Presence of corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivity in human tumors

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-like immunoreactivity was measured by radioimmunoassay in human organs and tumors associated with and without ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) syndrome. It was found to be distributed widely in the stomach, pancreas, adrenal gland, and various tumors (e.g., medullary thyroid carcinoma, small cell carcinoma of the lung, pheochromocytoma, and adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas) in a concentration less than one tenth of that of the hypothalamus. Dilution curves of CRF-like immunoreactivity in tissue extracts paralleled that of synthetic rat (human) CRF. Sephadex G-50 gel filtration showed that a major CRF-like immunoreactivity in tissue extracts coeluted with synthetic rat (human) CRF. Results suggest that a material(s) closely related immunologically to CRF is present widely in normal and tumor tissues outside of the central nervous system.     

Clinical studies on 6059-S for acute peritonitis. Clinical effect and tissue concentration (author's transl)

A new antibiotic drug of oxacephem, with marked resistance to beta-lactamase, 6059-S for parenteral use was tested in 10 patients with acute peritonitis. In 4 cases with appendicitis, 6059-S in a dose of 500 mg was given intramuscularly before operation. In 2 cases with perforate MECKEL'S diverticulitis and intestinal obstruction for right femoral hernia, 6059-S in a dose of 1 g was given by intravenous injection or intravenous drip infusion before or during operation. And in a case with peritonitis after gastrectomy for gastric cancer, 6059-S in a dose of 2 g was given by intravenous drip infusion. Tissue specimens of different sites or body fluids were taken during the operation and from the removed organs. The materials or purulent ascites were subsequently taken at intervals. Determination of 6059-S concentration was performed according to plate agar well bioassay method with Escherichia coli 7437 strain. The peak of 6059-S concentration in purulent ascites of patient with peritonitis for perforate MECKEL'S diverticulitis was 30.5 mcg/ml at 50 min. after 1 g intravenous administration. Concentration of 6059-S in drained pus was 8.38 mcg/ml soon after intravenous drip infusion (2 g, for 2 hrs.). In 10 patients with peritonitis, 6 patients were given 6059-S in a dose of 500 mg by intramuscular administration twice a day, and the serious 4 patients were given in a dose of 1 to 2 g by intravenous drip infusion 1 to 2 times a day. Clinical response was excellent in 6 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 1 case and poor was none. Any clinical adverse effect was not recognized. On the 6059-S concentration in patients with peritonitis, the concentration in purulent ascites, drained pus and infected tissues were observed higher than the MIC of 6059-S against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Therefore 6059-S will be a very useful drug when used for chemotherapy of acute or subacute peritonitis.     

Mechanisms of increase in amylase activity in rat submandibular and sublingual glands after administration of pilocarpine

The increase in parotid rather than pancreatic-type amylase activity in the submandibular and sublingual glands of rats caused by administration of pilocarpine was abolished or diminished when pilocarpine was injected into rats which had been parotidectomized, sympathectomized by superior cervical ganglionectomy or pretreated with reserpine. These results suggest that the increases in amylase activity in the submandibular and sublingual glands by pilocarpine are not due to increase in enzyme synthesis, but to uptake of enzyme released into the blood in large quantities from the parotid gland and that the release from the parotid gland by pilocarpine is primarily mediated by sympathetic nerves.