New tools for the control of peptide conformation: the helicogenic Cα‐methyl,Cα‐cyclohexylglycine*

Abstract: The novel C^α‐tetrasubstituted α‐amino acid C^α‐methyl, C^α‐cyclohexylglycine was prepared by hydrogenation of its C^α‐methyl, C^α‐phenylglycine precursor. Terminally protected homodi‐, homotri‐, and homotetrapeptides from C^α‐methyl, C^α‐cyclohexylglycine and co‐oligopeptides to the pentamer level in combination with Gly or α‐aminoisobutyric acid residues were prepared by solution methods and fully characterized. The results of a conformational analysis, performed by use of Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectrophotomet absorption, ¹H NMR, and X‐ray diffraction techniques, support the contention that this C^α‐methylated, C^β‐trisubstituted aliphatic α‐amino acid is an effective β‐turn and 3₁₀‐helix inducer in tri‐ and longer peptides as its C^α‐methyl valine parent compound, but partially divergent from the corresponding aromatic C^α‐methyl, C^α‐diphenylmethylglycine residue, known to promote folded and fully extended structures to a significant extent in these oligomers.     

Synthetic peptide derived from α‐fetoprotein inhibits growth of human breast cancer: investigation of the pharmacophore and synthesis optimization

Abstract: A synthetic peptide that inhibits the growth of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) human breast cancers, growing as xenografts in mice, has been reported. The cyclic 9‐mer peptide, cyclo[EMTOVNOGQ], is derived from α‐fetoprotein (AFP), a safe, naturally occurring human protein produced during pregnancy, which itself has anti‐estrogenic and anti‐breast cancer activity. To determine the pharmacophore of the peptide, a series of analogs was prepared using solid‐phase peptide synthesis. Analogs were screened in a 1‐day bioassay, which assessed their ability to inhibit the estrogen‐stimulated growth of uterus in immature mice. Deletion of glutamic acid, Glu1, abolished activity of the peptide, but glutamine (Gln) or asparagine (Asn) could be substituted for Glu1 without loss of activity. Methionine (Met2) was replaced with lysine (Lys) or tyrosine (Tyr) with retention of activity. Substitution of Lys for Met2 in the cyclic molecule resulted in a compound with activity comparable with the Met2‐containing cyclic molecule, but with a greater than twofold increase in purity and corresponding increase in yield. This Lys analog demonstrated anti‐breast cancer activity equivalent to that of the original Met‐containing peptide. Therefore, Met2 is not essential for biologic activity and substitution of Lys is synthetically advantageous. Threonine (Thr3) is a nonessential site, and can be substituted with serine (Ser), valine (Val), or alanine (Ala) without significant loss of activity. Hydroxyproline (Hyp), substituted in place of the naturally occurring prolines (Pro4, Pro7), allowed retention of activity and increased stability of the peptide during storage. Replacement of the first Pro (Pro4) with Ser maintains the activity of the peptide, but substitution of Ser for the second Pro (Pro7) abolishes the activity of the peptide. This suggests that the imino acid at residue 7 is important for conformation of the peptide, and the backbone atoms are part of the pharmacophore, but Pro4 is not essential. Valine (Val5) can be substituted only with branched‐chain amino acids (isoleucine, leucine or Thr); replacement by d ‐valine or Ala resulted in loss of biologic activity. Thus, for this site, the bulky branched side chain is essential. Asparagine (Asn6) is essential for activity. Substitution with Gln or aspartic acid (Asp), resulted in reduction of biologic activity. Removal of glycine (Gly8) resulted in a loss of activity but nonconservative substitutions can be made at this site without a loss of activity indicating that it is not part of the pharmacophore. Cyclization of the peptide is facilitated by addition of Gln9, but this residue does not occur in AFP nor is it necessary for activity. Gln9 can be replaced with Asn, resulting in a molecule with similar activity. These data indicate that the pharmacophore of the peptide includes side chains of Val5 and Asn6 and backbone atoms contributed by Thr3, Val5, Asn6, Hyp7 and Gly8. Met2 and Gln9 can be modified or replaced. Glu1 can be replaced with charged amino acids, and is not likely to be part of the binding site of the peptide. The results of this study provide information that will be helpful in the rational modification of cyclo[EMTOVNOGQ] to yield peptide analogs and peptidomimetics with advantages in synthesis, pharmacologic properties, and biologic activity.     

Inhibition of β‐amyloid toxicity by short peptides containing N‐methyl amino acids

Abstract: Single N‐methyl amino acid‐containing peptides related to the central hydrophobic region β_16–20 (Lys‐Leu‐Val‐Phe‐Phe) of the β‐amyloid protein are able to reduce the cytotoxicity of natural β_1–42 in PC12 cell cultures. N‐methyl phenylalanine analogs yield statistically significant increments in cell viability (Student's t‐test < 0.01%) and are nontoxic in the same assay. These promising results indicate that these peptide molecules could be a starting point for the development of potential therapeutic compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.     

Facile synthesis of Nα‐protected‐l‐α,γ‐diaminobutyric acids mediated by polymer‐supported hypervalent iodine reagent in water

Abstract: Hofmann rearrangement of N^α‐Boc‐l ‐Gln‐OH mediated by a polymer‐supported hypervalent iodine reagent poly[(4‐diacetoxyiodo)styrene] (PSDIB) in water afforded N^α‐Boc‐l ‐α,γ‐diaminobutyric acid (Boc‐Dab‐OH, 1 ) in 87% yield. N^α‐Z‐derivative (Z‐Dab‐OH, 2 ) was prepared with PSDIB in 83% yield. Since the reaction of N^α‐Fmoc‐Gln‐OH by this procedure did not proceed because of the insolubility of Fmoc‐Gln‐OH in aqueous media, we synthesized Fmoc‐Dab(Boc)‐OH ( 5 ) from 2 in 54% yield. Polymyxin B heptapeptide (PMBH) which contains four Dab residues was successfully synthesized in a solution‐phase synthesis.     

旋转手法对椎动脉血流平均速度的影响

目的　观察手法治疗椎动脉型颈椎病的经颅多普勒 (TCD)变化 ,从血流动力学角度探讨手法治疗的作用机制。方法　将 82例椎动脉型颈椎病患者随机分成手法治疗组 4 0例与常规治疗组 4 2例 ,治疗前及治疗后检查TCD ,观察手法治疗对椎动脉型颈椎病患者的血流平均速度的影响。结果　① 82例患者治疗前椎基底动脉血流平均速度均明显低于正常参考值范围(P <0 .0 5 )。TCD异常率为 76 % ( 6 2 /82 )。②治疗后两组椎基底动脉血流速度均有改善。手法治疗组比常规治疗组椎动脉血流速度改善更明显 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　手法治疗可以改善椎动脉型颈椎病椎基底动脉的血流速度。     

半楼贝蔹及配伍乌头对大鼠肝细胞色素P450酶含量的影响

[目的]研究中药十八反中半夏、贝母、栝楼、白蔹、白及配伍乌头对大鼠肝细胞色素P450 酶含量的影响。[方法]采用紫外分光光度测定大鼠肝微粒体细胞色素P450与细胞色素b5含量。[结果]配伍组与其相应单药组比较可显著降低P450酶及b5含量(P<0.001或P<0.05)。[结论]药物配伍后导致P450酶变化 ,对药物的代谢产生影响。     

试论当代中医治疗乙型肝炎的基本原则

作为难治性疾病之一的病毒性乙型肝炎(简称乙肝),在临床运用中医中药治疗的过程中,必须严格遵循师古不泥古,开拓创新的原则.抗病毒原则、重视客观检测的原则、临床再探索的原则、辨病与辨证统一的原则以及重视药物毒性须慎重择药的原则等.     

肝复康对实验性大鼠肝纤维化肝组织Ⅰ、Ⅱ型胶原含量的影响

目的 :研究肝复康对实验性大鼠肝纤维化的肝组织 、 型胶原含量及其比值的影响。方法 :采用四氯化碳皮下注射制备肝纤维化模型 ,于造模 6 0 d后给予肝复康治疗 3个月 ,以秋水仙碱及肝脾康为对照药。检测肝组织羟脯氨酸含量 ,苦味酸天狼星红染色法偏振光显微镜显示肝组织 、 型胶原 ,并结合图像分析计算 、 型胶原面积及面积比。结果 :肝复康治疗后肝组织 、 型胶原的含量较模型对照组明显减少 , 型胶原面积明显降低(P<0 .0 1) , 型胶原面积明显降低 (P<0 .0 1) , 、 型胶原含量的比值明显降低 (P<0 .0 1)。结论 :肝复康可明显降低肝组织 、 型胶原表达 ,降低 、 型胶原含量比 ,使细胞外基质的成分趋于正常。     

Imaging of the symptomatic type II accessory navicular bone

Accessory ossicles of the foot are commonly mistaken for fractures. The accessory navicular is one of the most common accessory ossicles of the foot. There is a higher incidence in women and the finding might be bilateral in 50?90%. This entity is usually asymptomatic, although populations with medial foot pain have a higher prevalence. Three types of accessory navicular bone have been described. The type II accessory navicular is the most commonly symptomatic variant with localized chronic or acute on chronic medial foot pain and tenderness with associated inflammation of overlying soft tissues. Plain radiographic identification of the accessory navicular is insufficient to attribute symptomatology. Ultrasound allows for comparison with the asymptomatic side and localization of pain. Bone scintigraphy has a high sensitivity but positive findings lack specificity. Magnetic resonance imaging is of high diagnostic value for demonstrating both bone marrow and soft tissue oedema.     

Significance of plasma transforming growth factor-β levels in radiotherapy for non–small-cell lung cancer

PURPOSE: In dose-escalation studies of radiotherapy (RT) for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), radiation pneumonitis (RP) is the most important dose-limiting complication. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) has been reported to be associated with the incidence of RP. It has been proposed that serial measurements of plasma TGF-beta1 can be valuable to estimate the risk of RP and to decide whether additional dose-escalation can be safely applied. The aim of this study was to evaluate prospectively the time course of TGF-beta1 levels in patients irradiated for NSCLC in relation to the development of RP and dose-volume parameters. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Plasma samples were obtained in 68 patients irradiated for medically inoperable or locally advanced NSCLC (dose range, 60.8-94.5 Gy) before and 4, 6, and 18 weeks after the start of RT. Plasma TGF-beta1 levels were determined using a bioassay on the basis of TGF-beta1-induced plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression in mink lung cells. All patients underwent chest computed tomography scans before RT that were repeated at 18 weeks after RT. The computed tomography data were used to calculate the mean lung dose (MLD) and to score the radiation-induced radiologic changes. RP was defined on the basis of the presence of either radiographic changes or clinical symptoms. Symptomatic RP was scored according to the Common Toxicity Criteria (Grade 1 or worse) and the Southwestern Oncology Group criteria (Grade 2 or worse). Multivariate analyses were performed to investigate which factors (pre- or posttreatment TGF-beta1 level, MLD) were associated with the incidence of RP. To improve our understanding of the time course of TGF-beta1 levels, we performed a multivariate analysis to investigate which factors (pre-RT TGF-beta1 level, MLD, RP) were independently associated with the posttreatment TGF-beta1 levels. RESULTS: The pre-RT TGF-beta1 levels were increased in patients with NSCLC (median 21 ng/mL, range, 5-103 ng/mL) compared with healthy individuals (range, 4-12 ng/mL). On average, the TGF-beta1 levels normalized toward the end of treatment and remained stable until 18 weeks after RT. In 29 patients, however, TGF-beta1 was increased at the end of RT with respect to the pre-RT value. The multivariate analyses revealed that the MLD was the only variable that correlated significantly with the risk of both radiographic RP (p = 0.05) and symptomatic RP, independent of the scoring system used (p = 0.05 and 0.03 for Southwestern Oncology Group and Common Toxicity Criteria systems, respectively). The TGF-beta1 level at the end of RT was significantly associated with the MLD (p <0.001) and pre-RT TGF-beta1 level (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The MLD correlated significantly with the incidence of both radiographic and symptomatic RP. The results of our study did not confirm the reports that increased levels of TGF-beta1 at the end of RT are an independent additional risk factor for developing symptomatic RP. However, the TGF-beta1 level at the end of a RT was significantly associated with the MLD and the pre-RT level.