Various Compounds (various + compound)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


A nitric oxide (NO)-releasing derivative of gabapentin, NCX 8001, alleviates neuropathic pain-like behavior after spinal cord and peripheral nerve injury

BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 1 2004
Wei-Ping Wu
Nitric oxide (NO) participates, at least in part, to the establishment and maintenance of pain after nerve injury. Therefore, drugs that target the NO/cGMP signaling pathway are of interest for the treatment of human neuropathic pain. Various compounds endowed with NO-releasing properties modulate the expression and function of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), the key enzyme responsible for sustained NO production under pathological conditions including neuropathic pain. With this background, we synthesized a new chemical entity, [1-(aminomethyl)cyclohexane acetic acid 3-(nitroxymethyl)phenyl ester] NCX8001, which has a NO-releasing moiety bound to gabapentin, a drug currently used for the clinical management of neuropathic pain. We examined the pharmacological profile of this drug with respect to its NO-releasing properties in vitro as well as to its efficacy in treating neuropathic pain conditions (allodynia) consequent to experimental sciatic nerve or spinal cord injuries. NCX8001 (1,30 ,M) released physiologically relevant concentrations of NO as it induced a concentration-dependent activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (EC50=5.6 ,M) and produced consistent vasorelaxant effects in noradrenaline-precontracted rabbit aortic rings (IC50=1.4 ,M). NCX8001, but not gabapentin, counteracted in a concentration-dependent fashion lipopolysaccharide-induced overexpression and function of iNOS in RAW264.7 macrophages cell line. Furthermore, NCX8001 also inhibited the release of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF,) from stimulated RAW264.7 cells. NCX8001 (28,280 ,mol kg,1, i.p.) reduced the allodynic responses of spinal cord injured rats in a dose-dependent fashion while lacking sedative or motor effects. In contrast, gabapentin (170,580 ,mol kg,1, i.p.) resulted less effective and elicited marked side effects. NCX8001 alleviated the allodynia-like responses of rats to innocuous mechanical or cold stimulation following lesion of the sciatic nerve. This effect was not shared by equimolar doses of gabapentin. Potentially due to the slow releasing kinetics of NO, NCX8001 alleviated pain-like behaviors in two rat models of neuropathic pain in a fashion that is superior to its parent counterpart gabapentin. This new gabapentin derivative, whose mechanism deserves to be explored further, offers new hopes to the treatment of human neuropathic pain. British Journal of Pharmacology (2004) 141, 65,74. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705596 [source]


Development of Novel Glucose and Pyruvate Biosensors at Poly(Neutral Red) Modified Carbon Film Electrodes.

ELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 8 2006
Application to Natural Samples
Abstract Amperometric biosensors based on the corresponding oxidase enzyme with poly(neutral red) redox mediator have been developed for the determination of glucose and pyruvate. The enzymes have been immobilized on top of poly(neutral red) modified carbon film electrodes with glutaraldehyde as the cross-linking agent. The biosensors were characterized by cyclic voltammetry and by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The glucose biosensor exhibited a linear response in the range 90,,M to 1.8,mM with a detection limit of 22,,M and the pyruvate biosensor in the range 90 to 600,,M with a detection limit of 34,,M. The relative standard deviations were found to be 2.1% (n=3) and 2.8% (n=4) respectively. The interference effects of various compounds were also studied. The glucose content of several types of wine and the amount of pyruvate in onion and garlic were determined and the results were compared with those obtained by standard spectrophotometric methods. [source]


Mechanism of H-8 inhibition of Cyclin-dependent kinase 9: study using inhibitor-immobilized matrices

GENES TO CELLS, Issue 3 2003
Daisuke Shima
Background: Positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), which phosphorylates the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), is comprised of the catalytic subunit cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) and the regulatory subunit cyclin T. The kinase activity and transcriptional activation potential of P-TEFb is sensitive to various compounds, including H-8, 5,6-dichloro-1-,-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB), and flavopiridol. Results: We investigated the molecular mechanism of the H-8 inhibition of CDK9 using matrices to which H-9, an amino derivative of H-8, was immobilized. CDK9 bound specifically to H-9, and this interaction was competitively inhibited by ATP and DRB, but not by flavopiridol. Mutational analyses demonstrated that the central region of CDK9, which encompasses the T-loop region, was important for its binding to H-9. Conclusions: H-9-immobilized latex beads are useful for trapping CDK9 and a subset of kinases from crude cell extracts. The flavopiridol-binding region of CDK9 is most likely different from its H-9-binding region. These biochemical data support previously reported observations which were based on crystallographic data. [source]


Minerals and phytic acid interactions: is it a real problem for human nutrition?

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 7 2002
H. Walter Lopez
Summary Because of its high density of negatively charged phosphate groups, phytic acid (PA) forms very stable complexes with mineral ions rendering them unavailable for intestinal uptake. Indeed, the first step in mineral absorption requires that the mineral remains in the ionic state. As the PA content of the diet increases, the intestinal absorption of zinc, iron and calcium decreases. The inhibitory effects of PA on magnesium or copper are more controversial. Nevertheless, PA does not occur alone in foods and is often consumed with various compounds. Phytates are always present in vegetal matrix composed of fibres, minerals, trace elements and other phytomicronutrients. Thus, in order to evaluate mineral absorption from phytate-rich products, all components of diet and food interactions should be considered and it is hard to predict mineral bioavailability in such products by using only the phytate content. [source]


Elucidation of the percutaneous absorption of chromium compounds by functional proteomics

PROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 22 2009
Tai-Long Pan
Abstract Chromium compounds are known to be associated with cytotoxicity and carcinogenicity when applied via a skin route. The aim of this study was to evaluate the skin permeability and toxicological profiles of four chromium species. Chromium permeation across the skin, as determined by an in vitro Franz cell, decreased in the order of sodium chromate>potassium chromate>potassium dichromate>chromium nitrate. The uptake of chromium species within the skin generally showed a contrary trend to the results of permeation, although differences among the various compounds were not large. Levels of in vivo skin deposition of the four compounds showed no statistically significant differences. Potassium chromate produced the greatest disruption of the skin structure as determined by HE staining, followed in order by sodium chromate, potassium dichromate, and chromium nitrate. This indicates that hexavalent chromium elicited greater toxicity to the skin compared to trivalent chromium. A similar result was observed for the viability of skin fibroblasts. To improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms leading to functional changes in proteins, proteomic tools, including 2-DE and MS techniques combined with sequence database correlations, were applied to identify target proteins altered by pathologic states. Eight protein spots, corresponding to cutaneous enzymes involved in energy metabolism and chaperon proteins, which were identified and discussed in this study, were associated with skin cytotoxicity, immunity, and carcinogenesis. In addition, functional proteomics of skin tissues may provide a promising tool for developing therapeutic strategies and can serve as the basis for further research. [source]


Multiresidue analysis of tranquilizers and the beta-blocker Carazolol in meat by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 18 2001
Anton Kaufmann
A fast and simple method for the quantification of a number of tranquilizers and the beta-blocker Carazolol in pork and bovine kidney is described. Extracts are purified/concentrated by a solid phase extraction step and separated on a reversed phase column with an alkaline (ammonia) acetonitrile gradient. The electrospray tandem mass spectrometer is operated in positive ion multireaction monitoring mode. Resulting chromatograms are free of interfering peaks. The recovery is >75% for all analytes and the limit of detection <1 ppb, which is well below the current maximum residue limit for the various compounds. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


AT1 -receptor blockade and sympathetic neurotransmission in cardiovascular disease

AUTONOMIC & AUTACOID PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 5-6 2003
A. Nap
Summary 1 The present survey is dealing with the interactions between the renin,angiotensin,aldosterone system (RAAS) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in various organs and tissues, with an emphasis on the angiotensin AT-receptors located at the sympathetic nerve endings. 2 Angiotensin II, the main effector of the RAAS is known to stimulate sympathetic nerve traffic and its sequelae in numerous organs and tissues, such as the central nervous system, the adrenal medulla, the sympathetic ganglia and the sympathetic nerve endings. These stimulatory effects are mediated by AT1 -receptors and counteracted by AT1 -receptor antagonists. 3 Sympatho-inhibition at the level of the sympathetic nerve ending appears to be a class effect of the AT1 -receptor blockers, mediated by presynaptic AT1 -receptors. With respect to the ratio pre-/postsynaptic AT1 -receptor antagonism important quantitative differences between the various compounds were found. 4 Both the pre- and postjunctional receptors at the sympathetic nerve endings belong to the AT1 -receptor population. However, the presynaptic receptors belong to the AT1B -subtype, whereas the postjunctional receptors probably belong to a different AT1 -receptor subpopulation. 5 Sympatho-inhibition is a class effect of the AT1 -receptor antagonists. In conditions in which the SNS plays a pathophysiological role, such as hypertension and congestive heart failure, this property may well be of therapeutic relevance. [source]


Validated HPLC method for the standardization of Phyllanthus niruri (herb and commercial extracts) using corilagin as a phytochemical marker

BIOMEDICAL CHROMATOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2009
Renata Colombo
Abstract Phyllanthus niruri L., commonly known in Brazil as ,quebra-pedra', has long been used in the treatment of diverse diseases and especially urolithiasis. The therapeutic effects of P. niruri are attributed to various compounds present in the plant, including the hydrolysable tannin corilagin. In the present study, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-/PAD) profiles of leaves and commercial extracts of P. niruri were examined and three compounds, found to be present in all of the samples studied, were isolated by open column chromatography over C18 silica gel followed by preparative HPLC. These compounds were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance as corilagin, rutin and ethyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate. Corilagin, which has been proposed as a phytochemical marker for P. niruri, was employed as an external standard in the development and validation of a rapid and efficient qualitative and quantitative HPLC assay for the analyte. The method may be applied in the standardization of herbs and phytomedicines commercialized in Brazil as quebra-pedra. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Tadalafil and vardenafil vs sildenafil: a review of patient-preference studies

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 9 2009
Vincenzo Mirone
The immediate objective of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor treatment is to restore the ability of a man to achieve and/or maintain an erection adequate for sexual intercourse. As erectile dysfunction (ED) generally develops in the second half of life, the ultimate objective generally is not procreation, but quality of sexual life. Indeed, ED is known to impair quality of life considerably; two-thirds of men report that ED has impaired their self-esteem and nearly a third claim that it has damaged the relationship with their partner. It follows that the therapeutic success of PDE5 inhibition has an important subjective component, which is compounded by the subjective nature and complexity of sexual life in humans. This makes it very difficult for physicians to be certain that they have selected the optimal therapy for a couple, even after a thorough evaluation. The 2007 European Association of Urology Guidelines stress the importance of educating the patient and claim that ,the patient will choose the final drug after his own experience'. However, PDE5 inhibitors are typically used twice a week, so a patient would have to spend ,3 months trying the various compounds and dosages to achieve adequate exposure to all three PDE5 inhibitors; this would seem an unrealistic strategy in normal clinical practice. The acknowledgement that the patient has an important role in therapeutic decisions for ED has fuelled interest in the concept of patient preference. It has been established that patient preference depends on three factors, i.e. personal characteristics, e.g. age, duration of ED, frequency and dynamics of sexual relations, and the characteristics of their partners, e.g. age, menopausal status and level of interest in sexual activity and medication profile. Medication features of interest include efficacy in terms of quality of erection, consistency of effects, rapid onset of action, long duration of action, side-effect profile and route of administration; drug costs must also be considered if the medicinal product is not reimbursed. [source]


Synthesis of Tricyclic Fused 3-Aminopyridines through Intramolecular CoI -Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloaddition between Ynamides, Nitriles, and Alkynes

CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 9 2009
Pierre Garcia
Abstract Three-ring circus: An expedient route to tricyclic fused 2-trimethylsilyl-3-aminopyridines exhibiting unprecedented skeletons is described. The key step is a very efficient cobalt-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of a polyunsaturated compound displaying an ynamide, an alkyne, and a nitrile functionality (see picture). The first [2+2+2] cocyclizations between ynamides, nitriles, and alkynes are reported. They open a new access to unprecedented nitrogen-containing heterocycles of type 2-trimethylsilyl-3-aminopyridines. Such frameworks, which can be found in various compounds of biological interest, are very difficult to prepare by conventional methods. However, using [CpCo(C2H4)2] (Cp=cyclopentadienyl) as catalyst, the intramolecular cyclizations could be achieved in up to 100,% yield. The presence of the trimethylsilyl group allowed a rare type of Hiyama cross-coupling: one of the silylated pyridines could be coupled with p -iodoanisole to give a new type of biaryl system. [source]


Unique Properties of DNA Interstrand Cross-Links of Antitumor Oxaliplatin and the Effect of Chirality of the Carrier Ligand

CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 4 2008
Jana Kasparkova Dr.
Abstract The different antitumor and other biological effects of the third-generation antitumor platinum drug oxaliplatin [(1R,2R -diamminocyclohexane)oxalatoplatinum(II)] in comparison with those of conventional cisplatin [cis -diamminedichloridoplatinum(II)] are often explained by the ability of oxaliplatin to form DNA adducts of different conformation and consequently to exhibit different cytotoxic effects. This work describes, for the first time, the structural and biochemical characteristics of the interstrand cross-links of oxaliplatin. We find that: 1),DNA bending, unwinding, thermal destabilization, and delocalization of the conformational alteration induced by the cross-link of oxaliplatin are greater than those observed with the cross-link of cisplatin; 2),the affinity of high-mobility-group proteins (which are known to mediate the antitumor activity of platinum complexes) for the interstrand cross-links of oxaliplatin is markedly lower than for those of cisplatin; and 3),the chirality at the carrier 1,2-diaminocyclohexane ligand can affect some important structural properties of the interstrand cross-links of cisplatin analogues. Thus, the information contained in the present work is also useful for a better understanding of how the stereochemistry of the carrier amine ligands of cisplatin analogues can modulate their anticancer and mutagenic properties. The significance of this study is also reinforced by the fact that, in general, interstrand cross-links formed by various compounds of biological significance result in greater cytotoxicity than is expected for monofunctional adducts or other intrastrand DNA lesions. Therefore, we suggest that the unique properties of the interstrand cross-links of oxaliplatin are at least partly responsible for this drug's unique antitumor effects. [source]


Development of a Novel Environmentally Friendly Electrolytic System by Using Recyclable Solid-Supported Bases for In Situ Generation of a Supporting Electrolyte from Methanol as a Solvent: Application for Anodic Methoxylation of Organic Compounds

CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 21 2005
Toshiki Tajima
Abstract We have successfully developed a novel environmentally friendly electrolytic system using recyclable solid-supported bases for in situ generation of a supporting electrolyte from methanol as a solvent. It was found that solid-supported bases are electrochemically inactive at an electrode surface. It was also found that solid-supported bases dissociate methanol into methoxide anions and protons. Therefore, in the presence of solid-supported bases, it was clarified that methanol serves as both a solvent and a supporting electrolyte generated in situ. Anodic methoxylation of various compounds with solid-supported bases was carried out to provide the corresponding methoxylated products in good to excellent yields with a few exceptions. The methoxylated products and the solid-supported bases were easily separated by only filtration, and the desired pure methoxylated products were readily isolated simply by concentration of the filtrates. The separated and recovered solid-supported bases were recyclable for several times. [source]