Polar secondary metabolites of Ferula persica roots

Phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of the dried roots of Ferula persica resulted in four sesquiterpene coumarin glycosides, persicaosides A-D, and two known phytosterol glucosides, sitosterol 3-O-beta-glucoside and stigmasterol 3-O-beta-glucoside. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods including 1D-((1)H and (13)C) and 2D NMR experiments (DQF-COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and ROESY) as well as ESIMS and TOFMS analyses.     

A single circuit-resistance exercise has no effect on plasma obestatin levels in female college students

Obestatin is a 23 amino acid peptide recently isolated from rat stomach that is encoded by the same gene as ghrelin. Obestatin has opposite action to ghrelin on food intake and plays a role in energy balance. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a circuit-resistance exercise (9 exercises, 25s per exercise, at 40, 60, 80% of 1RM) at different intensities on plasma obestatin and growth hormone (GH). Twenty volunteer females were randomly divided into four; 40, 60, 80%, combined (40+80+80%) loads groups (COL). Blood samples were collected before and immediately following the exercise protocol. Changes in plasma obestatin levels were not significant within and between groups. Plasma GH concentrations were significantly higher in high and COL groups, respectively. The data indicate that although circuit-resistance exercise resulted in a significant change in GH levels, it had no effect on plasma obestatin levels.     

The optimal dose of CAF regimen in adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer patients at stage IIB

This paper deals with the idea of balancing drug effects on tumor and normal cell populations based on a variety of criteria, which is evaluated by the oncologist for breast cancer patients at stage IIB. In this paper, the optimal controller represents the optimal drug dosage of CAF (Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin and Fluorouracil) regimen in adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery for these patients. We determined the doses of CAF regimen by minimizing a cost function with some constraints. The cost function includes the cancer cell and the normal cell growth dynamics with prescribed weighting coefficients for each patient. The physician determines these weighting coefficients based on some individual parameters. The optimal treatment schedules are computed based on a trade-off between the cancer cell reduction and the normal cell preserving. Numerical simulations are given to illustrate the accuracy of the optimal controller.     

Gene products of the hupGHIJ operon are involved in maturation of the iron-sulfur subunit of the [NiFe] hydrogenase from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae

In the present study, we investigate the functions of the hupGHIJ operon in the synthesis of an active [NiFe] hydrogenase in the legume endosymbiont Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae. These genes are clustered with 14 other genes including the hydrogenase structural genes hupSL. A set of isogenic mutants with in-frame deletions (deltahupG, deltahupH, deltahupI, and deltahupJ) was generated and tested for hydrogenase activity in cultures grown at different oxygen concentrations (0.2 to 2.0%) and in symbiosis with peas. In free-living cultures, deletions in these genes severely reduced hydrogenase activity. The deltahupH mutant was totally devoid of hydrogenase activity at any of the O2 concentration tested, whereas the requirement of hupGIJ for hydrogenase activity varied with the O2 concentration, being more crucial at higher pO2. Pea bacteroids from the mutant strains affected in hupH, hupI, and hupJ exhibited reduced (20 to 50%) rates of hydrogenase activity compared to the wild type, whereas rates were not affected in the deltahupG mutant. Immunoblot experiments with HupL- and HupS-specific antisera showed that free-living cultures from deltahupH, deltahupI, and deltahupJ mutants synthesized a fully processed mature HupL protein and accumulated an unprocessed form of HupS (pre-HupS). Both the mature HupL and the pre-HupS forms were located in the cytoplasmic fraction of cultures from the deltahupH mutant. Affinity chromatography experiments revealed that cytoplasmic pre-HupS binds to the HupH protein before the pre-HupS-HupL complex is formed. From these results we propose that hupGHIJ gene products are involved in the maturation of the HupS hydrogenase subunit.     

Synthesis and reactions of some hydrazones of dehydro-l-ascorbic acid

l-threo-2,3-Hexodiulosono-1,4-lactone 2-(3-chlorophenylhydrazone) and 4- (2-acetoxyethylidene)-4-hydroxy-2,3-dioxobutano-1,4-lactone 2-(3-chlorophenylhydrazone) were prepared. The two geometric isomers of the corresponding bis(hydrazone) underwent an intramolecular rearrangement to 1-(3-chlorophenyl)- 3-(l-threo-glycerol-1-yl)-4,5-pyrazoledione 4-(3-chlorophenylhydrazone), which gave a tri-O-acetyl derivative upon acetylation and the anticipated formyl derivative upon periodate oxidation. Oxidation of the bis(hydrazone) with cupric chloride afforded the bicyclic compound 3,6-anhydro-3-C-(3-chlorophenylazo)-l- xylo-2-hexulosono-1,4-lactone 2-(3-chlorophenylhydrazone), whose acetylation afforded the mono-O-acetyl derivative.     

Ecology of the rampant weed Nymphaea lotus L. Willdenow in natural and ricefield habitats of the Nile delta, Egypt

In a field study conducted around Lake Manzala (Egypt) during 1995–1996, the distribution of the floating-leafed lotus (Nymphaea lotus L.) in irrigation canals and ricefields was analyzed by classification and ordination methods. Environmental factors associated with its abundance and distribution were evaluated. A data set of 30 stands of lotus and nine environmental variables was analyzed by Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) ordination relating environmental factors to the occurrence of the weed. Ordination analysis detected a strong association between soil organic matter and fine sediment (silt + clay) in the distribution of lotus. Water variables were less important. The density of lotus averaged 3.3±0.49 plants m−2 in the irrigation canals and 6.6±1.4 plants m−2 in the ricefields. The phytomass of lotus ranged from 877 g m−2 in the pure stands to 226 g m−2 in ricefield habitats. The highest proportion of lotus phytomass was allocated to leaf blade, with values reaching 40% of total phytomass in the infested ricefields. Allocation proportions to other plant organs varied between natural and ricefield habitats. Lotus plants allocated more dry matter to vegetative reproduction than to sexual reproduction. The ratio of vegetative to sexual reproduction ranged from 3.48 in the pure stands to 9.63 in infested ricefields. Populations of lotus showed wider variation in leaf area classes in pure stands than in rice stands. Presence of lotus as a weed in ricefields significantly reduced the growth and grain yield of the crop, indicating the risk of its spreading as an invasive weed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Second‐derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetric assay of dapagliflozin: Application to stability study and pharmaceutical preparation

A highly accurate, simple and sensitive spectrofluorimetric analytical method for dapagliflozin (DGF) quantitation was developed. The proposed method was successively applied to DGF analysis in both its pure and pharmaceutical dosage forms. This method was developed to investigate DGF stability in its degradation products, as laid out in International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) rules. Kinetics of alkaline degradation of DGF was also calculated. The half‐life time (t_1/2) of the reaction was 75.32 min. An alkaline degradation pathway was described. The present study involved measurement of the second‐derivative synchronous fluorescence intensity of DGF at Δλ = 30 nm. Peak amplitude was measured at 322 nm. Linear range of the calibration curve was 0.1–1.0 μg ml^?1. Lower detection and quantitation limits were 0.023 and 0.071 μg ml^?1, respectively, and indicated good sensitivity of the proposed method. Mean per cent recovery was 99.78 ± 1.78%. The proposed analytical approach was successfully applied to DGF in the quality control laboratory and would be suitable as a stability‐indicating assay.     

Deep and intermediate complex morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of Ferula gummosa (Apiaceae)

We tested the hypothesis that seeds of the monocarpic perennial Ferula gummosa from the Mediterranean area and central Asia have deep complex morphophysiological dormancy. We determined the water permeability of seeds, embryo morphology, temperature requirements for embryo growth and seed germination and responses of seeds to warm and cold stratification and to different concentrations of GA₃. The embryo has differentiated organs, but it is small (underdeveloped) and must grow inside the seed, reaching a critical embryo length, seed length ratio of 0.65–0.7, before the seed can germinate. Seeds required 9 weeks of cold stratification at <10°C for embryo growth, dormancy break and germination to occur. Thus, seeds have morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). Furthermore, GA₃ improved the germination percentage and rate at 5°C and promoted 20 and 5% germination of seeds incubated at 15 and 20°C, respectively. Thus, about 20% of the seeds had intermediate complex MPD. For the other seeds in the seed lot, cold stratification (5°C) was the only requirement for dormancy break and germination and GA₃ could not substitute for cold stratification. Thus, about 80% of the seeds had deep complex MPD.     

Predictive and therapeutic biomarkers in chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy: A clinical perspective

The adoptive transfer of genetically engineered T cells modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) has shown remarkable activity and induces long-term remissions in patients with advanced hematologic malignancies. To date, little is known about predictive indicators of therapeutic efficacy or serious toxicity after CAR T-cell therapy in clinical practice. Biomarkers are not only potentially able to inform physicians and researchers of immunotherapy targets in particular but could also be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatments and to predict incidence of side effects in some circumstances. Identification of new biomarkers can therefore not only contribute to the development of new therapeutic and prognostic strategies for CAR T-cell therapy for cancer but also help to generate improved clinical practices for early recognition and minimization of adverse effects while preserving the antitumor activity of the CAR T cells. Herein, we will consider a variety of predictive and therapeutic biomarkers in CAR T-cell therapy and the state of current understanding of their clinical utility. The incorporation of biomarker studies in CAR T-cell clinical trials and practice will help to realize the potential clinical benefit of biomarker-guided therapy.