7-(N-substituted)amino-2,3-polymethylene benzofurane derivatives with tracheal relaxant activity

BACKGROUND: Macrophages play an important role in several ocular diseases. Because macrophages localized in ocular tissues may be derived from blood monocytes, the effect of vitreous [containing transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-beta 2) and hyaluronic acid] on blood monocytes, maturating in the tissue to macrophages, was determined. METHODS: Human monocytes were cultured with and without vitreous in RPMI 1640 medium containing human AB serum. As a parameter of activation the release of interleukin-6 was measured by the B9 bioassay; as an indication of maturation, the content of acid phosphatase and the increase in cell size were assessed. RESULTS: Monocytes in vitreous-containing medium grew more slowly than did control monocytes. Monocytes cultured in 10% vitreous released 51% less, and in 20% vitreous 73% less, interleukin-6 than control monocytes. Vitreous at 20% significantly (P = 0.0075) reduced the amount of acid phosphatase by 80% over a 4-day culture period. This reduction was partially eliminated with neutralizing antibodies to TGF-beta (P = 0.0014). Furthermore, human recombinant TGF-beta 2 increased the activity of acid phosphatase in monocytes at 1.25 ng/ml and reduced it (P < 0.0001) at higher concentrations (5-10 ng/ml). Hyaluronic acid showed an effect additive to that of TGF-beta in further diminishing the amount of acid phosphatase (P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Vitreous exerts a regulatory effect on monocyte activation and maturation by its content of TGF-beta and possibly hyaluronic acid and may, thus, modify the inflammatory or immune response in the eye.     

Integrated ambient ozone evaluation by passive samplers and clover biomonitoring mini-stations

An ozone monitoring network was set up using passive samplers and biological mini-stations of two clones of white clover (Trifolium repens L. cv. Regal), NC-R (O(3)-resistant) and NC-S (O(3)-sensitive). This paper reports on a pilot study performed in the period June-October 1999 in the Rome municipal area by using five biomonitoring mini-stations and ozone passive samplers with a new nitrite based design. This combined methodology can be used to obtain information on the biological implications of the injury due to tropospheric ozone. The two techniques can integrate data for the short-medium period and can be placed in different urban and rural sites, proving to be a very useful tool for ozone concentration mapping.     

Racial identity, racial attitudes, and race socialization among Black Canadian parents.

The primary aim of this study was to examine the influence of racial identity on the socialization strategies used by Black parents to deal with issues of racism and discrimination. The Multidimensional Model of Racial Identity (MMRI) was used to capture the complexity of Black identity and to provide a framework for the study of the socialization process. Ninety-one Black Canadian parents responded to measures of racial identity (e.g., identity centrality, racial ideologies), racial appraisals (e.g., concern for stereotyping), and socialization practices (e.g., preparation for bias). Racial identity measures were hypothesised to predict racial appraisals and socialization behaviours, while racial appraisals were expected to predict socialization behaviours. Furthermore, racial salience was expected to moderate the relationship between racial ideologies (e.g., nationalist ideology) and socialization behaviours. Although this latter hypothesis was not supported, the Sellers model did provide a useful theoretical framework for understanding the socialization practices of Black Canadian parents. Parents were more likely to socialize their children when they endorsed a humanist ideology and when they perceived their children as being likely targets of stereotyping and discrimination. These findings underscore the need for multidimensional measures of identity to obtain a more complete picture of the socialization process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transient Surface Processes of Storage and Conversion of NOx Species on Pt–Me/Al2O3 Catalysts (Me = Ba,Ce, Cu)

The transient reactivity and surface phenomena of storage and conversion of NO _x species on Pt(1%)–Me/Al₂O₃ catalysts, where Me = Ba, Ce and Cu, were studied by the RWF (rectangular wavefront) method. The Me component has a relevant influence on the processes of surface storage and transformation. The reduction of NO _x by propene in the presence of oxygen is promoted by adding Cu to a Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst, while cerium promotes transient conversion of NO in the absence of propene, but inhibits the reduction of NO _x in the presence of propene. Copper is suggested to be a promising element to add together with Ba for new NO _x storage-reduction catalysts due to its capacity to act both as a storage element and as promoter for NO _x reduction.     

N-[4-(R',R"-phenylazo)aryl]aminolupinanes with antitubercular activity

A set of twelve N-[4-(R-phenylazo)aryl]aminolupinanes (10a-c; 11a-i) was prepared by coupling the suitably substituted phenyldiazonium salts with N-(2,3-xylyl)-aminolupinane and with N-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphth-1-yl)- aminolupinane. These compounds, as well as the N-(4-amino-2,3-xylyl)aminolupinane and the N-(4-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphth-1-yl)-aminolupinane, that could be obtained from the former through an in vivo reductive cleavage of the azo group, exhibited a high activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37RV with M.I.C. in the range 0.1-1 microgram/ml.     

Plant oil bioconversion into increase biological activity through lipases derived from wastes

The aim of this study was to show that abundant and inexpensive plant oils can be biotransformed to increase biological activity (antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxicity) through hydrolysis reaction catalysed by lipases. We tested homemade and commercial lipases through the biotransformation of nine different plant oils in forty different combinations. First, the chemical composition of the samples was investigated. Thereafter, biological tests were conducted to assess the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the sampled biotransformation products, as well as analyzed their influence on the viability of healthy and cancer cells. Summarising, sunflower, corn and olive oils modified by orange waste-obtained lipases presented the most promising results, reaching up to 90% of antioxidant activity increase and significant growth inhibition of bacteria colonies belonging to genera Escherichia, Listeria, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas and Salmonella. In addition, those compounds affected human oral squamous carcinoma cells. The bioconversion of plant oils through lipases improves their biological properties and might be an option for biotechnological application.     

Soft Matter Technology at KIT: Chemical Perspective from Nanoarchitectures to Microstructures

Bioinspiration has emerged as an important design principle in the rapidly growing field of materials science and especially its subarea, soft matter science. For example, biological cells form hierarchically organized tissues that not only are optimized and designed for durability, but also have to adapt to their external environment, undergo self‐repair, and perform many highly complex functions. Being able to create artificial soft materials that mimic those highly complex functions will enable future materials applications. Herein, soft matter technologies that are used to realize bioinspired material structures are described, and potential pathways to integrate these into a comprehensive soft matter research environment are addressed. Solutions become available because soft matter technologies are benefitting from the synergies between organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, and materials science.     

Catalytic Properties of the Antibody H11

The catalytic activity of the antibody H11 is shown to reside chiefly in its ability to hydrolyze 1-acetoxybutadiene to crotonaldehyde and to promote the cycloaddition of the intermediate enol with N-alkylmaleimides. This conclusion is based upon the demonstration that the enol tautomerizes too rapidly in solution to be a competent intermediate and that under the reaction conditions for H11, no cycloaddition occurs with crotonaldehyde and N-ethylmaleimide. As a first step towards a structural understanding of the chemistry of H11, chemical modification experiments have shown that reactions of acidic amino acids, tyrosine, lysine, and histidine, but not arginine, inhibit the reactions mediated by H11.