Intrahepatic Delivery of Glutathione by Conjugation to Dextran

Glutathione was covalently attached to dextran (T-40) by the CNBr activation method. The compound obtained was a water-soluble powder containing 10 (w/w%) glutathione, which was gradually released from the conjugate in aqueous media. Mice depleted of glutathione by treatment with buthionine sulfoximine, a potent inhibitor of -glutamylcysteine synthetase, exhibited a significant increase in hepatic glutathione level after intravenous injection of the conjugate. In mice given a lethal dose of acetaminophen, the survival rate increased progressively with coadministration of the conjugate, whereas little improvement was found when free glutathione was given. The conjugate maintained the serum transaminase activities at lower level after acetaminophen administration. These findings suggest that the dextran conjugate of glutathione is transported into hepatic cells and is intracellulary hydrolyzed to free form, which protects mice from hepatotoxicity due to acetaminophen.     

Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefmenoxime in neonates and infants

Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on cefmenoxime (CMX) in neonates and infants were conducted. 1. CMX 20 mg/kg was administered by intravenous bolus injection to 6 neonates (with ages 2 to 20 days) and 5 infants (with ages 36 to 107 days) and its serum concentration and urinary excretion rates were determined. In the neonates, serum concentrations of CMX after intravenous administration reached peak levels of 48.2 to 90.7 micrograms/ml (mean 70.4 +/- 14.3 micrograms/ml) in 1/4 hour, then declined with half-lives of 1.27 to 5.19 hours (mean 2.28 +/- 1.56 hours), and were 3.6 to 16.9 micrograms/ml (mean 8.3 +/- 6.0 micrograms/ml) at 6 hours. In the infants, serum concentrations at 1/4 hour were 67.5 to 111.0 micrograms/ml (mean 95.5 +/- 18.0 micrograms/ml); half-lives were 0.64 to 0.94 hour (mean 0.81 +/- 0.13 hour); and the serum concentrations at 6 hours were 0.2 to 1.1 micrograms/ml (mean 0.7 +/- 0.4 micrograms/ml). Mean peak serum concentrations in the neonates tended to be lower than those in the infants, but higher than those in children. Regarding the age differences of serum concentrations due to age in the neonates, their peak levels tended to be lower in younger ones. Half-lives were shorter in older subjects and, in early infancy, approached values observed in children. Urinary recovery rates in the first 6 hours after intravenous administration ranged from 43.6 to 87.5% (mean 61.6 +/- 14.6%) in the neonates and from 52.1 to 90.8% (mean 78.0 +/- 15.1%) in the infants. Thus, recovery rates were high even in younger subjects and tended to be higher in older subjects. 2. CMX was administered to 27 neonates and 4 infants to investigate its clinical effect, bacteriological effect and side effects. Clinical efficacy ratings of the drug in 19 neonate cases that could be evaluated (1 with purulent meningitis, 2 with suspected septicemia, 1 with acute bronchitis, 12 with acute pneumonia, 1 with impetigo, 1 with periumbilical abscess and 1 with acute pyelonephritis) were "excellent" in 14 cases, "good" in 4, and "poor" in 1. The efficacy rate covering "excellent" and "good" was 94.7%. In 4 infants (2 with acute pneumonia, 1 with periumbilical abscess and 1 with acute pyelonephritis), "excellent" was obtained in 2 cases and "good" in 2 cases. Thus, all the cases showed "good" or higher ratings. Bacteriologically, 1 strain of Staphylococcus aureus and 3 strains of Escherichia coli in neonates were eradicated while, in infants, 1 strain of S. aureus persisted but 1 of E. coli was eradicated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Microarray analysis on Phase II drug metabolizing enzymes expression in pregnant rats after treatment with pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile or phenobarbital

We previously reported the expression profiles of 9 cytochrome P450 isozymes (CYPs) proteins and those of 40 CYPs genes in pregnant rat's liver, placenta and fetal liver after treatment with pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) or phenobarbital (PB). This study was carried out focusing on the gene expression profiles of Phase II drug metabolizing enzymes, Glutathione S-transferase isozymes (GSTs) and UDP-glycosyltransferase isozymes (UDPGTs). Fischer 344 (F344) pregnant rats were daily treated intraperitoneally with 50 mg/kg of PCN or 80 mg/kg of PB from 13 to 16 days of gestation (DG). They were sacrificed on 17 DG, and microarray analysis using Affymetrix Rat Expression Array 230 A was performed. Among 16 GSTs genes examined in this study, 7 genes were significantly induced in dam's liver and 3 genes in fetal liver, respectively, in the PCN-group, while 8 genes were significantly induced in dam's liver and 1 gene in fetal liver, respectively, in the PB-group. On the other hand, among 11 UDPGTs genes examined, 5 genes were significantly induced in dam's liver and 3 genes in fetal liver, respectively, in the PCN-group, while 5 genes were significantly induced in dam's liver and 1 gene in fetal liver, respectively, in the PB-group. There were no significant changes in the placenta of all groups. This is the first report of the gene expression profiles of Phase II drug metabolizing enzymes in pregnant rat and fetal livers and placenta after treatment with typical inducers of drug metabolizing enzymes.     

Potentiation of allergic bronchoconstriction by repeated exposure to formaldehyde in guinea-pigs in vivo

BACKGROUND: Indoor formaldehyde (FA) might worsen allergies and be an underlying factor for the increasing incidence and severity of asthma; the exact mechanism, however, remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the effects of repeated exposure to FA on methacholine- and antigen-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea-pigs in vivo. METHODS: First, non-sensitized guinea-pigs were transnasally treated with 0.1 or 1.0% FA or saline three times a week for 6 weeks, and increasing concentrations of methacholine (50, 100, and 200 microg/mL) were inhaled at 5-min intervals. Second, guinea-pigs pre-treated with transnasal administration of FA or saline using the same protocol were passively sensitized with anti-ovalbumin (OA) serum 7 days before antigen challenge. Third, guinea-pigs were actively sensitized with OA and pre-treated with transnasal administration of FA or saline using the same protocol. The lateral pressure of the tracheal tube (Pao) was measured under anesthesia and artificial ventilation. RESULTS: The antigen-induced increase in Pao in actively sensitized guinea-pigs was significantly potentiated by FA exposure in a dose-dependent manner. The dose-response curve of the methacholine-induced increase in Pao in non-sensitized guinea-pigs or of the antigen-induced increase in Pao in passively sensitized guinea-pigs was not altered by FA exposure. Transnasal administration of FA significantly increased the serum anti-OA homocytotropic antibody titre (IgG) as measured by the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction in actively sensitized guinea-pigs. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that repeated exposure to FA worsens allergic bronchoconstriction through enhancing antigen sensitization.     

WIDESPREAD ECZEMA VACCINATUM ACQUIRED BY CONTACTS A Report of an Autopsy Case

A4-moth-old male infant predisposed to allergic dermatitis acquired widespread eczema vaccinatum by contacts with a recently vaccinated sibling. He died of acute purulent peritonitis following a perforation of multiple duodenal ulcers. Fluorescence immunocytochemical and electron microscopic studies on the skin lesions revealed the presence of viral antigens and numerous virus particles compatible morphologically with those of the mature form from the same batch of smallpox vaccine given to the sibling. A large number of virus particles in the developmental form were also predominantly scattered in the cytoplasm of cells at the stratum malpighii of the epidermis as well as in neutrophils and macrophages in the skin lesions. The virus isolation from the skin lesions was done by using the HeLa cells and the human embryonic lung fibroblasts. No abnormal laboratory data were noted in immunoglobulins. On the basis of atrophy of the thymus and other lymphatic tissues and an appearance of large pyroninophilic cells in association with blastoid transformation, the authors discussed a possible participation of the disturbance of cellular immunity secondary to the virus infection in the development of the disease. ACTA PATH. JAP. 29 : 435–455, 1979.     

A new quality control method based on a moving average of "latent reference values" selected from patients' daily test results

The average of normals(AON) method is a quality control(QC) method that uses measured values of patients' samples instead of QC samples. Because this method is easily affected by fluctuations in the patient population and is insensitive to short-term changes in test values, we developed an alternative method based on the moving average(MA) of latent reference values(LRVs) which are the test results of patients whose other related test results are all within reference intervals. We evaluate the new methodology(MALRV) using seven commonly measured biochemical tests. The LRV of each test were selected with reference to four other items that had the highest coincidences of abnormality. The optimum amount of data needed to compute the MA is determined as that making the coefficient of variation(CV) of the consecutive MA over a study period less than 5.0%. The MALRV is computed each time a new LRV is encountered to monitor quality status continuously. The MALRV CV was within 5.0% when sample sizes were between 20 and 110. When shift and trend simulations were performed with the patient data, the corresponding alterations were detected. MALRV is a useful measure for detecting short-term alterations in patient test results, supplementing the conventional QC chart method.     

Functional linkage of the cardiac ATP-sensitive K+ channel to the actin cytoskeleton

The role of the cytoskeleton in the rundown and reactivation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) sensitive K⁺ channels (KATP channels) was examined by perturbing selectively the intracellular surface of inside-out membrane patches excised from guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. Actin filament-depolymerizing agents (cytochalasins and desoxyribonuclease I) accelerated channel rundown, while actin filament stabilizer (phalloidin) or phosphatidylinositol biphosphate (PIP₂; inhibitor of F-actin-severing proteins) inhibited spontaneous and/or Ca²⁺-induced rundown. When rundown was induced by cytochalasin D or by long exposure to high Ca²⁺, channel activity could not be restored by exposure to MgATP, but application of F-actin with MgATP could reinstitute channel activity. The processes of rundown and reactivation of cardiac K_ATP channels may thus be influenced by the assembly and disassembly of the actin cytoskeletal network, which provides a novel regulatory mechanism of this channel.     

The color reaction between partially saponified poly(vinyl acetate) and iodine-iodide in the presence of amylose

The color reaction between partially saponified poly(vinyl acetate), (P-PVAc), which is dissolvable in water and iodine-iodide was investigated in the presence of amylose. As the concentration of amylose increases, the absorbance at λ_max = 488 nm of the red-violet complex between P-PVAc and iodine-iodide decreases and, on the other hand, the absorbance at λ_max = 625 nm of the blue complex between amylose and iodine-iodide increases. The equation for the relationship between the decrease in the red-violet complex and the increase in the blue complex was derived. On the basis of this equation, the molar absorption coefficient per iodine molecule at λ_max = 625 nm for the blue complex of amylose with iodine-iodide was found to be 3,68·10⁴ l mol^?1 cm^?1 at 15°C.     

Rapid diagnosis of human herpesvirus 6 infection by a novel DNA amplification method, loop-mediated isothermal amplification

A novel nucleic acid amplification method, termed loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), which amplifies DNA with high specificity, efficiency, and rapidity under isothermal conditions, may be a valuable tool for the rapid detection of infectious agents. LAMP was developed for human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), and its reliability was evaluated in this study. Although LAMP products were detected in HHV-6 B and HHV-6 A DNA, they were not detected in HHV-7 and human cytomegalovirus DNA. The sensitivity of the original HHV-6 LAMP protocol was 50 copies/tube. In order to increase the method's sensitivity, HHV-6 LAMP was modified by increasing the primer concentration. As a result of the modification, sensitivity increased to 25 copies/tube. After these initial validation studies, 13 patients with fever were tested for HHV-6 by viral isolation, serological analysis, and HHV-6 LAMP. In three of the eight patients with primary HHV-6 infection, HHV-6 DNA was detected in whole blood by the original HHV-6 LAMP protocol in not only the acute phase but also the convalescent phase. HHV-6 DNA was detected by modified HHV-6 LAMP in all eight plasma samples collected in the acute phase; however, no HHV-6 DNA was detected in plasma samples collected in the convalescent phase. Although HHV-6 DNA was detected in both the acute and convalescent phases of whole-blood samples in patients with past HHV-6 infection, it was not detected in plasma samples that did not contain latent viral DNA. Thus, detection of HHV-6 DNA in plasma by using this modified HHV-6 LAMP protocol is appropriate for diagnosis of active HHV-6 infection.