Novel mimics of sialyl Lewis X: design, synthesis and biological activity of a series of 2- and 3-malonate substituted galactoconjugates.

A series of potent inhibitors of P-selectin as potential anti-inflammatory agents is reported. These compounds are derivatives of galactocerebrosides bearing a malonate side chain in positions 2 and 3 of the galactose moiety. Based on the binding mode of sialyl Lewis X, the two acidic groups of the malonate are designed to form ionic interactions with two important lysines in the active site of P-selectin, Lys113 and Lys111. On the other hand, the 4- and 6-hydroxy groups on the galactose ring are arranged to chelate the calcium ion in the P-selectin active site. The synthesis and the biological activity of this series of compounds are described. Lead compounds having a greater potency than sialyl Lewis X are identified.

Molecular mechanism underlying the action of a novel fusion inhibitor of influenza A virus.

In the initial stages of influenza virus infection, the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of influenza virus mediates both adsorption and penetration of the virus into the host cell. Recently, we identified and characterized BMY-27709 as an inhibitor of the H1 and H2 subtypes of influenza A virus that specifically inhibits the HA function necessary for virus-cell membrane fusion (G.-X. Luo, R. Colonno, and M. Krystal, Virology 226:66-76, 1996). Studies presented herein show that the inhibition is mediated through specific interaction with the HA protein. This binding represses the low-pH-induced conformational change of the HA protein which is a prerequisite for membrane fusion. In an attempt to define the binding pocket within the HA molecule, a number of drug-resistant viruses have been isolated and characterized. Sequence analyses of the HA gene of these drug-resistant viruses mapped amino acid changes responsible for drug resistance to a region located near the amino terminus of HA2. In addition, we have identified inactive analogs of BMY-27709 which are able to compete out the inhibitory activity of BMY-27709. This finding suggests that inhibition of the HA-mediated membrane fusion by this class of compounds is not solely the result of binding within the HA molecule but requires specific interactions.

Synthesis and biological characterization of alpha-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-(5-fluoro-2-pyrimidinyl)-1-piperazinebutanol and analogues as potential atypical antipsychotic agents.

A series of 1-(pyrimidin-2-yl)piperazine derivatives were prepared and evaluated in receptor binding assays and in in vivo behavioral paradigms as potential atypical antipsychotic agents. Compound 16 (BMS 181100 (formerly BMY 14802)) emerged as the lead compound from within the series on the basis of its good activity and duration of action in the inhibition of both conditioned avoidance responding and apomorphine-induced stereotopy in the rat. Compound 16 not only failed to induce catalepsy in the rat but was quite effective in reversing the cataleptic effect of neuroleptic agents, thus indicating a low propensity for causing extrapyramidal side effects. In comparison to reference antipsychotic agents, 16 appeared to be less sedating and was relatively weaker in causing muscle incoordination. The compound was essentially inactive in binding to dopamine D2 receptors and its chronic administration to rats did not result in dopamine receptor supersensitivity. It exhibited modest to weak affinity for 5-HT1A and alpha 1 receptors but was found to be a fairly potent ligand for sigma binding sites (IC50 vs (+)-[3H]-3-PPP = 112 nM). Although the resolved enantiomers of racemic 16 did not show dramatic differences from racemate or from each other in most tests, the R(+) enantiomer was up to 11-fold more potent than its antipode in binding to sigma sites. Several studies have indicated that 16 may be a limbic-selective agent which may modulate dopaminergic activity by an indirect mechanism. The compound has been selected for clinical evaluation in the treatment of psychosis.

Comparison of a commercial method for total protein with a candidate reference method.

The biuret method for total protein has been compared on the Boehringer Mannheim Diagnostics (BMD) Hitachi 717 Analyzer with a candidate reference method in efforts to standardize the BMD method. The methods were compared using 115 paired serum specimens collected during morning rounds at the Roger Williams Hospital. Results from the test method were compared to the reference method using a statistical procedure for quantifying bias between analytical methods. Linear regression statistics were also calculated. The Hitachi 717 biuret method shows no bias when compared to the reference method (z = -0.90), and there is acceptable correlation between the two methods (y = 0.86, m = 0.86, r = 0.896). The Hitachi method is linear to 15.0 g per dL and demonstrates excellent precision (CV less than or equal to 2.14 percent, N = 140). The Hitachi 717 biuret method has been found to be excellent in all respects and its use is recommended as a convenient and accurate means of measuring total protein.

Comparison of fluorescence polarization immunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, and thin-layer chromatography for urine cannabinoid screening. Effects of analyte adsorption and vigorous mixing of specimen on detectability.

Four commercial assays for the screening of cannabinoids in urine were compared. Urine specimens from 93 selected subjects were run by fluorescence polarization immunoassay on the Abbott TDx; by enzyme multiplied immunoassay with two Syva EMIT assays; and by thin-layer chromatography with the TOXI-LAB system (Marion Laboratories). The TDx cannabinoid threshold can be set anywhere from 25 to 150 micrograms per L. Twenty-five micrograms per L was chosen for this study. The thresholds for EMIT are fixed at 20 micrograms per L for one assay and 100 micrograms per L for the other. The detection limit for TOXI-LAB, according to the manufacturer, can be anywhere from 5 to 50 micrograms/L, depending on the specimen. Urines, positive by at least one method, were further analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), The detection limit for the GC/MS method was 10 micrograms per L. The results showed a few false negatives and unconfirmable positives; in general, correlation was considered acceptable. Dose-response curves comparing TDx and EMIT gave paralell results, with comparable cross-reactivity for the major metabolite, 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (delta-9-THC-COOH). A dose-response study of TOXI-LAB using delta-9-THC-COOH also gave acceptable results. Adsorption to glass was investigated using spiked urine; a 27 percent reduction in concentration was caused by this phenomenon. Foaming of spiked urine caused by vigorous mixing resulted in a reversible 89 percent apparent reduction in concentration.

Elevated nicotine levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis. A role in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity?

The incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing long-term maintenance hemodialysis is excessively high. The reason for this excess morbidity and mortality has remained unclear. Cigarette smoking is one factor that has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk. To learn more about the effects of tobacco smoking in these patients, nicotine levels were assayed in the serum of 10 patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Specimens were obtained before and after smoking one cigarette and following dialysis or an equivalent period in control subjects. Serum nicotine levels (+/-SEM) in control subjects measured 19.0 +/- 7.2 ng/ml initially, 36.1 +/- 8.2 ng/ml after smoking, and 9.3 +/- 3.5 ng/ml after a period of 4.35 hours. These compare with respective values of 76.6 +/- 16.8 ng/ml (p less than 0.004), 132.9 +/- 19.7 ng/ml (p less than 0.001), and 51.9 +/- 10.5 ng/ml (p less than 0.001) in patients undergoing hemodialysis. These data demonstrate markedly higher nicotine levels in hemodialysis patients compared with control subjects, which may have serious implications regarding morbidity and mortality.

Simultaneous assay of diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, N-desmethyldiazepam, N-desmethylchloridazepoxide, and demoxepam in serum by high performance, liquid chromatography.

A method is presented for simultaneously determining diazepam and chlordiazepoxide along with their respective major active serum metabolites N-desmethyldiazepam, and N-desmethylchlordiazepoxide and demoxepam. The drugs are extracted from one ml of buffered serum using chloroform containing 5-(p-methylphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin as an internal standard. The elution is accomplished using a reversed-phase column with a mobile phase consisting of an acetonitrile/methanol/acetate buffer pH 5.0 (200/225/500) at a flow rate of 2.0 ml/min. Absorbance is monitored at 240 nm using a variable wavelength detector. Each chromatographic separation requires approximately 15 minutes at ambient temperature. Of more than twenty drugs tested for possible interference with this procedure, only methaqualone interferes with the internal standard, and phenytoin with demoxepam.

Analysis of serum for gentamicin by radioimmunoassay.

A radioimmunoassay method for the determination of combined gentamicin isomers in serum has been adapted and tested. The procedure uses tritiated gentamicin, rabbit antiserum against a gentamicin-human albumin conjugate, and dextran-charcoal separation. The day-to-day coefficient of variation is 6 percent, and frozen samples are stable for at least one month. There was no cross reactivity of the antiserum with any of several tested antibiotics or with any of some tested commonly used non-antibiotic hospital pharmacy preparations. The results from the procedure correlated well with those of an enzymatic radioacetylation technique and, except for a significant incidence of "outliers", with a microbiological assay. As expected, patient serum values, both maximum and minimum, showed no correlation with dose size.

The albumin binding of unconjugated bilirubin in serum.

1. The limited bilirubin binding capacity of human serum albumin, and the fact that kernicterus can occur once the serum unconjugated bilirubin concentration exceeds this capacity, makes the assessment of non-albumin bound free bilirubin valuable in cases of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. 2. Present methodology for this assessment utilizes Sephadex column chromatography, and is somewhat tedious and slow. 3. We have developed a procedure for assessing the albumin binding capacity of serum by titrating a sample of the serum with T-20 Dextran coated charcoal. 4. The method requires 2 ml of serum, takes 90 minutes to complete and is highly reproducible. 5. By this method, we can determine the reported secondary loose binding capacity of the albumin as well as the tight binding capacity which is determined by existing methods. 6. The tight binding capacity of a pool of normal adult human serum was found to be 20 mg/dl of serum. 7. This is in agreement with existing methods. The loose binding capacity was found to be an additional 10 mg/dl of serum. Added phenobarbital was found to lower the tight binding capacity, but not the secondary capacity.