I. Reactions of Uranium pentaethoxide with carboxylic acids

Reactions of carboxylic acids in different stoichiometric ratios have been carried out under anhydrous conditions, the compounds of the type U (OEt) 4 (OOCR), U (OEt) 3(OOCR)2 U (OEt) 2 (OOCR) 3 and U (OEt) (OOCR)4 (where R is CH3, C2H5, C3H7 and C6H5) have been isolated. Lactic acid yielded the compounds of the type U (OEt)3 (C3H4O3), U (OEt) (C3H4O3)2, U2 (C3H4O3) 5 and U (C3H4O3) (C3H5O3). Determination of molecular weight of some of the soluble derivatives of benzoic acid, suggest them to be dimeric in boiling benzene.

Digital holographic testing of biconvex lenses

Lenses are one of the most important optical elements for manipulation of wavefronts. For their proper selection, the wavefronts produced by the lenses should be analyzed. Digital holography is a tool which provides whole-field reconstructions of wavefronts, and here the use of digital holographic interferometry in complete characterization of wavefronts from lenses is investigated. Digital holograms of the wavefront from the test lens are recorded for various positions of the test lens from a point source. The reconstructed phase of the wavefront from the test lens is compared with a digitally inputted wavefront for measurement of parallelism as well as curvature. The focal length of the test lens is computed by measuring the change in curvature of the wavefront for two positions of the test lens. The radius of curvature of the test lens is determined by using the test lens in the reflection mode. Refractive index of the lens material is also determined using this method. Detailed theoretical and experimental analysis is provided.

A randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 study of ganitumab or conatumumab in combination with FOLFIRI for second-line treatment of mutant KRAS metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Targeted agents presently available for mutant KRAS metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are bevacizumab and aflibercept. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of conatumumab (an agonistic monoclonal antibody against human death receptor 5) and ganitumab (a monoclonal antibody against the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor) combined with standard FOLFIRI chemotherapy as a second-line treatment in patients with mutant KRAS mCRC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with mutant KRAS metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum refractory to fluoropyrimidine- and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy were randomized 1 : 1 : 1 to receive intravenous FOLFIRI plus conatumumab 10 mg/kg (Arm A), ganitumab 12 mg/kg (Arm B), or placebo (Arm C) Q2W. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

In total, 155 patients were randomized. Median PFS in Arms A, B, and C was 6.5 months (HR, 0.69; P = 0.147), 4.5 months (HR, 1.01; P = 0.998), and 4.6 months, respectively; median overall survival was 12.3 months (HR, 0.89; P = 0.650), 12.4 months (HR, 1.27; P = 0.357), and 12.0 months; and objective response rate was 14%, 8%, and 2%. The most common grade ≥3 adverse events in Arms A/B/C included neutropenia (30%/25%/18%) and diarrhea (18%/2%/10%).

CONCLUSIONS

Conatumumab, but not ganitumab, plus FOLFIRI was associated with a trend toward improved PFS. Both combinations had acceptable toxicity.

Antimicrobial efficacy of metapex (calcium hydroxide with iodoform formulation) at different concentrations against selected microorganisms--an in vitro study

The objective of this study was to assess, in vitro, the effectiveness of several concentrations of Metapex (0.22 gm/ml, 0.022 gm/ml, 0.0022 gm/ml) in the elimination of selected microorganisms. Different concentrations of Metapex were prepared by dissolving it in ethanol (99.9%) Pre-sterilized Whatman paper discs, 6 mm in diameter and soaked with the test solution, were prepared and placed onto the previously seeded agar Petri plates. Plates were incubated aerobically for Enterococcus faecalis (E. Faecalis) and Candida albicans (C. albicans), anaerobically for Bacteroid fragilis (B. fragilis) and Propionibacterium acne respectivally. A zone of inhibition was recorded for each plate and the results were analysed statistically. There was significant reduction in the size of zone of inhibition against P. acne, as the concentration of metapex decreases. At lower concentrations of metapex there was no zone of inhibition observed against E. Faecalis, C. Albicans and B. Fragilis. The result of this study suggested that Metapex is a potent antimicrobial agent at higher concentration.

A novel study of screening and confirmation of modafinil, adrafinil and their metabolite modafinilic acid under EI-GC-MS and ESI-LC-MS-MS ionization

OBJECTIVE

Adrafinil and modafinil have received wide publicity and have become controversial in the sporting world when several athletes were discovered allegedly using these drugs as doping agents. By acknowledging the facts, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned these drugs in sports since 2004. The present study explores the possibility of differentiating adrafinil and modafinil and their major metabolites under electron impact ionization in gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MSD) and electrospray ionization in liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) by studying the fragmentation pattern of these drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adrafinil, modafinil and their major metabolite, modafinilic acid were analyzed on EI-GC-MSD and ESI-LC-MS/MS using various individual parameters on both the instruments. The analytical technique and equipment used in the analysis were an Agilent 6890N GC with 5973 mass selective detector for the GC-MSD analysis and an Agilent 1100 HPLC with API-3200 Triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for the LC-MS/MS analysis. Validation of both methods was performed using six replicates at different concentrations.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The results show that adrafinil, modafinil and their major metabolite modafinilic acid could be detected as a single artifact without differentiation under EI-GC-MSD analysis. However, all drugs could be detected and differentiated under ESI-LCMS/MS analysis without any artifaction. The GC-MSD analysis gives a single artifact for both the drugs without differentiation and thus can be used as a marker for screening purposes. Further, the Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) method developed under LC-MS/MS is fit for the purpose for confirmation of suspicious samples in routine sports testing and in forensic and clinical analysis.

Restricted dispersal and genetic diversity in populations of an endangered montane lizard (Eulamprus leuraensis, Scincidae)

Many alpine species are under threat from global climate change, as their geographic ranges become increasingly fragmented and unsuitable. Understanding rates and determinants of gene flow among such fragmented populations, over historical as well as recent timescales, can help to identify populations under threat. It is also important to clarify the degree to which loss of local populations reduces overall genetic diversity within the taxon. The endangered Blue Mountains Water Skink (Eulamprus leuraensis) is restricted to <40 small swamps in montane south-eastern Australia. Our analyses of seven microsatellite loci of 241 animals from 13 populations show strong geographic structure, with major genetic divergence even between populations separated by <0.5 km. Dispersal between populations is scarce, and appears to involve mostly males. Our analyses suggest potential recent bottleneck events in all the identified populations, and lower genetic diversity and population size parameter at lower-elevation sites than at higher-elevation sites. Management of this endangered taxon thus needs to treat most populations separately, because of their genetic distinctiveness and low rates of genetic exchange.