Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women and is responsible for the second highest number of cancer-related deaths. Targeted therapeutic agents sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, and celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, have been used individually in conjunction with other chemotherapeutic agents to enhance cell killing in a variety of cancers. Sildenafil when combined with traditional chemotherapeutic drugs, such as the taxanes and anthracyclines, or celecoxib combined with traditional hormone therapies have been used to increase cytotoxicity and cell killing. The data presented here demonstrates that the novel combination of sildenafil and celecoxib work together to enhance cell killing in both receptor positive and triple negative breast cancer through the induction of autophagy, ER stress, as well as both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis.

Recent studies have shown that the potent phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor, sildenafil citrate, induces a powerful cardioprotective effect against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rabbit and mouse hearts. However, the effect of this drug in inducing long-term protection against I/R injury remains unknown. The goal of this study was to identify the duration of the protective window of sildenafil citrate as well as vardenafil, a more potent PDE-5 inhibitor. Rabbits were treated with sildenafil (0.7 mg/kg, iv), vardenafil (0.143 mg/kg), or an equivalent volume of saline. After 24 hrs, 48 hrs, 96 hrs, or 7 days of sildenafil treatment, the hearts were subjected to I/R. In the vardenafil groups, the hearts were subjected to I/R at 24 hrs and 7 days after administration of the drug. To evaluate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in cardioprotection, a non-selective blocker of nitric oxide synthase, L-NAME (15 mg/kg, iv) was administered 10 minutes prior to I/R. The results show significant reductions in infarct size in hearts treated with sildenafil and vardenafil as compared to the corresponding saline controls at all time points. The protective effects of sildenafil and vardenafil were abrogated in animals treated with L-NAME. L-NAME had no effect on infarct size in saline treated control rabbits. These data suggest that both sildenafil and vardenafil induce a long-term protective effect against myocardial infarction which is mediated via a NO-dependent pathway. These studies are important in exploiting the clinical potential of PDE-5 inhibitors in terms of protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare progressive disease with no known cure. Of various aetiologies, PAH in association with connective tissue disease (PAH-CTD) is the most rapidly progressive and difficult to treat. Management of PAH has evolved significantly in the past ten years since the introduction of oral therapies. Evidence for the efficacy of these agents outside randomised controlled trials is limited, but guidelines exist. Aim To measure the impact of first-line monotherapy with bosentan or sildenafil and the introduction of prescribing guidelines on outcomes in PAH-CTD. Methods Following a retrospective analysis of consecutive, incident, treatment-naive PAH-CTD cases identified by the ASPIRE registry, influences on outcome measures have been compared. First-line monotherapy episodes for 247 patients was analysed against four distinct endpoints: change in exercise capacity, WHO functional class, time on monotherapy and all-cause mortality. Results Treatment with bosentan or sildenafil resulted in clinical stability at 2 years for nearly 1/4 patients. No difference was identified between the groups in terms of either exercise capacity or WHO functional class. Sildenafil patients were found to remain on monotherapy longer than those prescribed bosentan. Patients prescribed sildenafil have improved survival over those treated with bosentan. Unexpected baseline differences in between groups may confound the results as the haemodynamics of the bosentan patients were more severe. Conclusions A significant number of patients with PAH-CTD remain clinically stable on monotherapy at 2 years. Both agents seem equally effective in this aggressive form of PAH. A novel endpoint “TOM” may be of value in future research assessing response to treatment.

A necessidade de buscar novos tratamento para a Insuficiência Cardíaca (IC) crônica levanta o questionamento da eficácia e segurança de drogas que não foram adequadamente testadas ou que ainda não tiveram sua eficácia aceita pela comunidade científica. O sildenafil é um vasodilatador com potencial eficácia na redução da pressão sistólica da artéria pulmonar (PSAP), mas com pequenos estudos e sem demonstração de impacto em desfechos duros. Os diuréticos de alça são utilizados rotineiramente em pacientes com IC sem sinais de congestão e tal prática não está recomendada nas diretrizes terapêuticas, desconhecemos sua eficácia e segurança neste cenário. No intuito de elucidar estas questões, foram desenvolvidos I) revisão sistemática com metanálise para estudo uso de sildenafil. II) revisão sistemática com metanálise para estudo uso de diurético de alça, III) Delineamento e execução em andamento de ensaio clínico randomizado multicêntrico testando a retirada de diurético de alça. I e II) Métodos e resultados: Ambas revisões sistemáticas foram realizadas no Pubmed, Embase e Cochrane, e termos relacionados à insuficiência cardíaca crônica diurético de alça e sildenafil foram utilizados, respectivamente. Após avaliação de texto completo, apenas estudos em humanos foram incluídos na metanálise. A droga sildenafil foi avaliada em 9 estudos randomizados contra placebo e demonstrou redução de hospitalização (RR 0.29, 95% C.I 0.11 to 0.78) e melhora progressiva em parâmetros funcionais e hemodinâmicos O uso de diurético de alça foi testado em 7 ensaios clínicos e não mostrou significância em piora da função renal, distúrbio eletrolítico e mudança de peso. III) Métodos e resultados: Em um estudo duplo-cego randomizado, de não inferioridade, multicêntrico compara-se o a segurança e tolerabilidade da retirada de furosemida de pacientes com IC crônica e estável com disfunção ventricular. Com início da coleta em setembro de 2015, até o momento 96 pacientes foram randomizados. Conclusão: Quanto ao sildenafil, já temos evidências que apontam para um efeito benéfico e progressivo na melhora da capacidade funcional, perfil hemodinâmico e redução de hospitalização em pacientes com IC com disfunção ventricular e pressão da artéria pulmonar elevada A recomendação para uso de diurético de alça em pacientes estáveis com IC permanece uma incógnita e o ensaio clínico em andamento nos trará uma resposta de importante impacto clínico na tomada de decisão para manutenção do uso de diurético. / The challenges and promises of new treatments for chronic heart failure (CHF) raises the question of the efficacy and safety of drugs that have not been properly tested or that have not yet had their efficacy accepted by the scientific community. Sildenafil is a vasodilator with potential efficacy in reducing pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PSAP), but with small studies and no demonstration of impact on hard outcomes. Routinely, Loop diuretics are used in patients with HF without signs of congestion and such practice is not recommended in the therapeutic guidelines, we do not know its efficacy and safety in this scenario. In order to elucidate these questions, I) systematic review with meta-analysis were developed to study the use of sildenafil. II) systematic review with meta-analysis to study the use of loop diuretics, III) Design and execution in progress of a multicenter randomized clinical trial testing for loop diuretic withdrawal. I and II) Methods and results: Both systematic reviews were performed in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane, and terms related to chronic diuretic heart failure of the loop and sildenafil were used, respectively. After full-text evaluation, only human studies were included in the meta-analysis. The drug sildenafil was evaluated in 9 randomized placebo-controlled studies and demonstrated a reduction in hospitalization (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.78) and progressive improvement in functional and hemodynamic parameters. The use of a loop diuretic was tested in 7 clinical trials and did not show significant deterioration in renal function, electrolyte disturbance and weight change. III. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a double-blind randomized, non-inferiority, multicenter study, the safety and tolerability of furosemide withdrawal from patients with chronic and stable HF with ventricular dysfunction were compared. Randomization started at September 2015, to the moment 96 patients were randomized. CONCLUSION: Regarding sildenafil, we already have evidence of a beneficial and time-related effect on the improvement of functional capacity, hemodynamic profile and reduction of hospitalization in patients with HF with ventricular dysfunction and elevated pulmonary artery pressure. The recommendation for the use of a loop diuretic in stable patients with HF remains an unknown and the ongoing clinical trial will provide us with an important clinical impact response in the decision making to maintain the use of diuretics.

Submitted by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-09-22T19:12:48Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Willian Ricardo da Rosa de Almeida.pdf: 1728935 bytes, checksum: add5d55f493e0f08fd42042f07a7a9b7 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-09-22T19:15:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Willian Ricardo da Rosa de Almeida.pdf: 1728935 bytes, checksum: add5d55f493e0f08fd42042f07a7a9b7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-22T19:15:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Willian Ricardo da Rosa de Almeida.pdf: 1728935 bytes, checksum: add5d55f493e0f08fd42042f07a7a9b7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / A sildenafila é um fármaco utilizado como tratamento de primeira escolha para a disfunção erétil, sendo disponível comercialmente na forma farmacêutica de comprimidos. Atualmente, a sildenafila está entre os medicamentos mais vendidos no mercado mundial. Por esta razão, também está entre os medicamentos que mais são contrabandeados e/ou falsificados. O desenvolvimento de métodos analíticos para avaliar a qualidade de produtos farmacêuticos bem como aqueles voltados para análise de amostras forenses são de extrema importância e constituem-se como ferramentas para a disponibilização de medicamentos com qualidade garantida. Desta forma, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo desenvolver e validar um método analítico indicativo de estabilidade por UFLC para a quantificação de sildenafila em comprimidos, bem como avaliar a cinética de degradação fotolítica e a segurança biológica dos fotoprodutos de degradação obtidos. Ainda, amostras suspeitas de falsificação de comprimidos de sildenafila (cedidas pela Superintendência Regional da Polícia Federal do Rio Grande do Sul) foram avaliadas em relação aos critérios de qualidade estabelecidos em compêndios internacionais através dos testes de: (a) resistência mecânica, (b) desintegração, (c) dissolução, (d) teor, (e) perfil químico por espectrometria no infravermelho médio e (f) perfil físico (diâmetro, peso e altura). Os resultados foram avaliados utilizando ferramentas de controle estatístico de processo e análise multivariada. No desenvolvimento do método por UFLC, as seguintes condições foram estabelecidas: fase móvel acetonitrila:trietilamina pH 4,0 (60:40, v:v), fluxo 0,7 ml min-1, coluna C18 (100mm x 4,6mm x 5μm), temperatura 50°C e detecção em 290 nm. O método foi validado segundo a normativa do ICH e mostrou-se específico, linear, preciso, exato e robusto. A segurança biológica foi determinada pelos ensaios de: (a) de Azul de Tripan, (b) Teste de Micronúcleos e (c) Ensaio Cometa. O fármaco e seus produtos de fotodegradação apresentaram citotoxicidade, no entanto não foram observados mutagenicidade e genotoxicidade. Na avaliação dos comprimidos suspeitos de falsificação não foram encontrados desvios de qualidade e a análise multivariada (por Análise Hierárquica de Agrupamentos) se mostrou adequada para classificação das amostras quanto ao perfil físico. / Sildenafil is the first choice pharmaceutical product for erectile dysfunction treatment and commercially available in tablets dosage form. Nowadays, Sildenafil is among the largest selling pharmaceutical products in the worldwide marketing. For this reason, is also among the most falsified and/or smuggled in the world. The development of analytical techniques that aim to evaluate pharmaceutical products’ quality, as well as those that aim forensic samples, are extremely valuable, once they are resources for quality guaranteed pharmaceutical products availability. Thus, our present study aimed to develop and validate a stability-indicative analytical method by UFLC, in order to quantify Sildenafil in tablets. Photolytic degradation’s kinetics and biological safety of Sildenafil’s photoproducts were evaluated. Additionally, Sildenafil tablets that were suspect of falsification (conceded by Regional Superintendence of Federal Police), were evaluated according to quality criteria previously established by international compendiums, being them: (a) mechanical resistance, (b) disintegration, (c) dissolution, (d) assay, (e) chemical profile by infrared spectroscopy, and (f) physical profile. The results were evaluated by control-process statistical and multivariate analysis. The following conditions were established for UFLC method: acetonitrile:triethylamine (60:40, v:v) as mobile phase, flux at 0.7mL.min-1, C18 column (100mm x 4,6mm x 5μm), 50°C, pH 4.0 and 290 nm. Proposed method was validated following ICH’s guidance, and showed specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness. Biological safety was determined by the following assays: (a) Trypan Blue, (b) Micronucleus, and (c) Comet assay. The intact molecule, as well as its photoproducts showed cytotoxicity even no mutagenicity or genotoxicity was detected. Finally, tablets (suspected of falsification) had no quality deviation and multivariate analysis (Hierarchical Component Analysis) applied in physical profile showed adequate for sample’s classification.

Purpose:The stability of sildenafil in combination with heparin and dopamine was evaluated. Methods:A stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography method with ultraviolet detection was developed for sildenafil citrate and validated. The method was applied to the investigation of sildenafil alone, sildenafil with heparin, sildenafil with dopamine, and sildenafil with heparin and with dopamine, all in 5% dextrose injection at room temperature and under refrigeration for 30 days. Samples of 100 μL were pulled from each storage bottle on each sampling day, diluted in mobile phase, and assayed in duplicate. Samples were tested on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 21, and 30. Each preparation was visually inspected for precipitation and color change. The percent recovery in each study sample was determined by comparing the peak area of sildenafil in the sample with the peak area of sildenafil from a freshly prepared 100-μg/mL standard in mobile phase. Results:The sildenafil alone, sildenafil with heparin, and sildenafil with dopamine remained within 90–110% of the expected sildenafil potency for at least 30 days at both temperatures. The preparation of sildenafil with both heparin and dopamine fell below 90% potency after 3 days at room temperature and 21 days in the refrigerator. Conclusion:Sildenafil prepared in 5% dextrose injection alone, with heparin, and with dopamine retained over 90% potency after 30 days of storage at room temperature and under refrigeration. Sildenafil prepared with both heparin and dopamine had a potency of

L'angiogenèse est impliquée dans différents processus tels que la cicatrisation, la croissance tumorale et les maladies ischémiques. RhoA, connu pour son implication dans la prolifération et la migration des cellules, est régulé par la voie NO/PKG. Le sildenafil, inhibiteur de la phosphodiestérase 5, permet d'activer cette voie, ce qui constitue une stratégie thérapeutique intéressante dans le traitement des maladies ischémiques. Nous avon montré que le sildenafil améliore la croissance collatérale dès 7 jours de traitement, sans modifier la densité capillaire, via un mécanisme PI3K/akt-NO-dépendant et HIF/VEGF-indépendant. Ces différentes voies sont down-régulées à 21 jours. Enfin cette revascularisation s'accompagne d'un remodelage des artères de résistance, suggérant que le sildenafil favorise non pas l'angiogenèse mais l'artiogenèse. Enfin, nous avons mis en évidence un effet dose-dépendant des polyphenols du vin rouge, un autre puissant vasodilattaeur, sur la revascularisation post-ischémique : à fortes doses les densités vasculaires sont diminuées, associées à une inhibition des voies PI3K/Akt-NO et des MMPs. De faibles doses entraînent une augmentation des densités vasculaires par stimulation des voies PI3K/akt-No, sans affecter les MMPs. Par conséquent, nous avons mis en évidence un effet anti-angiogénique (fortes doses) et un effet pro-angiogenique (faibles doses) des plyphenols. Ce travail nous permet donc de mieux comprendre les mécanismes d'action de deux puissants vasodilatateurs dans revascularisation post-ischémique. Nous pouvons ainsi envisager de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques dans le traitement des maladies ischémiques ou du cancer.

myo-lnositol (mIns), a natural component of the human diet and essential precursor of several signalling pathways, including that of G protein-coupled receptors, has also been shown to be effective in the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorder. Most likely since mlns is a simple isomer of glucose, no serious side effects have been reported with its use, even at high oral doses of mlns. Previous studies suggest that the therapeutic action of mlns may include reduced serotonin 5HTzA and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor function. An important signal transduction system that may possibly be involved in the mechanism of action of antidepressants is phosphoinositide (PI) turnover. In this signalling system PI-phospholipase C (PLCpl), that is implicated in the in the mechanism of action of antidepressants and anxiolytics, is activated. The mechanism of action of mlns, however, still remains elusive and needs further investigation. In this study a possible modulatory role of 24-hour pre-treatment of human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) with mlns on mRNA levels and protein expression of phospholipase C-p1 (PLCP1) and glycogen synthase kinase 3P (GSK3p) was investigated. The effects of mlns were also compared to that of other prototype antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), imipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant), lithium and another drug with potential antidepressant effects, sildenafil (phosphodiesterase 5-type (PDE5) inhibitor). Real-time reverse transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) was performed in order to investigate the mRNA levels, while protein expression in membranes and the cytosol fraction of cells were quantified with Western blots. The expression of PLCPl was decreased after pre-treatments with imipramine or myoinositol in combination with fluoxetine. In addition, sildenafil alone or in combination with myo-inositol, also decreased the expression of membrane-bound PLCp1. However, a 24- hour pre-treatment with lithium did not alter PLCPl expression significantly. Determined mRNA levels for the expression of PLCPl were consistent in these findings, except for the inhibition of the mRNA for the expression of PLCPl also after lithium treatment. The reduced PLCpl mRNA levels after lithium pre-treatment may suggest the involvement of posttranscriptional modification (or delayed translational effects) of PLCpl after lithium treatment. The data from the current study suggest that antidepressant action may include downregulation of PLCPl expression and that modulators of the nitric oxidecGMP pathway (e.g. sildenafil as a PDE5 inhibitor) may exhibit similar properties. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmacology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Since sildenafil's (Viagra®), a phospodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, approval for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction (MED) in the United States early 1998, 274 adverse event reports were filed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 4 Jan. 1998 and 21 Feb. 2001 with sildenafil as the primary suspect of various neurological disturbances, including amnesia and aggressive behaviour (Milman and Arnold, 2002). These and other research findings have prompted investigations into the possible central effects of sildenafil. The G protein-coupled muscarinic adetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) and serotonergic receptors (5HT-Rs), have been linked to antidepressant action (Brink et al. 2004). GPCRs signal through the phosphatidylinositol signal transduction pathway known to activate protein kinases (PKs). Since the nitric oxide (NO)-guanylyl cyclase signal transduction pathway is also known to involve the activation of PKs (via cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)), the scope is opened for sildenafil to possibly modulate the action of antidepressants by elevating cGMP levels. It is generally assumed that excitotoxic delayed cell death is pathologically linked to an increase in the release of excitatory neurotransmitters e.g. glutamate. Glutamate antagonists, especially those that block the define NMDA-receptors, are neuroprotective, showing the importance of the NMDA-NO-cGMP pathway in neuroprotection (Brandt et al., 2003). Sildenafil may play a role in neuroprotection by elevating cGMP levels. Aims: The aims of the study were to investigate any neuroprotective properties of sildenafil, as well as modulating effects of sildenafil pre-treatment on mAChR function. Methods: Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y or human epithelial HeLa cells were seeded in 24-well plates and pre-treated for 24 hours in serum-free medium with no drug (control), PDE5 inhibitors sildenafil (100nM and 450 nM), dipiridamole (20 µM) or zaprinast (20 µM), non-selective PDE inhibitor 3-isobutyl-I-methylxanthine (IBMX - ImM), cGMP analogue N2,2'-0-dibutyrylguanosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate sodium salt (500 µM), guanylcyclase inhibitor 1H-[1 ,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-I-one (ODQ - 3 µM) or sildenafil + ODQ (450 nM and 3 µM respectively). Thereafter cells were used to determine mAChR function by constructing dose-response curves of methacholine or to determine cell viability utilising the Trypan blue, propidium iodide and MTT tests for cell viability. Results: Sildenafil pre-treatments induced a 2.5-fold increase in ,the Emax value of methacholine in neuronal cells but did not show a significant increase in epithelial cells The Trypan blue test suggests that neither the PDE5 inhibitors nor a cGMP analogue show any neuroprotection. Rather, sildenafil 450 nM, dipiridamole and IBMX displayed a neurodegenerative effect. The MTT test was not suitable, since pre-treatment with the abovementioned drugs inhibited the formation of forrnazan. The propidium iodide assay could also not be used, due to severe cell loss. Conclusion: Sildenafil upregulates mAChR function in SH-SY5Y cells and displays a neurodegenerative, and not a protective property, in neuronal cells. This is not likely to be associated with its PDE5 inhibitory action, but may possibly be linked to an increase in cGMP levels via the NO-cGMP pathway. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmacology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

myo-lnositol (mIns), a natural component of the human diet and essential precursor of several signalling pathways, including that of G protein-coupled receptors, has also been shown to be effective in the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorder. Most likely since mlns is a simple isomer of glucose, no serious side effects have been reported with its use, even at high oral doses of mlns. Previous studies suggest that the therapeutic action of mlns may include reduced serotonin 5HTzA and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor function. An important signal transduction system that may possibly be involved in the mechanism of action of antidepressants is phosphoinositide (PI) turnover. In this signalling system PI-phospholipase C (PLCpl), that is implicated in the in the mechanism of action of antidepressants and anxiolytics, is activated. The mechanism of action of mlns, however, still remains elusive and needs further investigation. In this study a possible modulatory role of 24-hour pre-treatment of human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) with mlns on mRNA levels and protein expression of phospholipase C-p1 (PLCP1) and glycogen synthase kinase 3P (GSK3p) was investigated. The effects of mlns were also compared to that of other prototype antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), imipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant), lithium and another drug with potential antidepressant effects, sildenafil (phosphodiesterase 5-type (PDE5) inhibitor). Real-time reverse transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) was performed in order to investigate the mRNA levels, while protein expression in membranes and the cytosol fraction of cells were quantified with Western blots. The expression of PLCPl was decreased after pre-treatments with imipramine or myoinositol in combination with fluoxetine. In addition, sildenafil alone or in combination with myo-inositol, also decreased the expression of membrane-bound PLCp1. However, a 24- hour pre-treatment with lithium did not alter PLCPl expression significantly. Determined mRNA levels for the expression of PLCPl were consistent in these findings, except for the inhibition of the mRNA for the expression of PLCPl also after lithium treatment. The reduced PLCpl mRNA levels after lithium pre-treatment may suggest the involvement of posttranscriptional modification (or delayed translational effects) of PLCpl after lithium treatment. The data from the current study suggest that antidepressant action may include downregulation of PLCPl expression and that modulators of the nitric oxidecGMP pathway (e.g. sildenafil as a PDE5 inhibitor) may exhibit similar properties. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmacology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.