Vitamin B12 improves cognitive disturbance in rodents fed a choline-deficient diet

The effect of vitamin B12 on learning disturbance was tested in rats. Rats were fed a choline-enriched, choline-deficient, and choline-deficient diet with vitamin B12. Concentrations of acetylcholine in the brain were significantly lower in rats fed a choline-deficient diet than rats fed a choline-enriched diet. Passive avoidance learning shows that rats on a choline-deficient diet showed significantly impaired learning compared to rats on a choline-enriched diet. However, there was no significant difference of acetylcholine in the brain or in the passive avoidance learning between rats fed a choline-enriched and a choline-deficient with vitamin B12 diet. We, therefore, suggest that vitamin B12 potentiates learning in an acetylcholine-deprived brain.     

Is carthamine a single component?

A chromatographically pure sample of red pigment from dyer's saffron (Carthamus tinctorius L) was separated into two distinct reddish components on an insoluble polyvinyl polypyrrolidone column, developed with acetone/methanol/water. These components were isolated, purified and subjected to the analytical processes. Using standard analytical techniques, only slight differences could be detected between the two types of carthamine. However, a marked difference was displayed by optical rotary dispersion spectroscopy of the two samples. This provides evidence for the existence of two geometrical isomers of carthamine.     

Hydrogen peroxide, an excellent chromogenic reagent for reddening dyer's saffron flowers

Summary An aqueous solution of H₂O₂ promoted the reddening of dyer's saffron flowers, in which carthamin accumulated. The identity of the pigment was confirmed by TLC, HPLC, and UV, and IR spectra. The chemical procedure for flower reddening is discussed in terms of its use in carthamin production.

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Wasserstoffperoxyd, ein ausgezeichnetes Chromogenreagens zum Rotmachen von Safranblüten

Zusammenfassung Wäßrige Lösung von H₂O₂ fördert das Rotwerden von Safranblüten, in welchen Carthamin gespeichert ist. Die Identität des Farbstoffs wurde mit analytischen Methoden wie TLC, HPLC, UV- und IR-Spektren bestätigt. Die chemische Reaktion des Blütenrotwerdens wurde diskutiert zusammen mit der Nützlichkeit für die Carthamin-Farbenproduktion.

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Abbreviations ODS octadecyl silan - BAW n-butanol/acetic acid/water (4+1+2, v/v) - HOAc acetic acid/water (15+85, v/v) - PAW phenol/acetic acid/water (40+1+10, v/v) - TLC thin-layer chromatography; - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - UV ultraviolet light - VIS visible light - IR infrared light - i.d. internal diameter     

Effects of cemented tungsten carbide dust on rat lungs following intratracheal injection of saline suspension

In order to examine the effect of cemented tungsten carbide dust on the animal lung, saline suspensions were intratracheally administered into the lungs of rats in a single dosage. About one-fifth of the animals died during the first three days. The acute response of the lungs was hemorrhagic edema with intense alveolar congestion. The animals killed at six months all presented pulmonary lesions of patchy fibrosis in the vicinity of the deposited dusts, occasionally associated with focal traction emphysema and bronchobronchiolar ectasia. At twelve months, two-third of the animals had neither fibrosis nor dust deposition, although the remaining animals showed pulmonary lesions similar to those seen in the six-months responders. Fibrosis of the lungs seemed to consist of collapsed alveoli with condensation of the preexistent reticulin fibers, but without noticeable collagenization. It is supposed that both the early toxic and the late fibrogenic effects of the carbide dust are attributable to the cytotoxic action of cobalt present in the dust particles. It is possible that recovery of the pulmonary lesions results from removal of the dusts from the lesions.     

Microheterogeneity of anion exchange membranes

Anion exchange membranes (ferricyanide ion type) prepared by the “paste method” were treated with an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide, and the resultant microporous membranes had no ion exchange capacity but water permeability. By measuring the water permeability of the membranes and observing the electron microphotographs of the membrane surfaces, it was elucidated that the anion exchange membranes contained microheterogeneity of colloidal dimension.