Synthesis of Fused Tricyclic Amines Bearing Tetrasubstituted Carbons Using an Alkylation-Cyclization-Isomerization-3-aza-Cope Cascade Reaction.

A new cascade reaction sequence that involves alkylation, cyclization, isomerization, and 3-aza-Cope rearrangement was discovered. The stereogenic centers of the starting piperidines were transferred to the bicyclic enamine products, and a range of electron-withdrawing groups on the alkyne moieties, from ketones to amides, were tolerated under the reaction conditions. The bicyclic enamines underwent trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)-mediated cyclization to form tricyclic amines bearing tetrasubstituted carbons.

Coenzyme Q10 Prevents Senescence and Dysfunction Caused by Oxidative Stress in Vascular Endothelial Cells.

Oxidative damage in endothelial cells is proposed to play an important role in endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis. We previously reported that the reduced form of coenzyme Q10 (CoQH) effectively inhibits oxidative stress and decelerates senescence in senescence-accelerated mice. Here, we treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with HO and investigated the protective effect of CoQH against senescence, oxidative damage, and reduction in cellular functions.

Effects of Pediococcus acidilactici R037 on Serum Triglyceride Levels in Mice and Rats after Oral Administration.

The biological effects of heat-killed Pediococcus acidilactici R037 (R037) were evaluated when orally administered in mice and rats. Oral R037 administration at a daily dose of 10 and 100 mg/kg for 3 wk dose-dependently reduced fasting and non-fasting serum triglyceride concentrations in KK-A/TaJcl mice, a model of type II diabetes, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. Serum levels of free fatty acids in the 100 mg/kg group tended to decrease (not statistically significant), and total cholesterol levels remained unchanged.

Coenzyme Q10 Improves Lipid Metabolism and Ameliorates Obesity by Regulating CaMKII-Mediated PDE4 Inhibition.

Our recent studies revealed that supplementation with the reduced form of coenzyme Q10 (CoQH) inhibits oxidative stress and slows the process of aging in senescence-accelerated mice. CoQH inhibits adipocyte differentiation and regulates lipid metabolism. In the present study, we show that dietary supplementation with CoQH significantly reduced white adipose tissue content and improved the function of brown adipose tissue by regulating expression of lipid metabolism-related factors in KKAy mice, a model of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Electrochemical lithium-ion storage properties of quinone molecules encapsulated in single-walled carbon nanotubes.

We investigated the electrochemical lithium-ion storage properties of 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ) and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PhQ) molecules encapsulated in the inner hollow core of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The structural properties of the obtained encapsulated systems were characterized by electron microscopy, synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. We found that almost all quinone molecules encapsulated in the SWCNTs can store Li-ions reversibly.