Purification and characterization of a human mammary tumor-derived growth factor

A growth factor has been purified to homogeneity from human mammary tumors. The human mammary tumor-derived growth factor (h.MTGF) has a molecular weight of 16,000 and an isoelectric point of 8.0 and is sensitive to heat, trypsin digestion, acid, and reduction. h.MTGF was purified to homogeneity using carboxymethylcellulose 52, heparin-Sepharose, and copper-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The stimulation of proliferation in cultured rabbit fetal chondrocytes was used as the principal bioassay. Purified h.MTGF was also mitogenic for bovine corneal endothelial cells, human fibroblasts, and a human breast cancer cell line, T-47D. It is postulated that h.MTGF may play a role in the fibrovascular changes of malignant breast tumors and promote the autonomous growth of the neoplastic cell population.

Human pituitary tissue secretes a potent growth factor for chondrocyte proliferation

We report the secretion from human pituitary tumor fragments in organ culture of a potent mitogen for chondrocyte proliferation. Primary human pituitary cell and organ cultures were established from pituitary fragments obtained from patients with acromegaly, prolactinomas, and nonfunctional adenomas. The conditioned culture medium contained a mitogenic factor(s) that stimulated rabbit fetal chondrocyte proliferation, causing up to an 8-fold increase in cell number when added to Ham's F-10 medium in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum. Blood leaking into the surgical field after the adenomectomy is known to contain very high concentrations of pituitary hormones. Serum samples, obtained from this venous "ooze" collected at the site of pituitary surgery, also were found to contain chondrocyte growth-promoting activity. Some venous serum samples stimulated chondrocyte proliferation in a dose-dependent manner down to a 1:10 dilution of 1 microliter serum, indicating that the material being secreted was very potent indeed. Gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and analytical gel isoelectric focusing of culture media or serum samples from the pituitary fossa demonstrated that the growth factor secreted from the pituitary tumor fragments as well as from the venous serum is similar, if not identical, to chondrocyte growth factor (mol wt, 43,000; pI 7.6-7.9) purified from human pituitaries collected at autopsy. These results suggest that the chondrocyte growth-promoting factor(s) may not only be secreted by pituitary tumor fragments but by normal human pituitary tissue as well.

Dexamethasone suppression test in a pluridiagnostic approach: its relationship to psychopathological and clinical variables

Using a pluridiagnostic approach, the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was studied in 67 depressed inpatients in its relationship to diverse clinical variables. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD), the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC), the Newcastle Index, the Hamilton Depression Rating scale (HAM-D), and the Bf-s self rating questionnaire were applied. Fifty-two per cent of endogenous depressed (ICD), 51% of major depressive (RDC) and 53% of endogenous depressed (Newcastle) patients demonstrated dexamethasone nonsuppression (DSTN) with a value above 110 nm/l. Six per cent of neurotic depressed (ICD), 9% of minor depressive (RDC) and 23% of neurotic depressed (Newcastle) patients were dexamethasone nonsuppressors. Significantly higher values (after P-correction) for DSTN could be detected in severity ratings as measured with Newcastle (P less than 0.001) and HAM-D global score (P less than 0.001) and also for HAM-D factor 4 (somatic complaints, P = 0.001). All the other evaluated variables did not discriminate between patients with dexamethasone suppression and with nonsuppression.

[Serotonin precursors as antidepressive agents: a review]

The serotonin hypothesis postulates a decreased function of this neurotransmitter in the central nervous system of depressed patients. L-tryptophan and--more specific--5-hydroxytryptophan are natural precursors of this biogenic amine. Results of numerous therapeutic trials with L-tryptophan are not convincing of this compound's antidepressant efficacy in marked to severe endogenous depressions. On the other hand, it cannot be excluded that it is effective in moderate dysphoric states with apathy and sleep disturbances. However, possible toxic effects of high and long term use render its clinical use doubtful. The antidepressant efficacy of 5-hydroxytryptophan has not been proven. However, the possibility exists that a serotonin deficient subgroup of depressed patients responds to this substance and further, that it has depression prophylactic properties. As both tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan are less effective than tricyclic antidepressants and not without side effects they do not appear to be useful antidepressants.

Dexamethasone suppression test combined with total sleep deprivation in depressed patients

The effect of one night's total sleep deprivation (SD) on the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was studied in groups of endogenously and nonendogenously depressed patients who were diagnosed according to different research classification systems. The DST was normal (less than 5 micrograms/dl) before and after SD in the group of nonendogenously depressed patients. Deterioration, no change or only slight clinical response in single items occurred. In the group of endogenous depressives 8 out of 11 were baseline nonsuppressors (greater than 5 micrograms/dl). After SD a large variability of cortisol nonsuppression was found in this group. Clinical response occurred in the majority of these patients but was more favorable in those who had a trend for normalization of DST. Clinical diagnosis as well as DST seem to have a therapy-predictive value for one night's total SD in patients with affective disorders.

Chondrocyte growth factor from the human pituitary gland

Extracts of frozen human pituitaries were mitogenic in a fetal rabbit chondrocyte bioassay. In the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum, a 10-fold increase in chondrocyte cell number was observed upon addition of the pituitary factor to the culture medium. After gel filtration, the chondrocyte growth factor eluted with proteins of approximately 40,000 molecular weight. These fractions were pooled and purified further upon ion exchange chromatography using DEAE-cellulose. The most active fraction stimulated cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner down to 10 ng/ml. The chondrocyte growth factor was trypsin- and heat-sensitive (100 degrees C, 10-15 min). Its isoelectric point (pI 7.9) was different from bovine brain and pituitary fibroblast growth factor (pI 4.8-5.8 and pI 9.5, respectively. Unlike the somatomedins and epidermal growth factor, it was acid-labile. Preparations of human growth hormone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone, as well as vasopressin and oxytocin, were inactive in the bioassay, demonstrating that the human pituitary contains a chondrocyte growth factor which appears to be distinct from these anterior and posterior pituitary hormones.

The anticholinergic biperiden in depressive disorders

In an open study the cholinolytic biperiden was administered to 10 severely depressed inpatients in an average dose of 12 mg per day for 30 days. Patients were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, the research Diagnostic Criteria and the Newcastle Scale. A significant improvement was demonstrated in the global score of the Hamilton Depression Scale (p less than 0.001). Especially the factors retardation (p less than 0.001) and agitation (p less than 0.001) and the items depressed mood (p less than 0.001), initial insomnia (p less than 0.05), work and interest (p less than 0.001) and gastrointestinal symptoms (p less than 0.001) could favorably be influenced. Nevertheless, biperiden treatment had to be discontinued after three weeks in two patients because of a paranoid syndrome in one case and symptoms of inner restlessness and disturbances of vital feelings in the other case. There was a positive correlation between the clinical response and the cortisol non-suppressability to dexamethasone prior to the study (p less than 0.03). These results taken together with other findings from the literature suggest that cholinergic mechanisms may have an important impact on the pathogenesis of certain forms of depression.

Trazodone and amitriptyline in treatment of depressed inpatients. A double-blind study

Trazodone (TZ), a 'new generation' antidepressant and amitriptyline (AMT) were administered in a double-blind controlled study to 43 depressed inpatients. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the AMDP-system and the Bf-s self-rating questionnaire were used for documentation of psychopathological changes and autonomic side effects. The Newcastle-Scale for definition of a neurotic and an endogenous subgroup of depression was retrospectively applied. No significant improvement was noticed on the Bf-s self-rating questionnaire in the TZ group as compared to the AMT group (p less than 0.001). The global HAM-D score decreased significantly in the TZ group (p less than 0.05) as well as in the AMT group difference (p less than 0.01) emerged during the trial in favour of AMT. Core symptoms of depression were significantly improved in the AMT group but not in the TZ group: depressed mood (p less than 0.001), psychic anxiety (p less than 0.001) and retardation (p less than 0.05). TZ was faster actin than AMT in controlling agitation. Results of this clinical study demonstrate TZ to have sedative and some anxiolytic properties but only negligible antidepressant efficacy.

Low platelet MAO activity and schizophrenia: sex differences

The authors compared platelet monoamine oxidase activity in schizophrenic patients and normal controls. A significant reduction in the enzyme activity was found in the male schizophrenic patients but not in the females. No differences were detected among the subgroups of schizophrenia. Sources of bias and the possible mechanism for the findings are discussed.