Synthesis and analgetic activity of sulfur-containing morphinans and related compounds

3-Acylthiomorphinans, 3-carbamoylthio-3-deoxydihydromorphine and 3-benzoylthio-9-aza-17-carbamorphinan were synthesized by Newman-Kwart rearrangement of the corresponding O-thiocarbamates. The analgetic activities were lower than that of pentazocine, and the opioid receptor binding affinities were very weak. These acylthiomorphinans showed low antinociceptive activity compared with corresponding sulfur-containing benzomorphans. 3-Carbamoylthio-deoxydihydromorphine had no significant analgetic activity.

The effect of scoparone, a coumarin derivative isolated from the Chinese crude drug Artemisiae capillaris flos, on the heart

In the present study, scoparone isolated from Artemisia Capillaris Flos has been investigated to determine its pharmacological properties on the heart. Scoparone was found to cause the increase in coronary flow and heart rate, but did not affect cardiac output, left ventricular pressure or left ventricular work in the isolated perfused heart. Scoparone at 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, p.o. had a marked inhibitory effect on the ST wave depression. Consequently it is suggested that scoparone has antianginal action.

Dermal penetration enhancement by crude drugs: in vitro skin permeation of prednisolone enhanced by active constituents in cardamon seed

Several extracts of crude drugs were prepared and tested as penetration enhancers for the diffusion of prednisolone through mouse skin in vitro. The acetone extract of cardamon seed (Eelettaria cardamomum) was selected for further study to identify the active principles. The result showed that terpineol and acetyl terpineol are the active components in cardamon seed.

Vascular dilatory action of the Chinese crude drug. II. Effects of scoparone on calcium mobilization

Further experiments were conducted to examine the effect of scoparone (6,7-dimethoxycoumarin), a coumarin derivative found in the Chinese crude drug "Capillaris Flos," on calcium mobilization. Scoparone does not affect Ca2+ influx through the voltage-dependent channel due to membrane depolarization. Its inhibitory action may be dependent not only on the inhibition of Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum but also on the inhibition of extracellular Ca2+ influx through the receptor-operated channel.

The vasorelaxant effect of evocarpine in isolated aortic strips: mode of action

The effect of evocarpine (EVO), a quinolone alkaloid isolated from Evodiae fructus, on Ca2+-blocking activity has been examined. In the isolated rat thoracic aorta evocarpine significantly inhibited the contraction induced by 60 mM K+ with an IC50 of 9.8 microM, and that induced by external Ca2+ in the depolarized muscle in concentrations of 10-100 microM. The relaxant effect of evocarpine and verapamil was antagonized by Bay K8644. The increase of 45Ca2+-influx induced by 60 mM K+ was significantly inhibited by 100 microM evocarpine. In the isolated rabbit thoracic aorta 100 microM evocarpine had no effect on the norepinephrine-induced contraction in normal medium or on the phasic contraction in Ca2+-free medium or on the transient relaxation induced by activation of the Na+ pump. The content of cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP was unchanged. These results suggest that evocarpine inhibits Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent calcium channels.

Effectiveness of continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration for patients with refractory heart failure

Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) was carried out in 8 patients with refractory congestive heart failure. All these patients had heart failure and oliguria for over 24 hours and intensive treatment with digitalis, diuretics, catecholamines and vasodilators was prescribed. Hemodynamics were followed closely during CAVH. During CAVH, pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were significantly reduced in all patients, the right atrial pressure decreased in 6 with right cardiac failure, the heart rate decreased in 3 with tachycardia and the blood pressure and cardiac index were elevated in 3 with hypotension. These observations show that CAVH can be performed safely and effectively in patients with congestive heart failure, oliguria and hypotension.

The peripheral neuropathy of necrotizing arteritis: a clinicopathological study

We have reviewed the clinical and morphological data from 100 patients with necrotizing arteritis in muscle and/or in nerve samples taken by biopsy. The neuropathy occurred in the context of a multisystem disorder (Group 1) or in apparent isolation (Group 2). The average age of patients was 59 in Group 1 and 61 in Group 2. Females were more commonly affected than males, especially in the first group. Necrotizing arteritis complicated the course of rheumatoid arthritis in 25 patients. In 3 patients necrotizing arteritis was associated with infection with the human immunodeficiency virus, the agent of AIDS. Tests for hepatitis B surface antigen were positive in 19 patients. Mononeuritis was present in 13, mononeuritis multiplex in 62, and distal symmetrical sensory or sensorimotor neuropathy in 19 patients. In both groups of patients, the muscle biopsy was more frequently diagnostic for arteritis than was the nerve biopsy (80% versus 55%). The average incidence of isolated fibers undergoing axonal degeneration was 64.8%; that of demyelinated/remyelinated fibers was 1.9%. We conclude that the combination of nerve and muscle sampling increases the chance of visualizing characteristic arterial lesions in vasculitic neuropathy.

Effect of alismol on adrenergic mechanism in isolated rabbit ear artery

Effects of alismol, a sesquiterpenoid isolated from the rhyzome of Alisma orientale, on adrenergic mechanisms were examined in the isolated rabbit ear artery. Alismol (10(-6) to 10(-4) M) inhibited the contraction of isolated rabbit ear artery by electrical stimulation of the perivascular nerves. The inhibition was concentration-dependent; at a concentration of 10(-4) M, the inhibition was 90% (n = 8). Treatment with 10(-4) M alismol inhibited the increase in 3H-noradrenaline (3H-NAd) release induced by electrical stimulation by 63 +/- 6%. Alismol at 10(-4) M did not affect the neuronal uptake of 3H-NAd in the artery. Alismol at 10(-4) M slightly inhibited contractions induced by exogenously administered NAd. These results demonstrate that alismol inhibits the adrenergic neuro-effector mechanisms in rabbit ear artery, and they suggest that alismol acts primarily on nerve terminals and inhibits their responses to electrical stimulation by interfering with NAd release.

Palliative laser therapy

Endoscopic laser treatment has been tried for hemostasis, relief of stenosis and reduction of tumor volume in advanced upper gastrointestinal cancer. This form of treatment was found to be effective for each purpose, but success was usually only temporary. Thus, it was considered that endoscopic laser therapy for problems of advanced upper GI cancer could perhaps be improved by modifying the technique and/or developing new methods, such as the combination of the laser with other therapies.

Effects of alismol isolated from Alismatis Rhizoma on calcium-induced contraction in the rabbit thoracic aorta

We examined the inhibitory effects of alismol, a sesquiterpenoid isolated from Alismatis Rhizoma, on vascular contractions induced by high concentrations of K+ and Ca2+, and on 45Ca2+ retention in normal and in high K+-containing medium. Alismol affected neither the resting tension nor the 45Ca2+ retention in normal medium, but it inhibited sustained contraction and increased 45Ca2+ retention induced by high K+ concentrations. Alismol did not affect norepinephrine-induced contractions in normal medium, nor phasic contractions in Ca2+-free medium. These results suggested that alismol inhibited mainly Ca2+ influx through a voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel.

[Screening test for calcium antagonist in natural products. The active principles of Uncariae ramulus et uncus]

We have previously reported on the Ca2+-blocking activity and active constituents of natural products. In the course of screening, Uncariae ramulus et uncus, a chinese herbal medicine, was found to possess such activity. In this paper, we attempted to characterize its active constituent which plays an important role in Ca2+-blocking activity. Its active principles were identified to be oxyindole-type alkaloids, rhynchophylline, corynoxeine, isorhynchophylline and isocorynoxeine, that showed inhibitory effects, similar to that of verapamil, on contractile response to high concentration of potassium ion (rats), CaCl2 (rats), norepinephrine in normal and Ca2+-free medium (rats and rabbits) and 45Ca2+-uptake (rats) in thoracic aorta with an activity two orders of magnitude less than the activity of verapamil.

Terminal segment of Kluyveromyces lactis linear DNA plasmid pGKL2 supports autonomous replication of hybrid plasmids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

By use of linear DNA plasmid pGKL2 from the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis we have constructed hybrid plasmids carrying a LEU2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a selectable marker. The replication properties of hybrid plasmids in yeasts were investigated. We demonstrated that the insertion of a LEU2 gene into pGKL2 resulted in circularization of the hybrid plasmids and pGKL2 segment supported autonomous replication of the plasmids. Moreover, the hybrid plasmids propagated autonomously, independently of the presence of the natural pGKL2 plasmid.

Anti-ulcer action of Panax japonicus rhizome

Using HCl/ethanol-induced ulcer in rats as a screening model, an anti-ulcer effect was observed for a methanol extract of Panax japonicus rhizome, saponin fractions and chikusetsusaponin III. Results suggest that the gastric mucous membrane-protective effect of the methanol extract is likely to be due to the crude saponin fraction and chikusetsusaponin III.

Pharmacological investigations of the new antiinflammatory agent 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo[b,f]thiepin-2-yl)propionic acid. 1st communication: inhibitory effects of rat paw edema

In the development process of a new nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) with less toxicity and side-effects, 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo[b,f]thiepein-2-yl) propionic acid (CN-100) was chosen as the most excellent NSAID from synthetic tricyclic compounds after screening test. For the series of studies on antiinflammatory effects of this compound in detail, its effect on rat paw edema induced by various phlogists was first investigated. The inhibitory effect of CN-100 on carrageenin-induced edema was remarkable and nearly equal to that of indometacin. The effect was not affected by continuous administration for 2 weeks or adrenalectomy. Similarly to indometacin, CN-100 had no significant effect on yeast-induced edema mediated by 5-hydroxytryptamine and concanavalin-A-induced edema unrelated with prostaglandins. However, CN-100 displayed a weaker inhibitory effect on nystatin-induced edema than indometacin, suggesting that CN-100 has a low membrane stabilizing action and a strong blocking action on synthesis of prostaglandins. CN-100 inhibited the sustained edema induced by mustard, but the drug did not interfere with the increase in body weight of rats. Indometacin in the same dose caused decrease in body weight and death. The toxicity of CN-100 was definitely less than that of indometacin, although both drugs were similar in antiinflammatory activity and mode of action on rat paw edema. Results suggest that CN-100 is an effective drug on not only acute but also subacute and chronic inflammation.

Pharmacological investigations of the new antiinflammatory agent 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo[b,f]thiepin-2-yl]propionic acid. 4th communication: inhibitory effects on rat adjuvant arthritis

The preventive and therapeutic effects of 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo [b,f]thiepin-2-yl)propionic acid (CN-100) on local and systemic changes of rats with adjuvant arthritis being used frequently as experimental model of rheumatoid arthritis were investigated in comparison with those of reference drugs, indometacin and pranoprofen. Preventively and therapeutically CN-100 showed potent inhibitory effects on adjuvant primary inflammation and secondary lesion. CN-100 also exerted an evident preventive effect on destruction of foot bone, improved the changes in organ weight, and stimulated weight gain. These effects were dose-dependent, and the effects at 5.0 mg/kg were almost the same as those of indometacin and pranoprofen at 1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively. The mode of action of CN-100 resembled that of reference compounds. Although CN-100 improved the change in albumin/globulin ratio, which was a parameter of systemic inflammatory reactions, the effect was more remarkable in therapeutic administration than in preventive one. This suggests that CN-100 is suitable for clinical application.

Pharmacological investigations of the new antiinflammatory agent 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo[b,f]thiepin-2-yl)propionic acid. 5th communication: antiplatelet effect of the drug and antiinflammatory effect of its main metabolite

Since nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) usually have an antiplatelet effect, the inhibitory effect of 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo[b,f]thiepin-2-yl) propionic acid (CN-100), which exerts a potent antiinflammatory effect, was compared with those of reference drugs, indometacin and pranoprofen, in this study. Indometacin at 10(-5) mol/l inhibited completely (100%) rat and rabbit platelet aggregation induced by collagen and arachidonic acid. Pranoprofen at 10(-5) mol/l also entirely inhibited rat platelet aggregation induced by the two aggregators, but an about 10 times higher concentration was required to produce 100% inhibition of rabbit platelet aggregation. CN-100 at 10(-5) mol/l exerted 100% inhibition of rat platelet aggregation induced by collagen, whereas more than 10(-4) mol/l was needed to exhibit 100% inhibition of aggregation induced by arachidonic acid and ADP. The inhibitory activity of CN-100 on aggregation of rat platelets ex vivo was weaker than those of reference NSAID, i.e., the antiplatelet effect of CN-100 was found to be weak. The main metabolite of CN-100 also had a weak antiplatelet effect, and its antiinflammatory effect on carrageenin edema and UV erythema was apparently weaker than that of CN-100. The inhibitory effect of the metabolite on endotoxin diarrhea was weak. The ulcerogenic effect of the metabolite on gastric mucosa was similar to that of CN-100, but the effect rarely seemed to be a clinical problem because it was basically weak.

Pharmacological investigations of the new antiinflammatory agent 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo[b,f]thiepin-2-yl)propionic acid. 3rd communication: inhibitory effects on leucocyte emigration and proliferation of granulation

The effects of 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo [b,f]thiepin-2-yl)propionic acid (CN-100), which has a significant inhibitory effect on acute inflammatory reactions, on leucocyte emigration and proliferation of granulation were examined in this study. The compound obviously inhibited the protein exudation and polymorph emigration 6 h after application of carboxymethylcellulose pouch method. It also definitely inhibited the monocyte emigration occurring 24 h after carrageenin pleurisy, and the inhibitory activity of the compound was nearly equal to that of pranoprofen and weaker than that of indometacin. CN-100 inhibited the proliferation of granulation in the test by paper disk method, i.e., the compound inhibited wound healing. The antigranulation activity of CN-100 was also nearly equal to that of pranoprofen and weaker than that of indometacin. These results proved that CN-100 should definitely inhibit the reactions of the second and third inflammatory phases of the whole reactions from the exudative phase throughout proliferative phase, suggesting that the compound is a useful antiinflammatory drug.

Pharmacological investigations of the new antiinflammatory agent 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo[b,f]thiepin-2-yl)propionic acid. 2nd communication: inhibitory effects on acute inflammation and prostaglandin-related reactions

Since a newly synthesized nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) having weaker effects on gastrointestinal tract, 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo[b,f]thiepin-2-yl)propionic acid (CN-100), was found to markedly inhibit rat paw edema induced by carrageenin and other phlogists, the effects of the drug on other acute inflammatory reactions and prostaglandins (PGs)-related reactions were compared with those of known NSAID in this study. At even a large dose of CN-100, 20 mg/kg, the drug did not significantly inhibit the increased vascular permeability induced by histamine in rat skin, but CN-100 could dose-dependently inhibit the increased vascular permeability induced by acetic acid in mouse peritoneum. The inhibitory activity of CN-100 in the latter was equivalent to that of pranoprofen and indometacin. CN-100 exerted a potent inhibitory action on erythema induced by UV irradiation, which was equal to and 3 times stronger than pranoprofen and indometacin in activity, respectively. Since PGs participate in these acute inflammatory reactions, the effects of CN-100 on reactions relevant to PGs were examined. The drug at dose levels lower than antiinflammatory doses could prevent acute death and diarrhea induced by i.v. injection of arachidonic acid in rabbits and endotoxin in mice, respectively, suggesting that the drug had a potent inhibitory action on biosynthesis of PGs. The adverse effects of CN-100 on gastric and small intestinal mucosa was very weak, the activity being about one-tenth of that of pranoprofen and indometacin.

Study of drug interaction between the new antiallergic drug 11-oxo-11H-pyrido[2,1-b]quinazoline-2-carboxylic acid and theophylline

A new chemical compound, 11-oxo-11H-pyrido[2,1-b]quinazoline-2-carboxylic acid (Sm 857), known to inhibit the second stage type I allergy and endowed with antiasthmatic action, was investigated with regard to its effects on theophylline (TP) blood level in comparison with ketotifen and tranilast, antiasthmatics of the same therapeutic category as Sm 857, and tiaramide, an antiinflammatory agent. Sm 857 was administered orally to rats at 50 mg/kg, followed by oral administration of TP at 10 mg/kg or intravenous administration of aminophylline 13 mg/kg 10 min later. The concomitant use of Sm 857 apparently lowered the development of TP blood level during 1-5 h after administration when compared with the control. A similar lowering effect on TP blood level was observed at both single and 3-day prior administration of Sm 857. Ketotifen also reduced TP blood level at a dose of 50 mg/kg, while tranilast proved to have almost no such influence on TP blood level. Unlike the mentioned antiasthmatics, tiaramide tended to delay TP clearance. The determination of TP free fraction produced by addition of testing drugs to TP-containing rat serum in vitro after incubation for a certain period of time revealed a 30% increase in free fraction percent in case of Sm 857 addition, 7% increase in case of tranilast addition and no change at all in case of ketotifen and tiaramide addition. Above results suggest that the concomitant use of Sm 857 and TP might cause drug interaction. Sm 857 is thought to increase the blood free fraction of concomitantly used TP and to accelerate elimination of TP from blood.