A novel dithiol amide CB3 attenuates allergic airway disease through negative regulation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase.

Rationale: Cellular redox homeostasis altered by excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and weakening of the antioxidant defense leads to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is characterized as a decrease in glutathione/glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG) and the triggering of a number of the redox-sensitive signaling cascades. Recent studies have demonstrated that ROS play an important role in the pathogenesis of airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness.

Cyst-like solid tumors of the musculoskeletal system: an analysis of ultrasound findings.

Objective: When evaluating superficial soft tissue masses with ultrasonography, it is not always clear whether the mass is cystic or solid. We reviewed sonograms of soft tissue masses, which were interpreted as cystic but confirmed as solid tumors.

Materials And Methods: We scanned a database of patients with superficial soft tissue masses from two different institutions.

A novel strategy to selectively detect Fe(III) in aqueous media driven by hydrolysis of a rhodamine 6G Schiff base.

A rhodamine-based probe (FS1) was synthesized and its fluorescence properties and application to an iron-overloaded cell line demonstrated. FS1 underwent fluorogenic changes by the Fe(3+)-catalyzed reaction, even in the presence of other metal cations in vitro. Chemodosimeter FS1 demonstrated selective and sensitive detection of intracellular Fe(3+) in hepatocytes.

In vitro Antifungal Activity of Limonene against Trichophyton rubrum.

In this study, the antifungal activities of limonene against Trichophyton rubrum were evaluated via broth microdilution and vapor contact assays. In both assays, limonene was shown to exert a potent antifungal effect against T. rubrum.

A novel method for measuring continuous dispersion spectrum of electro-optic coefficients of nonlinear materials.

We report, for the first time to our knowledge, a novel and simple method for measuring continuous dispersion spectrum of unclamped linear electro-optic (EO) coefficient using a white-light interferometry. This method detects phase changes of the interference patterns with and without an applied electric voltage, and allows a simultaneous measurement of wavelength and polarization dependent EO coefficients of birefringent materials. Both of the unclamped EO coefficients, r(13) (T) and r(33) (T), of a congruent LiNbO(3) (LN) crystal have been measured simultaneously with the method, and their continuous dispersion curves have been also obtained.

Comparison of high-resolution ultrasonography and computed tomography in the diagnosis of nasal fractures.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the value of high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) and computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of nasal fractures.

Methods: Facial CT and HRUS examinations performed on 140 consecutive patients (103 male and 37 female; age range, 2-74 years; mean, 26 years) with nasal trauma between October 2004 and April 2007 were retrospectively evaluated. Sonograms were obtained with a hockey stick probe (15-7 MHz linear array transducer).

Nanomolar Hg(II) detection using Nile blue chemodosimeter in biological media.

A Nile blue-based chemodosimeter (1) was newly synthesized, and its application for detection of the Hg(2+) ion in 100% aqueous solution was demonstrated. Upon its addition into aqueous Hg(2+) ion solution, it exhibited a considerable blue-shift in its absorption and emission spectra, driven by a desulfurization reaction. Detection at an emission of 652 nm was extremely sensitive (less than 1.

In vitro Activity of Celery Essential Oil against Malassezia furfur.

Antifungal activity of celery essential oil against Malassezia furfur was investigated using broth microdilution and vapor contact methods. Potent antifungal activity was evident using both methods. Fungicidal activity was revealed in the vapor contact method.

Functionalised azetidines as ligands: species derived by selective alkylation at substituent-nitrogen.

Selective functionalisation of the tridentate ligand 1-(2-aminoethyl)-3-methyl-3-(2-pyridyl)azetidine at its terminal amino-nitrogen atom can be readily achieved by both reductive alkylation and simple alkylation reactions to give tri-, quadri-, quinque- and sexi-dentate derivatives. Simple alkylation by 2-picolinyl chloride provides the only example of a second reaction pathway where the azetidine ring of the reactant has undergone activation towards ring opening. Structural characterisation of the Cu(II) complexes of these ligands has revealed several remarkable aspects of their solid-state coordination chemistry, including the formation of infinite helical aggregates through pi-stacking and tetramerisation through carboxylate bridging, as well as further examples of the crystallisation of mixed species found to be rather common with complexes of the parent ligand.

A new trend in rhodamine-based chemosensors: application of spirolactam ring-opening to sensing ions.

This tutorial review focuses on the recent development of rhodamine derivatives, in which the spirolactam (non-fluorescent) to ring-opened amide (fluorescent) process was utilized.

Methylpiperate derivatives from Piper longum and their inhibition of monoamine oxidase.

We have previously reported that piperine, a known piperidine alkaloid from Piper longum, competitively inhibited mouse brain MAO-A and MAO-B activities. Piperine also showed in vivo antidepressant-like activity against the tail suspension test. In the present study, we further expanded on the identification of MAO inhibitors from the fruit of P.

Melampolides from the leaves of Smallanthus sonchifolius and their inhibitory activity of lps-induced nitric oxide production.

Two new melampolide-type sesquiterpene lactones, 8beta-epoxyangeloyloxy-9alpha-ethoxy-14-oxo-acanthospermolide (1) and 8beta-angeloyloxy-9alpha-ethoxy-14-oxo-acanthospermolide (2), were isolated from the leaves of yacon [Smallanthus sonchifolia (POEPP. et ENDL.) H.

Metal ion induced FRET OFF-ON in tren/dansyl-appended rhodamine.

A series of new fluorescent probes bearing tren-spaced rhodamine B and dansyl groups have been synthesized. Compound 1 exhibits selective changes in the absorption and the emission spectra toward Cu2+ ion over miscellaneous metal cations. Among 1-3, 1 shows the best FRET efficiency through dansyl emission to rhodamine absorption for the Cu2+ ion.

Antifungal activity of clove essential oil and its volatile vapour against dermatophytic fungi.

Antifungal activities of clove essential oil and its volatile vapour against dermatophytic fungi including Candida albicans, Epidermophyton floccosum. Microsporum audouinii, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Trichophyton rubrum were investigated. Both clove essential oil and its volatile vapour strongly inhibit spore germination and mycelial growth of the dermatophytic fungi tested.

Selectively chemodosimetric detection of Hg(II) in aqueous media.

A new series of benzoylthiourea derivatives of 1, 3, and 5 were prepared, and their chemodosimetric behaviors toward metal cations were investigated in aqueous media at room temperature. Among various metal cations tested, exclusively Hg2+ ion responses to irreversible color changes of receptors, along with distinctive blue shifts in UV/vis spectra. The receptors can be applicable for the monitoring of Hg2+ ion in aqueous solution with a pH span 4-9.

Magnetic resonance cisternography: comparison between 3-dimensional driven equilibrium with sensitivity encoding and 3-dimensional balanced fast-field echo sequences with sensitivity encoding.

Purpose: To assess the detectability of the inner ear structures using both 3-dimensional (3D) balanced fast-field echo (bFFE) and 3D driven equilibrium (DRIVE) sequences in conjunction with parallel imaging and to compare the image quality of those sequences.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-eight healthy volunteers were examined using a 1.5-T magnetic resonance unit.

Osteoid osteoma treated with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation: MR imaging follow-up.

Purpose: We evaluated follow-up magnetic resonance (MR) images for osteoid osteoma treated with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Materials And Methods: Sixteen patients with osteoid osteoma treated with RFA underwent follow-up MR imaging. The protocol included T1, T2 and contrast-enhanced (CE) T1-weighted images with fat saturation at each visit immediately for 17 months after the treatment.

Diffusion-weighted imaging with sensitivity encoding (SENSE) for detecting cranial bone marrow metastases: comparison with T1-weighted images.

Objective: This study was designed to determine whether diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with sensitivity encoding (SENSE) could detect bone marrow involvement in patients with cranial bone marrow (CBM) metastases. DWI results obtained were compared with T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) findings.

Materials And Methods: DWI with sensitivity encoding (SENSE; b value = 1,000) was performed consecutively in 13 patients with CBM metastases diagnosed pathologically and radiologically.

Highly sensitive and selective chemosensor for Hg2+ based on the rhodamine fluorophore.

A novel tren-based tripodal chemosensor 1 bearing a rhodamine and two tosyl groups was synthesized and its sensing behavior toward metal ions was investigated by UV/vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. Addition of a Hg2+ ion to a CH3CN solution of 1 gave a visual color change as well as significantly enhanced fluorescence, while other ions including Pb2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Mg2+, Ag+, Cs+, Li+, and Na+ induced no or much smaller color/spectral changes, which constituted a Hg2+-selective fluorescent chemosensor (OFF-ON).

Ion-induced FRET on-off in fluorescent calix[4]arene.

A novel calix[4]arene bearing one 2,3-naphthocrown-6 and two coumarin amide units at the lower rim in partial-cone conformation was synthesized as a colorimetric and FRET-based fluorometric sensor for F(-) and Cs(+) ions. Intramolecular FRET from the naphthalene emission to the coumarin absorption affords high fluorescence selectivity toward F(-) and Cs(+) ions.

Tibialis anterior tendon and extensor retinaculum: imaging in cadavers and patients with tendon tear.

Objective: Under the hypothesis that the anatomic relationship of the tibialis anterior tendon and extensor retinaculum of the foot and ankle is relevant to the clinical aspects of a tear in that tendon, we assessed the anatomic details of these structures using MRI in cadavers and evaluated MRI in patients with a tibialis anterior tendon tear.

Materials And Methods: Seven cadaveric feet underwent detailed MRI using standard and oblique coronal planes with respect to the course of the tibialis anterior tendon and extensor retinaculum. Cadaveric sections subsequently provided an anatomic correlation.

Leakage of polymethylmethacrylate in percutaneous vertebroplasty: comparison of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with and without an intravertebral vacuum cleft.

Objective: We compared polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) leakage from vertebral bodies in osteoporotic compression fractures with and without intravertebral vacuum clefts (IVCs) on computed tomography (CT) after vertebroplasty.

Methods: Percutaneous vertebroplasty was performed in 59 patients, comprising 36 compression fractures with IVCs in 33 patients and 49 fractures without IVCs in 26 patients. All patients underwent postprocedural CT of treated and adjacent vertebral bodies.

Hydrogen peroxide induces vascular permeability via regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor.

Oxidative stress plays critical roles in initiation and/or worsening of respiratory disease process. Although reactive oxygen species (ROS) are shown to cause vascular leakage, the mechanisms by which ROS induce an increase in vascular permeability are not clearly understood. In this study, we have used a murine model to evaluate the effect of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) to examine roles of ROS and the molecular mechanism in vascular permeability.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitory constituents from the fruits of Cudrania tricuspidata.

A methylene chloride soluble fraction of the fruits of Cudrania tricuspidata significantly inhibited the mouse brain monoamine oxidase (MAO). Three known prenylated isoflavones were isolated and identified by activity-guided fractionation. Gancaonin A (1), 4'-O-methylalpinumisoflavone (2), and alpinumisoflavone (3) inhibited MAO activity in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 values of 19.

Oligoindole-based foldamers with a helical conformation induced by chloride.

As a new type of foldamers, oligoindoles containing 4, 6, and 8 indole rings were synthesized, and their folding properties were characterized by a combination of 1H NMR techniques and UV/visible titration experiments. When chloride was added, the NH signals of the oligoindoles were downfield shifted as a result of hydrogen-bond formation, and the aromatic signals were upfield shifted by stacking between two indoles. Moreover, the ROESY experiment provided definitive NOE evidence for the helical stacking in the presence of chloride.