Probable atherogenic role of zinc and copper as studied in chronic hemodialysis patients

The relationship of lipoperoxidemia and HDL-cholesterolemia to circulating zinc and copper was investigated in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. When the serum zinc level was low and the copper level was high, or when the zinc, copper ratio was low, decreased concentrations of HDL-cholesterol were observed. In view of the high incidence of atherosclerosis among patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, zinc and copper may somehow contribute to atherogenesis by affecting the serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations.

Amogastrin for the 99mTc-pertechnetate imaging of the gastric mucosa

Most of the gastric diseases seat in the mucosa, and the present investigation was undertaken in order to see if amogastrin, a synthetic tetrapeptide, was capable of enhancing gastric accretion of intravenous 99mTc pertechnetate in man as well as in the rabbit. Improvement of gastric scintigraphy was achievable with a pretreatment of the agent by increasing the gastric accretion and reducing the background radioactivity in the liver and small intestinum.

[Pharmacological action of eptazocine (l-1,4-dimethyl-10-hydroxy-2,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydro-1,6-methano-1H-4-benzazonine). (I). Relationship between the analgesic action of eptazocine and brain catecholamine (author's transl)]

The relationship between the analgesic action of eptazocine and brain catecholamine was investigated by pharmacological and neurochemical methods in comparison with pentazocine (PZC) and morphine (MOR). The analgesic action of eptazocine as determined by the pressure method was decreased by pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or disulifram. Eptazocine increased the norepinephrine (NE)level in the brain stem, but decreased the dopamine (DA) level in the cortex. Eptazocine decreased the rates of DA turnover in the cortex and the brain stem and NE turnover in the spinal cord. The analgesic action of PZC was decreased by alpha-methyl-rho-tyrosine ( alpha-MT), disulfiram, 6-OHDA, or reserpine. PZC decreased NE levels in the cortex and the brain stem, and DA level in the striatum. The turnover rates of NE in the brain stem and the spinal cord were increased by PZC. The analgesic action of MOR was potentiated by alpha-MT and attenuated by reserpine or 6-OHDA. MOR decreased NE and DA levels in the cortex and NE level in the brain stem, but increased DA level in the brain stem and NE level in the spinal cord. The turnover rates of NE in the cortex and the brain stem were increased at low doses of MOR, but those of DA in the striatum and NE in the spinal cord were decreased at high dose of MOR. These results suggest that the mechanism of eptazocine-induced analgesia is different from those of PZC and MOR in terms of the relationship to catecholamine neurons.

[Pharmacological action of eptazocine (l-1,4-dimethyl-10-hydroxy-2,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydro-1,6-methano-1H-4-benzazonine). (III) Central action of eptazocine (author's transl)]

Pharmacological actions of eptazocine on the central nervous system were investigated by pharmacological and behavioral methods. Eptazocine produced sedation at low doses and Straub tail reaction in mice and ataxia in rats at high doses. In mice, eptazocine caused decreases in the spontaneous locomotor activities measured by the wheel cage and Animex methods, but caused an increase of the response in rats as determined by the open-field method. Eptazocine caused impairment of performance in the rotarod test and the traction test in mice, a decrease of activity of EMG, and an inhibition of flexor reflex in rats. Eptazocine decreased body temperature, potentiated pentobarbital-induced sleeping, and convulsion caused by pentylene-tetrazol in mice. Fighting behavior induced by electric shock and central stimulation effect of methamphetamine were inhibited by eptazocine in mice. Eptazocine showed an inhibiton of avoidance behavior in shuttle and skinner boxes in rats. These results suggest that eptazocine produces a non-specific inhibitory action on the central nervous system.

[Pharmacological action of eptazocine (l-1,4-dimethyl-10-hydroxy-2,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydro-1,6-methano-1H-4-banzazonine). (II) Relationship between the analgesic action of eptazocine and brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (author's transl)]

The relationship between the analgesic action of eptazocine and brain 5-HT was investigated by pharmacological and neurochemical methods in comparison with pentazocine (PZC) and morphine (MOR). The analgesic effects of eptazocine, PZC, and MOR as determined by the pressure method were decreased by pretreatment with rho-chlorophenylalanine or 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine. The analgesic effects of all three drugs were also diminished by a lesion in the dorsal half of the spinal cord (C5-6) or the raphe magnus. A lesion in the central gray produced a decrease in the analgesic effects of MOR or PZC, but had a weak effect on that of eptazocine. All three drugs increased 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in the brain stem, the striatum, and the spinal cord. In addition, eptazocine decreased the 5-HIAA level in the cortex and the 5-HT level in the hippocampus, but increased the 5-HT level in the spinal cord. An increase of 5-HIAA in the cortex and a decrease of 5-HT in the brain stem were observed after PZC-administration. On the other hand, MOR decreased the 5-HT level in the brain stem and striatum. These results suggest that the effects of eptazocine on 5-HT neurons are similar to those of PZC and MOR, but part of the action mechanism of eptazocine is different from those of PZC and MOR.

Probable superoxide therapy of experimental cancer with D-penicillamine

A sublethal dose of D-penicillamine (DP) induced hyperlipoperoxidemia and hypocupremia in old rats. Treatment of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo with DP resulted in appreciable suppression of cell multiplication and a remarkable inhibition of tumor growth. Erythropoiesis did not seem to be affected by DP. The selective effect of DP seems to have resulted from the reduced superoxide dismutase activity and/or defective Mn superoxide dismutase.

Effects of analgesics and CNS-acting drugs on struggling following repetitive stimulation of the tail, and flexor reflex to a single stimulation of the sciatic nerve in rats

Utilizing struggling to a repetitive stimulation of the tail, as a pain response, flexor reflex to a single stimulation of the sciatic nerve, as a spinal reflex activity, the analgesic activity and the muscle relaxant activity of certain analgesics were assessed alternately. Stable and reproducible response to a repetitive stimulation of the tail or a single stimulation of the sciatic nerve was obtained over a period of 5 hr, and quantitative measurement of struggling could be made. The 50% inhibitory doses of various drugs to struggling and flexor reflex were as follows (mg/kg, i.p.): morphine, 3.30 & 6.60, respectively; codeine, 12.80 & 24.00; pentazocine, 7.80 & 12.20; indomethacin, 4.60 & no effect; aspirin, 94.00 & no effect; baclofen, 1.04 & 2.20; chlorpromazine, 2.45 & 0.75; diazepam, 0.45 & 0.86; mephenesin, 36.00 & 32.00. Based on these results, it is suggested that the method is useful for quantitative measurement of analgesia and muscle relaxation.

Periodate oxidation analysis of carbohydrates. XIII. Simultaneous gas chromatographic determination of the aldehydes in the periodate oxidation products of non-dialyzable urinary carbohydrate materials as diethyl dithioacetals

The aldehydes in the periodate oxidation products of non-dialyzable urinary carbohydrate materials were determined simultaneously by gas chromatography of their diethyl dithioacetal derivatives. The yields of aldehydes for normal male urine varied considerably among subjects, but their molar ratios were almost constant. The average values for glyceraldehyde/glyoxal and lactaldehyde/glyoxal molar ratios were 0.41 and 0.27, respectively. The average amount of L-fucose at the non-reducing terminals of carbohydrate chains, as estimated from the yield of lactaldehyde, was about 5 mg/day.

High performance liquid-chromatographic analysis of individual bile acids: free, glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile acids

High performance liquid-chromatographic analyses of individual bile acids (cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid, and lithocholic acid), free and conjugated with glycine and taurine, are described. The analyses of free and glycine-conjugated bile acids are based on esterification of carboxyl group of bile acids with O-(p-nitrobenzyl)-N, N'-diisopropylisourea (PNBDI). Moreover, ursodeoxycholic acid, hyocholic acid, hyodeoxycholic acid and 3beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoic acid also are able to analyse by this method. These bile acids in biological sample were extracted by an Amberlite XAD-2 column, and separated by DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B into free, glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile acids. After the separation, free and glycine-conjugated bile acids were esterified with PNBDI directly. Because taurine-conjugated bile acids are unable to be esterified with PNBDI, these bile acids were hydrolyzed by NaOH in order to make free bile acids, and then they were esterified. Because the p-nitrobenzyl ester of bile acids has characteristic ultraviolet absorption, these compounds were separated to individual bile acids by high performance liquid-chromatography, and detected by an UV-detector. An analysis of individual bile acids in human bile was demonstrated.

Compton soft-tissue imaging and its capability expanded by direct magnification and Shinozaki color TV system

To improve the spatial and density resolution of Compton radiography, the authors utilized direct magnification with a pin-hole collimator and contrast magnification with the Shinozaki color TV system, a digital color display. Great improvement was attained in spatial resolution. Contrast magnification resulted in sharp delineation of soft-tissue lesions including cancer and its infiltrations into normal surrounding breast tissue. It is expected that in the future, Compton radiography will have wide raiological application with reduced radiation dosage.

[The upper gastrointestinal imaging and the gastrogram using 99mTc-pertechnetate (author's transl)]

99mTc-pertechnetate was used for the diagnoses of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Oral administration was useful for the detection of the stenosis and obstruction on the esophagus and the pylorus to the poor risk patients. Mucosal imaging of the stomach was clearly revealed by intravenous administration, and the scintigram of the patient with stomach cancer showed a cold region. Taking the gastric scintiphoto, temporal radioactivity in the stomach region was recorded (gastrogram). This seems to be a new and prospective approach to the clinical gastroenterology.

Clinical significance of mitochondrial glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase in serum of patients with liver disease

Serum mitochondrial glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activity was determined in 83 patients with various liver diseases and 10 healthy adults. 1) The average of mitochondrial glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase value was 1.2 mU in healthy adults, 8.3 mU in patients with acute hepatitis, 13.7 mU in patients with post-transfusion hepatitis, 5.0 mU in patients with persistent hepatitis, 4.5 mU in patients with chronic inactive hepatitis, 9.6 mU in patients with chronic active hepatitis, 5.6 mU in liver cirrhosis, and 295 mU in a patient with fulminant hepatitis. 2) While one patient with acute hepatitis showed the highest value in the group of 29 mU, one patient with fulminant hepatitis showed an extremely high value of 295 mU, revealing an obvious difference between them. 3) One patient with fresh myocardial infarction also showed an extremely high value of 110 mU.

Semiquantitative 67Ga scanning of lung cancer by scintiscoring: its usefulness in diagnosis of localization, therapeutic effectiveness, radiation pneumo-mediastinitis and recurrence

Attempts were made to attain a semiquantitative evaluation of therapeutic effectiveness of lung cancer by scintiscoring of the liver as well as the tumor lesion. A relative counting ratio of tumor to liver was computed, and this was found useful: in areas of active tumorous growth, higher ratios were obtained. The ratios returned to the control levels following irradiation with or without an anti-inflammatory regimen including prednine. The technic is simple, and yet invaluable especially when the tumor locates in the mediastinum escaping from radiological detection. Satisfactorily frequent repetition would be competent enough in early diagnosis of developing radiation pneumo-mediastinitis and regrowths in the mediastinum and fibrotic abnormal shadows as well. The principle would be best rewarded by use of a whole-body scanner equipped with a digital computer.

Lysosomal accumulation of gallium-67 in Morris hepatoma-7316A and Shionogi mammary carcinoma-115

Intracellular localization of gallium-67 was investigated in Morris hepatoma-7316A and Shionogi mammary carcinoma-115 cells by the cell fractionation method 48 hr after an intraperitoneal injection of the nuclide. When lysosomes were purified from both tumors by discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation, they had a strikingly high relative specific activity of the nuclide. From these results it was confirmed that gallium-67 is concentrated most specifically in the lysosomes of both tumor cells, which consist chiefly of phagolysosomes and can engulf only limited amount of foreign materials such as Triton and gallium-67.