[Sensitivity to bleomycin of human cultured tumor cells and analysis of related factors]

Several types of human cultured tumor cells were tested for the sensitivity to BLM, an effective antitumor antibiotic for epidermoid (squamous cell) carcinomas. Three cell lines (HeLa, KB, Hepd) derived from epidermoid carcinomas were very sensitive to BLM under concentrations tested, whereas BLM-resistant HeLa cells (HeLa-BLMr), neoplastic cells derived from salivary glands (HPA, HSG), malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) and melanoma (MEC) were much less sensitive to BLM than epidermoid carcinoma cell lines under the same conditions. To investigate the possible mechanism of BLM resistance, these cell lines, namely HeLa, HeLa-BLMr, HSG and MEC, were examined for i) BLM permeability into cells by using 3H-PEP which was a new derivative of BLM, ii) BLM-inactivating activity in cell extracts by bioassay for antibacterial activity with B. subtilis PCI 219 strain, and iii) DNA repair activity after UV irradiation. Consequently, as compared with BLM-sensitive HeLa cells, BLM less sensitive HeLa-BLMr, HSG and MEC cells showed 34%, 50% and 39% reduction per 10(6) cells in BLM permeability, 1.6-, 5.6- and 4.7-fold increase per mg protein in BLM inactivating activity, and 24.5-, one and 8-fold enhancement in DNA repair activity, respectively. Therefore, it was indicated that above three factors at least were involved in the BLM sensitivity of human tumor cells.

T cell subsets in the tonsil in relation to age analyzed with monoclonal antibodies (anti-leu antibodies) and fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS)

The ratio of the cells reacting to anti-leu 1, 3a and 4 antibodies is as low as that of T cells in the tonsil to those in the peripheral blood. The number of the tonsillar cells reacting to anti-leu 2a and 7 antibodies is still smaller. Fluorescence intensity of tonsillar lymphocytes reacting to leu (1, 2a, 3a, and 4) antibodies is lower than that of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Adult tonsillar lymphocytes have higher ratios of the cells reacting to anti-leu 1, 2a, 3a, 4 and 7 antibodies than child tonsillar lymphocytes and fluorescence intensity of the cells reacting to these anti-leu antibodies tended to be higher in adult tonsillar lymphocytes. These findings suggest less cytotoxic/suppressor T and NK/K function cells in the tonsil than in the peripheral blood. From these, it is conceivable that the tonsillar lymphocyte constitution becomes closer to that of peripheral blood as the child grows up. Further, immature T cells are present in the tonsil, though in a small number. This tendency is stronger in children than in adults.

[Clinical experience with cefotiam in the otorhinolaryngologic field]

Clinical investigation with cefotiam (CTM) was performed, the following results were obtained. CTM was administered to 18 cases of infectious diseases in the otorhinolaryngologic field. Clinical results were excellent in 7 cases, good in 5 cases, fair in 4 cases and poor in 2 cases. Clinical efficacy was 66.7%. No side reactions were noted in any cases.

Rate assay for determination of serum pseudo-cholinesterase activity

A simple and reproducible method for the determination of serum pseudo-cholinesterase activity was developed by making use of a stable substrate, p-hydroxybenzoylcholine, with p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase as a linked enzyme. The method is based on spectrophotometric measurement of the decrease of NADPH. p-Hydroxybenzoate released from p-hydroxybenzoylcholine is hydroxylated by the action of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase in the presence of NADPH and O2 to produce 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate and NADP+. This method is superior to the conventional methods in that this substrate is extremely stable up to pH 9.0, which is close to the optimum pH for the assay (pH 8.0). Serum interference was resolved by the use of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase as a linked enzyme. The Km value of pseudocholinesterase for p-hydroxybenzoylcholine is 1 X 10(-5) M. The results of our method and Garry's method (Clin. Chem. 11, 91-96, 1965) correlated well (r = 0.962). The within-run and between-run C.V. values were 2.1 and 2.7, respectively.

Purification and characterization of streptomycin 6-kinase, an enzyme implicated in self-protection of a streptomycin-producing micro-organism

Streptomycin 6-kinase of the streptomycin-producing strain Streptomyces griseus HUT 6037 was purified by fractionation with (NH4)2SO4 and chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25, hydroxyapatite and Sephadex G-100. After PAGE of the final fraction, a protein band corresponding to streptomycin 6-kinase was detected, together with a less intense band having no enzyme activity. Molecular weights determined by SDS-PAGE and by Sephadex G-100 chromatography were about 36000 and 38000, respectively, suggesting that the enzyme was a monomer. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was pH 6.6. Among the nucleoside 5'-triphosphates tested, ATP was the preferred phosphoryl donor. The Km values for streptomycin and ATP were 3.5 mM and 0.4 mM, respectively. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by EDTA and AgNO3. It was shown by using an in vitro protein-synthesizing system that purified streptomycin 6-kinase could protect polyphenylalanine synthesis of the streptomycin-susceptible S. griseus strain KSN from inhibition by streptomycin.

Pharmacokinetics of a sustained-release theophylline preparation in healthy subjects

A comparative pharmacokinetic study between a sustained-release theophylline tablet (Theona) and aminophylline powder following multiple oral administrations every 12 h at a 200 mg theophylline dose was performed in ten healthy adult volunteers. As the results, theophylline in Theona revealed almost completely absorbed as is aminophylline. A peak-trough difference with Theona was less than half of that with aminophylline powder. These results suggest that Theona has excellent characteristics as a sustained-release preparation. In addition, in order to investigate dose-dependent kinetics for theophylline, the relationship between average plasma level and dosage was examined with Theona. The plasma level showed proportional change at the low concentrations. When the plasma level was close to 10 micrograms/ml, however, dosage increment results in an increasingly greater change of plasma level, which may indicate a high risk of toxicity.

Plasmid involvement in the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by a Beijerinckia species

A Beijerinckia species, capable of oxidizing phenanthrene, biphenyl and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was shown to contain two plasmids that were designated pKGl and pKG2. The molecular masses of plasmids pKG1 and pKG2, as determined by electron microscopy, were approximately 147 X 10(6) and 20.8 X 10(6) daltons, respectively. Growth of the organism on benzoate led to the isolation of strains that had lost the ability to grow with phenanthrene and biphenyl. All of the Phn-, Bph- strains had also lost the smaller plasmid, pKG2. The results presented suggest that plasmid pKG2 is responsible for the synthesis of enzymes involved in the degradation of phenanthrene and biphenyl.

A morphologic study of the behavior of biogenic amines in experimental acetic acid gastric ulcer

Morphological observations were made of the behavior of biogenic amines in the gastric wall of rats with acetic acid-induced ulcer. In the normal rat stomach, abundant adrenergic fibers were seen in the adventitia of arteries and arterioles, with frequently distributed mast cells in their environs, in all gastric wall layers. Mast cells had a more frequent distribution in the antral region than in the corpus ventriculi while enterochromaffin-like cells (EC-like cells) were found with greater frequencies in the latter region of gastric wall. Adrenergic fibers were abundant around blood vessels in perilesional area of the gastric wall of rats with acetic acid ulcer. Mast cells, seen more frequently in the antral region as in the normal rats, showed degranulation in these rats. The population of PAS-positive mucous cells reached its peak in 10 days after injection of acetic acid and subsequently declined with healing of the ulcer, thus remarkably concordant with the ulcer index. Local administration of serotonin produced angiospasm in the greater omentum. The finding indicates a possible participation of arteriospasm by adrenergic nerve fibers in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer. The results of the present study strongly suggest that biogenic amines have bearing as an aggressive factor upon the angiospasm theory of ulcerogenesis.

Laryngeal narrowing measured with low frequency sound

We measured laryngeal resistance with 800 Hz sound in human subjects. 800 Hz sound was forced into the mouth and the intensities of sound above and below vocal cord were detected by two microphones on the anterior neck. Respiratory resistance (Rrs) was simultaneously measured by an oscillation method. When the subject voluntarily controlled the glottis aperture at functional residual capacity, the percent increase of difference of intensity of sound between two microphones (Y %) was curvilinearly proportional to the increase of Rrs (X) from the control state; Y = 20.8 X X 1.24. Since Rrs below the larynx was constant at a given lung volume, we could estimate the increase of laryngeal resistance from the control state by knowing the percent increase of difference of intensity of sound. The present method would be clinically applicable to measure Rrs independent from laryngeal artifact.

Studies on the cell-mediated immune response of tonsillar lymphocytes with regard to the clinical course and patient's age

There was no statistically significant difference in the intensity of the cell-mediated immune response of tonsillar T cells among different pathological conditions of the tonsils nor among different age groups. The tonsillar cell population of the adult was smaller than that of the child. Tonsillar cells were separated into 3 fractions with different specific gravities. In tonsillar cells from adults, fraction III consisting mainly of small lymphocytes with a high specific gravity occupied a larger portion than in those from children. Fraction I consisting of cells with a low specific gravity had a greater number of cells in the swollen tonsils of children than in the tonsils of adults. However, the absolute numbers of the cells in fraction III in adults and in children were nearly the same. The proportion of T cells in fraction III was higher than in fraction I. Hence, the proportion of T cells in adults' tonsils is higher than in children's tonsils. The cells composing fraction I include some cells that have undergone blastoid transformation in response to various stimuli and some lymphoid cells that are ontogenetically immature T cells, besides mature T cells. The cells composing fraction III include fully mature T cells and the total cell population of fraction III does not differ significantly with age. It seems likely that the child's tonsil contains a larger number of cells under antigenic stimulation or in preparation for immune response than does the adult's tonsil.

Effect of arginine on gramicidin S biosynthesis by Bacillus brevis

Effects of arginine on gramicidin S (GS) biosynthesis were investigated by growing Bacillus brevis ATCC 9999 in a synthetic medium consisting of 10 g fructose, 0.15 g l-proline, 1.3 g l-histidine, 1.3 g l-glutamine, 0.5 g L-methionine, 1 g L-phenylalanine and six mineral salts per liter. Supplement of 3 g/liter L-arginine to the medium, especially at the logarithmic phase of growth, enhanced the cell growth and GS production. Twice supplement of 3 g/liter arginine at the beginning and middle logarithmic phase of growth gave much more GS production than any once supplement, but the soluble GS synthetase extractable by lysozyme digestion was remarkably decreased. However, the decrease of enzyme by arginine seemed to be merely an apparent phenomenon, because GS-synthesizing ability of the cell was strongly enhanced by arginine and the enzyme which was not extracted by lysozyme digestion could efficiently be solubilized by ultrasonic homogenization. In the soluble fraction of cells grown in an arginine-added synthetic medium, no arginine was detected, but a large amount of ornithine was accumulated. When L-ornithine, instead of L-arginine, was added to the synthetic medium, cell growth and GS production was stimulated with increase of its concentration without decrease in the soluble enzyme activity.