Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of (nitrooxy)alkyl apovincaminates

A series of (nitrooxy)alkyl apovincaminates has been synthesized and evaluated for their effects on vertebral and femoral blood flow. These derivatives were prepared from apovincaminic acid (4). In cerebral circulation, compound 5 (0.03-1.0 mg/kg iv) caused a dose-dependent increase in cerebral blood flow (CerBF) without affecting the blood pressure. It was more potent than vinpocetine (2). The structures of 2 and 5, determined by X-ray crystallography, showed differences in the electrostatic potential image and in the conformation of the ethyl group at the 16-position.

Detection of recombinational mutations in cultured human cells by Southern blot analysis with minisatellite DNA probes

Using the human acute monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1, a hypermutability of minisatellite loci was demonstrated in cell culture by Southern blot analysis with minisatellite DNA probes. DNA was isolated from 98 subclones and hybridized to a panel of minisatellite probes consisting of three multilocus minisatellite probes (ML probes) and seven locus-specific minisatellite probes (LS probes). The Southern blot patterns of the hybridized subclones were compared with those of the parental THP-1. Four mutated bands with two ML probes and two mutated bands with two LS probes were detected. The mutation frequency was estimated roughly at 0.1% based on the total number of bands analyzed, and it was much higher than that expected for other DNA regions. Four of these mutations were thought to be alterations of repetitions caused by insertion or deletion of tandem repeats, and one mutant lost a complete minisatellite allele. The nature of the sixth mutant was unclear. Because of the hypermutability of minisatellite DNA, Southern blot analysis using minisatellite DNA probes can be used as a mutation assay system directly based on the DNA.

Sympathetic skin response in patients with cerebellar degeneration

Sudomotor function was studied based on sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) in 87 patients with various types of cerebellar degeneration. Evaluations of orthostatic hypotension and the R-R interval variation were also performed in these patients. The respective incidences of SSR abnormality and orthostatic hypotension were 44 (50.6%) of 87 and 39 (44.8%) of 87. Fourteen percent of the patients with abnormal SSRs did not have orthostatic hypotension, but 8% of the patients with normal SSRs did have orthostatic hypotension. Sympathetic skin responses were abnormal in most patients with Shy-Drager syndrome, sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA), and striatonigral degeneration, whereas SSRs were normal in patients with familial OPCA, sporadic cerebellar atrophy, and familial cerebellar atrophy. We demonstrated that SSR can be used to evaluate sudomotor function in degenerative disorders of the central nervous system as well as in peripheral neuropathies. The vasomotor and sudomotor functions usually are both disturbed in patients with cerebellar degeneration, and the SSR can detect autonomic dysfunction as sensitively as does the head-up tilt test. We also concluded that sporadic OPCA differs from familial OPCA in that it has a much higher incidence of autonomic dysfunction and that degeneration of the cerebellar cortex did not affect the autonomic regulation.

Absence of nonpercutaneous transmission of hepatitis C virus in a colony of chimpanzees

Transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was studied in a colony of 85 chimpanzees using assays for anti-HCV and HCV-RNA. Thirteen of the 85 sera were positive for anti-HCV, and 12 of the 13 were also positive for HCV-RNA. All of the anti-HCV positive sera except one were obtained from chimpanzees which had been inoculated with non-A, non-B hepatitis virus. On the other hand, only one of 63 sera of chimpanzees without history of experimental infection of the virus was positive for anti-HCV. Transmission to this chimpanzee was thought to be a needle contaminated with HCV. All 39 samples of chimpanzees born in the center were negative for both anti-HCV and HCV-RNA. Sixteen of their mothers had undergone experimental infection, and 6 of them were positive for both anti-HCV and HCV-RNA. These results suggest that nonpercutaneous transmission, including sexual and mother-to-infant transmissions, is not an important mode of transmission. If these findings apply to humans, definition of inapparent sources of the infection is needed.

Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure in a patient with hypothyroidism

A 61-year-old woman developed rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure after strenuous walking. She had been treated for seven years with levothyroxine (T4) for hypothyroidism. On admission, her thyroid function test revealed marked hypothyroidism, suggesting poor drug compliance. Electromyographic and muscle biopsy findings were compatible with hypothyroid myopathy. Other diseases that could cause rhabdomyolysis were excluded. Her renal function completely recovered with peritoneal dialysis, and thyroid function normalized with 100 micrograms/day of T4. The present case suggests that rhabdomyolysis could occur in patients with hypothyroidism, especially those with poor drug compliance, in combination with other aggravating factors such as exercise.

Influenza A modification of endotoxin-induced otitis media with effusion in the guinea pig

A total of 120 Hartley strain guinea pigs were used to investigate the possible role of influenza A in endotoxin-induced otitis media with effusion. Intratympanic inoculation of 0.2 ml physiologic saline solution containing 10(4) plaque-forming units (PFU)/ml of influenza A suspension or 100 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide failed to induce either middle ear effusions or mucociliary pathologies in the tubotympanum. In contrast, intratympanic inoculation 100 ng/ml endotoxin resulted in prolonged mucociliary dysfunction and middle ear effusions when 0.2 ml 10(4) PFU/ml of influenza A was inoculated in the tympanic cavity. The inference is drawn that an influenza A infection might predispose the middle ear to endotoxin-induced otitis media with effusion.

Purification and properties of cytochrome bo-type ubiquinol oxidase from a marine bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus

Ubiquinol oxidase was extracted from membranes of a marine bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus with a nonionic detergent Liponox DCH and was purified about 130-fold by DEAE-Sephacel, DEAE-5PW and Sephacryl S-300. The purified ubiquinol oxidase was composed of three subunits with apparent M(r) of 79, 36 and 13 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The oxidase contained cytochrome b, cytochrome o and copper atoms. The presence of heme O was confirmed by reverse-phase HPLC analysis. Ubiquinol-1, duroquinol and tetramethylphenylene diamine, but not horse heart reduced cytochrome c, were oxidized by this enzyme. The oxidase required no salts for activity and was stimulated by several detergents and by diphosphatidyl glycerol. The activity was strongly inhibited by KCN, 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide and ZnSO4. These properties were essentially similar to those of cytochrome bo-type ubiquinol oxidase from Escherichia coli, suggesting that the bo-type ubiquinol oxidase is functioning as a proton pump in the marine V. alginolyticus.

Pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime axetil in patients with normal and impaired renal function

The pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime axetil were studied by a model-independent method after a single oral dose corresponding to 500 mg of cefuroxime in 28 subjects grouped according to renal functions. Creatinine clearance (Clcr) was > 85, 50 to 84, 15 to 49, and < 15 mL/min in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. The V(area)/F (distribution volume/bioavailability) was independent of renal function, the average being 0.82 +/- 0.27 L/kg. Both Cls/F (systemic clearance/bioavailability) and Clr (renal clearance) decreased linearly with the decrease in Clcr. The T1/2 (serum half-life) was 1.4 +/- 0.33 h, 2.4 +/- 0.65 h, 4.6 +/- 2.32 h, and 16.8 +/- 10.2 h in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. A significant correlation existed between kel (elimination rate constant) and Clcr (r = 0.88, P < 0.01). kel of cefuroxime can be predicted by: kel (h-1) = 0.0046 x Clcr + 0.0108. Based on these data, modification of dosing schedule is not deemed necessary when Clcr is above 50 mL/min/1.73 m2, while the standard individual dose should be given every 12 h when Clcr is 49-30 mL/min/1.73 m2, every 24 h when it is 29-10 mL/min/1.73 m2, and every 48 h when it is below 10 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Effects of a human urinary kininogenase (SK-827) on cerebral and cutaneous microcirculation in rabbits

Pharmacological effects of a human urinary kininogenase (SK-827) on the cerebral and cutaneous microcirculation were studied in anesthetized normal rabbits. Intravenous administration of SK-827 had no effect on the diameter of pial arterioles or the hemoglobin content (IHb) of the brain. On the other hand, SK-827 increased IHb of the skin, dose-dependently and dilated cutaneous arterioles transiently with increased capillary red blood cell velocity. These findings suggest that the pharmacological effects of SK-827 on the microcirculation of the brain and the skin differ from each other due to the activity of the autoregulatory mechanism.

Occurrence of heterogeneity of N-linked oligosaccharides attached to sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) laccase after excretion

The N-linked oligosaccharide moieties of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) laccase are known to be highly heterogeneous. We confirmed that this oligosaccharide heterogeneity was caused not only during the oligosaccharide biosynthesis in Golgi apparatus, but also after the excretion of laccase protein into a culture medium. The culture medium for the sycamore cells (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) contained beta-galactosidase, alpha-L-fucosidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, alpha-mannosidase and beta-xylosidase activities. We showed that the largest sugar chain in laccase, oligosaccharide F, [formula: see text] was degraded to [formula: see text] by a crude exoglycosidase mixture in the culture medium.

Enhanced production of platelet-activating factor in stimulated rat leukocytes caused by the blockade of lysophospholipid acylation

We have previously reported that triacsin C, an acyl-CoA synthetase inhibitor, enhanced the production of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in calcium ionophore-activated rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). In this report, we further demonstrated that the production of PAF by PMNs in response to opsonized zymosan was significantly enhanced by pretreatment with triacsin C and also by the pretreatment with merthiolate, which was reported to be an inhibitor of acyl-CoA/lysolecithin acyltransferase. Pretreatment with triacsin C or merthiolate also enhanced the lyso-PAF content in the stimulated PMNs. Addition of lyso-PAF in the incubation mixture of PMNs in the presence of opsonized zymosan augmented the production of PAF. The enhancement of PAF production by lyso-PAF has been reported by several authors, and the importance of lyso-PAF in the remodeling pathway of PAF synthesis has been generally recognized. Therefore, from the above findings, it is assumed that blockades of the reacylation of lyso-phospholipids, by inhibitors such as triacsin C and merthiolate, might lead to accumulation of lyso-PAF and might result in the enhancement of PAF production when the remodeling pathway is active.

Effects of fasting on distribution and excretion of lead following long-term lead exposure in rats

Lead was given to rats through drinking water containing 100 ppm lead acetate for 20 days. Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity in erythrocytes was significantly lower (p < 0.05) at 20 days after Pb treatment. Erythrocytic ALAD activity was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in fasted rats than in fed rats with or without Pb pretreatment. Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activities after 6 days of fasting were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in Pb pretreated rats than in other groups (Pb nontreated fed and fasted rats, and Pb pretreated fed rats). Long periods of fasting strongly enhanced these serum-enzymes elevations induced by lead. Maximum Pb concentrations and total amount in feces increased in rats fasted for 3 days regardless of Pb pretreatment. On the other hand, total amount of Pb in feces of rats fasted for 6 days were not significantly different from the other groups because their fecal volume decreased to about 1% of fed rats. The Pb concentrations of liver, kidney, spleen, and femur increased significantly in Pb pretreated rats compared to in controls, but there were no significant differences between the fed and fasted rats.

Hypersensitivity of LEC strain rats in radiation-induced acute bone-marrow death

LEC strain rats, which have been known to develop hereditarily spontaneous fulminant hepatitis 4 to 5 months after birth, were highly sensitive to whole-body X ray-irradiation as compared to WKAH strain rats. Radiation-induced acute bone-marrow death occurred at doses higher than 2.0 Gy in LEC rats, and at doses higher than 7.4 Gy in WKAH rats, respectively. By probit analysis of survival data, it was shown that the LD50/30 value for LEC rats was 3.0 Gy which was significantly lower than that (7.8 Gy) of WKAH rats. Histopathological examinations of the bone marrows from both strains after irradiation at a dose of 4.0 Gy revealed that a number of hemopoietic cells were recovered in WKAH rats on day 8 after irradiation, but not in LEC rats. These results suggested the hypersensitivity of LEC rats to ionizing radiation in connection with acute bone-marrow death.

The concomitant detection of gene mutation and micronucleus induction by mitomycin C in vivo using lacZ transgenic mice

A new assay system that can simultaneously provide gene mutagenicity and clastogenicity data in vivo is described. Transgenic mice (Muta Mouse) harboring the lacZ gene as a target for mutation analysis were injected intraperitoneally with mitomycin C (MMC), either once or on 5 successive days. Micronucleus assays were performed with small amounts of peripheral blood collected from a tail vessel. The spontaneous frequency of micronucleated reticulocytes was 0.42%. For the mutation analysis, DNA was extracted from bone marrow and liver cells at several harvest times. The lacZ gene was rescued by lambda packaging and infection of E. coli C (lac-), followed by plating on agarose plates containing X-gal. The spontaneous lacZ mutant frequencies were 37 and 29 x 10(-6) in bone marrow and liver, respectively. In the micronucleus assay, single treatments with 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg of MMC induced micronuclei in 3.6 and 5.8% of reticulocytes, respectively, peaking 48 h after treatment. Muta Mouse sensitivity to micronucleus induction was similar to nontransgenic strains used routinely for the micronucleus test. On the other hand, single treatments with MMC at 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg did not induce any significant increases in the frequency of lacZ- mutants in bone marrow or liver. N-Ethyl-N-nitrosourea, used at 100 mg/kg as a positive control, yielded a 5-fold increase in mutant frequency above untreated animals in bone marrow only. After 5-day treatments, MMC induced approximately a 2-fold increase in mutant frequency in bone marrow only for the sublethal dose of 2 mg/kg. Therefore, this study indicated that the strong clastogenic activity of MMC in bone marrow was not accompanied by significant gene mutagenic activity.

Effect of whole-body hyperthermia on the development of peritumoral brain oedema

The effect of whole-body hyperthermia on the development of peritumoral brain oedema and intracranial pressure was studied in cats with intracerebral transplanted tumour. Whole-body hyperthermia was achieved by means of extracorporeal circulation. The temperature within the brain tumour tissue was increased to 41.8 +/- 0.15 degrees C (mean +/- SD) for 2 h. Measurements of brain water content revealed that hyperthermia worsened the degree of peritumoral brain oedema. Microscopical observation demonstrated that extravasation of horseradish peroxidase, indicating disruption of the blood-brain barrier in the oedematous region, was more severe in animals exposed to hyperthermia than in non-treated animals. Intracranial pressure significantly increased from 13.5 +/- 5.26 mmHg to 25.8 +/- 6.16 mmHg (p < 0.05) during hyperthermia, although it was controlled at 20.7 +/- 2.60 mmHg by continuous infusion of glycerol. The results suggest that whole-body hyperthermia acting on a brain-bearing tumour caused an increase in intracranial pressure due to worsening of the degree of peritumoral vasogenic type of brain oedema. We emphasize that whole-body hyperthermia may be performed with careful monitoring of intracranial pressure for patients who have brain tumour.

Embryo sex selection by a rat male-specific antibody and the cytogenetic and developmental confirmation in cattle embryos

Embryos of mouse, rabbit, goat, sheep, and cattle were separated into 2 groups on the basis of their morphology when incubated with a male-specific antibody (qualified here as the H-Y antibody) prepared from newborn rat testis. When morula-stage embryos were cultured in the presence of this H-Y antibody, the development of roughly one half of the embryos was arrested at that stage, whereas the other half continued to develop to the blastocyst stage. The developmentally arrested group of embryos resumed their development into blastocysts when cultured in antibody-free medium. Eighty to 90% of cattle embryos whose development was unaffected by the antibody were shown to possess a female karyotype (XX), and close to 80% of those embryos whose development was arrested possessed a male karyotype (XY). Cattle embryos whose sex had been presumptively identified by development in the presence of the H-Y antibody were cryopreserved and transferred, and the sex of the calves was examined. The overt sex of the young born from sexed embryos was found to be the same as that determined by chromosomal analysis.

Neutrophil dysfunction in rats with natural gingivitis

The functions of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) from SUS rats with naturally occurring gingivitis were examined by the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL), adherence and bactericidal tests. SUS rats with pre-gingivitis showed lower CL responses of isolated PMNs and whole blood than control rats (RES rats). After plague formation and progression of gingivitis, the CL response gradually increased in SUS rats. RES rats had healthy gingiva and showed no increase in CL responses. Impaired PMN adherence was observed in SUS rats with pre-gingivitis but not in RES rats. PMNs from SUS rats with pre-gingivitis also showed lower bactericidal activity than those from RES rats. Dysfunction of PMNs might induce gingivitis as a result of decreased protection against periodontal pathogens and an elevated level of CL response can be recognized with progression of gingivitis.

[Long-term neurological outcome in children with convulsions during exanthema subitum]

We examined long-term neurological outcome of 12 patients, whose first febrile seizures had occurred during exanthema subitum (ES) and who had been treated with continuous daily administration of anticonvulsant drugs. Six of 12 children had a family history of febrile or afebrile convulsions and in a sister of one patient, athetoid palsy followed the status of afebrile convulsion (AC) during ES. Twelve cases were clinically classified into four groups; (A) 2 patients in whom ACs were repeated as soon as the fever of ES had dropped, (B) 6 patients in whom frequent recurrences of febrile convulsion followed ES, showing epileptic EEG abnormalities, (C) 1 patient who had suffered from later epilepsy, (D) 3 patients who showed complex type of febrile convulsion only during ES without any EEG abnormalities. Except one patient in group (A), who showed residual hemiparesis on the left, 11 cases demonstrated normal psychomotor development, and in 5 of all 12 cases, the treatment with anti-convulsant drugs could be discontinued. Unless severe neurological sequelae are complicated, long-term prognosis is not so poor in children whose first febrile convulsion occurred during ES.

The role of intraabdominal pressure in venous blood drainage from the prostate into the vertebral vein system

We investigated venous blood drainage from the prostate into the vertebral vein system by cineangiography in five mongrel dogs and measured intraabdominal pressure and venous blood pressure in the dog or human to study the role of intraabdominal pressure in the drainage. The averages of intraabdominal pressure and caudal vena caval pressure in the dog were 32.2 +/- 3.0 and 12.8 +/- 1.3 mmHg, respectively, in the supine position, and 39.2 +/- 3.0 and 23.8 +/- 4.0 mmHg, respectively, in the head-up tilt position, when the radiopaque medium injected into the dorsal penile vein appeared in the vertebral vein system. Intraabdominal pressure in the head-up tilt position was significantly higher than that in the supine position when the venous drainage into the vertebral veins happened. In eight continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients, intraabdominal pressure showed 8.1 +/- 2.4 mmHg in the supine position, 24.6 +/- 4.3 mmHg in the sitting position, and 30.4 +/- 4.9 mmHg in the standing position at rest. During voluntary contraction of the abdominal muscles, the pressure was increased up to 50.6 +/- 21.6 mmHg in the supine position, 69.3 +/- 19.8 mmHg in the sitting position, and 73.8 +/- 19.8 mmHg in the standing position. These pressure values in the human were significantly higher than those observed at the time when the radiopaque medium appeared in the vertebral veins in both supine and head-up tilt positions in the canine. These results suggest that the increase of intraabdominal pressure causes inflow of prostatic venous blood into the vertebral veins via the inferior vena cava, common iliac vein, or internal iliac vein.