Synthesis and characterization of the selenium analog of glutathione disulfide

We synthesized the selenium analog of glutathione disulfide by a liquid phase method and named it glutaselenone (i.e., gamma-L-glutamyl-L-selenocysteinylglycine) diselenide. The selenol of selenocysteine was protected by the p-methoxybenzyl group, which was removed by acidolysis with trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of thioanisol. The overall yield of the final product, glutaselenone diselenide, was about 9% based on the starting compound, Se-(p-methoxybenzyl)-L-selenocysteine. Glutaselenone diselenide showed a broad absorption band between 270 and 400 nm and circular dichroism bands around 270 nm (positive) and 330 nm (negative), which were attributable to diselenide bond.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies specific for bovine oviductal glycoproteins

Four monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced in rat cells against materials obtained from the bovine oviduct. The MAbs (1H10, 2A4, 2C5, and 1B12) reacted strongly with the oviductal epithelium of cows in the follicular phase. An immunohistochemical study demonstrated that each of the MAbs bound strongly to the supranuclear cytoplasm of epithelial cells of the oviduct, but not of the stromal cells. Antigens that reacted with the MAbs were characterized by immunoblotting analysis of proteins after fractionation by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions of oviductal flushings obtained from cows at estrus. All MAbs strongly stained a band of protein with a molecular weight (MW) of 85-97 kD. MAb 1H10 also reacted with the minor band of a 55-kD protein. Similar antigens were not detected in uterine flushings, follicular fluid, and serum. No specific immunohistochemical reactivity with the MAbs was observed with other tissues from the reproductive tract and with nonreproductive tissues. The immunohistochemical reactions were completely eliminated by pretreatment of tissues with trypsin, but not with periodic acid, results that suggest that the antigenic determinants that react with the MAbs were proteinaceous rather than carbohydrate. We have thus established clones that produce 4 MAbs that are specific for oviduct-specific glycoproteins of the cow.

[The influence of cefprozil on intestinal bacterial flora]

Cefprozil (CFPZ, BMY-28100), a new oral cephalosporin antibiotic, was studied for its effect on the intestinal bacterial flora in pediatric patients. The subjects were children admitted for infections (2 males and 2 females, 9 months to 6 years 3 months old, weighed 4.3 to 19.0 kg). CFPZ granule was orally administered at a dose between 10.0 to 11.6 mg/kg, 3 doses daily, over 4 to 14 days. The feces from these children were collected before, during and after administration, and bacteria were identified and counted. CFPZ concentration, beta-lactamase activity were also assayed. Bacterial flora in feces during CFPZ administration showed some variance, but no significant change was observed in main aerobes and anaerobes. And in no case, glucose nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli or fungi were found dominant. beta-Lactamase activity was positive in the feces in all cases. CFPZ concentrations were not detectable in feces before, during and after administration. The above results suggest that CFPZ is a drug with little influence on the intestinal bacterial flora in children.

[Effect of meropenem on fecal flora in children]

Meropenem (MEPM, SM-7338), a novel parenteral carbapenem antibiotic, was examined for its effect on intestinal flora in children. Seven children with infectious diseases (3 male and 4 female children of age's ranging from 4 months to 8 years and 9 months weighing from 7.3 to 23.0 kg) were treated with MEPM at doses ranging 10.3 to 40.5 mg/kg 3 or 4 times a day for 6 to 12 days. Before, during and after the treatment, identities and numbers of various bacteria contained in 1 g of feces were determined and fecal beta-lactamase activity and Clostridium difficile D-1 antigen were also assayed. Changes in fecal flora during MEPM treatment was somewhat different depending on cases. Regarding Enterobacteriaceae among aerobes, all of 7 cases exhibited moderate or pronounced reductions in Escherichia coli. Some of the cases exhibited the tendency to increase in Klebsiella oxytoca. Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter freundii. E. coli which was reduced during the treatment increased rapidly after the treatment in 5 out of 7 cases, and the initial bacterial counts were restored. Diverse strains were observed within the genus Enterococcus, while the overall bacterial counts of this genus exhibited the tendency to increase during the treatment. As a result, no significant change in total aerobe count was observed in any case except 1 case where Enterococcus count was somewhat reduced. Among anaerobes, major bacteria such as Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium and Peptococcaceae exhibited tendencies to decrease in some cases during the antibiotic treatment. Two infants and 1 child exhibited significant decreases in total anaerobe counts. In most of the cases, such changes in major anaerobes were transient and bacterial counts recovered to their initial values rapidly after completion of the treatment. In no cases, glucose non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli or fungus became predominant. Although C. difficile D-1 antigen was observed in 4 cases, its changes had no relationship with characteristics of feces. C. difficile was not detected in any of the cases. MEPM was detected in feces in 4 cases being treatment, in concentrations ranging from 0.35 to 66.0 micrograms/g. Fecal MEPM levels were very low except in 1 case in which beta-lactamase was negative. From these results, effects of MEPM on intestinal flora in children were relatively minor compared to other new beta-lactam drugs. However, a care should be taken to minimize diarrhea and bacterial turnover when a prolonged use of the antibiotic, was practiced because of potential significant effects on intestinal flora.

Familial juvenile nephronophthisis and renal transplantation in two siblings

Familial juvenile nephronophthisis (FJN) is a hereditary renal disease, characterized by a juvenile onset and the development of medullary cysts and progressive renal damage. The pathogenesis of FJN remains unknown, and at present, no rational therapy other than renal transplantation is available. We describe two cases in siblings in whom there were no extrarenal complications, such as retinopathy or central nervous system involvement. Both patients display juvenile onset of the disease and end-stage renal failure. The brother received a kidney from his father, and the sister received a kidney from her mother. Recurrence of the underlying disease has not so far been found in the transplanted kidney.

Cloning and expression of the Erwinia herbicola tyrosine phenol-lyase gene in Escherichia coli

The tyrosine phenol-lyase (TPL) gene of Erwinia herbicola was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the complete nucleotide sequence of the gene determined. The TPL gene comprises 1368 bp, encoding 456 amino acids which have 90% amino acid identity with TPL from Citrobacter freundii. After replacing the 5'-flanking region of the TPL gene with the E. coli lac promoter, TPL protein could be hyperproduced constitutively in E. coli without induction by L-tyrosine.

Inhibition of angiogenesis by staurosporine, a potent protein kinase inhibitor

The effect of staurosporine, a potent inhibitor of protein kinases, on embryonic angiogenesis was studied in an in vivo assay system involving chorioallantoic membranes of growing chick embryo. Staurosporine inhibited embryonic angiogenesis in a dose-related manner, the ID50 value being 71 pmol/egg. Staurosporine dose-dependently suppressed the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, an important event involved in the angiogenesis process. The IC50 value was 0.88 nM. In contrast, staurosporine did not affect the migration of vascular endothelial cells. These results suggest that staurosporine affected embryonic angiogenesis probably by inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation. In addition, these results might support the notion that certain protein kinase(s) could be implicated in induction of angiogenesis and also that staurosporine would be a useful compound for studying a mode of action of angiogenesis occurring in various diseases, including tumor development.

Examination by scanning electron microscopy of oviductal epithelium of the prolific Chinese Meishan pig at follicular and luteal phases

The luminal surfaces of epithelial cells in the fimbriae, ampulla, isthmus, and utero-tubal junction of the oviducts of the prolific Chinese Meishan pig at follicular and luteal phases of the estrous cycle were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Marked cyclic changes were observed on the surfaces of cells in the fimbriae and ampulla, but little change was found in the isthmus and at the utero-tubal junction. The cells of the fimbrial epithelium in the follicular phase were densely ciliated, and the cilia partially concealed the bulbous processes of the secretory cells. In the luteal phase, the secretory cells predominated in the epithelium, and most of the ciliated cells were hidden by the processes of the secretory cells. The ampullar epithelium showed similar changes, but to a lesser extent. In the isthmus and at the utero-tubal junction, the secretory cells had many microvilli on their bulbous processes at the follicular phase, but they were flat and the microvilli were fewer in number and shorter in length during the luteal phase. Conspicuous solitary cilia protruded from the surfaces of secretory cells in the fimbriae and ampulla during the luteal phase. These results demonstrate that there are regional variations in the cyclic changes associated with the oviductal epithelial cells of the Chinese Meishan pig.

Differential expression of subspecies of polyomavirus and murine leukemia virus enhancer core binding protein, PEBP2, in various hematopoietic cells

The core sequence of the enhancer of murine leukemia virus (MuLV) long terminal repeat is highly conserved in a large number of MuLV strains and appears to play an essential role when SL3-3 or Moloney strains induce T cell lymphoma in mice. We found by using the electrophoretic mobility shift assay that a polyomavirus enhancer core-binding protein, PEBP2, bound to this core motif of MuLV. We also noted that PEBP2 in several hematopoietic cell lines derived from B lymphocyte, macrophage and myelocyte lineages migrated significantly faster than the authentic PEBP2 detected in NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Interestingly, PEBP2 detected in the cell lines of T lymphocyte lineage appeared to contain both types, which were indistinguishable in electrophoretic mobility from those of NIH3T3 and of B lymphocyte, macrophage and myelocyte lineages. The treatment of the nuclear extract containing PEBP2 with phosphatase generated PEBP3, which is a subcomponent of PEBP2 and retained the same DNA-binding specificity as PEBP2. The altered mobility of hematopoietic cell-derived or T lymphocyte-derived PEBP2 was found to be due to the alteration of the mobility of PEBP3. Based on the distinct mobility of PEBP2/3 of T lymphocytes from those of other hematopoietic cells, we discuss the implication of PEBP2 in MuLV-induced T cell leukemia and T cell-specific gene expression.

Effect of 15-deoxyspergualin, a microbial angiogenesis inhibitor, on the biological activities of bovine vascular endothelial cells

We found recently that 15-deoxyspergualin, an analog of spergualin, which is an antibiotic and includes a spermidine moiety in its structure, exhibits anti-angiogenic activity. We have now carried out in vitro experiments with bovine vascular endothelial cells to determine which events occurring during angiogenesis are affected by this microbial angiogenesis inhibitor. 15-Deoxyspergualin did not inhibit the production of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) or type IV collagenase by vascular endothelial cells. The direct inhibition of u-PA activity by 15-deoxyspergualin was not observed either. The angiostatic antibiotic neither affected the migration of vascular endothelial cells nor inhibited the endothelial cell proliferation in a two-dimensional culture system. We also examined the effect of 15-deoxyspergualin on the proliferation of endothelial cells in a three-dimensional culture system involving collagen gel, in which cell growth resembles more closely the endothelial cell proliferation during in vivo angiogenesis than that in a two-dimensional culture system without collagen gel. The antibiotic inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that the three-dimensional culture system is useful for finding a new angiogenesis inhibitor with a different mode of action from those of angiogenesis inhibitors found by using a two-dimensional assay system; however, no cause-effect relationship has yet been established. Taken together, these results suggest the possible involvement of the inhibition of vascular endothelial cell growth by 15-deoxyspergualin in its angiogenesis-inhibitory effect. 15-Deoxyspergualin appears to be a promising candidate as an angiogenesis inhibitor for controlling aberrant angiogenic responses occurring in different states, including tumor development.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Prednisolone and aspirin therapy for habitual abortion associated with anti-cardiolipin antibody]

Anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is characterized by thrombocytopenia, thrombosis and/or abortion. Steroid and aspirin therapy has been reported useful for habitual abortion associated with APS. Eleven patients, whose prior pregnancies resulted in habitual abortion (41 abortions), were received a intentional prednisolone (40 mg/day) and aspirin (81 mg/day) therapy before further pregnancies and both agents were decreased gradually. We maintained prednisolone (10-15 mg/day) and aspirin (40.5 mg/day) during pregnancy period. After the treatment, the outcome of pregnancy was successful in 7 of 10 pregnancies. The weight of newborn infants ranged from 1980 to 2980 g and apgar score ranged from 4 to 9 points. No side effect was observed, and fetal malformation and/or adrenal insufficiency was not recognized in any infants. In conclusion, an intentional prednisolone plus aspirin therapy is useful to prevent habitual abortion in patient with APS.

Immunological characterization of oviductal glycoproteins associated with the zona pellucida of the golden hamster egg

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced against materials obtained from the golden hamster oviduct. The MAbs (C11E8, C8B11, and A3D5) selectively reacted with the zona pellucida (ZP) of oviductal eggs. An immunohistochemical study demonstrated that all MAbs bound strongly to the epithelial cells of the oviduct and, to a lesser extent, of the uterus, the cervix, and the vagina. Weak reactions were also observed with some other tissues. All immunohistochemical reactions were completely eliminated by treatment of tissues with periodic acid, suggesting that the antigenic determinants that react with the MAbs are carbohydrate in nature. Antigens that reacted with the MAbs were characterized by immunoblotting analyses of 1- or 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gels after electrophoresis to fractionate tissue extracts under reducing conditions. With the oviductal extract, C11E8 and A3D5 specifically bound to broad bands that corresponded to macromolecules of more than 200 and 160 kD, respectively, whereas C8B11 reacted with a broad range of macromolecules, with the strongest reactivity being detected at molecular weights (MWs) higher than 160 kD. The macromolecules that reacted with the MAbs had carbamilation trains, suggestive of extensive microheterogeneity with respect to charge and size. Similar substances of high MW were not detected in extracts of tissues from the other reproductive organs. In addition, one MAb-positive oviductal antigen bound to the ZP of ovarian eggs, but the others did not bind to the ZP of ovarian eggs. This result indicates that the binding activity is specific for the oviductal glycoproteins. We have thus established clones that produce 3 different MAbs with strong affinity for oviduct-specific glycoproteins, one of which is associated with the ZP of the golden hamster.

Development of early bovine embryos to the blastocyst stage in serum-free conditioned medium from bovine granulosa cells

Bovine granulosa cell-conditioned medium (BGC-CM) was prepared in a serum-free medium consisting of TCM 199, 5 micrograms/ml insulin, and 0.5 micrograms/ml aprotinin (TCM 199 IAP). Granulosa cells surrounded with embryos were denuded 24 to 30 h after in vitro fertilization. The proportion of denuded granulosa cell-free embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage in BGC-CM (43/219; 20%) as well as in the co-culture system (43/178; 24%) was significantly greater (P less than 0.001) than in fresh TCM 199 IAP medium (FM: 10/191; 5%), whereas the proportion of embryos that developed to the eight-cell stage was similar (P greater than 0.05) in all three culture systems (95/178; 53% in co-culture, 111/219; 51% in BGC-CM, and 86/191; 45% in FM, respectively). Higher rates of hatching and hatched blastocysts 8.5 days after in vitro fertilization were observed in co-culture (13/44; 29.5%) and in conditioned medium (8/39; 20.5%). On the other hand, no hatching or hatched blastocysts were obtained in the fresh medium (0/7; 0%). Cell numbers per blastocyst in BGC-CM (178.3 cells/blastocyst) were approximately two-fold higher than those in FM (97.1 cells/blastocyst). However, higher cell numbers (249.3 cells/blastocyst) were observed in co-culture with BGC than in BGC-CM. The embryotrophic activity in BGC-CM was stable upon freezing and thawing, lyophilization, and heating at 56 degrees C whereas activity was reduced by dilution in fresh medium, dialysis, pronase digestion, and heating at 80 degrees C. These results suggest that BGC cultured in a serum-free medium can synthesize and secrete an embryotrophic factor(s) that supports blastocyst formation in vitro beyond the 8- to 16-cell stage.

Effects of inline filtration on delivery of gentamicin at various flow rates

The effects of inline filtration on delivery of gentamicin (GM) in the pediatric field were studied. The filter sets (Pall 0.20 micron. JMS 0.20 micron, and IVEX 2.022 micron) were studied using a simulated system. 10 mg of GM was injected into the system containing 5% dextrose in water (flow rate: 50 ml/hr, 10 ml/hr and 2 ml/hr) with horizontal and vertical settings of the inline filters. In case of 50 ml/hr, delivery of GM of Pall showed nearly the same delivery pattern as compared with no filter setting. However, JMS and IVEX 2 showed little differences. In case of 10 ml/hr and 2 ml/hr those differences became more significant. Delivery of GM was influenced by the priming volume of the filters, increasingly so at slow flow rates. Filter settings also influenced the delivery of GM. Furthermore, with regards to the results of the Vitamin K2 delivery and the technetium radiotracer method, JMS and IVEX 2 filters were observed to have some stagnation of drugs in the filter. Not only priming volumes of the filters affect delivery of drugs, filter designs also have an influence. The use of the inline filters is important in the pediatric field, but their charactaristics for drug delivery pattern should be considered.

[Morphological and immunohistochemical quantitative analysis of dysplasia in ulcerative colitis. II. Immunohistochemical quantitative analysis]

Mapping specimens of 6 cases of ulcerative colitis included adenocarcinoma invaded into submucosa (invasive carcinoma) were made and immunohistochemical quantitative analysis of ras p21, an oncogene product and secretory component were examined in invasive carcinoma, severe and moderate dysplasia of ulcerative colitis. Large intestinal carcinoma invaded into submucosa, colonic adenoma and normal mucosa were examined as the control. Index values of Staining Density (ISD) and of Staining Gland (ISG) of ras p21 demonstrated significantly higher values in invasive carcinoma, severe and moderate dysplasia of ulcerative colitis than adenoma (P less than 0.01). ISG of secretory component in moderate dysplasia and adenoma showed significantly high value compared with severe dysplasia and invasive carcinoma of ulcerative colitis (P less than 0.05). The collective evidence indicates that severe dysplasia falls into the same category with invasive carcinoma of ulcerative colitis and may be defined as carcinoma in situ. Moderate dysplasia was also defined as carcinoma in situ or borderline lesion.

[Morphological and immunohistochemical quantitative analysis of dysplasia in ulcerative colitis. 1. Histological mapping specimen and morphological quantitative analysis]

Mapping specimens of 6 cases of ulcerative colitis included adenocarcinoma invaded into submucosa (invasive carcinoma) were made and Index value of Nucleus-Gland (ING) of invasive carcinoma, severe and moderate dysplasia in ulcerative colitis was measured and compared with one another. Large intestinal carcinoma invaded into submucosa, colonic adenoma and normal mucosa were examined as the control. Spatial relations of invasive carcinoma and dysplasia in ulcerative colitis were also examined. Severe and moderate dysplasia as well as large intestinal carcinoma invaded into submucosa showed significantly higher values of ING than adenoma (P less than 0.01). Invasive carcinoma and severe dysplasia of ulcerative colitis showed significantly higher values of ING than moderate dysplasia (P less than 0.01). Severe dysplasia was located around the portion of of invasive carcinoma of ulcerative colitis. Severe dysplasia falls into the same category with invasive carcinoma of ulcerative colitis because of the same value of ING and spatial translation each other. Moderate dysplasia was defined as borderline lesion because of the mean value of ING between severe dysplasia and adenoma.

Immunocytochemical Studies on the Pancreatic Endocrine Cells in the Japanese Newt (Cynopus pyrrhogaster)

Pancreatic endocrine cells were examined by light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry to discuss the co-localization of peptides in one cell type. A cells were irregular in shape with an occasional long cytoplasmic process, and contained glucagon-immunoreactive granules with various contours. These granules were 160-300nm in diameter with various density, and also immunoreactive to anti-human pancreatic polypeptide (PP) serum. A part of them were further immunoreactive to anti-somatostatin serum. B cells were round to elliptical in shape, and often aggregated around the capillaries. Granules of B cells were round to irregular in shape, 270-410 nm in diameter, and immunoreactive to anti-insulin serum. D cells were irregular in shape with meager cytoplasm, and contained somatostatin-immunoreactive granules. These granules were ovoid or teardrop in shape, 140-250nm in longitudinal diameter, and immunoreactive to both anti-somatostatin and anti-human PP sera. PP cells were round to spindle-shaped, and contained human PP-immunoreactive round granules 150-35nm in diameter. These findings reveal the existence of at least 4 types of endocrine cells secreting glucagon, insulin, somatostatin, and PP, respectively, in the newt pancreas, and suggest the co-localization of some of these peptides in one cell type.

[The influence of cefdinir on the intestinal bacterial flora]

The influence of cefdinir (CFDN), a new oral cephalosporin, on the intestinal bacterial flora was studied in tetra-contaminated mice and in pediatric patients. CFDN in fine granules was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg once a day for 5 consecutive days to mice contaminated with 4 different species of organism: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacteroides fragilis and Bifidobacterium breve. No remarkable changes were observed in the fecal viable cell counts except that decreases in E. coli counts were observed on the day 3 to 5 after starting administration. The subjects in pediatric study were 7 children with infections, 3 boys and 4 girls, with their ages from 6 months to 12 years 7 months. Their body weights ranged from 5.5 to 29.2 kg. CFDN fine granules was administered at each dose of 3.0 mg/kg to 3.7 mg/kg, 3 times a day for 4 to 14 days. During the administration of CFDN, some variations were observed in the pattern of changes in the fecal bacterial flora between subjects. Although Enterobacteriaceae and total counts of anaerobes were markedly decreased in 2 cases, total counts of aerobes were unchanged in the 2 cases, whereas main aerobes and anaerobes except enterococci hardly varied in the other cases. There was no case in which glucose non-fermenting Gram-negative rods and fungi became predominant species continually. Although Clostridium difficile and C. difficile D-1 antigens were detected in 1 and 4 cases, respectively, no relationship was found between the number of C. difficile and the characteristics of the feces. With regard to the drug sensitivities of bacteria isolated from feces before and after administration of CFDN, higher levels of resistance were found in some bacteria such as Enterococcus and Bacteroides during or after administration than before administration. CFDN was detected in fecal samples from 2 cases during administration with concentrations ranging between 0.99-254 micrograms/g. High value of CFDN was found in a case with low beta-lactamase activity in feces, in which marked decrease of Enterobacteriaceae and total counts of anaerobes was observed. The above results suggest that CFDN is considered to be a drug with relatively small influence on the intestinal bacterial flora. But as high concentrations of drugs were detected in feces under some circumstances, our attention will be required. Particular care is also required for the occurrence of diarrhea and microbial replacement during continuous, long-term administration of the drug.

[Inhibition of neovascularization and tumor growth by dexamethasone]

It has been proposed that angiogenesis inhibitors should be used for the treatment of diseases accompanied by an uncontrolled angiogenic response, particularly such disease occurring during progressive growth of solid tumors. In this study, the antiangiogenic effect of dexamethasone (DEX) was studied in a system using chorioallantoic membranes (CAM) of fertilized eggs and rabbit corneas. First, DEX was examined for its effect on embryonic angiogenesis using 4, 5 day old CAMs of chick embryos. After the shell and shell membrane was removed, an EV pellet with or without DEX was placed within a silicon ring. Two days later, the antiangiogenic response was evaluated by measuring the avascular zone of the CAM beneath the pellet. When the CAM showed an avascular zone of 3 mm or more in diameter, the response was scored as positive. DEX showed potent antiangiogenic activity and produced an avascular zone in 100% of CAMs at the highest dose tested. (250 ng/egg). Next, inhibitory effect of vascularization and tumor growth by local implant of DEX was observed in a rabbit cornea assay. An intra-corneal pocket extending to within 1 mm of the limbus was used to house a 1-mm3 piece of glioma. In the treatment group, DEX-containing EV pellet was inserted between the limbus and glioma. Ten days after the implantation of glioma and EV pellet, vascular response and tumor growth was evaluated. For morphologic studies, the excised corneas were fixed with formaldehyde fixative and sectioned for light microscopy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Okadaic acid is a potent angiogenesis inducer

Okadaic acid, which is a non-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-type tumor promoter and an inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, induced angiogenesis in the chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo. Its potent angiogenic activity was dose-dependent. The minimum effective dose was 5 fmol/egg and the effective dose for 50% induction was 90 fmol/egg. These results indicated that okadaic acid exhibits angiogenic activity one order of magnitude stronger than that of TPA (reported previously). Moreover, the time-course of angiogenesis induction by okadaic acid was much slower than that by TPA. The difference is consistent with the time-courses of other biochemical and biological activities and also various gene expressions induced by okadaic acid and TPA, indicating that the difference in the time-course is associated with their mechanisms of action. We conclude that okadaic acid induces angiogenesis through a different pathway than does TPA, indicating the existence of a new mechanism of angiogenesis induction.

Eponemycin, a novel antibiotic, is a highly powerful angiogenesis inhibitor

Eponemycin, a novel antibiotic, was examined as to its anti-angiogenic activity in an in vivo assay system involving chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs) of growing chick embryos. Eponemycin powerfully inhibited angiogenesis in the CAMs. This powerful inhibition was dose-dependent, the inhibitory activity becoming detectable at a dose of 7.5 fmol/egg and the ID50 value being 250 fmol/egg, suggesting that eponemycin exhibits more potent anti-angiogenic activity than Ch 55, a synthetic retinoid, which had been the strongest angiogenesis inhibitor identified so far. To determine which event(s) in the angiogenesis process was affected by eponemycin, experiments were conducted using systems involving cultured vascular endothelial cells. Eponemycin effectively inhibited both the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, indicating that the antibiotic affected these two important events during angiogenesis, resulting in effective inhibition of angiogenesis. These results strongly suggest that eponemycin could be a promising candidate as an angiogenesis inhibitor for the control of aberrant angiogenesis occurring in different diseases such as tumor development and diabetic retinopathy.

[Pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy of flomoxef in neonates]

Clinical pharmacology and efficacy of flomoxef (FMOX) in neonates were investigated. And the following results were obtained. 1. Mean serum concentrations of FMOX at 30 minutes after administration were 24.3 micrograms/ml, 47.6 micrograms/ml, and 85.8 micrograms/ml at doses of 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, and 40 mg/kg administered, respectively. 2. Mean serum half-lives of FMOX were 3.4 hours in 0-3 day-old neonates, and 2.6 hours in 4 day-old or older subjects. 3. A dose response was evident among different dose groups given 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, and 40 mg/kg. 4. Urinary recovery rates of FMOX in the first 6 hours after administration ranged between 12.8 and 51.1%. 5. FMOX was effective in 7 out of 8 cases in which causative pathogens were identified. 6. Diarrhea was observed in 1 case as a side effect of the drug, but the symptom was relieved soon after the completion of the treatment. There was no case in which any abnormal laboratory results were observed. 7. FMOX has a broad spectrum of activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes. It is stable against most of beta-lactamases. It was demonstrated to be highly effective in our study, and yet without any serious side effects. FMOX is therefore considered to be one of the useful agents of the first choice for the treatment of bacterial infections such as sepsis and urinary tract infections in neonates and infants.

Antitumor effect of 22-oxa-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, a potent angiogenesis inhibitor, on rat mammary tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene

The effect of 22-oxa-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (22-oxa-1,25(OH)2D3) on the growth of autochthonous rat mammary tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) was examined on the basis of our previous finding that this synthetic vitamin D3 analog has a potent angiogenesis inhibitory effect. Two doses of 22-oxa-1,25(OH)2D3, 0.1 and 1 microgram/kg of body weight, due to the limited amount of the compound available, were used. The daily administration of 22-oxa-1,25(OH)2D3 at the dose of 1 microgram/kg/day resulted in significant inhibition of the growth of these mammary tumors at 1, 2 and 3 weeks after the administration of this agent, although the agent caused little or no regression of the tumors. After daily administration for 3 weeks, a significant antitumor effect was also observed in the group treated with 0.1 microgram/kg/day. Treatment with 22-oxa-1,25(OH)2D3 did not affect the serum calcium levels in the treated rats. The lower dose of 22-oxa-1,25(OH)2D3 neither affected weight gain nor caused a decrease in body weight, while the higher dose, although having some effect on weight gain, did not induce a decrease in body weight. There were no significant differences in the weights of adrenals, uteri and ovaries between the treated groups and controls. These results suggest that 22-oxa-1,25(OH)2D3 has a significant growth inhibitory effect on DMBA-induced autochthonous mammary tumors in rats, without producing severe side effects, including hypercalcemic activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)