Pharmacological studies on newly synthesized anti-allergic agents, 2-methyl-3-piperidino-beta-propionaphtone hydrochloride (KZ-111) and 3-isobutyryl-2-isopropylpyrazole-[1, 5-a] pyridine (KC-404)

Effects of 2-methyl-3-piperidino-beta-propionaphtone hydrochloride (KZ-111), 3-isobutyryl-2-isopropylpyrazolo-[1, 5-a]pyridine (KC-404) and FPL-55712 on experimental allergic reactions were investigated. Homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in rats was clearly inhibited by oral and intravenous administrations of KC-404 and KZ-111. FPL-55712 inhibited the PCA reaction only by intravenous injections, but not by oral administration. Maximum inhibition of the PCA reaction by KC-404 and KZ-111 was obtained by administration of these agents 2 hr prior to challenge. The immunological release of histamine from sensitized rat peritoneal mast cells was inhibited by KZ-111 at a concentration of 10(-4) g/ml. KC-404 and FPL-55712 did not inhibit the immunological release of histamine. All three compounds had no effect on the release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells and on the generation of SRS from rat polymorphonuclear leucocytes by calcium ionophore A23187. KC-404 and KZ-111 produced a downward displacement of the maximum without a parallel shift in LTD4 induced concentration-response curves of guinea pig ileal and tracheal smooth muscle at concentrations between 10(-6) and 10(-5) g/ml. FPL-55712 at a concentration of 10(-6) g/ml produced a parallel shift of LTD4 induced concentration-response curves to the right in both smooth muscle preparations. The 50% inhibitory concentration to the contraction by LTD4 of each of the three compounds is lower than those of other agonists, histamine, PGF2 alpha and BaCl2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of alpha-keto acids in plasma with fluorometric detection

This paper describes a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the quantitative determination of alpha-keto acids in plasma using a fluorescence detector. This method is about ten times more sensitive than that reported in a previous paper. Only 50 microliters of plasma are needed for the determination of alpha-keto acids. However, p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid could not be analysed because the quinoxalinol derived from it does not exhibit fluorescence.

High-performance liquid chromatography of alpha-keto acids in human saliva

alpha-Keto acids in human mixed saliva collected without stimulation were analysed by reversed-phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Several alpha-keto acids were found in saliva and their concentrations were: alpha-ketoglutaric acid (KGA), 221 +/- 142; pyruvic acid (PA), 7490 +/- 5600; alpha-ketoisovaleric acid (KIVA), 61 +/- 23; alpha-ketoisocaproic acid (KICA), 137 +/- 79; alpha-keto-beta-methylvaleric acid (KMVA), 41 +/- 19 nmol/dl (mean +/- SD, n = 40). Their levels proved to be lower than those in plasma, except that of PA. Their concentrations in saliva showed individual variation compared with those in blood.

Sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for prostaglandins using a fluorescence reagent, 4-bromomethyl-7-acetoxycoumarin

High-performance liquid chromatography of prostaglandins is developed in which a fluorescence reagent, 4-bromomethyl-7-acetoxycoumarin is used to perform the high-sensitivity detection. The reagent reacts with prostaglandins and related compounds to form the ester derivatives, which are separated using a reversed-phase system. Each labeled compound eluted from the column is successively hydrolyzed to the fluorescent coumarin derivative, and this fluorophore is introduced into a flow-through fluorometer. Prostaglandins can be determined in the range of at least 1 nmol to 5 pmol, and the detection limit is about 10 fmol. This system is applied to the analysis of prostaglandins in human seminal fluid.

[Anti-allergic actions of traditional oriental medicine--actions against types I and IV hypersensitivity reactions]

A study was carried out to examine the effects of 23 kinds of crude drugs and 3 kinds of blended Chinese traditional medicines on Type I and Type IV allergic reactions. Forty eight-hr homologous PCA in rats as a typical model of the Type I reaction using anti-dinitrophenylated ascaris . IgE serum was significantly inhibited by the oral administration of the following drugs: Aqueous extracts: Aurantii F.i., Bupleuri R., Schizandrae F., Scutellariae R., Zizyphi F., and Shohsaiko-to and Methanolic extracts: Asiasari R., Aurantii F.i., Bupleuri R., Ginseng R., Glycyrrhizae R., Magnoliae C., Schizandrae F. and Trichosanthis S., Contact dermatitis in mice as a model of the Type IV reaction caused by picryl chloride was significantly inhibited by the oral application of aqueous extracts of Ginseng R. and Magnoliae C. as well as the powder of Hoelen. The aqueous extract of Saiboku-to also showed an inhibition of the contact dermatitis, and it significantly potentiated the inhibition of contact dermatitis by prednisolone.

Preparation and biological activities of 10-decarbamoyloxy-9-dehydromitomycin B and its analogs

A new naturally occurring mitomycin, 10-decarbamoyloxy-9-dehydromitomycin B (1), was prepared by treating mitomycin B with sodium hydride. Its analogs having an exo-cyclic double bond in their structure were also synthesized. These compounds showed antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. Among them, 7-amino-10-decarbamoyloxy-9-dehydro-7-demethoxymitomycin B (2) was the most potent growth inhibitor of KB cells in vitro and, accordingly, it appears to be a potential antitumor agent.

Three-dimensional structure of Tomes' processes and enamel prism formation in the kitten

The Tomes' processes of ameloblasts in the kitten were examined with both transmission and scanning electron microscopes and their three-dimensional structure demonstrated. In general, Tomes' process can be envisaged as the upper part of a diagonally cut column. It was established that the flat crescent face of the process which is slanted cervically, it is the secretory surface (S-face) and the curved crescent surface which is cuspally directed, is the nonsecretory surface (N-face). The cervical border of the S-face is confluent with the free apical surfaces of cervically adjacent ameloblasts. Only the S-face and the adjoining small part of the next ameloblasts produce enamel and arrange crystallites into prisms as evidenced by the perpendicular orientation of crystallites to the S-face of Tomes' process and the free ameloblast surface. Crystallite arrangement within prisms and prism arrangement within enamel are determined by the three-dimensional morphology of the Tomes' processes. The processes are schematically represented and their relationship to other ultrastructural features as seen in sections is discussed.

Rapid determination of glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile acids in human bile by high-performance liquid chromatography

With use of an anion-exchange packing, TSK Gel IEX 540 DEAE, for high-performance liquid column chromatography, glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile acids were separated in 10 min and detected with a differential refractometer. Human bile could be analyzed after a simple pretreatment. The purity of the peaks of glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile acids in human bile was confirmed by enzymatic determinations using 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid:NAD oxidoreductase. The molar ratios of the two forms of the conjugates (glycine/taurine ratios) in bile from normal subjects and from patients suffering from various hepatobiliary diseases were measured.

Acute right-sided hemorrhagic colitis associated with oral administration of ampicillin

Among 56 cases who presented to Kanto-Teishin Hospital complaining of bloody diarrhea or considerable hematochezia of acute onset, 8 cases (14.3%) were considered due to colitis associated with oral ampicillin therapy. The bloody diarrhea, often with abdominal cramps, began 2-7 days after starting the treatment. The dosage of ampicillin taken ranged from 2.0 to 4.5 g. Early total colonoscopy and biopsy revealed marked mucosal hemorrhage with minimal or no inflammatory changes mainly in the right colon. Rectum and sigmoid colon are completely normal except in one case. Symptoms rapidly resolved after the endoscopy. At follow-up colonoscopy, performed 4-12 days later, the mucosal changes had cleared completely. There was no evidence to support a hypersensitivity reaction of the colonic mucosa to ampicillin. We believe that right-sided hemorrhagic colitis is one of the common forms of colitis associated with ampicillin. Its differentiation from other kinds of acute colitis and the importance of early total colonoscopy are discussed.

Cut-off wavelength measurements for single-mode optical fibers

A new technique has been proposed for direct measurement of the cut-off wavelength, at which the first higher-order mode disappears. It uses a change of a near-field pattern of a fiber, which is excited by a variable wavelength source. The cut-off wavelength can be measured with +/-5-nm accuracy. The most suitable fiber length for precise measurement is 10-20 mm. It is found, furthermore, that the first higher-order mode under the condition near cut-off rapidly attenuates because of waveguide imperfections, in which the loss due to core-cladding boundary distortions is the most dominant.

Effects of estrogen on the lymphoid regeneration and immune response in irradiated and marrow-reconstituted mice

Various doses of estriol (E3) were given to mice intraperitoneally, immediately after lethal irradiation and marrow reconstitution. The assessment of the plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to sheep erythrocytes in the spleen and the histological assessment of lymphoid tissues were carried out 30 days later. The effects appeared to be dose-dependent and resulted in a marked suppression of the PFC response. The depletion of lymphocytes was dramatic and dose-dependent in the thymus, and in the thymus-dependent and in the thymus independent areas of the peripheral lymphoid tissues. These results suggest that E3 acts on the differentiation of stem or precursor cells toweard both the populations of T and B lymphocytes. Although E3, given on day 7 after irradiation and marrow reconstitution, suppressed the lymphoid regeneration and PFC response markedly, E3 given on day 14 had no effect. On day 7 the majority of regenerating lymphoid tissues were large pyroninophilic cells and on day 14, small lymphocytes. These results suggest that the precursor or immature lymphocytes are sensitive to E3, while mature lymphocytes are resistant. Lymphoid regeneration and PFC response were retarded in mice irradiated and reconstituted with bone marrow cells from donors pretreated with E3. These results suggest that E3 acts on the stem or precursor cells capable to differentiate in the direction of lymphoid populations and reduce their number in the bone marrow.

Fusion splices for optical fibers by discharge heating

A new type of electric discharge fusion splicing apparatus for optical fibers offering several advantages is developed and evaluated. An average splicing loss of 0.10 dB is obtained for step-index multimode silica fibers with a 60-microm core diameter. Tolerances in discharge energy, fiber misalignment, compression force and stroke length during fusion, and end face conditions are discussed experimentally. No accurate fiber axis adjustment is necessary in this apparatus. Mechanical strength of the splice is also excellent.

Double eccentric connectors for optical fibers

An optical fiber connector with an adjusting mechanism using double eccentric tubes is reported. Tolerable impairment values of possible factors affecting connection loss are evaluated. The main factors of the connection loss are mutual core displacement and fiber axis tilt. By using a double eccentric adjusting mechanism, a 0.57-dB average connecting loss between step index multimode fibers is obtained without matching material. The connection loss can be attributed quantitatively to several impairment factors. Using a transparent thin film in the connecting section, the reflection can be reduced as low as about -25 dB, and the average connecting loss was improved to about 0.20 dB.

A histopathological study of the remnant of extrahepatic bile duct in so-called uncorrectable biliary atresia

Histopathological study of the remnant of extrahepatic bile ducts in 40 cases of so-called uncorrectable biliary atresia, upon which we operated the last three years, has been performed. The histological findings of the remnant were classified into three types. Only two cases were found to have type 1a ducts in the porta hepatis area, from which we can expect better prognosis postoperatively. We also found that as the patients become older, the size of the duct in the remnant becomes smaller and the hepatic fibrosis becomes more remarkable. Therefore the operation should be performed in the infant with this lesion as young as possible. As for the evaluation of operative results of hepatic portoenterostomy for this lesion, a proper evaluation can be made only in those cases in which a microscopic examination of the remnant of extrahepatic bile duct at the porta hepatis area has been adequately performed. Concerning the pathogenesis of biliary atresia, we presume that congenital abnormalities of bile ducts are a basic factor, and additional nonspecific inflammation and bile stasis complete its pathological condition.

Lymph macrophages enter the germinal center of lymph nodes of guinea pigs

To determine the fate of macrophages within the afferent lymph stream, the popliteal lymph nodes at various times (3 h to 6 months) after subcutaneous injection of india ink into the footpads of guinea pigs were examined. Two types of cells which had phagocytized india ink were observed in the germinal centers. A small number of type I phagocytes (engulfing india ink as small particles which were often found together with tingible bodies in their cytoplasm) were scattered through the germinal center. A large number of type II phagocytes (packed full of india ink) presented preferentially in the medullary portion of the germinal center, together with many pyroninophil lymphoblastoid cells. In the second experiment, the afferent lymphatics of the popliteal lymph node were ligated 15-20 min after india ink injection. Although the type I phagocytes were distributed as in the first experiment, the type II phagocytes were scanty. In the third experiment, the afferent lymphatics of the popliteal lymph node were ligated 7 days after india ink injection. The type II phagocytes disappeared rapidly from the germinal center, whereas the type I phagocytes remained and were not affected by ligature. These results suggest that the type I phagocytes are the fixed macrophages or tingible body macrophages in the germinal center, and that the type II phagocytes are the macrophages migrating from the peripheral tissues. It was also shown that many macrophages reaching the regional node via afferent lymphatics entered the germinal center through the medullary pole where the cap of small lymphocytes became thinner or disappeared.

Histological observations of inhibitory effect of testosterone on lymphoid regeneration in the thymus-independent areas of B mice

High doses of testosterone were subcutaneously given to B mice, neonatally thymectomized, lethally irradiated and reconstituted with syngeneic bone marrow cells. Histological observations of the peripheral lymphoid tissues revealed that testosterone inhibited the regeneration of the thymus-independent areas which were considered to be composed mainly of B lymphocytes. This result suggests that testosterone would inhibit the differentiation of B lymphocytes.