Animal pharmacokinetics and toxicology of cefotetan--a new cephamycin antibiotic

In animal pharmacokinetic studies the biological half-lives of cefotetan were 13.0 min in mice, 15.9 min in rats, 30.5 min in rabbits, 55.5 min in dogs and 77.9 min in rhesus monkeys. The acute intravenous LD50 values (g/kg) were 6.4 and 5.0 in male and female mice, respectively, and 8.5 and 6.8 in male and female rats, respectively. Six-month repeated dose studies of 30 to 1000 mg/kg per day intraperitoneally in rats and 100 to 600 mg/kg per day intravenously in rhesus monkeys showed no notable organ toxicity. A teratogenicity study in rats indicated that cefotetan had no adverse effects on fetal and postnatal development. The nephrotoxicity of cefotetan in rabbits was considerably less than that of cefazolin.

Studies on lectins of amago (Oncorhyncus rhodurus). I. Amago ova lectin and its receptor on homologous macrophages

A lectin was found in the ova of amago, a Japanese trout (Oncorhyncus rhodurus), which agglutinates rabbit, rat and human B-type erythrocytes. The hemagglutination was specifically inhibited by monosaccharides, L-rhamnose, D-galactose, and their C2 and C4 analogs, and p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-galactoside and melibiose, indicating a binding specificity for alpha-L-rhamnosyl or alpha-D-galactosyl type sugar moiety. To study its interaction with homologous cells, amago peritoneal macrophages were isolated from corn starch-stimulated peritoneal exudates. The lectin-rabbit erythrocyte complexes were found to adhere onto the macrophages harvested on the 4th day or later after the stimulation, but not to those obtained within 3 days; the latter macrophages acquired the complex-binding capacity when cultured for 3 to 4 days in vitro. These findings indicated that a lectin receptor is expressed on peritoneal macrophages after inflammatory stimulation. Similar lectin receptor-bearing macrophage-like-cells were also detected during in vitro amago head kidney culture. This suggested that the inflammatory induced peritoneal macrophages may be differentiated from the head kidney macrophage precursor cells and during this process the ova lectin receptors also become expressed.

Effects of calmodulin antagonists on tension and cellular calcium content in depolarized vascular and intestinal smooth muscles

1 Several putative calmodulin antagonists have been examined for their inhibitory action on muscle tension and cellular Ca content in the K-depolarized vascular and intestinal smooth muscles. 2 The 65.4 mM K-induced sustained contraction in the media-intimal layer of rabbit aorta and the 45.4 mM K-induced sustained contraction in guinea-pig taenia coli were inhibited by the calmodulin antagonists, prenylamine, chlorpromazine, N2-dansyl-L-arginine-4-t-butylpiperadine amide (No. 233), and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulphonamide (W-7), and also by the organic Ca antagonists, verapamil and diltiazem. 3 The cellular Ca content in rabbit aorta and guinea-pig taenia coli as measured by a modified lanthanum technique increased in the high-K solutions. The increments were inhibited by these antagonists at concentrations similar to those required to inhibit the K-induced contractions. However, W-7 did not change (in aorta) or only slightly decreased (in taenia coli) the K-induced increase in the cellular Ca content. 4 A high concentration (2 X 10(-4)M) of W-7 increased the resting cellular Ca content without increasing the muscle tension in aorta. The increment was inhibited by verapamil, sodium nitroprusside or hypoxia (N2 aeration). 5 It is suggested that the inhibitory effects of prenylamine, chlorpromazine and No. 233 may be attributed mainly to the Ca antagonistic effect whereas W-7 may inhibit the process beyond the transmembrane Ca influx.

[Clinical studies on cefmenoxime in the pediatric field]

Clinical studies in the field of pediatrics have been carried out with cefmenoxime (CMX), a new cephalosporin antibiotic and the following results were obtained. 1. CMX was administered intravenously by drip infusion in 23 patients with infectious diseases. These diseases consist of 10 pneumonia, 1 bronchitis, 6 upper respiratory tract infections, 2 acute pyelitis, 3 other urinary tract infections and 1 Douglas abscess. CMX was effective in all cases except 1 case of pneumonia with pyothorax. 2. No side effects have been observed in all cases. As for abnormal laboratory findings, 2 cases of eosinophilia, slight elevations of GOT in 3 cases and GPT in 2 cases were seen.

Effects of the Na ionophore monensin on the contractile response and the movements of monovalent cations in the vascular smooth muscle of rabbit aorta

The effects of monensin, a Na ionophore, on the muscle contraction and the movements of monovalent cations were investigated in rabbit aorta. Experiments were conducted in the presence of phentolamine (10(-6) M) to avoid the vasoactive effect of monensin due to the release of endogenous catecholamine. Both monensin (2 X 10(-5) M) and ouabain (2 X 10(-5) M), added separately, produced a small and slowly developing contraction, whereas simultaneous application of these agents produced more rapid and greater contraction. Verapamil (10(-6) M) decreased the contraction by 75%. Ouabain gradually increased cellular Na content. Monensin augmented the ouabain-induced Na increase. Further, the loss of cellular Na into Na deficient solution was enhanced by monensin. Low temperature (0.5 degrees C) inhibited the monensin-induced increase in Na permeability. The relaxation of noradrenaline-contraction induced by a K-readmission was inhibited by ouabain but not by monensin. These results suggest that monensin increases Na movement down its electrochemical gradient, augments cellular Na accumulation when the Na pump is inhibited by ouabain, and induces muscle contraction, and that the contraction induced by monensin and ouabain is mainly due to an increased Ca influx through voltage sensitive Ca channels.

[Clinical application of cefsulodin in gravely ill children with Pseudomonas infection]

Our investigation of cefsulodin in pediatric Pseudomonas infect ion produced the following results. 1. Cefsulodin (CFS) was administered intravenously by one shot or drip infusion in 3 patients with Pseudomonas infections. These diseases consisted of pneumonia with IgA deficiency, ALL with opportunistic infection, UTI with paraplegia due to spina bifida. CFS was effective in all cases. 2. Transient eosinophilia was observed in 1 case. But other side effect was not noted in any cases.

[Therapeutic effects of cefmenoxime in the treatment of various infections on infants and children]

The therapeutic effects of cefmenoxime (CMX), a new synthetic cephalosporin antibiotic, were examined in the treatment of various pediatric infections. Patients treated were infants and children ranging from one-month-old to 13-year-old suffering from pharyngitis in 2 cases, bronchopneumonia in 3 cases, cervical lymphadenitis in 2 cases, urinary tract infections in 7 cases, tympanitis in 2 cases, suppurative meningitis, sepsis, subcutaneous apostem, acute enteritis, chest wall apostem, phlegmon, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in 1 case each, a total of 23 cases. As regards method of administration, CMX from a vial was dissolved in physiological saline or distilled water for injection, and the solution was administered by 3 to 5 minutes one short intravenous injection (14 cases), or CMX was diluted with large volume parenteral product and administered by 30 to 60 minutes drip infusion (9 cases). The dosage of the drug was 30 to 200 mg/kg/day; 103 mg/kg/day and under in 21 cases, 150 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day in 1 case each. The administration was continued for 3 to 27 days. As regards clinical efficacy, "good" or "excellent" results were obtained in all the cases except 2 cases, one was alpha-Streptococcus acute tympanitis supervening neuroblastoma, and the other was Pseudomonas urinary tract infection. The efficacy rate was 91.3% with excellent in 11 cases, good in 10 cases. As regards bacteriological effects, of 13 strains of Gram-positive bacteria, 10 strains were eliminated and 3 strains were not changed, while of 10 strains of Gram-negative bacteria, 8 strains were eliminated and 2 strains were reduced; thus CMX showed better results against Gram-negative bacteria rather than against Gram-positive ones. The antimicrobial activity of CMX against Gram-positive bacteria was inferior to those of CTM and CEZ, but CMX showed the highest antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. No clinical side effects nor abnormal laboratory findings obviously attributable to CMX were observed.

The inhibitory effect of monensin on high K-induced contraction in guinea-pig taenia coli

This study deals with the effects of monensin, a Na ionophore, on contraction, cellular Na content, oxygen consumption and tissue ATP content of smooth muscle of the guinea-pig taenia coli depolarized by high K (62.7 mM) solution. The application of monensin (10(-8) -10(-6) M) had little effect on the phasic component of the K contraction while it decreased the tonic component. The inhibitory effect of monensin, unlike that of verapamil, was not antagonized by raising the concentration of external Ca. Under hypoxic conditions, the inhibitory action of monensin (10(-7) M) was greatly reduced. The removal of Na (choline or sucrose substitution) from the high K solution did not attenuate the inhibitory effect of hypoxia or monensin. Monensin (10(-7) M) produced only a small increase in cellular Na in the depolarized muscle. The K-induced increase in the rate of oxygen consumption was suppressed by monensin (10(-6) M). In high K solution, but not in normal solution, monensin (10(-6) M) decreased the tissue ATP content. These results suggest that the relaxing action of monensin is mainly due to the inhibition of aerobic energy metabolism of the smooth muscle of guinea-pig taenia coli.

Dissociation of K+-induced tension and cellular Ca2+ retention in vascular and intestinal smooth muscle in normoxia and hypoxia

In experiments on smooth muscle preparations of rabbit aorta and guinea pig taenia coli, replacement of the external Na+ with K+ produced sustained contraction. When external K+ concentration was increased, cellular Ca2+ retention as measured by a modified lanthanum technique increased. However, when K+ concentration was above 80 mM, the tension decreased despite an increase in Ca2+ retention. Maximum amount of Ca2+ retained was 1280 nmol/g in aorta and 980 nmol/g in taenia coli while the control values for both tissues were approximately 430 nmol/g when the external Ca2+ concentration was 2.5 mM. Under hypoxia (N2 aeration), sustained contraction was induced by 80 mM K+ in aorta and by 45.4 mM K+ (and 55 mM glucose) in taenia coli. However, no increase in the cellular Ca2+ retention was observed under these conditions. During the K+-induced sustained contraction in aorta, introduction of N2 transiently increased, while readmission of O2 transiently decreased the muscle tension. In taenia coli, the introduction of N2 decreased the sustained contractile tension probably because of an ATP deficiency, while the readmission of O2 further decreased the tension transiently. From these results, it is concluded that, in the presence of a high concentration of K+, external Ca2+ enters the cell and activates the contractile machinery. A part of the cellular Ca2+ is taken up by mitochondria under normoxic but not under hypoxic conditions.

Inhibitory effects of vanadate on the contractile responses in vascular smooth muscle

The effects of vanadate (Na3VO4) on the contractions induced by high concentrations of K, histamine and norepinephrine in isolated guinea-pig aorta were investigated. Vanadate (10(-3) M) relaxed the high K contraction only when the external K concentration was above 85.4 mM. Vanadate showed no inhibitory action on the contraction induced by either Na-containing 45.4 mM K solution or Na-poor 45.4 mM K solution. Ouabain (2 X 10(-5) M) had no inhibitory effects on the contractions induced by these high K solutions. Vanadate failed to relax the contraction induced by histamine or norepinephrine in normal (5.4 mM) medium, while it inhibited the contraction in the presence of 142.2 mM K. Ouabain also did not inhibit the histamine- or norepinephrine-induced contraction in either normal or high K solution. These results suggest that the inhibitory actions of vanadate are not due to an inhibition of Na pump and that these effects depend on the presence of a high concentration of external K ions.

Methionine biosynthesis in Brevibacterium flavum: properties and essential role of O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase

Out of 27 strains of methionine auxotrophs of Brevibacterium flavum, 14 strains did not grow on homoserine but grew on O-acetylhomoserine, and all were found to lack homoserine O-acetyltransferase [EC 2.3.1.31] alone. Another 3 strains did not grow on O-acetylhomoserine but grew on homocysteine, and the two strains tested were found to lack O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase (AHS) alone, without any changes in the activities of cystathionine gamma-synthase [EC4.2.99.9] and beta-cystathionase [EC 4.4.1.8]. Prototrophic revertants of the AHS-lacking mutants showed concomitant reversion of AHS activity. None of the methionine auxotrophs grew on cystathionine. From these results it was concluded that the methionine biosynthetic pathway of this bacterium involves formation of O-acetylhomoserine from homoserine by the action of homoserine O-acetyltransferase, and direct formation of homocysteine from O-acetylhomoserine by the AHS reaction. AHS synthesis was strongly repressed by methionine. AHS was purified to 70% purity. The purified preparation was activated by pyridoxal phosphate after treatment with hydroxylamine. The enzyme showed a molecular weight of 360,000, an optimum pH of 8.7 for activity, and specifically reacted with O-acetyl-L-homoserine and showed with O-acetyl-L-serine one hundredth as much activity as that with O-acetylo -homoserine, but did not show activity with O-succinyl-L-homoserine, homoserine, or serine. The Km values for O-acetylhomoserine and H2S were 2.0 mM and 0.08 mM, respectively. The enzyme was inhibited 50, 23. and 29% by 10 mM L-methionine, l-homoserine, and O-acetyl-L-serine, respectively, but it was not inhibited by cystathionine or S-adenosyl-L-methionine.

Dual actions of vanadate on high K-induced contraction in guinea-pig taenia coli

Effects of vanadate (NH4VO3: VAN) on tension development, membrane potential and cellular Na content were investigated in guinea-pig taenia coli depolarized by 62.7 mM KCl solution. VAN (10(-4) - 10(-3) M) caused a transient increase in the K developed tension followed by a relaxation. The VAN-induced contraction was observed even in a low Ca (0.13 mM) solution but was inhibited by the removal of external Ca. After the addition of verapamil (5 x 10(-8), 10(-7) M). VAN still produced a contraction. Further, the VAN-induced contraction was observed in 142.2 mM KCl (Na 11.9 mM) solution containing ouabain (10(-4) M). On the other hand, the effect of VAN to relax the K-induced contraction was dependent on the concentration of VAN. In low Na (choline-substituted) solution, the VAN-induced relaxation was decreased. VAN increased cellular Na content of the depolarized muscle, and a correlation was obtained between the cellular Na accumulation and the relaxation. These results suggest that the relaxation is mainly attributable to the accumulation of Na following the inhibition of the Na pump, while the contraction is independent of the inhibition of the Na pump and less sensitive to the external Ca than the K-induced process.

Long-term effects of captopril on cellular sodium content and mechanical properties of aortic smooth muscle from spontaneously hypertensive rats

The long-term effects of captopril on passive Na permeability and Na content in aortic smooth muscles of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were examined in relation to the mechanical properties of the muscles. Captopril or hydralazine when administered for 6 weeks exhibited antihypertensive action throughout the period. Cellular Na in both freshly excised aortas and incubated aortas from SHR leaked out more rapidly in cold Li-solution than those from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats, suggesting increased permeability in SHR aortas. Long-term treatment with captopril decreased the "permeability" of the vascular membrane of SHR, whereas hydralazine failed to decrease it. Incubation of the aortas in K+-free Tyrode's solution produced a slowly developing contraction. The rate of rise of this contraction was faster in SHR aorta that in Wistar-Kyoto aorta. In aortas from captopril-treated SHR, the rate of rise in the contraction was suppressed. The contractile response to K+-free medium was related to the passive permeability to Na and thereby to the increment of cellular Na. It is suggested that, after prolonged administration, captopril alters the abnormal permeability to Na of the vascular smooth muscle membrane in SHR and that the alteration contributes to the antihypertensive effect of the agent.

[Clinical studies on cefotiam in pediatric infections (author's transl)]

Our investigation of cefotiam in pediatric infection produced the following results: 1. Cefotiam was administered intravenously by one shot or drip infusion in 20 patients with infectious diseases. These diseases consisted of 13 pneumonia, 3 upper respiratory tract infections, 3 pyelonephritis, 2 other urinary tract infections and one purulent meningitis. Cefotiam was effective in all cases. 2. Transient elevation in serum GOT, GPT, Al-P and LDH was observed in 3 cases. But other side effect was not noted in any cases.

Feedback inhibition by methionine and S-adenosylmethionine, and desensitization of homoserine O-acetyltransferase in Brevibacterium flavum

Homoserine O-acetyltransferase [EC 2.3.1.31] partially purified from Brevibacterium flavum was found to be specifically inhibited by the metabolic end products methionine and S-adenosylmethionine only when the enzymatic reaction was performed in the presence of cysteine or dithiothreitol, or after the preincubation of the enzyme with either of the sulfhydryl compounds. p-Hydroxymercuribenzoate desensitized the enzyme to inhibition. Concentrations of methionine and S-adenosylmethionine giving 50% inhibition were 4.8 and 0.26 mM, respectively, and 0.5 mM S-adenosylmethionine showed almost complete inhibition. No synergistic action by the two inhibitors was found. Optimum pHs were 7.5 and 8.5 for the inhibition by methionine and S-adenosylmethionine, respectively. The inhibitions by the former and the latter were of mixed type and non-competitive respectively, with respect to both substrates, homoserine and acetyl-CoA. Plots of the reaction rate against concentration of the inhibitors were sigmoidal, indicating the presence of co-operativity. N-Formylmethionine, alpha-methylmethionine, trifluoromethionine, selenomethionine, ethionine or S-adenosylhomocysteine inhibited the enzyme to almost the same extent as methionine or S-adenosylmethionine. The enzyme irreversibly lost sensitivity to inhibition during extraction or storage. Sensitivity was retained by the addition of cysteine, dithiothreitol, homoserine (substate), or glycerol.

Involvement of a Na-Ca exchange mechanism in contraction induced by low-Na solution in isolated guinea-pig aorta

The possibility of involvement of a Na-Ca exchange mechanism in the contractile responses induced by a reduction of external Na concentration ([Na]0) has been studied in isolated guinea-pig aorta. Low-Na (11.9 mM) solution (Li-substituted) produced a contraction in ouabain-treated muscles in the presence of phentolamine (10(-6) M). The magnitude of the contraction was dependent on the duration of the pretreatment with ouabain (2 x 10(-5) M). Ca-free solution, but not verapamil (10(-6) M), abolished the contraction induced by low-Na solution. The muscles were loaded with various amounts of Na by incubating the tissue with ouabain and varying [Na]0 (11.9--148.7 mM) in the absence of Ca. The magnitude of the contractions induced in these muscles by low-Na solution containing Ca (2.25 mM) was dependent on the cellular Na content. Loss of cellular Na into low-Na solution followed a single exponential time course and the rate coefficient of Na-loss in the presence of external Ca was about twice as great as in the absence of Ca. Cellular 45Ca uptake in low-Na solution was significantly greater in Na-loaded tissues (pretreated with ouabain for 3 h) than in normal tissues. The 45Ca uptake in low-Na solution was not inhibited by verapamil. These results suggest that the contraction induced by low-Na solution is caused by a Ca influx which is dependent on internal Na (a Na-Ca exchange mechanism).

Effects of K-free solution on tension development and Na content in vascular smooth muscles isolated from guinea-pig, rat and rabbit

The effects of K-free solution on tension development and cellular Na content were investigated in aortic strips isolated from guinea-pig, rat and rabbit and in rabbit ear artery. Experiments were conducted in the presence of phentolamine (5 X 10(-7) to 10(-6) M) in order to eliminate the possible influence of endogenous catecholamine. K-free solution produced contractions and increased cellular Na content in these vascular smooth muscle preparations. The rate of increase in K-free contraction of rabbit aorta and ear artery was much slower than that of guinea-pig and rat aortae. The rate of accumulation of Na in rabbit arterial smooth muscle preparations was also much slower than that in guinea-pig and rat aortae. When the relationship between tension development and cellular Na content was compared in these arteries, it was found that an increase in cellular Na produced a greater increase in tension in guinea-pig and rat aortae than in rabbit aorta and ear artery. It is suggested that the slow and small responses of rabbit arterial smooth muscles to K-free solution might be due to a slow accumulation of Na and to a smaller role of transmembrane Na gradient in the regulation of cellular Ca.

[Therapeutic effects of cefoxitin in the treatment of various infections in children (author's transl)]

In order to ascertain the therapeutic effects of cefoxitin (CFX), a new semisynthetic cephamycin antibiotic, it was administered to pediatric patients with several infections. There were 8 patients with acute respiratory disease (ARD), 3 with urinary tract infection (UTI), 2 with appendicitis complicated with peritonitis, 2 with scarlet fever, one each of left coxitis, infected medial cervical cyst, febrile illness after a V-P shunt operation, purulent parotitis and intractable diarrhea with fever, namely, a total of 20 patients aged from one month to 11 years 6 months. A CFX vial which contained 1 g of CFX was used in two ways, i.e., one shot intravenous injection and drip infusion. The dosage of the drug varied from 57 to 121 mg/kg/day and the administration was continued from 2 to 20 days. Clinical effects were evaluated as follows: when cardinal symptoms disappeared within 3 days it was considered to be 'excellent'; within 5 days 'good'; and no change of clinical symptoms within 5 days 'poor'. The bacteriological effect was expressed as 'eliminated', 'unchanged' and 'undetermined'. Clinical efficacy evaluated as 'excellent' occurred in 11 cases, 'good' in 8 cases and 'poor' in 1 case, the efficacy rate being 95.0%. When classified by the disease, the efficacy rate was as follows: 'good' to 'excellent' in 7 out of the 8 cases of ARD, 'excellent' in all of the 3 cases of UTI, 'good' and 'excellent' in the 2 cases of scarlet fever and in the 2 cases of peritonitis, 'excellent' in each case of left coxitis, purulent parotitis and intractable diarrhea with fever, 'good' in each case of infected medial cervical cyst and febrile illness with a V-P shunt operation. From the bacteriological point of view, 'eliminated' occurred in 5 cases, 'reduced' in 1 case and 'undetermined' in the 2 cases of ARD, 'eliminated' in all of the 3 cases of UTI, 'eliminated' in 1 case and 'undetermined' in the 1 case of peritonitis, 'undetermined' in the 2 cases of scarlet fever, 'eliminated' in each case of infected medial cervical cyst and purulent parotitis and 'undetermined' in the other cases. Antimicrobial efficacy measured by MIC was compared with CEZ and CET, and the results were as follows: CFX was inferior to the two cephalosporins for S. aureus, it was between CEZ and CET for H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae, and CFX was superior to CEZ and CET for E. coli. All of the 3 antibiotics had poor antimicrobial efficacy for P. aeruginosa and S. faecalis. There were neither clinical side effects nor abnormal laboratory findings which were obviously attributable to CFX during and after administration of the drug.

A comparative study of the relaxing effect of nitroprusside and verapamil on human umbilical vessels

Relaxing effects of nitroprusside and verapamil on the resting or K-stimulated tension and 45Ca uptake in human umbilical vessels were investigated. Both nitroprusside and verapamil reduced the resting and K-stimulated tensions in a dose-dependent manner. Nitroprusside was much more effective than verapamil in reducing resting tension. However, verapamil caused a greater relaxation of the K-induced contraction than nitroprusside. In a Ca2+-free medium, K+ still caused a small and sustained contraction. Nitroprusside abolished the contraction in the Ca2+-free medium, which verapamil failed to inhibit. Neither nitroprusside nor verapamil affected the resting 45Ca uptake measured by a lanthanum method. The K-induced increase in 45Ca uptake was inhibited by verapamil, but not by nitroprusside. The results suggest that nitroprusside unlike verapamil does not act as a Ca2+ influx inhibitor resulting in the relaxation of human umbilical vessels.

Effects of vanadate on mechanical responses and Na-K pump in vascular smooth muscle

The effects of vanadate on tension and on the Na-K pump in isolated guinea-pig aorta were investigated. Vanadates (NH4VO3 or Na3VO4 . nH2O) (10(-3) M) produced a sustained contraction (about 0.5 g) which was not influenced by phentolamine (10(-6) M). In the absence of external Ca, vanadate and norepinephrine (2 x 10(-6) M) induced a small contraction, although high K (45.4 mM) did not. In a Ca-depleted, high K (142.2 mM) solution, vanadate and norepinephrine still caused muscle contraction. D600 (10(-6) M) slightly inhibited the contractions induced by vanadate and norepinephrine, while this agent completely inhibited the contraction induced by high K. Sodium nitroprusside (10(-5) M) strongly inhibited the contractions induced by vanadate and norepinephrine but not the contraction induced by high K. Vanadate produced a contraction in K-free solution with ouabain (10(-4) M). The tissue K content did not change during a 2 h treatment of the muscle with vanadate. Reaccumulation of K following a 3 h treatment of the muscle with K-free solution was inhibited by ouabain but not by vanadate. These results indicate a similarity between the contractions induced by vanadate and by norepinephrine and suggest that the vanadate-induced contraction is not due to an inhibition of the Na-K pump.

Vasorelaxant action of caroverine fumarate (a quinoxaline derivative), a calcium-blocking agent

1 Caroverine fumarate, 1-(2-diethylaminoethyl)-3-(p-methoxy-benzyl)-1,2-dihydro-2-quinoxalinone fumarate, caused a greater inhibition of the pressor response to KCl (8 x 10(-2) M) than that to noradrenaline (10(-6) M) in the rat hindquarter preparation. 2 In the isolated aorta of the rat, caroverine (up to 10(-6) M) markedly suppressed the contraction caused by KCl (4 x 10(-2) M) (high-K) but had little effect on the contractile response to noradrenaline (10(-6) M) whether added before the spasmogen or in its presence. 3 In the high-K-treated aorta, caroverine shifted the concentration-response curve for external calcium to the right, competitively. The negative logarithm of the affinity (pA2) of caroverine was calculated to be approx. 7. 4 Increased 45Ca uptake of the high-K-treated aorta measured by a modified lanthanum method was inhibited by either caroverine (3 x 10(-6) M) or verapamil (10(-6) M). 5 Concentrations of caroverine and verapamil reducing high-K-induced aortic contraction to 50% of its maximum were 2.4 x 10(-7) and 6.6 x 10(-8) M respectively. 6 Following washout the caroverine-induced inhibition of high-K-induced aortic contraction was more rapidly restored than the verapamil-induced inhibition. 7 These results suggest that caroverine fumarate is a specific and readily reversible calcium influx inhibitor in the rat vascular smooth muscle.

Hepatocellular carcinoma associated with erythrocytosis. A nine year survival after successful chemotherapy and left lateral hepatectomy

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with erythrocytosis is described. The patient was successfully treated with a combination chemotherapy of 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C, cyclophosphamide and chromomycin A3, which was followed by a left lateral hepatectomy, and has survived for more than 9 years after the operation without any signs of recurrence. With the regression of hepatic tumor by the anticancer chemotherapy, the remission of erythrocytosis was observed, indicating that the tumor was producing erythropoietin. The data suggest also that erythrocytosis could be a marker for evaluation of chemotherapeutic effects in some patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Properties of contractions induced by ouabain and K+-free solution in guinea pig taenia coli

The properties of contractions induced by ouabain and by K depletion were studied in comparison with those induced by other stimulants in guinea pig taenia coli. Ouabain 7.5 X 10(-6) M and K depletion produced biphasic contractions with similar time courses. Both contractions were slightly inhibited by low (0.25 mM) and high (7.5 mM) Ca concentrations, while the high K contraction was strongly inhibited by low Ca and potentiated by high Ca. Contractions induced by ouabain and K depletion were highly sensitive to lowering of the temperature and abolished at 15 degrees C, although contractions induced by carbachol 1.1 X 10(-7) M and histamine 5 X 10(-7) M were still observed below 15 degrees C. In Cl deficient solution substituted by SO4 or propionate, contractions induced by ouabain and K depletion were potentiated, while contractions induced by high K, carbachol and histamine were suppressed. These results indicate a striking similarity between contractions induced by ouabain and K depletion suggesting a common mechanism for both contractions.

Effects of ouabain and potassium-free solution on the contraction of isolated blood vessels

Ouabain and K-free solution affected the tension development of isolated vessels as follows. In rabbit aorta, ouabain induced a transient contraction followed by a delayed sustained contraction whereas K-free solution was almost ineffective; both ouabain and K-free solution produced a sustained contraction in guinea pig aorta; rat aorta rarely responded to ouabain but developed a contraction in K-free solution. Phentolamine inhibited the transient contraction produced by ouabain in rabbit aorta. In rabbit aorta, ouabain produced a concentration-dependent potentiation of norepinephrine contraction. In denervated rabbit aorta, however, the potentiation only occurred in the presence of 5 X 10(-7) to 5 X 10(-6) M ouabain. K-free solution inhibited the norepinephrine contraction in denervated rabbit aorta. Ouabain potentiated the norepinephrine contraction in guinea pig aorta but not in rat aorta. It is concluded that ouabain and K-free solution affect contraction both indirectly via the release of endogenous catecholamines and directly by acting on vascular smooth muscle, and that there are species differences in the sensitivity to ouabain.

Farber's disease (disseminated lipogranulomatosis): the first case reported in Japan

We report the first case in Japan, i.e., the first case among oriental subject of Farber's disease. This is a rare disorder of lipid metabolism in infancy subsequent to a genetically-determined defect in ceramide degradation. Main features are characterized clinically by hoarseness, joint swelling, subcutaneous nodules and retarded psychomotor development. Lipid analysis and pathological investigation on the material obtained from a subcutaneous nodule confirmed clearly the presence of ceramide and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies characteristic for Farber's disease. In this case, we experienced also corneal opacity and striking abnormalities in electroencephalogram, which have apparently not been noticed in the 17 cases hitherto reported.

A safe method of intrahepatic biliary drainage in obstructive jaundice

In malignant disease with severe obstructive jaundice, survival after operative intervention is extremely low. Simple external biliary drainage is desirable for these patients, as a preliminary procedure for radical operation or long-term palliation. Intrahepatic biliary drainage at the anterior edge of the liver can be performed easily and safely under local anesthesia in case of obstruction of the proximal bile ducts, just as cholecystostomy is indicated for obstruction of the common bile duct.

[Spectral analytical study on the developmental properties of EEG in children: Generalized and localized components of EEG spectra in the normal and the mentally retarded children (author's transl)]

The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the developmental properties of EEG in the normal and the mentally retarded children through regional differences and regional regional interrelationships. The localized components appearing at 1 or 2 regions tended to show low coherences in relation to the occipital region. The generalized component, observed over all regions, indicated lower coherences in the theta component than in the alpha one. It may be inferred that the theta component shown in the developing children may be differenciated from the component around 10 Hz.