Prognostic indicators in ocular hypertension

Decreased pupil size and lens opacity, rather than high intraocular pressure, have been cited as reasons for the concentric constriction of the visual field occurring in eyes with suspected glaucoma. We studied a group of eyes showing ocular hypertension and found increased concentric constriction of the visual field when compared with that of healthy control eyes. While the degree of constriction and patient age tended to predict the transition to glaucoma, we found the absence of hypermetropia to be a strong prognostic indicator.

The Preparation and Low-Frequency Vibrational Spectra of Some Copper(I) and Silver(I) Alkane- and Arene-monothiolate Complexes

A number of different methods for preparing anionic Group 1B metal thiolate complexes have been investigated. The compounds [Me4N] [CU2(SMe)3] and [Et4N] [Ag5(SBut)6] are reported for the first time, and new methods for preparing the previously known compounds [Et4N] [Cu5(SBut)6], [Me4N]2 [CU5(SPh)7] and [Et4N]2 [Cu5(SPh)7] are described. The far-infrared spectra of the above compounds, and of CuSMe, CuSBut, AgSBut, [Me4N]2 [CU4(SPh)6] and [Me4N]2 [Ag5(SPh)7] have been obtained, and metal-sulfur stretching bands are assigned in the 150-350 cm-1 region. The low-frequency Raman spectra have also been obtained for some of these compounds. Possible structures for the new compounds are considered in the light of the low-frequency vibrational spectra.

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity in beef adrenal cortex

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) activity (mevalonate:NADP+ oxidoreductase )CoA-acylating) EC 1.1.1.34) was demonstrated in beef adrenal cortex. Most of the HMG-CoA reductase activity is in the microsomal fraction while a small percentage of the activity is associated with the mitochondria, Mitochondria purified on a linear sucrose gradient are enriched in HMG-CoA reductase and cytochrome c oxidase activities. The reductase present in microsomal preparations from the whole adrenal cortex has an apparent Km of 5.6 X 10(-5) M for (R,S)-HMG-CoA. Reductase activities found in the microsomal fractions from the zona glomerulosa, the zona fasciculata, and the zona reticularis were 1.32, 7.37, and 9.74 nmol mevalonate formed per milligram protein in 30 min respectively.

Evidence of an enzymatic 17alpha leads to 21 hydroxyl transfer in the biosynthesis of cortexolone from 17alpha-hydroperoxyprogesterone by adrenal cortex microsomes

The concept of a possible biogenetic intramolecular relationship between several pairs of hydroxylated positions of corticosteroids, in particular between positions 17alpha and 21, has been proposed by us some time ago. We now present evidence that to a certain extent such a relationship can indeed exist. 18O-labelled 17alpha-hydroperoxyprogesterone was incubated under ordinary oxygen atmosphere with the microsomal fractions of bovine adrenal cortex. Following extensive purifications by thin-layer chromatography, we have isolated a metabolite with mobility characteristics corresponding to those of authentic 17,21-dihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (cortexolone). According to its mass spectrum, this metabolite has a molecular weight of 350, i.e. 4 atomic mass units higher than the molecular weight of non-labelled cortexolone. No conversion of 17alpha-hydroperoxyprogesterone to cortexolone was observed with a previously heat-inactivated preparation. The presence of 4 additional mass units in the cortexolone metabolite means that the latter has preserved two 18O-labels in the molecule, one at position 17alpha and the other one at position 21. This can only be explained by a rearrangement reaction of the hydroperoxide group in such a way that it is accompanied by a C-17alpha to C-21 hydroxyl transfer. In the inverse case, when non-labelled 17alpha-hydroperoxyprogesterone was incubated under 99% 18O2-atmosphere, non-labelled cortexolone of molecular weight 346 was also found.

17 -Hydroperoxypregnenes. IV. A comparative study of the fragmentation by electron impact and high temperature chromatography

The fragmentation of 17α-hydroperoxypregnenolone and 17α-hydroperoxyprogesterone by electron impact and thermolysis is described. It is shown that the fragmentation pattern follows a common pathway for both compounds, determined exclusively by the substituents at ring-D. A new reaction in steroid chemistry, termed deoxygenation, is discovered and its mechanism explained by intramolecular hydrogen abstraction via a six-membered cyclic transition state involving the 20-ketone group.

Biogenetic mechanisms. I. Incorporation of 4-14C-progesterone into gitoxigenin by Digitalis purpurea

In vivo administration of 4-14C-progesterone to a 6-month-old Digitalis purpurea species over a period of 4 weeks resulted in 0.477% incorporation of the radioactivity into gitoxigenin. The identity of the crystalline cardenolide isolated was established by thin-layer and gas chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, as well as isotope dilution with authentic carrier material and crystallization to constant specific activity. The role which progesterone may play as an active precursor in the biogenesis of steroid cardenolides is discussed.