Cu(II) coordination polymers based on 1,3,5-tris(triazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene: synthesis, structure, and biological properties

Two new Cu(II)-based coordination polymers, [Cu(TTTMB)(Hbtrc2−)]n (1) and {[Cu(TTTMB)2(H2O)2](NO3)2(H2O)4}n (2), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions (TTTMB = 1,3,5-tris(triazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene; H3btrc = 1,3,5-trimesic acid). The structures of these polymers were established by elemental analysis, IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Polymer 1 displays a three-dimensional (3-D) structure with the Schläfli symbol (4·62)(4·67·82) and crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n. Each Cu(II) in 1 is five-coordinate in a slightly distorted rectangular pyramid geometry. Polymer 2 has a 2-D network structure with (4,4) topology and each Cu(II) ion has a slightly distorted octahedral coordination geometry. The antidiabetic activity against α-amylase and antioxidant activity against DPPH of the two Cu(II)-based complexes were evaluated in vitro. Polymers 1 (IC50 = 1.43 mg/mL) and 2 (IC50 = 2.45 mg/mL) exhibited more effective inhibition on α-amylase than the standard drug acarbose (IC50 = 2.94 mg/mL). The results of the antioxidant studies revealed that 2 demonstrated a potent scavenging effect on DPPH with IC50 values of 2.59 mg/mL, slightly lower than that of vitamin E (2.67 mg/mL).</p

Decreased Human Respiratory Absorption Factors of Aromatic Hydrocarbons at Lower Exposure Levels: The Dual Effect in Reducing Ambient Air Toxics

Respiratory absorption factors (AFs) are important parameters for assessing human health risks of long-term inhalation exposure to low-level hazardous air pollutants. However, it is uncertain whether previously measured respiratory AFs for high-level exposures could be directly applied. Here we measured real-time respiratory AFs using proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry for 50 subjects (20–30 years of age; 24 females and 26 males) exposed in a normal office room with aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) at concentrations of several parts per billion by volume. The mean respiratory AFs of benzene, toluene, and C8-aromatics (ethylbenzene and xylenes) from all subjects were 28.2, 63.3, and 66.6%, respectively. No gender difference in the respiratory AFs of AHs was observed. Correlation analysis revealed that exposure concentration, rather than physiological parameters like body mass index or body fat ratio, was the dominant factor influencing the AFs of AHs. The results also demonstrated that respiratory AFs decreased in a logarithmic way when exposure levels of AHs were decreased. The decreased respiratory AFs at lowered exposure levels suggest the dual effect of reducing ambient air toxics like AHs with a decrease in human inhalation intake

Graphical representation of the SNP locations and LD structure of the CAST gene.

<p>The SNP distribution and haplotype block structure across the CAST gene are shown, respectively. Each figure was composed of chromosome scale (the top line with even division), the transcription string (the thick bars represent exon (yellow) or UTR (blue), the thin lines represent intron), SNP scale (the hollow bar with scales representing SNP location), and graphic of LD (black-and-white, Fig. 1A) or block definition (red, Fig. 1B). The lighter and darker shades in Fig. 1A represent lower and higher values of the LD (D′) among all possible SNP pairs respectively. The numbers in squares are D′ values multiplied by 100. Haplotype blocks were defined according to the criteria by Gabriel et al. <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0070935#pone.0070935-Gabriel1" target="_blank">[34]</a>. In Fig. 1B, lower values of LD (r²) among all possible pairs of SNPs are represented by lighter shades of color and scarlet represents higher r² values. The numbers in squares are r² values multiplied by 100.</p

Genotyped SNPs, their type and location.

a<p>Base position according to NCBI genome build 36.3.</p

Different staining of the airway from normal controls (A, D, G, J, M, P, S, V), asthma mice (B, E, H, K, N, Q, T, W) and alleviated mice (C, F, I, L, O, R, U, X) and showed significant differences (Scale bars, 200 µm).

<p>(A–C), Airway H&E staining on mice from three groups shows significant difference (×200); (D–F), The PAS staining of distinct mice show significant difference; (G–I), MDSCs IHC staining on mice from three groups shows significant difference (×200), arrows indicate positive staining; (J–L), higher magnification of MDSCs IHC staining; (M–O), IL-10 IHC staining on mice from three groups shows significant difference; (P–R), IL-12 IHC staining on mice from three groups shows significant difference (×200); (S–U), TNF-α IHC staining on mice from three groups shows significant difference (×200); (V–X), IL-6 IHC staining on mice from three groups shows significant difference (×200).</p

The percentage of MDSCs in the PBMCs, and the level of serum IL-10 and IL-12, IgE, EOS in normal healthy controls, pneumonia patients, attack asthma patients, and alleviated patients .

#<p>compared to the normal group;</p>*<p>compared to the pneumonia group;</p>$<p>cmpared to the budesonide treated group.</p

Representative flow cytometric analysis of the percentage of MDSCs in PBMCs in asthma patients, budesonide-treated asthma patients, healthy controls and pneumonia patients .

<p>(A) Percentage of MDSCs (CD11b⁺/CD33⁺) in PBMCs in the normal group. (B) Percentage of MDSCs in PBMCs in the attack asthma group. (C) Percentage of MDSCs in PBMCs in the budesonide treated group. (D) Percentage of MDSCs in PBMCs in the pneumonia group.</p

The level of MDSCs, IL-10, and IL-12, determined by IHC staining of lung tissues from the three groups of mice .

*<p>compared with normal control group, <i>P</i><0.05;</p>#<p>Compared with asthma mice group, <i>P</i><0.05.</p

The correlation between the levels of MDSCs and the level of IL-10 and IL-12 in asthma patients.

<p>(A) The positive correlation between the level of MDSCs and the level of serum IL-10 in asthma attack patients. (B) The negative correlation between the level of MDSCs and the level of serum IL-12 in attack asthma group.</p

Antihyperlipidemic glycosides from the root bark of <i>Lycium chinense</i>

<p>Three new glycosides (<b>1</b>–<b>3</b>), together with six known ones (<b>4</b>–<b>9</b>), were isolated from the root bark of <i>Lycium chinense</i>. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of MS and NMR spectroscopic data. Five compounds (<b>3</b>, <b>5</b>, <b>6</b>, <b>8</b>, and <b>9)</b> exhibited potent antihyperlipidemic activities in HepG2 cells as assessed by Oil Red O staining and significant inhibition of intracellular triglyceride (TG) levels, whereas two compounds (<b>5</b> and <b>9</b>) significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) levels.</p