Seizures are one of the most common neurological disorders in clinical medicine. Triggering mechanisms by which seizures form remain unclear, but are related to a rapid change in ionic composition, including an increase of intracellular potassium concentration and pH shifts within the brain. pH buffering of extra- and intracellular spaces is mainly carried out by the CO(2)/ HCO(3)(-) buffer, the equilibration of the two species being assured by the zinc enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1). Some carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) are used as anticonvulsants in the treatment of epilepsy. In this review, we will describe the link between CA and seizures on the basis of several putative mechanisms. Several CA isozymes have been pointed out for their contribution to epileptiform activity. An overview of the CA isozyme expression in the brain and of their specifics roles is also discussed. This article reviews the research achievements published on CA inhibitors, clinically used as anticonvulsant and those under development.

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Targeting proteins overexpressed in hypoxic tumors is as an important means of controlling cancer disease. One such protein is the carbonic anhydrase (CA) isoenzyme IX, which in some types of tumors is overexpressed 150-200-fold. We report here a series of sulfonamide derivatives, prepared from 2-carbohydrazido- and 4-carbohydrazido-benzenesulfonamides, which were further derivatized by reaction with aryl isocyanates or arylsulfonyl isocyanates. Several low nanomolar CA IX inhibitors were detected in this way. SAR is discussed for the diverse types of inhibitors and their affinity for different isozymes, with the aim of obtaining isozyme-specific CA IX inhibitors, with putative applications as antitumor drugs.

Since the discovery of COX-2, a second subtype of cyclooxygenase, selective inhibitors or "coxibs" were developed with the idea that this isoform was inducible at the site of inflammation whereas COX-1 was expressed constitutively in several tissues including gastric epithelium. This new class of non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents was though to be safer for ulcerations of the gastroinstestinal mucosa observed with non selective COX-2 inhibitors. Nevertheless, at the end of September 2004, Merck & Co announced the voluntary withdrawal of rofecoxib (Vioxx) worldwide because of an increased risk of cardiovascular events. This decision raised serious concerns about safety of selective COX-2 inhibitors which are actively marketed today, and the ones currently under development. The mechanism of this cardiovascular toxicity could lie in the inhibition of COX-2 itself, and thus be a class effect. On the other hand, these cardiovascular side effects could be limited on rofecoxib and be dependent on its chemical and/or pharmacological own properties. This hypothesis is undermined by the unexpected findings of one colon cancer study which has shown that celecoxib might also increase the chance of heart attack and stroke in some patients. In this review, we compared the different coxibs marketed to date on the basis of their clinical, pharmacological and chemical properties with the aim of providing some clues in the understanding of their potential or revealed "cardiovascular effects".

In the very early phase of endotoxinic shock, right ventricular-vascular coupling is preserved by an increase in RV contractility. Later, myocardial oxygen consumption and energetic cost of RV contractility are increased, as evidenced by the decrease in RV efficiency, and right ventricular-vascular uncoupling occurs. Therefore, therapies aiming at restoring right ventricular-vascular coupling in endotoxic shock should attempt to increase RV contractility and to decrease RV afterload but also to preserve RV mechanical efficiency.

Organic chemistry Z 0200 Conformational Rigidity and Flexibility of the Paracyclophane Skeleton in Substituted [2.2]Paracyclophanes -[81 refs.]. -(STARIKOVA*, Z. A.; FEDYANIN, I. V.; ANTIPIN, M. Y.; Russ.

Polyfluorinated carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) show very good inhibitory properties against carbonic anhydrase (CA) and excellent in vivo antiglaucoma properties after topical administration in rabbits. Still, the pentafluorinated compounds reported previously by this group (Scozzafava et al. J. Med. Chem. 2000, 43, 4542-4551) showed high reactivity with thiol groups of cysteine, glutathione, and presumably other proteins containing such moieties, which may lead to severe ocular side effects. Here, we report an approach for obtaining fluorinated CA inhibitors without the undesired enhanced reactivity. Thus, new compounds have been obtained by attaching moieties with reduced reactivity toward aromatic substitution reactions to the molecules of aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides possessing derivatizable amino moieties. The employed tails of the 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoyl, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluophenylsulfonyl, and pentafluorophenylureido types induced excellent CA inhibitory properties in the new reported sulfonamides, mainly against the isozymes involved in aqueous humor secretion, CA II and CA IV, whereas affinity for CA I was lower. Several low-nanomolar CA II inhibitors were detected, which did not react with cysteine or glutathione, in contrast to the corresponding perfluorinated compounds previously reported. These derivatives also showed a potent reduction of the intraocular pressure (IOP) in hypertensive rabbits, amounting to 13-21 mmHg at 1 h postadministration (compared to 5 mmHg obtained with dorzolamide, a clinically used drug), and the decreased IOP was maintained for 4-5 h after the administration. These compounds constitute valuable candidates for obtaining topically acting antiglaucoma CA inhibitors of a new generation, with enhanced efficacy, prolonged duration of action, and reduced side effects.