[A comparison of coping behavior among middle-aged males with health problems in different types of communities in Tokyo]

Coping behaviors of middle-aged men living in areas of Tokyo with differing mortality rates were analyzed to determine if regional differences exist and if so why. Coping behaviors were divided into 3 separate levels: 1) coping behavior for slight symptoms, where a small change in lifestyle would seem to be a countermeasure, 2) coping behavior for symptoms which may be signs of a serious illness, and 3) coping behaviors for illness which have been identified and diagnosed by a physician. The sample was randomly selected from men 35 to 64 years of age living in two separate communities, Koto-Ward with a high middle-aged male mortality rate and Bunkyo-Ward where it is low. The following results were obtained. 1) In both communities, the proportion of interviewees who modified their lifestyle when slight symptoms occurred was associated with educational level and occupational status. The individuals who were junior high school graduates, and blue-collar workers in small enterprises, showed a low tendency toward changing their lifestyle when confronted with slight symptoms. College graduates, and white-collar workers who were members of large or medium sized enterprises, showed a strong tendency toward changing their lifestyle when confronted with slight symptoms. 2) In both communities, there were differences in coping behaviors when confronted with potentially serious illness dependent upon self-rated health and working hours per day. Interviewees with good self-rated health status and working more than ten hours a day showed a lower tendency to see a physician. 3) Compliance with the advice of a physician was lower among those interviewees who were younger and among those who did not have a family physician. In Koto-Ward, a correlation was seen between a low rate of compliance to physician advice and the non-availability of adequate medical facilities nearby. 4) In Koto-Ward where middle-aged male mortality is high, the proportion of interviewees who changed lifestyle in response to slight symptoms was significantly lower than in Bunkyo-Ward. The proportion of those who complied with the advice of a physician was also lower. 5) Regional differences in coping behaviors associated with slight symptoms appears to be due to differences in educational level and occupational status. Differences in availability of family physicians and nearby clinics could account for regional differences in the coping behavior of individuals with diagnosed illnesses.

Post-ischaemic treatment with the prostacycline analogue TTC-909 reduces ischaemic brain injury

The effects of stable PGI analogue TTC-909 on CBF and glucose metabolism was studied in the chronic stage of cerebral ischaemia produced by occluding the distal MCA in SHRSP. Administration of TTC-909 (100 ng/kg/day during 7 days) prevented the development of ischaemic oedema and improved secondary metabolic derangement coupled to flow in postischaemic tissues, particularly in the ischaemic rim.

Classification system for cataracts. Application by the Japanese Cooperative Cataract Epidemiology Study Group

A cataract classification and grading system for the main purpose of cataract epidemiological studies is proposed by the Japanese Cooperative Cataract Epidemiology Study Group. Cataractous types are classified principally into cortical, nuclear and subcapsular opacities. Stages of cataract advancement are classified into grade I (early stage), grade II (moderate stage) and grade III (advanced stage). Regarding cortical opacities an opacified area obtained from red-reflex images is utilized for grading judgment. Nuclear opacity grading is based on the intensity of scattering at the nucleus. Grading of subcapsular opacities is judged from their extension in the three different pupillary areas. To help grading judgments, standard pictures of cortical and nuclear cataracts are provided. Gradings of lens coloration are divided into pale yellow (grade I), yellow (II), brownish yellow (III) and brown including reddish and black brown (IV). A recording chart is also provided.

Changes of acetylcholine and choline concentrations in cerebrospinal fluids of normal subjects and patients with dementia of Alzheimer-type

Acetylcholine (ACh) and choline (Ch) in cerebrospinal fluid from 29 normal volunteers and 7 patients with Alzheimer-type dementia (DAT) were examined using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector coupled with liquid cation-exchange method. In normal volunteers, ACh concentration was decreased significantly from 40-50 years and Ch concentration was increased significantly from 50-60 years. CSF from patients with DAT revealed high Ch concentration and the increase was statistically significant while ACh concentration in CSF of DAT did not show a significant difference with that of normal volunteers. This Ch augmentation may suggest a disturbance in utilization of Ch for ACh synthesis and may become an useful indicator for organic changes in central cholinergic system.

Radioiodinated phenoxyacetic acid derivatives as potential brain imaging agents. I. Efficient synthesis via trimethylsilyl intermediates

The usefulness of radioiodination via demetallation of aryltrimethylsilanes was demonstrated. The radioiodination reaction was found to be very rapid and the regiospecific incorporation of radioiodine could be carried out with high radiochemical yields and high radiospecific activity. 125I-Labeled dimethylaminoethyl iodophenoxyacetate derivatives (5a--e), dimethylaminoethyl iodophenoxyacetamide derivatives (7a--c), iodophenoxyethyl ethylenediamine derivatives (9,14) and an iodophenoxyethylpiperazine derivative (18) were efficiently synthesized from the corresponding aryltrimethylsilyl intermediates (4a--e, 6a--c, 8, 13, 17) by this method.

Radioiodinated phenoxyacetic acid derivatives as potential brain imaging agents. II. Structure-biodistribution relationship

In developing new brain imaging agents for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), we synthesized eleven radioiodinated phenoxyacetic acid derivatives and investigated the relationship between the chemical structure and in vivo characteristics. Biodistribution studies in mice revealed high initial brain uptake for all the compounds. Blood radioactivity level depended markedly upon the chemical stability of the compound. The alpha, alpha-dimethylester derivative (1e), amide derivatives (2a--c) and diamine derivatives (3a, b, 4), which were stable to hydrolysis, showed low blood activity levels following i.v. administration. Disappearance of the ester and amide compounds from the brain was rapid. However, the diamine derivatives displayed improved retention in the brain. Compounds 3a and 4 possessed the best combination of high brain uptake and sufficient retention to be useful as potential brain imaging radiopharmaceuticals with SPECT devices.

Effect of minaprine on electrical activity of the rat hippocampus in vivo

The effects of minaprine on evoked field potentials recorded extracellularly in the synaptic layer (population excitatory postsynaptic potentials) and the granule cell body layer (population spike) of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus were examined in urethane anesthetized rats. Field potentials were evoked by stimulation of the medial entorhinal cortex. Minaprine (up to 10 mg/kg, i.v.) did not alter the amplitude of the population excitatory postsynaptic potentials but dose-dependently increased in the amplitude of the population spike at doses between 1 and 10 mg/kg. Brief tetanic stimulation (400 Hz, 100 ms) to the entorhinal cortex produced a long-term potentiation (LTP) of both the population excitatory postsynaptic potentials and the population spikes. Minaprine (1-10 mg/kg) did not affect LTP of the population excitatory postsynaptic potentials. Treatment with minaprine 1 mg/kg, which per se did not affect the amplitude of the population spike significantly, augmented the LTP measured 25 and 35 min after tetanic stimulation. Thus, the mode of action of minaprine on electrical activity in the rat hippocampus may, at least in part, be related to an increase of the responsiveness of the granule cell body.

[A cataract classification and grading system]

A cataract classification and grading system developed for cataract epidemiological survey was introduced. Cataractous opacities were classified into cortical, nuclear and subcapsular types. Gradings of cataract progression were divided into early (Grade I), moderate (II) and advanced (III) stages. The grading of cortical opacity was judged by the opaque area in a maximally dilated pupillary zone of which findings were obtained from a red-reflex image. The grading of nuclear opacity was judged from the intensity of scattering light at the nucleus. Three grading steps were based on the densitometrical analysis of photographed images. Subcapsular opacities were classified into three gradings by extensions up to the normal, moderately dilated and maximally dilated pupil size. Regarding cortical and unclear cataracts, standard images indicating border findings between Grades I and II and Grades II and III were provided to help with classification. Nuclear coloration was classified into pale yellow, yellow, brownish yellow and brown including reddish brown and black brown. To document cataractous findings, a recording chart was made.

Simultaneous assay for individual sulphated 3 alpha- and beta-hydroxysteroids in serum using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with 3 alpha- and beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases immobilized on one column

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of individual sulphated 3 alpha- and beta-hydroxysteroids in serum using 3 alpha- and beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (3 alpha-HSD and beta-HSD, respectively) immobilized on one column and a fluorimeter to detect the resulting NAD+ to NADH transformation is described. Individual sulphated 3 alpha- and beta-hydroxysteroids in serum are extracted with ethanol, solvolysed with sulphuric acid in ethyl acetate and then separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The hydroxysteroids thus separated are subsequently mixed with NAD+ and then passed through the column in which the following catalytic reaction occurs: (formula, see text) The detection limits are as low as 0.5-1.0 microgram/dl for sulphated 3 alpha- or beta-hydroxysteroids in serum. The present assay method is highly specific, reliable and reproducible and is thus applicable to a clinical study on the metabolism of sulphated 3 alpha- and beta-hydroxysteroids in patients with adrenal or gonadal diseases.

Effect of minaprine on neuronal activity in the brain stem reticular formation of the rat

Extracellular single unit recordings were made in the brain stem reticular formation (RF) of urethane-anesthetized rats. Minaprine (cumulative i.v. dose of 10 mg/kg, given as 2.5, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg) has no significant effects on the RF neurons. Pentobarbital (10 mg/kg, i.v.) and scopolamine (5 mg/kg, i.v.) reduced the firing rate of the RF neurons. Minaprine (cumulative i.v. dose of 10 mg/kg, given as 2.5, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg) reversed the effects of pentobarbital and scopolamine. These observations indicate that minaprine has an ameliorating effect on the drug-induced depression of neuronal activity in the RF.

Enhancing effect of taurine in the rat caudate spindle. II. Effect of bilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the nigro-striatal dopamine system

Bilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the medial forebrain bundle of rats resulted in destruction of dopamine (DA) nerve terminals in the striatum. DA contents decreased to 16.8, 15.0 and 13.7% of control values on 3, 5 and 7 days after the lesions, respectively. The time course of the effect of 6-OHDA lesions on apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg, IV)-induced stereotypy was investigated as the index of the development of supersensitivity. Stereotypy was unchanged on 3 days, but was enhanced 5 and 7 days after 6-OHDA lesions. Therefore, the sensitivity of postsynaptic DA receptors for apomorphine did not change 3 days after 6-OHDA lesions, although the striatal DA was depleted. The effects of bilateral injections of taurine into the striatum on the rat caudate spindle were determined 3 days after 6-OHDA lesions. Taurine, at a dose of 30 micrograms, enhanced the spindle in sham-operated rats, but this enhancement was not seen after 6-OHDA lesions. Intravenous administration of apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg) to lesioned rats suppressed the spindle, and this effect was prevented by a lower dose (3 micrograms) of taurine. These results provide further evidence that taurine enhances the spindle, possibly by decreasing the activity of the nigro-striatal DA system at the pre- and postsynaptic sites.

Enhancing effect of taurine on the rat caudate spindle. I: Interaction of taurine with the nigro-striatal dopamine system

We studied the effects of taurine on the caudate spindle in rats and compared the findings with those of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) when these compounds were microinjected into the bilateral striatum. Three micrograms of taurine was without effect, whereas 10 and 30 micrograms of taurine enhanced the spindle in a dose-dependent manner. GABA (3-100 micrograms) had no significant effect. Apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg) and methamphetamine (0.5 mg/kg) given intravenously to pargyline-pretreated rats suppressed the spindle. The suppressing effects of these drugs were reduced by taurine (3 micrograms) at the dose which, per se, did not affect the spindle. These results suggest that taurine may decrease the activity of striatal dopaminergic neurons and enhance the caudate spindle.

Effect of minaprine on synaptic transmission in the neocortex of the rat in vivo

The effects of minaprine and/or excitatory amino acid antagonists on transcallosal responses were examined in urethane-anesthetized rats. The transcallosal response was recorded from the surface of the anterior neocortex, following electrical stimulation of the contralateral corpus callosum. The transcallosal response consisted of a biphasic positive-negative waveform. Intravenously-administered minaprine increased the amplitude of the positive- and negative-waves, in a dose-dependent manner. Intracortical injection of (+/-)-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV) and gamma-D-glutamylglycine (DGG) reduced the amplitude of the negative-wave, with no effects on the amplitude of the positive-wave. L-Glutamate diethylester (GDEE) had no effect on the transcallosal response. The minaprine-induced increase in the amplitude of the negative-wave was completely antagonized by simultaneous intracortical injections of APV and DGG which, per se, did not affect that transcallosal response. In contrast, APV and DGG had no effect on the increase in the amplitude of the positive-wave induced by minaprine. The enhancing effect of minaprine on the transcallosal response remained unaltered in case of an intracortical injection of GDEE. These findings indicate that the negative-wave of the transcallosal response may be related to receptors for excitatory amino acids. The possibility that the pharmacological action of minaprine on synaptic transmission in the neocortex may be linked to the excitatory amino acid receptors warrants further attention.

Ethanol-induced enhancement of trichloroethylene metabolism and hepatotoxicity: difference from the effect of phenobarbital

Male Wistar rats pretreated with ethanol (2.0 g in 80 ml liquid diet/day for 3 weeks) or phenobarbital (PB, 80 mg/kg/day ip for 4 days) were exposed by inhalation to 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, or 8000 ppm trichloroethylene (TRI) for 2 or 8 hr, and the blood concentration of TRI and the urinary concentration of TRI metabolites (trichloroethanol (TCE) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA] were determined at various times. Plasma glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activity was measured 22 hr after the end of exposure as an indicator of hepatic damage. Both ethanol and PB enhanced TRI metabolism as evidenced by accelerated disappearance of TRI from the blood and increased excretion of total trichloro compounds (TCE + TCA) in the urine. However, the effects of ethanol and PB were different from each other: ethanol markedly enhanced the metabolism particularly at TRI concentration of 2000 ppm or lower, whereas PB enhanced it only at 4000 ppm or higher. This difference was also reflected in the effect of TRI on liver: ethanol potentiated TRI hepatotoxicity more markedly than did PB when TRI concentration remained 2000 ppm or lower, whereas PB potentiated the toxicity more markedly than ethanol when the concentration was 4000 ppm or higher. It is noteworthy that ethanol potentiated TRI hepatotoxicity at a TRI concentration as low as 500 ppm. The severity of hepatic damage expressed by plasma GPT activity essentially paralleled the urinary excretion rate of total trichloro compounds during and 4 hr after exposure (r = 0.87 to 0.93). Compared between the contribution of concentration and duration of exposure to the toxicity, a higher concentration of TRI tended to cause more severe liver damage to PB-treated rats than did a prolonged period of exposure, whereas the toxicity in ethanol-treated rats was generally more marked in rats exposed to TRI for a longer period than in rats exposed to a higher concentration.

Protective effects of minaprine on the cerebrum of rodents

The cerebral protective effects of minaprine were examined using the following methods, i.e., complete ischemia by decapitation in mice, histotoxic anoxia by potassium cyanide (KCN) in mice, hypobaric hypoxia in mice, asphyxic anoxia in normal rats and cerebral ischemia induced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCAO) in strokeprone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP). Minaprine showed positive effects on all the mouse models. Minaprine led to an improvement in the hypoxia-induced impaired electroencephalogram activity, in normal rats. All vehicle-treated SHR-SP died within 20 hr after BCAO, whereas pretreatment with minaprine (50 mg/kg x 5 days) decreased the mortality within 20 hr after BCAO. Beneficial effects of minaprine for treating cerebral hypoxia, anoxia and ischemia are discussed.

Cancer incidence in the population of Nagasaki City 30 years after atomic bombing

In order to attest the evolutionary hypothesis of non-epithelial-epithelial tumor shift (Okuyama and Mishina 1986), the published cancer incidence data for the population of Nagasaki City during the period of 1973-1977 was studied along with appropriate control populations of Fukuoka City, and Miyagi and Osaka prefectures. Significant increments of non-epithelial tumors including leukemias, and epithelial tumors such as cervical cancers and choriocarcinomas were observed. An inference was made to the post-atomic bomb radiation carcinogenesis that different organ systems responded to that irradiation with different oncogenic patterns: Neoplasms of the pre-vertebral organs (non-epithelial organ systems) were the first to react and tapered long (curve type I); Tumors of the vertebral but pre-mammalian (those of the digestive tract, respiratory and thyroid) could have formed two separate peaks, one for the early and high dosage and the other for the late and low dosage (II); With breast cancer or the mammalian symbol tumor, there was a single peak reflecting the cohort of reproductives (III). The evolutionary and phylogenetic progression could have taken place from I through III. Thus, cancer incidence analysis may be helpful in deciphering the atomic bomb radiation carcinogenesis.

Change in serum and biliary esterified bile acids in patients with extrahepatic cholestasis during percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage

Eighteen patients with total extrahepatic cholestasis undergoing PTCD were classified into three groups, depending on the bilirubin decrease rate at two weeks after PTCD. Serum and biliary esterified bile acids in each group were measured before PTCD and at 24 hours, 48 hours, 1 week, and 2 weeks after PTCD. Bile acids were measured by Okuyama's methods (HPLC), and esterified bile acids were calculated from the difference between samples treated with sulfatase or beta-glucuronidase for enzymatic hydrolysis and untreated samples measured at the same time. The following results were obtained. The percentages of biliary esterified bile acids in total bile acids were as follows: before PTCD, in the fair improvement group, sulfate (S) = 6.4 +/- 4.6% (mean +/- S.D.), glucuronide (G) = 11.7 +/- 9.0%; in the poor improvement group, S = 2.8 +/- 1.6%, G = 1.0 +/- 0.9% and at 24 hours after PTCD, in the fair group, S = 9.1 +/- 7.5%, G = 7.5 +/- 4.3%; in the poor group, S = 2.9 +/- 2.4%, G = 1.7 +/- 1.1%. The percentages of esterified bile acids in the fair group were higher than in the poor group, and significant differences were noted in G (p less than 0.05). Thus PTCD is expected to reduce jaundice in cases with high percentages of biliary esterified bile acids before and shortly after PTCD.

Action of nootropic drugs on transcallosal responses in rats

The effects of nootropic drugs and related compounds on transcallosal responses were examined in urethane-anesthetized rats. The transcallosal response was recorded from the surface of the anterior neocortex following electrical stimulation of the contralateral corpus callosum. The transcallosal response consisted of a biphasic positive-negative waveform. Hopantenate increased the amplitude of the positive- and negative-waves, without affecting the latency. Aniracetam, idebenone, bifemelane hydrochloride, TRH and meclofenoxate increased the amplitude of the negative-wave, without affecting the latencies. Vinpocetine and eburunamonine had no effect on the transcallosal response. Muscimol, amino-oxyacetic acid, diazepam and pentobarbital increased the amplitude of the positive-wave and decreased the amplitude of the negative-wave, without affecting the latencies. Bicuculline and picrotoxin increased the amplitude of the negative-wave, without affecting the latencies. Physostigmine decreased the amplitude of the negative-wave, without affecting the latency. Atropine was without effect. The pharmacological nature of the transcallosal response is discussed, based on findings with 16 different pharmacological agents.

[Effect of cisapride on delayed gastric emptying in diabetic patients]

Delayed gastric emptying is supposed to affect glycemic control in diabetic patients by relative over dosing of insulin to blood glucose level due to delayed absorption of nutrients. Therefore, treatment of delayed gastric emptying is important in diabetic patients. Cisapride, a potent gastrokinetic agents, has been reported to activate the motility from stomach to colon. We evaluated the effect of acute oral administration of cisapride in seven diabetic patients (aged 46-62) with delayed gastric emptying. All patients complicated with autonomic neuropathy. Ten mg of cisapride was administered orally 30 minutes before breakfast and lunch on the day of study. Gastric emptying study was done using 99mTc-tin colloid labeled omelet meal served with 2 slices of toast and 200 ml of milk. With cisapride, the retention rate at time of 150 minutes decreased from 76 +/- 10% to 47 +/- 13% (mean +/- SD) (p less than 0.001) and starting index shortened from 86 +/- 28 minutes to 38 +/- 27 minutes (p less than 0.05). Gastric emptying speed became faster from 0.31 +/- 0.16%/min to 0.43 +/- 0.12%/min (0.2 greater than p greater than 0.1). Blood glucose level before meal decreased from 117 +/- 27 mg/dl (mean +/- SE) to 74 +/- 7 mg/dl (n.s.), and difference between basal and maximal blood glucose level became larger from 46 +/- 27 mg/dl to 84 +/- 30 mg/dl (n.s.). We conclude that acute oral administration of cisapride has significant effect in improving delayed emptying of solid meal in diabetic patients.

Fanconi's anemia as a nature's evolutionary experiment on carcinogenesis

In order to obtain insights into the possible carcinogenetic mechanisms, the cancer incidence of Fanconi's anemia (FA) was surveyed in the literature, and the results were compared with those of other cancer-prone diseases of chromosomal breakage, and primary and secondary immunodeficiency syndromes along with an appropriate control population. With FA, there were 43% of leukemias but no lymphomatous diseases. Epithelial tumors consisting of hepatomas and squamous cell carcinomas were 17 and 38%, respectively. Their age distribution was 14.5 +/- 6.7 years of age for leukemias; 18.5 +/- 9.3 for hepatomas and 23.8 +/- 6.9 for squamous cell carcinomas. Putting aside the hepatomas which may be iatrogenic, the neoplastic trend here again is to show the non-epithelial--epithelial tumor shift (Okuyama and Mishina 1986). Fanconi's anemia can thus be one of the chromosomal breakage syndromes whose leukemogenic and carcinogenetic processes are amplified by an increased DNA damage, NK cell depletion, and IgA deficiency as the result of deficient Cu, Zn-SOD and increased suerpoxide toxicity.

Atrophy of the striatum and motor disturbance induced by colchicine

To determine the functional role of the striatonigral system in the circling behavior of rats and the mode of action of colchicine, we investigated the circling behavior induced by dopamine agonists after microinjection of colchicine into the unilateral striatum. Both apomorphine and methamphetamine produced ipsilateral circling behaviors in rats injected with colchicine, indicating that ipsilateral striatonigral pathways were damaged by the drug. Histological and biochemical examinations showed that intracaudate injection of colchicine damaged not only the dopaminergic neurons but also caused atrophy of the striatum with loss of neuronal perikarya. These results suggest that treatment with colchicine may be used as a model of senile atrophy or degenerative atrophy in these animals.

Effects of apomorphine and (+/-)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine, injected into the striatum, on the caudate spindle in the rat

The caudate spindle in rats was observed following bilateral application of apomorphine (1.5-50 micrograms) and (+/-)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine (3-PPP, 0.3-3 micrograms) into the striatum. The smallest dose (1.5 micrograms) of apomorphine enhanced the spindle whereas with a larger dose (50 micrograms), suppression occurred. The preferential dopamine (DA) autoreceptor (inhibitory-receptor) agonist, (+/-)-3-PPP, enhanced the spindle, in a dose-dependent manner. The enhancing effect of apomorphine (1.5 micrograms) and (+/-)-3-PPP (3 micrograms) was prevented by neuroleptics, such as haloperidol (20 micrograms/kg, i.v.) and sulpiride (2 mg/kg, i.v.) at doses which, per se, did not affect the spindle. Small doses of neuroleptics are thought to block DA autoreceptors, suggesting that the enhancing effects of the DA agonists are mediated by autoreceptors. These results lend further support to the assumption that the development of the caudate spindle involves activation or DA receptors. Enhancement of the spindle, induced by injections of apomorphine into the striatum (small dose) and (+/-)-3-PPP, may be mediated by DA autoreceptors (inhibitory-receptors) located at presynaptic elements of the nigro-striatal DA system, while suppression may be due to stimulation of the postsynaptic DA receptors.

Copper complexes of non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents: analgesic activity and possible opioid receptor activation

Cu(II)2(acetylsalicylate)4, Cu(II)(anthranilate)2, Cu(II)2[1-(p-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-3-indolylacetate]4, Cu(II)(3,5-diisopropylsalicylate)2, Cu(II)(salicylate)2, Cu(II)2(2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]aminonicotinate)4, Cu(II)(L-alaninate)2, Cu(II)(L-cystinate)2, and Cu(II)(glycinate)2 were generally found to be more effective analgesics than their parent ligands, Cu(II)(chloride)2, and Cu(II)2(acetate)4 in the Writhing Mouse and Adjuvant Arthritic Rat pain models following subcutaneous and oral administration. Comparison of the time course of analgesia for salicylic acid and Cu(II)(salicylate)2 in the adjuvant arthritis pain model revealed that this complex had more sustained activity in addition to being more potent than salicylic acid. Cu(II)2(indomethacin)4 was also found to be as effective as morphine in both pain models. These data and pertinent literature are discussed in support of the hypothesis that copper complexes activate copper-dependent opioid receptors.

Relation between yawning behavior and central serotonergic neuronal system in rats

Subcutaneously (s.c.) administered apomorphine (0.0125-0.4 mg/kg) or physostigmine (0.025-0.4 mg/kg) to rats elicited yawning. The dose-response curves were bell-shaped. The peak effects of apomorphine and physostigmine were observed with a dose of 0.1 mg/kg of each drug. Yawning elicited by apomorphine (0.1 mg/kg) or physostigmine (0.1 mg/kg) was reduced by intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP, 50-200 mg/kg, given 30 min before). Yawning elicited by apomorphine but not by physostigmine was enhanced by p-chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA, 25-400 mg/kg i.p., given 24 h before). Apomorphine elicited but not physostigmine-elicited yawning was enhanced by pretreatment with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT, 8 micrograms/rat, given 14 days before into the dorsal raphe). This treatment led to a 35% depletion of serotonin (5-HT) in the striatum. 5-HTP, p-CPA or 5,7-DHT given alone did not elicit yawning. Bilateral, intrastriatal microinjection of apomorphine (1.5-50 micrograms/site) but not physostigmine (5-50 micrograms/site) elicited yawning. The dose-response curve was also bell-shaped. These results indicate that central serotonergic pathways play an important role in modulating drug-elicited yawning in rats.

[Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic activities of a new anti-inflammatory compound, 2-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)phenyl] propionic acid (TA), in experimental animals]

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic activities of orally administered TA were investigated in experimental animals. Against acetic acid-induced vascular permeability in mice, carrageenin-induced hind paw edema in rats and ultra-violet ray-induced erythema in guinea pigs, TA produced a dose related inhibition at doses of 40-160 mg/kg, 10-40 mg/kg and 10-40 mg/kg, respectively. TA produced no inhibition against histamine-induced vascular permeability even at a dose of 200 mg/kg in rats. Cotton pellet-induced granuloma and adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats were significantly inhibited by repeated administration of TA at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 6 days and 25 mg/kg/day for 6 days, respectively. TA showed a dose related analgesic effect at a dose of 50-200 mg/kg in acetic acid writhing, Randall-Selitto and adjuvant arthritic pain methods. A high dose of TA was needed to produce an analgesic effect in the pressure method using mice. TA produced an anti-pyretic effect against the pyrexia induced by yeast in rats. On the other hand, TA showed no effect against normal body temperature in rats. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic activities of TA are generally a little weaker than those of ibuprofen, and the mode of action of TA is similar to that of a typical acidic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen, indomethacin or phenylbutazone. The ulcerogenic activity of TA was about 2 and 4 times weaker than that of ibuprofen in rats and mice, respectively. TA showed a protective effect against gastric necrosis induced by HCl.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Intratumoral doxycycline for skin metastases of human malignancies

As soon as its inducibility of lethality via prompt deprivation of heavy metals and HDL-cholesterol was born out, an intratumoral administration of doxycycline, an anti-prokaryotic agent, was undertaken in 7 patients presenting with skin metastases from a variety of malignancies. Complete remission of these lesions was attained in 6. The histological observation of elongated areas of acellularity along with central vessels appeared to suggest doxycycline-mediated cellular disintegration, resulting in empty tumor cords. Specific tumor selectivity of the treatment can be sustained by the intra- and/or peri-tumoral confinement of the agent. The technique may constitute a novel mode of cancer cell elimination.

Antinociceptive effect of chlorphenesin carbamate in adjuvant arthritic rats

The antinociceptive effect of chlorphenesin carbamate (CPC) and mephenesin were examined in adjuvant arthritic rats. In the behavioral study, CPC (100-400 mg/kg, p.o.) but not mephenesin (100-400 mg/kg, p.o.) had a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect, determined using the flexion test. In the electrophysiological study, CPC (25-50 mg/kg, i.v.) but not mephenesin (50 mg/kg, i.v.) depressed the evoked neuronal responses of nociceptive neurons in the ventrobasal thalamus (VB), while the evoked responses of non-nociceptive neurons were not depressed by either CPC (50 mg/kg, i.v.) or mephenesin (50 mg/kg, i.v.). The spontaneous firings of the VB nociceptive neurons were depressed by both CPC (50 mg/kg, i.v.) and mephenesin (50 mg/kg, i.v.). However, mephenesin (50 mg/kg, i.v.) but not CPC (50 mg/kg, i.v.) also depressed the spontaneous firings of the mesencephalic reticular formation (RF), in these adjuvant arthritic rats. These results indicate that CPC but not mephenesin, has an antinociceptive action in adjuvant arthritic rats.

Clinical evaluation of serum 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoic acid in hepatobiliary diseases

Serum 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoic acid (3 beta-OH-delta 5) was analyzed in 100 cases (90 patients with hepatobiliary diseases, 10 normal subjects) and its clinical significance investigated. The measurement of 3 beta-OH-delta 5 was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with immobilized 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) as the enzyme column. Esterified 3 beta-OH-delta 5 was measured after enzymatic hydrolysis with sulfatase and beta-glucuronidase. 3 beta-OH-delta 5 was hardly detected in normal cases. On the other hand, serum 3 beta-OH-delta 5 levels were remarkably high in cholestatic cases and also high in other cases with high bilirubin levels. The ratio of glycine- to taurine-conjugates (G/T ratio) was effective in discriminating cholestasis from hepatocellular damage such as in cases of acute hepatitis or fulminant hepatitis. More than 90% of the 3 beta-OH-delta 5, which is toxic, was sulfated or glucuronidated, suggesting detoxification by esterified bile acids. Significant increases of taurine-conjugated 3 beta-OH-delta 5 were observed in cases with pruritus, and a relationship between taurine-conjugated and pruritus was presumed. Therefore, analysis of 3 beta-OH-delta 5 is considered to be effective in clarifying the pathogenesis of hepatobiliary diseases.

Electrophysiological and behavioral assessments of dopamine autoreceptor activation to apomorphine in rats

Single neuronal activity was recorded extracellularly in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC) in rats anesthetized with chloral hydrate. Haloperidol in a dose of 10 micrograms/kg had no significant effects on the SNC neurons. R(-)apomorphine (cumulative i.v. dose of 40 micrograms/kg, given as: 5, 5, 10 and 20 micrograms/kg) inhibited the firing rate of dopaminergic neurons, in a dose-dependent manner. Haloperidol (cumulative i.v. dose of 10 micrograms/kg, as: 2.5, 2.5 and 5 micrograms/kg) reversed the effect of apomorphine. Complete reversal of the firing rate to haloperidol was observed with a dose of 10 micrograms/kg. In rats pretreated with 10 micrograms/kg of haloperidol, there was a dramatic shift to the right of the apomorphine dose-response curve (cumulative i.v. dose of 800 micrograms/kg, as: 50, 50, 100, 200 and 400 micrograms/kg), and this inhibition was reversed by haloperidol (cumulative i.v. dose of 400 micrograms/kg, as: 50, 50, 100 and 200 micrograms/kg). Apomorphine in doses of 40 micrograms/kg and 800 micrograms/kg elicited yawning behavior and stereotypy, respectively. Apomorphine in a dose of 800 micrograms/kg elicited stereotypy in rats treated 3 min before with 10 micrograms/kg of haloperidol. Therefore, electrophysiological determinations of events in the SNC dopaminergic neurons are given support by the behavior observed in these rats.

Structure-activity studies of 4,6-disubstituted 2-(morpholinocarbonyl)furo[3,2-b]indole derivatives with analgesic and antiinflammatory activities

4,6-Disubstituted 2-(morpholinocarbonyl)furo[3,2-b]indole derivatives showed analgesic and antiinflammatory activities when assayed by the acetic acid writhing test in mice and the carrageenin edema test in rats. To understand how the substituents affect the biological activities, the quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) of 38 compounds were analyzed using the adaptive least-squares method (ALS method). The resulting QSAR suggested that some chemical modifications of 4,6-disubstituted furo[3,2-b]indole derivatives would improve their biological activities. Thus, 15 additional compounds were synthesized to reinforce and confirm the correlation. Among these compounds, particularly 4-(2-ethylhexanoyl)-2-(morpholinocarbonyl)-6-(trifluoromethy l) furo[3,2-b]indole showed pronounced biological activities. This compound gave a pharmacological activity spectrum similar to that of tiaramide but exhibited much higher potency.

Hyperalgesic action in mice of intracerebroventricularly administered arachidonic acid, PG E2, PG F2 alpha and PG D2: effects of analgesic drugs on hyperalgesia

Hyperalgesic actions in mice of intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) administered arachidonic acid, prostaglandin (PG) E2, PG F2 alpha and PG D2 were studied. For the analgesic assay, the mouse tail pressure method was employed. The i.c.v. administration of arachidonic acid (0.01-100 micrograms/mouse), PG E2 (0.01-100 ng/mouse), PG F2 alpha (0.1-1000 ng/mouse) and PG D2 (0.1-1000 ng/mouse) decreased the pain threshold in a dose dependent manner. The doses that produced the maximal decrease in pain threshold for arachidonic acid, PG E2, PG F2 alpha and PG D2 were 10 micrograms/mouse, 10 ng/mouse, 100 ng/mouse and 100 ng/mouse, respectively. Acidic nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) produced much more potent analgesic effects in arachidonic acid-induced hyperalgesic mice than in normal mice and in PG E2-, PG F2 alpha- and PG D2-induced hyperalgesic mice, but nonacidic NSAIDs and morphine produced the same analgesic effect in both hyperalgesic and normal mice. Linoleic acid, linolenic acid and gamma-linolenic acid induced weak hyperalgesia, but this unsaturated fatty acids-induced hyperalgesia was not affected by indomethacin (2 mg/kg, p.o.). These findings indicate that the arachidonic acid and its metabolites were related to mediation or modulation of central pain pathways and that the central nervous system may be partially involved in the action of acidic NSAIDs.

Further dopaminergic supersensitivity to dopamine agonists by subchronic administration of haloperidol in rats treated with colchicine

Effects of subchronic administration of haloperidol on the circling behavior induced by dopamine agonists were examined in rats treated with colchicine. Methamphetamine and apomorphine produced contralateral or ipsilateral rotation in colchicine-treated rats, and these circling behaviors were significantly increased by subchronic treatment with haloperidol. These results suggest that development of supersensitivity following colchicine and subchronic haloperidol may occur through different mechanisms.

Valvuloplasty plus fundoplasty to prevent esophageal regurgitation in esophagogastrostomy after proximal gastrectomy

To prevent regurgitation esophagitis in esophagogastrostomy after proximal gastrectomy, valvuloplasty plus fundoplasty was carried out in 17 patients with stomach cancer or cancer of the abdominal esophagus. For this purpose, an equilateral triangular flap of 2.5 cm per side was formed at the upper margin of the remaining stomach along the greater curvature. The flap was inverted into the stomach only to serve as a valve. After the esophagogastrostomy was properly performed, fundoplasty was carried out, lifting and suturing the uppermost edge of the stomach to the esophagus along the greater curvature. To prevent pylorospasm as a result of reduced gastric volume, pyloromyotomy was also performed. The results were excellent in those followed for more than 1 year. The technique is simple and effective and, we believe, deserves further clinical evaluation.

Determination of serum delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid sulphates by combined high-performance liquid chromatography and immobilized 3 beta,17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in column form

We studied the use of an immobilized enzyme, covalently bound to aminopropyl-CPG, in the analysis of individual delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid sulphates. A microcolumn with immobilized 3 beta,17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was prepared and used together with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide produced from delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroids by this enzyme was fluorimetrically determined. The immobilized enzyme was sufficiently stable for at least one month or for 180 tests when used repeatedly. A clinical trial demonstrated that this HPLC-immobilized enzyme method is superior to the soluble enzyme method, giving reliable and reproducible results at a low cost.

Denervation-like postsynaptic supersensitivity to dopamine agonists induced by microinjection of colchicine into the substantia nigra pars compacta

Circling behavior induced by dopamine (DA) agonists following microinjection of colchicine or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC) or electrolytic lesions of the SNC was investigated. Methamphetamine produced a contralateral circling behavior 3, 7 and 14 days following injection of colchicine into the SNC. Apomorphine produced an ipsilateral circling behavior followed by a contralateral rotation 3 and 7 days after the infusion of colchicine, whereas only an ipsilateral circling behavior was produced by apomorphine on day 14. 6-OHDA lesions of the SNC produced a contralateral circling behavior to apomorphine and an ipsilateral circling to methamphetamine, whereas both apomorphine and methamphetamine induced ipsilateral circling behaviors in rats with electrolytic lesions of the SNC. The possible mechanisms of action of colchicine are discussed in relation to the known effects of colchicine on axoplasmic transport.