Angeli salt as a producer of nitrogen oxide in animal tissues

Sodium trioxodinitrate (NaN2O3, Angeli salt) injected intraperitoneally to mice and intraarterially to rats is decomposed to form nitrogen oxide which is bound in tissues to the Fe2(+)-DETC complex or hemoglobin. The nitrosyl complexes formed thereby were studied by the EPR method. As can be judged from the number of complexes formed, nitrogen oxide produces 3-4% of exogenous NaN2O3 which provides for the hypotensive properties of Angeli salt as well as for its ability to cause the relaxation of isolated segments of rabbit femoral artery. In this respect NaN2O3 is by one order of magnitude less effective compared to sodium nitroprusside.     

Effects of progesterone on iNOS, COX-2, and collagen expression in the cervix.

This study examines the relationship between inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the control of cervical ripening and parturition under normal (normal term pregnancy) and abnormal (preterm labor and prolongation of pregnancy) conditions by (a) measuring changes in the collagen both visually and quantitatively, (b) localizing and characterizing iNOS and COX-2 under normal conditions, and (c) characterizing the changes in iNOS and COX-2 under abnormal conditions. Cervices are obtained from estrus and timed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (n=4-10 per group). Preterm labor is induced with Onapristone (3 mg/rat; progesterone antagonist) and the prolongation of pregnancy with progesterone (2.5 mg, twice daily). Collagen changes are measured and visualized with the picrosirius polarization method. RT-PCR is used to characterize the mRNA expression (p<0.05), and immunohistochemistry is used to localize the protein expression for iNOS and COX-2. The organization and birefringence of the collagen during pregnancy decreased and is supported by changes in the luminosity (p<0.001). The iNOS and COX-2 enzymes were localized in cervical smooth muscle, vascular smooth muscle, and epithelium. Under normal conditions, iNOS mRNA levels decreased as COX-2 mRNA levels increased demonstrating an inverse correlation (Spearman r = -0.497; p=0.00295). Onapristone stimulated preterm labor, increasing the iNOS and COX-2 mRNA (p<0.05). The increase demonstrated a positive correlation (Spearman r = 0.456; p=0.03). Progesterone prolonged pregnancy, decreasing the iNOS and COX-2 mRNA (p=0.036). In conclusion, there may be an interaction between the nitric oxide and prostaglandin pathways in cervical ripening and parturition.     

Water soluble (η-arene) ruthenium(II) complexes incorporating marine derived bioligand: Synthesis, spectral and structural studies

A series of water soluble compounds of general formula [{(η⁶-arene)Ru(HMP)Cl}], [η⁶-arene = η⁶-cymene (1), η⁶-HMB (2), η⁶-C₆H₆ (3); HMP = 5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-pyrone] have been prepared by the reaction of [{(η⁶-arene) RuCl₂}₂] with HMP. The complexes 1 and 2 react with NaN₃ to give in excellent yield tetra-azido complexes [{(η⁶-arene)Ru(μN₃)N₃}₂] (arene = cymene 4, HMB = 5) but similar reaction of complex 3 with NaN₃ yielded di-azdo complex [{(η⁶-C₆H₆)Ru(μN₃)Cl}₂] (6). Reaction of [{(η⁶-arene)Ru(μN₃)Cl}₂] with HMP in the presence of NaOMe resulted in the formation of azido complex [{(η⁶-arene)Ru(HMP)N₃}]. Mono and dinuclear complexes [{(η⁶-arene)Ru(HMP)(L₁)}]⁺ and [{(η⁶-arene)Ru(HMP)}₂(μL₂)]²⁺ were also prepared by the reaction of complexes 1 and 2 with the appropriate ligand, L₁ or L₂ in the presence of AgBF₄ (L₁ = PyCN, DMAP; L₂ = 4,4′-bipy, pyrazine). The complexes are characterized on the basis of spectroscopic data and molecular structures of three representative compounds have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction study.     

Seed defensins of barnyard grass Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv

From the annual weed barnyard grass Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv., two novel defensins Ec-AMP-D1 and Ec-AMP-D2 that differ by a single amino acid substitution were isolated by a combination of different chromatographic procedures. Both defensins were active against several phytopathogenic fungi and the oomycete Phytophthora infestans at micromolar concentrations. The Ec-AMP-D1 showed higher activity against the oomycete than Ec-AMP-D2. The comparison of the amino acid sequences of the antifungal E. crusgalli defensins with those of earlier characterized T. kiharae defensins [T.I. Odintsova, Ts.A. Egorov, A.Kh. Musolyamov, M.S. Odintsova, V.A. Pukhalsky, E.V. Grishin, Seed defensins from T. kiharae and related species: genome localization of defensin-encoding genes, Biochimie, 89 (2007) 605-612.] that were devoid of substantial antifungal activity point to the C-terminal region of the molecule as the main determinant of the antifungal activity of E. crusgalli defensins.     

Epizootic characteristic of rabies today

During the 23 year period rabies was registered in the Moscow region in 163 cases among foxes, 22 cases among racoon-like dogs, 92 cases among dogs, 54 cases among cats. In 1991-2000 ten cases of rabies were registered among other wild animal other than foxes and raccoon-like dogs (hares, hedge-hogs, polecats, badgers, hamsters, martens, rats). Under today conditions the generalized epizootological pattern of rabies is characterized by the vector "natural foci-->anthropurgic foci" with wild and domestic animals playing an alternative role in the epizootic process and the circulation of the infective agent. Wild carnivorous animals maintain natural focal infection in time and space, while all domestic animals are a direct or indirect ecological impasse and took no part in the maintenance of the infection. Foxes are the main source of infection for the animals of the anthropurgic cycle: they play a special role in the development of the epizootic situation in the region as the main reservoir and source of the causative agent of rabies as a natural focal infection. Among other wild animals, raccoon-like dogs are involved into epizootic and epidemic chains. Dogs are the main objects to be infected in the anthropurgic cycles, while cats--a progressing group of risk. During the period of 25 years a decrease in the probability of natural rabies was noted.     

6-Hydroxyisocaryophyllene and Isocaryophyllenic Acid from Birch Vegetative Buds

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - The new isocaryophyllene derivatives: 6-hydroxyisocaryophyllene [(1R,4Z,6R,9S)-8-methylene-11,11-dimethylbicyclo[7.2.0]undec-4-ene-6-ol], epoxide of...     

Extractive compounds of birch buds (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pendula</Emphasis> Roth.): II. Carbonyl compounds and oxides. Esters

This is the first report devoted to study of the hydrocarbon composition of the extract of buds of European birch Betula pendula (family Betulacea). We have identified saturated (C₁₆ to C₂₈, even number of carbon atoms) and unsaturated (linoleic and linolenic) fatty acids, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, and the components of epicuticular waxes of cover scales, such as n-alkanes (C₂₁ to C₂₆), esters of fatty acids (C₁₆ to C₂₈, even number of carbon atoms), and fatty alcohols (C₁₈ to C₃₀, even number of carbon atoms). The gas chromatographic retention indices of all identified compounds have been determined.