[Effect of (-)-stepholidine on blood pressure and alpha-adrenoceptor agonists-, KCl- and CaCl2-evoked contractions of aortic strips]

Iv (-)-SPD lowered the blood pressure in anesthetized rat, the ED50 value was 5.1 +/- 2.5 mg.kg-1. In the experiments of rat and rabbit aortic strips, (-)-SPD 0.3-100.0 mumol.L-1 inhibited the contraction initiated by clonidine (alpha 2) and phenylephrine (alpha 1) and shifted the dose-response curve to the right parallely without change in maximum response. The inhibitory ratio of (-)-SPD acting on alpha 2/alpha 1 adrenergic receptors was about 7.2, and (-)-SPD thus was predominant inhibition on alpha 2 adrenergic receptors. In the experiment of aortic strips from reserpinized rabbits, the inhibition of (-)-SPD on contraction evoked by clonidine was diminished markedly. The results suggest that (-)-SPD stimulated mainly the alpha 2-adrenergic receptors of presynaptic nerve endings. Moreover (-)-SPD 1 mumol.L-1 inhibited the release of intracellular Ca2+ initiated by NE. (-)-SPD 3-30 mumol.L-1 blocked the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel.

[Immunodiagnosis of ovarian cancer]

Ovarian tumor associated antigen was isolated from human serous cystadenocarcinomas of ovary and purified by using affinity chromatography columns coupled to anti-normal female serum and anti-normal ovarian tissue gamma globulin. Antiserum was prepared from New Zealand white rabbits. The antiserum was absorbed with normal female serum and extracts of normal ovarian tissue thoroughly. The absorbed antiserum was appraised by immunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoresis and counter-immunoelectrophoresis with intensifiers. The absorbed antiserum has a specific immune precipitin with extracts of ovarian tumor tissue. Counter-immunoelectrophoresis with intensifiers was used to detect the ovarian tumor associated antigen in the tissue and serum of various patients. Twenty-eight of 40 ovarian tumor extracts and 1 of 5 cervical carcinoma extracts showed the presence of the cancer antigen. 14/40 were positive in the sera of ovarian tumor patients and 6/10 positive in the sera of ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma patients; 1/5 positive in the sera of cervical carcinoma patients and 2/10 positive in the sera of ovarian cysts patients. No positive result for the sera of normal females was noted. The specificity, sensitivity and accuracy of the method were 94.7%, 42.3% and 83.3%, respectively.

[Isolation of desmosomes: a marker for epithelial tumors]

A simple method is reported for the isolation of desmosomes. The fresh noncornified layers of cow nose epidermis were immersed in 0.1 mol/L citric acid-sodium citrate buffer (pH 2.3, containing 0.5 mmol/L PMSF), and then treated with homogenization and discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Desmosomes were located at the 50-56% sucrose interface. Electron microscopy revealed that the characteristic desmosome structure was well preserved, and that a few intermediate filament bundles attached to desmosome plaque were removed by the solubilizing action of the buffer. Approximate 100 mg desmosomes (dry weight) were got from 20g wet noncornified layers of epidermic tissue.

[A study on the male DNA special restricted fragment of bovine]

Bkm, which is related to sexes, is a satellite DNA of the female snake. After the genomic DNA of bovine was digested by Pst I, it was hybridized with Bkm sequence probe (p184) and subcloned in the vector pUC19. Recombinants were identified by the colony in situ and Southern blot hybridization. When we determined genomic DNA of bovine using the male DNA fragment, it was observed that the pattern of hybridization was different because of different sexes. The results showed that we could identify the sex of bovine by Southern blot hybridization with recombinants of male DNA special restricted fragment of bovine origin.

Interim use of Jarvik-7 and Novacor artificial heart: blood rheology and transient ischemic attacks (TIA's)

The rheological properties of blood were studied in patients supported by both the Jarvik-7 total artificial heart (TAH) and Novacor left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. Both groups of patients had abnormalities in blood rheology which differed according to the type of device implanted as well as on the clinical state of the patient. The rheology of individual patients correlated well with their clinical status and outcome, with incidences of TIA's and/or stroke being accompanied by marked increases in relative blood viscosity, erythrocyte rigidity, fibrinogen concentration and platelet aggregation in varying combination. Observed abnormalities in blood rheology were also crucial to thrombus formation on artificial heart valves as well. Our results show that the therapeutic management of rheological parameters should prove to be a unique and clinically rewarding approach to these patients.

Degradation of Native Starch Granules by Barley alpha-Glucosidases

The initial hydrolysis of native (unboiled) starch granules in germinating cereal kernels is considered to be due to alpha-amylases. We report that barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seed alpha-glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.20) can hydrolyze native starch granules isolated from barley kernels and can do so at rates comparable to those of the predominant alpha-amylase isozymes. Two alpha-glucosidase charge isoforms were used individually and in combination with purified barley alpha-amylases to study in vitro starch digestion. Dramatic synergism, as much as 10.7-fold, of native starch granule hydrolysis, as determined by reducing sugar production, occurred when high pl alpha-glucosidase was combined with either high or low pl alpha-amylase. Synergism was also found when low pl alpha-glucosidase was combined with alpha-amylases. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that starch granule degradation by alpha-amylases alone occurred specifically at the equatorial grooves of lenticular granules. Granules hydrolyzed by combinations of alpha-glucosidases and alpha-amylases exhibited larger and more numerous holes on granule surfaces than did those granules attacked by alpha-amylase alone. As the presence of alpha-glucosidases resulted in more areas being susceptible to hydrolysis, we propose that this synergism is due, in part, to the ability of the alpha-glucosidases to hydrolyze glucosidic bonds other than alpha-1,4- and alpha-1,6- that are present at the granule surface, thereby eliminating bonds which were barriers to hydrolysis by alpha-amylases. Since both alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase are synthesized in aleurone cells during germination and secreted to the endosperm, the synergism documented here may function in vivo as well as in vitro.

Evaluation of N-4-(hydroxycarbophenyl) retinamide as a cancer prevention agent and as a cancer chemotherapeutic agent

In this review, a retinoid analogue (N-4-hydroxycarbophenyl) retinamide (R11) has been evaluated for its pharmacological and clinical properties. R11 has been studied both as a cancer prevention agent, as well as, a cancer chemotherapeutic agent. R11 alone and in combination with other agents can be used for the treatment of cervical dysplasia or leukemia. This review will examine novel strategies and mechanisms of action for retinoids in the treatment and prevention of cancer.

[Ocular hypotensive action of l-stepholidine]

Ocular hypotension was made by iv 20% NaCl 2.5 ml/kg in rabbits. On this model, l-stepholidine (l-SPD) lowered intraocular pressure when administered topically to the eyes. The ocular hypotensive action of 0.5% l-SPD was weaker than that of 0.5% timolol, but stronger than that of 0.5% pilocarpine. The maximal actions of the 3 drugs were similar. There were no significant changes of pupil diameter and carbonic anhydrase activity after l-SPD administered, but which suppressed aqueous humor formation. As the ciliary process of the eye behaves much like the renal glomerulus, dopamine increases the glomerular blood flow and dopaminergic antagonist decreases it, the mechanism of l-SPD in lowering intraocular pressure may be related to the dopaminergic receptor blocking effect of it.

Characteristics of blood rheology in patients during Novacor left ventricular assist system support

Blood rheologic properties were studied in 11 patients on Novacor LVAS support (1-126 days) as a bridge to transplantation. Overall, these patients showed slight increases in mean blood viscosity and red cell rigidity. Their mean plasma fibrinogen was in the upper normal range. However, the degree of rheologic change observed, and the individual factors affected most, were unique to each patient and hemorheologic results correlated well with the patient's clinical status.

Clinical studies on the antitumor action of mecaphane

Over a period of 4 years, 241 patients with advanced cancer were treated with mecaphane alone in 11 hospitals. Effective objective responses were obtained in 100 patients (41.4%). The response was most conspicuous in chronic granulocytic leukemia, with remission in 37 of 40 patients; in Hodgkin's disease and lymphosarcoma response rates were 60% and 47.3%, respectively. Mecaphane had an analgesic action in metastatic osteolytic bone cancer, and two patients with such metastases even attained recalcification of the osteolytic destructive lesions. The common toxic manifestations of mecaphane were leukopenia (33.6%), gastrointestinal upsets (28.2%), and thrombocytopenia (12.8%). It is concluded, therefore, that mecaphane could be a good antitumor agent in clinical use. It is less expensive and can be taken orally. Further trials of this drug are recommended.