Stereospecific effects of d- and l-pentazocine on contractions of the mouse vas deferens

The effects of the d- and l-isomers of pentazocine were compared to that of racemic pentazocine on contractions of the mouse isolated vas deferens. L-pentazocine inhibited electrically evoked contractions of the mouse vas deferens (MVD) in a dose-dependent manner (ID50 0.37 +/- 0.04 microM). In contrast, d-pentazocine augmented field stimulated contractions dose-dependently; per cent increases in contractions at 10 and 30 microM were 57.8 +/- 18.0 and 98.0 +/- 15.1%, respectively. Racemic pentazocine produced an intermediate effect between the two isomers. The effect of 1-pentazocine was antagonized by naloxone, whereas that of d-pentazocine was not. L-pentazocine did not effect the response of the MVD to exogenous norepinephrine at any concentration tested, while d-pentazocine depressed the response of the MVD to exogenous norepinephrine at one dose (0.3 microM). These findings demonstrate that d- and l-pentazocine produce opposite effects on the MVD. The effects of l-pentazocine are opioid mediated, while those of d-pentazocine are not. In the racemic mixture the opposing effects of the two isomers modulate each other, resulting in a diminished effect.

[Anti-tumor activity of human recombinant TNF against human malignant glioma cell lines and combined effect with Hu INF-beta]

Human TNF was detected fairly recently and at present the anti-tumor activity of human recombinant TNF is being examined against various malignant tumors of human origin. In the present study, we report the anti-tumor activity of recombinant human TNF against human malignant glioma cell lines in vitro and in vivo, in addition to its combined effects with HuIFN-beta. The in vitro study was conducted as follows. Thirteen human glioma cell lines were exposed to 100 U/ml TNF, 1,000 IU/ml HuIFN-beta, or both, and the suppression rate was calculated on days 3, 5 and 7. In the in vivo study, nude mice carrying a human glioma cell line, KMS II, in the subcutaneous tissues were divided into groups and drugs were administered intratumorally as described below. 1) control, 2) TNF 5,000 U single administration, 3) TNF 5,000 U, intermittently administered (once/week for two weeks), 4) TNF 5,000 U, continuously administered (3/week for two weeks), 5) HuIFN-beta 50 X 10(4) IU (3/week for two weeks), and 6) combination of 4) with 5). Results of the in vitro study revealed some suppressive effects on proliferation of tumor cells on day 7 in all 13 glioma cell lines examined with 100 U/ml TNF. And also, especially in 8 of 13 cell lines, the suppression rate was more than 30%. The suppressive effects of TNF were augmented by combined use of HuIFN-beta in all cell lines, giving a range of suppression of 67.8 to 99.3%. The in vivo study revealed that the mean tumor weight ratios (control = 100%) on day 19 (the end of the experiment) were as follows; single administration of TNF: 41.3%, intermittent: 46.7%, continuous: 26.7%, HuIFN-beta: 65.9%, combination: 18.5%. Statistical analysis disclosed significant suppressive effects on tumor proliferation between the control group and 3 TNF-administered groups (single, intermittent, and continuous) and that suppression in the continuously administered group was more severe in comparison with the group given single administration. Moreover, it was suggested that combination therapy with TNF and Hu IFN-beta was more effective than a single therapy with TNF only or HuIFN-beta only. From the results described above, it was found that human recombinant TNF had some cytotoxic effects against human malignant gliomas in vitro and in vivo, although the degree of cytotoxicity was not always higher in comparison with the effects of TNF.

A double antibody radioimmunoassay for human alpha 1-microglobulin

Using purified alpha 1-microglobulin from urine and specific rabbit antiserum, a double antibody radioimmunoassay has been developed. The assay is sensitive to 3 ng/ml and covers a working range from 25-800 ng/ml. The recovery rates on the average were 91.8% in serum and 97.7% in urine. The coefficients of intra-assay variation ranged from 3.6-4.5% and those of inter-assay variation from 4.0-8.8%. Correlations in serum and urine between the present assay and single radial immunodiffusion (r = 0.972; r = 0.978) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (r = 0.935; r = 0.971) were satisfactory.

[Combination therapy with IFN-beta, ACNU and radiation (IAR) in malignant brain tumors]

In order to analyze the efficacy of combination therapy with Hu-IFN-beta, ACNU and radiation (IAR), nine patients with malignant glioma were treated as a control study. They received 100 X 10(4) IU Hu-IFN-beta daily for seven days intravenously or intratumorally, 3 mg/kg ACNU on day 2 and 5,000-6,000 rads of radiation from day 3. Four out of nine patients showed complete response and one partial response with this IAR therapy. Case 1 was a 64-year-old man who had glioblastoma in the left frontal lobe. Postoperative residual tumors disappeared completely with this therapy. Case 3 was a 8-year-old girl who had an enhanced high-density lesion in the medulla oblongata and pons. After IAR therapy, the high-density lesion was completely vanished and her clinical manifestations of multiple cranial nerve palsy and pyramidal sign were improved remarkably. The major side effects of IAR therapy were mild or moderate myelosuppression, and some patients also showed hepatic dysfunction, mild fever and gastrointestinal toxicities. However, all these side effects were mild and transient and soon recovered to normal levels. These results suggest that IAR therapy is effective and will prolong the survival time of patients with malignant glioma.

[A ruptured cerebral aneurysm of the fronto-orbital artery and a coexisting anastomosis with the anterior ethmoidal artery--a case report]

The authors present a case with a ruptured saccular aneurysm of the left fronto-orbital artery and the coexisting anastomosis with the left anterior ethmoidal artery, accompanied by subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hematoma in the left frontal lobe. A 44-year-old male, whose past history had been uneventful, was admitted complaining severe headache and vomiting, followed by confusion. CT examinations revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hematoma in the left frontal lobe. Left carotid angiograms disclosed a saccular aneurysm described above. Emergency operation in a state of grade 3 according to Hunt and Kosnik revealed a saccular aneurysm and its parent artery which was thought to be proximally a left fronto-orbital artery and distally a left anterior ethmoidal artery, which was seen to penetrate the anterior cranial fossa at the lamina cribrosa. Then the aneurysm was excised following clipping of the neck. Thereafter, the patient showed favorable recovery. The histological examination revealed absence of the media and the internal elastic lamina in the wall of the aneurysm with slight infiltration of round cells. Generally speaking, distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms, which arise on branches beyond the anterior communicating artery, occupy 2-5% of all cerebral aneurysms, and most of them are found at the branching site of the pericallosal artery. As far as the authors know, there was few or no report referring to the aneurysm arising on the fronto-orbital artery, as shown in this case. Also, as for the aneurysm arising on the anterior ethmoidal artery, there are a few reports.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a cerebral aneurysm at the anastomotic site between the frontoorbital artery and the anterior ethmoidal artery: a case report

The authors present a case of a ruptured saccular aneurysm at the anastomotic site between the left frontoorbital artery and the left anterior ethmoidal artery.

[Posttraumatic aneurysm-like shadow at the supraclinoid portion of the internal carotid artery--a case report]

Traumatic cerebral aneurysms occupy less than 1% in all cerebral aneurysms and the onset usually occurs two to three weeks after the head injury. The authors present a case revealing an aneurysm-like shadow at the supraclinoid portion of the internal carotid artery immediately after the head injury. A 45-year-old man was admitted in a semi-comatose state, with bleeding from the nose and the ear. He presented anisocoria, with the left pupil larger, and absence of light reflex of the pupil. Roentgenographic examinations revealed fractures of the skull, the left radius, and the pelvis. CT disclosed subarachnoid hemorrhage and intrasylvian and intracerebral hematoma, with midline shift to the right. Left carotid angiograms revealed an aneurysm-like shadow projecting medially at the supraclinoid portion of the left internal carotid artery, and an emergency operation was performed. A left fronto-temporo-parietal craniectomy was done. Incision of the dura disclosed a thin subdural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage on the surface of the brain. Following removal of the intrasylvian and intracerebral hematoma and slight retraction of the left frontal lobe, a bone fracture and dural tear of the anterior cranial fossa were found. During exposure of the internal carotid artery, a heavy bleeding occurred from the supraclinoid internal carotid artery. Under control of the bleeding by temporary clipping of the internal carotid artery, the bleeding point was proved to be a longitudinal tear of the infero-medial wall of the internal carotid artery, and its length was about 5 mm. Because it was difficult to suture the tear, the internal carotid artery was doubly clipped.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Traumatic aneurysm of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery: report of a case

A case of traumatic aneurysm of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery is presented. Formation of the aneurysm was thought to be due to a direct injury to the wall of the internal carotid artery from a basal skull fracture of the anterior cranial fossa.

Chronic anethole trithione treatment enhances the salivary secretion and increases the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the rat submaxillary gland

Chronic treatment with trithio-p-methoxyphenylpropene (anethole trithione; ANTT) increased the salivary secretion from the rat submaxillary gland induced by electrical stimulation of the parasympathetic nerve and by injection of pilocarpine. In parallel with the enhancement of the salivary secretion, the number of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors was significantly increased. The increased number of receptors may be involved in the enhancement of the salivary secretion by ANTT treatment.

Multiple hemangioblastomas accompanied by syringomyelia in the cerebellum and the spinal cord

The present report covers an autopsied case of multiple hemangioblastomas in the cerebellum and the spinal cord, which did not involve the retinas and other organs. An intramedullary hemangioblastoma was found at the C3-4 level of the spinal cord and similar small tumors were present at the C-7 and Th-4 levels. Multiple cysts were located from the C1-2 to the lumbar level; some of these seemed to be longitudinally continuous, like syringomyelic cavities. These findings appear only rarely in published reports of autopsied cases of hemangioblastomas in the spinal cord.

Effect of 2,4-diamino-6-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-s-triazine maleate (MN-1695) on gastric ulcers and gastric secretion in experimental animals

The effect of 2,4-diamino-6-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-s-triazine maleate (MN-1695) on various experimental gastric ulcers and gastric secretion in experimental animals was compared with that of cimetidine and cetraxate. MN-1695 significantly inhibited the formation of Shay, stress-induced, indomethacin-induced, and histamine-induced ulcers and significantly accelerated the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers. MN-1695 was much more effective in suppressing stress- and acetic acid-induced ulcers than indomethacin-induced, histamine-induced or Shay ulcers. Cimetidine was effective in preventing stress- and acetic acid-induced ulcers but had no significant effect on Shay, indomethacin-induced and histamine-induced ulcers. Cetraxate was effective in preventing only stress-induced ulcers and had almost no effect on other experimental ulcers. MN-1695 inhibited secretion of gastric juice, acid and pepsin in Shay rats, but had no influence on basal and secretagogue-stimulated acid secretion in the perfused stomach of urethanized rats. These findings suggest that MN-1695 is a new type of anti-ulcer agent.

Effect of 2,4-diamino-6-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-s-triazine maleate (MN-1695) on gastric mucosal blood flow in dogs

The effect of 2,4-diamino-6-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-s-triazine maleate (MN-1695) on gastric mucosal blood flow ( GMBF ) and on the changes of GMBF induced by catecholamines, tetragastrin, histamine and indomethacin were investigated in anesthetized dogs. MN-1695 at doses up to 1 mumol/kg i.v. showed only a slight but prolonged increase of GMBF . MN-1695 tended to inhibit the decreases of GMBF induced by norepinephrine and the increase of GMBF induced by tetragastrin. The later phase of decreased GMBF induced by histamine was suppressed by MN-1695. However, MN-1695 had almost no effect on the increase of GMBF induced by epinephrine. MN-1695 produced a marked increase of antral mucosal blood flow which was reduced by pretreatment with indomethacin. Systemic blood pressure, respiration and the pressor responses induced by catecholamines and gastric secretagogues were not affected by MN-1695. These results suggest that MN-1695 may possess selective effects on the gastric mucosal microcirculation and that suppressive effects of MN-1695 on the GMBF decrease induced by ulcerogenic stimuli may be responsible for its anti-ulcer activities in various types of experimental gastric ulcers.

Human alpha 1-microglobulin in various hepatic disorders

Human alpha 1-microglobulin (alpha 1-m) levels were studied in the sera and urine of patients with various liver diseases. In patients with acute hepatitis and chronic hepatitis it was almost within the normal range. A significant decrease of serum alpha 1-m, however, was demonstrated in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis (p less than 0.05) as well as in those with decompensated liver cirrhosis (p less than 0.001). The most striking decrease was noted in patients with fulminant hepatitis (p less than 0.001). Its concentration in hepatoma was generally within the normal range, but there was 1 hepatoma case with the high concentration of alpha 1-m. Serum alpha 1-m levels correlated significantly with serum albumin, plasma fibrinogen and cholinesterase activity. As compared with the level in normal individuals, the patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis had significantly low urinary alpha 1-m (p less than 0.005), reflecting the findings for sera. These results indicated that the liver plays an important role in alpha 1-m synthesis, and its quantitation may be used for evaluating severe liver damage.