Synthetic, spectroscopic, biological and X-ray crystallographic structural studies on a novel pyridine-nitrogen-bridged dimeric nickel(II) complex of a pentadentate N3S2 ligand

The Schiff base formed by condensation of 2,6-diacetylpyridine with S-benzyldithiocarbazate (H₂SNNNS) behaves as a pentadentate ligand, forming a nickel(II) complex of empirical formula Ni(SNNNS)·H₂O that is high-spin with a room-temperature magnetic moment of 2.93 B.M. Spectroscopic data indicate that the ligand coordinates with the nickel(II) ion via the pyridine nitrogen atom, the azomethine nitrogen atom and the thiolate sulfur atom. The crystal and molecular structure of the nickel(II) complex was determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c, with a=15.849(2), b=18.830(2) and c=18.447(2) Å and =90°, β=102.179(6)°, γ=90° and Z=8. The crystal structure analysis shows that the complex is dinuclear, [Ni(SNNNS)]₂·2H₂O, in which the nickel(II) ions are bridged by the two pyridine nitrogen atoms of two fully deprotonated ligands. The NiN₄S₂ coordination geometry about each nickel(II) ion can be described as a distorted octahedron. The Schiff base and its nickel(II) complex were tested against four pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus and B. subtilis (wild type B29) and pathogenic fungi (Saccharomyces ceciricae, Candida albicans, Candida lypolitica and Aspergillus ochraceous) to assess their antimicrobial properties. Both compounds exhibit mild antibacterial and antifungal activities against these organisms. The anticancer properties of these compounds were also evaluated against Human T-lymphoblastic leukaemia cell lines. The Schiff base exhibits marked cytotoxicity against these cells, but its nickel(II) complex is inactive.     

Effect of APOE and a polygenic risk score on incident dementia and cognitive decline in a healthy older population

Few studies have measured the effect of genetic factors on dementia and cognitive decline in healthy older individuals followed prospectively. We studied cumulative incidence of dementia and cognitive decline, stratified by APOE genotypes and polygenic risk score (PRS) tertiles, in 12,978 participants of the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial. At enrolment, participants had no history of diagnosed dementia, cardiovascular disease, physical disability or cognitive impairment. Dementia (adjudicated trial endpoint) and cognitive decline, defined as a >1.5 standard deviation decline in test score for either global cognition, episodic memory, language/executive function or psychomotor speed, versus baseline scores. Cumulative incidence for all‐cause dementia and cognitive decline was calculated with mortality as a competing event, stratified by APOE genotypes and tertiles of a PRS based on 23 common non‐APOE variants. During a median 4.5 years of follow‐up, 324 participants developed dementia, 503 died. Cumulative incidence of dementia to age 85 years was 7.4% in all participants, 12.6% in APOE ε3/ε4 and 26.6% in ε4/ε4. APOE ε4 heterozygosity/homozygosity was associated with a 2.5/6.3‐fold increased dementia risk and 1.4/1.8‐fold cognitive decline risk, versus ε3/ε3 (p < 0.001 for both). High PRS tertile was associated with a 1.4‐fold dementia risk versus low (CI 1.04–1.76, p = 0.02), but was not associated with cognitive decline (CI 0.96–1.22, p = 0.18). Incidence of dementia among healthy older individuals is low across all genotypes; however, APOE ε4 and high PRS increase relative risk. APOE ε4 is associated with cognitive decline, but PRS is not.     

Molecular modeling analysis of the ease in oxidation of planar nickel–peptide complexes

Molecular mechanics and semiempirical calculations using HyperChem 5 were carried out to investigate the ease in oxidation of 1:1 nickel(II)-peptide complexes as compared to that of hydrated Ni²⁺. The analysis shows that the amounts of energy required to cause oxidation of nickel-peptide complexes from Ni²⁺ to the Ni³⁺ state are much smaller than that required for the oxidation of the hydrated Ni²⁺ ion, giving support to the idea that planar complexes of Ni(II) with peptides and proteins may mediate nickel-induced carcinogenesis.     

Microbiological Analysis of Tube-Well Water in a Rural Area of Bangladesh

Five tube-wells in Matlab, Bangladesh, were selected for analysis of selected biophysicochemical parameters. The results showed that all tube-well water samples contained zooplankton and bacteria. Results for some of the parameters were outside the accepted limits recommended by the World Health Organization for drinking water. It is concluded that water from tube-wells should be treated if used as drinking water.     

The Role of Multiphosphorylated Peptides in Mineralized Tissue Regeneration

Several multiple phosphoseryl-containing proteins have been identified in mineralising tissue and body fluids where they have been proposed to act as nucleators and/or regulators of biomineralisation. In particular, the unique features of the multiphosphorylated caseins from milk and phosphophoryn from dentine enable them to have a role in mineralised tissue regeneration. In this review, three examples of therapeutic applications using multiphosphorylated peptides are described.