Effect of sex and polymorphisms of CYP2B6 and UGT1A9 on the difference between the target-controlled infusion predicted and measured plasma propofol concentration.

INTRODUCTION: To examine whether sex and polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2B6 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A9 affect the difference between predicted and measured plasma propofol concentration during continuous infusion by target-controlled infusion. RESULTS: Blood samples of 69 patients (48 men and 21 women) were obtained at 4 h after initial propofol infusion. Percentage performance error (PE) was calculated to assess the difference between measured and predicted propofol concentration. Regression coefficients (ß) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of sex and the polymorphisms of CYP2B6 and UGT1A9 for PE were, separately and mutually, estimated with linear regression. Covariates included age and body mass index in the minimal adjusted model, and additionally included clinical factors (mean blood pressure, heart rate, volume of intravenous fluid, surgical site, surgical position, and pneumoperitoneum) in the full adjusted model. PE was higher in men than in women (28.7% versus 10.5%, p = 0.015). Female sex was inversely associated with PE: the minimal adjusted ß = - 8.84 (95% CI, - 16.26 to - 1.43); however, the fully adjusted ß with clinical factors became not significant. The average of PE did not differ between polymorphisms of CYP2B6 and UGT1A9, and ß of CYP2B6 516G>T polymorphisms mutually adjusted with female sex was not significant. Mean blood pressure, heart rate, and volume of intravenous fluid were independently associated with PE in the full adjusted model. CONCLUSIONS: Under 4 h anesthesia with propofol target-controlled infusion in our population, sex differences appeared to exist in the propofol concentration, which might be largely mediated by clinical factors, such as hemodynamic status. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN-CTR UMIN000009015 , Registered 1 October 2012.

(-)-Xanthatin up-regulation of the GADD45γ tumor suppressor gene in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells: role of topoisomerase IIα inhibition and reactive oxygen species.

Previously, we reported that (-)-xanthatin, a naturally occurring xanthanolide present in the Cocklebur plant, exhibits potent anti-proliferative effects on human breast cancer cells, accompanied by an induction of the growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible gene 45γ (GADD45γ), recognized recently as a novel tumor suppressor gene. However, the mechanisms mediating this activation were unknown. Topoisomerase IIα (Topo IIα) inhibition has been reported to produce a cell death response accompanied by an atypical DNA laddering fragmentation profile, similar to that noted previously for (-)-xanthatin. Therefore we hypothesized that (-)-xanthatin's GADD45γ activation was mediated through the Topo IIα pathway. Here, we identify that (-)-xanthatin does function as a catalytic inhibitor of Topo IIα, promoting DNA damage. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were elevated in cells treated with this agent. Mechanistically, it was determined that the induced levels of GADD45γ mRNA resulting from (-)-xanthatin exposures were stabilized by coordinately produced ROS, and that the consequent induction of GADD45γ mRNA, GADD45γ protein and ROS generation were abrogated by co-treatment with N-acetyl-l-cysteine. Taken together, the data support the concept that Topo IIα inhibition by (-)-xanthatin is a trigger that stimulates expression of DNA damage-inducible GADD45γ mRNA and that concomitantly produced ROS act downstream to further enhance the GADD45γ mRNA/GADD45γ protein induction process, resulting in breast cancer cell death.

Efficient synthesis of dissymmetric malonic acid S,O-esters via monoalcoholysis of symmetric dithiomalonates under neutral conditions.

A novel method for the highly selective synthesis of dissymmetric S,O-malonates starting from symmetric diphenyl dithiomalonates under neutral conditions is described. The key step is the thermal formation of an acylketene, the stability of which would contribute to the selectivity. The synthetic utility of the dissymmetric S,O-malonates is also shown.

(--)-Xanthatin selectively induces GADD45γ and stimulates caspase-independent cell death in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells.

exo-Methylene lactone group-containing compounds, such as (--)-xanthatin, are present in a large variety of biologically active natural products, including extracts of Xanthium strumarium (Cocklebur). These substances are reported to possess diverse functional activities, exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, and anticancer potential. In this study, we synthesized six structurally related xanthanolides containing exo-methylene lactone moieties, including (--)-xanthatin and (+)-8-epi-xanthatin, and examined the effects of these chemically defined substances on the highly aggressive and farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI)-resistant MDA-MB-231 cancer cell line. The results obtained demonstrate that (--)-xanthatin was a highly effective inhibitor of MDA-MB-231 cell growth, inducing caspase-independent cell death, and that these effects were independent of FTase inhibition. Further, our results show that among the GADD45 isoforms, GADD45γ was selectively induced by (--)-xanthatin and that GADD45γ-primed JNK and p38 signaling pathways are, at least in part, involved in mediating the growth inhibition and potential anticancer activities of this agent. Given that GADD45γ is becoming increasingly recognized for its tumor suppressor function, the results presented here suggest the novel possibility that (--)-xanthatin may have therapeutic value as a selective inducer of GADD45γ in human cancer cells, in particular in FTI-resistant aggressive breast cancers.

Cu(II)-catalyzed acylation by thiol esters under neutral conditions: tandem acylation-wittig reaction leading to a one-pot synthesis of butenolides.

The first catalytic acylation of alcohols with a thiol ester present in Wittig reagents under neutral conditions catalyzed by the Cu(II) salt through a push-pull mechanism is reported. Furthermore, a new methodology for the one-pot lactonization of acyloins by a copper catalyst is developed. The synthetic utility of this method for the synthesis of natural products is shown.

Total synthesis of (+)- and (-)-sundiversifolide via intramolecular acylation and determination of the absolute configuration.

Intramolecular acylation of an organolithium leads to an efficient stereocontrolled total synthesis of both enantiomers of sundiversifolide. The absolute configuration was determined by HPLC analysis and allelopathy assay. The gamma-lactone moiety resulted from a butenolide was obtained by the condensation of a bicyclic alpha-hydroxyhemiacetal with Ph3P=CMe(CO2R).

[Intraoperative monitoring of pressure within saline-filled, endotracheal tube cuff in adult patients undergoing CO2 laser laryngomicrosurgery].

In laser laryngomicrosurgery, saline is injected into the endotracheal tube cuff to prevent airway fire. Utilizing regression analyses, we investigated the relation between the saline volume required to obtain optimal intracuff pressure and tracheal diameters in patients undergoing laser laryngomicrosurgery as well as in model tracheas. Although excellent linear correlations were found between the saline volume and the diameter of model tracheas, no significant linear or non-linear correlation was found between the saline volume and the patient's tracheal diameter. In the model tracheas, a rate of rise in the intracuff pressure caused by increments in the injected volume was far steeper when saline was injected into the cuff than when air was injected into the cuff. Addition of only 0.2 ml saline could result in large (> 50 mmHg) increases in the intracuff pressure. Also in patients, addition of 1 ml could result in notable (> 50 mmHg) increases in the intracuff pressure. These results suggest that the saline volume necessary to obtain optimal intracuff pressure is difficult to be predicted from the patient's tracheal diameter, and that slight increases in the saline volume may cause excessive increases in the intracuff pressure. The intracuff pressure should be tightly monitored in patients undergoing laser laryngomicrosurgery.