It is now more than two decades since the AIDS epidemic began with a cluster of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in a community of homosexual men. Since then, many other infections have been characterized as opportunistic infections secondary to HIV infection. These include, but are not limited to, infections with Toxoplasma gondii, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), and Cryptococcus neoformans. Over the last two decades, there have been dramatic improvements in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of all these infections. As a result, in North America and Western Furope the rates of opportunistic infections secondary to AIDS have decreased substantially. We will review these common opportunistic infections below.

Recent progress in understanding the molecular basis of cancer brought out new materials such as oligonucleotides, genes, peptides and proteins as a source of new anticancer agents. Due to their macromolecular properties, however, new strategies of delivery for them are required to achieve their full therapeutic efficacy in clinical setting. Development of improved dosage forms of currently marketed anticancer drugs can also enhance their therapeutic values. Currently developed delivery systems for anticancer agents include colloidal systems (liposomes, emulsions, nanoparticles and micelles), polymer implants and polymer conjugates. These delivery systems have been able to provide enhanced therapeutic activity and reduced toxicity of anticancer agents mainly by altering their pharmacokinetics and biodistribution. Furthermore, the identification of cell-specific receptor/antigens on cancer cells have brought the development of ligand- or antibody-bearing delivery systems which can be targeted to cancer cells by specific binding to receptors or antigens. They have exhibited specific and selective delivery of anticancer agents to cancer. As a consequence of extensive research, clinical development of anticancer agents utilizing various delivery systems is undergoing worldwide. New technologies and multidisciplinary expertise to develop advanced drug delivery systems, applicable to a wide range of anticancer agents, may eventually lead to an effective cancer therapy in the future.

Dibenzyl-g-butyrolactone and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naphthoic acid $\gamma$-lactone (TNL) derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxic activity against some cancer cell lines. It was found that TNL derivatives with a shorter distance between C-4 in ring A and C'-2 in ring C were more cytotoxic, while dibenzyl-${\gamma}$-butyrolactones with a longer one were nearly inactive. In TNL series, presence of 3,4-dioxy group in ring A and 2-methoxy group in ring C was essential for the enhancement of the activity.

A series of benzimidazole derivatives carrying different heterocycles such as 1,2,3-thiadiazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole, thiazolidine, 2,3-dihydro-thiazole, 1,3,4-oxadiazole, semicarbazone and substituted thiosemi-carbazones were synthesized. Also a series of 1-methylbenzimidazole carrying hydroxy ethyl-amide, substituted sulfonyl hydrazide and benzoyl hydrazide from aminobenzoyl group at position 2 of 1-methylbenzimidazole were synthesized. The antimicrobial evaluation of some of the new compounds was carried out.

2-Thiouracil-5-sulfonylchloride 1 reacted with a series of aromatic and heterocyclic amines to give 2a-j. The same compound 1 was reacted with a series of sulphonamides giving different sulphonamides of type 3a-e. On the other hand compound 1 was allowed to react with p-aminoacetophenone givining compound 4 which in turn was allowed to react with derivatives of alkyl thiosemicarbazides to give thiosemicarbazones of type 5a-e, also compound 4 was monobrominated to give compound 6 which in turn was reacted thiosemicarbazones of some aldehydes to give the corresponding thiazole derivatives 7a-f. In the same time compound 4 was reacted with a series of aromatic and heterocyclic aldehydes givining chalcones 8a-g (Claisen-Schemidt reaction). Also compound 4 was allowed to react with a series of aromatic and heterocyclic aldehydes, ethyl cyano acetate and/or malononitrile, and ammonium acetate giving pyridine derivatives 9a-d and 10a-e respectively. The biological effects of some of the new synthesized compounds was also investigated.

Chromatographic separation of the stem bark extract of Mitragyna stipulosa afforded triterpene derivatives ursolic acid (1), quinovic acid (2), quinivic acid $3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (3, quinovin glycoside C), quinovic acid 3-O-[$(2-O-sulfo)-{\beta}-D-quinovopyranoside$] (4, zygophyloside D) and quinovic acid $3-O-{\beta}-D-quinovopyranosyl-27-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl$ ester (5, zygophyloside B). These five compounds were subjected to the cytotoxicity on MTT assay system. Compound 1 among tested showed the most potent cytotoxicity. Quinovic acid showed less potent cytotoxicity than ursolic acid and sugar linkages to 2 decreased the cytotoxicity. Compound 4 more potent than 3 with indicate that the sulfonyl group significantly enhances the activity. This indicates that the glycosidic linkage in ursane-type triterpenoids has mainly negative effect on cytotoxicity unlike in oleanane-type glycosides.

The crystal structure of byakangelicin, one of furanocoumarin aldose reductase inhibitors, was determined by X-ray diffraction method. The crystal is triclinic, with a=8.114(1), b=10.194(1), $c=11.428(1)\AA,{\;}{\alpha}=111.50(1),{\}{\beta}=95.57(1),{\}{\gamma}=112.52(1)^{circ},{\;}D_x=1.41,{\;}D_m=1.39{\;}g/cm^3$, space group P1 and Z=2. The intensity data were collected by ${\omega}-2{\theta}$ scan method with $CuK_{a}$ radiations. The structure was solved by direct method and refined by full matrix least-squares procedure to the final R-value of 0.056. There are two molecules with different conformations in an asymmetric unit. The molecules are kept by two intermolecular O-HO type hydrogen bonds and van der Waal's forces in the crystal. The absolute configuration of the molecules was estimated to S-form by the 'Eta refinement' procedure.

Six compounds were isolated from the fruits of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus. Their structures were elucidated as (-)-sesamin, scoparone, protocatechuic acid, ursolic acid, hyperin and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural by physicochemical and spectroscopic analysis. Among them, scoparone, ursolic acid and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural were isolated for the first time from Acanthopanax species.

Four compounds of a coumarin, a steroid and two flavonoids were isolated from the herba of Artemisia apiacea by open column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated as artemicapin C, apigenin, daucosterol and cacticin by chemical and spectroscopic analysis. This is the first report of the isolation of these compounds from this plant.

The ethyl acetate extract of the leaves of Ixeris sonchifolia afforded two new and two known sesquiterpene lactone glucosides of the guaiane-type, together with a known alkenol glucoside. The known compounds were identified as ixerin Z (1), ixerin Z-6'-p-hydroxyphenylace-tate (2), and (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (3), respectively. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 11, 13a-dihydroixerin Z [4, 3-hydroxy-2-oxo-guaia-1 (10), $3-dien-5{\alpha},6{\beta},7{\alpha},11{\beta}H-12,6-olide-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside],{\;}and{\;}3,10{\$beta}-dihydroxy-2-oxo-guaia-3,11(13)-dien-1{\alpha},5{\alpha},6{\alpha},7aH-12,6-olide-10-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (5), respectively. The cytotoxicity of these compounds against human hepatocellular carcinoma cell (HepG2) and human melanoma cell (SK-MEL-2) was evaluated.

Cytotoxic and antimutagenic effects of a novel cis-$\varepsilon$-viniferin and five known stilbenes, transresveratrol, trans-$\varepsilon$-viniferin, gnetin H, suffruticosols A and B, isolated from the seeds of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (Paeoniaceae) were determined against five different cancer cell lines, and mutagenicity of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) in Salmonella typhimurium TA100, respectively. Six stilbenes showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner, and especially did potent cytotoxic activity against C6 (mouse glioma) cancer cell with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from 8.2 to $20.5{\;}{\mu\textrm{g}}/ml$. trans-Resveratrol showed significant cytotoxic activity against HepG2 (liver hepatoma) and HT-29 (colon) human cancer cell lines with $IC_{50}$ values of 11.8 and 25.2 g/ml, respectively. In contrast, trans-$\varepsilon$-viniferin and cis--viniferin, and gnetin H exhibited marked cytotoxic activity against Hela (cervicse) and MCF-7 (breast) human cancer cell lines with $IC_{50}$ values of 20.4, 21.5, and $12.9{\;}{\mu\textrm{g}}/ml$, respectively. However, suffruticosol A and B had less cytotoxic effect against all cancer cells except C6. Meanwhile, six stilbenes exerted antimutagenic activity in a dose-dependent fashion. Of them, trans-resveratrol exhibited the strongest antimutagenic effect against MNNG with $IC_{50}$ value of $27.0{\;}{\mu\textrm{g}}/plate$, while other five resveratrol oligomers also did moderate antimutagenic activity with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from 31.7 to $35.2{\;}{\mu\textrm{g}}/plate$.

The EtOAc and n-BuOH soluble fractions from the aerial part of Setaria viridis showed a strong free radical scavenging activity. Six major compounds were isolated from these fractions. They were identified by spectral data as tricin (1), p-hydroxycinnamic acid (2), vitexin 2"-Ο-xyloside (3), orientin 2"-Ο-xyloside (4), $tricin-7-Ο-{\beta}-D-glucoside$ (5) and vitexin 2"-Ο-glucoside (6). Among these compounds, 4 and 5 exhibited strong free radical scavenging activities on 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). We further studied the effects of these isolated compounds on the lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes induced by non-enzymatic method. As expected, 4 and 5 exhibited significant inhibition on $ascorbic/Fe^{2-}$ induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes.ver microsomes.

Aldose reductase, the key enzyme of the polyol pathway, is known to play important roles in the diabetic complication. The inhibitors of aldose reductase, therefore, would be potential agents for the prevention of diabetic complications. To evaluate active principles for the inhibition of aldose reductase from the rhizomes of Belamcanda chinensis, twelve phenolic compounds were isolated and tested for their effects on rat lens aldose reductase. As a result, isoflavones such as tectorigenin, irigenin and their glucosides were found to show a strong aldose reductase inhibition. Tectoridin and tectorigenin, exhibited the highest aldose reductase inhibitory potency, their $IC_{50}$ values, being $1.08{\times}10^{-6}{\;}M{\;}and{\;}1.12{\times}10^{-6}{\;}M$, respectively, for DL-glyceraldehyde as a substrate. Both compounds, when administered orally at 100 mg/kg for 10 consecutive days to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, caused a significant inhibition of sorbitol accumulation in the tissues such as lens, sciatic nerves and red blood cells. Tectorigenin showed a stronger inhibitory activity than tectoridin. From these results, it is suggested that tectorigenin is attributed to be a promising compound for the prevention and/or treatment of diabetic complications.

A total of eight flavonoids (1-8), including a novel $quercetin-7-o-(6"-o-acetyl)-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (6) and seven known flavonoids, luteolin (1), quercetin (2), luteolin $7-o-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (3), $luteolin-7-o-(6"-Ο-acetyl)-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (4) quercetin $7-o-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (5), acacetin 7-o-{\beta}-D-glucuronide (7) and apigenin-6-C-{\beta}-D-glucopyrano $syl-8-C-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (8), have been isolated from the leaves of the safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and identified on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical studies. The antioxidative activity of these flavonoids was evaluated against 2-deoxyribose degradation and rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by hydroxyl radicals generated via a Fenton-type reaction. Among these flavonoids, luteolin-acetyl-glucoside (4) and quercetin-acetyl-glucoside (6) showed potent antioxidative activities against 2-deoxyribose degradation and lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes. Luteolin (1), quercetin (2), and their corresponding glycosides (3 & 5) also exhibited strong antioxidative activity, while acacetin glucuronide (7) and apigenin-6,8-di-C-glucoside (8) were relatively less active.

The MeOH extract of Pueraria thunbergiana (Leguminosae) flowers and its fractions were subjected to Ames test to test the antimutagenicity. EtOAc fraction (1 mg/plate) decreased the number of revertants of Salmonella typhymurium TA100 by 95% against aflatoxin $B_1{\;}(AFB_1)$. Phytochemical isolation of the EtOAc fraction afforded four isoflavonoids (tectorigenin, glycitein, tectoridin and glycitin) and one saponin (kaikasaponin III). Though the three isoflavonoids other than tectoridin showed significant antimutagenicity, the activity of kaikasaponin III was the most potent. Kaikasaponin III (1 mg/plate) decreased the number of revertants of S. typhymurium TA 100 by 99% against $AFB_1$ but by 75% against N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Tectorigenin (1 mg/plate) inhibited the $AFB_1$-induced mutagenicity by 90% and MNNG-induced one by 76%. Glycitein and glycitin were less active than tectorigenin and kaikasaponin III. This result suggested that kaikasponin III prevents the metabolic activation of $AFB_1$ and scavenge electrophilic intermediate capable of mutation. The two components with potent activities, tectorigenin and kaikasaonin III, significantly prevented the malondialdehyde formation caused by bromobenzene in the rat.

In the course of our work on anti-platelet constituents from plants, five phenolic compounds, magnolol, honokiol, obovatol, methyl caffeate, and syringin, were isolated from the methanol extracts of the barks and fruits of Magnolia obovata. The compounds were identified based on the spectroscopic data. Methyl caffeate was isolated for the first time from the genus Magnolia and it showed 3∼4-folds higher potency than ASA. The activities of obovatol and honokiol were comparable to ASA. Magnolol and syringin showed only very mild inhibitory effects to all the stimulators.

Previously, several prenylated flavonoids having a C-8 lavandulyl moiety were found to inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) as well as 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), and sophoraflavanone G was the most potent inhibitor against these eicosanoid generating enzymes among 19 prenylated flavonoids tested. In this investigation, effects of sophoraflavanone G on COX-2 induction from RAW 264.7 cells and in vivo inflammatory response were studied. Sophoraflavanone G inhibited prostaglandin $E_2{\;}(PGE_2)$ production from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW cells by COX-2 down-regulation at 1-50 uM. Other prenylated flavonoids including kuraridin and sanggenon D also down-regulated COX-2 induction at 10-25 uM, while kurarinone and echinoisoflavanone did not. In addition, sophoraflavanone G showed in vivo anti-inflammatory activity against mouse croton oil-induced ear edema and rat carrageenan paw edema via oral (2-250 mg/kg) or topical administration (10-250 ug/ear). Although the potencies of inhibition were far less than that of a reference drug, prednisolone, this compound showed higher anti-inflammatory activity when applied topically, suggesting a potential use for several eicosanoidrelated skin inflammation such as atopic dermatitis.

MeOH extract of Kochia scoparia was fractionated into $CHCl_3-$, EtOAc- and BuOH extracts and the last fraction were hydrolyzed by 3%-NaOH ($MeOH-H_2O$) to compare the bioactivities on antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects. Silica gel column chromatography of BuOH fraction afforded a large amount of $3-Ο-{\beta}-D-xylopyranosyl {\;}(1{\rightarrow}3)-{\beta}-D-glucuronopyranosyl$ oleanolic acid (momordin Ic, 4) and that of acid hydrolysate of BuOH fraction gave $3-Ο-{\beta}-D-glucuronopyranosyl oleanolic$ acid (momordin Ib, 3), its 6'-Ο-methyl ester (2) and oleanolic acid (1). Silica gel column chromatography of alkaline hydrolysate afforded a large amount of 4. MeOH extract and both EtOAc- and BuOH fractions were active in the rheumatoidal rat induced Freund's complete adjuvant reagent (FCA) whereas $CHCl_3$ fraction was inactive. Compound 1 and 4 showed significant activities in the same assay but oleanolic acid 3-Ο-glucuronopyranoside (3) showed no activity. These fashions were also observed in carrageenan-induced edema of the rat and in the antinociceptive activity tests undertaken in hot plate- and writhing methods. These results suggest that momordin Ic and its aglycone, oleanolic acid, could be active principles for rheumatoid arthritis.

Carbon monoxide (CO) are produced by heme oxygenase (HO), and HO was detected in hypothalamus. However, the roles of CO produced in hypothalamus was not fully elucidated. So, we tested the effects of CO on body temperature because preoptic-anterior hypothalamus was known as the presumptive primary fever-producing site. CO-saturated aCSF ($4{\;}{\mu}l$, i.c.v.) and hemin ($10{\;}{\mu}g$, i.c.v.) elicited marked febrile response. Pretreatment with indomethacin completely inhibited CO- and hemin-induced fever. Zinc protoporphyrin-IX ($10{\;}{\mu}g$, i.c.v.) or ODQ ($50{\;}{\mu}g$, i.c.v.) partially reduced hemin-induced febrile response. Dibutyryl-cGMP ($100{\;}{\mu}g$, i.c.v.) produced profound febrile response and this febrile response was attenuated by indomethacin. These results indicate that endogenous CO may have a role as a pyrogenic mediator in CNS and CO-mediated pyresis is dependent on prostaglandin production and partially on activation of soluble guanylate cyclase.

The present study was performed to examine the effect of fangchinoline, a bis- benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, which exhibits the characteristics of a $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, on cyanide-induced neurotoxicity using cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons. NaCN produced a concentration-dependent reduction of cell viability, which was blocked by MK-801, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, verapamil, L-type$Ca^{2+}$channel blocker, and L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Pretreatment with fangchinoline over a concentration range of 0.1 to 10 $\mu$M significantly decreased the NaCN-induced neuronal cell death, glutamate release into medium, and elevation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and oxidants generation. These results suggest that fangchinoline may mitigate the harmful effects of cyanide-induced neuronal cell death by interfering with $[Ca^{2+}]_i$influx, due to its function as a $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, and then by inhibiting glutamate release and oxidants generation.

The effect of a new rhFSH, PG-0801, on oocyte quality, ovulation and in vitro fertilization (IVF) was examined in androgen-sterilized mice. Experimental sterility was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate (TP, 1 mg/head) into 5 day old female mice. Ovulation was generated in the 10 to 13-week old TP-injected mice by a subcutaneous rhFSH injection (1, 5 or 10 IU/head) followed 48 hours later by a second rhFSH injection (1, 5 or 10 IU/head). For comparison, a subcutaneous PMSG (5 IU/head) injection was used for folliculogenesis and a hCG (5 IU/head) injection was used for ovulation. These were administered using the same protocol. The eggs were harvested from the oviducts and counted 17 to 20 hours after the second injection. IVF was performed by adding sperms ($2{\times}10^{5}/ml{\;}to{\;}2{\times}10^{6}/ml$) to determine the functional activity of the eggs, and the fertilization rate was measured. In addition, the pregnancy rate and fetal development were examined after 15-17 days of gestation. The number of oocytes recovered from the rhFSH/rhFSH group increased dose-dependently and was slightly higher than that of the PMSG/hCG group. The pregnancy rates of the group receiving 1, 5, and 10 IU of rhFSH/rhFSH were 50%, 66.7%, and 75%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the control (untreated) group (0%). The numbers of viable fetuses in the 1, 5, and 10 IU/head of the rhFSH/rhFSH group ($8.0{\pm}1.50$, $8.9{\pm}1.02$, and $8.9{\pm}1.12$ fetuses/dam, respectively) were comparable to that of the 5 IU/head PMSG/hCG group ($9.4{\pm}0.94$). The mice receiving rhFSH/rhFSH and PMSG/hCG showed similar fertilization rates (around 65%) via the IVF procedure. These results demonstrate that a new rhFSH, PG-0801, may be useful for inducing ovulation in functionally infertile patients and for superovulation in ovulatory patients participating in assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is remarkably efficient at establishing chronic infection. One of the reasons for this appears to be the suppression of the accessory cell function of professional antigen presenting cells. In the present study, the immunosuppressive activity of HCV protein was examined on dendritic cells (DCs) generated from mouse bone marrow progenitor cells in vitro. We found that the DCs forced to express HCV protein have defective allostimulatory ability. DCs expressing HCV protein were phenotypically indistinguishable from normal DCs. However, they were unable to produce IL-12 effectively when stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. The functional domain of the HCV protein essential for immunosuppression was determined using a series of ${NH_2}-and$ C-terminal deletion mutants of HCV core protein. We found that amino acid residues residing between the 21 st and the 40th residues from the ${NH_2}-terminus$ of HCV core protein are required for immunosuppression. These findings suggest that HCV core protein suppresses the elicitation of protective Th1 responses by the inhibition of IL-12 production by DCs.

Administration of dopamine agonist, apomorphine (2 mg/kg, s.c.), produces cage climbing behavior in mice that exhibit typical dopaminergic stimulation. The present study investigated the pCREB expression level in several brain regions following apomorphine treatment in order to determine whether the increased the dopaminergic activation produced by apomorphine accompanies the changes in pCREB immunoreactivity. A mouse brain was removed at 0min, 10 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 7 h, and 24 h after apomorphine treatment. The brain tissue was fixed by an intracardiac perfusion with ice-cold 4％ paraformaldehyde in PBS. Immunohistochemical study was conducted using the ABC-DAB method. The data showed that the immunoreactivity of pCREB increased in the striatum, nucleus-accumbens, piriform cortex and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus of a mouse brain 30 min after the apomorphine treatment. Increased immunoreactivity began to diminish 2 h after the apomorphine treatment in all the brain regions measured. The time course for the pCREB immunoreactivity was similar to the behavioral response induced by the apomorphine treatment. These results suggest that activation of the dopamine receptor is accompanied by an increase in pCREB expression in the mouse brain.

Cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2) is a member of the cytochrome P450 family of isozymes involved in the phase I drug metabolism of vertebrates. CYP1A2 is responsible for the activation of a number of aromatic amines to mutagenic and carcinogenic forms. Thus, the level of CYP1A2, which varies among different populations, may determine an individual's susceptibility to these chemicals. We have previously reported on the importance of a cis element named PRB (protected region B) in the regulation of human Cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2) gene, which appeared to act as a positive regulatory element. Closer examination of the PRB sequence (-2218 to -2187 bp) revealed a putative AP-1 binding site, TGACTAA, at -2212 bp (Chung and Bresnick, 1997). To elucidate the role of AP-1 in CYP1A2 regulation, we transiently overexpressed c-Jun and c-Fos transcription factors in human hepatoma HepG2 cells, and examined their influence on the CYP1A2 promoter activity by reporter gene assays. Cotransfection of the c-Jun and the c-Fos expression vectors increased the induced transactivation by five to six fold from the CYP1A2 promoter constructs. However, deletion of the PRB element did not affect the degree of activation by the c-Jun and the c-Fos. Therefore, it is unlikely that the c-Jun and the c-Fos activate the CYP1A2 promoter through this AP-1 consensus-like sequence in the PRB region.

The objective of this study was to link conformational changes of proteins at a water/methylene chloride interface to their destabilization upon emulsification. When 4 aqueous protein solutions (bovine serum albumin, $\beta$-lactoglobulin, ovalbumin, or ribonuclease) were emulsified in methylene chloride, considerable proportions of all the proteins became water insoluble aggregates. There were also noticeable changes in the compositions of their water-soluble species. A series of water/methylene chloride interfacial reactions upon the proteins was considered a major cause of the phenomena observed. Based on this supposition, the interfacial tension was determined by a Kruss DVT-10 drop volume tensiometer under various experimental conditions. It substantiated that the interfacial tension was high enough to cause the adsorption of all the proteins. Under our experimental conditions, their presence in the aqueous phase resulted in reductions of the interfacial tension by the degrees of 8.5 - 17.1 mN $m^{-1}$. In addition, dynamic changes in the interfacial tension were monitored to compare relative rates at which the adsorbed proteins underwent conformational, structural rearrangements at the interface. Such information helped make a prediction about how easily proteins would denature and aggregate during emulsification. Our study indicated that emulsifying aqueous protein solutions in organic solvents should be handled with care, due to adverse interfacial effects.

The oral absorption and disposition of itraconazole were studied in rats, rabbits and dogs. Serum levels of itraconazole and its active metabolite, hydroxyitraconazole, were determined by a validated HPLC method. The absorption of itraconazole was relatively rapid in rats and dogs but was slower in rabbits. The terminal elimination half-life ($T_{1/2,{\lambda}z}$), time to the peak concentration ($T_{max}$), dose and weight normalized area under the curve (AUC) and the peak concentration ($C_{max}$) of itraconazole found in the dog were comparable to those reported in humans. As in humans, the metabolite to parent drug AUC ratios in rats and dogs were greater than unity but was less in rabbits. The dog appears to be an appropriate animal model while the rat, not the rabbit, may be used as an alternative animal model in predicting the oral absorption of itraconazole in humans.

The effects of vehicles and penetration enhancers on the in vitro permeation of melatonin through dorsal hairless mouse skin were investigated. Propylene glycol laurate (PGL), isopropyl myristate (IPM), propylene glycol monolaurate (PGML) and propylene glycol monocaprylate (PGMC) showed high permeation fluxes and PGL, PGML and PGMC decreased lag time significantly. In both of the binary co-solvents of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DGME)-PGL and DGME-IPM, the highest fluxes were achieved at 20% of DGME, which were $10.5{\pm}1.5$ and $9.1{\pm}2.4{\;}{\mu\textrm{g}}/cm^2/h$, respectively. Among fatty acids used as a permeation enhancer, capric acid and oleic acid in DGME-PGL (80:20 v/v) showed relatively high enhancing effects. Capric acid also shortened the lag time of melatonin from $2.4{\pm}0.7{\;}to{\;}1.3{\pm}0.2{\;}h$. Oleic acid, however, failed to shorten the lag time. Therefore, for effective solution formulations in terms of permeation flux and lag time, capric acid-containing DGME-PGL (80 : 20 v/v) could be used to enhance the skin permeation of melatonin.