Search

By using a variational method and some critical points theorems, we establish some results on the multiplicity of solutions for second-order impulsive differential equation depending on two real parameters on the half-line. In addition, two examples to illustrate our results are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional materials with both exposed highly reactive planes and hollow structures have attracted considerable attentions with respect to improved catalytic activity and enhanced electrochemical energy storage. Herein, we report the synthesis of unusual single-crystal Co3O4 nanocages with highly exposed {110} reactive facets via a one-step solution method. When tested as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries, these Co3O4 nanocages deliver a high reversible lithium storage capacity of 864 mAh g-1 at 0.2C over 50 cycles and exhibit an excellent rate capability. The dominantly exposed {110} planes, a high density of atomic steps in nanocages, and the large void interiors lead to the regarded superior electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

new quasi-Newton algorithm for the solution of general box constrained variational inequality problem (GVI( l, u, F, f)) is proposed in this paper. It is based on a reformulation of the variational inequality problem as a nonsmooth system of equations by using the median operator. Without smoothing approximation, the proposed quasi-Newton algorithm is directly applied to solve this class of nonsmooth equations. Under appropriate assumptions, it is proved that the algorithmic sequence globally and superlinearly converges to a solution of the equation reformulation and also of GVI( l, u, F, f). Numerical results show that our new algorithm works quite well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dimercaptosuccinic acid metronidazole ester (DMSAMe) was synthesized and radiolabeled with 99mTc to form the 99mTc-DMSAMe complex in high yield. The radiochemical purity of the 99mTc-DMSAMe complex was over 90%, as measured by TLC and by HPLC, without any notable decomposition at room temperature over a period of 6 h. Its partition coefficient indicated that it was a lipophilic complex. The tumor cell experiment and the biodistribution in mice bearing S 180 tumor showed that the 99mTc-DMSAMe complex had a certain hypoxic selectivity and accumulated in the tumor with high uptake and good retention. The tumor/blood and tumor/muscle ratios increased with time, suggesting it would be a possible tumor hypoxia imaging agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed ligand fac-tricarbonyl complex of [99mTc(CO)3-DMSA-MIBI] has been prepared starting from the precursor [99mTc(OH2)3(CO)3]+. The complex can be obtained in good yield and purity in a two-step procedure by first attaching meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA, HOOCCH(SH)CH(SH)COOH) with [99mTc(OH2)3(CO)3]+, followed by addition of MIBI [tetrakis-2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (CH3OC(CH3)2CH2-N≡C) copper(I) tetrafluoroborate] solution. The complex was characterized by TLC and HPLC and was studied by means of octanol-water partition coefficient, electrophoresis, stability in vitro, and normal mice experiment. Biodistribution in mice demonstrated that the complex showed higher myocardial uptake after 0.5-hour p.i. The ratios of heart/liver (%ID/g) in the case of 99mTc(CO)3-DMSA-MIBI was higher (1.88) than that observed in case of 99mTc-MIBI1 (0.93) after 0.5-hour p.i. ( P<0.05). Results showed that the complex may be developed to a novel myocardial perfusion-imaging agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  It has proved difficult to find strong and replicable genetic linkages for complex diseases, since each susceptibility gene makes only a modest contribution to onset. This is partly because high-efficacy genetic markers are not usually available. The aim of this article is to explore the possibility that the total number of tandem repeats in one STR locus, rather than the frequencies of different alleles, is a higher efficacy quantitative genetic marker. DNA samples were collected from schizophrenic patients and from a control population. Alleles of the short tandem repeats (STR) loci D3S1358, vWA, and FGA were determined using the STR Profiler Plus PCR amplification kit. The two groups did not differ statistically in the frequencies of alleles at the D3S1358, vWA, or FGA loci. However, a significant difference was obtained in the vWA locus when the total number of core unit repeats was compared between the schizophrenia and control groups (33.28 � 2.61 vs. 32.35 � 2.58, P  [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 99mTc(CO)3(H2O)-DEDT complex was prepared by a two-step procedure involving the preparation of the precursor fac-[99mTc(CO)3(H2O)3]+, followed by the addition of sodium salt of diethyl dithiocarbamate (DEDT). The radiochemical purity (RCP) of the product was over 90% as measured by thin layer chromatography (TLC). No decomposition of the complex at room temperature was observed over a period of 6 hours. Its partition coefficient indicated that it was a lipophilic complex. The electrophoresis results showed the complex was neutral. Biodistribution in mice demonstrated that the complex can penetrate the intact blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the brain uptake (ID%/g) was 4.22 at 5-minute post-injection, suggesting the complex may lead to a further development of the radiopharma ceutical as a brain perfusion tracer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volumetric strain was categorized into elastic and plastic parts. The former composed of axial and lateral strains is uniform and determined by Hooke's law; however, the latter consisting of axial and lateral strains is a function of thickness of shear band determined by gradient-dependent plasticity by considering the heterogeneity of quasi-brittle materials. The non-uniform lateral strain due to the fact that shear band was formed in the middle of specimen was averaged within specimen to precisely assess the volumetric strain. Then, the analytical expression for volumetric strain was verified by comparison with two earlier experimental results for concrete and rock. Finally, a detailed parametric study was carried out to investigate effects of constitutive parameters (shear band thickness, elastic and softening moduli) and geometrical size of specimen (height and width of specimen) on the volume dilatancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression of serum and glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase in the renal cortex of diabetic rats was examined, and the function of signal transduction mediated by SGK1 in diabetic nephropathy and its modulation by fluvastatin were also investigated. 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group ( n=8), diabetic nephropathy group ( n=8) and fluvastatin-treated diabetic nephropathy group (15 mg/kg/d, n=8). The metabolic parameters were measured at the 8th week. The expression of transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF- β 1) and fibronectin (FN) was immunohistochemically examined. The expression of SGK1 was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, and CTGF mRNA was assessed by RT-PCR. As compared to DN, blood glucose, 24-h urinary protein, Cer and kidney weight index were all decreased and the weight was increased obviously in group F. At the same time, mesangial cells and extracellular matrix proliferation were relieved significantly. The levels of cortex SGK1 mRNA and protein were up-regulated, and both TGF- β 1 and FN were down-regulated by fluvastatin. The mRNA of SGK1 was positively correlated with the CTGF, TGF- β 1, and FN. SGK1 expression is markedly up-regulated in the renal cortex of DN group and plays an important role in the development and progress of diabetic nephropathy by means of signal transduction. Fluvastatin suppressed the increased SGK1mRNA expression in renal cortex and postponed the development of diabetic nephropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate the feasibility of imaging inflammatory lesions with five small molecular weight complexes of 99mTc. The labeling yields of D-glucaric acid (D-Gca), citric acid (Cit), DL-malic acid (DL-Mal), L-malic acid (L-Mal) and tartaric acid (Tar) were all more than 90%. The percentage uptake/g tissue of them and 99mTc-pertechnetate (P) in mice with turpentine-induced abscesses and abscess/muscle (A/M), blood (A/B), liver (A/L), kidney (A/K) concentration ratios were calculated. The maximum A/M ratios were 4.02±0.21 (Cit, 3h), 4.30±0.77 (D-Gca, 3h), 4.04±0.21 (DL-Mal, 6h), 3.50±0.23 (L-Mal, 1h), 3.20±0.17 (Tar, 1h) and 3.23±0.41 (P, 1h) respectively. The scintigram was obtained in a rabbit with turpentine-induced abscess after 99mTc-D-Gca i.v. injection. Results demonstrated they all can accumulate in inflammatory lesions. Of them, 99mTc-D-Gca is probably a potential imaging agent on inflammatory lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a novel 99mTc nitrido dithiocarbamate complex containing ether group, the bis(2-ethoxyethyl dithiocarbamato) nitrido 99mTc complex 99mTcN(EOEDTC)2 has been synthesized by the reduction of 99mTcO4 − into [99mTcN]2+ with stannous chloride in the presence of succinic dihydrazide and propylenediamine tetraacetic acid, followed by the addition of the corresponding dithiocarbamate ligand. The radiochemical purity of the complex was over 90% as measured by thin layer chromatography (TLC). In vitro studies showed that the complex possessed good stability. Its partition coefficient indicated that it was lipophilic complex. The electrophoresis results showed the complex was neutral. Biodistribution in mice showed that the complex accumulated in the heart and brain with high initial uptake, suggesting the complex may lead to a further development of the radiopharmaceutical as a heart and brain perfusion tracer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, two novel 99mTc nitrido dithiocarbamate complexes containing heterocyclic linkage, the bis(N-2-(1-piperidyl)ethyl dithiocarbamato) nitrido technetium-99m complex 99mTcN(PPEDTC)2 and bis(N-2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyl dithiocarbamato) nitrido technetium-99m complex 99mTcN(PREDTC)2 have been synthesized by the reduction of 99mTcO4 − into [99mTcN]2+ with stannous chloride in the presence of succinic dihydrazide and propylenediamine tetraacetic acid, followed by the addition of the corresponding dithiocarbamate ligands. The radiochemical purity of the complexes were over 90% as measured by thin layer chromatography (TLC). In vitro studies showed that the complexes possessed good stability. Their partition coefficients indicated that they were lipophilic complexes. Biodistribution in mice showed that the 99mTcN(PPEDTC)2 complex accumulated in brain with high uptake and good retention. As compared with the 99mTcN(PREDTC)2 complex, the former showed much higher brain uptake than the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of the bis(N-propyl dithiocarbamato) nitrido technetium-99m complex 99mTcN(PDTC)2 (PDTC: N-propyl dithiocarbamato) was carried out as a freeze-dried formulation, through a simple procedure involving the initial of 99mTcO4- with succinic dihydrazide in the presence of stannous chloride as reducing agent and propylenediamine tetraacetic acid (PDTA) as complexant, followed by the addition of the ligand sodium salt of N-propyl dithiocarbamate to afford the final product. The radiochemical purity of the complex was over 90%, as measured by thin layer chromatography. No decomposition of the complex at room temperature was observed over a period of 12 hours. Its partition coefficient indicated that it was a good lipophilic complex. Biodistribution in mice showed that the complex accumulated in the brain with high uptake. The brain uptake (ID%/g) was 5.07 and the brain/blood ratio 1.34 at 5-minute post-injection. This suggested a potential usefulness of the complex as a brain perfusion imaging agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]