High-performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Trazodone and 1-m-Chlorophenylpiperazine with Ultraviolet and Electrochemical Detector

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay was developed for the determination of trazodone and its metabolite, 1-m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP), in plasma. The high level of trazodone in plasma was detected by ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm and the low level of m-CPP in plasma was detected by coulometric electrochemical detection at 840 mV on the series arrangement of two detectors. Pilsicainide as an internal standard for both compounds was monitored by both detectors. Trazodone and m-CPP in plasma were extracted by a rapid and simple procedure based on CN bonded-phase extraction, and C₈ reversed-phase HPLC separation. Determination was possible for trazodone in the concentration range 100–2000 ng mL^?1 and for m-CPP in the concentration range 5–100 ng mL^?1. The recoveries of trazodone and m-CPP added to plasma were 81·0–84·2 and 68·0–73·2%, respectively, with coefficients of variation of less than 7·3 and 8·2%, respectively. The method is applicable to high level monitoring of trazodone and low level monitoring of m-CPP in plasma of healthy volunteers and patients treated with trazodone.     

Interleukin-2 and Serum Thymic Factor Enable Autologous Rosette-forming T Lymphocytes to Generate Helper and Cytotoxic Functions

The autologous rosette-forming T cells (Tar cells) isolated by means of their ability to form rosettes with autologous erythrocytes were characterized by the use of OKT monoclonal anti-human T-cell subset antibodies and a monoclonal anti-HLA-DR antibody. We found that the phenotype of Tar cells was OKT 3⁺4⁺8⁺Dr⁻ as determined by both indirect imnrunofluorescence microscopy and complement-mediated killing of ⁵¹Cr-labelled Tar cells. In addition, we found that Tar lymphocytes were able to develop cytotoxicity against allogeneic and trinitrophenol (TNP)-conjugated autologous target cells in the presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2) or serum thymic factor. However, these cells showed little or no cytotoxicity in the absence of interleukin-2 or serum thymic factor. Tar lymphocytes generated helper function for B lymphocytes in the presence of interleukin-2 in both pokeweed mitogen (PWM)- and purified protein derivative (PPD)-stimulated cultures. Nevertheless, non-IL-2-treated Tar cells did not exhibit any helper activity on B cells. Finally, pretreatment of Tar cells with 1000–1500 rad of X ray made these cells unable to develop helper function for B lymphocytes. It is concluded that: (1) OKT 3⁺4⁺8⁺Dr⁻ Tar cells are able to generate cytotoxicity against alloantigens and TNP-labelled self structures provided they are stimulated by IL-2 or serum thymic factor; (2) these cells need both to proliferate and to receive help from IL-2 to develop helper cells capable of assisting B-lymphocyte differentiation into plasma cells in both PWM- and PPD-stimulated cultures.     

The Preclinical Safety Evaluation of Human Monoclonal Antibody against Cytomegalovirus

The human monoclonal antibody against cytomegalovinis (Mab C23)was examined pharmacokinetically and toxicologically as partof the preclinical studies prior to approval for human use.Rats given repeated intravenous administrations of Mab C23 producedno antibodies against Mab C23 and maintained a blood Mab C23level in a dose-dependent manner. However, pregnant rabbitsproduced antibodies against Mab C23. The half-life of Mab C23in plasma was 15.9 days in rats, which was similar to that ofnormal human serum -globulin (NHSG). Neither behavioral effectsnor circulatory disturbance was found in mice, rats, and dogseven after a single intravenous injection of 100 or 200 mg/kg,which corresponds to 50 or 100 times the intended clinical dosage.The repeated doses of 2, 10, or 20 mg/kg of Mab C23 on six occasionswith 1- or 2-week intervals elicited a transient decrease inleukocyte counts in rats given 10 or 20 mg/kg, but no adverseeffects in cynomolgus monkeys. Mab C23 did not cause any reproductiveor developmental toxicity when administered to rats and rabbitsat dose levels of 20 mg/kg or less. However, pregnant animalsshowed lower plasma levels of Mab C23 than non-pregnant animals.The chromosomal aberration test disclosed no clastogenicityin human lymphocytes. An immunostaining for Mab C23 revealedno localizations in several tissues of cynomolgus monkeys givenintravenous doses of Mab C23. The preclinical safety evaluationin animals other than rabbits, which produced no antibodiesagainst Mab C23, showed that the behavior of Mab C23 is pharmacokineticallysimilar to that of NHSG and is as safe as NHSG, which has longbeen used as a biological agent. However, because there wasa difference in blood levels of Mab C23 between pregnant andnonpregnant animals, its clinical administration to pregnantpatients should differ from that to non-pregnant patients.     

Mass Gastric Examinations of Prisoners at Miyagi Prison in Japan

Mass examinations of the stomach were carried out on 79 convicts over 40 years of age confined in the Miyagi Prison, Japan. Of the 79 subjects, 11.9% were found to need detailed examination of the stomach which disclosed gastric polyp in one case and scar from gastric ulceration in one. None was found to have carcinoma of the stomach. Complaints of symptoms were obviously more frequent with the convicts as compared with a control group. There was not, however, a significant depression in efficiency of this group examination by photofluorography, as compared with the usual gastric mass examination on general inhabitants.     

Human herpesvirus-6-associated exanthema in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukaemia

We report the first case of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) associated exanthema in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL). We analysed DNA extracted from an exanthematous lesion using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA was positive for HHV-6 but negative for herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, and cytomegalovirus. Immunohistochemical staining of the skin with monoclonal antibody against HHV-6 confirmed the infection. The possibility of HHV-6 infection should be considered when an atypical skin rash is seen in patients with ALL.     

微钛板支抗在远中移动磨牙中的临床应用

目的介绍微钛板支抗在远中移动磨牙中的临床效果及特点。方法选择7名应用微钛板矫治患者,分析其治疗前后头颅侧位片、模型等临床资料,测量磨牙远中移动量。结果 1)利用微钛板远中移动磨牙效果明显,最多可达3.5mm。2)中轻度牙列拥挤患者利用微钛板远中移动磨牙获得间隙排齐整平牙列,不需拔除双尖牙便可达到较理想的治疗效果。结论微钛板作为一种绝对支抗,远中移动磨牙有效而稳定,同时可避免常规拔牙矫治,维持上下颌第二磨牙间的全部牙齿和牙弓的连续性。     

A Structure-Relationship Study of the Uptake of Aliphatic Polyamine Compounds by Rat Intestinal Brush-border Membrane Vesicles

The effects of lipophilicity, ion-diffusion potential and membrane surface potential on the uptake of various aliphatic polyamine compounds by rat intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) have been investigated. A valinomycin-induced potassium-diffusion potential (inside-negative) stimulated the initial uptake of diamine compounds, and good correlation was observed between lipophilicity and the amount of diffusion-potential-dependent transport of the diamines. In contrast, because of their much lower lipophilicity, tri- and tetraamine compounds were not affected by the diffusion potential. Tetracaine, which can make the membrane surface potential more positive, inhibited the transport rate of 1,9-nonanediamine, spermidine and spermine by the BBMV. These data suggest that the transport mechanism of diamines is similar to that of monoamine compounds in respect to its dependence on ion-diffusion potential and on the membrane surface potential. The extent of the effect of ion-diffusion potential on the rate of transport of the diamines was closely related to the lipophilicity of the diamine. In contrast, only the surface potential contributed to the transport mechanism of lower lipophilic tri- and tetraamine compounds.     

Uptake Mechanism of Trientine by Rat Intestinal Brush-border Membrane Vesicles

The uptake characteristics of trientine by rat intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles were studied. The uptake characteristics of trientine were similar to those of the physiological polyamines with respect to the excessive accumulation in vesicles, the pH dependency, the temperature dependency and the ineffectiveness of K⁺ diffusion potential (inside negative). The initial uptake of trientine was saturable with a K_m value of 1.13 mM, which was larger than that of spermine and spermidine. Furthermore, the uptake rate of trientine was dose-dependently inhibited by spermine and spermidine. Spermine competitively inhibited the uptake of trientine with a K_i value of 18.6 μM, and it was close to the K_m value for spermine (30.4 μM). These data suggested that the uptake of trientine was similar to that of spermine and spermidine in rat small intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles, and these polyamines seem to inhibit the absorption of trientine from the gastrointestinal tract.     

Social support and pregnancy:II. Its relationship with depressive symptoms among Japanese women

Abstract In a questionnaire survey among 1329 first-trimester pregnant women, both the husband support measures and unwanted pregnancy ('stressor' agent in pregnancy) showed significant effects on an elevated score of the cognitive disturbance subscale of the Zung's self-rating depression scale (SDS), while only unwanted pregnancies showed an effect on an elevated score of the dysphoric mood subscale of the SDS. However, no interaction was observed between the husband support measures and unwanted pregnancy, therefore the effect of the husband's social support on the cognitive disturbance score was not that of a buffer, but rather a main effector. Finally, multiple regression analyses showed that the dysphoric mood score was preceded by unwanted pregnancy, premenstrual irritability, public self-consciousness, and maternal overprotection; while the cognitive disturbance score was preceded by unwanted pregnancy, husband reduced 'given' and 'giving' support, maternal reduced care and overprotection, paternal reduced care, low annual income, low private self-consciousness, and smoking. These findings suggest that the husband's support for a pregnant woman is effective only in reducing cognitive symptoms, and that different symptomatic constellations have different sets of psychosocial correlates.