Towards detection of brain injury using multimodal non-invasive neuromonitoring in adults undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a form of cardiopulmonary bypass that provides life-saving support to critically ill patients whose illness is progressing despite maximal conventional support. Use in adults is expanding, however neurological injuries are common. Currently, the existing brain imaging tools are a snapshot in time and require high-risk patient transport. Here we assess the feasibility of measuring diffuse correlation spectroscopy, transcranial Doppler ultrasound, electroencephalography, and auditory brainstem responses at the bedside, and developing a cerebral autoregulation metric. We report preliminary results from two patients, demonstrating feasibility and laying the foundation for future studies monitoring neurological health during ECMO.

Selective inhibition of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase by isoquinoline derivatives

A large series of isoquinoline derivatives was synthesised including derivatives of isoquinoline, isoquinolino[3,4-c]furazan, 1,2-dihydro-1-oxoisoquinoline, 6-oxopyrimido[1,2-d]isoquinoline, benzo[c][1,8]-naphthyridine, pyrazino[2,3-c]isoquinoline and benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline as well as further structurally related isoquinoline derivatives and pyrido-2,3-furazans. Representatives of all of these classes of isoquinolines are potent and selective inhibitors of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) catalytic subunit (cAK) from rat liver. The most effective cAK inhibitors are a series of 1,3-di-substituted and 1,3,4-tri-substituted isoquinolines (IC50 values 30-50 nM) (compounds A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5) and 2-ethylcarboxy-3-amino-5,6-dihydro-6-oxobenzo[c] [1,8]naphthyridine (E1) (IC50 0.08 microM). Compounds A1-A5 inhibit cAK in a fashion that is competitive with respect to ATP as substrate. The isoquinoline inhibitors A1-A5 are ineffective or very poor inhibitors of wheat embryo Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) and rat brain Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase C (PKC), chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and potato tuber cyclic nucleotide-binding phosphatase (Pase). E1 is a moderately effective inhibitor of CDPK and PKC (IC50 values 30 and 61 microM, respectively). The bisisoquinoline-1(2H)-one compound B7 inhibits cAK, CDPK, PKC and MLCK (IC50 values 8, 95, 24 and 7 microM, respectively) as does J1 [2-(p-bromophenyl)pyrrolo-[2,3-c]isoquinoline-5(4H)-one] (IC50 values 2, 50, 44 and 7 microM, respectively). The very potent isoquinoline-derived cAK inhibitors found here involve substitution of the N-containing isoquinoline ring system and these inhibitors show high specificity for cAK.

Fused Isoquinoline Systems From Reactions of an Iminoisocoumarin With Nitrogen Nucleophiles

Some reactions of 1-acetylimino-3-methyl-1H-2-benzopyran-4-carbonitrile with nitrogen nucleophiles are reported. This is a versatile intermediate and leads to isoquino [1,2-b] quinazoline (with methyl anthranilate ), [1,2,4] triazolo [5,1-a] isoquinoline (with hydrazine), imidazo [2,1-a] isoquinoline (with glycine ethyl ester), benzimidazo [2,1-a] isoqinoline (with o-phenylenediamine) and 1,3,5-triacine (with acetamidine ) systems.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of phenanthrene-derived carboxamides as cytotoxic agents

A series of phenanthrene-based tricyclic carboxamides has been synthesized as angular analogues of the clinical acridine carboxamide DACA, and their DNA binding, in vitro cytotoxicities and in vivo antitumour activities have been investigated. The compounds fall into two broad topological classes, where the carboxamide side chain is appended either to one of the terminal rings or to the central ring. In general, compounds of the first class showed stronger DNA binding than those of the second, and were the more potent in vitro cytotoxins. However, they were considerably less effective than DACA, both as DNA binders and cytotoxins. A 1,10-phenanthrolinecarboxamide derivative showed significant in vivo activity. As a class, these fused angular tricyclic carboxamides do not show sufficiently interesting activity to warrant further studies.

Chemistry of Some [1,2,5]Oxadiazolo[3,4-c]isoquinolines and N-Oxides

The reaction of some 4-nitroisoquinolin-3-amines with iodosobenzene diacetate [ PhI ( OAc )2] is a convenient preparation of the title compound N-oxides. Attempts to convert these into quinoxaline N,N′-dioxides were not successful, but reactions of some 5-substituents are described, along with deoxygenation to the corresponding furazan derivatives.

Synthesis of Pyrazino[2,3-c]isoquinolinecarboxylic Acids and Related Compounds

1-Methylisoquinoline-3,4-diamine has been synthesized and condensed with α-dicarbonyl compounds to give the fused pyrazine ring. Oxidation of methyl groups gives the 3- and 6-carboxylic acids. Nitration occurs in the benzenoid ring to give the single 10-nitro product, and formation of an unusual 6-trinitromethyl compound is also reported.