Concomitant Use of Multiple Nephrotoxins including Renal Hypoperfusion Medications Causes Vancomycin-Associated Nephrotoxicity: Combined Retrospective Analyses of Two Real-World Databases.

There is a growing concern about the relationship between vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity (VAN) and concomitant use of nephrotoxins. We examined this relationship by combined retrospective analyses of two real-world databases. Initially, the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) was analyzed for the effects of concomitant use of one or more nephrotoxins on VAN and the types of combinations of nephrotoxins that exacerbate VAN. Next, electronic medical records (EMRs) of patients who received vancomycin (VCM) at Tokushima University Hospital between January 2006 and March 2019 were examined to confirm the FAERS analysis. An elevated reporting odds ratio (ROR) was observed with increases in the number of nephrotoxins administered (VCM + one nephrotoxin, adjusted ROR (95% confidence interval [CI]) 1.67 [1.51-1.85]; VCM + ≥2 nephrotoxins, adjusted ROR [95% CI] 1.54 [1.37-1.73]) in FAERS. EMRs analysis showed that the number of nephrotoxins was associated with higher incidences of VAN [odds ratio: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.42-2.78]. Overall, concomitant use of nephrotoxins was associated with an increased incidence of VAN, especially when at least one of those nephrotoxins was a renal hypoperfusion medication (furosemide, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and vasopressors). The concomitant use of multiple nephrotoxins, especially including renal hypoperfusion medication, should be avoided to prevent VAN.

Effects of vonoprazan and proton pump inhibitors on the efficacy of bevacizumab: a multicentre retrospective study.

Gastric acid secretion inhibitors such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and vonoprazan may change the duration of treatment with bevacizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, for cancer. However, there are no data on this prolongation effect. Here, we aimed to determine whether the use of PPIs or vonoprazan in patients with cancer receiving bevacizumab affected the duration of bevacizumab treatment. This observational study was conducted at two national university hospitals in Japan and involved 222 patients using oral PPIs (N = 190) or vonoprazan (N = 32) at the start of bevacizumab treatment between January 2015 and December 2018. Patients who received only one course of bevacizumab were excluded. The primary endpoint was the duration of bevacizumab treatment. The duration of bevacizumab treatment varied significantly between the PPI and vonoprazan groups. For cancer types other than colorectal cancer (breast, lung, brain, and ovarian cancers), the median duration of treatment was 217 days (p < 0.05) and was longer in the vonoprazan group than in the PPI group. However, for colorectal cancer, the median duration of bevacizumab treatment was 147 days longer in the PPI group than in the vonoprazan group. Selection of appropriate gastric acid secretion inhibitors may improve the therapeutic efficacy of anti-VEGF drugs, including bevacizumab. Oestrogen is a key regulator of this effect and may be responsible for the varying association between PPI or vonoprazan administration and the difference in bevacizumab treatment duration between colon cancer and other cancer types.

Non-recovery of vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity is related to worsening survival outcomes: Combined retrospective analyses of two real-world databases.

There has been growing concern in worsening survival and renal outcomes following vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity (VAN) onset, but the factors associated with these phenomena remain unclear. To examine these factors, we performed a retrospective study combining the analysis of two real-world databases. Initially, the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) was used to evaluate the relationship between VAN and mortality using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Next, electronic medical records (EMRs) were examined in a more robust cohort for evaluation of the association between renal outcomes and worsening survival using Cox proportional hazards regression models. FAERS analysis revealed a significant correlation between VAN occurrence and increased mortality (OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.17-1.46). EMR analysis showed that non-recovery of VAN was associated with increased hospital mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 4.05; 95% CI: 2.42-6.77) and 1-year mortality (HR: 3.03, 95% CI: 1.98-4.64). The HR for VAN recovery was lower for patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) stage ≥2 (HR: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.02-0.40). Thus, worsening survival outcomes were associated with non-recovery of VAN, whereby AKI stage ≥2 was a significant risk factor. Progression to severe VAN should be prevented for better survival outcomes.

Development of a novel light-up probe for detection of G-quadruplexes in stress granules.

G-quadruplexes (G4s) regulate various biological processes in cells. However, cellular imaging of dynamically forming G4s in biomolecular condensates using small molecules has been poorly investigated. Herein, we present a fluorescent light-up probe with the ability to selectively stabilize G4s and enhance fluorescence upon G4 binding. The foci of the probe were mainly observed in the nucleoli. These were co-localized with anti-fibrillarin antibodies and anti-G4 antibodies (BG4). Moreover, we tested detection of G4 in stress granules using the developed probe. Stress granules were induced through treatment with not only thapsigargin, but also known G4 ligands (pyridostatin, RHPS4, and BRACO-19). In the stress granules, co-localization between the probe, BG4, and stress granule markers (TIA1 and G3BP1) was detected. We present a practical light-up probe for G4s in stress granules, providing potential targets for G4 ligands.

Pancreas-preserving partial duodenectomy for non-ampullary duodenal neoplasms: three case reports.

BACKGROUND: There are multiple surgical procedures for resecting non-ampullary duodenal neoplasms (NADNs), and the appropriate method is selected depending on the tumor location and diagnosis. We herein report 3 cases of NADNs that were resected using pancreas-preserving partial duodenectomy (PPD). CASE REPORTS: The first patient, a 73-year-old woman with a circumferential duodenal adenoma in the supra-ampullary duodenum, underwent surgery. After laparotomy, the duodenum proximal to the tumor was confirmed using intraoperative endoscopy and dissected. The duodenum distal to the tumor was dissected under direct visualization, and the specimen was removed. The distal stump of the duodenum was closed, and duodenojejunostomy was performed as described by Billroth II. The tumor was diagnosed as an adenoma 75 mm in size. She was discharged 12 days after surgery without any complications. The second patient, a 48-year-old man, was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) with a diameter of 14 mm in the supra-ampullary duodenum. Laparoscopic PPD was performed. He was diagnosed with NEN G1 and discharged the 11th day after surgery. The third patient, a 71-year-old man with a 0-Is + IIa lesion in the horizontal duodenum, underwent surgery. After laparotomy, the horizontal duodenum and proximal jejunum were resected, and duodenojejunostomy was performed. The patient was diagnosed with stage I adenocarcinoma and discharged on the 15th day after surgery. CONCLUSION: PPD is useful for avoiding the morbidity of pancreatoduodenectomy in the management of NADNs without invasion to the ampulla of Vater or pancreas.

Investigation of drugs for the prevention of doxorubicin-induced cardiac events using big data analysis.

AIM: Doxorubicin, an anthracycline anti-tumour agent, is an essential chemotherapeutic drug; however, the adverse events associated with doxorubicin usage, including cardiotoxicity, prevent patients from continuing treatment. Here, we used databases to explore existing approved drugs with potential preventative effects against doxorubicin-induced cardiac events and examined their efficacy and mechanisms. METHODS: The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS), and Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) databases were used to extract candidate prophylactic drugs. Mouse models of doxorubicin-induced cardiac events were generated by intraperitoneal administration of 20 mg/kg of doxorubicin on Day 1 and oral administration of prophylactic candidate drugs for 6 consecutive days beginning the day before doxorubicin administration. On Day 6, mouse hearts were extracted and examined for mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes. RESULTS: GEO analysis showed that doxorubicin administration upregulated 490 genes and downregulated 862 genes, and LINCS data identified sirolimus, verapamil, minoxidil, prednisolone, guanabenz, and mosapride as drugs capable of counteracting these genetic alterations. Examination of the effects of these drugs on cardiac toxicity using FAERS identified sirolimus and mosapride as new prophylactic drug candidates. In model mice, mosapride and sirolimus suppressed the Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA ratio, which is elevated in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. These drugs also suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines Il1b and Il6 and markers associated with myocardial fibrosis, including Lgal3 and Timp1. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that doxorubicin-induced cardiac events are suppressed by the administration of mosapride and sirolimus.

Risk of Hematologic Events With Coadministration of Methotrexate and the Breast Cancer Resistance Protein Inhibitor Febuxostat.

BACKGROUND: The breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) is a key drug transporter found in the liver, kidney, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal tract. Due to the wide expression of BCRP, interactions of other drugs with methotrexate (MTX) may differ in oral and intravenous MTX users, and understanding of these interactions may be useful in preventing severe adverse events. Febuxostat, a urate-lowering drug, inhibits BCRP. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to clarify the differences in the drug-drug interaction profiles of oral and intravenous methotrexate, associated with BCRP. METHODS: We analyzed the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database and compared the frequency of hematologic events in patients taking oral and intravenous MTX, with or without the concomitant use of febuxostat or allopurinol. Hematologic events were defined as pancytopenia and neutropenia. Multiple logistic regression analysis was then used to identify the risk factors for hematologic events in oral and intravenous MTX users. RESULTS: We identified 8 453 oral and 810 intravenous MTX users with 546 and 126 cases of hematologic events, respectively. Compared with those not using febuxostat, a disproportionate number of hematologic events was observed in intravenous MTX users concomitantly using febuxostat (P < 0.01). The multivariate logistic analysis of intravenous MTX users showed that hematologic events were significantly associated with febuxostat use (P < 0.01) and age ≥ 60 years (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Our findings suggest that patients being treated with intravenous MTX who concomitantly use febuxostat may be at an increased risk of hematologic events, presumably due to BCRP-mediated drug-drug interaction.

Effects of Palonosetron on Nausea and Vomiting Induced by Multiple-Day Chemotherapy: A Retrospective Study.

Patients who undergo multiple-day chemotherapy sessions experience hard-to-treat nausea and vomiting. Currently, there is no effective standard treatment for this condition. This study compared the preventive effect of first-generation 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor antagonists (5-HT3 RAs) and second-generation 5-HT3 RAs palonosetron in multiple-day chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The design of this study was a retrospective case-control study of patients who received a five-day cisplatin-based chemotherapy and were treated with aprepitant, dexamethasone, granisetron, and ramosetron or palonosetron. The patients were divided into two groups: patients given granisetron and ramosetron (the first-generation group), and those given palonosetron (palonosetron group). The percentage of patients with a complete response or total control was assessed. They were divided into three phases: 0-216 h (overall phase), 0-120 h (remedial phase), and 120-216 h (after phase). The remedial phase was further divided into 0-24 h (early phase) and 24-120 h (later phase). Moreover, the nutritional status of each patient was assessed by noting the patients' total calorie-intake per day and total parenteral nutrition. First-generation 5-HT3 RAs and palonosetron were used for treatment in 18 and 28 patients, respectively. The complete response rate and caloric oral intake of the later phase were higher in the palonosetron group than in the first-generation group. We conclude that palonosetron treatment was more effective than first-generation 5-HT3 RAs in controlling multiple-day chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Investigation of drugs affecting hypertension in bevacizumab-treated patients and examination of the impact on the therapeutic effect.

BACKGROUND: In patients treated with bevacizumab, hypertension may be a biomarker of therapeutic efficacy. However, it is not clear whether drugs that control blood pressure influence bevacizumab's efficacy. In this study, we investigated drugs that may affect hypertension in bevacizumab-treated patients and examined the impact on the therapeutic effect. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed 3,724,555 reports from the third quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2015. All data were obtained from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) analysis. In this retrospective cohort study, we investigated a total of 58 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer and treated for the first time with bevacizumab containing XELOX or mFOLFOX6 at The University of Tokushima Hospital between January 2010 and December 2015. The effect of the treatment was evaluated according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.0. Thereafter, the effect was confirmed using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and cultured cells. RESULTS: There are few reports in FAERS of hypertension in patients treated with omeprazole on bevacizumab. Based on the chart review, patients who used proton pump inhibitors (PPI) had a lower response to treatment than those who did not (response rate: 25% vs 50%). Furthermore, experiments on GEO and cell lines suggested that induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression by PPIs is the cause of the reduced therapeutic effect. CONCLUSION: PPIs prevent hypertension in bevacizumab-treated patients but may reduce bevacizumab's anti-tumoral effects by inducing VEGF expression.

Disulfide-Catalyzed Iodination of Electron-Rich Aromatic Compounds.

Herein, a disulfide-catalyzed electrophilic iodination of aromatic compounds using 1,3-diiodo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DIH) has been developed. The disulfide activates DIH as a Lewis base to promote the iodination reaction in acetonitrile under mild conditions. This system is applicable to a wide range of electron-rich aromatic compounds, including acetanilide, anisole, imidazole, and pyrazole derivatives.

Pharmacovigilance evaluation of the relationship between impaired glucose metabolism and BCR-ABL inhibitor use by using an adverse drug event reporting database.

Breakpoint cluster region-Abelson murine leukemia (BCR-ABL) inhibitors markedly improve the prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia. However, high treatment adherence is necessary for successful treatment with BCR-ABL inhibitors. Therefore, an adequate understanding of the adverse event profiles of BCR-ABL inhibitors is essential. Although many adverse events are observed in trials, an accurate identification of adverse events based only on clinical trial results is difficult because of strict entry criteria or limited follow-up durations. In particular, BCR-ABL inhibitor-induced impaired glucose metabolism remains controversial. Pharmacovigilance evaluations using spontaneous reporting systems are useful for analyzing drug-related adverse events in clinical settings. Therefore, we conducted signal detection analyses for BCR-ABL inhibitor-induced impaired glucose metabolism by using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database. Signals for an increased reporting rate of impaired glucose metabolism were detected only for nilotinib use, whereas these signals were not detected for other BCR-ABL inhibitors. Subgroup analyses showed a clearly increased nilotinib-associated reporting rate of impaired glucose metabolism in male and younger patients. Although FAERS- and JADER-based signal detection analyses cannot determine causality perfectly, our study suggests the effects on glucose metabolism are different between BCR-ABL inhibitors and provides useful information for the selection of appropriate BCR-ABL inhibitors.

Development and pharmacist-mediated use of tools for monitoring atypical antipsychotic-induced side effects related to blood glucose levels.

PURPOSE: Drug side effects often lead to serious outcomes. Administration of second-generation antipsychotics has resulted in diabetic ketoacidosis and diabetic coma leading to death. Therefore, pharmacists are required to collect information on clinical test values, determine the appropriate test timing, and coordinate with doctors for further clinical laboratory orders, all of which are labor-intensive and time-intensive tasks. In this study, we developed a side effect-monitoring tool and aimed to clarify the influence and efficiency of monitoring side effects by using the tool in patients taking atypical antipsychotics in whom it is necessary to check clinical test values such as blood sugar levels. METHODS: We extracted clinical test values for patients treated with second-generation antipsychotics from electronic medical records. The test values are automatically displayed in the side effect grade classification specified by CTCAE ver. 4.0. A database was constructed using scripts to provide alerts for the timing of clinical testing. The pharmacist used this tool to confirm clinical test values for patients taking medication and requested the physician to inspect orders based on the appropriate test timings. RESULTS: The management tool reduced the pharmacists' effort in collecting information on patients' prescription status and test values. It enabled patients to undergo tests at the appropriate time according to the progression of glucose metabolism and allowed for easy monitoring of side effects. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that regardless of pharmacists' experience or skill, the introduction of this tool enables centralization of side effect monitoring and can contribute to proper drug use.

Inhibitory effect of cyclic trihydroxamate siderophore, desferrioxamine E, on the biofilm formation of Mycobacterium species.

Formation of biofilm in pathogenic bacteria defends them from antibiotics and the immune system of a host's life. Hence, investigation of the molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation and search for new substances counteracting this formation are becoming an attractive research area. In the course of our search for new inhibitors of biofilm formation in Mycobacterium species, we rediscovered a cyclic trihydroxamate siderophore, desferrioxamine E, from the culture of the marine-derived Actinomycete MS67. Desferrioxamine E inhibited biofilm formation of Mycobacterium smegmatis and M. bovis BACILLE de CALMETTE et GUÉRIN (BCG) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 10 µM, while no anti-microbial activity was observed up to 160 µM. Desferrioxamine E was also able to restore the anti-microbial activity of isoniazid against M. smegmatis by inhibiting biofilm formation. Mechanistic analysis of desferrioxamine E suggested that such inhibition might come from the depletion of iron in the medium, which is essential for biofilm formation in Mycobacterium species.

Thermotropic and barotropic phase transitions of dialkyldimethylammonium bromide bilayer membranes: effect of chain length.

The bilayer phase transitions of dialkyldimethylammonium bromides (2C(n)Br; n = 12, 14, 16) were observed by differential scanning calorimetry and high-pressure light-transmittance measurements. Under atmospheric pressure, the 2C(12)Br bilayer membrane underwent the stable transition from the lamellar crystal (L(c)) phase to the liquid crystalline (L(α)) phase. The 2C(14)Br bilayer underwent the main transition from the metastable lamellar gel (L(ß)) phase to the metastable L(α) phase in addition to the stable L(c)/L(α) transition. For the 2C(16)Br bilayer, moreover, three kinds of phase transitions were observed: the metastable main transition, the metastable transition from the metastable lamellar crystal (L(c(2))) phase to the metastable L(α) phase, and the stable lamellar crystal (L(c(1)))/L(α) transition. The temperatures of all the phase transitions elevated almost linearly with increasing pressure. The temperature (T)-pressure (p) phase diagrams of the 2C(12)Br and 2C(14)Br bilayers were simple, but that of the 2C(16)Br bilayer was complex; that is, the T-p curves for the metastable main transition and the L(c(2))/L(α) transition intersect at ca. 25 MPa, which means the inversion of the relative phase stability between the metastable phases of L(ß) and L(c(2)) above and below the pressure. Moreover, the T-p curve of the L(c(2))/L(α) transition was separated into two curves under high pressure, and as a result, the pressure-induced L(c(2P)) phase appeared in between. Thermodynamic quantities for phase transitions of the 2C(n)Br bilayers increased with an increase in alkyl-chain length. The chain-length dependence of the phase-transition temperature for all kinds of transitions observed suggests that the stable L(c(1))/L(α) transition incorporates the metastable L(c(2))/L(α) transition in the bilayers of 2C(n)Br with shorter alkyl chains, and the main-transition of the 2C(12)Br bilayer would occur at a temperature below 0 °C.

Hydrostatic pressure reveals bilayer phase behavior of dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide and chloride.

Bilayer phase transitions of dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (2C(18)Br) and chloride (2C(18)Cl) were observed by differential scanning calorimetry and high-pressure light-transmittance measurements. The 2C(18)Br bilayer membrane showed different kinds of transitions depending on preparation methods of samples under atmospheric pressure. Under certain conditions, the 2C(18)Br bilayer underwent three kinds of transitions, the metastable transition from the metastable lamellar crystal (L(c(2))) phase to the metastable lamellar gel (L(ß)) phase at 35.4 °C, the metastable main transition from the metastable L(ß) phase to the metastable liquid crystalline (L(α)) phase at 44.5 °C, and the stable transition from the stable lamellar crystal (L(c(1))) phase to the stable L(α) phase at 52.8 °C. On the contrary, the 2C(18)Cl bilayer underwent two kinds of transitions, the stable transition from the stable L(c) phase to the stable L(ß) phase at 19.7 °C and the stable main transition from the stable L(ß) phase to the stable L(α) phase at 39.9 °C. The temperatures of the phase transitions of the 2C(18)Br and 2C(18)Cl bilayers were almost linearly elevated by applying pressure. It was found from the temperature (T)-pressure (p) phase diagram of the 2C(18)Br bilayer that the T-p curves for the main transition and the L(c(1))/L(α) transition intersect at ca. 130 MPa because of the larger slope of the former transition curve. On the other hand, the T-p phase diagram of the 2C(18)Cl bilayer took a simple shape. The thermodynamic properties for the main transition of the 2C(18)Br and 2C(18)Cl bilayers were comparable to each other, whereas those for the L(c(1))/L(α) transition of the 2C(18)Br bilayer showed considerably high values, signifying that the L(c(1)) phase of the 2C(18)Br bilayer is extremely stable. These differences observed in both bilayers are attributable to the difference in interaction between a surfactant and its counterion.

Anti-angiogenic effect of triterpenoidal saponins from Polygala senega.

Senegasaponins [senegin II (1), senegin III (2), senegin IV (3), senegasaponin a (4), and senegasaponin b (5)] from Polygala senega were re-discovered as selective anti-proliferative substances against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Senegasaponins (1-5) showed anti-proliferative activity against HUVECs with IC(50) values in the range 0.6-6.2 µM, and the selective index was 7-100-fold in comparison with those for several cancer cell lines, while the desacyl mixture of senegasaponins (6) and tenuifolin (7) lost anti-proliferative activity, indicating that the 28-O-glycoside moiety and methoxycinnamoyl group were essential for the HUVEC-selective growth inhibition of senegasaponins. Senegin III (2) inhibited the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced in vitro tubular formation of HUVECs and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced in vivo neovascularization in the mouse Matrigel plug assay. Moreover, senegin III (2) suppressed tumor growth in the ddY mice s.c.-inoculated murine sarcoma S180 cells. The analysis of the action mechanism of senegin III (2) suggested that the induction of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) would contribute to the anti-angiogenic effects of senegasaponins.

Haliclonacyclamines, tetracyclic alkylpiperidine alkaloids, as anti-dormant mycobacterial substances from a marine sponge of Haliclona sp.

A new tetracyclic alkylpiperidine alkaloid, 22-hydroxyhaliclonacyclamine B (1), together with two known alkaloids, haliclonacyclamine A (2) and B (3), were isolated from a marine sponge of Haliclona sp. as anti-dormant mycobacterial substances. The chemical structure of 22-hydroxyhaliclonacyclamine B (1) was determined on the basis of spectroscopic study. The compounds 2 and 3 showed strong anti-mycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis and M. bovis Bacille de Calmette et Guérin (BCG) under both aerobic condition and hypoxic condition inducing dormant state with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in the ranges of 1.0-2.5 microg/ml. In addition, the anti-microbial activity of compound 3 was bactericidal against M. bovis BCG under both aerobic and hypoxic conditions. The 22-hydroxy group in 1 was found to reduce anti-mycobacterial activity, because 22-hydroxyhaliclonacyclamine B (1) exhibited weaker anti-microbial activities against Mycobacterium bacilli with MICs in the ranges of 12.5-50 microg/ml.

Chain asymmetry alters thermotropic and barotropic properties of phospholipid bilayer membranes.

The alignment of the sn-1 and sn-2 acyl chains at the terminal methyl ends generally produces significant influence on the thermodynamic properties of the bilayer phase transitions. We investigated the bilayer phase behavior of asymmetric phospholipids, myristoylpalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and palmitoylmyristoylphosphatidylcholine, by high-pressure light-transmittance and Prodan-fluorescence techniques and differential scanning calorimetry. Constructed temperature-pressure phase diagrams revealed that no stable Lbeta' phase can exist in the whole pressure range because of the formation of the most stable Lc phase. Nevertheless, the pretransition, the detection of which is severely hampered by the exceptionally prompt formation of the Lc phase, was successfully observed. Moreover, the effect of the total and difference of the sn-1 and sn-2 acyl chain lengths on minimal interdigitation pressure (MIP) was summarized in a MIP vs. chain-length inequivalence parameter plot, where the effect was proved to be classified in three zones depending on the alignment of both terminal methyl ends.

Halicyclamine A, a marine spongean alkaloid as a lead for anti-tuberculosis agent.

In the course of our search for anti-microbial agents against dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, halicyclamine A was re-discovered as a lead for anti-tuberculosis agent from a marine sponge of Haliclona sp. on the guidance of the constructed bioassay. Halicyclamine A showed growth inhibition against Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium bovis BCG, and M. tuberculosis H37Ra with MICs in the range of 1.0-5.0microg/ml under both aerobic condition and hypoxic condition inducing dormant state. The growth-inhibitory activity of halicyclamine A was bactericidal, and halicyclamine A did not exhibit cross-resistance with the currently used anti-tuberculosis drugs of isoniazid, ethambutol, rifampicin, and streptomycin. Halicyclamine A has been isolated originally as one of the active constituents inhibiting inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH). Then, in order to elucidate action-mechanism of halicyclamine A, we prepared IMPDH over-expressing strains of M. smegmatis. However, IMPDH was not target for halicyclamine A, because halicyclamine A showed same MIC value against the wild-type M. smegmatis and IMPDH over-expressing strains.

New alkaloid from the aerial parts of Codonopsis clematidea.

A new codonopsine-related alkaloid and 13 known compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of Codonopsis clematidea (Campanulaceae). The structure of the new compound was elucidated by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and other spectral examinations.