Penetration of Schistosoma japonicum cercaria into host skin.

The anterior part of Schistosoma japonicum cercaria is a specialized head organ which can slightly stretch out and retract. There are three different types of large unicellular glands in cercarial body, consisting of one head gland, 2 pairs of pre- and 3 pairs of postacetabular glands. These glands differ in position, gross feature, histochemistry and functions. Both polysaccharase and protease activities are demonstrated in the secretions from these glands. Mode of cercarial penetration is described in detail and the penetration is effected by a combination of lytic secretions and mechanical movements. The schematic representation of the process of cercarial penetration is presented. The dynamic distributions of schistosomula in skin at different time intervals after skin penetration in various mammalian hosts are shown. Some newly transformed schistosomula die while penetrating into the skin of 7 mammalian species and the mortality rate varies with the host species, and that can also be affected by the age of cercariae following emergence from the snail. Some physiological aspects between cercariae and newly transformed schistosomula are compared. In contrast to cercariae, schistosomula are saline-adapted and water-intolerant. They were modified histochemically and antigenically.

     

Chemical structure of plasticizers,compatibility of components and phase equilibrium in plasticized cellulose diacetate

The phase equilibrium of plasticized polymer systems on the basis of cellulose diacetate and ethylene glycol esters of dibasic aliphatic acids (from oxalic acid to 1,10-decanedicarboxylic acid) was studied and the solubility parameters and the thermodynamic interaction parameters of the components were calculated. It is shown that an increase in molecular weight of the plasticizers leads to a lower miscibility of the components, a fact which is reflected in a regular rise of the upper critical solution temperature (UCST), a tendency of the systems for gelation, a decrease of the solubility parameter of the plasticizer δ₁, and a growth of the interaction parameters χ_H and χ₁₂. The results are discussed in terms of the existing theories for polymer solutions.     

Antitumor activity of five new platinum complexes having a glycolate leaving ligand.

In an attempt to develop a new anticancer platinum complex with greater or equivalent antitumor activity but reduced side effects compared with cisplatin (CDDP), a series of new platinum complexes having a glycolate leaving ligand was synthesized. Among them, five complexes were selected for further development on the basis of adequate water solubility, low nephrotoxicity and high antitumor activity in a murine system. The chemosensitivity of these five complexes was examined in MTT assay against two human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell lines, PC-9 and PC-14, and two human stomach adenocarcinoma cell lines, MKN-45 and KATO III. Their IC50 and relative antitumor activity (RAA) values were compared with those of CDDP and 254-S, a second-generation platinum complex with a glycolate leaving ligand under phase III clinical trial. The lowest mean IC50 value was observed in CDDP, followed by SKI 2034R and SKI 2033R. In this study, the antitumor activity was evaluated in terms of RAA values and SKI 2034R showed the highest RAA value. The order of RAA values was SKI 2034R > CDDP > SKI 2032R > SKI 2033R > SKI 2030R > SKI 2029R > 254-S. Based on the RAA order, we have recommended SKI 2034R as the most promising candidate for further development of a clinically useful platinum complex.     

Effects of chronic amitriptyline administration on saliva from the parotid and submandibular glands of the rat

The effect of prolonged treatment with amitriptyline on the secretory activity of rat salivary glands evoked by parasympathetic nerve stimulation and isoprenaline administration has been studied. Low doses of amitriptyline (10 mg/kg per day for 2 or 4 weeks), did not significantly affect salivary flow evoked by either parasympathetic nerve or isoprenaline stimulation. Higher doses of amitriptyline (50 mg/kg/day for 2 or 4 weeks) however, markedly decreased parasympathetic-evoked salivary secretion (flow and volume) from both parotid and submandibular glands, while isoprenaline-evoked secretions were unaffected. Sodium, potassium, and calcium concentrations of nerve-elicited or isoprenaline-evoked saliva were not significantly altered by amitriptyline treatment. Protein concentration and amylase activity of nerve-elicited parotid saliva were, however, greatly increased by chronic amitriptyline administration. Possible mechanisms for drug-induced increase in nerveelicited salivary protein concentration include changes in cholinergic receptor binding, release of neuropeptides and variations in phosphatidylinositol turnover, which need further study.