Synthesis and Spectroscopic Study of Naphtholic and Phenolic Azo Dyes

Azo dyes are extremely important in variety of industries for variety of technical purposes. Hence, a series of naphtholic azo dyes 1-9 were synthesized via diazotization of substituted aniline derivatives followed by azo coupling with 2-naphthol. In similar manner, diazotization followed by azo coupling with phenol afforded phenolic azo dyes 10-17 in excellent yields. The chemical structures of all synthesized compounds were confirmed using analytical data and spectroscopic technique which include Uv-visible, IR, Mass spectra, 1H- and 13C-NMR

Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Studies of Crateva adansonii Leaf Extract

Diverse challenges of microbial infections and upsurge of multi-drug resistant microbes informed the investigation into the phytochemical and antibacterial properties of Crateva adansonii. Cold extraction was carried out using methanol solvent. The crude extract of Crateva adansonii was fractionated into the n-hexane, methanol and chloroform layers successively. The phytochemical screening indicated the presence of alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides. The antimicrobial assay showed that, for Bacillus spp, the organism was sensitive to the chloroform fraction of leaf extract at 1.562 mg/ml. For Microccocus varians, result showed organism was sensitive to the crude extract at 3.125 mg/ml. According to the result of antifungal screening, the n-hexane fraction and crude extract showed activity against Aspergillus niger at 12.500 mg/ml and 3.125 mg/ml respectively. From these results, the crude extract of the leaf of Crateva adansonii shows activity against both bacteria and Fungi; hence, it may might be a good source of new drug for treating infections caused by these pathogen

High efficacy and low toxicity of weekly docetaxel given as first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer

Background: Docetaxel is one of the most effective antitumor agents currently available for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This phase II multicenter study prospectively analyzed the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel given on a weekly schedule as first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Patients and Methods: All patients received docetaxel, 35 mg/m(2) weekly for 6 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of rest. Subsequent cycles ( 3 weeks of treatment, 2 weeks of rest) were given until a maximum of 5 cycles or disease progression. Premedication consisted of 8 mg dexamethasone intravenously 30 min prior to the infusion of docetaxel. Results: Fifty-four patients at a median age of 58 years with previously untreated MBC were included in the study. A median of 10 doses ( median cumulative dose 339 mg/m(2)) was administered ( range: 2 - 18). The overall response rate was 48.1% ( 95% CI: 34 - 61%, intent-to-treat). Median survival was 15.8 months and median time to progression was 5.9 months ( intent-to-treat). Hematological toxicity was mild with absence of neutropenia-related complications. Grade 3 neutropenia was observed in 3.7% of patients and grade 3 and 4 anemia was observed in 5.6 and 1.9% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: The weekly administration of docetaxel is highly efficient and safe as first-line treatment for MBC and may serve as an important treatment option specifically in elderly patients and patients with a reduced performance status. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Homology Modelling and Molecular Docking Studies of Selected Substituted Benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)methyl) benzimidamide Scaffolds on Plasmodium falciparum Adenylosuccinate Lyase Receptor

Plasmodium falciparum adenylosuccinate lyase (PfADSL) is an important enzyme in purine metabolism. Although several benzimidazole derivatives have been commercially developed into drugs, the template design as inhibitor against PfADSL has not been fully explored. This study aims to model the 3-dimensional (3D) structure of PfADSL, design and predict in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) of 8 substituted benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)methyl)benzimidamide compounds as well as predict the potential interaction modes and binding affinities of the designed ligands with the modelled PfADSL. PfADSL 3D structure was modelled using SWISS-MODEL, whereas the compounds were designed using ChemDraw Professional. ADMET predictions were done using OSIRIS Property Explorer and Swiss ADME, whereas molecular docking was done with AutoDock Tools. All designed compounds exhibited good in silico ADMET properties, hence can be considered safe for drug development. Binding energies ranged from −6.85 to −8.75 kcal/mol. Thus, they could be further synthesised and developed into active commercial antimalarial drugs

Phase II study of weekly oxaliplatin plus infusional fluorouracil and folinic acid (FUFOX regimen) as first-line treatment in metastatic gastric cancer

Oxaliplatin plus fluorouracil/folinic acid (5-FU/FA) every 2 weeks has shown promising activity in advanced gastric cancer. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of weekly oxaliplatin plus 5-FU/FA (FUFOX regimen) in the metastatic setting. Patients with previously untreated metastatic gastric cancer received oxaliplatin (50 mg m−2) plus FA (500 mg m−2, 2-h infusion) followed by 5-FU (2000 mg m−2, 24-h infusion) given on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of a 5-week cycle. The primary end point of this multicentre phase II study was the response rate according to RECIST criteria. A total of 48 patients were enrolled. Median age was 62 years and all patients had metastatic disease, with a median number of three involved organs. The most common treatment-related grade 3/4 adverse events were diarrhoea (17%), deep vein thrombosis (15%), neutropenia (8%), nausea (6%), febrile neutropenia (4%), fatigue (4%), anaemia (4%), tumour bleeding (4%), emesis (2%), cardiac ischaemia (2%) and pneumonia (2%). Grade 1/2 sensory neuropathy occurred in 67% of patients but there were no episodes of grade 3 neuropathy. Intent-to-treat analysis showed a response rate of 54% (95% CI, 39–69%), including two complete responses. At a median follow-up of 18.1 months (range 11.2–26.2 months), median survival is 11.4 months (95% CI, 8.0–14.9 months) and the median time to progression is 6.5 months (95% CI, 3.9–9.2 months). The weekly FUFOX regimen is well tolerated and shows notable activity as first-line treatment in metastatic gastric cancer

An open, multi-centre, phase II clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of paclitaxel, UFT, and leucovorin in patients with advanced gastric cancer

The aim of the study was to evaluate the response rate and safety of weekly paclitaxel (Taxol®) combination chemotherapy with UFT (tegafur, an oral 5-fluorouracil prodrug, and uracil at a 1 : 4 molar ratio) and leucovorin (LV) in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Patients with histologically confirmed, locally advanced or recurrent/metastatic gastric cancer were studied. Paclitaxel 1-h infusion at a dose of 100 mg m−2 on days 1 and 8 and oral UFT 300 mg m−2 day−1 plus LV 90 mg day−1 were given starting from day 1 for 14 days, followed by a 7-day period without treatment. Treatment was repeated every 21 days. From February 2003 to October 2004, 55 patients were enrolled. The median age was 62 years (range: 32–82). Among the 48 patients evaluated for tumour response, two achieved a complete response and 22 a partial response, with an overall response rate of 50% (95% confidence interval: 35–65%). All 55 patients were evaluated for survival and toxicities. Median time to progression and overall survival were 4.4 and 9.8 months, respectively. Major grade 3–4 toxicities were neutropenia in 25 patients (45%) and diarrhoea in eight patients (15%). Although treatment was discontinued owing to treatment-related toxicities in nine patients (16%), there was no treatment-related mortality. Weekly paclitaxel plus oral UFT/LV is effective, convenient, and well tolerated in treating patients with advanced gastric cancer