Efficacy and safety of topical NSAIDs combined with physiotherapy for frozen shoulder: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Frozen shoulder is a prevalent condition among individuals in their middle and later years. Invasive therapy has shown promising results in the treatment of frozen shoulders, but its widespread adoption has been hampered by high costs and the need for advanced medical technology. As a result, patients with frozen shoulders often turn to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for symptomatic relief. However, the oral administration of NSAIDs can lead to troublesome adverse effects on the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and urinary systems. In contrast, topical NSAIDs have gained attention for their excellent efficacy and lower adverse effects in various chronic pain conditions. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of topical NSAIDs in improving pain and mobility among patients with frozen shoulders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 108 patients experiencing moderate to severe pain and mobility impairment due to frozen shoulder were enrolled in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=72) or the control group (n=36). The experimental group received daily treatment with the loxoprofen hydrogel patch (LOX-P) in addition to basic rehabilitation physiotherapy. The control group was treated with flurbiprofen cataplasm (FLU-C) twice a day, along with rehabilitation physiotherapy. The primary endpoint for evaluating the efficacy of the two patches was the Constant-Murley score (CMS). Clinical symptom data, adverse events, and patient satisfaction were also recorded. RESULTS: After 14 days of treatment, the effective rate was 66.67% (n=48) in the experimental group and 41.67% (n=15) in the control group. The overall difference in the effective rates was 25.00% (95% CI=5.20-42.52; p=0.013). The safety profiles of the two topical agents were similar, with only a few adverse events reported. CONCLUSIONS: The loxoprofen hydrogel patch demonstrates a significant ability to alleviate shoulder pain and restore shoulder function in the treatment of frozen shoulder, with minimal adverse reactions. Chictr.org.cn ID: ChiCTR2100052375.

Effect of Oxycodone-Based Multimodal Analgesia on Visceral Pain After Major Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Oxycodone is a potent µ- and κ-opioid receptor agonist that can relieve both somatic and visceral pain. We assessed oxycodone- vs sufentanil-based multimodal analgesia on postoperative pain following major laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: In this randomised double-blind controlled trial, 40 adult patients were randomised (1:1, stratified by type of surgery) to receive oxycodone- or sufentanil-based multimodal analgesia, comprising bilateral transverse abdominis plane blocks, intraoperative dexmedetomidine infusion, flurbiprofen axetil, and oxycodone- or sufentanil-based patient-controlled analgesia. The co-primary outcomes were time-weighted average (TWA) of visceral pain (defined as intra-abdominal deep and dull pain) at rest and on coughing during 0-24 h postoperatively, assessed using the numerical rating scale (0-10) with a minimal clinically important difference of 1. Results: All patients completed the study (median age, 64 years; 65% male) and had adequate postoperative pain control. The mean (SD) 24-h TWA of visceral pain at rest was 1.40 (0.77) in the oxycodone group vs 2.00 (0.98) in the sufentanil group (mean difference=-0.60, 95% CI, -1.16 to -0.03; P=0.039). Patients in the oxycodone group had a significantly lower 24-h TWA of visceral pain on coughing (2.00 [0.83] vs 2.98 [1.26]; mean difference=-0.98, 95% CI, -1.66 to -0.30; P=0.006). In the subgroup analyses, the treatment effect of oxycodone vs sufentanil on the co-primary outcomes did not differ in terms of age (18-65 years or >65 years), sex (female or male), or type of surgery (colorectal or gastric). Secondary outcomes (24-h TWA of incisional and shoulder pain, postoperative analgesic usage, rescue analgesia, adverse events, and patient satisfaction) were comparable between groups. Conclusion: For patients undergoing major laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery, oxycodone-based multimodal analgesia reduced postoperative visceral pain in a statistically significant but not clinically important manner. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100052085).

Multichiral Mesoporous Silica Screws with Chiral Differential Mucus Penetration and Mucosal Adhesion for Oral Drug Delivery.

In the harsh gastrointestinal tract, helical bacteria with hierarchical chiral architectures possess strong abilities. Taking inspirations from nature, we developed a multichiral mesoporous silica nanoscrew (L/D-MCNS) as an efficient oral drug delivery platform by modifying the structural chiral silica nanoscrew (CNS) with L/D-alanine (L/D-Ala) enantiomers via the sequential application of a chiral template and postmodification strategies. We demonstrated that L-MCNS showed differential biological behaviors and superior advantages in oral adsorption compared to those of CNS, D-MCNS, and DL-MCNS. During the delivery, helical L/D-MCNS presenting distinctive topological structures, including small section area, large rough external surface, and a screw-like body, displayed multiple superiorities in mucus diffusion and mucosal adhesion. Meanwhile, the grafted chiral enantiomers enabled positive or negative chiral recognition with the biosystems. Once racemic flurbiprofen (FP) was encapsulated into the nanopores of L/D-MCNS (FP@L/D-MCNS), L/D-MCNS providing highly cross-linked and mesoscopic chiral nanochannels was beneficial for controlling the drug loading/release kinetics with chiral microenvironment sensitivity. Particularly, we noticed enantioselective absorption of FP in vivo, which could be attributed to the differential biological behaviors of L/D-MCNS. By simple design and regulation of the multilevel chirality of nanocarriers, L/D-MCNS can be employed for efficient oral drug delivery from the perspectives of material science, pharmacy, and bionics.

Supramolecular 3 in 1: A Lubrication and Co-Delivery System for Synergistic Advanced Osteoarthritis Therapy.

The complexity, heterogeneity, and drug resistance of diseases necessitate a shift in therapeutic paradigms from monotherapy to combination therapy, which could augment treatment efficiency. Effective treatment of advanced osteoarthritis (OA) requires addressing three key factors contributing to its deterioration: chronic joint inflammation, lubrication dysfunction, and cartilage-tissue degradation. Herein, we present a supramolecular nanomedicine of multifunctionality via molecular recognition and self-assembly. The employed macrocyclic carrier, zwitterion-modified cavitand (CV-2), not only accurately loads various drugs but also functions as a therapeutic agent with lubricating properties for the treatment of OA. Kartogenin (KGN), a drug for articular cartilage regeneration and protection, and flurbiprofen (FP), an anti-inflammatory agent, were coloaded onto CV-2 assembly, forming a supramolecular nanomedicine KGN&FP@CV-2. The three-in-one combination therapy of KGN&FP@CV-2 addresses the three pathological features for treating OA collectively, and thus provides long-term therapeutic benefits for OA through sustained drug release and intrinsic lubrication in vivo. The multifunctional integration of macrocyclic delivery and therapeutics provides a simple, flexible, and universal platform for the synergistic treatment of diseases involving multiple drugs.

Potential and performance of anisotropic 19F NMR for the enantiomeric analysis of fluorinated chiral active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Controlling the enantiomeric purity of chiral drugs is of paramount importance in pharmaceutical chemistry. Isotropic 1H NMR spectroscopy involving chiral agents is a widely used method for discriminating enantiomers and quantifying their relative proportions. However, the relatively weak spectral separation of enantiomers (1H Δδiso(R, S)) in frequency units at low and moderate magnetic fields, as well as the lack of versatility of a majority of those agents with respect to different chemical functions, may limit the general use of this approach. In this article, we investigate the analytical potential of 19F NMR in anisotropic chiral media for the enantiomeric analysis of fluorinated active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) via two residual anisotropic NMR interactions: the chemical shift anisotropy (19F-RCSA) and dipolar coupling ((19F-19F)-RDC). Lyotropic chiral liquid crystals (CLC) based on poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate (PBLG) show an interesting versatility and adaptability to enantiodiscrimination as illustrated for two chiral drugs, Flurbiprofen® (FLU) and Efavirenz® (EFA), which have very different chemical functions. The approach has been tested on a routine 300 MHz NMR spectrometer equipped with a standard probe (5 mm BBFO probe) in a high-throughput context (i.e., ≈10 s of NMR experiments) while the performance for enantiomeric excess (ee) measurement is evaluated in terms of trueness and precision. The limits of detection (LOD) determined were 0.17 and 0.16 µmol ml-1 for FLU and EFA, respectively, allow working in dilute conditions even with such a short experimental duration. The enantiodiscrimination capabilities are also discussed with respect to experimental features such as CLC composition and temperature.

Flurbiprofen in the subglottic space to prevent postoperative sore throat after cardiac surgery: A randomized double-blind study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Postoperative sore throat (POST) and hoarseness are common complications of tracheal intubation. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of flurbiprofen administered through the subglottic port of tracheal tubes to prevent POST after cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Tertiary Care Referral University Hospital (Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome). PATIENTS: Included 71 patients undergoing for elective cardiac surgery. Inclusion criteria were (a) age between 50 and 75 years, (b) NYHA class I or II, (c) surgery for myocardial revascularization or valve repair or replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass. INTERVENTION: Patients were double blind randomized to receive flurbiprofen or saline in the subglottic port of the endotracheal tube (groups F and P). The solution was injected ten minutes after tracheal tube placement, ten minutes after ICU admission and ten minutes before tracheal tube removal. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was to assess the effect of topical flurbiprofen administered through the subglottic port of the tracheal tube to prevent post-operative sore throat (POST). The secondary outcomes were the presence of hoarseness safety and patient's subjective satisfaction with their recovery. We did not report any exploratory outcomes. MAIN RESULTS: We analyzed 68 patients, 34 patients in each group. In group F, two patients complained of POST and hoarseness (5.9%), while all controls did. The two groups significantly differed in the severity scores (VAS and TPS for sore throat and HOAR for hoarseness) at all time points. In group P, patients reported mild to moderate symptoms that significantly improved or disappeared 36 h after tracheal tube removal. According to the multivariable model, hoarseness affected women less than men, in the control group (p = 0.002). None of the patients in either group reported any adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated administration of flurbiprofen through the subglottic port of tracheal tubes reduced the incidence of sore throat and hoarseness after cardiac surgery without evidence of complications.

Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics of Topical Flurbiprofen Gel in a Phase I Study Among Chinese Healthy Adults.

INTRODUCTION: PDX-02 (Flurbiprofen sodium) is a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in gel formulation for local analgesia and anti-inflammation. A Phase I clinical trial was conducted to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of single and multiple doses of PDX-02 gel in Chinese healthy adults. METHODS: The trial comprised three parts: (1) a single-dose ascending study with three dose levels (0.5%, 1% to 2% PDX-02 gel) applied on a 136 cm2 skin area; (2) a multiple-dose study with either 1% or 2% PDX-02 gel applied on a 136 cm2 skin area for 7 consecutive days; and (3) a high dose group with 2% PDX-02 gel on an 816 cm2 skin area and a frequent multiple dose group with 2% PDX-02 gel on a 272 cm2 skin area four times a day for 7 consecutive days. The safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the PDX-02 gel were evaluated in each part. RESULTS: A total of sixty participants completed the trial, with all adverse events recovered and all positive skin reaction being transient and recovered. The overall absorption of topical PDX-02 gel was slow with a mean peak time exceeding 9 h. The elimination rate remained consistent between dose groups. A less-than-dose-proportional nonlinear pharmacokinetics relationship was observed within the studied dose range, and this is likely due to the autoinduction of skin first-pass metabolism. CONCLUSION: The topical PDX-02 gel showed favorable safety and tolerability in both single and multiple dosing studies, with a less-than-dose-proportional nonlinear pharmacokinetics observed.

NSAIDs do not prevent exercise-induced performance deficits or alleviate muscle soreness: A placebo-controlled randomized, double-blinded, cross-over study.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently consumed by athletes to manage muscle soreness, expedite recovery, or improve performance. Despite the prevalence of NSAID use, their effects on muscle soreness and performance, particularly when administered prophylactically, remain unclear. This randomized, double-blind, counter-balanced, crossover study examined the effect of consuming a single dose of each of three NSAIDs (celecoxib, 200 mg; ibuprofen, 800 mg; flurbiprofen, 100 mg) or placebo 2 h before on muscle soreness and performance following an acute plyometric training session. Twelve healthy adults, aged 18-42 years, completed a standardized plyometric exercise session consisting of 10 sets of 10 repetitions at 40 % 1-repetition maximum (1RM) on a leg press device. During exercise, total work, rating of perceived exertion, and heart rate were measured. Maximum voluntary contraction force (MVC), vertical jump height, and muscle soreness were measured before exercise and 4-h and 24-h post-exercise. We found no significant differences in total work, heart rate, or rating of perceived exertion between treatments. Additionally, no significant differences in muscle soreness or vertical jump were observed between treatments. Ibuprofen and flurbiprofen did not prevent decrements in MVC, but celecoxib attenuated decreases in MVC 4-h post exercise (p < 0.05). This study suggests that athletes may not benefit from prophylactic ibuprofen or flurbiprofen treatment to prevent discomfort or performance decrements associated with exercise, but celecoxib may mitigate short-term performance decrements.

Ethylenediamine Salt Enhances the Solubility and Dissolution of Flurbiprofen.

Drugs that are poorly soluble in water are difficult to absorb orally, resulting in low bioavailability. Flurbiprofen (FLU) is an arylpropionic acid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug belonging to BCS class II, with low water solubility. In this study, a novel flurbiprofen-ethylenediamine salt (FLU-EDA) was successfully prepared via solvent crystallization. Its crystal structure was determined via single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD). Further, the physicochemical properties of FLU-EDA salt were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The solubility and intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) of FLU-EDA salt in water were investigated. The results showed that compared with FLU, the solubility and IDR of FLU-EDA salt increased by 57-fold and 32-fold, respectively. This indicates that FLU-EDA salt can significantly enhance the solubility and dissolution rate of flurbiprofen in water. This study provides basic data and theory for the development of new formulations of flurbiprofen.

The dose-response effects of flurbiprofen, indomethacin, ibuprofen, and naproxen on primary skeletal muscle cells.

BACKGROUND: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, naproxen sodium, and indomethacin are commonly employed for their pain-relieving and inflammation-reducing qualities. NSAIDs work by blocking COX-1 and/or COX-2, enzymes which play roles in inflammation, fever, and pain. The main difference among NSAIDs lies in their affinity to these enzymes, which in turn, influences prostaglandin secretion, and skeletal muscle growth and regeneration. The current study investigated the effects of NSAIDs on human skeletal muscle cells, focusing on myoblast proliferation, differentiation, and muscle protein synthesis signaling. METHODS: Using human primary muscle cells, we examined the dose-response impact of flurbiprofen (25-200 µM), indomethacin (25-200 µM), ibuprofen (25-200 µM), and naproxen sodium (25-200 µM), on myoblast viability, myotube area, fusion, and prostaglandin production. RESULTS: We found that supraphysiological concentrations of indomethacin inhibited myoblast proliferation (-74 ± 2% with 200 µM; -53 ± 3% with 100 µM; both p < 0.05) compared to control cells and impaired protein synthesis signaling pathways in myotubes, but only attenuated myotube fusion at the highest concentrations (-18 ± 2% with 200 µM, p < 0.05) compared to control myotubes. On the other hand, ibuprofen had no such effects. Naproxen sodium only increased cell proliferation at low concentrations (+36 ± 2% with 25 µM, p < 0.05), and flurbiprofen exhibited divergent impacts depending on the concentration whereby low concentrations improved cell proliferation (+17 ± 1% with 25 µM, p < 0.05) but high concentrations inhibited cell proliferation (-32 ± 1% with 200 µM, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that indomethacin, at high concentrations, may detrimentally affect myoblast proliferation and differentiation via an AKT-dependent mechanism, and thus provide new understanding of NSAIDs' effects on skeletal muscle cell development.

Novel Flurbiprofen Derivatives as Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Agents: Synthesis, In Silico, and In Vitro Biological Evaluation.

In this study, we present the synthesis of five novel compounds by combining flurbiprofen with various substituted 2-phenethylamines. The synthesized derivatives underwent comprehensive characterization using techniques such as 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Detailed HRMS analysis was performed for each of these newly created molecules. The biological activities of these compounds were assessed through in vitro experiments to evaluate their potential as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. Furthermore, the lipophilicity of these derivatives was determined, both theoretically using the cLogP method and experimentally through partition coefficient (RM) measurements. To gain insights into their binding affinity, we conducted an in silico analysis of the compounds' interactions with human serum albumin (HSA) using molecular docking studies. Our findings reveal that all of the newly synthesized compounds exhibit significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, with results statistically comparable to the reference compounds. Molecular docking studies further explain the observed in vitro results, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms behind their biological activities. Using in silico method, toxicity was calculated, resulting in LD50 values. Depending on the administration route, the novel flurbiprofen derivatives show lower toxicity compared to the standard flurbiprofen.

Determination of flurbiprofen in rat plasma using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and its application in a pharmacokinetic study.

A rapid and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to determine flurbiprofen in rat plasma. A triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source was used in negative ion mode. Acetonitrile precipitation was selected to prepare samples. Flurbiprofen and internal standard flurbiprofen-d5 were analyzed on an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water, and a gradient procedure was used for separation. The retention time of flurbiprofen was 0.67 min, and the whole running time was only 1.2 min. The detection was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer using multiple reaction monitoring mode via an ESI source with optimized mass spectrometry parameters. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 25.0-1.00 × 104 ng/mL (r ≥ 0.99). The within-run and between-run relative standard deviations were not more than 13.9%. The within-run and between-run relative errors were from -9.0% to 3.4%. There was no significant matrix effect, and recovery was high. This method was fully validated, including whole blood stability in rat plasma, and successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study in which 100% incurred sample reanalysis met the criteria.

Ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block for early analgesia in elderly patients with hip fractures: a single-center prospective randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of ultrasound-guided PENG (pericapsular nerve group) block and drug therapy with intravenous flurbiprofen for early analgesia in elderly patients with hip fractures after hospitalization. METHODS: This is a single-center, observer-blinded, prospective, randomized, controlled trial. A total of 41 elderly patients (aged 60 or older) with hip fractures were enrolled in the current study. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: Group P (ultrasound-guided PENG block, 20 mL of 0.375% ropivacaine) and Group F (intravenous flurbiprofen 50 mg). The primary outcome measure was the dynamic (passive straight leg raising 15°) NRS (numerical rating scale 0 to 10) pain scores at different time points. The secondary outcomes were the static NRS scores at different time points, the number of rescue analgesia sessions, patient satisfaction, and the incidence of complications. RESULTS: Patients in the two groups had comparable baseline characteristics. The group P had lower dynamic and static NRS scores at 15 min, 30 min, 6 h, and 12 h after intervention (P<0.05) than the group F. The highest NRS pain scores in the group P were still lower than the NRS scores in the group F at 30 min-12 h (Group F: 5.57±1.54 vs. Group P: 3.00±1.12, P<0.001), and there was no significant difference between the two groups at 12-24 h (Group F: 6.35±1.79 vs. Group P: 5.90±1.83, P>0.05). The group P had higher satisfaction scores (Group P: 9 (9,9) vs. Group F: 8 (7,8), P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the number of rescue analgesics at 0-12 h or 12-24 h or the incidence of complications between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with intravenous flurbiprofen, ultrasound-guided PENG block provides better early analgesic effects in elderly patients with hip fractures, and a PENG block is safe for elderly patients with hip fractures after hospitalization. Trial registration This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Testing Center (ID: ChiCTR2200062400).

The molecular basis of dapsone activation of CYP2C9-catalyzed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug oxidation.

Positive heterotropic cooperativity, or "activation," results in an instantaneous increase in enzyme activity in the absence of an increase in protein expression. Thus, cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme activation presents as a potential drug-drug interaction mechanism. It has been demonstrated previously that dapsone activates the CYP2C9-catalyzed oxidation of a number of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in vitro. Here, we conducted molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) together with enzyme kinetic investigations and site-directed mutagenesis to elucidate the molecular basis of the activation of CYP2C9-catalyzed S-flurbiprofen 4'-hydroxylation and S-naproxen O-demethylation by dapsone. Supplementation of incubations of recombinant CYP2C9 with dapsone increased the catalytic efficiency of flurbiprofen and naproxen oxidation by 2.3- and 16.5-fold, respectively. MDS demonstrated that activation arises predominantly from aromatic interactions between the substrate, dapsone, and the phenyl rings of Phe114 and Phe476 within a common binding domain of the CYP2C9 active site, rather than involvement of a distinct effector site. Mutagenesis of Phe114 and Phe476 abrogated flurbiprofen and naproxen oxidation, and MDS and kinetic studies with the CYP2C9 mutants further identified a pivotal role of Phe476 in dapsone activation. MDS additionally showed that aromatic stacking interactions between two molecules of naproxen are necessary for binding in a catalytically favorable orientation. In contrast to flurbiprofen and naproxen, dapsone did not activate the 4'-hydroxylation of diclofenac, suggesting that the CYP2C9 active site favors cooperative binding of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with a planar or near-planar geometry. More generally, the work confirms the utility of MDS for investigating ligand binding in CYP enzymes.

Effect of nivasorexant (ACT-539313), a selective orexin-1-receptor antagonist, on multiple cytochrome P450 probe substrates in vitro and in vivo using a cocktail approach in healthy subjects.

Nivasorexant, a selective orexin-1-receptor antagonist, has recently been assessed in the treatment of humans with binge-eating disorder. Herein, the inhibitory potential of nivasorexant on cytochromes P450 (CYPs) 2C9, 2C19, and 3A4 was evaluated. Human liver microsomes/recombinant CYP enzymes were evaluated in vitro. In vivo, a single-center, open-label, fixed-sequence study was performed in healthy adults to explore the effect of 100 mg nivasorexant administered twice daily (b.i.d.) on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of flurbiprofen (50 mg, CYP2C9), omeprazole (20 mg, CYP2C19), midazolam (2 mg, CYP3A4) making use of a cocktail approach. Plasma PK sampling was performed over 24 h on Day 1 (Cocktail alone), 8 (Cocktail + nivasorexant), and 15 (Cocktail + nivasorexant at steady state). Genotyping of subjects' CYPs was performed while safety and tolerability were also assessed. In vitro, nivasorexant inhibited CYP2C9, 2C19, and 3A4 in competitive inhibition assays with IC50 values of 8.6, 1.6, and 19-44 µM, respectively, while showing a significant time-dependent CYP2C19 inhibition. In 22 subjects, exposure to flurbiprofen, omeprazole, and midazolam was generally higher during concomitant single- (i.e., area under the plasma concentration-time curve [AUC] ratio increased by 1.04-, 2.05-, and 1.56-fold, respectively) and repeated-dose (i.e., AUC ratio increased by 1.47-, 6.84-, and 3.71-fold, respectively) nivasorexant administration compared with the cocktail substrates administered alone. The most frequently reported adverse event was somnolence. According to regulatory guidance, nivasorexant is classified as a moderate CYP2C19 and weak CYP3A4 inhibitor after 1 day and as a weak CYP2C9, strong CYP2C19, and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor after 8 days of 100 mg b.i.d. administration. Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT05254548.

Defining the Conformational Ensembles Associated with Ligand Binding to Cyclooxygenase-2.

Cyclooxygenases (COX) catalyze the committed step in the production of prostaglandins responsible for the maintenance of physiological homeostasis. While crystal structures of COX in complex with substrates and inhibitors have provided insight into the molecular interactions governing their binding, they have not uncovered specific details related to the protein conformational motions responsible for important aspects of the COX function. We created a cysteine-free COX-2 construct and introduced a free cysteine at position-122 to enable labeling with 3-bromo-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone (BTFA). Placement of the label adjacent to the cyclooxygenase channel entrance permitted the detection of alterations upon ligand binding. 19F-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (19F-NMR) was then used to probe the conformational ensembles arising from BTFA-labeled COX-2 constructs in the presence and absence of ligands known to allosterically activate or inhibit COX-2. 19F-NMR analyses performed in the presence of the time-dependent inhibitor flurbiprofen, as well as Arg-120, Tyr-355, and Glu-524 mutations, led to the classification of two ensembles as representing the relaxed and tightened states of the cyclooxygenase channel entrance. A third ensemble, generated in the presence of arachidonic acid and the Y355F mutant and modulated by the allosteric potentiators palmitic acid and oleic acid and the nonallosteric substrates 2-arachidonoyl glycerol ether and anandamide, was classified as being related to the allosteric regulation of COX activity. The ensemble-based insight into COX function demonstrated here complements the static information derived from crystal structure analyses, collectively providing a more detailed framework of the dynamics involved in the regulation of COX catalysis and inhibition.

Synthesis of flurbiprofen thiadiazole urea derivatives and assessment of biological activities and molecular docking studies.

Totally 15 novel flurbiprofen urea derivatives were synthesized bearing the thiadiazole ring. Their inhibition effects on tyrosinase were determined. 3c was found to be the strongest inhibitor with the IC50 value of 68.0 µM against tyrosinase. The enzyme inhibition types of the synthesized compounds were determined by examining the kinetic parameters. The inhibition type of 3c was determined as uncompetitive and the Ki value was calculated as 36.3 µM. Moreover, their cytotoxic effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), colorectal carcinoma (HT-29), and melanoma (B16F10) cell lines were evaluated. According to the cytotoxicity results, 3l (IC50 = 14.11 µM) showed the highest cytotoxicity on the HT-29 cells, while 3o (IC50 = 4.22 µM) exhibited the strongest cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cell lines. Also, 3j (IC50 = 7.55 µM strongly affected B16F10. The effects of synthesized compounds on the healthy cell line were evaluated on the CCD-986Sk cell line. Molecular modelling studies have indicated the potential binding interactions of the uncompetitive inhibitor 3c with the enzyme-substrate complex.

Retrospective evaluation of the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding in dogs receiving ophthalmic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

OBJECTIVES: To report the incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and associated risk factors in a population of dogs receiving ophthalmic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). ANIMAL STUDIED: Medical records of dogs prescribed ophthalmic NSAIDs (cases), dogs receiving systemic NSAIDs alone and dogs receiving systemic prednisone alone (controls). PROCEDURES: Data were collected retrospectively from the medical records of 204 dogs prescribed ophthalmic NSAIDs (diclofenac, ketorolac, or flurbiprofen), which were subdivided based on if they received any concurrent systemic NSAIDs or glucocorticoids, 136 dogs receiving a systemic NSAID (carprofen or meloxicam) alone, and 151 dogs receiving a systemic glucocorticoid (prednisone) alone at a referral hospital from 2015 to 2019. RESULTS: Gastrointestinal bleeds developed in 8/79 (10.1%) of topical NSAID-only cases, 10/136 (7.4%) of systemic NSAID controls, and 14/151 (9.3%) of systemic glucocorticoid controls, with no significant difference between the three groups (p = .6103). There were no significant differences in GI bleed rates between cases treated with ketorolac, diclofenac, or flurbiprofen (p = .160), although severe GI bleeding was only seen in ketorolac-treated dogs. Presence of a known concurrent risk factor for GI bleeding was significantly associated with the development of GI bleed in dogs on ophthalmic NSAIDs (p = .032). CONCLUSIONS: Dogs treated with ophthalmic NSAIDs developed GI bleeding at a frequency comparable to dogs receiving systemic NSAIDs or systemic glucocorticoids alone, suggesting that dogs receiving ophthalmic NSAIDs may be at increased risk of GI bleeding.

Chiral resolution of (±)-flurbiprofen using molecularly imprinted hydrazidine-modified cellulose microparticles.

Flurbiprofen (FP) is one of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) commonly used to treat arthritic conditions. FP has two enantiomers: S-FP and R-FP. S-FP has potent anti-inflammatory effects, while R-FP has nearly no such effects. Herein, molecularly imprinted microparticles produced from hydrazidine-cellulose (CHD) biopolymer for the preferential uptake of S-FP and chiral resolution of (±)-FP were developed. First, cyanoethylcellulose (CECN) was synthesized, and the -CN units were transformed into hydrazidine groups. The developed CHD was subsequently shaped into microparticles and ionically interacted with the S-FP enantiomer. The particles were then imprinted after being cross-linked with glutaraldehyde, and then the S-FP was removed to provide the S-FP enantio-selective sorbent (S-FPCHD). After characterization, the optimal removal settings for the S- and R-FP enantiomers were determined. The results indicated a capacity of 125 mg/g under the optimum pH range of 5-7. Also, S-FPCHD displayed a noticeable affinity toward S-FP with a 12-fold increase compared to the R-FP enantiomer. The chiral resolution of the (±)-FP was successfully attempted using separation columns, and the outlet sample of the loading solution displayed an enantiomeric excess (ee) of 93 % related to the R-FP, while the eluent solution displayed an ee value of 95 % related to the S-FP.

Formulation and Development of Flurbiprofen Colon-Specific Eudragit Coated Matrix Tablets: Use of a Novel Crude Banana Peel Powder as a Time-Dependent Polymer.

The rationale for the current investigation is to study the crude banana peel (CBP) powder efficiency as a novel natural time-dependent polymer along with a pH-sensitive polymer to develop flurbiprofen colon-specific tablets. The direct compression method is utilized to prepare the flurbiprofen-CBP matrix tablets using 9 mm punches on the rotary tableting machine and subsequently coated with Eudragit® S 100 by a dip coating method. The tablets were evaluated for various tableting properties and in vitro drug release studies. From the results of dissolution studies, the F6 formulation showed negligible drug release (5.76% in 5 h) in the upper gastrointestinal tract and progressive release in the colon (99.08% in 24 h). Mean dissolution time, T10%, and T80% were found to be 13.33 h, 5.8 h, and 20.7 h, respectively, which explains the efficiency of the present combination of polymers for colon-specific drug release. From the dissolution studies results of stability studies, the similarity index was calculated and found to be 74.75. In conclusion, utilizing CBP as a natural, time-dependent polymer in conjunction with Eudragit® S 100 to develop the flurbiprofen tablets seems like a promising approach for delivering drugs specifically to the colon.