Operationalizing a fisheries social-ecological system through a Bayesian belief network reveals hotspots for its adaptive capacity in the southern North sea

Fisheries social-ecological systems (SES) in the North Sea region confront multifaceted challenges stemming from environmental changes, offshore wind farm expansion, and marine protected area establishment. In this paper, we demonstrate the utility of a Bayesian Belief Network (BN) approach in comprehensively capturing and assessing the intricate spatial dynamics within the German plaice-related fisheries SES. The BN integrates ecological, economic, and socio-cultural factors to generate high-resolution maps of profitability and adaptive capacity potential (ACP) as prospective management targets. Our analysis of future scenarios, delineating changes in spatial constraints, economics, and socio-cultural aspects, identifies factors that will exert significant influence on this fisheries SES in the near future. These include the loss of fishing grounds due to the installation of offshore wind farms and marine protected areas, as well as reduced plaice landings due to climate change. The identified ACP hotspots hold the potential to guide the development of localized management strategies and sustainable planning efforts by highlighting the consequences of management decisions. Our findings emphasize the need to consider detailed spatial dynamics of fisheries SES within marine spatial planning (MSP) and illustrate how this information may assist decision-makers and practitioners in area prioritization. We, therefore, propose adopting the concept of fisheries SES within broader integrated management approaches to foster sustainable development of inherently dynamic SES in a rapidly evolving marine environment.

Recurrence Quantification Analysis of Crowd Sound Dynamics

When multiple individuals interact in a conversation or as part of a large crowd, emergent structures and dynamics arise that are behavioral properties of the interacting group rather than of any individual member of that group. Recent work using traditional signal processing techniques and machine learning has demonstrated that global acoustic data recorded from a crowd at a basketball game can be used to classify emergent crowd behavior in terms of the crowd's purported emotional state. We propose that the description of crowd behavior from such global acoustic data could benefit from nonlinear analysis methods derived from dynamical systems theory. Such methods have been used in recent research applying nonlinear methods to audio data extracted from music and group musical interactions. In this work, we used nonlinear analyses to extract features that are relevant to the behavioral interactions that underlie acoustic signals produced by a crowd attending a sporting event. We propose that recurrence dynamics measured from these audio signals via recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) reflect information about the behavioral dynamics of the crowd itself. We analyze these dynamics from acoustic signals recorded from crowds attending basketball games, and that were manually labeled according to the crowds' emotional state across six categories: angry noise, applause, cheer, distraction noise, positive chant, and negative chant. We show that RQA measures are useful to differentiate the emergent acoustic behavioral dynamics between these categories, and can provide insight into the recurrence patterns that underlie crowd interactions.

Evaluation of pain-alleviating strategies during allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy): a randomized controlled pilot study

Summary

Background. Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) is a potential disease-modifying therapy effective for treatment of various allergic disorders. Pain and fear are common concerns of children, which can pose stress and result in negative experiences. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of three marketed distraction devices and ethyl chloride spray (a routinely used topical anesthetic agent for painful procedures), the current clinical standard of care in reducing the perception of needle pain during SCIT administration in children. Methods. 40 children, aged 4-17 years, receiving SCIT with use of one of three alternative pain therapies or with standard practice were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the pain-modifying interventions. The three interventional groups were ShotBlocker® (Bionix, Toledo, OH, USA), Buzzy® I (Pain Care Labs, Atlanta, GA, USA) (vibration only), and Buzzy® II (vibration with ice). Control group was ethyl chloride spray. The study consisted of two visits during SCIT administration process. Results. Of these 40 children, 12 received the ShotBlocker, 8 received the Buzzy I, 11 received the Buzzy II, and 9 received ethyl chloride spray (control group). Conclusions. There were no significant differences found between each of the distraction devices and between the control group. Type II error/false negative finding cannot be ruled out because of a small sample. Therefore, we cannot conclude that no true difference exists between each distraction device and the control group simply because of occurrence of a non-significant P-value in our study.

Evaluation of marine spatial planning requires fit for purpose monitoring strategies

Marine spatial planning (MSP) has rapidly become the most widely used integrated, place-based management approach in the marine environment. Monitoring and evaluation of MSP is key to inform best practices, adaptive management and plan iteration. While standardised evaluation frameworks cannot be readily applied, accounting for evaluation essentials such as the definition of evaluation objectives, indicators and stakeholder engagement of stakeholders is a prerequisite for meaningful evaluation outcomes. By way of a literature review and eleven practical MSP case studies, we analysed present day trends in evaluation approaches and unravelled the adoption of evaluation essentials for three categories for monitoring and evaluation for plan making, plan outcomes, and policy implementation. We found that at a global scale the focus of MSP evaluation has shifted over the past decade from evaluating predominantly plan outcomes towards the evaluation of plan making. Independent of the scope of the evaluation, evaluation approaches varied greatly from formal and structured processes, building for instance on MSP goals and objectives, to informal processes based on stakeholder interviews. We noted a trend in the adoption of formalised approaches where MSP evaluations have increasingly become linked to MSP policy goals and objectives. However, the enhanced use of MSP objectives and indicators did not result in a more straightforward reporting of outcomes, e.g. such as the achievement of specific MSP objectives. Overall, we found weak linkages between defined MSP objectives, indicators and available monitoring data. While the apparent shift towards a focus on objectives is promising, we highlight the need of fit-for-purpose monitoring data to enable effective evaluation of those objectives. Hence, effective MSP and adaptive management processes require customised and concurrent monitoring and evaluation strategies and procedures. We argue that evaluation processes would also benefit from a better understanding of the general environmental, socio-economic and socio-cultural effects of MSP. Therefore, to understand better environmental effects of MSP, we praise that forthcoming MSP processes need to deepen the understanding and considerations of cause-effect pathways between human activities and changes of ecosystem state through the adoption of targeted cumulative effects assessments.

Teaching Visual Attention in Functional Contexts: Acquisition and Generalization of Complex Visual Motor Skills

A three-year-old girl with multiple severe disabilities including aphakia was taught to visually attend to stimulus items in a training program that emphasized functional, age-appropriate visual motor tasks that required the use of vision for successful task completion. Within these task contexts, use of a repeated prompting procedure was successful in establishing visual attention, and generalization of visual attention to untrained tasks was observed. Additionally, increases in visual attention, whether trained or generalized, were associated with improved motor skill accuracy in the absence of any direct motor skill training on several tasks. Results are discussed in terms of classroom implications for vision “stimulation” programs and in terms of visual attention as a critical skill that may show multiple treatment effects.

Socio-ecological vulnerability to tipping points: A review of empirical approaches and their use for marine management

Sustainability in the provision of ecosystem services requires understanding of the vulnerability of social-ecological systems (SES) to tipping points (TPs). Assessing SES vulnerability to abrupt ecosystem state changes remains challenging, however, because frameworks do not operationally link ecological, socio-economic and cultural elements of the SES. We conducted a targeted literature review on empirical assessments of SES and TPs in the marine realm and their use in ecosystem-based management. Our results revealed a plurality of terminologies, definitions and concepts that hampers practical operationalisation of these concepts. Furthermore, we found a striking lack of socio-cultural aspects in SES vulnerability assessments, possibly because of a lack of involvement of stakeholders and interest groups. We propose guiding principles for assessing vulnerability to TPs that build on participative approaches and prioritise the connectivity between SES components by accounting for component linkages, cascading effects and feedback processes.

Single Portion Packaging and the Use of User Test Protocols to Determine Patient Accessibility

In 2015, the UK National Health Service (NHS) established a taskforce to review single portion food and beverage packaging, which has been identified as a potential challenge to users in hospitals. Hence, a study was undertaken to determine the suitability and accessibility of the current single portion packs. The packaging was assessed using ISO 17480 (Guidelines for Accessible Packaging), Annex D. The standard determines a pass or fail of packaging opening asking a panel 20 older adults to open a pack. A pack is recorded as a failure if within the 20 people cohort, there is an example of pack being unable to be opened within the time limit (defined as 1 minute) or the overall satisfaction score ranks below 3 on a 5-point Likert scale. Ten standard single portion packaging items were randomly selected for testing. The packs were chosen to reflect a broad range of food and beverage and packaging types. The results showed that the standard provided useful assessment data, identifying that 70% of the packs were so poorly designed that they failed to pass the standard, with 50% of the packs having examples that were unopenable by the participants, whilst a further 20% rated poorly for satisfaction.

Patient costs in anticoagulation management: a comparison of primary and secondary care

BACKGROUND

The demand for anticoagulation management is increasing. This has led to care being provided in non-hospital settings. While clinical studies have similarly demonstrated good clinical care in these settings, it is still unclear as to which alternative is the most efficient.

AIM

To determine the costs borne by patients when attending an anticoagulation management clinic in either primary or secondary care and to use this information to consider the cost-effectiveness of anticoagulation management in primary and secondary care, both from the National Health Service and patient perspectives.

DESIGN OF STUDY

Observational study comparing two cohorts of patients currently attending anticoagulation management clinics.

SETTING

Four primary care clinics in Birmingham and one in Warwickshire, and the haematology clinics at the University of Birmingham Hospitals Trust and the City Hospital NHS Trust.

METHOD

The survey of patients attending the clinics was used to ascertain patient costs. This information was then used in conjunction with the findings of a recent randomised controlled trial to establish cost-effectiveness.

RESULTS

Patient costs were lower in primary care than in secondary care settings; the mean (standard deviation) costs per visit were Pound Sterling6.78 (Pound Sterling5.04) versus Pound Sterling14.58 (Pound Sterling9.08). While a previous cost-effectiveness analysis from a health sector perspective alone found a higher cost for primary care, the adoption of the societal perspective lead to a marked change in the result: a similar total cost per patient in both sectors.

CONCLUSION

There are significantly higher costs borne by patients attending secondary care anticoagulation management clinics than similar patients attending primary care clinics. This study also demonstrates that the perspective adopted in an economic evaluation can influence the final result.

Differential effect of IL-4 and IL-13 on CD44 expression in the Burkitt's lymphoma B cell line BL30/B95-8 and in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed human B cells: loss of IL-13 receptors on Burkitt's lymphoma B cells

IL-4 and IL-13, cytokines with similar biological effects may influence growth and progression of B-cell tumors through regulation of key cell surface molecules important in intercellular communications. In this study, we demonstrate that IL-4 and IL-13 exhibited differential effects on CD23 and CD44 expression and binding to hyaluronan in BL30/B95-8, a Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), and MK3.31, an Epstein-Barr virus transformed normal human B cell line (B-LCL). Studies conducted to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this differential effect show that IL-4 induced phosphorylation of JAK1, JAK3, and STAT6 in BL30/B95-8 cells and of JAK3 and STAT6 in MK 3.31 cells. In contrast, IL-13 failed to induce the phosphorylation of JAK kinases or STAT6 proteins in these cell lines. The inability of BL30/B95-8 cells to respond to IL-13 was attributed to the loss of expression of IL-13R subunits alpha1 and alpha2, a finding confirmed for a number of other BL cell lines examined.

The p38 mitogen-activated kinase pathway regulates the human interleukin-10 promoter via the activation of Sp1 transcription factor in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human macrophages

Interleukin-10 (IL-10), a pleiotropic cytokine that inhibits inflammatory and cell-mediated immune responses, is produced by a wide variety of cell types including T and B cells and monocytes/macrophages. Regulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines has been suggested to involve distinct signaling pathways. In this study, we investigated the regulation of the human IL-10 (hIL-10) promoter in the human monocytic cell line THP-1 following activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Analysis of hIL-10 promoter sequences revealed that DNA sequences located between base pairs -652 and -571 are necessary for IL-10 transcription. A computer analysis of the promoter sequence between base pairs -652 and -571 revealed the existence of consensus sequences for Sp1, PEA1, YY1, and Epstein-Barr virus-specific nuclear antigen-2 (EBNA-2)-like transcription factors. THP-1 cells transfected with a plasmid containing mutant Sp1 abrogated the promoter activity, whereas plasmids containing the sequences for PEA1, YY1, and EBNA-2-like transcription factors did not influence hIL-10 promoter activity. To understand the events upstream of Sp1 activation, we investigated the role of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinases by using their specific inhibitors. SB202190 and SB203580, the p38-specific inhibitors, inhibited LPS-induced IL-10 production. In contrast, PD98059, a specific inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinases, failed to modulate IL-10 production. Furthermore, SB203580 inhibited LPS-induced activation of Sp1, as well as the promoter activity in cells transfected with a plasmid containing the Sp1 consensus sequence. These results suggest that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase regulates LPS-induced activation of Sp1, which in turn regulates transcription of the hIL-10 gene.

Regulation of CD44-hyaluronan interactions in Burkitt's lymphoma and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid B cells by PMA and interleukin-4

In this study, we investigated the regulation of CD44-hyaluronan (HA) interactions in a panel of EBV+ Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) and lymphoblastoid B cell lines (B-LCL) generated by in vitro EBV transformation of normal human B cells. The results show that among B cell mitogens, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) alone induced strong HA recognition in EBV+ BL-30/B95-8 cells. Among the cytokines that affect B cell growth and differentiation, IL-4 alone induced HA recognition in BL-30/B95-8 cells. Attempts to delineate the molecular mechanism for this increased HA adhesion in BL-30/B95-8 cells revealed an enhanced expression of CD44 H, isoforms containing V3, V6, and V9 exons, alterations in the splicing pattern of the V4 exon, and the increased electrophoretic mobility of the CD44 H protein. In contrast, the ability to recognize HA was not observed in B-LCL cells stimulated with either PMA or IL-4, even though these cells respond to IL-4, as observed by upregulation of CD23 expression. The molecular pathways that regulate CD44 expression and CD44-mediated HA binding may be selectively inactivated in B-LCL cells. These results may have implications with respect to the generation and spread of B cell tumors.

Photoactivation of caged compounds in single living cells: an application to the study of cell locomotion

Caged compounds are molecules whose biological function is masked until UV light induces a photo-chemical reaction that converts the molecules into a biologically active state. These probes provide very powerful tools in cell biology research, since the activation can be precisely controlled temporally and spatially by limiting their exposure to light. This report describes a simple caged compound illuminator that can be attached to an inverted microscope; it can simultaneously provide both sufficient UV illumination for photoactivation and epifluorescence excitation to monitor indicator fluorescence. As an example, we show that the cytoplasmic calcium level can be raised very rapidly by the photoactivation of a new caged compound, caged calcium ionophore DMNPE-A23187, and that this [Ca2+]i increase is associated with tail retraction of motile keratocytes.

Transurethral bladder tumor resection alters fibronectin expression in transitional carcinoma cell lines

PURPOSE

To examine the effect of TGF beta 1 and post-transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) urine on fibronectin (FN) expression by transitional carcinoma (TCC) cell lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Northern analysis and rtPCR for mRNA transcripts, in combination with ELISA and immunohistochemistry for protein, were used to quantify the effect of TGF beta 1 and post-TURBT urine on cellular expression of FN in two TCC lines, 253J and 647V. The TGF beta 1-dependent nature of the response seen in post-TURBT urine was confirmed using exogenous TGF beta 1 or blocking antibodies to TGF beta 1. Active and latent levels of TGFb1 were measured in post-TURBT urine and urine "spiked" cell culture media.

RESULTS

Baseline FN expression was low in the poorly differentiated, metastatic 253J line and high in the moderately differentiated 647V line. TGF beta 1 and post-TURBT urine increased FN expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in the 253J line. Anti-TGF beta 1 antibodies inhibited the effect of post-TURBT urine on FN expression in 253J cells. High levels of TGF beta 1 decreased FN expression in 647V cells. Only latent TGF beta 1 was present in samples of urine and media.

CONCLUSIONS

FN production in low expressing TCC lines can be augmented by exogenous TGF beta 1. TURBT increases latent urinary TGF beta 1 which in turn affects TCC FN expression. Altered tumor expression of FN following TURBT may influence the effectiveness of intravesical BCG.

Competency through being: the enemy within?

Nurses are taking on more medical tasks but is this appropriate? If so, does this advance nursing practice? The issue hinges on the nurse's competency which is central to professional nursing practice.

Caged cyclic ADP-ribose. Synthesis and use

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) is a recently discovered cyclic nucleotide with Ca2+ mobilizing activity. Caged cADPR was synthesized by reacting cADPR with 2-nitrophenethyldiazoethane. Elemental analyses, 1H NMR, and extinction coefficient measurements indicate that the product contains only one caging group. Anion exchange high pressure liquid chromatography separated caged cADPR into two forms, which most likely represent isomers. Both forms could be uncaged with equal efficiency by UV exposure to regenerate cADPR. Photolysis of caged cADPR was accomplished effectively with a spectrofluorimeter. The efficiency of uncaging depended on wavelength with UV light shorter than about 320 nm being the most effective. Caged cADPR was biologically inactive and could induce Ca2+ release from sea urchin egg homogenates only after photolysis. Specificity of the Ca2+ release was shown by inhibition by 8-amino-cADPR, a specific antagonist of cADPR. To demonstrate its utility in live cells, caged cADPR was microinjected into sea urchin eggs. Photolysis using a mercury light source effectively regenerated cADPR and resulted in Ca2+ mobilization and activation of cortical exocytosis in the eggs.

Use of integrated, general education, and community settings as primary contexts for skill instruction for students with severe, multiple disabilities

Four students with severe, multiple disabilities learned to use four to five new skills at critical moments within age-appropriate activities. Instruction was provided only at moments critical to the continuation of the activities when natural cues and consequences delineated the need for the target behaviors. This method of intervention was combined with a more traditional package of antecedent prompt-fade procedures and, in a few instances, time delay. The purpose of the study was to analyze the effects of instruction given only at natural critical moments on the acquisition of basic sensory, motor, social, and communication behaviors. A multiple baseline design across skills within separate activities for four participants was employed. Fifteen of 17 skills were acquired to criterion. In addition, "learning to learn" effects occurred within each activity as instruction of new target behaviors was introduced. The outcomes are important for the participant population because they document the effect of integrated educational models for teaching the most basic skills. Discussion of the motivation provided by activity routines in general education and community settings, as well as interpretation of data when participants have the most severe disabilities, is presented.

Ammonia hypersensitivity of slugger mutants of D. discoideum

The weak base ammonia inhibits aggregation and culmination of wild-type amoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum. Here we have examined its effect on a series of ‘slugger’ mutants previously assigned to 10 complementation groups, and so-called because they remain as slugs for extended periods. We show that the mutants accumulate normal levels of ammonia and hence may be abnormally susceptible to the ammonia they produce. In agreement with this we find that representatives of the slugger complementation groups are hypersensitive to ammonia inhibition at three clearly recognisable morphological stages of development: aggregation, tip formation and culmination. This finding suggests that a common ammonia-sensitive process underlies each of these developmental events.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: basic life support skills: 2

In the first of this two-part series, the reasons why nurses were not prepared to take action when faced with an emergency were examined. This article takes a step-by-step look at cardiopulmonary resuscitation as specified by the European Resuscitation Council.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: basic life support skills: 1

Basic life support (BLS) is potentially life-saving and unnecessary delays in starting BLS must be avoided. Sudden cardiac death occurs within 1 hour of symptoms in 40% of patients, and in 60% of young/middle-aged patients. BLS can support the casualty and save lives. Bystanders, including nurse aiders, should summon professional help before commencing BLS. Although technical expertise and equipment are necessary in specific situations, BLS 'buys time' while waiting for the equipment to arrive. Seventy per cent of cardiac arrests occur in the home and as BLS skills are often the only skills immediately available, their acquisition is essential.

Prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency at different levels of urbanization in Vanuatu

Mean haemoglobin and plasma iron levels and prevalences of anaemia and iron deficiency were determined in three population samples of Vanuatuans aged 20 or more years as part of a noncommunicable diseases survey in 1985. The three samples were drawn from separate urban, semirural and rural populations. Age-adjusted mean haemoglobin levels were highest in the urban sample and lowest in the rural sample, and plasma iron levels were highest in the urban sample and lowest in the semirural sample. Mean values in each location were generally higher in male subjects than in nonpregnant female subjects. The overall prevalence of anaemia was 10.1% in nonpregnant female subjects and 5.3% in male subjects by World Health Organization (WHO) definitions. These prevalences are lower than those reported for most other developing countries, including some Pacific island nations. Iron deficiency was more prevalent in females than in males (females 17.2%; males 5.0%). Approximately 40% of anaemic subjects were also iron deficient, and there was a significant positive correlation of plasma iron levels with haemoglobin concentration. This suggests that haemoglobinopathies may not be a major cause of anaemia as previously reported. Although most anaemic subjects (88%) had only mild anaemia, in view of the physical lifestyle of rural and semirural Vanuatuans it would be important to optimize haemoglobin levels in these populations.

Prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and obesity at different levels of urbanisation in Vanuatu

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of non-communicable disease, specifically hypertension, diabetes and obesity, amongst populations at different levels of urbanisation in Vanuatu, and to relate the frequency of these conditions to the modernisation of way of life.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional population-based comparative study of indicative cluster samples.

SETTING

Republic of Vanuatu (south-west Pacific). A relatively undeveloped malarious island country.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult (aged greater than or equal to 20 years) Melanesian ni-Vanuatu of both sexes. An occupation-based (civil servants) urban sample (n = 623) and area-based semi-rural (n = 349) and rural (n = 397) samples were employed. Response rates were 78%-92%.

INTERVENTIONS

Cases detected were referred for assessment and treatment by local medical staff.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Body mass index, triceps skinfold thickness, blood pressure, plasma glucose (fasting and 2 hours after 75 g glucose), plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

RESULTS

Modernity scores confirmed that the three locations represented different levels of acculturation. Prevalences of non-communicable disease were relatively low compared to other Pacific Island communities and industrialised countries. These conditions were nevertheless more common in the urban sample and least common in the rural sample. Non-communicable disease correlated positively with modernity scores and negatively with physical activity scores. Obesity correlated with blood pressure in the urban sample, and there was indirect evidence (urine sodium concentration) of higher salt intake with modernisation. Mean plasma cholesterol levels were lowest in the rural group.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalences of non-communicable disease are relatively low in Vanuatu, although rural-urban differentials are present, and likely to increase with continued development. The evidence presented is consistent with non-communicable disease being related to the modernisation of way of life; specifically: decreased exercise, obesity, and dietary change. Preventive activities should commence now.

Bis-penicillamine enkephalins possess highly improved specificity toward delta opioid receptors

The conformationally restricted, cyclic, disulfide-containing, enkephalin analogs [2-D-penicillamine, 5-L-penicillamine]enkephalin [(D-Pen2,L-Pen5]enkephalin) and [2-D-penicillamine, 5-D-penicillamine]enkephalin [(D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin) were synthesized by solid-phase methods. Selectivities of these analogs for a single class of opioid receptor were investigated by examining relative potencies in the mouse vas deferens assay, in which the functional receptor is the delta receptor, versus the guinea pig ileum assay, in which the mu receptor is the functional receptor, and by determining their relative abilities to displace the prototypical delta receptor ligand [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin and the prototypical mu receptor ligand naloxone from rat brain membrane preparations. Based on these comparisons [D-Pen2,L-Pen5]- and [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin exhibited delta receptor selectivities of 1,088 and 3,164, respectively, in the bioassays, and 371 and 175, respectively, in the binding assays. Compared with the previously reported delta receptor selective analogs, [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin, [D-Ser2,Leu5,Thr6]enkephalin, and [D-Thr2,Leu5,Thr6]enkephalin, the bis-Pen-containing analogs provide an order of magnitude increase in delta receptor selectivity.

Conformationally constrained cyclic enkephalin analogs with pronounced delta opioid receptor agonist selectivity

The enkephalin analogs, [D-Pen2,L-Cys5]- and [D-Pen2,D-Cys5]-enkephalin are cyclic compounds, conformationally constrained by virtue of their 14-membered, disulfide containing rings and by the rigidizing effect of the beta, beta dimethyl substituents of the penicillamine side chain. The analogs exhibit profound delta receptor specificity as assessed by their relative potencies in the guinea pig ileum (GPI) and mouse vas deferens (MVD) assays, exhibiting, respectively, 666 and 215 times higher potency in the latter assay system. By contrast, the receptor selectivities measured in rat brain binding assays in the absence of sodium were much more modest, the cyclic analogs being, respectively, 15.2 and 6.0 times more effective at displacing [3H] [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin than [3H]naloxone. However, for binding assays performed in the presence of a sodium concentration equivalent to that used in the GPI and MVD assays, these binding selectivities increased to 167 and 49, respectively.

Cyclic penicillamine containing enkephalin analogs display profound delta receptor selectivities

The cyclic, penicillamine(beta, beta dimethylcysteine)-containing enkephalin analogs, [D-Cys2, L-Pen5]-and [D-Cys2, D-Pen5]enkephalin and the corresponding bis-penicillamine analogs, [D-Pen2, L-Pen5]-and [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin were synthesized and evaluated for opioid activity in the guinea pig ileum (GPI) and mouse vas deferens (MVD) bioassays and in rat brain and neuroblastoma-glioma cell membrane binding assays. These analogs all displayed delta receptor selectivity as assessed by IC50(GPI)/IC50(MVD) ratios and by their relative potencies for displacing [3H]naloxone (NAL) vs. [3H] [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE) from rat brain membrane preparations. For [D-Pen2, L-Pen5]- and [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin the observed IC50(GPI)/IC50 (MVD) ratios (1088 and 3164) and IC50NAL/IC50DADLE ratios (371 and 175) represent a vast improvement over previously reported delta receptor selective ligands.