Involvement of the Restoration of Cerebral Blood Flow and Maintenance of eNOS Expression in the Prophylactic Protective Effect of the Novel Ferulic Acid Derivative FAD012 against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injuries in Rats.

Tissue plasminogen activator, aiming to restore cerebral blood flow (CBF), has been used for acute ischemic strokes in clinics; however, its narrow therapeutic time window remains a serious concern. To develop novel prophylactic drugs to alleviate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injuries, ferulic acid derivative 012 (FAD012) was synthesized and showed comparable antioxidant properties to ferulic acid (FA) and probably possesses the potent ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. A more potent cytoprotective effect of FAD012 against HO-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells was also observed.

Control of angiogenesis by VEGF and endostatin-encapsulated protein microcrystals and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis.

Encapsulation of cytokines within protein microcrystals (polyhedra) is a promising approach for the stabilization and delivery of therapeutic proteins. Here, we investigate the influence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) microcrystals and endostatin microcrystals on angiogenesis. VEGF was successfully encapsulated into microcrystals derived from insect cypovirus with overexpression of protein disulfide bond isomerase.

Three-component coupling reaction and cyclization of N-tosylimines and TMS-substituted propiolate mediated by DABCO.

A new three-component coupling reaction of methyl 3-trimethylsilylpropiolate, N-tosylimine, and tosylamide mediated by DABCO was developed. This reaction was based on the consecutive alpha- and beta-activation method of propiolate involving intramolecular silyl migration previously developed by our group. On the basis of these results, a new cyclization reaction was designed to find a chromene-forming reaction utilizing salicyl N-tosylimine as a bifunctional substrate.

Serofendic acid prevents 6-hydroxydopamine-induced nigral neurodegeneration and drug-induced rotational asymmetry in hemi-parkinsonian rats.

Serofendic acid was recently identified as a neuroprotective factor from fetal calf serum. This study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of an intranigral microinjection of serofendic acid based on behavioral, neurochemical and histochemical studies in hemi-parkinsonian rats using 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Rats were injected with 6-OHDA in the presence or absence of serofendic acid, or were treated with serofendic acid on the same lateral side, at 12, 24 or 72 h after 6-OHDA lesion.

Transplantation of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived neurons into the striatum, subthalamic nucleus and substantia nigra, and behavioral recovery in hemiparkinsonian rats.

Usefulness of the in vitro and in vivo generation of neural precursors from embryonic stem (ES) cells has been widely discussed, but functional recovery in animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD) is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate a transplantation strategy for PD by assessing whether double-transplants in the striatum (ST) and substantia nigra (SN), or ST and subthalamic nucleus (STN) induce functional recovery in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats. Methamphetamine-induced rotation was significantly reduced by transplantation of mouse ES cell-derived neurons into the ST, but not the STN or SN alone.

A new protocol for the consecutive alpha- and beta-activation of propiolates towards electrophiles, involving conjugate addition of tertiary amines and intramolecular silyl migration.

Herein, we present a novel approach for the consecutive alpha- and beta-activation of conjugated alkynes and demonstrate the application of this methodology towards the C-C bond-forming reactions of propiolates. This new concept is based on the 1,4-addition of a tertiary amine to a conjugated alkyne, followed by an aldol-type addition to an aldehyde and subsequent intramolecular silyl migration. This sequential process is generally applicable for 3-trimethylsilylpropiolates.

A novel modified baylis-hillman reaction of propiolate.

A new reaction of propiolates and aldehydes mediated by DABCO analogous to the Baylis-Hillman reaction is described. This reaction provided novel beta-functionalized Baylis-Hillman products and a new methodology for the generation of alkylidene carbene species.