Improving the sustainability of heterogeneous Fenton-based methods for micropollutant abatement by electrochemical coupling.

Advanced oxidation processes such as Fenton reaction-based processes have attracted great interest in recent years as a promising alternative for the removal of persistent pollutants in wastewater. The use of nanocatalysts in advanced oxidation processes overcomes the limitations of homogeneous Fenton processes, where acidic pH values are required, and a large amount of sludge is generated after treatment. Aiming at maximizing the catalytic potential of the process, different configurations include coupling photocatalysis or electrochemistry to Fenton reactions.

Dissociation of p75 receptors and nerve growth factor neurotrophic effects: lack of p75 immunoreactivity in striatum following physical trauma, excitotoxicity and NGF administration.

While the function and regulation of the low affinity (p75) nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor in the central nervous system (CNS) remains a mystery, one of the more intriguing observations involves its response to injury in the adult rat striatum. Following mechanical injury to the striatum, a re-expression of striatal p75 receptors and mRNA purportedly occurs (apparently mediated by elevations in NGF), thus reversing the natural loss of these phenotypic markers that is known to occur during development. This observation has important implications for understanding both the regulation of NGF neurotrophic activity and the role of the p75 receptor, for it implies that the presence of this receptor may be required for NGF trophic activity in the CNS.

The bradykinin analog RMP-7 increases intracellular free calcium levels in rat brain microvascular endothelial cells.

The vasoactive peptide bradykinin is believed to cause increased vascular permeability by the activation of B2 receptors on the vascular endothelium. A bradykinin analog, H-Arg-Pro-Hyp-Gly-Thi-Ser-Pro-4-Me-Tyr(psi CH2NH)-Arg-OH (RMP-7), was designed and it was proposed that it might increase cerebrovascular permeability by activating B2 receptors on brain microvasculature. In this report, the effects of RMP-7 and related peptides on bradykinin receptor-induced calcium signaling were examined in rat brain microvascular endothelial (RBME) cultures.

Stereospecific synthesis of peptidyl alpha-keto amides as inhibitors of calpain.

Peptidyl alpha-keto amides have been synthesized and tested as inhibitors of the cysteine protease calpain. A stereospecific synthesis was devised in which Cbz-dipeptidyl-alpha-hydroxy amides were oxidized with TEMPO/hypochlorite to the corresponding alpha-keto amides. This oxidation was accomplished in good yields and without epimerization of the chiral center adjacent to the ketone.