27 research outputs found
The dualistic role of vitamin D in vascular calcifications
No full textVitamin D is a multifunctional hormone that can affect many essential biological functions, ranging from the immune regulation to mineral ion metabolism. A close association between altered activity of vitamin D and vascular calcification has been reported in various human diseases, including in patients with atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Vascular calcification is a progressive disorder and is a major determinant of morbidity and mortality of the affected patients. Experimental studies have shown that excessive vitamin D activities can induce vascular calcification, and such vascular pathology can be reversed by reducing vitamin D activities. The human relevance of these experimental studies is not clear, as vitamin D toxicity is relatively rare in the general population. Contrary to the relationship between vitamin D and vascular calcification, in experimental uremic models, low levels of vitamin D were shown to be associated with extensive vascular calcification, a phenomenon that is very similar to the vascular pathology seen in patients with CKD. The current treatment approach of providing vitamin D analogs to patients with CKD often poses a dilemma, as studies linked vitamin D treatment to subsequent vascular calcification. Recent genetic studies, however, have shown that vascular calcification can be prevented by reducing serum phosphate levels, even in the presence of extremely high serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and calcium levels. This article will briefly summarize the dual effects of vitamin D in vascular calcification and will provide evidence of vitamin D-dependent and -independent vascular calcification
Phosphate toxicity: new insights into an old problem
No full textPhosphorus is an essential nutrient required for critical biological reactions that maintain the normal homoeostatic control of the cell. This element is an important component of different cellular structures, including nucleic acids and cell membranes. Adequate phosphorus balance is vital for maintaining basic cellular functions, ranging from energy metabolism to cell signalling. In addition, many intracellular pathways utilize phosphate ions for important cellular reactions; therefore, homoeostatic control of phosphate is one of the most delicate biological regulations. Impaired phosphorus balance can affect the functionality of almost every human system, including musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, ultimately leading to an increase in morbidity and mortality of the affected patients. Human and experimental studies have found that delicate balance among circulating factors, like vitamin D, PTH (parathyroid hormone) and FGF23 (fibroblast growth factor 23), are essential for regulation of physiological phosphate balance. Dysregulation of these factors, either alone or in combination, can induce phosphorus imbalance. Recent studies have shown that suppression of the FGF23–klotho system can lead to hyperphosphataemia with extensive tissue damage caused by phosphate toxicity. The cause and consequences of phosphate toxicity will be briefly summarized in the present review.</jats:p
Can fibroblast growth factor 23 fine-tune therapies for diseases of abnormal mineral ion metabolism?
No full textCisplatin nephropathy: is cytotoxicity avoidable?
No full textDespite the clinical effectiveness of cisplatin as an anti-tumour drug, its nephrotoxic side effect has significantly restricted its use. In spite of prophylactic intensive hydration and forced diuresis, irreversibl
Properties of the [M(dppm)2M']2+ building blocks (M, M' = Pd or Pt): site selectivity, emission features, and frontier orbital analysis.
No full textThe homodinuclear [ClM(μ-dppm)2MCl] complexes 1 (M = Pd) and 2 (M = Pt) react with RNC ligands (R = Ph, xylyl, p-tolyl, p-C6H4iPr) to provide the A-frame [ClPd(μ-dppm)2(μ-C:N-R)PdCl] (R = Ph (5a), xylyl (5b)), [ClPt(μ-dppm)2(μ-C:N-R)PtCl] (R = p-tolyl (4a); p-C6H4iPr (4b)), and the d9-d9 M2-bonded [ClPt(μ-dppm)2Pt(CN-R)]Cl (R = xylyl (3a); p-C6H4iPr (3b)) complexes. The heterodinuclear [XPd(μ-dppm)2PtX] complexes 6a (X = Cl) and 6b (X = I) react with RNC (R = o-anisyl) to form the A-frame [XPd(μ-dppm)2(μ-C:N-R)PtX] (X = Cl (9); I (10a)) and M2-bonded [ClPt(μ-dppm)2Pt(CN-R)]Cl (10b) complexes. The dangling ligand-contg. complex [ClPd(μ-dppm)2Pt(η1-dppm:O)](BF4) (7) reacts with xylyl-NC stoichiometrically to produce the dicationic salt [(xylyl-NC)Pd(μ-dppm)2Pt(η1-dppm:O)](BF4)2 (8). Parameters ruling the coordination site terminal vs. bridging are discussed. The precursor 10a reacts with RNC (R = o-anisyl, tBu) to form the heterobimetallic bis(isonitrile) [IPd(μ-dppm)2(μ-C:N-o-anisyl)Pt(CN-R)]I complexes 11b and 12, resp., demonstrating the site selectivity of the second CNR ligand coordination, Pd vs. Pt. The x-ray structures of 11b and 12 were obtained. Complex 12 is the first example of an A-frame system of the Ni-triad bearing two different isocyanide ligands. Several d9-d9 terminal and d8-d8 A-frame homo- and heterodinuclear complexes in 2-MeTHF at 77 K were studied by UV-visible and luminescence spectroscopy. Assignments for the lowest energy absorption and emission bands are made from d. functional theory and time-dependent d. functional theory computations. [on SciFinder(R)
Triplet energy transfers in electrostatic host-guest assemblies of unsaturated organometallic cluster cations and carboxylate-containing porphyrin pigments.
No full textThe unsaturated cyclic [M3(dppm)3(CO)](2+) clusters (M = Pt, Pd; dppm = Ph2PCH2PPh2; such as PF6(-) salt) exhibit a cavity formed by the six dppm-phenyl groups placed like a picket fence above the unsaturated triangular M3 dicationic center. Electrostatic interactions of the M(3+) units inside this cavity with the carboxylate anion RCO2(-) [R = tetraphenylporphyrinatozinc(II), ZnTPP; p-phenyltritolylporphyrinatozinc(II), ZnTTPP; p-phenyltritolylporphyrinatopalladium(II), PdTTPP] form dyads for through-space triplet energy transfers. The binding constants are on the order of 20,000 M(-1) in all six cases (298 K). The energy diagram built upon absorption and emission spectra at 298 and 77 K places the [Pt3(dppm)3(CO)](2+) and [Pd3(dppm)3(CO)](2+) as triplet energy donors, respectively, with respect to the ZnTPPCO2(-), ZnTTPPCO2(-), and PdTTPPCO2(-) pigments, which act as acceptors. Evidence for energy transfer is provided by the transient absorption spectra at 298 K, where triplet-triplet absorption bands of the metalloporphyrin chromophores are depicted at all time (at 298 K) with total absence of the charge-separated state in the nanosecond to microsecond time scale. Rates for energy transfer (ranging in the 10(4) s(-1) time scale) are extracted from the emission lifetimes of the [Pt3(dppm)3(CO)](2+) donor in the free chromophore and the host-guest assemblies. The emission intensity of [Pd3(dppm)3(CO)](2+) is too weak to measure its spectrum and emission lifetime in the presence of the strongly luminescent metalloporphyrin-containing materials. For the [Pd3(dppm)3(CO)](2+)...metalloporphyrin dyads, evidence for fluorescence and phosphorescence lifetime quenching of the porphyrin chromophore at 298 K is provided. These quenchings, exhibiting rates of 10(4) (triplet) and 10(8) s(-1) (singlet), are attributed to a photoinduced electron transfer from the metalloporphyrin to the cluster due to the low reduction potential.Source type: Electronic(1
