Anionic polymerization of fluorine-containing vinyl monomers, 6. Polymerizations of fluoroalkyl acrylates and methacrylates initiated by organoaluminium compounds

The anionic polymerizations of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl acrylate ( 1a ), 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate ( 1b ), 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-trifluoromethylethyl acrylate ( 2a ), and 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-trifluoromethylethyl methacrylate ( 2b ) were examined with triethylaluminium and diethylaluminium active methylene chelate compounds as initiators. 2b was polymerized with triethylaluminium. Diethyl(ethyl cyanoacetato)aluminium was found to produce polymers of 1a and 1b . Diethyl(acetylacetonato)aluminium and diethyl (dimethyl malonato)aluminium, however, show low reactivity towards these four monomers. The resulting polymers show unimodal molecular weight distribution with number-average molecular weights of 10⁴?10⁵, measured by GPC. The initiation reaction and the copolymerization reactivity with styrene support the anionic polymerization mechanism.     

Validation of ECRHS Questionnaire in Japanese to use for nation-wide prevalence study of adult asthma]

PURPOSE: To enable international comparison of prevalence in asthma, we translated and evaluated ECRHS Questionnaire, which is introduced in GINA. Considering COPD prevalence in elder people, we added two questions to the ECRHS Questionnaire. METHOD: The Japanese edition of ECRHS Questionnaire was responded by 366 patients who were diagnosed asthma without COPD, 61 patients who were diagnosed COPD without asthma, and 137 healthy persons who were not diagnosed asthma or COPD. We analyzed the answers of the each group and evaluated the validity of the questionnaire to use for the nation-wide prevalence study of adult asthma in future. RESULTS: The question of 'Wheezing at any time in the last 12 months' had the highest Youden's index and validity to pick up asthma patients. The questions of 'Waking up with a feeling of tightness in chest at any time in the last 12 months' and 'Waking up by an attack of shortness of breath at any time in the last 12 month' had the highest specificity to pick up asthma patients. Most of the questions which were related asthma were able to be answered by asthma patients properly, but some questions were improperly answered by patients and healthy persons in elderly. The results in this study showed the less recognition of their diseases in elderly patients than younger patients and the limitation of the study with written questionnaire for elderly people. Not a few COPD patients complained wheezing or whistling in the chests as same as asthma patients in this study. CONCLUSION: We concluded that we had almost enough reliability in the Japanese edition of the ECRHS questionnaire for screening survey of asthma prevalence in Japan.     

Immunohistochemical study of copper-zinc and manganese superoxide dismutases in the lungs of human fetuses and newborn infants: Developmental profile and alterations in hyaline membrane disease and bronchopulmonary dysplasia

To determine the late gestational development of copper-zinc (CnZn) and manganese (Mn) superoxide dismutases (SOD) in human lung, immunohistochemical localization was performed for each SOD. The lung samples were taken from five aborted fetuses, four fetuses in which intrauterine death occurred, one full-term neonate, two premature infants with hyaline membrane disease and one premature infant with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Morphometry was performed, and the percent area of positive staining was computed. The bronchial epithelium was intensely stained from the early stages of gestation (i.e. 17 weeks), while the staining intensity for both CuZnSOD and MnSOD in the peripheral airways increased gradually during lung development. The mean percent area of the staining for CuZnSOD and MnSOD from 16 to 38 weeks was increased 30-fold and 8-fold, respectively, and further increases were observed postnatally. CuZnSOD staining was markedly decreased in lungs with respiratory disorders. However, proliferating type II pneumocytes were intensely stained for MnSOD in the BPD lungs, making the staining area 3-fold larger than that in the control lungs. These results clearly depict age-related increases in staining for both CuZnSOD and MnSOD and an alteration in SOD distribution associated with neonatal respiratory disorders.     

Effects of ATP antagonists on purinoceptor-operated inward currents in rat phaeochromocytoma cells

The effects of suramin, reactive blue 2 (RB2) and d-tubocurarine (d-TC) were investigated electrophysiologically to elucidate the mechanisms underlying their antagonism of P₂ purinoceptor-mediated responses. All three compounds inhibited an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-activated inward current in rat phaeochromocytoma PC12 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The order of potency was RB2 > suramin > d-TC. The inhibition induced by suramin or RB2 was reversible, whereas that induced by d-TC was not reversed after a 5-min rinse. The inactivation of the ATP-activated current was accelerated by d-TC but not by suramin or RB2. RB2 administered simultaneously with ATP exerted much weaker inhibition compared to that induced by prior administration, suggesting that RB2 is a slowly acting antagonist. This was not observed for suramin or d-TC. Suramin and RB2 caused a parallel shift in the concentration/response curve for the ATP-activated current. With d-TC the maximal response of ATP was decreased but the concentration producing half-maximal response was unchanged. The voltage dependency of the ATP-activated current showed less inward rectification in the presence of d-TC. Suramin or RB2 did not affect the voltage dependency. These results suggest that suramin and RB2 reversibly block binding of ATP to receptors, whereas d-TC blocks ion permeability through the ATP-activated channel.     

Survey of atopic dermatitis and skin barrier functions in Japanese and Chinese school students]

BACKGROUND: The comparative studies of the prevalence of atopic dermatitis and skin barrier functions in Japanese and Chinese were performed. METHODS: Clinical investigations were performed in 68 elementary school students in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region and 67 students in Yixing, Jiangsu Province in China, and 99 students in Nishinomiya, Hyogo in Japan. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and capacitance were measured. Questionary survey about bathing frequency was also performed for students in Lhasa, Yixing and Osaka. RESULT: The prevalence rate of atopic dermatitis was 0% in Lhasa, 2.63% in Yixing, 4.26% in Nishinomiya. TEWL of students in Nishinomiya was higher than that in Yixing and Lhasa. Capacitance of students in Lhasa was lower than that in Nishinomiya and Yixing. The frequency of taking a bath in Lhasa was about 2.2 times per month and fewer than that in Nishinomiya and Yixing. CONCLUSION: There was tendency that the prevalence of atopic dermatitis increased according to increase of TEWL. It was thought that more investigations are necessary whether the development of habitat and environment influence the prevalence of atopic dermatitis and skin barrier function.     

No allelic association between Parkinson's disease and dopamine D2, D3, and D4 receptor gene polymorphisms

Parkinson's disease is thought to be caused by a combination of unknown environmental, genetic, and degenerative factors. Evidence from necropsy brain samples and pharmacokinetics suggests involvement of dopamine receptors in the pathogenesis or pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. Genetic association studies between Parkinson's disease and dopamine D2, D3 and D4 receptor gene polymorphisms were conducted. The polymorphism was examined in 71 patients with Parkinson's disease and 90 controls. There were no significant differences between two groups in allele frequencies at the D2, D3, and D4 dopamine receptor loci. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that susceptibility to Parkinson's disease is associated with the dopamine receptor polymorphisms examined. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Immunopharmacological study of CCA (Lobenzarit disodium), an anti-arthritis agent--I. Abrogation of IL 1 secretion by LPS-stimulated human monocytes and induction of gamma-interferon production with CCA

In vitro effects of CCA, an anti-arthritis agent, were studied upon autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR), lymphocyte mitogenesis, IL 1 and IL 2 production, immunoglobulin production and gamma-interferon (IFN) production. CCA at 50 micrograms/ml, which was not toxic to cells, blocked AMLR, IL 1 production and immunoglobulin production (IgM and IgG) significantly, while CCA at the same dose did not affect IL 2 production and lymphocyte mitogenic responses to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I(SAC) and pokeweed mitogen(PWM). CCA at both 20 ng/ml and 20 micrograms/ml induced human gamma/IFN. Addition of IL 1 and/or IL 2 reversed inhibitory effect of CCA on AMLR. These data suggest that CCA exerts its actions by mainly affecting T cells and monocytes and can be used as an immunomodulator.     

Study on the mechanism of the appearance of noise effects

Summary This study was undertaken to investigate the dose-response relationship between the biological effect and noise exposure, and to consider the mechanism of the appearance of noise effects. Rats were exposed to noise at intensities of 60 dB (A), 80 dB (A) and 100 dB (A) for 240 min and examined for the change of activities of dopamine--hydroxylase (DBH) in serum and adrenal glands. Plasma cyclic adenosine 3,5-monophosphate (c-AMP) levels were also measured. Some rats were given 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) as a chemical sympathectomyzing agent 20 h before noise exposure in order to consider the mechanism of the appearance of noise effects. By noise exposure, serum DBH activity was significantly (P<0.01) increased at each intensity compared with the control group, but there were no remarkable changes in adrenal DBH activity. Plasma c-AMP level was also significantly elevated in response to the noise stress. When the rats, which had been pretreated with 6-OHDA, were exposed to noise with an intensity of 100 dB (A), the response of serum DBH activity was no longer observed. Therefore it is suggested that the effect due to noise exposure appears through the post-ganglionic sympathetic nerve fiber.