Phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Part 6: Design,synthesis, and structure–activity relationships of PDE4-inhibitory pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines with anti-inflammatory activity

We previously identified KCA-1490 [(?)-6-(7-methoxy-2-trifluoromethyl-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-4-yl)-5-methyl-4,5-dihydro-3-(2H)-pyridazinone], a dual PDE3/4 inhibitor. In the present study, we found highly potent selective PDE4 inhibitors derived from the structure of KCA-1490. Among them, N-(3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)-7-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-4-carboxamide (2a) had good anti-inflammatory effects in an animal model.     

Isolation and Identification of a Novel β-Carboline Derivative in Salted Radish Roots,Raphanus sativus L.

The methanol extract of salted radish roots contains several precursors of yellow pigment. The main compound was isolated by the use of Toyopearl HW-40S column chromatography, and its structure was determined to be 1-(2′-pyrrolidinethion-3′-yl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid on the basis of an elemental analysis, and IR, UV, FAB-MS and NMR spectroscopy. This compound is presumed to have been the condensation product from the degradation of 4-methylthio-3-butenyl isothiocyanate and l-tryptophan. This carboline compound is considered to play an important role in the formation of the yellow pigment in salted radish roots.     

Studies on the Proteolytic Action of Dairy Lactic Acicl Bacteria

Aseptic rennet curd prepared under the aseptic conditions and Str. cremoris- and L. helveticus-cheese prepared by sandwiching the cell pellets of Str. cremoris and L. helveticus between aseptic rennet curd, respectively, were ripened at 10°C for desired period.

Water soluble nitrogen (WSN) contents of both aseptic rennet curd and two kinds of cheese were determined. Gradual increase of WSN content of aseptic rennet curd was recognized all through the ripening preiod. WSN contents of both Str. cremoris- and L. helveticus-cheese were remarkably higher than those of aseptic rennet curd after 12 days ripening. This tendency was more remarkably recognized after 60 or 70 days ripening. α^s-Casein was mainly hydrolyzed by these lactic acid bacteria during ripening. α^s-Casein in two kinds of the cheese was more easily degradated by these lactic acid bacteria than that in aseptic rennet curd by rennet.

Judging from the results in previous and present reports, it was estimated that lactic acid bacteria used as a starter began to autolyze after 12 days ripening and that intracellular proteases released from their cells mainly hydrolyzed α^s-casein contained in Ca-paracaseinate of aseptic rennet curd to water soluble substances. This hydrolysis was also estimated from the viscous texture observed by scanning electron micrography.     

Preparation of Mutants Resistant to Catabolite Repression of Trichoderma reesei

The development of agar plate screening techniques has allowed the isolation of mutants of Trichoderma reesei capable of synthesizing cellulase under the conditions of a high concentration of glucose. Mutants resistant to catabolite repression by glycerol or glucose were isolated on Walseth’s cellulose (WC) agar plates containing 5% glycerol or 5% glucose, respectively. Mutants resistant to catabolite repression by glycerol were not derepressed enough for the production of cellulase on WC agar plates containing 5% glucose or in flask cultures with a mixture of 1% Avicel and 3% glucose. On the contrary, two mutant strains resistant to catabolite repression by glucose (KDD-10 and DGD-16) produced large clearing zones on WC agar plates containing 5% glucose. Both strains could begin to produce CMCase even in the presence of residual glucose and finally produced 1.5 times the CMCase activity, in flask cultures on 1% Avicel and 3% glucose, than that with 1% Avicel alone. These results suggest that KDD-10 and DGD-16 are comparatively derepressed by glucose for cellulase production.     

Studies on the Changes of Meat Fats by Various Processings

Data are presented to show the gas chromatographic identification of a total of 18 saturated aliphatic γ- and δ-lactones obtained from melted beef depot fat, namely, δ-C₆, γ-C₇, γ-C₈, γ-C₉, and a homologous series of γ- and δ-lactones of the even-carbon numbers C₁₀ to C₁₆ and of smaller amount of the odd-carbon numbers C₁₁ to C₁₅. These lactones were isolated by steam distillation and silicic acid adsorption chromatography, and identified through gas chromatography and infrared spectroscopy.

Lactones obtained had a peach-like flavor, and it was suggested that lactones were important in heated beef fat as the flavor compounds.     

The Release of Carbohydrate Rich Component from Ovomucin Gel during Storage

The fractionation pattern of OMG₀, ovomucin gel(B) in fresh egg white, by density gradient column electrophoresis showed two peaks. Each peak was shown to migrate as a single component, with a mobility of either the fast or slow moving component of ovomucin gel(B). Each peak was named as F-component and S-component.

Carbohydrate and sulfate contents of F-component were much higher than these of S-component. The carbohydrate content of F-component and S-component was found to be about 50 and 15 percents of dry matter, respectively. Serine and threonine contents in F-component were much higher than those in S-component.

The fractionation pattern of OMG₂₀, ovomucin gel(B) in egg white stored for 20 days at 30°C, by density gradient electrophoresis showed only one peak which corresponded to S-component, and that of OMS₂₀, ovomucin sol (B) in egg white stored for 20 days at 30°C, showed two peaks which corresponded to F- and S-component.

Ability of F-component to interact with lysozyme was greater than that of S-component.     

Nematocidal activity of 6-O-octanoyl- and 6-O-octyl-d-allose against larvae of Caenorhabditis elegans

ABSTRACT

The nematocidal activities of the fatty acid esters of d-allose were examined using the larvae of C. elegans. Among the fatty acid esters, 6-O-octanoyl-d-allose (3) showed significant activity. 6-O-octanoyl-d-glucose (5) showed no activity, indicating that the D-allose moiety is essential for the nematocidal activity of 3. A nonhydrolyzable alkoxy analog 6-O-octyl-d-allose (6) also showed activity equivalent to that of 3.     

TGF-?1 Enhances the BMP-2-Induced Chondrogenesis of Bovine Synovial Explants and Arrests Downstream Differentiation at an Early Stage of Hypertrophy

Background

Synovial explants furnish an in-situ population of mesenchymal stem cells for the repair of articular cartilage. Although bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) induces the chondrogenesis of bovine synovial explants, the cartilage formed is neither homogeneously distributed nor of an exclusively hyaline type. Furthermore, the downstream differentiation of chondrocytes proceeds to the stage of terminal hypertrophy, which is inextricably coupled with undesired matrix mineralization. With a view to optimizing BMP-2-induced chondrogenesis, the modulating influences of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1) were investigated.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Explants of bovine calf metacarpal synovium were exposed to BMP-2 (200 ng/ml) for 4 (or 6) weeks. FGF-2 (10 ng/ml) or TGF-ß1 (10 ng/ml) was introduced at the onset of incubation and was present either during the first week of culturing alone or throughout its entire course. FGF-2 enhanced the BMP-2-induced increase in metachromatic staining for glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) only when it was present during the first week of culturing alone. TGF-ß1 enhanced not only the BMP-2-induced increase in metachromasia (to a greater degree than FGF-2), but also the biochemically-assayed accumulation of GAGs, when it was present throughout the entire culturing period; in addition, it arrested the downstream differentiation of cells at an early stage of hypertrophy. These findings were corroborated by an analysis of the gene- and protein-expression levels of key cartilaginous markers and by an estimation of individual cell volume.

Conclusions/Significance

TGF-ß1 enhances the BMP-2-induced chondrogenesis of bovine synovial explants, improves the hyaline-like properties of the neocartilage, and arrests the downstream differentiation of cells at an early stage of hypertrophy. With the prospect of engineering a mature, truly articular type of cartilage in the context of clinical repair, our findings will be of importance in fine-tuning the stimulation protocol for the optimal chondrogenic differentiation of synovial explants.     

Nicotine Dependence and Cost-Effectiveness of Individualized Support for Smoking Cessation: Evidence from Practice at a Worksite in Japan

Given the lack of economic studies evaluating the outcomes of smoking cessation programs from the viewpoint of program sponsors, we conducted a case study to provide relevant information for worksites. The present study was carried out between 2006 and 2008 at a manufacturing factory in the Toyama Prefecture of Japan and included subjects who voluntarily entered a smoking cessation program. The program included face-to-face counselling followed by weekly contact to provide encouragement over six months using e-mail or inter-office mail. Nicotine patches were available if required. All 151 participants stopped smoking immediately. Over the 24-month study period, self-report showed 49.7% abstained continuously from smoking. The rate of 24-month consecutive abstinence was higher in participants with lower Fagerström Test scores for Nicotine Dependence at baseline than in those with higher scores (63.6% for 0–2 points vs. 46.5% for 3–6 points vs. 43.8% for 7–10 points; chi-square test p = 0.19). A logistic regression model showed a significant linear trend for the association between the score and abstinence status after adjustment for possible confounding factors (p = 0.03). The crude incremental cost for one individual to successfully quit smoking due to the support program was ¥46,379 (i.e., ¥100 = $1.28, £0.83, or €1.03 at foreign exchange rates). The corresponding costs for the three categories of the Fagerström Test score for Nicotine Dependence were ¥31,953, ¥47,450 and ¥64,956, respectively. When a sensitivity analysis was conducted based on the 95% confidence interval of the success rate, the variance in the corresponding costs was ¥25,514–45,034 for 0–2 points, ¥38,344–61,824 for 3–6 points, and ¥45,698–108,260 for 7–10 points. The degree of nicotine dependence may therefore be an important determinant of the cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation programs.