Biopharmaceutical Characterization and Oral Efficacy of a New Rapid Acting Antidepressant Ro 25-6981.

Ro 25-6981 is a highly potent and selective blocker of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors that has been shown to possess both rapid and sustained antidepressant activity. In the present study, we report the biopharmaceutical characterization of Ro 25-6981 by evaluating gastrointestinal stability, transepithelial permeability, stability in human liver microsomes, and in silico metabolic prediction. Moreover, in vivo efficacy of Ro 25-6981 after oral administration was evaluated in animal models of depression.

HIV protease inhibitors: effects on viral maturation and physiologic function in macrophages.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the retrovirus believed to be the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), infects a variety of CD4+ cells, including lymphocytes and cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. Encoded in the HIV genome are several precursor proteins that must undergo proteolytic cleavage to yield functional proteins. The gag precursor protein of HIV (p55) is cleaved by a virally encoded aspartate protease (HIV protease).

Effect of a human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitor on human monocyte function.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Encoded by the HIV genome are several precursor proteins that undergo proteolytic cleavage to yield functional proteins. The env precursor protein is cleaved by a cellular protease.

Binding of soluble CD4 proteins to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and infected cells induces release of envelope glycoprotein gp120.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects cells after binding of the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 to the cell surface recognition marker CD4. gp120 is noncovalently associated with the HIV transmembrane envelope glycoprotein gp41, and this complex is believed responsible for the initial stages of HIV infection and cytopathic events in infected cells. Soluble constructs of CD4 that contain the gp120 binding site inhibit HIV infection in vitro.

Pharmacological profile of SK&F 105809, a dual inhibitor of arachidonic acid metabolism.

The effects of SK&F 105809, 6,7,-dihydro-2-[4(methylsulfinyl) phenyl]-3-(4-pyridyl) -5[H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a] imidazole, on eicosanoid metabolism, inflammatory responses, algesia and ulcer formation are described. SK&F 105809 was determined to be a prodrug for the sulfide metabolite SK&F 105561 which is an inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and prostaglandin H (PGH) synthase activities seen with both the isolated enzyme (IC50S 3 microM) and human monocyte production of the eicosanoids leukotriene B4 (LTB4, IC50 1.0 microM) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2, IC50 0.

An emulsion formulation of amphotericin B improves the therapeutic index when treating systemic murine candidiasis.

Incorporating amphotericin B into liposomes was reported to decrease amphotericin B toxicity without a concomitant loss of antifungal efficacy. We formulated an alternative emulsion-based delivery system for amphotericin B and compared it with Fungizone. The maximal tolerated dose (MTD) in mice was 1 mg of Fungizone/kg; however, the MTD was greater than 9 mg of the Intralipid emulsion formulation/kg.

Macrophage content of spontaneous metastases at different stages of growth.

The macrophage content of spontaneous metastases has been quantified morphometrically for a panel of rodent tumors at different stages of metastatic tumor growth. Using a histochemical technique to selectively stain macrophages, we have evaluated the relative content of macrophages in spontaneous pulmonary metastases from the 13762NF MTLn3 rat mammary adenocarcinoma and the B16-BL6 mouse melanoma, as well as in spontaneous hepatic metastases from the M5076 mouse reticulum cell sarcoma and from autochthonous reticulum cell sarcomas in SJL/J mice. Between 112 and 254 separate, individual metastases were evaluated for each of these tumors.

Recruitment of exogenous macrophages into metastases at different stages of tumor growth.

The endogenous tumor-associated macrophage content and recruitment of labeled peritoneal exudate cells into experimental murine B16 melanoma metastases has been examined at different stages in the progressive growth of metastatic lesions. The recruitment of thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal exudate cells and peritoneal exudate cells activated in vitro with muramyl dipeptide was studied. Tumor-associated macrophages and labeled peritoneal exudate cells were identified in paraffin sections by specific histochemical staining and their density in individual metastases measured morphometrically.

Drug delivery to macrophages for the therapy of cancer and infectious diseases.

The mechanisms by which mononuclear phagocytes discriminate between self and nonself, recognize foreign materials, senescent, damaged, old, or effete cells, and tumor cells are unknown. However, regardless of the mechanism(s) involved, once activated by the appropriate signal(s), macrophages are able to selectively recognize and destroy neoplastic cells in vitro and in vivo. Liposomes injected intravenously, in common with other particulate or polymeric matrices, localize preferentially in organs with high mononuclear phagocyte activity and in circulating blood monocytes.

Sclerotherapy in acute variceal bleeding: technique and results.

The current Cape Town management policy for patients with suspected acute variceal bleeding includes vasopressin infusion 0.4 units/minute, and emergency diagnostic endoscopy. Sengstaken balloon tube tamponade is reserved for patients with active variceal bleeding at the time of emergency endoscopy.

Changes in the macrophage content of lung metastases at different stages in tumor growth.

The macrophage content of experimental B16 melanoma metastases at different stages of their growth has been quantified with the use of morphometry in conjunction with a recently developed histochemical method for selectively staining intratumoral macrophages. Data are presented from analyses of 954 sections of 155 individual lung metastases, showing that the macrophage content of individual B16 melanoma lung metastases not only varies significantly but also falls dramatically once metastases contain more than 700 tumor cells. In addition to providing new information on host response reactions of micrometastases, these experiments also indicate that conclusions on intratumoral macrophages derived from studies of large primary tumors and metastases in advanced stages of growth may have little or no relevance to events in micrometastases.

Production of C3 as a marker of lymphokine-mediated macrophage activation.

C3 production was assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in cell-free supernatants harvested from thioglycollate-elicited macrophages exposed to a variety of macrophage stimulating and activating agents. Macrophage monolayers treated with the stimulating agents starch, glycogen, and zymosan secreted three- to four-fold less C3 (mean 12 ng/10(5) cells/12 hr) than macrophages exposed to lymphokines containing macrophage-activating factor (MAF) (mean C3 production 44 ng/10(5) cells/12 hr). The increased production of C3 in macrophages exposed to MAF parallels the ability of these macrophages to acquire tumoricidal capacity as monitored in an in vitro 72 hr tumor cell cytotoxicity assay using B16 melanoma cells.

New histochemical method for measuring intratumoral macrophages and macrophage recruitment into experimental metastases.

A new double-label histochemical method is described which permits accurate quantitation of macrophage recruitment into neoplastic lesions in situ. Intratumoral macrophages are identified by their capacity to ingest colloidal iron particles from the interstitial fluid. Since colloidal iron is retained in a stable form within these cells for a considerable time, new macrophages that emigrate into the tissue after injection of the colloidal iron are identified by their ability to ingest a second colloid (lanthanum) which can be reliably distinguished from the initial iron label.

Analysis of the fate of systemically administered liposomes and implications for their use in drug delivery.

Functional and ultrastructural studies of liposomes injected i.v. into inbred C57BL/6N mice were performed to determine whether free liposomes can traverse capillaries.

Involvement of macrophages in the eradication of established metastases following intravenous injection of liposomes containing macrophage activators.

Liposomes containing encapsulated lymphokines or muramyl dipeptide (MDP), when injected i.v. into C57BL/6 mice, produced significant destruction of established lung and lymph node metastases from a s.

Design of liposomes to improve delivery of macrophage-augmenting agents to alveolar macrophages.

Factors affecting the localization of liposomes injected i.v. in the lung have been studied to identify the optimal type of liposome for delivery of macrophage-activating agents to the lung to augment the tumoricidal activity of alveolar macrophages (AM).

Rapid decay of tumoricidal activity and loss of responsiveness to lymphokines in inflammatory macrophages.

The ability of inflammatory tissue macrophages harvested on glass coverslips implanted in the s.c. tissue of C57BL/6 mice to kill tumor cells in vitro has been examined.