Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of benazepril hydrochloride in patients with major proteinuria

Summary We have investigated whether the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the ACE inhibitor benazepril hydrochloride are altered with proteinuria by studying 8 patients with major proteinuria of different causes who were given a single dose of 10 mg p.o.The maximum plasma concentration of benazepril was found between 0.5 and 2 h after dosing (median 1 h). Its elimination was almost complete within 6 h. Peak plasma levels of benazeprilat, the active metabolite of benazepril, were observed between 1 and 6 h (median 2.5 h). The elimination of benazeprilat from plasma was biphasic, with mean initial and terminal half-lives of 3.0 and 17.3 h, respectively. On average, the pharmacokinetic parameters of benazepril and benazeprilat in the patients did not differ from those in a historical control group of healthy volunteers, but intersubject variability in the AUC and half-lives of benazeprilat was greater in the patients.Plasma ACE was completely inhibited from 1.5 to 6 h after dosing, and at 48 h the mean inhibition was still 42 %. Plasma renin showed substantial intersubject variation. Mean supine blood pressure (systolic/diastolic) was reduced from baseline by a maximum of 18/13 mm Hg at 6 h. Proteinuria was diminished after benazepril in 7 patients.In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that proteinuria in the nephrotic range does not require a change in benazepril dosage.     

Haemophilia A and haemophilia B: molecular insights

This review focuses on selected areas that should interest both the scientist and the clinician alike: polymorphisms within the factor VIII and factor IX genes, their linkage, and their ethnic variation; a general assessment of mutations within both genes and a detailed inspection of the molecular pathology of certain mutations to illustrate the diverse cause–effect relations that exist; a summary of current knowledge on molecular aspects of inhibitor production; and an introduction to the new areas of factor VIII and factor IX catabolism. An appendix defining various terms encountered in the molecular genetics of the haemophilias is included, together with an appendix providing accession numbers and locus identification links for accessing gene and sequence information in the international nucleic acid databases.     

MMP-9和TIMP-1表达失衡与乳腺癌浸润、转移的相关性

目的 研究乳腺癌组织中基质金属蛋白酶（MMP－9）和金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子（TIMP－1）的表达变化与乳腺癌生物学行为及淋巴结转移的关系。方法 应用SP免疫组织化学方法检测85例乳腺癌组织MMP－9，TIMP－1及细胞增殖核抗原ki-67的表达情况。结果 MMP-9阳性染色率90．59％，MMP－9阳性表达与肿瘤浸润，淋巴结转移，ki-67指数及TNM分期呈正相关（Pearson列联系数分别为P=0.03,P=0.02,P=0.004和P＝0．0000，P＜0．05，0．01。TIMP－1阳性染色率为78．82％，TIMP－1阳性表达与肿瘤浸润，淋巴结转移及TNM分期浸润，转移及ki-67指数显著相关（P＜0．05，P＜0．01，P＜0．001）。结论 MMP－9和TIMP－1表达失衡与乳腺癌浸润及淋巴结转移密切相关。     

Preparation of protected peptidyl thioester intermediates for native chemical ligation by Nα‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry: considerations of side‐chain and backbone anchoring strategies,and compatible protection for N‐terminal cysteine*,†

Abstract: Native chemical ligation has proven to be a powerful method for the synthesis of small proteins and the semisynthesis of larger ones. The essential synthetic intermediates, which are C‐terminal peptide thioesters, cannot survive the repetitive piperidine deprotection steps of N^α‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry. Therefore, peptide scientists who prefer to not use N^α‐t‐butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) chemistry need to adopt more esoteric strategies and tactics in order to integrate ligation approaches with Fmoc chemistry. In the present work, side‐chain and backbone anchoring strategies have been used to prepare the required suitably (partially) protected and/or activated peptide intermediates spanning the length of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI). Three separate strategies for managing the critical N‐terminal cysteine residue have been developed: (i) incorporation of N^α‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl‐S‐(N‐methyl‐N‐phenylcarbamoyl)sulfenylcysteine [Fmoc‐Cys(Snm)‐OH], allowing creation of an otherwise fully protected resin‐bound intermediate with N‐terminal free Cys; (ii) incorporation of N^α‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl‐S‐triphenylmethylcysteine [Fmoc‐Cys(Trt)‐OH], generating a stable Fmoc‐Cys(H)‐peptide upon acidolytic cleavage; and (iii) incorporation of N^α‐t‐butyloxycarbonyl‐S‐fluorenylmethylcysteine [Boc‐Cys(Fm)‐OH], generating a stable H‐Cys(Fm)‐peptide upon cleavage. In separate stages of these strategies, thioesters are established at the C‐termini by selective deprotection and coupling steps carried out while peptides remain bound to the supports. Pilot native chemical ligations were pursued directly on‐resin, as well as in solution after cleavage/purification.     

Tacrolimus Exposure and Evolution of Renal Allograft Histology in the First Year After Transplantation

Tacrolimus has a narrow therapeutic window and is characterized by a large inter-individual variability in bioavailability. The impact of tacrolimus exposure on subclinical evolution of graft histology has not been studied in renal recipients. This analysis included 239 protocol biopsies (obtained at implantation, 3 and 12 months) of 120 consecutive kidney recipients treated with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and corticosteroids. Biopsies were scored according to the Banff 2001 criteria and a chronicity score was calculated. Prospective pharmacokinetic data were included in the analysis (5544 tacrolimus predose blood concentrations and tacrolimus AUC(0-12) at 3 and 12 months). Higher donor age and higher number of human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) mismatches were independent predictors of subclinical acute rejection at 3 months, present in 8.7% of patients. The number of HLA-DR mismatches was independently associated with biopsy-proven clinical acute rejection. Biopsy-proven acute rejection episodes and low mean tacrolimus exposure were independently associated with higher increase in chronicity scores between 3 and 12 months after transplantation. This observational study suggests that rejection phenomena and immune-mediated mechanisms remain important in the early progression of chronic allograft pathology. Tacrolimus doses or systemic exposure were not associated with lesions of calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity, suggesting that other factors determine susceptibility to tacrolimus nephrotoxicity.     

草酸钙结石形成对肾组织bikunin和IαI表达的影响

目的研究肾草酸钙结石形成对肾组织bikunin基因和间α胰蛋白酶抑制物(IαI)蛋白表达的影响,探讨bikunin在尿结石形成中的意义。方法诱导实验性大鼠肾草酸钙结石模型,收集结石大鼠、正常大鼠、临床肾结石和非结石患者每组各8例的肾组织标本。采用免疫组化、逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)和计算机图像分析技术分别检测所有大鼠和人肾组织中bikuninmRNA和IαI蛋白的表达水平。结果正常大鼠和非结石患者肾组织均存在bikuninmRNA和IαI蛋白的表达。肾草酸钙结石形成后,结石大鼠肾组织IαI蛋白的灰度值和bikuninmRNA的相对表达水平分别为198.43±15.17、0.70±0.14;肾结石患者肾组织IαI蛋白的灰度值和bikuninmRNA的相对表达水平分别为263.25±17.41、1.27±0.13,分别和对照组相比,均显著增加(P<0.05)。结论Bikunin作为构成IαI的轻链结构,在肾草酸钙结石形成后,bikuninmRNA的表达迅速增强,提示机体通过肾脏合成更多的bikunin来抑制肾草酸钙结石的形成。     

生脉注射液对慢性心力衰竭患者凝血功能的影响

目的研究大剂量生脉注射液对慢性心功能衰竭（简称心衰）患者凝血功能的影响。方法将60例慢性心衰患者随机分为治疗组（即生脉注射液组）和对照组，每组各30例，治疗组给予生脉注射液加西药常规治疗，对照组仅西药常规治疗，观察用药前后心功能改善程度及血浆P-选择素、血管性血友病因子（vWF）和D-二聚体水平的变化。结果治疗组临床显效率与总有效率明显高于对照组。心是患者血浆P-选择素、vWF和D-二聚体水平明显高于健康人，治疗后两组患者血浆P-选择素、vWF和D-二聚体水平均下降，治疗组优于对照组。结论慢性心衰患者，体内存在着高凝状态，大剂量生脉注射液可改善慢性心衰患者的凝血功能，可能在一定程度上减少心衰患者血栓事件的发生和发展？