossification in the tumor edge

5-Methyl-1,2,3,3a-tetra­hydro­benzo[e]pyrrolo­[2,1-b][1,3]oxazepin-10(5H)-one

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C13H15NO2, the main product of a photoreaction, contains two crystallographically independent mol­ecules. In both mol­ecules, the conformation of the seven-membered ring is twist sofa and that of the five-membered rings is envelope. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Epileptiform discharge upregulates p-ERK1/2, growth-associated protein 43 and synaptophysin in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

AbstractExtracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, ERK1/2 is activated by phosphorylation (p-ERK1/2) during environmental stress such as epileptiform discharge. We investigated the role of ERK1/2 in abnormal axon growth and synapse reorganization in cultured neurons displaying epileptiform activity.The cultured neurons displaying epileptiform activity were treated with magnesium-free extracellular fluid for 3h and monitored epileptiform discharges using whole-cell patch clamp. Two study groups, neurons displaying epileptiform activity and the same neurons treated with ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126, were studied at six time points, 0min, 30min, 2h, 6h, 12h, and 24h following discharge. The expressions of p-ERK1/2, C-fos, growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) and synaptophysin (SYP), as markers of axon growth and synapse reorganization, were investigated by double-label immunofluorescence and western blotting.In the neurons displaying epileptiform activity, p-ERK1/2 was detected immediately following discharge, and expression peaked at 30min. The expression of C-fos, GAP-43 and SYP followed the same pattern as p-ERK1/2. In the treated group, p-ERK1/2 was inhibited completely, and C-fos, GAP-43 and SYP were reduced.These findings indicate that epileptiform discharge activates ERK1/2 which regulates C-fos in cultured neurons displaying epileptiform activity, and this cascade may upregulate GAP-43 and SYP to contribute to axon growth and synapse reorganization to potentiate epileptic activities

Late cardioprotection of exercise preconditioning against exhaustive exercise-induced myocardial injury by up-regulatation of connexin 43 expression in rat hearts

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the expression of myocardium connexin 43 (Cx43) in late exercise preconditioning (LEP) cardioprotection.MethodsEight-week-old adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 8). Myocardial injury was judged in accordance with serum levels of cTnⅠ and NT-proBNP as well as hematoxylin basicfuchsin picric acid staining of myocardium. Cx43 mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization and qualified by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Cx43 protein was localized by immunohistochemistry and its expression level was determined by western blotting.ResultsThe LEP obviously attenuated the myocardial ischemia/hypoxia injury caused by exhaustive exercise. There was no significant difference of Cx43 mRNA level between the four groups. Cx43 protein level was decreased significantly in group EE (P < 0.05). However, LEP produced a significant increase in Cx43 protein level (P < 0.05), and the decreased Cx43 protein level in exhaustive exercise was significantly up-regulated by LEP (P < 0.05).ConclusionsLEP protects rat heart against exhaustive exercise-induced myocardial injury by up-regulating the expression of myocardial Cx43

Different cerebral plasticity of intrinsic and extrinsic hand muscles after peripheral neurotization in a patient with brachial plexus injury: A TMS and fMRI study

AbstractContralateral C7 (CC7) neurotization has been an important approach for brachial plexus injury (BPI). Patients can achieve relatively good grasping function driven by the proximal extrinsic hand muscle (flexor digitorum, FD) after CC7 neurotization, whereas the thumb opposition function driven by the distal intrinsic muscle (abductor pollicis brevis, APB) is poor. The present study aimed to investigate the brain reorganization patterns of the recovery processes of intrinsic and extrinsic hand functions after repairing the median nerve by CC7 neurotization. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were used to evaluate the cerebral plasticity in one BPI patient after CC7 neurotization. After the CC7 neurotization, the patient showed improvements in the paralyzed hand. Combination of TMS and fMRI investigations demonstrated different cortical reshaping patterns of APB and FD. It was also found that the activated cortical areas of FD were located in bilateral motor cortices, but the area of APB was only located in ipsilateral motor cortex. The cerebral plasticity procedure appeared to be different in the gross and fine motor function recovery processes. It provided a new perspective into the cerebral plasticity induced by CC7 neurotization

An efficient DNA isolation method for tropical plants

Due to interfering components such as polysacharrides, polyphenols, etc, DNA isolation from tropical plants had been challenging. We developed a safe, universal and efficient DNA extraction method, which yielded high-quality DNA from 10 tropical plants including cassava, rubber tree, banana, etc. In the extraction buffer, 2 M NaCl was used to provide a high ionic strength reaction environment, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), lauroyl sarcosine (LSS) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) could inhibit DNase activity effectively, polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) produced a deoxidized reaction environment, and borax enhanced the precipitation of interfering compounds. Ordinary reagents like β-mercaptoethanol, chloroform and phenol were unnecessary in this protocol, which made it safe and friendly to use. PCR and EcoR I enzyme restriction digestion results show that the obtained DNA is good enough for downstream analysis. In conclusion, this protocol is expected to be a preferable DNA extraction protocol for tropical plants.Keywords: DNA extraction, tropical plants, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(19), pp. 2727-273

1,2-Bis(4-nitro­benzo­yl)hydrazine

The title mol­ecule, C14H10N4O6, crystallizes with one half-mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit; the mid-point of the N—N bond lies on an inversion centre. The nitro and amide groups are twisted with respect to the benzene ring, making dihedral angles of 14.6 (5) and 31.1 (5)°, respectively. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are linked through N—H⋯O hydrogen bonding between the imino and carbonyl groups

Topological transitions in continuously-deformed photonic crystals

We demonstrate that multiple topological transitions can occur, with high-sensitivity, by continuous change of the geometry of a simple 2D dielectric-frame photonic crystal consisting of circular air-holes. By changing the radii of the holes and/or the distance between them, multiple transitions between normal and topological photonic band gaps (PBGs) can appear. The time-reversal symmetric topological PBGs resemble the quantum spin-Hall insulator of electrons and have two counter-propagating edge states. We search for optimal topological transitions, i.e., sharp transitions sensitive to the geometry, and optimal topological PBGs, i.e., large PBGs with clean spectrum of edge states. Such optimizations reveal that dielectric-frame photonic crystals are promising for optical sensors and unidirectional waveguides.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev.