A phase I, randomized study of combined IL-2 and therapeutic immunisation with antiretroviral therapy

Background  

Fully functional HIV-1-specific CD8 and CD4 effector T-cell responses are vital to the containment of viral activity and disease progression. These responses are lacking in HIV-1-infected patients with progressive disease. We attempted to augment fully functional HIV-1-specific CD8 and CD4 effector T-cell responses in patients with advanced chronic HIV-1 infection.     

Integration of mass spectrometry into early-phase discovery and development of central nervous system agents.

The early-phase discovery and development of useful central nervous system (CNS) agents present ample opportunities to exploit mass spectrometry and provide detailed compound/mixture characterization, or to make the process faster and/or more economic. Neuropeptide FF antagonists and centrally active thyrotropin-releasing hormone analogues were used as specific examples in this work. We evaluated the characterization of focused libraries of peptide derivatives by electrospray ionization, tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry on a quadrupole ion trap and nanoelectrospray on a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Immobilized artificial-membrane chromatography was employed as a model to predict/rank new agents against lead compounds for their potential to reach the central nervous system in pharmacologically significant amounts. Measuring brain concentrations in rodents after the intravenous administration of test compounds was used as an in vivo approach, and we took advantage of microdialysis sampling that furnished samples without interfering tissue matrix and afforded the estimation of extracellular concentrations in a localized part of the brain. Overall, making atmospheric-pressure ionization mass spectrometry an integral part of the process has played a major role in increasing throughput, selectivity, specificity and detection sensitivity and thereby providing useful information about the extent or mechanism of transport and metabolic activation/inactivation in early-phase discovery and development of CNS agents.     

Atom states and interatomic interactions in complex perovskite-like oxides: XXVIII. Magnetic dilution in the La(Sr)CoO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-LaGaO<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

Magnetic susceptibility and ESP spectra of lanthanum gallates doped with cobalt and also with cobalt and strontium in the ratio 5:1 were studied. The introduction of strontium results in the formation of cobalt atom clusters including strontium and an oxygen vacancy, cobalt(III) transferring into the high-spin state.     

Electronic structure of alkaline metal hydrides according to MO LCAO-SCF-CNDO cluster calculations

This paper presents the results of a quantum chemical study of compounds MH (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs) in a cluster approximation. The calculations were performed by the MO LCAO-SCF-CNDO method (special variation which proved to be effective for studying model systems of high-temperature superconductors). The calculation reproduces the expected electron density distribution on the hydrogen and metal atoms in the hydrides as well as the energy characteristics: M-H and M-M bond energ.es and the binding energies of compounds. The latter qualitatively correlate with the bond energies in the series of compounds LiH-CsH. The calculated Fermi energies and forbidden gaps at the Fermi level suggest that in the series being investigated a perfect crystal of lithium hydride will have the highest electric resistance. It is established that the quantum chemical characteristics of the electronic structure of MH change nonmonotonically from Li to Cs. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 431–437, May–June, 1997.     

Silicon-containing compounds as bases of drugs used to regulate plant growth

Methods for obtaining physiologically active silicon-containing compounds are developed. Silatrane and silocane derivatives of o-cresol, o-cresoxyacetic, and methacrylic acids are obtained. A comparative study of the toxic effects of silatranes and silocanes is performed. Tests on plant growth are carried out. The wound-healing effects are studied.