Synthesis and in vitro study of antiproliferative benzyloxy dihydropyrimidinones

In this study, we report on antiproliferative benzyloxy dihydropyrimidinones (DHPMs) produced by the Biginelli reaction of benzyloxy benzaldehyde, urea, and diverse 1,3-diones. The reaction was catalyzed by lanthanum triflate and completed within 1-1.5 h, with 74-97% yield. The antiproliferative assay was carried out for all synthesized dihydropyrimidinones against six human solid tumor cell lines. Six compounds showed good antiproliferative activity with GI₅₀ values below 5 μM. Among all the synthesized compounds, the most potent derivative showed good antiproliferative activity against all cell lines with GI₅₀ values in the range of 1.1-3.1 μM. These DHPMs comply with druglikeness. Furthermore, ADMET prediction and the effect of P-glycoprotein on the antiproliferative activity were also studied. Overall, our method allows eco-friendly access to benzyloxy DHPMs as potential anticancer drugs.

Pyridine-2-carboxylic acid as an effectual catalyst for rapid multi-component synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolinones

Green synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolinones was designed using bioproduct pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (P2CA) as a green and efficient catalyst. The multi-component reaction of aldehydes, 1,3-cyclodiones and 5-amino-1-phenyl-pyrazoles regioselectively produced pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolinones in excellent yield (84–98%). Recyclization of the catalyst was also investigated. The electronic effect of the various substituents in aromatic rings indicated that the reaction proceeded through the carbocation intermediate. This newly designed protocol very quickly constructed products conventionally under milder conditions.

Green synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolinones was designed using bioproduct pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (P2CA) as a green and efficient catalyst.

Impact of an aryl bulky group on a one-pot reaction of aldehyde with malononitrile and N-substituted 2-cyanoacetamide

In this study, we successfully explored the effect of steric hindrance on the one-pot reaction of different aryl aldehydes with malononitrile and N-substituted 2-cyanoacetamide in the presence of piperidinium acetate as the catalyst. It involved the Knoevenagel condensation of the aldehyde and malononitrile to produce arylidene malononitrile as an intermediate, which was further treated with N-substituted 2-cyanoacetamide to give 6-amino-2-pyridone-3,5-dicarbonitrile derivatives when the less steric bulky group was involved. High steric hindrance changed the earlier reaction route and gave N-substituted 2-cyanoacrylamides via a slower route.

Impact of aryl bulky group on the one-pot reaction of aldehyde with malononitrile and N-substituted 2-cyanoacetamide is examined in the presence of piperidinium acetate as reusable catalyst.

Mental health management of pathological gamblers by counseling and relaxation practices

The present study examines the mental health management of pathological gamblers by counseling and relaxation practices. Fifty-five treated and 55 non-treated pathological gamblers were evaluated at S. I. Mental and Physical Health Society, Varanasi, India. The two groups were matched by age, ranging 20 to 53 years with a mean age of 36.2 years and mean length of uncontrollable gambling of 7.3 years. The Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire and the Death Anxiety Scale were administered to ascertain mental health and death anxiety on seven selected dimensions, including: anxiety, obsession, phobia, somatization, depression, hysteria, and death anxiety. Mean scores obtained on different variables were analyzed using a t-test of significance. Results indicated that the characteristic associated with treated pathological gamblers was phobia whereas the characteristics associated with non-treated pathological gamblers were anxiety, obsession, somatization, depression, and death anxiety.

The finite element analysis of stresses in atherosclerotic arteries during balloon angioplasty

Finite element models of diseased arteries subject to balloon dilation are used to study the stresses in the arterial wall and plaque at peak balloon pressures. These models incorporate large strain, simulate contact between the balloon and the inner artery, and the constituent materials are modeled as nonlinear elastic. In these analyses, balloon dilation pressures range from 300 to 450 kPa. The stress in the diseased artery is recorded under different stenosis levels dilated using different balloons and possible causes of restenosis and plaque rupture are discussed.

Purified neem (Azadirachta indica) seed extracts (Praneem) abrogate pregnancy in primates

The use of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed extracts (Praneem) given orally for abrogation of pregnancy in subhuman primates is described. Oral administration of Praneem was initiated after confirmation of pregnancy using Leydig cell bioassay estimating rising levels of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) in the blood from day 25 onwards of the cycle and continued for six days. Termination of pregnancy was observed with the appearance of blood in the vaginal smears and decline in CG and progesterone. Pregnancy continued in the control animals treated with peanut oil at the same dose. The effect was observed in both baboons and bonnet monkeys. The treatment was well tolerated; blood chemistry and liver function tests had normal values. The animals regained their normal cyclicity in the cycles subsequent to Praneem treatment.

Antifertility effects of porcine zona pellucida-3 immunization using permissible adjuvants in female bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata): reversibility, effect on follicular development and hormonal profiles

Female bonnet monkeys Macaca radiata (n = 8, four per group) were immunized with purified 55 kDa glycoprotein from porcine zona pellucida (ZP3) and ZP3 conjugated to the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta hCG) using adjuvants permissible for human use (alum, muramyl dipeptide and sodium phthalyl derivative of lipopolysaccharide). The animals were monitored for anti-ZP3 antibody titres, biweekly progesterone concentrations, menstrual cyclicity and status of fertility. All the animals generated a good anti-ZP3 antibody response, continued to have ovulatory cycles, remained infertile in the presence of high anti-ZP3 antibody titres and showed no disturbance in cyclicity (except summer amenorrhoea). Examinations by laparoscope showed normal ovaries with developing follicles or corpora lutea on the surface. Fifty per cent of the animals conceived after a decline in antibody titres. Ovaries of animals that failed to regain fertility were examined for changes in morphology at times when anti-ZP3 antibody titres in the circulation were low and following a booster when titres were high. None of the ovaries showed any sign of inflammation or lymphocytic infiltration. Follicles at different stages of development were seen in all of the ovaries. No significant reduction in the number of follicles, except in one monkey (MRA 178), was observed. There was no increase in the numbers of atretic or degenerating follicles. The results showed that ZP3 immunization with permissible adjuvants could be used for immunocontraception without obvious ovarian changes.

Long-term contraceptive effects of intrauterine neem treatment (IUNT) in bonnet monkeys: an alternate to intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD)

Antifertility effects of intrauterine neem treatment (IUNT) was studied in bonnet monkeys. A single administration of 1 ml of neem oil by an intrauterine insemination catheter blocked fertility for 7 to 12 months. The effect was, however, reversible as all the animals became pregnant subsequently and delivered normal babies. The neem oil treatment had no adverse effect on menstrual cyclicity and ovarian functions. The uterus of neem-treated animals showed normal morphology. Immunohistological studies, however, demonstrated a significant increase in the number of MHC-II antigen-positive cells in the uterine endometrium following neem treatment, indicating enhanced antigen-presenting ability of the uterus; a feature that may be related to the observed antifertility effect of neem oil. The present investigation demonstrates that an IUNT can be used for long-term, reversible contraception, without any apparent side effects, and that the method could provide an alternate to currently used intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD).

Development of a rheological constitutive relation for a soft biological tissue

A rheological constitutive relation in shear for an apple cortex tissue has been developed based upon creep experiments on solid cylindrical samples of the soft tissue obtained from a specified location of the apple and subjected to constant torques of various magnitudes and duration using a specially developed multiaxial loading device. Results indicate that the material displays non-linear viscoelastic properties which can be characterized by a multiple integral relation between the torque and the unit angle of twist. Using this relation the creep response of the material under two step and three step torque histories and the history with torque linearly varying with time was predicted and found to agree well with experimental results. Finally, the paper describes a method for obtaining the constitutive relation in shear from the developed unit angle of twist-torque equation. The shear constitutive relation for the tissue has been found to be of the integral type with two kernal functions specifying the rheological response.