Publications by authors named "Kenneth Meyers"

The chromatin-associated protein WDR5 (WD repeat domain 5) is an essential cofactor for MYC and a conserved regulator of ribosome protein gene transcription. It is also a high-profile target for anti-cancer drug discovery, with proposed utility against both solid and hematological malignancies. We have previously discovered potent dihydroisoquinolinone-based WDR5 WIN-site inhibitors with demonstrated efficacy and safety in animal models.

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WD repeat domain 5 (WDR5) is a core scaffolding component of many multiprotein complexes that perform a variety of critical chromatin-centric processes in the nucleus. WDR5 is a component of the mixed lineage leukemia MLL/SET complex and localizes MYC to chromatin at tumor-critical target genes. As a part of these complexes, WDR5 plays a role in sustaining oncogenesis in a variety of human cancers that are often associated with poor prognoses.

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WD repeat domain 5 (WDR5) is a nuclear scaffolding protein that forms many biologically important multiprotein complexes. The WIN site of WDR5 represents a promising pharmacological target in a variety of human cancers. Here, we describe the optimization of our initial WDR5 WIN-site inhibitor using a structure-guided pharmacophore-based convergent strategy to improve its druglike properties and pharmacokinetic profile.

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WD repeat domain 5 (WDR5) is a member of the WD40-repeat protein family that plays a critical role in multiple chromatin-centric processes. Overexpression of WDR5 correlates with a poor clinical outcome in many human cancers, and WDR5 itself has emerged as an attractive target for therapy. Most drug-discovery efforts center on the WIN site of WDR5 that is responsible for the recruitment of WDR5 to chromatin.

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6,7-Dihydro-5H-2,1-benzisoxazol-4-one analogs are potent inhibitors of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) with selectivity over the highly homologous enzyme cortisol synthase (CYP11B1). These compounds are unique among inhibitors of CYP11B2 in their lack of a strong-heme binding group such as a pyridine or imidazole. Poor metabolic stability in hepatocyte incubations was found to proceed via a reduction of the isoxazole ring.

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Background: There is still significant disagreement among surgeons about the best method for arterial cannulation to institute cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (STAADs). This study aimed to provide support for central aortic cannulation as a viable and preferable option, as it reduces time to institute CPB, operative times, and decreases the complexity of the procedure.

Methods: This study is a retrospective review of 34 patients who underwent STAAD repairs consecutively between October 2006 and January 2014.

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Our goal was to determine the characteristics of trauma transfer patients with repeat imaging. A retrospective trauma registry review was performed to evaluate trauma patients who were transferred from referring institutions between January 2005 and December 2009. Patients were divided into those who had a duplicate computed tomography (CT) scan versus those who did not.

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The design, synthesis, and biological studies of a novel class of MCH-R1 antagonists based on an aminotetrahydronaphthalene ketopiperazine scaffold is described. Compounds within this class promoted significant body weight reduction in mouse diet induced obesity studies. The potential for hERG blockage activity and QT interval studies in anesthetized dogs are discussed.

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The synthesis and biological testing of novel classes of potent melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH-R1) antagonists based on pyrazolopiperazinone and pyrrolopiperazinone scaffolds are described.

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A direct correlation between hERG binding and QTc prolongation was established for a series of aminomethyl tetrahydronaphthalene ketopiperazine MCH-R1 antagonists. Compounds within this class with greater selectivity over hERG were developed. Compound 4h proved to have the best profile, with MCH-R1 Ki = 16 nm and hERG IC50 = 25 microM.

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Aminomethyl tetrahydronaphthalene biphenyl carboxamide MCH-R1 antagonists with greater selectivity over hERG were identified. SAR studies addressing two distinct alternatives for structural modifications leading to improve hERG selectivity are described.

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A substituted 4-aminopiperidine was identified as showing activity in an MCH assay from an HTS effort. Subsequent structural modification of the scaffold led to the identification of a number of active MCH antagonists. 3,5-Dimethoxy-N-(1-(naphthalen-2-ylmethyl)piperidin-4-yl)benzamide (5c) was among those with the highest binding affinity to the MCH receptor (K(i)=27nM), when variations were made at benzoyl and naphthylmethyl substitution sites from the initial HTS hit.

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A novel series of substituted quinoline analogs were designed and synthesized as potent and selective melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) antagonists. These analogs show potent (nM) activity (12a-k) with a moderate selectivity. Conversely, the conformationally constrained thienopyrimidinone analogs (18a-g) showed improved activity in MCH-1R and selectivity over 5HT2C.

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Background: We sought to examine the heterogeneity of endothelial cells from the same anatomic site but different vascular systems and described von Willebrand factor (vWF) release and morphological change in response to injury-associated factor in femoral vessels from canine in vitro.

Methods: Levels of hemostatic factors (vWF, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1(PAI-1), antithrombin III (ATIII), in tissue sections and cultured endothelial cells of canine femoral arteries and canine femoral veins were compared by the immunohistochemistry technique. In addition to comparing cell growth density and cell protein contents, cultured femoral arterial endothelial cells (FAECs) and cultured femoral venous endothelial cells (FVECs) were incubated with a series concentration of basic fibroblast factor (bFGF) (1, 10, 100 ng/ml) for up to 48 hours to test the amount of vWF secretion and morphological change.

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Objective: To investigate the effects of formaldehyde fixation on equine platelets using flow cytometric methods to evaluate markers of platelet activation.

Sample Population: Blood samples from 6 Thoroughbreds.

Procedure: The degree of fluorescence associated with binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated anti-human fibrinogen antibody and FITC-annexin V in unactivated and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-, platelet activating factor (PAF)-, and A23187-activated platelet samples in unfixed and 0.

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Objective: To investigate the potential use of fluorescent-labeled annexin V, anti-human fibrinogen antibody, and anti-human thrombospondin antibody for detection of the activation of equine platelets by use of flow cytometry.

Sample Population: Platelets obtained from 6 Thoroughbreds.

Procedure: Flow cytometry was used to assess platelet activation as indicated by detection of binding of fluorescent-labeled annexin V, anti-human fibrinogen antibody, and anti-thrombospondin antibody to unactivated and ADP-, collagen-, platelet activating factor (PAF)-, and A23187-activated equine platelets.

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Sera from two blood type B cats had strong isoagglutinating and isohemolyzing titers against blood type A erythrocytes. In order to determine the class of the immunoglobulins, sera from the cats were pooled, ammonium sulfate precipitated, and gel filtered using sepharose 6B to separate the immunoglobulins by molecular size. The immunoglobulin concentrate separated into two fractions.

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