Effect of robotic exoskeleton training on lower limb function, activity and participation in stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The current lower limb robotic exoskeleton training (LRET) for treating and managing stroke patients remains a huge challenge. Comprehensive ICF analysis and informative treatment options are needed. This review aims to analyze LRET' s efficacy for stroke patients, based on ICF, and explore the impact of intervention intensities, devices, and stroke phases. Methods: We searched Web of Science, PubMed, and The Cochrane Library for RCTs on LRET for stroke patients. Two authors reviewed studies, extracted data, and assessed quality and bias. Standardized protocols were used. PEDro and ROB2 were employed for quality assessment. All analyses were done with RevMan 5.4. Results: Thirty-four randomized controlled trials (1,166 participants) were included. For function, LRET significantly improved motor control (MD = 1.15, 95%CI = 0.29-2.01, p = 0.009, FMA-LE), and gait parameters (MD = 0.09, 95%CI = 0.03-0.16, p = 0.004, Instrumented Gait Velocity; MD = 0.06, 95%CI = 0.02-0.09, p = 0.002, Step length; MD = 4.48, 95%CI = 0.32-8.65, p = 0.04, Cadence) compared with conventional rehabilitation. For activity, LRET significantly improved walking independence (MD = 0.25, 95%CI = 0.02-0.48, p = 0.03, FAC), Gait Velocity (MD = 0.07, 95%CI = 0.03-0.11, p = 0.001) and balance (MD = 2.34, 95%CI = 0.21-4.47, p = 0.03, BBS). For participation, social participation (MD = 0.12, 95%CI = 0.03-0.21, p = 0.01, EQ-5D) was superior to conventional rehabilitation. Based on subgroup analyses, LRET improved motor control (MD = 1.37, 95%CI = 0.47-2.27, p = 0.003, FMA-LE), gait parameters (MD = 0.08, 95%CI = 0.02-0.14, p = 0.006, Step length), Gait Velocity (MD = 0.11, 95%CI = 0.03-0.19, p = 0.005) and activities of daily living (MD = 2.77, 95%CI = 1.37-4.16, p = 0.0001, BI) for the subacute patients, while no significant improvement for the chronic patients. For exoskeleton devices, treadmill-based exoskeletons showed significant superiority for balance (MD = 4.81, 95%CI = 3.10-6.52, p < 0.00001, BBS) and activities of daily living (MD = 2.67, 95%CI = 1.25-4.09, p = 0.00002, BI), while Over-ground exoskeletons was more effective for gait parameters (MD = 0.05, 95%CI = 0.02-0.08, p = 0.0009, Step length; MD = 6.60, 95%CI = 2.06-11.15, p = 0.004, Cadence) and walking independence (MD = 0.29, 95%CI = 0.14-0.44, p = 0.0002, FAC). Depending on the training regimen, better results may be achieved with daily training intensities of 45-60 min and weekly training intensities of 3 h or more. Conclusion: These findings offer insights for healthcare professionals to make effective LRET choices based on stroke patient needs though uncertainties remain. Particularly, the assessment of ICF participation levels and the design of time-intensive training deserve further study. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, Unique Identifier: CRD42024501750.

IFNγ at the early stage induced after cryo-thermal therapy maintains CD4+ Th1-prone differentiation, leading to long-term antitumor immunity.

Introduction: Recently, more and more research illustrated the importance of inducing CD4+ T helper type (Th)-1 dominant immunity for the success of tumor immunotherapy. Our prior studies revealed the crucial role of CD4+ Th1 cells in orchestrating systemic and durable antitumor immunity, which contributes to the satisfactory outcomes of the novel cryo-thermal therapy in the B16F10 tumor model. However, the mechanism for maintaining the cryo-thermal therapy-mediated durable CD4+ Th1-dominant response remains uncovered. Additionally, cryo-thermal-induced early-stage CD4+ Th1-dominant T cell response showed a correlation with the favorable prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRCLM). We hypothesized that CD4+ Th1-dominant differentiation induced during the early stage post cryo-thermal therapy would affect the balance of CD4+ subsets at the late phase. Methods: To understand the role of interferon (IFN)-γ, the major effector of Th1 subsets, in maintaining long-term CD4+ Th1-prone polarization, B16F10 melanoma model was established in this study and a monoclonal antibody was used at the early stage post cryo-thermal therapy for interferon (IFN)-γ signaling blockade, and the influence on the phenotypic and functional change of immune cells was evaluated. Results: IFNγ at the early stage after cryo-thermal therapy maintained long-lasting CD4+ Th1-prone immunity by directly controlling Th17, Tfh, and Tregs polarization, leading to the hyperactivation of Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) represented by abundant interleukin (IL)-1ß generation, and thereby further amplifying Th1 response. Discussion: Our finding emphasized the key role of early-phase IFNγ abundance post cryo-thermal therapy, which could be a biomarker for better prognosis after cryo-thermal therapy.

MAPK pathway orchestrates gallid alphaherpesvirus 1 infection through the biphasic activation of MEK/ERK and p38 MAPK signaling.

Therapies targeting virus-host interactions are seen as promising strategies for treating gallid alphaherpesvirus 1 (ILTV) infection. Our study revealed a biphasic activation of two MAPK cascade pathways, MEK/ERK and p38 MAPK, as a notably activated host molecular event in response to ILTV infection. It exhibits antiviral functions at different stages of infection. Initially, the MEK/ERK pathway is activated upon viral invasion, leading to a broad suppression of metabolic pathways crucial for ILTV replication, thereby inhibiting viral replication from the early stage of ILTV infection. As the viral replication progresses, the p38 MAPK pathway activates its downstream transcription factor, STAT1, further hindering viral replication. Interestingly, ILTV overcomes this biphasic antiviral barrier by hijacking host p38-AKT axis, which protects infected cells from the apoptosis induced by infection and establishes an intracellular equilibrium conducive to extensive ILTV replication. These insights could provide potential therapeutic targets for ILTV infection.

Natural Killer Cells Reprogram Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells to Induce TNF-α Release via NKG2D-Ligand Interaction after Cryo-Thermal Therapy.

In our previous studies, a novel cryothermal therapy (CTT) was developed to induce systemic long-term anti-tumor immunity. Natural killer (NK) cells were found to play an important role in CTT-induced long-term immune-mediated tumor control at the late stage after CTT, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immature myeloid cells that have potent immunosuppressive effects on T cells and weaken the long-term benefits of immunotherapy. Consequently, overcoming MDSC immunosuppression is essential for maintaining the long-term efficacy of immunotherapy. In this study, we revealed that NK cells considerably diminish MDSC accumulation at the late stage after CTT, boost T cell production, increase T cell activation, and promote MDSC maturation, culminating in Th1-dominant CD4+ T cell differentiation and enhancing NK and CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity. Additionally, NK cells activate ERK signaling in MDSCs through NKG2D-ligand interaction to increase the activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α converting enzyme (TACE)-cleaved membrane TNF-α. Furthermore, Increased TACE activity releases more soluble TNF-α from MDSCs to promote MDSC maturation. In our studies, we propose a novel mechanism by which NK cells can overcome MDSC-induced immunosuppression and maintain CTT-induced persistent anti-tumor immunity, providing a prospective therapeutic option to improve the performance of cancer immunotherapy.

Detection of ion cyclotron emission by using an ion cyclotron range of frequency antennas-based diagnostic system in experimental advanced superconducting tokamak.

In the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), a novel ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) antenna-based diagnostic system is designed to measure ion cyclotron emission (ICE) driven by high-energy ions. The diagnostic system includes ICRF antenna straps, a three-tune impedance matching system, a coaxial switching system, a direct current block, and a data acquisition and storage system. Using the coaxial switching system, the ICRF antenna can be switched from the heating mode to the coupling mode between two discharges. In the 2023 EAST experiment campaign, core ICE was observed using the ICRF antenna-based diagnostic system during neutron beam injection heating, and the obtained results agreed well with the signal detected by the previous high-frequency B-dot probe-based diagnostic system.

Insight into the High Mobility and Stability of In2 O3 :H Film.

Wide bandgap semiconductors, particularly In2 O3 :Sn (ITO), are widely used as transparent conductive electrodes in optoelectronic devices. Nevertheless, due to the strohave beenng scattering probability of high-concentration oxygen vacancy (VO ) defects, the mobility of ITO is always lower than 40 cm2  V-1  s-1 . Recently, hydrogen-doped In2 O3 (In2 O3 :H) films have been proven to have high mobility (>100 cm2  V-1  s-1 ), but the origin of this high mobility is still unclear. Herein, a high-resolution electron microscope and theoretical calculations are employed to investigate the atomic-scale mechanisms behind the high carrier mobility in In2 O3 :H films. It is found that VO can cause strong lattice distortion and large carrier scattering probability, resulting in low carrier mobility. Furthermore, hydrogen doping can simultaneously reduce the concentration of VO , which accounts for high carrier mobility. The thermal stability and acid-base corrosion mechanism of the In2 O3 :H film are investigated and found that hydrogen overflows from the film at high temperatures (>250 °C), while acidic or alkaline environments can cause damage to the In2 O3 grains themselves. Overall, this work provides insights into the essential reasons for high carrier mobility in In2 O3 :H and presents a new research approach to the doping and stability mechanisms of transparent conductive oxides.

Combining Cryo-Thermal Therapy with Anti-IL-6 Treatment Promoted the Maturation of MDSCs to Induce Long-Term Survival in a Mouse Model of Breast Cancer.

Immunosuppression plays a significant role in tumor recurrence and metastasis, ultimately causing poor survival outcomes. Overcoming immunosuppression and stimulating durable antitumor immunity are essential for tumor treatment. In our previous study, a novel cryo-thermal therapy involving liquid nitrogen freezing and radiofrequency heating could reduce the proportion of Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), but the remaining MDSCs produced IL-6 by the NF-κB pathway, resulting in an impaired therapeutic effect. Therefore, here we combined cryo-thermal therapy with anti-IL-6 treatment to target the MDSC-dominant immunosuppressive environment, thereby optimizing the efficacy of cryo-thermal therapy. We found that combinational treatment significantly increased the long-term survival rate of breast cancer-bearing mice. Mechanistic investigation revealed that combination therapy was capable of reducing the proportion of MDSCs in the spleen and blood while promoting their maturation, which resulted in increased Th1-dominant CD4+ T-cell differentiation and enhancement of CD8+ T-mediated tumor killing. In addition, CD4+ Th1 cells promoted mature MDSCs to produce IL-7 through IFN-γ, indirectly contributing to the maintenance of Th1-dominant antitumor immunity in a positive feedback loop. Our work suggests an attractive immunotherapeutic strategy targeting the MDSC-dominant immunosuppressive environment, which would offer exciting opportunities for highly immunosuppressive and unresectable tumors in the clinic.

Therapeutic Potential of Perillaldehyde in Ameliorating Vulvovaginal Candidiasis by Reducing Vaginal Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is one of the most frequent diseases induced by Candida albicans (C. albicans) during pregnancy, which results in enormous pain to women and their partners in daily life. Perillaldehyde (PAE), a natural monoterpenoid, has significant anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation effects. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key factors for the host to resist the invasion of fungi. However, excess ROS can cause additional damage independent of the pathogen itself, and the mechanism of ROS in VVC has not been investigated. In this murine study, we revealed that C. albicans infection increased the expression of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) and the content of malonaldehyde (MDA). C. albicans inhibited the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the vagina, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and heme oxygenase (HO-1), which were returned to normal levels after treatment with PAE. Furthermore, PAE inhibited the activities of Keap1 and promoted Nrf2 transfer from cytoplasm to nucleus, which were mediated by excessive accumulation of ROS in the VVC mice. In this study, we also indicated that PAE inhibited the apoptosis of vagina cells via Caspase 9- Caspase 7-PARP pathway and prevented the release of IL-1ꞵ in VVC mice. In summary, this study revealed that the treatment of VVC in mice with PAE might be mediated by inhibition of ROS, and established the therapeutic potential of PAE as an antifungal agent for the treatment of VVC.

A 13-Bit, 12-ps Resolution Vernier Time-to-Digital Converter Based on Dual Delay-Rings for SPAD Image Sensor.

A three-dimensional (3D) image sensor based on Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) requires a time-to-digital converter (TDC) with a wide dynamic range and fine resolution for precise depth calculation. In this paper, we propose a novel high-performance TDC for a SPAD image sensor. In our design, we first present a pulse-width self-restricted (PWSR) delay element that is capable of providing a steady delay to improve the time precision. Meanwhile, we employ the proposed PWSR delay element to construct a pair of 16-stages vernier delay-rings to effectively enlarge the dynamic range. Moreover, we propose a compact and fast arbiter using a fully symmetric topology to enhance the robustness of the TDC. To validate the performance of the proposed TDC, a prototype 13-bit TDC has been fabricated in the standard 0.18-µm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The core area is about 200 µm × 180 µm and the total power consumption is nearly 1.6 mW. The proposed TDC achieves a dynamic range of 92.1 ns and a time precision of 11.25 ps. The measured worst integral nonlinearity (INL) and differential nonlinearity (DNL) are respectively 0.65 least-significant-bit (LSB) and 0.38 LSB, and both of them are less than 1 LSB. The experimental results indicate that the proposed TDC is suitable for SPAD-based 3D imaging applications.

Immunoaffinity microflow liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for the quantitation of PD1 and PD-L1 in human tumor tissues.

RATIONALE: High tumor expression of programmed cell death protein (PD1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is thought to be associated with positive clinical outcomes after treatment with anti-PD1 or anti-PD-L1 agents. Several sensitive methods based on immunohistochemistry, ligand binding assay (LBA), and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry involving the measurement of PD1 and PD-L1 expression have been reported. Here, we expand on the characterization of different tumor types using a highly specific, sensitive, and robust immunoaffinity liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (IA-LC/MS/MS)-based method for the simultaneous quantitation of PD1 and PD-L1 in tumor tissues. METHODS: Human tumor tissue samples were homogenized using a Precellys Evolution homogenizer. The samples were incubated with anti-PD1 and anti-PD-L1 capture polyclonal antibodies, which were bound to magnetic beads. Following enrichment, samples were digested with trypsin. A Waters iKEY HSS T3 1.8 um (150 µm × 100 mm) column with a gradient flow rate of 3 µL/min was used for chromatographic separation, and a Waters TQ-S triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used for detection. Selected reaction monitoring (SRM) transitions with unit resolution for precursor/product ion masses were optimized for PD1 and PD-L1 surrogate peptides. RESULTS: The surrogate peptides LAAFPEDR for PD1 and FTVTVPK for PD-L1 yielded the most intense SRM transitions at m/z 459.7 > 516.2 and m/z 396.2 > 543.3, respectively, and thus were selected for the quantitation of PD1 and PD-L1. The lower limit of quantitation for PD1 and PD-L1 was 0.062 ng/mL with an assay range up to 10 ng/mL. Using this method, human PD1 and PD-L1 were detected and quantified from four different types of tumor tissues. The data show that PD1 expression level was highly correlated with that of PD-L1 in all tumor tissues analyzed here. CONCLUSIONS: A highly specific and sensitive immunoaffinity microflow LC/MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of PD1 and PD-L1 in tumor tissues was developed and implemented. This method combines the advantage of immuno-capture for analyte enrichment with the high specificity of detection of multiple surrogate peptides by LC/MS/MS. The quantification of PD1 and PD-L1 co-expression in tumor could help evaluate their role in assessing tumor type selection and patient stratification.

Accelerating Faceting Wide-Field Imaging Algorithm with FPGA for SKA Radio Telescope as a Vast Sensor Array.

The SKA (Square Kilometer Array) radio telescope will become the most sensitive telescope by correlating a huge number of antenna nodes to form a vast array of sensors in a region over one hundred kilometers. Faceting, the wide-field imaging algorithm, is a novel approach towards solving image construction from sensing data where earth surface curves cannot be ignored. However, the traditional processor of cloud computing, even if the most sophisticated supercomputer is used, cannot meet the extremely high computation performance requirement. In this paper, we propose the design and implementation of high-efficiency FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) -based hardware acceleration of the key algorithm, faceting in SKA by focusing on phase rotation and gridding, which are the most time-consuming phases in the faceting algorithm. Through the analysis of algorithm behavior and bottleneck, we design and optimize the memory architecture and computing logic of the FPGA-based accelerator. The simulation and tests on FPGA are done to confirm the acceleration result of our design and it is shown that the acceleration performance we achieved on phase rotation is 20× the result of the previous work. We then further designed and optimized an efficient microstructure of loop unrolling and pipeline for the gridding accelerator, and the designed system simulation was done to confirm the performance of our structure. The result shows that the acceleration ratio is 5.48 compared to the result tested on software in gridding parts. Hence, our approach enables efficient acceleration of the faceting algorithm on FPGAs with high performance to meet the computational constraints of SKA as a representative vast sensor array.

LncRNA XIST knockdown ameliorates oxidative low-density lipoprotein-induced endothelial cells injury by targeting miR-204-5p/TLR4.

Oxidative low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial cell injury is a key contributor to atherosclerosis development. However, the role and mechanism of long noncoding RNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) in atherosclerosis remain largely unknown. The ox-LDL-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injury was analyzed by cell viability, apoptosis, inflammatory cytokines secretion and oxidative stress. The expression levels of XIST, microRNA-204-5p (miR-204-5p) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. The target interaction between miR-204-5p and XIST or TLR4 was explored by bioinformatics analysis, luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. The expression of XIST was enhanced in ox-LDL-treated HUVECs. Knockdown of XIST attenuated ox-LDL-induced viability inhibition, apoptosis production, inflammatory response and oxidative stress in HUVECs. XIST was validated as a sponge of miR-204-5p and TLR4 acted as a target of miR-204-5p. Knockdown of miR-204-5p reversed silence of XISTmediated suppressive role in ox-LDL-induced injury. TLR4 alleviated miR-204-5p-mediated inhibitive effect on ox-LDL-induced injury. Moreover, XIST could regulate TLR4 expression by sponging miR-204-5p. In conclusion, silence of XIST displayed a protective role in ox-LDL-induced injury in HUVECs by regulating miR-204-5p/TLR4 axis, providing a novel mechanism for understanding the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Antibody Drug-Target Engagement Measurement in Tissue Using Quantitative Affinity Extraction Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry: Method Development and Qualification.

We demonstrate a novel strategy using affinity extraction (AE) LC-MS to directly measure drug exposure and target engagement, two critical pharmacological questions, with a single assay. The assay measures total drug and target concentration at the site of therapeutic action, as well as the amount of target bound to drug. The case study presented applies the strategy to measure drug engagement of a membrane bound receptor (CD40) that is critical to immune regulation in colon biopsies collected from monkey dosed with an anti-CD40 antibody. Unlike other techniques that measure receptor occupancy, such as flow cytometry, this technique does not rely on viable cells allowing measurement of frozen samples in a remote setting from the clinic.

In Vitro Metabolite Formation in Human Hepatocytes and Cardiomyocytes and Metabolism and Tissue Distribution in Monkeys of the 2'-C-Methylguanosine Prodrug BMS-986094 : Potential Role in Clinical Cardiovascular Toxicity.

BMS-986094, a 2'-C-methylguanosine prodrug for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection, was withdrawn from phase 2 clinical trials because of unexpected cardiac and renal toxicities. To better understand these toxicities, the in vitro metabolism of BMS-986094 in human hepatocytes (HHs) and human cardiomyocytes (HCMs) and the measurement of BMS-986094 and selected metabolites in monkey plasma and tissues were assessed. BMS-986094 was extensively metabolized by HHs and HCMs, resulting in more efficient formation and accumulation of the active triphosphorylated metabolite, INX-09114, and less efficient efflux of metabolites in HCMs. The predominant metabolism pathway (hydrolysis) in HHs and HCMs was not associated with the formation of reactive metabolites or oxidative stress. In cynomolgus monkeys dosed with BMS-986094 of 15 or 30 mg/kg/d for 3 weeks, the nucleoside metabolite M2 was the major plasma analyte (66%-68% of the combined area under the curve). INX-09114 was the highest drug-related species in the heart and kidney (2,610-4,280 ng/mL [males]; ∼2-420× the concentration of other analytes). Other analytes increased dose dependently, with BMS-986094 highest in diaphragm (≤4,400 ng/mL) followed by M2 in liver and kidney (≤1,360 ng/mL), and M7 and M8 in other tissues (≤124 ng/mL). Three weeks after the last dose, INX-09114 remained high in the heart and kidney (≤1,870 ng/mL), with low M2 (≤37 ng/mL) in plasma and tissues. Persistent high concentrations of INX-09114 in the heart and kidney appeared to correlate with toxicities in these tissues in monkeys.

Discovery of the Selective CYP17A1 Lyase Inhibitor BMS-351 for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer.

Efforts to identify a potent, reversible, nonsteroidal CYP17A1 lyase inhibitor with good selectivity over CYP17A1 hydroxylase and CYPs 11B1 and 21A2 for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) culminated in the discovery of BMS-351 (compound 18), a pyridyl biaryl benzimidazole with an excellent in vivo profile. Biological evaluation of BMS-351 at a dose of 1.5 mg in castrated cynomolgus monkeys revealed a remarkable reduction in testosterone levels with minimal glucocorticoid and mineralcorticoid perturbation. Based on a favorable profile, BMS-351 was selected as a candidate for further preclinical evaluation.

LC-MS/MS multiplexed assay for the quantitation of a therapeutic protein BMS-986089 and the target protein Myostatin.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic protein discovery study highlights the need for the development of quantitative bioanalytical methods for determining the levels of both the therapeutic protein and the target protein, as well. RESULTS: For the quantitation of BMS-986089, both accuracy (99-103%) and precision (2.4-12%) were obtained for the analysis of the surrogate peptide (ITYGGNSPVQEFTVPGR), in addition to the accuracy (100-108%) and precision (0.7-18%) that were obtained for the analysis of the surrogate peptide (VVSVLTVLHQDWLNGK). For Myostatin, accuracy (94-103%) and precision (2.4-14.9%) were obtained for the analysis of the surrogate peptide (IPAMVVDR). CONCLUSION: The developed method was applied to the analysis of samples following dosing of BMS-986089 to mice. This method highlights the potential of LC-MS/MS-based methods to eventually assess in vivo drug-target engagement.

Application and challenges in using LC-MS assays for absolute quantitative analysis of therapeutic proteins in drug discovery.

As more protein therapeutics enter the drug-discovery pipeline, the traditional ligand-binding assay (LBA) faces additional challenges to meet the rapid and diverse bioanalytical needs in the early drug-discovery stage. The high specificity and sensitivity afforded by LC-MS, along with its rapid method development, is proving invaluable for the analysis of protein therapeutics in support of drug discovery. LC-MS not only serves as a quantitative tool to complement LBA in drug discovery, it also provides structural details at a molecular level, which are used to address issues that cannot be resolved using LBA alone. This review will describe the key benefits and applications, as well as the techniques and challenges for applying LC-MS to support protein quantification in drug discovery.

Ex vivo delta opioid receptor autoradiography: CNS receptor occupancy of two novel compounds over their antihyperalgesic dose range.

Discovered as part of an effort to identify delta opioid (DOPr or DOR) agonist analgesics, JNJ-20788560 and JNJ-39204880 exhibited high DOR affinity, with K(i) values of 1.7 and 2.0nM, respectively, and were selective for DOR over the mu opioid receptor (MOPr or MOR), with 596- and 122-fold selectivity, respectively. Both compounds stimulated DOR but not MOR induced GTPgammaS binding and were effective antihyperalgesic agents in the complete Freund's adjuvant model of thermal hyperalgesia in the rat, with oral ED(50) values of 13.5 and 35mg/kg, corresponding to plasma levels of 1 and 9microM, respectively. Autoradiographic analysis of DOR and MOR occupancy in sections of brain (striatum) and lumbar spinal cord (L4-L6) was determined ex vivo, using radiolabeled naltrindole or DAMGO. Quantitative image analysis resulted in striatal DOR ED(50) values of 6.9 and 10.7mg/kg, for JNJ-20788560 and JNJ-39204880 respectively, and spinal cord values of 6.4 and 3.2mg/kg, respectively. Neither compound dose-dependently occupied MOR within the dose range studied. Thus, this study confirmed the DOR selectively over MOR of both compounds following their oral administration, and further demonstrated dose-dependent DOR occupancy by each compound across its antihyperalgesic dose range. Importantly, these in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo data revealed that the greater in vitro potency of JNJ-20788560 was paralleled by its greater in vivo potency, although JNJ-39204880 achieved higher plasma levels following its oral administration. The receptor occupancy levels observed at the pharmacologic ED(50) doses of these compounds suggest the need for greater target engagement by JNJ-39204880 than by JNJ-20788560 to elicit a similar therapeutic response.

Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: Imaging drugs and metabolites in tissues.

Ambient ionization methods for MS enable direct, high-throughput measurements of samples in the open air. Here, we report on one such method, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), which is coupled to a linear ion trap mass spectrometer and used to record the spatial intensity distribution of a drug directly from histological sections of brain, lung, kidney, and testis without prior chemical treatment. DESI imaging provided identification and distribution of clozapine after an oral dose of 50 mg/kg by: i) measuring the abundance of the intact ion at m/z 327.1, and ii) monitoring the dissociation of the protonated drug compound at m/z 327.1 to its dominant product ion at m/z 270.1. In lung tissues, DESI imaging was performed in the full-scan mode over an m/z range of 200-1100, providing an opportunity for relative quantitation by using an endogenous lipid to normalize the signal response of clozapine. The presence of clozapine was detected in all tissue types, whereas the presence of the N-desmethyl metabolite was detected only in the lung sections. Quantitation of clozapine from the brain, lung, kidney, and testis, by using LC-MS/MS, revealed concentrations ranging from 0.05 microg/g (brain) to a high of 10.6 microg/g (lung). Comparisons of the results recorded by DESI with those by LC-MS/MS show good agreement and are favorable for the use of DESI imaging in drug and metabolite detection directly from biological tissues.

Pharmacokinetics of green tea catechins in extract and sustained-release preparations.

Catechins are a major constituent of green tea. For green tea to have cancer therapeutic benefit, catechin concentrations in the range of 100 nM are required continuously until apoptosis (programmed cell death) is induced. To prolong elevated plasma and interstitial concentrations of catechins, a sustained-release formulation of green tea extract was tested and compared to a commercial green tea extract (Tegreen97®). Sustained-release formulations are usually developed in the pharmaceutical industry to slowly deliver the compound over a period of time and increase the dosing interval. Plasma and interstitial fluid (ISF) pharmacokinetics of catechins were determined following an oral dose in the rat. The sustained-release formulation profile included multiple smaller peaks of total catechins in both plasma and ISF. Interstitial fluid profiles of green tea extract indicate that higher catechins concentration and longer duration in tissue than in blood may make a sustained-release form unnecessary.