The direct oxidation of unprotected amino alcohols to their corresponding amino carbonyl compounds has often posed serious challenges in organic synthesis and has constrained chemists to adopting an indirect route, such as a protection/deprotection strategy, to attain their goal. Described herein is a highly chemoselective aerobic oxidation of unprotected amino alcohols to their amino carbonyl compounds in which 2-azaadamantane N-oxyl (AZADO)/copper catalysis is used. The catalytic system developed leads to the alcohol-selective oxidation of various unprotected amino alcohols, carrying a primary, secondary, or tertiary amino group, in good to high yield at ambient temperature with exposure to air, thus offering flexibility in the synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds.

The present study investigated the effectiveness of music therapy for dementia patients using endocrinological and behavioral evaluations. The study comprised 10 patients with senile dementia who received music therapy; six had Alzheimer's dementia and four had vascular dementia. Music therapy was performed twice a week for 8 consecutive weeks (16 sessions). As a result, total scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) did not significantly change, but the scores of a subscale, "language", improved significantly. According to the Multidimensional Observation Scale For Elderly Subjects (MOSES), scores for "irritability" decreased significantly. Regarding changes in salivary chromogranin A (CgA) levels, the average was significantly decreased before session 16 compared to after this. These results suggest that the combination of endocrinological measurements, behavioral evaluations and functional assessment methods are useful in evaluating the effects of music therapy in persons with senile dementia.

We investigated the circadian rhythm of chromogranin A (CgA) concentrations in saliva and blood samples from 40 male college students collected at 7 : 00, 8 : 00, 10 : 30, 12 : 30, 17 : 30, and 22 : 30. CgA concentrations were determined by ELISA. Salivary CgA levels peaked upon awakening, and then quickly decreased to the nadir after 1 hour and maintained a low level throughout the day. On the other hand, plasma CgA did not show any obvious circadian rhythm. These findings suggest that salivary and plasma CgA has different routes of secretion.

We assessed the stress relief effect of spa bathing by measuring sensitive salivary stress markers, cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA). From 12 healthy males, saliva samples were collected immediately before and after spa bathing, and 30 min after that. Salivary cortisol and CgA levels were determined by ELISA. Salivary cortisol levels decreased after spa bathing. This tendency was more pronounced in individuals with higher levels of stress. The high-stress group showed lower salivary CgA levels after spa bathing, while the low-stress group higher salivary CgA levels in the same condition. These findings suggest that the spa bathing has a moderate affect on the stress relief.Subjectively, spa bathing seems to relieve stress. Bathers usually experience a sense of well-being and relaxation during spa bathing. The stress-relieving effects of spa bathing, however, have not yet been scientifically established and are still anecdotal. Many studies on the physiological effects of sauna bathing have been conducted. Reports show that the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones, growth hormone and prolactin, increases during sauna bathing (5,(8)(9)(10)(11). Effects on the sympathetic-adrenomedullary system have also been established. While noradrenaline concentrations increase after sauna bathing (3,5,6,8,9), adrenaline levels change less consistently (8, 9). Meanwhile, results showing the effects of sauna bathing on the pituitary-adrenocortical axis (secretion of ACTH and cortisol) have also been inconsistent (4,5,8,9,11

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