Reaction of cytochrome P450 with cumene hydroperoxide: ESR spin-trapping evidence for the homolytic scission of the peroxide O-O bond by ferric cytochrome P450 1A2

ESR spin trapping was used to investigate the reaction of rabbit cytochrome P450 (P450) 1A2 with cumene hydroperoxide. Cumene hydroperoxide-derived peroxyl, alkoxyl, and carbon-centered radicals were formed and trapped during the reaction. The relative contributions of each radical adduct to the composite ESR spectrum were influenced by the concentration of the spin trap. Computer simulation of the experimental data obtained at various 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) concentrations was used to quantitate the contributions of each radical adduct to the composite ESR spectrum. The alkoxyl radical was the initial radical produced during the reaction. Experiments with 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane identified the carbon-centered adducts as those of the methyl radical, hydroxymethyl radical, and a secondary carbon-centered radical. The reaction did not require NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase or NADPH. It is concluded that the reaction involves the initial homolytic scission of the peroxide O-O bond to produce the cumoxyl radical. Methyl radicals were produced from the beta-scission of the cumoxyl radical. The peroxyl adduct was not observed in the absence of molecular oxygen. We conclude that the DMPO peroxyl radical adduct detected in the presence of oxygen was due to the methylperoxyl radical formed by the reaction of the methyl radical with oxygen. At a higher P450 concentration, a protein-derived radical adduct was also detected.     

EEG spectral abnormalities and psychosis as predictors of cognitive and functional decline in probable Alzheimer's disease

We examined whether either psychotic features (e.g., delusions and hallucinations) or EEG abnormalities are associated with more rapid progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD patients with psychosis have exhibited more EEG abnormalities than those without psychosis, and both abnormal EEG and psychosis have been noted to be predictors of functional and cognitive decline in AD. Ninety-five probable AD patients participating in a longitudinal study of dementia had an EEG and a semistructured psychiatric interview at baseline. Using EEG spectral analysis, we classified records as normal/abnormal based on the parasagittal mean frequency. Patients with abnormal EEGs were more functionally (e.g., Blessed Rating Scale for activities of daily living) and cognitively (e.g., Mini-Mental State) impaired than patients with normal EEG. AD patients with psychosis were only more functionally impaired than patients without psychosis. A two-factor analysis showed no interaction between abnormal EEG and psychosis. In addition, using a Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for age and education, the presence of an abnormal EEG or psychotic symptom at study entry was associated with higher risk of reaching severe cognitive and functional impairment during follow-up. Neither abnormal EEG nor the presence of psychosis predicted death. These results indicate that both abnormal EEG and psychosis are independent predictors of disease progression but not of physical survival.     

Analysis of viscoelastic laminated composite plates

A micromechanics analysis is performed for the determination of the five independent elastic moduli of unidirectional fiber composites. By considering viscoelastic phases and by using the correspondence principle and the inversion of the Laplace transform, the five time-dependent functions which characterize the effective behavior of viscoelastic composites are established. The predicted time-dependent behavior is applied for the analysis of viscoelastic laminated plates. The resulting viscoelastic effects are shown, and comparison between the results obtained within the classical laminated plate theory and the first-order shear deformation theory is discussed.     

Synthesis of N,N-diethyl-N-{4-[(E)-(4-nitrophenyl)diazenyl]phenyl}amine via in situ diazotisation and coupling in supercritical carbon dioxide

The synthesis of azo dyes via a conventional aqueous-based diazotisation and coupling reaction requires the use of relatively high concentrations of mineral acids, which leads to high electrolyte concentrations in wastewater. Reported in this paper is an environmentally benign one-pot method for the synthesis of a nonionic azo dye, N,N -diethyl- N -{4-[( E )-(4-nitrophenyl)diazenyl]phenyl}amine, in supercritical carbon dioxide without using a mineral acid. The product yield increased significantly with temperature, with 91% theoretical yield afforded at 80 °C. The pressure of the system had little influence on product yield.     

Measurement of Gibbs energies of formation of CoF2 and MnF2 using a new composite dispersed solid electrolyte

Gibbs energies of formation of CoF₂ and MnF₂ have been measured in the temperature range from 700 to 1100 K using Al₂O₃-dispersed CaF₂ solid electrolyte and Ni+NiF₂ as the reference electrode. The dispersed solid electrolyte has higher conductivity than pure CaF₂ thus permitting accurate measurements at lower temperatures. However, to prevent reaction between Al₂O₃ in the solid electrolyte and NiF₂ (or CoF₂) at the electrode, the dispersed solid electrolyte was coated with pure CaF₂, thus creating a composite structure. The free energies of formation of CoF₂ and MnF₂ are (± 1700) J mol⁻¹; {fx37-1} The third law analysis gives the enthalpy of formation of solid CoF₂ as ΔH° (298·15 K) = −672·69 (± 0·1) kJ mol⁻¹, which compares with a value of −671·5 (± 4) kJ mol⁻¹ given in Janaf tables. For solid MnF₂, ΔH°(298·15 K) = − 854·97 (± 0·13) kJ mol⁻¹, which is significantly different from a value of −803·3 kJ mol⁻¹ given in the compilation by Barinet al.