Flavonoid glycosides from cowpea seeds (Vigna sinensis K.) inhibit LDL oxidation

Six flavonoid glycosides were isolated from the n-butanol fraction of cowpea seeds (Vigna sinensis K.) through silica gel (SiO₂) and octadecyl silica gel (ODS) column chromatographies. Based on their chemical structures determined via interpretation of spectroscopic data including NMR, MS, and IR, the compounds were identified as kaempferol 3-O-β-d-sophoroside (1), quercetin 3-O-β-d-sophoroside (2), isoquercitrin (3), hyperin (4), catechin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (5), and quercetin 3-O-β-Dglucopyranosyl( 1→6)-O-β-d-galactopyranoside (6). This is the first report of the isolation of these flavonoids from this plant. Among these flavonoids, compound 2, 5, and 6 significantly inhibited LDL oxidation exhibiting 96.0±0.1 (IC₅₀: 3.9 μM), 96.8±1.7 (IC₅₀: 2.9 μM), and 97.4±0.1% (IC₅₀: 3.5 μM) inhibition, respectively, at a concentration of 40 μM.     

The effect of washing on physicochemical changes in packaged, sliced green peppers

Whole green bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) were obtained through a local fresh‐cut company. They were washed in a 100 ppm chlorine solution, dried and then sliced into 0.5‐cm wide strips. A bulk sample of slices was divided into four treatments: (1) no wash, (2) one wash in fresh distilled water, (3) two sequential washes in fresh distilled water, and (4) three sequential washes in fresh distilled water. Retention of firmness of the pepper slices during storage at 7 °C improved with the number of washes after cutting. The modification of package atmosphere was less in all wash treatments than in the ‘no wash’ control. The sliced tissues of ‘no wash’ controls had higher levels of acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate. Analysis of the wash water revealed that sequential washes with water removed incremental amounts of acetaldehyde and soluble phenols from the cut surfaces of the tissue. These results show that washing has a dramatic effect on physicochemical measures of quality in green pepper slices, and it is likely that this effect is mediated by the removal of stress‐related compounds produced during the cutting operation. While acetaldehyde and total phenolics were the two stress‐related compounds measured in the wash water, it may be that other compounds removed in the wash water could have contributed to the beneficial effects on quality reported in this study.     

Phenolic compounds in olive oil and olive pomace from Cilento (Campania,Italy) and their antioxidant activity

Virgin olive oil (VOO) has nutritional and sensory characteristics that make it unique and a basic component of the Mediterranean diet. Its importance is mainly attributed to its richness in polyphenols, which act as natural antioxidants and may contribute to the prevention of several human diseases. In this paper we report the determination and quantification of oleocanthal, one of the main substances responsible for the bitter taste of olive oil, together with a quali-quantitative analysis by HPLC analytical methods of phenolics from Cilento VOO and olive oil pomace. The total phenolic content was also determined and the in vitro antioxidant and free-radical scavenging activities by DPPH test was evaluated. A superoxide anion enzymatic assay was also carried out and the results were confirmed by the inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity assay. The possible protective role played by VOO secoiridoids on injurious effects of reactive oxygen metabolites on the intestinal epithelium, using Caco-2 human cell line, was investigated.     

Prototype and Chimera-Type Galectins in Placentas with Spontaneous and Recurrent Miscarriages

Galectins are galactose binding proteins and, in addition, factors for a wide range of pathologies in pregnancy. We have analyzed the expression of prototype (gal-1, -2, -7, -10) and chimera-type (gal-3) galectins in the placenta in cases of spontaneous abortions (SPA) and recurrent abortions (RA) in the first trimester. Fifteen placental samples from healthy pregnancies were used as a control group. Nine placentas were examined for spontaneous abortions, and 12 placentas for recurrent abortions. For differentiation and evaluation of different cell types of galectin-expression in the decidua, immunofluorescence was used. For all investigated prototype galectins (gal-1, -2, -7, -10) in SPA and RA placenta trophoblast cells the expression is significantly decreased. In the decidua/extravillous trophoblast only gal-2 expression was significantly lowered, which could be connected to its role in angiogenesis. In trophoblasts in first-trimester placentas and in cases of SPA and RA, prototype galectins are altered in the same way. We suspect prototype galectins have a similar function in placental tissue because of their common biochemical structure. Expression of galectin 3 as a chimera type galectin was not found to be significantly altered in abortive placentas.     

The Significance of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition for Circulating Tumor Cells

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process involved in embryonic development, but it also plays a role in remote metastasis formation in tumor diseases. During this process cells lose their epithelial features and adopt characteristics of mesenchymal cells. Thereby single tumor cells, which dissolve from the primary tumor, are enabled to invade the blood vessels and travel throughout the body as so called “circulating tumor cells” (CTCs). After leaving the blood stream the reverse process of EMT, the mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) helps the cells to seed in different tissues, thereby generating the bud of metastasis formation. As metastasis is the main reason for tumor-associated death, CTCs and the EMT process are in the focus of research in recent years. This review summarizes what was already found out about the molecular mechanisms driving EMT, the consequences of EMT for tumor cell detection, and suitable markers for the detection of CTCs which underwent EMT. The research work done in this field could open new roads towards combating cancer.     

Effect of Cerium Doping on Microstructure and Dielectric Properties of BaTiO3 Ceramics

A solid state reaction method was used to synthesize barium titanate (BT) and barium cerium titanate (BCT) ceramics at sintering temperature of 1473 K for 4 h. The effect of cerium (Ce) on the structure, microstructure and dielectric properties of BCT was investigated. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations revealed that the grain size increases with increasing Ce content. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed mostly the BT phase, where the lattice parameter decreased with the addition of Ce. The temperature dependence of dielectric constant showed decrease in the phase transition temperature with higher Ce content. The dielectric constant decreased slightly with increasing frequency. The direct current (dc) density-voltage characteristics of the ceramics showed ohmic behavior for both the BT and BCT. As the temperature increased, the dc resistivity of the ceramics decreased. The activation energy increased with increasing Ce content.     

Synthese von Hetaryl‐pyridiniumsalzen und kondensierten 3‐Amino‐pyrid‐2‐onen

1‐(3‐Coumaryl)‐pyridinium salts 3 and 1‐(3‐coumaryl)‐tetrahydrothiophenium salts 5 were synthesized from 2‐acylphenyl chloro‐ or bromoacetates 2 . 2‐Chloro‐N¹‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐acetamide and substituted 2‐chloro‐N¹‐(2‐thienyl)‐acetamides 8 react with acetyl chloride and pyridine to yield the quinolinyl‐ and (thieno[2,3‐b]pyridin‐5‐yl)‐pyridinium salts 10 . Fused thieno[2,3‐b]pyridin‐ones 19 were formed from N‐chloroacetyl‐2‐aminothiophen‐3‐carbonitriles 16 with pyridine via Thorpe‐Ziegler cyclization and followed by cyclodehydrogenation. In presence of pyridine alkyl 2‐chloro‐acetylaminobenzoates 21 yield 3‐(1‐pyridinio)‐quinoline‐4‐olates 23 . Zincke‐cleavage of 10 and 23 with hydrazinium hydroxide leads to fused 3‐amino‐pyridine‐2‐ones 11 and 3‐amino‐4‐hydroxy‐quinoline‐2‐ones 24 , respectively. Oxazoloquinolines 25 were synthesized from 24 with acetic anhydride.     

Closed-Form Thermoelastic Moduli of a Periodic Three-Phase Fiber-Reinforced Composite

ABSTRACT

In previous works, using the asymptotic homogenization method (AHM), analytical formulae have been obtained for all global elastic constants of a binary fiber composite with perfect interfaces. In many cases of interest the perfect interphase is not an adequate model and it is necessary to include in the analytical models one or more interphases separating the reinforcement inclusion phase from the host matrix phase. In this article, an extension of AHM to thermoelastic heterogeneous problems is given. A simple closed form of effective properties for a three-phase unidirectional transversely isotropic composite is presented. By using homogenization schemes for periodic media, the local problems are solved and effective thermoelastic properties moduli are determined. The method is based on the assumption that the scale ratio between the periodic cell and the whole composite tends to zero. New universal relations for the three-phase thermoelastic composite are found from the AHM. In order to analyze the interphase effect, the effective thermoelastic moduli are compared with some theoretical approaches and experimental results reported in the literature.     

Phagocyte dysfunction in common variable immune deficiency

The history of a 13-year old boy is reported who suffered from frequent bacterial, enteroviral, and protozoal infections since late infancy. A decrease in the serum levels of IgG2, IgG3, IgA, a neutrophil dysfunction, and a partial cellular immune deficiency could be demonstrated. A deficiency of folic acid produced a pancytopenia which enhanced the patient's susceptibility to infections. The combined substitution of gammaglobulins and folic acid only was able to break this vicious cycle.