Arzneimittel-Forschung-Drug Research最新文献

Triptolide(CAS 38748-32-2), a major active component of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TWHF), is known to have multiple pharmacological activities. However, studies have also shown that triptolide is highly disrupt to the reproductive system by disrupting normal steroid hormone signaling. In the present study, we investigated the effect of triptolide (5, 10, or 20 nM for 24 h) on progesterone production by rat granulosa cells. Triptolide inhibited both basal and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)- and 8-bromo-cAMP-stimulated progesterone production as revealed by RIA assay. Furthermore, the HCG-evoked increase in cellular cAMP content was also inhibited by triptolide, indicating that disruption of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway may mediate the deleterious effects of triptolide on progesterone regulation. In addition, triptolide inhibited 25-OH-cholesterol-stimulated progesterone production, suggesting that activity of the P450 side chain cleavage (P450scc) enzyme was also be inhibited by triptolide. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays further revealed that triptolide decreased mRNA and protein expression of P450scc and the steroidogenic regulatory (StAR) protein in granulosa cells. In contrast, cell viability tests using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) indicated that triptolide did not cause measurable cell death at doses that suppressed steroidogenesis. The reproductive toxicity of triptolide may be caused by disruption of cAMP/PKA-mediated expression of a number of progesterone synthesis enzymes or regulatory proteins, leading to reduced progesterone synthesis and reproductive dysfunction.

The purpose of this study is to determine the concentrations of norcantharidin (CAS NO: 5442-12-6) in mouse tissues and investigate its tissue distribution after intragastric administration of disodium norcantharidate solution. A highly sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated, using ribavirin (CAS NO: 36791-04-5) as the internal standard (IS). Norcantharidin and IS were extracted from 0.3 mL tissue homogenates using protein precipitation with acetone under acid condition. The analyte was separated on a C18 reverse phase column and analyzed by MS/MS in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using ESI with positive ionization, m/z 169→123 for norcantharidin and m/z 267→135 for IS. The developed method was validated over a linear range of concentrations 0.01~5 μg·mL - 1 in liver, lung, kidney, stomach, small intestine, uterus and testis, 0.005~0.5 μg·mL - 1 in heart, spleen and brain, the correlation coefficients (r2) were between 0.9918 and 0.9976. The tissue distribution study result was as follows: The AUC0-t of norcantharidin in tissues was in the order as follows: small intestine, stomach, uterus, kidney, testis, liver, lung, spleen, heart, brain.

As a preventive and treatment drug for Alzheimer's disease (AD), naproxen's clinical application is hampered by its limited distribution in the brain. To increase the delivery of naproxen across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), 3 prodrugs (P1, P2 and P3) of naproxen were synthesized through either ester bond or amido bond using the dimethylamino moiety as a brain-targeting ligand. The in vitro release of naproxen from the 3 prodrugs was studied in PBS, rat plasma and brain homogenate. P3 with an amido bond appeared to be highly stable in all incubation media, whereas P1 and P2 with ester bonds were partially hydrolyzed in alkaline environment and brain homogenate to yield the parent drug. After i. v. administration to rats, the brain concentration of total naproxen (summation of released and bound naproxen, TN) of P1, P2 and P3 groups were 28.81, 24.51 and 15.54 times greater than that of the control naproxen group at 5 min, respectively, and the brain AUC0-t were 6.94, 10.06 and 6.70 times greater than that of the control naproxen group. In addition, the Cmax of TN in the brain after the administration of prodrugs with ester bonds (P1 and P2) was higher than that of the amide prodrug (P3). The results highlighted the possibility of brain delivery of naproxen using prodrug strategies based on the brain-targeting ligand with dimethylamino moiety, in which the linkage between drug and targeting group might play an important role in modulating the in vivo behaviors of these prodrugs.

Intensive insulin therapy (IIT) based on multiple daily injections of long plus rapid-acting insulin has been demonstrated to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with chronic hyperglycemia in T1DM patients. The objective of this study was to assess and compare the postprandial glycemic profile over a diurnal 12 h-period produced by the administration of a new NPH plus regular human DNA recombinant IIT (test regimen) relative to the reference IIT in T1DM patients. A phase IV, single-center, open-label, randomized, multiple-dose, balanced, cross-over study in 12 T1DM patients was conducted. Patients were assigned to receive either the test (Densulin® N (NPH) plus Densulin® R (regular),100 UI/ml, Denver Farma, Argentina) followed by the reference (InsulatardHM® (NPH) plus ActrapidHM®,100 UI/ml, Novo Nordisk Pharma Argentina) regimens or viceversa, according to a random sequence. Each treatment regimen consisted of 2 phases of an ambulatory run-in period of 7 days followed by 12 h confinement period. Blood glucose levels were measured. Glycemic profile was evaluated through glycemic plasma-concentration time curves, area under the time-concentration glycemic curves from basal to 2 h (GlyAUC0-2) and to 12 h (GlyAUC0-12) postprandial, and maximum glycemic postprandial concentration (GlyCmax). 12 hour glycemic concentration-time curves were similar for both test and reference regimens. Geometric least square means ratios Test/ref regimens and their 90% confidence interval for GlyAUC0-2, GlyAUC0-12 and GlyCmax were 94.33 (81.13-125.09), 107.75 (94.05-123.45) and 105 (92.89-118.68), respectively. Both regimens presented similar safety profile. This study demonstrated that the new human DNA recombinant NPH and regular insulin is equally effective to the reference regimen for postprandial diurnal glycemic profile.

The wound healing effects of the topically applied preparation Traumaplant® containing a concentrate (10% active ingredient) from the aerial parts of medicinal comfrey (Symphytum × uplandicum Nyman) were examined in a randomized, controlled, clinical double-blind study. An otherwise identical low-dose preparation (1% active ingredient) was used as a control. The study population consisted of 108 children aged 3-12 years (n=54/group) with fresh abrasions. A 50% healing rate was reached 0.9 days earlier with the higher than with the lower concentration cream. The difference in the healing rate (0.38±0.18/day [95% CI 0.33-0.4] vs. 0.26±0.14/day [95% CI 0.222-0.297]) was statistically significant (p=0.0002). Physicians and children/parents both rated the efficacy of the 10% cream as significantly better than that of the control preparation (physicians' assessment after 2-3 and 7-9 days for verum vs. control: 90.7 and 92.6% vs. 55.6 and 74.0% of the healing rates were rated as "good" or "very good", respectively; p=0.0004 and 0.01). In subgroup analyses, there was no significant influence on the healing rate of the time elapsed between the accident and the first consultation, the wound surface, the affected body part, the origin of the injury and gender. There were no reported adverse effects or problems with tolerability such as local skin irritations. The results justify application of the Symphytum herb extract cream in children with blunt traumata with or without abrasions.

In this study, the synthesis and anticonvulsant properties of sixteen 2/3-benzoylaminopropionanilide derivatives were described. Molecular design of the compounds has been based on the modification of lacosamide which is a functionalized amino acid with a novel anticonvulsant activity. The structural confirmation of the title compounds was achieved by spectral and analytical data. The anticonvulsant activity profile of synthesized compounds was determined by maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous metrazole (scMet) seizure tests, whereas their neurotoxicity was examined using rotarod test. All these tests were performed in accordance with the procedures of the Antiepileptic Drug Development (ADD) program. The majority of the compounds were effective in the MES or scMet screening tests. None of the compounds showed neurotoxicity according to the rotarod test at studied doses. Most active compounds in the series were 3, 12 and 13, which bearing 2-methyl, 2-ethyl and 2-isopropyl substituent on the N-phenyl ring, respectively.

SID530 is a new parenteral formulation of docetaxel containing hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD). In this study, a comparative pharmacokinetic study of 2 docetaxel parenteral solutions, SID530 and Taxotere, was carried out. In a crossover experimental design, 6 male cynomolgus monkeys received each formulation by intravenous infusion of a single dose. The concentration of docetaxel in whole blood and plasma was determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The 2 formulations showed similar pharmacokinetic parameters in both whole blood and plasma, and displayed comparable values for maximum serum concentration (Cmax), time to peak concentration (Tmax), and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC). The 90% confidence intervals for the ratios of Cmax and AUC values for SID530 to Taxotere were within the acceptable range of 0.80-1.20 in both plasma and whole blood. These findings indicate that SID530 and Taxotere are comparable in terms of their distribution in the blood and their plasma profile; consequently, these drugs are bioequivalent in the monkey.

Reports regarding drug toxicity and adverse events resulting from coadministration of multiple drugs are increasing at an alarming rate. CDRI-97/78 is an 1,2,4-trioxane antimalarial agent under development which gets metabolized to the in vivo active metabolite 97/63. In order to assess its drug interaction potential, CDRI-97/78 was administered alone and in combination with lamotrigine to male and female rats via the oral route. Quantification of the active metabolite 97/63 in rat plasma was achieved with an LC-MS/MS assay. After oral administration of 97/78, the Tmax and Cmax values of 97/63 in male rats were 1.75±0.77 h and 862±306 ng/mL while female rats showed values for Cmax of 622.75±95.09 ng/mL and for Tmax of 7.5±0.5 h. Coadministration of 97/78 and lamotrigine resulted in decreased Tmax and Cmax values in both male and female rats (Tmax and Cmax of 0.77±0.16 h and 58.58±6.43 ng/mL in male rats; 1.13±0.22 h and 62.95±12.00 ng/mL in female rats, respectively). A statistically significant difference (P<0.05) was observed for the pharmacokinetic parameters of 97/63 after oral administration of 97/78 alone and upon its coadministration with lamotrigine except for the Cmax and Tmax values in male and for the T1/2 value in female rats. Statistically, no significant difference for the pharmacokinetic parameters of 97/63 between male and female rats after oral administration of 97/78 alone or in combination with lamotrigine was determined except for Tmax. The study indicates that coadministration of 97/78, an antimalarial agent, and the antiepileptic lamotrigine may require dose adjustments. Additional clinical drug interaction trials may be required to confirm these findings.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the multidrug resistance modulator HZ08 has a strong multidrug resistance reversal effect in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 in K562/A02 and MCF-7/ADM cells, respectively. However, there are many other mechanisms responsible for resistance. In this study, MTT assay was used to examine the cytotoxicity and multidrug resistance reversal of HZ08 in KBV200 cells. It was also used to detect Rh123 and adriamycin accumulation in the presence of HZ08 to assess the effect on P-glycoprotein. Caspase-3 activity was analyzed under the incubation of HZ08 per se and in combination with vincristine. Results showed that HZ08 could increase the activity of caspase-3 with P-glycoprotein inhibition. Further studies revealed that HZ08 increased vincristine-induced apoptosis, characterized as an intrinsic apoptosis pathway with enhanced G2/M phase arrest, since HZ08 had an effect on the intrinsic apoptotic regulator Bcl-2 and Bax. Therefore, the outstanding reversal effect of HZ08 occurs not only through suppressing the P-glycoprotein function but also through activating the intrinsic apoptosis pathway.

A specific, sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for the determination of azithromycin in human plasma. After deproteinizing the plasma sample with methanol, azithromycin and internal standard (IS: roxithromycin) were separated using a mobile phase comprised of acetonitrile : ammonium acetate buffer (50 mM, containing 0.05% acetic acid)=85:15 on a Hypersil GOLD C18 column (50 mm×2.1 mm ID, dp 1.9 μm). Detection was performed with a tandem mass spectrometer by selective reaction monitoring (SRM) through electrospray ionization. Target ions were monitored at [M+H]+ m/z 749.5→591.5 and 837.7→679.5 in positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode for azithromycin and IS respectively. Linearity was established for the range of concentrations 2-800 ng/mL with a coefficient of correlation (r) of 0.9996. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was identifiable and reproducible at 2.0 ng/mL. Both intra- and inter-batch standard deviations were less than 15%. The validated method was successfully applied to study the comparative bioavailability of azithromycin for suspension in test vs. reference in healthy Chinese volunteers through the statistical comparison of pharmacokinetic parameters obtained with the two formulations.