OBJECTIVES: To establish the GC-MS qualitative and quantitative analysis methods for the synthetic cannabinoids, its main matrix and additives in suspicious electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) oil samples. METHODS: The e-cigarette oil samples were analyzed by GC-MS after diluted with methanol. Synthetic cannabinoids, its main matrix and additives in e-cigarette oil samples were qualitatively analyzed by the characteristic fragment ions and retention time. The synthetic cannabinoids were quantitatively analyzed by using the selective ion monitoring mode. RESULTS: The linear range of each compound in GC-MS quantitative method was 0.025-1 mg/mL, the matrix recovery rate was 94%-103%, the intra-day precision relative standard deviations (RSD) was less than 2.5%, and inter-day precision RSD was less than 4.0%. Five indoles or indazole amide synthetic cannabinoids were detected in 25 e-cigarette samples. The main matrixes of e-cigarette samples were propylene glycol and glycerol. Additives such as N,2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl butanamide (WS-23), glycerol triacetate and nicotine were detected in some samples. The content range of synthetic cannabinoids in 25 e-cigarette samples was 0.05%-2.74%. CONCLUSIONS The GC-MS method for synthesizing cannabinoid, matrix and additive in e-cigarette oil samples has good selectivity, high resolution, low detection limit, and can be used for simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of multiple components; The explored fragment ion fragmentation mechanism of the electron bombardment ion source of indole or indoxamide compounds helps to identify such substances or other compounds with similar structures in cases.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems ; Illicit Drugs/analysis* ; Indazoles/chemistry* ; Glycerol/analysis* ; Cannabinoids ; Indoles/chemistry* ; Ions

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), as a transcription factor, plays an important role in the adaptation to hypoxic microenvironment within tumors. It can induce a series of genes transcription that participate in angiogenesis, glucose metabolism, cell proliferation, and cell migration/invasion. Thus HIF-1 not only allows cancer cells to survive in hypoxic microenvironment, but also makes the tumor more aggressive. Moreover, HIF-1 also induces tumors to acquire resistance to chemo-/radio-therapy, and is related to poor prognosis. HIF-1 emerges gradually as a potential target to develop new antitumor drugs. This paper reviews recent progress in this field.
Amphotericin B ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Echinomycin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Indazoles ; pharmacology ; Sirolimus ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Topotecan ; pharmacology ; Transcription, Genetic

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of H3K27 methylation inhibitor EPZ005687 on the apoptosis, proliferation and cell cycle of U937 cells and normal CD34⁺ cells. The U937 cells and normal CD34⁺ cells were treated with different concentration of EPZ005687 at different time points. The apoptosis rate was determined by Annexin V/PI staining. The cell proliferation and cell cycle was determined using WST-1 assay and 7-AAD assay, respectively. The activity of H3K27 methylation was detected by chemiluminescent immunoassay. The results showed that the EPZ005687 induced an obvious apoptosis of U937 cells. The apoptotic rate was 3.96% ± 0.79%,5.74% ± 0.73%,13.34% ± 1.77% and 25.24% ± 2.55% in U937 cells treated with 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 µmol/L EPZ005687 for 48 hours, respectively. However, EPZ005687 had rare effect on normal bone marrow(NBM) CD34⁺ cells. The apoptotic rate was 3.64% ± 0.62%,4.28% ± 0.99%,6.18% ± 1.19% and 7.56% ± 1.34% after U937 cells were treated with 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 µmol/L EPZ005687 for 48 hours, respectively. EPZ005687 inhibited obviously the proliferation of U937 cells but had weak effect on the proliferation of NBMCD34⁺ cells. The inhibitory effect of EPZ005687 on U937 cells was time-dependent after treated with 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 µmol/L EPZ005687 from 12 to 96 hours. EPZ005687 induced G1 phase blocking (G1%, 64.18% ± 13.27% vs 49.43% ± 12.54%) and decreased the percentage of cells in S phase (9.67% ± 2.61% vs15.26% ± 5.58%) in U937 cells. However, EPZ005687 had no effect on the cell cycle of NBMCD34⁺ cells. In addition, EPZ005687 produced obviously depletion of H3K27 methylation in U937 cells (P < 0.05), but hardly had effect on the H3K27 methylation of NBMCD34⁺ cells. It is concluded that the EPZ005687 inhibites proliferation, induces apoptosis and cell cycle blocking in G1 phase in leukemia cells. This agent may have potential value in clinical application.
Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Indazoles ; pharmacology ; Methylation ; Pyridones ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells

No abstract available.
Benzydamine* ; Hallucinations*

PURPOSE: The location of acetylcholinesterase-containing nerve fibers suggests a role for acetylcholine in both contractility and secretion in the prostate gland. The colocalization of nitrergic nerves with cholinergic nerves, and the cotransmission of nitric oxide with acetylcholine in cholinergic nerves, has been demonstrated in the prostate glands of various species. Thus, we investigated the effects of acetylcholine on phenylephrine-induced contraction and the correlation between cholinergic transmission and nitric oxide synthase by using isolated prostate strips of rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isolated prostate strips were contracted with phenylephrine and then treated with cumulative concentrations of acetylcholine. Changes in acetylcholine-induced relaxation after preincubation with NG-nitroarginine methyl ester, 7-nitroindazole, and aminoguanidine were measured. The effects of selective muscarinic receptor antagonists were also evaluated. RESULTS: In the longitudinal phenylephrine-contracted strip, the cumulative application of acetylcholine (10(-9) to 10(-4) M) elicited a concentration-dependent relaxation effect. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was inhibited not only by nitric oxide synthase inhibitors (10 microM L-NAME or 10 microM 7-nitroindazole) but also by 10 microM atropine and some selective muscarinic receptor antagonists (10(-6) M 11-([2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperdinyl]acetyl)-5,11-dihydro-6H-pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepine-6-one and 10(-6) M 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine). In contrast, relaxation was significantly increased by pretreatment of the strips with 10 mM L-arginine. CONCLUSIONS: Acetylcholine relaxed phenylephrine-induced contractions of isolated rabbit prostate strips. This relaxation may be mediated via both cholinergic and constitutive nitric oxide synthase with both the M2 and M3 receptors possibly playing key roles.
Acetylcholine ; Atropine ; Contracts ; Guanidines ; Indazoles ; Nerve Fibers ; Neurons ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitrergic Neurons ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Phenylephrine ; Prostate ; Receptor, Muscarinic M2 ; Receptor, Muscarinic M3 ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; Relaxation

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is constitutively expressed in neurons of the central nervous system, where it plays a physiological role in neurotransmission. In this study, we examined the functional role of nNOS in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE). The effects of the specific nNOS inhibitor 7-nitroindazole on normal and EAE rats were studied by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. We found that nNOS is constitutively expressed in the spinal cords of normal rats, whilst in the spinal cords of EAE rats, nNOS expression slightly increased, concomitant with the infiltration of T cells and macrophages. Immunohistochemical studies showed that nNOS expression in macrophages and astrocytes increased at the peak stage of EAE and declined thereafter. Treatment with 7-nitroindazole (30 mg/kg) significantly delayed the onset of EAE paralysis, but had no effect on either the incidence or the severity of the paralysis. These findings suggest that nNOs inhibition has a limited role in the induction of rat EAE, and that constitutive nNOS in the spinal cord functions as a novel neurotransmitter, rather than a pro-inflammatory agent.
Animals ; Astrocytes/*enzymology ; Blotting, Western ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/drug therapy/*enzymology ; Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Immunohistochemistry ; Indazoles/therapeutic use ; Macrophages/*enzymology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/antagonists&inhibitors/*metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Spinal Cord/cytology/*enzymology

This experiment was expected to test whether nitric oxide (NO) exerted significant effect on the central respiratory rhythm. Experiments were performed on in vitro brainstem slice preparations from neonatal rats. These preparations include the medial region of the nucleus retrofacialis (mNRF); a part of pre-Bötinger complex, ventral respiratory group (VRG) and dorsal respiratory group (DRG). Respiratory-related burst activities were recorded from hypoglossal nerve rootlets before and during superfusion of the slice preparation with L-Arginine (L-Arg), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or 7-nitro indazole (7-NI, an inhibitor of NO synthase). After perfusion with L-Arg and SNP, there was no significant change in respiratory rhythmical discharge activity (RRDA), but 7-NI decreased the integral amplitude of burst and inspiratory time. These results indicate that NO may take part in the inspiratory off-switching mechanism and that it also modulates the amplitude of respiratory-related bursts.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Brain Stem ; physiology ; Electrophysiology ; Indazoles ; Neurons ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Nitroprusside ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiration ; Respiratory Center ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of L-arginine pretreatment on cerebral metabolism for cerebral protection during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA).

METHODSFifteen healthy adult canines of either sex weighing 14.7-/+2.4 kg were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=5), namely the normal saline group, L-arginine pretreatment group (pretreated with 100 mg/kg L-arginine 60 min before DHCA), and L-arginine combined with 7- nitroindazole treatment group (pretreated with 100 mg/kg L-arginine and 25 mg/kg7-Ni 60 min before DHCA). For all the canines, extracorporeal circulation was established routinely to allow nasopharyngeal temperature reduction to 18 degrees celsius;, at which point DHCA commenced followed 90 min later by reperfusion. At 30 min before DHCA and 0, 45 and 90 min after DHCA as well as at 60 min after reperfusion initiation, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein and arterial to measure the plasma lactic acid, and the cerebral cortex of the parietal lobe was sampled determine the activity of Na(+)-K(+)ATPase. The cerebral water content was also determined after execution of the canines.

RESULTSIn the two pretreatment groups, the level of lactic acid production (shown by the difference in lactic acid levels between the jugular venous and arterial blood) and the cerebral ATP consumption were similar (P>0.05), but both were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The cerebral water content was the lowest in the combined treatment group, followed by exclusive L-arginine group, and the highest in the control group (P<0.05), with significant difference between the 3 groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONL-arginine pretreatment can lower cerebral metabolism during DHCA to offer protective effect on the brain.

Animals ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Brain Ischemia ; etiology ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Circulatory Arrest, Deep Hypothermia Induced ; adverse effects ; methods ; Dogs ; Female ; Indazoles ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male

The treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has recently evolved from being predominantly cytokine-based treatment to the use of targeted agents, which include sorafenib, sunitinib, bevacizumab (plus interferon alpha [IFN-alpha]), temsirolimus, everolimus, pazopanib, and most recently, axitinib. Improved understanding of the molecular pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of RCC has led to the development of specific targeted therapies for treating the disease. In Korea, it has been 5 years since targeted therapy became available for mRCC. Thus, we now have broader and better therapeutic options at hand, leading to a significantly improved prognosis for patients with mRCC. However, the treatment of mRCC remains a challenge and a major health problem. Many questions remain on the efficacy of combination treatments and on the best methods for achieving complete remission. Additional studies are needed to optimize the use of these agents by identifying those patients who would most benefit and by elucidating the best means of delivering these agents, either in combination or as sequential single agents. Furthermore, numerous ongoing research activities aim at improving the benefits of the new compounds in the metastatic situation or their application in the early phase of the disease. This review introduces what is currently known regarding the fundamental biology that underlies clear cell RCC, summarizes the clinical evidence supporting the benefits of targeted agents in mRCC treatment, discusses survival endpoints used in pivotal clinical trials, and outlines future research directions.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Biology ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Hand ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Indazoles ; Indoles ; Interferon-alpha ; Korea ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Niacinamide ; Phenylurea Compounds ; Prognosis ; Pyrimidines ; Pyrroles ; Sirolimus ; Sulfonamides ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Bevacizumab ; Everolimus

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effect and toxicity of axitinib combined with 5-FU in nude mice bearing transplanted tumor of colon cancer LoVo cells.

METHODSNude mouse models bearing LoVo colon cancer xenograft were randomized into vehicle control group, untreated control group, axitinib-treated group, 5-FU-treated group and combined treatment group for corresponding treatments. The tumor dimensions, body weight and tumor weight were recorded, and the efficacy and toxicity were evaluated in terms of complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), tumor growth delay (TGD), mortality rate and net body weight loss.

RESULTSThe combined treatment showed a significantly stronger efficacy than axitinib or 5-FU used alone. TGD of the combined treatment group was 16.73 days, longer than that of axitinib (8.53 days) and 5-FU (9.72 days) used alone. No mouse died during the treatments in the untreated control group, and 1 died in each of the other 4 groups. The mortality rate and weight loss were both less than 20%. One mouse had PR in axitinib-treated group and another in the combination treatment group. Axitinib, alone and in combination with 5-FU, reduced ABCG2 expression in the tumor tissue, and 5-FU has no such effect.

CONCLUSIONCombination of axitinib and 5-FU produces better antitumor effect than either drug used alone and is well tolerated in nude mice bearing colon cancer xenograft.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; administration & dosage ; Indazoles ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays