Synthesis and antitumor activity of a heterodinucleotide of BVDU and gemcitabine

A heterodinucleotide comprising BVDU and Gemcitabine bound together by a 5',5'-pyrophospate bridge (BVDUp(2)dFdC) has been synthesized and evaluated as antitumor agent against AH13 rat sarcoma cells. BVDUp(2)dFdC showed a cytotoxicity similar to that of Gemcitabine.

Inhibition of HIV-1 replication in macrophages by red blood cell-mediated delivery of a heterodinucleotide of lamivudine and tenofovir

Homo- and heterodimers of nucleoside/nucleotide analogues as reverse transcriptase inhibitors are effective on HIV-1-infected human monocyte-derived macrophages (M/M) compared to the single drugs or their combination. Since the combined treatment of lamivudine (3TC) and tenofovir ((R)PMPA) has an antiretroviral efficacy and a synergic effect respect to separate drugs, the heterodinucleotide 3TCpPMPA was synthesized. A single administration of the dimer as free drug or 3TCpPMPA-loaded RBC selectively targeted to M/M was able to almost completely protect macrophages from "de novo" infection.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of NAD analogs as human pyridine nucleotide adenylyltransferase inhibitors

NAD analogs modified at the ribose adenylyl moiety, named N-2'-MeAD and Na-2'-MeAD, were synthesized as ligands of pyridine nucleotide (NMN/NaMN) adenylyltransferase (NMNAT). Both dinucleotides resulted selective inhibitors against human NMNAT-3 isoenzyme.

Impact of an Australian mass media campaign targeting physical activity in 1998

BACKGROUND

Physical activity is now a public health priority, but there is only limited evidence on the effectiveness of mass-reach campaigns.

INTERVENTION

Paid and unpaid television and print-media advertising, physician mail-outs, and community-level support programs and strategies.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

A mass-media statewide campaign to promote regular moderate-intensity activity was conducted during February 1998. The target group was adults aged 25 to 60 who were motivated but insufficiently active.

DESIGN

Cohort and independent-sample, cross-sectional representative population surveys, before and after the campaign. The intervention was conducted in the state of New South Wales, with the other states of Australia as the comparison region.

MEASURES

Telephone survey items on physical activity, media message awareness, physical activity knowledge, self-efficacy, and intentions.

RESULTS

Unprompted recall of the activity messages in the campaign state increased substantially from 2.1% to 20.9% (p<0.01), with small changes elsewhere in Australia (1.2% to 2.6%). There were large changes in prompted awareness from 12.9% to 50.7% (p<0.0001), much larger than changes elsewhere (14.1% to 16%, p=0.06). Knowledge of appropriate moderate-intensity activity and physical activity self-efficacy increased significantly and only in the campaign state. Compared to all others, those in the target group who recalled the media message were 2.08 times more likely to increase their activity by at least an hour per week (95% confidence interval = 1.51-2.86).

CONCLUSIONS

This integrated campaign positively influenced short-term physical activity message recall, knowledge, and behavior of the target population, compared to the population in the region who were not exposed.

New ultrastructural aspects of the spermatozoon of Aplysia depilans (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia)

The spermatozoon of the sea hare Aplysia depilans was studied under scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Previous descriptions of this sperm and related species, both from light and electron microscopy, were inconsistent with each other. These descriptions include A. depilans, A. punctata, A. fasciata, A. kurodai and Bursatella leachiplei. Several detailed micrographs provide a new ultrastructural model and reveal new aspects such as the presence of acrosome and the absence of a glycogen piece, therefore the modified dense ring is the terminal structure. Results also show that previous models are incorrect in many aspects. The spermatozoon is a long slender uniflagellated cell with a complex helical structure and a length of approximately 165 microm. Observed in SEM the spermatozoon has an undifferentiated head and tail. The nucleus is cord-shaped and helically intertwined with the axoneme/mitochondrial derivative complex. The mitochondrial derivative has only one glycogen helix. Glycogen presence was demonstrated by Thiéry's method. Typical heterobranchia spermatozoa features are recognised. From bibliographic analysis, a high degree of similarity was found with the sperm of Pleurobranchea maculata (Notaspidea).

The Australian National Workplace Health Project: design and baseline findings

BACKGROUND

This paper describes the study design, recruitment, measurement, and initial recruitment outcomes of Australia's largest workplace intervention trial, the National Workplace Health Project.

METHODS

This was a cluster-randomized trial of socio-behavioral and environmental interventions focusing on key behaviors of physical activity, healthy food choices, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption, as well as motivational readiness for change. Twenty worksites were randomized separately for each intervention using a two-by-two factorial design. All participants underwent a health risk appraisal and measurements were made at baseline and at 1 and 2 years.

RESULTS

The overall response rate for the baseline survey was 73% with 61% attending the health risk appraisal. The sample was predominantly male, English-speaking, married, blue-collar workers. Overall, 12% reported unsafe alcohol consumption, 26% were current smokers, 44% were physically inactive, 74% ate at most one piece of fruit per day, and 26% ate at most one serving of vegetables per day. Intervention and control conditions were similar at baseline for the primary outcomes, except that a higher proportion of the sociobehavioral intervention condition was more physically active (59%) than the corresponding control condition (53%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study will permit the rigorous evaluation of the efficacy of sociobehavioral and environ mental intervention approaches to workplace health promotion. Although participants were randomized by worksite, intervention and control conditions were similar at baseline; any differences in the primary out come variables will be controlled for in the analysis.

Orocecal transit delay in obese patients

Orocecal transit time was assessed with lactulose hydrogen breath test in 12 obese patients during intravenous infusion of placebo or naloxone 40 micrograms/kg/hr given in randomized order and in double-blind conditions. Transit time was also evaluated in 22 healthy controls. Orocecal transit was significantly (P less than 0.01) longer in the obese patients, during placebo treatment (median 130, range 100-200 min) than in the healthy controls (median 75, range 40-170 min). Compared with placebo, transit time in the obese subjects was delayed (P less than 0.05) during naloxone treatment (median 150, range 100-230 min).

Modification of the antinociceptive effect of morphine by centrally administered diazepam and midazolam

1 Intracerebroventricular administration of diazepam or midazolam decreased the antinociceptive effect of morphine in rats as measured by the "tail flick" method. 2 Midazolam, injected into the periaqueductal grey matter (PAG) antagonized the analgesic effect of morphine. The action of midazolam was partially reversed by bicuculline. 3 These findings support the view that the effect of benzodiazephines on morphine antinociception may be mediated through gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors.