D-mannose dimer introduced human recombinant interleukin- 1 alpha, NEO IL-1 alpha, exhibits altered tissue distribution in mice

Previous studies have demonstrated that the carbohydrate-introduced recombinant human IL-l alpha exhibited impairment in both biologic activities in all the experiments in vitro and receptor binding capacity compared with intact IL-l alpha. However, the glycosylated IL-l alpha exhibited selective activities in vivo. In this study, we compared the tissue distribution of IL-l alpha and IL-l alpha coupled with D-Mana (l-6)Man [Man2 alpha) (l-6)IL-l alpha] in mice. Mice were injected by intravenous and intraperitoneal routes with 2.0 mu g radiolabeled IL-l alpha. At 1 and 2 h after IP injection, the level of Man2 alpha) (l-6)IL-l alpha decreased twofold compared with that of IL-l alpha in kidney. In contrast, at 1 hour after administration, Man2 alpha) (l-6)IL-l alpha exhibited higher levels than IL-l alpha in blood, heart, and liver. No significant difference was observed in brain at each time point. IV injection demonstrated that Man2 alpha)(l-6)IL-l alpha decreased to approximately one-half the level of rhIL-l alpha in kidney. In contrast, Man(2 alpha) (l-6)IL-l alpha increased twofold over that of IL-l alpha in liver at 1 h after dosing. These findings are consistent with the result of IP injection. There was no significant difference between IL-l alpha and glycosylated IL-l alpha at 4 h after IV administration. These differences in tissue distribution may contribute to the selective activities of glycosylated IL-l alpha in vivo. The results also suggest that by coupling with mannose dimer, it is possible to develop neocytokines prone to liver distribution.

Impairment of phagocytic cell respiratory burst by UVA in the presence of fluoroquinolones: an oxygen-dependent phototoxic damage to cell surface microvilli

Fluoroquinolones are widely used clinically as broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. One of their side effects is UVA-dependent photosensitivity, observed after the skin is exposed to sunlight. We have investigated five fluoroquinolones and have found that their phototoxicity is oxygen dependent. Human phagocytic leucocytes were stimulated with serum opsonized zymosan to produce superoxide radical (O2-) (respiratory burst) in the presence of a sensitive O2(-)-specific cypridina luciferin analogue, 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazol (1,2-alpha) pyrazin-one hydrochloride (MCLA), as chemiluminescence reagent with which O2- can react to induce photon emission. The photon count was used as a measure of respiratory burst activity. When leucocytes were irradiated with UVA for 10 min in the presence of 3 micrograms ml-1 lomefloxacin, ciprofloxacin or norfloxacin, a marked decrease in respiratory burst activity was observed; in this respect, ofloxacin and tosufloxacin were weak. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the cell surface microvilli were destroyed. The phototoxicity of fluoroquinolones could be abolished if oxygen in the tests was replaced by nitrogen or if the aminothiol DL-cysteine (1.5 mg ml-1) was added prior to irradiation. It is suggested that an oxygen species derived from UVA-excited drug molecules and oxygen mediates the phototoxicity of these fluoroquinolones.

Dynamic changes in expression of glutamate transporter mRNAs in developing brain

Developmental changes in gene expression for three glutamate transporter subtypes in the mouse brain were analysed by in situ hybridization. During embryonic stages, GluT-1 and GLT-1 mRNAs were expressed at high levels in the ventricular zone, whereas EAAC1 mRNA was not detected in the zone. In the mantle zone, transcription levels of three transporter mRNAs were low during embryonic stages, and these levels, especially those of the GluT-1 and GLT-1 mRNAs, displayed remarkable increases postnatally to reach maximal levels at 14 days of age. These dynamic developmental regulations suggest that the glutamate transporter not only regulates the excitatory synaptic transmission at mature stages, but might also be intimately involved in the brain development.

Effect of cystathionine as a scavenger of superoxide generated from human leukocytes or derived from xanthine oxidase in vitro

We studied the direct effects of cystathionine on human leukocyte-generated or xanthine-xanthine oxidase-derived superoxide radicals in vitro. Washed leukocyte suspensions (10(6) cells/ml) prepared from healthy male volunteers were stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (1 mu M) or opsonized zymosan (1 mg/ml) to generate superoxide radicals, which were measured with a 2-methyl-6-[p-methoxyphenyl]-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-alpha] pyrazin-3-one hydrochloride (MCLA)-chemiluminescence method. Cystathionine (30 mu M to 10 mM) significantly reduced superoxide radical-dependent chemiluminescence in the leukocyte system in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, in the two different methods of determination of superoxide radicals (MCLA chemiluminescence and nitroblue tetrazolium reduction), cystathionine significantly scavenged the superoxide radicals derived from the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. However, cystathionine did not inhibit the activity of xanthine oxidase during superoxide generation. On the other hand, cystathionine did not show a scavenging effect against hydroxyl radicals derived from Fe2+ -H2O2 on the erythrocyte membrane. These results indicate that cystathionine itself may possess a scavenging function against superoxide radicals rather than against hydroxyl radicals in vitro.

[Susceptibilities of bacteria isolated from patients with respiratory infectious diseases to antibiotics (1993)]

Bacteria isolated from respiratory tract infections were collected in cooperation with institutions located throughout Japan, since 1981, and the Ikemotor et al. have been investigating susceptibilities of the isolates of various antibacterial agents and antibiotics, and the relationships between the isolates and backgrounds of the patients and so forth each year. We discuss the results in detail. In 20 institutions around the entire Japan from October 1993 to September 1994, 584 strains of bacteria were isolated mainly from sputa of 473 patients with respiratory tract infections and presumed to be the etiological agents. MICs of various antibacterial agents and antibiotics were determined against 91 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 98 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 122 strains of Haemophilus influenzae, 91 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (non-mucoid), 34 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mucoid), 42 strains of Moraxella subgenus Branhamella catarrhalis, 25 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae etc., and the drug susceptibilities of these strains were measured except the strains which died during transportation. 1. S. aureus S. aureus strain sfor which MICs of methicillin was higher than 4 micrograms/ml (methicillin-resistant S. aureus) accounted for 56.0%, but this frequency of the drug resistant bacteria was lower than the previous year's 61.4%. Arbekacin and vancomycin showed the highest activities against MRSA and MIC80s were 1 microgram/ml. 2. S. pneumoniae Benzylpenicillin among the penicillins showed potent activities against S. pneumoniae. Cefuzonam, cefotaxime and cefmenoxime among the cephems showed excellent antimicrobial activities against S. pneumoniae. Imipenem; carbapenems, showed the most potent activity, and MIC90 was 0.063 microgram/ml. 3. H. influenzae All the drugs tested were quite active against H. influenzae. Cefotaxime, cefmenoxime, cefuzonam and cefixime among the cephems showed the most potent activities, and MIC90 were 0.063 microgram/ml against H. influenzae. Ofloxacin also showed MIC90 of 0.063 microgram/ml. 4. P. aeruginosa (mucoid) Tobramycin showed the most potent activity against P. aeruginosa (mucoid), and MIC80 was 1 microgram/ml. Ceftazidime, cefsulodin, imipenem, aztreonam, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin showed potent activities with MIC80s of 2 micrograms/ml. 5. P. aeruginosa (non-mucoid) Tobramycin showed the highest activity against P. aeruginosa (non-mucoid), and MIC80 was 1 microgram/ml, followed by ciprofloxacin with MIC80 of 2 micrograms/ml. Comparing to activities against P. aeruginosa (mucoid), all the drugs tested had relatively low activities against P. aeruginosa (non-mucoid). 6. K. pneumoniae. The activities of all drugs except ampicillin and minocycline were high against K. pneumoniae. Cefozopran, imipenem and carumonam showed the highest activities and MIC80s were 0.125 microgram/ml. Flomoxef showed the next highest activities with an MIC80 of 0.25 microgram/ml. 7. M.(B.) catarrhalis Imipenem showed the most potent activity against M.(B.) catarrhalis, with an MIC80 of 0.063 microgram/ml, followed minocycline and ofloxacin with their MIC80s of 0.125 microgram/ml. We also investigated year to year changes in the background of patients, as well as types of respiratory infectious diseases, and the etiological agents. As for patients background, there were many infectious diseases found among patients a high age bracket, and the patients over age 60 accounted for 61.3% of the diseases. The distribution by respiratory tract infections was as follows: chronic bronchitis and bacterial pneumonia accounted for the greatest numbers of cases with 31.1% and 26.0%, respectively, followed by bronchiectasis with 10.4%. In this year chronic bronchitis under age 29 were 41.7%, thus was much higher than 12.5% in previous year. This marked change was first noted in your research during the recent 5 years. As for frequencies of etiologic bacteria by respiratory tract infections, S. pneumoniae (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Release of taurine and its effects on release of neurotransmitter amino acids in rat cerebral cortex

Taurine has been postulated to function as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. The possibility of depolarization-evoked release of taurine from nerve terminals, and the effects of taurine on release of endogenous glutamate (Glu), aspartate (Asp), and gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) were examined using a superfusion of crude synaptosomes prepared from rat cerebral cortex. Taurine contents in cerebral cortex and its synaptosomes were 31.7 and 25.2 nmol/mg protein, respectively. Although the basal rate of taurine release was 35.3 pmol/min/mg protein of synaptosomes (second highest releasing rate), the 2-min stimulation with KCl (30 mM) evoked only a 1.3-fold increase in release of taurine (47.3 pmol/min/mg). The increase was largely Ca(2+)-dependent. The addition of taurine to the perfusion medium significantly reduced the depolarization-evoked increases in Glu, Asp, and GABA release. The taurine-induced reduction in GABA release was attenuated by phaclofen, a GABAB antagonist, but not by bicuculline, a GABAA antagonist. However, these antagonists did not block the effects on Glu and Asp release. These data suggest that taurine may be only partly released from nerve terminals by depolarization in the cerebral cortex, but that taurine may act upon nerve terminals to regulate the release of excitatory and inhibitory amino acid transmitters.

[Susceptibilities of bacteria isolated from patients with respiratory infectious diseases to antibiotics (1992)]

Bacteria isolated from lower respiratory tract infections were collected in cooperation with institutions located throughout Japan since 1981, and Ikemoto et al. have been investigating susceptibilities of the isolates to various antibacterial agents and antibiotics, and the relationships between the isolates and characteristics of the patients and so forth each year. We discuss the results in detail. In 20 institutions around the entire Japan from October 1992 to September 1993, 690 strains of bacteria were isolated mainly from sputa of 549 patients with lower respiratory tract infections and presumed to be the etiological bacteria. MICs of various antibacterial agents and antibiotics were determined against 101 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 121 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 122 strains of Haemophilus influenzae, 92 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (non-mucoid), 32 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mucoid), 52 strains of Moraxella subgenus Branhamella catarrhalis, 28 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae etc., and the drug susceptibilities of these strains were measured except the strains which died during transportation. 1. S. aureus S. aureus strains for which MICs of methicillin were higher than 4 micrograms/ml (methicillin-resistant S. aureus) accounted for 61.4% and the frequency of the drug resistant bacteria was higher than the previous year's 58.3%. MICs values indicated that arbekacin was as active as vancomycin against all the strains on S. aureus. 2. S. pneumoniae Benzylpenicillin among the penicillins showed potent activities against S. pneumoniae. Cefuzonam, cefazolin, cefotaxime and cefmenoxime among the cephems showed excellent antimicrobial activities against S. pneumoniae. Imipenem; carbapenems, showed the most potent activity, and MIC80 was 0.015 microgram/ml. 3. H. influenzae All the drugs tested were potent against H. influenzae. Ampicillin among the penicillins showed MIC80 1 microgram/ml against H. influenzae. Cefotaxime, cefmenoxime, cefuzonam and cefixime showed the most potent activities, and MIC80s were 0.063 microgram/ml. The antimicrobial activity of ofloxacin was equivalent to those of cephems. 4. P. aeruginosa (mucoid) Ciprofloxacin showed the most potent activity against P. aeruginosa (mucoid), and MIC80 was 1 microgram/ml. Cefsulodin, aztreonam, carumonam and tobramycin showed the next most potent activities with an MIC80s of 2 micrograms/ml. 5. P. aeruginosa (non-mucoid) Tobramycin and ciprofloxacin showed the highest activities against P. aeruginosa (non-mucoid) with an MIC80s of 2 micrograms/ml. Norfloxacin also showed some activity, and MIC80 was 4 micrograms/ml. Comparing to activities against P. aeruginosa (mucoid), all the drugs tested showed lower activities against P. aeruginosa (non-mucoid). 6. K. pneumoniae The activities of all drugs except penicillins were high activities against K. pneumoniae. Carumonam showed the most potent activity with an MIC80 of 0.063 microgram/ml, followed by flomoxef, cefixime and cefozopran with their MIC80s of 0.125 microgram/ml. 7. M.(B.) catarrhalis Imipenem; carbapenems, showed the most potent activity against M.(B.) catarrhalis with an MIC80 0.063 microgram/ml. Minocycline and ofloxacin showed MIC80s 0.125 microgram/ml, respectively. We also investigated year to year changes in the background of patients, as well as types of respiratory infectious diseases, and the etiological bacteria. As for patients backgrounds, there were many infectious diseases found among patients in a high age bracket, and the patients over age 60 accounted for 60.8% of the diseases. The distribution by lower respiratory tract infections was as follows: bacterial pneumonia and chronic bronchitis accounted for the greatest numbers of cases with 30.4%, 29.5%, respectively, followed by bronchiectasis with 12.2%. As for frequencies of etiologic bacteria for respiratory tract infections, H. influenzae: 22.2%, and S. pneumoniae: 15.1% in chronic bronchitis; S. pneumoniae: 2

Induction therapy with all-trans retinoic acid for acute promyelocytic leukemia: a clinical study of 10 cases, including a fatal [correction of fetal] case with thromboembolism

Ten patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) were treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Eight of 10 patients achieved complete remission (CR), and among the 8 newly diagnosed cases, 7 achieved CR. Five of 8 CR cases remained in CR after 8 to 30 months. Except for hypotension and a large gastric ulcer resulting from hyperhistaminemia, the adverse effects of ATRA were generally mild. Severe thrombotic tendency occurred in a patient treated with ATRA combined with tranexamic acid. Intensive chemotherapy consisting of daunorubicin (DNR) and other agents was scheduled for the patients who achieved CR with ATRA.

Codon usage tabulated from the international DNA sequence databases

Codon usage in 87 602 genes has been calculated using the nucleotide sequence data obtained from the GenBank Genetic Sequence Data Bank (Release 90.0; September 1995). The database is called the CUTG Database; the complete form of the database can be obtained by anonymous ftp from DDBJ and a part of the database, which lists the frequency of codon use in each organism, is made searchable through our World Wide Web server.

Protective effect of cystathionine on acute gastric mucosal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats

We studied the protective effect of cystathionine on acute gastric mucosal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Under pentobarbital anesthesia, the celiac artery was clamped for 30 min and reperfused. Sixty minutes after the reperfusion, the total area of erosions and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the stomach, as an index of lipid peroxidation, were measured and compared between control and cystathionine-treated groups. Intraperitoneal administration of cystathionine (1-20 mg/kg) 10 min before the ischemia significantly reduced both the total area of erosions and the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. When cystathionine (10 mg/kg) was administered orally, the significant reductions in the total area of erosions and level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were also observed. There was a good correlation between the total area of erosions and the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Cystathionine did not affect blood flow during ischemia-reperfusion. These results indicate that the protective effect of cystathionine on acute gastric mucosal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion may be due to the scavenging action against superoxide radicals in vivo.

Antithrombotic effect of a novel recombinant hirudin analogue, CX-397, in a rat arterial thrombosis model

1. The antithrombotic effect of a new specific thrombin inhibitor, CX-397, was examined in a photochemically-induced arterial thrombosis model in the rat femoral artery and compared with that of heparin. 2. Pretreatment with CX-397 (10, 20 and 40 micrograms kg-1 min-1, i.v.) from 15 min before the experiment prolonged the time required for thrombotic occlusion of the artery in a dose-dependent manner. The antithrombotic efficacy of CX-397 was associated with modest increases in activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and template bleeding time. 3. On the other hand, heparin at a dose of 450 micrograms kg-1 markedly prolonged APTT and the bleeding time, but did not inhibit thrombo-occlusion. 4. CX-397 selectively inhibited platelet aggregation and concurrent secretion of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) production from platelets in response to thrombin, but not to collagen and ADP, in a dose-dependent manner (5-100 ng ml-1). 5. CX-397 at 10 micrograms kg-1 combined with vapiprost, a TXA2 receptor antagonist, at 0.1 mg kg-1 significantly prevented occlusion, whereas, at these doses, neither drug alone had much effect. 6. These results demonstrate that CX-397 may prove to be more efficient for preventing platelet-rich thrombosis than heparin. Thrombin may play an important role in the rat thrombosis model. 7. The additive antithrombotic effect of the combination of thrombin inhibitor and TXA2 receptor antagonist at low doses suggests that thrombin and TXA2 may work in concert to produce thrombosis.

Nitric oxide regulates substance P release from rat spinal cord synaptosomes

In order to determine whether nitric oxide (NO) acts directly upon nerve terminals to regulate the synaptic transmission at the level of spinal cord, effects of NO-donors on release of substance P (SP) and glutamic acid (Glu) were investigated by superfusion of synaptosomes prepared from the rat spinal cord. Basal levels of endogenous SP and Glu release were 5.99 +/- 2.50 fmol/min/mg of protein and 26.2 +/- 4.8 pmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. Exposure to a depolarizing concentration of KCI evoked 2.7- and 3.8-fold increases in SP and Glu release in a calcium-dependent manner, respectively. Sodium nitroprusside (NP) caused a reduction in the depolarization-evoked overflow of SP in a concentration-dependent manner without affecting its basal release, although it failed to affect either basal or evoked release of Glu. The reduction in SP overflow was also observed by the perfusion with S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine or membrane-permeable cyclic GMP, but not with cyclic AMP. NP caused the concentration-dependent increases in cyclic GMP levels in synaptosomes. Together with reports that excitatory amino acids stimulate NO synthase and release NO in the spinal cord, these data suggest that there may be an interaction between nerve terminals containing Glu and SP, and that NO may directly participate in the regulation of synaptic transmission in SP-containing nerve terminals, which may be mediated through the activation of guanylate cyclase and the increase in cyclic GMP levels.

Sustained activation of blood coagulation in patients with cerebral thrombosis

Recent progress in the measurements of the hemostatic markers enables us to assess the detailed profiles of hemostatic activation in various diseases. To evaluate the degree of hemostatic system activation in patients with cerebral thrombosis, detailed coagulation studies were performed in 28 patients with acute-phase cerebral thrombosis and in 36 with chronic-phase cerebral thrombosis, together with 6 with chronic-phase cerebral hemorrhage and 37 age-matched healthy volunteers. In both acute-phase and chronic-phase cerebral thrombosis, plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex, plasmin-alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor complex and D-dimer were significantly higher, and antithrombin III and protein C were significantly lower than those in the normal group. Plasma fibrinogen concentration was significantly higher in chronic-phase cerebral thrombosis than that in chronic-phase cerebral hemorrhage. No significant difference was found in these variables between acute-phase and chronic-phase cerebral thrombosis. In addition, there was no difference in these parameters between chronic phase cerebral hemorrhage and normal subjects. These findings indicate that a sustained activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis is present in cerebral thrombosis, and it might contribute to the pathogenesis of cerebral thrombosis.

Amino acid sequences of heterotrophic and photosynthetic ferredoxins from the tomato plant (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Several forms (isoproteins) of ferredoxin in roots, leaves, and green and red pericarps in tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were earlier identified on the basis of N-terminal amino acid sequence and chromatographic behavior (Green et al. 1991). In the present study, a large scale preparation made possible determination of the full length amino acid sequence of the two ferredoxins from leaves. The ferredoxins characteristic of fruit and root were sequenced from the amino terminus to the 30th residue or beyond. The leaf ferredoxins were confirmed to be expressed in pericarp of both green and red fruit. The ferredoxins characteristic of fruit and root appeared to be restricted to those tissue. The results extend earlier findings in demonstrating that ferredoxin occurs in the major organs of the tomato plant where it appears to function irrespective of photosynthetic competence.

Thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitors with histamine H1-blocking activity: synthesis and evaluation of a new series of indole derivatives

A novel series of N-substituted 3-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)indole carboxylic acid derivatives were prepared and evaluated for thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthetase-inhibitory and histaminergic H1-blocking activity. Among the compounds synthesized, indole-6-carboxylic acid derivatives showed higher activities than the other positional isomers of carboxylic acid. 1-[3-(4-Benzhydryl-1-piperazinyl)propyl]-3-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl )-1H-indole-6-carboxylic acid (12) had the strongest thromboxane synthetase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 5 x 10(-8) M) and H1-blocking activity (IC50 = 8 x 10(-9) M).

Changes in c-Kit expression and effects of SCF during differentiation of human erythroid progenitor cells

We analysed c-Kit expression during erythroid differentiation using immunocytochemical staining and flow cytometric analysis. Burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E)-derived cell aggregates were identified in methylcellulose cultures containing human umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells and were stained by the indirect immunoalkaline phosphatase method. To investigate the changes in levels of cell-surface c-Kit expression, we subjected progenitor cells in liquid culture to flow cytometric analysis. In addition, the effects of stem cell factor (SCF) on cell-surface c-Kit expression were analysed in these two culture systems and the effects of SCF on erythroid colony formation were studied in a methylcellulose culture. c-Kit was expressed on the cell surface from BFU-E to erythroid precursors recognized morphologically as basophilic erythroblasts. Flow cytometric analysis showed that c-Kit expression increased until 6 d in liquid culture, and that decreased expression of c-Kit was associated with the increased expression of glycophorin A. Moreover, SCF increased the size of erythroid colonies when added at days 0, 4 and 8 in methylcellulose cultures. These results indicate that the c-Kit/SCF system still plays in proliferation of erythroid progenitor cells at the colony-forming units-erythroid stage. Finally, expression of c-Kit in erythroid progenitor cells cultured without SCF showed a diffuse pattern on the cell surface, whereas we observed positive c-Kit immunoreactivity in the region of the Golgi apparatus of these cells cultured with SCF. Flow cytometric analysis also showed that the levels of cell-surface c-Kit expression decreased in the presence of SCF. These results suggest that SCF induced down-modulation of cell-surface c-Kit expression, despite continuous synthesis of c-Kit protein.

Glycosylated human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha, neo interleukin-1 alpha, with D-mannose dimer exhibits selective activities in vivo

To investigate the effect of carbohydrate-introduction on IL-1 activity, especially in vivo, and to develop IL-1 with less deleterious effects, recombinant human IL-1 alpha was coupled with mannose dimer, alpha-D-Man-1-6-D-Man [Man2 alpha(1-6)] by an acyl azide method. Previous studies demonstrated that the glycosylated IL-1 exhibited reduced activities compared with original IL-1 in all the experiments performed in vitro. In this study, we investigated the in vivo activities of Man2 alpha(1-6)-conjugated IL-1 alpha. The glycosylated IL-1 alpha exhibited very low pyrogenic activity and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein induction compared with untreated IL-1 alpha. Untreated IL-1 alpha increased the serum level of IL-6, but the glycosylated IL-1 alpha did not. However, the glycosylated IL-1 alpha possessed the same potency as untreated IL-1 alpha in reduction of serum levels of glucose and triglyceride and in recovery of peripheral white blood cells in 5-fluorouracil-treated mice. Therefore, glycosylation of IL-1 appeared to be useful for the development of neoIL-1 with selective activity in vivo.

Effects of the novel water-soluble calcium antagonist (+/-)-3-(4-allyl-1-piperazinyl)-2,2-dimethylpropyl methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate dihydrochloride on the responses of isolated canine arteries

The effects of NKY-722 ((+/-)-3-(4-allyl-1-piperazinyl)-2,2-dimethylpropyl methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate dihydrochloride, CAS 117241-46-0), a new water soluble dihydropyridine derivative on the responses of isolated canine arteries were examined. NKY-722 (IC50: 5-16 x 10(-10) mol/l), nicardipine (IC50: 5-10 x 10(-10) mol/l) and nifedipine (IC50: 44-195 x 10(-10) mol/l) relaxed four arteries in the potency order of basilar > coronary > mesenteric > intrarenal arteries. NKY-722 was nearly equipotent to nicardipine and about 10 times more potent than nifedipine. [3H]NKY-722 was accumulated in the four arteries in the same order of amount as the vasoinhibitory effect. All three drugs inhibited the contraction induced by Ca2+ and methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trifluoromethylophenyl)-p yri dine-5- carboxylate (Bay K 8644) in the mesenteric arteries, indicating their Ca2+ antagonistic actions. NKY-722 and nicardipine were nearly equipotent and about 100 times more potent than nifedipine on the Ca(2+)-induced contraction and was about 4 times more potent than nicardipine and 400 times more potent than nifedipine on the Bay K 8644-induced contraction. NKY-722, nicardipine and nifedipine relaxed the mesenteric arteries precontracted with KCl by more than 90%, while they relaxed the arteries contracted with PGF2 alpha, 9,11-dideoxy-9 alpha, 11 alpha-methanoepoxy-PGF2 alpha (U-46619) and endothelin-1 only by 40-70%. The IC50 values of NKY-722 and nicardipine were similar and much smaller than that of nifedipine for all four contracting agents.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Induction of cyclooxygenase protein and stimulation of prostaglandin E2 release by epidermal growth factor in cultured guinea pig gastric mucous cells

The present study was undertaken to investigate whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) could stimulate prostaglandin E2 release, and if so, by what mechanism EGF would exert such an effect in gastric mucosal cells. In cultured guinea pig gastric mucous cells, EGF dose-dependently stimulated prostaglandin E2 release, with maximal stimulation observed at 10 ng/ml. EGF stimulated an increase in cyclooxygenase activity, which was reduced by protein synthesis inhibitor, actinomycin D, and cycloheximide. EGF also stimulated the enzyme protein synthesis estimated by Western blot analysis, whereas EGF did not stimulate phospholipase A2 activity. These results suggest that such an effect of EGF of de novo synthesis of cyclooxygenase protein and prostaglandin E2 release may be involved at least in part in the mechanism of EGF-induced local regulation of gastric mucosal integrity.

Cloning of boar SPMI gene which is expressed specifically in seminal vesicle and codes for a sperm motility inhibitor protein

Boar semen contains a seminal plasma motility inhibitor (SPMI) that blocks the motility of demembranated-reactivated spermatozoa as well as of intact spermatozoa. In this paper, we describe the primary structure of SPMI, the coding of boar SPMI cDNA gene and its expression in various porcine tissues. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 645-bp SPMI cDNA predicts a coded polypeptide of 137 amino acid residues which includes a 21-residue signal peptide and a 116-residue secreted protein. The amino acid sequence of SPMI was found to be highly homologous to AQN-3, a member of spermadhesin family proteins of boar that bind to spermatozoa. Expression of the boar SPMI gene detected by Northern blot analysis revealed that its expression is very abundant in seminal vesicles and specific to this tissue.

Nitric oxide inhibition of the depolarization-evoked glutamate release from synaptosomes of rat cerebellum

Effects of nitric oxide (NO) on release of amino acid transmitter were investigated by superfusion of synaptosomes prepared from rat cerebellum. After constant basal levels of amino acid release were obtained, exposure to a depolarizing concentration of KCl (30 mM) evoked 4.05-, 2.18- and 3.00-fold increases in release of glutamic acid (Glu), aspartic acid (Asp) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from synaptosomes. The perfusion with NO-donors inhibited the evoked increases in release of Glu and Asp in a concentration-dependent manner, but not that in GABA release. A membrane-permeable analog of cyclic GMP, but not that of cyclic AMP, caused a similar reduction in the evoked release. The concentration of nitroprusside to increase cyclic GMP levels corresponded to that of nitroprusside to reduce the evoked release. These data suggest that NO may directly act upon the nerve terminals to inhibit release of excitatory amino acid transmitters.

[A trial of clinical application of sparfloxacin for treating mycobacterial infections]

Sparfloxacin seems to be a good candidate for antimycobacterial treatment. However, there have been no clinical studies. We experienced 2 SPFX-treated cases, who could not use other antimycobacterial agents because of side effect, we tried SPFX-treatment on these cases. Good results were obtained, however, for long time use to prevent side effects, we tried SPFX every second day and monitored the serum levels of SPFX. SPFX-every second day treatment gave good clinical results and adequate serum levels of SPFX were observed.

Functional comparison of D-serine and glycine in rodents: the effect on cloned NMDA receptors and the extracellular concentration

We compared the activity of free D-Ser on the potentiation of cloned NMDA receptors with that of Gly by using a Xenopus oocyte expression system. The extracellular concentration of free D-Ser and Gly was further studied by means of microdialysis. The ED50 values of D-Ser were three to four times lower than those of Gly in any combination of epsilon 1, epsilon 2, epsilon 3, or epsilon 4 and zeta 1. Site-directed mutagenesis of zeta 1 subunits revealed that some aromatic residues necessary for the action of Gly affected the ED50 value of D-Ser. This result showed that the residues play crucial roles in the action of D-Ser. In vivo microdialysis of rodent brain revealed that the extracellular concentration of free D-Ser in the frontal cortex (6.5 microM) was high enough to saturate the Gly site on the NMDA receptor, but that in the cerebellum was not. These findings suggest that D-Ser is a candidate of the endogenous potentiator of the NMDA receptor in the rodent frontal cortex.

Extraction of quasi-straightforward-propagating photons from diffused light transmitting through a scattering medium by polarization modulation

The utilization of light polarization is proposed to extract quasi-straightforward-propagating photons from diffused light transmitting through a scattering medium under continuously operating conditions. Removal of a floor level normally appearing on the dynamic range over which the extraction capability is maintained is demonstrated. By use of pulse-based observations this cw scheme of extraction of quasi-straightforwardpropagating photons is directly shown to be equivalent to the use of a temporal gate in the pulse-based operation.