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Aquaculture wastewaters are associated with modifying the phytochemical profile in plants when watered with them, thus, aquaponics is a way to improve medicinal plants' quality. This study aimed to analyse the effect caused by a small-scale aquaponic system integrated with Koi carp in the growth performance and modification of bioactive compounds in Cuphea hyssopifolia and Cuphea cyanea. The results showed the aquaponic system design is suitable for keeping Cuphea spp. in a greenhouse or indoor conditions. No statistically significant differences were found in the growth performance in both Cuphea spp. The results for C. hyssopifolia in aquaponic showed that approximately 76% of phenols and more than half of the flavonoids remained in the dry basis of the plant cultivated in aquaponics compared to conventional culture. The apigenin content increased by > 60% (1.63 mg g-1). The results for C. cyanea in aquaponic showed that the phenolic content remained above, and the flavonoids decreased by 53%. The apigenin content decreased by 40% (0.89 mg g-1). The outcomes indicate that aquaponics can promote biostimulation of medicinal plants and increase their bioactive compounds, however, this effect does not occur in the same way between species.

Microglia play an important role in the maintenance of brain homeostasis, and microglial dysfunction plays a causative role in Alzheimer disease pathogenesis. Here we focus on the signal regulatory protein SIRPβ1, a surface receptor expressed on the myeloid cells that triggers amyloid-β and cell debris phagocytosis via TYROBP. We found that a common intragenic duplication alters the SIRPβ1 protein isoform landscape affecting both extracellular and transmembrane domains, which compromise their ability to bind oligomeric Aβ and their affinity for TYROBP. Epidemiological studies show that patients with mild cognitive impairment that are homozygous for theSIRPβ1duplication allele show an increased cerebrospinal fluid t-Tau/Aβ ratio (p-value=0.018) and a higher risk to develop AD (OR=1.678, p-value=0.018). Magnetic resonance imaging at diagnosis showed that AD patients with the duplication allele exhibited a worse initial response to the disease. At the moment of diagnosis all patients showed equivalent Mini-Mental State Examination scores. However AD patients with the duplication allele had less hippocampal degeneration (Beta= -0.62, p-value < 0.001) and fewer white matter hyperintensities. In contrast, longitudinal studies indicate that patients bearing the duplication allele show a slower cognitive decline after correcting by baseline (p-value = 0.013). Transcriptional analysis of the patients’ hippocampus also shows that theSIRPβ1duplication allele correlates with higherTREM2expression and an increased microglial activation. Given the recent pharmacological approaches focused on the TREM2-TYROBP axis, we consider that the presence of this structural variant might be considered as a potential modulator of this causative pathway.

The typical rash of Still disease is an asymptomatic, salmon-coloured, macular, or maculopapular eruption that appears along with the fever spikes and fades when the body temperature drops. Although not included in the diagnostic criteria, there are other frequent, persistent, pruritic and polymorphic skin manifestations of Still disease that have distinctive clinical features and specific histological findings. Among these atypical persistent pruritic eruptions (PPEs), periorbital erythema and linear flagellate papules and plaques can resemble the cutaneous manifestations of dermatomyositis (DM). The presence of these lesions in adult-onset Still disease has been associated with worse prognosis and higher mortality rates, perhaps due to the development of a secondary macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). We report two cases of Still disease with persistent atypical DM-like eruption, one in a paediatric patient (a very underreported finding) and the other in an adult. Both cases developed a secondary MAS.

Using genome-wide association data, we analyzed Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) associations in over 176,000 individuals with Parkinson’s (PD) or Alzheimer’s (AD) disease versus controls across ancestry groups. A shared genetic association was observed across diseases at rs601945 (PD: odds ratio (OR)=0.84; 95% confidence interval, [0.80; 0.88]; p=2.2x10-13; AD: OR=0.91[0.89; 0.93]; p=1.8x10-22), and with a protective HLA association recently reported in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Hierarchical protective effects of HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes best accounted for the association, strongest with HLA-DRB1*04:04 and HLA-DRB1*04:07, intermediary with HLA-DRB1*04:01 and HLA-DRB1*04:03, and absent for HLA-DRB1*04:05. The same signal was associated with decreased neurofibrillary tangles (but not neuritic plaque density) in postmortem brains and was more strongly associated with tau levels than Aβ42 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. Finally, protective HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes strongly bound the aggregation-prone tau PHF6 sequence, but only when acetylated at K311, a modification central to aggregation. An HLA-DRB1*04-mediated adaptive immune response, potentially against tau, decreases PD, AD and ALS risk, offering the possibility of new therapeutic avenues.

Amyloid-beta 42 (Aβ42) and phosphorylated tau (pTau) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) reflect core features of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) more directly than clinical diagnosis. Initiated by the European Alzheimer & Dementia Biobank (EADB), the largest collaborative effort on genetics underlying CSF biomarkers was established, including 31 cohorts with a total of 13,116 individuals (discovery n = 8,074; replication n = 5,042 individuals). Besides the APOE locus, novel associations with two other well-established AD risk loci were observed; CR1 was shown a locus for amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42) and BIN1 for phosphorylated Tau (pTau). GMNC and C16orf95 were further identified as loci for pTau, of which the latter is novel. Clustering methods exploring the influence of all known AD risk loci on the CSF protein levels, revealed 4 biological categories (amyloid, astrocyte, processing & migration, and migration & motility) suggesting multiple Aβ42 and pTau related biological pathways involved in the etiology of AD. In functional follow-up analyses, GMNC and C16orf95 both associated with lateral ventricular volume, implying an overlap in genetic etiology for tau levels and brain ventricular volume.

Using genome-wide association data, we analyzed Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) associations in over 176,000 individuals with Parkinson’s (PD) or Alzheimer’s (AD) disease versus controls across ancestry groups. A shared genetic association was observed across diseases at rs601945 (PD: odds ratio (OR)=0.84; 95% confidence interval, [0.80; 0.88]; p=2.2×10−13; AD: OR=0.91[0.89; 0.93]; p=1.8×10−22), and with a protective HLA association recently reported in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Hierarchical protective effects of HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes best accounted for the association, strongest with HLA-DRB1*04:04 and HLA-DRB1*04:07, intermediary with HLA-DRB1*04:01 and HLA-DRB1*04:03, and absent for HLA-DRB1*04:05. The same signal was associated with decreased neurofibrillary tangles (but not neuritic plaque density) in postmortem brains and was more strongly associated with Tau levels than Aβ42 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. Finally, protective HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes strongly bound the aggregation-prone Tau PHF6 sequence, but only when acetylated at K311, a modification central to aggregation. An HLA-DRB1*04-mediated adaptive immune response, potentially against Tau, decreases PD, AD and ALS risk, offering the possibility of new therapeutic avenues.

Los carotenoides son una familia de compuestos naturales con un papel sumamente importante en la naturaleza, ya que forman parte de la maquinaria fotosintética de las plantas y de algunos microorganismos. Además, estos compuestos son esenciales para el humano, porque ayudan a mantener una buena salud y a prevenir distintas enfermedades. A la fecha, se han aislado y caracterizado más de 750 carotenoides. De éstos, el −caroteno, la −criptoxantina, la luteína y la zeaxantina son los más ubicuos. Los carotenoides han cobrado importancia debido a que se les han encontrado diversas aplicaciones, tales como colorantes naturales en la industria avícola, acuícola y cosmética, así como aditivos nutracéuticos en la industria alimentaria y como suplementos e ingredientes activos en la industria farmacéutica. Sin embargo, los métodos actuales para producir estos compuestos, ya sea mediante extracción a partir de sus fuentes naturales o mediante síntesis total, no logran cubrir las demandas de su consumo o hacen muy cara su adquisición. En esta investigación, se desarrollaron nuevas estrategias que permitieron obtener de una forma sencilla y eficiente la (3R,3´R,6´R)−luteína (1), la (3R,3´S)−zeaxantina (2) y la (3R,3´S)−astaxantina (3). La (3R,3´R,6´R)−luteína se obtuvo mediante la hidrólisis básica de sus ésteres naturales extraídos a partir de una fuente renovable, la oleorresina de flor de cempasúchil (Tagetes erecta L.), mientras que la (3R,3´S)−zeaxantina se obtuvo mediante una reacción de isomerización catalizada por base, a partir de 1 y a partir de los ésteres de luteína con rendimientos del 92 y 95% respectivamente. El compuesto 2 fue posteriormente oxidado para producir la (3R,3´S)−astaxantina. Con este proceso, se logró un rendimiento global del 68% y de hasta un 76%, cuando se irradió con luz UV (365 nm) durante la reacción. También se estudiaron, desde el aspecto computacional mediante cálculos a nivel DFT (Density-Functional Theory), los mecanismos de reacción de la conversión de 1 a 2 y de 2 a 3. Estos cálculos teóricos revelan que la reacción de isomerización catalizada por base involucra la desprotonación del C−6´ en el compuesto 1, seguida de una protonación en el C−4´, para llegar a la formación de 2; mientras que la oxidación de 2 a 3 ocurre a través de un mecanismo vía radicales libres. Además, los tres carotenoides obtenidos (1, 2 y 3) se utilizaron por primera vez como extendedores de cadena en la síntesis de poliésteres uretanos (PEUs), para con ello crear nuevos materiales que posean las bondades químicas de los carotenoides, tales como su poderoso efecto antioxidante. Estos PEUs fueron caracterizados química y físicamente, observándose que presentan propiedades mecánicas con un comportamiento plástico. Sin embargo, faltan más estudios para explorar los usos potenciales de estos nuevos materiales, por ejemplo, como foto-protectores y antioxidantes. Finalmente, se evaluó de forma preliminar el efecto vasorrelajante de los compuestos 1, 2 y 3 en el modelo de aorta de rata, encontrándose que la (3R,3´S)−astaxantina es la más potente de los tres (CE50 = 3.3 ± 2.1 μM) y hasta 11 veces más potente que la acetilcolina (CE50 = 37.4 ± 8.9 μM), la cual fue usada como control positivo. El efecto vasodilatador de la (3R,3´S)−astaxantina resultó ser similar al del fármaco comercial “nebivolol”.

Resumen: Introducción: Existen evidencias de la insuficiente capacidad informativa por parte de los especialistas médicos, así como de las dificultades retentivas de los pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) y de sus cuidadores. Entre las diversas causas figuran tanto las limitaciones personales del profesional como los determinantes externos, emocionales y socioculturales del paciente y de su cuidador.Contrastar la información clínica proporcionada por los médicos sobre la EA y la percibida por los cuidadores y evaluar los factores asociados a las diferencias de percepción. Pacientes y métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional, multicéntrico y nacional mediante cuestionarios que evalúan la información suministrada por el médico y la retenida por el paciente en 17 aspectos informativos. Participaron 61 investigadores que incluyeron a un total de 679 pacientes que cumplían los criterios de selección. Se evaluaron los factores asociados a la diferencia de percepción sobre la información transmitida. Resultados: Los cuidadores participantes tenían una media de 57,2 ± 14,8 años, habiendo dedicado un tiempo medio como cuidadores de 27,6 ± 28,0 meses, y siendo el 50,9% hijos del paciente que mayoritariamente vivían en el mismo domicilio (64,9%). Los cuidadores valoraron significativamente mejor la información recibida sobre: concepto de la enfermedad, aspectos etiopatogénicos, posología y recomendaciones sobre el tratamiento y adherencia terapéutica, mientras que los médicos consideraron significativamente mejor la información referente a desmitificación y corrección de concepciones previas, posibles complicaciones, riesgos, efectos adversos y/o yatrogenia, asociaciones de familiares, y ayuda emocional/psicológica a cuidadores (p

Several plant-derived cancer drugs were discovered by examining the use of plants in traditional medicine,1,2 for example etoposide and teniposide, which are derived from the lignan podophyllotoxin, isolated from Podophyllum spp. (Berberidaceae). Podophyllum was used by several American and Asian cultures for the treatment of skin cancers and warts.3,4 Here we report results from our chemical analysis of two neotropical tree species of the genus Guaiacum, which have a long history of use by indigenous societies of Central and South America to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer.5,6 In addition, Guaiacum extracts and “gum” have been employed extensively as antioxidant food additives.7 Correspondingly, the chemistry of Guaiacum species has been subject to numerous studies.8,9

Except for Dubinin's classic works in the 1950s, there is very little information on the natural history or population dynamics of feather mites (Astigmata: Acariformes, Pterolichoidea). We studied variation in numbers of the different life stages of the feather mite Proctophyllodes pinnatus (Nitzsch) (Analgoidea: Proctophyllodidae) on captive House Finches Carpodacus mexicanus (Muller) (Passeriformes: Fringillidae) from December 2003 to November 2004. Simultaneously, we also studied how preen gland secretion varied in those birds. We monitored 20 House Finches (10 individuals of each sex) for the presence of mites on their wing feathers. There was seasonal variation in the abundance and prevalence of mites on different individual birds. Most birds did not show any mites from December to April. Mite numbers started to increase in July and peaked in August–September. In September, we observed more mites of early stages than in any other months. We also observed higher proportions of adults in Augu...

The chemical composition of preen gland secretions of antbirds (Thamnophilidae and Formicaridae) and phylogenetically closely related Dendrocolaptidae, Tyrannidae and Pipridae were investigated to understand the role of environment in secretion components. The secretions of Thamnophilidae consisted of long chain acids, alcohols, esters, unsaturated hydrocarbons, and isoprenoids. Formicaridae secretions contained exclusively squalene and its derivatives. In Pipridae, secretions were made up of complex long chain esters. In Dendrocolaptidae, the secretions consisted of long chain esters of both saturated and monounsaturated acids combined with mono-alcohols and those of Tyrannidae consisted of long chain esters of saturated, mono- and tri-unsaturated acids with mono- and di-ols that were less complex. Higher molecular weight saturated and unsaturated components in tropical species suggest that the volatility of the secretion components is correlated to environmental temperatures experienced by the birds. Squalene is a precursor in steroid biosynthesis, but higher amounts in Formicaridae secretions suggest that it may have some additional functions.

Fruits of the native South American tree Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq. (Sapindaceae) are consumed for both dietary and medicinal purposes, but limited information is available about the phytochemistry and health value of M. bijugatus fruits. Fruit tissues of the Florida Montgomery cultivar were assessed for sugars, using gas chromatography, and for total phenolics, using UV spectroscopy. Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprints of crude methanolic pulp, embryo and seed coat extracts were obtained at 280 nm. Phenolics were characterised by both HPLC UV/vis analysis and HPLC electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Major sugars detected in the pulp and embryo extracts were sucrose, followed by glucose and fructose. The glucose:fructose ratio was 1:1 in the pulp and 0.1:1 in the embryo. Total phenolic concentrations of the fruit tissues were in the order: seed coat > embryo > pulp. Phenolic acids were identified mostly in pulp tissues. Phenolic acids, flavonoids, procyanidins and catechins were identified in embryo tissues, and higher molecular weight procyanidins were identified in seed coat tissues. This study provides new information about the phytochemistry and the potential health value of the Montgomery cultivar M. bijugatus fruit tissues.

Passeriformes is the largest order of birds and includes one third of the bird species of the world, living in very diverse habitats. We investigated the chemistry of preen gland secretions of some groups of passerines from temperate regions found in diverse microhabitats. Some of the common components were mixtures of homologous monoesters made up of long chain acids and alcohols. Individual species had characteristic distribution of esters and was unique to a given species, although there were some individual variations. We compared the composition of acids and alcohols that formed same molecular weight esters in different species and we found that the combination of acids and alcohols to arrive at same molecular compositions varied distinctly between species. To compare compositions of over all acids and alcohols that formed the esters, the representative samples of secretions from the individual species were transesterfied the produce methyl esters and alcohols. We found that there were distinct differences in number of acids and alcohols that produced the combination of homologous mixtures of esters. Also they differed both qualitatively and quantitatively. There were also seasonal differences in the secretion components. Thus though the intact mixtures of esters in individual species had some similarities, they were very complex mixtures and differed characteristically for individual species. Here we discuss possible causes for evolution of these variations. We suggest that the evolution in variation of preen gland secretion is probably due to selective pressures caused by ectosymbionts such as feather-mites and feather-chewing lice that live on feathers and probably feed on the secretions and surrounding environments

3 Abstract: A comparative study was made on the relative sensitivity of normal cells vis-a-vis transformed cells to the induction of apoptosis by the selected natural products. Oncoproteins predispose cells for apoptosis. Flourensia cernua, Ambrosia chamissonis and camptothecin, was used as stimuli to induce apoptosis in transformed cells. V-Cbl plasmid -whole plasmid carring the v-Cbl gene-( pGEX-KG-v-Cbl 8,000 kb) and empty vector ( pGEX-KG 5,000kb) was used for transfection of COS and NIH 3T3 cells. We hypothesized that the Cbl proteins could predispose the transformed cells to apoptosis, by making cells vulnerable to outside insult, could lead to their apoptotic death. Even with higher doses, such as 30 and 40 µL, of Flourensia cernua, apoptotic influence was not statistically significant -0.035% of all cells. Twenty microliter of Ambrosia chamissonis also produced a statistically insignificant number -0.040% of all cells. The presence of intact nuclei stained pink by Propidium Iodide was generally observed, indicating necrosis. After longer duration (72 h), a higher number of necrotic cells was always observed. Murine fibroblast NIH 3T3 cells were more often found to be necrotic than COS fibroblasts. Delivering DNA by transfection resulted in toxicity, leading to the constant presence of necrosis. Key wards: Apoptosis, fibroblast, natural products, necrosis, plasmid

In order to compare ant and non-ant defended species of Melastomataceae, production of hydrogen cyanide gas was tested in the field for 51 species of 10 genera of the tribe Miconieae. Using both the picric acid and the Feigl–Anger tests all populations surveyed tested negative for the presence of cyanogenic glycosides. These results confirm that cyanogenesis is rare in the family, although not completely absent. Cyanogenic glycosides are not responsible for the protection against herbivory in non-ant defended species, but this does not rule out that there are quantitative of qualitative differences in other secondary metabolites.

Resveratrol, a constituent found in grapes and various other plants, has been shown to have chemo-preventive activity against cancer, and specifically demonstrated to induce apoptosis by p53-dependent pathways in murine cells. The goal of this research was to identify the role of p53-dependent or p53-independent pathways in the induction of apoptosis in human breast cancer cells by this natural product.A number of human breast cancer cell lines, as well as a control of a wild-type line (astrocytoma N 1321N1), were investigated for induction of apoptosis by resveratrol using both microscopic evaluation and DNA fragmentation assays. Concurrently, we established the p53 gene status (wild-type or mutant) of each cell line by Western blot using p53-specific antibody.Apoptosis induced by resveratrol was found to occur only in breast cancer cells expressing wild-type p53 but not in mutant p53-expressing cells.We therefore conclude that the natural product, resveratrol, induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells via p53-dependent pathways.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the bond strength to superficial (SU) and deep (D) dentin, accessed via apical (DA) or occlusal (DO), using One-Step adhesive system applied according to the manufacturer's instructions (C) or following deproteinization with 10% sodium hypochlorite (H) for 60s, after acid etching. Three sound extracted human molars were prepared for each experimental condition. Restorations were performed using Z100 in 2mm increments, each one being light-cured for 40s. Teeth were longitudinally sectioned to obtain stick-shaped specimens with a cross-sectional area of 0.8mm², which were submitted to bond strength test (0.6mm/min). Results obtained after statistical analysis using a two-way ANOVA (substrate vs. surface treatment) and Tukey's test were: SU (35.4 ± 12.3), DO (26.5 ± 8.5), DA (26.1 ± 10.2) following conventional surface treatment, and SU (28.82 ± 12.7), DO (24.3 ± 8.3) and DA (23.5 ± 8.5), after surface treatment using sodium hypochlorite. The interaction of the factors was not significant (p>0.05). However, the main factors were significant (pDO=DA). The conventional surface treatment resulted in higher bond strength values than the sodium hypochlorite treatment (pO objetivo foi avaliar a resistência de união (RU) de dentina superficial (SU) e profunda (P), obtida por acesso apical (PA) ou oclusal (PO), ao adesivo One-Step com (H) ou sem aplicação de hipoclorito de sódio a 10% (C) após o condicionamento ácido. Para os 6 grupos foram utilizados seis molares hígidos. Nos grupos SUC, PAC e POC, o adesivo e a resina Z100 foram aplicados. Nos grupos SUH, PAH e POH, após condicionamento, aplicou-se H por 60s, adesivo e Z100. Os dentes foram fatiados em cortes paralelos e perpendiculares para a obtenção de cp de 0,8mm² e testados sob tração (0,6mm/min). Os valores de RU foram submetidos a ANOVA de dois fatores. Não se detectou diferença para a interação (p=0,209), porém os fatores principais foram diferentes (pPO=PA). Os valores de RU com o tratamento C foram superiores aos obtidos quando utilizou-se o H. Conclui-se que: 1) os valores de RU foram maiores em dentina SU; 2) não houve diferença entre os dois substratos de dentina profunda; 3) aplicação do hipoclorito de sódio após o condicionamento diminuiu a RU.

Piperovatine, a sialogogic, piscicidal, and buccal local anesthesia producing isobutyl amide from the amazonian piscicidal and toothache-relieving plant, Piper piscatorum Trelease et Yuncker (Piperaceae), was evaluated for its ability to induce changes in neuronal intracellular calcium concentration. Ratiometric calcium imaging of Periplaneta americana neuronal cell cultures upon piperovatine application revealed that this compound induced dramatic increases in intracellular calcium concentration. Calcium flux was not affected by co-application of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, atropine, indicating that the parasympathomimetic system was not involved in piperovatine's sialogogic actions. Calcium flux was, however, totally eliminated by co-application of the voltage-gated sodium channel blocker, tetrodotoxin (TTX). This, in conjunction with the repetitive calcium spikes observed in the assay and previous radioligand binding studies on the chemical class, strongly suggest that activation of voltage-gated sodium channels characterizes piperovatine's mode of action

▪ Abstract Traditional herbal remedies have increased in popularity in Europe and the United States in recent years but have always been important to people living in rural Mexico and to their Mexican American/Chicano descendants in the United States. Mexican American patients will often be ingesting herbal teas at the same time that they are being treated for their ailments with antibiotics or antiinflammatory agents. The plant family Asteraceae (Compositae) has contributed the largest number of plants to this pharmacopoeia; the reasons for the importance of this family include its large number of species in Mexico and its wide array of natural products that are useful in the treatment of the maladies that have afflicted the inhabitants of rural Mexico. These natural products include sesquiterpene lactones, polyacetylenes, alkaloids, monoterpenes, and various phenolics such as flavonoids. In this review, we emphasize the sesquiterpene lactones, a large group of compounds with antiinflammatory properties and the ability to relax smooth muscles and thereby relieve gastrointestinal distress. These compounds also readily form adducts with glutathione or free thiols and can thereby affect the metabolism, activity, and toxicology of a wide array of pharmacological agents.

In this paper, the statistics of passenger car usage in Denmark has been studied in order to obtain the possible future use of electric vehicles (EVs). On the basis of this analysis, a sequential charging management of EV has been developed and simulated in DIgSILENT power factory. Different cases of charging management has been considered and simulated. Comparison of various cases with load profiles and power losses has been conducted.

Hydroxylated anthraquinones have been found to accumulate in different developmental stages of the chrysomelid beetle Trirhabda geminata. Eggs, larvae and adults were analyzed by HPLC and GC-MS. Each developmental stage analyzed contained 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-anthraquinone (chrysophanol) and 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (chrysazin). No anthraquinones were detected in the faeces of T. geminata. The level of stored anthraqui­ nones did not change during starvation. In the host plant of this specialist herbivore, the brittlebush Encelia farinosa (Asteraceae), anthraquinones were not detected. Possible biolog­ical functions of anthraquinones stored in T. geminata are discussed.

A method for the simultaneous quantification and separation of the dermatotoxins, falcarinol and 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP), in uninfected, commercially available celery is reported. Four methods of plant extraction were compared to determine the most efficient method. The analyses of crude celery extracts employed a Spectra-Physics 8800 series high performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a forward optical scanning detector. The compounds were resolved on an Alltech C-18 5 mm (25 cm × 4.6 mm ID) column preceded by a C-18 guard column. The dermatotoxins were eluted with a linear gradient of 50% methanol and water to 100% methanol in 30 minutes. The concentration of 5-MOP and falcarinol found in commercially available celery was 0.08–0.24 μg/g and 0.9–20 μg/g, respectively.

Addition of phenylmethanethiols (benzylthiols), including (2-furyl)methanethiol, to butadiynes in potassium hydroxide/dimethyl sulfoxide affords the corresponding 2,5-diaryl-3-(phenylmethyl)thiophenes.

In order to investigate the possible mechanism(s) by which CC bonds are cleaved or are formed on metallic surfaces, the reactions of linear and branched butenes and butanes over Ru/SiO2 catalysts are studied. At temperatures above 50–100°C and in the presence of hydrogen, 1-butene, cis-2-butene, trans-2-butene, or isobutane simultaneously undergo isomerization (cis-trans isomerization or double-bond migration), hydrogenation, hydrogenolysis, and homologation reactions. In the same conditions, n-butane and isobutane only undergo hydrogenolysis. The influence of the structure of the starting hydrocarbon, contact time, reaction temperature, and hydrogen/hydrocarbon ratio on conversions and selectivities has been examined. Mechanisms for these reactions of hydrocarbons over metallic surfaces in the presence of hydrogen are envisaged using the known concepts of molecular chemistry: the results suggest that metal-alkyl species are key intermediates. Concerning hydrogenolysis and homologation of butenes, it appears that these two reactions occur at comparable rates, which suggests that they are mechanistically related. These reactions involve: (i) the formation of C3 and C1 (probably methylene) fragments from a C4 olefin and (ii) the reaction of the C1 fragments with the starting olefin to give C5 hydrocarbons, in competition with the hydrogenation of these C1 fragments leading to methane. Two simple mechanisms can explain the simultaneous and reversible nature of these two reactions of CC bond cleavage and formation: (i) the insertion-deinsertion of a metallocarbene into (or from) a metal-alkyl species and (ii) the formation-rearrangement of a dimetallacyclopentane intermediate.

1,4-Diphenyl- and 1,4-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,4-butanediones (3 and 4), as well as 1-phenyl-, 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-, and 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-pentanediones (7-9) react with bis(tributyltin), bis(tricyclohexyltin), and/or bis-(triphenyltin) sulfide in the presence of boron trichloride to give, 2,5-diaryl- or 5-methyl-2-arylthiophenes

Addition of phenylmethanethiols (benzylthiols), including (2-furyl)methanethiol, to butadiynes in potassium hydroxide/dimethyl sulfoxide affords the corresponding 2,5-diaryl-3-(phenylmethyl)thiophenes.