EFFICIENT STEREOSELECTIVE SYNTHESIS OF CATECHIN TRIMER DERIVATIVE USING SILVER LEWIS ACID-MEDIATED EQUIMOLAR CONDENSATION

A stereoselective synthesis of benzylated catechin trimer under intermolecular condensasion is achieved using equimolar amount of dimeric catechin nucleophile and monomeric catechin electrophile catalyzed by AgOTf or AgBF(4). The coupled product can be transformed into procyanidin C2 by a known procedure.ArticleHETEROCYCLES. 83(4):739-742 (2011)journal articl

Effects of L-glutamate on cyclic AMP levels in slices from different areas of rat cerebral cortex with a chronic iron-induced focus.

The effect of L-glutamate of cyclic AMP levels in different areas of rat cerebral cortex was examined during the development of an iron-induced focus in the left sensorimotor cortex. The addition of L-glutamate resulted in increased cyclic AMP levels in slices from the quarter of cortex with the iron-induced focus. The levels lowered in slices from the quarter of cortex most remote from the focus. Thus L-glutamate showed stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the accumulation of cyclic AMP.</p

SYNTHESIS OF PROCYANIDINS C2 AND C1 USING LEWIS ACID MEDIATED EQUIMOLAR CONDENSATION

Synthesis of procyanidins C2 and C1 was achieved via a stereoselective intermolecular condensation of equimolar amount of dimeric catechin or epicatechin nucleophile and monomeric catechin or epicatechin electrophile using Lewis acid. In the case of synthesis of procyanidin C2, AgBF4 and AgOTf afforded condensed product in excellent yield. As to the synthesis of procyanidin C1, Yb(OTf)(3) was effective for equimolar condensation.ArticleHETEROCYCLES. 85(9):2241-2250 (2012)journal articl

Urinary ACE2 in pediatric IgA nephropathy

Background : Our previous studies demonstrated that the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) status was activated in pediatric patients with chronic glomerulonephritis. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression in the kidney is associated with the development of pediatric IgA nephropathy. Methods : We analyzed urinary ACE2 levels and ACE2 expression in the kidney tissues of pediatric patients with IgA nephropathy treated with RAS blockade. Paired tests were used to analyze changes from the first to the second biopsy. Results : Urinary ACE2 levels were significantly decreased after RAS blockade treatment, accompanied by decreased ACE2 expression levels in kidney tissues, urinary protein levels and mesangial hypercellularity scores. Urinary ACE2 levels at the first biopsy were positively correlated with the ACE2 expression levels. Conclusions : These data suggest that urinary ACE2 is associated with ACE2 expression in the diseased kidney, which correlates with the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy in pediatric patients

Association of cognitive performance with interleukin-6 receptor Asp358Ala polymorphism in healthy adults

Wechsler adult intelligence scale-revised was performed in 576 healthy adults to examine whether a functional polymorphism (Asp358Ala) of the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) gene is associated with cognitive performance. Verbal intelligence quotient in Asp homozygotes was significantly higher compared to Ala carriers (P = 0.005). Compared to Ala carriers, Asp homozygotes performed better in the verbal subtests requiring long-term memory stores. Elevated IL-6 and soluble IL-6R levels in Ala carriers may have negative impact on acquiring verbal cognitive ability requiring long-term memory.ArticleJOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION. 119(3):313-318 (2012)journal articl

Association of interleukin-1 beta genetic polymorphisms with cognitive performance in elderly females without dementia

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) is considered to have a role in age-related cognitive decline. A recent study has shown that a promoter polymorphism of the IL-1 beta gene (rs16944) is associated with cognitive performance in elderly males without dementia. In this study, we examined whether polymorphisms of the IL-1 beta gene also influence cognitive functions in elderly females. Cognitive functions were assessed by the Wechsler adult intelligence scale-revised (WAIS-R) in 99 elderly (>= 60 years) females without dementia. We selected five tagging polymorphisms from the IL-1 beta gene and examined the associations with the WAIS-R scores. Significant associations were found between verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) and the genotypes of rs1143634 and rs1143633 (P = 0.0037 and P = 0.010, respectively). No significant associations of rs16944 genotype were found with verbal or performance IQ. However, individuals homozygous for the G allele of rs16944 achieved higher scores in digit span compared with their counterpart, which is consistent with the previous findings in males. These results suggest that IL-1 beta gene variation may have a role in cognitive functions in aging females as well as males. Journal of Human Genetics (2011) 56, 613-616; doi:10.1038/jhg.2011.56; published online 26 May 2011ArticleJOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS. 56(8):613-616 (2011)journal articl

More severe impairment of manual dexterity in bipolar disorder compared to unipolar major depression

Background: Mood disorders are associated with various neurocognitive deficits. However, few studies have reported the impairment of motor dexterity in unipolar depression and bipolar disorder. In the present study, manual dexterity was compared between unipolar major depression, bipolar disorder, and healthy controls. Methods: Manual dexterity was assessed by the Purdue pegboard test in 98 patients with unipolar major depression, 48 euthymic or depressed patients with bipolar disorder, and 158 healthy controls, matched for age and gender. Results: Compared to healthy controls, sum of the scores of right, left, and both hands subtests (R + L+ B) was significantly lower in both patients with unipolar depression and bipolar disorder (P= 0.0034 and P<0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, R + L + B was significantly lower in bipolar disorder compared to unipolar depression (P=0.0016). Lithium dose and chlorpromazine equivalent dose of antipsychotics were significantly negatively correlated with some of the subtest scores. On the other hand, depression severity did not significantly correlate with any of the subtest scores. Difference in R + L+ B between unipolar depression and bipolar disorder remained statistically significant even after controlling for gender, age, lithium dose, and chlorpromazine equivalent dose (P = 0.0028). Limitations Bipolar patients during manic episode were not included in the study. Conclusions: Gross movement dexterity was impaired in both patients with unipolar depression and bipolar disorder. The severity of impairment was significantly greater in patients with bipolar disorder. The functional difference between unipolar and bipolar patients may suggest different pathological conditions between the two depressive disorders.ArticleJOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS. 136(3):1047-1052 (2012)journal articl

Synthesis of Procyanidins C2 and C1 Using Lewis Acid Mediated Equimolar Condensation

Synthesis of procyanidins C2 and C1 was achieved via a stereoselective intermolecular condensation of equimolar amount of dimeric catechin or epicatechin nucleophile and monomeric catechin or epicatechin electrophile using Lewis acid. In the case of synthesis of procyanidin C2, AgBF4 and AgOTf afforded condensed product in excellent yield. As to the synthesis of procyanidin C1, Yb(OTf)(3) was effective for equimolar condensation.ArticleHETEROCYCLES. 85(9):2241-2250 (2012)journal articl

Difference in Temperament and Character Inventory scores between depressed patients with bipolar II and unipolar major depressive disorders

Background: Although some core personality variables are known to be characteristic of unipolar or bipolar depression, few studies have compared the personality profile between these two disorders. Methods: Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was employed to assess the personality of 36 depressed patients with bipolar II disorder (BPII), 90 patients with unipolar major depressive disorder (UP), and 306 healthy controls. The TCI was administered during the depressive episode in BPII and UP patients so that the results can be applied in a clinical setting. Results: Significantly higher scores in harm avoidance (p<0.0001) and lower scores in self-directedness (p<0.0001) and cooperativeness (p<0.05) were observed in both BPII and UP patients compared to controls. Lower novelty seeking in UP patients compared to BPII patients and controls was observed in females (p<0.0001, p<0.01. respectively). A significant difference in self-transcendence score was observed between BPII and UP patients in females (p<0.0005), with higher scores in BPII (p = 0.009) and lower scores in UP (p = 0.046) patients compared to controls. A logistic regression model predicted BPII in depressed females based on novelty seeking and self-transcendence scores with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 73%, but did not accurately predict BPII in males. Limitations: Patients in our study were limited to those receiving outpatient treatments, and bipolar patients were limited to those with BPII. Conclusions: Novelty seeking and self-transcendence scores of TCI might be useful in the differentiation of UP and BPII in female patients.ArticleJOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS. 132(3):319-324 (2011)journal articl