Isolation of some immunosuppressive components from an ascomycete, Gelasinospora multiforis

Five new components, named multiforisins A, B, C, D, and E, with immunosuppressive activity were isolated from an Ascomycete, Gelasinospora multiforis. Multiforisin A, the main immunosuppressive principle of this fungus, was deduced to be 5-formyl-3-(hydroxymethyl)-4-methoxy-6-(1E-propenyl)-alpha-pyrone. Multiforisins B, C, D, and E were also deduced to be alpha-pyrone derivatives related to multiforisin A. The IC50 values of multiforisins A, B, C, D, E, and dihydro multiforisin A were evaluated against proliferation of mouse spleen lymphocytes stimulated with concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide.

Alterations of expression of the cytoskeleton after immortalization of human fibroblasts

Human diploid fibroblasts (HDF) have a limited in vitro lifespan of population doubling level (PDL) 50-70. The molecular mechanism underlying cellular senescence and immortalization is not thoroughly understood. It has been reported that the cytoskeleton has diverse functions and may have a role in growth regulation through association with other cellular components. To shed light on the relationship between functions of the cytoskeleton and senescence or immortalization, we investigated the alterations in gene expression after immortalization and measured the amounts of mRNAs for talin, vinculin, alpha-actinin, tropomyosin 1 (TM1), vimentin, lamin A and C, and alpha-tubulin by slot blot and Northern blot analyses. We found that the mRNAs for vinculin and vimentin were reduced and the mRNA for lamin A was increased in immortalized cells. We also studied the cytoskeletal protein levels and their intracellular distributions by Western blot analysis and immunostaining. Most of the proteins studied behaved in a way similar to the mRNAs through senescence and immortalization. Vinculin, tropomyosins and vimentin showed their altered distributions in immortalized cells.

[Myasthenia gravis: an analysis of patients with postoperative crisis after thymectomy]

Five patients with myasthenia gravis whose condition declined during the postoperative unstable period were studied. The Osserman's type, age at the time of onset, duration of illness, sex, age at the time of surgery, preoperative steroid therapy, thymoma and acetyl choline receptor antibody titers were compared with those of 21 patients (control) with myasthenia gravis who had an uneventful postoperative course. In comparison, the study group's Osserman's type was slight, age at the time of onset was older (p < 0.05) and duration of illness was shorter (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in sex, age at the time of surgery, thymoma and acetyl choline receptor antibody titers. None of them had preoperative steroid therapy. Intensive postoperative management and careful follow-up at the postoperative unstable period are necessary particularly for patients who have slight Osserman's type, old age at the time of onset, short duration of illness and no preoperative steroid therapy.

Existence of branched side chains in the cell wall mannan of pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans. Structure-antigenicity relationship between the cell wall mannans of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis

Isolation of side chain oligosaccharides from mannans of Candida albicans NIH B-792 (serotype B) and Candida parapsilosis IFO 1396 strains has been conducted by acetolysis under mild conditions. Structural study of these oligosaccharides by 1H and 13C NMR and methylation analyses indicated the presence of novel branched side chains with the following structures in C. albicans mannan. [sequence: see text] It was observed that the H-1 proton chemical shifts of the second and the third mannose units from the reducing terminus in each oligosaccharide are shifted upfield by substitution with an alpha-linked mannose unit at position 6 of the 3-O-substituted mannose unit. An agglutination inhibition assay between factor 4 serum and cells of Candida stellatoidea IFO 1397 lacking the beta-1,2-linked mannose unit, with oligosaccharides obtained from these mannans, indicated that only the branched oligosaccharides were active. This finding suggests that the branched oligosaccharides correspond to the epitope of antigenic factor 4. The presence of the branched structure in other mannans was detected by the characteristic H-1-H-2-correlated cross-peak of the alpha-1,2-linked mannose unit connected with the 3,6-di-O-substituted one by two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy.

Derivatives of 2-[[N-(Aminocarbonyl)-N-hydroxyamino]methyl]-1,4- benzodioxan as orally active 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors

N-Hydroxyureas based on the 1,4-benzodioxan template were prepared from appropriately substituted 1,4-benzodioxan-2-methanols as the key intermediates and evaluated in the in vitro guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocyte 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) assay for their 5-LO inhibitory activity. Placement of a 7-phenoxy or 7-p-fluorophenoxy substituent resulted in a dramatic increase in in vitro potency. Selected compounds were subsequently assayed in an ex vivo dog model of LTB4 synthesis at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg. The 7-phenoxy derivatives 16 and 17 showed modest duration of action (DA) in this dog model. The 6-regioisomers 21 and 22 were less potent. Replacement of the 7-phenoxy group of 16 with the p-fluorophenoxy moiety enhanced the DA dramatically. Compound 18 (CGS 25667), which had an IC50 value of 100 nM in the in vitro guinea pig 5-LO assay, had a DA of 8.5 h (zileuton, DA = 8.5 h) at the oral dose of 1.0 mg/kg. Optical antipodes (24, 26) of 18 were independently synthesized in high (> 95%) enantiomeric purity from commercially available optically active glycidyl tosylates and evaluated. In the in vitro assay, the 2S-(-)-enantiomer (24, CGS 25997, IC50 = 85 nM) was found to be twice as active as the 2R-(+)-counterpart (26, CGS 25998, IC50 = 180 nM). In the ex vivo experiment, 24, which dose dependently inhibited plasma 5-LO activity, was shown to be significantly longer acting than 26, with a DA of 8.4 h when dosed orally at 1.0 mg/kg.

Carbohydrate-dependent biological activities of glycosylated human interferon-beta on human hepatoblastoma cells in vitro

To evaluate the relationship between the sugar chain structure and biological activity, fibroblast-derived glycosylated human interferon-beta, Chinese hamster ovary cell-derived glycosylated recombinant human interferon-beta and Escherichia coli-derived unglycosylated recombinant human interferon-beta were evaluated using human hepatoblastoma cells in vitro. Native fibroblast interferon-beta expressed more cell-growth inhibitory action, 2'5'-oligoadenylate synthetase induction, and the inhibition of hepatitis B virus DNA replication than its asialoform and two recombinant interferon-betas. These results showed that the sugar chain structure of human interferon-beta affects its biological activity on human hepatoblastoma cells.

Ultrasound-guided microwave thermotherapy on a VX-2 carcinoma implanted in rabbit kidney

A temperature greater than 60 degrees C was maintained for 60 s within a 5-mm radius of a microwave electrode implanted in a rabbit kidney using 2450 MHz at 100 W for 30 s. Histological examination revealed complete coagulation necrosis in that area. VX-2 cells were inoculated into the kidneys of 10 rabbits. One week later, five rabbits received ultrasound-guided microwave thermotherapy, and the remaining five rabbits received no treatment. All rabbits with microwave thermotherapy had a complete response to treatment while all rabbits without therapy died of cancer within 6 weeks of the VX-2 implantation. These results indicate that ultrasound-guided microwave thermotherapy has the potential of being a nephron-salvaging treatment for small renal tumors.

[Hemodynamic effects of amrinone on patients with moderate and severe cardiac dysfunction after open heart surgery]

Hemodynamic effects of amrinone and the changes in pulmonary shunt were studied in patients for open heart surgery. Eighteen patients were allocated into two groups (group L, H) on the first day of surgery. Group L consisted of 10 patients who received moderate-dose catecholamine (DOA + DOB < 12 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) and group H consisted of 8 patients who needed high-dose catecholamine (DOA + DOB > or = 12 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) to maintain normal hemodynamics. After baseline measurement, amrinone infusion was started and the dose was increased by every 2 hours (5, 10, 20 micrograms.kg-1.min-1). At dose of 20 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, cardiac index increased significantly in group L but not in group H. SVRI and PVRI decreased by dose related fashion in both groups. Systemic arterial pressure was unaltered in group L while it decreased significantly in group H. PaO2 decreased and pulmonary shunt increased in both groups. These results suggest that inotropic response of amrinone depends on the basal level of myocardial contractility although vasodilative property and the effect on the pulmonary shunt are almost similar in both groups.

[Effect of continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil and daily low-dose cisplatin for inoperable recurrent cancer of the stomach and colon]

With the use of cisplatin to enhance the effect of 5-FU, a combined approach was designed to treat patients with inoperable recurrent cancer of the stomach (15) and colon (6). This CDDP-5-FU therapy consisted of intermittent infusion of CDDP at a dose of 6 mg/m2 every day and continuous infusion of 5-FU at a daily dose of 200 mg/m2 for 2 weeks with a 2-week interval in between. There were 1CR and 6PR, and the overall response rate was 40.0%. Toxicity was manifested in slight nausea or vomiting in two patients (10.0%), but there was no nephrotoxity. Thrombocytopenia of Grade 4 was found in 1 patient and leucopenia of Grade 3 in another. The efficiency of performance status was in 14 patients (66.7%). Combination of daily low-dose cisplatin and 5-FU is a tolerable treatment for patients with inoperable recurrent stomach and colon cancer. It is suggested that CDDP plays a role as not only an effector but also a modulator in biochemical modulation of 5-FU in this therapy. The infusion schedule is also suitable for chemotherapy of outpatients. Further studies on the appropriate infusion of CDDP and 5-FU are needed.

[von Recklinghausen's disease complicated by macroglobulinemia, malignant schwannoma and pheochromocytoma]

We reported a case of von Recklinghausen's disease complicated by macroglobulinemia, malignant Schwannoma and pheochromocytoma. A 43-year-old male patient who was diagnosed as von Recklinghausen's disease developed abdominal masses at 5 years after the adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma. Computed tomography showed multiple heterogeneous tumors in abdominal cavity. Histological examination of resected tumor was compatible with malignant Schwannoma. At the same time, peripheral blood and bone marrow smears showed a large number of plasmacytoid lymphocytes. Immunoelectrophoresis revealed M-protein of IgM, kappa type. He was also diagnosed of coexistence with macroglobulinemia. The chemotherapeutic protocols used were not effective against both malignant Schwannoma and macroglobulinemia. The present case is a rare case of von Recklinghausen's disease associated with triple neoplasms.

[Free rectus abdominis muscle perforating artery flaps for reconstruction of the head and neck defects]

During the past eight years, tissue defects of the head and neck region in a total of 45 patients were repaired with free rectus abdominis muscle perforating artery flaps. These flaps are subclassified into (1) reduced musculocutaneous flaps, (2) thin reduced musculocutaneous flaps, (3) paraumbilical perforator-based flaps, and (4) thin paraumbilical perforator-based flaps. The advantages of these flaps are as follows. Since the flaps involve no or only a small portion of the rectus abdominis muscle, (1) the muscle can be left intact on the abdominal wall, and (2) a thin flap can be easily created by simple defatting of the flap. These flaps overcome the major disadvantages of the conventional rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap, i.e., bulkiness of the flap and frequent postoperative abdominal herniation. The territory of the thin flaps is within 10 cm around the perforator. These flaps are suitable for defects in the head and neck region, because simultaneous flap elevation is possible at the time of tumor resection. Paraumbilical perforator-based flaps are suitable for young females and elderly patients.

Electron-microscopic study of gamma-aminobutyric acid immunoreactivity in the chief cells of the mouse carotid body

The present study shows gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunoreactivity in almost all chief cells of the mouse carotid body. GABA immunoreaction products were distributed diffusely in the cytoplasm as well as in the dense-cored granules. These findings suggest that GABA may be localized in the cytoplasm and granules, and may be released from the cells.

Diabetes with mitochondrial gene tRNALYS mutation

OBJECTIVE

To solve a possible relationship between mtDNA mutation of tRNALYS(8344) and diabetes, we have surveyed the tRNALYS mutation, glucose intolerance, and insulin secretory capacity in a Japanese family with diabetes and myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fiber disease. Several lines of evidence suggested possible linkage between mtDNA mutation and diabetes (1-4).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

DNA was isolated from peripheral lymphocytes. The polymerase chain reaction analysis for the tRNA(LYS)(8344) mutation of the mtDNA was conducted as described by Larsson (5). Insulin secretory capacity was assessed by 24-h urinary C-peptide immunoreactivity response (CPR) excretion and plasma CPR to glucagon administration.

RESULTS

We identified seven subjects with the tRNA(LYS) mutation as well as seven non-mutated members in the pedigrees. Oral glucose tolerance tests in the pedigree indicated that five of the mutated subjects were diabetic, one had impaired glucose tolerance, and one had normal glucose tolerance (NGT), whereas all nonmutated family members had NGT. The pedigree shows maternal transmission of diabetes and the tRNA(LYS) mutation over three generations. Twenty-four-hour urinary excretion of CPR was significantly reduced in the mutant subjects (mean +/- SD, 67.8 +/- 79.2 nmol/day, n = 6, P < 0.001) compared with the nonmutant members (276.6 +/- 41.8 nmol/day, n = 5) and the age-matched normal control subjects (263 +/- 64.3 nmol/day, n = 12). Plasma CPR 6 min after glucagon injection demonstrated a marked reduction in the mutant subjects (3.68 +/- 3.45 nmol/l, n = 5, P < 0.001) compared with the nonmutant members (19.4 +/- 1.17 nmol/l, n = 5) and the normal control subjects (15.8 +/- 3.81 nmol/l, n = 12). Bilateral neurosensory deafness was demonstrated in five of seven (71.4%) mutant subjects (five of five [100%] mutated diabetic patients), but not detected in six nonmutant members.

CONCLUSIONS

This observation is the first report of association of diabetes with the mitochondrial tRNA(LYS) mutation. Insulin secretory capacity was significantly lower in the mutant members than in the nonmutated members. These findings suggest that the pancreatic beta-cell secretory defect of insulin might be one of the phenotypes of the mitochondrial tRNA(LYS) mutation.

[A case of Jordans' anomaly]

A 35-years old female with Jordans' anomaly was reported. She had been treated for diabetes mellitus and hypertension at another hospital. She was admitted to our hospital for operation for diabetic retinopathy on July 9, 1992. Wright-Giemsa stained peripheral blood smear revealed multiple vacuoles in the cytoplasm of the granulocytes and monocytes. Histochemical studies of these vacuoles showed positive for Sudan III but negative for peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase and PAS staining. Electron microscopic examination revealed that lipid containing vacuoles had no clear membrane and were not associated with cell organelles. Laboratory findings of the serum showed hyperglycemia (FBS 188mg/dl), high HbA1c level (9.4%) and mild type IIa hyperlipidemia. Abdominal sonogram and abdominal CT showed no remarkable abnormalities except for mild fatty liver. Her elder sister and daughter had similar morphological findings in granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes.

Urinary chiro-inositol excretion is an index marker of insulin sensitivity in Japanese type II diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship between urinary chiro-inositol excretion and insulin sensitivity in Japanese type II diabetic patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Eighteen subjects were age-matched, nonobese, type II diabetic patients. Eight subjects had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 10 had normal glucose tolerance (NGT). We quantified urinary chiro-inositol excretion using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the insulin sensitivity index (SI), and glucose effectiveness (SG) using Bergman's modified minimal model method.

RESULTS

The urinary excretion of chiro-inositol was much lower in the diabetic patients (32.3 +/- 16.0 mumol/day, means +/- SD) than in the NGT subjects (96.0 +/- 17.6; P < 0.0001) and IGT subjects (58.9 +/- 11.6; P < 0.0001). SI was much lower in the diabetic patients (3.81 +/- 1.49) than in the NGT subjects 6.30 +/- 1.59, P < 0.0005). SG was much lower in the diabetic patients (2.14 +/- 0.56) than in the NGT subjects (3.07 +/- 0.38, P < 0.0001). There was a significant correlation between urinary chiro-inositol excretion and SI (r = 0.766), as well as a significant correlation between urinary chiro-inositol excretion and SG (r = 0.747).

[A concomitant operation of coronary artery bypass grafting and thymectomy: a case report]

A 63-year-old man was successfully operated upon concomitantly for coronary artery disease and invasive thymoma. The chest roentogenogram showed a mass shadow in the anterior mediastinum, which was 6.0 x 4.0 cm in size and irregular. Coronary angiography revealed complete obstruction of the right coronary artery and 90% stenosis of the first diagonal branch (#9). Following thymectomy combined with the resection of the left phrenic nerve and the mediastinal pleura, coronary artery bypass grafting with the major saphenous vein was performed to #4 PD and #9. This is the first report of concomitant surgery for the ischemic heart disease and invasive thymoma in Japan.

Analysis of the prognosis and the recovery process of profound facial nerve paralysis secondary to acoustic neuroma resection

The prognosis and the recovery process of facial nerve paralysis were reviewed in 74 patients who, despite preservation of nerve continuity, showed no facial movement after acoustic neuroma resection. In 50 or 67.6% of patients, facial movement recovered sufficiently so as not to require any reanimation procedures. However, no apparent sign of remission was observed for 7-49 months in the other 24 patients (32.4%), and hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis was performed in 20 of these patients. When remission was seen, the first sign of muscle movement appeared most frequently after 3-4 months but, in a small number of patients, it was also seen within 1.5 months or after 5-10 months. Based upon these results, the timing of reanimation procedures for facial nerve paralysis following acoustic neuroma resection is discussed.

Immunohistochemical and histochemical evidence for the presence of noradrenaline, serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid in chief cells of the mouse carotid body

The immunohistochemical study revealed tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), serotonin, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunoreactivities in the mouse carotid body. TH and DBH immunoreactivities were found in almost all chief cells and a few ganglion cells, and in relatively numerous varicose nerve fibers of the carotid body. The histofluorescence microscopy showed catecholamine fluorescence in almost all chief cells. However, no PNMT immunoreactivity was observed in the carotid body. Serotonin, GAD and GABA immunoreactivities were also seen in almost all chief cells of the carotid body. From combined immunohistochemistry and fluorescence histochemistry, catecholamine and serotonin or catecholamine and GABA were colocalized in almost all chief cells. Thus, these findings suggest that noradrenaline, serotonin and GABA may be synthesized and co-exist in almost all chief cells of the mouse carotid body and may play roles in chemoreceptive functions.

[Clinical studies on clarithromycin dry syrup in the pediatric field. Pediatric Study Group of TE-031 Dry Syrup]

Clarithromycin dry syrup, a new drug preparation, was clinically evaluated in the pediatric field and the following results were obtained: 1. Absorption and excretion In infants administered with single oral dose of 5 mg (potency)/kg and 10 mg/kg, the Cmax was 2.26 +/- 0.42 and 3.23 micrograms/ml; Tmax, 1.6 +/- 0.1 and 2.0 hours; T 1/2, 3.89 +/- 0.52 and 2.06 hours; AUC (0-infinity), 13.48 +/- 1.93 and 13.84 micrograms.hr/ml, respectively. Urinary concentrations peaked in 2-4 hours after administration at 5 mg/kg and 0-2 hours at 10 mg/kg. Urinary recovery rates in the first 6 hours were 25.8 +/- 3.9% at 5 mg/kg and 20.7% at 10 mg/kg. 2. Clinical results The clinical efficacy of the drug was evaluated in 150 patients with various infections. Clarithromycin dry syrup was administered to all the patients at daily doses of 10-15 mg/kg divided into 2-3 equal doses. The overall clinical efficacy rate was 98.0%, and this drug was effective in 98.9% of 90 patients for whom the causative pathogens were identified and in 96.7% of the other 60 patients for whom the causative pathogens were unknown. The bacteriological eradication rate was 88.5%. The efficacy and eradication rates for 19 patients who had not responded to previous chemotherapy that lasted for more than three days were 94.7% (18/19) and 75.0%, respectively. Side effects occurred in 4 (2.4%) of 169 patients subjected to safety analyses, but none was serious. As to abnormal laboratory test results, moderate increases of eosinophils and elevations of transaminases were observed in 5.9% of the cases. No particular and serious problems were associated with administration of this drug. Based on the above results, clarithromycin dry syrup is considered to be very useful and have a good compliance at a daily dose of 10-15 mg/kg divided into 2-3 doses.

Studies on a novel, potent and orally effective cholecystokinin A antagonist, FK-480. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of FK-480 and related compounds

We prepared various novel tricyclic 1,4-benzodiazepine derivatives as cholecystokinin (CCK) A antagonists, which were evaluated preliminarily for inhibition of 125I-CCK-8 binding to rat pancreatic membranes in vitro and inhibiting effect on CCK-8-induced inhibition of charcoal meal gastric emptying in mice. On the basis of structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, as well as the stability and availability of the starting materials of those compounds, (S)-N-[1-(2-fluorophenyl)-3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-4-oxo- pyrrolo[3,2,1-jk][1,4]benzodiazepin-3-yl]- 1H-indole-2-carboxamide (9f, FK-480) was selected as a candidate compound for further evaluation. The absolute configuration of the precursor of FK-480, (3S)-amino-1,4-benzodiazepine derivative ((S)-8a, R1 = F) was determined by an X-ray crystallographic study of its ureido derivative with (S)-alpha-methylbenzyl isocyanate. FK-480 is now undergoing clinical studies for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis.

[Lung cancer with pleural dissemination diagnosed by thoracofiberscopy: a case report]

Pleural dissemination was suspected in a 39-year-old woman with pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Thoracofiberscopy provided the preoperative exact diagnosis of pleural dissemination and the following prepare operative procedure. Thoracofiberscopy is effective for the diagnosis of pleural dissemination and the selection of operative methods in patients with pulmonary cancer.