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A novel cycloartane triterpenoid alkaloid, kleinhospitine E (1), six new cycloartane triterpenoids (2-7), three known cycloartane triterpenoids (8-10), and taraxerone (11) were isolated from a methanol extract of Kleinhovia hospita. Their structures were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy as well as HRMS analysis. The absolute configurations of all isolated compounds were determined from their ECD spectra by comparison with theoretical values. Kleinhospitine E (1) is the first cycloartane alkaloid possessing an unusual γ-lactam with an oxopropylidene side chain. Compounds 2, 3, and 6 were assigned as cycloartane triterpenoids with a 9α,10α-cyclopropyl ring, which is found rarely among naturally occurring compounds, while 4 and 5 were established as isomers of compound 3 containing a 21,23-diacetal side chain. Biological evaluation revealed that compounds 4 and 9 exhibited more potent antiproliferative activities against a multidrug-resistant tumor cell line compared with its parent chemosensitive cell line. Furthermore, compound 6 exhibited submicromolar anti-HIV activity.

3',6-dimethoxy-3'',4''-(methylenedioxy)-2,5-epoxylignan-4'-ol (DMEO), an epoxylignan isolated from Piper nigrum , has currently captured attention for its potential antitumor effect. However, low stability is limiting its therapeutic application. The application of nanocapsulation would be the main strategy for overcoming this problem. DMEO-loaded nanocapsules were prepared by an emulsion-diffusion method using Eudragit RL 100 (at concentrations of 1, 1.5 and 2%) and polyvinyl alcohol. As the polymer content increased, the encapsulation efficiency and mean particle size also increased. After 6 months of storage at 25°C (0% RH), no crystalline peaks were observed in the diffraction patterns of all nanocapsules, thereby suggested that the physical stability of nanoencapsulated DMEO was not affected by the concentration ratio of the polymer-stabilizer combinations., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Decolorization of Acid Blue 161 (AB161) by solid peroxides such as CaO2 and Na2O2 catalyzed by iron in aqueous solution was investigated. The effect of initial pH, concentration of H2O2, Fe2+, and AB161 on the decolorization kinetics was investigated and compared with the results by liquid H2O2. The experimental results show that decolorization of AB161 follows the second-order kinetic. The second decolorization rate constants and oxidation efficiency at different initial pH, Fe2+, H2O2, and AB161 concentration were correlated with dimensionless ratios such as H2O2/Fe2+ or H2O2/AB161. About two dozens of correlation equations are developed in this paper to quantify the effect of the variables on the decolorization rate constants of AB161. Among solid peroxides such as CaO2 and Na2O2 and liquid H2O2, the optimal pH and [Fe2+] are 2.5 and 5.0 × 10−4 mol L−1, while the concentration of CaO2, Na2O2, and H2O2 is 0.30, 0.25 g L−1 and 3.1 × 10−3 mol L−1, respectively. Our experimental results show that decolorization kinetics of AB161 using liquid H2O2 is faster than that using CaO2 and Na2O2 catalyzed by Fe2+, while decolorization rate of AB161 by CaO2 is slightly faster than that by Na2O2 due to the fact that the CaO2 is a fine powder of an average diameter of 0.74 mm and Na2O2 is a particle with an average diameter of 1 mm. Regardless of the solid or liquid peroxide forms, e.g. CaO2, Na2O2, or liquid H2O2, the optimal molar ratio H2O2/Fe2+ of 12 obtained experimentally agreed reasonably with the theoretical predicted value of 11. In addition, the decolorization efficiency, η, is also not affected by the form of peroxides and decreases with the H2O2/AB161 when H2O2, Fe2+, and pH were fixed at 3.1 × 10−3, 5.0 × 10−4 mol L−1, and 2.5, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation arising from central and/or peripheral sources contributes to the pathogenesis of multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD). Emerging data suggest that differential activation of glia could lead to the pathogenesis and progression of PD. Here, we sought to determine the relationship between lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, loss of dopaminergic neurons and differential activation of glia. Using a model of repeated injections with LPS (1mg/kg, i.p. for 4days), we found that LPS induced a 34% loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra 19days after initiation of treatment, but no further cell loss was observed at 36days. LPS induced a strong pro-inflammatory response with increased mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α (4.8-fold), inducible nitric oxide synthase (2.0-fold), interleukin-1 beta (8.9-fold), interleukin-6 (10.7-fold), and robust glial activation were observed at 1day after final dose of LPS. These pro-inflammatory genes were then reduced at 19days after treatment, when there was a rise in the anti-inflammatory genes Ym1 (1.8-fold) and arginase-1 (2.6-fold). Additionally, 36days after the last LPS injection there was a significant increase in interleukin-10 (2.1-fold) expression. The qPCR data results were supported by protein data, including cytokine measurements, western blotting, and immunofluorescence in brain microglia. Taken together, these data demonstrate that progressive neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra following LPS is likely arrested by microglia shifting to an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Thus, strategies to promote resolution of neuroinflammation may be a promising avenue to slow the progressive loss of dopamine neurons in PD., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disease. 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is a prototypical neurotoxicant used in mice to mimic primary features of PD pathology including striatal dopamine depletion and dopamine neuron loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). In the literature, there are several experimental paradigms involving multiple doses of MPTP that are used to elicit dopamine neuron loss. However, a recent study reported that a single low dose caused significant loss of dopamine neurons. Here, we determined the effect of a single intraperitoneal injection of one of three doses of MPTP (0.1, 2 and 20mg/kg) on dopamine neurons, labeled by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH + ), and total neuron number (Nissl + ) in the SNc using unbiased stereological counting. Data reveal a significant loss of neurons in the SNc (TH + and Nissl + ) only in the group treated with 20mg/kg MPTP. Groups treated with lower dose of MPTP (0.1 and 2mg/kg) only showed significant loss of TH + neurons rather than TH + and Nissl + neurons. Striatal dopamine levels were decreased in the groups treated with 2 and 20mg/kg MPTP and striatal terminal markers including, TH and the dopamine transporter (DAT), were only decreased in the groups treated with 20mg/kg MPTP. These data demonstrate that lower doses of MPTP likely result in loss of TH expression rather than actual dopamine neuron loss in the SN. This finding reinforces the need to measure both total neuron number along with TH + cells in determining dopamine neuron loss., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The article examines whether the use of vile language by Bangladeshi politicians between 1991 and 2014 has any impact, negative or positive, on the electorate. Topics discussed include a significant decline in the quality of, and civility in, political communication in Bangladesh since 1991. A brief discussion on political communication and the relationship between political culture and political communication is also presented.

Insulin replacement is the current therapeutic option for type-1 diabetes. However, exogenous insulin cannot precisely represent the normal pattern of insulin secretion. Another therapeutic strategy is transplantation of pancreatic islets, but this is limited by immune rejection, intrinsic complications, and lack of donor availability. Stem cell therapy that results in the regeneration of insulin-producing cells represents an attractive choice. However, with advancing age, stem cells also undergo senescence, which leads to changes in the function of various cellular processes that result in a decrease in the regeneration potential of these aging stem cells. In this study, the effect of young and aging mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the regeneration of pancreatic beta cells in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type-1 diabetic mice was observed after hypoxic preconditioning. Hypoxia was chemically induced by 2, 4-dinitrophenol (DNP). Plasma insulin and glucose levels were measured at various time intervals, and pancreatic sections were analyzed histochemically. The effect of DNP was also analyzed on apoptosis of MSCs by flow cytometry and on gene expression of certain growth factors by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We observed that hypoxic preconditioning caused changes in the gene expression levels of growth factors in both young and aging MSCs. Young MSCs showed significant regeneration potential compared with the aging cells in vivo. However, hypoxic preconditioning was able to improve the regeneration potential of aging MSCs. It is concluded from the present study that the regeneration potential of aging MSCs into pancreatic β-cells can be enhanced by hypoxic preconditioning, which causes changes in the gene expression of certain growth factors.

Continuing our previous work in which we showed wide-ranging strain differences in MPTP neurotoxicity in male mice among ten BXD recombinant inbred strains, we replicated our work in females from nine of the same strains. Mice received a single s.c. injection of 12.5mg/kg MPTP or saline. Forty-eight hours later the striatum was dissected for neurochemical analysis. Striatal dopamine (DA) and its metabolites, DOPAC and HVA, striatal serotonin (5-HT) and its metabolite, 5-HIAA, were analyzed using HPLC. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an astrocytic protein that increases during the astroglial response to neural injury, were measured using ELISA. There were wide genetic variations in the DA, DOPAC, HVA, TH and GFAP responses to MPTP. We also performed principal component analysis (PCA) on the difference values, saline minus MPTP, for DA, DOPAC, HVA and TH and mapped the dominant principal component to a suggestive QTL on chromosome 1 at the same location that we observed previously for males. Moreover, there were significant correlations between the sexes for the effect of MPTP on DA, HVA, and TH. Our findings suggest that the systems genetic approach as utilized here can help researchers understand the role of sex in individual differences. The same approach can pave the way to understand and pinpoint the genetic bases for individual differences in pathology attributable to toxicants. Such systems genetics approach has broad implications for elucidating gene-environment contributions to neurodegenerative diseases., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Highlights: [•] Chloramphenicol was efficiently degraded in lab-scale using artificial radiation. [•] It was also efficiently degraded in large scale using solar radiation. [•] Its degradation was positively influenced by the concentration of H2O2 and Fe2+. [•] The mode of H2O2 addition did not influence the degradation kinetics. [•] Species oxidized without antimicrobial activity and of low toxicity were formed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The photo-Fenton degradation of paracetamol (PCT) was evaluated using FeSO4 and the iron complex potassium ferrioxalate (FeOx) as iron source under simulated solar light. The efficiency of the degradation process was evaluated considering the decay of PCT and total organic carbon concentration and the generation of carboxylic acids, ammonium and nitrate, expressed as total nitrogen. The results showed that the degradation was favored in the presence of FeSO4 in relation to FeOx. The higher concentration of hydroxylated intermediates generated in the presence of FeSO4 in relation to FeOx probably enhanced the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) improving the degradation efficiency. The degradation products were determined using liquid chromatography electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Although at different concentrations, the same intermediates were generated using either FeSO4 or FeOx, which were mainly products of hydroxylation reactions and acetamide. The toxicity of the sample for Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna decreased from 100% to less than 40% during photo-Fenton treatment in the presence of both iron species, except for D. magna in the presence of FeOx due to the toxicity of oxalate to this organism. The considerable decrease of the sample toxicity during photo-Fenton treatment using FeSO4 indicates a safe application of the process for the removal of this pharmaceutical. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on unequal performance of Bangladesh in terms of human development across its regions. It notes that such unbalance action has resulted to a debilitating impact on the overall human development in the country. It highlights the efforts of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to aid Chittagong Hill Tracts, one of the regions selected in its economic and human development process.

Sugar and jaggery (locally called 'gur') are the main important sources of sweetener (source of carbohydrate) in Bangladesh. Sugar is indispensable for health and if it is not taken directly, it must be taken from other sources of carbohydrates in the food. During 1990-91 to 2006-07 availability of sugar and gur in Bangladesh was 0.99 million tons on an average both from internal production and importation. During the same period mean domestic production of sugar and gur were 0.18 million tons and 0.42 million tons respectively which could meet 33% of the internal demand of sugar and gur. Deficit of demand was 0.75 million tons about 39 % of the internal demand and the rest 28% of the demand was meet by importation. Per capita availability of sugar and gur were 5.8 kg and 3.0 kg as against demand of 10 kg sugar and 3 kg gur respectively during the aforementioned period. Sugarcane cultivation area, sugarcane production and sugar production showed negative trend which were -1.06, -1.37 and -4.43% respectively whereas yield of sugarcane, gur production and importation of sugar showed positive trend which were 0.62, 0.05 and 19.33% respectively. The sugar industry of Bangladesh made losses of Tk. 461.48 million per year on an average during aforementioned period. Date palm and palmyra palm plantation in homestead, embankment, ponds, road sides, marginal lands and ail (demarcation mark) that remain fallow would be an alternative source of sugar and gur to meet up the increasing demand of sugar and gur in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to determine the pricing system of sugarcane and sugar and its impact on sugar production of Bangladesh. Data were collected from secondary sources for the period of 1971-72 to 2008-09. Descriptive analysis, log linear model and Nerlovian partial adjustment model were used to analysis the data. It is found from the study that the growth rate of area and production of sugarcane, sugar, recovery of sugar and price were 1.3, 3.1, 3.0, 0.00 and 5.60 percent respectively. Study revealed that sugarcane production depends on the sugarcane area of current year and sugarcane price of previous year. The coefficients of sugarcane area and previous year price were 1.27 and 0.25 and significant at 1% level. It is also found that the price of other agricultural crops increased faster rate than sugarcane and sugar price. Procurement price of sugarcane should remunerative to keep the farmers in sugarcane production. Domestic sugar price should be reviewed compared to production cost and market price of others essential commodities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The influence of iron species on amoxicillin (AMX) degradation, intermediate products generated and toxicity during the photo-Fenton process using a solar simulator were evaluated in this work. The AMX degradation was favored in the presence of the potassium ferrioxalate complex (FeOx) when compared to FeSO4. Total oxidation of AMX in the presence of FeOx was obtained after 5min, while 15min were necessary using FeSO4. The results obtained with Daphnia magna biossays showed that the toxicity decreased from 65 to 5% after 90min of irradiation in the presence of FeSO4. However, it increased again to a maximum of 100% after 150min, what indicates the generation of more toxic intermediates than AMX, reaching 45% after 240min. However, using FeOx, the inhibition of mobility varied between 100 and 70% during treatment, probably due to the presence of oxalate, which is toxic to the neonates. After 240min, between 73 and 81% TOC removal was observed. Different pathways of AMX degradation were suggested including the opening of the four-membered β-lactamic ring and further oxidations of the methyl group to aldehyde and/or hydroxylation of the benzoic ring, generating other intermediates after bound cleavage between different atoms and further oxidation to carboxylates such acetate, oxalate and propionate, besides the generation of nitrate and ammonium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present work the use of a coupled process, soil washing and photo-Fenton oxidation, was investigated for remediation of a soil contaminated with p,p′-DDT (DDT) and p,p′-DDE (DDE), and a soil artificially contaminated with diesel. In the soil washing experiments, Triton X-100 (TX-100) aqueous solutions were used at different concentrations to obtain wastewaters with different compositions. Removal efficiencies of 66% (DDT), 80% (DDE) and 100% (diesel) were achieved for three sequential washings using a TX-100 solution strength equivalent to 12 times the effective critical micelle concentration of the surfactant (12 CMCeff). The wastewater obtained was then treated using a solar photo-Fenton process. After 6h irradiation, 99, 95 and 100% degradation efficiencies were achieved for DDT, DDE and diesel, respectively. In all experiments, the concentration of dissolved organic carbon decreased by at least 95%, indicating that residual concentration of contaminants and/or TX-100 in the wastewater was very low. The co-extraction of metals was also evaluated. Among the metals analyzed (Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, Mn and Co), only Cr and Mn were detected in the wastewater at concentrations above the maximum value permitted by current Brazilian legislation. The effective removal of contaminants from soil by the TX-100 washing process, together with the high degradation efficiency of the solar photo-Fenton process, suggests that this procedure could be a useful option for soil remediation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this work, the photocatalytic degradation of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) by solar photo-Fenton at pilot plant scale was evaluated in distilled water (DW) and in seawater (SW). Degradation and mineralization of SMX were strongly hindered in SW compared to DW. The influence of H2O2 and iron concentration on the efficiency of the photocatalytic process was evaluated. An increase in iron concentration from 2.6 to 10.4mgL−1 showed only a slight improvement in SMX degradation and mineralization. However, an increase in H2O2 concentration up to 120mgL−1 during photo-Fenton in DW decreased SMX solution toxicity from 85% to 20%, according to results of Daphnia magna bioassays. The same behaviour was not observed after photo-Fenton treatment in SW. Despite 45% mineralization in SW, toxicity increased from 16% to 86% as shown by Vibrio fischeri bioassays, which suggests that the intermediates generated in SW are different from those in DW. A SMX degradation pathway during the photo-Fenton treatment in DW is proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]