Ghrelin receptor signalling is not required for glucocorticoid-induced obesity in female mice.

Chronic exposure to high circulating glucocorticoid or ghrelin concentrations increases food intake, weight gain and adiposity, suggesting that ghrelin could contribute to the metabolic effects of chronic glucocorticoids. In male mice, however, blocking ghrelin receptor (GHSR) signalling increased the weight gain and adiposity induced by chronic corticosterone (CORT), rather than attenuating them. In the current study, we investigated the role of GHSR signalling in the metabolic effects of chronic exposure to high circulating CORT in female mice. To do this, female WT and GHSR KO mice were treated with either CORT in a 1% ethanol (EtOH) solution or 1% EtOH alone in their drinking water for 32 days (N=5-8/group). Body weight, food, and water intake as well as vaginal cyclicity were assessed daily. As expected, CORT treatment induced significant increases in body weight, food intake, adiposity and also impaired glucose tolerance. In contrast to results observed in male mice, WT and GHSR KO female mice did not differ on any of these parameters. Neither plasma levels of ghrelin, LEAP-2, the endogenous GHSR antagonist produced by the liver, nor their ratio were altered by chronic glucocorticoid exposure. In addition, CORT treatment disrupted vaginal cyclicity, produced a reduction in sucrose consumption and increased locomotor activity regardless of genotype. Chronic CORT also decreased exploration in WT but not GHSR KO mice. Collectively, these data suggest that most metabolic, endocrine, reproductive and behavioral effects of chronic CORT exposure are independent of GHSR signalling in female mice.

Essential Oils Derived from Momordica charantia Seeds Exhibited Antiulcer Activity against Hydrogen Chloride/Ethanol and Indomethacin

Momordica charantia (MC) is popular for its medicinal uses especially for treating diabetic-related complications. However, the antiulcer activity of essential oil derived from the seeds has not been systematically studied. This study aims to evaluate the gastroprotective activities of essential oil derived from the seed of MC induced by hydrochloride acid/ethanol (HCl/EtOH) and indomethacin and pylorus-ligation model. Gastric ulceration was induced by oral administration of HCl/EtOH solution or indomethacin on day 7 after animals have been pretreated with testing compounds. The first group received just distilled water and the second group received ranitidine (100 mg/kg). Groups 3, 4, and 5 received 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg of essential oil based on their body weight (10 mL/kg), respectively. Macroscopically, pretreatment of essential oil extracted from MC significantly decreased ulceration induced by HCl/EtOH and indomethacin in vivo. Microscopically, essential oil also significantly suppressed the formation of edema, epithelial disruption, and mucosa erosions. Moreover, essential oil significantly elevated the pH without decreasing the total acidity of the gastric juice and was able to increase the amount of adherent mucus compared to control. Current results provide scientific basis to the ethno-pharmacological usage of the MC in preventing ulcer formation induced by HCl/EtOH and indomethacin.

Influence of Electrospinning Parameters on the Hydrophilicity of Electrospun Polycaprolactone Nanofibres

In the present study, PCL (polycaprolactone) nanofibres were produced by the electrospinning method. The use of PCL electrospun biopolymer in biomedical applications has attracted considerable interest due to its chemical resistance, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxic characteristics. However, the hydrophobic nature of PCL polymer restricts the useage of PCL nanofibres for the cell adhesion and absorption. A hydrophilic and biocompatible PCL electrospun mat with a low water contact angle is an attractive strategy for development in tissue engineering and wound dressing. In this study, we demonstrate a feasible and simple method to produce hydrophilic PCL nanofibres for possible application in wound dressing. Chloroform/ethanol (EtOH) and chloroform/dimethylformamide (DMF) mixtures were used as two different solvent systems. The impact of the polymeric solution concentration, applied voltage, and solvent mixtures on the fibre surface morphology and water contact angle was investigated. Consequently, bead structures were observed at low concentrations but disappeared with increases in the concentration. It was observed that the size of beads decreased and the diameter of fibres increased with increasing voltage. The wettability of the webs changed from hydrophobic to hydrophilic with changes of the polymer concentration. The contact angle of the nanofibre mats decreased in both solvent systems as the concentration increased. The results showed that the lowest contact angle was obtained in 24% wt. PCL+chloroform/EtOH solution and was 68°. The highest contact angle was obtained in 4% wt. PCL+chloroform/EtOH solution and was 112°. Using this method, the surface hydrophilicity of the PCL nanofibres improved easily without any surface treatment.

The effect of gamma-irradiation on graphene oxide in a monoglyceride/ethanol solution

Gamma-irradiation effects on graphene oxide (GO) in a monoglyceride/ethanol (MG/EtOH) solution was investigated. GO was dispersed in MG/EtOH solution (GOM) with the GO: MG ratio of 1:10 (w/w). The prepared GOM was irradiated by g-ray under nitrogen atmosphere in a range of absorbed dose from 0 to 50 kGy. The characteristics and morphology of reduced GOM were analyzed by Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The results confirmed that the structure of reduced graphene oxide in monoglyceride solution was changed and exfoliated completely after g-ray irradiation at absorbed dose 50 kGy compared with non-irradiation sample.

Structural diversity of lamellar zeolite Nu-6(1)—postsynthesis of delaminated analogues

Interlayer deconstruction and reconstruction took place alternately when treating Nu-6(1) zeolite, the lamellar precursor of NSI topology, with HCl–EtOH solution.

Comparing Three Solutions for Extracting Western Flower Thrips from Coleus Shoots

Western flower thrips [Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)] are small-bodied insects that prefer tight spaces such as flower buds and young leaves. Western flower thrips (WFT) pose sampling problems when compared with larger insects commonly found in plant canopies. Techniques to wash insects from plant canopies exist; however, plant type, plant age, and spatial distribution of insects within the canopy impact the efficacy of sampling. An experiment was designed to determine if 75% ethyl alcohol (EtOH), 0.1% detergent solution, or deionized water effectively wash WFT from the foliage of six coleus [Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd] genotypes inoculated with 32 adults and larvae. The number of WFT recovered after filtration through three mesh sizes varied between blocks and extraction solutions. The mean number of thrips recovered from coleus shoots with 75% EtOH solution, 0.1% detergent solution, or deionized water was 6.7, 8.4, or 0.8, respectively. The number of thrips recovered did not vary by coleus genotype, indicating the extraction solutions were equally effective on smooth leaf or curly leaf type plants. The 75% EtOH extraction solution is recommended for subsequent experiments.

Synthesis and X-ray structural characterization of the ruthenium β-diketonato complexes: Ru(hfac)3, cis-Ru(hfac)2(MeCN)2, and cis-Ru(hfac)(acac)(MeCN)2

Ru(hfac)3 (2) was synthesized via peroxide oxidation of the Ru(II) species [Na][Ru(hfac)3] (1) (hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate). Treatment of either 1 or 2 with CF3SO3H in MeCN generated cis-Ru(hfac)2(MeCN)2 (3). Ru(acac)2(hfac) (4) (acac = acetylacetonate) was generated by addition of hfac to an EtOH solution of cis-[Ru(acac)2(MeCN)2][CF3SO3]. Subsequent treatment of 4 with CF3SO3H in MeCN yielded cis-Ru(acac)(hfac)(MeCN)2 (7). Syntheses of [Na][Ru(hfac)2(acac)] (5) and Ru(hfac)2(acac) (6) are also reported. The complexes were characterized generally by elemental analysis, cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis, NMR, and IR spectroscopies. The structures of 2, 3, and 7 were established by X-ray crystallographic analyses. Crystals of 2 are monoclinic with a = 8.7781(4), b = 13.0760(11), c = 19.1857(5) Å, β = 92.2275(5)°, Z = 4, and space group P21/n; those of 3 are monoclinic with a = 25.731(4), b = 8.8332(13), c = 18.1955(4) Å, β = 93.3395(6)°, Z = 8, and space group C2/c; and those of 7 are triclinic with a = 7.6812(9), b = 10.680(2), c = 12.578(2) Å, α = 88.062(6)°, β = 83.874(3)°, γ = 69.5898(15)°, Z = 2, and space group Pbar over 1. The structures were solved by Patterson methods and refined by full-matrix least-squares procedures to R(F) = 0.036, 0.035, and 0.068 (Rw(F2) = 0.061,Rw(F) = 0.052, and Rw(F) = 0.089), respectively.Key words: ruthenium, β-diketonato complexes, acetylacetonate, 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate, acetonitrile complexes.