[Concentrations of new quinolone agents in serum and prostate tissue]

Twenty five patients with benign prostate hypertrophy were administered ofloxacin (OFLX) simultaneously with norfloxacin (NFLX) in 6 patients, ciprofloxacin (CPFX) in 10, tosfloxacin (TFLX) in 5 and enoxacin (ENX) in 4 patients. The dose of these new quinolones was 100 mg (except 150 mg of TFLX). Their concentrations in the serum and the prostate tissue were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The serum concentration of OFLX was significantly higher than that of NFLX, CPFX, TFLX or ENX. The prostate tissue concentration of OFLX was significantly higher than that of CPFX or TFLX. The ratio of tissue versus serum concentration of each new quinolone agent was not significantly different. The high OFLX tissue concentration appeared to be caused by the high serum concentration.

Postnatal development and plasticity of corticocortical projections from area 17 to area 18 in the cat's visual cortex

We used retrogradely transported fluorescent tracers to study the development of projections from area 17 to area 18 in normal and monocularly deprived kittens. In newborn animals, cells in area 17 that were labeled from small, discrete injections in area 18 were concentrated around the retinotopically corresponding zone, but distributed with lower density over a very wide surrounding area. Hence, the total convergence and divergence of the projection were initially enormous, but they decreased dramatically, mainly during the first postnatal month, through elimination of the sparse, widespread distribution of projections. Injections of two different tracers close together in area 18 produced very few double-labeled cells in area 17 at any age, implying that most individual axons arborize over very small territories even at birth. In normal kittens the peak density of association cells in the upper layers, corrected for the overall expansion of the cortex, doubled over the first postnatal month and then declined gradually over the following several months, presumably because of continuing selection and elimination. As shown in previous work (Price and Blakemore, 1985a), area 17 to 18 cells in newborn kittens were distributed in two continuous bands in supragranular and infragranular layers. During normal maturation, elimination of projections results in the formation of distinct clusters; these lie preferentially in the upper layers above patches of ipsilateral eye input to layer 4 (Price et al., 1994). Monocular deprivation, which causes the terminal patches representing the deprived eye to become much smaller than normal, did not stop the normal decrease in overall convergence/divergence or the appearance of clusters of association cells, but the clusters were distinctly larger than normal in both hemispheres. Monocular deprivation also prevented the normal reduction in density of association cells within clusters after 1 month of age. Comparison with results from binocularly deprived animals, where clusters also form but association cell density is low, suggests that the size of clusters and the density of association cells retained depend on the overall level of cortical activity.

Prostaglandin E2/parathyroid hormone-induced suppression of alkaline phosphatase activity is mediated by protein kinase C

1. Bone resorptive factors, prostaglandin E2 and parathyroid hormone are shown to suppress alkaline phosphatase activity in a rat osteoblastic cell line. 2. Phorbol myristate acetate, but not dibutyryl cAMP or calcium ionophore can suppress alkaline phosphatase activity. 3. The protein kinase C inhibitors (H89, staurosporine) are able to block the suppression of alkaline phosphatase activity induced by prostaglandin E2 and parathyroid hormone. 4. These data suggest that protein kinase C is involved in the inhibition of alkaline phosphatase activity induced by prostaglandin E2 and parathyroid hormone.

Bactericidal action of tachyplesin I against oral streptococci

Tachyplesin I, a polycationic antimicrobial peptide isolated from hemocytes of horseshoe crabs, kills bacteria by disrupting the membrane potential of the cytoplasmic membrane. The present study shows that, among 36 oral streptococcal strains, 12 of 21 Streptococcus sanguis, 3 Streptococcus mutans, 9 Streptococcus salivarius and 3 Streptococcus milleri strains were susceptible to tachyplesin I, whereas 9 S. sanguis strains were resistant. Interestingly, these resistant strains include the clinical isolates from both Kawasaki disease and Behçet patients. According to the time-kill study, tachyplesin I inhibited irreversibly the growth of S. sanguis, S. mutans and S. salivarius strains within 20 min and an S. milleri strain within 80 min. Although it has been suggested that Escherichia coli cultured in rich media were more susceptible to tachyplesin I, the present results show that only 3 S. milleri strains were more sensitized to tachyplesin I in a glucose-supplemented medium, and other tested strains were not. Similarly, only 4 strains were more resistant to tachyplesin I in saline than these were in a rich medium.

Immune complex independent activation of complement, C1s secreted from hamster embryo malignant fibroblasts, Nil2C2 in serum free culture medium

Antibody independent activation of complement C1s was examined by immunoblot analysis using an antibody against a synthetic peptide of hamster C1s L chain. Approx. 50% of C1s secreted from hamster embryo malignant fibroblasts Nil2C2 was functionally active in its two-chain form in the serum free culture medium. In contrast, no active C1s was found in a culture medium of hamster embryo fibroblasts (HEF). Active C1s was detectable, however, in the culture medium after HEF became a cell line. The immune complex independent activation of C1s was also observed in rat cell lines but not in secondary rat embryo fibroblasts. C1s in a membrane fraction of Nil2C2 was a proenzyme form and was not activated by incubation of the membrane itself suggesting that C1s was activated after secretion. The activation of C1s was not inhibited by human C1 inhibitor (C1-INH), benzamidine or soy bean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) but was inhibited by leupeptin, nitrophenyl guanidinobenzoate and DFP. Our results suggest that C1s is activated either by a serine proteinase(s) other than those reported to cleave C1s or by an activator which directly stimulates autoactivation of C1s.

High-level ATP production by a genetically-engineered Candida yeast

Previous studies of ATP production with the methylotrophic yeast, Candida boidinii, suggested that the phosphorylation of AMP catalyzed by adenylate kinase (ADK) was rate-limiting. To investigate whether the enhancement of ADK activity in C. boidinii cells would improve ATP productivity, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ADK1 gene encoding ADK was expressed in C. boidinii under the C. boidinii AOD1 promoter. Methanol-induced transformants had 10,000-fold enhanced levels of ADK activity and produced 23-fold more ATP from adenosine when compared to the control, parent strain. In a pH-controlled reaction system with successive adenosine-feeding, the ATP concentration in the reaction mixture reached 230 mM (117 g/l) over 45 hours, and was easily purified with an overall yield of 78 percent.

A novel synthetic phyllolitorin analogue [desTrp3,Leu8]phyllolitorin inhibits scratching behavior induced by neuromedin C in rats

[DesTrp3,Leu8]phyllolitorin (DTP) (pGlu-Leu-Ala-Val-Gly-Ser-Leu-Met-NH2) was synthesized as an analogue of phyllolitorins, a new member of bombesin family, and examined if it antagonized neuromedin C (NMC)-induced scratching. DTP inhibited dose-dependently the scratching behavior by NMC (1 microgram), whereas it did not alter any element of other grooming behaviors. DTP (6 micrograms) alone was found to be neither toxic nor active in inducing both scratching and grooming, which were comparable to vehicle alone. Assuming that the scratching behavior is commonly and specifically elicited by bombesin family peptides, DTP might be classified as a new type of bombesin antagonist.

Characterization of a plasmid-borne and constitutively expressed blaMOX-1 gene encoding AmpC-type beta-lactamase

A 1954-bp DNA fragment containing the blaMOX-1 gene, identified on a large resident plasmid (pRMOX-1) of Klebsiella pneumoniae NU2936, was sequenced and an open reading frame (ORF) coding for a 390-amino-acid (aa) MOX-1 was found. The total deduced aa sequence of MOX-1 shared considerable homology with that of AmpC-type class C beta-lactamases of Gram- bacteria, especially of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 [51.3%; 63.8% at the nucleotide (nt) level]. However, the regulatory gene ampR and a 38-bp AmpR-binding region were not present upstream from blaMOX-1, although the expression of P. aeruginosa ampC is directly regulated by AmpR. Possible -35 and -10 regions, a Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence and terminators were identified which are peculiar to blaMOX-1. On the other hand, a sequence highly homologous (91.6%) to the region upstream from dhfrX in the In7 integron carried by plasmid pDGO100 was found upstream from blaMOX-1 at nt 1 to 488. No significant difference was detected between the promoter activities of blaMOX-1 in ampD- and ampD+ strains of Enterobacter cloacae, as measured by the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assay. These results clearly show that blaMOX-1 belongs to the group of ampC-related bla genes and that it is expressed constitutively, independently of transcriptional regulators such as AmpR, AmpG and AmpD. Homology analysis among AmpC enzymes or ampC genes implied that integration of the chromosomal ampC gene into a large resident plasmid, followed by transconjugation, was involved in the evolution of blaMOX-1.

Murine experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis induced by interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein and Klebsiella pneumoniae 03 lipopolysaccharide (K03-LPS): a relation between H-2 haplotype and EAU induction

The pathogenicity of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) in the mouse and H-2 restriction of IRBP-induced experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) was tested by repeated immunization using Klebsiella pneumoniae 03 lipopolysaccharide (K03-LPS) as an adjuvant. It was shown that IRBP had a greater capacity to induce EAU than S-antigen. Based on the incidence of EAU induction using B10 congenic mice and other strains, the susceptibility to EAU was, at least in part, controlled by the I-Ak haplotype of the H-2 subregion. The results also indicated that non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes play some role in disease susceptibility.

Effect of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide on Bacteroides fragilis abscess formation and mortality in mice

To study the mechanism of synergism between Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli, the effect of sublethal dose of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (25 micrograms/mouse) was checked on B. fragilis abscess formation. LPS was administered prior or after inoculum injection. No significant difference in the abscess size was observed at necropsy on day 6. However, all the groups receiving LPS showed higher incidence of recovery of additional intestinal bacteria (23.5-45.5%) from the abscess pus. When LPS was given 4 hr prior to inoculum administration, 83-100% mortality was observed. Detailed investigation showed autoclaved cecal contents alone could also cause similar mortality. Studies with stimulation of endogenous cytokines by E. coli LPS demonstrated induction of all of them within 3 hr in the blood stream with TNF-alpha demonstrating peak at 1 hr, IL-1 alpha and IL-6 at 4 hr and IFN-gamma between 6-9 hr with moderately high levels at 4 hr. This E. coli LPS-triggered cytokine cascade possibly gets further stimulated by injection of autoclaved cecal contents containing high concentration of endotoxins (1.6 x 10(5) EU/ml) contributed by dead bacteria and lead to the mortality of animals.

Genetic alteration of the hepatitis C virus hypervariable region obtained from an asymptomatic carrier

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome shows extensive sequence diversity at 2 hypervariable regions (HVR1 and HVR2) of the putative envelope glycoprotein (gp70). We recently reported that the amino-acid sequence of HVR1, but not of HVR2, underwent a striking mutation or mutated sequentially over a period of several months in patients with chronic hepatitis (CH). Here, we examined whether these genetic alterations in HVR1 occurred in an asymptomatic HCV carrier. The level of HCV RNA in serum was almost the same throughout the 4 time points sampled over 16 months. However, we found that the amino-acid sequence of the HCV HVR1 from this asymptomatic carrier altered with time, as seen in patients with CH. Alterations of amino acids in the HVR1 were correlated with persistent HCV infection rather than with clinical symptoms. Sequence heterogeneity of HVR1 was not correlated with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values or liver histological findings. The necessity of clinical follow-up of HCV asymptomatic carriers is discussed.

Uptake of remnant like particles (RLP) in diabetic patients from mouse peritoneal macrophages

To investigate whether the remnant like particles (RLP), separated from serum by an immunoaffinity gel mixture of anti-apo B-100 and apo A-I monoclonal antibodies, are relevant to the initiation or progression of atherosclerosis, the incorporation of RLP into mouse macrophages was studied using histochemical and biochemical techniques. Remnant lipoproteins such as RLP are reported to contain a large quantity of chyloniron and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) remnants, especially in diabetic patients. The RLP separated from the sera of 32 diabetic patients were found to be predominantly taken up into macrophages harvested from mouse abdominal cavities by the staining method applying oil red O. Furthermore, using 14C-oleate to prove the uptake of lipoproteins by macrophages, the uptake of RLP-VLDL, a VLDL fraction of RLP by ultracentrifugation, was the next highest to that of the oxidized LDL, which suggests that RLP-VLDL is also aggressively taken up by macrophages. The degree of uptake of RLP-VLDL by macrophages was positively correlated with HbA1c of these diabetic patients (r = 0.556, p < 0.01), irrespective of the ways of the treatment of diabetes. In conclusion, RLP can contribute to the foaming of macrophages, which in turn may explain the acceleration of atherosclerosis in diabetic patients.

Genetic analysis of Escherichia coli O9 rfb: identification and DNA sequence of phosphomannomutase and GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase genes

Subcloning, transposon insertion, and deletion analysis revealed that the Escherichia coli O9 rfb region is about 12 kb in size. The region encodes at least seven polypeptides of 89, 74, 55, 50, 44, 41 and 39.5 kDa. Southern hybridization analysis of rfb regions of E. coli O8 and O9, and Klebsiella O3 and O5 serotypes (all of these O polysaccharides are mannose homopolymers and the structures of the repeating unit of E. coli O9 and Klebsiella O3 are identical) showed that a central region specific for E. coli O9 and Klebsiella O3 is flanked by two regions common to all four. Complementation experiments using strains with known defects and specific tests for the enzymic activity showed that the 50 and 55 kDa polypeptides, encoded by the common region, are phosphomannomutase (PMM) and GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMP), respectively. Nucleotide sequencing of the region revealed the presence of two genes, rfbK and rfbM, analogous to the corresponding genes of Salmonella typhimurium. In E. coli O9, rfbK and rfbM encode proteins of 460 amino acids (50,809 Da) and 471 amino acids (52,789 Da). The amino acid sequence of GMP was conserved in RfbMs of E. coli O7 and Salmonella groups B, C1 and C2, CpsB of S. typhimurium, AlgA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and XanB of Xanthomonas campestris. The phylogenetic trees of PMM and GMP were different in topology and in the evolutionary distances from ancestors.

The role of insulin in coronary atherosclerosis

In 197 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent coronary angiography, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed, measuring plasma glucose(PG) and plasma insulin (IRI) at 4 time points (0, 30, 60 and 120 min). Subjects were separated into two groups by their insulinogenic index (I.I. = delta IRI/delta PG from 0 up to 30 min), 99 cases with good insulin response (I.I. > or = 0.4) and 98 cases with poor insulin response (I.I. < 0.4). Only two subjects were diabetic in good insulin response, while 37 were diabetic in poor insulin response. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was expressed as a coronary index (CI), calculated according to Balcon's method. Fasting PG and the sum of PG were significantly higher in the latter group, while the sum of IRI was significantly lower. CI was not significantly different, however. In the group with good insulin response, the severity of CAD was significantly correlated to fasting IRI (n = 99, r = -0.387, P < 0.02), but, there was no such relationship in the other group. We conclude that hyperinsulinemia might be a risk factor for ischemic heart disease, but in diabetics it is difficult to link the relationship between fasting IRI and CI.

Renal excretion of famotidine and role of adenosine in renal failure induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide in rats

Our previous studies have reported that bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) dramatically changes the ability of the active tubular anion secretory system in rats. The present study has investigated the effects of LPS on the pharmacokinetics and renal handling of famotidine, an organic cation drug excreted primarily by an active tubular secretion mechanism in rats. The role of adenosine in the LPS-induced renal failure was also investigated using theophylline, an adenosine antagonist. Pretreatment with LPS (250 micrograms/kg) significantly decreased the steady-state volume of distribution, systemic clearance, and renal clearance (CLr) of famotidine, but not nonrenal clearance. No significant differences in total urinary recovery of unchanged famotidine were observed between treatments. Pretreatment with LPS significantly decreased the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), estimated as inulin clearance. LPS increased the clearance ratio of famotidine (CLr/GFR), but not the net tubular secretion, indicating that LPS has little or no effect on the active tubular cation secretory system. Theophylline (10 mg/kg) improved LPS-induced decrease in GFR without causing any changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters of famotidine. These findings provide further evidence that LPS produces different effects on the distribution and the active tubular secretory systems of anion and cation drugs, and that adenosine may play an important role in the induction of renal failure by LPS.

Characterization of nicotinamide methyltransferase in livers of mice bearing Ehrlich ascites tumors: preferential increase of activity

There was a 2- to 7-fold increase in nicotinamide methyltransferase activity in the livers of mice and rats bearing seven different kinds of tumors compared with the respective control normal livers, while activity in the tumors themselves was hardly detectable. The activity in the liver started to increase markedly 3-7 days after i.p. transplantation of Ehrlich ascites tumors into the mice, maintaining a plateau up to death. Metabolic conversion of 14C-nicotinamide to 14C-N1-methylnicotinamide was 3-fold higher in the slices of the ascites tumor host liver than in the normal liver, but the conversion to other radioactive metabolites was not significantly different. Nicotinamide methyltransferase was finally purified 20,000-fold with a yield of 4% from the cytosolic fraction of the ascites tumor host liver by means of five purification steps. At every purification step, only one enzyme fraction was detected. The enzyme finally isolated exhibited a single protein band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with a molecular weight of 26,000. As for the compounds investigated, including the substrates for methyltransferases other than nicotinamide methyltransferase, only quinoline could be the substrate for enzyme activity. It is suggested that the increase in enzyme activity in the tumor host liver probably derived from the endogenous enzyme preexisting in the liver before tumor transplantation.

Effect of long-term treatment with a new aldose reductase inhibitor, (2S,4S)-6-fluoro-2',5'-dioxospiro-[chroman-4,4'-imidazolidine]-2-carbox amide (SNK-860), on peripheral neuropathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

We studied the long-term effects of a new aldose reductase inhibitor, (2S,4S)-6-fluoro-2',5'-dioxospiro-[chroman-4,4'-imidazolidine]-2- carboxamide (SNK-860), on functional, biochemical, and structural changes in peripheral nerve of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. During the experimental period of 26 weeks, the delayed motor-nerve conduction in diabetic rats was significantly prevented by SNK-860 treatment, and elevated sorbitol levels and reduced myo-inositol levels were normalized to 100% and 71% of control levels, respectively. Teased nerve fiber studies demonstrated that the frequency of abnormal fibers was significantly reduced in treated diabetic rats. Morphometric analysis of myelinated fibers also disclosed prevention of axonal atrophy, distorted axonal circularity and preservation of large-sized fibers following SNK-860 treatment. These results suggest that long-term treatment with SNK-860 has a beneficial preventive effect on the development of experimental diabetic neuropathy.

The relationship between early diabetic nephropathy and control of plasma glucose in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The effect of glycemic control on the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy in an 8-year follow-up study

To clarify the relationship between early diabetic nephropathy and the glycemic control in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) without hypertension, excretion of urinary albumin was studied retrospectively for 8 years. The patients with early diabetic nephropathy were divided into two groups according to the initial urinary albumin index (UAI: mg/g.creatinine), namely, a normoalbuminuric (less than 15 mg/g.creatinine) and a microalbuminuric group (15 < or = UAI < 200 mg/g.creatinine). Comparisons of changes in UAI were made between good (HbA1 < 9.0% and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) < 140 mg/100 mL throughout the observation period) and poor glycemic control groups after 4 and 8 years. In the patients with normoalbuminuria at the initial determination, five of 11 patients (45.5%) with good glycemic control and 14 of 22 patients (63.6%) with poor glycemic control became microalbuminuric after 8 years, respectively (p < 0.05). In the microalbuminuric patients, five of ten patients (50%) with poor glycemic control became macroalbuminuric (UAI > or = 200 mg/g.creatinine), although only one case worsened of five patients with good glycemic control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the development or progression of early diabetic nephropathy in NIDDM was significantly inhibited by good glycemic control (FPG < 140 mg/100 mL and HbA1 < 9.0%), independent of hypertension, and probably irrespective of the mode of therapeutic intervention.

The effect of delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) on the changes of body (core) temperature induced by serotonergic agonists in rats

Hyperthermia induced by high doses of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyl-tryptamine (5-MeODMT) was diminished and hypothermia induced by low doses of 5-MeODMT was enhanced by pretreatment with delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP). Delta sleep-inducing peptide had an enhancing effect of hypothermia induced by 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT). This action of DSIP was completely inhibited by ICV injection of anti-DSIP. Pindolol prevented the enhancing action of DSIP on both 8-OH-DPAT- and apomorphine-induced hypothermia. It is suggested that the thermoregulatory action of DSIP is primarily exerted by a 5-HT1A mechanism in the rat.

Bidirectional regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation by IFN-gamma

We studied the effects of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), a T-cell lymphokine, on the proliferation and chemotaxis of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). Recombinant human IFN-gamma dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of SMC cultured in the presence of 20% fetal calf-serum. It also inhibited PDGF-induced chemotaxis of SMC. Similar concentrations of IFN-gamma induced DNA-synthesis of SMC cultured in mitogen-depleted medium for 5 days. The inhibition and the stimulation of SMC proliferation were accompanied by concomitant decrease and increase in the number of PDGF receptors. Our study indicated that IFN-gamma is a bidirectional regulator of SMC proliferation.

Molecular characterization of an enterobacterial metallo beta-lactamase found in a clinical isolate of Serratia marcescens that shows imipenem resistance

A clinical isolate of Serratia marcescens (TN9106) produced a metallo beta-lactamase (IMP-1) which conferred resistance to imipenem and broad-spectrum beta-lactams. The blaIMP gene providing imipenem resistance was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli HB101. The IMP-1 was purified from E. coli HB101 that harbors pSMBNU24 carrying blaIMP, and its apparent molecular mass was calculated to be about 30 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Kinetic studies of IMP-1 against various beta-lactams revealed that this enzyme hydrolyzes not only various broad-spectrum beta-lactams but also carbapenems. However, aztreonam was relatively stable against IMP-1. Although clavulanate or cloxacillin failed to inhibit IMP-1, Hg2+, Fe2+, or Cu2+ blocked the enzyme's activity. Moreover, the presence of EDTA in the reaction buffer resulted in a decrease in the enzyme's activity. Carbapenem resistance was not transferred from S. marcescens TN9106 to E. coli CSH2 by conjugation. A hybridization study confirmed that blaIMP was encoded on the chromosome of S. marcescens TN9106. By nucleotide sequencing analysis, blaIMP was found to encode a protein of 246 amino acid residues and was shown to have considerable homology to the metallo beta-lactamase genes of Bacillus cereus, Bacteroides fragilis, and Aeromonas hydrophila. The G+C content of blaIMP was 39.4%. Four consensus amino acid residues, His-95, His-97, Cys-176, and His-215, which form putative zinc ligands, were conserved in the deduced amino acid sequence of IMP-1. By determination of the amino acid sequence at the N terminus of purified mature IMP-1, 18 amino acid residues were found to be processed from the N terminus of the premature enzyme as a signal peptide. These results clearly show that IMP-1 is an enterobacterial metallo beta-lactamase, of which the primary structure has been completely determined, that confers resistance to carbapenems and other broad-spectrum beta-lactams.

A murine model of experimental autoimmune lens-induced uveitis using Klebsiella O3 lipopolysaccharide as a potent immunological adjuvant

Experimental autoimmune uveitis and finally panophthalmitis could be produced in mice by repeated immunization of syngeneic eyeball extract mixed with Klebsiella O3 lipopolysaccharide (KO3 LPS) as a powerful immunological adjuvant. No ocular lesions were produced in mice given eyeball extract emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), KO3 LPS alone or eyeball extract alone. Histopathological changes in the ocular lesions at the early stage after the second or tertiary immunization were characterized by infiltration with inflammatory cells in the ciliary body and iris. The iridocyclitis was followed by extensive infiltration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) into the cornea, lens and the surrounding tissues after repeated immunization. Finally, these areas were replaced by granulomatous tissues infiltrated with mononuclear cells. On the other hand, the structure of the retina and sclera was partially preserved. Those mice exhibited production of autoantibodies and development of the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to syngeneic eyeball extract. Moreover, ocular lesions could be produced in normal recipient mice by transfer of sensitized lymphocytes from hyperimmunized mice. Therefore, it was suggested that the ocular lesions produced by repeated immunization with the mixture of eyeball extract and KO3 LPS were due to the autoimmune mechanism. This might be useful to model immunological phenomena in the pathogenesis of human phacoantigenic uveitis.

Experimental studies of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) and cis-diammine-1, 1-cyclobutandicarboxylate platinum (II) combination therapy for malignant gynecologic tumors

A comparative exploration of the optimum regimens for CDDP and CBDCA therapy of malignant gynecologic tumors was conducted using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. In vitro, CBDCA exerted less cytotoxicity with short-time exposure, but over a longer time was as effective as CDDP. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated rapid binding of all administered CDDP to protein, while free-Pt was seen for many hours after CBDCA treatment. These results suggest that the gradual action of CBDCA leads to the appearance of cytotoxicity, and that in clinical use CBDCA affects the tumor cells for a long time. To increase the active dose of platinum, treatment with high doses of CDDP, or CBDCA, or the two platinum compounds with different pharmacokinetic behavior in combination, was designed for optimal therapeutic protocols. In the CDDP-alone treatment animals, renal toxicity was apparent with the increase in dose level. However, in the combination CDDP-and-CBDCA treatment animals, the total dose level could be elevated without causing toxicity. In the drug-sensitivity test, the combination therapy also exerted strong activity. The fact that the combined CDDP-and-CBDCA therapy appears to exert greater anti-tumor effects without any increment in adverse toxicity of these drugs is clinically promising.