Responses of Bergmann glia and granule neurons in situ to N-methyl-D-aspartate, norepinephrine, and high potassium

To gain insight into neuronal-glial signaling in brain, cerebellar Bergmann glia and granule neurons were studied in acutely isolated slices with the aid of laser scanning confocal microscopy. Both Bergmann glia and granule neurons responded to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) with a rise in [Ca2+]i. However, the glial NMDA response was frequently inhibited by tetrodotoxin, suggesting that the response depended on neuronal action potentials, rather than on direct activation of NMDA receptors on the Bergmann glia. Further experiments demonstrated that the NMDA response in Bergmann glia was not inhibited by a combination of non-NMDA glutamate receptor blockers 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione and alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine. Bergmann glia also responded to norepinephrine and high K+, and the responses were not inhibited by tetrodotoxin. The glial norepinephrine response was blocked by phentolamine but not by the removal of external Ca2+, indicating a direct activation of alpha1-adrenergic receptors that mediated release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. The KCl-induced response in both neurons and glia was dependent on external Ca2+ and was blocked by verapamil or nifedipine. In summary, our data indicate that Bergmann glia in situ recognize a signal(s) released from neurons during neuronal activity.

Steroidal saponins from Asparagus officinalis and their cytotoxic activity

Two oligofurostanosides were isolated from the seeds of Asparagus officinalis L and their structures characterized as 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl- (1-->4))-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-26-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(25R) -22 alpha-methoxyfurost-5-ene-3 beta,26-diol(methyl protodioscin) and its corresponding 22 alpha-hydroxy analogue (protodioscin). The structural identification was performed using detailed analysis of 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra including two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy (COSY, HMQC, NOESY and HMBC), and chemical conversions. These two compounds have been shown to inhibit the growth of human leukemia HL-60 cells in culture and macromolecular synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis was found to be irreversible.

PET and NMR dual acquisition (PANDA): applications to isolated, perfused rat hearts

Positron emission tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy are non-invasive techniques that allow serial metabolic measurements to be obtained in a single subject. Significant advantages could be obtained if both types of scans could be acquired with a single machine. A small-scale PET scanner, designed to operate in a high magnetic field, was therefore constructed and inserted into the top half of a 7.3 cm bore, 9.4 T NMR magnet and its performance characterized. The magnetic field did not significantly affect either the sensitivity (approximately 3 kcps/MBq) or the spatial resolution (2.0 mm full width at half maximum, measured using a 0.25 mm diameter line source) of the scanner. However, the presence of the PET scanner resulted in a small decrease in field homogeneity. The first, simultaneous 31P NMR spectra (200, 80 degrees pulses collected at 6 s intervals) and PET images (transverse, mid-ventricular slices at the level of the mitral value) from isolated, perfused rat hearts were acquired using a specially designed NMR probe inserted into the bottom half of the magnet. The PET images were of excellent quality, enabling the left ventricular wall and interventricular septum to be clearly seen. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the simultaneous acquisition of PET and NMR data from perfused rat hearts; we believe that the combination of these two powerful techniques has tremendous potential in both the laboratory and the clinic.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor-targeted therapy of chemotherapy- and radiation-resistant human myeloid leukemias

Contemporary therapies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) commonly fail to cure patients because of the emergence of drug resistance. Drug resistance in AML is multifactorial but can be associated with the overexpression of transmembrane transporter molecules, including P-glycoprotein (Pgp) or the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP), or associated with inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene, as well as overexpression of the anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2. We are investigating if novel recombinant biotherapeutics can circumvent these resistance mechanisms to effectively treat refractory AML. To target the lethal action of diphtheria toxin (DT) to high affinity granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) receptors on AML blasts, we have produced a recombinant chimeric fusion toxin, DTctGMCSF. Since DTctGMCSF enters and kills its target cells by unique mechanisms (GMCSF-receptor binding and protein synthesis inhibition) and is not similar in structure to Pgp or MRP substrates, we postulated that it would be an active agent against therapy-resistant AML. DTctGMCSF was selectively cytotoxic (IC50 1-10ng/ml) to GMCSF-receptor positive AML cells expressing the Pgp- or MRP-associated multi-drug resistant phenotypes, despite high level resistance to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. DTctGMCSF also efficiently killed AML cells deficient in p53 expression, as well as radiation-resistant AML cells and mixed lineage leukemia cells expressing high levels of bcl-2. In addition, DTctGMCSF killed > 99% of primary leukemic progenitor cells from therapy-refractory AML patients under conditions that we have previously found to not adversely affect the proliferative capacity or differentiation of pluripotent normal hematopoietic progenitor cells. DTctGMCSF may prove useful in treating myeloid leukemias that are otherwise resistant to a wide range of conventional therapies.

A recombinant fusion toxin targeted to the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor

Human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GMCSF) and its high affinity receptor function to regulate the proliferation and differentiation of myeloid lineage hematopoietic cells, and may participate in the pathogenesis of many malignant myeloid diseases. We have used genetic engineering based on the elucidated molecular structures of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and diphtheria toxin (DT) to produce a recombinant fusion toxin, DTctGMCSF, that targets diphtheria toxin to high affinity GMCSF receptors expressed on the surface of blast cells from a large fraction of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). DTctGMCSF was specifically immunoreactive with antidiphtheria toxin and anti-GMCSF antiseras, and exhibited the characteristic catalytic activity of diphtheria toxin, catalyzing the in vitro ADP-ribosylation of purified elongation factor 2. The cytotoxic effects of DTctGMCSF were examined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-tetrazolium (MTT) bromide assay of cell viability and in vivo assays of protein synthesis inhibition. DTctGMCSF were specifically cytotoxic to human leukemia cell lines bearing high affinity receptors for human GMCSF with IC50 of 10(-9) to 10(-11) M. It was not toxic to mammalian hematopoietic cell lines lacking human GMCSF (hGMCSF) receptors. In receptor positive cells, cytotoxicity can be specifically blocked by a large excess of hGMCSF, confirming that its cytotoxicity is mediated through the hGMCSF receptor. THough DTctGMCSF inhibited granulocyte-macrophage colony formation by committed myeloid progenitor cells (CFU-GM), it did not significantly affect erythroid burst formation by committed erythroid progenitor cells (BFU-E), or mixed granulocyte-erythroid-macrophage-megakaryocyte colony formation by pluripotent multilineage progenitor cells (CFU-GEMM). DTctGMCSF holds promise for the treatment of myeloid lineage malignancies, and is a useful reagent to study hematopoiesis.

Intermittent exposure to doxorubicin in vitro selects for multifactorial non-P-glycoprotein-associated multidrug resistance in RPMI 8226 human myeloma cells

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether intermittent exposure to a constant dose of doxorubicin selects for multidrug resistance (MDR) in RPMI 8226 human myeloma cells and, if so, to determine the molecular mechanism. In an attempt to approximate clinical doxorubicin treatment in vitro, cells were exposed to a fixed dose of doxorubicin for 4 d alternating with growth in drug-free medium for 17 d. An MDR subline emerged, termed 8226/DOXint5, which was 3-4-fold resistant to doxorubicin, etoposide and m-AMSA, and 1.6-fold resistant to vincristine. Sensitivity to docetaxel, melphalan and cisplatin was normal. Verapamil normalized vincristine sensitivity but had little effect on resistance to the other agents. Cellular uptake and retention of daunorubicin and vincristine were reduced by approximately 10%. The 8226/DOXint5 cells showed diminished DNA topoisomerase IIalpha expression and increased expression of the multidrug resistance protein MRP. Expression of MDR1/P-glycoprotein was not detected. Immunostaining showed 70% of the cells to over-express the lung-resistance protein LRP. This new MDR myeloma cell line may prove to be a useful model for the development of strategies to overcome low-level, multifactorial MDR, which might be a common phenomenon in clinical myeloma treated with doxorubicin.

Astrocyte-apolipoprotein E associations in senile plaques in Alzheimer disease and vascular lesions: a regional immunohistochemical study

While apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and beta-amyloid (A beta) co-localize in senile plaques in cortex and cerebellum in Alzheimer disease (AD), the A beta-positive, predominantly diffuse plaques in the striatum do not exhibit ApoE immunoreactivity regardless of disease duration. As astrocytes are a major source of ApoE in the brain, we investigated potential regional differences in the ability of astrocytes to produce ApoE that might affect A beta processing and the progression of AD pathology. Using antibodies to ApoE, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and A beta, we compared the pattern of immunoreactivity in senile plaques in AD autopsy tissue with that of reactive astrocytes surrounding subacute and old infarcts in both AD and non-AD cases. We found GFAP and ApoE immunoreactivity, but not A beta label in cell bodies and processes of reactive astrocytes in zones of infarction within cerebral cortex, striatum, and cerebellum, indicating that astrocytes are capable of upregulating ApoE within these 3 regions. In contrast, while astrocytes surrounded many neocortical neuritic plaques in AD, these GFAP-positive cells failed to label with ApoE; instead. ApoE label within plaques paralleled that of A beta. As expected, neither the ApoE-negative diffuse plaques of the striatum nor the ApoE-immunopositive diffuse plaques of the cerebellum were clearly associated with GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes. The apparent absence of ApoE label in cortical plaque-associated astrocytes may signify a regulatory mechanism affecting ApoE synthesis and secretion, influenced by binding of ApoE to fibrillar amyloid within the plaques, neuritic changes, or other factors.

Induction of apoptosis in multidrug-resistant and radiation-resistant acute myeloid leukemia cells by a recombinant fusion toxin directed against the human granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor

Multiagent chemotherapy regimens fail to cure more than one-half of the patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) because of the emergence of dominant multidrug-resistant subclones of leukemia cells. We have developed a recombinant diphtheria toxin-human granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor chimeric fusion protein (DTctGMCSF) that specifically targets GMCSF receptor-positive AML cells. This novel biotherapeutic agent induced rapid apoptotic cell death of chemotherapy-resistant AML cell lines and primary leukemic cells from treatment-refractory AML patients. Our results suggest that DTctGMCSF may be useful in the treatment of AML patients whose leukemia has recurred and developed resistance to contemporary chemotherapy programs.

The effects of a thyroid hormone analog on left ventricular performance and contractile and calcium cycling proteins in the baboon

To determine the biochemical and related functional effects of the thyroid analog diiodothyroproprionic acid (DITPA) on primate myocardium, we examined, both before and after 23 days of DITPA (3.75 mg/kg): myosin heavy-chain (MHC) isoforms and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium cycling proteins; left ventricular (LV) function; and the LV force-frequency relation in four baboons chronically instrumented with sonomicrometers and micromanometers. The force-frequency relation was measured as the response of isovolumic contraction (dP/dtmax) to incremental pacing and the critical heart rate (HRcrit) as the rate at which dP/dtmax reached its maximum. DITPA increased basal LV dPt/dtmax (3,300 +/- 378 versus 2,943 +/- 413 mm Hg/sec; p = .09), and velocity of circumferential shortening (1.13 +/- 0.30 versus 0.76 +/- 0.30 circ/sec; p < .01), decreased the basal time constant of isovolumic relaxation (24.2 +/- 1.6 versus 29.9 +/- 2.5 msec; p < .05), and increased the HRcrit (203 +/- 19 versus 168 +/- 20 bpm; p < .05), without effecting significant changes in either basal heart rate (119 +/- 14 versus 111 +/- 17 bpm) or systolic blood pressure (137 +/- 14 versus 126 +/- 8 mm Hg). Quantitative immunoblotting revealed significant decreases in both phospholamban and the ratio of phospholamban to SR Ca2+ adenosine triphosphatase in DITPA-treated animals when compared to four untreated controls. By contrast, alpha-MHC isoform was undetectable in both DITPA treated and control baboons. Thus, DITPA favorably alters the stoichiometry between the SR calcium pump and its inhibitor, phospholamban, and has positive inotropic and lusitropic effects in the normal primate left ventricle, which may be useful in the treatment of heart failure. Unlike thyroid hormone, these changes occur in the absence of detectable alpha-MHC isoform protein expression and without an increase in heart rate.

Protein splicing: occurrence, mechanisms and related phenomena

An increasing number of proteins are thought to self-splice post-translationally on the level of the polypeptide, producing two separate proteins from one gene, neither of which is the protein predicted from the gene sequence. The recent elucidation of the mechanism of splicing has led to the identification of a number of post-translational protein modifications that use similar chemical pathways.

[Subtype and sequence analysis of the C2-V3 region of gp120 genes among human immunodeficiency virus infected IDUs in Ruili epidemic area of Yunnan Province of China]

DNA fragments of HIV-1 env gene were amplified by nested-PCR from 17 uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from HIV-1 seropositive intravenous drug users (IDUs) in Ruili city of Yunnan Province. The C2-V3 region (about 450 bp) of them were sequenced. Sequence analysis showed that there exists two HIV-1 subtypes, B and C, with 5.8% and 2.2% gene divergence inside each subtype. The 12 subtype B strains, were closely related to those found in Thailand, Myanma and Ruili city of Yunnan, and the nucleotide sequence divergence between them ranged from 4.4% to 4.9%; meanwhile, the 5 subtype C strains were most close to those found in India as well as Ruili city, all with a genetic distance of 1.9%. The small divergence among Ruili HIV-1 subtype C strains suggests a recent epidemic. The analysis of V3 loop amino sequence of 12 subtype B HIV-1 reveals that V3-tip motif of 6 samples (50%) is GPGQ and that of 3 samples (25%) is GPGR. In addition, the codon of arginine (R) of all the strains is CGA instead of AGA. This result is in accordance with our previous hypothesis that there is a drift in vivo from GPGR to GPGQ motif on the tipof V3-loop of HIV-1 subtype B strain in this arm with the elapse of time.

Intervention of transplantable human mammary carcinoma MX-1 chemotherapy with dietary menhaden oil in athymic mice: increased therapeutic effects and decreased toxicity of cyclophosphamide

We investigated the effects of dietary menhaden oil on cyclophosphamide (CP) antineoplastic activity and its protective effect against CP toxicity. We found that dietary menhaden oil (HMO, 20% menhaden oil + 5% corn oil) enhanced the CP antitumor effect at the lowest dose tested (50 mg/kg) compared with the control group (LCO, 5% corn oil). Dietary HMO and CP treatment had a significant effect on the activities of tumor and liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 (CYP) over the controls. Activity of one of the key CP activating enzymes, CYP2B1 (which is similar to human CYP2B6), was significantly enhanced in the liver and tumor by the HMO diet, which could result in the formation of more pharmacologically active CP metabolites and, therefore, increased CP antitumor response. Moreover, the HMO diet exhibited a very significant protective effect against CP acute toxicity. The activity of the CP detoxifying enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ADH) was significantly increased in the liver after HMO feeding; thus the observed protective effect of HMO feeding against CP toxicity may be partially the result of induction of ADH activity in the liver. In summary, our findings suggested that dietary menhaden oil can modulate ADH and CYP activities in a manner that may alter the metabolism of CP and, therefore, improve its therapeutic index by increasing its therapeutic effect and decreasing its toxicity.

Triterpenoid saponins from Aster lingulatus

Two new triterpenoid saponins named asterlingulatosides A and B were isolated from the whole plants of Aster lingulatus. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic data and chemical transformations to be 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3 beta,16 alpha-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid-28-O-alpha-L-O-arabinopyranoside and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3 beta,16 alpha-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid-28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside++ +. They showed inhibitory activity on DNA synthesis in human leukaemia HL-60 cells.

Expression of TGF-beta 1 and matrix proteins is elevated in rats with chronic rejection

The pathogenesis of fibrosis in chronic renal allograft rejection remains unknown. Since TGF-beta 1 plays a key role in fibrogenesis, we studied a rat model of chronic allograft rejection that shows similarities to the structural lesion described in patients. We previously demonstrated an increased expression of TGF-beta 1 in human kidney biopsies with acute and chronic rejection. Recipients of renal allografts (F344-Lewis) and isografts (Lewis-Lewis) were sacrificed at 4, 8, 24 and 52 weeks. Characteristic histologic changes of chronic rejection developed in the allografts as early as four weeks and were accompanied by progressive albuminuria significant by eight weeks. Allografts showed a progressive increase in mRNA expression of TGF-beta 1 and matrix proteins during the 52 week course. Increased matrix deposition by immunofluorescence was mostly present in the interstitium and vessels early and in all kidney compartments later. The mRNA expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor, a protease inhibitor stimulated by TGF-beta 1, increased along with TGF-beta 1 and matrix proteins. These results suggest that the fibrosis of chronic renal allograft rejection is mediated, at least partly, by the dual action of TGF-beta 1 on matrix deposition and degradation.

Inhibitory effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on human leukemia HL-60 cells

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) was synthesized from caffeic acid and phenethyl alcohol (ratio 1:5) at room temperature with dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC) as a condensing reagent. The yield was about 38%. CAPE was found to arrest the growth of human leukemia HL-60 cells. It also inhibits DNA, RNA and protein synthesis in HL-60 cells with IC50 of 1.0 microM, 5.0 microM and 1.5 microM, respectively.

[Conservative treatment for early breast cancer]

68 Cases of early breast cancer were divided into local resection group (33 cases) and local resection plus axillary dissection group (35 cases). The 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rate of the two groups were 97.0%, 78.8%, 72.7% and 94.3%, 80.0%, 77.1% respectively; The metastasis rate of the two groups were 6.1%, 12.1%, 3.0% and 8.6%, 17.1%, 8.6% respectively; and the local recurrence rate of the two groups were 6.1%, 6.1%, 3.0%, and 5.7%, 5.7%, 2.9% respectively ( P > 0.05). The cosmetic satisfaction rate of the two groups were 60.6% and 65.7% respectively ( P > 0.05). Factors relating to cosmetic results were type of breast, operative incision, age and postoperative radiotherapy. Conservative operation for early breast cancer was safe, provided incision margin was 2 cm approximately 3 cm. In all patients mammplasty was performed after tumor resection, and contralateral breast were treated by mammominification when it was necessary.

Effects of thyroid hormone on left ventricular performance and regulation of contractile and Ca(2+)-cycling proteins in the baboon. Implications for the force-frequency and relaxation-frequency relationships

The transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and related functional effects of thyroid hormone on primate myocardium are poorly understood. Therefore, we studied the effects of thyroid hormone on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+)-cycling proteins and myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition at the steady state mRNA and protein level and associated alterations of left ventricular (LV) performance in 8 chronically instrumented baboons. The force-frequency and relaxation-frequency relations were assessed as the response of LV isovolumic contraction (dP/dtmax) and relaxation (Tau), respectively, to incremental atrial pacing. Both the heart rate at which dP/dtmax was maximal and Tau was minimal (critical heart rates) in response to pacing were increased significantly after thyroid hormone. Postmortem LV tissue from 5 thyroid-treated and 4 additional control baboons was assayed for steady state mRNA levels with cDNA probes to MHC isoforms and SR Ca(2+)-cycling proteins. Steady state SR Ca(2+)-ATPase and phospholamban mRNA increased in the hyperthyroid state, and alpha-MHC mRNA appeared de novo, whereas beta-MHC mRNA decreased. Western analysis (4 thyroid-treated and 4 control baboons) showed directionally similar changes in MHC isoforms and a slight increase in SR Ca(2+)-ATPase. In contrast, there was a statistically nonsignificant decrease in phospholamban protein, which resulted in a significant 40% decrease in the ratio of phospholamban to SR Ca(2+)-ATPase. Thus, thyroid hormone increases the transcription of Ca(2+)-cycling proteins and shifts MHC isoform expression in the primate LV. Our data suggest that both transcriptional and posttranslational mechanisms determine the levels of these proteins in the hyperthyroid primate heart and mediate, in part, the observed enhanced basal and frequency-dependent LV performance.

Protein splicing involving the Saccharomyces cerevisiae VMA intein. The steps in the splicing pathway, side reactions leading to protein cleavage, and establishment of an in vitro splicing system

Protein splicing involves the excision of an internal protein segment, the intein, from a precursor protein and the concomitant ligation of the flanking N- and C-terminal regions. It occurs in mesophilic bacteria, yeast, and thermophilic archaea. The ability to control protein splicing of a thermophilic intein by temperature and pH in a foreign protein context facilitated the study of the mechanism of protein splicing in thermophiles. On the other hand, no direct studies have been done on the mechanism of protein splicing in mesophiles. We examined the splicing of a chimeric protein containing the intein of the vacuolar ATPase subunit (VMA) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that involves cysteines rather than serines at the reaction center. The steps in the splicing process were deduced by analyzing intermediates and side products that accumulated as a result of amino acid substitutions and were found to be analogous to those occurring in thermophiles. Moreover, appropriate amino acid replacements allowed us to develop the first mesophilic in vitro protein splicing system as well as strategies for modulating the rate of protein splicing and for converting the splicing reaction to an efficient protein cleavage reaction at either splice junction.

[Expression of CD44v mRNA and its clinical significance in colorectal carcinoma]

In order to study the correlation of the CD44v gene abnormal expression and splicing with the clinicopathologic features, the expression of CD44v mRNA from normal colorectal mucosa, adenomatous polypi (precancerous disease) and colorectal carcinoma was studied by RT-PCR and cDNA hybridization. The results showed that CD44v mRNA was expressed in 65 of 67 (97%) primary cancers, in 20 of 20 metastatic tumors (100%) and in 5 of 7 (71.4%) precancerous diseases, but was not expressed in all 15 normal colon mucosa specimens. Abnormally spliced, high molecular weight CD44v could be detected in 10 of 20 (50%) primary cancers and in 18 of 20 (90%) metastatic cancers. In 10 patients with high molecular weight CD44v, metastases were found in 8, while metastases were found in only 2 of 10 patients with low expression of CD44v mRNA in the primary cancers. The results suggest that the expression of CD44v is very common in colorectal carcinoma. CD44v mRNA might be an early marker of colorectal carcinoma and its high expression is suggestive of tumor metastasis.

An echinocystic acid saponin derivative from Kalimeris shimadae

A new triterpene saponin, shimadoside A, has been isolated from Kalimeris shimadae and its structure deduced as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid-3 beta, 16 alpha-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid-28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1--> 4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranoside by means of spectral data, especially NMR, including COSY, HMQC, HOHAHA and ROESY techniques, and chemical degradation.

Melatonin and a 21-aminosteroid attenuate shock after hemorrhage but differentially affect serum cytokines

Melatonin and 21-aminosteroids (lazaroids) are potent antioxidants and may attenuate the increased membrane permeability associated with profound shock. Our purpose was to test the effect of melatonin and a lazaroid (U74389-G) on cytokine production and fluid requirements after shock.

METHODS

Male C3H/HeN mice, 20-25 g, were hemorrhaged via a femoral artery catheter to a mean arterial pressure of 35 +/- 5 mm Hg, which was maintained for 1 hr, and then resuscitated with shed blood and crystalloid (2x vol of shed blood). Experimental mice received melatonin at 10 or 50 mg/kg, U74389-G at 3 mg/kg, or vehicle i.v. upon resuscitation, and blood was returned at 0.1 cc/min and crystalloid at 0.05 cc/min. The percentage of total crystalloid required to reach stabilization (mean arterial pressure remaining within 2 mm Hg for 5 min) was recorded. Animals were sacrificed at 1 hr postshock. Serum and anti-CD3-stimulated splenocyte culture supernatants were assayed for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and gamma-IFN by ELISA.

RESULTS

Mice receiving lazaroid or melatonin (50 mg/kg) required significantly less fluid to reach stabilization, with lazaroid-treated animals requiring 24 +/- 1% and melatonin-treated animals requiring 28 +/- 2% of total crystalloid compared to 40 +/- 3% for untreated animals. Melatonin-treated mice (50 mg/kg) had lower serum IL-6 levels (368 +/- 154 vs 1078 +/- 146 pg/ml) and lazaroid-treated mice had lower gamma-IFN levels (7 +/- 6 vs 52 +/- 15 pg/ml) compared to those of the untreated group (P < 0.05). There were no differences in splenocyte cytokine production.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with lazaroid and melatonin both reduced postshock fluid requirements. Melatonin reduced serum IL-6 levels, while lazaroid reduced serum gamma-IFN levels, suggesting different mechanisms of action.

Anti-tumor activity of the crude saponins obtained from asparagus

The crude saponins from the shoots (edible part of asparagus) of asparagus (asparagus crude saponins; ACS) were found to have antitumor activity. The ACS inhibited the growth of human leukemia HL-60 cells in culture and macromolecular synthesis in a dose and time dependent manner. The ACS at 75-100 micrograms/ml range was cytostatic. ACS concentrations greater than 200 micrograms/ml were cytocidal to HL-60 cells. The ACS at 6 and 50 micrograms/ml inhibited the synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein in HL-60 cells by 41, 5, and 4, respectively, or by 84, 68 and 59%, respectively. The inhibitory effect of ACS on DNA synthesis was irreversible.

[Prognosis of patients with breast cancer related to the timing of operation during menstrual cycle: a report of 218 patients]

We have finished a retrospective study of 218 premenopausal patients who underwent primary surgery for operable breast carcinoma between March 1958 and December 1984. All these patients had available records of menstrual data and had been followed-up for more than 10 years. U-nivariate analysis showed that the menstrual timing of operation, as other known prognostic factors (tumor size, node status, histological grade, TNM classification, adjuvent systemic therapy, etc), had an influence on the patients' outcome. Multivariate analysis by Cox regression model indicated that disease-free rate and overall survival rate of patients operated during the periovulatory phase (days 7-20, 123 cases) were significantly superior to those during the perimenstrual phase (days 1-6 and 21-40, 95 cases) (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in prognosis between patients who received their operations during the follicular phase (days 4-14, 96 cases) and those during the luteal phases (days 15-40, 122 cases) (P > 0.1). We suggest that the adequate timing of operation should be further determined by prospective, randomized clinical study.