Synthesis and hydrophilicity of poly(trimethylene 2,6-naphthalate)/poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers

Poly(trimethylene 2,6-naphthalate) (PTN)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) copolymers were synthesized by the two-step melt copolymerization process of dimethyl-2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate (2,6-NDC) with 1,3-propanediol (PD) and PEG. The copolymers produced had different PEG molecular weights and contents. The structure, thermal property, and hydrophilicity of these copolymers were studied by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and by contact angle, moisture content, and instantaneous elastic recovery measurements. The intrinsic viscosity and the instantaneous elastic recovery of the PTN/PEG copolymers increased with increasing PEG molecular weight and content, whereas the glass transition, melting, and cold crystallization temperatures, and the heat of fusion of the PTN/PEG copolymers all decreased with increasing PEG molecular weight or content. The thermal stability of the copolymers was not affected by PEG molecular weight or content. The hydrophilicity, as determined by contact angle and moisture content measurements of the copolymer films, was significantly improved with increasing PEG molecular weight and content.     

Synthesis and optical/chemical properties of triphenylamine derivatives based mono-, di-, and tri-indanedione

In this contribution, three triphenylamine derivatives were synthesized and their spectral properties were investigated. Knoevenagel condensation of mono-, di-, and tri-aldehydes of triphenylamine with 1,3-indanedione yields D-π-A type dyes with push-pull chromophores. The absorption and luminescence properties of the dyes were discussed in terms of their electronic structures. The results of molecular orbital computer simulations, based on Material Studio, were found to provide a reasonable explanation for the observed spectral properties related to the push-pull features causing dramatic changes in UV-Vis absorption as well as in photoluminescence.     

Dieckol Decreases Caloric Intake and Attenuates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Hepatic Lymphatic Vessel Dysfunction in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Mice

Increased inflammation is the main pathophysiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Inflammation affects lymphatic vessel function that contributes to the removal of immune cells or macromolecules. Dysfunctional lymphatic vessels with decreased permeability are present in NAFLD. High-fat diet (HFD) is known to increase body weight, food intake, and inflammation in the liver. Previously, it was reported that Ecklonia cava extracts (ECE) decreased food intake or weight gain, and low-calorie diet and weight loss is known as a treatment for NAFLD. In this study, the effects of ECE and dieckol (DK)—which is one component of ECE that decreases inflammation and increases lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic drainage by controlling lymphatic permeability in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice—on weight gain and food intake were investigated. ECE and DK decreased weight gain and food intake in the HFD-fed mice. NAFLD activities such as steatosis, lobular inflammation, and ballooning were increased by HFD and attenuated by ECE and DK. The expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α and infiltration of M1 macrophages were increased by HFD, and they were decreased by ECE or DK. The signaling pathways of lymphangiogenesis, VEGFR-3, PI3K/pAKT, and pERK were decreased by HFD, and they were restored by either ECE or DK. The expression of VE-cadherin (which represents lymphatic junctional function) was increased by HFD, although it was restored by either ECE or DK. In conclusion, ECE and DK attenuated NAFLD by decreasing weight gain and food intake, decreasing inflammation, and increasing lymphangiogenesis, as well as modulating lymphatic vessel permeability.     

In vitro and in vivo gene therapy with CMV vector-mediated presumed dog ��-nerve growth factor in pyridoxine-induced neuropathy dogs

Due to the therapeutic potential of gene therapy for neuronal injury, many studies of neurotrophic factors, vectors, and animal models have been performed. The presumed dog β-nerve growth factor (pdβ-NGF) was generated and cloned and its expression was confirmed in CHO cells. The recombinant pdβ-NGF protein reacted with a human β-NGF antibody and showed bioactivity in PC12 cells. The pdβ-NGF was shown to have similar bioactivity to the dog β-NGF. The recombinant pdβ-NGF plasmid was administrated into the intrathecal space in the gene therapy group. Twenty-four hours after the vector inoculation, the gene therapy group and the positive control group were intoxicated with excess pyridoxine for seven days. Each morning throughout the test period, the dogs'' body weight was taken and postural reaction assessments were made. Electrophysiological recordings were performed twice, once before the experiment and once after the test period. After the experimental period, histological analysis was performed. Dogs in the gene therapy group had no weight change and were normal in postural reaction assessments. Electrophysiological recordings were also normal for the gene therapy group. Histological analysis showed that neither the axons nor the myelin of the dorsal funiculus of L₄ were severely damaged in the gene therapy group. In addition, the dorsal root ganglia of L₄ and the peripheral nerves (sciatic nerve) did not experience severe degenerative changes in the gene therapy group. This study is the first to show the protective effect of NGF gene therapy in a dog model.     

白花泡桐树冠结构、生长性状的选择对于形改良的影响

为了改良白花泡桐的干形，对树冠结构、生长性状与干形的遗传相关进行了剖析和通径分析，计算出主要树冠性状、生长性状对干形的６３个选择指数方程。结果表明，胸径、小枝数、分枝总长、冠表面积和树高对形数、圆满度的决定系数在０．４０５～０．９４０和０．４２６～１．０６４之间。由以上５性状和形数或圆满度组成的综合选择指数方程效果最好。对形数选择的遗传进度、相对效率分别为０．１５５和１５９．０１５７％。对圆满度选择的遗传进度、相对效率分别为０．１７４和１２８．３６７９％。     

Isolation and antifungal activity of lignans from Myristica fragrans against various plant pathogenic fungi

BACKGROUND: In a search for plant extracts with potent in vivo antifungal activity against various plant diseases, we found that treatment with a methanol extract of Myristica fragrans Houttyn (nutmeg) seeds reduced the development of various plant diseases. The objectives of the present study were to isolate and determine antifungal substances from My. fragrans and to evaluate their antifungal activities. RESULTS: Three antifungal lignans were isolated from the methanol extract of My. fragrans seeds and identified as erythro-austrobailignan-6 (EA6), meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (MDA) and nectandrin-B (NB). In vitro antimicrobial activity of the three lignans varied according to compound and target species. Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum coccodes, C. gloeosporioides, Magnaporthe grisea, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Acidovorax konjaci and Burkholderia glumae were relatively sensitive to the three lignans. In vivo, all three compounds effectively suppressed the development of rice blast and wheat leaf rust. In addition, EA6 and NB were highly active against the development of barley powdery mildew and tomato late blight, respectively. Both MDA and NB also moderately inhibited the development of rice sheath blight. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to demonstrate the in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of the three lignans from My. fragrans against plant pathogenic fungi.