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As a novel administration method of ivermectin (IVM) for scabies treatment, we proposed a "whole-body bathing method (WBBM)". In this method, the patients would bathe themselves in a bathing fluid containing IVM at an effective concentration. Previously, we demonstrated that WBBM could deliver IVM to the skin but not to the plasma in rats. In the present study, to assess the clinical validity of the method an arm bathing examination (first trial) and a whole-body bathing examination (second trial) were conducted in healthy volunteers. In both the first and second trials, after bathing in fluid containing IVM, the exposure in the stratum corneum was higher compared with that after taking IVM p.o. as reported previously. IVM was not detected in plasma at any sampling point after the whole-body bathing in the second trial. Furthermore no serious adverse events were found. These results in both trials suggest that WBBM can deliver IVM to the human stratum corneum without systemic exposure or serious adverse effects in healthy volunteers, and at concentrations that would be adequate for scabies treatment.

As market demand for energy conservation products are increasing, matrix converters need to be further improved in efficiency and downsizing. On the other hand, next generation power devices such as SiC, GaN, which are capable of high speed switching with low loss have recently gained attention. In particular, the bidirectional GaN device is constituted by connecting two devices in series on the same die, which has an advantage that the conduction loss and the mounting area can be reduced. Conventional matrix converter requires at least 18 devices, but if bi-directional GaN devices are used, they can be composed with only 9 devices, which is useful for high efficiency and downsizing by reducing the conduction loss of the matrix converter. Matrix converter chipset using bidirectional GaN devices has already been developed, but as far as the authors know, a three phase motor has not been driven. This paper introduces the prototype nine switches matrix converter using bi-directional GaN devices, which successfully drives a three phase motor.

During the past two decades, it has been reported that treatment with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) induces alveolar regeneration in rodent emphysema models. In the present study, we investigated the regeneration by ATRA at various exposure conditions in two strains of mice with induced emphysema. The emphysema model was created by postnatal administration of dexamethasone to ICR and FVB mice, which were then treated with ATRA from postnatal day 42. The regeneration was observed in ICR mice but not in FVB mice given 10 and 40 mg/kg/d ATRA for 10 d. The concentration-time profiles of ATRA in plasma and lung were similar in both strains. These results suggest that the strain difference in the regeneration by ATRA was not caused by differences in the exposure to ATRA. On the other hand, the regeneration in ICR mice was enhanced by an increase of the intraperitoneal dose in the range of 10-40 mg/kg/d for 10 d. At an intraperitoneal dose of 40 mg/kg/d, the regeneration was observed after 10 and 20 d of treatment but not after 1 to 5 d of treatment. Meanwhile, the regeneration by intraperitoneal administration of ATRA was enhanced more than that by oral administration. Exposure to ATRA during repeated intraperitoneal administration to ICR mice was higher than that in oral administration. The results suggest that the regeneration in ICR mice requires at least 10 d of treatment with ATRA and its effects depend on the exposure to ATRA in plasma, which parallels that in lung.

Anti-epileptic drug oxcarbazepine is structurally related to carbamazepine, but has reportedly different metabolic pathway. Auto-induction potentials of oxcarbazepine, its pharmacologically active metabolite 10-hydroxyoxcarbazepine and carbamazepine were evaluated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 mRNA levels and primary metabolic rates using human hepatocytes and HepaRG cells. For the CYP1A2 the induction potential determined as the fold change in mRNA levels was 7.2 (range: 2.3-11.5) and 10.0 (6.2-13.7) for oxcarbazepine and carbamazepine, respectively, while 10-hydroxyoxcarbazepine did not induce. The fold change in mRNA levels for CYP2B6 was 11.5 (3.2-19.3), 7.0 (2.5-10.8) and 14.8 (3.1-29.1) for oxcarbazepine, 10-hydroxyoxcarbazepine and carbamazepine, respectively. The fold change for CYP3A4 induction level by oxcarbazepine, 10-hydroxyoxcarbazepine and carbamazepine was 3.5 (1.2-7.4), 2.7 (0.8-5.7) and 8.3 (3.5-14.5), respectively. The data suggest lower induction potential of oxcarbazepine and 10-hydroxyoxcarbazepine relative to carbamazepine. The results in HepaRG cells showed similar trend as the human hepatocytes. After incubation for 72 h in hepatocytes and HepaRG cells, auto-induction was evident for only carbamazepine metabolism. The 10-keto group instead of double bond at C10 position is evidently a determinant factor for limited auto-induction of P450 enzymes by oxcarbazepine.

α-Lipoic acid (LA) is widely used for nutritional supplements as a racemic mixture, even though the R enantiomer is biologically active. After oral administration of the racemic mixture (R-α-lipoic acid (RLA) and S-α-lipoic acid (SLA) mixed at the ratio of 50:50) to rats, RLA showed higher plasma concentration than SLA, and its area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to the last (AUC) was significantly about 1.26 times higher than that of SLA. However, after intravenous administration of the racemic mixture, the pharmacokinetic profiles, initial concentration (C0), AUC, and half-life (T1/2) of the enantiomers were not significantly different. After oral and intraduodenal administration of the racemic mixture to pyrolus-ligated rats, the AUCs of RLA were significantly about 1.24 and 1.32 times higher than that of SLA, respectively. In addition, after intraportal administration the AUC of RLA was significantly 1.16 times higher than that of SLA. In conclusion, the enantioselective pharmacokinetics of LA in rats arose from the fraction absorbed multiplied by gastrointestinal availability (FaFg) and hepatic availability (Fh), and not from the total clearance.

Ivermectin (IVM) is used as an oral drug for treatment of scabies. It was reported that the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of IVM was higher in healthy volunteers after a high-fat meal than in those who were fasting, but the mechanism has not been clarified yet. In fasted rabbits, the AUC after oral administration of IVM as a solution was higher than that of a suspension, indicating that the absorption of IVM depends on how much is dissolved in the gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, the AUC was higher in rabbits pre-treated with a high-fat solution (HF; fat and cholesterol) than in those that had fasted, when IVM was administered orally not only in suspension but also in solution, and even when it was administered intravenously. In addition, the increase in total cholesterol level in the HF condition was correlated with the increase in IVM level. These results suggest that enhancement of solubility may not be the only reason for the increase of AUC in rabbits. It is also suggested that the increase of cholesterol concentration might change the distribution profile of IVM in plasma, and accordingly its concentration could be increased.

R-α-lipoic acid (RLA) is an endogenous organic acid, and works as a cofactor for mitochondrial enzymes and as a kind of antioxidant. Inclusion complexes of RLA with α-, β- or γ-cyclodextrins (CD) were prepared and orally administered as a suspension to rats. Among them, RLA/γ-CD showed the highest plasma exposure, and its area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of RLA was 2.2 times higher than that after oral administration of non-inclusion RLA. On the other hand, the AUC after oral administration of non-inclusion RLA and RLA/γ-CD to pylorus-ligated rats did not differ. However, the AUC after intraduodenal administration of RLA/γ-CD was 5.1 times higher than that of non-inclusion RLA, and was almost comparable to the AUC after intraduodenal administration of RLA-Na solution. Furthermore, the AUC after intraduodenal administration of RLA/γ-CD was not affected by biliary ligation or co-administration of an amylase inhibitor. These findings demonstrated that RLA was absorbed from the small intestine effectively when orally administered as a γ-CD inclusion complex, which could be easily dissolved in the lumen of the intestine. In conclusion, γ-CD inclusion complex is an appropriate formulation for supplying RLA as a drug or nutritional supplement with respect to absorption.

In the present study, the relationship between systemic exposure of simvastatin (SV) hydroxy acid (SV-acid), an active form of SV, and its alveolar regeneration rates was investigated using emphysema model mice created by postnatal treatment of dexamethasone. In a model with young animals, the mice were treated with SV for 10 d from postnatal day 42. Similar alveolar regeneration with a % mean linear intercept (Lm) recovery of 60 to 70% by histochemical observation was observed in mice after intraperitoneal administration at dose in the range of 4-100 µg/mouse. The % Lm recovery after oral administration of 20 µg/mouse was comparable with that after intraperitoneal administration at a dose of 4 µg/mouse, when their exposure of SV-acid was almost similar in both treated groups. Regardless of the route of administration, the recovery can depend on the exposure level of SV-acid, and to the maximum was about 60-70%. On the other hand, in a model with adult animals, the mice were intraperitoneally administrated SV at a dose of 4 µg/mouse for 10 d from postnatal day 152. Compared to young animals, less % Lm recovery was observed in adult mice even their systemic exposures of SV-acid were similar.

The reactions of nine N-(pyrido[3′,2′:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)amidines (3) with hydroxylamine hydrochloride produced new cyclization products. These were formed via ring cleavage of the pyrimidine component followed by a 1,2,4-oxadiazole-forming ring closure to give N-[2-([1,2,4]oxadiazol-5-yl)thieno[2,3-b]pyridin-3-yl]formamide oximes (11). Reaction of six N-(pyrido[2′,3′:4,5]furo[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)amidines (12) with hydroxylamine hydrochloride gave similar results. Effects of the newly synthesized compounds on pentosidine formation were also evaluated.

Libraries of tricyclic 2-substituted 4-alkylamino-9-chloro-5,6-dihydropyrimido[5,4-d]benzazepines and tetracyclic 12-substituted 8-chloro-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-imidazo[1′,2′:1,6]pyrimido[5,4-d]benzazepines were synthesized as part of our research to develop new effective antiplatelet drugs. Several alkyl and aryl groups were used as substituents at the 2-position. Evaluation of the effects of the newly synthesized compounds on collagen-induced platelet aggregation revealed several promising antiplatelet candidates with potencies superior to aspirin.

Libraries of tricyclic 2-substituted 4-alkylamino-6,7-dihydro-5H-benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2-d]pyrimidines were synthesized as part of our research to develop new effective antiplatelet drugs. Several alkyl and aryl groups were used as substituents at the 2-position. Evaluation of the effects of the newly synthesized compounds on collagen-induced platelet aggregation revealed several promising antiplatelet candidates with potencies superior to aspirin.

Emphysema can be induced in animals by postnatal treatment with dexamethasone (Dex) and such models have been widely used for various research. However, it is not clear what are the effects of Dex on assembly of alveolar elastic fibers in the emphysema model in mice. This study compared the expression profile of genes related to alveolar development between Dex treated and control mice during the treatment from postnatal day 3 (P3) to P14 with a 2-day break. From morphological observation of lung sections on P42, we confirmed the induction of emphysema in the treated mice. The mRNA expression level of fibrillin-1, which consists of microfibrils as a scaffold to form elastic fibers, and fibulin-5, which is a key protein reinforcing the fibers, reached maximum on P7 in control mice. However, in the Dex group, expression levels both types of mRNA were much lower with no clear expression peak. On the other hand, mRNA expression of tropoelastin, the main component in elastic fibers, reached maximum on P5 in the Dex group, which was 9 days earlier than in the control group. At this time, the amount of microfibrils might not be enough for tropoelastin to be deposited completely in Dex treated mice. This imbalance in the expression of tropoelastin and microfibril might interfere with the efficient formation of elastic fibers.

Libraries of tricyclic 2-substituted 4-alkylamino-5,6-dihydro[1]benzoxepino[5,4-d]pyrimidines and tetracyclic 12-substituted 1,2,4,5-tetrahydro[1]benzoxepino[4,5-e]imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidines were synthesized as part of our research to develop new effective antiplatelet drugs. Several alkyl and aryl groups were used as substituents at the 2-position. Evaluation of the effects of the newly synthesized compounds on collagen-induced platelet aggregation revealed several promising antiplatelet candidates with potencies superior to aspirin.

We have synthesized a large number of tricyclic 2-substituted 4-alkylamino-5,6-dihydro[1]benzothiepino[5,4-d]pyrimidines as part of our research to develop new effective anti-platelet drugs. A variety of alkyl and aryl groups were used as substituents at the 2-position. Evaluation of the effects of the newly synthesized compounds on collagen-induced platelet aggregation revealed several promising anti-platelet candidates with potencies superior to aspirin.

Reaction of 3-(3-cyanopropylthio)[1]benzothiophene-2-carbonitrile with tert-BuONa gave 5-amino-1,2-dihydro[1]benzothieno[3,2-d]thieno[2,3-b]pyridine and 5-amino-2,3-dihydro[1]benzothieno[3,2-b]thiepin-4-carbonitrile. The latter compound served as a convenient scaffold for the synthesis of the new heterocycles, [1]benzothieno[3′,2′:2,3]thiepino[4,5-d]pyrimidines. All of our new tetracyclic products were evaluated for in vitro inhibitory activity on the formation of pentosidine, which is one of representative advanced glycation end products.

Treatment of 2-substituted 4-chloro-5,6-dihydro[1]benzofuro[3′,2′:2,3]oxepino[4,5-d]pyrimidines with simple alcohols and thiols as nucleophile afforded 2-substituted 4-alkoxy (or sulfanyl) derivatives. In the case of alkoxide nucleophiles, rearranged reaction products were also obtained. X-ray crystallography was used to support the structure assignment of the rearranged product.

Reaction of 3-(3-cyanopropoxy)[1]benzothiophene-2-carbonitrile with sodium hydride gave 5-amino-1,2-dihydro[1]benzothieno[3,2-d]furo[2,3-b]pyridine and 5-amino-2,3-dihydro[1]benzothieno[3,2-b]oxepin-4-carbonitrile. The latter compound served as a convenient scaffold for the synthesis of the new heterocycles [1]benzothieno[3′,2′:2,3]oxepino[4,5-d]pyrimidines and the parent 1,2,4,5-tetrahydro[1]benzothieno[2′,3′:6,7]oxepino[4,5-e]imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidine heterocyclic system. The new compounds described in this report were evaluated as inhibitors of platelet aggregation in vitro. Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® to view the free supplemental file.

We assessed the effects of D-penicillamine (D-PA) on cross-linkages in elastin and vaso-regulatory function in rats. After administration of D-PA at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day for 7 weeks to adult and young rats, the thoracic aortas were isolated. The elastic lamellae in the aorta were disrupted histopathologically in all the treated groups. The content of cross-linkages in elastin, i.e. desmosine and isodesmosine, which gives elasticity to the aortic wall, was significantly reduced in the D-PA treated groups versus the control groups. On the other hand, the content of pyridinoline as a marker of insoluble collagen was significantly reduced in the D-PA treated groups, even though the total collagen content was not changed. In addition, after 7 weeks of treatment with D-PA, the change between systolic blood pressure before and after sympathetic stimulation (Δ-SBP) by L-epinephrine was about 2.5-fold larger than that in the control group. Similar results were obtained using angiotensin II or ouabain instead of L-epinephrine. These findings demonstrated that D-PA disrupted elastic lamellae of the rat aorta by reduction of the cross-linkages in elastin and collagen, which caused dysfunction of vaso-regulation. Also, they suggested the possibility that long-term treatment with D-PA in patients could cause a decrease in vaso-regulatory function and could increase the risk of cardiovascular events.

We investigated a series of carbocyanine dye dimers formed in a cyclodextrin (CD) nanocavity by analyzing their steady-state absorption spectra in aqueous solution. As increasing CD concentrations, a blue-shifted additional peak was enhanced in several dye/CD combinations. This blue-shifted peak indicates that a ‘sandwich-type’ dimer is formed in CD. In order to obtain dimer-formation constants, we fitted dimer/monomer absorbance ratio to a theoretical equilibrium equation and the dimer structure was estimated on the basis of observed energy splittings in the absorption spectra. These values are significantly influenced by steric factors (poly-methine chain length, bulkiness of the end-group, CD cavity-size, etc.).

We assessed the effects of rofecoxib on cross-linkage formation in elastin and vaso-regulatory function in rats. After administration of rofecoxib at a dose of 10 mg/kg for 7 weeks to young rats and for 7 and 10 weeks to adult rats, thoracic aortas were isolated. The elastic lamellae in the aortas were disrupted histopathologically in all the treated groups. However, the content of cross-linkages in elastin, i.e. desmosine and isodesmosine, which give elasticity to the aortic wall, was not significantly different between the rofecoxib treated and control groups. On the other hand, although the baseline blood pressure was not changed during the treatment period in both young and adult rats, after several weeks of treatment with rofecoxib the change between systolic blood pressure before and after sympathetic stimulation by L-epinephrine was 2 to 3-fold larger than that in the control group. Similar results were obtained using angiotensin II instead of L-epinephrine. The exposure to rofecoxib (area under the plasma concentration-time curve) of rats after single administration was a few times higher than that of humans in clinical use. These findings indicate that rofecoxib did not directly inhibit formation of cross-linkages in elastin of the aorta in rats. However, the treatment with rofecoxib for several weeks disrupted elastic lamellae and caused depression of vaso-regulatory function in rats, which could bring on an increased risk of cardiovascular events in human.

We investigated the intermolecular vibrational motions of several carbon disulfide/alcohols binary solutions by using Raman-induced Kerr-effect spectroscopy (RIKES). The intermediate decay components that is assigned to the CS2 polarizability fluctuations induced by the intermolecular collision, showed dependence on the volume concentrations of alcohols. This behavior is very different from CS2/hexane binary solutions. The reduced spectral densities for fast intermolecular motion were obtained from the time-domain signal. The trend of spectral changes upon dilution were similar to that for CS2/alkane binary systems,. These results suggest that CS2 molecules would be mainly localized in the non-polar domains formed by alcohol clusters.

R-α-lipoic acid (R-LA) is a cofactor of mitochondrial enzymes and a very strong antioxidant. R-LA is available as a functional food ingredient but is unstable against heat or acid. Stabilized R-LA was prepared through complexation with γ-cyclodextrin (CD), yielding R-LA/CD. R-LA/CD was orally administered to six healthy volunteers and showed higher plasma levels with an area under the plasma concentration-time curve that was 2.5 times higher than that after oral administration of non-complexed R-LA, although the time to reach the maximum plasma concentration and half-life did not differ. Furthermore, the plasma glucose level after a single oral administration of R-LA/CD or R-LA was not affected and no side effects were observed. These results indicate that R-LA/CD could be easily absorbed in the intestine. In conclusion, γ-CD complexation is a promising technology for delivering functional but unstable ingredients like R-LA.

As a part of the development of an alternative to microbiological assay for vitamin B12, we performed a quantitative analysis of cyanocobalamin (CN-cbl) in a National Institute of Standards and Technology Standard Reference Material (SRM 3280) by HPLC. Using this method, the observed value (4.64 μg/g) of CN-cbl in SRM 3280 was found to be in good agreement with the certified value (4.80 μg/g). The accuracy was over 95%, with a corresponding measurement precision value of 5%. To evaluate the applicability of the method on commercial multivitamin tablets, the method was applied to a variety of these samples. The present method has a good accuracy and precision to evaluate CN-cbl with respect to all of the examined tablets.

The reactions of N-([1]benzofuro[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)formamidines with hydroxylamine hydrochloride gave rearranged cyclization products via ring cleavage of the pyrimidine component accompanied by a ring closure of the 1,2,4-oxadiazole to give N-[2-([1,2,4]oxadiazol-5-yl)[1]benzofuran-3-yl)formamide oximes. N-([1]Benzothieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)formamidines and N-(pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)formamidines with hydroxylamine hydrochloride gave similar results.

Several 5-substituted 1,2-dihydrofuro[3,2-f][1,7]naphthyridines were synthesized as part of our research to develop new effective bronchodilators. Amines, sulfanyls, and alcohols were used as substituents at the fifth position. Tetracyclic compounds were also obtained. Evaluation of the effects of the newly synthesized compounds on carbamoylcholine chloride-induced contractions of trachea revealed one promising bronchodilator candidate with potency comparable to that of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine.

Reaction of 3-(3-cyanopropoxy)[1]benzofuran-2-carbonitriles with potassium tert-butoxide gave 5-amino-1,2-dihydro[1]benzofuro[3,2-d]furo[2,3-b]pyridines and 5-amino-2,3-dihydro[1]benzofuro[3,2-b]oxepin-4-carbonitriles as new ring systems. Reactions of the 5-chloro derivative, obtained from 5-amino-1,2-dihydro[1]benzofuro[3,2-d]furo[2,3-b]pyridine, produced a dihydrofuran ring-opened compound and 5-substituted compounds. J. Heterocyclic Chem.,(2011).

Reaction of 5-amino-1,2-dihydrofuro[2,3-c]isoquinolines with 1,2-dibromoethane and 1,3-dibromopropane in the presence of a base afforded 2′,3′-dihydrospiro[cyclopropane-1,6′(5′H)-imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolin]-5′-ones and 3′,4′-dihydro-2′H-spiro[cyclopropane-1,7′(6′H)-pyrimido[2,1-a]isoquinolin]-6′-ones, respectively. Certain of the products showed significant bronchodilator activity.

Reactions of N-(quinazolin-4-yl)amidines and their amide oximes with hydroxylamine hydrochloride gave cyclization products that were formed by an initial ring cleavage of the pyrimidine component followed by a ring closure formation of 1,2,4-oxadiazole to give N-[2-([1,2,4]oxadiazol-5-yl)phenyl]formamide oximes. All isolated products were evaluated for in vitro inhibitory activity on the formation of pentosidine, which is one of representative advanced glycation end products. Some products exhibited significant inhibitory activity against pentosidine formation. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).

N-[2-([1,2,4]Oxadiazol-5-yl)cyclohepten-1-yl]formamide oximes were synthesized by fusion of (6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-cyclohepta[1,2-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)amidines with hydroxylamine hydrochloride through a subsequent rearrangement reaction. Effects of the products as well as the structurally related N-[4-([1,2,4]oxadiazol-5-yl)-2,3-dihydro[1]benzoxepin-5-yl]formamide oximes and N-[4-([1,2,4]oxadiazol-5-yl)-2,3-dihydro[1]benzothiepin-5-yl]formamide oximes on platelet aggregation were evaluated.

The reaction of 3-(2-bromoethyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one with ethyl- and n-propylamine gave abnormal fused 3-alkyl-4-alkyliminoquinazolines via a Dimroth-type rearrangement, as well as normal substituted 3-(2-alkylaminoethyl) derivatives in methanol. The reaction of 3-(2-bromoethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazolin-4(3H)-one with primary alkylamines was also investigated for the scope of this rearrangement reaction.

As a novel method improving the safety of conventional oral ivermectin (IVM) for scabies treatment, we conceived an idea called the "whole-body bathing method". In this method, the patients would bathe themselves in a bathing fluid containing IVM at an effective concentration. To evaluate the feasibility of the method, we investigated the IVM concentration in the skin and plasma after bathing rats in a fluid containing 100 ng/mL of IVM. After the bathing, the concentration of IVM in the skin was more than 400 ng/g wet weight and was maintained until 8 h after the bathing. The concentration was clearly higher than that in patients taking IVM p.o. as previously reported; IVM was not detected in plasma in the present study. Thus, the method would be a preferable drug delivery system for the skin application of IVM compared with p.o. administration.

Dehydrative ring closure reactions were carried out on fused 4-(2-hydroxyethylamino) (or 2-hydroxyethoxy or 2-hydroxyethylthio)pyrimidines (2a, 2b, 2c) to give fused 2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,2-c] (or 2,3-dihydrooxazolo[3,2-c] or 2,3-dihydrothiazolo[3,2-c])pyrimidines. This reaction produced the pentacyclic 1,2,4,5-tetrahydro[1]benzothieno[2′,3′:6,7]thiepino[4,5-e]imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidine (3a) and 1,2,4,5-tetrahydro[1]benzothieno[2′,3′:6,7]thiepino[4,5-e]thiazolo[3,2-c]pyrimidinium chloride (3c) from the 2-hydroxyethylamino-derivative and 2-hydroxyethylthio-derivative, respectively. In contrast, 2-hydroxyethoxy-derivative (2b) gave the rearrangement product, 3-(2-chloroethyl)-5,6-dihydro[1]benzothieno[3′,2′:2,3]thiepino[4,5-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one (4). Effects of the synthesized compounds on collagen-induced platelet aggregation were also evaluated.

The present investigation was undertaken to determine the distribution and accumulation of chloroform in the blood, liver, kidney and abdominal fat of rats after simultaneous exposure by two routes, inhalation and oral. To distinguish the contribution of each route, unmodified chloroform (CHCl3) was administered by inhalation and deuterated chloroform (CDCl3) was administered orally. Exposure by inhalation and oral administration resulted in CHCl3 and CDCl3 concentrations in the tissues which were significantly higher than when exposure was by either inhalation or oral administration alone. This is the first study to follow the contribution of each of two routes of chloroform exposure on chloroform distribution and accumulation in target tissues. Our results indicate that when assessing the toxicity and carcinogenicity of chloroform, exposure routes, especially the effects of exposure by multiple routes, must be taken into consideration.

We prepared fluorescent coumarin dye-doped poly (acrylic acid) microparticles, which are well known as a biodegradable polyester, and the photophysical properties were characterized by scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope and spectroscopic investigation. Spherical particles with diameters ranging from 0.5 to a few μm were obtained. Based on spectroscopic investigation, the internal environment was close to that of a polar solvent such as methanol, and the dyes were dispersed without aggregation inside the particles. The obtained particles were administered to a mouse through the tail vein, and the biodistribution was then observed after some organs were excited at 1-day and 1-week post-injection. The particles were accumulated in the organs, especially in the lung and spleen. After injection, the particles were trapped temporally in the lung, and then seemed to be transported to other organs by blood circulation. This tendency is similar to the biodistribution of TiO 2 microparticles that we have reported previously.

The cycloalkeno[1,2-d]furo[2,3-b]pyridine skeleton was conveniently synthesized from fused 4-(2-cyanovinyloxy)butanenitriles in one step through sequential intramolecular Michael addition, β-elimination and intramolecular nucleophilic addition. This sequence thus consists of a novel Truce–Smiles type rearrangement followed by cyclization. The 5-amino derivatives were transformed further to lactams in good yields.

Reaction of 1-(3-cyanopropoxy)-3,4-dihydronaphthalene-2-carbonitriles with potassium tert-butoxide gave 5-amino-1,2,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[f]furo[2,3-c]isoquinolines via a Truce-Smiles rearrangement. The 5-amino group was transformed to the bromo derivatives which were allowed to react with aliphatic cyclic amines to produce amino derivatives. In contrast, a combination of imidazole and NaH gave a dihydrofuran ring cleaved product, the structure of which was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Effects of the newly synthesized compounds on carbamylcholine chloride-induced contractions of trachea and lipoprotein lipase mRNA expression were also evaluated and found one promising bronchodilator.

Reaction of some fused tricyclic 3-(2-bromoethyl)pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones with primary alkyl amines gave abnormal fused 3-alkyl-4-alkyliminopyrimidines via a Dimroth-type rearrangement, as well as normal substituted 3-(2-alkylaminoethyl) derivatives in methanol. This abnormal rearrangement reaction depended on reaction solvent.

Reaction of fused 3-(2-bromoethyl)pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones with primary alkylamines gave abnormal fused 3-alkyl-4-alkyliminopyrimidines via a new rearrangement, as well as normal substituted 3-(2-alkylaminoethyl) derivatives. Antidepressive evaluation of these compounds was performed by antireserpine action and one compound exhibited the positive activity comparable to imipramine.

In rats, it has been reported that rofecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, reacts with the aldehyde group of allysine in elastin to give a condensation covalent adduct, thereby preventing the formation of cross-linkages in the elastin and causing degradation of the elastic fibers in aortas in vivo. Acid, organic solvent, and proteolytic enzyme treatments of human aortic homogenate after incubation with [(14)C]rofecoxib demonstrated that most of the radioactivity is covalently bound to elastin. The in vitro covalent binding was inhibited in the presence of beta-aminopropionitrile, D-penicillamine, and hydralazine, which suggested that the aldehyde group of allysine in human elastin was relevant to the covalent binding. The in vitro covalent binding of [(14)C]rofecoxib was significantly decreased by the addition of only nonradiolabeled rofecoxib but not the other COX-2 inhibitors, celecoxib, valdecoxib, etoricoxib, and CS-706 [2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-4-methyl 1-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)-1H-pyrrole], a novel selective COX-2 inhibitor. All the above COX-2 inhibitors except for rofecoxib had no reactivity with the aldehyde group of benzaldehyde used as a model compound of allysine aldehyde under a physiological pH condition. On the other hand, no retention of the radioactivity of [(14)C]rofecoxib was observed in human aortic endothelial cells in vitro, suggesting that rofecoxib is not retained in aortic endothelial cells in vivo. These results suggest that rofecoxib, but not other COX-2 inhibitors, is capable of covalently binding to the aldehyde group of allysine in human elastin. This might be one of the main causes of cardiovascular events by rofecoxib in clinical situations.