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D Parish

Publications and source records attributed to D Parish.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Pharmacokinetics and efficacy of 2-methoxyoestradiol and 2-methoxyoestradiol-bis-sulphamate in vivo in rodents.

2-Methoxyoestradiol (2-MeOE2) is an endogenous oestrogen metabolite that inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells in vitro, and it is also antiangiogenic. In vivo 2-MeOE2, when administered at relatively high doses, inhibits the growth of tumours derived from breast cancer cells, sarcomas and melanomas. Sulphamoylated derivatives of 2-MeOE2 are more potent inhibitors of in vitro breast cancer cell growth than 2-MeOE2. In the present study, we have compared the pharmacokinetic profiles and metabolism of 2-MeOE2 and its sulphamoylated derivative, 2-methoxyoestradiol-bis-sulphamate (2-MeOE2bisMATE), in adult female rats. Their ability to inhibit tumour growth was compared in nude mice bearing xenografts derived from MDA-MB-435 (oestrogen receptor negative) melanoma cancer cells. After a single oral 10 mg kg(-1) dose of 2-MeOE2bisMATE, significant concentrations of this compound were still detectable at 24 h. In contrast, no 2-MeOE2 or metabolites were detected in plasma at any time after a 10 mg kg(-1) oral dose. Thus, the bioavailability of 2-MeOE2 is very low, whereas for 2-MeOE2bisMATE it was 85%. No significant metabolites of 2-MeOE2bisMATE were detected in plasma after oral or intravenous dosing, showing that this drug is resistant to metabolism. In the tumour efficacy model, oral administration of 2-MeOE2bisMATE, at 20 mg kg(-1) day(-1) daily for 28 days, almost completely inhibited tumour growth. Inhibition of tumour growth was maintained for a further 28 days after the cessation of dosing. At this dose level, 2-MeOE2 did not inhibit tumour growth. The resistance to metabolism shown by 2-MeOE2bisMATE and its ability to inhibit tumour growth in vivo suggest that this compound should have considerable potential for development as a novel anticancer drug.

2-Methoxyestradiol↗

Peptide inhibition of cytokine-stimulated aromatase activity in breast tissue fibroblasts.

The cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its soluble receptor (IL-6sR) can act synergistically to stimulate aromatase activity in cultured stromal fibroblasts derived from breast tissues. In this study, a 16 amino acid peptide, AROHIB, has been used in an attempt to block the ability of IL-6 plus IL-6sR to stimulate aromatase activity in stromal fibroblasts. Pre-incubation of cells with AROHIB for a 3-h period before the addition of IL-6 and IL-6sR resulted in a marked (67%) reduction in the ability of these factors to stimulate aromatase activity. AROHIB was found to be rapidly degraded when exposed to MCF-7 breast cancer cells or fibroblasts. Analysis by FAB-MS was used to identify the site of peptide cleavage. Subsequently, a series of 10 amino acid peptides, DP1-DP4, were designed, synthesised and tested for their ability to resist proteolytic degradation and to inhibit IL-6 plus IL-6sR-stimulated aromatase activity. Peptide DP2, a modified version of the active fragment of AROHIB, had N-acetyl and C-amino terminal protection and an internal D-amino acid (instead of L form) at the site of proteolytic cleavage. Using cells cultured in the presence of 2% stripped foetal calf serum, peptide DP2 resulted in a 74% reduction in cytokine-stimulated aromatase activity. Under serum-free conditions, peptides DP1-DP3 showed modest inhibitory properties. Results from this study suggest that it may be possible to develop small peptides to inhibit cytokine-stimulated aromatase activity in a tissue-specific manner.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Modulation of oestrone sulphate formation and hydrolysis in breast cancer cells by breast cyst fluid from British and Hungarian women.

Women with gross cystic breast disease may have an increased risk of breast cancer. In this study the ability of breast cyst fluid (BCF), obtained from British or Hungarian women, to modulate oestrone sulphate (E1S) formation or hydrolysis, has been examined. For this, oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) MCF-7 or MDA-MB-231 (ER-) breast cancer cells were employed. The formation and hydrolysis of E1S was measured using radiometric techniques. BCF from British and Hungarian women mainly inhibited E1S hydrolysis in MCF-7 cells while stimulating hydrolysis in MDA-MB-231 cells. The extent of inhibition or stimulation of E1S hydrolysis in these cells was related to the Na+/K+ ratio of the BCF. There was a significant inverse relationship between the extent to which BCF samples inhibited hydrolysis in MCF-7 cells and stimulated it in MDA-MB-231 cells. BCF stimulated E1S formation in MCF-7 cells while inhibiting formation in MDA-MB-231 cells. No difference in the ability of BCF from British or Hungarian women to inhibit or stimulate E1S hydrolysis was detected in ER+ or ER- breast cancer cells. In contrast, BCF from British women stimulated E1S formation in ER+ cells (median 82%) to a significantly greater extent (P < 0.01) than BCF from Hungarian women (median 33%). The role that E1S has in breast cancer development remains unclear. The greater stimulation of E1S formation by BCF from British women, who have a higher risk of breast cancer than Hungarian women, suggests that it may act as a storage form of oestrogen within cells that can be activated by oestrone sulphatase.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Pharmacokinetics of oestrone-3-O-sulphamate.

The sulphatase pathway is thought to be the major route of oestrogen synthesis in breast tumours in postmenopausal women. There is currently considerable interest in developing a potent steroid sulphatase inhibitor to block oestrogen synthesis by this route. One of the most potent inhibitors discovered so far is oestrone-3-O-sulphamate (EMATE) which is active in vivo. In this study we report the preparation of a formulation for the administration of EMATE by the oral route. A method, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), was also established to measure concentrations of EMATE in rat plasma after its oral or i.v. administration. Using the oral formulation and HPLC assay, EMATE was readily detected in rat plasma after oral administration. Plasma EMATE concentrations were related to the dose of drug administered orally over the 10-40 mg/kg range. To examine the pharmacokinetics of EMATE, the compound (40 mg/kg, single dose) was administered either orally (in the formulation) or i.v. (in propylene glycol) with plasma samples being collected for up to 6 h. After oral administration, EMATE was rapidly absorbed, with the peak plasma concentration being detected at 30 min, after which plasma concentrations rapidly decreased. After i.v. administration a plasma EMATE concentration was detected at 1 h similar to that after oral administration. The clearance of EMATE from plasma followed a bi-phasic curve, showing an initial half-life of 30 min, followed by a slower half-life of 4 h 30 min. Little evidence was obtained for any metabolism of EMATE to oestrone. Rat liver sulphatase activity was almost completely inhibited (>99%) within 30 min of oral or i.v. administration of EMATE.

Animals↗

Mesmer and his critics.

The Medical History Society of New Jersey awarded the Stephen Wickes Prize in the History of Medicine to this original essay on Franz Anton Mesmer. Mesmer, the controversial Austrian doctor, was known for his theory of animal magnetism.

Austria↗

The permeability of the small intestinal mucosa: a study using iron.

Various substances containing iron were injected into the lumen of the small intestine in rabbits and into the mesenteric arterial supply. Sections of the mucosa were stained for ferric ions by immersing for 30 minutes into equal parts of 2% HCl and 2% potassium ferrocyanide (Prussian Blue reaction). The ferric ion is bound to various cell structures and its passage through the mucosa could therefore be demonstrated. Iron appeared to pass from the blood into epithelial cells, especially near the tips of the villi, and also between cells as far as the junctional membrane. Studies using (59)Fe demonstrated the rapidity of transfer of iron from the blood into the intestinal lumen. After a period of ischaemia epithelial cells in other situations also appeared permeable to iron. The implications of the loss of substances from the blood into the lumen by these routes is discussed.

Animals↗

Echocardiographic-like angled views of the heart by MR imaging.

Cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has developed rapidly to rival echocardiography as a noninvasive imaging modality. Anatomic detail may exceed that currently available using echocardiography techniques, and the ability to image moving protons may compete with Doppler color flow mapping in detecting valvular diseases and shunts. Because of the considerable clinical experience with echocardiography, as angled MR imaging planes become available as standard software packages, it may be useful for MR cardiac imaging to use standard, accepted echocardiographic nomenclature and imaging planes. This article describes the principles used to obtain long and short axis MR images that are comparable with echocardiographic imaging planes. Diagrams and illustrations are provided to orient the viewer using nomenclature common to echocardiography. These views may eventually be useful for functional analysis of the left ventricle and for detection and evaluation of valvular heart disease and intracardiac shunts.

Echocardiography↗