Effect of lafutidine on CGRP release from cultured rat dorsal root ganglion cells

Lafutidine increased capsaicin-stimulated CGRP release from isolated rat stomach without changing basal CGRP levels. In order to clarify the mechanism of this effect, we used cultured rat DRG cells and measured CGRP release. (1) DRG cells were treated with each drug, and the CGRP content of the supernatant was determined by EIA. (2) RGM-1 cells were co-cultured with DRG cells through a cell culture insert, and capsaicin-evoked CGRP release from the DRG cells was determined when lafutidine or PGE₂ was added to the RGM-1 cells. (3) The supernatant of isolated rat stomach incubated with lafutidine was added to cultured DRG cells, and capsaicin-evoked CGRP release was determined. PGE2, but not lafutidine, augmented capsaicin-evoked CGRP release from DRG cells. Lafutidine did not modulate CGRP release from DRG cells, even though it sensitized CGRP-containing afferent nerves in the rat stomach. Lafutidne and PGE₂ may have different mechanisms of sensitization.     

Evaluation of fatty acid metabolism in hearts after ischemia-reperfusion injury using a dual-isotope autoradiographic approach and tissue assay for metabolites of tracer.

We investigated whether changes in myocardial uptake of fatty acid tracer after reperfusion following transient myocardial ischemia were closely related to alterations in intracellular fatty acid oxidation. METHODS: Using a fatty acid tracer of (131)I- and (125)I-labeled 15-(p-iodophenyl)-9-methylpentadecanoic acid (9MPA), the myocardial uptake and metabolites were determined by dual-tracer autoradiography and thin-layer chromatography in rats 3 or 14 d after reperfusion following 5 or 15 min of ischemia induced by coronary artery ligation. RESULTS: 9MPA metabolites processed via beta-oxidation were lower in the ischemic region (IR) than in non-IR 3 d after 5 min of ischemia, despite no reduction of tracer uptake in IR. Oxidation of 9MPA was recovered 14 d after 15 min of ischemia in association with normalization of tracer uptake in IR, whereas both uptake and oxidation of 9MPA were markedly impaired 3 d after 15 min of ischemia, accompanied by slow clearance of myocardial tracer. CONCLUSION: Normal uptake of fatty acid tracer early after reperfusion does not always imply preserved intracellular fatty acid oxidation. However, reduction of tracer uptake might reflect impaired fatty acid oxidation.     

Analysis of prognostic factors in thymectomized patients with myasthenia gravis: correlation between thymic lymphoid cell subsets and postoperative clinical course.

We retrospectively examined the postoperative clinical course of 50 consecutive patients with myasthenia gravis who underwent a transsternal extended thymectomy. Twenty-six patients (52%) showed a steady improving postoperative course without any additional immunotherapy (group A). The remaining 24 patients (48%) had an intractable postoperative course, and most of them needed additional immunotherapy (group B). A significant increases in CD3+ cells, HLA-DR+ cells and B-cells and significant decreases in CD1+ cells and CD8+ cells were observed in the thymuses from patients in group B, compared with the findings in group A. In the peripheral blood, the ratio of CD4+ cells to CD8+ cells was significantly increased in group B. Patients who were either under 40 years of age, females, or without thymoma had good clinical courses after the thymectomy alone.     

Ampicillin concentrations in human serum, gingiva, mandibular bone, dental follicle, and dental pulp following a single oral administration of bacampicillin

Ninety-six patients who underwent the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars in a nonfasting state were given a single oral dose of bacampicillin preoperatively. Specimens of serum from venous blood (n = 107), gingiva (n = 57), mandibular bone (n = 68), dental follicle (n = 56), and dental pulp (n = 43) were obtained during the operation and assayed for ampicillin content. The mean peak concentrations in serum, gingiva, mandibular bone, dental follicle, and dental pulp all occurred approximately 90 minutes after administration. The concentration ratios of the tissues to the corresponding serum at the peak time were 0.50, 0.20, 0.34, and 0.61, respectively. Bacampicillin showed good absorption by the intestine, and sufficient concentrations of the resulting metabolite, ampicillin, were found in the oral tissues.     

A case of metastasis of renal cell carcinoma to the abdominal wall 13 years after nephrectomy

A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of a tumor of the left abdominal wall. Thirteen years previously, had undergone a nephrectomy of a right renal cell carcinoma with T2, N0, M0, manifestations stage I. Prior to his second operation, a parenchymal tumor was strongly suspected. The tumor, however, was finally diagnosed pathologically as being a metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Postoperatively, the patient has been well for 21 months without any evidence of recurrence at the time of this report. Long-term follow-up is thought to be essential for cases of renal cell carcinoma with a slow-growing type of metastasis.     

Effect of calcium channel blocking agents on the reductive metabolism of halothane

The effect of calcium channel blocking agents on the reductive metabolism of halothane in liver microsomes of guinea pigs was investigated. The reaction mixture for the measurement of the end products consisted of microsomal suspension, 5 mM NADPH, calcium channel blocking agents (verapamil, diltiazem, nicardipine and nifedipine) and halothane in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The reductive metabolism of halothane was inhibited competitively by verapamil, diltiazem and nicardipine. The binding spectra for the interaction of these three drugs with cytochrome P-450 in microsomes were investigated. Verapamil caused the reverse type I difference spectrum and diltiazem caused the type I difference spectrum. However, the change caused by nicardipine was not observed by the presence of its specific spectra. NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity in microsomes did not change by the addition of these three drugs. These results suggest that these three calcium channel blocking agents inhibit the production of radical intermediates during the reductive metabolism of halothane.     

A case of Beh?et's disease with hemoptysis and chest X-ray abnormality

A 41-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of hemoptysis and dyspnea. Physical examination disclosed oral ulcer, acne and scrotal ulcer. Although ocular lesions were absent, the needle reaction was positive. Then we diagnosed this case as incomplete type of Beh?et's disease. Chest X-ray showed diffuse retinolinear shadows in the entire lung field and an infiltrative shadow in the left middle lung field. CT-scan revealed interstitial shadows in the entire lung field, a wedge-shaped shadow in left S6 and aneurysmic dilatation of the left lower lobe pulmonary artery. Pulmonary angiography showed obstruction and aneurysmic dilatation of the left lower lobe pulmonary artery. Pathological examination of the TBLB specimen revealed thickening of the vessel wall, perivascular infiltrations of mononuclear cells, hemorrhage and slight thickening of alveolar septae. These findings were compatible with pulmonary lesions of Beh?et's disease. After administration of corticosteroid, the symptoms and the chest roentgenographic findings improved. Pulmonary lesions of Beh?et's disease were discussed.