AMT: preclinical pharmacology studies

Auron-Misheil-Therapy (AMT) consisting of aqueous camomile extract supplemented with calcium, vitamins, the antihistamine chlorpheniramine and human insulin is under development as anti-cancer treatment. AMT was preclinically investigated in tumour cell lines and tumour xenografts to guide clinical phase I/II studies. AMT was tested against 56 human tumour cell lines, in a clonogenic assay in 98 patient-derived xenografts and in in vivo studies. AMT showed in vitro cytotoxic activity with highest susceptibility in cervical cancer, glioblastoma and colon cancers. In the clonogenic assay, anti- cancer activity of AMT was most active in cervical and uterine tumours, in colon cancer, glioblastoma, leukaemia, melanoma and pancreatic cancer. In vivo, AMT showed slight activity in tumour xenograft models of colon and mammary cancer. It also showed immune stimulatory effects by induction of IL-6- and TNF-alpha secretion in human PBMCs. The immune stimulatory potential of AMT, together with slight anti-tumour efficacy observed in the present study, indicates a role of AMT in tumour therapy.

[Automated postlaryngectomy telephone test]

OBJECTIVE

In this study, an objective version of the postlaryngectomy telephone test (PLTT) for measuring speech intelligibility based on automatic speech recognition is presented.

METHODS

Thirty-one patients with tracheoesophageal substitute voice (25 men and six women, 63.4+/-8.7 years) were evaluated by 11 naïve listeners. The automatic measurement of speech intelligibility was expressed by means of word accuracy and word recognition rates, or the percentage of correctly recognized words from a word sequence. These automatic measures were compared with the subjectively obtained PLTT values.

RESULTS

The average PLTT intelligibility of the 11 naïve listeners was 47%; the automatically obtained word accuracy and word recognition rates were much lower (approximately 0% and 15%, respectively). The correlation between subjective and automatic evaluation, however, reached more than 0.9 in some of the examined cases.

CONCLUSION

Automatic speech recognition provides an efficient, objective measure that is equivalent to the overall PLTT intelligibility value.

[Effect of various factors on the biosynthesis of piscarinines, secondary metabolites of the fungus Penicillium piscarium westling]

Piscarinines A and B were synthesized most actively during the surface cultivation of the fungus Penicillium piscarium in a complex medium (5.5 mg/l). Under conditions of submerged cultivation in a mineral medium, the yield of piscarinines was two times lower. An increase in the inoculum quantity of conidia treated with Tween-80 increased the culture productivity. The biosynthesis of the alkaloid was completely suppressed when mannitol was replaced with glucose or when zinc, iron, or copper ions were added to the culture medium. The metabolites were active against the prostate cancer cell line LNCAP (IC50 were 2.195 and 1.914 microg/ml for piscarinines A and B, respectively).

Hyperbaric Oxygenation in the Treatment of Life-Threatening Isobutyl Nitrite-Induced Methemoglobinemia—A Case Report

Methemoglobinemia usually results from exposure to oxidizing substances such as nitrates or nitrites. Iron within hemoglobin is oxidized from the ferrous (Fe2+) state to the ferric (Fe3+) state, resulting in the inability to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide. Clinically, this condition causes functional cyanosis. As methemoglobin levels increase, patients show evidence of cellular hypoxia in all tissues. Death usually occurs when methemoglobin fractions approach 70% of total hemoglobin. We describe the case of a 35-year-old female patient with severe life-threatening isobutyl nitrite-induced methemoglobinemia of 75% of total hemoglobin. Toluidine-blue was administered as first-line antidotal therapy immediately, followed by hyperbaric oxygenation. The patient recovered uneventfully and could be discharged 3 days later.

Apralactone A and a New Stereochemical Class of Curvularins from the Marine-Derived Fungus Curvularia sp

Chemical investigations of the cytotoxic extract of the marine-derived fungus Curvularia sp. (strain no. 768), isolated from the red alga Acanthophora spicifera, yielded the novel macrolide apralactone A (1), as well as the antipodes of curvularin macrolides 2-7. Compound 8, a dimeric curvularin was recognised as an artefact. The structures of 1-8 were elucidated by interpretation of their spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, CD, MS, UV and IR). Apralactone A (1) is a 14-membered phenyl acetic acid macrolactone, and the first such compound with a 4-chromanone substructure. Compounds 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 were found to be cytotoxic towards human tumor cell lines with mean IC50 values in the range of 1.25 to 30.06 µM.

Plasticity in gilvocarcin-type C-glycoside pathways: discovery and antitumoral evaluation of polycarcin V from Streptomyces polyformus

Gilvocarcin-type polyketide glycosides represent some of the most powerful antitumor therapeutics. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of a culture extract of Streptomyces polyformus sp. nov. (YIM 33176) yielded the known gilvocarcin V (2) and a novel related compound, polycarcin V (1). Structure elucidation by NMR and chemical derivatization revealed that the congener (1) features a C-glycosidically linked alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl moiety in lieu of the D-fucofuranose. The concomitant production of two distinct furanosyl and pyranosyl C-glycosides that share the same aglycone is unprecedented in bacteria. A conversion of both isoforms via a quinone methide intermediate can be ruled out, thus pointing to two individual C-glycosylation pathways. Cytotoxicity profiling of polycarcin V in a panel of 37 tumor cell lines indicated significant antitumoral activity with a pronounced selectivity for non-small-cell lung cancer, breast cancer and melanoma cells. As the antiproliferative fingerprint is identical to that of actinomycin D, the known DNA interaction of gilvocarcins was established as a general principle of antitumorigenic activity.

Cytotoxic bastadin 24 from the Australian sponge Ianthella quadrangulata

A new cytotoxic bastadin, bastadin 24 ( 1), and the previously reported bastadins 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, and 21 ( 2- 8) were isolated from a polar extract of the Australian marine sponge Ianthella quadrangulata. The planar structure of bastadin 24 ( 1) was elucidated as the 25-hydroxy derivative of bastadin 6 ( 4) by employing spectroscopic techniques (NMR, MS, UV, and IR). All isolated bastadins were evaluated for their cytotoxicity toward a panel of 36 human tumor cell lines and were found to be moderately cytotoxic. Bastadin 24 ( 1) exhibited selective cytotoxic activity toward five of the 36 investigated tumor cell lines. Bastadins 7 ( 5) and 12 ( 6) significantly inhibited the serum + hEGF-induced (human epithelial growth factor) tubular formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) at a concentration of 1 mug/mL.

[Observed in kindergarten--taken into consideration in medical check-up 8/9: a cooperative model for improved early recognition of psychological problems]

At the initiative of a regional working group, 140 day care centres in Kreis Recklinghausen participate in a cooperative project. It is intended to contribute to the early screening of psychological problems in preschool children. Day care nurses fill in a form serving to record behavioural indicators of psychological problems and give it to the parents. The parents can then decide to hand it to the pediatrician on the occasion of their child's medical check up no. 8 or 9. After having considered this information in the examination context, the doctor returns the form to the parents. The form proved to be useful and the procedure performed well. The project should be implemented in other regions, too.

Current biotechnological approaches to the prevention of restenosis

No systemic pharmacological treatment has been convincingly shown to reduce the incidence of restenosis after angioplasty in patients. The lack of success of many pharmaceutical agents in reducing restenosis rates post-angioplasty and following stent implantation, as documented in dozens of clinical trials, has encouraged the development of new biotechnological approaches to the treatment of restenosis. Gene therapy and other agents, including antibodies, fusion toxins and ribozymes, have the potential to prevent some of the sequelae after arterial injury, particularly cell proliferation. Mechanical methods of preventing restenosis, for example sophisticated local drug delivery strategies and biodegradable stents using new materials, in combination with novel therapeutic agents or radiation, may also be of use.

Julichrome Q6 glucuronide, a monomeric subunit of the julimycin B-I complex from a terrestrial Streptomyces sp

The terrestrial Streptomyces sp. isolate GW6225 afforded julichrome Q 6 glucuronide ( 9), the first monomeric member of the julimycin-B complex, and additionally the julichromes Q 1.2 ( 7a), Q 1.5 ( 7b), and Q 3.5 ( 8), which were fully characterized by 2D NMR spectra. Additional new microbial compounds were 4-acetylchrysophanol ( 6a) and N-phenyl-beta-naphthylamine ( 10). The isomeric N-phenyl-alpha-naphthylamine ( 11) was found in the marine Streptomyces sp. B8335 and was also characterized. The high antibiotic activity of Streptomyces sp. GW6225 extracts was probably due to the thiazolyl cyclopeptide nosiheptide.

Structure, Derivatization, and Antitumor Activity of New Griseusins from Nocardiopsis sp

Four new griseusins, 4'-dehydro-deacetylgriseusin A (1) and 2a,8a-epoxy-epi-deacetylgriseusin B (2) as new constitutional derivatives and epi-deacetylgriseusin A (3) and epi-deacetylgriseusin B (4) as new stereoisomers, were isolated from Nocardiopsis sp. (YIM80133, DSM16644). 4'-Dehydro-deacetylgriseusin A (1) showed pronounced cytotoxic potency (mean IC50 = 0.430 microM) combined with a significant selectivity for mammary cancer, renal cancer, and melanoma in a panel consisting of 37 tumor cell lines. In a clonogenic assay with tumor cells from 51 solid tumors, 1 inhibited anchorage independent growth and in vitro colony formation of tumor cells in a concentration-dependent and tumor type selective manner. As 1 was only a minor product, a semisynthetic preparation from the major metabolite, epi-deacetylgriseusin A (3), was achieved. Our studies also yielded 9-hydroxy-epi-deacetylgriseusin B methylester (5), 4'-dehydro-9-hydroxy-deacetylgriseusin B methylester (6), and 4'-dehydro-2a,8a-epoxy-deacetylgriseusin B (7) as new synthetic isochromanequinone derivatives, which provided a basic structure-activity relationship study.

Quantitative and selective assay of 5-methylindirubine, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, in murine plasma using coupled liquid chromatography and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and rapid LC-MS/MS assay for the quantitative determination of 5-methylindirubine (5-MI) in murine plasma is described. A 50-microL-murine plasma aliquot was spiked with an internal standard, indirubine-3-monoxime (IMO), and extracted with 1.25 mL diethyl ether. Dried extracts were reconstituted in methanol-water (8:2, v/v) and 10 microL-volumes were injected onto the HPLC system. Separation was achieved on a Gemini C18 column (150 mm x 2.1 mm ID, particle size 5 microm) using an alkaline eluent (10 mM ammonium hydroxide-methanol (5:95, v/v)). Detection was performed by negative ion electrospray followed by tandem mass spectrometry. The assay quantifies 5-MI in a range from 1 to 500 ng/mL using 50 microL of murine EDTA plasma samples. Validation results demonstrate that 5-MI concentrations can be accurately and precisely quantified in murine plasma. This assay is used to support pre-clinical pharmacologic studies with 5-MI.

P276-00, a novel cyclin-dependent inhibitor induces G1-G2 arrest, shows antitumor activity on cisplatin-resistant cells and significant in vivo efficacy in tumor models

P276-00, a flavone that inhibits cyclin-dependent kinases, has been identified by us recently as a novel antineoplastic agent. In this study, we have selected a panel of human tumor cell lines and xenografts to allow determination of selectivity and efficacy of P276-00. When tested against a panel of 16 cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatin-resistant cell lines, the antiproliferative potential of P276-00 was found to be approximately 30-fold higher than cisplatin. Studies to show tumor sensitivity using clonogenic assay in 22 human xenografts indicated that P276-00 was approximately 26-fold more potent than cisplatin, and further, it was also found to be active against cisplatin-resistant tumors of central nervous system, melanoma, prostate, and renal cancers. Further, we studied the effects of P276-00 on cell cycle progression by flow cytometry using asynchronous and synchronous population of tumor and normal cells. Asynchronous population of human prostate carcinoma (PC-3) and human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells when exposed to P276-00 showed arrest of slow-growing PC-3 cells in G(2)-M with no significant apoptosis observed up to 72 h. Unlike PC-3, significant apoptosis was seen in fast-growing HL-60 cells at 6 h. However, synchronized human non-small cell lung carcinoma (H-460) and human normal lung fibroblast (WI-38) cells showed arrest of cells in G(1). H-460 cells undergo apoptosis, which increases with longer exposure to the compound and also after exposure to P276-00 for 48 h followed by recovery. In contrast, the normal cells (WI-38) remain arrested in G(1) with no significant apoptosis up to 72 h of exposure and also after 48 h of P276-00 treatment followed by recovery, confirming our previous results that P276-00 was less effective against normal cells compared with cancer cells. After promising in vitro results, P276-00 was checked for in vivo efficacy in murine tumor and human xenograft models. Growth inhibition of murine colon cancer (CA-51) was significant when P276-00 was administered i.p. at 50 mg/kg daily for 20 treatments. However, in murine lung carcinoma model (Lewis lung), an increased dose of 60 mg/kg (30 mg/kg twice daily) administered every alternate day i.p. for seven treatments showed significant inhibition in the growth. Further studies were undertaken to establish the efficacy profile of P276-00 in human tumor xenograft models. In the two xenograft models studied, P276-00 showed potent in vivo antitumor potential. Compound P276-00 at a dose of 35 mg/kg administered daily via the i.p. route for 10 days showed significant (P < 0.05) inhibition in the growth of human colon carcinoma HCT-116 xenograft. Furthermore, P276-00 at a dose of 50 mg/kg once daily and 30 mg/kg twice daily administered via i.p. route for 20 treatments significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited growth of human non-small cell lung carcinoma H-460 xenograft. Thus, the in vitro cellular potency, together with in vivo antitumor activity, confirms the potential of P276-00, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor as an anticancer molecule.

Early enteral feeding compared with parenteral nutrition after oesophageal or oesophagogastric resection and reconstruction

After resective and reconstructive surgery in the gastrointestinal tract, oral feeding is traditionally avoided in order to minimize strain to the anastomoses and to reduce the inherent risks of the postoperatively impaired gastrointestinal motility. However, studies have given evidence that the small bowel recovers its ability to absorb nutrients almost immediately following surgery, even in the absence of peristalsis, and that early enteral feeding would preserve both the integrity of gut mucosa and its immunological function. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of early enteral feeding on the postoperative course following oesophagectomy or oesophagogastrectomy, and reconstruction. Between May 1999 and November 2002, forty-four consecutive patients (thirty-eight males and six females; mean age 62, range 30–82) with oesophageal carcinoma (stages I–III), who had undergone radical resection and reconstruction, entered this study (early enteral feeding group; EEF). A historical group of forty-four patients (thirty-seven males and seven females; mean age 64, range 41–79; stages I–III) resected between January 1997 and March 1999 served as control (parenteral feeding group; PF). The duration of both postoperative stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the total hospital stay, perioperative complications and the overall mortality were compared. Early enteral feeding was administered over the jejunal line of a Dobhoff tube. It started 6 h postoperatively at a rate of 10 ml/h for 6 h with stepwise increase until total enteral nutrition was achieved on day 6. In the controls oral enteral feeding was begun on day 7. If compared to the PF group, EEF patients recovered faster considering the duration of both stay in the ICU and in the hospital. There was a significant difference in the interval until the first bowel movements. No difference in overall 30 d mortality was identified. A poor nutritional status was a significant prognostic factor for an increased mortality. Early enteral feeding significantly reduces the duration of ICU treatment and total hospital stay in patients who undergo oesophagectomy or oesophagogastrectomy for oesophageal carcinoma. The mortality rate is not affected.

Potential cancer chemopreventive in vitro activities of monomeric xanthone derivatives from the marine algicolous fungus Monodictys putredinis

Investigation of the fungal strain Monodictys putredinis isolated from the inner tissue of a marine green alga led to the isolation of four new monomeric xanthones and a benzophenone. All structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic measurements. The relative configuration of compound 1 was determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis, while for 2 and 3 configurations were confirmed by NOE experiments. Absolute configurations for compounds 1-3 were deduced by comparing experimental circular dichroism spectroscopic data with those calculated employing quantum-chemical time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The compounds were examined for their cancer chemopreventive potential. Xanthone 2 was shown to inhibit cytochrome P450 1A activity with an IC50 value of 3.0 microM. Compounds 2 and 3 displayed moderate activity as inducers of NAD(P)H:quinone reductase (QR) in cultured mouse Hepa 1c1c7 cells, with CD values (concentration required to double the specific activity of QR) of 12.0 and 12.8 microM, respectively. Compound 3 showed weak inhibition of aromatase activity.