Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B R Shaw

Publications and source records attributed to B R Shaw.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Experiences of women with breast cancer: exchanging social support over the CHESS computer network.

Using an existential-phenomenological approach, this paper describes how women with breast cancer experience the giving and receiving of social support in a computer-mediated context. Women viewed their experiences with the computer-mediated support group as an additional and unique source of support in facing their illness. Anonymity within the support group fostered equalized participation and allowed women to communicate in ways that would have been more difficult in a face-to-face context. The asynchronous communication was a frustration to some participants, but some indicated that the format allowed for more thoughtful interaction. Motivations for seeking social support appeared to be a dynamic process, with a consistent progression from a position of receiving support to that of giving support. The primary benefits women received from participation in the group were communicating with other people who shared similar problems and helping others, which allowed them to change their focus from a preoccupation with their own sickness to thinking of others. Consistent with past research is the finding that women in this study expressed that social support is a multidimensional phenomenon and that their computer-mediated support group provided abundant emotional support, encouragement, and informational support. Excerpts from the phenomenological interviews are used to review and highlight key theoretical concepts from the research literatures on computer-mediated communication, social support, and the psychosocial needs of women with breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Rapid and selective reduction of amide group by borane-amine complexes in acyl protected nucleosides.

Borane-amine complexes provide an unusually fast and selective reduction of a deoxynucleoside N-acyl group to a corresponding N-alkyl group. Three different nucleosides (dG, dA, and dC) each having one of three N-protecting groups (benzoyl, isobutyryl, or acetyl) were used to prepare N-alkylated nucleosides in good yields under mild conditions. Deoxyribose O-acyl protecting groups remain intact at the conditions of N-acyl group reduction.

Amides↗

Synthesis of new classes of boron-containing nucleotides.

Four different types of boron-modified nucleotides are reported: P-boranophosphorothioates, P-cyanoboranophosphates, P-boranomethylphosphonates, and P3'-N5'-boranophosphoramidates. Synthesis of dinucleoside borano-phosphorothioates and nucleoside P-borano-P-thiomonophosphates via a lithium sulfide method is described. The Li2S method also provides an alternative way to synthesize phosphorothioates through a dinitrophenyl P(V) phosphotriester precursor. The mechanism of Li2S substitution was investigated.

Boron Compounds↗

Synthesis of oligonucleoside boranophosphates via an H-phosphonate method without nucleobase protection.

Short oligonucleoside boranophosphates containing all four nucleosides were synthesized on solid support using base-unprotected nucleoside H-phosphonate monomers. This strategy avoided irreversible base modifications during the boronation procedure. Structures of the boranophosphate oligomers were confirmed by 1H, 31P, 10B NMR and MS analysis as well as by enzymatic hydrolysis.

Boron Compounds↗

Borane-amine complexes--versatile reagents in the chemistry of nucleic acids and their analogs.

A new method for synthesis of N-alkylated nucleosides was developed. Exceptionally mild and selective conversion of N-acyl to the corresponding N-alkyl nucleosides was achieved by reduction with borane-amine complexes. The borane-amine complexes were also used as efficient scavengers of a 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl (DMT) cation. Neutralization of the cation eliminated the boranophosphate group degradation during acidic DMT deprotection and allowed milder acidic conditions for the deprotection.

Alkylation↗

Synthesis of a novel nucleic acid mimic: P-boranomethylphosphonate.

A new type of non-ionic nucleotide analogue with a doubly modified internucleotide linkage, P-boranomethylphosphonate, has been successfully synthesized and characterized. Dithymidine boranomethylphosphonate 5 is the first example of a P-boranomethylphosphonate compound; it is a highly lipophilic phosphodiester analog, which is almost totally resistant to both snake venom phosphodiesterase (SVPDE) and bovine spleen phosphodiesterase (BSPDE). P-boranomethylphosphonates are expected to be promising candidates for mechanistic, diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Boranes↗

The synthesis and antineoplastic activity of 2'-deoxy-nucleoside-cyanoboranes in murine and human culture cells.

The guanine, inosine, adenine and cytidine deoxyriboside cyanoboranes proved to be cytotoxic and possess in vivo antineoplastic activity against murine and human single cells and cultured cells derived from solid tumor lines. The agents preferentially inhibited DNA synthesis in Tmolt3 leukemic cells. The enzyme sites of drug inhibition of two active derivatives were DNA polymerase-alpha and de novo purine synthesis at the regulatory sites, PRPP amido transferase and IMP dehydrogenase. Moderate inhibition by the agents of TDP kinase and ribonucleoside reductase activities also occurred. Kinetic studies showed that IMP dehydrogenase activity was inhibited the earliest of all of the enzymes affected by the drugs. The d(ATP) pools were also reduced by drug treatment. DNA strand scission was evident after 24 hr incubation at 100 microM of drug. The 14C-cytidine-cyanoborane drug was rapidly taken up over 6 hr and most effective uptake was shown by rapidly dividing cells. The drug was bound to DNA, RNA and protein in Tmolt3 leukemic cells.

Animals↗

Antineoplastic activity of boron-containing thymidine nucleosides in Tmolt3 leukemic cells.

The sugar boronated thymidine nucleoside, 5' -0-[(triphenylphosphine-boryl) carbonyl]-3'-0-acetyl thymidine 1, and the boron-modified nucleoside phosphotriester, 5'-(diethylphosphite- cyanoborane)-3'-acetylthymidine 2, were successfully synthesized. Both compounds demonstrated differential activity when tested against eight cell lines, with significant cytotoxic activity against the growth of human Tmolt3 leukemia, colon adenocarcinoma, HeLa S3 uterine carcinoma, and osteosarcoma cells. In in vivo studies these agents were found to be active against the growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma at 8 mg/kg/day I.P. and to be marginally active against the growth of L1210 and Lewis lung cancers in mice. The mode of action of these thymidine derivatives in Tmolt3 cells was the inhibition of DNA and protein synthesis. Compound 2 was highly effective in inhibiting DNA polymerase alpha and m-RNA, r-RNA and t-RNA polymerase activities. Both compounds inhibited ribonucleoside reductase activity. The de novo purine pathway appeared to be the major site of inhibition of the agents, with IMP dehydrogenase, PRPP amido transferase, and dihydrofolate reductase activities being significantly inhibited. In the pyrimidine pathway, carbamyl phosphate synthetase and aspartate transcarbamylase activities were inhibited by 1. As expected, d[NTP] levels were significantly reduced by treatment with the agents. DNA strand scission was evident after incubating Tmolt3 cells for 24 hr with the agents.

Animals↗