Effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields stimulation on ischemic skin model.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMF) in improving blood flow reduction and tissue necrosis of ischemic animal induced by skin flap. In each experiment, twenty rats (280-320 g) were randomly divided into control group (n = 10) and PEMF (n = 10) group. All of the rats were performed skin flap in back. In the PEMF group, PEMF (1 Hz, 10 mT) was performed in each experiment. In Experiment-1 (n = 20), PEMF was performed for 90 minutes. In Experiment-2 (n = 20), additionally, a blocking film was inserted, and suture was performed to induce necrosis. PEMF was performed for 30 minutes each day for 7 days. As a result of Speckle-Flow Index (SFI) analysis, in the control group, blood flow continued to decrease immediately after the procedure. In the PEMF group, blood flow was remained constant after 30 minutes and increased after 60 minutes. The blood flow in a specific region substantially increased from the initial state. As a result of skin necrosis analysis, the progression rate in the PEMF group was slower than that of the control group. The rate of necrosis in the PEMF group decreased dramatically from the 6th day, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups at the 7th day (p < .05). In this study, it was confirmed that PEMF (1 Hz, 10 mT) has a blood flow improvement and skin tissue necrosis alleviation in the ischemic flap animal model.

GZ-11608, a Vesicular Monoamine Transporter-2 Inhibitor, Decreases the Neurochemical and Behavioral Effects of Methamphetamine.

Despite escalating methamphetamine use and high relapse rates, pharmacotherapeutics for methamphetamine use disorders are not available. Our iterative drug discovery program had found that R-N-(1,2-dihydroxypropyl)-2,6-cis-di-(4-methoxyphenethyl)piperidine hydrochloride (GZ-793A), a selective vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT2) inhibitor, specifically decreased methamphetamine's behavioral effects. However, GZ-793A inhibited human-ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels, suggesting cardiotoxicity and prohibiting clinical development. The current study determined if replacement of GZ-793A's piperidine ring with a phenylalkyl group to yield S-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-(1-phenylpropan-2-yl)propan-1-amine (GZ-11608) diminished hERG interaction while retaining pharmacological efficacy. VMAT2 inhibition, target selectivity, and mechanism of GZ-11608-induced inhibition of methamphetamine-evoked vesicular dopamine release were determined. We used GZ-11608 doses that decreased methamphetamine-sensitized activity to evaluate the potential exacerbation of methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity. GZ-11608-induced decreases in methamphetamine reinforcement and abuse liability were determined using self-administration, reinstatement, and substitution assays. Results show that GZ-11608 exhibited high affinity (Ki = 25 nM) and selectivity (92-1180-fold) for VMAT2 over nicotinic receptors, dopamine transporter, and hERG, suggesting low side-effects. GZ-11608 (EC50 = 620 nM) released vesicular dopamine 25-fold less potently than it inhibited VMAT2 dopamine uptake. GZ-11608 competitively inhibited methamphetamine-evoked vesicular dopamine release (Schild regression slope = 0.9 ± 0.13). GZ-11608 decreased methamphetamine sensitization without altering striatal dopamine content or exacerbating methamphetamine-induced dopamine depletion, revealing efficacy without neurotoxicity. GZ-11608 exhibited linear pharmacokinetics and rapid brain penetration. GZ-11608 decreased methamphetamine self-administration, and this effect was not surmounted by increasing methamphetamine unit doses. GZ-11608 reduced cue- and methamphetamine-induced reinstatement, suggesting potential to prevent relapse. GZ-11608 neither served as a reinforcer nor substituted for methamphetamine, suggesting low abuse liability. Thus, GZ-11608, a potent and selective VMAT2 inhibitor, shows promise as a therapeutic for methamphetamine use disorder. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: GZ-11608 is a potent and selective vesicular monoamine transporter-2 inhibitor that decreases methamphetamine-induced dopamine release from isolated synaptic vesicles from brain dopaminergic neurons. Results from behavioral studies show that GZ-11608 specifically decreases methamphetamine-sensitized locomotor activity, methamphetamine self-administration, and reinstatement of methamphetamine-seeking behavior, without exhibiting abuse liability. Tolerance does not develop to the efficacy of GZ-11608 to decrease the behavioral effects of methamphetamine. In conclusion, GZ-11608 is an outstanding lead in our search for a therapeutic to treat methamphetamine use disorder.

Muscarinic agonist, (±)-quinuclidin-3-yl-(4-fluorophenethyl)(phenyl)carbamate: High affinity, but low subtype selectivity for human M1 - M5 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.

Novel quinuclidinyl N-phenylcarbamate analogs were synthesized, and binding affinities at M1-M5 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) subtypes were determined using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell membranes stably expressing one specific subtype of human mAChR. Although not subtype selective, the lead analog (±)-quinuclidin-3-yl-(4-fluorophenethyl)(phenyl)carbamate (3c) exhibited the highest affinity (Ki = 2.0, 13, 2.6, 2.2, 1.8 nM) at each of the M1-M5 mAChRs, respectively. Based on results from the [3H]dopamine release assay using rat striatal slices, 3c acted as an agonist at mAChRs. The effect of 3c was inhibited by the nonselective mAChR antagonist, scopolamine, and 3c augmented release evoked by oxotremorine. A potent analog from the same scaffold, (±)-quinuclidin-3-yl-(4-methoxyphenethyl)(phenyl)-carbamate (3b) exhibited the greatest selectivity (17-fold) at M3 over M2 mAChRs. These analogs could serve as leads for further discovery of novel subtype-selective muscarinic ligands with the goal of providing therapeutics for substance use disorders and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy with a 915 Nm Wavelength Diode Laser on the Healing of Intraoral Mucosal Wound: An Animal Study and a Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background and objectives: Diode laser has been the most popular low-level laser therapy (LLLT) technique in dentistry due to its good tissue penetration, lower financial costs, small size for portable application, and convenience to use. A series of recent studies with 940 nm or 980 nm lasers demonstrated that LLLT showed positive effects after third molar extraction or periodontal flap surgery. However, the effects of LLLT on intraoral mucosal wound healing after surgical incision have not yet been determined in human clinical study. Materials and Methods: The present study was performed to determine the efficacy and safety of 915 nm wavelength low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in mucosal wound healing. A total of 108 Sprague-Dawley rats were used. They were divided into three groups: Abrasive wound group, immediate LLLT once group, and daily LLLT group. As a clinical study, a total of 16 patients with split-mouth design subjected to bilateral mandibular third molar extraction were allocated into the LLLT group and placebo group. The process of LLLT was performed on postoperative days 0, 1, and 7, and parameters related to wound healing were analyzed on days 1, 7, and 14. Results: Repeated laser irradiation promoted mucosal wound healing of the rats. In the clinical study, although there were no significant statistical differences between the LLLT and placebo groups in all inflammatory parameters, the early stage mucosal healing tendency of wound dehiscence was higher in the LLLT group than in the placebo group clinically on postoperative day 1. Conclusions: The present results showed that 915 nm LLLT could be applied safely as an auxiliary therapy for mucosal wound healing.

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor binding affinities of pethidine analogs.

A series of pethidine analogs were synthesized and their affinities for the [(3)H]N-methyl-scopolamine (NMS) binding site on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) were determined using M1, M3 or M5 human mAChRs expressed by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell membranes. Compound 6b showed the highest binding affinities at M1, M3 and M5 mAChRs (Ki=0.67, 0.37, and 0.38 µM, respectively).

Synthesis of O- and N-alkylated products of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[c][2,7]naphthyrin-5(6H)-one.

Efficient syntheses of O- and N-alkylated products of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[c][2,7]naphthyrin-5(6H)-one are presented. The O-alkylated analogues were synthesized through a reduction-cyclization cascade and a selective O-alkylation reaction; whereas the N-alkylated analogues were obtained through a key Buchwald coupling.

Effects of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of FMO3 and FMO6 genes on pharmacokinetic characteristics of sulindac sulfide in premature labor.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of polymorphisms of the flavin-containing mono-oxygenase 3 (FMO3) and flavin-containing mono-oxygenase 6 (FMO6) genes on the pharmacokinetics of sulindac sulfide, the active metabolite of sulindac, in patients with preterm labor. Ten single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped, and plasma sulindac sulfide concentrations were measured at 0, 1.5, 4, and 10 hours after drug administration. The area under the curve from time 0 to the last sampling time point (AUC(last)) for sulindac sulfide was obtained. The AUC(last) of sulindac sulfide was significantly higher in patients with variant-type homozygotes of FMO3 (rs909530) than those with ancestral alleles or heterozygotes. FMO3 (rs2266780) was in complete linkage disequilibrium with FMO6 (rs7885012), and there was marginal significance between the genotypes (P = 0.049). From multiple linear regression models, FMO3 (rs909530) was found to have significant influence on the AUClast of sulindac sulfide after adjusting for gestational age, weight, and all studied SNPs. The predictive contribution of rs909530 to the variability of sulindac sulfide AUC(last) was 27.0%. In conclusion, the results of this study could help clinicians predict the efficacies and side effects of sulindac in the development of individualized treatment of patients with preterm labor.

DAMP molecules S100A9 and S100A8 activated by IL-17A and house-dust mites are increased in atopic dermatitis.

S100A9 and S100A8 are called damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecules because of their pro-inflammatory properties. Few studies have evaluated S100A9 and S100A8 function as DAMP molecules in atopic dermatitis (AD). We investigated how house-dust mites affect S100A9 and S100A8 expression in Th2 cytokine- and Th17 cytokine-treated keratinocytes, and how secretion of these molecules affects keratinocyte-derived cytokines. Finally, we evaluated expression of these DAMP molecules in AD patients. S100A9 expression and S100A8 expression were strongly induced in IL-17A- and Dermatophagoides (D.) farinae-treated keratinocytes, respectively. Furthermore, co-treatment with D. farinae and IL-17A strongly increased expression of S100A9 and S100A8 compared with D. farinae-Th2 cytokine co-treatment. The IL-33 mRNA level increased in a dose-dependent manner in S100A9-treated keratinocytes, but TSLP expression did not change. S100A8/A9 levels were also higher in the lesional skin and serum of AD patients, and correlated with disease severity. Taken together, S100A9 and S100A8 may be involved in inducing DAMP-mediated inflammation in AD triggered by IL-17A and house-dust mites.

Selective immunoproteasome inhibitors with non-peptide scaffolds identified from structure-based virtual screening.

As a major component of the crucial nonlysosomal protein degradation pathway in the cells, the proteasome has been implicated in many diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmune diseases, multiple myeloma (MM) and other cancers. There are two main proteasome subtypes: the constitutive proteasome which is expressed in all eukaryotic cells and the immunoproteasome which is expressed in immune cells and can be induced in other cell types. Majority of currently available proteasome inhibitors are peptide backbone-based, having short half-lives in the body. It is highly desirable to identify novel, immunoproteasome-selective inhibitors with non-peptide scaffolds for development of novel therapeutics. Through combined virtual screening and experimental studies targeting the immunoproteasome, we have identified a set of novel immunoproteasome inhibitors with diverse non-peptide scaffolds. Some of the identified inhibitors have significant selectivity for the immunoproteasome over the constitutive proteasome. Unlike most of the currently available proteasome inhibitors, these new inhibitors lacking electrophilic pharmacophores are not expected to form a covalent bond with proteasome after the binding. These non-peptide scaffolds may provide a new platform for future rational drug design and discovery targeting the immunoproteasome.

Effects of ß2-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms on ritodrine therapy in pregnant women with preterm labor: prospective follow-up study.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ß2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene polymorphisms on ritodrine therapy outcomes in patients with preterm labor. Genotyping analysis of ADRB2 gene (rs1042713, rs1042714, rs1042717, rs1042718, and rs1042719) was performed on 137 patients with preterm labor. Survival analysis was conducted for the effects of SNPs on the median time to delivery as a primary outcome. The median time to delivery in the study patients was 349.3 h. Gestational age at admission and modified Bishop scores revealed significant effects on time to delivery (p<0.001). Among studied SNPs, rs1042717 and rs1042718 showed linkage disequilibrium in this population, and their effects on time to delivery were marginally significant (p<0.1). Patients with variant-homozygotes in the rs1042713 showed considerably shortened time to delivery compared to wild-allele carriers. The rs1042719 polymorphism significantly affected time to delivery in both univariate and multivariate analysis; the GC and CC carriers showed 64% decrease in time to delivery compared to the wild-type homozygote carriers. Based on the results, it was concluded that the gene polymorphisms of ADRB2 could affect ritodrine therapy in patients with preterm labor. However, given the single-center and the relatively small sample size, our hypothesis requires further independent validation using multi-center and large sample size.

Insight into newly discovered innate immune modulation in atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a highly pruritic, chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease characterized by innate and adaptive immune reactions. In AD, innate immune mechanisms such as pattern recognition receptors and antimicrobial peptides have been investigated in detail, but recently, epidermis-derived cytokines, namely thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), IL-25 and IL-33, were shown to participate in innate immune reactions independently of adaptive immunity. In addition to conventional innate cells, such as mast cells, basophils and eosinophils, Th2 cytokine-producing invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and Th17/Th22 cytokine-producing innate cells - iNKT cells and natural killer (NK)-like cells - can participate in innate immune modulation in AD. Accordingly, early control of innate immune responses in AD before activation of adaptive immune responses by conventional T and B cells that perpetuate chronic skin inflammation may adequately alleviate acute exacerbations of AD. Therefore, we hypothesized that select immune modulators targeting the innate immune response could potentially be used for individualized treatment of AD.

Activity-based near-infrared fluorescent probe for LMP7: a chemical proteomics tool for the immunoproteasome in living cells.

Probing the unknown: The immunoproteasome, an alternative form of the constitutive proteasome, has been implicated in a number of pathological states such as cancer and autoimmune diseases. In an effort to understand the role of the immunoproteasome in cells, the first immunoproteasome-specific near-infrared fluorescent probe has been developed.

Knockdown of paraoxonase 1 expression influences the ageing of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells.

Skin is one of the most commonly studied tissues for microcirculation research owing to its close correlation of cutaneous vascular function, ageing and age-related cardiovascular events. To elucidate proteins that determine this correlation between endothelial cell function and ageing in the vascular environment of the skin, we performed a proteomic analysis of plasma samples from six donors in their 20s (young) and six donors in their 60s (old). Among identified proteins, paraoxonase 1 (PON1) was selected in this study. To elucidate the role of PON1 on skin ageing and determine how it controls cellular senescence, the characteristics of PON1 in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) were determined. When the expression of endogenous PON1 was knocked-down by small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting PON1, HDMECs showed characteristic features of cellular senescence such as increases in senescence-associated ß-galactosidase stained cells and enlarged and flattened cell morphology. At 48 h post-transfection, the protein expression of p16 in PON1 siRNA-treated HDMECs was higher than that in scrambled siRNA-treated HDMECs. In addition, the expressions of moesin and rho GTP dissociation inhibitor, additional age-related candidate biomarkers, were decreased by PON1 knock-down in HDMECs. In conclusion, these results suggest that PON1 functions as an ageing-related protein and plays an important role in the cellular senescence of HDMECs.

Effects of CYP4F2 gene polymorphisms on warfarin clearance and sensitivity in Korean patients with mechanical cardiac valves.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a single nucleotide polymorphism of CYP4F2 (rs2108622) was reported to have a significant relationship with the stable warfarin dose. However, the underlying mechanism of CYP4F2 effects on the stable warfarin dose has not been studied. This study aimed to examine the effects of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 4F2 gene on warfarin clearance and sensitivity in Korean patients with mechanical heart valves. METHODS: One hundred ninety-one patients with mechanical heart valves who were on anticoagulation therapy with warfarin and maintained international normalized ratio levels of 2-3 for 3 consecutive times were followed up, retrospectively. Warfarin enantiomer concentrations were determined by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method. Genotypes of vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP4F2, human microsomal epoxide hydroxylase, calumenin, and γ-glutamyl carboxylase were determined. RESULTS: From multiple linear regression models, vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1, CYP2C9, CYP4F2, and age were found to have significant effects on warfarin stable dose. The stable warfarin daily doses of patients with the CC, CT, and TT genotypes in the CYP4F2 gene were 5.34 ± 2.04, 5.33 ± 1.64, and 6.55 ± 2.12 mg, respectively. The higher dose requirements in patients with TT alleles in CYP4F2 were attributable to a low warfarin sensitivity (international normalized ratio/warfarin plasma concentration); the warfarin sensitivity in CC, CT, and TT genotypes was 2.1 ± 1.2, 1.0 ± 0.4, and 0.8 ± 0.6, respectively. The similarity between the dose requirements of patients with CT and CC alleles was explained through the combined result of warfarin sensitivity and clearance outcomes. Apparent plasma (S)- and (R)-warfarin clearances were found to be 37.7% and 34.1% lower in CT genotype patients than in CC genotype patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The dose variability in CYP4F2 genotypes was attributable to both warfarin clearance and sensitivity differences.

A bright approach to the immunoproteasome: development of LMP2/ß1i-specific imaging probes.

While the constitutive, 26S proteasome plays an important role in regulating many important cellular processes, a variant form known as the immunoproteasome is thought to primarily function in adaptive immune responses. However, recent studies indicate an association of immunoproteasomes with many physiological disorders such as cancer, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory diseases. Despite this, the detailed functions of the immunoproteasome remain poorly understood. Immunoproteasome-specific probes are essential to gain insight into immunoproteasome function. Here, we describe for the first time the development of cell-permeable activity-based fluorescent probes, UK101-Fluor and UK101-B660, which selectively target the catalytically active LMP2/ß1i subunit of the immunoproteasome. These probes facilitate rapid detection of the cellular localization of catalytically active immunoproteasomes in living cells, providing a valuable tool to analyze immunoproteasome functions. Additionally, as LMP2/ß1i may serve as a potential tumor biomarker, an LMP2/ß1i-targeting fluorescent imaging probe may be applicable to a rapid readout assay to determine tumor LMP2/ß1i levels.

Wnt-signaling-mediated antiosteoporotic activity of porcine placenta hydrolysates in ovariectomized rats.

Anti-osteoporotic effects of two types of porcine placenta hydrolysates (PPH) were evaluated in ovariectomized (OVX) rats orally administered PPH without (WPPH) or with (NPPH) ovarian hormones (1 g/kg bw/day). PPH groups were compared with OVX rats with estrogen replacement (0.1 mg/kg bw conjugated estrogen; EST), or dextrose (placebo; OVX-control) All rats received high-fat/calcium-deficient diets for 12 weeks. NPPH contained less estrogen and progesterone, but more essential amino acids, whereas the opposite was true for WPPH. NPPH decreased body weight and peri-uterine fat pads, and maintained uterus weight. NPPH rats had higher femur and lumbar spine bone mass density compared to controls; but less than those of EST rats. Serum phosphorus and urinary calcium and phosphorus levels were reduced in NPPH rats compared to OVX-controls. Serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and bone turnover marker levels were reduced NPPH rats compared to OVX-controls. WPPH produced results similar to those of NPPH, but less significant. Both NPPH and estrogen upregulated low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 and ß-catenin in OVX rats, while the expression of dickkopf-related protein 1 was suppressed. In conclusion, NPPH exerted anti-osteoporotic effects by activating osteogenesis and stimulating Wnt signaling, possibly mediated by the various amino acids and not ovarian hormones.

Cooperative translocation enhances the unwinding of duplex DNA by SARS coronavirus helicase nsP13.

SARS coronavirus encodes non-structural protein 13 (nsP13), a nucleic acid helicase/NTPase belonging to superfamily 1 helicase, which efficiently unwinds both partial-duplex RNA and DNA. In this study, unwinding of DNA substrates that had different duplex lengths and 5'-overhangs was examined under single-turnover reaction conditions in the presence of excess enzyme. The amount of DNA unwound decreased significantly as the length of the duplex increased, indicating a poor in vitro processivity. However, the quantity of duplex DNA unwound increased as the length of the single-stranded 5'-tail increased for the 50-bp duplex. This enhanced processivity was also observed for duplex DNA that had a longer single-stranded gap in between. These results demonstrate that nsP13 requires the presence of a long 5'-overhang to unwind longer DNA duplexes. In addition, enhanced DNA unwinding was observed for gapped DNA substrates that had a 5'-overhang, indicating that the translocated nsP13 molecules pile up and the preceding helicase facilitate DNA unwinding. Together with the propensity of oligomer formation of nsP13 molecules, we propose that the cooperative translocation by the functionally interacting oligomers of the helicase molecules loaded onto the 5'-overhang account for the observed enhanced processivity of DNA unwinding.

Comparison of 2 methods of non-invasive treatment between transcutaneous electrical stimulation and pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation as replacement of invasive manual acupuncture.

The aim of this study was to find the non-invasive optimal alternative method for Manual Acupuncture. Existing researches had reported that Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) was an effective treatment method instead of manual acupuncture. In place of the TEAS, we suggested the Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMFs). Thus, we designed the PEMFs system which can stimulate only an acupoint. There have been no researches which reported therapeutic effect when stimulating at an identical acupoint by TEAS and PEMFs. Hence, this study investigated the therapeutic effect on the muscle fatigue after the strenuous knee extension/flexion exercise by two stimulations. We selected the stimulation method of both TEAS and PEMFs by using 2Hz biphasic rectangular wave pulse and pulse width 0.2ms. The magnetic flux was the 30.92mT (309.2gauss) at 2 Hz. The electromyogram (EMG) and the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) at rectus femoris were measured. The Median Frequency (MF) at TEAS group was significantly effective at 6 minutes (p=0.499). The PEMFs group was recovered to the MF rapidly after 4 minutes (p=0.166). The results of the peak torque indicated that both non-stimulation group and TEAS group did not recover to the peak torque at pre-exercise during the recovery period (p<0.05). In contrast, the significant treatment effect of PEMFs group was found after 14 minutes (p=0.135). The results of this study demonstrated that PEMFs were better than TEAS as a non-invasive method to replace the manual acupuncture.

A Comparative Analysis of Clinical Screening Test and Language Specific Test in Language Delay Children.

The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of a clinical screening test [the Korean Infant and Child Developmental Test (KICDT)] compared to language specific tests: the sequenced language scale for infant (SELSI) and the Preschool Receptive-Expressive language Scale (PRES) in children with delayed language development. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 615 children who visited the Department of Pediatrics at Chonbuk National University Hospital from January 2013 to December 2016. All patients were evaluated with KICDT as a clinical screening test and SELSI or PRES as a language specific test. Language Developmental Quotients (LDQs) from the KICDT were compared with the Receptive Language Quotient (RLQ) and expressive language quotient (ELQ) from the SELSI or PRES. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of LDQ of KICDT were calculated by comparing with SELSI/PRES. Language DQs from the KICDT were significantly correlated with the RLQ (r=0.706), ELQ (r=0.768), and total language quotient (TLQ) (r=0.766) from the SELSI/PRES (p<0.05). In cross tabulation, the patients belonging to the retardation groups in both KICDT and SELSI/PRES were 417 (67.8%). Otherwise, patients belonging to the normal group in KICDT but not in SELSI/PRES were 151 (24.6%). Sensitivity and specificity of LDQ of KICDT relative to SELSI/PRES were 72.3% and 92.2% respectively (p<0.05). Our data suggests that clinical screening tests alone, not cumbersome language specific tests, can determine language developmental delays in children.

Investigation of the pharmacophore space of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) NTPase/helicase by dihydroxychromone derivatives.

Aryl diketoacids have been identified as the first SARS-CoV NTPase/helicase inhibitors with a distinct pharmacophore featuring an arylmethyl group attached to a diketoacid. In order to search for the pharmacophore space around the diketoacid core, three classes of dihydroxychromone derivatives were prepared. Based on SAR study, an extended feature of the pharmacophore model of SARS-CoV NTPase/helicase was proposed which is constituted of a diketoacid core, a hydrophobic arylmethyl substituent, and a free catechol unit.