Studies on Diamagnetic Susceptibility of Biologically Active Heterocycles, Part 2 Diamagnetic Susceptibilities of 4H-1,4-Benzothiazines and their Sulfones

Diamagnetic susceptibilities for a number of 4H-1,4-benzothiazines and their sulfones are reported. A theoretical method to estimate diamagnetic susceptibilities of 4H-1,4-benzothiazines is also reported. Benzothiazine has been considered to be composed of two units, one consisting of a benzene ring containing amino and thio groups at ortho positions with other substituents and other consisting of β-diketones/β-ketoesters. Diamagnetic contributions of these two units have been calculated from diamagnetic susceptibilities of substituted o-aminobenzenethiols and β-diketones/β-ketoesters and have been used in estimating diamagnetic susceptibilities of 1,4- benzothiazines. It has provided excellent results of theoretical diamagnetic susceptibility. Such an excellent agreement between experimental and theoretical results has been attributed to the fact that the interactions between substituents, which do affect diamagnetism, have been duly accounted for in such calculations. Diamagnetic susceptibility contribution of oxygen atoms attached to sulphur forming sulfone group is also reported.

Carbohydrate-specific antibodies in normal human sera. I. Characterization of specificity for beta-D-glucose

A glucose-dependent hemagglutinin, present in the serum of an apparently healthy donor, is shown to be a polyclonal IgM immunoglobulin with specificity for beta-D-glucopyranose configuration. The antibody did not agglutinate erythrocytes coated with hexoses differing from glucose at C2, C3, or C4 positions or lacking the primary alcohol group at C6 position. The hemagglutination reaction, quantitated in a continuous flow system, was inhibited by the addition of 6-deoxyglucose, 5-thioglucose, 2-deoxyglucose, 2-aminoglucose or 3-0 methylglucose. D-glucose, in beta- but not in alpha-configuration, attached by a glycosidic bond to another glucose or to an aglycone, was also inhibitory. A cross-reactivity was demonstrated between glucose and 6-deoxyglucose by antibody absorption and elution techniques. The donor's serum contained independent antibodies that reacted with erythrocytes coated with melibiose, gentiobiose, cellobiose, or N-acetylmannosamine. Further investigation revealed that antibodies are present in sera of all normal adults against erythrocytes coated with melibiose and N-acetylmannosamine and with high frequency against erythrocytes coated with gentiobiose, L-rhamnose, cellobiose, D-mannose, lactose, or D-galactose.

The role of surgical resection when combined with chemotherapy and radiation in the management of pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma

With the development of combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy for embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, the role and extent of surgical resection of these pelvic tumors need to be defined. Thirty-six children with pelvic genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma seen at St. Jude Children's were managed on protocols combining surgical resection and radiation, and chemotherapy. Ten children presented with cervical-vaginal tumors, which were managed with combined therapy; the surgical resection was histovaginectomy in eight and pelvic exenteration in one. Eight of the ten are free of disease from 1 to 14 years. Twelve children presented with bladder and prostate tumors, which were resected with segmental cystectomy in four cases, biopsy in five, and pelvic exenteration in three. All received combination therapy and six of the twelve are surviving free of disease from 6 months to 16 years. Fourteen children presented with paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma. Chemotherapy was combined with radical orchiectomy in all cases. Retroperitoneal node dissection was done in nine and five had inguinal node dissection. Nine of the 14 are surviving NED from 2 to 16 years. One patient died, free of disease, with complications of combination therapy. The results of this review supports the approach of combining chemotherapy, radiation, and complete surgical resection.

Changes in blood cellular components, serum proteins and serum enzyme activities in pigs naturally infected with Cysticercus tenuicollis

A study was made of blood cellular components, serum proteins and serum enzymes in 48 pigs naturally infected with Cysticercus tenuicollis. Twenty-five healthy pigs were studied for comparison. Affected animals showed a reduction in total erythrocyte count, packed cell volume and haemoglobin content and an increase in mean corpuscular volume and total leucocyte count. Significantly higher activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and isocitric dehydrogenase serum enzymes were recorded in all affected pigs. Total protein, albumin and globulin values of affected pigs remained unchanged when compared with healthy controls.

Comparison of regimens of treatment with sodium stibogluconate in kala-azar

One hundred and twenty six patients with kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) were allocated at random to one of two groups for treatment with sodium stibogluconate. One group was treated for 20 days; in the other group the patients were assessed after 20 days' treatment and treatment was continued if necessary. Both groups were followed up for six months. There was no significant difference in symptomatic outcome between the two groups at 20 days. At six months eight of the patients in the group treated for 20 days had relapsed and 54 were cured. Of the group given more than 20 days' treatment if necessary, 62 were cured and none had relapsed (12 required more than 20 days' treatment). This difference between the two groups was significant. One patient in each group did not respond to sodium stibogluconate, but both were were cured with pentamidine. Altogether 104 patients were cured after 20 days' treatment; 20, including the eight who relapsed, were cured after more than 20 days' treatment. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the side effects of the drug, which were minor. The longer courses of treatment (50 days in one patient) were well tolerated. It is suggested that the traditional six day course of treatment with sodium stibogluconate for kala-azar is grossly inadequate and that a longer course is required to prevent relapse.

Limb salvage procedures for children with osteosarcoma: an alternative to amputation

Amputation remains the standard surgical management for patients with osteosarcoma. However, in carefully selected patients, eradication of the primary tumor can be achieved by En-Bloc resection of the affected bone preserving both anatomical and functional status. Our criteria for limb salvage procedures are that patients must: (1) be age 12 years or older, (2) have no angiographic or clinical evidence of neurovascular involvement, (3) have low-grade osteosarcoma and/or good response to preoperative chemotherapy, and (4) be compliant. Between November 1980 and October 1982, 32 patients with osteosarcoma of an extremity were seen. Eight patients ranging in age from 13 to 21 years underwent limb salvage procedures. Five of these had Tikhoff-Linberg procedures for upper extremity lesions, two had En-Bloc resections for distal femur lesions, and one patient had a segmental arthrodesis for a distal tibial lesion. Of these eight patients, two had low-grade parosteal osteosarcoma. Follow-up ranged from 10 to 28 months (median 16 months). The two patients with parosteal osteosarcoma received no further therapy, while the other six patients received multiple agent chemotherapy. One patient died at 18 months with bilateral pulmonary disease. None have had local recurrences. Two of the eight patients had minor skin necrosis, requiring revision subsequently. Three patients have had transient nerve palsy. All have had good functional results. With careful selection of patients by rigid criteria, limb salvage procedures can be a viable alternative to amputation.

Inhibition of cold insolubility of an IgA cryoglobulin by decanedicarboxylic acid and related compounds

Cold insolubility of a serum IgA cryoimmunoglobulin was found to be inhibited by the addition of 1.5 mM sodium decanedicarboxylate in vitro. The patient with the cryoglobulin had advanced multiple myeloma complicated by severe hyperviscosity that caused lethargy and episodic loss of consciousness. Decanedicarboxylic acid administered orally resulted in transient relief of symptoms and the loss of cryoprecipitability of the paraprotein. Further in vitro studies revealed that sodium salts of long-chain monocarboxylic acids with a minimum of eight carbons, and dicarboxylic acids with a minimum of 12 carbons inhibited cryoprecipitation. Salts of short-chain carboxylic acids, by contrast, enhanced cryoprecipitation. Sodium phenolate and sodium salts of benzoic acid, 2,4-DNP, phenylpropionic acid, and salicylic acid were also inhibitory. These latter compounds, which have a ring structure, did not cause precipitation at any concentration. It was demonstrated that the presence of a free carboxylic group was required for these activities; conversion of carboxylic acid to amide resulted in the loss of both the inhibitory and cryoprecipitation-enhancing effects. Normal plasma, or plasma from five other patients who had IgG, IgM, or mixed-type cryoglobulinemia, were not affected by any of these compounds. It is suggested that in selected cases of hyperviscosity syndrome associated with cryoglobulinemia, some of these compounds, especially monocarboxylic acids with appropriate chain lengths, or those with a ring structure, may have therapeutic applications.

Role of autoimmunity in retinitis pigmentosa

Twenty-five cases of retinitis pigmentosa were investigated to assess the cell-mediated immunity and for evidence of autoimmunity by measuring peripheral blood T-cell rosette count, cutaneous DTH response to recall antigens (Candida and purified protein derivative [PPD]), and 2:4 dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and antiretinal antibody by tanned red cell hemagglutination technique. It was observed that cell-mediated immunity was significantly depressed, and antiretinal antibody was found in 60% of the cases, which correlated with the duration and severity of the disease. We conclude that although retinitis pigmentosa is genetically determined, patients develop autoimmunity against retinal tissue due to suppression of cell-mediated immunity. Association of rheumatoid factor in 8% of the cases further confirms the loss of homeostatic control owing to suppressed cell-mediated immunity.