Variation in induction of human placental CYP2E1: possible role in susceptibility to fetal alcohol syndrome?

Fetal alcohol syndrome occurs in less than 10% of women who drink heavily during pregnancy. One potential mechanism for this intersubject variation is differences in placental alcohol metabolism. Alcohol dehydrogenase is present at low concentrations in the placenta and is not inducible. CYP2E1 has not been found in human placentas at early gestation time points or in random term placentas. Hepatic CYP2E1 is induced by alcohol and other environmental agents, but induction varies among heavy drinkers and may be genetically controlled. To test whether CYP2E1 is induced in placenta by heavy drinking during pregnancy, we performed a Western blot analysis on placental microsomes from women (n = 8) whose periconceptional average daily absolute alcohol intake was greater than 1 ounce. Using anti-human CYP2E1, bands consistent with CYP2E1 were identified in six samples, although considerable variation among individuals was observed. Among drinking mothers, offspring head size was smaller among those with placental CYP2E1 (p = 0.04). The association between the presence of the protein and smaller birth weight and birth length was equivocal (p = 0.09). Our data are consistent with placental CYP2E1 being inducible by drinking, but with induction being variable among heavy drinking women. We speculate intersubject variation in induction may have a genetic basis and may play a role in susceptibility to alcohol related defects.

Reproduction and development in Drosophila are dependent upon catecholamines

Drosophila melanogaster, maintained on culture media containing alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MT) at millimolar levels for 7 days, fail to produce viable progeny. Lesser concentrations delay development. This effect of alpha-MT, an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), is partially reversible by co-administration of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, the product of TH. Potent inhibitors of other steps in the pathway for catecholamine biosynthesis are inactive except for a partial effect with dopamine B-hydroxylase inhibition. the effect of alpha-MT is due to a combination of ovulation suppression coupled with decreases in embryonic and larval viability. Effects similar to those of alpha-MT are found with millimolar levels of reserpine, prazosin and to a lesser extent, rauwolscine. No significant effects are found with propranolol, chlorpromazine, sulpiride and SK&F 83566. Mutant alleles of the gene coding for TH are known to be lethal at the embryonic stage when homozygous in both Drosophila and mice. Taken together, these results indicate that in addition to their established roles in the nervous system catecholamines function in animal development via an action mediated through alpha-adrenoceptors.

In vivo growth conditions suppress the expression of ganglioside GM2 and favour that of lacto series gangliosides in the human glioma D-54MG cell line

The human glioma D-54MG cell line grown in vitro primarily expresses ganglio series gangliosides, particularly GM2. Subcutaneous injection of these cells into nude mice produced xenografts with an increased content of the human glioma-associated lacto series gangliosides, primarily 3'-isoLM1, an alteration that was dose dependent, with the highest dose (1 x 10(8)) resulting in a phenotype that was most like that of the inoculum. After one passage in vivo, the lacto series dominated and reached a proportional level that was kept throughout the 10 passages. The mRNA levels of the GM2-synthase clearly coincided with GM2 expression and was 20 times higher in cells grown in vitro than in those grown in vivo. These results support the view that ganglioside expression in human gliomas is strongly influenced by environmental factors.

Hematological and biochemical changes in acute leukemic patients after chemotherapy

AIM

To study hematological and biochemical profiles in acute leukemic patients before and after chemotherapy.

METHODS

Sera from 20 normal persons were compared with those from 40 patients of whom 20 patients were followed up after 6-8 months of treatment with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone.

RESULTS

Hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count were decreased while reticulocyte count, blood sedimentation, total leukocyte count, bleeding time, bilirubin, blood coagulation time, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, and urea were increased in acute myelocytic patients compared to normal. A similar pattern was observed in acute lymphocytic patients except there was no significant increase in serum urea.

CONCLUSION

In acute leukemic patients blood chemistry and hematology are useful during diagnosis and treatment. After 6-8 months of treatment 50% remission occurred.

Effects of heroin on thyroid function, cortisol and testosterone level in addicts

Studies were carried out on 50 heroin addicts receiving heroin. Serum concentration of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)--to test thyroid function--as well as cortisol and testosterone were measured and compared with values of 25 normal males. Urine samples of addicts were tested for the presence of morphine. Heroin does not affect the serum level of T4 and TSH but a slight increase in triiodothyronine was observed. Heroin was found to exert a lowering/depleting effect on serum cortisol and testosterone level in more or less all the addicts irrespective of age, dose of heroin per day and period of drug intake.

Biochemical profile in liver cancer patients

AIM

To study the biochemical profile in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

METHODS

Sera from 25 normal persons were compared with those from 50 patients of whom 25 patients were followed up after 9-10 months.

RESULTS

Serum K, bicarbonate, creatinine, and uric acid levels were raised, while serum Na, chloride, urea, urea-N, and residual N were lowered, in patients. After 9-10 months of treatment these parameters showed improvements.

CONCLUSION

Blood chemistry is useful during diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer.

Interaction of chlorpromazine with tricyclic anti-depressants in schizophrenic patients

Interaction of Chlorpromazine with tricyclic antidepressants was investigated in twenty schizophrenic patients after their concurrent administration. A significant increase in serum chlorpromazine concentration was observed when administered in combination with both amitriptyline and imipramine with chlorpromazine. If combined therapy is indicated, the dose of chlorpromazine should be reduced or the time of administration of other two drugs should be adjusted to maintain therapeutic levels of chlorpromazine.

Biopharmaceutical studies of spirobishexahydropyrimidine

Oral administration of spirobishexahydropyrimidine showed an increase in the activity of serum transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase. Biological half life and other pharmacokinetic parameters showed rapid absorption and slow elimination of the drug.

The relationship between reduction in periodontal inflammation and diabetes control: a report of 9 cases

The established correlation between diabetes and periodontal diseases and the increasing prevalence of Type II diabetes in the general population indicate that dental practitioners will probably treat an increasing number of diabetic patients. Despite the fact that there is little scientific evidence to support the concept, it has been generally accepted that treatment for periodontal disease in diabetic patients may reduce insulin requirements and improve metabolic balance. However, to date no one has evaluated the effects of periodontal therapy on the metabolic state of the poorly-controlled diabetic patient. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of controlling gingival inflammation on blood glucose levels as determined by glycosylation of hemoglobin and albumin.

Expression of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in six human medulloblastoma cell lines

Six well characterized human medulloblastoma cell lines (D283 Med, Daoy, D341 Med, D384 Med, D425 Med, and D458 Med) were examined for the expression of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) by activity and Western and Northern blot analysis. High levels of MGMT activity were present in D283 Med, Daoy, D341 Med, and D384 Med (1.36, 0.80, 1.68, and 1.62 pmol/mg of protein, respectively), but negligible MGMT activity was detected in D425 Med and D458 Med (0.06 and 0.05 pmol/mg of protein, respectively), which were derived separately at different times from the same patient. The presence of MGMT protein and its transcript was demonstrated in D283 Med, Daoy, D341 Med, and D384 Med, but both the protein and the mRNA were undetectable in D425 Med and D458 Med. Nevertheless, all six cell lines contained an apparently unaltered MGMT gene, as determined by Southern blot analysis. The absence of MGMT activity in D425 Med and D458 Med is likely due to the absence of the protein, resulting from a lack of transcription of the MGMT gene. The varying levels of expression of MGMT in medulloblastoma cells found in this study should provide a molecular basis for drug design and selection in chemotherapy of this tumor.

Identification and quantitative determination of morphine in the urine of heroin dependents

Morphine in the urine of heroin addicts was identified by TLC using methanol, water, benzene and glacial acetic acid (80:15:15:5) and ethyl acetate, methanol and ammonium hydroxide (25:10:5) as solvent systems and potassium iodoplatinate and iodine as the developing reagents. Potassium iodate in alkaline medium gives a yellowish golden colour having maximum absorbance at 450 nm. By this reaction the minimum limit of identification and quantitative determination of morphine is 2 microg/ml. It provides a basis for the spectrophotometric determination of morphine in the urine of heroin addicts.

Expression of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in malignant human glioma cell lines

When animals are treated with carcinogenic agents that alkylate O6-guanine residues, the incidence of tumors in specific tissues often relates inversely to the level of the DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) present in the tissue. Similarly, the hypersensitivity to anticancer chloroethylnitrosoureas of some human tumor cell lines is believed to result from their deficiency in MGMT. We have undertaken a comprehensive investigation of MGMT expression in a panel of nine characterized human glioma cell lines. Methyltransferase activity determined by incubating protein extracts of these glioma lines with [3H]methylated DNA ranged from undetectable in six lines (the Mer- phenotype) to greater than 0.8 pmol/mg in two lines (U-373 MG and D-392 MG). MGMT protein was undetectable in Western blots of the Mer- cell extracts probed with specific anti-MGMT monoclonal antibodies. Consistent with these results, steady-state levels of MGMT mRNA, determined by Northern blot analysis, were detectable only in the three Mer+ glioma lines (U-373 MG, D-392 MG, D-263 MG). Southern analysis of EcoRI-digested DNA probed with MGMT cDNA revealed no amplification, rearrangement or deletions of the MGMT gene in any of the glioma cell lines. This is the first report that examines MGMT expression at the biochemical, molecular and genetic levels in a particular tumor type. These studies suggest that transcriptional regulation is the basis of the Mer- phenotype in these malignant human glioma cell lines, since no gross structural or quantitative abnormalities of the MGMT gene were seen in the phenotypically Mer- lines.

Biopharmaceutical studies of 3-substituted isatin derivatives

The metabolic fate of isatin hydrazone (Ia), isatin-3-thiosemicarbazone (Ib), isatin-3-semicarbazone (Ic), isatin-3-phenylhydrazone (Id), isatin oxime (Ie) and 3-hydroxy-3-acetonyl oxindole (II) was studied in rabbits. The compounds were administered orally in the dose of 300 mg/kg body wt. Isatin anthranilic acid, tryptophan and nicotinic acid were identified as the major metabolites excreted in urine. The 3-hydroxy-3-acetonyl oxindole (II) gave on additional metabolite, oxindole. The major metabolites were separated and identified unambiguously on thin layer silica gel plate. Metabolic pathways have been proposed to explain the biotransformation of the compounds investigated.

A technique for one stage repair of complete palatal cleft

A technique for repairing in one stage, wide complete palatal cleft of congenital origin with obvious shortening of the soft palate, is described. Mucoperiosteal flaps were obtained from vomer bone and palate while muco-muscular flap from posterior pharyngeal wall by means of a simple technique. A layer closure was used to fill in the palatal defect. This technique was used successfully in 24 out of 25 cases, with a mean follow-up of 2 years. When fully healed, the palate attained a normal shape and function.

Incubations of testis myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase with D-(5-18O)glucose 6-phosphate and with H218O show no evidence of Schiff base formation

myo-Inositol-1-P synthase (EC 5.5.1.4) purified from rat testis and from bovine testis was allowed to react with D-[5-18O]glucose-6-P. myo-Inositol, obtained in these reactions, retained all of the 18O originally in the glucose-6-P. When these enzyme preparations were incubated with unlabeled glucose-6-P in a medium enriched in H2 18O no uptake of the oxygen isotope occurred that could be ascribed to the myo-inositol-1-P synthase reaction. By these criteria this enzyme, which is considered to use an aldolase mechanism in the cyclization step, cannot form a Schiff base during the reaction. In addition, these enzymes are not inhibited by 10 mM EDTA. One interpretation of this evidence is that the myo-inositol-1-P synthases we have studied are neither Class I nor Class II aldolases, and simply use base catalysis in the cyclization step.

Partial reactions of D-glucose 6-phosphate-1L-myoinositiol 1-phosphate cyclase

After removal of tightly bound NAD(+) by using charcoal, a preparation of d-glucose 6-phosphate-1 l-myoinositol 1-phosphate cyclase catalysed the reduction of 5-keto-d-glucitol 6-phosphate and 5-keto-d-glucose 6-phosphate by [4-(3)H]NADH to give [5-(3)H]-glucitol 6-phosphate and [5-(3)H]glucose 6-phosphate respectively. The position of the tritium atom in the latter was shown by degradation. Both enzyme-catalysed reductions were strongly inhibited by 2-deoxy-d-glucose 6-phosphate, a powerful competitive inhibitor of inositol cyclase. The charcoal-treated enzyme preparation also converted 5-keto-d-glucose 6-phosphate into [(3)H]myoinositol 1-phosphate in the presence of [4-(3)H]NADH, but less effectively. These partial reactions of inositol cyclase are interpreted as providing strong evidence for the formation of 5-keto-d-glucose 6-phosphate as an enzyme-bound intermediate in the conversion of d-glucose 6-phosphate into 1 l-myoinositol 1-phosphate. The enzyme was partially inactivated by NaBH(4) in the presence of NAD(+). Glucose 6-phosphate did not increase the inactivation, and there was no inactivation in the absence of NAD(+). There was no evidence for Schiff base formation during the cyclization. d-Glucitol 6-phosphate (l-sorbitol 1-phosphate) was a good inhibitor of the overall reaction. It did not inactivate the enzyme. The apparent molecular weight of inositol cyclase as determined by Sephadex chromatography was 2.15x10(5).