Comparative analysis of the contribution of municipal waste management policies to GHG reductions in China.

Waste generation and disposal have been a global issue for decades. The total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2019 were 49,758 MtCOe with waste disposal accounting for 3.2%.

Pharmacological characterization of a novel peptide inhibitor of the Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction.

LAS200813 is a novel bicyclic lipopeptide that activates Nrf2 by binding to Keap1, thereby antagonising the Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction. In this work we report the pharmacological characterization of LAS200813 in Nrf2-dependent translational preclinical models. LAS200813 binds to Keap1 with high affinity (IC: 0.

Design of Thermoresponsive Polyamine Cross-Linked Perfluoropolyether Hydrogels for Imaging and Delivery Applications.

Perfluorocarbons are versatile compounds with applications in F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and chemical conjugation to drugs and pH sensors. We present a novel thermoresponsive perfluorocarbon emulsion hydrogel that can be detected by F MRI. The developed hydrogel contains perfluoro(polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether) (PFPE) emulsion droplets that are stabilized through ionic cross-linking with polyethylenimine (PEI).

High-performance vitrimers from commodity thermoplastics through dioxaborolane metathesis.

Windmills, cars, and dental restoration demand polymer materials and composites that are easy to process, assemble, and recycle while exhibiting outstanding mechanical, thermal, and chemical resistance. Vitrimers, which are polymer networks able to shuffle chemical bonds through exchange reactions, could address these demands if they were prepared from existing plastics and processed with fast production rates and current equipment. We report the metathesis of dioxaborolanes, which is rapid and thermally robust, and use it to prepare vitrimers from polymers as different as poly(methyl methacrylate), polystyrene, and high-density polyethylene that, although permanently cross-linked, can be processed multiple times by means of extrusion or injection molding.

Three distinct open-pore morphologies from a single particle-filled polymer blend.

Ternary mixtures composed of polyisobutylene (PIB), polyethylene oxide (PEO), and silica particles yield three distinct open-pore morphologies depending on the mixture composition: (1) pendular network (particles bonded together by menisci of PEO); (2) capillary aggregate network (particles and PEO form a combined phase with strongly solid-like properties which forms a percolating network); (3) cocontinuous morphology (silica and the PEO form a highly viscous combined phase which retards interfacial tension-driven coarsening). Remarkably, interfacial tension plays altogether different roles in stabilizing these three morphologies: stabilizing the first, not affecting the second, and destabilizing the last. The first two of these morphologies appear to be generalizable to other systems, e.

Combined anti CXC receptors 1 and 2 therapy is a promising anti-inflammatory treatment for respiratory diseases by reducing neutrophil migration and activation.

Neutrophil infiltration and activation in the lung are important pathophysiological features in COPD, severe asthma and bronchiectasis mostly mediated by CXCL8 and CXCL1 via CXCR1 and CXCR2. No thorough study to date has been performed to compare the anti-inflammatory effect profile of dual CXCR1/2 vs. selective CXCR2 antagonists in relevant human neutrophil assays and pulmonary inflammation models.

On the rheology of pendular gels and morphological developments in paste-like ternary systems based on capillary attraction.

We investigate capillary bridging-induced gelation phenomena in silica particle suspensions and pastes, where a particle-wetting fluid is added as the third component. Increasing the wetting fluid loading in the ternary system induces a morphological transition from a pendular network to compact capillary aggregates network, with an intermediate funicular state. To our knowledge, the formation of percolated structures from compact capillary aggregates when the volume fraction of a wetting fluid approaches that of the particles is unprecedented.

Aggregation and separation in ternary particle/oil/water systems with fully wettable particles.

We report that a variety of ternary particle/liquid/liquid mixtures heavily aggregate or separate completely if (1) the particles are fully or almost fully wetted by one fluid, and (2) if the wetting fluid volume fraction is comparable to the particle volume fraction. Aggregation and separation do not happen if the particles are partially wetted by both fluids, in which case Pickering emulsions appear at all compositions. Rheological and geometric criteria for aggregation are proposed and compared with a state diagram of a ternary system composed of oil, water, and hydrophilic glass particles.

Lack of activity of 15-epi-lipoxin A₄ on FPR2/ALX and CysLT1 receptors in interleukin-8-driven human neutrophil function.

Neutrophil recruitment and survival are important control points in the development and resolution of inflammatory processes. 15-epi-lipoxin (LX)A interaction with formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2)/ALX receptor is suggested to enhance anti-inflammatory neutrophil functions and mediate resolution of airway inflammation. However, it has been reported that 15-epi-LXA₄ analogues can also bind to cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLT1) and that the CysLT1 antagonist MK-571 binds to FPR2/ALX, so cross-reactivity between FPR2/ALX and CysLT1 ligands cannot be discarded.

2-(1H-Pyrazol-4-yl)acetic acids as CRTh2 antagonists.

High throughput screening identified the pyrazole-4-acetic acid substructure as CRTh2 receptor antagonists. Optimisation of the compounds uncovered a tight SAR but also identified some low nanomolar inhibitors.

Discovery of a novel class of zwitterionic, potent, selective and orally active S1P₁ direct agonists.

Amido-1,3,4-thiadiazoles have been identified as a novel structural class of potent and selective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor subtype 1 agonists. Starting from a micromolar HTS hit with the help of an in-house homology model, robust structural-activity relationships were developed to yield compounds with good selectivity and excellent in vivo efficacy in rat models.

Discovery of LAS101057: A Potent, Selective, and Orally Efficacious A2B Adenosine Receptor Antagonist.

The structure-activity relationships for a series of pyrazine-based A2B adenosine receptor antagonists are described. From this work, LAS101057 (17), a potent, selective, and orally efficacious A2B receptor antagonist, was identified as a clinical development candidate. LAS101057 inhibits agonist-induced IL-6 production in human fibroblasts and is active in an ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mouse model after oral administration, reducing airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine, Th2 cytokine production, and OVA-specific IgE levels.

Discovery of potent and selective bicyclic A(2B) adenosine receptor antagonists via bioisosteric amide replacement.

Several new potent and selective A(2B) adenosine receptor antagonists have been prepared in which the aryl-amide moiety of the lead series, exemplified by 1a, has been replaced by bioisosteric bicyclic moieties. Although the majority of compounds had generally improved microsomal stability as compared to 1a, this was not translated into overall improvements in the pharmacokinetic profiles of a representative set of compounds.

Discovery of N-(5,6-diarylpyridin-2-yl)amide derivatives as potent and selective A(2B) adenosine receptor antagonists.

The synthesis and SAR of a series of N-(5,6-diarylpyridin-2-yl)amide derivatives as potent A(2B) adenosine receptor antagonists is described. Several compounds showed good selectivity versus other adenosine receptors. The potent and selective analogue 9 was shown to have good oral bioavailability in the rat.

Characterization of aclidinium bromide, a novel inhaled muscarinic antagonist, with long duration of action and a favorable pharmacological profile.

Aclidinium bromide is a novel potent, long-acting inhaled muscarinic antagonist in development for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Aclidinium showed subnanomolar affinity for the five human muscarinic receptors (M(1)-M(5)). [(3)H]Aclidinium dissociated slightly faster from M(2) and M(3) receptors than [(3)H]tiotropium but much more slowly than [(3)H]ipratropium.

Discovery of novel quaternary ammonium derivatives of (3R)-quinuclidinol esters as potent and long-acting muscarinic antagonists with potential for minimal systemic exposure after inhaled administration: identification of (3R)-3-{[hydroxy(di-2-thienyl)acetyl]oxy}-1-(3-phenoxypropyl)-1-azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bromide (aclidinium bromide).

The objective of this work was to discover a novel, long-acting muscarinic M(3) antagonist for the inhaled treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with a potentially improved risk-benefit profile compared with current antimuscarinic agents. A series of novel quaternary ammonium derivatives of (3R)-quinuclidinol esters were synthesized and evaluated. On the basis of its overall profile, (3R)-3-{[hydroxy(di-2-thienyl)acetyl]oxy}-1-(3-phenoxypropyl)-1-azoniabicyclo[2.

CODES, a novel procedure for ligand-based virtual screening: PDE7 inhibitors as an application example.

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) 7 is a high affinity cAMP-specific PDE whose functional role in T-cells has been the subject of some controversy. Recent findings on tissue distribution, however, support the hypothesis that PDE7 could be a good target for the treatment of airway diseases, T-cell related diseases or central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Therefore, the identification of selective inhibitors targeted against PDE7 enzyme has become an attractive area of research.

Discovery and characterization of 4'-(2-furyl)-N-pyridin-3-yl-4,5'-bipyrimidin-2'-amine (LAS38096), a potent, selective, and efficacious A2B adenosine receptor antagonist.

A novel series of N-heteroaryl 4'-(2-furyl)-4,5'-bipyrimidin-2'-amines has been identified as potent and selective A(2B) adenosine receptor antagonists. In particular, compound 5 showed high affinity for the A(2B) receptor (Ki = 17 nM), good selectivity (IC(50): A(1) > 1000 nM, A(2A) > 2500 nM, A3 > 1000 nM), displayed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile in preclinical species, and showed efficacy in functional in vitro models.

Phosphodiesterase 7A1 is expressed in human CD4+ naïve T cells at higher levels than in CD4+ memory cells and is not required during their CD3/CD28-dependent activation.

PDE7A1 is a cAMP-hydrolyzing phosphodiesterase expressed in lymphoid tissue, where its possible role during T cell activation remains unclear. We have characterized the functional relevance of PDE7A1 in the naïve (CD4+CD45RA+) and memory (CD4+CD45RO+) subsets of human peripheral CD4+ T cells during CD3/CD28-dependent stimulation. Our results indicate that PDE7A1 is expressed in resting naïve CD4+ T cells at higher levels than in the corresponding memory cells and that levels of PDE7A1 mRNA are not upregulated upon CD3/CD28 mediated stimulation of these T cell subsets.

Cloning and characterization of a novel human 5-HT4 receptor variant that lacks the alternatively spliced carboxy terminal exon. RT-PCR distribution in human brain and periphery of multiple 5-HT4 receptor variants.

We have cloned a novel C-terminal splice variant of serotonin 5-HT4 receptors from human hippocampus. The deduced protein extends only one aminoacid past the splicing point. We propose to call the novel variant h5-HT4(n) since it contains none of the C-terminal exons alternatively spliced in other variants.

Pharmacological characterization of almotriptan: an indolic 5-HT receptor agonist for the treatment of migraine.

Almotriptan (3-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-5-(pyrrolidin-1-ylsulfonylmethyl )-1H-indo le) has been studied in several models predictive of activity and selectivity at 5-HT receptors. Almotriptan showed low nanomolar affinity for the 5-HT(1B) and 5-HT(1D) receptors in several species, including the human, while affinity for 5-HT receptors other than 5-HT(1B/1D) was clearly less. Affinity for 5-HT(7) and 5-HT(1A) receptors was approximately 40 and 60 times lower than that for 5-HT(1B/1D) receptors, respectively.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2,5-dihydropyrazol.

A novel series of 2,5-dihydropyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolin-3-ones has been prepared. These compounds showed good PDE 4 inhibitory activity and weak affinity for rolipram's binding site. They also exhibited a good anti-inflammatory profile without emetic side effects.

Benzyl derivatives of 2,1,3-benzo- and benzothieno[3,2-a]thiadiazine 2,2-dioxides: first phosphodiesterase 7 inhibitors.

The synthesis of a new family of benzyl derivatives of 2,1,3-benzo- and benzothieno[3,2-a]thiadiazine 2,2-dioxides was achieved. The biological data revealed the first heterocyclic family of compounds with PDE 7 inhibitory properties appearing to be a new objective for the treatment of T-cell-dependent disorders. The IC(50) values or percent inhibition values of the compounds against PDE 7 were calculated by testing them against human recombinant PDE 7 expressed in S.

Bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory activities of glaucine: In vitro studies in human airway smooth muscle and polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

1. Selective phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors are of potential interest in the treatment of asthma. We examined the effects of the alkaloid S-(+)-glaucine, a PDE4 inhibitor, on human isolated bronchus and granulocyte function.

Phosphodiesterase inhibitory properties of losartan. Design and synthesis of new lead compounds.

A 4-centre PDE4 pharmacophore search has been carried out in several 3D-databases containing compounds belonging to different therapeutic areas. Losartan, an angiotensin-II antagonist, has been identified as a new lead compound for developing PDE4 inhibitors. New families of compounds derived from losartan has been synthesized and their PDE inhibition has been measured.