Testing enabling techniques for olefin metathesis reactions of lipophilic substrates in water as a diluent.

Olefin metathesis reactions of diverse polyfunctional substrates were conducted in water emulsions using two hydrophobic ruthenium catalysts in the presence of air. Instead of using surfactants to increase the efficiency of the metathesis reaction in water, ultrasound and microwave techniques were tested on a small-scale reaction, whereas conventional heating and mechanical stirring were effective enough to provide high conversion and selectivity on a larger scale. The developed conditions extend known protocols for the aqueous metathesis methodology, utilizing relatively low catalyst loadings and allowing for simple product isolation and purification. The established synthetic protocol was successfully adopted in the large-scale synthesis of a pharmaceutically related product - sildenafil (Viagra) derivative.

Synthesis and biological screening of novel 2-morpholinoquinoline nucleus clubbed with 1,2,4-oxadiazole motifs.

Novel series of 2-morpholinoquinoline scaffolds (6a-n), containing the 1,2,4-oxadiazole and moiety, was designed and synthesized in good yield (76-86%). The synthesized compounds were screened for their preliminary in vitro antimicrobial activity against a panel of pathogenic strains of bacteria and fungi. Molecular docking and pharmacokinetic study were carried out for the prepared compounds. The cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds was tested at different concentrations using bioassay of S. pombe cells at the cellular level. The effect of synthesized compounds on the DNA integrity of S. pombe was observed on agarose gel. Compounds 6d, 6e, 6g, 6h, 6j and 6n exhibited excellent antimicrobial potency as compared to the standard drugs (i.e Ampicillin, Norfloxacin, Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin). Compounds 6d, 6e, 6g, 6k and 6n were found to have significant antifungal activity as compared to griseofulvin. Compounds 6f, 6i, 6k, 6l were found very less cytotoxic, while compounds 6d, 6e, 6g, 6h were found to exhibit maximum toxicity. The rest of the synthesized compounds were found to be moderately toxic.

Novel morpholinoquinoline nucleus clubbed with pyrazoline scaffolds: Synthesis, antibacterial, antitubercular and antimalarial activities.

A series of novel morpholinoquinoline based conjugates with pyrazoline moiety were synthesized under microwave irradiation. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for their preliminary in vitro antibacterial activity against a panel of pathogenic strains of bacteria and fungi, antituberculosis activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Most of them exhibited significant antibacterial activity as compared to the first line drugs. Compounds 6a and 9d were found to possess excellent antibacterial activity potency as compared to ampicillin (286 µM), chloramphenicol (154 µM) and ciprofloxacin (150 µM). In antifungal screening, against Candida albicans, compounds 6c, 7c, 8a, 8b, 8c and 9b showed significant activity as compared to griseofulvin (1147 µM). Compounds 8b, 6b, 9d, 6a, 9b, 7b and 8a displayed brilliant activity against P. falciparum strain as compared to chloroquine (IC50 0.062 µM) as well as quinine (IC50 0.826 µM). Compounds 6d, 7b, 8b, 9c and 9d exhibited superior antitubercular activity. Among them 8b was found to be equipotent to rifampicin with 95% inhibition. The cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds was tested using bioassay of Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells at cellular level.

Design, synthesis and characterization of fluoro substituted novel pyrazolylpyrazolines scaffold and their pharmacological screening.

A novel series of fluoro substituted pyrazolylpyrazolines 7a-l was synthesized in good to excellent yield (77-88%) from pyrazole chalcones 5a-d and substituted phenyl hydrazine hydrochlorides 6a-c under microwave irradiation. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for their preliminary in vitro antibacterial activity against a panel of pathogenic stains of bacteria and fungi, antituberculosis activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Compounds 7a, 7b, 7g, 7h, 7j and 7k displayed excellent activity against P. falciparum stain as compared to quinine IC50 0.268. Good antitubercular activity was exhibited by compounds 7a, 7e, 7h and 7k. Some of them also exhibited superior antibacterial activity as compared to the first line drugs.

Congenital cheek teratoma with temporo-mandibular joint ankylosis managed with ultra-thin silicone sheet interpositional arthroplasty.

Primary cheek teratomas are rare with < 5 reported cases. None had associated temporo mandibular joint ankylosis (TMJA). The fundamental aim in the treatment of TMJA is the successful surgical resection of ankylotic bone, prevention of recurrence, and aesthetic improvement by ensuring functional occlusion. Early treatment is necessary to promote proper growth and function of mandible and to facilitate the positive psychological development of child. Inter-positional arthroplasty with ultra-thin silicone sheet was performed. Advantages include short operative time, less foreign material in the joint space leading to negligible foreign body reactions and least chances of implant extrusion. Instead of excising a large bony segment, a thin silicone sheet was interposed and then sutured ensuring preservation of mandibular height. Aggressive post-operative physiotherapy with custom made dynamic jaw exerciser was used to prevent recurrence.

Continuous opioid agonist treatment dose-dependently regulates mu-opioid receptors and dynamin-2 in mouse spinal cord.

Continuous opioid agonist treatment produces tolerance and in some cases mu opioid receptor (muOR) down-regulation. Previous studies indicate that down-regulation of muOR is more likely with high-efficacy opioid agonists (e.g., etorphine), whereas lower efficacy agonists (e.g., morphine) do not regulate muOR density. It has been suggested that muOR down-regulation may depend upon increases in Dynamin-2 (DYN-2) proteins. Therefore, the present study examined the effect of various infusion doses of etorphine on muOR density, DYN-2 protein, and DYN-2 mRNA abundance in mouse spinal cord. Mice were implanted sc with an osmotic pump that infused etorphine (50-250 microg/kg/day). Controls were implanted with inert placebo pellets. At the end of 7 days, mice were sacrificed, spinal cord removed and processed for radioligand binding, quantitative Western blotting, or RT-PCR assay. Results indicate that etorphine induced dose-dependent regulation of muOR density, DYN-2 proteins, and mRNA abundance in mouse spinal cord. Higher infusion doses significantly down-regulated muOR density, increased DYN-2 protein abundance, and decreased DYN-2 mRNA. Analysis of these results indicated a significant correlation between muOR down-regulation and DYN-2 abundance in mouse spinal cord. Taken together, muOR regulation may depend on changes in DYN-2 abundance induced by high-efficacy opioid agonists in mouse spinal cord.

Opioid agonist and antagonist treatment differentially regulates immunoreactive mu-opioid receptors and dynamin-2 in vivo.

Opioid agonists and antagonists can regulate the density of mu-opioid receptors in whole animal and in cell culture. High intrinsic efficacy agonists (e.g., etorphine), but not lower intrinsic efficacy agonists (e.g., morphine), produce mu-opioid receptor down-regulation and can alter the abundance of mu-opioid receptor mRNA. Conversely, opioid antagonists substantially increase the density of mu-opioid receptors without changing its mRNA. Mu-opioid receptor up-regulation has been associated with decreases in the trafficking protein dynamin-2, whereas mu-opioid receptor down-regulation produces an increase in dynamin-2 abundance. To probe the differences between opioid agonist and antagonist-induced mu-opioid receptor regulation, the current study determined changes in mu-opioid receptor density using a combined radioligand binding ([3H] DAMGO) and quantitative Western blotting approach in mouse spinal cord. Furthermore, the differences between intermittent and continuous dosing protocols were evaluated. Continuous (7-8 days) s.c. infusions of naloxone (5 mg/kg/day) or naltrexone (15 mg s.c. implant pellet) increased mu-opioid receptor density in radioligand binding assays (approximately +80%) in mouse spinal cord and down-regulated dynamin-2 abundance (approximately -30%), but had no effect on the abundance of immunoreactive mu-opioid receptor. Continuous (7 days) s.c. infusion of etorphine (200 microg/kg/day) decreased immunoreactive mu-opioid receptor (approximately -35%) and [3H] DAMGO binding (approximately -30%), and concurrently increased dynamin-2 abundance (approximately +40%). Continuous (7 days) morphine infusion (40 mg/kg/day plus 25 mg s.c. implant pellet) had no effect on any outcome measure. Delivery of the same daily dose of etorphine or naloxone using intermittent (every 24 h for 7 days) s.c. administration had no effect on immunoreactive mu-opioid receptor, [3H] DAMGO binding or dynamin-2 abundance. These data indicate that mu-opioid receptor density, determined in radioligand binding assays, and immunoreactive dynamin-2 abundance are regulated by continuous, but not intermittent, opioid ligand treatment. Furthermore, the differential regulation of mu-opioid receptor abundance by agonists and antagonists in immunoblotting assays contrasts with changes in [3H] DAMGO binding. Taken together, these results suggest that etorphine-induced down-regulation may depend upon mu-opioid receptor degradation and changes in dynamin-2-mediated receptor trafficking. Conversely, antagonist-induced up-regulation does not require an increase in mu-opioid receptor synthesis and may entail conversion of receptors to an appropriate conformation to bind ligand, as well as changes in receptor trafficking.

Chronic opioid antagonist treatment dose-dependently regulates mu-opioid receptors and trafficking proteins in vivo.

Chronic opioid antagonist treatment increases the density of mu-opioid receptors (muOR) in many model systems. In previous studies, naltrexone treatment produced an increase in muOR density accompanied by decreases in GRK-2 and DYN-2 protein abundance. To examine the relationship between changes in receptor density and proteins involved in receptor trafficking, the dose-dependent effect of chronic naloxone infusion was determined. Dose-dependent antagonism of morphine analgesia was also examined. Mice were infused with naloxone (0.1, 1.0, 5.0 mg/kg/day sc) for 7 days via osmotic pump. Controls were treated with placebo pellets. On the 7th day, morphine dose-response studies were determined using the tail flick. Other mice were sacrificed at the end of the treatment and spinal cords were collected for determination of muOR density and GRK-2 and DYN-2 protein abundance. Naloxone infusion dose-dependently increased spinal muOR density with no change in affinity. The increases in mu-receptor density were proportional to dose-dependent decreases in GRK-2 and DYN-2 protein levels. Furthermore, naloxone dose-dependently antagonized morphine. These data suggest that opioid antagonist-induced muOR up-regulation in mouse spinal cord is associated with regulation of proteins involved in receptor trafficking and support suggestions that opioid antagonist-induced receptor up-regulation is due to reduced constitutive internalization of opioid receptors.

Chronic opioid antagonist treatment selectively regulates trafficking and signaling proteins in mouse spinal cord.

Chronic opioid antagonist treatment produces functional supersensitivity and mu-opioid receptor (muOR) upregulation. Studies suggest a role for G-protein receptor kinases (GRKs) and dynamin (DYN), but not signaling proteins (e.g., G(ialpha2)), in regulation of muOR density following opioid treatment. Therefore, this study examined muOR density, agonist potency, and the abundance and gene expression of GRK-2, DYN-2, and G(ialpha2) in mouse spinal cord after opioid antagonist treatment. Mice were implanted with a 15 mg naltrexone (NTX) or placebo pellet and 8 days later pellets were removed. At 24 and 192 h following NTX treatment, mice were tested for spinal DAMGO analgesia. Other mice were sacrificed at 0 or 192 h following NTX treatment and G(ialpha2), GRK-2, and DYN-2 protein and mRNA levels determined. [(3)H] DAMGO binding studies were also conducted. Immediately following NTX treatment (0 h), muOR density was increased (+ approximately 135%), while 192 h following NTX treatment muOR density was unchanged. NTX increased DAMGO analgesic potency (3.1-fold) 24 h following NTX treatment, while there was no effect at 192 h. NTX decreased protein and mRNA abundance of GRK-2 (-32%; -48%) and DYN-2 (-25%; -29%) in spinal cord at 0 h. At 192 h following 8-day NTX treatment, GRK-2 protein and mRNA were at control levels, while DYN-2 protein remained decreased (-31%) even though DYN-2 mRNA had returned to control levels. G(ialpha2) was unaffected by NTX treatment. These data suggest that opioid antagonist-induced mu-receptor upregulation is mediated by changes in abundance and gene expression of proteins implicated in receptor trafficking, which may decrease constitutive receptor cycling.