Biochemical studies of acebutolol-the beta1 specificity of acebutolol (author's transl)]

Effects of acebutolol on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in rats and on adenylate cyclase of heart and liver in dogs were investigated to determine the beta receptor blocking properties of the compound. Acebutolol exhibited the beta blocking activity and inhibited the increase of serum lactate concentration induced by adrenaline. This inhibition was about one-sixth as potent as that of propranolol. In hyperglycemic and free fatty acid effects of adrenaline, acebutolol inhibited the adrenaline-induced free fatty acid increase more effectively than hyperglycemia induced by adrenaline. In the inhibition of stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in the heart and liver, acebutolol was more active on the heart than on liver. Relative beta1 specificity of acebutolol was 93.2. Inhibition of propranolol on adenylate cyclase activity was more potent than that of acebutolol on both tissues, but showed no specificity. These results suggest that acebutolol is beta1 selective, although its beta blocking potency is less than that of propranolol.     

Clinical studies of cefmetazole (author's transl)]

1. Cefmetazole was administered to 10 patients; 5 acute cholecystitis, 4 acute peritonitis and 1 periproctitis. 2. Cefmetazole was given by drip infusion at a daily dose of 2 to 4 g. 3. Clinical response was excellent in 3 patients, and good in other 7 patients. 4. No clinical adverse effect was recognized except the increase of GOT and GPT in 1 patient.     

Study of the familiar form of vascular dementia (CADASIL)]

CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy) is an inherited disease characterized by recurrent subcortical ischemic strokes leading to pseudobulbar palsy, migraine attacks with aura, psychiatric disturbances and vascular dementia. The disease is caused by mutations in the Notch3 receptor. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the pathological alterations in CADASIL. We found no difference in the receptor trafficking, processing, or specificity for ligand binding or signal transduction between WT and mutant Notch3 receptors. These results suggest that pathological alterations in CADASIL are not caused by defects in Notch3 processing or signaling.     

The difference of drug sensitivity of tumor cells on N-ethyloxycarbonylaminomethyl-L-isoleucine (A-145 (author's transl)]

N-Ethyloxycarbonylaminomehyl-L-isoleucine (A-145), a novel antitumor amino acid derivative, is an anti-tumor agent effect in cases of Ehrlich ascites rather than against Sarcoma-180. The chemotherapeutic index of A-145 was 14.9 for Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and 4.2 for ascites Sarcoma-180. Experimental studies on ddy mice regarding the difference in susceptibility of these two tumor cell lines to A-145 gave the following results. In in vivo experiments, the uptake of 14C-A-145 by Ehrlich ascites carcinoma was greater than by Sarcoma-180, i. e. the uptake ratio of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma/Sarcoma-180 was 1.52 at 30 min and 2.7 at 24 hr after injection. In in vivo experiments, there was no remarkable difference between Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and Sarcoma 180 in the subcellular distribution of 14C-A-145, and the majority of the radioactivity taken up was distributed in nuclei and cytosol fractions. In in vitro experiments, the uptake of 14C-A-145 by both cell lines was found to be temperature sensitive, glucose dependent, and decreased on addition of KCN, 2, 4-dinitrophenol or iodoacetic acid. In in vitro experiments, competitive inhibition by L-isoleucine on 14C-A-145 uptake into tumor cells was observed in both cell lines, however, in vitro experiments, the inhibitory effect of A-145 on cell growth in cultured Sarcoma-180 was not reversed by L-isoleucine.     

Measuring sensitivity in pharmacoeconomic studies. Refining point sensitivity and range sensitivity by incorporating probability distributions.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to describe a refinement of a previously presented method, based on the concept of point sensitivity, to deal with uncertainty in economic studies. DESIGN: The original method was refined by the incorporation of probability distributions which allow a more accurate assessment of the level of uncertainty in the model. In addition, a bootstrap method was used to create a probability distribution for a fixed input variable based on a limited number of data points. The original method was limited in that the sensitivity measurement was based on a uniform distribution of the variables and that the overall sensitivity measure was based on a subjectively chosen range which excludes the impact of values outside the range on the overall sensitivity. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: The concepts of the refined method were illustrated using a Markov model of depression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: The application of the refined method substantially changed the ranking of the most sensitive variables compared with the original method. The response rate became the most sensitive variable instead of the 'per diem' for hospitalisation. CONCLUSIONS: The refinement of the original method yields sensitivity outcomes, which greater reflect the real uncertainty in economic studies.     

Melatonin sensitivity to dim white light in affective disorders.

Both dim and bright light has been shown to suppress the nocturnal secretion of the pineal hormone melatonin. Early reports suggests that an abnormal response to light occurs in patients with bipolar affective disorder, where as patients with major depressive disorder respond similarly to controls. It has been suggested that this abnormal sensitivity of the melatonin response to light could be a trait marker of bipolar affective disorder. However reports lack consistency. Hence, we investigated the melatonin suppression by dim light (200 lux) in patients with bipolar affective disorder, seasonal affective disorder and major depressive disorder. Results suggest that a supersensitive melatonin suppression to light in bipolar affective disorder (p < .005), and seasonal affective disorder (p < .05), whereas patients with major depressive disorder display similar suppression to controls. The supersensitivity may be a mechanism where by phase-delayed rhythms, are resynchronised to a new circadian position. Conversely, an abnormality may exist in the pathway from the retina to the suprachiamatic nucleus.     

Effect of crystal form on in vivo topical anti-inflammatory activity of corticosteroids

The aim of this study was to gain information on the effects of the crystal form of corticosteroids on the topical anti-inflammatory activity. Two different crystal forms, Form A and Form B, of the drugs of prednicarbate, hydrocortisone, betamethasone 17-valerate, prednisolone, and methyl prednisolone were prepared and their topical anti-inflammatory activities were measured using arachidonic acid induced ear edema assay in mice. Two crystal forms of the drugs showed differences in anti-inflammatory activity. Among the drugs examined, Form B of prednicarbate and betamethasone 17-valerate showed significantly more potent anti-inflammatory activities as compared to their Form A.     

Photocarcinogenesis study of aloe vera [CAS NO. 481-72-1(Aloe-emodin)] in SKH-1 mice (simulated solar light and topical application study)

The popular recognition of the Aloe barbadensis Miller (Aloe vera) plant as a therapeutic dermatologic agent has led to the widespread incorporation of Aloe vera leaf extracts in skincare products. Studies have suggested that Aloe vera in skincare preparations may enhance the induction of skin cancer by ultraviolet radiation. A 1-year study was conducted in mice to determine whether the topical application of creams containing Aloe vera plant extracts (aloe gel, whole leaf, or decolorized whole leaf) or creams containing aloe-emodin would enhance the photocarcinogenicity of simulated solar light (SSL). 1-YEAR STUDY: groups of 36 male and 36 female Crl:SKH-1 (hr -/hr -) hairless mice received topical applications of control cream or creams containing 3% or 6% (w/w) aloe gel, whole leaf, or decolorized whole leaf or 7.46 or 74.6 μg/g aloe-emodin to the dorsal skin region each weekday morning. The mice were irradiated with SSL emitted from filtered 6 kW xenon arc lamps each weekday afternoon. The topical applications of creams and irradiance exposures were conducted 5 days per week for a period of 40 weeks. A 12-week recovery/observation period followed the 40-week treatment/exposure period. Additional groups of 36 male and 36 female mice received no cream and were exposed to 0.00, 6.85, 13.70, or 20.55 mJ?CIE/cm2 SSL per day. Mice that received no cream treatment and were exposed to increasing levels of SSL showed significant SSL exposure-dependent decreases in survival and significant increases in the in-life observations of skin lesion onset, incidence, and multiplicity, and significant SSL exposure-dependent increases in the incidences and multiplicities of histopathology-determined squamous cell nonneoplastic skin lesions (squamous hyperplasia and focal atypical hyperplasia) and squamous cell neoplasms (papilloma, carcinoma in situ, and/or carcinoma). Squamous cell neoplasms were not detected in mice that received no SSL exposure. The topical treatment with the control cream of mice that were exposed to SSL did not impart a measurable effect when compared with comparable measurements in mice that received no cream treatment and were exposed to the same level of SSL, suggesting that the control cream used in these studies did not alter the efficiency of the SSL delivered to mice or the tolerability of mice to SSL. The application of aloe gel creams to mice had no effect on body weights, survival, or the in-life observations of skin lesion onset, incidence, or multiplicity. The administration of aloe gel creams to male mice had no effect on the incidences or multiplicities of histopathology-determined squamous cell nonneoplastic skin lesions or neoplasms. Female mice treated with aloe gel creams (3% and 6%) had significantly increased multiplicities of squamous cell neoplasms. There were no treatment-related effects on body weights, survival, or the in-life observations of skin lesion onset, incidence, or multiplicity in mice treated with the whole leaf creams. In male mice exposed to SSL and treated with the 6% whole leaf cream, a significant increase was observed in the multiplicity of squamous cell neoplasms. Female mice exposed to SSL and treated with the 3% whole leaf creams had significantly decreased multiplicity of squamous cell nonneoplastic lesions and significantly increased multiplicity of squamous cell neoplasms. Female mice exposed to SSL and treated with the 6% whole leaf cream had significantly decreased multiplicity of squamous cell nonneoplastic lesions. The application of decolorized whole leaf creams to mice had no effect on body weights, survival, or the in-life observations of skin lesion onset, incidence, or multiplicity. Male mice administered the 3% decolorized whole leaf cream had significantly increased multiplicity of squamous cell neoplasms. Female mice administered the 3% decolorized whole leaf cream had significantly decreased multiplicity of squamous cell nonneoplastic skin lesions and significantly increased multiplicity of squamous cell neoplasms. In female mice that received the 6% decolorized whole leaf cream, there was a significant increase in the multiplicity of squamous cell neoplasms. As with the Aloe vera plant extracts, the application of aloe-emodin creams to mice had no measurable effect on body weights, survival, or the in-life observations of skin lesion onset, incidence, or multiplicity. The administration of aloe-emodin creams to male mice had no effect on the incidence or multiplicity of histopathology-determined nonneoplastic skin lesions or squamous cell neoplasms. Female mice treated with the 74.6 μg/g aloe-emodin cream had significantly decreased multiplicity of histopathology-determined squamous cell nonneoplastic skin lesions and significantly increased multiplicity of squamous cell neoplasms. CONCLUSIONS: these experiments investigated the potential of topical application of creams containing extracts of Aloe barbadensis Miller plant (aloe gel, whole leaf, or decolorized whole leaf) or aloe-emodin to alter the photocarcinogenic activity of filtered xenon arc simulated solar light (SSL) in male and female SKH-1 hairless mice. Data on skin lesions were collected both on digital images during the in-life phase and by histopathologic evaluation at necropsy. No effects of creams upon SSL-induced skin lesions were identified from data collected during the in-life phase. ALOE GEL OR ALOE-EMODIN: under the conditions of these studies, there was a weak enhancing effect of aloe gel or aloe-emodin on the photocarcinogenic activity of SSL in female but not in male SKH-1 mice based on an increase in the multiplicity of histopathologically-determined squamous cell neoplasms. ALOE WHOLE LEAF OR DECOLORIZED WHOLE LEAF: under the conditions of these studies, there was a weak enhancing effect of aloe whole leaf or decolorized whole leaf on the photocarcinogenic activity of SSL in both male and female SKH-1 mice based on an increase in the multiplicity of histopathologically-determined squamous cell neoplasms.     

Toxicological studies of pepleomycin sulfate. V. Short term intermittent toxicity in dogs (author's transl)]

The comparative studies in the short term intermittent toxicity of pepleomycin (NK631) and bleomycin (BLM) were performed on 10 beagle dogs of 13 approximately 15 months old. Two dogs per group were injected intravenously with NK631 and BLM in doses 5.0 and 2.5 mg/kg body weight every fourth day for 11 treatment. Two dogs served as control and were injected with saline solution. In the group of 5.0 mg/kg of NK631, one dog was sacrificed on day 37 of the treatment and another one dog died on day 33 of the treatment. All the dogs of other group survived until the end of the treatment. The toxicity to the hepatic and renal damage caused by NK631 was stronger than the BLM. On the contrary, the toxicity to lung and various mucocutaneous regions was weaker than the BLM. The grade of pulmonary fibrosis of NK631 was about 1/2 and 2/3 of the BLM in dose of 5 mg/kg and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively. Other toxicological changes such as anorexia and weight loss were almost similar to the BLM.     

Effect of digoxin on the sensitivity to flickering light.

1 The sensitivity to flickering light at various light frequencies (DeLange curve) was determined in 20 controls and 45 patients receiving maintenance doses of digoxin. 2 Flicker thresholds (mean percentage of maximal light modulation +/- s.d.; F 30 Hz) were 7.6 +/- 1.7 in controls and 9.4 +/- 1.7 in patients with optimal plasma digoxin levels (0.5-1.9 ng/ml), but they rose to 15.5 +/- 1.9 at subtoxic levels (2.0-3.0 ng/ml), and to 21.8 +/- 2.6 at toxic levels (above 3.0 ng/ml). 3 Flicker sensitivity was inversely correlated with plasma digoxin levels and returned to baseline values when the administration of digoxin was interrupted. 4 The DeLange curve seems to be a valuable tool to measure the toxic effects of digitalis on the visual system.     

Inhibition of contact sensitivity in the mouse by topical application of corticosteroids

1. Topical application of oxazolone to the ears of mice previously sensitized to this hapten resulted in a marked increase in ear weight 24 h later.

2. Topical application of hydrocortisone, betamethasone 17-valerate, fluocinolone acetonide or triamcinolone acetonide inhibited this response in a dose dependent manner.

3. The free alcohols of the three fluorinated compounds were only weakly active.

4. Activity in this model was truly local. Oral administration of hydrocortisone or fluocinolone acetonide at doses comparable to those used topically failed to inhibit the ear swelling.

5. Some steroids with poor anti-inflammatory properties had no significant effect.

     

Pharmacological studies of low molecular weight heparin (LHG)]

The effects of low molecular weight heparin (LHG) on the blood coagulation system, hemorrhage, lipolytic activity and bone metabolism were compared with those of conventional sodium heparin (Heparin). The anti-thrombin activity of LHG measured by the prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time and measured by the suppressive effect on thrombin-induced mortality was approximately 4 times weaker than those of Heparin on a weight basis, while the anti-Xa activity of LHG measured by the chromogenic method was approximately half of that of Heparin. Heparin caused a marked and dose-dependent increase in the rat-tail bleeding time, while the effect of LHG was almost 4 times weaker than that of Heparin. These results indicate that the prolongation of bleeding time is mainly due to the inhibition of thrombin. At low doses, LHG showed lower lipolytic activity than Heparin, while at high dosage, LHG and Heparin showed similar activity. Heparin enhanced the ADP-induced platelet aggregation in vitro, but LHG showed no effects. LHG and Heparin had no effects on bone resorption nor bone formation in the rat cultured calvaria. The results of our study suggest that alternate use of LHG may reduce the known adverse effects of conventional heparin.     

Pharmacological studies of intravaginally applied dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHA-S)]

The ripening effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHA-S) on the uterine cervix was studied after intravaginal application. A 100-mg suppository containing 0, 5, 10 or 20% (w/w) DHA-S was applied to the vagina of pregnant rats 3 times on days 14-16 of gestation. Wet weight and water content of the uterine cervix increased dose-dependently. To measure the elasticity of the uterine cervix, the tension causing an expansion of 1 mm or 2 mm was determined; this was reduced by the application of 20% DHA-S, and the difference in the length of the cervix produced by tensions of 5 g and 25 g was increased. Application of 20% DHA-S decreased the collagen content of the uterine cervix and the total collagenase activity was increased. Furthermore, histochemical changes, coarsening and edema were observed in the uterine cervix. These findings suggest that intravaginal application of DHA-S would produce ripening effects similar to those after intravenous injection.