Effects of cilastatin on the pharmacokinetics of a new carbapenem, DA-1131, in rats, rabbits, and dogs

DA-1131, a new carbapenem antibiotic, undergoes renal metabolism by renal dehydropeptidase I (DHP-I), located on the brush border of the proximal tubular cell. Species differences with regard to the effects of cilastatin, a renal DHP-I inhibitor, were investigated after a 1-min intravenous infusion of DA-1131, with or without cilastatin, to rats, rabbits, and dogs. After intravenous infusion, the nonrenal clearance (CL(NR)) of DA-1131 was significantly slower in rats (3.00 versus 8.01 ml/min/kg) and rabbits (2.41 versus 6.77 ml/min/kg) when the drug was coadministered with cilastatin; this could be due to the slower metabolism of DA-1131 by rat and rabbit kidney DHP-I. This indicated that renal metabolism of DA-1131 by renal DHP-I was inhibited by cilastatin. However, coadministration with cilastatin to dogs did not affect the CL(NR) of DA-1131.

Effect of DA-6034, a derivative of flavonoid, on experimental animal models of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial disorder with unknown etiology and pathogenesis. DA-6034, 7-carboxymethyloxy-3', 4', 5-trimethoxy flavone, is a synthetic flavonoid known to possess anti-inflammatory activity. This study was performed to evaluate the oral therapeutic effect of DA-6034 in three experimental animal models of IBD: two chemical-induced IBD models of rats and the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 transgenic rat model known to develop spontaneous colitis without the use of exogenous agents. Acute chemical colitis was induced by intracolonic instillation of 1.2 ml of 4% acetic acid solution. Prednisolone (1 mg/kg), sulfasalazine (100 mg/kg) and DA-6034 (0.3 to approximately 3 mg/kg) were orally administered twice daily for 6 days in these rats. In addition, chronic chemical colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) 30 mg in 50% ethanol and agents were orally administered for 6 or 20 days. In chemical-induced IBD models, all of these agents reduced the severity of colitis and specially, DA-6034 (3 mg/kg) showed more potent effect than other drugs in macroscopic lesion score. In HLA-B27 transgenic rats, DA-6034 (3 mg/kg) and prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg) were treated orally twice daily for 6 weeks. The HLA-B27 transgenic rats showed only mild colitis, compared with the chemical-induced colitis models. DA-6034 ameliorated the loose stool and decreased microscopic damage, which is the important indicator of this model. In conclusion, oral therapy of DA-6034 attenuated the macroscopic and histologic damages of the colon in all three experimental models of IBD, which suggest that DA-6034 could be a promising drug in the treatment of IBD.

Pharmacokinetic changes of a new carbapenem, DA-1131, after intravenous administration to spontaneously hypertensive rats and deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt-induced hypertensive rats

The pharmacokinetics of a new carbapenem, DA-1131, were compared after i.v. administration of the drug, 50 mg/kg, to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) at 16 weeks of age (an animal model for human primary hypertension) and at 6 weeks of age (corresponding to the early phase of the development of hypertension, at which time blood pressure remains within the normotensive range) and their respective age-matched control normotensive Kyoto-Wistar rats (KW rats), and deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt-induced hypertensive rats at 16 weeks of age (an animal model for human secondary hypertension) and their age-matched control Sprague-Dawley rats. The total area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity (AUC) (4720 versus 7070 microg x min/ml) was significantly smaller, and the nonrenal clearance (CLNR) (5.37 versus 3.57 ml/min/kg) was significantly faster in 16-week-old SHRs than those in their control KW rats. Similar results were also obtained from 6-week-old SHRs in AUC (3800 versus 4680 microg x min/ml) and CLNR (7.73 versus 3.31 ml/min/kg). However, the values were reversed in 16-week-old deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt rats in AUC (5310 versus 3870 microg.min/ml) and CLNR (2.57 versus 4.90 ml/min/kg). The significantly faster CLNR of DA-1131 in both 6- and 16-week-old SHRs could be supported at least partly by the results of the in vitro metabolism with kidney homogenate and considerably greater total renal dehydropeptidase-I activity. The data above indicated that the significantly faster CLNR of DA-1131 in 16-week-old SHRs than that in their age-matched control KW rats was due to any hereditary characteristics of SHRs and was not due to the hypertensive state itself.

Thyroglobulin regulates follicular function and heterogeneity by suppressing thyroid-specific gene expression

Thyroglobulin (TG) is the primary synthetic product of the thyroid and the macromolecular precursor of thyroid hormones. TG synthesis, iodination, storage in follicles, and lysosomal degradation can each modulate thyroid hormone formation and secretion into the circulation. Thyrotropin (TSH), via its receptor (the TSHR), increases thyroid hormone levels by upregulating expression of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS), thyroid peroxidase (TPO), and TG genes. TSH does this by modulating the expression and activity of the thyroid-specific transcription factors, thyroid transcription factor (TTF)-1, TTF-2, and Pax-8, which coordinately regulate NIS, TPO, TG, and the TSHR. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene expression, which is also regulated by TTF-1 and Pax-8 in the thyroid, is simultaneously decreased; this maintains self tolerance in the face of TSH-increased gene products necessary for thyroid hormone formation. We now show that follicular TG, 27S > 19S > 12S, counter-regulates TSH-increased thyroid-specific gene transcription by suppressing the expression of the TTF-1, TTF-2, and Pax-8 genes. This decreases expression of the TG, TPO, NIS and TSHR genes, but increases class I expression. TG action involves an apical membrane TG-binding protein; however, it acts transcriptionally, targeting, for example, a sequence within 1.15 kb of the start of TTF-1 transcription. TG does not affect ubiquitous transcription factors regulating TG, TPO, NIS and/or TSHR gene expression. TG activity is not duplicated by thyroid hormones or iodide. We hypothesize that TG-initiated, transcriptional regulation of thyroid-restricted genes is a normal, feedback, compensatory mechanism which regulates follicular function, regulates thyroid hormone secretion, and contributes to follicular heterogeneity.

Nephroprotective effect of betamipron on a new carbapenem, DA-1131, in rabbits

The nephroprotective effect of betamipron (200 mg/kg) was evaluated after intravenous administration of a high dose of DA-1131 (200 mg/kg) to rabbits. Extensive tubular necrosis was observed without betamipron but the necrosis was not observed with betamipron at 8 h after intravenous administration of DA-1131 based on kidney microscopy. By treatment with betamipron, the amounts and tissue to plasma (T/P) ratios of DA-1131 in renal cortex and whole kidney decreased significantly (65-91% decrease) at both 30 min and 2 h after intravenous administration of the drug to rabbits. This indicated that the accumulation of DA-1131 in rabbit renal cortex and whole kidney was inhibited by betamipron. This resulted in significantly greater percentages of intravenous DA-1131 excreted in urine as unchanged drug, 60.9 versus 40.1%, and significantly faster renal clearance (Cl(r)) of DA-1131 (6.10 versus 3.22 mL/min/kg) by treatment with betamipron. By treatment with betamipron, the amounts and T/P ratios of DA-1131 in renal cortex and whole kidney decreased significantly from 30 min and the renal function remained intact at 8 h after intravenous administration of DA-1131. The above data suggested that the nephroprotective effect of betamipron was fast and persisted for a long period of time in rabbits.

Two Graves' disease patients who spontaneously developed hypothyroidism after antithyroid drug treatment: characteristics of epitopes for thyrotropin receptor antibodies

Few reports have identified blocking thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TSHRAbs) as a pathogenic mechanism explaining spontaneous hypothyroidism after antithyroid drug (ATD) treatment of Graves' disease. Here we report 2 Graves' patients who showed different courses of hypothyroidism after ATD treatment. The first patient had Graves' hyperthyroidism and was treated with ATD for 1 year. After a short period of euthyroidism, she developed permanent hypothyroidism with blocking TSHRAb. The second patient became euthyroid after 1 year of ATD treatment. After 3 years, however, she presented with hypothyroidism with blocking TSHRAb activity. Her hypothyroidism was transient, and restoration of euthyroidism was followed by disappearance of blocking TSHRAb. Blocking and stimulating TSHRAbs activities of these 2 patients were serially measured using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with wild-type human TSHR (CHO-hTSHR) and 2 TSHR chimeras with residues 8-165 (Mc1+2) or 90-165 (Mc2) substituted by equivalent residues of the luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LH/CGR). During their hypothyroid phases, blocking TSHRAbs activities were positive in all 3 kinds of assays and stimulating TSHRAbs activities were negative in CHO-hTSHR or in Mc 1+2 assay. Mc2 stimulating TSHRAb activity was detected in sera of hypothyroid phase of the second patient who had transient hypothyroidism but not in the first whose hypothyroidism was permanent. In these 2 cases, we demonstrate the causative role of blocking TSHRAb in the development of hypothyroidism after ATD treatment in Graves' patients. Interestingly, the difference in the course of blocking TSHRAb-induced hypothyroidism was associated with the difference in epitope reactivities of TRAb during hypothyroid phase that developed after ATD treatment of Graves' disease.

Capsaicin binds to the intracellular domain of the capsaicin-activated ion channel

Capsaicin (CAP) excites small sensory neurons, causing pain, neurogenic inflammation, and other visceral reflexes. These effects have been proposed to be the result of CAP activation of a nonselective cation current. It is generally assumed that CAP binds to an extracellular domain of the membrane receptor. However, the exact binding site is not known because of the lipophilic nature of CAP. To determine whether the binding domain is extracellular or intracellular, we tested the effect of a synthetic water-soluble CAP analog, DA-5018.HCl, on current activation. CAP activated the 45 pS (at -60 mV) nonselective cation channel from either side of the membrane. However, DA-5018.HCl, which had a greater potency and efficacy than CAP, activated the channels only from the cytosolic side of the patch membrane in a capsazepine, a CAP receptor antagonist, reversible manner. When applied extracellularly, DA-5018. HCl did not, but CAP did, activate whole-cell currents in sensory neurons, as well as in oocytes expressing vanilloid receptor 1, a recently cloned CAP receptor. Hydrogen ions, reported as a possible endogenous activator of cation current, failed to elicit any current when acidic medium (pH 5.0-6.0) was applied intracellularly, indicating that H+ does not mediate the CAP effect. These results indicate that CAP and its analog bind to the cytosolic domain of the CAP receptor and suggest that an endogenous CAP-like substance other than H+ may be present in the cell.

Effect of probenecid on the renal excretion mechanism of a new carbapenem, DA-1131, in rats and rabbits

The effects of probenecid, an anion transport inhibitor, on the renal excretion mechanism of a new anionic carbapenem, DA-1131, were investigated after a 1-min intravenous infusion of DA-1131 at 100 mg/kg of body weight to rabbits and 50 mg/kg to rats with or without probenecid at 50 mg/kg for both species. In control rabbits, the renal clearance (CLR) of DA-1131 and the glomerular filtration rate based on creatinine clearance (CLCR) were 6.14 +/- 2.09 and 2.26 +/- 0.589 ml/min/kg, respectively. When considering the less than 10% plasma protein binding of DA-1131 in rabbits, renal tubular secretion of DA-1131 was observed in rabbits. The CLR of DA-1131 (3. 87 +/- 0.543 ml/min/kg) decreased significantly with treatment with probenecid in rabbits, indicating that the renal tubular secretion of DA-1131 was inhibited by probenecid. However, in control rats, the CLR of DA-1131 (5.80 +/- 1.94 ml/min/kg) was comparable to the CLCR (4.29 +/- 1.64 ml/min/kg), indicating that DA-1131 was mainly excreted by glomerular filtration in rats. Therefore, it could be expected that the CLR of DA-1131 could not be affected by treatment with probenecid in rats; this was proved by a similar CLR of DA-1131 with treatment with (6.93 +/- 0.675 ml/min/kg) or without (5.80 +/- 1.94 ml/min/kg) probenecid. Therefore, the renal secretion of DA-1131 is a factor in rabbits but is not a factor in rats.

Studies on protective effect of DA-9601, Artemisia asiatica extract, on acetaminophen- and CCl4-induced liver damage in rats

The hepatoprotective effect of DA-9601, a quality-controlled extract of Artemisia asiatica, on liver damage induced by acetaminophen (APAP) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was investigated by means of serum-biochemical, hepatic-biochemical, and histopathological examinations. Doses of DA-9601 (10, 30, or 100 mg/kg) were administered intragastrically to each rat on three consecutive days i.e. 48 h, 24 h and 2 h before a single administration of APAP (640 mg/kg, i.p.) or CCl4 (2 ml/kg, p.o.). Four h and 24 h after hepatotoxin treatment, the animals were sacrificed for evaluation of liver damage. Pretreatment of DA-9601 reduced the elevation of serum ALT, AST, LDH and histopathological changes such as centrilobular necrosis, vacuolar degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration dose-dependently. DA-9601 also prevented APAP- and CCl4-induced hepatic glutathione (GSH) depletion and CCl4-induced increase of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), a parameter of lipid peroxidation, in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that pretreatment with DA-9601 may reduce chemically induced liver injury by complex mechanisms which involve prevention of lipid peroxidation and preservation of hepatic GSH.

Protective effect of taurine on TNBS-induced inflammatory bowel disease in rats

We had previously reported that the protective effect of taurine against indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal injury was due to its antioxidant effects, which inhibited lipid peroxidation and neutrophil activation. In this study, we examined the effect of taurine on reducing the inflammatory parameters of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in rats. In order to induce IBD, ethanolic TNBS was given to rats intracolonically. Then they received 500 mg/kg/day of taurine orally and were sacrificed one week after IBD induction. While ulceration and inflammation of distal colon with formation of granuloma in the vehicle-treated IBD rats two days after administration of TNBS were observed, treatment with taurine ameliorated colonic damage and decreased the incidence of diarrhea and adhesion. Also, colon weight as an index of tissue edema, which was markedly increased in the IBD rats, became significantly lower after taurine treatment. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the vehicle-treated IBD rats was substantially increased, compared with that of normal control. The taurine-treated animals significantly reduced MPO activity (35% lower) when compared with that of the vehicle-treated animals. Taurine treatment decreased both basal and formyl-methionyl leucyl phenylalanine-stimulated reactive oxygen generation from colonic tissue in the IBD rats. These results suggest that the administration of taurine reduce the inflammatory parameters in this IBD rat model by increasing defending capacity against oxidative damage.

Induction of apoptosis with an extract of Artemisia asiatica attenuates the severity of cerulein-induced pancreatitis in rats

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that apoptosis can protect against experimental pancreatitis and induction of apoptosis by an extract of Artemisia asiatica (DA-9601) is beneficial in cerulein-induced pancreatis in rats. Pancreatitis was induced in 6-week-old male SPF Sprague-Dawley rats by two intravenous (i.v.) administrations of 40 microg/kg cerulein. To investigate the effects of DA-9601 on the severity of pancreatitis and extent of apoptosis, rats were treated with intragastric DA-9601, 30 mg/kg (D30), 100 mg/kg (D100), or 300 mg/kg (D300), intraperitoneal superoxide dismutase, 10,000 U/kg (SOD), and i.v. gabexate mesilate, 40 mg/kg (Foy), three times (30 min before cerulein injection, 30 and 90 min after cerulein injection). The control group was administered vehicle alone. Ten rats were included in each treatment group and control group. Rats were sacrificed 5 h after cerulein treatment. Serum amylase, histological activity index (HAI), pancreatic lipid peroxide levels, and apoptotic index [in situ hybridization by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL)] were determined. Gel electrophoresis was performed for the presence of DNA fragmentations. The results were as follows. Serum amylase was significantly increased in all cerulein-treated groups compared to normal controls (p < 0.001). The HAI was significantly decreased in only the D300 group compared to the controls (p < 0.05). The apoptotic index of the cerulein-alone group was 3.8 +/- 2.7, but the mean apoptotic indexes of the SOD and Foy groups were 16.4 +/- 4.6 and 13.3 +/- 1.8, respectively, a significant increase (p < 0.01). The apoptotic index was more significantly increased in the DA-9601-treated groups, dose dependently (8.4 +/- 3.4 in D30, 14.8 +/- 4.3 in D100, 24.2 +/- 4.7 in D300). A smearing pattern of DNA electrophoresis was noted in the DA-9601-treated groups. In conclusion, DA-9601, an extract of Artemisia, induced apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells dose dependently and concomitantly attenuated the severity of pancreatitis.

Pharmacokinetics of a new carbapenem, DA-1131, after intravenous administration to rats with alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus

Because physiological changes occurring in diabetes patients could alter the pharmacokinetics of drugs used to treat the disease, the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of DA-1131, a new carbapenem antibiotic, were investigated after 1-min intravenous (i.v.) administration of the drug, 50 mg kg-1, to control and alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus (AIDM) rats. The impaired kidney function was observed by pretreatment with alloxan based on physiological parameters of plasma, creatinine clearance, and the kidney microscopy. After 1-min i.v. infusion of DA-1131, the plasma concentrations of DA-1131 and the total area under the plasma concentration-time curve of DA-1131 from time zero to time infinity (AUC) increased significantly in the AIDM rats (7350 versus 4400 micrograms min mL-1) when compared with those in control rats. This was due to significantly slower total body clearance (Cl) of DA-1131 (6.80 versus 11.4 mL min-1 kg-1) in AIDM rats than that in control rats. The significantly slower Cl of DA-1131 in AIDM rats was due to significantly slower renal (2.62 versus 4.95 mL min-1 kg-1, because of the considerably decreased glomerular filtration rate of DA-1131) and nonrenal (3.99 versus 6.34 mL min-1 kg-1, possibly because of the considerably slower metabolism in rat liver and kidney) clearance in AIDM rats. The amount of DA-1131 recovered from each rat tissue studied was significantly higher in AIDM rats than that in control rats, however, the tissue to plasma ratios were not significantly different between the two groups of rats.

No effect of probenecid on the renal excretion mechanism of a new carbapenem, DA-1131, in dogs

The effect of probenecid, an anion transport inhibitor, on the renal excretion mechanism of a new anionic carbapenem, DA-1131, was investigated after 1-min intravenous infusion of DA-1131, 10 mg/kg, with or without probenecid, 50 mg/kg, to dogs. The renal clearance (CL(R)) of DA-1131 in dogs without probenecid (3.18+/-0.247 ml/min/kg) was considerably smaller than the reported creatinine clearance (CL(CR)) in dogs, 6.13 ml/min/kg, indicating that renal tubular reabsorption of the drug was observed in dogs. However, the CLR of DA-1131 was not significantly different (3.18+/-0.247 versus 3.29+/-0.698 ml/min/kg) by treatment with probenecid indicating that the tubular reabsorption of DA-1131 was not inhibited by probenecid.

Taurine can ameliorate inflammatory bowel disease in rats

We previously reported that the protective effect of taurine against indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal injury was due to its antioxidant effects which inhibited lipid peroxidation and neutrophil activation. In this study, we examined the effect of taurine on reducing the inflammatory parameters of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in rats. To induce IBD, rats were given ethanolic TNBS intracolonically. The rats then received 500 mg/kg/day of taurine per orally. The rats were sacrificed one week after IBD induction. Ulceration and inflammation of the distal colon with formation of granuloma in the vehicle-treated IBD rats after two days of administration of TNBS were observed. Treatment with 0.5 g/kg of taurine by the oral route ameliorated colonic damage and decreased the incidence of diarrhea and adhesions. Colon weight (an index of tissue edema) was markedly increased in the IBD rats after administration of TNBS, but was significantly lower after taurine treatment. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the vehicle-treated IBD rats was substantially increased compared with that of the control. The taurine-treated animals showed reduced MPO activity (35% lower) when compared with that of the vehicle-treated animals. Taurine treatment decreased basal and formyl-methionyl leucyl phenylalanine (FMLP) stimulated reactive oxygen generation in colonic tissue of the IBD rat compared with vehicle treatment after one week. These results suggest that administration of taurine reduced the inflammatory parameters in this rat model of IBD by increasing the defenses against oxidative insult.

Phase I clinical trial: pharmacokinetics of a novel anthracycline, DA-125 and metabolites. Single dose study

Single dose of DA-125, 20 (n = 3), 40 (n = 3), 60 (n = 3), 80 (n = 6), or 100 (n = 6) mg/m2 body surface area, was administered intravenously in 5 min to 21 patients with various types of cancer as phase I clinical trial. The main side-effects of DA-125 were nausea, vomiting, leukopenia (especially neutropenia), and thrombocytopenia. Among those, hematological side-effects increased with increased doses of DA-125. No patient developed side-effects equal to or higher than grade III up to DA-125 dose of 60 mg/m2. However, at DA-125 dose of 80 mg/m2, 1 out of 3 patients developed grade III leukopenia and grade IV neutropenia. Therefore, 3 additional patients participated taking the dose of 80 mg/m2; no patient developed side-effects equal to or higher than grade III. Hence, DA-125 dose increased to 100 mg/m2. At DA-125 dose of 100 mg/m2, 2 out of 3 patients developed side-effects equal to or higher than grade III and, therefore, 3 additional patients participated taking this dose. Among the 3 additional patients, 1 patient developed both grade III leukopenia and neutropenia. Therefore, further accrual was stopped at this dose (100 mg/m2). The maximally tolerated dose (MTD) of DA-125 was determined to be 100 mg/m2, and the dose-limiting factor for DA-125 was bone marrow suppression. DA-125 dose of 80 mg/m2, 80% of MTD of DA-125, was recommended as the dose for phase II clinical trial. Cardiotoxicity was not observed in any of the 21 patients according to the ECG and RVG. Neither fever, stomatitis, diarrhea, and renal and nervous system toxicity, nor abnormality in blood coagulation was observed in any of the patients, and death or life-threatening side-effects due to DA-125 were also not observed. Antitumor effects of DA-125 were evaluated from the 21 patients; 6 progressive disease, 14 stable disease, and 1 partial response. Pharmacokinetic parameters of M1, such as AUC, t1/2, CL, VSS, and MRT, seemed to be independent of i.v. doses of DA- 125, 20-100 mg/m2 and less than 0.75% of M1 were excreted in 96 h urine when expressed in terms of DA-125 i.v. dose. M2 was the main metabolite of DA-125 among M1-M4 excreted in urine; 10.1 approximately 22.3% of M2 was excreted in 96 h urine when expressed in terms of DA-125 i.v. dose. Bile was collected via the T-tube in 1 additional patient at the dose of 100 mg/m2. Biliary excretion of M1 and M2 was negligible; less than 0.320 and 4.76% of M1 and M2, respectively, were excreted in 96 h bile when expressed in terms of DA-125 i.v. dose.

Interspecies pharmacokinetic scaling of a new carbapenem, DA-1131, in mice, rats, rabbits and dogs, and prediction of human pharmacokinetics

The total body clearance (CI), renal clearance (CIr), and apparent volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) of DA-1131, a new carbapenem, after intravenous (iv) administration of the drug, 50 mg kg-1, to mice, rats, rabbits, and dogs were analysed as a function of species body weight (W) using the allometric equation for interspecies scaling, and were used to predict these parameters in humans. Significant linear relationships were obtained between log[CI (L h-1)] and log[W (kg)] (r = 0.995; p = 0.00503), log [CI, (L h-1)] and log [W (kg)] (r = 0.998; p = 0.0429), and log [Vss (L)] and log [W (kg)] (r = 0.987; p = 0.0126). The corresponding allometric equations were CI = 0.706W 0811, CIr = 0.318W 0.888, an V88 = 0.194W 0981. These allometric equations were extrapolated to predict the CI and Vss for DA-1131 in humans based on 70 kg body weight. The CI and Vss for humans predicted from the four animal data well fitted to regression lines of animal data. Interspecies scale-up of plasma concentration-time data for the four species using a complex Dedrick plot resulted in similar profiles. In addition, the concentration in plasma-time profile predicted that the DA-1131 data obtained from laboratory animals could be utilized to generate preliminary estimates of the pharmacokinetic parameters in humans. These parameters can serve as guidelines for better planning of clinical studies.

Pharmacokinetics of a new carbapenem, DA-1131, after intravenous administration to rats with uranyl nitrate-induced acute renal failure

Because the physiological changes that occur in patients with acute renal failure could alter the pharmacokinetics of the drugs used to treat the disease, the pharmacokinetics of DA-1131, a new carbapenem antibiotic, were investigated after 1-min intravenous administration of the drug (50 mg/kg of body weight) to control rats and rats with uranyl nitrate-induced acute renal failure (U-ARF rats). The impaired kidney function was observed in U-ARF rats on the basis of physiological parameters observed by microscopy of the kidney and obtained by chemical analysis of the plasma. After a 1-min intravenous infusion of DA-1131, the concentrations in plasma and the total area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity increased significantly in U-ARF rats compared with those in control rats (13,000 versus 4,400 microg x min/ml). This was due to the significantly slower total body clearance (CL) of DA-1131 (3.84 versus 11.4 ml/min/kg) from U-ARF rats than from control rats. The significantly slower CL of DA-1131 from U-ARF rats was due to both significantly slower renal clearance (0.000635 versus 4.95 ml/min/kg because of a significant decrease in the 8-h urinary excretion of unchanged DA-1131 [1.54 versus 43.8% of the intravenous dose] due to impaired kidney function, as proved by the significant decrease in creatinine clearance [0.0159 versus 4.29 ml/min/kg]) and significantly slower nonrenal clearance (3.80 versus 6.34 ml/min/kg because of a significant decrease in the metabolism of DA-1131 in the kidney) in U-ARF rats. The amounts of DA-1131 recovered from all tissues studied (except the kidneys) were significantly higher for U-ARF rats than for control rats; however, the ratios of the amount in tissue to the concentration in plasma (except those for the kidney, small intestine, and spleen) were not significantly different between the two groups of rats, indicating that the affinity of DA-1131 for rat tissues was not changed considerably in U-ARF rats.

Pharmacokinetic changes of M1, M2, M3 and M4 after intravenous administration of a new anthracycline, DA-125, to rats pretreated with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, chloramphenicol, or SKF-525A

The pharmacokinetics of M1-M4, the metabolites of a new anthracycline antineoplastic agent, DA-125, were compared after intravenous (i.v.) administration of DA-125, 15 mg kg-1, to rats pretreated with enzyme inducers, such as phenobarbital (PBT, n = 14) and 3-methylcholanthrene (MCT, n = 15), or enzyme inhibitors, such as SKF-525A (SKT, n = 11) and chloramphenicol (CMT, n = 15), and to their control rats (n = 15 for PBC, CMC or SKC, and n = 11 for MCC). After i.v. administration of DA-125, the plasma concentrations of both M1 and M2 declined slowly from 1 to 2 h onwards to 8 h in all groups of rats due to the continuous formation of M2 from M1. The AUC0-8 h of M1 (47.1 versus 7.85 micrograms min mL-1) and M2 (20.7 versus 44.3 micrograms min mL-1) decreased significantly in the PBT group compared to those in the PBC group. However, the corresponding value of only M1 (74.6 versus 89.9 micrograms min mL-1) decreased significantly in the MCT group. The above data indicate that metabolism of M1 is increased by pretreatment with both PB and 3-MC, and that of M2 with PB, but not with 3-MC. The AUC0-8 h of both M1 (126 versus 78.5 micrograms min mL-1) and M2 (69.2 versus 44.3 micrograms min mL-1) increased significantly in the SKT group compared to the SKC group. However, the corresponding values were not significantly different between CMC and CMT groups. The above data indicate that the metabolism of both M1 and M2 is inhibited by pretreatment with SKF-525A, but not with CM.

Pharmacokinetics of a non-narcotic analgesic, DA-5018, in rats

The pharmacokinetics of a non-narcotic analgesic, DA-5018, were compared after single intravenous (i.v.), subcutaneous (s.c.), and oral administrations, and after multiple (seven consecutive days) s.c. administration to rats. After i.v. administration of DA-5018, 1, 2, and 5 mg kg-1, the pharmacokinetic parameters of DA-5018 were independent of the dose ranges studied. After oral administration of DA-5018, absorption of the drug from gastrointestinal (GI) tract was fast, but the extent of absolute bioavailability (F) was low; the values were 23.2, 23.0, and 27.3% for 2, 5, and 10 mg kg-1, respectively. After single s.c. administration of DA-5018, absorption of the drug from the injected site was fast and the extent of absorption was fairly good; the F values were 74.5 and 71.8% for 2 and 5 mg kg-1, respectively. The lower F values after oral administration of DA-5018 to rats could be due to degradation of the drug in rat GI tract and/or considerable first-pass effect. After i.v., oral, and s.c. administration of DA-5018, the drug had a strong affinity to the rat tissues studied as reflected in the greater-than-unity tissue to plasma ratio. After i.v., oral, and s.c. administration of the drug, the biliary and urinary excretion of unchanged DA-5018 were negligible. There was no significant difference in the pharmacokinetics or tissue distribution of DA-5018 between single and multiple s.c. administration of the drug, 5 mg kg-1, to rats, indicating that there could be no tissue accumulation of the drug after multiple s.c. administration of the drug to rats.

A new point mutation (3426, A to G) in mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase gene in Korean diabetic patients which mimics 3243 mutation by restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern

Mitochondrial tRNA(Leu)(UUR) gene mutation is one of the candidates in the pathogenesis of NIDDM. Especially the 3243 (A-->G) mutation is associated with the maternally-inherited diabetes and deafness. To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of the 3243 point mutation in Koreans, we screened 433 Korean diabetic patients (220 men and 213 women). Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral white blood cells and PCR was carried out with mitochondrial DNA primers (3130-3149, 3558-3539) encompassing the 3243 position. After digestion with Apa-1, five subjects showed polymorphism suggesting 3243 point mutation but when we directly sequenced the amplified DNA with an automatic sequencer, only 2 of the 5 patients were shown to have 3243 (A-->G) mutation and the other 3 subjects had 3426 (A-->G) mutation rather than 3243 mutation. Two diabetic patients with 3243 mutation were lean (BMI = 14.4, 17.0 kg/m2), had relatively lower fasting C-peptide concentrations (0.9 ng/ml each), and required insulin for management. In contrast, those with 3426 point mutation were not lean (BMI = 22.6-28.0 kg/m2), had relatively higher C-peptide levels (3.9-5.4 ng/ml), and could be managed with oral hypoglycemic agents. None of the 5 patients had deafness. In conclusion, the prevalence of 3243 point mutation in Korean diabetic patients was approximately 0.5% and we found a new mutation mimicking 3243 mutation by PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) pattern. We suggest that sequencing of the PCR product or designing smaller PCR fragment size to enhance the specificity may help to identify the exact location of the point mutation.

Characteristics of human gastric carcinoma cell lines with induced multidrug resistance

In contrast to intrinsic drug resistance, induced multidrug resistance in gastric cancer cells has not been well studied. Therefore, two doxorubicin-resistant cell lines, (SNU-1DOX, SNU-16DOX), were derived in vitro from gastric carcinoma cell lines (SNU-1, SNU-16) respectively, and their characteristics were investigated. These resistances were not associated with overexpression of mdrl, multidrug resistance associated protein 1 (MRP1), pi or liver class of glutathione S transferase (GST pi, GSTL), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), p53 or transglutaminase C (TGC). Levels of p21WAF1 RNA and topoisomerase II protein were decreased in the SNU-16DOX, but not in SNU-1DOX. However, the subsequent enzyme activity of topoisomerase II in SNU-16DOX was not decreased, but rather increased in SNU-16DOX. Furthermore, both resistant cell lines showed lower uptake and higher efflux of doxorubicin and induced cross-resistance to etoposide and vincristine in addition to doxorubicin, indicating a multi-drug resistance phenotype. In summary, we report two gastric carcinoma cell lines exhibiting induced multidrug resistance phenotype and suggest that mdrl, MRP1, GST, TGC, HSP70 and p53 do not play important roles in induced drug resistance in these cell lines. The role of changes in topoisomerase II activity and/or protein is still inconclusive, and p21WAF1 is associated with induced multidrug resistance in the SNU-16DOX gastric carcinoma cell line.

Determination of a new antiulcer agent, eupatilin, in rat plasma, bile, urine, and liver homogenate by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of a new antiulcer agent, eupatilin, in rat plasma, urine, bile, and liver homogenate. The method involved deproteinization of biological sample with the same volume of acetonitrile. A 100 microl aliquot of the supernatant was injected onto a C18 reversed-phase column. The mobile phase employed was ammonium acetate buffer (1% ammonium acetate and 0.5% acetic acid) - acetonitrile (58:42, v/v) and the flow rate was 1.0 ml/min. The column effluent was monitored by a ultraviolet detector set at 350 nm. The retention time for eupatilin was approximately 6.5 min. The detection limits for eupatilin in rat plasma, urine, bile, and liver homogenate were 50, 50, 100, and 100 ng/ml, respectively. The coefficients of variation of the assay were generally low (below 7.46%) for rat plasma, urine, bile, and liver homogenate. No interferences from endogenous substances were observed.

Changes in epitopes for thyroid-stimulating antibodies in Graves' disease sera during treatment of hyperthyroidism: therapeutic implications

To determine whether there are changes in epitope recognition by stimulating TSH receptor antibodies (TSHRAbs) during treatment of hyperthyroidism and to evaluate the clinical relevance of such changes, we serially measured the activity of IgG preparations from 39 patients with Graves' disease over an 8-month period. To measure epitope changes of the stimulating TSHRAbs, we used Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with wild-type human TSHR (hTSHR) or TSHR chimeras with residues 90-165 (Mc2) substituted by equivalent residues of the rat LH/CG receptor. When initially examined, 37 of the 39 patients had significant stimulating TSHRAb activity measured with wild-type CHO-hTSHR cells. Serial measurements of stimulating TSHRAb activity in Mc2 chimera-transfected cells divided the 39 patients into three distinct groups. Thus, 10 patients (heterogeneous epitope group) exhibited low but significant activity in Mc2 chimera assays at the start of the study; 10 patients who were initially negative in Mc2 chimera assays remained negative (persistently homogeneous epitope group); and 19 patients who were initially negative in Mc2 chimera assays became transiently or persistently positive during treatment, despite a simultaneous decrease in TSHRAb activity measured with wild-type TSHR (changing epitope group). The functional stimulating TSHRAb epitope thus changed from residues 90-165 to residues outside this region in the last group, which comprises nearly two-thirds of the initially Mc2-negative patients (19 of 29) and one-half of all patients (19 of 39). Patients in the changing epitope group responded more quickly and to lower doses of methimazole than patients in the persistently homogeneous epitope group, behaving in this respect exactly as the patients in the heterogeneous epitope group. Additionally, although the decrease in stimulating TSHRAb activities during the 8-month treatment period was similar in the two groups, the thyrotropin binding inhibitor immunoglobulin (TBII) activities decreased more rapidly in patients in the persistently homogeneous epitope group than in patients in the changing epitope group (P < 0.05). There were no differences in initial stimulating TSHRAb or TBII activities, degree of hyperthyroidism, goiter size, or prior duration of symptoms between the persistently homogeneous epitope group and changing epitope group. In summation, we show that the epitopes of stimulating TSHRAbs in Graves' disease patients may change during their clinical course or treatment period, and that the change is from antibodies recognizing N-terminal TSHR residues 90-165 to antibodies recognizing other regions of the TSHR. We also show that the development of stimulating TSHRAbs with this heterogeneous epitope or their presence at the initial screening for disease activity seems to be associated with increased responsiveness to antithyroid drug therapy. We suggest, therefore, that Mc2 chimera assays may be useful to predict the response of patients to antithyroid drug therapy.

Determination of a new non-narcotic analgesic, DA-5018, in plasma, urine and bile by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of a new non-narcotic analgesic, DA-5018 (I), in rat plasma, urine and bile samples, using propranolol for plasma samples and protriptyline for urine and bile samples as internal standards. The method involved extraction followed by injection of 100 microliters of the aqueous layer onto a C18 reversed-phase column. The mobile phases were 5 mM methanesulfonic acid with 10 mM NaH2PO4 (pH 2.5)-acetonitrile, 70:30 (v/v) for plasma samples and 75:25 (v/v) for urine and bile samples. The flow-rates were 1.0 ml/min for plasma samples and 1.2 ml/min for urine and bile samples. The column effluent was monitored by a fluorescence detector with an excitation wavelength of 270 nm and an emission wavelength of 330 nm. The retention time for I was 4.8 min in plasma samples and 10.0 min in urine and bile samples. The detection limits for I in rat plasma, urine and bile were 20, 100 and 100 ng/ml, respectively. There was no interference from endogenous substances.

Pharmacokinetics of DA-125, a new anthracycline, after intravenous administration to spontaneously hypertensive rats and DOCA-salt-induced hypertensive rats

Pharmacokinetic parameters-including tissue distribution, biliary excretion, and urinary excretion of M1-M4-were compared after an intravenous administration of DA-125 (a new anthracycline derivative; 20 mg/kg body weight) to male spontaneously hypersensitive rats (SHRs) at 16 weeks (an animal model for human primary hypertension) and at 6 weeks (corresponding to the early phase of the development of hypertension, at which time blood pressure remains within the normotensive range) of age and their age-matched control Kyoto-Wistar rats, and male deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt-induced Sprague-Dawley rats (DOCA-salt rats, an animal model for human secondary hypertension) at 16 weeks of age and their age-matched control Sprague-Dawley rats. Mean plasma concentrations of both M2 and M4, and the resultant area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to last measured time [AUCT; M2 (68.9 vs. 29.3 micrograms-min/ml) and M4 (53.4 vs. 33.4 micrograms-min/ml)], increased significantly in SHRs at 16 weeks of age, compared with their control rats. Similar results were also obtained from DOCA-salt rats at 16 weeks of age, compared with their control rats. However, values were not significantly different between SHRs at 6 weeks of age and their control rats. Previous data indicated that the significant increase in plasma concentrations and the resultant AUCT values of both M2 and M4 in SHRs at 16 weeks of age were due to the hypertension state itself, and not to any hereditary characteristics of the SHRs. The significantly increased plasma concentrations and the resultant AUCT values of M2 in both SHRs and DOCA-salt rats at 16 weeks of age were due to the significantly decreased biliary excretion of M2 and possibly to the increased amount of aldo-keto reductase in the liver. However, the increase in the two aforementioned pharmacokinetic parameters in the case of M4 were possibly due solely to the increased amount of aldo-keto reductase in the liver.

Cellular uptake and antitumor activity of the new anthracycline analog DA-125 in human cancer cell lines

To predict the clinical usefulness of DA-125, a newly developed doxorubicin analog, we compared its antitumor activity against 20 different human cancer cell lines with that of doxorubicin using the MTT in vitro chemosensitivity test. We also measured and compared the cellular uptake of this drug and doxorubicin in two cancer cell lines and their doxorubicin-resistant sublines. In the MTT test, DA-125 showed lower IC50 values than doxorubicin for 14 of 20 cell lines. DA-125 was more potent than doxorubicin for hepatocellular cancer cells with high mdr 1 expression. Among cancer cells from the stomach and colon, DA-125 was more potent than doxorubicin in 12 of 14 cell lines. We also investigated the cross-resistance of this drug with doxorubicin using four doxorubicin-resistant cancer cell sublines. Except in one cell line, there was very low cross-resistance. Cellular drug-uptake experiments were performed for two gastric cancer cell lines and their doxorubicin-resistant sublines. In this experiment, DA-125 was found to be very rapidly and completely converted to its active metabolite, M1, in the culture media. After this conversion, M1 was incorporated into these cancer cells more rapidly and reached higher intracellular concentrations than doxorubicin, suggesting that DA-125 (as M1) could achieve earlier and higher levels of intracellular accumulation than doxorubicin in its target tissues from the bloodstream. As a possible alternative antineoplastic agent to doxorubicin, DA-125 awaits further evaluation for its antitumor activity and toxicity.

Determination of a new carbapenem antibiotic, DA-1131, in rat plasma, urine, and bile by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography

A column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of a new carbapenem antibiotic, DA-1131, in rat plasma, urine, and bile. Each biological sample was diluted with an equal volume of a stabilizer, 3% KH2PO4 (containing 2.0% sodium citrate, adjusted to pH 6.0 with 10 M NaOH). After centrifugation for 1 min at 3000 g, an aliquot of the supernatant was injected directly onto the HPLC column. Deionized water was run for 3 min at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min to retain DA-1131 in an extraction column, while proteins and endogenous interferences were eluted to the waste. The analyte was then back-flushed onto an analytical column, C18 reversed-phase column. The mobile phases for analytical column, 10 mM 3-[N-morpholino]propane sulfonic acid (pH 4.5)-acetonitrile (90:10, v/v) for plasma samples, and 5 mM KH2PO4 (adjusted to pH 8.0 with 10 M NaOH)-acetonitrile (90:10, v/v) for urine and bile samples, were run at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The column effluent was monitored by ultraviolet detection at 300 nm. The retention time for DA-1131 was 8 min in plasma samples and 13 min for urine and bile samples. The detection limits for DA-1131 in rat plasma, urine, and bile were 0.05, 1.0, and 1.0 microgram/ml, respectively. The intraday and interday coefficients of variation of the assay were generally low (below 8.40%) for rat plasma, urine, and bile samples. No interference from endogenous substances was observed.

Pharmacokinetic changes of M1, M2, M3, and M4 after intravenous administration of a new anthracycline, DA-125, to alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus rats

The pharmacokinetics of M1, M2, M3, and M4 were compared after intravenous (i.v.) administration of DA-125, 15 mg/kg to the control (n = 15) and alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus (AIDM, n = 11) rats. After i.v. administration of DA-125, almost 'constant' plasma concentrations of M1 and M2 were maintained from 1-2 h onwards to 8-10 h in both groups of rats due to the continuous formation of M2 from M1. The plasma concentrations of M3 were the lowest among M1-M4 in the control rats due to the rapid and essentially complete conversion of M3 to M4. The AUC0-8 h of M1 (189 versus 78.5 mg min/ml) was significantly greater in the AIDM rats than that in the control rats. However, the AUCts of M2 (32.7 versus 44.3 micrograms min/ml) and M4 (not measurable versus 19.7 micrograms min/ml) were significantly smaller in the AIDM rats. The renal clearances of both M1 (0.157 versus 0.334 ml/min/kg) and M2 (0.726 versus 14.6 ml/min/kg) decreased significantly in the AIDM rats, presumably due to their impaired kidney function. The liver weight decreased significantly in the AIDM rats (2.77 versus 3.77% of body weight), suggesting impaired liver function. Above data suggested that the metabolism of M1 to M2-M4 in the liver and kidney decreased significantly in the AIDM rats. M2 was the main metabolite among M1-M4 excreted in 24 h urine in both group of rats. In the AIDM rats, the amount of M2 excreted in 24 h urine decreased significantly (15.7 versus 229 micrograms) whereas the amount of M2 recovered at 24 h from the whole GI tract increased significantly (45.1 versus 14.0 micrograms).

Pharmacokinetics of four metabolites of DA-125, a new anthracycline antineoplastic agent after single and multiple intravenous administration to rats

The tissue distribution, and biliary and urinary excretion of four metabolites (M1-M4) of a new anthracycline antineoplastic agent (DA-125) were compared after single and multiple (7 consecutive days) intravenous (i.v.) administration to rats. The mean pharmacokinetic parameters of M1, such as area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC: 56.4 micrograms/ml vs. 69.0 micrograms min/ml), terminal half-life (t1/2: 3.51 h vs. 3.01 h), total body clearance (Cl: 70.9 ml/min/kg vs. 58.0 ml/min/kg), renal clearance (ClR: 0.193 ml/min/kg vs. 0.336 ml/min/kg) and nonrenal clearance (ClNR: 70.7 ml/min/kg vs. 57.7 ml/min/kg); of M2, such as plasma AUC (39.4 micrograms min/ml vs. 41.9 micrograms min/ ml), t1/2 (6.15 h vs. 7.34 h) and ClR (10.5 ml/min/ kg vs. 13.8 ml/min/kg); and of M4, such as plasma AUC (4.82 micrograms min/ml vs. 6.54 micrograms min/ml) and t1/2 (3.33 h vs 4.02 h), were comparable between single and multiple administrations of DA-125. M3 was detected in plasma for up to 1-5 min, and M3 and M4 were below the detection limit in 24-h urine after both single and multiple administrations of DA-125. M2 was the main metabolite of DA-125 excreted (among M1-M4) in 24-h urine after both single and multiple administrations of DA-125; approximately 12.3% and 20.1% (P < 0.01) of i.v. dosage (expressed in terms of DA-125) was excreted as M2 after single and multiple administrations of DA-125, respectively. Corresponding values for M1 were 0.326% and 0.694% (P < 0.05). The mean levels of M1 (229 micrograms vs. 175 micrograms) and M2 (1330 micrograms vs. 1120 micrograms) excreted in 24-h bile after single and multiple administrations of DA-125 were not significantly different; the percentages of i.v. dosage excreted in 24-h bile as M1 (expressed in terms of DA-125) were 4.83% and 3.58% after single and multiple administrations, respectively. The corresponding values for M2 were 27.8% and 22.5%. M3 and M4 were below the detection limit in 24-h bile after both single and multiple administrations of DA-125. Mean AUAts (area under the amount-time curves from time zero to last measurement time t) (or AUCts-area under the plasma concentration-time curves from time zero until the last measurement time t) of M1-M4 in each tissue after single and multiple administrations of DA-125 were also comparable except in the bone marrow and thymus. The data suggest that 7 consecutive days of i.v. administration of DA-125 (4 mg/kg) to rats does not lead to considerable accumulation of M1-M4 in the tissues, except in the bone marrow and thymus.

Comparison of pharmacokinetics of M1, M2, M3, and M4 after intravenous administration of DA-125 or ME2303 to mice and rats. New adriamycin analogues containing fluorine

The pharmacokinetics of M1, M2, M3 and/or M4 were compared after intravenous (i.v.) administration of DA-125 and/or ME2303 to mice (25 mg kg(-1)) and rats (5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg kg(-1)). The mean plasma concentrations of M1 were detected up to 8 h after i.v. administration of both DA-125 and ME2303 to mice, and were significantly higher for DA-125 than ME2303; this resulted in a considerably greater AUC (303 against 148 micrograms min mL(-1)) and a considerably slower CL of M1 (69.3 against 136 mL min-1 kg(-1)) after i.v. administration of DA-125. The MRT (371 against 189 min) and CLNR of M1 (68.7 against 136 mL min-1 kg(-1)) were considerably greater and slower, respectively, after i.v. administration of DA-125. The mean plasma concentrations of M2 were detected up to 8 and 4 h after i.v. administration of DA-125 and ME2303, respectively, to mice and were significantly higher for DA-125 than ME2303, resulting in a considerably greater AUC of M2 (148 against 27.1 micrograms min mL(-1)) after i.v. administration of DA-125. The mean plasma concentrations of M3, being the lowest among M1-M4, were detected only up to 15 min after i.v. administration of both DA-125 and ME2303 to mice, and were comparable after i.v. administration of DA-125 and ME2303 to mice. The mean plasma concentrations of M4 were detected up to 8 h after i.v. administration of both DA-125 and ME2303 to mice, and were higher after i.v. administration of DA-125 than ME2303, resulting in a considerably greater AUC of M4 (197 against 61.9 micrograms min mL(-1)) after i.v. administration of DA-125. Similar results on M1 and M2 were also obtained from rats: the mean plasma concentrations of both M1 and M2 were significantly higher after i.v. administration of DA-125, 10 mg kg(-1), than after ME2303. The plasma concentrations of M1, M2, and M4, and hence their AUCs, were significantly higher after i.v. administration of DA-125, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg kg(-1), to rats than after ME2303: the mean plasma concentrations of M2, approximately 0.1-0.4 micrograms mL(-1), were maintained from 30 min to 8-10 h after i.v. administration of DA-125, 20, 30, and 40 mg kg(-1), to rats; the plasma concentrations of M3 were the lowest among M1-M4 at all DA-125 doses; and those of M1 and M4 were maintained for a long period of time. However, after i.v. administration of M2, 5 mg kg(-1), to rats, the mean plasma concentrations of M2 were detected up to 60 min with a mean terminal half-life of only 38.8 min, and the concentrations of M3 were negligible. After i.v. administration of M3, 5 mg kg(-1), to rats, the mean plasma concentrations of M3 were detected up to 15 min; the plasma concentrations of M4, reaching their peak at 5 min, decayed more slowly and were higher than those of M3. The AUC of M4 after i.v. administration of M3, 5 mg kg(-1), was comparable to that after i.v. administration of M4, 5 mg kg(-1), to rats, suggesting that M4 is formed fast and almost completely from M3. M1 was not detected in plasma after i.v. administration of either M2 or M3 to rats. After i.v. administration of M4, 5 mg kg(-1), to rats, the mean plasma concentrations of M4 decayed fast with a mean terminal half-life of 43.9 min and neither M2 nor M3 were detected in plasma. The following disposition mechanisms for M1, M2, M3, and M4 after i.v. administration of DA-125 to rats could be obtained from the above data; (i) the maintenance of plasma concentrations of M2 for a longer period of time after i.v. administration of DA-125 than those after i.v. administration of M2 could be due to the continuous formation of M2 from M1; (ii) the lowest plasma concentrations of M3 among M1-M4 after i.v. administration of DA-125 could be due to the fast and almost complete information of M4 from M3 as soon as M3 is formed from M1, and not due to the fast renal excretion of unchanged M3; (iii) M4 was exclusively and continuously formed from M3 and the formation of M4 from M2 was negligible; and (i.v.) reversible me

Epitopes for thyroid-stimulating antibodies in Graves' sera: a possible link of heterogeneity to differences in response to antithyroid drug treatment

To evaluate the extent and clinical relevance of epitope heterogeneity for stimulating TSH receptor antibodies (TSHRAbs), we measured the activity of IgG preparations from 66 untreated patients with Graves' disease using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with wild-type human TSHR and two TSHR chimeras with residues 9-165 (Mc1 + 2) or 90-165 (Mc2) substituted by equivalent residues of the LH/CG receptor. IgG from 68% of patients lose all of the stimulating TSHRAb activity with the chimeras; IgG from 27% lose most of the activity. Thus, we show that 95% of patients have stimulating TSHRAbs that require epitopes on the N-terminal portion of the extracellular domain of the TSHR and demonstrate the importance of epitopes within residues 90-165 for the first time. Heterogeneous epitope distribution, residual activity with one or both chimeras, i.e. with epitopes other than on the N-terminus of the TSHR, occurred in 21 patients (group A). Forty-five patients with homogeneous epitope distribution (group B) had stimulating TSHRAbs that depended only on epitopes on the N-terminus of the TSHR. Patients in group A were more likely to become euthyroid during antithyroid drug therapy and to do so more quickly than group B patients. The CHO-human TSHR cell system described herein appears to be as effective as the FRTL-5 rat thyroid system in stimulating TSHRAb detection; however, the two systems appear to measure different antibody populations in about 30% of cases. Further, stimulating TSHRAb activities measured in the FRTL-5 system tend to correlate better with goiter size and 99mTc pertechnetate uptake, whereas stimulating activities measured in the CHO-human TSHR/chimera system correlate better with free T4 and T3 levels.

Pharmacokinetics of DA-125, a new anthracycline, after intravenous administration to uranyl nitrate-induced acute renal failure rats or protein-calorie malnutrition rats

The pharmacokinetics of DA-125 were compared after intravenous (i.v.) administration of the drug, 10 mg kg-1, to control male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 9) and uranyl nitrate-induced acute renal failure (U-ARF, n = 12) rats, or male Sprague-Dawley rats fed on a 23% (control, n = 8) or a 5% (protein-calorie malnutrition, PCM, n = 9) protein diet. After i.v. administration of DA-125, almost 'constant' plasma concentrations of M1, M2, and M4 were maintained from 1-2 h to 8-10 h in all rat groups due to the continuous formation of M2 from M1 and M4 from M3. The plasma concentrations of M3 were the lowest among M1-M4 for all rat groups due to the rapid and almost complete conversion of M3 to M4 and other metabolite(s). The AUCt values of M1 (115 against 82.5 micrograms min mL-1), M2 (33.0 against 23.6 micrograms min mL-1), and M4 (26.3 against 15.1 micrograms min mL-1) were significantly higher in the U-ARF rats than in the control rats. The percentages of i.v. dose excreted in 24 h urine as M1 (under the detection limit against 0.316%), M2 (under the detection limit against 5.58%), and M4 (0.0174 against 0.719%)--expressed in terms of DA-125--were significantly lower in the U-ARF rats than in the control rats, and this could be due to the decreased kidney function in the U-ARF rats. However, the percentages of i.v. dose recovered from the GI tract at 24 h as M1 (0.0532% against under the detection limit), M3 (0.0286% against under the detection limit), and M4 (0.702% against 0.305%)--expressed in terms of DA-125--were significantly greater in the U-ARF rats than in the control rats. All U-ARF rats had ascites, but the concentrations of M1 (0.0320 micrograms mL-1), M2 (0.0265 micrograms mL-1), M3 (under the detection limit), and M4 (0.032 micrograms mL-1) in the ascites from one rat were almost negligible. The plasma concentrations and most of the pharmacokinetic parameters of M1, M2, and M4 were not significantly different between the PCM rats and their control rats.

Stability, blood partition, and protein binding of DA-5018, a new nonnarcotic analgesic

The stability of DA-5018, a capsaicin analog as a new non-narcotic analgesic, in plasma, blood, 4% human serum albumin (HSA), and isotonic Sørensen phosphate buffer at pH 7.4 containing dextran to make 3% ('the buffer'), the blood partition of DA-5018 between plasma and blood cells, and the factors influencing the binding of DA-5018 to 4% HSA using an equilibrium dialysis technique were evaluated. DA-5018 was stable in both rat blood and plasma for up to 4 hr storage at 25 degrees C. However, DA-5018 was unstable in both dog blood and plasma; the disappearance half-lives were 1 and 1.67 hr for dog blood and plasma, respectively, when they were kept at 25 degrees C. DA-5018 seemed to be stable in 'the buffer' for up to 24 hr standing at both 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C, and in 4% HSA at 25 degrees C. However, DA-5018 was unstable in 4% HSA at 37 degrees C. DA-5018 reached equilibrium very fast between blood cells and plasma in rat blood; the mean blood cells to plasma concentration ratio was 1.31 +/- 0.0907. Although both blood and plasma concentrations of DA-5018 were unstable after incubation in dog blood, the blood cells to plasma concentration ratio was independent of incubation time; the mean value was 0.857 +/- 0.0502. Binding of DA-5018 to 4% HSA was dependent on DA-5018 concentration, buffer pH, and incubation temperature. The binding was independent of buffers containing various chloride ion concentrations. The binding of DA-5018 was dependent on alpha-1-acid glycoprotein and HSA concentrations.

Protective effect of taurine on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal injury

It has been suggested that oxygen-derived free radicals play an important role in the pathophysiology of acute gastric ulceration induced by NSAIDs and ischemia-reperfusion. Taurine is hypothesized to exert its protective effect on NSAIDs-induced gastric injury by its antioxidant properties. The protective effect of taurine on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesion and its protective mechanism were investigated. Intragastric administration of 25 mg/kg of indomethacin induced hemorrhagic lesions on the glandular stomach in rats. Pretreatment with 0.25 or 0.5 g/kg of taurine one day before or for 3 days significantly reduced gastric lesion formation and inhibited the elevation of lipid peroxide level in gastric mucosa. Both resting and FMLP-induced luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of rat peritoneal neutrophils increased immediately after treatment with indomethacin. Taurine (5-20 mM) inhibited chemiluminescence of neutrophils activated by FMLP. Human neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes) adhered to the confluent monolayer of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) after coincubation with indomethacin. This neutrophil adhesion induced by indomethacin to HUVEC was prevented by taurine in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that the protective effect of taurine against NSAIDs-induced gastric mucosal injury is due to its antioxidant effect, which inhibits lipid peroxidation and neutrophil activation.

Stability, tissue metabolism, tissue distribution, and blood partition of DA-1131, a new carbapenem

The stability of DA-1131 after incubation in various pH solutions, human plasma, human urine, human gastric juice, rat liver homogenates and rat whole blood, the disappearance of DA-1131 after incubation in the 9000g supernatant fraction of various rat tissue homogenates in the presence of NADPH, the tissue distribution of DA-1131 after intravenous (i.v.) administration of DA-1131, 50 mg/kg, to rats, and the blood partition of DA-1131 between plasma and blood cells from rabbit blood were studied. DA-1131 was unstable when incubated in various pH solutions, especially at low and high pHs at the DA-1131 concentration of 10 micro g/ml; the degradation half-lives of DA-1131 were 0.260, 1.23, 2.20, 7.16, 14.2, 10.5, 31.3, 21.3, 0.262, 0.241, and 1.45 hr for pH solutions of 1-11, respectively. DA-1131 was also unstable after incubation in human plasma, rat liver homogenates, and human gastric juice. However, DA-1131 seemed to be sable in human plasma for up to 12 hr storage at -20 degrees C. The spleen, kidney, liver, lung, mesentery, and stomach homogenates from rats showed metabolic activity to DA-1131. The tissue-to-plasma ratios of DA-1131 were lower than unity in all tissues studied except kidney when each tissue was collected at 30 min after i.v. administration of DA-1131 to rats. The tissue-to-plasma ratios of DA-1131 were lower than unity in all tissues studied except kidney when each tissue was collected at 30 min after i.v. administration of DA-1131 to rats. The plasma-to-blood cell concentration ratios of DA-1131 were independent of DA-1131 blood concentrations when the whole blood was incubated up to 120 min; the mean values were 5.56 +/- 1.47, 5.80 +/- 2.19, and 4.61 +/- 1.82 at DA-1131 blood concentrations of 2, 10, and 20 microgram/ml, respectively, rabbits A-C. There was also considerable in vivo and in vitro blood storage effect in the plasma concentration of DA-1131 in rabbits.

High prevalence and little change in TSH receptor blocking antibody titres with thyroxine and antithyroid drug therapy in patients with non-goitrous autoimmune thyroiditis

OBJECTIVE

We have reevaluated the prevalence and pathogenetic importance of TSH receptor blocking antibodies (TRBAb) in autoimmune hypothyroidism, and investigated the changes in TRBAb activities during thyroxine and antithyroid drug treatment.

DESIGN

Serum TSH binding inhibitor immunoglobulin (TBII) and thyroid stimulation blocking antibody (TSBAb) were measured serially in all patients with non-goitrous autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) and measured monthly during methimazole treatment in 6 patients.

PATIENTS

Ninety patients with non-goitrous AT and 95 patients with goitrous AT were entered consecutively into this study. All patients with non-goitrous AT were treated with thyroxine and followed at intervals of 6 months for 2 years initially and then yearly intervals. The duration of follow-up was 1-8 years. Six patients from the TRBAb-positive non-goitrous AT group who were treated with thyroxine were randomly selected and given additional treatments with methimazole (40 mg per day) for 6 months.

MEASUREMENTS

Serum TBII was measured by a radioreceptor assay, TSBAb by using FRTL-5 cells, and antithyroid peroxidase and antithyroglobulin antibodies by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

The prevalences of TBII and TSBAb is non-goitrous AT were 47.8 and 58.9%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in goitrous AT (6.3% for TBII, 10.5% for TSBAb). All but one patient showed persistent TBII and TSBAb activities during the thyroxine treatment for up to 8 years. A high dose of methimazole (40 mg per day) did not affect the titres of TBII and TSBAb in 5 out of 6 patients with non-goitrous AT tested. However, antithyroid peroxidase and antithyroglobulin antibodies activities were significantly decreased during the methimazole treatment.

CONCLUSION

The high prevalence of TSH receptor blocking antibodies (TRBAb) suggests that TRBAb may play a major role in the development of hypothyroidism and thyroid atrophy in the vast majority of patients with non-goitrous autoimmune thyroiditis. Most TRBAb activities are stable for at least 8 years and are now affected by thyroxine and antithyroid drug treatment.

Pharmacokinetics and antitumour activity of a new anthracycline, DA-125, after intravenous administration to subcutaneously implanted Lewis-lung-carcinoma-bearing mice

The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of M1-M4 were compared after intravenous (i.v.) administration of DA-125, 25 mg kg-1, to BDF1 mice (n = 5 at each sampling time) and subcutaneously implanted Lewis-lung-carcinoma-bearing BDF1 mice (n = 10 at each sampling time. The mean plasma concentrations of M1-M4 were not significantly different between the two groups of mice, and hence similar pharmacokinetic parameters for M1-M4 were obtained. The amount of M1 in the lung was significantly greater in the tumour-bearing mice than in the control mice, resulting in a greater AUAt in the tumour-bearing mice (18,600 against 8940 micrograms min g-1), and vice versa in the liver (962 against 3840 micrograms min g-1). However, the corresponding values for other tissues were comparable between the control and tumour-bearing mice. The amount of M1 was greatest in the lung for up to 2 h in the tumour-bearing mice. M2 was the predominant metabolite among M1-M4 excreted in 24 h urine by both groups of mice; 8.36 and 10.7% of the i.v. dose were excreted in 24 h urine as M2--expressed in terms of DA-125--by the control and tumour-bearing mice, respectively. The amount of M1 in the tumour mass reached a mean Cmax of 3.75 micrograms g-1 immediately after i.v. administration of DA-125 to the tumour-bearing mice, then declined very slowly to an amount that remained almost constant for up to 24 h. This suggested that M1 has high affinity for the subcutaneously implanted Lewis lung carcinoma. The antitumour activity, such as the increase in life span (ILS) and tumour growth inhibition (TGI) of DA-125, 6-48 mg kg-1, and adriamycin (ADM), 3-18 mg kg-1, were also compared in subcutaneously implanted Lewis-lung-carcinoma-bearing BDF1 mice after four weekly i.v. administration of the drugs on days 1,8,15, and 22 following tumour implantation. More than three out of six mice survived as tumour-free for longer than 70 d at a DA-125 dose range of 6-24 mg kg-1, but there were no tumour-free mice at any dose of ADM. Assuming ILS values higher than 30% to be effective, DA-125 doses ranging from 6 to 24 mg kg-1 were effective in increasing the life span, which ADM does only within the dose range of 6-12 mg kg-1.

Simultaneous determination of a new anthracycline, DA-125, and its metabolites M1, M2, M3 and M4 in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of a new anthracycline, DA-125 (I), and its metabolites (M1, M2, M3, and M4) in rat plasma and urine using fluorescein as an internal standard. Compound I, a prodrug of M1, is a beta-alanine derivative of M1, and only M1 shows antineoplastic activity. The method involved extraction or deproteinization followed by injection of 80-100 microliters of the aqueous layer or supernatant onto a C18 reversed-phase column. The mobile phases were 1% acetic acid-isopropyl alcohol-methanol (70:20:10, v/v) or 5 mM of ion-pairing chromatography reagent (IPC B8)-isopropyl alcohol-methanol (70:20:10, v/v) for the extraction or deproteinization methods, respectively. The flow-rate was 1.5 ml/min for both methods. The column effluent was monitored by a fluorescence detector with excitation wavelength of 488 nm and emission wavelength of 556 nm. The detection limits for M1, M2, M3, and M4 in rat plasma and urine were 50 ng/ml for all compounds using the extraction method, and 100, 50, 50, 50, and 50 ng/ml for I, M1, M2, M3 and M4 in rat plasma respectively, using the deproteinization method. No interferences from endogenous substances, adriamycin or daunorubicin were found.

Multistep photorefractive keratectomy for high myopia

Nineteen human myopic eyes exceeding -8.00 D underwent multi-step excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with 6-month follow up. We performed two or three step PRK at the same time according to the amount of myopia present. The preoperative refraction ranged from -8.87 D to -16.99 D (mean -12.28 D). The mean attempted correction was 7.83 D. Six months after surgery, the mean refraction was -2.23 D. Keratometry demonstrated stable flattening of the cornea, and pachometry showed central cornea thinning. Seventeen eyes had clear or trace corneal haze. Above results showed multi-step PRK is a safe and relatively efficient procedure for correction of high myopia, but long-term follow up will be necessary to determine the stability of this procedure.

Molecular weight of major component proteins in crude saline extract of adult Paragonimus westermani

When the component proteins in crude saline extract of 13-week old adult Paragonimus westermani were observed by non-denaturing discontinuous-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Disc-PAGE), 8 distinct bands were clearly recognized. Molecular weight (MW) of each band protein, numbered in sequence from cathodal side which appeared in 10% separating gel, was measured first by Ferguson plot utilizing different gel concentrations from 10% to 4.5%. MW of band 1 protein (known as egg protein) was 440 kDa. And MW of other band proteins were: 386 kDa in band 2, 17.4 kDa in band 3, 17 kDa in band 4, 14.3 kDa in band 5, 46 kDa in band 6, 38 kDa in band 7 and 23 kDa in band 8. When the proteins in the crude extract were separated into fractions by molecular sieve chromatography through 1.6(phi) X 70 cm sized Sephacryl S-300 Superfine column and revisualized by Disc-PAGE in 8% gel, the sequence of eluted proteins was band 1, band 2, band 6, band 7 and bands 3, 4, 5 and 8. This elution profile confirmed MW of each band protein in the crude extract as measured by Ferguson plot.

Immunoaffinity purification of hepatitis B surface antigen using anti-idiotype as a specific eluent

An immunoaffinity method for the purification of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using monoclonal anti-idiotype (anti-Id) as a specific eluent is described. Ammonium sulfate fractions of HBsAg-containing plasma were absorbed on monoclonal idiotype (Id) immunoadsorbents. The bound material was eluted from the column with the anti-Id of HBsAg. The eluate containing anti-Id was further purified by gel filtration. The procedure yielded highly purified HBsAg. The final HBsAg product was free from contaminating human plasma and mouse ascites proteins. The procedure is generally applicable and particularly attractive when the antigen is unstable under commonly used elution conditions.

Population distribution policy in China: a review

"After briefly reviewing China's development strategy in the post-1949 period, this article describes the policies and programmes adopted by the Chinese government for controlling internal migration. The effects of those policies and programmes on total migration rates, rural-to-urban migration, interregional migration, interprovincial migration, and population distribution among cities of different size are also assessed. The increasing number of temporary migrants, including China's 'floating population,' will be examined as well, together with recent policy changes in population migration and movement." A comment by Lawrence J. C. Ma is included (pp. 188-91).

Inhibition ELISA for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using monoclonal idiotype-anti-idiotype interaction

Monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody (Anti-Id) to the common (a) epitope of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were raised and used to detect serum HBsAg in an inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (inhibition ELISA). HRP-labelled Id 8D-3-6 was reacted with Anti-Id 4-8H coated on the solid phase in the presence of HBsAg. The ability of the antigen to inhibit the binding of labelled Id 8D-3-6 to anti-Id 4-8H was determined and the results correlated well with those obtained by radioimmunoassay. This assay requires only one washing step, takes 2 h and covers the range 10 ng/ml to 1 microgram HBsAg/ml. The inhibition ELISA is a more convenient, rapid and relatively sensitive assay which can be used to measure the level of a wide range of serum HBsAg.

Urban unemployment and labor force participation in Korea

"This paper examines urban unemployment patterns in [the Republic of] Korea using a simultaneous model of unemployment and labor force participation. Urban demographic characteristics and economic conditions are put forward to explain inter-urban variations in the rates of unemployment and labor force participation. The estimation results indicate the importance of local demographic characteristics and economic conditions in determining labor force participation rates and unemployment rates. The results clearly indicate that 'sexual dualism' is pervasive in the urban labor market in Korea. Market discrimination against women is quite evident. "The analysis is based on data from the 1980 Population and Housing Census of Korea and the 1974 Special Labor Force Survey.

Urbanization and economic development policy in Korea

"This paper has firstly discussed the development strategy and urbanization in [the Republic of] Korea for the period 1960-1980. [This is] followed with an intensive review of the past and recent population redistribution policy of Korea. Finally the authors make some general suggestions which are characterized as an expansion of opportunities and services in the underprivileged areas." (summary in CHI)