Pharmacological profiles of the new histamine H2-receptor antagonist N-ethyl-N'-[3-[3-(piperidinomethyl)phenoxy] propyl] urea

The histamine H2-receptor antagonistic activity and antisecretory effects of KU-1257 (N-ethyl-N'-[3-[3-(piperidinomethyl) phenoxy]propyl]urea, CAS 120958-90-9) were studied. The Ki values of KU-1257, roxatidine acetate, famotidine and cimetidine for the inhibition of [3H]-tiotidine binding to guinea-pig cerebral cortex were 0.040, 0.13, 0.016 and 0.40 mumol/l, respectively. The KB values of KU-1257, roxatidine acetate, famotidine and cimetidine for the antagonism against histamine-induced positive chronotropic response of isolated guinea-pig right atrium were 0.041, 0.14, 0.031 and 0.51 mumol/l, respectively. In pylorus-ligated rats, KU-1257, roxatidine acetate and famotidine inhibited gastric acid secretion with respective intraduodenal ID50 values of 12.3, 18.5 and 0.45 mg/kg. In dogs with Heidenhain pouch, the ID50 values of KU-1257 for the inhibition of acid output stimulated by histamine, tetragastrin and meat meal were 0.08, 0.39 and 0.15 mg/kg p.o., respectively. KU-1257 was 2-3 times more potent than roxatidine acetate regardless of secretagogues and twice less than famotidine in meat meal stimulation. These results indicate that KU-1257 is a potent and competitive histamine H2-receptor antagonist.

Adenosine deaminase isoenzymes in liver disease

To clarify the clinical significance of increased serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity, and its mechanisms in various liver diseases, ADA isoenzyme activities (ADA1 and ADA2) in serum and the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were studied. High serum ADA activities were found in patients with acute hepatitis, alcoholic hepatic fibrosis, chronic active hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatoma. The ADA2:ADA ratio was decreased in acute hepatitis, but was increased in chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. Clinically, ADA2 activity was correlated with serum gamma-globulin levels. In chronic active hepatitis, total ADA activities in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were similar to those in controls. Furthermore, ADA2 activities after phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation were significantly lower than those without PHA stimulation, although total ADA activities were increased after PHA stimulation. These findings suggest that serum ADA isoenzyme activities may be a new marker for liver disease, and that the increased serum ADA2 in chronic active hepatitis is unlikely to be the result of an increase in ADA2 production by activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Cardiovascular function in the elderly during water immersion

In attempting to clarify the effects of aging on the regulatory functions of the cardiovascular system, we measured blood pressure, heart rate and stroke volume during thermoneutral head-out water immersion in seven healthy elderly and eight healthy young subjects. In the young subjects water immersion resulted in a marked increase in stroke volume, a deceleration of the heart rate and stable blood pressure values. In the elderly group the blood pressure increased significantly during shoulder-level water immersion. Compared to the young subjects, the elderly presented a less pronounced elevation of the stroke volume, and no change in the heart rate. These results indicate that the vasodepressive mechanisms regulated by baroreflexes diminish with aging, resulting in an elevation of blood pressure.

Woodfruticosin (woodfordin C), a new inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase II. Experimental antitumor activity

Woodfruticosin (woodfordin C) (WFC), a new inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase II (topo-II), was isolated from methanol extract of Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz (Lythraceae) and studied for in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities in comparison with Adriamycin (ADR) and etoposide (ETP), well known inhibitors of topo-II. The inhibitory activity against DNA topo-II shown by WFC was much stronger than that shown by ETP or ADR. WFC inhibited strongly intracellular DNA synthesis but not RNA and protein synthesis. On the other hand, WFC had a weaker growth inhibitory activity against various human tumor cells than ETP or ADR, but it showed remarkable activity against PC-1 cells and moderate activity against MKN45 and KB cells. Furthermore, WFC had in vivo growth inhibitory activity against s.c. inoculated colon38. These results indicate that the mechanism by which WFC exhibits antitumor activity may be through inhibition of topo-II.

Blood pressure response to hyperinsulinemia in salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats

We investigated the role of insulin in salt-sensitive hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats. The rats were kept in metabolic cages, and sodium intake and urinary sodium excretion were measured. In salt-sensitive rats receiving a 0.3% NaCl diet, sodium retention was significantly greater at weeks 1 and 2 in rats that received an insulin infusion than in those receiving a saline infusion. Mean arterial blood pressure and plasma norepinephrine levels were significantly higher at week 3 in insulin-treated rats than in saline-treated rats (mean arterial pressure, 137 +/- 3 mm Hg versus 119 +/- 3 mm Hg, p < 0.05; plasma norepinephrine, 0.40 +/- 0.02 ng/ml versus 0.27 +/- 0.01 ng/ml, p < 0.05). Insulin did not influence sodium retention, mean arterial pressure, or plasma norepinephrine in salt-resistant rats. Coadministration of an alpha-blocker (bunazosin, 10 mg/kg per day for 3 weeks) in salt-sensitive rats abolished the insulin-induced elevations in mean arterial pressure and sodium retention. When salt-sensitive rats were fed a low salt diet (0.03% NaCl), insulin did not raise mean arterial pressure. Thus, insulin elevated blood pressure only in the salt-sensitive model. The sympathetic nervous system and sodium retention in the early phase of insulin overload may contribute to elevation of mean arterial pressure in this model.

[Clinical significance of serum CA130 level in women with spontaneous abortion, hydatidiform mole and early normal and tubal pregnancy]

We examined the serum CA130 level in women in early pregnancy with normal (n = 13), and abnormal (n = 28) course. The abnormal course consisted of intrauterine spontaneous abortion (n = 10), hydatidiform mole (n = 3) and tubal pregnancy (n = 15). The serum CA130 level was higher than for normal nonpregnant women (35u/ml) in 69% (9/13) of women with normal pregnancy, 90% (9/10) of those with intrauterine spontaneous abortion and 100% (3/3) of those with hydatidiform mole; the mean value and standard deviation for these three groups were 131 +/- 150u/ml (n = 13), 197 +/- 253u/ml (n = 10), and 47 +/- 15u/ml (n = 3), respectively. In contrast, the serum CA130 level of the 15 women with tubal pregnancy was 28 +/- 21u/ml. Among these patients, all of the 13 women without genital bleeding had a CA130 level within the normal range for nonpregnant women (mean +/- SD; 20 +/- 6u/ml). Since CA130 is abundant in the decidual tissue but is scant in tubal tissue, a high CA130 level in maternal sera during early pregnancy may indicate the presence of the destruction of decidual tissue, while a low or normal CA130 level throughout early pregnancy is regarded as characteristic of tubal pregnancy.

Enhanced muscle sympathetic nerve activity during sleep apnea in the elderly

To examine how muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) becomes modified during sleep apnea in the elderly, we analyzed polysomnographic recording simultaneously with microneurographically recorded MSNA. Subjects were three healthy elderly males aged 72, 75, and 76. MSNA was suppressed with deeper non-REM sleep stages in these elderly subjects. In all three subjects, sleep apnea for 10 s or longer was observed during sleep of 00:00-06:00. During sleep apnea, MSNA was enhanced concomitantly with a blood pressure fall and a reduction in saturation rate of oxyhemoglobin. With the termination of sleep apnea, MSNA was maximally enhanced with a transient elevation of blood pressure. We conclude that sleep apnea induces an enhancement of MSNA, which may be responsible for hypertensive episodes during sleep.

Big endothelin-1-induced sudden death is inhibited by phosphoramidon in mice

The lethal activity of big endothelin-1 (bET-1) was examined in mice and compared with endothelin-1 (ET-1). Like ET-1, intravenous administration of bET-1 produced sudden death with an approximate LD50 value at 21.0 nmol/kg, higher than that of ET-1 (3.8 nmol/kg). At doses above the respective LD90 value, the latency to death was much longer in bET-1-treated mice with sustained elevation of plasma immunoreactive ET-1 (IR-ET-1). A metalloproteinase inhibitor, phosphoramidon, although failing to inhibit sudden death induced by ET-1, suppressed bET-1-induced lethality and elevation of plasma IR-ET-1 probably due to an inhibition of the enzymatic conversion of bET-1 to ET-1.

Serial changes of serum CA125 levels during menstrual cycles

Serial changes of serum CA125 levels during 32 menstrual cycles were examined in 32 healthy young women (19-21 years of age) charting basal body temperature (BBT) and measuring serum estradiol and progesterone levels. Analysis of BBT charts and serum progesterone levels revealed that the 32 menstrual cycles could be classified into either an ovulatory cycle with a sustained BBT temperature increase for at least 10 days (type I: 9 cycles), an ovulatory cycle with a sustained BBT temperature increase for less than 10 days (type II: 17 cycles), or anovulation (type III: 6 cycles). All 32 cycles exhibited basal CA125 levels of less than 35 u/ml throughout the cycle, except during the period of menstruation. At menstruation, 7 of the 9 cycles of type I showed a marked, transient elevation of CA125 levels from previous basal levels (a mean net increase). On the other hand, 12 of 17 cycles of type II showed only a slight elevation of CA125 levels during the period of menstruation. None of the 6 cycles of type III showed any apparent increase in CA125 levels during the period of menstruation. The mean net increase of CA125 levels during the period of menstruation in the cycles of type I was significantly higher than that of the cycles of type II (p less than 0.05) and type III (p less than 0.05). These results imply that a transient elevation of serum CA125 levels during the period of menstruation occurs in cycles with ovulation, and the levels of elevation seem to be closely associated with the duration of the sustained BBT temperature increase.

An extraordinarily high CA 125 level in a woman without apparent pathologic foci of CA 125 production: dissociation between serum levels of CA 125 and CA 130

We describe a patient with high serum CA 125 levels before and after surgery (greater than 403 U/ml) who had no apparent pathologic foci of CA 125 production. Serum levels of CA 130, which exists on the same glycoprotein as CA 125, were within normal ranges (less than 35 U/ml) before and after surgery.

Hematological studies on naturally occurring substances. VI. Effects of an animal crude drug "chan su" (bufonis venenum) on blood coagulation, platelet aggregation, fibrinolysis system and cytotoxicity

During the screening test of the animal crude drug "Chan su" (Chinese name, toad-cake), the venom of Bufo bufo gargorizans CANTOR (Bufonidae), on blood coagulation, platelet aggregation, fibrinolysis system and cytotoxicity, the ethyl acetate extract showed promotive action on platelet aggregation and remarkable cytotoxic activity on HeLa-S3 cells. Nine kinds of bufadienolides were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract by bioactivity-guided fractionation and were identified by chemical and spectral analysis.

Role of sympathetic activity in blood pressure reduction with low calorie regimen

To investigate the effects of a low calorie regimen on sympathetic function and its relation to blood pressure response, 22 untreated obese essential hypertensive patients (50 +/- 2 years, body mass index 29 +/- 1 kg/m2) were hospitalized and a diet was prescribed of 2,000 kcal/day for 5 days (control period) followed by 800 kcal/day for 21 days without changing salt intake (8-10 g/day). The dose of intravenous phenylephrine infusion needed to elevate systolic blood pressure 20 mm Hg (CD20) and the 24-hour urinary excretion of norepinephrine (UNE) were measured. During the low calorie period, blood pressure normalized in 14 patients (responder group, 124 +/- 3/79 +/- 4 mm Hg) and eight remained hypertensive (poor responder group, 158 +/- 6/103 +/- 3 mm Hg). At the control period, blood pressure and body mass index were similar, but the responder group had higher UNE (134 +/- 15 micrograms/day) and CD20 (127 +/- 11 micrograms) than the poor responder group (89 +/- 6 micrograms/day and 79 +/- 13 micrograms, respectively). During the low calorie period, both UNE (87 +/- 15 micrograms/day) and CD20 (74 +/- 10 micrograms) decreased in the responder group; no change was seen in the poor responder group. Changes in UNE and systolic blood pressure were correlated (r = 0.6, p less than 0.05). In conclusion, suppression of sympathetic activity plays a role in blood pressure reduction during moderate caloric restriction.

Lack of correlation between the amount of eugenol released from zinc oxide-eugenol sealer and cytotoxicity of the sealer

The purpose of this study was to examine a possible correlation between the eugenol released from a zinc oxide-eugenol sealer (Canals) and the degree of cytotoxicity. The cytotoxicity and eugenol release from root canal filling material containing eugenol was examined for test solutions at several experimental periods. No positive correlation was found between eugenol release and cytotoxicity of the root canal filling material.

Age-related changes of sympathetic outflow to muscles in humans

Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSA) was recorded microneurographically from the tibial nerve in 40 healthy male subjects aged 18 to 75. Passive and graded head-up tiltings were loaded on the subjects. The effects of aging on the resting activity of muscle sympathetic nerve in supine position at rest (burst number per minute), increase in MSA from the resting level by orthostasis (slope of the regression line between sine of the tilt angle and MSA bursts per minute), and the MSA in upright standing position were analyzed. The resting MSA increased with age, and a significant positive correlation was observed between age and resting activity (Y = -6.83 +/- 0.876X, r = .882, p less than .001). The MSA was enhanced by head-up tilt linearly with the sine of the tilt angle, and a significant negative correlation was observed between age and the MSA increase by orthostasis (Y = 57.6 - 0.582X, r = . 843, p less than .001). Standing MSA increased significantly but less remarkably than resting MSA. It was concluded that aging increases the resting activity, but there is less increase in the standing activity of sympathetic outflow to muscles in humans.

Immunohistochemical localization of CA130 in fetal tissues, and in normal and neoplastic tissues of the female genital tract

A murine monoclonal antibody, 130-22, produced against a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (PC-9) has been suggested as recognizing an antigenic determinant (CA130) which is different from an epitope recognized by OC125 on CA125 glycoprotein molecules. The immunohistochemical reactivity with the 130-22 antibody (anti-CA130) was examined in human fetal tissues, and normal and neoplastic tissues of female genital tracts, and compared to those using OC125. Among the fetal tissues, the amnion and the cells of coelomic epithelium and mullerian-derived epithelia reacted with anti-CA130. In normal adult tissues, cervical and endometrial gland cells, tubal epithelial cells, and ovarian surface cells reacted with anti-CA130. In addition, predecidual cells in the late secretory endometrium and decidual cells during gestation were positive. Among the neoplastic tissues, tubal and endometrial adenocarcinomas and epithelial ovarian tumors were positive for anti-CA130. There were no differences in the respective specimens between the immunohistochemical localization of anti-CA130 and of OC125. Therefore, anti-CA130 is considered to be useful in the immunohistochemical detection of CA125 glycoprotein molecules as well as OC125.

[Comparison of cardiac output between in DDD and in VVI by pulsed Doppler echocardiographic method (correction with Swan-Ganz catheter method)]

Difference of cardiac output and stroke volume between that in DDD and that in VVI was studied by pulsed Doppler echocardiography at different pacing rates. Moreover, to evaluate the usefulness of the method by pulsed Doppler echocardiography, cardiac output by the Swan-Ganz catheter method was measured and compared. Fourteen patients age 37-83 years (mean 65 years) with sick sinus syndrome and implanted multiprogrammable dual chamber pacemakers were studied. Cardiac output was measured as the product of the echocardiographically determined cross sectional area of the aortic anulus and the Doppler-determined mean velocity of left ventricular outflow over systole. Cardiac output was greater in DDD with atrial kick than in VVI at each pacing rate, and increased with elevation of the rate, but it was smaller at 120 PPM than at 110 PPM in DDD. Stroke volume was greater in DDD than in VVI at each pacing rate, and maximum volume was at 60 PPM in both modes. The data by pulsed Doppler echocardiography and by Swan-Ganz catheter method have high correlation. Besides being related with pulse rate, these results may be related with such things as myocardial contractility, preload and afterload. For example, the tension of autonomic nervous system, the changing of venous return volume, the disease of arteriosclerosis and old myocardial infarction, temperature, blood viscosity and so on. We will continue the study considering these factors.

Isolation and identification of restriction endonuclease Asp35HI from Acidiphilium species 35H

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Skin sympathetic activity in the tibial nerve triggered by vibration applied to the hand

The effect of vibration applied to the hand on skin sympathetic activity (SSA) in the lower limbs was studied in five healthy subjects. SSA from the right tibial nerve at the popliteal fossa, plethysmogram from the right index toe and perspiration from the sole of the right foot were measured when vibration of 100 m/s2 at 60 Hz was applied to the left palm for 1 min. The SSA response to vibration exposure differed among subjects, but every subject showed an increase in SSA from the tibial nerve when vibration was applied to the hand. Decrease in amplitude of plethysmogram from the toe was also found in all subjects. One subject displayed a remarkable increase in perspiration on the sole of the foot together with a great increase in SSA. The present findings indicated that even vibration exposure of the hand triggers sympathetic activity in the tibial nerve innervating the foot, and causes vasoconstriction of the toe and perspiration on the sole of the foot.

[Bone mineral contents of lumbar vertebrae in postmenopausal women--using a quantitative computed-tomography method]

We measured bone mineral contents of lumbar vertebrae (L1, L2, L3, L4) in 58 post-menopausal female volunteers (49-76 years old), using a quantitative computed-tomography method. We investigated age-related changes of bone mineral content, and analyzed the relation of bone mineral content to vertebral deformity and to physical characteristics. The following results were obtained: (1) There were highly significant correlations and some significant differences among bone mineral contents of L1, L2, L3 and L4. (2) Bone mineral content showed an apparently linear decline with age. (3) A significant negative correlation was observed between bone mineral content and the central deformity index of the vertebral body, but not for the anterio-posterior deformity index. (4) It was difficult to verify an association of bone mineral content with physical characteristics, such as height, weight, and body mass index.

Possibility for induction of convulsion by fleroxacin and its disposition in the central nervous system in animals

Fleroxacin and its metabolites were examined for their possibility of the induction of convulsion in mice, inhibitory activity on GABA receptor binding, and disposition in the central nervous system of mice, rats and dogs. No convulsion was evoked in mice at high oral combination doses of fleroxacin and fenbufen. Brain-to-serum concentration ratios of fleroxacin after oral dose were 0.13 in mice, 0.19 in rats and 0.28 in dogs. Rats showed no accumulation of fleroxacin in brain and similar elimination from brain to that from serum after the oral dose. Dogs exhibited the similar distribution of fleroxacin into various brain regions. The inhibitory effect of fleroxacin on GABA receptor binding was relatively weak and slightly potentiated in the presence of 4-biphenylacetic acid. Demethyl fleroxacin showed more potent inhibitory activity on GABA receptor binding and potentiation with 4-biphenylacetic acid. The combination of intravenous demethyl fleroxacin and oral fenbufen showed no convulsion in mice. Fleroxacin N-oxide showed only slight inhibitory activity on GABA receptor binding, being not influenced with 4-biphenylacetic acid.

[Levels of CA130 in maternal sera and amniotic fluid at various gestational ages]

We examined the CA130 concentration in the amniotic fluid, maternal sera, amnion, chorion, decidua and placenta. CA130 in the maternal sera showed an initial increase during early pregnancy, remained low from the 15th weeks of pregnancy until delivery, and then increased after term delivery (249u/ml, mean, n = 27) or mid-trimester abortions (844u/ml, n = 22). The CA130, concentration in the amniotic fluid was high in the mid-trimester and remarkably low at term. Among the tissues examined, amnion and decidua contained a relatively high concentration of CA130. Immunohistochemical examination also demonstrated abundant CA130 in the cytosol of amnion and decidua tissues. The pattern of changes in CA130 in amniotic fluid was similar to that in the amnion and decidua tissue. The results suggest that the amnion cells are the source of CA130 in the amniotic fluid and that the high concentration of CA130 in maternal serum after delivery originates in decidua tissue affected by the separation of the placenta.

[Effect of soft laser on pain]

Two kinds of semiconductor laser, STOMA-LASER and Four-Luck, were used for patients having pain in the mouth and their effective rates were compared in 93 patients (133 cases). As a result, the following results were obtained. 1. The effective rate was 70.7% at the stage just after radiation. 2. Age, sex and oral hygiene were not significant for the effective rate. 3. The kinds of diseases were remarkably significant. 4. The kind of apparatus did not play any role in the effective rate as a whole, but was significant for the kinds of disease.

Relaxing action of okadaic acid, a black sponge toxin on the arterial smooth muscle

Vasodilator responses induced by okadaic acid were investigated in isolated pig coronary artery and dog basilar artery precontracted with high K. Okadaic acid showed the relaxing effect at the concentrations above 3 x 10(-7)M. The relaxation was not inhibited by the treatment with various receptor antagonists, indomethacin, ouabain and high concentration of Ca2+ (7.5mM) and by the removal of endothelium. The intracellular Ca2+ level measured with fura 2 was not changed apparently in spite of the relaxation by okadaic acid. The maximum rate of relaxation was slowed under the conditions of low temperature (30 degrees C), anoxia and by the addition of 2-deoxy-D-glucose instead of glucose. These results suggest that okadaic acid causes vasodilation probably by its intracellular effect on Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile elements, and the ATP-producing system may be involved in this relaxation.

Vitamin K-reversible hypoprothrombinemia in rats: comparison of hypoprothrombinemic changes in various strains of rats caused by vitamin K deficiency and antibiotic treatment

Hypoprothrombinemic changes were compared in rats fed various vitamin K-deficient diets. Changes such as prolongation of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, decrease in plasma levels of prothrombin and clotting factor VII, and increase in plasma descarboxyprothrombin, appeared in rats maintained on vitamin K-deficient diet, but in rats on ordinary diet (vitamin K-sufficient diet). As the development of hypoprothrombinemia was not significantly different among animals fed various vitamin K-deficient diets, the blood coagulation parameters were concluded to be regulated only by the vitamin K level. Following the development of hypoprothrombinemia, hemorrhaging in various organs was detected in vitamin K-deficient rats, with strain differences in the severity of hemorrhage; Fischer and Wistar strains were more sensitive than the Sprague Dawley strain. Administration of a beta-lactam antibiotic, latamoxef (LMOX), to vitamin K-deficient rats led to enhancement of the hypoprothrombinemic conditions, but LMOX-associated changes in plasma enzyme levels were not detected.

Pyrrolidine derivatives as inhibitors of platelet aggregation induced by platelet activating factor

Newly synthesized pyrrolidine derivatives inhibited rabbit platelet aggregation induced by platelet activating factor.

New monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes murine interdigitating and Langerhans cells

A new monoclonal antibody, M1-8, that recognizes murine interdigitating cells (IDC) and Langerhans cells was obtained from a hybridoma prepared by fusion of SP2/0 mouse myeloma cells with splenic cells of rats immunized with IDC-rich cell suspension obtained from lymph nodes of athymic nude mice (BALB/c nu/nu). The specificity was assessed immunohistochemically on frozen sections of lymph nodes and epidermal sheets from both nude and normal mice. M1-8 reacted with paracortical IDC, veiled cells of the marginal sinus, and epidermal Langerhans cells in both normal and nude mice. In simultaneous staining by M1-8 and nonspecific esterase or anti-Ia or anti-Thy-1,2 antibody, the same epidermal dendritic cells were positive for all these antigens except Thy-1,2. Immunoelectron microscopy of the lymph node suspension using gold colloid particles revealed the attachment of gold particles to the cell membrane of IDC. Analysis by flow cytometry of the lymph node cell suspension showed 14 or 6% of M1-8-positive cells in nude or normal mouse, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that M1-8 also reacted with dendritic cells in the thymus and spleen and had a different distribution from F4/80. M1-8 also reacted with monocytes in bone marrow and peripheral blood, alveolar macrophages, and thioglycollate-stimulated peritoneal exudate macrophages. The antibody belongs to the immunoglobulin M class, reacts immunochemically with a glycoprotein in the cell membrane, and has a molecular mass of approximately 15 kDa.

Immunohistochemical localization and tissue levels of tumor-associated glycoproteins CA 125 and CA 19-9 in the decidua and fetal membranes at various gestational ages

To investigate the sources and biologic significance of CA 125 and CA 19-9 in amniotic fluid, immunohistochemical and biochemical localization of these tumor-associated glycoproteins in the decidua and fetal membranes was studied. Immunohistochemically, CA 125 and CA 19-9 were localized in the cytoplasm of decidua cells and amnion epithelial cells but not in the chorion and placental tissue. Biochemically, the 12,000 X g supernatant fractions of decidua and amnion tissues contained relatively large amounts of CA 125 and CA 19-9, 73% to 96% of which was present in the cytosolic fractions of these tissues. The CA 125 levels in the amniotic fluid decreased, whereas those of CA 19-9 increased with gestation, which correlated well with the respective levels in amnion tissues. These findings suggest that amnion cells produce and secrete these glycoproteins into the amniotic cavity. However, it is possible that the decidua also secretes CA 125 into the amniotic cavity through the chorion and amnion such as in the case of prolactin.

Effect of antibiotics on colony formation from mouse granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (CFU-GM), megakaryocyte progenitors (CFU-M) and erythrocyte progenitors (CFU-E, BFU-E) in vitro

Mouse bone marrow cells were cultured in vitro in semisolid medium containing various concentrations of beta-lactam antibiotics, moxalactam (LMOX), cefotetan (CTT), flomoxef (FMOX), ceftizoxime (CTZ), cefmenoxime (CMX), cefotasime (CTX), cefamandole (CMD), cefotiam (CTM), carbenicillin (CBPC) or sulbenicillin (SBPC). All of these antibiotics dose-dependently suppressed colony formation from granulocyte or macrophage progenitors (CFU-GM) and from megakaryocyte progenitors (CFU-M). The suppressive potencies of these antibiotics for both progenitors, as evaluated from the drug concentrations that induced 50% suppression of colony formation (IC50), were ranked as the weakest for CBPC and SBPC, moderate for LMOX, CTT, CMX, FMOX and CTZ, and strongest for CMD, CTX and CTM. LMOX, FMOX, CTX, CBPC and SBPC also showed dose-dependent inhibition of colony formation from erythroid progenitors (CFU-E and BFU-E). In the ranking of suppression of colony formation from CFU-E, CMD and CTX showed comparatively strong inhibition but others showed a weak effect, and in that from BFU-E, the effect was weakest for CBPC and SBPC, moderate for LMOX and FMOX, and strongest for CMD and CTX. The suppressive effect of LMOX and CMD on colony formation from each progenitor could almost be prevented by washing the cells after incubation with these antibiotics for 24 hr.

Mechanism and clinical significance of elevated CA 125 levels in the sera of pregnant women

To clarify the mechanism of CA 125 elevation in maternal sera, serum levels of CA 125 and CA 19-9 were measured in 122 apparently healthy pregnant women (fifth to fortieth week of gestation) and 50 postpartum women (26 term deliveries and 24 second-trimester induced abortions). Serum levels of CA 125 showed an initial increase by the tenth week and then decreased to less than 35 U/ml, remaining below this level until delivery. However, within 1 hour after term delivery or second-trimester induced abortion, the CA 125 levels showed a second increase and decreased rapidly thereafter. In contrast, serum levels of CA 19-9 did not change significantly during these periods. Combined with our previous finding that the decidua contains abundant CA 125 but little CA 19-9, these results indicate that the elevated CA 125 levels in maternal sera originate from the decidual cells affected by chorionic invasion or the placental separation.

Transformation of oocysts from several coccidian species by heat treatment

The transformation of sporocysts in oocysts of Eimeria caviae, E. intestinalis, E. nieschulzi, E. separata, E. tenella, Isospora canis, I. heydorni, and Toxoplasma gondii by heat treatment was examined. Fresh unsporulated oocysts from these species were heated at 50 degrees or 55 degrees C for less than 5 min and cultivated at 25 degrees C for 1 week. No transformation of sporocysts was observed in the sporulated oocysts following heating at 55 degrees C, but sporulated oocysts of Tyzzeria and Caryospora types were found in some I. canis and I. heydorni oocysts after heating at 50 degrees C followed by cultivation. A few sporulated oocysts of the Isospora type were observed in E. intestinalis oocysts after cultivation. All transformed sporulated oocysts contained eight sporozoites. In contrast, the number of sporocysts varied from two to 0. These results indicate that sporocyst formation in oocysts was affected by heat treatment. The relationship between the total numbers of sporozoites and sporocysts in the transformed oocysts was consistent with that of the "Octozoic" group classified by Hoare.

Some aspects of Leucocytozoon caulleryi reinfection in chickens

The role of first- and second-generation schizonts in acquired immunity to Leucocytozoon caulleryi in chickens was studied. The chickens, which had recovered from a primary infection with various doses of sporozoites at 22-95 days of age, were challenged with sporozoites. First-generation merozoites were found in all of the challenged chickens, but no second-generation merozoites and gametocytes were seen in 30 of 32 chickens challenged with sporozoites. Almost all of the chickens that had recovered from a primary infection with sporozoites showed complete resistance to reinfection, and those that had recovered from a primary infection with first-generation merozoites showed resistance to reinfection with sporozoites. These results indicate that the second-generation schizont of L. caulleryi appears to be more immunogenic than the first-generation schizont and that some immune factors acquired by the chickens in the second generation of schizogony may inhibit the development of second-generation schizonts.

[Analysis of the levels of CA125, CEA and CA19-9 in the cervical mucus samples obtained at various phases of the menstrual cycle and with inflammatory diseases of the uterine cervix]

Recently, normal cervical glandular cells have been reported to synthesize and secrete CA125 as a common constituent of normal cervical mucus. However, the levels of CA125 in the cervical mucus samples during the menstrual cycle and with cervical inflammatory diseases have not been determined. Therefore, we measured CA125 in cervical mucus samples in various phases of the menstrual cycle and in patients with cervical polyp or vaginitis. In addition to CA125, CEA and CA19-9 were also examined in the same samples. CA125 levels in the mucus samples of women (45 cases) without any gynecologic disorders (control) were 102,200 +/- 8,600 (M +/- S.E.) U/ml. Significantly higher levels were noted in the samples obtained in the follicular phase than in the luteal phase. CA125 levels in the mucus with atrophic vaginitis (12 cases) were significantly lower than those of controls. CEA and CA19-9 levels in the control samples were 3,400 +/- 550 ng/ml and 3,470 +/- 500 U/ml, respectively, and both of these showed no significant difference between the follicular and luteal phases. However, both CEA and CA19-9 levels in the cervical mucus with cervical polyps (15 cases) or vaginitis were much higher than in the controls. Accordingly, the present study revealed that CA125 in the cervical mucus fluctuates during the menstrual cycle, probably under the influence of ovarian sex steroids. In addition, CEA and CA19-9 in the cervical mucus samples obtained from women without any gynecologic disorders showed low levels, but those with inflammatory diseases were high, and this suggested that inflammatory diseases in the cervix and/or vagina may affect the constituent of the tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens in the cervical mucus.

Analysis of the levels of CA125, carcinoembryonic antigen, and CA19-9 in the cervical mucus for a detection of cervical adenocarcinoma

To verify whether analysis of the levels of CA125, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and CA19-9 in the cervical mucus is effective for a detection of cervical adenocarcinomas or not, simultaneous measurement of these three tumor markers in the cervical mucus samples from women without gynecologic disorders, with leiomyoma, with cervical squamous cell carcinomas, and with cervical adenocarcinomas was performed. Extremely high levels of CA125 with low levels of both CEA and CA19-9 were demonstrated in the cervical mucus samples from women without gynecologic disorders and with leiomyoma. The cervical mucus samples from cervical adenocarcinomas showed low CA125 levels with extremely high CEA and/or CA19-9 levels. Therefore, analysis of the levels of these three tumor markers in the cervical mucus possibly helps in the diagnosis of cervical adenocarcinomas if CEA and/or CA19-9 show extremely high levels. When a ratio of (CEA + CA19-9)/CA125 was calculated, all women without gynecologic disorders and with leiomyoma showed a ratio less than 0.5, whereas ten of 11 cases of cervical adenocarcinomas had a ratio greater than or equal to 0.5. Only one case of microinvasive adenocarcinoma showed a ratio less than 0.5. Accordingly, the ratio greater than or equal to 0.5 strongly suggested an existence of cervical adenocarcinoma, although it included some cases of squamous cell carcinomas (four of 17 cases).

Vitamin K reversible hypoprothrombinemia in rats. II. Efficacy of vitamin K on latamoxef-induced coagulopathy in rats

Feeding of a vitamin K-deficient diet caused the development of hypoprothrombinemic changes in rats such as prolongation of prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), decreases in plasma prothrombin and clotting factor VII levels, and an increase in the descarboxyprothrombin (PIVKA) level in both plasma and liver. Successive administrations of latamoxef (LMOX) to the vitamin K-deficient rats resulted in the further enhancement of these changes. After the development of hypoprothrombinemia with LMOX, a single subcutaneous injection of vitamin K1 normalized most of these abnormalities in blood coagulation parameters within 6 hr. When vitamin K was given at 200 micrograms/kg, PT, APTT and the plasma PIVKA level showed normal values for at least 8 days even when the animals were fed a vitamin K-deficient diet and treated with LMOX during the recovery period. The amount of vitamin K required to maintain most of the blood coagulation parameters in the normal range was about 3 micrograms/kg/day. The plasma level of vitamin K was higher than 0.3-0.5 ng/ml when the blood coagulation parameters were maintained in the normal range.

[Effects of cadralazine on the respiration, circulation, kidney, autonomic nervous system, digestive system, blood and so on]

The general pharmacological effects of cadralazine and its major metabolite ISF 2405 were studied by comparing them with those of hydralazine. Cadralazine at 3.0 mg/kg, i.v., increased respiratory movement and heart rate and decreased blood pressure in cats. Cadralazine at 3.0 mg/kg, i.v., inhibited the hypertensive response induced by adrenaline, but showed little effect on the hypotensive response induced by acetylcholine in cats. Cadralazine and ISF 2405 at 10(-4) g/ml had negative chronotropic effects on isolated guinea-pig atria. The drug at 2.5 mg/kg, p.o., inhibited the passage of BaSO4 in the gastrointestinal tract in mice. The drug at 5.0 mg/kg, i.d. or more inhibited gastric secretion in rats. Cadralazine, except at higher doses, had little effect on spontaneous gastric motility and uterine spontaneous movement in rats. Cadralazine at 2.5 mg/kg, p.o., or more reduced or tended to reduce urine volume and urinary excretion of electrolytes. The drug showed little effect on coagulation and osmotic fragility in blood cell in rats nor on hemolysis and platelet aggregation in rabbits. ISF 2405, however, showed slight or moderate influence on hemolysis at concentrations as high as 0.01-1.0%. Cadralazine at 5.0 mg/kg, p.o. or more antagonized carrageenin-induced hind paw edema in rats. In conclusion, these effects of cadralazine were found to be qualitatively identical with those of hydralazine.

Vitamin K-reversible hypoprothrombinemia in rats. I. Sex differences in the development of hypoprothrombinemia and the effects of beta-lactam antibiotics

Male and female rats were fed an ordinary diet which contained about 500 ng vitamin K/g or a vitamin K-deficient diet containing less than 5 ng vitamin K/g. Hypoprothrombinemic changes such as prolongation of the prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were detected in male rats within 4-6 days after feeding of the vitamin K deficient diet. Blood clotting factor VII and descarboxy prothrombin (PIVKA) levels changed rapidly, with maximum alteration at 2-4 days. Similar changes in factor VII and PIVKA levels were observed in female rats, but they appeared only after feeding of the K deficient diet for a long period. PT and APTT in female rats showed slight or no alteration even after 10 day feeding of the K-deficient diet. These results indicate that male rats are more susceptible to vitamin K deficiency than female rats. Administration of latamoxef led to a dose-dependent development of hypoprothrombinemia in vitamin K-deficient female rats. The hypoprothrombinemia in vitamin K-deficient female rats was caused by beta-lactam antibiotics with N-methyltetrazolethiol, thiadiazolethiol and methyl-thiadiazolethiol as the 3'-position substituent of the cephem nucleus.

Freeze fracture study of the schizonts and merozoites of Leucocytozoon caulleryi

The fine structure of the schizonts and merozoites of Leucocytozoon caulleryi was studied by the freeze fracture technique. Young schizonts were spherical, surrounded by a thick fibrous capsule and possessed numerous nuclei. The nucleus was surrounded by the outer and inner nuclear membrane. A number of nuclear pores were evident in the nuclear membranes. Advanced schizonts were characterized by the formation of cytomeres. Each cytomere was surrounded by a membrane. Several nuclei lay along the periphery of the cytomere. The protoplasmic face (P-face) of the membrane of the cytomere contained numerous intramembranous particles (IMP). The exoerythrocytic merozoites were surrounded by a two-layered pellicle consisting of the outer and inner membrane. During freeze fracturing, each of the two membranes could split along its hydrophobic interior to yield a total of four fracture faces. The P-faces of the outer and inner membranes were closely covered with evenly distributed IMP. The external faces (E-face) of these membranes had less IMP than the P-faces. The membrane architecture of the erythrocytic merozoites was similar to that of the exoerythrocytic merozoites. The erythrocytic merozoite was enveloped by an additional membrane probably derived from the plasma membrane of host cell.

Changes in the peripheral vasculature of various organs in patients with sarcoidosis--possible role of microangiopathy

Vascular involvement in sarcoidosis is briefly reviewed with emphasis on the outcome of a 10-year project-study by the Sarcoidosis Research Committee of the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare. Examples of vascular disorder associated with sarcoidosis are presented, including basal lamina layering of the capillaries in the skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and lung, glomerulopathy in the kidney, vascular changes in the ocular fundus and bronchi, and impaired peripheral circulation that could be detected by thermography. According to our tentative definition, all of these disorders should be collectively called microangiopathy. The possible role of microangiopathy in the pathogenetic mechanism of sarcoidosis is also discussed. Although microangiopathy in sarcoidosis is a comprehensive term, it should be included, in addition to systemic granulomatous disease, as part of the clinicopathological entity of sarcoidosis.

Transmission of hand-arm vibration to the head

A "tooth impression" was devised to measure head vibration. The vertical head vibration of four subjects was measured with the tooth impression during exposure of the hand to vertical sinusoidal vibration at acceleration levels of 3.15, 10.0, and 31.5 m/s2 root mean square in the range of 8-200 Hz. While in a standing position, the subjects pulled the vibrating handle upward at a force of 5 kg with the elbow joint stretched during the tests. The measurement was repeated twice. The difference between the two measurements was within 3 dB, a level which suggests that this method has good reproducibility. The vibration transmitted to the head was the greatest in the range of 12.5-16 Hz, and the attenuation was about 20 dB. Head vibration decreased by approximately 15 dB per octave at frequencies above 20 Hz as the frequency increased. When the excitation level was increased by 10 dB, the head vibration increased by about 8 dB.