Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of interleukin-8 expression and its relationship to KRAS mutation in lung adenocarcinoma

Background:

On the basis of our recent findings of oncogenic KRAS-induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) overexpression in non-small cell lung cancer, we assessed the clinicopathological and prognostic significances of IL-8 expression and its relationship to KRAS mutations in lung adenocarcinomas.

Methods:

IL-8 expression was examined by quantitative RT–PCR using 136 of surgical specimens from lung adenocarcinoma patients. The association between IL-8 expression, clinicopathological features, KRAS or EGFR mutation status and survival was analysed.

Results:

IL-8 was highly expressed in tumours from elderly patients or smokers and in tumours with pleural involvement or vascular invasion. In a non-smokers' subgroup, IL-8 level positively correlated with age. IL-8 was highly expressed in tumours with KRAS mutations compared with those with EGFR mutations or wild-type EGFR/KRAS. Lung adenocarcinoma patients with high IL-8 showed significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) than those with low IL8. DFS and OS were significantly shorter in the patients with mutant KRAS/high IL-8 than in those with wild-type KRAS/low IL-8. Cox regression analyses demonstrated that elevated IL-8 expression correlated with unfavourable prognosis.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that IL-8 expression is associated with certain clinicopathological features including age and is a potent prognostic marker in lung adenocarcinoma, especially in oncogenic KRAS-driven adenocarcinoma.

Unanticipated troubles in video-assisted thoracic surgery: a proposal for the classification of troubleshooting

INTRODUCTION

Most thoracic surgeons encounter atypical cases or unexpected situations that usually lead them to convert minimally invasive surgery to open thoracotomy. But are there other options besides open surgery? The purpose of this study was to suggest a video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) classification system and present tips for the application of VATS to atypical cases or unexpected situations. We have categorized VATS procedures for atypical cases or unexpected situations into two groups: the modification of techniques/instruments and the creation of additional access incisions.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed VATS with optional additional techniques. We used direct visualization or monitoring as the situation demanded, switching back and forth between the monitor and direct vision.

RESULTS

Of the 33 cases we reviewed, 27 patients had malignant lung disease and 6 had benign lung disease. All patients underwent lobectomies including one or more of the following: bronchoplasty (n = 12), control of the main pulmonary artery (n = 9), total adhesiotomy (n = 7), combined resection with the diaphragm (n = 3), and separation of totally fused fissures (n = 2). The mean length of the skin incision was 8 cm, the mean total operating time was 208 min, and the mean blood loss was 173 mL No operative or hospital deaths occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Veteran surgeons can instinctively deal with intraoperative variance, but we frequently see inexperienced surgeons panic and change the course of their procedures. A VATS classification system may have educational benefits for newer surgeons. We believe that the creation of a categorized coping plan will help inexperienced surgeons deal with unanticipated problems.

In vivo platelet response to lipopolysaccharide in mice: proposed method for evaluating new antiplatelet drugs

We previously found evidence (based on the use of 5HT as a marker) that i.v. injection of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into mice induces a rapid accumulation of platelets in liver and lung. Our previous studies lacked measurement of the platelet count itself, but we have now compared the LPS-induced changes in 5HT levels with the change in platelet count. We also examined the effects on the platelet response of some drugs that act on platelets. In mice, sublethal doses of LPS induced parallel decreases in platelets and 5HT in the blood. The 5HT lost from the blood accounted well for the 5HT accumulated in liver and lung. Soon after this accumulation, the levels of platelets and 5HT in the blood recovered in parallel, and these recoveries corresponded well with the decreases in 5HT occurring in liver and lung. Aspirin and dexamethasone were effective at both reducing pulmonary platelet-accumulation and promoting their return to the circulation. By contrast, oestrogen tended to reduce the return of platelets from lung to circulation. Heparin did not inhibit pulmonary platelet-accumulation but it did decrease their return to the circulation. These results suggest that (i) in response to sublethal doses of LPS, platelets translocate into the liver and lung, then return to the circulation; (ii) this platelet response involves mechanisms that can be modified by drugs; and (iii) the use of this platelet response as a tool for drug evaluation might help identify new drugs with therapeutic potential.

[Torasemide (LUPRAC): a review of its pharmacological and clinical profile]

Loop diuretics potently excrete water and electrolytes and therefore have been widely prescribed for the treatment of various kinds of edema for a long time. The potent diuretic action of loop diuretics, however, often causes hypokalemia, and therefore potassium sparing diuretics have also been supplied as a concomitant drug. Torasemide (LUPRAC), a novel diuretics, shows not only an effective loop diuretic action but also a potassium sparing action due to its anti-aldosteronergic effect. Torasemide also has a high bioavailability and is only slightly influenced by meals in humans. In addition, its pharmacodynamic features contribute to its stable diuretic action without any individual differences. In animal experiments, torasemide showed about a tenfold more potent diuretic action in comparison with furosemide, an authentic loop diuretic. On the one hand, the increase in the urinary potassium excretion by torasemide was relatively slight compared to the increase in urinary sodium excretion and, as a result, the urinary sodium to potassium (Na+/K+) ratio increased. The diuretic profile of torasemide was equal to that of the concomitant use of furosemide and an anti-aldosteronergic drug, spironolactone. Torasemide showed a significant efficacy and safety in comparison with furosemide in the patients with edema in both domestic and foreign clinical studies. Moreover, torasemide also showed a decreased rate of cardiac death in comparison to furosemide in patients with chronic heart failure in a large-scale clinical study (TORIC Study). The difference in cardiac death between these two diuretics has been suggested to depend on the anti-aldosteronergic effect of torasemide. In Japan, no new loop diuretics have been developed in over 10 years. Torasemide is therefore expected to be useful as an effective diuretic for diseases with edema.

[Changes in the antibacterial activity of chemotherapeutic agents (especially carbapenems) for 10 species of clinical isolates between 1994 and 1996. Surveillance group of the sensitivities of clinical isolates to antibacterial agents]

During October and December of each year of from 1994 to 1996, 3,849 strains of 10 species of bacteria were isolated from clinical materials in 21 institutions nationwide. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for these bacteria of four carbapenems (imipenem [IPM], panipenem [PAPM], meropenem [MEPM], and biapenem [BIPM]) and other representative antibacterial agents were measured to investigate annual changes in antibacterial activity. Carbapenems showed potent activity against methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), S. pneumoniae, E. faecalis, H. influenzae, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, E. cloacae, S. marcescens, and the B. fragilis group, with the activity being stable. However, these drugs showed weak activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and P. aeruginosa. The antibacterial activity (MIC90) against the tested organisms generally remained stable. Particularly, there was annual improvement of the MIC90 values of IPM and BIPM for S. pneumoniae, as well as the values of IPM and PAPM for H. influenzae, and those of IPM, PAPM, and BIPM for S. marcescens. On the other hand, the activity of carbapenems (including IPM) against MRSA was not necessarily strong, but there was annual improvement of MIC90 values.

[Midterm results of bilateral enlargement of the aortic valve ring for valve replacement]

From 1989, 4 patients underwent bilateral enlargement of the aortic valve ring for valve replacement. Age at the operation ranged from 2 to 8 (mean 6) years; body weight ranged from 14.9 to 25.4 (mean 19.0) kg. This procedure enabled us to implant a prosthesis 3 to 4 sizes larger (19 to 23 mm) than that measured with the native aortic annulus (13 to 17 mm). There was no late death and no cardiac event over a mean follow-up period of 6.2 years. Pressure gradient across the prosthesis measured by echocardiography was 40 mmHg in 1 patient who underwent aortic valve replacement with the use of 19 mm St. Jude Medical valve at 2 years of age. There was no significant pressure gradient in other 3 patients. All patients showed normal left ventricular function. We conclude that bilateral enlargement of the aortic valve ring for valve replacement has provided good midterm results with no mortality and no cardiac event.

[Survey of the sensitivities of clinical isolates to antibacterial agents (annual report)]

Research groups were formed in 21 institutions nationwide to investigate carbapenem resistance. The activities of various antibacterial agents, principally carbapenems, were tested against clinical isolates collected from these institutions. The broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 17 antibacterial agents for 1,241 strains of 11 bacterial species isolated at all institutions between October and December 1996. The results were as follows: Carbapenems exhibited strong antibacterial activities against MSSA and Streptococcus pneumoniae and showed low activities against MRSA. Their activities against Enterococcus faecalis were comparable to that of ampicillin and piperacillin. The carbapenems showed high activities against Haemophilis influenzae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae. Enterobacter cloacae. Serratia marcescens and Bacteroides fragilis group. Their activities were greater than that exhibited by other beta-lactam antibacterial agents, but some resistant strains of Serratia marcescens were detected. The antibacterial activity of carbapenems against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was comparable to that of CAZ, and there were some resistant strains.

[Concomitant mitral valvuloplasty and fenestrated total cavopulmonary connection: a case report]

A seven-year-old boy with tricuspid atresia successfully underwent a fenestrated total cavopulmonary connection and mitral valvuloplasty. Preoperative cardiac catheterization showed a mean pulmonary artery pressure of 16 mmHg. Pulmonary arteriography showed poor development of the branches (PA index: 180). Echocardiography revealed mild to moderate mitral valve incompetence due to prolapse of anterior leaflet. Mitral valve was exposed through the trans-septal approach. The excess chorda length was tucked into a longitudinal split in the top of the posterior papillary muscle. Then wedge resection of the redundant segment of the anterior leaflet and bilateral annuloplasty were performed. Finally, a total extracardiac cavopulmonary anastomosis with a 6 mm fenestration was completed. Postoperative clinical course was uneventful, and he is doing well with no recurrence of mitral incompetence 1 year after the operation.

[Survey of the sensitivities of clinical isolates to antibacterial agents (annual report)]

Research groups were formed in 21 institutions nationwide to investigate carbapenem resistance. The activities of various antibacterial agents, principally carbapenems were tested against clinical isolates collected from these institutions. The broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 17 antibacterial agents for 1,282 strains of 11 bacterial species isolated at all institutions between October and December 1995. The results were as follows: 1. Carbapenems exhibited strong antibacterial activities against MSSA and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Their activities against Enterococcus faecalis were comparable to that of ABPC. Carbapenems showed low activities against MRSA. 2. OFLX exhibited the greatest antibacterial activity against Haemophilus influenzae, followed by MEPM. The antibacterial activities of the other carbapenems were comparable to those of FMOX and CTM. 3. The carbapenems showed high activities against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, and Bacteroides fragilis group. Their activities were greater than that exhibited by other beta-lactam antibacterial agents. The carbapenems also exhibited greater antibacterial activities against Serratia marcescens than the other beta-lactam antibacterial agents, but some resistant strains were detected. 4. The antibacterial activities of carbapenems against Pseudomonas aeruginosa were comparable to those of CAZ, AZT, AMK.

[Survey of sensitivities of clinical isolates to antibacterial agents (annual report)]

Research groups were formed in 20 institutions nationwide to investigate carbapenem resistance of clinical isolates. Activities of various antibacterial agents, principally carbapenems, were tested against clinical isolates collected from these institutions. The broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 17 antibacterial agents for 1,326 strains of 11 bacterial species isolated at the institutions between October and December 1994. The results are as follows: 1. Carbapenems exhibited strong antibacterial activities against MSSA and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Their activities against Enterococcus faecalis were comparable to that of ABPC. Carbapenems showed low activities against MRSA. 2. OFLX exhibited the greatest antibacterial activity against Haemophilus influenzae, followed by MEPM. Antibacterial activities of the other carbapenems were comparable to those of FMOX, CTM, and ABPC. 3. The carbapenems showed high activities against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, and Bacteroides fragilis group. Their activities were greater than those exhibited by other beta-lactam antibacterial agents. The carbapenems also exhibited stronger antibacterial activities against Serratia marcescens than the other beta-lactam antibacterial agents, but some resistant strains were detected. 4. The antibacterial activities of carbapenems against Pseudomonas aeruginosa were comparable to those of CAZ, AZT, AMK.

[Antihypertensive effects of a novel calcium antagonist, AE0047, in various hypertensive models]

The antihypertensive effects of oral or intravenous administration of AE0047, a novel 1,4-dihydropyridine-type calcium antagonist, were investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR/crj), one kidney-one clip renal hypertensive rats (RHR), deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats (DHR) and two kidney-one clip renal hypertensive dogs (RHD). AE0047 (1, 3, 10 mg/kg, p.o.) caused a dose-related reduction of systolic blood pressure (SBP) with low reflex tachycardia in SHR/crj and RHR. The effect reached its maximum at 2-4 hr after administration and was sustained for a long time. In DHR, AE0047 (0.3, 1, 3 mg/kg, p.o.) similarly showed the antihypertensive effects at 2-7 hr with no significant changes in heart rates (HR). The doses (ED30) of AE0047 required to decrease SBP by 30% were 2.6, 3.4 and 0.68 mg/kg in SHR/crj, RHR and DHR, respectively. In RHD, and AE0047 capsule (GJ-0956: 4, 8, 16, 32 mg/body, p.o.) produced dose-dependent and long lasting effects with a transient and slight increase in HR. Furthermore, the intravenous administration of AE0047 (10, 30, 100 micrograms/kg) produced the antihypertensive action slowly, reached a plateau 10 min later and then maintained for many hours. In contrast, nitrendipine (3-100 mg/kg, p.o., 3-30 micrograms/kg, i.v.) and nicardipine (1-30 mg/kg, p.o., 3-30 micrograms/kg, i.v.) exhibited a similar potency to AE0047, but these maximal effects were produced at 1-2 hr and 0.5-1 min in the case of oral and intravenous administration, respectively, with a rapid recovery in the above hypertensive rats. These results indicate that AE0047 exhibits an antihypertensive effect with a slow onset and long-lasting profile.

Effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on hyperammonaemia in patients with liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Helicobacter pylori has strong urease activity. Ammonia produced by H pylori in the stomach can be a source of systemic ammonia in patients with hepatic dysfunction. The effect of the eradication of H pylori on hyperammonaemia was examined in patients with liver cirrhosis.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Ammonia concentrations in blood and gastric juice were analysed in 50 patients with liver cirrhosis and hyperammonaemia. All patients were first treated with a low protein diet, kanamycin, lactulose, and branched chain enriched amino acid solution. Hyperammonaemia remained in 18 patients. These 18 patients were divided into three groups according to the status of H pylori infection; those with a diffuse distribution of H pylori in the stomach (group I), those with a regional distribution (group II), and those without H pylori (group III). These patients were given 30 mg iansoprazole, 1000 mg amoxicillin, and 400 mg clarithromycin or 500 mg metronidazole for two weeks to eradicate H pylori.

RESULTS

In group I ammonia concentrations in blood and gastric juice were significantly reduced after H pylori eradication. The blood ammonia concentration at 12 weeks after the eradication was still significantly lower than that before eradication. In groups II and III the ammonia concentrations in blood and gastric juice were not significantly reduced after eradication therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The diffuse distribution of H-pylori in the stomach contributes partly to hyperammonaemia in patients with liver cirrhosis, and the eradication of H pylori is effective in patients with hyperammonaemia with diffuse H pylori infection in the stomach.

Profile of Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin derived from two areas of Japan with different prevalence of atrophic gastritis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

To clarify the roles of Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin in gastric atrophy, the cytotoxin positive rate and cytotoxin activity in Fukui and Okinawa, where the prevalence of atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer risk are quite different, were studied.

MATERIALS

Seventy three strains from Fukui and 51 from Okinawa were examined.

METHODS

The validation of atrophy was done by endoscopy, being confirmed with histology. The supernatant of liquid H pylori culture media was concentrated 20-fold, serially diluted, using doubling dilutions, and scored from 1 to 8. The semi-quantitated cytotoxin activity was expressed as the maximum dilution score yielding > 50% A431 cell vacuolation, being standardised with bacterial density.

RESULTS

The cytotoxin activity of the strains from Fukui was highly diverse compared with that from Okinawa, although the cytotoxin positive rate was not different. In Fukui strains, the grade of atrophy and the cytotoxin activity were correlated (p < 0.05). In addition, the cytotoxin activity of the strains from all patients in Okinawa, most of whom showed closed-type/mild atrophy, was significantly lower than that of the strains from the patients with open-type/severe atrophy in Fukui (6.46 (5.53) v 9.76 (8.80), p < 0.05), (mean (SEM)).

CONCLUSION

The difference in profile of the cytotoxin activity in the two areas was related to the difference in the prevalence of atrophic gastritis.

Deoxycholic acid as an endogenous risk factor for hepatocarcinogenesis and effects of gomisin A, a lignan component of Schizandra fruits

Although hepatocarcinogensis has been reported to be promoted by exogenous administration of bile acids, the relation of endogenous bile acids to hepatocarcinogenesis is not completely understood. This study investigates the relationship between serum concentration of bile acids, the appearance of preneoplastic change, glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci in the liver of male Donryu rats which had been fed 0.06% 3'-methyl-4-dimethylamino-azobenzene (3'-MeDAB), and the effects of gomisin A, previously reported to inhibit the tumor promotion process. During the feeding of 3'-MeDAB for 5 weeks, the concentrations of serum bile acids were found to have increased significantly to several times the levels found at the start of the experiment. The increase of serum bile acids, especially deoxycholic acid (DCA), and the appearance of preneoplastic lesions, the number and area of GST-P-positive foci in the liver, were significantly inhibited by simultaneous oral administration of gomisin A (30 mg/kg). When DCA (100 mg/kg) was orally administered after an initiation by 3'-MeDAB, serum bile acids and preneoplastic changes were significantly increased, these increases were inhibited by combined feeding of 0.03% gomisin A in the diet. There were good correlations between the serum concentration of DCA and the number of GST-P-positive foci in the liver in both experimental protocols. These results confirm that DCA is an endogenous risk factor for hepatocarcinogenesis and suggest that anti-promoter effect of gomisin A is based on improving metabolism of bile acids, including DCA.

Effects of gomisin A on the promotor action and serum bile acid concentration in hepatocarcinogenesis induced by 3'-methyl-4-dimethylamino-azobenzene

The effects of gomisin A, a lignan component of Schizandra fruits, on the promotion stage of hepatocarcinogenesis initiated by 3'-methyl-4-dimethylamino-azobenzene (3'-MeDAB) in male Donryu rats were investigated. When different types of tumor promotors, phenobarbital (PB) and deoxycholic acid (DCA), were administered for 5 weeks after initiation by 3'-MeDAB, preneoplastic alterations in the liver, determined by glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P), were markedly increased. Gomisin A significantly inhibited the increase in number and size of GST-P positive foci, regardless of the promotor. This lignan inhibited the increase in serum bile acid concentration by administration of DCA, but hardly influenced the serum bile acids in the PB-combined group. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of gomisin A on the promotive action of DCA is based on improving bile acid metabolism, but regarding the action of PB, the effect could not be elucidated from the metabolism of bile acids.

Inhibition of early 3-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene-induced hepatocarcinogenesis by gomisin A in rats

The effects of gomisin A, a lignan component of Schizandra fruits, on hepatocarcinogenesis caused by 3'-methyl-4- dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-MeDAB) in male Donryu rats were investigated. Gomisin A significantly inhibited the appearance of foci stained for glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) in the liver of rats given feed with 0.06% 3'-MeDAB. Gomisin A (30 mg/kg/daily, po) decreased the concentration of 3'-MeDAB-related azo dyes in the liver, and increased their excretion in the bile. The ratio of diploid to tetraploid nuclei increased during ingestion of 3'-MeDAB, but gomisin A delayed the increase. After the withdrawal of 3'-MeDAB, carcinogen-related azo dyes were not detected in the liver or bile, but the proportion of diploid nuclei remained high, although it decreased with a 0.03% gomisin A diet. The results suggested that the effects of gomisin A are related to improved liver function and reversal of abnormal ploidization.

Inhibition by gomisin A, a lignan compound, of hepatocarcinogenesis by 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in rats

The effects of gomisin A, a lignan compound of Schizandra fruits, on hepatocarcinogenesis induced by 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-MeDAB) in rats were investigated. Gomisin A inhibited both increases of the number and size of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci, a marker enzyme of preneoplasm, and the population of diploid nuclei, as a proliferative state of hepatocytes, in the liver from rats simultaneously treated with 3'-MeDAB. Gomisin A increased GST activity in the liver, by raising the level of GST 1 and 2 isozymes. 3'-MeDAB increased GST activity and GST-P expression. This high level of GST-P induced by 3'-MeDAB was suppressed by additional treatment with gomisin A. In an experiment on simultaneous treatment, gomisin A increased the biliary excretion of 3'-MeDAB-related aminoazo dyes and decreased the content in the liver of rats fed with 0.06%-3'-MeDAB containing diet. In an experiment on pretreatment with 3'-MeDAB, even though no aminoazo dye was detectable in the liver or bile 2-weeks after cessation of 3'-MeDAB-feeding, gomisin A showed a tendency to reduce the preneoplastic changes of increases in GST-P positive foci and diploid nuclei in the liver. These results suggest that gomisin A inhibits the hepatocarcinogenesis induced by 3'-MeDAB by enhancing the excretion of the carcinogen from the liver and by reversing the normal cytokinesis.

Gomisin A, a lignan component of Schizandora fruits, inhibits development of preneoplastic lesions in rat liver by 3'-methyl-4-dimethylamino-azobenzene

The effects of gomisin A, a lignan component of Schizandra fruits, on development of preneoplastic lesions in the liver after a short-term (3 weeks) feeding of 3'-methyl-4-dimethyl-aminoazobenzene (3'-MeDAB) to male Donryu rats were investigated, and compared with the effects of phenobarbital. Gomisin A inhibited both increases of the level of glutathione-S-transferase placental form (GST-P) and the number and size of GST-P positive foci in the liver increased after treatment with 3'-MeDAB. Moreover, although the population of diploid nuclei was increased and that of tetraploid nuclei was decreased by pretreatment with 3'-MeDAB, gomisin A returned this to near the normal ploidy pattern. But phenobarbital increased the level of GST-P and the number and size of GST-P positive foci with little affect on the ploidy population changed by 3'-MeDAB. Thus, the effect of gomisin A on hepatocarcinogenesis was inhibitory in contrast with that of phenobarbital. This study suggests that gomisin A is a candidate for a chemopreventive drug inhibiting the promotion process in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Diuretic and vasodilating actions of torasemide

The pharmacological profile of torasemide was examined in experimental animals. In normotensive Wistar rats, torasemide produced less kaliuresis at doses that were equipotent with furosemide in terms of natriuresis. Torasemide but not furosemide exerted a significant diuretic action in rats treated with deoxycorticosterone acetate. Both torasemide and furosemide increased plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration, but only torasemide significantly inhibited aldosterone-receptor binding in rat kidney. Torasemide also inhibited vasoconstriction induced by thromboxane A2 in isolated canine coronary artery.

Compressing data volume of left ventricular cineangiograms

In this paper a method of compressing data volume for left ventricular cineangiograms is proposed. This method enables digital-optical discs to store the cineangiograms with an equivalent recording density to that of HDTV VTR's while preserving the quality of the original image. The data volume of the cineangiograms is compressed by approximating function and storing its coefficients. With this method, each cineangiogram frame is first decomposed into three regions: the inner part, the inner wall, and the background (using a statistical method previously reported by the authors). Each region is then compressed by means of a difference operation and an adaptive approximation with smooth functions. Performance is tested on 20 cases using actual cineangiograms. The specifications were verified for a spatial resolution of 1000 TV lines, a dynamic range of 60 dB, an SNR of 40 dB [pp/rms], volume compression to 7% of the original volume, and 0.19 [second/frame] for decoding on a 1.7 MFLOPS computer.

Anti-aldosteronergic effect of torasemide

The diuretic actions of torasemide and furosemide were studied in normotensive rats and in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-saline-loaded hypertensive rats. Torasemide (0.3-3 mg/kg) and furosemide (3-30 mg/kg) had a dose-dependent and significant diuretic action in normotensive rats. Potassium retention was only observed in the case of torasemide. Torasemide also had a dose-dependent and significant diuretic action in DOCA-saline-loaded hypertensive rats, whereas furosemide did not. Higher doses of torasemide (10 mg/kg) and furosemide (100 mg/kg) increased both plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration in normotensive rats in a similar manner. In vivo aldosterone receptor binding was determined to test the possible anti-aldosteronergic effect of torasemide. Torasemide inhibited the binding of aldosterone to its receptor in the cytoplasmic fraction of rat kidney in a dose-dependent manner, while furosemide produced no effect. These results suggest strongly that an anti-aldosteronergic action of torasemide contributes to producing less kaliuresis.

Effects of gomisin A on hepatocarcinogenesis by 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in rats

We examined the effects of gomisin A on tumor promotion in the liver after a short-term feeding of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-MeDAB) to rats, compared with the effects of phenobarbital. Male Donryu rats were fed ad libitum a diet containing 0.06% 3'-MeDAB and 0.03% or 0.01% gomisin A or water containing 0.05% phenobarbital. Gomisin A and phenobarbital did not cause any proliferative and neoplastic lesions by themselves in 40 weeks of feeding. Altered foci in the liver increased with a peak at 12 weeks after the rats were fed 3'-MeDAB. Gomisin A decreased the number of hepatic altered foci such as the clear cell and basophilic cell type foci in the early stages. Phenobarbital enhanced neoplastic alterations so that the number and size of the foci were much larger in the phenobarbital-combined group than in the 3'-MeDAB-control group. Thus, phenobarbital acted as a promoter of cells initiated by 3'-MeDAB; on the other hand, gomisin A showed a weak suppressive effect on tumor promotion.

Novel 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium antagonists. II. Synthesis and antihypertensive activity of 3-[4-(substituted amino)phenylalkyl]ester derivatives

Novel 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives bearing 3-[4-(substituted amino)phenylalkyl]ester side chains were prepared and tested for their antihypertensive activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Most compounds showed a more potent antihypertensive effect and a longer duration of action than nicardipine. The derivatives with a benzhydrylpiperazinyl and a benzhydrylpiperidinyl group were distinctive. 2-[4-(4-Benzhydryl-1-piperazinyl)phenyl]ethyl methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate (4e), its 4-(4-cyano-2-pyridyl) analogue (4f), its 3-[4-(4-benzhydryl-1-piperazinyl)phenyl]propyl ester analogue (4h), its 2-[4-(4-benzhydryl-1-piperidinyl)phenyl]ethyl ester analogue (4j), and its 2-[4-(1-benzhydryl-4-piperidinyl)phenyl]ethyl ester analogue (4k) were selected as candidates for further pharmacological investigations.

Synthesis and pharmacological effects of optically active 2-[4-(4-benzhydryl-1-piperazinyl)phenyl]-ethyl methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate hydrochloride

Optically active 2-[4-(4-benzhydryl-1-piperazinyl)phenyl]ethyl methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate [(S)-(+)-1 and (R)-(-)-1] hydrochlorides were synthesized with high optical purities from (R)-(-)- and (S)-(+)-1,4-dihydro-5-methoxycarbonyl-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)- 3-pyridinecarboxylic acids [(R)-(-)-6 and (S)-(+)-6], which are available from (+/-)-6 by optical resolution using quinidine and cinchonidine, respectively. From pharmacological investigations of (S)-(+)-1 and (R)-(-)-1 such as the antihypertensive effect on spontaneously hypertensive rats and inhibition of [3H]nimodipine binding to rat cardiac membrane homogenate, the active form of 1 was defined to be the (4S)-(+)-enantiomer of 1.

Novel 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium antagonists. I. Synthesis and hypotensive activity of 4-(substituted pyridyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives

A series of 4-(substituted pyridyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives were synthesized and their hypotensive effects examined. Several compounds, 2-(N-benzyl-N-methylamino)ethyl methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitro-2-pyridyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate (2b), its 4-(4-nitro-2-pyridyl) analogue (2g), 4-(3-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridyl) analogue (2c), 4-(2-trifluoromethyl-3-pyridyl) analogue (3e), 4-(4-cyano-2-pyridyl) analogue (2e), 4-(2-cyano-3-pyridyl) analogue (3d), and 4-(6-bromo-2-pyridyl) analogue (2i), were found to have a hypotensive activity parallel to that of nicardipine; 2c and 3e, in particular, had approximately twice the duration of nicardipine, and 2e had the most potent hypotensive activity of all the derivatives synthesized.

Alterations in the thermic response to chlorpromazine in rats exposed prenatally to central nervous system depressants

The thermic response to acute administration of chlorpromazine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) was assessed in rats exposed prenatally to haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg), phenobarbital (10 mg/kg), nitrazepam (2 mg/kg), propylene glycol (1 ml/kg) or saline, once daily from days 1-21 or 15-21 of gestation. The response in all animals was tested only once. The administration of chlorpromazine to 8- or 13-week-old male and female rats treated with saline (1-21 d) induced marked hypothermia for a 6-hr period of observation. Male and female rats treated with haloperidol (1-21 d) showed a delayed hyperthermic response to chlorpromazine at 8 weeks of age; the males showed an increase in rectal temperature at 3 hr and the females from 3 to 6 hr. Thirteen-week-old males but not females treated with haloperidol (1-21 d) showed a hyperthermic response to chlorpromazine during the first 2 hr. Eight-week-old male and female rats treated with phenobarbital (1-21 d) showed hypothermia, whereas 13-week-old male rats of another group treated with phenobarbital (1-21 d) showed significant hyperthermia after the administration of the chlorpromazine. The hypothermic response of the rats treated with nitrazepam (1-21 d) to chlorpromazine was similar to that in the vehicle (propylene glycol)-treated controls. The male rats treated with phenobarbital (15-21 d) responded to chlorpromazine with significant hyperthermia from 30 min to 1 hr. There was no alteration in thermic response to chlorpromazine in rats born to mothers treated with one tenth of the dose of phenobarbital, haloperidol or nitrazepam.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sex-related hyperthermic response to chlorpromazine in the offspring of rats treated with imipramine

The body temperature in male rats born to mothers treated with saline or imipramine (5 mg/kg, IMI-F1) from day 1 to day 21 of gestation showed a significant decline between 8 and 13 weeks of age. The magnitude of the decline was greater in the IMI-F1 rats than in saline-F1 rats. In contrast, the body temperature in the IMI-F1 female rats showed a significant rise between 8 and 13 weeks of age. Adult IMI-F1 male rats showed a significant hyperthermia for 1-2 h after an injection of chlorpromazine while the littermate female rats and the control male and female rats showed a marked hypothermia. The results suggest that prenatal exposure to imipramine induces sex-related alterations in the thermoregulatory centers.

Elevation of the maximal seizure threshold produced by calcium hydroxide in rats

The effect of calcium hydroxide on the maximal seizure threshold was studied in 18-day-old rats using the up-and-down method. The maximal seizure was induced by administering an electric shock through the eyes. When calcium hydroxide was given orally once a day (0.04 m moles/kg) for 10 days from the 8th to 18th day after birth, the maximal seizure threshold was raised by 4.8 mA, which corresponded to 16% of the threshold current in the control. the serum calcium concentration was not significantly altered after the treatment. When calcium chloride was given intraperitoneally, the maximal seizure threshold markedly increased with the increase in serum calcium. It is suggested that the mechanism of calcium hydroxide is different from that induced by increasing the serum calcium.

[Effects of adenosine compounds on the contractile response of isolated canine blood vessels to various agonists (author's transl)]

Effects of adenine and adenosine compounds (adenosine, AMP, ATP, cyclic AMP and dibutyryl cyclic AMP) on the contractile responses of helically cut strips of canine superior mesenteric arteries to various agonists (K+, norepinephrine, angiotensin II and Ba2+), to transmural electrical stimulation and on Ca2+ contractures of K+-depolarized strips were studied. The contractions induced by these agonists were suppressed, dose dependently, but to a different degree by these adenosine compounds, with the exception of the potentiating action of ATP on the Ba2+-induced contraction. The suppression of the effect of norepinephrine, angiotensin II and transmural stimulation was appreciably greater than that of K+ and Ba2+. Adenine was equally or more effective in inhibiting the contractions induced by these agonists than were the other adenosine compounds used. The order of relative inhibitory potency was adenine Greater Than or Equal to adenosine Greater Than or Equal to AMP = ATP Greater Than cyclic AMP = dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The ATP-induced contraction was influenced in a different manner by each adenosine compound. Adenosine and cyclic AMP did not affect the ATP-induced contraction but AMP and dibutyryl cyclic AMP in a narrow range of concentrations enhanced the contraction. On the contrary, adenine and ATP inhibited the ATP contraction, dose-dependently, resulting in tachyphylaxis, with the repeated application of ATP. The present results suggest that adenine moiety in the molecule plays an important role in the inhibitory action of adenosine compounds, and that the antagonistic action of adenosine compounds is due to their inhibitory actions on Ca2+-influx and Ca2+-release from cell stores.

Sequential grouping of nonhistone chromosomal protein from pig thymus

1. To establish a practical method to prepare nonhistone chromosomal proteins (NHP's) in substantial quantity, a sequential group fractionation procedure for NHP's from pig thymus chromatin has been developed by a combination of methods based on the intrinsic properties, such as binding force in chromatin, molecular weight, and acidity and/or basicity of the protein components. 2. The loosely bound NHP's in chromatin have been grouped into 11 subfractions, and tightly bound ones into 6 subfractions, 2 of which were histones. The loosely bound NHP's were chiefly acidic to neutral in contrast with the tightly bound components, which were basic. In addition, the NHP's of high molecular weight were in general acidic to neutral, while the lower molecular weight components were mainly basic. 3. The present method is applicable to the preparation of representative fractions of NHP on the scale of 50--400 mg from 1 kg of pig thymus.

Isolation and some properties of two fragments with inhibitory activity obtained from adzuki bean proteinase inhibitor by peptic digestion

Proteinase inhibitor II' from adzuki beans was subjected to peptic digestion. One of the resulting fragments, which inhibited chymotrypsin but not trypsin, was composed of 27 amino acid residues. The fragment was confirmed to be derived from the chymotrypsin-inhibitory domain of the original inhibitor. Another fragment, which inhibited trypsin only, contained 38 amino acid residues and consisted of two peptide chains. One of them, consisting of 25 amino acid residues, corresponded to the original reactive site region for trypsin. These fragments were also obtained from inhibitor II by peptic digestion. These findings, confirm that these inhibitors, which do not inhibit chymotrypsin and trypsin simultaneously, have separate and independent domains for the inhibition of each enzyme. The active fragments are homologous in chemical structures with the two fragments from soybean Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitor. However, unlike the fragments from Bowman-Birk inhibitor, our chymotrypsin-inhibitory fragment was a potent inhibitor of the enzyme and was as resistant as the intact inhibitor to the attack of excess chymotrypsin. The trypsin-inhibitory fragment had a lower anti-tryptic action than the original inhibitor and was gradually inactivated by trypsin. These differences between our fragments and those of the Bowman-Birk inhibitor are probably a result of the replacement of a few amino acid residues in the reactive site regions.

Contractile responses of isolated canine blood vessels to ATP and ADP

Effects of ATP and ADP on helically cut strips of canine different blood vessels were studied, in comparison with those of K+ and norepinephrine (N.E.). ATP and ADP were equally effective in causing transient contractions in contrast to sustained contractions induced by K+ and N.E.. The mesenteric, renal arteries and portal veins were sensitive to both nucleotides. The response to the nucleotides was K+ was more dependent on Ca++ and Mg++ concentrations in bathing media than that to N.E.. Treatment of the strips with EGTA in Ca++ -free media quickly abolished the contractile responses to ATP, ADP and K+. Application of 0.1 mM Cd++ attenuated the contractile responses to K+ more markedly than those to N.E., but did not affect ATP action. Verapamil at 0.5 micron inhibited the K+-induced contraction alone, and 2 mM procaine inhibited the response to N.E. alone, but rather intensified the ATP-induced contraction. It may be concluded that ATP and ADP produce a transient contraction of isolated canine blood vessels by a mechanism relating to an increased mobilization of loosely bound Ca++ in cell membranes.

[Effects of adenosine compounds of the vascular bed and effects of dilazep, theophylline, and indomethacin on blood flow changes of the postocclusive renal vessels]

In anesthetized dogs, intrarenal arterial injections of adenosine (Ads) and adenosine 5' monophosphate (AMP) caused transient, vasoconstrictions, but those of adenosine 5' diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine 5' triphosphate (ATP) caused vasodilations. All of these agents produced marked vasodilations in the mesenteric and femoral vascular beds. An i.v. injection of dilazep (10--30 microng/kg) enhanced significnatly the effects of Ads and AMP at these three vascular beds, whereas this compound had no effects on results with ADP, ATP, norepinephrine and angiotensin. Administration of theophylline (10--30 mg/kg) given intravenously attenuated Ads and AMP actions, but had no effects on the other four agents. Renal vasoconstrictions induced by Ads. AMP, norepinephrine and angiotensin were followed by slight vasodilations which were abolished by indomethacin (2--5 mg/kg) given intravenously. Based on these findings postocclusive renal vascular responses were examined. The responses were divided into two phases. Phase1 was the initial decrease and phase2 was the successive gradual increase in renal blood flow (RBF). Phase 1 was significantly potentiated by dilazep, but inhibited by theophylline. Phase2 was abolished by indomethacin. These results indicate that the postocclusive renal vascular responses may be mediated through Ads and/or AMP and prostaglandins released from the kidney.

[Effects of secretin on renal functions in the dog]

In anesthetized mongreal dogs, the intrarenal arterial (0.2 approximately 1.0 unit/kg-min) and the intravenous infusion (0.4 approximately 2.0 unit/kg-min) of secretin caused dose-dependent increase of RBF, accompanied by decreases of the calculated afferent arteriolar resistance (Ra) and efferent arteriolar resistance (Re), but produced no significant effect on GFR, urine flow, electrolyte excretion, osmolar clearance and free water reabsorption. The distribution of cortical blood flow was examined using the radioactive microsphere technique. The intrarenal infusion of secretin (1.0 unit/kg-min) increased renal cortical blood flow in the juxtamedullary area much more than in the superficial area, shifting the blood flow from the outer to the inner zone. Simultaneous intrarenal infusion of secretin (1.0 unit/kg-min) and glucagon (0.5 microng/kg-min) produced increases in GFR, urine flow and electrolyte excretion to a lesser degree than those induced by glucagon alone, whereas the increment in RBF and the decreases in Ra and Re were almost to the same degree as those caused by secretin alone. The present results indicate that secretin produces the dilation of afferent and efferent arterioles, resulting in an increase in RBF, with no change in GFR and urine flow, and that the effects of glucagon on renal functions are masked by secretin mainly through the effects of renal hemodynamics.