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Mushtaq A, Wu P, Naseer MM. Recent drug design strategies and identification of key heterocyclic scaffolds for promising anticancer targets. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 254:108579. [PMID: 38160914 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Cancer, a noncommunicable disease, is the leading cause of mortality worldwide and is anticipated to rise by 75% in the next two decades, reaching approximately 25 million cases. Traditional cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy and surgery, have shown limited success in reducing cancer incidence. As a result, the focus of cancer chemotherapy has switched to the development of novel small molecule antitumor agents as an alternate strategy for combating and managing cancer rates. Heterocyclic compounds are such agents that bind to specific residues in target proteins, inhibiting their function and potentially providing cancer treatment. This review focuses on privileged heterocyclic pharmacophores with potent activity against carbonic anhydrases and kinases, which are important anticancer targets. Evaluation of ongoing pre-clinical and clinical research of heterocyclic compounds with potential therapeutic value against a variety of malignancies as well as the provision of a concise summary of the role of heterocyclic scaffolds in various chemotherapy protocols have also been discussed. The main objective of the article is to highlight key heterocyclic scaffolds involved in recent anticancer drug design that demands further attention from the drug development community to find more effective and safer targeted small-molecule anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alia Mushtaq
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Peng Wu
- Chemical Genomics Centre, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn Str. 11, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Muhammad Moazzam Naseer
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan; Chemical Genomics Centre, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn Str. 11, Dortmund 44227, Germany.
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El-Nassan HB, Al-Qadhi MA. Recent advances in the discovery of tropomyosin receptor kinases TRKs inhibitors: A mini review. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 258:115618. [PMID: 37413881 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
The tropomyosin receptor tyrosine kinases (TRKs) control the cell proliferation mainly in the nervous system and are encoded by NTRK genes. Fusion and mutation of NTRK genes were detected in various types of cancers. Many small molecules TRK inhibitors have been discovered during the last two decades and some of them have entered clinical trials. Moreover, two of these inhibitors; larotrectinib and entrectinib; were approved by FDA for the treatment of TRK-fusion positive solid tumors. However, mutation of TRK enzymes resulted in resistance to both drugs. Therefore, next generation TRK inhibitors were discovered to overcome the acquired drug resistance. Additionally, the off-target and on-target adverse effects on the brain initiated the need for selective TRK subtype inhibitors. Indeed, some molecules were recently reported as selective TRKA or TRKC inhibitors with minimal CNS side effects. The current review highlighted the efforts done during the last three years in the design and discovery of novel TRK inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hala B El-Nassan
- Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt.
| | - Mustafa A Al-Qadhi
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt
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El-Gazzar MG, El-Gazzar MG, Ghorab MM. Quinazolinone derivatives as new potential CDK4/6 inhibitors, apoptosis inducers and radiosensitizers for breast cancer. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:1133-1147. [PMID: 37529897 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Targeting CDK4/6 has advanced breast cancer treatment. Herein, new quinazolinones were synthesized with acetamide linkers as potential anti-breast cancer agents. Methods & results: In vitro cytotoxic evaluation on human breast cancer cell lines (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231) identified 1,3-benzodioxole (5d) to be of the highest potency. It showed good inhibitory activity on CDK4/6. Compound 5d arrested the cell cycle at the G1-phase, caused induction of early and late apoptosis in an Annexin V-FITC assay, led to an increase in the level of caspase-3 and upregulated Bax expression and downregulated Bcl-2 in MCF7 cells. Compound 5d showed good radiosensitizing activity when combined with a single dose of 8-Gy γ-radiation. Conclusion: This study introduces quinazolinone scaffolds as new CDK4/6 inhibitors for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Gm El-Gazzar
- Department of Drug Radiation Research, National Center for Radiation Research & Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 11787, Egypt
| | - Marwa G El-Gazzar
- Department of Drug Radiation Research, National Center for Radiation Research & Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 11787, Egypt
| | - Mostafa M Ghorab
- Department of Drug Radiation Research, National Center for Radiation Research & Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 11787, Egypt
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Song QQ, Lin LP, Chen YL, Qian JC, Wei K, Su JW, Ding JH, Lu M, Liu Y, Tan RX, Hu G. Characterization of LTr1 derived from cruciferous vegetables as a novel anti-glioma agent via inhibiting TrkA/PI3K/AKT pathway. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2023; 44:1262-1276. [PMID: 36482085 PMCID: PMC10203337 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-022-01033-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant glioma is the most fatal, invasive brain cancer with limited treatment options. Our previous studies show that 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-3,3'-diindolylmethane (LTr1), a major metabolite of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) derived from cruciferous vegetables, produces anti-tumour effect against various tumour cell lines. In this study we characterized LTr1 as a novel anti-glioma agent. Based on screening 134 natural compounds and comparing the candidates' efficacy and toxicity, LTr1 was selected as the lead compound. We showed that LTr1 potently inhibited the viability of human glioma cell lines (SHG-44, U87, and U251) with IC50 values of 1.97, 1.84, and 2.03 μM, respectively. Furthermore, administration of LTr1 (100,300 mg· kg-1 ·d-1, i.g. for 18 days) dose-dependently suppressed the tumour growth in a U87 xenograft nude mouse model. We demonstrated that LTr1 directly bound with TrkA to inhibit its kinase activity and the downstream PI3K/AKT pathway thus inducing significant S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in SHG-44 and U87 cells by activating the mitochondrial pathway and inducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Importantly, LTr1 could cross the blood-brain barrier to achieve the therapeutic concentration in the brain. Taken together, LTr1 is a safe and promising therapeutic agent against glioma through inhibiting TrkA/PI3K/AKT pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Qi Song
- Departments of Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Li-Ping Lin
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for TCM Quality and Efficacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Ya-Li Chen
- Departments of Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jia-Cheng Qian
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for TCM Quality and Efficacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Ke Wei
- Departments of Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jian-Wei Su
- Departments of Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jian-Hua Ding
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211100, China
| | - Ming Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211100, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Departments of Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Ren-Xiang Tan
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for TCM Quality and Efficacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Functional Biomolecules, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Gang Hu
- Departments of Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211100, China.
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Cao Z, Zhang J, Guo M, Shao B, Wei X, Li S, Wang P, Zhai X. Discovery of novel phenyl triazole analogs as TRK/ALK dual inhibitors with prospective antitumor effects. Bioorg Chem 2023; 136:106563. [PMID: 37121107 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The exploration of novel anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) dual inhibitors tended to serve as targeted treatment of cancer. Herein, a series of phenyl triazole derivatives were designed and synthesized as ALK/TRK dual regulators based on structure-based drug design (SBDD) strategy and were evaluated for antiproliferative activity by MTT assay. Accordingly, all compounds showed surprising cytotoxicity with IC50 values below 10 μM on KM12, H2228 and KARPAS299 cell lines. Among them, compound 13a bearing (2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)morpholinomethanone moiety was identified as the optimal hit in enzymatic screening with IC50 values of 1.9 nM (TRKA), 7.2 nM (ALK) and 65.2 nM (ALKL1196M), respectively. Furthermore, 13a could inhibit KM12 cell migration and colony formation in a dose dependent manner. Meanwhile, AO/EB staining indicated that the pro-apoptotic effect of 13a was comparable to that of Entrectinib at the dose of 200 nM. Ultimately, the binding model of 13a with TRKA and ALK well established its mode of action which accounted for the superior activities as a promising antitumor candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Cao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Jiahao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Mengrao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Bin Shao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xiujian Wei
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Sen Li
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xin Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China.
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Qin Q, Fu Q, Wang X, Lv R, Lu S, Guo Z, Wu T, Sun Y, Sun Y, Liu N, Zhao D, Cheng M. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel indolin-2-one derivatives as potent second-generation TRKs inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 253:115291. [PMID: 37030091 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Tropomyosin receptor kinases (TRKs) are effective targets for anti-cancer drug discovery. The first-generation type I TRKs inhibitors, larotrectinib and entrectinib, exhibit durable disease control in the clinic. The emergence of acquired resistance mediated by secondary mutations in the TRKs domain significantly reduces the therapeutic efficacy of these two drugs, indicating an unmet clinical need. In this study, we designed a potent and orally bioavailable TRK inhibitor, compound 24b, using a molecular hybridization strategy. Compound 24b exhibited significant inhibitory potency against multiple TRK mutants in both biochemical and cellular assays. Furthermore, compound 24b induced apoptosis of Ba/F3-TRKAG595R and Ba/F3-TRKAG667C cells in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, compound 24b exhibited moderate kinase selectivity. In vitro stability revealed that compound 24b showed excellent plasma stability (t1/2 > 289.1 min) and moderate liver microsomal stability (t1/2 = 44.3 min). Pharmacokinetic studies have revealed that compound 24b is an orally bioavailable TRK inhibitor with a good oral bioavailability of 116.07%. These results indicate that compound 24b be used as a lead molecule for further modifications to overcome drug-resistant mutants of TRK.
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Lv R, Wang X, Sun Y, Qin Q, Liu N, Wu T, Sun Y, Yin W, Zhao D, Cheng M. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of aminopyridine derivatives as novel tropomyosin receptor kinase inhibitors. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2023; 356:e2200438. [PMID: 36398500 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202200438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) is a successful target for the treatment of various cancers caused by NTRK gene fusions. Herein, based on a rational drug design strategy, we designed and synthesized 35 aminopyrimidine derivatives that were shown to be TRKA inhibitors in the enzyme assay, among which compounds C3, C4, and C6 showed potent inhibitory activities against TRKA with IC50 values of 6.5, 5.0, and 7.0 nM, respectively. In vitro antiproliferative activity study showed that compound C3 significantly inhibited the proliferation of KM-12 cells but had weak inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cells and HUVEC cells. The preliminary druggability evaluation showed that compound C3 exhibited favorable liver microsomal and plasma stabilities and had weak or no inhibitory activity against cytochrome P450 isoforms at 10 µM. Compounds C3, C4, and C6 were also selected for ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination) properties prediction and molecular docking studies. Inhibition experiments showed that compound C3 was not selective for TRK subtypes. All results indicated that compound C3 was a useful candidate for the development of TRK inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruicheng Lv
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yixiang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qiaohua Qin
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Nian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Tianxiao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Wenbo Yin
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Dongmei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Maosheng Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
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Liu N, Wang X, Fu Q, Qin Q, Wu T, Lv R, Zhao D, Cheng M. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of pyrazolo[3,4- b]pyridine derivatives as TRK inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:85-102. [PMID: 36760745 PMCID: PMC9890667 DOI: 10.1039/d2md00334a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropomyosin receptor kinases (TRKs) are associated with the proliferation and differentiation of cells, and thus their continuous activation and overexpression cause cancer. Herein, based on scaffold hopping and computer-aid drug design, 38 pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives were synthesised. Further, we evaluated their activities to inhibit TRKA. Among them, compound C03 showed acceptable activity with an IC50 value of 56 nM and it inhibited the proliferation of the Km-12 cell line with an IC50 value of 0.304 μM together with obvious selectivity for the MCF-7 cell line and HUVEC cell line. Furthermore, compound C03 possessed good plasma stability and low inhibitory activity to a panel of cytochrome P450 isoforms except CYP2C9. Overall, C03 has potential for further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District Shenyang 110016 PR China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District Shenyang 110016 PR China
| | - Qinglin Fu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District Shenyang 110016 PR China
| | - Qiaohua Qin
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District Shenyang 110016 PR China
| | - Tianxiao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District Shenyang 110016 PR China
| | - Ruicheng Lv
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District Shenyang 110016 PR China
| | - Dongmei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District Shenyang 110016 PR China
| | - Maosheng Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road, Shenhe District Shenyang 110016 PR China
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Structure-based discovery of 1-(3-fluoro-5-(5-(3-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl)phenyl)-3-(pyrimidin-5-yl)urea as a potent and selective nanomolar type-II PLK4 inhibitor. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 243:114714. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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