Influence of Magnetic Field on Brain Activity During Administration of Caffeine

The aim of the present work is to evaluate the effect of caffeine, the world’s most popular psychoactive drug, on the electric activity of the rat’s brain that exposed to extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF), during 15 days. The obtained results showed that administration of caffeine in a group of rats by dose of 10 mg/kg (equivalent to human daily consumption) caused a reduction in the mean power amplitude of electroencephalogram (EEG) trace for almost all frequency bands especially α (8–12 Hz). It was observed that the influence of caffeine was more evident in motor cortex than in visual cortex. While the exposure of another group to ELF-MF of intensity 0.2 mT during the same period caused an enhancement in the mean power amplitude of most EEG frequency bands; this was more observed in the right hemisphere of the brain than that of the left hemisphere. The administration of caffeine while rats were exposed to ELF-MF, led, after 5 days of exposure, to a great increase in the mean power amplitude of α band at all places of recording electrodes. It may be concluded that caffeine administration was more effective in reducing the hazardous of ELF-MF in motor cortex than in visual cortex.     

Studies on the Performance of Ethylamine-Modified Chitosan Carbonized Rice Husk Composite Beads for Adsorption of Metal Ion

Heavy metals in the soil and ground water have endangered our environment and human bodies by direct or indirect pathways. Currently, bioremediation is a developing process that offers the possibility to destroy various contaminants using natural biological activity. Biopolymers are industrially attractive because of their capability of lowering transition metal ion concentrations to parts per billion, they are widely available, and they are environmentally safe. This paper deals with the preparation of an ethylamine-modified biopolymer (chitosan) and carbon from biowaste (rice husk) composite beads (EAM-CCRCB) for metal ion removal. The prepared adsorbent was used for the adsorption of hexavalent chromium ions from aqueous solutions. The activation and surface properties of the adsorbent were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses. The effect of process variables such as initial metal ion concentration, adsorbent dosage, and pH of the solution on the performance of percentage removal and adsorption capacity were studied. Various isotherm and kinetic models were fitted with experimental data to describe the solute interaction and nature of adsorption with the adsorbent through batch studies. Mass thermodynamic parameters were determined. Regeneration studies were attempted to check the stability and activity of the adsorbent.     

Introduction of histidine units using benzotriazolide activation

N^α‐Boc‐N^im‐(4‐toluenesulfonyl‐l ‐histidylbenzotriazole) enables convenient acylation of N‐, O‐, S‐, and C‐nucleophiles with no detectable racemization. We report efficient syntheses of novel histidine‐containing di‐, tri‐, and tetra‐peptides and models for the preparation of potentially biologically active histidine N‐, O‐, S‐, and C‐conjugates. Copyright © 2013 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solid state production of polygalacturonase and xylanase by Trichoderma species using cantaloupe and watermelon rinds

Different solid state fermentation (SSF) sources were tested such as cantaloupe and watermelon rinds, orange and banana peels, for the production of polygalacturonase (PG) and xylanase (Xyl) by Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma virens. The maximum production of both PG and Xyl were obtained by T. harzianum and T. virnes grown on cantaloupe and watermelon rinds, respectively. Time course, moisture content, temperature, pH, supplementation with carbon and nitrogen sources were optimized to achieve the maximum production of both PG and Xyl of T. harzianum and T. virens using cantaloupe and watermelon rinds, respectively. The maximum production of PG and Xyl of T. harzianum and T. virens was recorded at 4–5 days of incubation, 50–66% moisture, temperature 28–35°C and pH 6–7. The influence of supplementary carbon and nitrogen sources was studied. For T. harzianum, lactose enhanced PG activity from 87 to 120 units/g solid, where starch and maltose enhanced Xyl activity from 40 to 55–60 units/g solid for T. virnes. Among the nitrogen sources, ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, yeast extract and urea increased PG activity from 90 to 110–113 units/g solid for T. harzianum. Similarly, ammonium chloride, ammonium sulphate and yeast extract increased Xyl activity from 45 to 55–70 units/g solid for T. virens.     

rDNA analysis of the Red Sea seagrass,Halophila, reveals vicariant evolutionary diversification

The effects of opening the Suez Canal as a connection between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea were reported for a number of marine species. However, the evolutionary origin of the seagrasses in the Red Sea and the linking population genetics of seagrasses between the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea have not yet been investigated in detail. The invasion of Halophila stipulacea Asch. from the Red Sea into the Mediterranean Sea after the opening of the Suez Canal was already recorded. We hypothesize that Halophila ovalis populations in the Red Sea developed through long-term historical processes such as vicariant evolutionary diversification. Seagrass samples were collected along the Egyptian coastline of the Red Sea and analysed by the molecular marker ITS. The sequences were compared with published ITS sequences from seagrasses collected in the whole area of interest. In this study, we reveal the linking population genetics, phylogeography and phylogenetics of two dominant seagrass species, Halophila stipulacea and Halophila ovalis, among species collected in the Red Sea and worldwide. The results indicate that the Red Sea Halophila ovalis populations do not group to Halophila ovalis worldwide, and Halophila major, Halophila ovalis collected worldwide and Halophila ovalis collected at the Red Sea are sister clades. Hence, vicariant evolutionary diversification for Halophila ovalis may occur in the Red Sea.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of certain biologically active phenothiazines in commercial dosage forms and human plasma

A validated simple and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of chlorpromazine hydrochloride, promethazine hydrochloride, trifluperazine hydrochloride, thioridazine hydrochloride, perazine maleate and oxomemazine. The method was based on condensation of malonic acid/acetic anhydride (MAA) under the catalytic effect of the tertiary amine moiety of the studied phenothiazines to provide a deep yellow to brown colour with green florescence. Relative fluorescence intensity of the products was measured at λ_exc 398 nm and λ_em 432 nm. Different variables affecting the reaction were studied and optimized. The method was successfully applied for the determination of the studied drugs in commercial dosage forms. The lower detection limits allowed the application of this method for the determination of the compounds in plasma as an example of a biological fluid. In addition, the method was considered specific for the determination of tertiary amines in the presence of primary and secondary amines; as a result, it was deemed suitable for the determination of the cited drugs in the presence of their degradation products resulting from N‐dealkylation or oxidation of the corresponding sulphoxides or sulphones. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Acyclovir and HBG Analogues Having Nicotinonitrile and Its 2-methyloxy 1,2,3-triazole

Reaction of pyridin-2(1H)-one 1 with 4-bromobutylacetate (2), (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl bromide (3) gave the corresponding nicotinonitrile O-acyclonucleosides, 4 and 5, respectively. Deacetylation of 4 and 5 gave the corresponding deprotected acyclonucleosides 6 and 7, respectively. Treatment of pyridin-2(1H)-one 1 with 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol (8), epichlorohydrin (10) and allyl bromide (12) gave the corresponding nicotinonitrile O-acyclonucleosides 9, 11, and 13, respectively. Furthermore, reaction of pyridin-2(1H)-one 1 with the propargyl bromide (14) gave the corresponding 2-O-propargyl derivative 15, which was reacted via [3+2] cycloaddition with 4-azidobutyl acetate (16) and [(2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl]azide (17) to give the corresponding 1,2,3-triazole derivatives 18 and 19, respectively. The structures of the new synthesized compounds were characterized by using IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectra, and microanalysis. Selected members of these compounds were screened for antibacterial activity.     

Synthesis,Conformational and Configurational Studies of Some New Acetylated Glycosides of 2-Thio-3-aryl-4(3H)-quinazolinones,Their Thiono and 3,1-Benzothiazin-2,4-dithione

Abstract

A series of some new acetylated S-glycosides of 2-thioxoquinazolin-4-ones, their thiono analogues and 3,1-benzothazin-2,4-dithione derivatives, including a D-glucose and a D-galactose derivatives and a D-xylose, and an L-arabinose derivatives have been synthesized. The conformation and configuration of these carbohydrate derivatives were determined by analysing their ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts and coupling constants. The biological activity of these compounds has been studied.     

The Cytotoxicity of Anti-PAI-I Oligonucleotides and Their Conjugates

Abstract

The cytotoxicity of anti-PAI-5 hexadecanucleotides (phosphodiesters and phosphorothioates) and their conjugates with lipophilic alcohols was tested in EA.hy 926 hybrid endothelial cells. Some cytotoxicity was found for cholesteryl and bornyl conjugates at concentrations higher than those used for antisense inhibition experiments.     

Antiviral Activities of β-Enantiomers of 3′-Substituted-3′-deoxythymidine Analogs

Abstract

Several β-L-3′-substituted-3′-deoxythymidine were stereospecifically synthesized. None of these analogs inhibited HIV-1 nor HBV replication in vitro suggesting that these β-L-pyrimidine derivatives may not be efficiently phosphorylated inside the cells.