Publications by authors named "Fiona Spence"

Serelaxin is a recombinant human relaxin-2 intended for cardiovascular indications. Inhalation was chosen as alternative route to intravenous to allow daily administration for chronic applications and home treatment. A total of 4 short-term studies were conducted in rats and cynomolgus monkeys with inhaled formulation of serelaxin at dose up to 10 mg/kg/d.

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Cancer Osaka thyroid (COT) kinase is an important regulator of pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Thus, pharmacologic inhibition of COT should be a valid approach to therapeutically intervene in the pathogenesis of macrophage-driven inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. We report the discovery and chemical optimization of a novel series of COT kinase inhibitors, with unprecedented nanomolar potency for the inhibition of TNFα.

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Background: Clinical reasoning is one of the most important skills that medical students need to develop. Our medical students learn clinical reasoning in small group discussion sessions and during their clinical attachments. We wanted to provide additional opportunities for them to develop these important skills.

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A novel tertiary amine series of potent muscarinic M(3) receptor antagonists are described that exhibit potential as inhaled long-acting bronchodilators for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Geminal dimethyl functionality present in this series of compounds confers very long dissociative half-life (slow off-rate) from the M(3) receptor that mediates very long-lasting smooth muscle relaxation in guinea pig tracheal strips. Optimization of pharmacokinetic properties was achieved by combining rapid oxidative clearance with targeted introduction of a phenolic moiety to secure rapid glucuronidation.

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A novel series of potent and selective sulfonamide derived β(2)-adrenoreceptor agonists are described that exhibit potential as inhaled ultra-long-acting bronchodilators for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Analogues from this series mediate very long-lasting smooth muscle relaxation in guinea pig tracheal strips. The sulfonamide agonist headgroup confers high levels of intrinsic crystallinity that could relate to the acidic sulfonamide motif supporting a zwitterionic form in the solid state.

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We have developed the bioluminescent Salmonella reverse mutation assay as a tool for detecting mutagenicity applicable for high-throughput screening of new chemicals. In this study, we report the inter-laboratory evaluation of the assay using 10 model chemicals in five independent laboratories located in the USA (Groton, CT; Cambridge, MA and La Jolla, CA), Europe (Sandwich, Kent, UK) and Asia (Nagoya, Japan). The studies were performed in blinded fashion in all sites except for Groton and Cambridge laboratories.

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Buthionine sulphoximine (BSO; 1mM) resulted in the depletion of glutathione (GSH) in HepG2 cells to 17+/-1.5% within 24h. This was not associated with apoptotic or necrotic cell death over this time period.

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