Long-Chih Hwang

Lipid peroxidation in workers exposed to aluminium, gallium, indium, arsenic, and antimony in the optoelectronic industry.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether exposure to aluminum, gallium, indium, arsenic, and antimony induces lipid peroxidation in humans. Methods: Whole blood and urine levels of 103 exposed electronic industry workers and 67 referents were analyzed by use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Malondialdehyde (MDA), the product of lipid peroxidation, was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: The mean plasma MDA level in the 103 workers was significantly higher than that in 67 referents. The levels of MDA in the exposed workers were correlated significantly with the levels of urinary gallium and arsenic. Conclusions: Malondialdehyde as an index of lipid peroxidation can be induced by gallium and arsenic exposure. By reducing exposure to these metals, biologic effects such as lipid peroxidation may also be diminished.

Nonlinear absorption of light: two-photon absorption and optical saturation in metalloporphyrin-doped boric acid glass

Abstract The nonlinear absorption of five metal TMPPs (TMPP: tetrakis-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)porphyrin) doped in boric acid glass are measured with the linear polarized nanosecond laser pulses at different wavelengths by Z-scan; the two-photon absorption (TPA) is dominant in the near infrared, while the characteristic of saturation absorption (SA) is observed close to the Q(0,0) band of porphyrin. The symmetry allowed two-photon π*←π transitions are suggested to be 1 B 1 g * ← S 0 and 1 B 2 g * ← S 0 , with the cross-sections δ ranging from 25×10−50 to 114×10 −50 cm 4 s / photon . We analyze the property of SA with a four-level system, and find that the magnitudes of excited-state absorptivity and saturation intensity are not affected by changing the central metal ion in these experiments.

PROTEOMIC ALTERATION OF MITOCHONDRIAL ALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE 2 IN SEPSIS REGULATED BY HEAT SHOCK RESPONSE

The present study was designed to investigate the proteomic alteration of hepatic mitochondria during sepsis and to explore the possible effects induced by heat shock treatment. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture in Sprague-Dawley rats. Liver mitochondrial proteins were isolated and evaluated by 2-dimensional electrophoresis with broad pH-ranged (pH 3 - 10) immobile DryStrip and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein spots were visualized with silver stain and analyzed by Bio-2D software. Results showed that around 120 dominant spots could be separated and visualized distinctly by 2-dimensional electrophoresis analysis. Among them, three spots with the same molecular weight (56.4 kd), mitochondrial protein 1 (MP1), MP2, and MP3, were significantly altered in septic specimens. When analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, the three spots all revealed to be an identical enzyme: aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2, EC 1.2.1.3). During sepsis, MP1 and MP2 were downregulated, whereas MP3 was upregulated concomitantly. Interestingly, heat shock treatment could reverse this phenomenon. Phosphoprotein staining showed that the degree of phosphorylation is higher in MP1 and MP2 than that in MP3. The enzyme activity assay showed that ALDH2 activity was downregulated in nonheated septic rats of 18 h after cecal ligation and puncture operation, and preserved in heated septic rats. The results of this study suggest that posttranslation modification, highly possible the phosphorylation, in ALDH2 may play a functional role in the pathogenesis of sepsis and provide a novel protective mechanism of heat shock treatment.

Synthesis, molecular structure and characterization of allylic derivatives of 6-amino-3-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-f][1,2,4]-triazin-8(7H)-one.

1-Allyl- (2) and 7-allyl-6-amino-3-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-f][1,2,4]triazin-8(7H)-one (3) were obtained via the 18-crown-6-ether catalyzed room temperature reaction of 6-amino-3-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-f][1,2,4]triazin-8(7H)-one (1) with potassium carbonate and allyl bromide in dry acetone. The structures of these two derivatives were verified by 2D-NMR measurements, including gHSQC and gHMBC measurements. The minor compound 2 may possess aromatic character. A single crystal X-ray diffraction experiment indicated that the major compound 3 crystallizes from dimethyl sulfoxide in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n and its molecular structure includes an attached dimethylsulfoxide molecule, resulting in the molecular formula C(10)H(16)N(6)O(2)S. Molecular structures of 3 are linked by extensive intermolecular N-H...N hydrogen bonding [graph set C(1)(1)(7)]. 1 Each molecule is attached to the dimethyl sulfoxide oxygen via N-H...O intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The structure is further stabilized by pi-pi stacking interactions.

An Optimized Synthesis, Molecular Structure and Characterization of Benzylic Derivatives of 1,2,4-Triazin-3,5(2H,4H)-dione

4-Benzyl-1,2,4-triazin-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (3-benzyl-6-azauracil, 2), and 2,4-dibenzyl-1,2,4-triazin-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (1,3-dibenzyl-6-azauracil, 3) were synthesized by the reaction of 1,2,4-triazin-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (6-azauracil, 1) with benzyl bromide and potassium carbonate in dry acetone via the 18-crown-6-ether catalysis. In these reaction methods, we developed more convenient and efficient methodologies to afford compounds 2 and 3 in good yields. These compounds were characterized by 1H- and 13C-NMR, MS spectrum, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The structure of 2 was verified by 2D-NMR measurements, including gHSQC and gHMBC measurements. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment indicated that compound 3, with the molecular formula C17H15N3O2, crystallized from a CH3OH/CH2Cl2 diffusion solvent system in a monoclinic space group P21/c with a = 13.7844(13), b = 8.5691(8), c = 13.0527(12) Å, β = 105.961(2)°, V = 1482.3(2) Å3, Z = 4, resulting in a density Dcalc of 1.314 g/cm3. The crystal structure of compound 3 is tightly stabilized by contact with five other molecules from the six short contacts formed by intermolecular C−O···H−Car, C−H···Car, and weakly π···π stacking interactions. The dihedral angle 31.90° is formed by the mean planes of the benzene rings of the N-2 and N-4 benzyl groups.