Automatic detection of skate strokes in short-track speed skating using one single IMU: validation of a new method.

Greater impulse is a key performance indicator of success in short track speed skating. The main objective of this study was to develop a method to measure skating strokes using a single IMU. Eight elite or world-class speed skaters had one IMU placed against their skin on the lower back, and a camera setup was positioned to capture the test. A maximal speed trial was then executed by each participant, and the data were analysed to estimate agreement between the camera and IMU estimates of skate stroke events. Inter-evaluator reliability was assessed on a dataset of 22 athletes performing speed trials as well. The algorithm detected 100% of the strokes identified on the video capture system with a root mean square error of 0.06s. Bland-Altman analysis showed a bias of 0.03s between the two methods, which corresponds to the frame rate of the camera. The inter-evaluator reliability yielded an intra-class correlation of 1.00 (ICC3,1) from a dataset of 7089 strokes. This study provides an example of on-ice evaluation of speed skating strokes using a single IMU. This equipment is less expensive than that employed by previous authors and can be implemented in training situations with low invasiveness.

Cost-effectiveness modeling of intrathecal baclofen therapy versus other interventions for disabling spasticity.

OBJECTIVE: To assess by simulation the cost-effectiveness of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy compared with conventional medical treatments for patients with disabling spasticity and functional dependence caused by any neurological disease. METHODS: Two models were created to simulate therapeutic strategies for managing severe spasticity, one with and one without the use of ITB, to assess various treatment sequences over 2 years based on current medical practices in France. Successful treatment at each evaluation was defined as a combination of: (1) the increased patient and caregiver satisfaction as assessed by goal attainment scaling (GAS), and (2) a decrease of at least 1 point on the Ashworth score. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed using 5000 Monte-Carlo simulations taking into account specific distribution curves for direct costs and effectiveness parameters in each treatment option. RESULTS: The model simulations suggest that including ITB as a first option strategy in the management of function of severely impaired patients with disabling spasticity results in a higher success rate (78.7% vs 59.3%; P < .001). In addition, the ITB therapy model revealed a lower cost (pound 59,391 vs pound 88,272; P < .001) and an overall more favorable cost-effectiveness ratio (pound 75,204/success vs pound 148,822/success; P < .001), compared with conventional medical management without ITB. CONCLUSION: Within the assumptions of our modeling, ITB therapy evaluated by a combination of treatment success criteria at 6-month intervals over a 2-year period may be a cost-effective strategy compared to conventional medical management alone.

In vivo electrically mediated protein and gene transfer in murine melanoma.

We show that efficient permeabilization of murine melanoma can be obtained in vivo by applying electric pulses. More than 80% of the cell population is affected as shown by the penetration of propidium iodide. A protein, beta-galactosidase, can be transferred and expressed into the cells by incorporating either the protein or a plasmid carrying the reporter gene with respective efficiencies of 20% and 4%. This is obtained by a direct injection of either the protein or the plasmid in the tumor, followed by the application of electric pulses with surface electrodes in contact with the skin. This approach is simple and safe to use, reproducible, and specific; moreover, it is potentially applicable to a wide variety of tissues, cell types, and animals.

Influence of inducers of monooxygenases on cytotoxic efficiency of ellipticine on leukemia L1210 cells.

The effects of some inducers of microsomal cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases on the metabolic bioactivation and the cytotoxicity of the antitumoral drug ellipticine (ELPT) were studied. Rate of growth of leukemia L1210 cells was measured in vitro in the absence and presence of ELPT or measured when the ELPT was metabolically transformed by noninbred Sprague-Dawley rat liver microsomes. The animals used were either untreated or pretreated by various inducers such as phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, beta-naphthoflavone, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, Aroclor 1254, or ELPT. The transformation of ELPT into its two main metabolites, 9-hydroxyellipticine (9-OHE) and 7-hydroxyellipticine, was studied and measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography in conjunction with the determination of cytotoxic activity. A large variability was observed in the bioactivation and cytotoxic efficiency of ELPT mediated by the different microsomal preparations: The more P448 and/or P1-450 forms of cytochrome were induced, the more the 9-OHE was produced and the more the cytotoxicity toward L1210 cells was enhanced. These features were compared with those elicited by the activation of cyclophosphamide, which was transformed into cytotoxic metabolites by the cytochrome P450 form specifically induced by phenobarbital-type inducers.

Pharmacological and preclinical toxicological studies of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane(isocitrato)platinum(II).

The antitumor activity of a new highly water-soluble platinum derivative, (1,2-diaminocyclohexane)(isocitrato)platinum(II) (NSC 350602; PHIC), was studied in L1210 leukemia cells inoculated into mice. PHIC was found to be active for i.p. graft-i.p. treatment, i.p. graft-i.v. treatment, and i.v. graft-p.o. treatment. A significant activity was observed on early and advanced L1210 leukemia even when the treatment was delayed 6 days after the graft. A comparison between the activities of PHIC, cisplatin (NSC 119875), and (4-carboxyphthalato)(1,2-diaminocyclohexane)-platinum(II) (NSC 271674; DACCP) for i.p. graft-i.p. treatment indicated that the highest activity was observed for divided doses rather than single dose in the case of PHIC and DACCP and not for cisplatin. Under these conditions, PHIC gave larger treated versus control survival time values or a greater number of surviving animals than did cisplatin and DACCP. No cross-resistance between PHIC and cisplatin could be detected in L1210 leukemia cells resistant to cisplatin. Mutagenicity studies on Salmonella typhimurium revealed that PHIC is far less mutagenic than cisplatin on TA100 and TA98 strains. Other pharmacological parameters, such as growth inhibition rate of cultured L1210 cells, penetration, and DNA binding in L1210 cells inoculated in mice, were compared for PHIC and cisplatin together with their in vitro rates of hydrolysis and platinum:DNA adducts. No nephrotoxicity was detected with PHIC at the maximum nonlethal dose level in mice in contrast to results with cisplatin. A preclinical study was conducted in baboons at 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg. No nephrotoxicity could be detected at a dose of 100 mg/kg without prehydration for six courses at 3-week intervals. At 200 mg/kg, an increase of blood creatinine was controlled by prehydration. Gastrointestinal toxicity was mild during the three regimens. Phase I clinical trials are under way.

Mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of five antitumor ellipticines in mammalian cells and their structure-activity relationships in Salmonella.

The mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of five antitumor compounds (ellipticines) were investigated in the Chinese hamster ovary cell hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase assay and in six strains of Salmonella. All five compounds (ellipticine, 9-methoxyellipticine, 9-hydroxyellipticine, 9-aminoellipticine, and 2-methyl-9-hydroxyellipticinium) were cytotoxic and mutagenic in the Chinese hamster ovary cell hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase assay in the presence or absence of Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver S9, and all except the last compound were mutagenic in Salmonella. Based on the reversion pattern obtained in various frame-shift and DNA repair-proficient (uvrB+) or -deficient (uvrB) strains of Salmonella in the presence or absence of S9, the first three compounds appear to cause frame-shift mutations by both intercalation and covalent bonding with DNA; thus, these are classified as reactive intercalators. However, 9-aminoellipticine intercalates only weakly and may instead exert its mutagenic activity primarily (or exclusively) by forming a covalent adduct with DNA. Compared to the published antitumor data obtained in mice, the results in Salmonella and Chinese hamster ovary cells suggest that the ability of ellipticine, 9-methoxyellipticine, and 9-hydroxyellipticine to intercalate with DNA, induce frame-shift mutations, and cause cell killing is associated with and may be the basis for their antitumor activity. The observation that the ellipticines are mutagenic in mammalian cells suggests that these antitumor agents may be carcinogenic.

Antitumor activity of 9-hydroxyellipticine (NSC 210717) ON L1210 mouse leukemia and the effect of route of injection.

The antitumor activity of a new derivative of ellipticine, 9-hydroxyellipticine (NSC 210717), was studied using L1210 mouse leukemia. Low doses of this drug have a high antileukemic activity, whereas high doses have less activity than expected because of a leveling off in the antitumor activity-dose relationship, as if a few cells were resistant to the treatment. The possible causes of this apparent resistance were investigated. It is suggested that this apparent resistance is related to the sequestration of a small number of cells in compartments inaccessible to the drug. A model was developed which takes into account the distribution of cells in various compartments and their drug sensitivity therein. It was predicted and observed that the activity of drugs acting on cells in the small compartments can be observed only in conjunction with the presence of drugs acting on the cells in the major compartment. The importance of this observation in the screening procedures of new drugs, the clinical trial of new chemotherapeutic agents, and the association of anticancer drugs are discussed within this context. 9-Hydroxyellipticine is of interest because it acts on leukemic cells in the brain.

Transgenic mice expressing the Sh ble bleomycin resistance gene are protected against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Despite the high efficiency of bleomycin (BLM) as a chemotherapeutic agent against various carcinomas, the potentially lethal and chronic fibrotic response of the lung is a major dose-limiting side effect. Here, we explore the possibility of a direct inhibition of lung tissue injury by in vivo expression of the actinomycetes BLM resistance protein Sh ble. Transgenic mice expressing the Sh ble gene under the control of a composite viral promoter were produced after introduction of the transgene into D3 ES cells. The protein was detected at high level in lungs, spleen, and kidney. We then assessed its ability to modulate the BLM-induced fibrotic response in the transgenic mice in comparison with C57BL/6 and 129/Sv parental mice. Cumulative doses of 300, 400, or 500 mg/kg BLM were administered either by i.p. or s.c. repeated injections in the different strains. Transgenic mice were shown to be clearly less sensitive to BLM toxicity, as assessed by lung histology. The pulmonary hydroxyproline content in the treated transgenic mice was close to its baseline level, whereas it was up to 50% higher than the control level in C57BL/6 and 129/Sv parental mice. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that a resistance gene specifically expressed in lungs may prevent the BLM-induced inflammation.

Physicochemical and pharmacological properties of the antitumor ellipticine derivative 2-(diethylamino-2-ethyl)9-hydroxy ellipticinium-chloride, HCl.

2-(Diethylamino-2-ethyl)9-hydroxyellipticinium-chloride, HCl (DHE), a new congener of the antitumor agent elliptinium acetate (Celiptium) (NMHE), has recently been selected for phase I clinical trials. NMHE has a methyl group at nitrogen 2 on the ellipticine ring while DHE possesses a basic diethylaminoethyl chain at this position. Compared to NMHE, the presence of the diethylaminoethyl side chain results in the following: a significant increase in the lipophilicity of the drug; no significant modification in either the binding constant values to DNA or the ability to intercalate between DNA base pairs; a marked decrease in the unwinding angle value of supercoiled DNA; and no significant change in the alteration of the catalytic activity of topoisomerase II in vitro. DHE appears to act as a simple reversible intercalating agent as shown by the selective mutagenic effect on Salmonella TA 1977 tester strain and by its inability to induce the SOS functions in a sfiA lac fusion containing Escherichia coli strain. From a pharmacological point of view, the presence of the diethylaminoethyl chain results in a 2-fold increase in the cytotoxicity to L1210 cultured cells, a strong increase in the antitumor efficiency on experimental murine tumors such as L1210 and P388 leukemia, B16 melanoma, M 5076 reticulosarcoma, and colon 38 adenocarcinoma, and finally an objective decrease in the acute and subacute toxicity in mice, rat, and macaque. The absence of significant differences in the interaction of NMHE and DHE with their potential targets in vitro leads to the hypothesis that the superiority of DHE in terms of cytotoxicity and antitumor efficiency may be due to an increase in the diffusion across cellular membrane and a more favorable biodistribution in vivo.

Preclinical antitumor activity of a new Vinca alkaloid derivative, S 12363.

S 12363 is a new Vinca alkaloid derivative obtained by appending an optically active alpha-aminophosphonate at the C23 position of O4-deacetyl vinblastine. S 12363 was evaluated for cytotoxic and antitumor activity against a spectrum of murine and human tumors. This compound was, respectively, on average, 72- and 36-fold more cytotoxic than were vincristine and vinblastine, when tested on a panel of 2 murine and 37 human tumor cell lines using the microculture tetrazolium assay. S 12363 exhibited significant antitumor activity against murine transplantable tumors (i.p. and s.c. P388 leukemia, i.p. L1210 leukemia, i.p. and i.v. B16 melanoma, i.p. M5076 sarcoma, and s.c. colon adenocarcinoma 38), while no activity was observed on s.c. Lewis lung carcinoma. S 12363, when administered i.p., showed moderate activity on human NCI-H460 lung and PANC-1 pancreas tumor xenografts in nude mice. However, when it was administered i.v., it exerted a significant activity against human HT-29 colon, NCI-H460 lung, NCI-H125 lung, PANC-1 pancreas, and A-431 vulvar tumor xenografts. S 12363 was also active in vivo against a P388 leukemia subline resistant to vincristine. On the in vivo panel of tumors used in this study, S 12363 was at least as active as reference compounds, while its optimal dosage was 10- to 40-fold lower than that of vinblastine, depending on the models studied. The effects of schedule and route of administration on the antitumor activity of S 12363 were studied in both i.p. inoculated P388 leukemia and B16 melanoma, in which the activity was improved by single and intermittent treatment (Days 1, 8, and 15) and i.p. route. S 12363, which differs only by the configuration of the asymmetric carbon atom of the side chain, was 300-fold less cytotoxic and 1000-fold less potent in vivo than was S 12363. These results suggest that S 12363 could present a therapeutic advantage over its congeners and deserves further pharmacological evaluations.

Syntheses and in vitro evaluation of water-soluble "cationic metalloporphyrin-ellipticine" molecules having a high affinity for DNA.

The synthesis of hybrid "cationic metalloporphyrin-intercalator" molecules is reported. These molecules are based on 9-methoxyellipticine as intercalator and tris-(4-N-methylpyridiniumyl)metalloporphyrins having a 4-aminophenyl or a 4-hydroxyphenyl group for the attachment of the linker. The effect of the length of linker (7-13 bonds), the chemical nature of the linking group (with a carboxamido or an ether function), the position of amino group between the two parts of hybrid molecules, the number of intercalator moieties (ellipticinium) covalently attached to the metalloporphyrin, and the nature of the central metal atom (Mn, Fe, Zn) on the biological activity of these hybrid molecules were studied. In addition, these molecules have a high affinity for double-stranded DNA (affinity constant of hybrid molecule 9Mn,Me = 2.3 x 10(9) M-1 for poly[d(A-T)] and 2.8 x 10(8) M-1 for poly[d(G-C)] and are cytotoxic against murine leukemia cells L1210 in vitro (IC50 of 9Mn,Me = 0.8 microM). Their cytotoxicities are dependent on the nature of central atom. Iron derivatives are less active than manganese analogues and the corresponding zinc derivatives are nearly inactive despite their same affinity for nucleic acids. These highly water-soluble hybrid molecules could be considered as efficient bleomycin models based on a cationic metalloporphyrin.

Antineoplastic activity of didemnin congeners: nordidemnin and modified chain analogues.

Nordidemnin (2), a natural analogue of the marine cyclodepsipeptide didemnin B (1b), showed cytotoxic activity against L1210 leukemia and antineoplastic activity against P388 leukemia as well as B16 melanoma; nordidemnin (2) was as active as didemnin B (1b). The influence of synthetic modifications in the linear peptidic chain on in vitro and in vivo activity was also studied. Replacement of the terminal lactyl residue by mandelyl and 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)propionyl residues in compounds 3 and 4, respectively, did not affect the cytotoxic activity against L1210 leukemia (ID50 of 1.1 nM and 1.2 nM, respectively) or the in vivo activity against P388 leukemia. Unlike these aromatic substituants, the lipophilic palmityl residue induced a dramatic loss in cytotoxic activity. The inverted chirality of the MeLeu joining residue in compound 6 caused a marked reduction in the in vitro activity.

Heterocyclic Quinones. 4. A new highly cytotoxic drug: 6,7-bis(1-aziridinyl)-5,8-quinazolinedione.

With the aim of obtaining new antitumoral agents, a series of 5,8-quinazolinediones was prepared. 5-Amino-6-methoxyquinazoline was oxidized by Fremy's salt to give 6-methoxy-5,8-quinazolinedione. Nucleophilic substitution reaction at C6, electrophilic substitution at C7, and synthesis of 7-amino-6-methoxy-5,8-quinazolinedione, the parent compound of streptonigrin, were studied. These compounds were tested for cytotoxic properties on L1210 leukemia cells in vitro. One of them, 6,7-bis(1-aziridinyl)-5,8-quinazolinedione, which exhibits a high cytotoxic activity (ID50 = 0.08 microM), was further screened in standard antitumor systems, including L1210 leukemia, P388 lymphocytic leukemia, sarcoma 180, and B16 melanocarcinoma. This drug gives a significant antitumoral effect on P388 leukemia but is inactive on other experimental models. Moreover, this compound was found to be highly mutagenic for Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains (Ames test), suggesting that DNA damage could be responsible for its cytotoxicity.

Ribose as the preferential target for the oxidized form of elliptinium acetate in ribonucleos(t)ides. Biological activities of the resulting adducts.

The covalent binding of the oxidized form of elliptinium acetate, an antitumor drug, to various ribonucleos(t)ides is described. In the absence of a strong nucleophile on the bases, e.g., a sulfhydryl group, the main target of this quinone imine derivative is the sugar moiety. With unmodified regular bases, the first electrophilic addition always occurs on the 2'-oxygen of ribose (more slowly for pyrimidine than for purine); in a second step, cyclization of the reoxidized product leads to a spiro derivative: only one stereoisomer is detected with purine nucleoside; the other stereoisomer appears as a minor product (10-20%) with nucleotides and pyrimidine nucleosides. With modified bases, no change is observed except for bases exhibiting an additional strong nucleophilic center: oxidized elliptinium alkylates thioguanine and thioguanosine on the sulfur atom and in this last case not on the ribose moiety. All spiro derivatives are less cytotoxic than the parent compound even if the base is an antimetabolite (azauridine); however, thio-elliptinium adducts maintain high cytotoxicity.

Heterocyclic quinones. 17. A new in vivo active antineoplastic drug: 6,7-bis(1-aziridinyl)-4-[[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl]amino]-5,8- quinazolinedione.

A series of heterocyclic quinones, 6-substituted and 6,7-disubstituted 4-(alkylamino)-5,8-quinazolinediones, have been synthesized in order to evaluate their in vitro cytotoxicity on L1210 leukemia cells. Among 14 derivatives that have been prepared and studied for the structure-activity relationship, the most potent cytotoxic compound on L1210 leukemia cells was the 6,7-bis(1-aziridinyl)-4-[[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl]amino]-5,8- quinazolinedione (24). This compound has been tested with the use of a cell-image processor on MCF-7 human mammary and HBL human melanoma cell lines. The results show that compound 24 influences cell proliferation and blocks both cells lines in the S phase. In vivo antineoplastic activity of compound 24 has been demonstrated on a broad spectrum of murine experimental models, but it was found highly toxic and produced long-delayed deaths.

In vivo evidence of complete circumvention of vincristine resistance by a new triazinoaminopiperidine derivative S 9788 in P388/VCR leukemia model.

S 9788, a new triazinoaminopiperidine derivative, was found to be a potent reversant of vincristine resistance in the in vivo murine leukemic P388/VCR model. In two treatment regimens (Q4D days 1, 5 and 9 and QD days 1-9), S 9788 enhanced the antitumor activity of vincristine in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in a complete circumvention of drug resistance for well-tolerated doses of S 9788. S 9788 was also effective in enhancing therapeutic effects of vincristine in the treatment of sensitive P388-bearing mice. These results strongly suggest that S 9788 may be a potential candidate for circumvention of multidrug resistance (MDR) in clinical practice.

Managing type 2 diabetes in France: the ECODIA survey.

In order to describe the profile and medical management of type 2 diabetes patients in France, a descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in 1999 among a national random sample of 311 general practitioners and 51 specialists. A practitioner questionnaire was designed to collect information on a representative sample of 4,119 patients presenting with type 2 diabetes. Data collected included demographic and clinical information and a full description of diabetes management over a 6-month retrospective period. Over 50% of the patients were more than 67 years old; 54% were male. Diabetes had been diagnosed 8.9 years earlier on average, most frequently (73%) during a visit not related to diabetes' symptoms or complications. 42% of patients had a BMI > or =30 kg/m(2), 46% were hypertensive (BP > 140-80 mmHg), 53% had a LDL-Cholesterol over 1.3 g/l. Overall, 33% of patients had at least one diabetic complication. 60% of patients had had at least one HbA1c dosage in the last 6 months. Among them, 31% had a HbA1c level over 8% and 35% between 6. 5% and 8%. 85% of patients were treated with oral anti-diabetic drugs, 9.5% with diet and exercise only and 5% with insulin. Sulfonylureas were the most commonly prescribed anti-diabetic agent, either alone or in combination. This survey confirms that the management of patients with type 2 diabetes is still often inappropriate in France despite recent progress. Improved disease management and monitoring is required in France as in other developed countries.

The antitumor activity of some palladium(II) complexes with chelating ligands.

A range of palladium(II) complexes with chelating ligands were assayed for their antitumor activity against the tumors P388 and S180 in female mice. The complexes tested were [Pd(L)(ONO2)2] (L = 2,2'-bipyridyl,2-(aminoethyl)pyridine (aep), 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine (amp], [Pd(eth)Cl2] (eth = ethionine) and [Pd(dach)(Meorot)] (dach = trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane, Meorot = dianion of 3-methylorotic acid). The complexes were administered in water except [Pd(dach)(Meorot)] which was a suspension in klucel. The LD0 values were greater than or equal to 100 mg/kg. None of the complexes were active against the P388 tumor. [Pd(L)ONO2)2] (L = aep, amp) showed marginal activity against S180, while [Pd(dach-)(Meorot)] had an optimal T/C of 267% at dose of 150 mg/kg with 2/10 survivors on day 60.

Platinum and palladium complexes of 3-methyl orotic acid: a route toward palladium complexes with good antitumor activity.

In order to design and develop potential anticancer drugs involving the same structural pattern as platinum(II) antitumor complexes, complexes of palladium and platinum with 3-methyl-orotic acid as the leaving ligand have been synthesized. The study of the anticancer activity of these compounds toward L1210 leukemia and sarcoma 180 in mice is presented and discussed in terms of the nature of the ligand and the metal involved. The (3-methylorotato)(1,2-diamino-cyclohexane) palladium(II) has an activity (sarcoma 180) similar to that for cis-DDP itself. The crystal structure of (3-methylorotato)(dl-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane) platinum(II) is described.

Some antitumor derivatives of ellipticine deprived of mutagenic properties.

Seven derivatives of the antitumor alkaloid ellipticine were assayed for activity against murine leukaemia L1210 and for mutagenicity in Ames' Salmonella-microsomes test. Not only did the results show a complete lack of correlation between these two properties, but it was possible to choose a highly efficient analog which was completely devoid of mutagenic and hence, probably, carcinogenic effect. The lack of interaction of this product (2-methyl-9-hydroxyellipticinium acetate) with Cytochrome P-450 of hepatic monooxygenases prevents the formation of reactive intermediates and their subsequent binding to DNA. These data are discussed in view of the currently admitted mode of action of ellipticines i.e., intercalation in DNA and their therapeutic use.