Effective alignment method using a diamond notch knife for correlative array tomography.

Correlative array tomography, combining light and electron microscopy via serial sections, plays a crucial role in the three-dimensional ultrastructural visualization and molecular distribution analysis in biological structures. To address the challenges of aligning fluorescence and electron microscopy images and aligning serial sections of irregularly shaped biological specimens, we developed a diamond notch knife, a new tool for puncturing holes using a diamond needle. The diamond needle featured a triangular and right-angled tip, enabling the drilling of deep holes upon insertion into the polished block face. This study describes the application of the diamond notch knife in correlative array tomography.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic components from "hierba santa," a traditional medicine in Peru.

"Hierba santa," a Peruvian herbal medicine, is used to alleviate many symptoms, including headache, hemorrhoids, fever, and rheumatism. Several Cestrum species are said to be the origin of hierba santa. Three lots of hierba santa: Cestrum auriculatum (herb 1 and herb 2) and C. hediundinum (herb 3), which were purchased from Peruvian markets at Cuzco (Andes area) and Equitos (Amazon area), respectively, were examined for their pharmacological activities and active components. Herbs 1-3 showed anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in the in vivo writhing inhibition test in mouse and inhibited prostaglandin E(1)-, E(2)-, or ACh-induced contractions of guinea pig ileum in the Magnus method. Activity-based separation of each extract yielded cestrumines A and B, cestrusides A and B, a mixture of (+)- and (-)-pinoresinol glucosides, nicotiflorin, rutin, sinapoyl glucose, ursolic acid, beta-sitosteryl glucoside, and 2-sec-butyl-4,6-dihydroxyphenyl-beta-D: -glucopyranoside. Among them, cestrumine A and cestrusides A and B are new compounds. All three lots of hierba santa do not contain exactly the same active components.

Crystal Structures and Luminescence Properties of Platinum(II) Complexes Containing 3,3'-Biisoquinoline.

Three new platinum complexes containing 3,3'-biisoquinoline (i-biq), [Pt(CN)(2)(i-biq)] (1), [PtCl(2)(i-biq)] (2), and [Pt(i-biq)(2)](PF(6))(2) (3), have been synthesized as orange-red, yellow, and colorless crystals, respectively. Their crystal structures and luminescence properties are reported. Crystal data: for 1.0.5H(2)O, PtO(0.5)N(4)C(20)H(13), orthorhombic, Pbcm, a = 13.989(2) Å, b = 18.304(1) Å, c = 6.682(3) Å, V = 1710.9(6) Å(3), Z = 4, and final R = 0.039 (R(w) = 0.033) for 970 independent reflections; for 2.DMF.H(2)O, PtCl(2)O(2)N(3)C(21)H(21), triclinic, P&onemacr;, a = 11.047(1) Å, b = 12.397(3) Å, c = 8.000(2) Å, alpha = 106.56(1) degrees, beta = 100.15(1) degrees, gamma = 76.15(1) degrees, V = 1012.8(3) Å(3), Z = 2, and final R = 0.058 (R(w) = 0.077) for 4219 independent reflections; for 3.2DMF, PtP(2)F(12)O(2)N(6)C(42)H(38), triclinic, P&onemacr;, a = 10.795(2) Å, b = 13.511(2) Å, c = 8.281(1) Å, alpha = 105.22(1) degrees, beta = 112.17(1) degrees, gamma = 85.02(1) degrees, V = 1079.2(3) Å(3), Z = 1, and final R = 0.038 (R(w) = 0.042) for 3606 independent reflections. Square-planar complexes of 1 are stacked in the crystal to form a columnar structure with the Pt-Pt distance of 3.34 Å. The crystal emits strongly, even at room temperature, and the emission spectrum is similar to that for the [Pt(CN)(2)(bpy)] crystal (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), which is due to a (3)dpi[dsigma(Pt) --> pi(i-biq)] transition. The single crystal emission spectrum at 77 K is, however, observed as a superposition of broad (3)dpi and sharp (3)pipi(i-biq) emissions. The crystal structure of 2 has a completely different stacking structure from that of 1. The stacking occurs on the i-biq ligands, and the Pt atoms are separated more than 6 Å. The complex exhibits only a structured emission component assigned to the (3)pipi(i-biq) transition in the crystal at 77 K, in agreement with the crystal structure with no Pt-Pt interaction. In the crystal of 3, the [Pt(i-biq)(2)](2+) complexes are stacked but offset, being in close contact between parts of adjacent i-biq ligands. There is no Pt-Pt interaction also in this case. Two i-biq ligands in the complex are distorted to adopt the bowed conformation due to the steric crowding of the alpha-hydrogens on opposite ligands. Nevertheless, 3 provides almost the same (3)pipi emission spectrum as 1 and 2 in dilute glassy solution at 77 K. The (3)pipi emission spectra observed in the crystals of these Pt(II) complexes are red-shifted compared with those in dilute glassy solution. The fact is attributable to the pi-pi intermolecular interactions between the ligands in the crystals. The factors controlling the crystal structures for these complexes are also discussed.