An Antifungal Saponin from White Asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis L) Bottoms

An antifungal saponin was isolated from the bottom cut of white asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L), which is unusable in food processing. The structure of the saponin was identified as 3-O-[{α-L -rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)} {α-L -rhamnopyranosyl (1→4)}-β-D -glucopyranosyl] (25S) spirost-5-ene-3β-ol from chemical and spectral data. This saponin was shown to be identical with collettinside III from Dioscorea collettii, and to inhibit the growth of some kinds of fungi at μg ml⁻¹ levels.     

Effect of sparteine on the photopolymerization of methyl and ethyl methacrylates with bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride in a water–methanol mixture

The photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride (Cp₂TiCl₂) in a H₂O‐MeOH [1 : 1 (v/v)] mixture was examined at 40°C in the presence of 2,2′‐bipyridyl (Bipy), 1,10‐phenanthlorine (Phen) or sparteine (Spr) as the chelating reagent. The presence of these chelating reagents retarded the photopolymerization. Poly(MMA)s formed in the presence of them were found to contain a considerable fraction of the benzene‐insoluble part, in contrast to the ones in the absence of them. Spr was the most effective for formation of the insoluble part. The benzene‐insoluble poly(MMA) was insoluble in usual organic solvents including acetone, tetrahydrofuran, ethyl acetate, and dimethyl sulfoxide, suggesting crosslinking. However, poly(MMA) reproduced by hydrolysis of the insoluble part followed by methylation was soluble in usual organic solvents, indicating no crosslinking between polymer main chains. The insoluble part was thermally more stable than the soluble part. Polymerization of ethyl methacrylate in the presence of Spr gave similar results. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 815–822, 2001     

Rare Hereditary Gynecological Cancer Syndromes

Hereditary cancer syndromes, which are characterized by onset at an early age and an increased risk of developing certain tumors, are caused by germline pathogenic variants in tumor suppressor genes and are mostly inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. Therefore, hereditary cancer syndromes have been used as powerful models to identify and characterize susceptibility genes associated with cancer. Furthermore, clarification of the association between genotypes and phenotypes in one disease has provided insights into the etiology of other seemingly different diseases. Molecular genetic discoveries from the study of hereditary cancer syndrome have not only changed the methods of diagnosis and management, but have also shed light on the molecular regulatory pathways that are important in the development and treatment of sporadic tumors. The main cancer susceptibility syndromes that involve gynecologic cancers include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome as well as Lynch syndrome. However, in addition to these two hereditary cancer syndromes, there are several other hereditary syndromes associated with gynecologic cancers. In the present review, we provide an overview of the clinical features, and discuss the molecular genetics, of four rare hereditary gynecological cancer syndromes; Cowden syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, DICER1 syndrome and rhabdoid tumor predisposition syndrome 2.     

Effect of LiClO4 on radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

The effect of LiClO₄ on the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with dimethyl 2,2′-azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) was investigated at 50°C in methyl ethyl ketone. The polymerization proceeded homogeneously even at [LiClO₄] as high as 3.00 mol/L. The polymerization rate (R_p) and the molecular weight of the resulting polymer profoundly increased with increasing [LiClO₄]. R_p at 3.00 mol/L [LiClO₄] was 12 times that in the absence of LiClO₄. The rate equation depended on the presence or absence of LiClO₄: R_p = k′[MAIB]^0.5 [MMA]^1.5 in the presence of 3.00 mol/L [LiClO₄] and R_p = k[MAIB]^0.5 [MMA]^1.0 in the absence of LiClO₄. The overall activation energies of polymerization were 38.5 kJ/mol in the presence of 3.00 mol/L [LiClO₄] and 77.4 kJ/mol in the absence of LiClO₄, respectively. The tacticities of resulting poly(MMA) were insensitive to the presence of LiClO₄. In the copolymerization of MMA and styrene, Q and e values of MMA increased with increasing [LiClO₄], leading to enhanced alternating copolymerizability. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 63: 1361–1368, 1997     

Formation of poly(methyl methacrylate) with novel solubility characters in the photopolymerization with bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride in a water–methanol mixture

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was observed to be easily polymerized in the photopolymerization with bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride (Cp₂TiCl₂) in a water–methanol mixture under irradiation of a 15-W fluorescent room lamp. The polymerization proceeded heterogeneously. The rate (R_p) of heterogeneous photopolymerization in a 1 : 1 (v/v) water–methanol mixture at 40°C was apparently given by R_p=k[Cp₂TiCl₂]^0.2 [MMA]^2.4. The resulting poly(MMA) was found to contain a tetrahydrofuran (THF)-insoluble part. The separated THF-insoluble part differed significantly from the usual radical poly(MMA) in solubility characters. It is of great interest that the THF-insoluble poly(MMA) was soluble in benzene and toluene, but insoluble in polar solvents, such as ethyl acetate, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, dimethylformamide, and dimethylsulfoxide. The copolymerization results of MMA and acrylonitrile revealed that the present photopolymerization initiated with Cp₂TiCl₂ proceeds via a radical mechanism. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 525–531, 1998     

Mitochondria Turnover and Lysosomal Function in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Metabolism

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in a hypoxic microenvironment that enables glycolysis-fueled metabolism and reduces oxidative stress. Nonetheless, metabolic regulation in organelles such as the mitochondria and lysosomes as well as autophagic processes have been implicated as essential for the determination of HSC cell fate. This review encompasses the current understanding of anaerobic metabolism in HSCs as well as the emerging roles of mitochondrial metabolism and lysosomal regulation for hematopoietic homeostasis.     

Purified Canola Lutein Selectively Inhibits Specific Isoforms of Mammalian DNA Polymerases and Reduces Inflammatory Response

In the screening of DNA polymerase (pol) inhibitor, we isolated lutein, a carotenoid, from the crude (unrefined) pressed oil of canola (low erucic acid rapeseed, Brassica napus L.). Commercially prepared carotenoids such as lutein (1), zeaxanthin (2), β-cryptoxanthin (3), astaxanthin (4), canthaxanthin (5), β-carotene (6), lycopene (7), capsanthin (8), fucoxanthin (9) and fucoxanthinol (10), were investigated for the inhibitory activities of pols. Compounds 1, 2 and 8 exhibited strong inhibition of the activities of mammalian pols β and λ, which are DNA repair- and/or recombination-related pols. On the other hand, all carotenoids tested had no influence on the activity of a mammalian pol α, which is a DNA replicative pol. Lutein (1) was the strongest pol inhibitor of mammalian pols β and λ in the prepared ten carotenoids tested, but did not influence of the activities of mammalian pols α, γ, δ and ε. The tendency for pols β and λ inhibition by these carotenoids showed a positive correlation with the suppression of TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate)-induced inflammation. These results suggest that cold pressed unrefined canola/rapeseed oil, or other oils with high levels of lutein and other carotenoids, may be useful for their anti-inflammatory properties.     

Catalytic Activity of Multi-metallic Perovskite-Type Oxide Prepared by the Thermal Decomposition of Heteronuclear Cyano Complex, Sm[Fe x Co1−x (CN)6] · nH2O

The perovskite-type SmFe _x Co_1?x O₃ oxides were prepared by the thermal decomposition of heteronuclear cyano complexes, Sm[Fe _x Co_1?x (CN)₆] ? nH₂O. XRD studies demonstrated that SmFe _x Co_1?x O₃ catalyst prepared by the thermal decomposition of heteronuclear cyano complex at 1,273 K showed orthorhombic structure in whole range of x. The catalytic activity for CO oxidation was dependent on x in SmFe _x Co_1?x O₃; the maximum activity was obtained for SmFe_0.5Co_0.5O₃.     

Relationship between the size of mist droplets and ethanol condensation efficiency at ultrasonic atomization on ethanol–water mixtures

High‐frequency (2.4 MHz) ultrasonic irradiation to an ethanol–water mixture can induce the generation of ethanol‐rich mist droplets at lower temperatures. Two groups of droplets in micrometer‐ and nanometer‐sized were observed in the mist generated by the ultrasonic atomization. Nanosized droplets were considered to be ethanol‐rich droplets which cause ethanol condensation. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010