Curcumin attenuates diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting PKC-α and PKC-β1 activity in streptozotocin-induced type I diabetic rats

Scope : We hypothesized that curcumin, a potent anti‐oxidant, might be beneficial in ameliorating the development of diabetic nephropathy through inhibition of PKC‐α and PKC‐β1 activity‐ERK1/2 pathway. Methods and results : Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (55 mg/kg) in rats. Three weeks after STZ injection, rats were divided into three groups, namely, normal, diabetic and diabetic treated with curcumin at 100 mg/kg/day, p.o., for 8 wk. At 11 wk after STZ injection, diabetic rats exhibited renal dysfunction, as evidenced by reduced creatinine clearance, increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and proteinuria, marked increases in lipid peroxidation, NOX4 and p67phox and decrease in anti‐oxidant enzyme. All of these abnormalities were significantly reversed by curcumin. Furthermore, the high‐glucose‐induced PKC‐α and PKC‐β1 activities and phosphorylated ERK1/2 was significantly diminished by curcumin. Curcumin also attenuated the expression of TGF‐β1, CTGF, osteopontin, p300 and ECM proteins such as fibronectin and type IV collagen. The high‐glucose‐induced expression of VEGF and its receptor VEGF receptor II (flk‐1) was also ameliorated by curcumin. Conclusion : These results prove that curcumin produces dual blockade of both PKC‐α and PKC‐β1 activities, which suggests that curcumin is a potential adjuvant therapy for the prevention and treatment of diabetic nephropathy.     

Synthesis and evaluation of trimethylolpropane triacrylate crosslinked superabsorbent polymers for conserving water and fertilizers

A series of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) were synthesized by free radical thermal copolymerization of acrylic acid and N‐isopropyl acrylamide monomers using trimethylolpropane triacrylate as crosslinker. They were characterized by FT‐IR and thermal stability (TGA/DTG), and evaluated for their water and fertilizer uptake and release characteristics under different crosslinker levels, temperature, pressure, and pH. The observed maximum absorption of water by the SAP was 1130 g/g of polymer. The release was modeled which showed a non‐Fickian mechanism. The water uptake of SAP was correlated with the average molecular weight between the crosslinks and crosslink density. Analysis of the weight loss data from TG in air revealed a zero order kinetics for the initial degradation step with an activation energy (AE) of 70.8 kJ/mol. The AEs for water uptake and release for thermal degradation were also determined through Arrhenius plots. The results inferred that the synthesized SAP can be exploited for commercial agricultural applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

FT-Raman and FT-IR vibrational spectroscopic studies of nanocrystalline Ba2RESbO6 (RE = Sm, Gd, Dy and Y) perovskites

The nanoparticles of Ba₂RESbO₆ (RE = Sm, Gd, Dy and Y) were synthesized using auto ignition combustion process. The structure and phase purity of the as-prepared nanopowders were examined by X-ray diffraction pattern. A systematic analysis of the structure of the four compounds was carried out for the first time by recording Raman and IR spectra. The four Raman active modes A_1g, E_g and 2F_2g were observed as strong or medium intense bands in the Raman spectra and the IR active F_1u(1) mode is obtained as a strong absorption band around 630 cm⁻¹ in all the four compounds. Hence it is confirmed that the above compounds were crystallized in the cubic symmetry with space group.     

PWA/montmorillonite K10 catalyst for synthesis of coumarins under solvent-free conditions

12-Tungstophosphoric acid supported on montmorillonite K10 (PWA/mont-K10) catalysed Pechmann condensation reaction was reported. The catalyst was characterized by XRD, FTIR, UV–Vis DRS, surface area and pore size analysis, TGA and acidity by DRIFTS using pyridine. The morphology of the catalyst was studied by SEM. The activity of mont-K10, mont-KSF, \textSO ₄ ^{2 -} \mathord

Secured Key Management Scheme for Multicast Network Using Graphical Password

Mobile Networks and Applications - In recent days, management of keys in a group has become a significant part of data communication. The textual and alphanumerical passwords used for security...     

Editorial: Mobile Networks in the Era of Big Data

Mobile Networks and Applications -     

Studies on hexolic anhydride based polyesters,II. Thermogravimetric analysis

Unsaturated polyesters based on hexolic anhydride (5,6,7,8,9,9-hexachloro-1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-5,8-methanonaphthalene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride), maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, cis-2-butene-1,4-diol, 2,3-dichloro-2-butene-1,4-diol and 2,3-dibromo-2-butene-1,4-diol were synthesized. The thermal behaviour of the polyesters was studied using thermogravimetric technique. The results were compared with those available for other hexolic anhydride and HET-acid (1,4,5,6,7,7-hexachlorobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid) based polyesters. The direct study and comparative study of the polyesters revealed that the bromodiol is prominent in increasing the flame retardant character of the polyesters in which it is incorporated; alkenic diols are inferior compared to saturated diols regarding the thermal stability of the polyesters; as the number of carbon atoms in the saturated diol increases, the stability and flame retardancy of the polyesters decrease; branching in the diol part decreases the stability of the polyesters, with hexolic anhydride based polyesters being thermally more stable than HET-acid based polyesters.     

Design of fast enzymes by optimizing interaction potential in active site

The diffusional encounter between substrate and enzyme, and hence catalytic efficiency, can be enhanced by mutating charged residues on the surface of the enzyme. In this paper we present a simple method for screening such mutations. This is based on our earlier result that electrostatic enhancement of the enzyme-substrate binding rate constant can be accounted for just by the interaction potential within the active site. Assuming that catalytic and structural integrity is maintained, the catalytic efficiency can be optimized by surface charge mutations which lead to stronger interaction potential within the active site. Application of the screening method on superoxide dismutase shows that only charge mutations close to the active site will have practical effect on the catalytic efficiency. This rationalizes a large number of findings obtained in previous simulation and experimental studies.