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Excessive exposure to manganese (Mn) may lead to neurotoxicity, referred to as manganism. In several studies, sodium para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS-Na) has shown efficacy against Mn-induced neurodegeneration by attenuating the neuroinflammatory response. The present study investigated the effect of Mn on inflammation and apoptosis in the rat thalamus, as well as the underlying mechanism of the PAS-Na protective effect. The study consisted of sub-acute (Mn treatment for 4 weeks) and sub-chronic (Mn and PAS-Na treatment for 8 weeks) experiments. In the sub-chronic experiments, pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) were significantly increased in the Mn-exposed group compared to the control II. PAS-Na treatment led to a significant reduction in the Mn-induced neuroinflammation by inhibiting IL-1β and COX-2 mRNA expression and reducing IL-1β secretion and JNK/p38 MAPK pathway activity. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis showed that the expression of caspase-3 was significantly increased in both the sub-acute and sub-chronic experimental paradigms concomitant with a significant decrease in B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) in the thalamus of Mn-treated rats. PAS-Na also decreased the expression levels of several apoptotic markers downstream of the MAPK pathway, including Bcl-2/Bax and caspase-3, while up-regulating anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. In conclusion, Mn exposure led to inflammation in the rat thalamus concomitant with apoptosis, which was mediated via the MAPK signaling pathway. PAS-Na treatment antagonized effectively Mn-induced neurotoxicity by inhibiting the MAPK activity in the same brain region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reported herein is the development of a simple but practical catalytic system for the selective reduction of amides with hydrosilane or hydrosiloxane. Low-cost and readily available triethylborane (1.0 M in THF), in combination with a catalytic amount of an alkali metal base, was found to catalyze the reduction of all three amide classes (tertiary, secondary, and primary amides) to form amines under mild conditions. In addition, the selective transformation of secondary amides to aldimines and primary amides to nitriles can also be achieved by using a proper combination of BEt 3 and base. The scope of these BEt 3 -base-catalyzed amide hydrosilylation reactions has been explored in depth. Preliminary results of mechanistic studies suggest a modified Piers' silane Si-H···B activation mode wherein the hydride abstraction by BEt 3 is promoted by the coordination of an alkoxide or hydroxide anion to the Si center.

A combination of the abundant and low-cost triethylborane and sodium alkoxide generates a highly efficient catalyst for reduction of esters, as well as ketones and aldehydes, to alcohols using an inexpensive hydrosilane under mild conditions. The catalyst system exhibits excellent chemoselectivity and a high level of functional group tolerance. Mechanistic studies revealed a resting state of sodium triethylalkoxylborate that is the product of the reaction of BEt3 with sodium alkoxide. This borate species reacts with hydrosilane to form NaBEt3 H, which rapidly reduces esters., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)