Maintenance of bone mass by physical exercise after discontinuation of intermittent hPTH(1-34) administration

Human PTH(1-34) has been recognized for its marked anabolic effect on bone, but that effect has been reported to be lost after cessation of PTH treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the fate of hPTH-stimulated bone and whether this anabolic effect of PTH could be maintained by daily exercise. Eleven-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized (OVX) and human PTH(1-34) (30 micrograms/kg) was injected subcutaneously three times per week for 12 weeks beginning one week after surgery. After the cessation of PTH treatment, treadmill exercises were performed for 8 weeks (15.7 m/min, 1 h/day, 5 days/week). The results of histomorphometric assessment in the proximal tibial metaphysis demonstrated that hPTH treatment partially prevented OVX-induced cancellous bone loss. Eight weeks following the cessation of PTH treatment, PTH-stimulated bone mass went back to the OVX control level. Daily exercise did maintain PTH-stimulated bone mass; however, this exercise did not increase the bone mass in PTH-untreated OVX rats.

[Pharmacokinetics and toxicological study on the intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin and etoposide in gynecological malignancies]

We administered cisplatin and etoposide into the peritoneal cavity of 13 postoperative patients with gynecological malignancies, and studied the pharmacokinetics and toxicity in the combination of both drugs. Cisplatin 100 mg/body and etoposide 200 mg-400 mg/body were mixed together in 500 ml or 1,500 ml of normal saline and administered intraperitoneally on the day of operation and two or three weeks later. The peritoneal peak level of free cisplatin, diluted with 500 ml, was about two times higher than that, diluted with 1,500 ml. However, there was no difference in the peritoneal and plasma AUC. The peritoneal level and AUC of etoposide, diluted with 500 ml, was about two times higher than that, diluted with 1,500 ml. Among the groups of 1,500 ml, peritoneal and plasma levels and AUC were almost proportional to the doses. Nausea and vomiting were experienced in all patients. With the increase of etoposide, more marrow suppression was observed. However, we encountered no other significant side effects. In conclusion, intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin and etoposide in this setting can be used safely with minimum side effects, and the dilution of 1,500 ml seems to be better.

[The complete remission of recurrent sweat gland carcinoma by radiotherapy combined with hyperthermia]

The authors describe a case of a sweat gland carcinoma that underwent complete remission after treatment with radiotherapy and hyperthermia. This sweat gland carcinoma had been thought to be unamenable to any therapeutic treatment. Based on this result, the authors feel that radiotherapy combined with hyperthermia may be effective for the treatment of a sweat gland carcinoma.

UGA suppressors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: allelism, action spectra and map positions

Sixty independent UGA suppressors of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been studied. They are dominant and are divided into 16 groups (loci) by recombination. Suppressors representing these loci are divided into two classes by action spectra; four in class 1 (a broad action spectrum) and 12 in class 2 (a narrow action spectrum). Class 1 suppressors are less frequent in terms of not only total number but also number per locus than class 2 suppressors, indicating difference in either or both mutation frequency and selective pressure between suppressors of the two classes. Two of the class 1 suppressors, SUP152 and SUP161, do not recombine with SUP28 and SUP33, leucine-inserting UAA suppressors, respectively, indicating that they are mutations in genes coding for tRNA(Leu)UUA. Of the remaining two class 1 suppressors, SUP160 which causes lethality in the psi+ cytoplasm is mapped on chromosome XV very close to the centromere, and SUP165 on the right arm of chromosome XIV 44 cM distal to lys9. Of the class 2 suppressors, ten do not recombine with one or another of previously known UGA suppressors. The remaining two class 2 suppressors, SUP154 and SUP155, are mapped on the left and right arms of chromosome VII, respectively.

Isolation of influenza A viruses from migratory waterfowls in San-in District, Western Japan, in the winter of 1982-1983

From November 1982 to March 1983, winter migratory waterfowls of some species staying in San-in District, Western Japan, were surveyed for influenza virus at five stations. A total of eight influenza A viruses were isolated from 354 faeces samples of whistling swans; in contrast, no virus was isolated from any sample of 261 black-tailed gulls, of 113 pintails and of 10 mallards. Five of eight isolates belonged to human pandemic subtype H2N2, two isolates belonged to fowl plague subtype H7N7, and the remaining one to subtype H4N6.

Isolation of influenza A viruses from migratory waterfowl in San-in District, western Japan in the winter of 1983-1984

Certain species of winter migratory waterfowl in San-in District, western Japan, were surveyed for influenza virus from November 1983 to March 1984. Faeces of the waterfowl were collected regularly at five stations. Eleven influenza A viruses including H5N3 and H10N4 subtypes were isolated from 450 faecal samples from whistling swans, 28 viruses including H2N2 and H10N4 subtypes were isolated from 362 faecal samples from pintails; and subtype H13N6 was isolated from 240 faecal samples of black-tailed gulls.

Isolation of influenza A viruses from migratory waterfowls in San-in District, Western Japan in winters of 1980-1982

In the two winters of 1980-1982, we surveyed migratory waterfowl of some species staying in San-in District, Western Japan for influenza virus at a few stations. From November 1980 to April 1981, only two strains of influenza virus, H13N1 and H11N6 subtypes, were isolated from 465 fecal samples from pintails but none from 255 samples from whistling swans nor from 625 black-tailed gulls. From November 1981 to March 1982, 17 viruses were isolated from 1156 fecal samples. Fourteen viruses, 10 H7N3, 2 H1N6 and 2 H3N8, were isolated from 459 feces samples from whistling swans. Two viruses, H13N3 and H13N6 subtypes, were isolated from 425 fecal samples from black-tailed gulls. A strain belonging to H1N3 subtype was isolated from 30 feces samples from mallards but no virus was isolated from 242 samples from pintails.

[Laboratory and clinical studies on cefmenoxime in respiratory tract infections]

Cefmenoxime (CMX, Bestcall) was administered by drip infusion to 65 patients with various respiratory infections and its effect was evaluated. The rate of effectiveness was 86.2% in all cases including 40 cases of acute pneumonia and 12 cases of chronic bronchitis. CMX was examined comparatively with other drugs for antibacterial activity on clinically isolated strains of 2 bacterial species, i.e. H. influenzae and B. catarrhalis, each of which has a high frequency of clinical isolation from infected respiratory organs. On H. influenzae CMX exerted the strongest antibacterial activity among test drugs (ampicillin, piperacillin cefoperazone, latamoxef) regardless of the production of beta-lactamase by the organism, while on B. catarrhalis it also exerted an antibacterial activity strong enough to control the proliferation of all strains at a dose level of 0.39 microgram/ml. Drip infusion of this drug (2 gram) brought about an average maximum blood concentration of 127.2 +/- 21.5 micrograms/ml and an average half-life in blood of 1.10 +/- 0.28 hours. However, different values were obtained for different individual cases because these subjects were patients of chronic respiratory infections each having some underlying disease or other. Side effects of the drug were observed as allergic symptoms such as pyrexia, eruption and the like, but only 5 cases without any serious cases. Increases in transaminase suggestive of abnormal clinical test results were also observed in 5 cases. However, numerical recoveries to the normal values were obtained in all of these 5 cases with the withdrawal of the drug.

Selective alveolo-bronchographic findings in type B chronic obstructive lung disease patients with particular reference to lesions in small airways

Selective alveolo-bronchography (SAB) was performed in 14 patients with type B chronic obstructive lung disease to evaluate the morphologic changes of their "small airways". The distance from the branching portion of the segmental bronchus (B9) to the end of the conducting airway was divided into three equal parts (central, middle and peripheral). In the peripheral part, interruption of the airway with a rounded or tapering end was noted at a high incidence (9 cases). Dilatation of the bronchus, irregular outline of the bronchial wall and increased angle of branching were also conspicuous in this part. Inadequate lateral branchings of airways were often observed in the middle and the peripheral part, particularly in the latter (10 cases). Generalized narrowing of an airway and narrowing especially at a branching point were observed in about one half of the cases. Fringes and/or spikes were most often seen in the central part of the airway (9 cases). These pathological appearances are considered to reflect morphologic changes in "small airway disease", and thus SAB can serve as a useful method for detecting lesions of the small airways.