Synthesis and structural studies on (E)-3-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)prop-2-en-1-one: a promising nonlinear optical material.

A new fluorinated chalcone (E)-3-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)prop-2-en-1-one was synthesized in 90% yield and crystallized by a slow evaporation technique. Its full structural characterization and purity were determined by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, 1H, 13C and 19F nuclear magnetic resonance, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Raman microspectroscopy, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Hirshfeld surface (HS) analysis. The fluorinated chalcone crystallized in centrosymmetric space group P21/c stabilized by the C-H⋯O and C-H⋯F interactions and the π⋯π contact. The crystalline environment was simulated through the supermolecule approach where a bulk with 378 000 atoms was built. The electric parameters were calculated at the DFT/CAM-B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level as function of the electric field frequency. The macroscopic parameters such as linear refractive index and third-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ (3)) were calculated, and the results were compared with experimental data obtained from the literature. The χ (3)-value for the chalcone crystal is 369.294 × 10-22 m2 V-2, higher than those obtained from a few similar types of molecule, showing that the chalcone crystal can be considered as a nonlinear optical material. Also, molecular theoretical calculations such as infrared spectrum assignments, frontier molecular orbital analysis and MEP were implemented, revealing that the most positive region is around the hydrogen atoms of the aromatic rings, and electrophilic attack occurs on the carbonyl group.

Changes in renal glucose transporters in an animal model of metabolic syndrome.

Considering the similarity between structural, hemodynamic, and functional changes of obesity-related renal disease and diabetic nephropathy, we hypothesized that renal glucose transporter changes occur in obesity as in diabetes. The aim of the work was to evaluate GLUT1 and GLUT2 in kidneys of an animal model of metabolic syndrome. Neonate spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), n=15/group, were treated with monosodium glutamate (5 mg/g) (MetS) for 9 days and compared with saline-treated Wistar-Kyoto (C) and SHR (H) rats. Lee index, systolic arterial pressure (SAP), glycemia, insulin resistance, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol were evaluated at 3 and 6 months. Medullar GLUT1 and cortical GLUT2 were analyzed by Western blot. MetS vs. C and H rats had the highest Lee index (p<0.001) and insulin resistance (3-months C: 4.3±0.7, H: 3.9±0.9, MetS: 2.7±0.6; 6-months C: 4.2±0.6, H: 3.8±0.5, MetS: 2.4±0.6% · min⁻¹, p<0.001), similar glycemia, and the lowest HDL-cholesterol at 6-months (p<0.001). In the MetS and H rats, SAP was higher vs. C at 3-months (p<0.001) and 6-months (C: 151±15, H: 190±11, MetS: 185±13 mm Hg, p<0.001) of age. GLUT1 was Ì´ 13× lower (p<0.001) at 3-months, reestablishing its content at 6-months in MetS group, while GLUT2 was 2× higher (p<0.001) in this group at 6-months of age. Renal GLUT1 and GLUT2 are modulated in kidney of rats with metabolic syndrome, where obesity, insulin resistance and hypertension coexist, despite normoglycemia. Like in diabetes, cortical GLUT2 overexpression may contribute to the development of kidney disease.

[Sporotrichosis of the domestic cat (Felis catus): human transmission]. / Esporotricose do gato doméstico (Felis catus): transmissão humana.

A case of sporotrichosis transmitted by cat to a veterinarian hospital employees is reported. Inquiry at domiciliary area of the cat's owner revealed two other presumable cases of human sporotrichosis transmitted by cats, and confirmed the diagnosis (by culture of Sporothrix schenckii) of disease in three other domestic cats. Feline sporotrichosis is characterized by ulcerative, cutaneous lesions and systemic dissemination, which invariably cause animal's death. The transmission of sporotrichosis to other animals and humans is enhanced by the great amount of fungus present in cat's lesions.