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Background General anesthetics such as sevoflurane interfere with dendritic development and synaptogenesis, resulting in cognitive impairment. The collapsin response mediator protein2 (CRMP2) plays important roles in dendritic development and synaptic plasticity and its phosphorylation is regulated by cycline dependent kinase-5 (Cdk5) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). Here we investigated whether Cdk5/CRMP2 or GSK-3β/CRMP2 pathway is involved in sevoflurane-induced developmental neurotoxicity. Methods Rats at postnatal day 7 (PND7) were i.p. injected with Cdk5 inhibitor roscovitine, GSK-3β inhibitor SB415286 or saline 20 min. before exposure to 2.8% sevoflurane for 4 h. Western-blotting was applied to measure the expression of Cdk5/CRMP2 and GSK-3β/CRMP2 pathway proteins in the hippocampus 6 h after the sevoflurane exposure. When rats grew to adolescence (from PND25), they were tested for open-field and contextual fear conditioning, and then long term potentiation (LTP) from hippocampal slices was recorded, and morphology of pyramidal neuron was examined by Golgi staining and synaptic plasticity-related proteins expression in hippocampus were measured by western-blotting. In another batch of experiment, siRNA-CRMP2 or vehicle control was injected into hippocampus on PND5. Results Sevoflurane activated Cdk5/CRMP2 and GSK-3β/CRMP2 pathways in the hippocampus of neonatal rats, reduced dendritic length, branches and the density of dendritic spine in pyramidal neurons. It also reduced the expressions of PSD-95, drebrin and synaptophysin in hippocampus, impaired memory ability of rats and inhibited LTP in hippocampal slices. All the impairment effects by sevoflurane were attenuated by pretreatment with inhibitor of Cdk5 or GSK-3β. Furthermore, rat transfected with siRNA-CRMP2 eliminated the neuroprotective effects of Cdk5 or GSK-3β blocker in neurobehavioral and LTP tests. Conclusion Cdk5/CRMP2 and GSK-3β/CRMP2 pathways participate in sevoflurane-induced dendritic development abnormalities and cognitive dysfunction in developing rats.

General anesthetics interfere with dendritic development and synaptogenesis, resulting in cognitive impairment in the developing animals. RhoA signal pathway plays important roles in dendritic development by regulating cytoskeleton protein such as tubulin and actin. However, it's not clear whether RhoA pathway is involved in inhaled general anesthetics sevoflurane-induced synaptic development abnormalities and long-term cognitive dysfunction. Rats at postnatal day 7 (PND7) were injected intraperitoneally with RhoA pathway inhibitor Y27632 or saline 20 min before exposed to 2.8% sevoflurane for 4 h. The apoptosis-related proteins and RhoA/CRMP2 pathway proteins in the hippocampus were measured 6 h after sevoflurane exposure. Cognitive functions were evaluated by the open field test on PND25 rats and contextual fear conditioning test on PND32-33 rats. The dendritic morphology and density of dendritic spines in the pyramidal neurons of hippocampus were determined by Golgi staining and the synaptic plasticity-related proteins were also measured on PND33 rats. Long term potentiation (LTP) from hippocampal slices was recorded on PND34-37 rats. Sevoflurane induced caspase-3 activation, decreased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and increased TUNEL-positive neurons in hippocampus of PND7 rats, which were attenuated by inhibition of RhoA. However, sevoflurane had no significant effects on activity of RhoA/CRMP2 pathway. Sevoflurane disturbed dendritic morphogenesis, reduced the number of dendritic spines, decreased proteins expression of PSD-95, drebrin and synaptophysin, inhibited LTP in hippocampal slices and impaired memory ability in the adolescent rats, while inhibition of RhoA activity did not rescue the changes above induced by sevoflurane. RhoA signal pathway did not participate in sevoflurane-induced dendritic and synaptic development abnormalities and cognitive dysfunction in developing rats.

Realizing the value of ecological products is the key point to realize the integration of the dual goals of ecological civilization construction and economic development in China, and is a powerful grip for promoting industrial transformation and upgrading and implementing high-quality development tactics. In the value realization mechanism of ecological products, it is most critical to coordinate the relationship among farmers, ecological product developers and the government. Based on the systematic analysis of the game relationship among three subjects, this study constructs a game model and uses evolutionary game and numerical simulation methods to analyze the model, obtains the conditions of pure strategy selection of three subjects and the evolutionary law of mixed strategy probability combinations. This study confirms the crowding-out effect and the effectiveness of combining incentive policies such as government subsidies, fines, and required loss compensation, providing a decision reference for building an eco-product value realization system from the perspective of organizational relationship governance and policy mechanism construction.

Externally bonded reinforcement fiber-reinforced polymer (EBR FRP) laminates have been used around the world for the shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with corroded sti...

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of different concentrations of ligustrazine, an extract from Chinese herb, on ketamine requirement for hypnosis and analgesia in mice. In the hypnotic response study, mice were randomly allocated to receive saline or ligustrazine at 10, 20, 40, 80 or 160 mg·kg-1 by intraperitoneal injection. Ketamine was administrated 15 min after ligustrazine injection. The hypnotic response was determined by assessing loss of the righting reflex (LORR) after ketamine injection. The dose of ketamine was determined by modified Dixon's up-and-down method in each group. In the analgesia study, different doses of ligustrazine were administrated 15 min before 50 mg·kg-1 ketamine injection. The analgesia effects (pain threshold) were determined by heat radiation-induced tail-flick latency and evaluated before ligustrazine administration or 5, 15, 30 and 60 min after ketamine administration. The ED50 [95% confidence interval (CI)] for hypnosis induced by ketamine was 54.1 (44.8, 65.3) mg·kg-1. Ligustrazine dose-dependently decreased the ED50 for ketamine to induce hypnosis, which was [31.6 (26.2, 38.1)] mg·kg-1 with the addition of 80 mg·kg-1 ligustrazine and [27.7 (22.6, 33.7)] mg·kg-1 with the addition of 160 mg·kg-1 ligustrazine, respectively (p

The water tree is one of the key factors leading to the insulation property deterioration in cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables. An accelerated ageing experiment has been performed to produce water trees with the purpose of ageing the full-size XLPE cable under the high-frequency electric field. Based on Polarization and Depolarization Current (PDC) method, the diagnostic tests are employed to evaluate the ageing extent of the cable subjected to water tree at different ageing time. Results show that the average length of water trees is proportional to the ageing time, and thus the experiment is effective to accelerate the growth of water trees. Furthermore, such various diagnostic indicators as the I∗t∼lnt curves, the loss factor at different frequency, have their rules to assess the ageing condition of the cable with the duration of ageing time. Therefore, information obtained from PDC current can be used for determining the ageing extent of the cables.

The paper proposes a new type of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) shear reinforcements for reinforced concrete (RC) beams. The specimens are shear reinforced with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer mesh fabric (CFRP-MF) configuration rather than traditional steel stirrups. The shear behaviors of the 15 concrete beams reinforced in shear with CFRP-MF configuration or with/without steel stirrups (as control specimens) was investigated in this paper. The variables of the investigation include shear span-depth ratio (a/d = 1.0, 2.5 and 3.5) and the shear reinforcement ratio of CFRP-MF composites (0.036%, 0.067% and 0.097%). The experimental results indicate that the concrete beams reinforced in shear with the CFRP-MF configuration have similar shear behaviors to the corresponding RC control beams reinforced in shear with steel stirrups especially in overall load-deflection relationship, shear strength, and the crack pattern of ultimate state. The predictions of the specimens’ shear strength by using shear design provisions in ACI 440.1R-15, CSA S6-14 and CSA S806-12 are examined and compared.

BACKGROUND Within the sulfotransferase (SULT) superfamily of metabolic enzymes, SULT1A1 and 1A3/4 isoforms are of particular interest, due to their abilities to catalyze the sulfation of phenolic endobiotics and xenobiotics. Although the difference in their substrate specificity is well documented, an isoform-specific quantification method is still not available. OBJECTIVE To detect and quantify SULT1A1 and 1A3/4 in S9 fractions and cell lines using targeted mass spectrometry-based proteomics. METHOD Samples were tryptically digested, and signature peptides were quantified using liquid chromatography- multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (LC-MRM/MS). Stable isotopelabeled (SIL) peptides were used as internal and calibration standards. SULT1A1 and SULT1A3/4 were quantified in various S9 fractions and cell line samples. RESULTS Intraday and interday variabilities were low for relative quantification in S9 and cell line matrices (

The diastereoselective synthesis and biological activity of piperidine-3,4-diol and piperidine-3-ol-derived pyrrolotriazine inhibitors of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) are described. Although piperidine-3,4-diol and piperidine-3-ol derivatives showed comparable in vitro ALK activity, the latter subset of inhibitors demonstrated improved physiochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. Furthermore, the stereochemistry of the C3 and C4 centers had a marked impact on the in vivo inhibition of ALK autophosphorylation. Thus, trans-4-aryl-piperidine-3-ols (22) were more potent than the cis diastereomers (20).

Analogues structurally related to anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor 1 were optimized for metabolic stability. The results from this endeavor not only led to improved metabolic stability, pharmacokinetic parameters, and in vitro activity against clinically derived resistance mutations but also led to the incorporation of activity for focal adhesion kinase (FAK). FAK activation, via amplification and/or overexpression, is characteristic of multiple invasive solid tumors and metastasis. The discovery of the clinical stage, dual FAK/ALK inhibitor 27b, including details surrounding SAR, in vitro/in vivo pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics, is reported herein.

H3R structure–activity relationships for a new class of 4,5-dihydropyridazin-3-one H3R antagonists/inverse agonists are disclosed. Modification of the 4,5-dihydropyridazinone moiety to block in vivo metabolism identified 4,4-dimethyl-6-{4-[3-((R)-2-methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-4,5-dihydro-2H-pyridazin-3-one 22 as a lead candidate demonstrating potent in vivo functional H3R antagonism in the rat dipsogenia model and robust wake promoting activity in the rat EEG/EMG model.

Chemical strategies to mitigate cytochrome P450-mediated bioactivation of novel 2,7-disubstituted pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine ALK inhibitors are described along with synthesis and biological activity. Piperidine-derived analogues showing minimal microsomal reactive metabolite formation were discovered. Potent, selective, and metabolically stable ALK inhibitors from this class were identified, and an orally bioavailable compound (32) with antitumor efficacy in ALK-driven xenografts in mouse models was extensively characterized.

Previous studies have shown that (5-{4-[3-(R)-2-methylpyrrolin-1-yl-propoxy]phenyl}-2H-pyridazin-3-one) 2 had high affinity for both the human (hH3R Ki = 2.8 nM) and rat H3Rs (rH3R Ki = 8.5 nM) but displayed low oral bioavailability in the rat. Optimization of the 5-pyridazin-3-one R2 and R6 positions to improve the pharmacokinetic properties over 2 led to the identification of 5-{4-[3-(R)-2-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl)propoxy]phenyl}-2-pyridin-2-yl-2H-pyridazin-3-one 29. Compound 29 displayed high affinity for both human and rat H3Rs (hH3R Ki = 1.7 nM, rH3R Ki = 3.7 nM) with a greater than 1000-fold selectivity over the other histamine receptor subtypes and favorable pharmacokinetic properties across species (F = 78% rat, 92% dog, 96% monkey). It showed low binding to human plasma proteins, weakly inhibited cytochrome P450 isoforms, and displayed an excellent safety profile for a CNS-active compound. 29 displayed potent H3R antagonist activity in the brain in a rat dipsogenia model and demonstrated enhancement...

There are numerous published studies establishing a link between reactive metabolite formation and toxicity of various drugs. Although the correlation between idiosyncratic reactions and reactive metabolite formation is not 1:1, the association between the two is such that many pharmaceutical companies now monitor for reactive metabolites as a standard part of drug candidate testing and selection. The most common method involves in vitro human microsomal incubations in the presence of a thiol trapping agent, such as glutathione (GSH), followed by LC/MS analysis. In this study, we describe several 2,7-disubstituted-pyrrolotriazine analogues that are extremely potent reactive metabolite precursors. Utilizing a UPLC/UV/MS method, unprecedented levels of GSH adducts were measured that are 5-10 times higher than previously reported for high reactive metabolite-forming compounds such as clozapine and troglitazone.

Pyridazinone 1 was recently reported as a potent H(3)R antagonist with good drug-like properties and in vivo activity. A series of constrained amine analogs of 1 was synthesized to identify compounds with improved pharmacokinetic profiles. From these efforts, a new class of (S)-2-pyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl-1-pyrrolidinyl amides was identified.

A novel 2,7-disubstituted-pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine scaffold has been designed as a new kinase inhibitor platform mimicking the bioactive conformation of the well-known diaminopyrimidine motif. The design, synthesis, and validation of this new pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine scaffold will be described for inhibitors of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). Importantly, incorporation of appropriate potency and selectivity determinants has led to the discovery of several advanced leads that were orally efficacious in animal models of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). A lead inhibitor (30) displaying superior efficacy was identified and in depth in vitro/in vivo characterization will be presented.

During early drug discovery, the synthetic pathways for test compounds are not well defined and impurities in the test compounds are inevitable. Compounds undergo serial screening tests at this stage to assess their biological activities and drug-like properties. Impurities in the test compounds can produce false positive results and therefore complicate the interpretation of data. P450 inhibition is one of the screens used in the early drug discovery process to assess the potential of drug-drug interactions caused by the inhibition of P450 enzymes. The impact of impurities on P450 inhibition has not been investigated. In this study, the impact of impurities on CYP2D6 IC(50) values was evaluated using model compounds. Cimetidine was chosen as the test compound. Quinidine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and ibuprofen were chosen to represent impurities as they inhibit CYP2D6 to varying degrees. The IC(50) values of these model impurities for CYP2D6 were 0.11 µM, 0.98 µM, 13.4 µM, and >100 µM, respectively. Impurities with potent CYP2D6 inhibition, such as quinidine, can significantly decrease the apparent IC(50) value for the mixture. With the addition of only 2% quinidine to cimetidine (mol/mol), the apparent IC(50) value of cimetidine decreased from 98 µM to 4.4 µM. With the addition of 10% quinidine, the apparent IC(50) decreased to 1.04 µM. Such a significant decrease in apparent IC(50) values can produce a false alert and cause the inappropriate elimination of good compounds at an early stage. Impur6ities with low inhibitory potential, such as fluvoxamine and ibuprofen, did not cause a significant change in apparent IC(50) values. An impurity can have a similar effect on the IC(50) values for inhibition of other biological activities. The effect of an impurity on apparent IC(50) values can be predicted by using a simulation curve if the potency of the impurity is characterized.

A novel class of 1'-cyclobutyl-6-(4-piperidyloxy)spiro[benzopyran-2,4'-piperidine] derivatives with low nanomolar affinity for the human and rat histamine-3 receptors (H(3)Rs) are described. The spirobenzopyran piperidine ether analogs demonstrated excellent H(3)R affinity and selectivity against histamine receptor subtypes (H(1)R, H(2)R, and H(4)R), were stable in liver microsomes, and had selectivity against CYP P450 enzymes. Compounds 10, 13, 15, and 16 demonstrated high H(3)R affinity, in vitro liver microsomal stability, selectivity against CYP isoforms, moreover, these ether analogs exhibited acceptable iv pharmacokinetic (PK) properties but had poor oral exposure in rat.

The polarization/depolarization current (PDC) detection device was designed to measure the broad range current from μA to pA level, which was suitable for 10kV XLPE cables ageing test. To achieve wide range of measurement, the ultra-low bias current amplifier and feedback resistances which had different values were used in the I/V conversion circuits. Teflon material was taken to prevent leakage current in the circuit board. Some effective methods (e.g. ultra-high value resistance, electromagnetic shielding, multiple filters, and high precision A/D conversion) were used to improve the accuracy and resolution of the measurement. The verification indicates that the device has a current measuring range of ±20μA, and a resolution of 0.1pA. The device was used to measure the PDC of the aged cable sample.

The effect of the antithyroid drug methimazole (MMI) on cytochrome P450/P450 reductase-dependent activation of the anti-cancer prodrug cyclophosphamide (CPA) was investigated in a rat model of P450 prodrug activation-based cancer gene therapy. MMI treatment decreased the expression of hepatic P450 reductase by approximately 75% but did not alter P450 reductase levels in a 9L gliosarcoma growing in vivo as a subcutaneous solid tumor. In a pharmacokinetic study, MMI treatment significantly decreased the peak plasma concentration of the active, P450-generated metabolite 4-hydroxy-CPA, from 84.1 to 57.8 microM, and substantially prolonged its apparent half-life, from 25.4 to 54.3 minutes. The area under the plasma concentration x time curve and clearance values for 4-hydroxy-CPA were largely unchanged, however, indicating that MMI decreases the rate but not the overall extent of hepatic CPA activation. MMI alleviated some of the systemic toxicities of CPA treatment, as judged by the moderation of CPA-induced body weight loss and hematuria. The impact of MMI on CPA antitumoral activity was evaluated in rats implanted with 9L tumors transduced with P450 reductase in combination with the CPA-activating P450 2B1, which confers the capacity for intratumoral prodrug activation and leads to markedly enhanced chemosensitivity. CPA given as a single, subtherapeutic dose of 75 mg/kg resulted in a 13.8 day growth delay, whereas CPA in combination with MMI increased the growth delay to 17.4 days. By contrast, a tumor growth delay of only 3.4 days was observed in animals bearing 9L wild-type tumors given the same drug combination. We conclude that the selective reduction of liver P450 reductase after MMI treatment decreases the rate of hepatic drug activation and the host toxicity of CPA without loss of the antitumoral effect, thus increasing the therapeutic index of CPA in a P450-based cancer gene therapy model, where CPA undergoes localized drug activation at its intratumoral site of action.

Chloroacetaldehyde (CA) is a nephrotoxic and neurotoxic metabolite of the anticancer drug ifosfamide (IFA) and is a dose-limiting factor in IFA-based chemotherapy. Plasma levels of CA in IFA-treated cancer patients are often difficult to determine due to the lack of a sufficiently sensitive and specific analytical method. We have developed a simple and sensitive HPLC method with fluorescence detection to measure CA formation catalyzed by liver cytochrome P450 enzymes, either in vivo in IFA-injected rats or in vitro in liver microsomal incubations. This method is based on the formation of the highly fluorescent adduct 1-N(6)-ethenoadenosine from the reaction of CA with adenosine (10 mM) at pH 4.5 upon heating at 80 degrees C for 2 h. The derivatization mixture is directly injected onto a C18 HPLC column and is monitored with a fluorescence detector. Calibration curves are linear (r > 0.999) over a wide range of CA concentrations (5-400 pmol). The limit of detection of CA in plasma using this method is

The cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes that catalyse metabolism of the estrogen, estrone (E1), to the putative carcinogen 16alpha-hydroxy E1 (16alpha-OHE1) in humans were determined. The potential of the most abundant circulating form of estrogen, estrone 3-sulfate (E1S), to be the substrate was also investigated. Human liver microsomal sulfatases convert E1S to E1, an essential prerequisite for formation of 16alpha-OHE1 from added E1S in this system. E1 metabolism to 16alpha-OHE1 in a panel of 15 human liver microsomal preparations correlated with total P450 concentrations (r2 = 0.63) and with activities associated with P450 forms CYP3A4 and 3A5 (r2 = 0.72). E1 16alpha-hydroxylase activity in human liver microsomes was inhibited by 75% by monoclonal anti human CYP3A4/5 antibodies at 4 mg antibody/nmol total P450, and by troleandomycin, a specific CYP3A4/5 inhibitor. Rates of E1 metabolism to 16alpha-OHE1 were 1.6-fold higher when E1 was generated in situ from E1S than when E1 was added. Microsomal preparations of cDNA expressed CYP3A4 or 3A5, with NADPH-P450-reductase co-expressed, both metabolized E1 to 16alpha-OHE1, and added cytochrome b5 increased the rates 5.1- and 7.5-fold, respectively. In these systems rates of E1 metabolism to 16alpha-OHE1 were 2.8-fold higher when E1 was generated in situ from E1S than when E1 was added. Kinetic values for E1 metabolism to 16alpha-OHE1 by human liver microsomes and for the expressed CYP3A4 system were Km 154 and 172 microM, respectively, and Vmax 238 pmol/min/nmol total P450 and 1050 pmol/min/nmol CYP3A4, respectively. Thus, formation of the putative carcinogen 16alpha-OHE1 is catalysed by CYP3A4 and 3A5 and stimulated by cytochrome b5. E1S is not a substrate but formation of E1 from E1S in situ stimulates formation of 16alpha-OHE1, possibly because E1S is more water soluble and in situ generation of E1 provides for facilitated exposure of E1 to the P450 substrate binding sites. Blocking of the pathway of E1 to 16alpha-OHE1 could provide a therapeutic approach for diminishing the risk of estrogen dependent breast cancer.

The human cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D subfamily comprises the CYP2D6 gene and four pseudogenes, CYP2D7P1 and 2 and CYP2D8P1 and 2. The CYP2D6 gene product is a prominent drug-metabolizing enzyme, which is probably constitutive and has no known inducing agents. Alternative splicing of the pre-mRNAs of these genes has been detected in human liver and breast tissue. RNA-PCR, competitive RNA-PCR, Southern blotting, cDNA sequencing, and gene-specific PCR have been used to fully characterize the alternatively spliced forms of CYP2D mRNA in human breast tissue in the region of exon 5 to 8. Such alternative splicing could regulate the expression of CYP2D6 protein. A full-length mRNA (exons 5 to 8), and variants c (exon 6 deleted), b' (3' portion of exon 6 deleted), e (3' portion of exon 6 deleted, 3' 57-bp portion of intron 6 included), d (3' 57-bp portion of intron 6 included), and b (intron 6 included) were characterized and quantitated. Variant c was derived from CYP2D6, variants d, e, and b were from CYP2D7P, and variant b' and full-length mRNA were derived from both CYP2D6 and 2D7P. Full-length mRNA was a minor form in human breast tissue where variants b' and c predominated. Human breast tumor MCF-7 cells had CYP2D mRNA splice variant patterns similar to those of human breast tissue, while human liver tumor HepG2 cells had wild-type mRNA predominating. These results suggest that CYP2D6 could be regulated tissue specifically using tissue-specific alternative mRNA splicing.

As a key factor of insulation deterioration of XLPE cables, water tree can lead to the decrease of insulation property. But the dielectric loss caused by water tree is obvious at a very low frequency due to the long-time polarization of internal space charge. In this paper, focused on the dielectric response of cables, the dielectric loss spectrum of cable samples is also calculated by employing the extended Debye approach. Then the results are compared to measurements of dissipation factor (tan δ) at different frequencies by IDAX206, which shows that the aged cable has higher values of dielectric loss than a new one. The paper studies how the dielectric loss data can be effectively used to determine ageing state of the cables' insulation.

A novel class of 1′-cyclobutyl-6-(4-piperidyloxy)spiro[benzopyran-2,4′-piperidine] derivatives with low nanomolar affinity for the human and rat histamine-3 receptors (H3Rs) are described. The spirobenzopyran piperidine ether analogs demonstrated excellent H3R affinity and selectivity against histamine receptor subtypes (H1R, H2R, and H4R), were stable in liver microsomes, and had selectivity against CYP P450 enzymes. Compounds 10, 13, 15, and 16 demonstrated high H3R affinity, in vitro liver microsomal stability, selectivity against CYP isoforms, moreover, these ether analogs exhibited acceptable iv pharmacokinetic (PK) properties but had poor oral exposure in rat.

Members of the JAK family of nonreceptor tyrosine kinases play a critical role in the growth and progression of many cancers and in inflammatory diseases. JAK2 has emerged as a leading therapeutic target for oncology, providing a rationale for the development of a selective JAK2 inhibitor. A program to optimize selective JAK2 inhibitors to combat cancer while reducing the risk of immune suppression associated with JAK3 inhibition was undertaken. The structure-activity relationships and biological evaluation of a novel series of compounds based on a 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine scaffold are reported. Para substitution on the aryl at the C8 position of the core was optimum for JAK2 potency (17). Substitution at the C2 nitrogen position was required for cell potency (21). Interestingly, meta substitution of C2-NH-aryl moiety provided exceptional selectivity for JAK2 over JAK3 (23). These efforts led to the discovery of CEP-33779 (29), a novel, selective, and orally bioavailable inhibitor of JAK2.

Previous studies have shown that (5-{4-[3-(R)-2-methylpyrrolin-1-yl-propoxy]phenyl}-2H-pyridazin-3-one) 2 had high affinity for both the human (hH(3)R K(i) = 2.8 nM) and rat H(3)Rs (rH(3)R K(i) = 8.5 nM) but displayed low oral bioavailability in the rat. Optimization of the 5-pyridazin-3-one R(2) and R(6) positions to improve the pharmacokinetic properties over 2 led to the identification of 5-{4-[3-(R)-2-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl)propoxy]phenyl}-2-pyridin-2-yl-2H-pyridazin-3-one 29. Compound 29 displayed high affinity for both human and rat H(3)Rs (hH(3)R K(i) = 1.7 nM, rH(3)R K(i) = 3.7 nM) with a greater than 1000-fold selectivity over the other histamine receptor subtypes and favorable pharmacokinetic properties across species (F = 78% rat, 92% dog, 96% monkey). It showed low binding to human plasma proteins, weakly inhibited cytochrome P450 isoforms, and displayed an excellent safety profile for a CNS-active compound. 29 displayed potent H(3)R antagonist activity in the brain in a rat dipsogenia model and demonstrated enhancement of cognitive function in a rat social recognition model at low doses. However, the development of compound 29 was discontinued because of genotoxicity.

Structure–activity relationships for a series of phenoxypiperidine pyridazin-3-one H3R antagonists/inverse agonists are disclosed. The search for compounds with improved hERG and DAT selectivity without the formation of in vivo active metabolites identified 6-[4-(1-cyclobutyl-piperidin-4-yloxy)-phenyl]-4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-2H-pyridazin-3-one 17b. Compound 17b met discovery flow criteria, demonstrated potent H3R functional antagonism in vivo in the rat dipsogenia model and potent wake activity in the rat EEG/EMG model at doses as low as 0.1 mg/kg ip.

A novel series of 4-pyridazin-3-one and 5-pyridazin-3-one analogues were designed and synthesized as H(3)R antagonists. Structure-activity relationship revealed the 5-pyridazin-3-ones 8a and S-methyl 8b had excellent human and rat H(3)R affinities, and acceptable pharmacokinetic properties. In vivo evaluation of 8a showed potent activity in the rat dipsogenia model and robust wake-promoting activity in the rat EEG/EMG model.

Optimization of the R 2 and R 6 positions of (5-{4-[3-( R )-2-methylpyrrolin-1-yl-propoxy]phenyl}-2 H -pyridazin-3-one) 2a with constrained phenoxypiperidines led to the identification of 5-[4-(cyclobutyl-piperidin-4-yloxy)-phenyl]-6-methyl-2 H -pyridazin-3-one 8b as a potent, selective histamine H 3 receptor antagonist with favorable pharmacokinetic properties. Compound 8b had an excellent safety genotoxocity profile for a CNS-active compound in the Ames and micronucleus tests, also displayed potent H 3 R antagonist activity in the brain in the rat dipsogenia model and robust wake activity in the rat EEG/EMG model.

H(3)R structure-activity relationships for a new class of 4,5-dihydropyridazin-3-one H(3)R antagonists/inverse agonists are disclosed. Modification of the 4,5-dihydropyridazinone moiety to block in vivo metabolism identified 4,4-dimethyl-6-{4-[3-((R)-2-methyl-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-propoxy]-phenyl}-4,5-dihydro-2H-pyridazin-3-one 22 as a lead candidate demonstrating potent in vivo functional H(3)R antagonism in the rat dipsogenia model and robust wake promoting activity in the rat EEG/EMG model.

The JAK2/STAT pathway has important roles in hematopoiesis. With the discovery of the JAK2 V617F mutation and its presence in many patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, research in the JAK2 inhibitor arena has dramatically increased. We report a novel series of potent JAK2 inhibitors containing a 2,7-pyrrolotriazine core. To minimize potential drug-induced toxicity, targets were analyzed for the ability to form a glutathione adduct. Glutathione adduct formation was decreased by modification of the aniline substituent at C2.

Pyridazinone 1 was recently reported as a potent H(3)R antagonist with good drug-like properties and in vivo activity. A series of constrained amine analogs of 1 was synthesized to identify compounds with improved pharmacokinetic profiles. From these efforts, a new class of (S)-2-pyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl-1-pyrrolidinyl amides was identified.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of potent and selective anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors from a novel class of 2,4-diaminopyrimidines, incorporating 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-benzo[d]azepine fragments, is described. An orally bioavailable analogue (18) that displayed antitumor efficacy in ALCL xenograft models in mice was identified and extensively profiled.

Elemental maps for P, S, Cl, K, Ca and Zn of individual Amoeba proteus were obtained with the Melbourne scanning proton microprobe. The emphasis was put on the relationship of both distribution and concentration of Zn within the cell and the growth inhibitory effect of higher Zn concentrations in the culture medium. At a concentration of 0.04 mmol ZnCl2, Amoeba growth was inhibited. But at a concentration of 0.0016 mmol, the Amoeba grew as well as a control grown without addition of Zn. We found that in the former (0.04 mmol) Zn concentrated three times more than in the latter (0.0016 mmol), and also that Zn was enriched much more in the nucleus and endoplasm (five to six times) than in other parts of the cell (two times). Future work along these lines may provide insight into the mechanism by which Zn affects the growth of Amoeba proteus and other cells.

Gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy can be used to increase the therapeutic activity of anti-cancer prodrugs that undergo liver cytochrome P450 (CYP)-catalyzed prodrug to active drug conversion. The present report describes a cell-culture-based assay to identify CYP gene-CYP prodrug combinations that generate bystander cytotoxic metabolites and that may potentially be useful for CYP-based gene therapy for cancer. A panel of rat liver microsomes, comprising distinct subsets of drug-inducible hepatic CYPs, was evaluated for prodrug activation in a four-day 9L gliosarcoma cell growth inhibition assay. A strong NADPH- and liver microsome-dependent increase in 9L cytotoxicity was observed for the CYP prodrugs cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and methoxymorpholinyl doxorubicin (MMDX) but not with three other CYP prodrugs, procarbazine, dacarbazine, and tamoxifen. MMDX activation was potentiated approximately 250-fold by liver microsomes from dexamethasone-induced rats (IC(50) (MMDX) approximately 0.1nM), suggesting that dexamethasone-inducible CYP3A enzymes contribute to activation of this novel anthracycline anti-tumor agent. This CYP3A dependence was verified in studies using liver microsomes from uninduced male and female rats and by using the CYP3A-selective inhibitors troleandomycin and ketoconazole. These findings highlight the advantages of using cell culture assays to identify novel CYP prodrug-CYP gene combinations that are characterized by production of cell-permeable, cytotoxic metabolites and that may potentially be incorporated into CYP-based gene therapies for cancer treatment.