Anti-thrombotic activity of KBT-3022 in experimental models of thrombosis

In this study, we investigated the effects of KBT-3022 (ethyl 2-[4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-thiazol-2-yl]pyrrol-1-ylacetate) , a potent and long-lasting anti-platelet agent, in several experimental thrombosis models and compared them with those of other anti-platelet drugs. Oral administration of KBT-3022 prevented arachidonic acid-induced death due to pulmonary embolism in mice and rabbits with respective ED50 values of 0.29 and 0.12 mg/kg. The protective effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) against mortality was weaker than that of KBT-3022, and ticlopidine hydrochloride (TP) showed no such effect in these models. In a guinea pig arterio-venous shunt model, the inhibition by KBT-3022 of thrombus formation on a silk thread inserted into the shunt was dose-dependent and 300 and 30 times more potent than the inhibition obtained with ASA and indomethacin, respectively. In a model of aortic thrombosis induced by perivascular application of 20% silver nitrate solution, KBT-3022 (1 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited thrombus formation significantly, ASA (100 mg/kg, p.o.) tended to inhibit it, and TP had no effect. However, in a stasis-induced venous thrombosis model in guinea pigs, TP inhibited thrombus formation significantly, but KBT-3022 and ASA were ineffective. These results suggest that KBT-3022 may be a useful drug for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of thrombus formation in shunts and aortic thrombosis.

[Clinical study of prostatic cancer--statistical analysis of 184 cases in the latest 21 years]

One hundred and eighty-four patients with prostatic cancer were treated at Mie University Hospital from 1973 to 1993. They were between 47 and 90 years old, with an average age of 71.8 years old. One hundred and fifty-eight patients (85.8%) were in either stage C or D. Of the 146 cases histologically examined, 17.8% were well differentiated adenocarcinoma, and 47.9% and 34.2% were moderately and poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas, respectively. The overall 3-year, 5-year and 10-year survival rate were 64.2%, 44.9% and 24.2%, respectively. The patients with high stage and/or poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas revealed worse prognosis. Although the prognosis in the patients treated with estrogen and orchiectomy was better than that with estrogen alone, there was no significant difference between the 2 treatment groups. The prognosis of patients with prostatic cancer has been improved since 1988. A possible explanation is that prostate specific antigen has been introduced as a tumor marker, which might contribute to an accurate diagnosis in prostatic cancer and improve the prognosis of the disease. In conclusion, the diagnosis in lower stage and radical prostatectomy might bring favorable prognosis. In future, safer and more effective chemotherapy and endocrine therapy including LH-RH analogue are awaited, to obtain a better prognosis in the patients with advanced prostatic cancer.

Coenzyme A-dependent cleavage of membrane phospholipids in several rat tissues: ATP-independent acyl-CoA synthesis and the generation of lysophospholipids

Substantial amounts of acyl-CoA were formed when microsomes from several rat tissues were incubated with varying concentrations of free CoA and bovine serum albumin even in the absence of ATP and Mg2+. For instance, 86 nmol of acyl-CoA was produced when microsomes (5 mg protein) were incubated with 300 microM CoA for 30 min. It was calculated that 1.8% of total fatty acyl residues were converted to acyl-CoA during the incubation. No appreciable amount of acyl-CoA was formed from free fatty acid or from boiled microsomes under the same experimental conditions. These observations indicate that acyl-CoA is formed from microsomal lipids by an enzyme activity distinct from previously known long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase. The apparent Km value for CoA and Vmax were 180 microM and 20 nmol/30 min per mg protein, respectively. We found that several species of acyl-CoA such as arachidonoyl-CoA were preferentially synthesized through the reaction and that several types of phospholipids actually act as acyl donors in the formation of acyl-CoA. Phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine appear to be preferred substrates. We confirmed that lysophosphatidylinositol and lysophosphatidylcholine were generated along with the formation of acyl-CoA. It seems very likely that CoA-mediated cleavage of phospholipids/ATP-independent acyl-CoA synthesis is implicated in the metabolism of certain types of fatty acyl residues of membranous phospholipids in mammalian cells.

Coenzyme A-dependent modification of fatty acyl chains of rat liver membrane phospholipids: possible involvement of ATP-independent acyl-CoA synthesis

Certain species of fatty acyl chains of microsomal lipids from rat hepatocytes underwent desaturation when the microsomal fraction was incubated with CoA and NADH. For instance, 18:0, 18:2(n-6), and 20:3(n-6) incorporated into membrane lipids were gradually converted to 18:1(n-9), 18:3(n-6), and 20:4(n-6), respectively. Further, 20:5(n-3) and 18:3(n-6) were metabolized to 22:5(n-3) and 20:4(n-6) respectively, through chain elongation or chain elongation plus subsequent desaturation when malonyl-CoA was present. In contrast to esterified fatty acids, negligible change was observed for fre fatty acids under the same experimental conditions. It is apparent that ATP-independent acyl-CoA synthesis is implicated in such enzymatic modification of fatty acyl chains. The presence of either gel-filtered cytosol or bovine serum albumin markedly potentiated the reaction. However, the addition of ATP and Mg2+ did not accelerate the overall reaction induced in the presence of CoA alone. These results suggest that the pathway of CoA-dependent/ATP-independent modification of fatty acyl chains is sufficiently active to account for the desaturation and chain elongation of fatty acids esterified in membrane lipids, especially phospholipids, of living cells.

The effects of KBT-3022, a new anti-platelet agent, on hemorheological properties in guinea pigs

Using guinea pigs, a study was conducted on the effects of KBT-3022, a new anti-platelet agent, on hemorheological properties in various tests including blood filterability, blood viscosity, shear stress-induced red blood cell (RBC) deformability and contents of ATP and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG). Oral administration of KBT-3022 at 1 and 10 mg/kg significantly increased blood filterability, and significantly reduced blood viscosity at 10 mg/kg without changing the hematocrit, plasma fibrinogen concentration or plasma viscosity. KBT-3022 (10 mg/kg, p.o.) improved RBC deformability in response to shear stress, which was evoked by passing the blood through a thin tube. This dose of KBT-3022 also increased the contents of ATP and 2,3-DPG in RBC. These findings indicate that KBT-3022 may reduce blood viscosity as a sequel to improvement of RBC deformability through direct action on RBC. The increase in the intracellular levels of ATP and 2,3-DPG was considered to be involved in this improvement of hemorheological properties. These hemorheological effects of KBT-3022 appear to be promising for the treatment of patients with ischemic vascular disease.

[Effect of direct pulsatile peritoneal dialysis on peritoneal permeability and lymphatic absorption in the rat]

Continuous vibration of the abdominal wall with a small electric vibrator was conducted to enhance peritoneal mass transport in rats with normal kidney function. Thirty ml of either 2.5% or 4.25% dextrose dialysate containing creatinine, urea and dextran 70 was infused intraperitoneally and was allowed to dwell for 30-240 min with or without abdominal wall vibration at the rate of 80 Hz. The mass transfer area coefficient (KA) of small molecular solutes and peritoneal lymphatic absorption were investigated. Peritoneal dialysis with vibration for 60 min increased the KA of urea, creatinine and glucose by 12%, 15%, 27%, respectively, without changes in ultrafiltration and lymphatic absorption. This effect may be attributed to enhanced mixing of dialysate in the peritoneal cavity and the increased peritoneal effective blood flow. This concept can be applied to short-term dwell dialysis, such as automated peritoneal dialysis.

Cell type-specific heterogeneity of the HIV-1 V3 loop in infected individuals: selection of virus in macrophages and plasma

The primary targets for infection of HIV-1 are CD4+ T cells and monocyte/macrophage cells. We investigated the genotype heterogeneity of HIV-1 in distinct blood compartments, CD4+ T cells, monocytes, and plasma. Nucleotide sequences of proviral DNA from CD4+ T cells, monocyte cells, and cell-free virion RNA from plasma were determined in three HIV-1 infected individuals. We found that the heterogeneity in proviral DNA from CD4+ T cells was much higher than that found in monocyte cells or in virion RNA from plasma. These data showed that different swarms of HIV-1 exist in individually infected cells and plasma. Furthermore, predicted V3 amino acid sequences in the infected monocytes were very similar to the reported sequence of prototypic macrophage-tropic HIV-1 isolates. Our results show that macrophage-tropic virus is quite homogeneous in monocytes/macrophages and has a common V3 structure in contrast to T-cell-tropic virus in vivo.

Pharmacological profile of gastric mucosal protection by marmin and nobiletin from a traditional herbal medicine, Aurantii fructus immaturus

We studied the effects of marmin and nobiletin on the experimental acute gastric lesions, gastric transmucosal potential difference (PD) and gastric motor activity in rats and the contractions of isolated guinea pig ileum. Oral administration of marmin and nobiletin inhibited both the appearance of ethanol-induced gastric hemorrhagic lesions dose-dependently in a dose range of 10-50 mg/kg, with ED50 values for marmin and nobiletin being 17.2 and 8.0 mg/kg, respectively. However, marmin and nobiletin had minimal effects on aspirin-induced gastric lesions at a dose of 50 mg/kg, respectively. Marmin and nobiletin had no significant influence on the basal PD. Intragastrical administration of marmin and nobiletin at a dose of 25 mg/kg significantly prevented the PD reduction induced by ethanol. Both marmin and nobiletin given intragastrically at 25 mg/kg significantly inhibited gastric motor activity measured as intraluminal pressure recordings. Marmin and nobiletin exhibited concentration-dependent relaxations of contractions induced by acetylcholine, transmural electrical stimulation and histamine in isolated guinea pig ileum, respectively. These findings suggest that the anti-ulcer effects of marmin and nobiletin are ascribed primarily to the maintenance of the mucosal barrier integrity and inhibition of gastric motor activity and secondarily due to the prevention of the effects of endogenous acetylcholine and histamine.

Effect of dissolution of collagen on adhesion to dentin

A new method of adherend surface treatment was evaluated to determine the effect of adhesion between dentin and adhesive resins. The pretreatment method consisted of the application of 40% phosphoric acid solution to dentin to remove the smear layer and decalcify the superficial dentin layer, followed by 10% sodium hypochlorite to dissolve and remove the exposed dentinal collagen and provide a fresh dentin apatite surface to which adhesive resin is applied. This method features a direct adhesion between the adhesive resin and dentin, with no resin-reinforced layer of dentinal collagen and adhesive resin. The adhesive tensile strength after storage in water at 37 degrees C for 24 hours measured 6.7 MPa with the phosphoric acid treatment alone, while the test method produced an initial adhesive strength as high as 9.7 MPa. After 10,000 thermal cycles (4 degrees C to 60 degrees C), the adhesive strength was 6.2 MPa, which was approximately 1.5 times greater than the value obtained with the method using the phosphoric acid solution alone.

Site-specific DNA cleavage by Cu(II) complexes of podophyllotoxin derivatives

Site-specific DNA cleavage in the presence of Cu(II) complexes of podophyllotoxin derivatives was investigated with a modified Sanger sequencing method. Cu(II) complexes of 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin (DEPD) and syringic acid (SA) cleaved M13mp18 single-strand DNA site-specifically at both cytosine (C) and guanine (G) positions in the GC rich regions and C position, respectively, at pH 7.8. The apparent binding constants of calf thymus DNA-Cu(II) complexes estimated by the differential UV-absorption spectra revealed that both Cu(II)-VP-16 and -DEPD complexes bind to DNA more strongly than does the Cu(II)-SA complex.

Fumonisin occurrence in corn from high- and low-risk areas for human esophageal cancer in China

Forty-seven corn samples were collected in 1989 from Linxian and Shangqiu Counties in Henan Province, the high- and low-risk areas, respectively, for human esophageal cancer in the People's Republic of China. The samples were analyzed for fumonisin (fumonisin B1 [FB1] and FB2) contamination. Of the fumonisin-positive samples, the mean levels in Linxian corn were found to be 872 ng/g for FB1 and 448 ng/g for FB2, while the Shangqiu corns had 890 ng of FB1 and 330 ng of FB2 per g. The incidence of fumonisin contamination of Linxian corn (48%) was about two times higher than that of Shangqiu corn (25%), and the former corn samples were frequently cocontaminated with trichothecenes. Fusarium species isolated from corn from Linxian County produced FB1 at levels ranging from 1,280 to 11,300 micrograms/g.

Induction of coenzyme A-dependent transacylation activity in rat liver microsomes by administration of clofibrate

The effect of administration of clofibrate on the activity of coenzyme A-dependent (CoA-dependent) transacylation of 1-acyl-glycerophosphocholine (1-acyl-GPC) was examined in rat liver microsomes. Administration of clofibrate to rats increased the activity of Co-A-dependent transacylation of 1-[14C]acyl-GPC and the activity reached a value (8.37 nmol/min per mg protein) twice that in control rats (3.95 nmol/min per mg protein) without any changes in apparent Km values for CoA (1.2 microM in control and 1.0 microM in clofibrate-treated) and 1-acyl-GPC (33.4 microM in control and 27.8 microM in clofibrate-treated). The rate of CoA-dependent transfer of [14C]arachidonic acid (20:4) from 1-acyl-2-[14C]20:4-glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE) or 1-acyl-2-[14C]20:4-glycerophosphoinositol (GPI) to 1-acyl-GPC (synthesis of 1-acyl-2-[14C]20:4-GPC) was also increased by treatment with clofibrate (1.9-fold and 1.5-fold increases, respectively). These results suggest that a CoA-dependent transacylation system of 1-acyl-GPC was induced by treatment with clofibrate.

[Distribution of S-100 protein-positive dendritic cells inside the cancer nest and expression of HLA-DR antigen and blood group antigen on the cancer cell in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder--in relation to tumor progression and prognosis]

The distribution of S-100 protein positive dendritic cells (S100-DCs) inside the cancer nest and the expression of HLA-DR alpha antigen (HLA-DR) and blood group antigen (BGA) on cancer cells in 90 cases of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder were immunohistochemically investigated in relation to the degree of malignancy and its prognosis. A dense infiltration of S100-DCs inside the cancer nest ("many", i.e. more than 10DCs/HPF) was detected in 47 (52%) out of 90 cases. The HLA-DR positive cancer cells (DR-CCs) were detected in 24 cases (27%), including in the 16 most dense cases ("many", i.e. more than 100DR-CCs/HPF). BGA positive cancer cells (BGA-CCs) were detected in 49 cases (54%) ("positive", i.e. more than 100BGA-CCs/HPF). In connection with the degree of malignancy and with the number of cases affected by S100-DCs infiltration. HLA-DR expression and BGA expression. A statistical analysis showed significant correlation between the number of cases affected by S100-DC and each clinicopathological factor including G, pT, ly, v, and showed also between that affected by BGA expression and each clinicopathological factor including G, pT, INF, but showed no significant correlation between that affected by HLA-DR and each clinicopathological factor. As regards the prognosis, the 10-year survival rates for all 90 cases were 60.4%. In the 10-year survival rate, S100-DCs "many'' (77.7%) and "few'' (39.0%), DR-CCs "many'' (85.7%) and "no'' (56.9%), DR-CCs "many'' and "few'' (43.8%), BGA-CCs "positive'' (74.3%) and BGA-CCs "negative'' (46.5%) were statistically significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The first case of equine motor neuron disease in Japan

A 9-year-old male horse showed emaciation, weakness and trembling and was euthanatized. Histopathological examinations revealed loss, swelling and chromatolysis of motor neurons throughout the spinal ventral horns, axonal degeneration of the ventral spinal roots. Eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions were distributed in degenerated spinal ventral neurons. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions consisted of aggregations of granular dense material and a few vesicles. They reacted positively with polyclonal antibody against ubiquitin. The present case was diagnosed as equine motor neuron disease, which has recently been reported in North America and the United Kingdom.

[Comparison of long-term clinical results and cost-effectiveness of percutaneous coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting]

Cost-effectiveness was studied in 313 cases who had PTCA and 161 cases who had CABG as a first measure of interventional therapy for their coronary heart disease. Follow-up time ranged from 2 years to 5 years and 9 months with a mean interval of 3 years and 10 months. In the PTCA group a mean of 1.33 successfully dilated vessels/patient was obtained, but a total of 100 additional PTCA or bypass surgery procedure was necessary in the follow-up period. In the CABG group a mean of 2.60 patent grafts/patient was obtained. Mean length of hospital stay and charge was 21.9 days and 2,071 thousand yen in the PTCA group, and 82.2 days and 5,122 thousand yen in the CABG group through the entire follow up period. Cardiac event-free survival rate was significantly worse in the PTCA group. In the subgroup of two vessel disease, mean number of successfully dilated targets or patent grafts was 1.32 in the PTCA group and 1.88 in the CABG group. Total length of hospital stay and charge was 24.1 days and 2,352 thousand yen in the PTCA group and 86.2 days and 4,903 thousand yen in the CABG group. Cardiac event-free survival rate was significantly worse in the PTCA group. In the subgroup of three vessel disease, PTCA yielded 1.34 dilated target vessels, whereas CABG 2.66 patent grafts, which was two times more than the former one. Total length of hospital stay and charge was 32.7 days and 2,612 thousand yen in the PTCA group, and 82.4 days and 5,225 thousand yen in the CABG group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age-related changes of the prostate gland in the senescence-accelerated mouse

Aging is of utmost importance in the pathogenesis of the prostate gland (i.e., benign prostate hyperplasia or prostatic carcinoma). The object of this study was to examine the morphological and histological changes of the aging prostate of the so-called senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM). Ventral and dorsolateral lobes of prostate glands of SAM were microdissected into two-dimensional ductal arrays. Gross morphology, ductal branching patterns, and histology were examined in these microdissected specimens. Wet weight and numbers of ductal tips in ventral and dorsolateral prostate glands in senescence accelerated-prone (SA-P) mice were significantly smaller than those of senescence accelerated-resistant (SA-R) mice, although the changes of patterns of gross ductal morphology were virtually identical in these groups. High incidence of stromal hyperplasia with fibrosis and inflammation was observed in the dorsal lobe of the aged SA-P mouse. Atypical glandular epithelial cells and cribriform glandular deformity were observed in the dorsal and lateral lobe of aged SA-P mice. Marked heterogeneity in age-related pathological changes was observed between prostatic lobes. These data suggest that the aging process occurs heterogeneously within the prostate gland, and that SA-P mice may be an important model for the study of age-related changes in the prostate gland.

[Endorectal magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate and bladder]

Endorectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using an endorectal surface coil has been evaluated basically and clinically. This new modality obtained increased resolution magnetic resonance images of the pathologic conditions of the prostate and bladder. Compared with images obtained with a body coil, the surface coil images clearly demonstrate prostatic intraglandular zonal anatomy. The clear images of prostatic capsule and neurovascular bundle seen on the surface coil may contribute to the local staging of prostate cancer. The staging diagnosis of bladder tumor located in the bladder neck will be the best candidate for endorectal MRI. Enhancement with gadolinium may improve the ability to differentiate superficial from deep bladder-wall tumors. We concluded that endorectal MRI is safely performed and is extremely useful for the local staging of prostate cancer and bladder neck tumor. Further studies will be required to evaluate the clinical significance of this new modality.

Cloning and characterization of the ribosomal protein genes in the spc operon of a prokaryotic endosymbiont of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon kondoi

To correlate a prokaryotic endosymbiont in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon kondoi, with the endosymbionts in related aphid species as well as with free-living bacteria and subcellular organelles, and to study the mode of its gene expression within aphid cells, we have cloned and characterized the genes encoding ribosomal proteins S3, L16, L29, S17, L14, L24, L5, S14, S8, L6, L18, S5, L30, L15 and secretion protein Y (Sec Y) from the S10 and spc ribosomal protein gene operons of this endosymbiont. The organization of these genes is identical to that in Escherichia coli, and their nucleotide sequences are highly similar (87% identity) to the corresponding E. coli genes. They are much less similar to the corresponding chloroplast and mitochondrial genes. The guanine plus cytosine G+C content of the genes of the A. kondoi endosymbiont is much higher than those of the endosymbionts in related aphid species reported so far. It appears either that the A. kondoi endosymbiont is derived from an ancestral bacterium different from those in other aphids or that its G+C content increased in a relatively short time after the evolutionary divergence of its host.

[A successful case report of coronary bypass grafting by utilizing inferior epigastric artery, gastroepiploic artery and bilateral internal thoracic artery]

We performed coronary artery bypass grafting with the bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA), right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) and inferior epigastric artery (IEA) on a 53-year-old patient who was associated with familiar hypercholesterolemia. The IEA was extended with right ITA as a composite graft and sequentially anastomosed to the right coronary artery and distal branch of the right coronary artery. Both the LITA to the left anterior descending artery and the RGEA to the circumflex artery were used as in situ graft. The postoperative coronary angiogram showed all the graft patient.