Decomposition Characteristics of the TTIP (Tetraisopropyl Orthotitanate) Precursor for Atomic Layer Deposition.

The decomposition of tetraisopropyl orthotitanate (TTIP), a representative precursor used in the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of titanium dioxide (TiO2) film, and the resulting changes in the thin film properties of the TiO2 film were investigated. TTIP was evaluated after exposure to thermal stress in an enclosed container. The vapor pressure results provide reasonable evidence that impurities are generated by the decomposition of TTIP under thermal stress. These impurities led to changes in the thermal properties of TTIP and changes in the growth rate, morphology, and composition of the thin film; in particular, these impurities increased the unstable oxidation states of Ti2+ (TiO) content in the TiO2 film. The changes in the properties of the TiO2 film resulting from the changes in the physical properties of TTIP led to a change in the properties of the device. We proved that the thermal stability of the precursor is a factor that can determine the reliability of the ALD process and the resulting thin film. Additionally, systematic evaluation of the precursor can provide useful information that can improve the development of the precursor and the consistency of the process.

Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory efficacy of hederagenin-coated maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles in an atopic dermatitis model.

We investigated the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory efficacy of hederagenin coating on maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (HM) in atopic dermatitis (AD), as well as the physical and optical properties of maghemite nanoparticles (MP) using SEM, XRD spectroscopy, UV-vis spectra, Raman spectra, and FTIR spectroscopy. Dose-dependent treatment with HM (10, 50, 100, 200 µg/mL) inhibited the expression of Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and Tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) in inflammatory induced HaCaT and Jurkat cells with inflammation caused by TNF/IFN-γ and PMA/A23187. AD model was induced by performing topical application of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and dermatophagoides farinae extract (DFE) for a 31-day period on 8-week-old BALB/c mice. The HM treatments efficiently diminished the AD-like cutaneous lesion induced by DNCB-DFE sensitization in mice. Compared to the AD-only groups, HM treatment considerably attenuated mast cell infiltration and lowered epidermal, and dermal thickness of mice ears skin. In addition, HM treatment prominently alleviated the enlarged size and weight of lymph nodes. Furthermore, HM treatment resulted in a notable reduction in the mRNA expression of Th1 cytokines (TNF-α and IFN-γ), Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-6), Th17 (IL-17), and TSLP. Our data showed that HM provides better AD attenuation compared to MP. Additionally, HM had synergistic effect and act as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agent. Thus, HM shows great potential in AD medication and as a substitution of non-steroid-based medication.

Glycosylation generates an efficacious and immunogenic vaccine against H7N9 influenza virus.

Zoonotic avian influenza viruses pose severe health threats to humans. Of several viral subtypes reported, the low pathogenic avian influenza H7N9 virus has since February 2013 caused more than 1,500 cases of human infection with an almost 40% case-fatality rate. Vaccination of poultry appears to reduce human infections. However, the emergence of highly pathogenic strains has increased concerns about H7N9 pandemics. To develop an efficacious H7N9 human vaccine, we designed vaccine viruses by changing the patterns of N-linked glycosylation (NLG) on the viral hemagglutinin (HA) protein based on evolutionary patterns of H7 HA NLG changes. Notably, a virus in which 2 NLG modifications were added to HA showed higher growth rates in cell culture and elicited more cross-reactive antibodies than did other vaccine viruses with no change in the viral antigenicity. Developed into an inactivated vaccine formulation, the vaccine virus with 2 HA NLG additions exhibited much better protective efficacy against lethal viral challenge in mice than did a vaccine candidate with wild-type (WT) HA by reducing viral replication in the lungs. In a ferret model, the 2 NLG-added vaccine viruses also induced hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies and significantly suppressed viral replication in the upper and lower respiratory tracts compared with the WT HA vaccines. In a mode of action study, the HA NLG modification appeared to increase HA protein contents incorporated into viral particles, which would be successfully translated to improve vaccine efficacy. These results suggest the strong potential of HA NLG modifications in designing avian influenza vaccines.

Surface-Modified Industrial Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene 3D Scaffold Fabrication by Gold Nanoparticle for Drug Screening.

Biocompatibility is very important for cell growth using 3D printers, but biocompatibility materials are very expensive. In this study, we investigated the possibility of cell culture by the surface modification of relatively low-cost industrial materials and an efficient three-dimensional (3D) scaffold made with an industrial ABS filament for cell proliferation, spheroid formation, and drug screening applications. We evaluated the adequate structure among two-layer square shape 3D scaffolds printed by fused deposition modeling with variable infill densities (10-50%). Based on the effects of these scaffolds on cell proliferation and spheroid formation, we conducted experiments using the industrial ABS 3D scaffold (IA3D) with 40% of infill density, which presented an external dimension of (XYZ) 7650 µm × 7647 µm × 210 µm, 29.8% porosity, and 225 homogenous micropores (251.6 µm × 245.9 µm × 210 µm). In the IA3D, spheroids of cancer HepG2 cells and keratinocytes HaCaT cells appeared after 2 and 3 days of culture, respectively, whereas no spheroids were formed in 2D culture. A gold nanoparticle-coated industrial ABS 3D scaffold (GIA3D) exhibited enhanced biocompatible properties including increased spheroid formation by HepG2 cells compared to IA3D (1.3-fold) and 2D (38-fold) cultures. Furthermore, the cancer cells exhibited increased resistance to drug treatments in GIA3D, with cell viabilities of 122.9% in industrial GIA3D, 40.2% in IA3D, and 55.2% in 2D cultures when treated with 100 µM of mitoxantrone. Our results show that the newly engineered IA3D is an innovative 3D scaffold with upgraded properties for cell proliferation, spheroid formation, and drug-screening applications.

Novel Small Molecule Targeting the Hemagglutinin Stalk of Influenza Viruses.

Combating influenza is one of the perennial global public health issues to be managed. Antiviral drugs are useful for the treatment of influenza in the absence of an appropriate vaccine. However, the appearance of resistant strains necessitates a constant search for new drugs. In this study, we investigated novel anti-influenza drug candidates using in vitro and in vivo assays. We identified anti-influenza hit compounds using a high-throughput screening method with a green fluorescent protein-tagged recombinant influenza virus. Through subsequent analyses of their cytotoxicity and pharmacokinetic properties, one candidate (IY7640) was selected for further evaluation. In a replication kinetics analysis, IY7640 showed greater inhibitory effects during the early phase of viral infection than the viral neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir. In addition, we observed that hemagglutinin (HA)-mediated membrane fusion was inhibited by IY7640 treatment, indicating that the HA stalk region, which is highly conserved across various (sub)types of influenza viruses, may be the molecular target of IY7640. In an escape mutant analysis in cells, amino acid mutations were identified at the HA stalk region of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) virus. Even though the in vivo efficacy of IY7640 did not reach complete protection in a lethal challenge study in mice, these results suggest that IY7640 has potential to be developed as a new type of anti-influenza drug.IMPORTANCE Anti-influenza drugs with broad-spectrum efficacy against antigenically diverse influenza viruses can be highly useful when no vaccines are available. To develop new anti-influenza drugs, we screened a number of small molecules and identified a strong candidate, IY7640. When added at the time of or after influenza virus infection, IY7640 was observed to successfully inhibit or reduce viral replication in cells. We subsequently discovered that IY7640 targets the stalk region of the influenza HA protein, which exhibits a relatively high degree of amino acid sequence conservation across various (sub)types of influenza viruses. Furthermore, IY7640 was observed to block HA-mediated membrane fusion of H1N1, H3N2, and influenza B viruses in cells. Although it appears less effective against strains other than H1N1 subtype viruses in a challenge study in mice, we suggest that the small molecule IY7640 has potential to be optimized as a new anti-influenza drug.

Mitigation Effects of a Novel Herbal Medicine, Hepad, on Neuroinflammation, Neuroapoptosis, and Neuro-Oxidation.

Parkinson's disease (PD), a common adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder with complex pathological mechanisms, is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons. The present study demonstrated that the herbal medicines Hepad 1 and 2 protected against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity in C57BL/6 mice and SH-SY5Y cells. Hepad 1 and 2 remarkably alleviated the enhanced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, macrophage-1, and phosphorylated iκB-α) and apoptotic signals (Bcl-2-associated X protein, caspase-3, and poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase-1). Additionally, Hepad reduced MPTP-induced oxidative damage by increasing the expression of anti-oxidant defense enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase) and downregulating the levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4. This study also showed that the neuroprotective effects of Hepad include anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-oxidative properties, in addition to activation of the protein kinase B, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathways. Furthermore, oral administration of Hepad 1 and 2 attenuated the death of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive substantia nigra neurons that was induced by 20 mg/kg MPTP. Therefore, our results suggest that Hepad 1 and 2 are useful for treating PD and other disorders associated with neuro-inflammatory, neuro-apoptotic, and neuro-oxidative damage.

The c-Abl inhibitor, Radotinib HCl, is neuroprotective in a preclinical Parkinson's disease mouse model.

Accumulating evidence suggests that the non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Abl plays an important role in the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) and c-Abl inhibition could be neuroprotective in PD and related α-synucleinopathies. Nilotinib, a c-Abl inhibitor, has shown improved motor and cognitive symptoms in PD patients. However, issues concerning blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, lack of selectivity and safety still remain. Radotinib HCl is a selective Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitor that not only effectively access the brain, but also exhibits greater pharmacokinetic properties and safety profiles compared to Nilotinib and other c-Abl inhibitors. Here, we show the neuroprotective efficacy of Radotinib HCl, a brain penetrant c-Abl inhibitor, in a pre-clinical model of PD. Importantly, in vitro studies demonstrate that the treatment of Radotinib HCl protects the α-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFF)-induced neuronal toxicity, reduces the α-synuclein PFF-induced Lewy bodies (LB)/Lewy neurites (LN)-like pathology and inhibits the α-synuclein PFF-induced c-Abl activation in primary cortical neurons. Furthermore, administration of Radotinib HCl inhibits c-Abl activation and prevents dopaminergic neuron loss, neuroinflammation and behavioral deficits following α-synuclein PFF-induced toxicity in vivo. Taken together, our findings indicate that Radotinib HCl has beneficial neuroprotective effects in PD and provides an evidence that selective and brain permeable c-Abl inhibitors can be potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of PD and related α-synucleinopathies.

Pharmacokinetic drug interaction and safety after coadministration of clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and ilaprazole: a randomised, open-label, one-way crossover, two parallel sequences study.

PURPOSE: Ilaprazole, the latest proton pump inhibitor, can be used with clarithromycin and amoxicillin as a triple therapy regimen for eradicating Helicobacter pylori. The aim of this study was to evaluate pharmacokinetic drug interactions and safety profiles after coadministration of clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and ilaprazole. METHODS: A randomised, open-label, one-way crossover, two parallel sequences study was conducted in 32 healthy subjects. In part 1, the subjects received a single dose of ilaprazole 10 mg in period 1 and clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily for 6 days in period 2. In part 2, the subjects received clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxicillin 1000 mg once in period 1 and ilaprazole 10 mg twice daily for 6 days in period 2. In both sequences, the three drugs were coadministrated once on day 5 in period 2. Pharmacokinetic evaluations of ilaprazole (part 1), and clarithromycin and amoxicillin (part 2) were conducted. RESULTS: Twenty-eight subjects completed the study. For ilaprazole, the peak concentration (Cmax) slightly decreased from 479 (ilaprazole alone) to 446 ng/mL (triple therapy) [Geometric least square mean ratio (90% confidence interval), 0.93 (0.70-1.22)]. The area under the concentration-time curve from 0 h to the last measurable concentration (AUClast) slightly increased from 3301 to 3538 µg·h/mL [1.07 (0.85-1.35)]. For clarithromycin, the Cmax slightly decreased from 1.87 to 1.72 µg/mL [0.90 (0.70-1.15)], and AUClast slightly increased from 14.6 to 16.5 µg·h/mL [1.09 (0.87-1.37)]. For amoxicillin, the Cmax slightly decreased from 9.37 to 8.14 µg/mL [0.86 (0.74-1.01)], and AUClast slightly decreased from 27.9 to 26.7 µg·h/mL [0.98 (0.83-1.16)]. These changes in the PK parameters of each drug were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The coadministration of ilaprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin was tolerable and did not cause a significant PK drug interaction. Thus, a triple therapy regimen comprising ilaprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin may be an option for the eradication of H. pylori. Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT02998437.

Determination of a radotinib dosage regimen based on dose-response relationships for the treatment of newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

Radotinib is a second-generation BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CP-CML). Here, using the data from a Phase 3 study conducted in patients with newly diagnosed CP-CML, the dose-efficacy as well as dose-safety relationship analyses were performed to determine a safe and effective initial dosage regimen of radotinib. A significant positive association was detected between the starting dose of radotinib adjusted for body weight (Dose/BW) and the probability of dose-limiting toxicity (≥grade 3 hematologic and nonhematologic toxicity) (P = 0.003). In contrast, a significant inverse association was discovered between Dose/BW and the probability of major molecular response (BCR-ABL1/ABL1 ≤ 0.1%) when controlled for sex (P = 0.033). Moreover, frequent dose interruptions and reductions secondary to radotinib toxicities occurred in the Phase 3 study, resulting in nearly half (44%) of patients receiving a reduced dose at a 12-month follow-up. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate the need for initial radotinib dose attenuation to improve the long-term efficacy and safety of radotinib. Hence, the authors suggest a new upfront radotinib dose of 400 mg once daily be tested in patients with newly diagnosed CP-CML.

Highly sensitive two-dimensional MoS2 gas sensor decorated with Pt nanoparticles.

A two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)-based gas sensor was decorated with Pt nanoparticles (NPs) for high sensitivity and low limit of detection (LOD) for specific gases (NH3 and H2S). The two-dimensional MoS2 film was grown at 400°C using metal organic gas vapour deposition. To fabricate the MoS2 gas sensor, an interdigitated Au/Ti electrode was deposited using the electron beam (e-beam) evaporation method with a stencil mask. The MoS2 gas sensor without metal decoration sensitively detects NH3 and H2S gas down to 2.5 and 30 ppm, respectively, at room temperature (RT). However, for improved detection of NH3 and H2S gas, we investigated the functionalization strategy using metal decoration. Pt NP decoration modulated the electronic properties of MoS2, significantly improving the sensitivity of NH3 and H2S gas by 5.58× and 4.25×, respectively, compared with the undecorated MoS2 gas sensor under concentrations of 70 ppm. Furthermore, the Pt NP-decorated MoS2 sensor had lower LODs for NH3 and H2S gas of 130 ppb and 5 ppm, respectively, at RT.

Efficacy and safety of radotinib in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients with resistance or intolerance to BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Radotinib (IY5511HCL), a novel and selective BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has shown pre-clinical and phase I activity and safety in chronic myeloid leukemia. This phase II study investigated the efficacy and safety of radotinib in Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic phase-chronic myeloid leukemia patients with resistance and/or intolerance to BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Patients received radotinib 400 mg twice daily for 12 cycles based on results from the phase I trial. The primary end point was rate of major cytogenetic response by 12 months. A total of 77 patients were enrolled. Major cytogenetic response was achieved in 50 (65%; cumulative 75%) patients, including 36 (47%) patients with complete cytogenetic response by 12 months. Median time to major cytogenetic response and complete cytogenetic response were 85 days and 256 days, respectively. Major cytogenetic response and complete cytogenetic response rates were similar between imatinib-resistant and imatinib-intolerant patients, but were higher in patients without BCR-ABL1 mutations. Overall and progression-free survival rates at 12 months were 96.1% and 86.3%, respectively. All newly-occurring or worsening grade 3/4 hematologic abnormalities included thrombocytopenia (24.7%) and anemia (5.2%); grade 3/4 drug-related non-hematologic adverse events included fatigue (3.9%), asthenia (3.9%), and nausea (2.6%). The most common biochemistry abnormality was hyperbilirubinemia (grade 3/4 23.4%), and 12 of 18 cases were managed with dose modification. Study findings suggest radotinib is effective and well tolerated in chronic phase-chronic myeloid leukemia patients with resistance and/or intolerance to BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors and may represent a promising alternative for these patients. (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 01602952).

In vitro analysis of the anti-cancer activity of mitoxantrone loaded on magnetic nanoparticles.

In this study, the anti-tumor activity of mitoxantrone loaded on magnetic nanoparticles (MTMP) was examined using DU145 prostate cancer cells. Composite nanoparticles with an average size of 20 nm were prepared using a chemical co-precipitation technique. The MTMP nanoparticles were cytotoxic to DU145 cells and inhibited cell proliferation. The expression levels of apoptosis related proteins in DU145 cells, including PARP and caspase 3, were increased after MTMP treatment. In this study, the therapeutic potential of MTMP in targeted-therapy against prostate cancer was demonstrated and MTMP was more effective when coupled to drug delivery vehicle than pure mitoxantrone.

Synthesis and characterization of bicalutamide-loaded magnetic nanoparticles as anti-tumor drug carriers.

This study examined the optical characteristics of bicalutamide-loaded magnetic/ethylene glycol composite nanoparticles (BMP), as well as their anti-cancer activity against cancer cells. The gamma-Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), approximately 20 nm in diameter, were prepared via a chemical co-precipitation method and coated with two surfactants to yield a water-based product. The characteristics of the particles were determined via X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectrophotometry. The Raman spectra of the BMP showed peaks at 222, 283, 395, 520, 669 and 1316 cm(-1), with broadened band in comparison to the Raman spectra of the magnetic nanoparticles. The BMP absorbance evidenced a rapid increase, with a broad peak at 409 nm, thus reflecting a good loading of the bicalutamide onto the magnetic nanoparticles. The results of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay showed that the MNPs were non-toxic against human brain cancer cells (SH-SY5Y), human cervical cancer cells (Hela), human liver cancer cells (HepG2), breast cancer cells (MCF-7), colon cancer cells (CaCO2) and human prostate cancers (Du 145, PC3) tested herein. In particular, BMPs were cytotoxic at 56% against DU145 cells, at 74.37% in SH-SY5Y cells, and at 58% in Hela cells. Our results demonstrated the biological applicability of BMP nanoparticles as anticancer agents and as agents for enhanced drug delivery against human prostate cancer cells. Our results indicated that the MNPs were biostable and that the BMP functioned effectively as drug delivery vehicles.

Effect of CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a new proton pump inhibitor, ilaprazole.

It is well known that the CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism influences the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), but no report has addressed the effects on ilaprazole, a newly developed PPI. To investigate the effects of the CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism on the disposition and pharmacodynamics of ilaprazole, multiple doses of once-daily 10 mg ilaprazole were repeatedly administered for 7 days to 27 healthy Korean participants, comprising 9 homozygous CYP2C19 extensive metabolizers (homo EMs), 10 heterozygous EMs (hetero EMs), and 8 homozygous poor metabolizers (PMs). The plasma concentration and pharmacodynamic response were measured in the last dose interval. Each genotype group was matched for gender and thus was composed of 4 male and 4 female participants when the analysis was conducted. The pharmacokinetic parameters estimated from the plasma concentrations of ilaprazole and its metabolite ilaprazole sulfone, the serum gastrin level, and the 24-hour intragastric pH were compared among the CYP2C19 genotype groups. No statistically significant differences in the maximum plasma concentration at steady state(C(ss,max)) and the area under the concentration-time curve from zero to 24 hours (AUC(τ)) of ilaprazole and ilaprazole sulfone were observed among the homo EM, hetero EM, and PM CYP2C19 genotypes. In addition, the mean 24-hour intragastric pH, the percentage of time at pH >4, and the AUC(τ) of serum gastrin showed no significant differences among the CYP2C19 genotype groups. The data suggests that the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ilaprazole are not significantly influenced by the CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism in healthy participants.

Synthesis and in vitro anti-cancer evaluation of ethylene glycol-saponin loaded on magnetic nanoparticles.

Prostate cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet effective therapeutics, especially targeted therapy, are still lacking. Saponin has been reported to possess various biological properties such as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, the anti-tumor activity of magnetic nanoparticles loaded with ethylene glycol and a saponin complex (ESMP) against DU145 prostate cancer cells was examined. Composite nanoparticles with an average size of 23 nm were prepared using a chemical co-precipitation technique. The ESMP were cytotoxic to DU145 cells and specifically inhibited cell proliferation. In contrast, the magnetic nanoparticles by themselves showed no significant cytotoxicity. The expression levels of the angiogenesis related proteins, including phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38 and pAKT, decreased after ESMP treatment. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of using ESMP for targeted-therapy against prostate cancer.

HO-1 and JAK-2/STAT-1 signals are involved in preferential inhibition of iNOS over COX-2 gene expression by newly synthesized tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid, CKD712, in cells activated with lipopolysacchride.

We found that CKD712, an S enantiomer of YS49, strongly inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NO induction but showed a weak inhibitory effect on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and PGE(2) induction in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. We, therefore, investigated the molecular mechanism(s) responsible for this by using CKD712 in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Treatment with either SP600125, a specific JNK inhibitor or TPCK, a NF-kappaB inhibitor, but neither ERK inhibitor PD98059 nor p38 inhibitor SB203580, significantly inhibited LPS-mediated iNOS and COX-2 induction. CKD712 inhibited NF-kappaB (p65) activity and translocation but failed to prevent JNK activation. However, AG490, a specific JAK-2/STAT-1 inhibitor, efficiently prevented LPS-mediated iNOS induction but not the induction of COX-2, and CKD712 completely blocked STAT-1 phosphorylation by LPS, suggesting that the NF-kappaB and JAK-2/STAT-1 pathways but not the JNK pathway are important for CKD712 action. Interestingly, CKD712 induced heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) gene expression in LPS-treated cells. LPS-induced NF-kappaB and STAT-1 activation was partially prevented by HO-1 overexpression. Furthermore, HO-1 siRNA partly reversed not only the LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation and STAT-1 phosphorylation but also inhibition of these actions by CKD 712. Additionally, silencing HO-1 by siRNA prevented CKD712 from inhibiting iNOS expression but not COX-2. When examined plasma NO and PGE(2) levels and iNOS and COX-2 protein levels in lung tissues of mice injected with LPS (10 mg/kg), pretreatment with CKD712 greatly prevented NO and iNOS induction in a dose-dependent manner and slightly affected PGE(2) and COX-2 production as expected. Taken together, we conclude that inhibition of JAK-2/STAT-1 pathways by CKD 712 is critical for the differential inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 by LPS in vitro and in vivo where HO-1 induction also contributes to this by partially modulating JAK-2/STAT-1 pathways.

Design, synthesis, and antiangiogenic effects of a series of potent novel fumagillin analogues.

A series of fumagillin analogues containing the C6-substituted cinnamoyl moiety were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for antiangiogenic activity. Among them, 4-hydroxyethoxy-cinnamoyl fumagillol (4a) and 4-hydroxyethoxy-3,5-dimethoxycinnamoyl fumagillol (4d) exhibited more potent anti-proliferation activity in CPAE and HUVEC cells with low cytotoxicity in vitro. These compounds are presently under further pharmacological evaluation studies.

Protective effect of maghemite nanoparticles on ultraviolet-induced photo-damage in human skin fibroblasts.

This study examined the optical properties of an oxidized form of maghemite (γ-Fe(2)O(3)) nanoparticles and their protective effects against the photoaging of human skin fibroblasts irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light. Nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 8.7 to 12 nm were prepared using a chemical co-precipitation method. The nanoparticles were coated with two surfactants to obtain a water-based product. The onset of the absorption of the γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles in the UV-visible absorption spectra increased with increasing particle size. The γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles significantly inhibited the production of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human skin fibroblast HS 68 cells by 60% compared with the UV-irradiated control. These results suggest that γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles have photoprotective properties, and have potential use as an agent against photoaging.

Enantiomers of higenamine inhibit LPS-induced iNOS in a macrophage cell line and improve the survival of mice with experimental endotoxemia.

The importance of development of single enantiomers (optically pure isomers) of chiral molecules has been recognized and manifested in countless pharmaceutical and biological advancement. (RS)-(+/-)-Higenamine (racemic mixture), an active ingredient of Aconite tuber, has been shown to have antioxidant activity along with inhibitory action of iNOS expression in various cells. In the present study, the effects of each enantiomer of higenamine [(S)-(-)-higenamine and (R)-(+)-higenamine] were investigated in comparison with the effects of racemic mixture [(RS)-(+/-)-higenamine] on iNOS expression and NO production in RAW 264.7 cells activated with LPS. In addition, the effects of higenamine enantiomers on the survival rates were also investigated using mice, in which each test compound was injected (i.p.) 90 min prior to LPS. All three forms of higenamine inhibited iNOS expression and reduced NO production with IC50 of 26.2, 86.3, and 53.4 microM, for (S)-, (R)-, and (RS)-higenamine, respectively. (S)-higenamine also significantly reduced serum NOx level and increased survival rates in LPS-treated mice. In contrast, (R)-isomer only showed tendency to increase the survival rates which was not statistically significant when compared to LPS-treated controls. Taken together, it was concluded that (S)-higenamine may be more beneficial than (R)-enantiomer in diseases associated with iNOS over-expression, such as septic shock.

Molecular design, synthesis, and hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of novel pyrimidine derivatives having thiazolidinedione.

We previously reported the synthesis and biological activity of novel substituted pyridines and purines having thiazolidinedione with hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities. We now report the synthesis and antidiabetic activity of novel substituted pyrimidines having thiazolidinedione moiety. These compounds (entry No. 5a-i, 10a-d and 16) were evaluated for their glucose and lipid lowering activity in KKA(y) mice. From the results, novel compounds, 5c and 5g, exhibited considerably more potent biological activity than that of the reference compounds, pioglitazone and rosiglitazone, respectively.