Is educational attainment associated with the onset and outcomes of low back pain? a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading global cause of years lived with disability. Of the biopsychosocial domains of health, social determinants of LBP remain under-researched. Socioeconomic status (SES) may be associated with the onset of new LBP or outcomes of acute LBP, with educational attainment (EA) being a key component of SES.

Mononucleoside phosphorodithiolates as mononucleotide prodrugs.

The synthesis and in vitro anti-HIV activity of a novel series of pronucleotides are reported. These prodrugs were characterized by a phosphorodithiolate structure, incorporating two O-pivaloyl-2-oxyethyl substituents as biolabile phosphate protections. The compounds were obtained following an original one-pot three-step procedure, involving the formation of a phosphorodithioite intermediate which is in situ oxidized.

Identifying patients with cerebral infarction within the time window compatible with reperfusion therapy, diagnostic performance of glutathione S-transferase-π (GST-π) and peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1): exploratory prospective multicentre study FLAG-1 protocol.

Introduction: Plasma biomarkers may be useful in diagnosing acute cerebral infarction requiring urgent reperfusion, but their performance remains to be confirmed. If confirmed, these molecules could be used to develop rapid and reliable decentralised measurement methods, making it possible to initiate reperfusion therapy before hospital admission. The FLAG-1 large prospective study will constitute a plasma bank to assess the diagnostic performance of two biomarkers: glutathione S-transferase-π and peroxiredoxin 1.

An original pronucleotide strategy for the simultaneous delivery of two bioactive drugs.

The synthesis and in vitro anti-HIV activity of a novel series of phosphoramidate pronucleotides including a S-pivaloyl-2-thioethyl (tBuSATE) group as biolabile phosphate protecting group are reported. Such constructs, obtained through different phosphorus chemistries, are characterized by the association of two different anti-HIV nucleoside analogues linked to the phosphorus atom respectively by the sugar residue and the exocyclic amino function of the nucleobase. In vitro, comparative anti-HIV evaluation demonstrates that such original prodrugs are able to allow the efficient intracellular combination release of a 5'-mononucleotide as well as another nucleoside analogue.

Contribution of static and dynamic ultrasound in cubital tunnel syndrome.

Introduction: Electroneuromyography (ENMG) is the gold standard examination in cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS), but sheds no light on etiology. High-resolution ultrasound (HRU) analyzes the anatomic abnormalities and physical properties of the ulnar nerve (UN) and enables dynamic study. The present non-randomized prospective study compared HRU with clinical, ENMG and intraoperative findings.

8-Modified-2'-deoxyadenosine analogues induce delayed polymerization arrest during HIV-1 reverse transcription.

The occurrence of resistant viruses to any of the anti-HIV-1 compounds used in the current therapies against AIDS underlies the urge for the development of new drug targets and/or new drugs acting through novel mechanisms. While all anti-HIV-1 nucleoside analogues in clinical use and in clinical trials rely on ribose modifications for activity, we designed nucleosides with a natural deoxyribose moiety and modifications of position 8 of the adenine base. Such modifications might induce a steric clash with helix αH in the thumb domain of the p66 subunit of HIV-1 RT at a distance from the catalytic site, causing delayed chain termination.

HIV-1 replication in Langerhans and interstitial dendritic cells is inhibited by neutralizing and Fc-mediated inhibitory antibodies.

Langerhans cells (LCs) and interstitial dendritic cells (IDCs) may be among the first human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) targets after sexual transmission. We generated cells of these types by differentiation of purified CD34(+) cord blood cells. After in vitro infection with R5-tropic strains, we obtained similar percentages of infected cells for both dendritic cell (DC) subsets.

Mhc haplotype M3 is associated with early control of SHIVsbg infection in Mauritian cynomolgus macaques.

The restricted major histocompatibilty complex of Mauritian cynomolgus macaques confers exceptional potential on this species in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine development. However, knowledge of the effects of Mhc genetics on commonly used simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) stocks is incomplete. We determined the effect of Mhc haplotypes on SHIVsbg replication kinetics in a cohort of 25 naïve cynomolgus macaques.

Stimulation of HIV-1 replication in immature dendritic cells in contact with primary CD4 T or B lymphocytes.

Sexual transmission is the major route of HIV-1 infection worldwide. Dendritic cells (DCs) from the mucosal layers are considered to be the initial targets of HIV-1 and probably play a crucial role in HIV-1 transmission. We investigated the role of cell-to-cell contact between HIV-1-exposed immature DCs and various lymphocyte subsets in the stimulation of HIV-1 replication.

5-Modified-2'-dU and 2'-dC as mutagenic anti HIV-1 proliferation agents: synthesis and activity.

With the goal of limiting HIV-1 proliferation by increasing the mutation rate of the viral genome, we synthesized a series of pyrimidine nucleoside analogues modified in position 5 of the aglycone moiety but unmodified on the sugar part. The synthetic strategies allow us to prepare the targeted compounds directly from commercially available nucleosides. All compounds were tested for their ability to reduce HIV-1 proliferation in cell culture.

Synthesis and anti-HIV evaluation of water-soluble calixarene-based bithiazolyl podands.

Nine anionic water-soluble calix[4]arene species, incorporating sulfonate, carboxylate or phosphonate groups, six of them incorporating two 2,2'-bithiazole subunits in alternate position at the lower rim, have been synthesised and evaluated as anti-HIV agents on various HIV strains and cells of the lymphocytic lineage (HIV-1 III B/MT4, HIV-1 LAI/CEM-SS, HIV-1 Bal/PBMC), using AZT as reference compound. A toxicity was detected for a minority of compounds on PBMC whereas for the others no cellular toxicity was measured at concentrations up to 100 microM. Most of the compounds have an antiviral activity in a 10-50 microM range, and one of them, sulfonylated, displays its activity, whatever the tropism of the virus, at a micromolar concentration.

Bis-14-membered ring diketal diamines: synthesis and evaluation of their anti-HIV and anti-tumoral activities.

Chiral and achiral macrocyclic bis-diketal diamines, analogs of bicyclam AMD 3100, were synthesized in three steps from the previously obtained 14-membered ring diketal dilactams. Their monoreduction with lithium aluminium hydride gave the corresponding diketal aminolactams. Coupling these with dibromo-p-xylene led to xylyl dimer compounds.

Peptide-poly(L-lysine citramide) conjugates and their in vitro anti-HIV behavior.

Poly(L-lysine citramide) is a degradable bioresorbable polyanion whose polyamide chains are composed of citric acid and L-lysine building blocks. Its chemical and physicochemical properties were extensively investigated in the past for its interest as polymeric drug carrier. In this work, 4(S)-amino-3-(S)-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanoyl-isoleucyl-phenylalanine methyl ester, a pseudopeptide active against the HIV protease in vitro, was linked to poly(L-lysine citramide) in attempts to promote solubility and cell penetration.

A step further in the SATE mononucleotide prodrug approach.

Synthesis, in vitro anti-HIV activity, stability studies as well as potential for oral absorption of some novel phenyl S-acyl-2-thioethyl (SATE) phosphotriester derivatives of AZT (zidovudine; 3'-azido-2',3'- dideoxythymidine) are reported herein. These mononucleotide prodrugs (pronucleotides) are characterized by the presence of polar (amino or hydroxyl) functions on the SATE biolabile phosphate protections. Whereas pronucleotides incorporating an amino residue in the vicinity of the thioester functionality display low chemical stability, the introduction of one or two hydroxyl groups on the SATE moiety confers high resistance of the resulting prodrugs towards esterase hydrolysis.

Phenyl phosphotriester derivatives of AZT: variations upon the SATE moiety.

Synthesis, in vitro anti-HIV activity, stability studies as well as potential for oral absorption of some novel phenyl S-acyl-2-thioethyl (SATE) phosphotriester derivatives of AZT (zidovudine; 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine) are described herein. These pronucleotides are characterized by the presence of polar functions on the SATE biolabile phosphate protections. Whereas derivatives incorporating an amino residue in the vicinity of the thioester functionality display low chemical stability, the introduction of one or two hydroxyl groups on the SATE moieties confers high resistance of the resulting prodrugs towards esterase hydrolysis.

Inhibitors interacting with the magnesium binding site of reverse transcriptase: synthesis and biological activity studies of 3'-(omega-amino-acyl) amino-3'-deoxy-thymidine.

Active site of reverse transcriptase contains carboxylate groups involved in the magnesium binding. We prepared some nucleoside analogs which could bind to these carboxylates preventing the binding of nucleotides. To the 3'-amino-3'-deoxy-thymidine, different N-protected omega-amino-acids were bound, the protection removed to give the 3'-(omega-amino-acyl-) amino-3'-deoxy-thymidines in good yield.

Homophymine A, an anti-HIV cyclodepsipeptide from the sponge Homophymia sp.

A new anti-HIV cyclodepsipeptide, homophymine A, was isolated from a New Caledonian collection of the marine sponge Homophymia sp. The structure of homophymine A was determined by interpretation of spectroscopic data, acid hydrolysis, and LC-MS analysis. Homophymine A contains 11 amino acid residues and an amide-linked 3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethyloctanoic acid moiety.

Hepatitis C virus structural proteins do not prevent human dendritic cell maturation.

Aim: Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) results in chronic hepatitis in more than 70% of cases. Alterations in the maturation of dendritic cells (DC) might play a role in the immune system's inability to eliminate the virus, although viral factors that could be involved have not been identified. This study in vitro investigated whether HCV structural proteins affect maturation of monocyte-derived DC.

Synthesis and primary evaluation of novel HIV-1 inhibitors.

The overcoming of antiviral drug resistance is an important challenge in the treatment of HIV-1 infection. According to the theory of viral error catastrophe, slightly increasing the mutation rate could exceed the error threshold for viability of a viral population and kill it. Investigation of this mechanism could lead to the discovery of new antiviral agents capable of bypassing viral resistance.

Synthesis and anti-HIV evaluation of hybrid-type prodrugs conjugating HIV integrase inhibitors with d4t by self-cleavable spacers containing an amino acid residue.

In an attempt to combine the anti-HIV inhibitory capacity of reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NRTIs) and integrase (IN) inhibitors (INIs), several heterodimer analogues of the previously reported [d4T]-PABC-[INI] and [d4T]-OABC-[INI] prototypes have been prepared. In these novel series, we wished to extend our results to conjugates which incorporated an enzymatically labile aminoacid unit (L-alanine) connected to d4T through a self-immolative para- or ortho-aminobenzyl carbonate (PABC or OABC) spacer. Among the novel heterodimers, several derivatives show a potent anti-HIV-1 activity, which proved comparable to that of the [L-708,906]-PABC-[d4T] Heterodimer A prototype.

Synthesis of prodrug-type anti-HIV agents conjugating a REVERSE transcriptase inhibitor to a HIV-1 integrase inhibitor by a spontaneously cleavable linker.

Based on the prodrug concept as well as the combination of two different classes of anti-HIV agents, we have designed and synthesized a series of anti-HIV double-drugs consisting of a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) conjugated with an integrase inhibitor (INI) through a spontaneously cleavable linker in an effort to enhance the antiviral activity. These conjugates combined in their structure a dideoxy-didehydro-nucleoside (ddN) such as d4T and an INI such as alpha, gamma-diketo acid (DKA) analogues of L-708,906 and L-731,988 linked through an appropriate self-immolative spacer. Among these novel bis-substrate inhibitors, several conjugates exhibited antiviral activity but this effect was accompanied for some of them by an increased cytotoxicity by comparison to d4T, DKA or even some precursors.

Synthesis and in vitro biological evaluation of valine-containing prodrugs derived from clinically used HIV-protease inhibitors.

In an approach to improve the pharmacological properties and pharmacokinetic profiles of the current protease inhibitors (PIs) used in clinics, and consequently, their therapeutic potential, we performed the synthesis of PI-spacer-valine prodrugs (PI=saquinavir, nelfinavir and indinavir; spacer=-C(O)(CH(2))(5)NH-), and evaluated their in vitro stability with respect to hydrolysis, anti-HIV activity, cytotoxicity, and permeation through a monolayer of Caco-2 cells (used as a model of the intestinal barrier), as compared with their parent PI and first generation of valine-PIs (wherein valine was directly connected through its carboxyl to the PIs). The PI-spacer-valine conjugates were prepared in two steps, in good yields, by condensing an acid derivative of the appropriate protected valine-spacer moiety with the PI, followed by deprotection of the valine protecting group. With respect to hydrolysis, we found that the PI-spacer-valine prodrugs were chemically more stable than the first generation of PI-Val prodrugs.

CD4+ CCR5+ T-cell dynamics during simian immunodeficiency virus infection of Chinese rhesus macaques.

Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of rhesus macaques (RMs) provides a reliable model to study the relationship between lentivirus replication, cellular immune responses, and CD4+ T-cell dynamics. Here we investigated, using SIVmac251-infected RMs of a Chinese genetic background (which experience a slower disease progression than Indian RMs), the dynamics of CD4+ CCR5+ T cells, as this subset of memory/activated CD4+ T cells is both a preferential target of virus replication and a marker of immune activation. As expected, we observed that the number of circulating CD4+ CCR5+ T cells decreases transiently at the time of peak viremia.