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Aims: Strong evidence has implicated synaptic failure as a direct contributor to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and selenium (Se) supplementation has demonstrated potential for AD t...

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major type of dementia in the elderly. Clinical medication at present can only relieve symptoms but has no therapeutical effect. Thus, it is urgent to develop an effective drug for the treatment of AD. In this study, 2-month-old triple transgenic AD model mice (3 × Tg-AD) was treated with 0.2 and 1.0 mM bis(ethylmaltolato) oxidovanadium IV (BEOV) in drinking water for 2 months respectively. The results of open field test, elevated plus-maze test and Y maze test showed that BEOV could significantly improve the exploratory ability, memory capacity and exercise ability and relieve the anxiety of 4-month-old 3 × Tg-AD mice. The dendritic spines of pyramidal neuron in neocortex were detected by in vivo two-photon imaging of YFP and AD-YFP mice (the offspring of 3 × Tg-AD and YFP mice). The numbers of dendritic spines increased in YFP mice but decreased in AD-YFP mice from 2.5-month-old to 3.5-month-old. Treatment with BEOV (1.0 mM) in the AD-YFP mice significantly increased the numbers of total dendritic spines, mushroom spines and thin spines, which suggested that BEOV could protect cortical neurons and reduce the loss of dendritic spines. The contents of metal ions in the brain of mice were further measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that BEOV (1.0 mM) could significantly increase the contents of V and Se and decrease the contents of Fe, Zn, Hg, Pb, Bi and Ni in AD brains, implying that vanadium might synergize with selenium to regulate the contents of metal ions in AD mice. Summarily, BEOV could mediate the homeostasis of multiple metal ions in AD brain and protect cortical neurons by reducing the loss of dendritic spines, thus to interfere with the pathological process of AD.

Magnetic composite particles immobilized with metal affinity ions show high potential in the phosphoproteome mass-spectrometric (MS) analysis. However, the preparation of this kind of material still suffers from a complicated synthesis procedure and high cost. In this work, the magnetic nanostructured composite microspheres (MPCS) incorporated into N-methylene phosphonic chitosan were first fabricated via a facile one-pot synthesis strategy and titanium ions (Ti

Novel three-dimensional (3D) flowerlike hierarchical γ-Fe

The multifunctional microspheres consisting of the magnetic γ-Fe

Disruption of the intracellular balance between free radicals and the antioxidant system is a prominent and early feature in the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Selenium, a vital trace element with known antioxidant potential, has been reported to provide neuroprotection through resisting oxidative damage but its therapeutic effect on AD remains to be investigated. The objective of our study was to investigate the potential of selenomethionine (Se-Met), an organic form of selenium, in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction and neuropathology of triple transgenic AD (3 × Tg-AD) mice. 3 × Tg-AD mice, which were four months old, were treated with Se-Met for 3 months and demonstrated significant improvements in cognitive deficit along with an increased selenium level compared with the untreated control mice. Se-Met treatment significantly reduced the level of total tau and phosphorylated tau, mitigated the decrease of synaptic proteins including synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95 in the hippocampus and cortex of the 3 × Tg-AD mice. Meanwhile, glial activation in AD mice was inhibited and the level of reduced glutathione was increased in the treated mice compared with control mice. Additionally, the expression and activity of glycogen synthase kinase 3β and protein phosphatase 2A, two important enzymes involved in tau phosphorylation, were markedly decreased and increased respectively by Se-Met treatment. Thus Se-Met improves cognitive deficit in a murine model of AD, which is associated with reduction in tau expression and hyperphosphorylation, amelioration of inflammation, and restoration of synaptic proteins and antioxidants. This study provides a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention of AD.

A series of binary and ternary rare earth (Gd, Eu, Tb) complexes with ortho hydroxyl benzoic acid, pam aminobenzoic acid, nicotinic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline were synthesized. Phosphorescence spectra and lifetimes of Gd complexes were measured and the lowest triplet state energies of gadolinium binary complexes end the intramolecular energy transfer efficiencies were determined. The luminescence properties and energy transfer process of Eu3+ and Tb3+ complexes were discussed.

The speciation and distribution of Zn(II) and the effect of Gd(III) on Zn(II) speciation in human blood plasma were studied by computer simulation. The results show that, in normal blood plasma, the most predominant species of Zn(II) are [Zn(HSA)] (58.2%), [Zn(IgG)](20.1%), [Zn(Tf)] (10.4%), ternary complexes of [Zn(Cit)(Cys)] (6.6%) and of [Zn(Cys)(His)H] (1.6%), and the binary complex of [Zn(Cys)2H] (1.2%). When zinc is deficient, the distribution of Zn(II) species is similar to that in normal blood plasma. Then, the distribution changes with increasing zinc(II) total concentration. Overloading Zn(II) is initially mainly bound to human serum albumin (HSA). As the available amount of HSA is exceeded, phosphate metal and carbonate metal species are established. Gd(III) entering human blood plasma predominantly competes for phosphate and carbonate to form precipitate species. However, Zn(II) complexes with phosphate and carbonate are negligible in normal blood plasma, so Gd(III) only have a little effect on zinc(II) species in human blood plasma at a concentration above 1.0 x 10(-4) M.

A new Er(III)–Na(I) coordination polymer of stoichiometry [NaEr2L5(H2O)6(NO3)](NO3)·3.5H2O (HL = picolinic acid N-oxide) has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Crystals are triclinic, PĪ with a = 9.823(2), b = 12.453(2), c = 20.643(4) A; α = 98.49(3), (β = 101.40(3), γ = 108.69(3)°; V = 2284(1) A3; Z = 2. Of the two independent eight-coordinate erbium(III) ions in this complex, one is surrounded by four bidentate chelating L ligands, and the other by one bidentate chelating L ligand, four aqua ligands and two anti-carboxylate oxygen atoms from two neighboring [ErL4] units. The sodium(I) ion is in a distorted octahedral environment, being coordinated by a unidentate nitrate anion, three aqua ligands and two anti-carboxylate oxygen atoms from two adjacent [ErL4] units. The complex is built from zigzag chains of syn-anti carboxylate-bridged erbium(III) moieties directed in the a direction, which are cross-linked pairwise by aqua-bridgeddimericsodium(I) units. The resulting composite polymeric chains are further connected by hydrogen bonds to form a three-dimensional network.

A novel polymeric Pr(III) complex with a new double betaine, namely [{Pr(L-1)(1.5)(H2O)(2)}(n)] [ClOli4]3(n). nH(2)O (1) (L-1= 1,4-diazoniobicyclo[2,2,2]octane- 1,4-dipropionate), has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray analysis. In the title complex, the Pr(III) atom is nine-coordinated by seven oxygen atoms from five L-1 ligands and two aqua ligands. Each pair of adjacent praseodymium(III) atoms is linked by a pair of mu(3) chelating and bridging carboxylate groups, thus forming an infinite metal metal chain running parallel to the a direction, and such chains are cross-linked by flexible backbones of L-1 ligands into a three-dimensional network with the perchlorate anions and lattice water molecules accommodated in the interstitial space. The title complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with a = 8.085(2), b = 14.316(3), c = 29.775(6) Angstrom, beta = 103.04(3)degrees and Z = 4.

Four novel polymeric lanthanide(III) complexes of two new double betaine derivatives have been synthesized and structurally determined. In [{La-2(L-1)(2)(H2O)(9)}(n)]Cl-6n. 2nH(2)O (1) and [{Tb(L-1)(H2O)(4)}(n)]Cl-3n. nH(2)O (2) (L-1 =4,4'-trimethylenedipyridinio-N,N'-diacetate), the lanthanide(III) ions form a two-dimensional layer in which each pair of lanthanide(III) ions is bridged by two syn-anti mu-carboxylato-O,O' groups. Adjacent layers are cross-linked through hydrogen bonds among aqua ligands, lattice water molecules and chloride ions, to form a three-dimensional network. Isomorphous [{Ln(L-1)(H2O)(4)}(n)]Cl-3n. 5nH(2)O (Ln=La, 3; Ln=Tb, 4; L-2=1,3 bis(pyridinio-4-carboxylato)-propane) each contain a centrosymmetric paddle-wheel-like dimeric unit in which each pair of adjacent metal atoms is bridged by four syn-syn mu-carboxylato-O,O' groups that are oriented nearly perpendicular to each other about the metal-metal axis. Neighboring dimeric subunits are bridged by a pair of flexible LL ligands into a polymeric chain. Adjacent chains are inter-linked by hydrogen bonds among aqua ligands, lattice water molecules and chloride ions into a three-dimensional network. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rare earth complexes with phenylacetic acid (LnL(3) . nH(2)O, Ln is Ce, Nd, Pr, Ho, Er, Yb and Y, L is phenylacetate, n = 1-2) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, chemical analysis, and X-ray crystal structure. The mechanism of thermal decomposition of the complexes was studied by means of TG-DTG, DTA and DSC. The activation energy and enthalpy change for the dehydration and melting processes were determined.

The structure of the title compound, [Er 2 (C 3 H 7 NO 2 ) 4 (H 2 O) 8 ](ClO 4 ) 6 , consists of dimeric [Er 2 (DL-alanine) 4 (H 2 O) 8 ] 6+ cations and perchlorate anions. The four alanine molecules act as bridging ligands linking two Er 3+ ions through their carboxyl O atoms. Each Er 3+ ion is also coordinated by four water molecules to complete eightfold coordination in a square antiprism fashion. The perchlorate anions and the methyl groups of the alanine ligands are disordered.

Novel core-shell structured Fe3O4@LnPO4 (Ln=Eu, Tb, Er) multifunctional microspheres with a magnetic Fe3O4 core and a LnPO4 shell covered with spikes are synthesized for the first time through the combination of a homogeneous precipitation approach and an ion-exchange process. Their potential for selective capture, rapid separation, and easy mass spectrometry (MS) labeling of the phosphopeptides from complex proteolytic digests are evaluated. These affinity microspheres can improve the specificity for capture of the phosphopeptides, realize fast magnetic separation, enhance the MS detection signals, and directly identify phosphopeptides through 80 Da mass loss in the mass spectra. The synthesis strategy could become a general and effective technique for similar core-shell hierarchical structures.

The crystal structures of Ln(NO3)(3)(Ln = Eu,Lu) complexes with 16-crown-5 are reported. In [Eu(NO3)(2)(CH3CN)(16-crown-5)][Eu(NO3)(4)(H2O)2].1/2(16-crown-5) one Eu-III ion is coordinated to two bidentate nitrate ions, one acetonitrile molecule and five o

In the structure of catena-poly[{triaqua(L-pro-line-O)erbium(III)}-bis-mu-(L-proline-O:O')-{triaqua-(L-proline-O)erbium(III)}-bis-mu-(L-proline-O:O') hexaperchlorate], each Er3+ ion is coordinated by five carboxyl O atoms from the L-proline molecules and three water molecules. Four of the SiX L-proline molecules act as bidentate bridging ligands to link the Er3+ ions through the carboxyl groups, thus producing a one-dimensional chain structure. The other two ligands coordinate unidentately to the rare-earth ions. Hydrogen bonds formed between the coordinated water molecules and between the water and unidentate proline ligand stabilize the polymeric chain.

To explore the effects of ytterbium citrate on human liver carcinoma HepG2 cell line and the potential mechanisms.The HepG2 cells were cultured with DMEM medium and divided into different groups in the following media, in serum-free medium as control, different concentration (0.01 - 5.00 mmol/L) [YbCit(2)](3-)+serum-free medium as treatment group, MTT assay was used to measure the viability of the cells; 2.00 mmol/L [YbCit(2)](3-)+serum-free medium was used as treatment group, and Hoechst 33258 staining was used to detect apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Differential proteomic analysis, assay of intracellular H(2)O(2) levels and mitochondrial transmembrane potential were performed to study the effects of [YbCit(2)](3-) on HepG2 cells and the potential mechanisms.The data showed that 72 h treatment of [YbCit(2)](3-) at 2.00 - 5.00 mmol/L significantly inhibited cell proliferation, and the IC(50) was (2.46 ± 0.23) mmol/L. After treatment with 2.00 mmol/L [YbCit(2)](3-) for 48 h and 72 h, Hoechst 33258 staining demonstrated that [YbCit(2)](3-) induced significantly increased apoptosis in HepG2 cells. After treatment with 2.00 mmol/L [YbCit(2)](3-) for 72 h, two dimensional gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis revealed 14 differentially expressed proteins between [YbCit(2)](3-)-treated cells and the control cells. These proteins mainly included cofilin1, peroxiredoxin6, S100 calcium-binding protein A6, and proteasome 26S non-ATPase subunit 13 isoform 3 and so on. These proteins played important roles in the processes of anti-apoptosis, oxidation reduction, cell proliferation and protein degradation. The mitochondrial membrane potential were investigated, the results showed the red and green fluorescence ratio was 2.45 ± 0.28 in the control group, 1.56 ± 0.23 in 24 h group, 1.16 ± 0.18 in 48 h group, compared with the control, the differences were significant (F = 23.97, P = 0.001). The results of H(2)O(2) detection showed the fluorescence intensity was 20.00 ± 2.08 in the control group, 40.00 ± 5.50 in 24 h group, and 48.00 ± 2.03 in 48 h group, compared with the control, the differences were significant (F = 48.40, P = 0.000). The results indicated a significant reduction in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and significant increase in H2O2 generation were observed in [YbCit(2)](3-)-treated cells.These results suggested that [YbCit(2)](3-) could induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells through the mechanisms involving oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

The interaction of La3+ and cholesterol with the negatively charged phospholipid dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol bilayers was studied by Fourier transform-Raman spectroscopy. La3+ was shown to increase interchain order and intermolecular ordering of the lipid lattice, cholesterol exhibited less of an effect, the La3+-DPPG-cholesterol complex was more ordered than cholesterol=DPPG nd less ordered than La3+-DPPG complexes, cholesterol modulates the order/disorder parameters of DPPG bilayers.

To probe the effects of long-term oral administration of lanthanum nitrate [La(NO(3))(3)] on morphological change in the liver, aftereffect of deposited La in the liver and their mechanism in rats.Young Wistar rats were divided into two groups, one fed with 0.1, 0.2, 2.0, 10.0 and 20.0 mg/kg of La(NO(3))(3) for six months and the other for the control. Changes in ratio of liver to body weight were observed after exposure to La(NO(3))(3) at varied doses for six months and one month after six-month exposure, as well as morphology of the liver in the rats with routine histochemistry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique. Content of La in the liver was measured with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Ratio of liver to body weight was significantly higher in the male rats exposed to 20.0 mg/kg of lanthanum for six months than that in the control group. Ratio of liver to body weight restored to normal in the rats exposed to 20.0 mg/kg of La one month after six-month exposure. Infiltration of inflammatory cells in the portal region of the liver, small amount of fat drops in hepatocytic cytoplasm, increased density of mitochondria stroma, lysosome containing highly-electronic-density bodies and dense granules, normal nucleus and slightly deformed nucleus of hepatocytes could be found in the rats exposed to 20.0 mg/kg. Areas of the liver deposited with glycogen after six-month exposure to 20.0 mg/kg of La accounted for (26.1 +/- 1.5)% and (4.1 +/- 1.4)%, respectively for male and female rats, significantly lower than those in the control group [(31.3 +/- 1.4)% and (39.4 +/- 0.9)%, respectively], with a statistical significance and very statistical significance, respectively. There was a little infiltration of inflammatory cells in the portal region of the liver one month after six-month exposure to 20.0 mg/kg of La, and amount of the dense bodies was lower in the rats exposed to La for six months. Liver contents of La in the rats of all experimental groups were lower one month after six-month exposure than those in the rats exposed for six months.Exposure to a dose of 20.0 mg/kg La(NO(3))(3) for a long term could damage the liver structure to certain extent, but lanthanum deposited in the liver could be eliminated from the body gradually.

There are no discrete molecules of the title compound, catena-poly[{triaquaterbium-tris-beta-(p-nitro-benzoato)-O,O':O;O:O,O';O:O'-aqua(p-nitroben-zoato-O,O')terbium}-bis-mu-(p-nitrobenzoato-O:O') hydrate], [Tb2(C7H4NO4)6(H2O)5], in the crystal structure.

The structure of tetraaqua-1kappa2O,2kappa2O-tetrakis-(mu-salicylato)-1:2kappa2O,1kappaO';1:2kappa2O,2kappaO';1kappaO:2kappaO';-1kappaO:2kappaO'-bis(salicylato)-1kappaO,O';2kappaO,O'-diyttrium tetrahydrate, [Y2(C7H5O3)6(H2O)4].4H2O, is composed of dimeri