The physiological parameters such as growth, Chl a content, and photosynthetic performance of the experimental cyanobacterium Anabaenopsis circularis HKAR-22 were estimated to evaluate the cumulative effects of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Maximum induction of UV-screening molecules, MAAs, was observed under the treatment condition of PAR + UV-A + UV-B (PAB) radiations. UV/VIS absorption spectroscopy and HPLC-PDA detection primarily confirmed the presence of MAA-shinorine (SN) having absorption maxima (λmax) at 332.3 nm and retention time (RT) of 1.47 min. For further validation of the presence of SN, HRMS, FTIR and NMR were utilized. UV-stress elevated the in vivo ROS scavenging and in vitro enzymatic antioxidant capabilities. SN exhibited substantial and concentration-dependent antioxidant capabilities which was determined utilizing 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2\'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS), ferric reducing power (FRAP) and superoxide radical scavenging assay (SRSA). The density functional theory (DFT) method using B3LYP energy model and 6-311G++(d,p) basis set was implied to perform the quantum chemical calculation to systematically investigate the antioxidant nature of SN. The principal pathways involved in the antioxidant reactions along with the basic molecular descriptors affecting the antioxidant potentials of a compound were also studied. The results favor the potential of SN as an active ingredient to be used in cosmeceutical formulations.

Since the 2000s, an increasing number of new psychoactive substances have appeared on the illicit drug market. β-Keto-arylcyclohexylamine compounds play important pharmacological roles in anesthesia; however, because these new psychoactive substances have rapidly increasing illicit recreational use, the lack of detailed toxicity data are of particular concern. Therefore, analysis of their metabolites can help forensic personnel provide references and suggestions on whether a suspect has taken an illicit new psychoactive β-keto-arylcyclohexylamine. The present study investigated the in vitro and in vivo metabolism and metabolites of three β-keto-arylcyclohexylamines: deschloro-N-ethyl-ketamine, fluoro-N-ethyl-ketamine and bromoketamine. In vitro and in vivo models were established using zebrafish and human liver microsomes for analysis of Phase I and Phase II metabolites by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. Altogether, 49 metabolites were identified. The results were applied for the subject urine samples of known fluoro-N-ethyl-ketamine consumer screen analysis in forensic cases. Hydroxy-deschloro-N-ethyl-ketamine, hydroxy-fluoro-N-ethyl-ketamine and hydroxy-bromoketamine were recommended as potential biomarkers for documenting intake in clinical and forensic cases.

For the first time, we report a novel and highly stable visual electrochemiluminescence emission from the [Ru(bpy)3]2+/dicyclohexylamine system at physiological pH conditions, with a quantum efficiency (ΦECL) of 95.5%. Furthermore, we have successfully demonstrated the simple and rapid smartphone-based ECL mapping of sebaceous fingerprints via a non-destructive mode.

Novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) have currently become a major public health concern because of relatively easy accessibility to these compounds and difficulty in identifying them with routine laboratory techniques. Here, we report the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) case study of a 23-year-old man who developed a substance-induced psychotic disorder after having intravenously injected himself with an unspecified amount of methoxetamine (MXE), a ketamine derivative hallucinogen. From a clinical perspective, a blunted affective responsiveness with diminished social drive and sense of purpose, along with a profound detachment from the environment, was observed. Psychometric and neuropsychological assessments highlighted severe dissociative symptoms and lack of motivation, along with a mild impairment of verbal fluency, working memory, and attention. Patient\'s 18F-FDG PET/CT scans displayed a significant bilateral deficit of tracer uptake within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). DLPFC activity is critical to goal-oriented cognitive functions, including working memory and sustained attention. DLPFC is also involved in both the temporal integration across multiple sensory modes and in the volitional control of actions, leading to the possibility to construct logically coherent temporal configurations of thought, speech, and behavior. This report highlights that a single acute MXE intoxication may produce severe brain impairment.

G-quadruplexes are formed by the association of four guanine bases through Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding in guanine-rich sequences of DNA and exist in the telomere as well as in promoter regions of certain oncogenes. The sequences of G-quadruplex-DNA are targets for the design of molecules that can bind and can be developed as anti-cancer drugs. The linear and cyclic protonated diamines have been explored to bind to G-quadruplex-DNA through hydrogen bonding interactions. The quadruplex-DNA binders exploit π-stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions with the phosphate backbone of loops and grooves. In this study, linear and cyclic protonated diamines showed remarkable binding affinity for G-tetrads using hydrogen bonding interactions. The DFT M06-2X/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level of theory showed that the cyclic ee-1,2-CHDA (equatorial-equatorial form of 1,2-disubstituted cyclohexadiamine di-cation) binds to the G-tetrads very strongly (∼70.0 kcal mol-1), with a much higher binding energy than the linear protonated diamines. The binding affinity of ligands for G-tetrads with counterions has also been examined. The binding preference of these small ligands for G-tetrads is higher than for DNA-duplex. The binding affinity of an intercalated acridine-based ligand (BRACO-19) for G-quadruplexes has been examined and the binding energy is relatively lower than that for the 1,2 disubstituted cyclohexadiamine di-cation with G-tetrads. The atoms-in-molecules (AIM) analysis reveals that the hydrogen bonding interactions between the organic systems with G-tetrads are primarily electrostatic in nature. The molecular dynamics simulations performed using a classical force field (GROMACS) also supported the phosphate backbone sites of G-quadruplex-DNA to bind to these diamines. To mimic the structural pattern of BRACO-19, the designed inhibitor N,2-bis-2(3,4-aminocyclohexyl) acetamide (9) examined possesses two 1,2-CHDA moieties linked through an acetamide group. The molecular dynamics results showed that the designed molecule 9 can efficiently bind to the base-pairs and the phosphate backbone of G quadruplex-DNA using H-bonding interactions. The binding affinity calculated for the intercalated acridine-based drug (BRACO-19) with G-quadruplexes is weaker compared to ee-1,2-CHDA. These ligands deliver a different binding motif (hydrogen bonding) compared to the reported G-quadruplex binders of π-delocalized systems and will kindle interest in examining such scaffolds to stabilize DNA.

An array of dissociative novel psychoactive substances, including \"methoxetamine,\" \"3-MeO-PCP,\" and \"methoxphenidine,\" have emerged as substitutes for the illicit substance \"ketamine.\" A netographic research methodology aimed to describe online, dissociative novel psychoactive substance users\' perceptions of risk, informed knowledge around use, and indigenous harm-reduction practices as advocated within online drug fora, so as to provide credible information which can be used to inform public online health education and drug prevention. Systematic Internet searches were performed using the terms \"synthetic dissociative,\" \"methoxetamine,\" \"methoxphenidine,\" \"diphenidine,\" \"3-MeO-PCP,\" \"4-MeO-PCP,\" \"2-MDP,\" and \"dissociative research chemical\" in combination with \"forum.\" Following screening of 3,476 forum threads with removal of duplicates and exclusion criteria, 90 user trip reports and 115 fora threads from seven drug fora websites were analyzed by conducting content analysis. Five themes emerged with 43 categories. The findings illustrated how forum activity within the cyber drug user community disseminated and exchanged \"communal folk pharmacology\" relating to the use of dissociative novel psychoactive substances. Further research and consistent monitoring of Internet drug fora are advised to explore variations in harm-reduction tactics throughout dissociative NPS populations, and to consider how existing harm-reduction initiatives are influencing these hard-to-reach groups.

Three platinum(II) complexes of (1R,2R)-N(1)-cyclopentyl-1,2-cyclohexanediamine with malonate derivatives were designed, synthesized and spectrally characterized. MTT assay showed that the complexes possessed positive cytotoxic effect on the four human solid tumor cell lines. Among the complexes, complex 2 demonstrated the strongest cytotoxic activity compared to cisplatin and oxaliplatin against HepG2 cell line (IC50=3.04μM). Furthermore, the results of gel electrophoresis revealed that complex 2 interacted with DNA in a different mode from that of cisplatin. Mechanism studies of cell proliferation inhibition and cellular uptake indicated that complex 2 entered HepG2 cell more efficiently than cisplatin, exhibited massive G2 accumulation and then induced apoptosis.

Methoxetamine (MXE), a ketamine analogue, is one of the new \"legal highs\" sold on the Internet. The aim of this qualitative study was to provide an initial understanding of what characterizes the experiences induced by MXE. Anonymously written reports (33 persons) on the effects of MXE were collected from public Internet forums and analyzed using the Empirical Phenomenological Psychological Method. The analysis generated 10 themes: (1) preparation, motivation and anticipation; (2) initial effects; (3) malfunction of cognitive processes stabilizing normal state; (4) inner personal processes and learning; (5) emotional processes; (6) altered sensory perception; (7) dissolution and transition; (8) spiritual and transcendental experiences; (9) effects and processes after the experience; (10) re-dosing and addiction. MXE induced a heavily altered state of consciousness. The effects were similar to those induced by classic hallucinogens (such as LSD, psilocybin) and the dissociative ketamine. MXE seemed to have quite a high abuse potential. Beside the positive effects described, negative effects like fear and anxiety were also reported. Acceptance was considered the best coping strategy. Dissolution of identity and body often culminated in spiritual and transcendental experiences. More research is needed on safety issues, how to minimize harm, and the motivation for using legal highs.

In this paper, the origins of enantioselectivity in asymmetric ketone hydrogenation catalyzed by RuH(2)(binap)(cydn) (cydn = trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane) were discussed. Fifteen substrates involving aromatic, heteroaromatic, olefinic and dialkyl prochiral ketones were used to probe the catalytic mechanism and find an effective way to predict the chirality of the products. The calculated results demonstrate that the hydrogen transfer (HT) step from the Ru complex to the ketone substrate is the chirality-determining step in the H(2)-hydrogenation of ketones. The hydrogenation of aromatic-alkyl ketones can give higher enantiomeric excess (ee) values than that of dialkyl ketones. An interesting intermediate (denoted as ) could be formed if there is an α-hydrogen for R/R\' groups of the ketone due to the H(2)-H(α) interaction. Two substituent groups of the ketone could rotate around the C=O axis in two directions, clockwise or counter-clockwise. This rotation, with the big or conjugative substituent group away from/toward the closer binap ligand of the Ru catalyst, will form favorable/unfavorable chiral products with an Re-/Si- intermediate structure. On the contrary, if there is no such α-hydrogen in any substituent group of the ketone, ABS and another intermediate (denoted as INT) would not exist. This study indicates that the conjugative effect of the substituent groups of the ketone play an important role in differentiating the R/R\' groups of the ketone, while steric and electrostatic effects contribute to a minor extent. Furthermore, the disparity of the R and R\' groups of the ketone is of importance in the enantioselectivity and the favorable chiral alcohol is formed when the structure of the conjugative/big substituent group is away from the closer binap ligand of the RuH(2)(binap)(cydn) catalyst. According to the three factors of the substituent group and the fourth quadrant theory, the enantioselectivity of 91 prochiral ketones catalyzed by a series of Ru catalysts were predicted. All of the predictions are consistent with the experimental results.

The structure of mono- and diprotonated cyclohexyldiamine isomers in aqueous solution is investigated theoretically by the application of the CPCM continuum solvation model combined with the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ model chemistry. The calculated Gibbs energy of hydration (ΔGhyd) is expressed in different terms with physical meaning: cavity formation, solute conformational variation, and solute-solvent interaction. Significant differences of the ΔGhyd values are found among isomers, which are interpreted based on the analysis of the factors accounting for the stability of the conformers/isomers in the gas and solution phases. Particular attention is given to the role played by the formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond in the monoprotonated forms and by the Coulombic repulsion between the NH3(+) groups in the diprotonated ones. From the Gibbs energies of the acid/base pairs in the gas phase and respective hydration Gibbs energies, the acidity constants (pKa) are calculated and interpreted. For some isomers, the constants are also determined experimentally by potentiometric titration. A good agreement was found between the calculated and experimental values.