Actions of Novel Angiotensin Receptor Blocking Drugs,Bisartans, Relevant for COVID-19 Therapy: Biased Agonism at Angiotensin Receptors and the Beneficial Effects of Neprilysin in the Renin Angiotensin System

Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) used in the treatment of hypertension and potentially in SARS-CoV-2 infection exhibit inverse agonist effects at angiotensin AR1 receptors, suggesting the receptor may have evolved to accommodate naturally occurring angiotensin ‘antipeptides’. Screening of the human genome has identified a peptide (EGVYVHPV) encoded by mRNA, complementary to that encoding ANG II itself, which is an inverse agonist. Thus, opposite strands of DNA encode peptides with opposite effects at AR1 receptors. Agonism and inverse agonism at AR1 receptors can be explained by a receptor ‘switching’ between an activated state invoking receptor dimerization/G protein coupling and an inverse agonist state mediated by an alternative/second messenger that is slow to reverse. Both receptor states appear to be driven by the formation of the ANG II charge-relay system involving TyrOH-His/imidazole-Carboxylate (analogous to serine proteases). In this system, tyrosinate species formed are essential for activating AT1 and AT2 receptors. ANGII is also known to bind to the zinc-coordinated metalloprotease angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) used by the COVID-19 virus to enter cells. Here we report in silico results demonstrating the binding of a new class of anionic biphenyl-tetrazole sartans (‘Bisartans’) to the active site zinc atom of the endopeptidase Neprilysin (NEP) involved in regulating hypertension, by modulating humoral levels of beneficial vasoactive peptides in the RAS such as vasodilator angiotensin (1–7). In vivo and modeling evidence further suggest Bisartans can inhibit ANG II-induced pulmonary edema and may be useful in combatting SARS-CoV-2 infection by inhibiting ACE2-mediated viral entry to cells.     

2‐(1H‐Benzotriazole‐1‐yl)‐1,1,3,3‐Tetramethyluronium Tetrafluoro Borate (TBTU) as an Efficient Coupling Reagent for the Esterification of Carboxylic acids with Alcohols and Phenols at Room Temperature

Esterification of carboxylic acids with alcohols and phenols by using 2‐(1H‐benzotriazole‐1‐yl)‐1,1,3,3‐tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (TBTU) in the presence of triethylamine as a base proceeded smoothly under mild conditions to afford the corresponding esters in good to high yields in acetonitrile at room temperature.     

(NH4)2Ce(NO3)6 as an inexpensive,eco-friendly,efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 5-substituted 1-H tetrazoles from nitriles

Ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) is found to be a suitable, inexpensive, and effective non-toxic catalyst for a smooth (3+2) cycloaddition of organic nitriles with NaN₃ to afford 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles in excellent yields. Shorter reaction times, easy work-up, and substantial and pure product formation are the key advantages of the present method.     

Synthesis of the first nanomagnetic particles with semicarbazide‐based acidic ionic liquid tag: an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 3,3′‐(arylmethylene)bis(4‐hydroxycoumarin) and 1‐carbamato‐alkyl‐2‐naphthol derivatives under mild and green conditions

Semicarbazide functionalized with chlorosulfonic acid on the surface of silica‐coated magnetic nanoparticles, {Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@(CH₂)₃Semicarbazide‐SO₃H/HCl}, as a novel magnetic Brønsted acid catalyst according to the aims of green chemistry was synthesized and fully characterized using Fourier transform infrared, UV–visible and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopies, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron, transmission electron and atomic force microscopies and thermogravimetric analysis. The capability and excellent activity of this nanoparticle catalyst were exhibited in the synthesis of two series of compounds with important biological activities, namely 3,3′‐(arylmethylene)bis(4‐hydroxycoumarin) and 1‐carbamato‐alkyl‐2‐naphthol derivatives, under mild, green and solvent‐free conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the synthesis and application of {Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@(CH₂)₃Semicarbazide‐SO₃H/HCl} as Brønsted acid solid magnetic nanoparticles. Consequently the present study can open up a novel and promising intuition in the sequence of logical design, synthesis and applications of task‐specific Brønsted acid magnetic nanoparticle catalyst with favourable properties as a full‐fledged efficient material for sustainable approaches. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Laboratorial diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis and new insights for the future of fungal diagnosis

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most prevalent mycosis in Latin-America. As for other mycosis, its importance of has been largely underestimated, partially due to the limited geographical distribution of the etiologic fungal agent (Paracoccidioides brasiliensis). However, the advent of AIDS and other immune suppressing conditions is creating an emergent need for improved diagnostic tests envisaging simpler, cheaper, faster and more sensitive and accurate detection of pathogenic fungi, especially those causing systemic and opportunistic diseases. Routine laboratorial diagnosis of PCM disease relies mainly on direct observation of the fungus. However, culture growing is slow and, too often, definite diagnosis can only be obtained at later growing stages. Immunodiagnosis is also widely employed, although usually cumbersome and complex. Enzyme-based immunoassays are more amenable to automation for high-throughput testing, but may lead to cross-reactivity with other fungi. Plus, molecular diagnosis relying on polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) and nucleic-acid hybridization, although still at early stages of application to routine diagnosis of P. brasiliensis, has triggered the development of techniques for its improved specific detection, thus contributing for epidemiological studies as well. In the future, microarrays and newer biosensing technologies, coupled to new bionanotechnological tools, will certainly improve diagnosis of PCM and other mycosis through very specific and sensitive pathogen biomolecular detection.     

Common methods for the chiral determination of amphetamine and related compounds I. Gas, liquid and thin-layer chromatography

This article reviews the most common, useful methods for the chiral determination of amphetamine (AM) and AM-derived designer drugs in different of matrix, including blood, hair, urine, medicaments or standard solutions, taking into consideration articles published in the past 15 years. We consider chromatographic methods (e.g., gas, liquid, high-performance liquid, and thin layer). We describe several types of chiral derivatization reagent, mobile-phase additive and chiral stationary phase commonly used in the chromatographic methods. Tables summarize basic information about conditions (e.g., type of column and mobile phase), detection mode and reference data for each procedure.