[Renal functional reserve in obstructive nephropathy]

This study was designed to evaluate renal functional reserve (RFR) in obstructive nephropathy using amino acid loading and the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor on RFR. We divided 24 rabbits into 4 groups, consisting of a control, 6-hours-bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO), 24-hour BUO and 24-hour BUO pretreated with ACE inhibitor. Following the ligation of the bilateral ureters at the vesicoureteral junction, a unilateral ureter was released after a 6-hour or 24-hour duration in the obstructive groups. We measured RFR and renal vascular resistance after releasing a unilateral ureter in BUO. The baseline GFR values in the 6-hour and 24-hour BUO groups were significantly lower than that in the control. RFR were 0.34 + 0.04 ml/min/kg (control), 0.10 + 0.03 (6-hour BUO), 0.01 + 0.03 (24-hour BUO) and 0.10 + 0.01 (ACE inhibitor), respectively. RFR in the 6-hour BUO group was well preserved compared with that in the 24-hour BUO group. Pretreatment with ACE inhibitor in the 24-hour BUO group enhanced RFR to the extent of 6-hour BUO. Our results demonstrated that angiotensin II plays an important role in decreased GFR with obstructive nephropathy. Moreover, the present data suggested that evaluation of RFR might play a key role in the recovery of the post-obstructive renal function.

[Functional parameters calculated by 99mTc-MAG3 in transplanted kidney]

A newly developed 99mTc-labeled renal tubular agent, 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc-MAG3) was evaluated and compared with 99mTc-DTPA and 123I-OIH in 10 patients with a transplanted kidney. Renal uptake of MAG3 correlated well with both DTPA and OIH; however, these uptake values of MAG3 were lower than those of OIH and higher than those of DTPA. Renogram parameters also correlated well with each other, but excretion of MAG3 was slower than that of OIH and faster than that of DTPA. The bladder to kidney ratio of MAG3 also correlated well, but these ratios of MAG3 were lower than those of OIH and higher than those of DTPA. In conclusion, MAG3 is a promising agent for evaluating the function of transplanted kidney.

Senegoses F--I, oligosaccharide multi-esters from the roots of Polygala senega var. latifolia Torr. et Gray

From the roots of Polygala senega var. latifolia Torr. et Gray four new oligosaccharides, called senegoses F--I, were isolated and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical means. These oligosaccharides were esterified with acetic, benzoic and ferulic acids.

Phenylethanoid glycosides of Sesamum indicum

From a water extract of whole plants of Sesamum indicum, two new, and six known phenylethanoid glycosides, and three new triglycosides which had the same sugar sequence were isolated. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated from chemical and spectroscopic evidence.

Scrophulasaponins II-IV, new saikosaponin homologs from Scrophularia kakudensis FRANCH

From the whole plants of Scrophularia kakudensis, three new saikosaponin homologs, named scrophulasaponins II-IV, were isolated, together with six known and four artifact saponins; their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data and chemical evidence.

Clinoposaponins VI and VIII, two oleanane-triterpene saponins from Clinopodium micranthum

From the whole plants of Clinopodium microanthum two new saponins, called clinoposaponins VI and VIII, were isolated together with five known and two artifact saponins, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data and chemical evidence. Each aglycone of these saponins was genuine saikogenin-type which had an 11-ene and a five-membered ether ring, and they were 3,16-bisdesmosidic glycosides.

Angiotensin II receptors in the rat urinary bladder smooth muscle: type 1 subtype receptors mediate contractile responses

Angiotensin II (Ang II) receptors in the rat urinary bladder smooth muscle were investigated by in vitro responses of smooth muscle strips to exogenous Ang II stimulation and in radioligand binding assays. Ang II (10(-10) M. to 10(-5) M.) caused a potent contractile response in a concentration-dependent manner. Using the recently developed nonpeptide subtype-selective antagonists, the Ang II-induced contractile response was further characterized. The Ang II-induced contractile response was inhibited weakly by the type 2 subtype (AT2)-selective antagonist PD123319 but was potently inhibited by the type 1 subtype (AT1)-selective antagonist DuP 753 with a pA2 value of 9.03, suggesting that the response is mediated predominantly by AT1 receptors. [125I]Ang II was used to specifically label a single class of binding sites with a dissociation constant of 0.31 nM. and a maximal binding capacity of 41.5 fmol./mg. of protein. DuP 753 could completely antagonize the binding of Ang II in a particulate fraction of rat bladder (Ki = 14 nM), whereas PD123319 did not have any effect in the concentration range of 10(-9) to 10(-5) M. The results suggest that AT1 receptors rather than AT2 receptors predominantly mediate Ang II-induced contraction in the rat urinary bladder.

[The local relapse of prostatic cancer and initial local treatment]

We treated fifty cases of prostatic cancer that had no distant metastasis and no other primary cancers between October 1983 and September 1990. Our initial treatment for clinical stages A2, B1, B2 included radical prostatectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, and bilateral orchiectomy. Staging lymphadenectomy with bilateral orchiectomy was applied to patients with clinical stage C tumor, and if there was no lymph node metastasis, external beam radiation therapy for the prostate was performed. Patients who did not consent to major surgeries or had poor general status or had clinical stage D1 tumor underwent bilateral orchiectomy. Mean observation period was forty-one months. Eleven cases relapsed. Of the eleven cases, ten had local relapse at the diagnosis of relapse (two of them had distant metastasis simultaneously, six of them had distant metastasis later, and two of them had no distant metastasis in the observation period). All these ten cases had no underwent the initial local treatment. The remainder who had underwent radical prostatectomy relapsed with distant metastasis alone. This study suggests that the local relapse tends to precede distant metastasis as the mate of relapse of prostatic cancer excluding stage D2. There is a possibility that initial local treatment is useful improving the prognosis of the patients for clinical stage A2-D1 prostatic cancer.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors from the pericarps of Punica granatum L

Seven highly active inhibitors against carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), punicalin (2), punicalagin (3), granatin B (5), gallagyldilactone (7), casuarinin (8), pedunculagin (9) and tellimagrandin I (10), and four weakly active inhibitors, gallic acid (1), granatin A (4), corilagin (6) and ellagic acid (11), were isolated from the pericarps of Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae). They are ellagitannins. The type of inhibition by 3 and 7 using p-nitrophenyl acetate as a substrate, is noncompetitive. The structure-activity relationship of inhibitory effects on CA is discussed.

[A case of retroperitoneal fibrosis forming a pelvic tumor--a type of multifocal fibrosclerosis]

We experienced a case of retroperitoneal fibrosis with formation of a pelvic tumor. The patient was a 55-year-old female who showed right-side hydronephrosis on examination and was admitted to this department for consultation. Retrograde pyelography clearly showed that the hydronephrosis was due to lower ureteral obstruction resulting from a pelvic tumor. Ultrasound, CT and MRI showed a tumor adhering to the right posterior surface of the bladder, and it was thought that the tumor was probably malignant. Transdermal/transvesical needle biopsy and transvaginal needle biopsy showed a minimal invasion and allowed the diagnosis of retroperitoneal fibrosis to be made. Ureterolysis was not carried out, and the patient was treated with steroid monotherapy. She was begun on 30 mg of prednisolone, and administration was continued for approximately 3 months while gradually decreasing the dosage. On completion of administration, the intrapelvic tumor had completely disappeared, showing that treatment was markedly effective. The patient had a history of an orbital pseudotumor, and it was concluded that this was a rare case coming under the heading of multifocal fibrosclerosis.

Cellular and humoral immune responses to vascular components in thromboangiitis obliterans

Cellular and humoral immune responses to vascular components were studied in 10 patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO), including 3 in the mild stage of the disease and 7 in the active or severe stage. In this study the authors used the following vascular components: collagen Types I, III, IV, and V; elastin; and laminin. The cell-mediate reactivity (CMR) to these proteins was measured with an antigen-specific proliferation of peripheral mononuclear cells and evaluated by the stimulation index (SI), which is the ratio of thymidine incorporation in the presence and in the absence of antigen. The humoral immunologic response (HIR) to these vascular components was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and evaluated by the optical density (OD) index, which is the ratio of optical density (OD) in the patients' serum to that in the healthy male controls' serum. The stimulation index of collagen Types I and IV was significantly higher in patients with TAO than in healthy controls (p < 0.02). CMR to collagen Type V, elastin, and laminin was high in patients with active or severe TAO as well. However, similar statistical differences in mild TAO did not exist in the CMR. The OD index in collagen Types I, IV, and V was statistically higher in the patients than in the healthy controls (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinoposaponins I-V, new oleanane-triterpene saponins from Clinopodium gracile O. Kuntze

From the whole plants of Clinopodium gracile five new saponins, called clinoposaponins I-V, were isolated together with two known and four artifact saponins, and their structures elucidated from spectroscopic data and chemical evidence. These saponins were composed of saikosaponin a and additional glucose moieties.

Senegoses A--E, oligosaccharide multi-esters from Polygala senega var. latifolia Torr. et Gray

From the roots of Polygala senega var. latifolia Torr. et Gray five new oligosaccharides, called senegoses A--E, were isolated and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical means. These oligosaccharides were esterified with acetic, benzoic, trans-ferulic and cis-ferulic acids.

Studies on the differentiation inducers of myeloid leukemic cells from Citrus species

An attempt was made to isolate differentiation inducers from Aurantii Nobilis Pericarpium and the fruit peel of Citrus reticulata Blanco (Rutaceae). Twenty-seven kinds of flavones, including five new flavones, were isolated after repeated chromatography from methanol extracts of these plants and their structures were established, from their physicochemical data, to be highly methoxylated flavones. Each compound, except for two flavone glucosides, showed the differentiation inducing activity toward mouse myeloid leukemia cells (M1), and the cells came to have phagocytic activity. Furthermore, differentiation inducing activity was tested using human acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60).

[Computerized recording system during cardiopulmonary bypass utilizing the "GEM 6 PLUS analyzer"]

We developed a new computerized recording system to reduce artificial errors by perfusionists during cardiopulmonary bypass. This system included the efficient functions to record the progress of perfusion flow, perfusion pressure, urine output and temperatures from several sources. Furthermore, it could automatically record considerable data of the "GEM 6 PLUS analyzer" which was developed for monitoring of pH, PCO2, PO2, BE, Ca2+, K+ and hematocrit during cardiopulmonary bypass. We considered it very important that the errors of hematocrits associated with electrolytic concentrations. Therefore, we corrected the hematocrit according to a formula based on our experiments, i.e., HCT = GEMHCT + 0.28 x ([Na+]+[K+]) -44. And also we expect that the "GEM 6 PLUS analyzer" will be improved to measure Na+ value in near future.

Hypercoagulable state induced by thrombocytapheresis

The influence of the continuous-flow automated blood cell separator. Fenwal CS-3000, on blood coagulation and the fibrinolytic system in blood donors was studied. Blood samples were taken from the collection line of donors undergoing extracorporeal circulation, before and after platelet pheresis. Of the molecular markers, prothrombin fragment-F1 + 2 (PF1 + 2) markedly increased from 0.8 +/- 0.3 to 2.9 +/- 2.0 nM/ml (P < .004), thrombin antithrombin III complex (TAT) also markedly increased from 2.6 +/- 1.3 to 56.0 +/- 24.0 micrograms/L (P < .001), fibrinopeptide A (FPA) increased slightly from 0.8 +/- 0.9 to 3.8 +/- 4.2 micrograms/L (P < .05), and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor (alpha 2-PI) decreased slightly from 95 +/- 8 to 91 +/- 9% (P < .05). In one donor with the highest level of PF1 + 2, TAT, FPA, and plasmin inhibitor complex after platelet pheresis, protein C, protein S, C4b-binding protein, ATIII, plasminogen, alpha 2-PI, and coagulation factors were decreased. In blood donors undergoing platelet pheresis using the continuous-flow automated blood cell separator, Fenwal CS-3000, a hypercoagulable state was observed. Changing the materials of the plastic disposables to a more thromboresistant material may prevent the hypercoagulable state in donors induced by platelet pheresis using the blood cell separator.

Effects of sialagogues on ornithine decarboxylase induction and proto-oncogene expression in murine parotid gland

The mechanism of a sialagogue-induced increase in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and the expressions of proto-oncogenes in murine parotid gland were investigated by use of isoproterenol (IPR), carbachol (CC), and methoxamine (MTX). The results were as follows: (1) The three sialagogues had similar effects on the parotid in vivo (mouse parotid after a single injection of IPR) and/or in vitro (rat parotid explants cultured on siliconized lens paper floating on 199 medium containing IPR, CC, or MTX), the order of their effectiveness being IPR > CC > MTX. (2) Northern/dot and Western blot analyses revealed that the sialagogues elevated the steady-state levels of ODC mRNA and ODC protein to maxima at two h and six h, respectively, after stimulation. The increases were roughly proportional to those in ODC activity, suggesting that sialagogue-dependent enzyme induction is regulated at the transcriptional level. (3) The mRNAs of four of nine proto-oncogenes examined showed sialagogue-dependent increases to maxima at 30 min (c-fos) or 60 min (c-jun, c-myc, and c-src) after the beginning of stimulation. These increases were all transient, with the levels returning to the control values (without sialagogue) within 60 min. (4) The IPR-dependent elevations of ODC activity and the mRNAs of ODC, c-fos, and c-jun were inhibited by monensin, but not by polymyxin B. On the other hand, the CC-dependent increases in these parameters were inhibited by polymyxin B but not by monensin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibitory effect of taxol, a microtubule stabilizing agent, on induction of DNA synthesis is dependent upon cell lines and growth factors

Growth-arrested rat fibroblasts, 3Y1, and human diploid fibroblasts, TIG-1, were induced to synthesize DNA by stimulation with various agents such as fetal bovine serum (FBS), epidermal growth factor (EGF), colcemid, or colchicine. Taxol, a microtubule-stabilizing agent, blocked the induction of DNA synthesis after stimulation with colcemid or colchicine in both cell lines. Taxol inhibited the induction of DNA synthesis after stimulation with FBS or EGF in TIG-1, but did not in 3Y1. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induced DNA synthesis in TIG-1, which was reduced only partly by taxol. Taxol stabilized or polymerized microtubules in both cell lines. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of taxol on the induction of DNA synthesis varied among cell lines and among growth factors, and suggest that signal transduction processes may be differentiated by taxol sensitivity. In TIG-1 cells, when taxol was added within 6 h, about halfway into the initiation of DNA synthesis after the addition of FBS or EGF, the inhibition of DNA synthesis still occurred. Taxol did not inhibit the induction of c-fos and c-myc genes by FBS or EGF stimulation. Colchicine itself did not induce these genes in TIG-1. Thus, taxol appeared to inhibit the induction of DNA synthesis not by blockage in the early transduction process of the growth signal from the cell surface to nuclei but by blockage in processes operating in the mid- or late-prereplicative phase.

Studies on natural antioxidants in citrus species. I. Determination of antioxidative activities of citrus fruits

The antioxidative activities of twenty types of citrus fruits were investigated with a screening method which is based on rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). The activities of the exocarp were greater than those of the sarcocarp and the activities from immature fruits (collected in July-August) were greater than those from mature fruits. The strongest antioxidative activity was found in ponkan (Citrus reticulata Blanco) collected in July.