[Studies on 5-FU concentration and thymidine phosphorylase activity in tissues of patients with colorectal cancer after SF-SP administration]

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) concentrations in peripheral blood, portal blood, normal and cancer tissues were evaluated in 26 patients with colorectal cancer after SF-SP administration (800 mg/day for 10 days). Thymidine phosphorylase activity in cancer tissues was also evaluated. 5-FU concentration in cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in other three specimens, and much higher than 0.05 microgram/g which was reported to be the minimum effective concentration. 5-FU concentration in portal blood was lower than MEC (0.05 microgram/ml). As for the relationship with the pathological features of cancer, the protruding lesions showed a higher 5-FU concentration than the ulcerative ones, and the lesions invaded only to submucosa or proper muscle showed a higher concentration than others. 5-FU concentration ratio in cancer tissues per in peripheral blood (T/B ratio) was related to thymidine phosphorylase activity. The higher was the thymidine phosphorylase activity, the greater T/B ratio. The results suggest that the tumor with higher thymidine phosphorylase activity might have a more pronounced anticancer efficacy of 5-FU.

Selective removal of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies and IgG in vitro with an immunoadsorbent containing immobilized sulfathiazole

Adsorption therapy, which treats the autoimmune disease by the selective removal of pathogenic substances from the blood, is an active subject. In this therapy, bioactive molecules such as antigen, antibodies and protein A are usually used as affinity-ligands. The disadvantages of using these substances as affinity-ligands are the availability, sterilizability, and ability to cause antigenic reactions. After surveying hundreds of synthetic compounds, it was found that polyacrylic beads [Eupergit C (EC)] immobilized covalently with sulfathiazole (ST) are an ideal biomimetic ligand for the selective adsorption of IgG (24.3 +/- 0.4 mg IgG/g wet beads). In an in vitro study, this adsorbent selectively removed the antiacetylcholine (AChR) receptor antibody of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients. Further experiments demonstrated that the Fab fragment was adsorbed three times more efficiently than the Fc fragment of IgG.

[An experimental study on mesenteritis and deformities of the intestinal canal; with special reference to the changes with time of deformities (angulation, distortion, coil-like appearance)]

1. The relationship of the mesenteric inflammation with intestinal loop deformities was made clear and changes of these deformities were examined with time, using experimental model rabbits. 2. The above rabbit was laparotomized and was caused to develop mesenteritis by applying acetic acid onto sigmoid mesentery and descending colic mesentery, then the abdomen was closed. Subjects were divided into 2 groups (A and B); A group and B group were re-laparotomized 3-7 and 21 days later, respectively and were observed for mesentery and loop appearance, then were extirpated for sigmoid colon and descending colon with mesenterium attached thereto. Roentgenograms were taken first with attachment of mesentery, secondly there-without. Then, the intestinal canal was opened and the mucosal surface was observed, together with bleeding and blood flow disturbance in the depth of the wall in transmitted light. 3. As a result, the following conclusions were obtained: 1) Macroscopically, mesentery was marked with redness for A group and with thickening and twitch due to cicatricial contraction for B group. 2) A group near to the third day showed remarkable shortening, narrowing and marginal irregularity of the loop, which disappeared with time and were scarcely observed for B group; these deformities were considered to involve mesenteric inflammations and ischemia caused by secondary blood flow disturbance. 3) A group near to the 7th day and B group showed remarkable angulation, distortion and coil-like appearance; these deformities are considered to have been caused by thickening (stiffness) of the mesentery and its attachment and twitch-distortion due to cicatricial contraction. 4) Coil-like appearance disappeared upon cutting off the mesentery from the loop.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Biochemical diagnoses of malignant melanomas with determinations of 5-S-cysteinyldopa in lesions]

To develop a biochemical diagnosis for malignant melanomas, 5-S-cysteinyldopa in the tissues of malignant melanomas and other pigmented tumors were quantitatively analysed. The mean 5-S-CD value from primary melanotic melanoma lesions was 202.4 ng/mg (80.6-821.4) and those of metastatic melanoma lesions was 214.0 ng/mg (96.2-520.0). There was no significant differences in these 5-S-CD values between the types of primary lesions. On the other hand, the 5-S-CD values from pigmented tumors other than melanomas, such as Spitz nevus, dysplastic nevus, pigmented basal cell epithelioma, and melanoepithelioma Bloch II were less than 55 ng/mg. From these results it is thought that pigmented tumors can be diagnosed as malignant melanomas, if the 5-S-CD values in the tissues are over 100 ng/mg. The mean 5-S-CD values of pigmented macules of SSM was 734.5 ng/mg (320.0-1666.3) and those of ALM was 1.8 ng/mg (0.7-3.6). These data suggest that the biochemical diagnoses of SSM in situ can be based on 5-S-CD values, the diagnoses of ALM in situ can not.

Identification and quantitative determination of fentanyl metabolites in patients by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry

Although fentanyl has been used widely as a short-acting narcotic analgesic, its metabolism in humans has not been clarified. In this study, three fentanyl metabolites were identified in the urine of eight surgical patients receiving 0.3-0.5 mg of fentanyl intravenously. The metabolites 4-N-(N-propionylanilino)piperidine, 4-N-(N-hydroxypropionylanilino)piperidine and 1-(2-phenethyl)-4-N-(N-hydroxypropionylanilino)piperidine, and unchanged fentanyl were identified by GC-mass spectrometry in urine collected 6 h after administration. Fentanyl and its main metabolite, 4-N-(N-propionylanilino)piperidine, were determined quantitatively in the urine of five additional patients receiving 0.5 mg fentanyl intravenously. Urinary excretion of fentanyl and 4-N-(N-propionylanilino)-piperidine during the first 12 h after injection accounted for 0.3-4.0% and 26 to 55% of the dose, respectively.

Antishock effect of gabexate mesilate (FOY)

The antishock effects of gabexate mesilate (FOY) were investigated in rats subjected to hemorrhagic hypotension, with particular attention focused on the stabilizing effects of hepatic lysosomes. The survival time of rats treated with FOY, infused for 2 hours intravenously at a rate of 50 mg/kg/hr, was significantly prolonged, accompanied by a tendency to decreased activity of plasma lysosomal enzymes. FOY, at a concentration of 10(-3) M, exerted a significant decrease in the extralysosomal release of acid phosphatase (15%, P less than 0.05), beta-glucuronidase (25%, P less than 0.05) and cathepsin D (25%, P less than 0.02) following hyposmotic labilization of lysosomes. Although the release of lysosomal enzymes might be counterbalanced by 50 mg/kg/hr of FOY, favorable cytochemical findings indicating stabilization of lysosomal membranes were consistently observed. The data suggest that FOY has antishock properties, and that these properties are caused, at least partially, by the stabilization of lysosomes.

Identification of fentanyl metabolites in rat urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with stable-isotope tracers

The metabolites of fentanyl (l), which has been widely used as a neuroleptic analgesic agent, were identified in urine of rats by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with a stable-isotope tracer technique. After the oral administration of an equimolar mixture of l and deuterium-labeled l (l/l-d5), the urinary metabolites were extracted with chloroform at pH 9.0. Extracts were derivatized and analyzed by GC/MS. Metabolites were identified by the presence of doublet ion peaks separated by 5 amu, and chemical structures were established from analyses of fragmentation pathways. The metabolites were identified as 4-N-(N-propionylanilino)-piperidine, 4-N-(N-hydroxypropionylanilino)piperidine, 4-N-(N-propionylanilino) hydroxypiperidine, 1-(2-phenethyl)-4-N-(N-hydroxypropionylanilino)piperidine and 1-(2-phenethyl)-4-N-(N-propionylanilino)hydroxypiperidine. These metabolites, together with unchanged l, were also detected in urine of rats receiving l/l-d5 intravenously, by selected-ion monitoring of the specific cluster ions.

Structural polypeptides of molluscum contagiosum virus: their variability in various isolates and location within the virion

The structural polypeptides of molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) obtained from the skin lesions of patients were examined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. At least 40 polypedtides from purified virions were detected on SDS-polyacrylamide gel by a highly sensitive silver stain. Two of the structural polypeptides of the nine isolates were different in their migration rate in SDS-polyacrylamide gel. Following controlled degradation virions the two variable polypeptides were shown to be located in the surface or subsurface layers.

Aggressive preschoolers: a pilot study

The authors studied the relationship between the level of aggressivity in 12 aggressive preschoolers and five hypothesized pathogenic variables: constitutional, lack of maternal attunement to the child's needs, passive experience of aggression, parental overindulgence and the presence of a precipitant. The data tend to support a strong predictive association between the pathogenic variables as a group and the level of aggressivity, although the results must be regarded as preliminary because of the small number of cases.