scholarly journals Efficacy of Souroubea-Platanus Dietary Supplement Containing Triterpenes in Beagle Dogs Using a Thunderstorm Noise-Induced Model of Fear and Anxiety

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 2049
Author(s):  
Aleksandar Masic ◽  
Gary Landsberg ◽  
Bill Milgram ◽  
Zul Merali ◽  
Tony Durst ◽  
...  

A novel botanical dietary supplement, formulated as a chewable tablet containing a defined mixture of Souroubea spp. vine and Platanus spp. Bark, was tested as a canine anxiolytic for thunderstorm noise-induced stress (noise aversion). The tablet contained five highly stable triterpenes and delivered 10 mg of the active ingredient betulinic acid (BA) for an intended 1 mg/kg dose in a 10 kg dog. BA in tablets was stable for 30 months in storage at 23 °C. Efficacy of the tablets in reducing anxiety in dogs was assessed in a blinded, placebo-controlled study by recording changes in blood cortisol levels and measures of behavioral activity in response to recorded intermittent thunder. Sixty beagles were assigned into groups receiving: placebo, 0.5×, 1×, 2×, and 4× dose, or the positive control (diazepam), for five days. Reduction in anxiety measures was partially dose-dependent and the 1× dose was effective in reducing inactivity time (p = 0.0111) or increased activity time (p = 0.0299) compared with placebo, indicating a decrease in anxiety response. Cortisol measures also showed a dose-dependent reduction in cortisol in dogs treated with the test tablet.

1993 ◽  
Vol 69 (02) ◽  
pp. 157-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irving Fox ◽  
Adrian Dawson ◽  
Peter Loynds ◽  
Jane Eisner ◽  
Kathleen Findlen ◽  
...  

SummaryHirulog™ (BG8967) is a direct thrombin inhibitor built by rational design using the protein hirudin as a model (Maraganore et al. [1990]; Biochemistry 29: 7095–101). In order to evaluate the therapeutic potential for hirulog in the management of thrombotic disease, the tolerability and anticoagulant activity of the agent were examined in a study of human volunteers.In a randomized, placebo-controlled study (n = 54), the intravenous infusion of hirulog over 15 min showed a rapid, dose-dependent prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT). There was a corresponding dose-dependent increase in plasma hirulog levels. The peptide was rapidly cleared with a half-life of 36 min and a total body clearance rate for the peptide of 0.43 1 kg−1 h−1. Similar activity was observed following subcutaneous injection but with sustained pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic behavior. There was a significant correlation between pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variables for both intravenous (r = 0.8, p <0.001) and subcutaneous administration (r = 0.7, p = 0.002).To evaluate the possible interactions of aspirin on the tolerability and anticoagulant activity of intravenous hirulog, a cross-over design was employed in eight subjects. Aspirin administration did not modify the peptide’s activity. At the administered dose of 0.6 mg kg−1 h−1 for 2 h, hirulog infusion prolonged APTT from 230 to 260% baseline. The infusion of hirulog in subjects who had received aspirin was not associated with any significant changes in the template bleeding time.The final phase of the study examined the activity and tolerability of hirulog in ten subjects during prolonged intravenous infusions for up to 24 h. The peptide (0.3 mg kg−1 h−1) exhibited sustained anticoagulant activity with no evidence for a cumulative effect. During hirulog infusion, APTT was prolonged from 210 to 250% baseline.In all phases of the study, hirulog administration was generally well-tolerated.Our observations show that hirulog is an active antithrombin agent with excellent tolerability in humans. As a direct thrombin inhibitor, hirulog provides a novel approach for the management of thrombotic disease.


1988 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-37
Author(s):  
Margherita Ferro ◽  
Anna Maria Bassi ◽  
Giorgio Nanni

Two hepatoma cell cultures were examined as in vitro models to be used in genotoxicity and cytotoxicity tests without the addition of bioactivating enzymes. The MH1C1, and HTC hepatoma lines were used in this study to establish their sensitivity to a number of xenobiotics, namely, cyclophosphamide (CP), the classical positive control in bioactivation tests; benzaldehyde (BA), a short-chain aldehyde; and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), a major toxic end-product of the peroxidative degradation of cell membrane lipids. As a first approach, we compared the following cytotoxicity tests: release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and colony formation efficiency (CF). Colony-forming cells were exposed to the drugs according to different procedures, before or after the anchorage phase. The leakage of LDH into the medium following exposure of both cell lines to HNE, CP and BA for up to 24 hours was found not to be a good index of cytotoxicity. A better indicator of cytotoxicity was CF, as evaluated by exposure of the cells 24 hours after seeding. The effects were detectable at very low concentrations, corresponding to 10, 90 and 100μM for HNE, CP and BA, respectively. The impairment of CF efficiency was dose-dependent and time-dependent, and several differences between the two cell lines were observed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A413-A414
Author(s):  
Nishanthan Rajakumaraswamy ◽  
Anees Dauki ◽  
Michelle Kuhne ◽  
Torsten Trowe ◽  
Winnie Weng ◽  
...  

BackgroundConventional dendritic cells subtype 1 (cDC1) play a vital role in the priming and expansion of tumor specific CD8+ T cells and their recruitment to tumor microenvironment (TME). However, cDC1s are often underrepresented in the TME. Systemic administration of Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L), a hematopoietic growth factor that binds to FLT3 on myeloid and lymphoid progenitor cells, leads to expansion of cDC1s in the periphery which can then be recruited into the TME. FLT3 pathway stimulation using GS-3583, a novel FLT3 agonistic Fc fusion protein, has the potential to promote T cell mediated anti-tumor activity. We sought to evaluate the pharmacodynamic (PD) effect of a single dose of GS-3583 in healthy volunteers alongside its safety. Herein, we present the updated results of the study.MethodsThis was a first-in-human, placebo-controlled study of GS-3583 in healthy volunteers to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and PD of escalating single doses (ranging from 75 micrograms to 2000 micrograms) of GS-3583. The study was blinded to the subjects and the investigator. Each dose cohort enrolled 8–12 healthy subjects who received GS-3583 or placebo as single IV infusion at 3:1 ratio. Subjects were observed in the phase 1 unit for 15 days and then for 12 weeks as outpatients. As part of the PD evaluation, we investigated the changes in the number of cDC1 and cDC2 cells.ResultsAs of 2nd July 2021, selected safety, PK and PD data from all 4 cohorts were available. GS-3583 was well tolerated and all subjects had been discharged. To date, there have been no serious or grade 3 or higher adverse events. Preliminary PK analysis suggested dose-dependent increase in GS-3583 exposure (AUC and Cmax). Preliminary PD analysis shows that administration of GS-3583 resulted in temporary, dose-dependent increases in cDC1/cDC2 cells that peaked between days 5–11 (higher doses resulted in later peaks) and returned to baseline within 3 weeks of drug administration (table 1, figure 1).Abstract 380 Table 1Selected subject characteristics and pharmacodynamic resultsAbstract 380 Figure 1A) Comparison of cDC1 cell quantitative changes in cohorts 1–4; B) Comparison of cDC2 cell quantitative changes in cohorts 1–4ConclusionsGS-3583 infusion was well tolerated and induced dose dependent expansion of dendritic cells in the periphery in healthy volunteers. In patients with cancer, this increase in dendritic cells can be utilized to enhance anti-tumor therapeutic effects of immuno-oncology therapies.AcknowledgementsFunding provided by Gilead Sciences, Inc.Ethics ApprovalThe study received study site IRB/Ethics Committee approval prior to enrollment of subjects.


1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (3) ◽  
pp. E391-E396
Author(s):  
H. Ayame ◽  
A. Matsutani ◽  
H. Inoue ◽  
T. Kaneko ◽  
K. Kaku

In previous studies, we demonstrated that tolbutamide inhibits a phosphorylation of hepatic 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase (6PF-2-K)/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (Fru-2,6-P2ase) catalyzed by the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-dependent protein kinase in a reconstruction system using the purified enzyme from the rat liver. In the current study, to assess a role of tolbutamide on hepatic 6PF-2-K/Fru-2,6-P2ase physiologically, we used intact rat hepatocytes and examined effects of tolbutamide on a phosphorylation of the bifunctional enzyme in the presence of glucagon. Glucagon induced a rapid phosphorylation of hepatic 6PF-2-K/Fru-2,6-P2ase accompanied by an inhibition of 6PF-2-K activity and a stimulation of Fru-2,6-P2ase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Tolbutamide inhibited glucagon-induced phosphorylation of the bifunctional enzyme protein in a dose-dependent manner. By adding 2 mM tolbutamide, reduced activity of 6PF-2-K and increased activity of Fru-2,6-P2ase in the presence of 10(-9) M glucagon were partially restored. The present results suggest the possibility that tolbutamide modulates the activity of hepatic 6PF-2-K/Fru-2,6-P2ase through inhibiting a phosphorylation of the enzyme protein. The counterregulatory influence of tolbutamide on the effect of glucagon suggests a possible mechanism for the extrapancreatic effect of sulfonylurea drugs.


2015 ◽  
Vol 177 (10) ◽  
pp. 260-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Landsberg ◽  
A. Beck ◽  
A. Lopez ◽  
M. Deniaud ◽  
J. A. Araujo ◽  
...  

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