Silencing the Cytoskeleton Protein Iba1 (Ionized Calcium Binding Adapter Protein 1) Interferes with BV2 Microglia Functioning.

Iba1 (ionized calcium binding adapter protein 1) is a cytoskeleton protein specific only for microglia and macrophages, where it acts as an actin-cross linking protein. Although frequently regarded as a marker of activation, its involvement in cell migration, membrane ruffling, phagocytosis or in microglia remodeling during immunological surveillance of the brain suggest that Iba1 is not a simple cytoskeleton protein, but a signaling molecule involved in specific signaling pathways. In this study we investigated if Iba1 could also represent a drug target, and tested the hypothesis that its specific silencing with customized Iba1-siRNA can modulate microglia functioning.

The 10th GCC Closed Forum: rejected data, GCP in bioanalysis, extract stability, BAV, processed batch acceptance, matrix stability, critical reagents, ELN and data integrity and counteracting fraud.

The 10th Global CRO Council (GCC) Closed Forum was held in Orlando, FL, USA on 18 April 2016. In attendance were decision makers from international CRO member companies offering bioanalytical services. The objective of this meeting was for GCC members to meet and discuss scientific and regulatory issues specific to bioanalysis.

Synthesis and Structural Investigation of New Bio-Relevant Complexes of Lanthanides with 5-Hydroxyflavone: DNA Binding and Protein Interaction Studies.

In the present work, we attempted to develop new metal coordination complexes of the natural flavonoid 5-hydroxyflavone with Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Tb(III). The resultant hydroxo complexes have been characterized by a variety of spectroscopic techniques, including fluorescence, FT-IR, UV-Vis, EPR and mass spectral studies. The general chemical formula of the complexes is [Ln(CH₉O₃)₃(OH)₂(H₂O)]·H₂O, where Ln is the lanthanide cation and x = 0 for Sm(III), x = 1 for Eu(III), Gd(III), Tb(III) and = 0 for Sm(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), = 1 for Eu(III), respectively.

Evaluation of Clopidogrel Conjugation Metabolism: PK Studies in Man and Mice of Clopidogrel Acyl Glucuronide.

The existence of a glucuronide conjugate of the major circulating clopidogrel metabolites, called clopidogrel acyl glucuronide (CAG), is already known. However, information regarding its pharmacokinetics (PK), metabolism, and clearance are modest. We investigated in vivo the potential CAG trans-esterification to clopidogrel (reaction occurring in vitro in particular conditions) by administering the metabolite to mice.

9th GCC closed forum: CAPA in regulated bioanalysis; method robustness, biosimilars, preclinical method validation, endogenous biomarkers, whole blood stability, regulatory audit experiences and electronic laboratory notebooks.

The 9th GCCClosed Forum was held just prior to the 2015 Workshop on Recent Issues in Bioanalysis (WRIB) in Miami, FL, USA on 13 April 2015. In attendance were 58 senior-level participants, from eight countries, representing 38 CRO companies offering bioanalytical services. The objective of this meeting was for CRO bioanalytical representatives to meet and discuss scientific and regulatory issues specific to bioanalysis.

Bioavailability and safety study of resveratrol 500 mg tablets in healthy male and female volunteers.

Over the past few decades, -resveratrol has received widespread attention as a preventive agent for numerous diseases. Several studies have demonstrated that it has significant biological and pharmacological properties. -resveratrol has been reported to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, anti-aging, cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties, which can be relevant in chronic diseases and longevity in humans.

An update on solid phase-supported liquid extraction.

Solid phase-supported liquid extraction (SLE) is a technique almost 40 years old being rediscovered in the last few years due to its simplicity, optimal for automation and giving very clean extracts with minimal matrix effects when analyzed by techniques like HPLC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, CE-MS/MS. In the next paragraphs the evolution of SLE, according to literature, will be presented first, followed by some considerations on the SLE material now available and a typical protocol of work. To conclude, considerations based on the author's practical experiences with SLE will be done, as well as few remarks on potential future areas of SLE development.

Pharmacokinetic study for the establishment of bioequivalence of two inhalation treatments containing budesonide plus formoterol.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare lung deposition and assess the bioequivalence of two formulations containing budesonide and formoterol and being delivered via Elpenhaler and Turbuhaler, respectively. A pharmacokinetic (PK) study was conducted.

Methods: An open, randomized, two-sequence, two-period, crossover, single-dose study in 100 asthmatic patients under fasting conditions was performed.

Confirmation of diosmetin 3-O-glucuronide as major metabolite of diosmin in humans, using micro-liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometry and ion mobility mass spectrometry.

Diosmin is a flavonoid often administered in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, hemorrhoids, and related affections. Diosmin is rapidly hydrolized in the intestine to its aglicone, diosmetin, which is further metabolized to conjugates. In this study, the development and validations of three new methods for the determination of diosmetin, free and after enzymatic deconjugation, and of its potential glucuronide metabolites, diosmetin-3-O-glucuronide, diosmetin-7-O-glucuronide, and diosmetin-3,7-O-glucuronide from human plasma and urine are presented.

Development of a sensitive method for simultaneous determination of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol in plasma samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A new method for the fast simultaneous quantification of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol from plasma samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, with adequate sensitivity for pharmacokinetic applications, was developed and validated. The chromatographic separation and mass-spectrometric parameters were optimized for the retention and detection of the two compounds, despite quite different structures and properties. Two columns connected in series were used, cation-exchange (Zorbax 300-SCX, 5 cm x 2.

Development and validation of an HPLC-MS/MS method to quantify clopidogrel acyl glucuronide, clopidogrel acid metabolite, and clopidogrel in plasma samples avoiding analyte back-conversion.

A new sensitive and fast quantitative analytical method for the simultaneous determination of clopidogrel, its main metabolite clopidogrel carboxylic acid, and the newly described acyl glucuronide metabolite, in human plasma samples, is presented. The analytical procedures (plasma storage, handling, and extract storage in the autosampler) were optimized in order to avoid back-conversion; a known drawback in measurements of clopidogrel. Clopidogrel acyl glucuronide was confirmed as a major source of back-conversion to the parent drug in the presence of methanol, and thorough stability experiments were carried out to find the most appropriate conditions for an accurate analysis of clopidogrel and the two metabolites.

Development and validation of an HPLC-MS/MS method to determine clopidogrel in human plasma. Use of incurred samples to test back-conversion.

Quantitative methods using LC-MS/MS allow achievement of adequate sensitivity for pharmacokinetic studies with clopidogrel; three such methods, with LLOQs as low as 5 pg/mL, were developed and fully validated according to the well established FDA 2001 guidelines. The chromatographic separations were performed on reversed phase columns Ascentis RP-Amide (15 cm x 2.1 mm, 5 μm), Ascentis Express C8 (10 cm x 2.

High-throughput HPLC-MS/MS method to determine ibandronate in human plasma for pharmacokinetic applications.

A sensitive high-throughput liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the quantification of ibandronate in human plasma. In a previous study, we have analyzed alendronate in urine samples of subjects treated at therapeutic dosages, using a derivatization approach; a similar derivatization was adapted and improved to determine ibandronate in plasma. The bisphosphonate was isolated from the biological matrix by liquid-liquid extraction, and derivatized with trimethylsilyldiazomethane prior to separation on a reversed-phase column (Supelco Discovery HSC18) and detection on a quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometer (API 4000 QTrap).

Development and application of a high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method to determine alendronate in human urine.

Despite the high potential offered by electrospray ionization on highly polar compounds like biphosphonates, few applications have been developed. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation methods suitable for such molecules cannot be used in tandem with mass spectrometry (MS) due to high non-volatile salt content; at the same time the sample preparation, in biological fluids, is also a challenging problem. In the past ion-pair chromatography was mainly used in the case of HPLC-MS of biphosphonates, but no application to quantitative pharmacokinetic (PK) studies has been presented.

Intra-plaque production of platelet-activating factor correlates with neoangiogenesis in human carotid atherosclerotic lesions.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a phospholipid mediator synthesized by activated inflammatory and endothelial cells. Recently PAF has been shown to contribute to neoangiogenesis in several experimental models. Here we evaluated the presence of PAF and its potential role in neovascularization within human atherosclerotic plaques.