As we enter the new millennium, there have been dramatic improvements in the care of patients with HIV infection. These have prolonged life and decreased morbidity and mortality. There are fourteen currently available antiretrovirals approved in the United States for the treatment of this infection. The medications, including their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and dosing are reviewed. In addition, the current approach to the use of these medicines is discussed.

The total synthesis of a demethoxy-egonol isolated from Styrax obassia, 5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)benzofuran (9), is described. The key steps involve the construction of a 2-arylbenzofuran skeleton 7 from methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate with 2-chloro-2-methylthio-(3',4'-methylenedioxy) acetophenone (6) in the presence of ZnCl$_2$ and successive desulfurization of the resulting product 7.

Achiral-chiral column switching HPLC assay was developed to allow the separation and quantification of the enantiomers of terbutaline in human plasma by means of fluorescence detection. Plasma samples were prepared by solid-phase extraction with sep-pak silica, followed by HPLC assay. The enantiomers of terbutaline and the internal standard were separated from the biological matrix on a silica column, and the two enantiomers were resolved and quantified on a Sumichiral OA-4900 column. The two columns were connected by a switching valve equipped with silica trap column, The trap column was used to concentrate the terbutaline in the eluent from the achiral column before back flushing onto the chiral phase. For each enantiomers, the assay was linear between 2.5-125 ng/$m\ell$ (r=0.9999) and detection limit was 1.0 ng/$m\ell$ .

Imidazonaphthothiazole derivatives 3∼6 were prepared by treatment of 2-aminonaphtho[2,3-d]-thiazole-4,9-dione(1) with phenacyl bromide, chloroacetic acid, diethyl oxalate and 2,3-dichloroquinoxaline respectively. The reaction of 1 with ethyl acrylate, ethyl acetoacetate and diethyl malonate gave the corresponding naphthothiazolopyrimidine derivatives 8∼11.

Eight 2-alkylaminosubstituted 5,8-dimethoxy-4-methylquinolines and nine 2-alkylaminosub-stituted or 2,6-disubstituted 4-methylquinoline-5,8-diones were synthesized and evaluated in vitro cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines (HOP62, SK-OV-3, HCT15 and SF295).

The acetone extract of the roots of Rhodiola sachalinensis has furnished six phenolic compounds which exhibited significant scavenging effects against DPPH free radical. The structures of these compounds were identified and determined as gallic acid (1), (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (2), kaempferol (3), kaempferol 7-O-$\alpha$ -L-rham nopyranoside (4), herbacetin 7-O-$\alpha$ -L-rhamnopyranoside, (5) and rhodiolinin (6) by physico-chemical and spectral evidences.

Separation of the alkaloids from the aerial part of Corydalis ochotensis afforded a new spirobenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, 8-O-acetylcorysolidine along with two known spirobenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, isoochotensine and corysolidine.

Tectorigenin and kaikasaponin III from the flowers of Pueraria thunbergiana showed potent hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Intraperitoneal administration of these two compounds with 5 and 10 mg/kg, respectively, for seven days to streptozotocin-induced rats significantly reduced the blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL- and VLDI-cholesterol and triglyceride levels when compared with those of control group. Glycitein in which 5-OH is unlinked and tectoridin (7-O-glycoside of tectorigenin) isolated from the flowers of P. thunbergiana did not improve hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. In addition, tectorigenin showed in vitro antioxidant effects on 1,1-diphenyl-B-pirylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, xanthine-xanthine oxidase superoxide anion radical, and lipid peroxidation in rat microsomes induced by enzymatic and non-enzymatic methods. We further found that tectorigenin and kaikasaponin III protected the Vero cell line(normal monkey kidney) from injury by hydrogen peroxide. From these findings, it seems likely that the antioxidant action of tectorigenin and kaikasaponin III may alleviate the streptozotocin-induced toxicity and contribute to hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects.

Five furanocoumarins including a new one were isolated from the root of Angelica dahurica by repeated silica gel column chromatography. Their chemical structures were determined to be isoimperatorin (1), oxypeucedanin hydrate-3"-butyl ether (2), imperatorin (3), knidilin (4), and oxypeucedanin hydrate (5). This represents the first study in which the compound 2 has been isolated and identified, The long-range coupling ($^{5}J$) in the $^1H$-NMR spectrum observed in the linear furanocoumarin skeleton was also investigated in detail.

DA-8159, a new phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, was assessed for its erectogenic potential by a penile erection test in rats, the relaxation of isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum (CC), and estimation of the intracavernous pressure (ICP) in the anesthetized dog. Oral administration of DA-8159 (0.3 to 1 ${\mu}g/kg$ ) increased the number of erections in rats with increasing dosage, with the highest penile erection index at 10 ${\mu}g/kg$ DA-8159 induced the relaxation of phenylephrine (PHE)-induced contractions in the rabbit CC and decreased the $IC_{50}$ of the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in a dose-dependent fashion. In pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs, the intravenous administration of DA-8159 (1~300 ${\mu}g/kg$ ) potentiated the increase in ICP induced by the intracavernosal SNP in a dose-related manner. These findings suggest that DA-8159 has significant therapeutic potential in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

The cytotoxicity of crude insect drugs was measured using HeLa cells originating from human cervix and uterine cancer. using the dye uptake assay in order to find potential anticancer agents. Three kinds of extracts (buffer, methanol and ethylacetate) were prepared from 26 insects and used as raw materials for the activity assay. Among these, the buffer extracts from Tabanus, Mylabris and Huechys showed a potent anticancer activity, and those from Catharsius, Red ant, Scorpion, Tabanus and Vespae Nidus showed a strong L-amino acid oxidase (AAO) activity as well as cytotoxicity. In contrast, buffer extracts from Gryllotalpa orientalis and Apriona germari larvae showed greater/more rapid Hela cell growth than that of other insects.

The antitumor activity of Bifidobacterium breve K-110, and K-I11, and B. infantis K-525 was investigated. These Bifidobacterial cells and their cell wail preparations (WPG) significantly increased the survival rate of mice who had been intraperitoneally implanted with sarcoma 180 cells. Solid tumor growth was inhibited even when the sarcoma 180 cells were implanted into the groins of the mice. However, the Bifidobacterial cells did not show in vitro cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines. Cell kinetic studies revealed that these WPGs induced neutrophils, which were followed by macrophages, at the site of peritoneal injection. The WPGs directly activated these cells to inhibit the growth of tumor cells in vitro assays. Our results suggest that Bifidobacterial WPGs induce and activate nonspecific phagocytes in situ to reject growing tumor cells in the mouse peritoneal cavity.

Cerebellar granule and glial cells prepared from 7 day-old rat pups were used to investigate the effects of sub-acute nicotine exposure on the glutamatergic nervous system. These cells were exposed to nicotine in various concentrations for 2 to 10 days in situ. Nicotine-exposure did not result in any changes in cerebellar granule and glial cell viability at concentrations of up to 500 $\mu\textrm{M}$. In cerebellar granule cells, the basal extracellular levels of glutamate, aspartate and glycine were enhanced in the nicotine-exposed granule cells. In addition, the responses of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced glutamate release were enhanced at low NMDA concentrations in the nicotine-exposed granule cells. However, this decreased at higher NMDA concentrations. The glutaminase activity was increased after nicotine exposure. In cerebellar glial cells, glutamate uptake in the nicotine-exposed glial cells were either increased at low nicotine exposure levels or decreased at higher levels. The inhibition of glutamate uptake by L-trans-pyrollidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) was lower in glial cells exposed to 50 $\mu\textrm{M}$ nicotine. Glutamine synthetase activity was lower in glial cells exposed to 100 or 500 $\mu\textrm{M}$ of nicotine. These results indicate that the properties of cerebellar granule and glial cells may alter after subacute nicotine exposure. Furthermore, they suggest that nicotine exposure during development may modulate glutamatergic nervous activity.

We investigated whether S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) treatment improved ischemic injury using perfused rat liver after sequential periods of 24 h cold and 20 min re-warming ischemia. SAM (100 $\mu\textrm{mol/L}$) was added to University of Wisconsin (UW) solution and Ringers lactate solution. After cold and sequential warm ischemia, releases of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) markedly increased during repefusion. The increase in PNP was significantly reduced by SAM treatment. While the concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) in ischemic livers significantly decreased, the concentration of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) increased. This decrease in GSH and increase in GSSG were suppressed by SAM treatment. Lipid peroxidation was elevated in cold and warm ischemic and reperfused livers, but this elevation was also prevented by SAM treatment. Hepatic ATP levels were decreased in the ischemic and reperfused livers to 42% of the control levels. However, treatment with SAM resulted in significantly higher ATP levels and preserved the concentration of AMP in ischemic livers. Our findings suggest that SAM prevents oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation and helps preserve hepatic energy metabolism.

We examined the antifibrotic effect of a methanol extract from Stephania tetrandra (ST) on experimental liver fibrosis. liver fibrosis was induced by bile duct ligation and scission (BDL/S) in rats. In BDL/S rats, activity levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminse (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), concentration of total bilirubin in serum, and hydroxyproline content of the liver were significantly increased. The ST treatment (either 100 ${m}g/kg/day$ or 200 ${m}g/kg/day$, p.o. for 4 weeks) in BDL/S rats reduced the serum AST, ALT and ALP activity levels significantly (p<0.01). Similarly, when compared to the control group, the concentration of hydroxyproline in the livers of the BDL/S rats treated with 100${m}g$ or 200${m}g$ ST treated rats decreased by 40% and 33% respectively, when compared to the BDL/S control group (p<0.01). The morphological characteristics of fibrotic liver that were observed in the BDL/S control group, improved in the ST treated BDL/S group. In the fibrotic liver of BDL/S rats treated with ST, a marked reduction in the numbers of alpha smooth muscle cell actin positive stellate cells was observed. These results indicate that doses of either 100 or 200 ${m}g/kg/day$ of methanol extract from S. tetrandra, had an antifibrotic effect in rats with liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation and scission.

This study set out to improve the physical and pharmaceutical characteristics of the present formulation using an appropriate experimental design. The work described here concerns the formulation of the dispersible tablet applying direct compression method containing roxithromycin in the form of coated granules. In this study $2^3$ factorial design was used as screening test model and Central Composite Design (CCC) associated with response surface methodology was used as optimization study model to develop and to optimize the proper formulation of roxithromycin dispersible tablet. The three independent variables investigated were functional excipients like binder (X1), disintegrant (X2) and lubricant (X3). The effects of these variables were investigated on the following responses: hardness (Y1), friability (Y2) and disintegration time (Y3) of tablet. Three replicates at the center levels of the each design were used to independently calculate the experimental error and to detect any curvature in the response surface. This enabled the best formulations to be selected objectively. The effect order of each term to all response variable was X3> X2> Xl> X1＊X2> X2＊X2> X2＊X3> X3＊X3> Xl＊X3> Xl＊Xl and model equations on each response variables were generated. Optimized compositions of formula were accordingly computed using those model equations and confirmed by following demonstration study. As a result, this study has demonstrated the efficiency and effectiveness of using a systematic formulation optimization process to develop the tablet formulation of roxithromycin dispersible tablet with limited experiment.

Enterohepatic recycling of estrogen after oral administration of 1 mg non-radioactive estriol was studied in fourteen women selected as the control subjects and ten infertile women in whom the infertility was appearing to be of endocrine origin. The extent of enterohepatic recycling of estriol ($E_3$) during the early follicular phase of menstrual cycle was assessed by monitoring during 48 h the urinary excretion of its two major metabolites i.e; estriol 16 $\alpha$-glucuronide ($E_3-16$$\alpha-G$) and estriol-3 glucuronide ($E_3$-3-G). The change in urinary level of $E_3$-3-G with respect to ($E_3-16$$\alpha-G$G was considered to reflect the extent of enterohepatic recycling of estriol. Lower values of urinary output of both metabolites in the infertile women as compared with the control subjects and the urinary excretion profile of both metabolites during 48 h after estriol ingestion reveal that the reduced extent of enterohepatic recycling could possibly be one of the factors which contribute towards the incidence of infertility in women.

We examined the modulation of protein kinase C (PKC) subtypes during apoptosis induced by ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) in human neuroblastoma SK-N-Bl(2) and rat glioma C6Bu-1 cells. Apoptosis induced by C-Rh2 in both cell lines was confirmed, as indicated by DNA fragmentation and in situ strand breaks, and characteristic morphological changes. During apoptosis induced by G-Rh2 in SK-N-BE(2) cells, PKC subtypes $\alpha$, $\beta$ and $\gamma$ were progressively increased with prolonged treatment, whereas PKC $\delta$ increased transiently at 3 and 6 h and PKC $\varepsilon$ was gradually down-regulated after 6 h following the treatment. On the other hand, PKC subtype $\beta$ markedly increased at 24 h when maximal apoptosis was achieved. In C6Bu-l cells, no significant changes in PKC subtypes $\alpha$, $\gamma$, $\delta$, $\varepsilon$ and $\beta$ were observed during apoptosis induced by G-Rh2. These results suggest the evidence for a possible role of PKC subtype in apoptosis induced by G-Rh2 in SK-N-BE(2) cells but not in C6Bu-1 cells, and raise the possibility that G-Rh2 may induce apoptosis via different pathways interacting with or without PKC in different cell types.

mST3GaIV synthesizes ganglioside GM3, the precursor for simple and complex a- and b- series gangliosides, and the expression and regulation of mST3GaIV (CMP-NeuAc: lactosylceramide $\alpha$2,3-sialyltransferase) activity is central to the production of almost all gangliosides, a class of glycosphingolipids implicated in variety of cellular processes such as transmembrane signaling, synaptic transmission, specialized membrane domain formation and cell-cell interactions. To understand the developmental expression of mST3GaIV in mice, we investigated the spatial and temporal expression of mST3GaIV mRNA during the mouse embryogenesis [embryonic (E) days; 19, E11, E13, E15] by in situ hybridization with digoxigenin-labeled RNA probes. All tissues from 19 and E11 were positive for mST3GaIV mRNA. On E13, mST3GaIV mRNA was expressed in various neural and non-neural tissues. In contrast to these, on E15, the telencephalon and liver produced a strong expression of mST3GaIV which was a quite similar to that of E13. In this stage, mST3GaIV mRNA was also expressed in some non-neural tissues. These data indicate that mST3GaIV is differently expressed at developmental stages of embryo, and this may be importantly related with regulation of organogenesis in mice.

Nitric oxide (NO), products of activated macrophages, have a great impact on the regulation of cytokine production. The role of NO in non-specific host cells is commonly accepted. On the contrary, its role as an immuno-regulatory molecule is still controversial. In this study, we have investigated the effect of NO on the production of cytokines from murine splenocytes and macrophages. S-nitroso-L-glutathione inhibited the release of both interferone-$\gamma$ and interleukin-2 produced by Th1 cells and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ and interleukin-1$\beta$ produced by macrophages, but did not affect the release of interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 produced by Th2 cells. These results suggest that NO exerts a down-regulatory effect on the secretion of cytokines from Th1 cells and macrophages which are implicated in immune response. Thus, NO may have an important role as an immune-modulatory as well as effector molecule in the immune system.