The analysis of thiodiglycollic acid by selected ion monitoring

A selected ion monitoring assay for thiodiglycollic acid in urine is described. Urine samples are analysed by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as their dibutyl esters using pimelic acid as an internal standard. Rapid analysis was achieved by the simplification of sample preparation. The assay has proved to be reliable, with a detection limit of less than 0.5 mumol/l. The excretion of large amounts of thiodiglycollic acid in premature babies urine has been confirmed, with the greatest excretion occurring from those neonates born with a gestational age of 30 wk or less.     

4-甲氧羰基-4-N-丙酰苯胺基哌啶1位衍生物的合成及其镇痛作用

本文报道了一系列N-[-1(2-苯乙基-4-甲氧羰基-4-哌啶基]-N-丙酰苯胺(4-甲氧羰基芬太尼)哌啶环1位取代衍生物的合成及其镇痛活性;讨论了结构与镇痛活性之间的关系。药理试验结果表明,大部分化合物具有典型的吗啡样镇痛活性,是一类作用极强的麻醉性镇痛剂。特别是哌啶环1位β-苯环被取代乙烯基替代的化合物具有相当或接近子母体化合物的镇痛活性。其代表物1321的镇痛活性(ED_(50)=0.005mg/kg ip,小鼠,热板法)略强于4-甲氧羰基芬太尼(ED_(50)=0.0063 mg/kg)。     

A preliminary retrospective treatment and pharmacoeconomic analysis of asthma care provided by allergists, immunologists, and primary care physicians in a teaching hospital.

Allergy immunology specialists (AIs) differ from primary care physicians (PCP) in their treatment of asthma. A limited retrospective chart review of several visits over a 1-year period in 1997 evaluating the quality of asthma care by AIs vs. PCPs was conducted in an academic center. Data concerning quality, effectiveness and cost of asthma care was randomly collected from 15 AIs and 15 PCPs from charts at 3-month intervals over a 1-year period. Information obtained from data collection forms revealed that asthma patients evaluated by AIs had more visits and received a greater quantity of medication compared to those treated by PCPs. All 15 patients with persistent asthma followed by AIs were treated with inhaled corticosteroids at each visit in contrast to only 80% of those treated by PCPs. The total numbers of controller medications (i.e., inhaled corticosteroids, salmeterol, cromolyn, and theophylline) that were utilized, as recommended, by the National Asthma Expert Panel (NAEP) of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) guidelines were 70 by AIs vs. 24 by PCPs over three visits. Cromolyn was prescribed five times over three visits by AIs and not at all by PCPs. Recognition and treatment of coexisting allergic rhinitis was evident in only 13% of patients treated by PCPs as compared to 80% in those treated by AIS. (p < 0.0001). However, all patients treated by AIs were skin tested to explore the presence of allergic triggers, while no patients treated by PCPs were evaluated for IgE-mediated reactions. Treatment cost for allergic rhinitis was therefore higher, at $2039, for AIs as compared to $741 for PCPs. There were no peakflow values in charts obtained from PCPs. However, all charts from AIs had peakflow values, which improved during the course of therapy in 33% of patients. Total medication costs for asthma were higher for AIs @ $5,646.30 vs. $1,932.25 for PCPs. Total medication costs for allergic rhinitis plus asthma were higher for AIs @ $7615 vs. $2681 for PCPs. However, patients treated by AIs had more severe asthma and required more frequent visits. Ipratropium bromide was prescribed a total of four times over several visits by PCPs vs. only once by AIs. In comparing asthma care between AI specialists and PCPs, it was found that AI specialists treat more severe asthmatics, provide more frequent follow-up visits, utilize peak flow rates, prescribe more controller medications, and more often recognize and treat comorbid conditions such as allergic rhinitis that impact on asthma care. Thus, although treatment costs for AIs are higher, these costs are justified by a quality of care that is more consistent with national (NHLBI) guidelines.     

Antineoplastic agents, 178. Isolation and structure of lychnostatins 1 and 2 from the South American Lychnophora antillana

Bioassay-guided (P388 lymphocytic leukemia cell line) separation of a CH2Cl2/MeOH extract of Lychnophora antillana led to the isolation of two cytostatic (P-388, ED50 2.0 and 0.19 micrograms/ml, respectively) germacranolides designated lychnostatins 1 [1] and 2 [2]. Structural elucidation was based initially upon high field (400 MHz) nmr and electron impact mass spectral interpretations and unequivocally completed by X-ray crystal structure determinations.     

Antineoplastic agents, 120. Pancratium littorale

The bulbs of Pancratium littorale collected in Hawaii were found to contain a new phenanthridone biosynthetic product designated pancratistatin (4a) that proved to be effective (38-106% life extension at 0.75-12.5 mg/kg dose levels) against the murine P-388 lymphocytic leukemia. Pancratistatin also markedly inhibited (ED50, 0.01 microgram/ml) growth of the P-388 in vitro cell line and in vivo murine M-5076 ovary sarcoma (53-84% life extension at 0.38-3.0 mg/kg). An X-ray crystal structure determination of pancratistatin monomethyl ether (4c) and a detailed high resolution (400 MHz) nmr study of pancratistatin and its pentaacetate (4b) completed assignment of structure 4a. Companion antineoplastic constituents of P. littorale were found to be narciclasine (2c) and its 7-deoxy derivative (2a). The structure of 7-deoxynarciclasine (2c) was also confirmed by an X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

选择性κ阿片激动剂K-Ⅱ与U-50488的药理作用比较

K-Ⅱ系k阿片激动剂U-50488的同类物。通过部分离体和整体实验比较了K-Ⅱ与U-50488的药理作用。实验发现,K-Ⅱ抑制电刺激兔输精管收缩的IC₅₀值为0.42 nmol/L,U-50488为26.5 nmol/L;K-Ⅱ抑制小鼠运动功能(横筛法)的ED₅₀值为1.7 mg/g,U-50488为15.3 mg/kg;K-Ⅱ的小鼠LD₅₀值为152.5 mg/kg,U-50488为118.4 mg/g;K-Ⅱ明显降低小鼠自发活动的作用比U-50488强5倍。结果表明,K-Ⅱ是一个药理作用较U-50488强的k受体激动剂。     

Combretastatin-A4 prodrug induces mitotic catastrophe in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell line independent of caspase activation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage.

We have previously reported that combretastatin-A4 prodrug (CA4P), anantitubulin/antiangiogenic agent isolated from the South African willow tree Combretum caffrum, induced cell death primarily through mitotic catastrophe in a panel of human B-lymphoid tumors. In this study, we investigated the molecular aspects of the mitotic catastrophe and whether or not it shares the same pathways of apoptosis. For this we studied the effect of CA4P on selected markers of apoptosis [caspases 9 and 3, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), bcl-2, and bax] and G2-M protein regulators (p53, MDM2, 14-3-3sigma, GADD45, cdc2, cdc25, chk1, wee1, p21, and cyclin B1). The chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell line WSU-CLL was used for this purpose. Western blot analysis showed that 24 h of CA4P (5 nM) exposure induces caspase 9 activation and PARP cleavage. However, the addition of Z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (a general caspase inhibitor) or Z-Leu-Glu(OMe)-His-Asp(OMe)-CH2F (a caspase 9 inhibitor) before CA4P treatment did not block cell death. No change in bcl-2 or bax protein expression was observed. Exposure of WSU-CLL cells to 4 and 5 nM CA4P was associated with overproduction of total p53 and no dramatic change in MDM2, 14-3-3sigma, GADD45, the cyclin-dependent kinase cdc2, its inhibitory phosphorylation, the cdc2-inhibitory kinase (wee1), chk1, or cdc25 hyperphosphorylation. The overaccumulation of p21 and cyclin B1 protein was obvious at 24 h. Furthermore, CA4P treatment showed an increase in the expression of a marker of mitosis (mitotic protein monoclonal-2 antibody) and an overaccumulation of the cyclin B in the nucleus. Our findings suggest that CA4P induces mitotic catastrophe and arrest of WSU-CLL cells mostly in the M phase independent of p53 and independent of chk1 and cdc2 phosphorylation pathways. Apoptosis is a secondary mechanism of death in a small proportion of cells through activation of caspase 9 and PARP cleavage. The two mechanisms of cell death, i.e., mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis, are independent of each other in our model.     

The RETHINK Parenting and Anger Management Program: A Follow‐Up Validation Study*

Abstract: This study is the first follow‐up assessment of the RETHINK Parenting and Anger Management Program. Parent participants (N = 168) reduced their anger, violence, and family conflict levels from posttest to follow‐up, on average, at 2.5 months on 13 of 15 dependent variables. Current findings are consistent with a small, albeit growing body of literature supporting the efficacy of RETHINK in improving anger management and parenting skills. When mothers and fathers participate in 6 or 7 weekly RETHINK sessions, they appear to learn the verbal reasoning skills they need to lower their anger, conflict, and violence levels and the changes persist for at least 2.5 months.     

Phenylethylmalonamide serum levels in patients treated with primidone and the effects of other antiepileptic drugs

Data are presented for the serum levels of 2-ethyl-2-phenylmalonamide (PEMA) in patients receiving anticonvulsant medication. Statistical analysis of these data indicates that the serum level of PEMA, which is a metabolite of primidone, is affected not only by the dose of primidone but also by the serum levels of other prescribed anticonvulsant drugs. In particular, phenobarbitone is shown to be a major perturbation upon the PEMA serum level.