Estrogen affects neuropathic pain through upregulating N-methyl-D-aspartate acid receptor 1 expression in the dorsal root ganglion of rats

Estrogen affects the generation and transmission of neuropathic pain,but the specific regulatory mechanism is still unclear.Activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate acid receptor 1（NMDAR1） plays an important role in the production and maintenance of hyperalgesia and allodynia.The present study was conducted to determine whether a relationship exists between estrogen and NMDAR1 in peripheral nerve pain.A chronic sciatic nerve constriction injury model of chronic neuropathic pain was established in rats.These rats were then subcutaneously injected with 17β-estradiol,the NMDAR1 antagonist D（-）-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid（AP-5）,or both once daily for 15 days.Compared with injured drug na？ve rats,rats with chronic sciatic nerve injury that were administered estradiol showed a lower paw withdrawal mechanical threshold and a shorter paw withdrawal thermal latency,indicating increased sensitivity to mechanical and thermal pain.Estrogen administration was also associated with increased expression of NMDAR1 immunoreactivity（as assessed by immunohistochemistry） and protein（as determined by western blot assay） in spinal dorsal root ganglia.This 17β-estradiol-induced increase in NMDAR1 expression was blocked by co-administration with AP-5,whereas AP-5 alone did not affect NMDAR1 expression.These results suggest that 17β-estradiol administration significantly reduced mechanical and thermal pain thresholds in rats with chronic constriction of the sciatic nerve,and that the mechanism for this increased sensitivity may be related to the upregulation of NMDAR1 expression in dorsal root ganglia.

Evaluation of the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese (2010 Edition): Recommended Protein, Pantothenic acid, Vitamin D, and Iron Intakes for Breast-Fed Infants Aged 6 - 11 Months

Objective: With regard to the 2010 edition of Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese (DRIs-2010), we investigated whether the DRIs for two age groups, breast-fed infants aged 6-8 and 9-11 months, can be fulfilled for every nutrient in actual dietary practice. Design: We evaluated (1) whether the DRIs for all nutrients can be fulfilled in a formula with energy and protein exceeding their DRIs, (2) whether the DRIs for all nutrients can be fulfilled in a formula prepared in accordance with Japanese government-recommended weaning guidelines, and (3) what kinds of formulas can be prepared if the DRIs for all nutrients are fulfilled without referring to the weaning guidelines. Setting: Simulation of diet menu on the basis of published data in our university and survey of diet menu in a university hospital attached to a national medical school. Subjects: The three types of formulas were planned for ten days. Results: It was impossible to simultaneously fulfil the DRIs for 6 - 8-month-old infants concerning pantothenic acid, vitamin D, and iron and those for 9 - 11-month-old infants concerning these nutrients plus protein. Conclusion: According to the DRIs-2010, the DRI for all nutrients could not be fulfilled in an ingestible formula.

Syntheses, Crystal Structures and Properties of Two Metal-organic Complexes Based on 5-(4-Pyridyl)-methoxyl Isophthalic Acid

Two new metal-organic frameworks, [Co3L2（NO2）2（H2O）2],, （1） and{[Ni（L）（H2O）5] （H2O）2.DMF}, （2, H2L = 5-（4-pyridyl）-methoxyl isophthalic acid）, have been synthesized by the hydrothermal method and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis （TGA） and X-ray crystallography. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system with space group P2/c and adopts a slightly distorted octahedral configuration. In compound 1, the 2D bilayered structures are linked by O-H...O and O-H...N hydrogen bonds to form a 3D framework. Compound 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic system with space group P2/n, and the central nickel atoms are octa-coordinated with five O atoms from coordinated water molecules and one N atom from one H2L ligand. The abundant O-H…O hydrogen bonds and π…π interactions link the molecules into a 3D framework. In addition, compounds 1 and 2 exhibit strong ultraviolet absorption in the solid state at room temperature.

A Zn(Ⅱ) Coordination Polymer Based on a Flexible Polycarboxylate Ligand 5-(4-Hydroxypyridinium-1-ylmethyl)-isophthalic Acid: Synthesis, Structure, and Property

A Zn（Ⅱ） supramolecular coordination polymer, {[Zn2（L）2（m-bix）（H20）]6H2O}n（1）, with an interesting 1D→2D polythreading array from a flexible and angular organic aromaticpolycarboxylate ligand 5-（4-hydroxypyridinium-l-ylmethyl）isophthalic acid （H2L）, and N-donorligand 1,3-bis（imidazol-l-ylmethyl）benzene （m-bix）, has been obtained under hydrothermalconditions and characterized by elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction （PXRD）, IR, thermalgravimetric analyses （TGA） and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In 1, the Zn（Ⅱ） center has twocoordination geometries. One exhibits a trigonal bipyramidal coordination sphere, and the other isa tetrahedral geometry; L2- has two different coordination modes, with one connecting three Zn（Ⅱ）ions through two monodentate carboxylate groups and the monodentate hydroxyl group, and theother bridging two Zn（Ⅱ） ions through two carboxylate groups. The L2- anions connect the Zn（Ⅱ）centers forming an infinite 1D tubular structure. These 1D tubes are interconnected by the m-bixspacers to form a 2D framework. Such 2D layers are further assembled into a 3D supramolecularnetwork via hydrogen bonds. Meanwhile, the luminescent property of 1 has also been investigatedin detail.

Primary 4-3-oxosteroid 5β-reductase deficiency:Two cases in China

Aldo-keto reductase 1D1(AKR1D1) deficiency,a rare but life-threatening form of bile acid deficiency,has not been previously described in China.Here,we describe the first two primary 4-3-oxosteroid 5β-reductase deficiency patients in China's Mainland diagnosed by fast atom bombardment-mass spectroscopy of urinary bile acids and confirmed by genetic analysis.A high proportion of atypical 3-oxo-4-bile acids in the urine indicated a deficiency in 4-3-oxosteroid 5β-reductase.All of the coding exons and adjacent intronic sequence of the AKR1D1 gene were sequenced using peripheral lymphocyte genomic DNA of two patients and one of the patient's parents.One patient exhibited compound heterozygous mutations:c.396C>A and c.722A>T,while the other was heterozygous for the mutation c.797G>A.Based on these mutations,a diagnosis of primary 4-3-oxosteroid 5β-reductase deficiency could be confirmed.With ursodeoxycholic acid treatment and fat-soluble vitamin supplements,liver function tests normalized rapidly,and the degree of hepatomegaly was markedly reduced in both patients.

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a 2D Sm(Ⅲ) Coordination Polymer: {[Sm_2L_3(H_2O)_4]·(4,4?-bpy)·3H_2O}_n

A new compound, {[Sm^2L3（H2O）4]·（4,4＇-bpy）·3H2O}n（1, H2 L = 5-（3-pyridyl methoxy） isophthalic acid, 4,4＇-bpy = 4,4A-dipyridyl）, has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in triclinic, space group P1 with a = 11.266（2）, b = 15.530（3）, c = 16.711（3） A, α = 112.803（3）, β = 90.526（1）, γ = 94.006（3）°, V = 2686.6（9） A3, Z = 2, Dc = 1.727 g/cm^3, μ = 2.251 mm-1, F（000） = 1392, S = 0.999, the final R = 0.0296 and wR = 0.1058. In the title compound, two crystallographically independent Sm^3＋ cations are bridged by the carboxyl group of L2- ligands to form two different {Sm^2} binuclear subunits which are further connected by two distinct L2- ligands to shape a 1D chain, and such 1D chains are linked up to generate a 2D coordination polymer by another crystallographically unique L2- ligand. The thermogravimetric analysis and luminescent property of the title compound were also investigated.

Synthesis of Novel Tartaric Acid-derived Chiral Phosphite Ligands and Their Application in the Cu-catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Diethylzinc to Cyclic Enones

Five novel tropos （3R,4R）- and/or （3S,4S）-N-benzyltartarimide-derived biphenylphosphite ligands were synthesized and applied in the Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of diethylzinc to cyclic enones with up to 75% e.e. Compared with the reported ligand 1-N-benzylpyrrolidine-3,4-bis[（R）-1,1＇-binaphthyl-2,2＇-diyl]phosphite- L-tartaric acid, the issue that L-（＋）-tartaric acid backbone and （R）-binaphthyl showed strong matched/mismatched character was solved with these tropos ligands. It was found that the enantioselectivity was mainly controlled by the absolute configuration of N-benzyltartarimide backbone, and both enantiomers of the addition products can be obtained by simply changing the configuration of N-benzyltartarimide substituent.