Effects of ethyl-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-ethoxy-4-oxazole acetate (Y-9738) on the serum lipids of patients with hyperlipidemia and/or hypo-HDL-emia

With the view of examining the serum lipid metabolism-improving action of a new compound, ethyl-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-ethoxy-4-oxazole acetate (Y-9738), 900 mg was administered to 47 patients with various diseases associated with hyperlipidemia and/or hypo-HDL (high density lipoprotein)-emia for successive 16 weeks. Serum HDL-cholesterol increased significantly 4 weeks after the administration (mean 11.8%, p less than 0.01). In the patients with hypo-HDL-emia who showed the initial level of 50 mg/dl or less, the degree of increase was more remarkable (mean 16,4%, p less than 0.01), and a significant increase was noted until 12 weeks later. Further, a similar change was noted in respect to serum HDL-phospholipid. The main apoprotein of HDL, apoprotein A (I + II) began to increase significantly 4 weeks after the institution of the administration. At the end of the trial, it increased by mean 31% (p less than 0.01). Y-9738 did not exert any significant effect on serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid, but it caused a reduction in so-called atherogenic indexes.

Craniocervical abnormalities. Modern diagnosis and a comprehensive surgical approach

A retrospective study of 41 patients operated on between 1975 and 1983 is presented including guidelines for surgical management with some alternative technique both in anterior and posterior approaches and modern diagnostic procedures. A proposed base-line inclined--10 degrees from Reid's base-line proved to be adequate to obtain the true shape and size of the foramen magnum on CT-scan. The normal range of the clivo -axial angle in adults is reported and its clinical significance is stressed.

Glycosylation of 3, 5, 3'-L-triiodothyronine and its biological activity

The formation of glycosylated Hb by the nonenzymatic reaction between Hb and glucose suggests that glycosylation is a general reaction in the living body, we demonstrated by means of TLC and HPLC that T3 was glycosylated when reacted with glucose in absolute ethanol for a week. We demonstrated in a metamorphic study in tadpoles that the biological activity of thus glycosylated T3 was less than about 1/10 of that of T3. These findings suggest that glycosylation of substances with amino group other than serum proteins including Hb may occur and that glycosylated substances may differ in biological activities from the original substances.

A new simple enzymatic assay method for urinary polyamines in humans

We developed a new simple enzymatic assay method for measuring urinary polyamines (total amount of putrescine, spermidine, and cadaverine), using an acylpolyamine amidohydrolase and a putrescine oxidase. First conjugated polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and cadaverine) in urine were hydrolyzed by incubation with an acylpolyamine amidohydrolase at 30 degrees for 1 hr. then, free polyamines were separated by cation-exchange chromatography and incubated with a putrescine oxidase at 30 degrees for 30 min. Hydrogen peroxide formed in this reaction was measured spectrophotometrically (at 514 nm). Polyamine levels in urine were determined in 70 normal subjects, 124 patients with cancer, and 52 patients with diseases other than cancer. Elevation above 3 S.D.s of the normal mean was found in 90 (72.6%) of the 124 patients with cancer and in 6 (11.5%) of the 52 patients with diseases other than cancer. Serial studies in 19 patients with cancer indicated that polyamines in urine were reduced after successful surgery. Our new method is simple and rapid and therefore very useful for routine clinical application. Moreover, our data indicate that the determination of polyamine levels is useful as a marker of disease activity in patients with cancer.

Non-oat cell small cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Report of a case with ultrastructural observation

A resected case of undifferentiated, non-oat cell type small cell carcinoma of the esophagus in a 78-year-old Japanese male is presented. Biopsy of a lower esophageal tumor that showed protrusions and centrally ulcerated features on esophageal roentgenograms, was initially misinterpreted as probable malignant lymphoma, because the absence of epithelial arrangement and the presence of abundant fine reticulin fibers encircling individual tumor cells. However, sections of the resected specimen disclosed minute foci consisting of nest formations of tumor cells suggesting an epithelial nature. Electron microscopy demonstrated immature round tumor cells, some of which showed occasional villous projections, desmosomal attachment devices, intracytoplasmic filaments resembling primitive tonofilaments. No neurosecretory granules as have been reported in oat-cell carcinoma of the esophagus were identified in the present case. The results suggest that this tumor is derived from the primitive cells of the esophageal mucosal epithelium or the duct of the esophageal glands. This tumor should be discriminated from oat-cell carcinoma on the basis of its histogenesis.

[Clinico-electroencephalographical significance of small sharp spikes]

Clinical and electroencephalographical investigations were made on the 234 patients with neuropsychiatric disorders, showing small sharp spikes (sss) on EEG. Incidence of sss was significantly higher in patients with epilepsy (8.6%) than in the non-epileptic cases (2.5%), especially in early age groups (11-35 years). Some differences in clinical features and in characteristics of sss were found between the epileptic patients and the non-epileptic patients; namely, 1) In majority of the subjects (97%), sss were observed exclusively in stage 1 and 2 of sleep, however, 8 epileptic patients exhibited sss in deep sleep (stage 3) or in awake state, as well as in light sleep. 2) In the non-epileptic group, females (3.4%) showed significantly higher incidence of sss than males (1.7%), while there was no sex difference in the epileptic group. 3) Of the non-epileptic patients, 45% had autonomic symptoms, such as headache, dizziness, tinnitus, nausea and vomiting, while there was no significant correlation between particular neuropsychiatric diagnosis and the EEG pattern. Among the non-epileptics, 72% showed normal EEG except for sss and in 89% sss appeared bilaterally but commonly bilaterally independently. 4) As to relation of sss to seizure types of epilepsy, complex partial seizures showed significantly higher incidence of sss (25.2%) than simple partial seizures (7.5%) and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (6.5%). In the patients with epilepsy, sss were often observed unilaterally predominantly (49%), especially in the patients with complex partial seizure (57%). In complex partial seizure, unilateral sss coincided with laterality of anterior-temporal seizure discharges in 68%. According to the results, the authors suggested that sss has some electroencephalographical significance, probably on mechanisms relating to epileptogenic dysfunction, particularly that of complex partial seizures.

Effect of hydrocortisone on the synthesis of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in human erythrocytes

Studies were carried out on the mechanism of action of glucocorticoids on erythrocyte glycolysis. Inosine increased the levels of 2,3-DPG, lactate, and ATP in red blood cell samples with very low glucose concentrations in which the glycolytic system was unable to utilize glucose. With inosine and hydrocortisone added to red blood cells, 2,3-DPG and lactate increased more than in red blood cells supplemented with inosine alone. There was no significant increase in the level of ATP when glucose and inosine were added compared to the addition of inosine only. There were no changes in the activity of enzymes such as PFK and PGK. From these findings, it is suggested that glucocorticoids increase the level of red blood cell 2,3-DPG, by activating the conversion of 1,3-DPG to 2,3-DPG during glycolysis, probably by stimulating 2,3-DPG mutase.

Synthesis and structure--activity relationship of nonyl 3-acyldithiocarbazates and related compounds for uncoupling activities

Various nonyl 3-substituted-dithiocarbazates, methyl and dimethyl derivatives of nonyl 3-benzoyldithiocarbazate, nonyl 2-substituted-dithiocarbamates, and benzaldehyde nonyldithiocarbohydrazone were synthesized and their uncoupling activities of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria were examined. The results indicate that the presence of the thiocarbamoyl structure with the potential SH group is a requisite for uncoupling activity. The presence of a C=O group and a hydrophobic aromatic ring significantly increases the uncoupling activity.

Endometrial images by ultrasound

On the basis of echographic characteristics, there were 3 different layers involved in the normal uterus. The innermost layer was considered to represent the endometrium, which varied its thickness gradually and offered the massive echogenic area in the late secretory phase. Since such alterations in the tissues were seen in every case of the longitudinal study, this approach is clinically significant to determine endometrial dating as well as the confirmation of the progestational effect of the endometrial tissue. We suggest that this approach should aid the physician in determining factors related to infertility and menstrual disorders.