Determination of pilocarpine in aqueous humour by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A new method has been developed for rapid analysis and determination of pilocarpine in aqueous humour using liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry. The chromatography was carried out on a reversed-phase phenyl column with 0.1% acetic acid-acetonitrile (95:5, v/v). Pilocarpine and its analogues, isopilocarpine, pilocarpic acid and isopilocarpic acid, were separated. An aqueous humour sample was deproteinized with methanol. After evaporation, the residue was dissolved in the mobile phase. The method was applied to the analysis of the metabolite in aqueous humour after the topical application of 2% pilocarpine (w/v) eye-drops. The main metabolite, pilocarpic acid, was easily identified. The protonated molecular ion of pilocarpine was used for the determination. The calibration curve had a good linearity within the concentration range investigated (2 ng to 10 micrograms/ml). The limit of determination was estimated to be an aqueous humour concentration of ca. 2 ng/ml. The method was applied to the determination of unchanged pilocarpine after the topical application of 2% pilocarpine (w/v) eye-drops.

Fungal metabolites. IX. Synthesis of a membrane-modifying peptide, hypelcin A-III, from Hypocrea peltata

A membrane-modifying peptide antibiotic having uncoupling activity on rat liver mitochondria, hypelcin A-III, has been synthesized by assembling five peptide fragments via the N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide method. The synthesized hypelcin A-III was identical with the natural product.

Cytokines in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

To determine which of the various cytokines interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) are important in endometriosis.

METHODS

Peritoneal fluid (PF) samples were taken from 55 women at the time of either laparotomy or laparoscopy, and were examined for the levels of IL-5, IL-6 and IL-1 using each cytokine specific sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Thirty-two patients had pelvic endometriosis, eight post-pelvic inflammatory disease, four advanced cancer, three adenomyosis, three benign ovarian tumor, and other diseases. Statistical analysis was performed with the Mann Whitney test, chi-square test or Fisher's test.

RESULTS

Both IL-5 and IL-6 levels in PF specimens with endometriosis tended to be higher than normal, while the same specimens were mostly interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) negative. Of great interest was the negative correlation between log (IL-5) and IL-6 (Fisher's test, P < 0.04).

CONCLUSION

These findings support the concept that IL-5 and IL-6 but not IL-1 are associated with endometriosis.

[Patient selection for adult cochlear implantation and its experience]

From 1986 to 1992, 61 adults with bilateral profound hearing loss visited our hospital for assessment as candidates for cochlear implantation. The selection process consists of the following steps: 1) taking a clinical history, 2) general otological examinations, 3) pure tone audiometry 4) hearing aid evaluation, 5) promontory stimulation testing and 6) CT scans and MR Imaging of the temporal bone. We informed patients and their families of cochlear implantation as well. Consequently 7 out of 61 cases (11.7%) were selected and underwent multi-channel cochlear implantation. Twenty-eight cases were judged to have better hearing with a hearing aid because of a residual hearing. Twenty-one cases were considered to be inappropriate candidates after informing of the cochlear implant procedure. Needless to say, the promontory stimulation testing and imaging studies are significant in patient selection, however, there was only a few who were excluded by these examinations.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of tiopronin in human blood using acrylic acid esters as a derivatization reagent for the thiol group

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for determining tiopronin, which has a thiol group, in human blood has been described. To prevent the oxidative degradation of tiopronin in the blood, its thiol group was immediately protected by treatment with isobutyl acrylate, which reacted readily with tiopronin in a 0.1 M Na2HPO4 solution (pH 9.1). The reaction was quantitative within 30 min. The blood sample was deproteinized and purified by a combination of liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction. Finally, the carboxyl moiety of the ester adduct was derivatized to the pentafluorobenzyl ester. The derivatives of tiopronin and the internal standard were analysed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The precision of the method was satisfactory, and the calibration curve had good linearity in the concentration range investigated. The limit of determination of tiopronin in blood was estimated to be ca. 1 ng/ml.

Treatment effect of a traditional Chinese medicine, ren-shen-yang-rong-tang (Japanese name: ninjin-youei-to), on autoimmune MRL/MP-lpr/lpr mice

MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice were treated with a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Ren-shen-yang-rong-tang (Japanese name: Ninjin-youei-to, NYT) intraperitoneally (i.p.) every 3 days or per os (p.o.) 6 times/week from before the onset of autoimmune disease (6 weeks of age). Fifty percent survival time was found in placebo-controlled male and female mice of 28 and 22 weeks of age, respectively. NYT-treatment markedly prolonged the survival time of MRL/lpr mice. That is, 50% survival time was 43 weeks in the i.p.-treated male mice and 30 weeks of age in the p.o.-treated female mice. Further, NYT-treatment significantly reduced occurrence of thymic atrophy and prevented the anomalous accumulation of B220+ T-cells in lymph node and spleen, both of which are characteristic in MRL/lpr mice. Moreover, grades of proteinuria were significantly reduced in both the i.p.- and p.o.-treated groups compared with the control groups. Such clinical benefit and increased survival time were interestingly not associated with the decrease in the level of autoantibodies.

Phylogenetic analysis of photosynthetic genes of Rhodocyclus gelatinosus: Possibility of horizontal gene transfer in purple bacteria

Nucleotide sequences of the genes coding for the M and cytochrome subunits of the photosynthetic reaction center of Rhodocyclus gelatinosus, a purple bacterium in the β subdivision, were determined. The deduced amino acid sequences of these proteins were compared with those of other photosynthetic bacteria. Based on the homology of these two photosynthetic proteins, Rc. gelatinosus was placed in the α subdivision of purple bacteria, which disagrees with the phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA and soluble cytochrome c 2. Horizontal transfer of the genes which code for the photosynthetic apparatus in purple bacteria can be postulated if the phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA and soluble cytochrome c 2 reflect the real history of purple bacteria.

Ecological studies on reovirus pollution of rivers in Toyama Prefecture. II. Molecular epidemiological study of reoviruses isolated from river water

In order to clarify the source of reovirus pollution in river water, comparative surveys have been carried out between reovirus isolates from river water and those from sewage, human or animal, by making use of the analysis of genomic RNA-migration pattern of reovirus in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (electropherotype). The strains of reovirus serotype 1 and 2 isolated from river water were classified into 3 and 9 electropherotypes, respectively, and 8 out of these 12 types were also found among strains isolated from sewage or human. When the monthly distribution of the river isolates classified by electropherotypes was compared with that of the sewage isolates, there were cases in which strains of the same electropherotype were simultaneously isolated from both sources. The electropherotypes of 3 isolates from pig and field rodents were different from those of the other isolates. The electropherotype of an oyster isolate coincided with that of some of the isolates from humans and river water. These results indicate that the major source of reoviruses polluting river water may be the human excretion.

[A case of superficial siderosis of the central nervous system with total deafness]

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (SSCN) in a disease characterized by chronic deposition of hemosiderin in the leptomeninges, subpial tissue, spinal cord, and cranial nerves. Previously the diagnosis of SSCN could only be made at autopsy or during a neurosurgical procedure. Now, however, a diagnosis of SSCN can be made non-invasively by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We present the case of a 50-year-old male with SSCN accompanied by bilateral sensorineural hearing loss which gradually progressed to total deafness over a seven year period. This patient also had associated bilateral caloric weakness with episodes of severe recurrent headaches over the two preceding years. The deafness and gait disturbance, which were his chief complaints, were followed by other neurological manifestations including pyramidal tract signs, anosmia, and ageusia. High-field MRI on T-2 weighted images of the CNS showed diffuse marginal hypointensity of the cerebrum, brain stem, and cerebellum. Atrophy of the cerebellum and brain stem was also apparent. Low signal intensity along the proximal segment of the acoustic nerve and the facial nerve was noted from the cistern to the internal auditory canal. Neither bilateral transtympanic promontory nor round window electrical stimulation elicited any sound sensation. In this case it was thought that the acoustic nerve alone or both the acoustic nerve and the cochlea were affected by this disease. Consequently, cochlear implantation was not indicated. The source of bleeding into the subarachnoid space could not be detected despite thorough examination. This diagnosis will be made only by physicians who are aware of this rare entity and have knowledge of the characteristic clinical pathology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Agreement of visual scoring of sleep stages among many laboratories in Japan: effect of a supplementary definition of slow wave on scoring of slow wave sleep

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the agreement of visual scoring of all-night polysomnographic recordings among many scores from different laboratories. Ten scorers including the author from different laboratories in Japan scored the same paper recordings of two young male subjects. We calculated the agreement rate for each stage using an epoch by epoch analysis. In both records, the agreement rates for stages 2 and R were high; on the contrary, those for stages 3 and 4 were low. After adding a supplementary definition of high voltage slow wave in deep sleep, we scored the first NREM period of another subject. The mean agreement rate for stage 3 among 10 scorers was significantly higher than those of the two former subjects. However, the agreement for stage 4 did not change so much. This result demonstrates that there is much interrater (laboratory) variability of visual scoring, especially in slow wave sleep. When the result of automatic scoring is compared to that of the visual scoring to evaluate the reliability of automatic scoring, these findings must be considered.

Role of B-lymphocytes in the immunopharmacological effects of a traditional Chinese medicine, xiao-chai-hu-tang (shosaiko-to)

We previously reported that a traditional Chinese medicine, Xiao-chai-hu-tang (Japanese name: Shosaiko-to), induced interferon (IFN) activity in the serum of mice after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration. In the present study in which murine spleen cells were cultured in vitro with Shosaiko-to, B-cells isolated by anti-immunoglobulin-coated plates were confirmed to generate IFN in response to Shosaiko-to stimulation. IFN activity was induced in the serum after i.p. administration of Glycyrrhizae radix, Scutellariae radix, Bupleuri radix and Pinelliae tuber which are included in Shosaiko-to as its constituent. Such an IFN-inducing activity was confirmed to exist in methanol-insoluble fractions of these extracts derived from Shosaiko-to and these constituents but not in methanol-soluble fractions. These four extracts as well as Shosaiko-to, induced interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the serum after the administration. In in vitro stimulation of spleen cells, Shosaiko-to and extracts of Glycyrrhizae radix, Bupleuri radix and Pinelliae tuber showed mitogenic activity, but an extract of Scutellariae radix with in vivo IFN-inducing activity did not. B-cells appear to participate in the immunopharmacological effects of Shosaiko-to through mitogenic activity, IFN induction and the effect of IL-6.

Clinical significance of low or negative titer of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen during the course of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in adolescents

Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) was measured by radioimmunoassay in 127 asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers (ASC; mean age 19) who had normal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and 16 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CH; 19). All 16 CH patients, who were positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and 5 ASC cases who were negative for both HBeAg and its antibody (anti-HBe), had high anti-HBc titers. Anti-HBc titers in 27 (56.3%) of the 48 HBeAg-positive ASC and 18 (24.3%) of the 74 anti-HBe-positive ASC were relatively low. Two of the ASC were HBeAg-positive/anti-HBc-negative. In a follow-up study of the 19 HBeAg-positive ASC with low or negative anti-HBc titers, 5 had abnormal serum ALT levels and increased anti-HBc titers. In contrast, in the other 14 of these subjects, serum ALT levels remained normal and the low anti-HBc titers remained unchanged and/or decreased. The serological profile of HBsAg-positive/low or negative anti-HBc titer and increased anti-HBc titer with abnormal serum ALT levels are not necessarily exceptional in HBeAg-positive adolescent ASC. It is suggested that anti-HBc is associated with the liver damage that occurs before adolescence in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Effects of progesterone and anti-progesterone RU486 on ovarian 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity during ovulation in the gonadotrophin-primed immature rat

The effects of progesterone and RU486, a synthetic anti-progesterone, on ovarian 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) activity, a key enzyme of progesterone production, were studied during ovulation in immature 22-day-old rats primed with pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). Ovarian 3 beta-HSD activities had increased significantly 4 h after hCG injection. These increases were inhibited at 4 and 6 h after hCG when 20 mg RU486 kg-1 was administered 2 h before hCG. However, RU486 had no influence on the activity of 3 beta-HSD when administered at the same time as hCG injection. A histochemical study revealed that 3 beta-HSD activities in the granulosa cell layer, but not in the theca cell layer, were inhibited when RU486 was given 2 h before hCG. Serum progesterone concentrations, but not oestradiol concentrations, were significantly suppressed by RU486 treatment 4 and 6 h after hCG. The effect of progesterone on ovarian 3 beta-HSD activity was tested by administering graded doses of progesterone exogenously to rats 2 h before hCG injection. Ovarian 3 beta-HSD activity was increased in a dose-dependent manner, and more than 20 mg progesterone kg-1 significantly stimulated the activity. Although 10 mg progesterone kg-1 did not stimulate ovarian 3 beta-HSD activities, the RU486-inhibited activities were recovered by the concomitant administration of 10 mg progesterone kg-1 with RU486. These results indicate that ovarian 3 beta-HSD activity depends on progesterone concentrations, and suggest an autocrine regulation of progesterone production during ovulation in immature rat ovaries stimulated with PMSG and hCG.

Altered expression of E-cadherin in gastric cancer tissues and carcinomatous fluid

Expression of E-cadherin in 21 patients with various histological types of gastric carcinomas was studied by immunoperoxidase staining. Intercellular boundaries of almost all cancer cells in well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas stained as deeply for E-cadherin as normal gastric mucosa. However, singly infiltrating cells of those histological types were poorly stained. In poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas, cancer cells forming clusters stained lightly and those infiltrating singly stained even less. In signet ring cell carcinomas, hardly any staining was observed. In each histological type, the staining patterns and intensity at different layers of the gastric wall, were essentially the same. Cancer cells from carcinomatous ascites of gastric adenocarcinomas and pancreatic adenocarcinomas, and those from pleural effusion of lung adenocarcinomas were also studied by immunofluorescence staining. Of 11 specimens, ten were negative and only one from a lung adenocarcinomas was positively stained. By phase-contrast microscopic observations, none of these cancer cells including those from the lung adenocarcinomas, formed obvious cell-cell contacts. Cell aggregation assays confirmed the above results. The molecular weight of E-cadherin of cancer cells of lung adenocarcinomas was less than intact E-cadherin as revealed by Western blot analysis. These results suggest that depressed expression and/or impaired function of E-cadherin in cancer cells, facilitates their liberation from primary sites to infiltrate freely into tissue or fluid.

[Prediction of ovulation by urinary LH surge]

To investigate the usefulness of a semi-quantitative assay of urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) for predicting ovulation, the relationship among urinary LH, serum LH, serum estradiol (E2) and ultrasonographic observations of follicles were examined in 32 infertile women (35 cycles) at spontaneous (7), clomiphene (13) or cyclofenil (3) induced or hMG (12) induced cycles. Their urine samples were collected 3 times a day for LH assay, starting from about the 10th cycle day or when follicles having a diameter of 10mm or more were detected to the day of ultrasonographical confirmation of follicle ruptures. In the morning on these days, blood was taken twice daily for LH and E2 determination at intervals of 30 min. In spontaneous cycles, urinary LH was (P < 0.001) correlated to a significant extent with the serum LH and E2 levels, and follicle rupture was observed 1.9 days after the urine LH surge. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between the urine LH and serum LH or E2 levels in the ovulation induced cycles. In addition, the period from urine LH positive to follicle rupture was significantly (P < 0.05) prolonged in those cycles compared with that in spontaneous cycles. These results suggested that the urine LH determination was good for predicting ovulation in spontaneous cycles, but it was also necessary to monitor the follicle sizes by ultrasonography in ovulation induced cycles.

Identification of a tissue-specific regulatory element within the murine CD14 gene

We previously isolated and sequenced the 5'-flanking region of the mouse CD14 (mCD14) gene (Matsuura, K., Setoguchi, M., Nasu, N., Higuchi, Y., Yoshida, S., Akizuki, S., and Yamamoto, S. (1989) Nucleic Acids Res. 17, 2132). To define the regulatory elements that control expression of the mCD14 gene, we analyzed the structure of the 5' end of the gene, including a region further upstream of that determined previously. Sequentially 5'-deleted, chimeric, and point mutated clones were tested for the ability to stimulate chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. An 8-base pair sequence, TGATTCAC, at position -255, which resembled the consensus sequence of the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-responsive element (TRE), enhanced the expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene in macrophage (aHINS-B3) and non-macrophage (glioblastoma G203 and myeloma NS1) cells. The enhancing ability of the TRE-like sequence (TLS), however, was markedly reduced in G203 cells but not in aHINS-B3 cells when the TLS was followed by the sequence immediately downstream. The TLS and sequence immediately downstream were capable of binding nuclear proteins which were unique to aHINS-B3 cells and macrophages, suggesting that these unique protein regulate the specific expression of the mCD14 gene. Binding of AP-1 to the TLS was also found in aHINS-B3 and G203 cells. Although it is uncertain whether AP-1 is involved in expression of the mCD14 gene, the effect of AP-1 in non-macrophage cells was inhibited by a nuclear protein which binds to the sequence immediately downstream of the TLS.

Formation, characterization, and toxicity of the glutathione and cysteine conjugates of toxic heptapeptide microcystins

Microcystins LR, YR, and RR, cyclic heptapeptide hepatotoxins produced by cyanobacteria, were synthetically converted into glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (Cys) conjugates. Fast atom bombardment mass spectra showed [M + H]+ ions corresponding to GSH and Cys conjugates of microcystins LR, YR, and RR for the obtained compounds. 1H NMR spectral analyses revealed that two singlet signals of olefinic protons of N-methyldehydroalanine (Mdha) in microcystins disappeared in the conjugates, confirming that thiols of GSH and Cys added nucleophilically to the alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl of the Mdha moiety. On examination of the 50% lethal dose (LD50) with intravenous injection using mice, both GSH and Cys conjugates showed reduction in toxicity compared with microcystins, but their toxicity still remained. Microcystin LR and its GSH conjugate were separated and identified in a standard mixture by using a frit-fast atom bombardment liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (Frit-FAB LC/MS) method. Obtained conjugates in the present study would be important compounds as the standard samples for study of metabolism of microcystins, and the Frit-FAB LC/MS method would be applicable to mass spectrometric identification of metabolites of microcystins.

Seroepidemiology of spotted fever group rickettsiae in small field rodents in Japan

To clarify the geographic distribution of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae in Japan, small field rodents captured in endemic and nonendemic areas were screened for anti-SFG rickettsia antibodies by the immunofluorescence test. Among total 716 specimens tested, 73-75% of rodents were antibody-positive against Rickettsia japonica and/or Rickettsia montana, showing different degree of antibody-positive proportions among each species of the rodents. Interestingly, these profiles were not different in the rodents from each endemic and nonendemic areas, indicating that the SFG rickettsiae are prevailing in the wider areas where patients have not been found yet.

[Activated macrophages in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis: examination of the intracytoplasmic localization of endogenous peroxidase and interleukin-1]

In order to study the effect of peritoneal macrophages (M phi) on conception in patients with endometriosis, the total numbers of peritoneal M phi and the proportion of the exudate type, defined on the basis of ultracytochemical localization of endogenous peroxidase (PO) activity, were investigated in 21 patients with endometriosis, five with uterine leiomyoma, three with tubal obstruction and three with carcinomatous peritonitis. An immunocytochemical observation of interleukin-1 (IL-1) was also performed in three patients with endometriosis, one with tubal obstruction, and one male patient with cholelithiasis. The total numbers of peritoneal M phi in patients with endometriosis were significantly higher than in uterine leiomyoma (2.11 x 10(7) v.s. 0.68 x 10(7), p less than 0.025). The total numbers of peritoneal M phi in tubal obstruction (0.96 x 10(7)) were not statistically different from those in uterine leiomyoma. The peritoneal M phi were remarkably increased in number in patients with carcinomatous peritonitis. On ultracytochemical observation of endogenous PO activity, the proportion of exudate M phi to whole M phi was significantly larger in endometriosis than that in uterine leiomyoma (13.3% v.s. 3.5%, p less than 0.025). This type of M phi increased even in stage I endometriosis (p less than 0.005). These data suggest that the abdominal cavity in women with endometriosis is in the stimulated conditions which may lead to infertility. A positive reaction to anti-IL-1 antibody on the cell membrane of all M phi examined in each patient suggests that an immunocytochemical study of IL-1 in M phi is not suitable for evaluating the degree of activation of M phi.