Leptosins I and J, cytotoxic substances produced by a Leptosphaeria sp. Physico-chemical properties and structures

Leptosins I and J, belonging to a series of epipolythiodioxopiperazines, have been isolated from the mycelium of a strain of Leptosphaeria sp. OUPS-4 attached to the marine alga Sargasssum tortile. Their relative stereostructures have been elucidated by chemical and spectral evidence. These compounds exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against cultured P388 cells.

Phytogrowth-inhibitory activities of 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid and its related compounds

2-Thiophenecarboxylic acid (I) exhibited growth-inhibitory activity in five kinds of plants. In particular, I strongly inhibited the growth of the roots of Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia LAM and Echinochloa utilis OHWI et YABUNO, even at the low concentration of 5.0 x 10(-3) M. Furthermore, all of the I-related compounds (II-V and VII-X) except for VI, showed more or less obvious inhibitory activity on the seeds of Sesamum indicum L. Compounds VII-X, in which the carboxyl group of I was replaced by acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and acrylic acid, and exhibited more potent phytogrowth-inhibitory activity than I. Among these compounds, 2-thiophenebutyric acid (IX) showed the strongest activity. Esterification of the carboxyl group in I increased the inhibitory activity relative to that of I, while amidation and reduction of this group markedly decreased its inhibitory activity. The radicles of the plants treated with each of the compounds except for VI showed negative geotropism, even though germination occurred.

[The relaxation of human corpus cavernosum caused by nitric oxide]

Non-adrenergic non-cholinergic nerves (NANC) are thought to be important in the relaxation of corpus cavernosum for erectile function. On the other hand, it has been shown that nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized from L-arginine and released by the endothelium of blood vessels and accounts for the activity of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). We studied whether electrical field stimulation (EFS) of isolated strips of human corpus cavernosum released NO and whether it could act as a NANC neurotransmitter. Human penile tissue specimens were mounted in an organ bath and the isometric tension recorded. EFS was applied to precontracted strips between two parallel platinum electrodes. Relaxation induced by EFS was not influenced by guanethidine or atropine, but was markedly inhibited by NG-nitro-L-arginine which is an analog of L-arginine that inhibits the conversion of L-arginine to NO, and hemoglobin which is an agent that inhibits the biological actions of NO. Methylene blue which is an inhibitor of cytosolic guanylate cyclase also reduced the relaxation of EFS, but not completely. The inhibitory effect of NG-nitro-L-arginine was reversed by addition of excess L-arginine. Exogenous NO relaxed human corpus cavernosum. The relaxation was only a transient response and concentration-dependent. The profile of responses is similar to that evoked by EFS. Our data clearly demonstrate the release of NO during EFS and the function of NO as a NANC neurotransmitter. Human penile erection may be mediated by NO generated in response to NANC neurotransmission.

[A case of penile revascularization by Hauri's method for arteriogenic impotence]

In a 35 year old arteriogenic impotent patient without a history of hypertension, arteriosclerotic disease, or diabetes mellitus, the corpus cavernosum of the penis was revascularized using Hauri's method. Before surgery, erection after the intra-cavernous injection of 20 micrograms of prostaglandin E1 was very weak. In a color ultrasonography the peak systolic velocity of the cavernous arteries was recorded as being only 18 cm/sec. Furthermore, no artery except the right dorsal artery was evident even with a digital subtraction angiography. Accordingly he was diagnosed as having arteriogenic impotence, and we carried out the corpus cavernosum revascularization using Hauri's method under microscopic magnification. The dorsal artery and the deep dorsal vein were anastomosed side-to-side, and the hypogastric artery and dorsal artery were anastomosed end-to-side. After the revascularization surgery, the peak systolic velocity of cavernous arteries returned to normal (53 cm/sec), and the penis showed complete erection after an intracavernous injection of 20 micrograms of prostaglandin E1. Before surgery this patient had no experienced sexual intercourse, but he could achieve full sexual intercourse 2 weeks after the surgery. His erectile ability has been maintained for 4 months since the surgery. This is the 1st case of arteriogenic impotence treated using Hauri's method in Japan.

[Transition of diagnosis and treatment for impotence]

Statistic study was made on 685 outpatients with erectile dysfunction during 13 years periods from 1979 to 1991 in the Department of Urology, Takamatsu Red Cross Hospital. The age distribution showed the highest frequency in the thirties decade (27.9%). 1. Diagnosis Nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring was the only method to distinguish organic impotence from functional impotence during the first 5 years. From 1984 we have been able to diagnose corporal veno-occlusive insufficiency (CVI) by papaverine test and dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography. Measurement of penile brachial index and pelvic angiography were performed to diagnose arterial insufficiency (AI). In neurological examination we have measured bulbo-cavernosus reflex latency and nerve conduction velocity of the dorsal penile nerve and performed microvibration measurement and sweat spots test. All diagnostic methods were established in 1987 and we have been able to classify about 80% patients. We classified 305 patients during the last 5 years from 1987 as follows: psychogenic; 31.1%, CVI; 20.0%, AI; 7.9%, neurogenic; 7.9%, others; 14.1%, drop-out and unknown; 19.0%. 2. Treatment In the beginning only counseling and drug therapy were performed. However we lately performed various suitable methods for individuals based on their diagnoses. We performed counseling, drug therapy and intracavernous injection of vasoactive drug therapy for recovery of spontaneous erection (vascular training) for psychogenic IMP. The efficacy rate of counseling was low (30.4%) but that of drug therapy was 41.6%, and that of vascular training, 64.2%. For CVI without other factors we performed venous surgeries. Only about 25% of them perform sexual intercourse with or without self injection of vasoactive drug (self injection).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Postoperative results of ligation of crura penis for impotence with corporal veno-occlusive insufficiency]

We performed ligation of the crura penis for 34 impotents with corporal veno-occlusive insufficiency without arterial insufficiency and neural dysfunction from October 1987 to April 1991. Ages ranged from 24 to 72 (52.6 +/- 12.7) years old and follow up period was from 1 to 41 (17.7 +/- 12.6) months. For six patients ligation of the crura only was performed, for 22 ligation of the crura and deep dorsal vein (DDV) as well was performed at the same time, and for 6 crural ligation was performed after ligation of DDV. These operations required less than one hour and there were no severe complications. The postoperative results at 1 month were as follows: Excellent (sufficient spontaneous erection was recovered); 18, Improved (complete erection with intracavernous papaverine injection was achieved); 13, and Failure; 3. Erectile function was maintained only in 50% of the 18 pts. graded excellent. Ninety percent of the 31 patients graded either excellent or improved could maintain erectile function after 40 months with papaverine injection. Venous surgeries could not be a primary treatment for correcting the outflow abnormalities (of the veins). So it is conceivable that failure or recurrence could occur during a long follow up period. We concluded that crural ligation was acceptable as the first line treatment for erectile dysfunction due to corporal veno-occlusive insufficiency because of its relative non-invasiveness compared to other venous surgeries.

[Double-blind trial of oral prostaglandin E1 on impotence]

The effect of oral prostaglandin E1 (limaprost) on erectile function was studied in a double-blind placebo controlled trial. Fifty one patients who agreed to participate were examined for their subjective symptoms and nocturnal erection was recorded using an erectometer at the beginning of the study, after an initial 6 week period, and again after a second 6 week period. Patients were randomly assigned to a group which received placebo followed by limaprost or to a group which received limaprost followed by placebo. Ten cases dropped out. In the remaining forty one patients, NPT during the limaprost phase was significantly different from that during the placebo phase. Patients with the history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or pelvic surgery showed relatively poor responses to oral prostaglandin E1. Oral prostaglandin E1 achieved 42.9% effectiveness in the psychogenic impotence, and this effectiveness is significantly higher than that of placebo. Oral prostaglandin E1 was suggested as an additional or alternative therapy in the management of psychogenic impotence. Psychogenic impotent who didn't respond to sex therapy and patients with slight organic causes would seem to benefit from oral prostaglandin treatment.

[Study of recombinant human erythropoietin treatment on the anemia of predialysis patients]

We conducted a multiple-center joint study on the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rEPO) for predialysis patients. rEPO was intravenously administered to 42 predialysis patients (13 males and 29 females) with hematocrit (Ht) levels of less than 30%. The subjects were divided into group A (28 cases) in which rEPO was administered twice a week, and group B (14 cases) with rEPO administration once a week. The initial administration dosage was 6000IU/week. The Ht levels were 22.6 +/- 3.3% for group A and 23.2 +/- 2.7% for group B before the administration of rEPO, and increased to 31.0 +/- 4.0% and 27.7 +/- 3.7% respectively twelve weeks after initiating administration. The levels of effective improvement on anemia included 'markedly effective' in 17 cases (80.9%) and 'effective' in 2 cases (9.5%) in group A, and 'markedly effective' in 5 cases (41.7%) and 'effective' in 3 cases (25.0%) in group B. No significant change was seen in serum creatinine (Cr) levels during the study period. In the evaluation of renal function by reciprocal serum creatinine (1/Cr), a consistent tendency was not recognized; thus, suggesting that the rEPO administration had no effect on the renal function. No variation of blood pressure was seen. As far as side effects were concerned, headache and heavy headedness were recognized in four cases. There were, however, no cases in which the severity of the side effects dictated the discontinuation of the rEPO administration. In conclusion, rEPO was judged to be a safe and effective treatment for the anemia of predialysis patients.

[Clinical study of parathyroidectomy of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic renal failure]

We performed parathyroidectomy for renal osteodystrophy due to secondary hyperparathyroidism on 16 patients with chronic renal failure who were refractory to medical management; subtotal parathyroidectomy on one patient and total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation on 15 patients. Postoperative clinical improvement, i.e., bone and/or joint pain, pruritus and radiographic signs of renal osteodystrophy, was marked. After the operation, serum calcium decreased rapidly and adequate calcium replacement therapy was necessary. The levels of intact parathyroid hormone decreased rapidly and serum concentration of alkaline phosphatase gradually decreased for a few months postoperatively. Recurrence was diagnosed in one patient, who underwent excision of the transplanted parathyroid tissue. Osteomalasia due to hypoparathyroidism was not seen clinically in this series. In preoperative image diagnosis, ultrasonotomogram (US) showed the highest detective rate of the enlarged parathyroid glands. However, combination of US, computerized tomography and 99mTcO4(-)-201T1C1 scintigram can be recommended as a localizing diagnostic method for compensating the disadvantages of each method. Clinical results after parathyroidectomy for secondary hyperparathyroidism are considered to be good. However, long-term followup is mandatory for early detection of persistent hyperparathyroidism or hypoparathyroidism.

[Assessment of autonomic nervous function in impotence using sweat response induced by intradermal injection of acetylcholine]

It is important to evaluate the autonomic nervous function which controls penile erection. One method utilizes intradermal injection of acetylcholine to produce localized sweat response. The sweat response depends on the peripheral autonomic nervous supply. Therefore, the response can be used to detect peripheral autonomic nervous dysfunction. We tried to evaluate the peripheral autonomic dysfunction in 29 impotence using a sweat spots test. We classified the 29 impotence into 6 groups with standard tests such as the papaverine test, nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring, recordings of bulbocavernous reflex, etc. The results were as follows: psychogenic IMP; 8, neurogenic IMP; 8, arterial insufficiency; 5, corporeal veno-occlusive insufficiency; 6 neurogenic with arterial insufficiency; 1, and neurogenic with corporeal veno-occlusive insufficiency; 1. The score of sweat spots test was 25.3 +/- 10.9, being in normal, nineteen severe in 3 and slightly abnormal in 7. Many cases of severe and slightly abnormal patients were DM patients classified into neurogenic IMP. We found 2 cases that were not detected by bulbocavernous reflex but found to be abnormal by sweat spots test. Therefore we conclude that this test effective to detect the autonomic nervous dysfunction in impotence.

Study of factors related to hypotension in hemodialysis patients

The factors related to hypotension in hemodialysis patients were evaluated. The subjects consisted of 120 hemodialysis patients (61 males and 59 females), whose ages ranged between 28 and 82 years, and who had undergone hemodialysis treatment for a period ranging between 3 and 201 months. They were divided into three groups: Group A, 53 normotensive patients; Group B, 52 patients with hypotension during hemodialysis; and Group C, 15 patients with constant hypotension. The evaluated factors were age, sex, etiology of renal failure, hemodialysis term, ultrafiltered volume, responsiveness to vasopressor drugs, Cr, Na, Ht, TP, cardiothoracic ratio, presence or absence of heart disease, and microvibration pattern. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariate analysis (Quantification II and IV methods). The results of the Quantification IV method indicated that Groups A and B were similar but Group C was quite different from the other two groups. The results of the Quantification II method indicated that the most important factor which characterized the difference between Group A and Group C was the responsiveness to vasopressor drugs, and the most important factor in the difference between Group B and Group C was the microvibration pattern. Group B was characterized by abnormal microvibration patterns and Group C was characterized by a low responsiveness of the peripheral vessels to vasopressor drugs. We conclude that the hypotension during hemodialysis was caused predominantly by dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, while the constant hypotension was caused predominantly by a deterioration of constriction of the peripheral vessels.

Endogenous tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, and gamma interferon levels during Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice

Mice were infected intravenously with a sublethal dose of Listeria monocytogenes cells and then levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in the bloodstreams, spleens, and livers were monitored. The maximum level of TNF was detected at 72 h in the spleens and livers, but TNF was never detected in the bloodstreams. IL-6 appeared in the bloodstreams and spleens and peaked at 48 h. The maximum level of IFN-gamma could be detected in all three specimens, and the highest titer was shown in the spleens. Endogenous TNF production was suppressed by in vivo administration of anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (MAb) or anti-asialo GM1 antibody but not by anti-CD8 MAb, whereas none of these antibodies suppressed endogenous IL-6 production. Endogenous production of neither IL-6 nor IFN-gamma was inhibited in rabbit anti-recombinant mouse TNF-alpha antibody-treated mice. Similarly, production of TNF and IL-6 did not decrease in anti-mouse IFN-gamma MAb-treated animals, but TNF production was augmented in these animals. These results suggest that the these endogenous cytokines are produced by different mechanisms in L. monocytogenes infection.

[Detection of endogenous IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in tumor-infiltrating mononuclear cells of human colorectal cancer]

Quantitative evaluation of the levels of endogenous gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the extracts of tumor, peritumoral and normal colorectal tissues resected surgically from 43 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma was carried out using solid-phase, sandwich radioimmunoassay (RIA). The levels of both IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha detected in the tumor tissues were higher than those in the peritumoral and normal tissues obtained from each patient. A significant negative correlation was observed between the levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in each tumor tissue. The decrease of endogenous IFN-gamma in the tumors correlated with the advance of histopathological stages. Thirty seven patients were classified into three types according to the endogenous IFN-gamma distribution (intratumoral dominant type, peritumoral dominant type and nonreactive type). There was no significant difference concerning to the tumor diameters among them. However, the mean stage of the intratumoral dominant type was significantly earlier than that of the nonreactive types. On the other hand, the increase of endogenous TNF-alpha correlated with the maximum diameter of primary tumors. The production of endogenous TNF-alpha was localized in the tumor tissues, and the significant elevation of endogenous TNF-alpha was not observed in the peritumoral tissues. The immunohistochemical staining of IFN-gamma- and TNF-alpha-producing cells in tumor tissues represented that IFN-gamma was mainly produced by CD4+CD8-CD11c- lymphocytes and that TNF-alpha was mainly produced by CD4-CD8-CD11c+ cells with macrophage-like morphology. These results suggest that CD4+ lymphocytes producing IFN-gamma might play an important role in the anti-tumor response against cancer progression in human colorectal adenocarcinoma.

[Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors in patients with prostatic cancer]

A multivariate statistical analysis of 9 potential prognostic factors was made, using data gathered on 107 patients admitted between 1975 and 1987. After each variable was assessed separately for its prognostic importance by means of univariate analysis, a multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards regression model and multivariate logistic model was done. These tests identified Gleason's score as the most important factor for all patients followed by M category and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), while Gleason's score alkaline phosphatase and age at diagnosis were most important for stage D patients. For short-term survival, the significant prognostic factors were Gleason's score and M category while for long term survival they were Gleason's score and age. T. category, stage, acid phosphatase, prostatic acid phosphatase, and treatment were found to be significantly related to survival time when examined individually; they were not found to be significant in the multivariate analysis.

Functional evaluation of tumor-infiltrating mononuclear cells. Detection of endogenous interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in human colorectal adenocarcinomas

Quantitative evaluation of the levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the extracts of tumors and their corresponding normal tissues resected from 43 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma was done using solid-phase, sandwich radioimmunoassay. The levels of both IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha detected in the tumor tissues were higher than those in the corresponding normal colorectal tissues obtained from each patient. A significant negative correlation was observed between the level of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in each tumor extract. The decrease of the level of IFN-gamma in the tumor correlated with the advance of clinical stage, and the levels of IFN-gamma of the patients with distant metastases were significantly lower than those of the patients without distant metastases. However, an increase in the level of TNF-alpha correlated not only with an enlarged diameter but also with the extent of the primary tumor. Immunohistochemical staining of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha producing cells in tumor tissues showed that IFN-gamma was mainly produced by CD4+ CD8- T-lymphocytes and TNF-alpha was mainly produced by CD11c+ cells with macrophage-like morphology. These results suggest that CD4+ T-lymphocytes that produce IFN-gamma might play an important role in the antitumor response against cancer progression in human colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Endogenous gamma interferon-independent host resistance against Listeria monocytogenes infection in CD4+ T cell- and asialo GM1+ cell-depleted mice

The effects of in vivo administration of antibodies against T-cell subsets and asialo GM1 (ASGM1)-bearing cells on endogenous gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production and host defense in Listeria monocytogenes-infected mice were investigated. Endogenous IFN-gamma titers in the bloodstreams and spleen extracts of mice on day 2 of infection were partially suppressed by administration of rabbit anti-ASGM1 antibody, but not by anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (MAb) or anti-CD8 MAb. Of the different combinations of these three antibodies, the most suppressive effect on IFN-gamma production was observed after administration of anti-CD4 Mab and anti-ASGM1 antibody, although anti-CD8 MAb combined with anti-CD4 MAb partially inhibited IFN-gamma production. In contrast, antilisterial resistance was suppressed by the administration of anti-CD8 MAb but not by anti-CD4 MAb or anti-ASGM1 antibody. Antilisterial resistance in mice in which both CD4+ cells and ASGM1+ cells had been depleted was performed as efficiently as in normal mice in spite of the fact that endogenous IFN-gamma production was markedly suppressed. Furthermore, these mice also eliminated L. monocytogenes cells efficiently from the spleens even when they were pretreated with anti-mouse IFN-gamma MAb. These results indicate that CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and ASGM1+ cells are all responsible for endogenous IFN-gamma production and that antilisterial resistance and endogenous IFN-gamma production are not absolutely correlated.

Cytotoxic activity of marine algae and a cytotoxic principle of the brown alga Sargassum tortile

Partition fractions of hexane, CCl4 and CHCl3 from methanolic extracts of marine algae were each examined for cytotoxic activities against cultured P-388 lymphocytic leukemia cells. Cytotoxic activities were found for partition fractions of 21 species of seaweed. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the CCl4 partition fraction from Sargassum tortile, exhibiting the most prominent activity, afforded dihydroxysargaquinone (1) and sargatriol (2) previously isolated from this alga. The former was evaluated as a cytotoxic principle, and the latter, showing moderate activity, was suggested to be an artifact derived from 1 during the isolation procedure.

Scleroderma renal crisis in progressive systemic sclerosis: a case report

We report a case of progressive systemic sclerosis with scleroderma renal crisis 10 years after onset. The patient (female) had progressive renal dysfunction, hypertension which was difficult to control, and massive gastrointestinal bleeding. An angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (enalapril) could not control her hypertension. Only intravenous nicardipine had a slight effect on her hypertension. Hemodialysis and plasma exchange, did not reverse the renal crisis, and the patient died. Microscopic examination of her kidney showed thickening of the capillary walls and mild nephrosclerosis.

Suppression of host resistance against Listeria monocytogenes infection by 15-deoxyspergualin in mice

The effects of 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG), an immunosuppressive agent, on host resistance against Listeria monocytogenes were studied in mice. Administration of DSG in the early phase of infection resulted in fatal listeriosis by preventing acquired anti-listerial resistance, even though the infectious dose was sublethal for the untreated controls. In contrast, DSG treatment started after development of the acquired immunity was ineffective. Endogenous production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in the bloodstreams induced by the infection was normal in DSG-treated mice. Nevertheless, augmentation of macrophage functions such as expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens, phagocytic activity and listericidal activity induced by the infection was abrogated by DSG treatment. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of DSG on anti-listerial resistance might be different from cyclosporine A (CsA).

Plant constituents biologically active to insects. VI. Antifeedants for larvae of the yellow butterfly, Eurema hecabe mandarina, in Osmunda japonica. (2)

Three antifeedants for larvae of the yellow butterfly, Eurema hecabe mandarina de l'Orza, were isolated from Osmunda japonica Thunb. and identified as osmundalin, parasorboside and methyl (3S,5S)-5-hydroxy-3-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)hexanoate. In the course of isolation of the antifeedants, a new glycoside, dihydroisoosmudalin (9), was isolated together with maltol beta-D-glucopyranoside, 2-deoxy-L-ribopyranolactone, 5-hydroxymethyl.2-furfural and glycerin. The structure of 9 was elucidated as (4R,5S)-5-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)hexan-4-olide on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.

Evidence that endogenous gamma interferon is produced early in Listeria monocytogenes infection

It has been presumed that gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), which plays an essential role in antilisterial resistance, is produced late in Listeria monocytogenes infection. In the present study, however, IFN-gamma was detected in the bloodstreams and spleens of mice from days 1 to 4 of L. monocytogenes infection by both a double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an immunohistochemical technique, suggesting that endogenous IFN-gamma is produced early but not late in L. monocytogenes infection.

New triterpenes from a Chinese medicine, goreishi

Besides serratagenic acid, three new ursane-type triterpenes, named goreishic acids I (1), II (2), and III (3), were isolated from a Chinese medicine, Goreishi (the feces of Trogopterus xanthipes Milne-Edwards). The structures of 1, 2 and 3 were respectively determined as 2 alpha,3 beta-dihydroxyursa-12,18-dien-28-oic acid, 2 alpha,3 beta-dihydroxy-23-norursa-12,18-dien-28-oic acid and 2 alpha,3 beta-dihydroxy-24-norursa-12,18-dien-28-oic acid on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.

[Ligation of the crura penis: surgical treatment for venous impotence]

Recently it has become clear that venous impotents account for a high percentage of all impotents. In venous impotents a decrease in outflow resistance is seen. We have aggressively performed operations on venous impotents to produce artificial outflow resistance. In this study, we performed ligations of the crura penis in 6 venous impotents. Five patients recovered from erectile dysfunction and 1 patient showed papaverine-induced full erection. There were few severe complications and the duration of operation was very short. This operation is thought to be a simple and effective treatment for venous impotence.