Dicoumarol complexes of Cu(II) based on 1,10-phenanthroline: synthesis, X-ray diffraction studies, thermal behavior and biological evaluation.

A series of Cu(II) complexes containing dicoumarol derivatives and 1, 10-phenanthroline have been synthesized. Structural and spectroscopic properties of ligands were studied on the basis of mass spectra, NMR ((1)H and (13)C) spectra, FT-IR spectrophotometry and elemental analysis, while physico-chemical, spectroscopic and thermal properties of mixed ligand complexes have been studied on the basis of infrared spectra, mass spectra, electronic spectra, powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray diffraction study suggested the suitable octahedral geometry for hexa-coordinated state. The kinetic parameters such as order of reaction (n), energy of activation (Ea), entropy (S(*)), pre-exponential factor (A), enthalpy (H(*)) and Gibbs free energy (G(*)) have been calculated using Freeman-Carroll method. Ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of all complexes were measured. All the compounds were screened for their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes and Bacillus subtilis, while antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger have been carried out. Also compounds against Mycobacterium tuberculosis shows clear enhancement in the anti-tubercular activity upon copper complexation.

Multiple heating rate kinetic parameters, thermal, X-ray diffraction studies of newly synthesized octahedral copper complexes based on bromo-coumarins along with their antioxidant, anti-tubercular and antimicrobial activity evaluation.

Series of new Cu(II) complexes were synthesized by classical thermal technique. The biologically potent ligands (L) were prepared by refluxing 6-brom 3-acetyl coumarin with aldehydes in the presence of piperidine in ethanol. The Cu(II) complexes have been synthesized by mixing an aqueous solution of Cu(NO(3))(2) in 1:1 molar ratios with ethanolic bidentate ligands and Clioquinol. The structures of the ligands and their copper complexes were investigated and confirmed by the elemental analysis, FT-IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, mass spectral and powder X-ray diffraction studies respectively. Thermal behaviour of newly synthesized mixed ligand Cu(II) complexes were investigated by means of thermogravimetry, differential thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, electronic spectra and magnetic measurements. Dynamic scan of DSC experiments for Cu(II) complexes were taken at different heating rates (2.5-20 °C min(-1)). Kinetic parameters for second step degradation of all complexes obtained by Kissinger's and Ozawa's methods were in good agreement. On the basis of these studies it is clear that ligands coordinated to metal atom in a monobasic bidentate mode, by OO and ON donor system. Thus, suitable octahedral geometry for hexa-coordinated state has been suggested for the metal complexes. Both the ligands as well as its complexes have been screened for their in vitro antioxidant, anti-tubercular and antimicrobial activities. All were found to be significant potent compared to parent ligands employed for complexation.

Prevalence of alternative splicing choices in Arabidopsis thaliana.

BACKGROUND: Around 14% of protein-coding genes of Arabidopsis thaliana genes from the TAIR9 genome release are annotated as producing multiple transcript variants through alternative splicing. However, for most alternatively spliced genes in Arabidopsis, the relative expression level of individual splicing variants is unknown. RESULTS: We investigated prevalence of alternative splicing (AS) events in Arabidopsis thaliana using ESTs. We found that for most AS events with ample EST coverage, the majority of overlapping ESTs strongly supported one major splicing choice, with less than 10% of ESTs supporting the minor form. Analysis of ESTs also revealed a small but noteworthy subset of genes for which alternative choices appeared with about equal prevalence, suggesting that for these genes the variant splicing forms co-occur in the same cell types. Of the AS events in which both forms were about equally prevalent, more than 80% affected untranslated regions or involved small changes to the encoded protein sequence. CONCLUSIONS: Currently available evidence from ESTs indicates that alternative splicing in Arabidopsis occurs and affects many genes, but for most genes with documented alternative splicing, one AS choice predominates. To aid investigation of the role AS may play in modulating function of Arabidopsis genes, we provide an on-line resource (ArabiTag) that supports searching AS events by gene, by EST library keyword search, and by relative prevalence of minor and major forms.

Oral contraceptives for inducing ovulation delay in orthodox Jewish women: a report of 2 cases.

BACKGROUND: Orthodox Jewish women are prohibited from participating in sexual intercourse from the start of menstruation to 7 days after the end of flow, when they participate in a ritual bath. CASE: Two orthodox Jews with ovulation prior to initiating sexual intercourse were treated with oral contraceptives to delay ovulation. CONCLUSION: Oral contraceptive treatment strategies are effective at delaying ovulation until after the ritual cleansing for orthodox Jewish women with short follicular phases.

Luteinizing hormone secretion is not influenced by insulin infusion in women with polycystic ovary syndrome despite improved insulin sensitivity during pioglitazone treatment.

It has been reported in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that LH secretion is not altered by insulin infusion. To determine whether insulin resistance may have precluded an effect of insulin, pulsatile LH secretion and gonadotropin responses to GnRH were examined in PCOS women (n = 9) before and after pioglitazone treatment (45 mg/d) for 20 wk in the presence and absence of a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (80 mU/m2.min). Frequent blood samples were obtained for 12 h (every 10 min) as well as during sequential administration of GnRH at doses of 2, 10, and 20 microg over 12 h. A significant (P < 0.05) improvement in insulin sensitivity was seen in the subjects after treatment. Mean LH levels, LH pulse frequency and amplitude, as well as gonadotropin responses to GnRH were not influenced by pioglitazone, either with or without insulin infusion. We conclude that in PCOS women, inappropriate gonadotropin release does not appear to be a consequence of hyperinsulinemia.

Initial evaluation and management of infertility by the primary care physician.

Infertility is a common condition seen in primary care practices. Infertility is defined as 1 year of unprotected intercourse during which a pregnancy is not achieved. in the United States, 15% to 20% of all couples are infertile, with higher rates seen in older couples. The causes of infertility include abnormalities of any portion of the male or female reproductive system. The female partner usually presents initially for an infertilty problem, often in the context of an annual well-women examination. The primary care physician who provides such preventive care can initiate the diagnostic evaluation and can treat some causes of infertility.