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Biomedical subjects

J S Fleming

Publications and source records attributed to J S Fleming.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Nonprostanoid prostacyclin mimetics. 2. 4,5-Diphenyloxazole derivatives.

4,5-Diphenyl-2-oxazolenonanoic acid (18b) was synthesized and found to inhibit ADP-induced aggregation of human platelets with an IC50 of 2.5 microM. Acid 18b displaced [3H]iloprost from human platelet membranes in a concentration-dependent fashion, consistent with 18b inhibiting platelet function by acting as a prostacyclin mimetic. By inserting a phenoxy ring into the side-chain moiety of 18b and systematically varying the pattern of substitution and length of the tethers, more potent inhibitors of platelet aggregation were identified. A phenoxy ring inserted centrally in the side chain proved to be the optimal arrangement but significant activity was observed when the aromatic ring was bound directly to the 2 position of the heterocycle. The meta-substituted cis-(ethenylphenoxy)acetic acid 37 is the most potent platelet aggregation inhibitor synthesized as part of this study with an IC50 of 0.18 microM. Acid 37 displaces [3H]iloprost from human platelet membranes with an IC50 of 6 nM. The trans-olefinic isomer of 37 (25p) is 72-fold weaker as an inhibitor of ADP-induced platelet aggregation, but the saturated derivative 25w (BMY 42393) is intermediate in potency. Structure-activity studies using 25w as a template focused on modification of the tethers intervening between the side-chain phenyl ring and the oxazole and carboxylate termini and substitution of the phenyl ring. These studies revealed that biological activity was sensitive to both the identity of the concatenating atoms and the pattern of ring substitution. The structure-activity relationships provide insight into the topographical relationship between the diphenylated oxazole ring and the carboxylic acid terminus that comprise the nonprostanoid prostacyclin mimetic pharmacophore.

Adenosine Diphosphate

Nonprostanoid prostacyclin mimetics. 3. Structural variations of the diphenyl heterocycle moiety.

4,5-Diphenyl-2-oxazolenonanoic acid (2) and 2-[3-[2-(4,5-diphenyl-2-oxazolyl)ethyl]phenoxy]acetic acid (3) were previously identified as nonprostanoid prostacyclin (PGI2) mimetics that inhibit ADP-induced aggregation of human platelets in vitro. The effects on biological activity of substitution and structural modification of the 4- and 5-phenyl rings of 3 was examined. Potency showed a marked sensitivity to the introduction of substituents to these aromatic rings and only the bis-4-methyl derivative 9j, IC50 = 0.34 microM, demonstrated enhanced potency compared to the parent structure 3, IC50 = 1.2 microM. Substitution at the ortho or meta positions of the phenyl rings, replacement by thiopheneyl or cyclohexyl moieties, or constraining in a planar phenanthrene system resulted in compounds that were less effective inhibitors of ADP-induced platelet aggregation. In contrast, variation of the heterocycle moiety revealed a much less stringent SAR and many 5- and 6-membered heterocycles were found to effectively substitute for the oxazole ring of 2 and 3. The diphenylmethyl moiety functioned as an effective isostere for 4,5-diphenylated heterocycles since 13aad showed similar platelet inhibitory activity to 3. With the exception of the 3,4,5-triphenylpyrazole derivative 13g, compounds presenting the (m-ethylphenoxy)acetic acid side chain discovered with 3 demonstrated enhanced potency compared to the analogously substituted alkanoic acid derivative. The structure-activity findings led to a refinement of a model of the nonprostanoid PGI2 mimetic pharmacophore.

Adenosine Diphosphate

Structure-activity relationships associated with 3,4,5-triphenyl-1H-pyrazole-1-nonanoic acid, a nonprostanoid prostacyclin mimetic.

A series of phenylated pyrazoloalkanoic acid derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of ADP-induced human platelet aggregation. 3,4,5-Triphenyl-1H-pyrazole-1-nonanoic acid (8d), with an IC50 of 0.4 microM, was the most potent inhibitor identified in this study. Biochemical studies determined that 8d increased intraplatelet cAMP accumulation and stimulated platelet membrane-bound adenylate cyclase in a concentration-dependent fashion. Displacement of [3H]iloprost by 8d from platelet membranes indicated that the platelet prostacyclin (PGI2) receptor is the locus of biological action. Structure-activity studies demonstrated that the minimum structural requirements for binding to the platelet PGI2 receptor and inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation within this series are a vicinally diphenylated pyrazole substituted with an omega-alkanoic acid side chain eight or nine atoms long. Potency depended upon both side-chain length and its topological relationship with the two phenyl rings.

Adenylyl Cyclases

Estimation of organ input function and plasma clearance from the cardiac curve in dynamic scintigraphy.

A theoretical description of the relationship between the count rate detected in the cardiac region of interest and the arterial organ input function in dynamic scintigraphy is presented. It is shown that, provided the time-activity curve for the heart is corrected for extra-cardiac and unlabelled activity, it is proportional to the arterial organ input over both the first-pass and equilibrium phases of the passage of an intravenously injected radiopharmaceutical. A practical example demonstrating the value and validity of correcting the cardiac curve in dynamic radio colloid scintigraphy is described. Estimates of the colloid clearance rate to reticuloendothelial sites using the cardiac curve without correction were significantly lower (mean 0.085/min) than those derived from the liver uptake curve (mean 0.213/min). However, corrected cardiac curve clearance rates (mean 0.225/min) were not significantly different from the liver ones. Also, the corrected cardiac curve clearance values correlated linearly with liver curve values (correlation coefficient 0.89, standard error of the estimate 0.021/min), whereas the uncorrected values showed no significant correlation. Thus, correction of the cardiac curve gave clearance rate values that were both more accurate and more precise than those obtained without correction.

Heart

The influence of levodopa on gastric emptying in healthy elderly volunteers.

Paracetamol absorption and 99Tc-DTPA measurements have been used to determine the influence of levodopa on gastric emptying in 8 healthy elderly volunteers. In the absence of levodopa 7 subjects showed a rapid gastric emptying pattern by gamma-camera and a single major peak in the plasma concentration-time curve of paracetamol. One subject showed two rapid phases of gastric emptying separated by a period of negligible emptying and had 2 separate peaks in the paracetamol plasma concentration-time curve. In the presence of levodopa, the gamma-camera data for 6 subjects showed a pattern of gastric emptying consisting of 2 rapid phases separated by a plateau. In each case secondary peaks in the plasma concentration-time curve of paracetamol occurred about 30 min after the end of the plateau. The time to 90% emptying on the gamma scan was increased significantly from 40 min to 65 min in the presence of levodopa. Comparison of the present data with those reported previously indicates that levodopa affects gastric emptying in the both elderly and young volunteers to a similar extent.

Acetaminophen

Humidification as an adjunct to chest physiotherapy in aiding tracheo-bronchial clearance in patients with bronchiectasis.

Humidification of inspired air or oxygen is frequently utilized by respiratory physiotherapists to relieve sputum retention. Cold water, jet nebulizing humidifiers are in widespread use but there has been no previous attempt to investigate the efficacy of this treatment. We have performed a single-blind, cross-over study to quantify the effect of humidification as an adjunct to chest physiotherapy. Seven patients with bronchiectasis completed the trial, with a mean (range) age of 51 years (41-64 years) and mean (range) percent of predicted FEV1 of 46% (29-76%). On 2 days, separated by 1 week, subjects were randomly allocated to humidification or no humidification as a precursor to an optimal chest physiotherapy regimen. A radio-aerosol of human serum albumin millimicrospheres labelled with 99mTechnetium was used to measure sputum clearance by serial gamma camera images. Serial measurements of sputum weight and FEV1 were also recorded. Humidification (30 min) was followed by postural drainage (20 min) with the subject using the forced expiration technique to assist clearance. When humidification was combined with physiotherapy there was a significant increase in total wet weight of sputum (P less than 0.05) with a median (range) increase of 6 g (-9-15.5 g); and a significant increase in total radiolabel clearance (P less than 0.05) with a median (range) increase of 8.7% (1-13%), compared to physiotherapy alone. This study demonstrates that the use of cold water, jet nebulizing humidifiers significantly increases tracheo-bronchial clearance above that of an optimal physiotherapy regimen alone in bronchiectasis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Dosimetry assessment of 81Krm peripheral venous infusion studies.

Calculation of S factors for 81Krm for a full range of target organs from each source organ relevant in 81Krm peripheral venous infusion imaging has been performed. Typical equilibrium activities in the source organs have been measured using quantitative planar gamma camera imaging for a generator with a mean activity at imaging time of 468 MBq eluted at 10 ml min-1. Based on the above measurements and assuming a 10 min infusion period, the mean effective dose equivalent for 81Krm infusion imaging in the assessment of right heart function in adults was found to be 0.365 mSv.

Humans

Ovine follistatin: characterization of cDNA and expression in sheep ovary during the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle.

We have isolated ovine follistatin cDNA from an ovarian follicle cDNA library and determined its sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence of the ovine follistatin precursor is highly homologous (greater than 97%) to the porcine, human and rat follistatins. Northern analysis was used to characterize follistatin gene expression in ovaries of adult ewes, collected from days 11 to 13 of the oestrous cycle. Two major (about 2.7 kb and 1.5 kb) and one minor (about 0.5 kb) transcripts were detected in polyadenylated RNA extracted from ovarian follicles and corpora lutea. The degree of expression of the transcripts varied in the two ovarian compartments, with the 2.7 kb species predominating in the follicles and the 1.5 kb species being more abundant in the corpora lutea. No transcripts were detected in stromal tissue containing preantral follicles of less than 1 mm.

Amino Acid Sequence

Expression of the genes for alpha inhibin, beta A inhibin and follistatin in the ovaries of Booroola ewes which were homozygotes or non-carriers of the fecundity gene FecB.

Ovine cDNA probes for the alpha and beta A inhibin subunits and for follistatin were used to investigate the mRNA species for these hormones in ovaries obtained during the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle, from Booroola ewes which were homozygous carriers (BB) or non-carriers (++) of the FecB gene. BB ewes had significantly higher concentrations of peripheral FSH and LH immunoreactivity than ++ ewes, but the peripheral inhibin immunoreactivity and ovarian inhibin and progesterone secretion rates were not significantly different between genotypes. No gene-specific differences in the number or size of mRNA transcripts detected by Northern blotting were noted for any of these genes. A single alpha inhibin mRNA species at 1.5 kb was observed in the follicle RNA from ++ and BB ovaries. Low amounts of alpha inhibin hybridization were discerned occasionally in ++ and BB stroma and also in BB, but not in ++, corpora lutea. The beta A inhibin gene was expressed only in the follicles from both ++ and BB ovaries. At least three beta A inhibin transcripts were observed; one at 7.5 kb and at least two between 1.4 and 5.0 kb. The follistatin cDNA probe detected two major transcripts at 2.7 and 1.5 kb and a minor band at 0.5 kb in both follicle and corpora lutea RNA. Densitometry of the Northern blots revealed no significant gene-specific differences in the levels of alpha inhibin and follistatin gene mRNA transcripts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Expression of the clusterin gene in the tissues of Booroola sheep which were homozygotes or non-carriers of the fecundity gene FecB.

Clusterin or sulphated glycoprotein-2 is a major component of the rete testis fluid, synthesized by the rete testis epithelial cells and Sertoli cells. Differences in the two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pattern of clusterin-like proteins have been reported in rete testis fluid from Booroola rams carrying the fecundity gene FecB, when compared with that from non-carrier rams. In order to determine whether the FecB gene influences the expression of the clusterin gene, we used a rat clusterin cRNA probe to investigate mRNA species in the tissues of homozygous (BB) or non-carrier (++) Booroola sheep. Northern blots of polyadenylated RNA showed hybridization to the cRNA probe in the testis, ovarian follicles, corpora lutea and stroma, pituitary and liver. A major mRNA transcript was observed at 2.3 kb and a minor transcript in some tissues at 0.8 kb. Densitometry of the autoradiographs revealed no FecB-specific differences in the densities of the hybridization signals from ++ and BB testis or ovarian follicle, corpora lutea or stromal RNA. We conclude that the gene for ovine clusterin is expressed widely in the tissues of sheep and that its expression is not affected by the presence of the FecB gene.

Animals

Antithrombotic activity of BMY-43351, a new imidazoquinoline with enhanced aqueous solubility.

BMY-43351 is a new broad-spectrum inhibitor of platelet aggregation with greater aqueous solubility than earlier analogs from the imidazoquinoline series. This report compares the antithrombotic activity of BMY-43351 to that of two other imidazoquinolines: BMY-20844, a simply-substituted compound, and BMY-21638, a more potent ether-linked side chain analog. All of these compounds act, at least in part, via inhibition of platelet low-Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. Antithrombotic activity was assessed in the rabbit ear chamber-biolaser preparation, an animal model of small vessel thrombosis, and in the canine coronary artery stenosis-occlusion model of large vessel thrombosis. BMY-43351 was found to be remarkably potent in the biolaser model, with an EDso of 0.074 mg/kg p.o. In comparison, compounds such as aspirin, ticlopidine, sulfinpyrazone, and dipyridamole demonstrate little or no activity at much higher doses, (eg. 100 mg/kg p.o.). Other inhibitors of platelet low Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase are active but substantially weaker than BMY-43351. Similarly, in the coronary artery stenosis-occlusion model, BMY-43351 demonstrated impressive activity, significantly inhibiting arterial thrombosis at intraduodenal doses as low as 1 micrograms/kg. The potential use of BMY-43351 as adjunct therapy in thrombolysis was suggested in a series of experiments where this drug was used in combination with a thrombolytic regimen of stretokinase plus heparin. In this experimental setting, time to reperfusion was reduced from 42 +/- 5 minutes to 11 +/- 5 minutes, and reocclusion was totally inhibited.

Animals

Comparison of radionuclide estimation of glomerular filtration rate using technetium 99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and chromium 51 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

Simultaneous measurements of the clearance rates of technetium 99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) and chronium 51 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (51Cr-EDTA) were performed in 30 patients with a range of renal function (glomerular filtration rates between 9 and 120 ml/min). Using multiple blood samples, the two clearance values correlated well (r = 0.991, standard error 3.9 ml/min), but DTPA clearance was systematically higher by 7.6%. For each radiopharmaceutical, an equation was derived to correct clearance values obtained using only plasma samples taken at 2 and 4 h for the systematic error inherent in this technique compared with analysis of the complete plasma concentration-time curve. The root mean square error remaining after application of these equations was 1.9 ml/min for both the EDTA and DTPA data. The corresponding errors obtained using the equation derived by Brochner-Mortensen for EDTA plasma clearance were 2.2 ml/min and 1.9 ml/min, respectively, these values were not significantly different from those obtained using the equations derived in this study.

Adult

Effect of encainide, ODE, MODE, and flecainide on ADP/5-HT induced platelet aggregation and in the anesthetized dog coronary artery stenosis-occlusion model of intravascular thrombosis.

Encainide is a class 1C antiarrhythmic agent that is indicated for the treatment of life-threatening arrhythmias, such as sustained ventricular tachycardia. Furthermore, encainide possesses a moderate degree of antiserotonin activity, which was quantitated in this present study by determining displacement of [3H]spiperone binding from rat cortical 5-HT2 binding sites. The Ki for encainide in this model was 66.1 nM, compared to 2.6 nM for ketanserin. Two encainide metabolites, ODE and MODE, were also active, but were weaker than encainide. Additionally, these agents were found to inhibit platelet aggregation induced in vitro in human platelet-rich plasma by the combination of ADP and serotonin. In view of the fact that serotonin is one of a variety of humoral factors capable of activating blood platelets and has been recently implicated as playing a role in certain thrombotic syndromes, encainide, along with its two principal human metabolites, ODE and MODE, and another class 1C antiarrhythmic, flecainide, were evaluated in an in vivo model of intravascular thrombosis. Intraduodenal doses of 1 mg/kg of either encainide, ODE, or MODE significantly inhibited thrombosis in a canine model of coronary artery stenosis-occlusion.

Adenosine Diphosphate

Imidazoquinoline derivatives: potent inhibitors of platelet cAMP phosphodiesterase which elevate cAMP levels and activate protein kinase in platelets.

Compounds containing the imidazoquinoline nucleus are a new class of potent, broad-spectrum inhibitors of platelet aggregation. This report describes studies with a simply-substituted imidazoquinoline (BMY 20844) and several new ether-linked side chain derivatives (BMY 21638 and BMY 43351). These compounds are potent inhibitors of platelet cAMP phosphodiesterase (IC50 values: BMY 20844, 1.3 X 10(-8); BMY 21638, 2 X 10(-10); and BMY 43351, 1 X 10(-10) M, measured using 0.15 microM cAMP) but have little effect on platelet homogenate cGMP phosphodiesterase (IC50 greater than 10(-5) M). Inhibition of different cAMP phosphodiesterase isozymes was tested to determine if the compounds inhibited similar isozymes in other tissues. Rabbit heart cAMP phosphodiesterase isozymes were resolved by ion-exchange chromatography and three peaks of activity were obtained. BMY 20844 inhibited only fraction III (a "cGMP-inhibitable, low Km" cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase) with an IC50 value of 5 X 10(-8) M. These compounds also inhibited canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane-bound "cGMP-inhibitable, low Km" cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase with virtually the same potency as inhibition of cAMP phosphodiesterase in platelet homogenate. In washed platelets these compounds elevated cAMP levels and activated the platelet cAMP dependent protein kinase. Activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase was determined by cAMP-dependent protein kinase ratio measurements and phosphorylation of intracellular proteins. These studies suggest that this potent new class of agents inhibits platelet phosphodiesterase activity in intact platelets causing an elevation in cAMP levels sufficient to activate the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and stimulate protein phosphorylation. This mechanism is, at least in part, responsible for the ability of these compounds to prevent platelet aggregation and thrombosis in experimental animal models.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases

The effect of acute hypoxia on right ventricular function in healthy adults.

Right ventricular ejection fraction and right ventricular volumes were derived in 12 healthy male subjects using krypton-81m equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography whilst subjects breathed 30% (high inspired oxygen) and then 8-12% oxygen in nitrogen mixture (hypoxia). 'Physiological' tricuspid valve regurgitation was identified in 7 of the subjects by Doppler echocardiography, and right ventricular peak systolic pressure was estimated during high inspired oxygen and during hypoxia. Mean right ventricular peak systolic pressure was 24.1 +/- 3.3 mmHg during high inspired oxygen and increased to 41.3 +/- 8.4 mmHg during hypoxia (P less than 0.01). Mean right ventricular ejection fraction was 0.612 +/- 0.075 during high inspired oxygen and was unchanged at 0.590 +/- 0.073 during hypoxia. There was no significant change in right ventricular end-diastolic volume or stroke volume in response to hypoxia. The systolic performance of the normal right ventricle is well-maintained during an acute rise in afterload induced by hypoxia.

Acute Disease

1,3-Dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]quinolin-2-ones--inhibitors of blood platelet cAMP phosphodiesterase and induced aggregation.

A series of 1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]quinolin-2-one derivatives was synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of cAMP hydrolysis by a crude human platelet phosphodiesterase preparation and as inhibitors of ADP- and collagen-induced aggregation of rabbit blood platelets. The parent structure 7a, demonstrated potent inhibitory activity that was enhanced by the introduction of alkyl, alkoxy, or halogen substituents at the 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-positions. Methylation at N-1 or N-3 produced weaker inhibitors of cAMP PDE and platelet aggregation. 1,3,9,9a-Tetrahydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]quinolin-2-ones (6) were found to be equipotent with their fully oxidized congeners (7). On the basis of platelet inhibitory properties in vitro, efficacy at preventing thrombus formation in animal models of thrombosis, and a favorable hemodynamic profile, 1,3-dihydro-7,8-dimethyl-2H- imidazo[4,5-b]quinolin-2-one (7o, BMY 20844) was selected for advancement into toxicological evaluation and clinical trial. An efficient synthesis of 7o is described.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases

Measurement of glomerular function during cisplatin therapy.

1. Creatinine-based methods for measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were compared with the plasma clearance of 99mTc DTPA as an accurate index of GFR in patients prior to and during cisplatin therapy. 2. Measured creatinine clearances using either unsupervised 24 h or supervised 4 h collections correlated less well with the reference GFR than did predicted creatinine clearances derived from serum creatinine using formulae or a nomogram. 3. Predicted creatinine clearance appears to be at least as sensitive as measured creatinine clearance for screening GFR in patients receiving cisplatin. However, owing to the inherent inaccuracy in any creatinine-based method, if the prediction is within 20% of the value at which dose reduction of cisplatin is considered, an isotopically determined GFR should be carried out to optimise dosage adjustments.

Adolescent

The accuracy of creatinine clearance with and without urine collection as a measure of glomerular filtration rate.

Conventional creatinine clearances involving urine collections over 2, 4 and 24 hours and creatinine clearance predicted from plasma creatinine concentrations without urine collection were compared to glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated by 99mTc DTPA clearance in 171 patients with a wide range of GFR. All creatinine clearance methods involving urine collection had standard errors of the estimate of GFR greater than predictions from formulae. Predictions of creatinine clearance by formulae had coefficients of variation of the estimate of approximately 23% when compared to isotopically determined GFR. Creatinine clearances determined by these equations in patients with stable renal function are an easier and at least as accurate a guide to GFR as methods involving urine collection.

Body Weight