Antiproliferative Diarylpyrazole Derivatives as Dual Inhibitors of the ERK Pathway and COX‐2

A series of 3,4‐diarylpyrazole‐1‐carboxamide derivatives was designed and synthesized. A selected group of the target compounds was tested for in vitro antiproliferative activities over a panel of 60 cancer cell lines at the National Cancer Institute (NCI, Bethesda, MD, USA) at a single‐dose concentration of 10 μm , and the four most active compounds 9a , 9l , 9n , and 10o were further tested in a five‐dose testing mode to determine their IC₅₀ values over the 60 cell lines. In addition, a selected group of target compounds were tested for inhibitory effect over cyclooxygenase isozymes. Compounds 9a , 9l , 9n , and 10o were also tested for MEK and ERK kinase inhibitory activity using Western blot assay. Compound 10o was selective toward melanoma cell line subpanel, and its antiproliferative activity may be attributed to selective cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibition and ERK pathway inhibition.     

Discovery of novel 5‐methyl‐1H‐pyrazole derivatives as potential antiprostate cancer agents: Design,synthesis, molecular modeling,and biological evaluation

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling functions as a core driving force for the progression of prostate cancer (PCa), and AR has been proved to be an effective therapeutic target even for castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Herein, structural modification via a fragments splicing strategy was performed based on two lead compounds T3 and 10e , leading to the discovery of a series of 5‐methyl‐1H‐pyrazole derivatives. AR reporter gene assay revealed compounds A13 and A14 as potent AR antagonists. Some of the compounds in this series inhibited growth of PCa LNCaP cells more efficiently than enzalutamide. A13 and A14 also showed improved metabolic stability compared with 10e in human liver microsomes.     

Endogenous cannabinoids as an aversive or counter-rewarding system in the rat

Human use of marijuana (Cannabis sativa) is widely assumed to have rewarding properties, a notion supported by its widespread recreational use. However, no study has clearly demonstrated such effects in animal models. The purpose of this study was to test for the presumed rewarding effect of cannabinoids using a conditioned place preference paradigm. The results showed that animals failed to develop place conditioning at a low dose (1.5 mg/kg) and developed a place aversion at a high dose (15 mg/kg) of the active principle in marijuana, Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC), a finding consistent with most previous studies. Moreover, the administration of the cannabinoid antagonist SR141716A induced a conditioned place preference at both a low (0.5 mg/kg) and a high (5 mg/kg) dose. In summary, cannabinoid antagonism produced place preference while cannabinoid agonism induced place aversion. These results suggest that endogenous cannabinoids serve normally to suppress reward or to induce aversion.     

Inhibitors for the mutagenicities of colon carcinogens, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and azoxymethane, in the host-mediated assay.

Inhibitory effects of several chemicals on the mutagenicities of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and azoxymethane (AOM) for Salmonella typhimurium G46 in the host-mediated assay were investigated. They were carbon disulfide (CS2), tetraethylthiuram disulfide (disulfiram, DSF), sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (SDDC), ethylene-bis(dithiocarbamato) manganese (Maneb), pyrazole (PZ), aminoacetonitrile hydrogen sulfate (AAN), and sodium selenite (SE). All the compounds, except for SE, inhibited the mutagenicities of DMH and AOM.     

Methanol poisoning

Methanol poisoning is an uncommon but an extremely hazardous intoxication. Since methanol is a versatile fuel and is having increasing usage in an energy-conscious society, a high index of suspicion and swift laboratory confirmation is essential in managing this poisoning. Methanol poisoning may occur in sporadic or epidemic circumstances. Chronic exposure may occur in the occupational setting. Man is uniquely susceptible to methanol toxicity, perhaps dependent upon folate metabolism. Classic symptoms of methanol toxicity can only occur in laboratory animals who are rendered folate deficient. Folate may be useful in humans enhancing removal of the toxic products of methanol poisoning. The enzyme responsible for metabolism of methanol is alcohol dehydrogenase. Ethanol has a higher affinity for this enzyme and is preferentially metabolized. Simultaneous ethanol and methanol administration may confuse the onset of the intoxication. Pyrazoles may also be used to inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase thus preventing the intoxication. The most important initial symptom of methanol poisoning is visual disturbance. The symptoms may be delayed up to 24 hours after ingestion due to simultaneous alcohol administration and metabolic processes. Laboratory evidence of severe metabolic acidosis with increased anion and osmolar gaps strongly suggest the clinical diagnosis. There may be an important association between mean corpuscular volume which is significantly higher in cases of severe methanol poisoning than in mild cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Synthesis of [14C]omarigliptin

An efficient synthesis for [¹⁴C]Omarigliptin (MK‐3102) is described. The initial synthesis of a key ¹⁴C‐pyrazole moiety did not work due to the lack of stability of ¹⁴C‐DMF‐DMA reagent. Thus, a new radiolabeled synthon, ¹⁴C‐biphenylmethylformate, was synthesized from ¹⁴C‐sodium formate in one step in 92% yield and successfully used in construction of the key ¹⁴C‐pyrazole moiety. Regioselective N‐sulfonation of the pyrazole moiety was achieved through a dehydration‐sulfonation‐isomerization sequence. [¹⁴C]MK 3102 was synthesized in five steps from ¹⁴C‐biphenylmethylformate with 25% overall yield.     

Synthesis and bioactivities of novel pyrazole and triazole derivatives containing 5-phenyl-2-furan

A series of novel pyrazole and triazole derivatives containing 5-phenyl-2-furan functionality were designed and synthesized. Their toxicities were predicted using in silico assays and proven to be less toxic. The antitumor results showed that the activity of compounds containing 1,3,4-triazole (series II) was higher than that of pyrazole-attached derivatives (series I). Among them, IIa and IIg showed much higher activity against Bel-7402 than doxorubicin. The fungicidal tests showed that most title compounds II exhibited great selectivity against Phytophthora capsici in vivo.     

Structure Activity Relationship of Antiproliferative Agents using Multiple Linear Regression

With cancer‐related fatalities being the second leading cause of death in the USA, understanding the activity of effective chemotherapeutic agents is critical to addressing prostate and other cancers. Celecoxib, an FDA‐approved drug for the treatment of colon tumors, has been used successfully as a lead compound in the development of antiproliferative agents. The ability of celecoxib to inhibit the development and progression of tumors has been connected to a number of mechanisms of actions that are both dependent on and independent of its cyclooxygenase‐2 activity. A structure‐based approach has been employed to develop a model that underscores the structural significance of celecoxib as an antiproliferative agent. By evaluating the structure activity of this library of molecules, we were able to create a QSAR model for predicting the antiproliferative activity of structurally similar molecules. The development of the model will be presented in this paper.     

Anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity of the marine mangrove Rhizophora apiculata

A methanolic extract of Rhizophora apiculata was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity against B16F10 melanoma cells in BALB/c mice. The administration of R. apiculata extract was shown to inhibit the solid tumor development in mice. R. apiculata treatment significantly reduced tumor cell glutathione (GSH) levels as well as serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the tumor-bearing animals. The total white blood cell count and hemoglobin levels were also significantly increased in extract-treated hosts. The use of R. apiculata substantially reduced the acute inflammation (assessed as paw edema) induced by carrageenan and also reduced inflammation edema induced by formalin. Analysis of this methanolic extract revealed a high content of 4-pyrrolidinyl, pyrazole, and ketone derivatives. These studies suggest that R. apiculata extract could be used as a (natural) anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent.     

Brain imaging of mechanically induced muscle versus cutaneous pain

Cerebrovascular disorders are less common in pre-menopausal than post-menopausal women and in females than males. This protection may be due, in part at least, to direct effects of oestrogens on blood vessels. Oestrogen's vasodilatory mechanisms have been reported to be via the endothelium, vascular smooth muscle and extracellular matrix, depending on the vascular bed studied. Herein we investigated the vasoactive effects of oestrogen, oestrogen receptor (ER) and GPR30 agonists and selective ER modulators (SERMs) in the rat middle cerebral artery(MCA), an artery affected in focal ischaemia.MCAs isolated from male Sprague Dawley rats were mounted on a wire myograph. Concentration response curves were constructed to 17β-oestradiol, ERα agonist-PPT, ERβ agonist-DPN, GPR30 agonist-G1 and novel SERMs (LY362321 and LY2120310) in pre-constricted vessels, in the presence and absence of endothelium, blocking agents for nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME), classic ER antagonist (ICI182,780) or plasma membrane specific ERα (ERα-36) antibody.17β-oestradiol induced rapid vasorelaxation of the MCA which was not affected by endothelium removal, L-NAME or ICI182,780. Vasorelaxation was mimicked by PPT, DPN and G1 but not by the SERMs. Using ERα-36 antibody, effects of oestrogen were partially blocked. PPT had a greater vasorelaxation, while DPN and G1 had a lesser effect than 17β-oestradiol. These findings indicate that activation of plasma membrane bound ERα, β and GPR30 elicits rapid, endothelial-nitric oxide-independent relaxation of the rat MCA.