Sulfonamides

Large but not small cholangiocytes: (i) secrete bicarbonate by interaction with secretin receptors (SR) through activation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), chloride bicarbonate anion exchanger 2 (Cl − /HCO 3 − AE2) and adenylyl cyclase 8 (AC8) (proteins regulating large biliary functions); and (ii) proliferate in response to bile duct ligation (BDL) by activation of cAMP signaling. Small, mitotically dormant cholangiocytes are activated during damage of large cholangiocytes by activation of IP 3 /Ca 2+-CaMK I. GABA affects cell functions by modulation of Ca 2+-dependent signaling and AC. We hypothesized that GABA induces the differentiation of small into large cholangiocytes by the activation of Ca 2+ /CaMK I-dependent AC 8. Methods-In vivo, BDL mice were treated with GABA in the absence/presence of BAPTA/AM or W7 before evaluating apoptosis and ductal mass (IBDM) of small and large cholangiocytes. In vitro, control-or CaMK I-silenced small cholangiocytes were treated with GABA for 3 days

Membrane-permeable calmodulin inhibitors, such as the napthalenesulfonamide derivatives W-7/W-13, trifluoperazine, and calmidazolium, are used widely to investigate the role of calcium/calmodulin (Ca 2+/CaM) in living cells. If two chemically different inhibitors ...

Acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau (ACH) is a rare chronic pustular eruption that predominantly involves the fingertips. The characterization of this disease has been confused. Some have considered it as a separate entity while others as a variant of pustular psoriasis. The presented patient simultaneously had ACH and joint lesions which were diagnosed as psoriatic arthritis. We believe that because ACH may be accompanied by psoriatic arthritis, as in this case, it could be evidence that it is a variant of psoriasis.

A novel stability-indicating reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of Celecoxib (CEL) and Diacerein (DIN) and its impurities in capsule dosage form. The method was developed using L1 column with gradient using the mobile phase consist of Solution A (pH = 2.3 buffer) and Solution B (methanol and acetonitrile; 50 : 50, v/v). The eluted compounds were monitored at 255 nm. CEL and DIN were subjected to oxidative, acid, base, hydrolytic, thermal and photolytic stress conditions. The developed method was validated as per International Conference on Harmonisation guidelines with respect to specificity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, accuracy, precision and robustness. The limit of quantitation results were ranged from 0.07 to 0.09 µg/mL for CEL impurities and 0.052 to 0.065 µg/mL for DIN impurities. This method is suitable for the estimation of impurities and assay of CEL and DIN in ...

It is generally assumed that bumetanide possesses some selectivity for the renal Na-K-Cl cotransporter NKCC2, although the results are scarce in the literature and comparisons were done with extra-renal NKCC1 at its basal, almost silent state. Here we investigated NKCC2/NKCC1 selectivity of loop diuretic drugs (bumetanide, piretanide and furosemide) as a function of the NKCC1 activated state (NKCC1 was activated by hypertonic media). NKCC2 activity was measured in isolated rat medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL) and NKCC1 in rat thymocytes and erythrocytes. When NKCC2 was compared with NKCC1at its activated state, all three diuretic drugs inhibited NKCC2 and NKCC1 with the same potency (bumetanide pIC 50 =6.48, 6.48 and 6.47; piretanide pIC 50 =5.97, 5.99 and 6.29; and furosemide pIC 50 =5.15, 5.04 and 5.21 for mTAL NKCC2, erythrocyte NKCC1 and thymocyte NKCC1, respectively). Basal NKCC1 exhibited a lower diuretic sensitivity, although with marked differences depending on the diuretic drug and the cell type in consideration and with the notable exception of furosemide in erythrocytes. Molecular modelling showed that bumetanide and piretanide possess four potentially active groups, of which three are shared with furosemide at similar intergroup distances. Of these three common groups, one should not bind to basal NKCC1 in thymocytes. The fourth (phenoxy) group (absent in furosemide) confers higher lipophilicity and should not bind to basal NKCC1 in erythrocytes. In conclusion, loop diuretics had no NKCC2/NKCC1 selectivity, when NKCC1 is measured at its activated state. Basal NKCC1 has a reduced diuretic sensitivity, of very different magnitude depending on the diuretic drug and cell type in consideration.

Background: Statins are the most commonly prescribed drugs to reduce cardiometabolic risk. Besides the wellknown efficacy of such compounds in both preventing and treating cardiometabolic disorders, some patients experience statin-induced side effects. We hypothesize that the use of natural bergamot-derived polyphenols may allow patients undergoing statin treatment to reduce effective doses while achieving target lipid values. The aim of the present study is to investigate the occurrence of an enhanced effect of bergamot-derived polyphenolic fraction (BPF) on rosuvastatin-induced hypolipidemic and vasoprotective response in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia. Methods: A prospective, open-label, parallel group, placebo-controlled study on 77 patients with elevated serum LDL-C and triglycerides was designed. Patients were randomly assigned to a control group receiving placebo (n = 15), two groups receiving orally administered rosuvastatin (10 and 20 mg/daily for 30 days; n = 16 for ea...

Fully characterizing the interactions involving biomolecules requires information on the assembly state, affinity, kinetics, and thermodynamics associated with complex formation. The analytical technologies often used to measure biomolecular interactions include analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). In order to evaluate the capabilities of core facilities to implement these technologies, the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities (ABRF) Molecular Interactions Research Group (MIRG) developed a standardized model system and distributed it to a panel of AUC, ITC, and SPR operators. The model system was composed of a well-characterized enzyme-inhibitor pair, namely bovine carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) and 4-carboxybenzenesulfonamide (CBS). Study participants were asked to measure one or more of the following: (1) the molecular mass, homogeneity, and assembly state of CA II by AUC; (2) the affinity and ...

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Despite an increasingly sophisticated understanding of pain mechanisms, acute and chronic pain remain undertreated throughout the world. This situation reflects the large gap that exists between evidence and practice in pain management and is typified by inappropriate use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The scientific evidence around these drugs continues to expand at a high rate, yet physicians are often unaware of

Results from clinical trials and clinical practice have shown statins to be generally well tolerated with a low frequency of clinically relevant side effects. Nevertheless, there are rare occasions when adverse events (AEs), sometimes serious, may occur. Rosuvastatin is the newest statin to be approved in the USA and many other countries. As part of the continued assessment of the benefit-risk profile of rosuvastatin, AstraZeneca has developed a progressive, comprehensive pharmacoepidemiology programme to complement safety data obtained from randomised clinical trials and spontaneous reporting systems, which have demonstrated that rosuvastatin has a safety profile in line with comparator statins. This programme comprises nine studies conducted in recognised centres of excellence assessing over 50 000 patients treated with rosuvastatin. It consists of three components: patient characteristics studies (four studies), safety evaluation studies (four studies); and review of data generated from the Prescription-Event Monitoring (PEM) study, designed and run by an independent third party. Patient characteristics studies are designed to describe the characteristics and drug utilisation patterns of new users of rosuvastatin compared with new users of other statins in automated databases. Safety evaluation studies will examine the rates of specific AEs in different cohorts of statin users and determine risk factors for these events using data recorded prospectively in automated databases with case adjudication via medical record review. The independent PEM study will monitor any significant events recorded by general practitioners since starting rosuvastatin treatment. This article is an overview of the rationale and methodology of the rosuvastatin pharmacoepidemiology programme.

A previously described aryl sulfonamide series, originally found through HTS, targets GlmU, a bifunctional essential enzyme involved in bacterial cell wall synthesis. Using structure-guided design, the potency of enzyme inhibition was increased in multiple isozymes from different bacterial species. Unsuitable physical properties (low Log D and high molecular weight) of those compounds prevented them from entering the cytoplasm of bacteria and inhibiting cell growth. Further modifications described herein led to compounds that possessed antibacterial activity, which was shown to occur through inhibition of GlmU. The left-hand side amide and the right-hand side sulfonamides were modified such that enzyme inhibitory activity was maintained (IC 50 <0.1 lM against GlmU isozymes from Gram-negative

Melting points were measured on a Gallenkamp melting point apparatus (MP-D) and are uncorrected. The R f values were determined using pre-coated silica gel aluminium packed plates, Kieselgel 60 HF 254 from Merck (Germany). Infrared (IR) spectra were recorded on a FTS 3000 MX, Bio-RAD Merlin spectrophotometer (Excalibur Model, USA). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were recorded on a 300 (1 H) and 75 MHz (13 C) NMR spectrometer (Bruker Avance, Switzerland) with tetramethylsilane

We report here a case of clinically significant liver toxicity after a brief course of rosuvastatin, which is the first statin approved by the regulatory authorities since the withdrawal of cerivastatin. Whether rosuvastatin has a greater potential compared with other statins to damage the liver is unclear and the involved mechanisms are also unknown. However, rosuvastatin is taken up by hepatocytes more selectively and more efficiently than other statins, and this may reasonably represent an important variable to explain the hepatotoxic potential of rosuvastatin. Our report supports the view that a clinically significant risk of liver toxicity should be considered even when rosuvastatin is given at the range of doses used in common clinical practice.

The discovery of non-basic N&#39;-(arylsulfonyl)pyrazoline-1-carboxamidines as 5-HT6 antagonists with unique structural features was recently disclosed. Here we describe how this structural class was further developed by addressing an unexplored interaction site of the 5-HT6 receptor. Compound 13 resulting from this effort is a highly potent and selective 5-HT6 antagonist with improved metabolic stability. It is furthermore devoid of hERG affinity. Despite its modest CNS/plasma ratio, a high brain free fraction ensured substantial exposure to allow for rodent cognition studies.

This study involves mathematical simulation model such as in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) development for various extended release formulations of nimesulide loaded hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) microparticles (M1, M2 and M3 containing 1, 2, and 3 g HPMC, respectively and 1 g drug in each) having variable release characteristics. In vitro dissolution data of these formulations were correlated to their relevant in vivo absorption profiles followed by predictability worth analysis of these Level A IVIVC. Nimaran was used as control formulation to validate developed formulations and their respective models. The regression coefficients of IVIVC plots for M1, M2, M3 and Nimaran were 0.834 9, 0.831 2, 0.927 2 and 0.898 1, respectively. The internal prediction error for all formulations was within limits, i.e., &lt; 10%. A good IVIVC was found for controlled release nimesulide loaded HPMC floating M3 microparticles. In other words, this mathematical simulation model is best fit ...

Introduction: Despite the strong evidence of the clinical utility of QTc prolongation as a surrogate marker of cardiac risk, QTc measurement is not part of clinical routine either in hospital or in physician offices. We evaluated a novel device ("the QT scale") to measure heart rate (HR) and QTc interval. Method: The QT scale is a weight scale embedding an ECG acquisition system with four limb sensors (feet and hands: lead I, II, and III). We evaluated the reliability of QT scale in healthy subjects (cohort 1) and cardiac patients (cohorts 2 and 3) considering a learning (cohort 2) and two validation cohorts. The QT scale and the standard 12-lead recorder were compared using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) in cohorts 2 and 3. Absolute value of heart rate and QTc intervals between manual and automatic measurements using ECGs from the QT scale and a clinical device were compared in cohort 1. Results: We enrolled 16 subjects in cohort 1 (8 w, 8 m; 32 AE 8 vs 34 AE 10 years, P = 0.7), 51 patients in cohort 2 (13 w, 38 m; 61 AE 16 vs 58 AE 18 years, P = 0.6), and 13 AF patients in cohort 3 (4 w, 9 m; 63 AE 10 vs 64 AE 10 years, P = 0.9). Similar automatic heart rate and QTc were delivered by the scale and the clinical device in cohort 1: paired difference in RR and QTc were À7 AE 34 milliseconds (P = 0.37) and 3.4 AE 28.6 milliseconds (P = 0.64), respectively. The measurement of stability was slightly lower in ECG from the QT scale than from the clinical device (ICC: 91% vs 80%) in cohort 3. Conclusion: The "QT scale device" delivers valid heart rate and QTc interval measurements.

A series of novel 5-substituted 2,4-dichlorobenzenesulfonamides 5a-c, 6a-d, 7a-j and 10a-i have been synthesized and investigated as inhibitors of four isoforms of zinc enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA.EC 4.2.1.1), that is the cytosolic CA I and II, and tumor-associated isozymes CA IX and XII. Against the human CA I investigated compounds displayed KI values from 349 to 7355 nM, toward hCA II at range of 6.9 to 164 nM, while against hCA IX ranging from 2.8 to 76 nM and against hCA XII in the range of 2.7 to 95 nM. The excellent inhibitory activity against tumor-associated hCA IX was found. The twenty one new compounds displayed a powerful inhibitory potency toward hCA IX (KI = 2.8-21.7 nM) in comparison with the clinically used CAIs AAZ, MZA, EZA, DCP and IND (24-50 nM). Among them the most potent hCA IX inhibitor 7b (KI = 2.8 nM) was 8.5-fold stronger than IND (KI = 24 nM). Toward tumor-associated hCA XII compounds 6c and 10a (KI = 2.7 and 2.8 nM, respectively) showed a better inhibit...

NMDA receptors are tetrameric ligand-gated ion channels comprised of GluN1, GluN2, and GluN3 subunits. Two different GluN2 subunits have been identified in most NMDA receptor-expressing cells, and the majority of native receptors are triheteromers containing two GluN1 and two different GluN2. In contrast to diheteromeric NMDA receptors, little is known about the function of triheteromers. We developed a method to provide selective cell-surface expression of recombinant GluN1/GluN2A/GluN2B triheteromers and compared properties of these receptors with those of GluN1/GluN2A and GluN1/ GluN2B diheteromers. We show that glutamate deactivation of triheteromers is distinct from those of GluN1/GluN2A and GluN1/GluN2B and reveal modulation of triheteromers by subunit-selective antagonists ifenprodil, CP-101,606, TCN-201, and extracellular Zn 2+. Furthermore, kinetic measurements suggest variation in the ifenprodil binding site of triheteromers compared to GluN1/GluN2B diheteromers. This work provides insight into the distinct properties of GluN1/GluN2A/GluN2B triheteromers, which are presumably the most abundant NMDA receptors in the adult forebrain. Neuron Triheteromeric GluN1/GluN2A/GluN2B NMDA Receptors

SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan, and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) such as belinostat, vorinostat and panobinostat, have all been shown to be deactivated by glucuronidation via UGTs. Since they all compete for UGTs for deactivation, we aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of various HDACis on the glucuronidation of SN-38. This inhibitory effect was determined by measuring the formation rate of SN-38 glucuronide after SN-38 incubation with human recombinant UGT1A isoforms (1A1, 1A6, 1A7 and 1A9) and pooled human liver microsomes (HLM, wild type, UGT1A1*1*28 and UGT1A1*28*28 allelic variants), with and without HDACis. The data showed that belinostat at 100 and 200 µmol/L inhibited SN-38 glucuronidation via UGT1A1 in a dose-dependent manner, causing significant decrease in Vmax and CLint (p &lt; 0.05) from 12.60 to 1.95 pmol/min/mg and 21.59 to 4.20 μL/min/mg protein respectively. Similarly, in HLMs, Vmax dropped from 41.13 to 10.54, 24.96 to 3.77 and 6.23 to...

This review summarizes knowledge on various aspects of paracoccidioidomycosis. Mycelial propagules, chlamydospores, and arthroconidia exhibit thermal dimorphism; arthroconidia are infectious in animals and, by electron microscopy, appear well provided for survival. The mycelial-to-yeast-phase transformation requires a strict control of glucan synthesis probably mediated by membrane enzymes. Hormonal influences on the transformation of the fungus (mycelium or conidium to yeast phase) have been demonstrated. Estrogen-binding proteins have been detected in the fungal cytosol, and during the transformation novel proteins are produced as a result of estradiol incorporation. Clinical forms have been better defined on the basis of better experimental models. Emphasis has been placed on the lungs as the portal of entry and on the existence of silent pulmonary infections. A specific Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigen, the 43-kDa glycoprotein (Gp43), has been identified, characterized, and...

A simple and rapid method was developed for the determination of 20 antibiotics (sulfonamides, tetacyclines, and flumequine) in honey by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The proposed method is sensitive (limit of detection 0.5 to 10 ppb for the various antibiotics) and selective. A hydrolysis step ensures the liberation of sugar-bound sulfonamides. The approach has been used to analyze some 300 honey samples. A number of them were found to have exceeded the Swiss limit of 50 ppb.

In the present work, interaction of the strategic starting material, methyl 2-isothiocyanatobenzoate (1), with sulfa drugs resulted in the formation of methyl 2-[3-(4-(N-substituted sulfamoyl)phenyl)thioureido] benzoates 2-5, which upon reaction with hydrazine hydrate afforded N-amino derivatives 6-9. Triazoloquinazoline derivatives 10-18 were obtained via reaction of compounds 6-8 with aromatic aldehydes. Also, the reaction of compound 8 with formic acid gave the corresponding triazoloquinazoline derivative 19. Triazinoquinazoline derivatives 22, 23 were obtained via reaction of N-amino derivatives 6 or 8 with ethyl chloroacetate. Interaction of 6 with diethyloxalate yielded triazoloquinazoline 26. The synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activities and some of them exhibited promising antibacterial activity compared to ampicillin as positive control. Compounds that revealed significant activity are able to satisfy effectively the proposed pharmacoph...

CUSP9 treatment protocol for recurrent glioblastoma was published one year ago. We now present a slight modification, designated CUSP9*. CUSP9* drugs--aprepitant, artesunate, auranofin, captopril, celecoxib, disulfiram, itraconazole, sertraline, ritonavir, are all widely approved by regulatory authorities, marketed for non-cancer indications. Each drug inhibits one or more important growth-enhancing pathways used by glioblastoma. By blocking survival paths, the aim is to render temozolomide, the current standard cytotoxic drug used in primary glioblastoma treatment, more effective. Although esthetically unpleasing to use so many drugs at once, the closely similar drugs of the original CUSP9 used together have been well-tolerated when given on a compassionate-use basis in the cases that have come to our attention so far. We expect similarly good tolerability for CUSP9*. The combined action of this suite of drugs blocks signaling at, or the activity of, AKT phosphorylation, aldehyde d...

Purpose Many reports on purification of water containing pesticides are based on studies using unformulated active ingredients. However, most commercial formulations contain additives/adjuvants or are manufactured using microencapsulation which may influence the purification process. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to develop and test a pilot scheme for decontaminating water containing pesticides formulated with antifoaming/defoaming agents. Methods The Freundlich adsorption coefficients of formulation of cyprodinil, a new-generation fungicide, onto the organoclay Cloisite 20A have been determined in the laboratory in order to predict the efficiency of this organoclay in removing the fungicide from waste spray-tank water. Subsequently, the adsorption tests were repeated in the pilot system in order to test the practical operation of the purification scheme. Results The laboratory adsorption tests successfully predicted the efficiency of the pilot purification system, which removed more than 96% cyprodinil over a few hours. The passing of the organoclay-cyprodinil suspension through a layer of biomass gave 100% recovery of the organoclay at the surface of the biomass after 1 week. The organoclay was composted after the treatment to try to break down the fungicide so as to allow safe disposal of the waste, but cyprodinil was not significantly dissipated after 90 days. Conclusion The purification scheme proved to be efficient for decontaminating water containing cyprodinil formulated with antifoaming/defoaming agents, but additional treatments for the adsorbed residues still appear to be necessary even for a moderately persistent pesticide such as cyprodinil. Furthermore, a significant conclusion of this study concerns the high influence of pesticide formulations on the process of purification of water containing these compounds, which should be taken into account when developing innovative decontamination schemes, especially for practical applications.

Background: Low plasma concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a feature of the metabolic syndrome. Rosuvastatin has been shown to increase HDL cholesterol concentration, but the mechanisms remain unclear.Methods and Results: Twelve men with the metabolic syndrome were studied in a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial of 5-wk therapeutic periods with placebo, 10 mg/d rosuvastatin, or 40 mg/d rosuvastatin, with 2-wk placebo washout between each period. Compared with placebo, there was a significant dose-dependent increase in HDL cholesterol, HDL particle size, and concentration of HDL particles that contain apolipoprotein A-I (LpA-I). The increase in LpA-I concentration was associated with significant dose-dependent reductions in triglyceride concentration and LpA-I fractional catabolic rate, with no changes in LpA-I production rate. There was a significant dose-dependent reduction in the fractional catabolic ra...

The use of cetuximab, in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) is limited by development of resistance. We have investigated in three models of highly EGFR dependent CRC xenografts, the effect of maintenance therapy with different kinase inhibitors alone or in combination with cetuximab, after cytotoxic treatment induction with irinotecan plus cetuximab. SW48, LIM 1215 and GEO CRC cell lines were engrafted into nude mice and treated for three weeks with irinotecan and/or cetuximab. The combined treatment induced a significant reduction of tumor size. A subsequent experiment was performed in all three xenograft models in which after an induction treatment with irinotecan plus cetuximab, mice were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: control, cetuximab, regorafenib, a selective PIK3CA inhibitor (PIK3CAi), a selective MEK inhibitor (MEKi) and /or the combination of each inhibitor with cetuximab. The cetuximab plus MEKi treatment determined the best antitu...

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, urging the discovery of novel molecular targets and therapeutic strategies. Stem cells have been recently isolated from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), thus allowing the investigation of molecular pathways specifically active in the tumorigenic population. We have found that Bcl-XL is constantly expressed by lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs) and has a prominent role in regulating LCSC survival. Whereas chemotherapeutic agents were scarcely effective against LCSC, the small molecule Bcl-2/Bcl-XL inhibitor ABT-737, but not the selective Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-199, induced LCSC death at nanomolar concentrations. Differently from gemcitabine, which preferentially eliminated proliferating LCSC, ABT-737 had an increased cytotoxic activity in vitro towards quiescent/slow-proliferating LCSC, which expressed high levels of Bcl-XL. In vivo, ABT-737 as a single agent was able to inhibit the growth of LCSC-derived xenogra...

Memory loss and cognitive impairment have been reported in the literature in association with several 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins), but we found no published case reports associated with rosuvastatin. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of rosuvastatinrelated short-term memory loss. A 53-year-old Caucasian man with hypercholesterolemia experienced memory loss after being treated with rosuvastatin 10 mg/day. He had no other concomitant conditions or drug therapies. After discontinuation of rosuvastatin, the neuropsychiatric adverse reaction resolved gradually, suggesting a probable drug association. During the following year, the patient remained free from neuropsychiatric disturbances. Clinicians should be aware of possible adverse cognitive reactions during statin therapy, including rosuvastatin.

Drugs with low aqueous solubility and high permeability (BCS class II) present a high proportion of all drugs. This study examines the critical issues regarding engineering of a nanosuspension tailored to increase drug dissolution rate and its transformation into dry powder suitable for tabletting. Nanosuspensions of celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor with low water solubility, were produced by the emulsion-diffusion method using three different stabilizers (Tween ® 80, PVP K-30 and SDS) and characterized by particle size analysis, dissolution testing, scanning electron microscopy imaging, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray powder diffraction. Spray-dried nanosuspension was blended with microcrystalline cellulose, and compressed to tablets, and their tensile strength, porosity and elastic recovery of tablets were investigated. The selection of solvent and stabilizers is critical, firstly to achieve controlled crystallization and size, and secondly to increase the wettability of the hydrophobic drug. The crystalline nano-sized celecoxib alone or in tablets showed a dramatic increase of dissolution rate and extent compared to micronized. SEM images showed that the nanoparticle morphology was influenced by the choice of stabilizers. Celecoxib nanosuspension stabilized with PVP K-30 and SDS showed advantages over Tween ® 80 due to sticking of the dried product and unexpected changes observed on DSC curves. Markedly lower compaction forces are needed for nano-sized compared to micro-sized celecoxib to produce tablets of equal tensile strength.

Abbreviations: Abu, 4-aminobutanoic acid moiety; Adc, adenosine 4 0 -dehydroxymethyl-4 0 -carboxylic acid moiety; Ahx, 6-aminohexanoic acid moiety; Akt(PKB), protein kinase B; Apr, 3-aminopropionic acid moiety; ARC, adenosine analogue-oligoarginine conjugate; Ida, 2,2 0 -iminodiacetic acid moiety; Isn, 4piperidinecarboxylic (isonipecotic) acid moiety; MSK, mitogen-and stress-activated protein kinase; p70S6K, p70 ribosomal S6 kinase; Pab, 4-aminobenzoic (paraaminobenzoic) acid moiety; Pamb, 4-amino(methylbenzoic) (para-aminomethylbenzoic) acid moiety; PKAc, cAMP-dependent protein kinase type a; PKC, protein kinase C; PKG, cGMP-dependent protein kinase; ROCK, Rho kinase (type II, unless otherwise indicated); SGK, serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase.

Neural activity regulates local increases in cerebral blood flow (ΔCBF) and the cortical metabolic rate of oxygen (ΔCMRO 2) that constitutes the basis of BOLD functional neuroimaging signals. Glutamate signaling plays a key role in brain vascular and metabolic control; however, the modulatory effect of GABA is incompletely understood. Here we performed in vivo studies in mice to investigate how THIP (which tonically activates extrasynaptic GABA A Rs) and Zolpidem (a positive allosteric modulator of synaptic GABA A Rs) impact stimulation-induced ΔCBF, ΔCMRO 2 , local field potentials (LFPs), and fluorescent cytosolic Ca 2+ transients in neurons and astrocytes. Low concentrations of THIP increased ΔCBF and ΔCMRO 2 at low stimulation frequencies. These responses were coupled to increased synaptic activity as indicated by LFP responses, and to Ca 2+ activities in neurons and astrocytes. Intermediate and high concentrations of THIP suppressed ΔCBF and ΔCMRO 2 at high stimulation frequencies. Zolpidem had similar but less-pronounced effects, with similar dependence on drug concentration and stimulation frequency. Our present findings suggest that slight increases in both synaptic and extrasynaptic GABA A R activity might selectively gate and amplify transient low-frequency somatosensory inputs, filter out high-frequency inputs, and enhance vascular and metabolic responses that are likely to be reflected in BOLD functional neuroimaging signals.

BACKGROUND Patients routinely cite the media, after physicians and pharmacists, as a key source of information on new drugs, but there has been little research on the quality of drug information presented. We assessed newspaper descriptions of drug benefits and harms, the nature of the effects described and the presence or absence of other important information that can add context and balance to a report about a new drug. METHODS We looked at newspaper coverage in the year 2000 of 5 prescription drugs launched in Canada between 1996 and 2001 that received a high degree of media attention: atorvastatin, celecoxib, donepezil, oseltamivir and raloxifene. We searched 24 of Canada&#39;s largest daily newspapers for articles reporting at least one benefit or harm of any of these 5 drugs. We recorded the benefits and harms reported and analyzed how such information was presented; we also determined whether clinical or surrogate outcomes were mentioned; if and how drug effects were quantif...

The bioavailability of two 0.4 mg tamsulosin sustained-release film-coated tablet formulations was compared; using generic tablets (Prostam®) as test formulation and the originator product as reference formulation. Twenty-four subjects were included in this single-dose, open-label, randomized two-way crossover design following an overnight fasting. A one-week wash-out period was applied. Blood samples were drawn up to 72 h following drug administration. Plasma concentration

It is now widely recognized that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may cause extensive damage to the intestine. The pathogenesis of NSAID-induced intestinal injury, however, is still controversial and both local irritant actions and cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition have been proposed as underlying mechanisms. In this study we investigated further on NSAID-induced intestinal damage by using nonselective (indomethacin and ibuprofen), COX-1 selective (SC-560) or COX-2 selective (celecoxib) inhibitors. NSAIDs were administered orally to conscious rats and small intestinal injury was evaluated 24 h afterwards in terms of macroscopic and microscopic alterations, myeloperoxidase activity, lipid peroxidation, number of enterobacteria in the mucosa and epithelial mucin content. Oral administration of indomethacin (20 mg/kg) induced macroscopic and microscopic damage to the small intestine, increased translocation of enterobacteria from lumen into the mucosa, myeloperoxidase activity and lipid peroxidation. Ibuprofen (120 mg/kg), SC-560 (20 mg/kg), celecoxib (60 mg/kg) or the combination of SC-560 plus celecoxib did not cause any intestinal injury nor modified the number of bacteria in mucosal homogenates. SC-560 significantly increased both myeloperoxidase activity and lipid peroxidation, whereas celecoxib significantly reduced myeloperoxidase levels, while leaving unaltered lipid peroxidation. Finally, all NSAIDs, mostly indomethacin, increased neutral mucins and decreased acidic mucins in the intestinal goblet cells. These results indicate that inhibition of cyclooxygenase, although variably influencing mucosal integrity homeostasis, is not sufficient to initiate acute intestinal damage in rats. Moreover, topical mucosal injury induced by the NSAID molecule seems to be a critical factor in the development of intestinal injury.

We have previously shown that dietary (n-3) fatty acids decrease mammary tumor vascularization and PGE 2 production. One possible mechanism may be the modulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production by PGE 2. Macrophages are major producers of VEGF, and thus we assessed the role of PGE 2 in vitro and in vivo on their VEGF production. When added to macrophages, pharmacological (10^7 M) but not physiological (10^9 to10^1 1 M) concentrations of PGE 2 increased VEGF mRNA and protein levels.That increased expression was relatively rapid and sustained up to 8 hrs, but declined by 24 hrs. Similarly, dibutryl cAMPincreased production of VEGF protein which was completely inhibited by H89. Addition of cAMP-elevating agents further potentiated the production of VEGF by PGE 2 .Next, (n-3) and (n-6) fattyacidswere added to macrophagesin vitro or provided in the diet. Macrophages of mice fed safflower oil (n-6) had 2-to 4-fold greater copy number of VEGF transcripts after lipopolysaccarhide (LPS) stimulation compared to fish oil (n-3). A decreasing trend was seenin LPS-induced VEGF secretion from macrophages in vitro after docosahexaenoic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid incubation compared to arachidonic acid.While pharmacological concentrations of PGE 2 modulateVEGF expression, physiological alterations did not alter VEGF protein production by macrophages.

E-publishing ahead of print is increasingly important for the rapid dissemination of science. Haematologica is, therefore, E-publishing PDF files of an early version of manuscripts that have completed a regular peer review and have been accepted for publication. E-publishing of this PDF file has been approved by the authors.

A rational approach was used to synthesize a new set of 15 1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl benzenesulfonamide derivatives with the aim of developing new antimalarial lead compounds. These derivatives were prepared in yields between 50% and 62%, and their structures were elucidated using IR, 1 H-, 13 C-, 19 F-NMR, MS and elemental analysis. A docking study based on sulfonamides previously used against malaria identified trifluoromethyl-substituted derivatives to be the best lead compounds for new antimalarial drug development.

Several novel nucleoside analogues as potential inhibitors of glycosidases and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) have been synthesized via selective coupling of an appropriate nucleobase at different positions of an orthogonally protected imino sugar as a common precursor. This synthetic strategy offers a straightforward protocol for the assembly of imino sugar containing nucleosides, establishing a new repertoire of molecules as potential therapeutics.

The activities carried out in daily living, such as personal hygiene and health care, they may cause negative effects on the ecosystem, generating alterations on the environment given that consumed several substances of different origin and chemical composition, these substances are relatively little known regarding the impact that will have on the environment and human substances that are recognized under the name of polluting emerging. This experimental study was developed in the parishes of Uyumbicho, Amaguaña, two towns located 1 Km from the shore of the San Pedro river and the parish of Sangolqui near the Pita river, assessed the likely existence of residues of beta-lactam antibiotics and sulphonamides at the 13 sampling points distributed in the following manner: 9 in the San Pedro river and 4 in the Pita river 6 samples of water, were taken to be analyzed using a kit of detection for antibiotics samples were tested 2 times every month, for 3 months, antibiotics were estimated by photogrammetric and statistical analysis.
The results are clear with a total of 41 of 78 samples representing 52% of positive cases with the presence of residues of beta-lactam antibiotics and sulfonamides in the tributaries of the rivers San Pedro and Pita.

Four nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs-namely, acetylsalicylic acid, naproxen, nimesulide, and dipyrone-were assayed to search their capability in preventing the hepatic increase of triacylglycerols and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, as an indication of lipid peroxidation, resulting from the acute intoxication of rats with ethanol. The four antiinflammatory compounds inhibited the ethanolmediated increase in triacylglycerols and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Furthermore, each one of these antiinflammatory drugs produced distinctive actions on blood ethanol levels: a temporal diminution with aspirin and naproxen, no changes with nimesulide, and an increase with dipyrone. It is concluded that the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs contributed to controlling hepatic lipid peroxidation, and hence the oxidative stress promoted by ethanol intoxication.

Epacadostat is a novel inhibitor of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) that suppresses systemic tryptophan catabolism and is currently being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials. We investigated the effects of epacadostat on (a) human dendritic cells (DCs) with respect to maturation and ability to activate human tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) lines, and subsequent T-cell lysis of tumor cells, (b) human regulatory T cells (Tregs), and (c) human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro. Simultaneous treatment with epacadostat and IFN-γ plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) did not change the phenotype of matured human DCs, and as expected decreased the tryptophan breakdown and kynurenine production. Peptide-specific T-cell lines stimulated with DCs pulsed with peptide produced significantly more IFN-γ, TNFα, GM-CSF and IL-8 if the DCs were treated with epacadostat. These T cells also displayed higher levels of tumor cell lysis on a per cell basis. Epacadostat also ...