Effects of the ether oxygen atom in alkyl side chains on the physical properties of piperidinium ionic liquids.

Various types of piperidinium ionic liquids (ILs) equipped with an oxygen atom-containing alkyl side chain on the positively charged nitrogen atom were systematically synthesized and their physical properties investigated. The thermal stability, viscosity, electrochemical window, and ion conductivity were influenced significantly by changing the position of the oxygen atom in the alkyl chain. Although the lowest viscosity was recorded for 1-((2-methoxyethoxy)methyl)-1-methylpiperidin-1-ium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([PP1MEM][Tf2N]), 1-methyl-1-(2-propoxyethyl)piperidin-1-ium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([PP1PE][Tf2N]) can be recommended as the best IL as an electrolyte due to its low viscosity and high thermal and electrochemical stability among the seven ILs tested.

In vitro stimulation by retinol of porcine pancreatic esterase activity toward esters of short-chain fatty acids.

1. Retinol exerted a remarkable stimulating effect (approx. 260% increase), essentially similar to that (300%) of phytol, on the so-called esterase activity displayed by crude pancreatic lipase [EC 3.1.1.3] toward true solutions of esters, but none of the typical lipase activity toward emulsions of water-insoluble esters. 2. Comparison of the stimulatory effects of retinol derivatives on the esterase activity revealed that retinyl acetate was the most active, being sustantially similar in effect to retinol; retinal was fairly active, while retinoic acid, retinyl palmitate, and beta-ionone were far less active. 3. With various isoprenoid compounds, the efficiency of stimulation increased with the carbon chain length, attaining a maximum at 15 to 20 carbon atoms. Above this chain length the efficiency decreased rapidly. 4. Comparison of the effects of retinol and phytol on the esterase activity of various other lipolytic enzymes indicated that this kind of activator may be relatively specific to porcine pancreatic esterase activity.

Physical activity and immune senescence in men.

A cross-sectional survey examined whether habitual endurance exercisers retained a higher level of T cell function than sedentary individuals in old age. Subjects, all male, comprised 17 elderly runners, 16 young, and 19 elderly controls (mean ages +/- SD: 63.8 +/- 3.3, 23.6 +/- 1.6, and 65.8 +/- 3.5 yr, respectively), whose resting blood samples served for the immunological tests. Compared with the young subjects, both elderly groups had lower circulating CD3+ and CD8+ cell-counts (P = 0.029, P = 0.001, respectively), with a trend to a higher CD4/CD8 ratio, but higher percentages of activated CD3+, and "memory" CD4+ and CD8+ cells (all, P < 0.0001). Proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, and alloantigens were markedly reduced in the elderly (P < 0.001, and P = 0.024, respectively). IL-2 production tended to be decreased in the elderly sedentary subjects. However, natural killer cell activity and other cytokine production remained unchanged in the elderly sedentary subjects. Comparison between the active and sedentary elderly groups showed no differences in circulating counts of immunocompetent cells. However, the active elderly subjects demonstrated significantly greater proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin ( P = 0.016) and to pokeweed mitogen (P = 0.011), and higher rates of IL-2 (P = 0.021), IFN-gamma (P = 0.015) and IL-4 production (P = 0.012). These results suggest that endurance training in later life is associated with a lesser age-related decline in certain aspects of circulating T cell function and related cytokine production.

Potential efficacy of low metal diets and dental metal elimination in the management of atopic dermatitis: an open clinical study.

We performed an open clinical study on the effects of low metal diets and/or dental metal elimination on 27 patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD), who showed positive patch tests for metal allergens and/or clinical exacerbation by oral provocation tests with metal salts. All the patients were recommended to ingest low metal diets for 3 months and/or undergo dental metal elimination. Marked or moderate improvement was noted in 18 patients (67%); 7 patients (26%) showed marked improvement and 11 patients (41%), moderate improvement. Nine patients (33%) showed minimal improvement or no change. In the patients who showed marked or moderate improvement, we observed statistically significant decreases (p < 0.05) in both peripheral blood eosinophil counts and serum LDH levels after 3 months of treatment. The present study suggests that restriction of ingested metal allergens to which patients have positive patch tests and/or oral challenge tests may be useful in the management of some patients with AD who have metal sensitivity.

Effect of LDL-apheresis on the pharmacokinetics of the lipophilic antilipidemic agent probucol.

The effect of LDL-apheresis on the pharmacokinetics of antilipidemic agents has not been evaluated thoroughly. In this study, we investigated the effect of LDL-apheresis on the pharmacokinetics of probucol, a lipophilic antilipidemic agent, by studying its distribution and changes in the blood concentration of probucol after LDL-apheresis. The concentrations of lipoproteins were measured before and after LDL-apheresis in eight patients with familial hypercholesterolemia taking probucol. Concentrations of probucol in the various lipoprotein fractions and plasma were measured by HPLC. The serum concentrations of probucol before and after LDL-apheresis were 39.8 +/- 3.3 and 16.5 +/- 1.6 micrograms/ml, and the correlation coefficient between the changes in the serum probucol concentration and those in the serum cholesterol concentration before and after LDL-apheresis was significant (r = 0.73, P < 0.01). Changes in the probucol and cholesterol concentrations after LDL-apheresis were mainly found in the LDL fraction. The calculated reductions in the serum contents of probucol and cholesterol were similar to the contents of probucol and cholesterol in the irrigation fluid of the dextran sulfate column. These data suggest that changes of probucol concentration in plasma by LDL-apheresis are mainly due to reductions in the LDL fraction.

[A case of deoxycorticosterone-producing adrenal tumor].

We present a case of a 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC)-producing adrenocortical tumor. A 55-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaints of sustained hypertension and weakness of lower extremities. A laboratory study revealed a decrease in the serum potassium level and plasma renin activity, a normal level of plasma aldosterone and a significant elevation of plasma DOC and 18-OH-DOC levels. The plasma DOC level was increased by ACTH stimulation and was not suppressed by dexamethasone. The tumor appeared at a low intensity of the T1 weighted image of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and at a high intensity on the T2 weighted image. Left adrenalectomy was performed and histological examination revealed a benign adrenal adenoma. Postoperatively, the abnormal blood pressure, serum potassium level and plasma level of DOC and 18-OH-DOC became normal.

[Adenomatous polyps with prostatic type epithelium: a report of two cases].

Two cases of adenomatous polyps with prostatic type epithelium are reported. The first case was of a 62-year-old male suffering from asymptomatic hematuria. Cystoscopic findings showed an urethral tumor in the prostatic urethra. He was treated by transurethral resection of the prostate. The second case was of a 47-year-old male with complaints of hematuria and doubtful findings in urinary cytology. Cystoscopic findings showed that he had an urethral tumor in the prostatic urethra as well as bladder tumor. Both were resected transurethrally. Histological examination revealed that both urethral tumors were papillary adenoma of the prostatic urethra, corresponding to the adenomatous polyps with prostatic type epithelium in the classification of AFIP. The peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex method was performed using the anti-prostatic acid phosphatase antibody and anti-prostatic-specific antigen antibody, and positive reactions were obtained which confirmed that the tumors originated in the prostatic tissue. Benign urethral tumor in males is not common and description of adenomatous polyps with prostatic type epithelium is very rare. We could find only 11 cases in the Japanese literature.

[Foreign body in the kidney: report of a case].

A 49-year-old man was admitted with the suspicion of renal foreign body. A fragment of wire rope was penetrated from his right lumbar region while working. Drip infusion pyelography and computed tomography films revealed a linear metallic object in the region of the right kidney. The foreign body was successfully extracted from the right renal parenchyma. The 38 cases of foreign bodies in the upper urinary tract including 12 in the renal parenchyma found in the literature are reviewed.

[A case of retrovesical fibrosarcoma with severe hypoglycemia].

We report a case of retrovesical fibrosarcoma with severe hypoglycemia. A 67-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with second recurrence of the retrovesical tumor with hypoglycemia. The episodes of hypoglycemia were accompanied by the advance of tumor size. Complete tumor resection with total cystectomy was performed on December 21, 1989, and the tumor was diagnosed histopathologically as fibrosarcoma. Soon after removal of the tumor, hypoglycemia disappeared and the patient has been well without local recurrence or distant metastasis for more than 20 months.

[Advanced prostate cancer with normal serum prostate-specific antigen values].

Although prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a valuable marker of prostate cancer, some untreated patients with advanced prostate cancer have normal PSA values. Over a period of 5 years, we reviewed pretreatment serum PSA levels in 131 patients with advanced prostate cancer (stages C and D). Ten patients (7.6%) had normal PSA values. The histological type of prostate cancer associated with normal PSA values was variable and the prognosis was not so poor. Immunostaining for PSA was performed on the resected prostate tissue of the 10 patients. PSA staining was positive in 5 cases, negative in 3 cases, and equivocal in the remaining 2 cases. In conclusion, PSA is not always useful, especially for following patients with normal PSA values.

[Adrenal incidentaloma: report of eight cases].

Since 1983, eight cases of adrenal incidentaloma were experienced at the Department of Urology, Wakayama Medical College and affiliated hospitals. Six adrenal masses were incidentally detected by computed tomography, and two were first noted by either ultrasonography or intravenous pyelography. Surgical exploration was performed in all cases as the final diagnostic measure. Of them, three had adrenocortical adenomas, three had adrenal cysts, one had adrenal metastasis and one had pheochromocytoma. Preoperative evaluation revealed that all patients except one with pheochromocytoma had no endocrinological abnormality. The management of the adrenal incidentaloma, which will be discovered more frequently accompanied with the increasing use of computed tomography, was discussed with special references to its precise indication of surgical treatment.

[Uroepithelial tumors of the upper urinary tract following bladder cancer].

Five hundred and nineteen patients with primary bladder cancer were treated between January, 1969 and December, 1984, 12 of whom had developed upper urothelial tumors. These patients had received various transurethral treatment for the primary bladder lesions, except for one patient who had undergone total cystectomy and ileal conduit diversion. Overall incidence of patients with upper urinary tract tumors following bladder cancer was 2.3%. The incidence of patients with treated bladder tumors (13.2%) for dye workers was higher than that for the general population (1.1%). The interval between initial treatment of the bladder tumor and diagnosis of the upper tract tumor ranged from 7 to 170 months (mean 70 months). The incidence of upper tract tumors increased with the passage of time. We conclude that the occurrence of upper urinary tract tumors following primary bladder cancers is promoted by nonspecific chemical irritants against the urothelium already made unstable by certain urinary chemical carcinogens.

[Studies on infection urolithiasis--urease induced crystallization in synthetic urine].

BACKGROUND: In the present study, urease induced crystallization in synthetic urine was studied by an aggregometer technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The synthetic urine was made by the method by Griffith et al (1976). The synthetic urine of 200 microliters portions were stirred constantly at 37 degrees C, and then 10 microliters of urease solution (1000 U/ml) was added. An aggregometer were recorded as turbidity curves on a chart during the incubation for the crystallization simultaneously. RESULTS: A two-phase turbidity curve was obtained from the reaction of synthetic urine and urease. Firstly the mild turbidity appeared gradually up until to approximately 13 min, and then the turbidity increased rapidly. The mild turbidity was called "early crystallization" and the rapid turbidity was called "late crystallization". The early crystallization appeared gradually at pH 7.3 and 0.05 M of anmmonia concentration, and this amount was completely depended on the concentration of calcium in the synthetic urine. The late crystallization occurred rapidly at pH 8.5 and 0.06-0.08 M of anmmonia concentration and this amount was completely depended on the concentration of magnesium in the synthetic urine. We confirmed the early crystallization as calcium phosphate and the late crystallization as magnesium ammonium phosphate by the observations of polarized light microscopy as well as the estimations using an infrared spectrometer. CONCLUSION: Urease induced crystallizations in the synthetic urine had a two-phase turbidity. Firstly the mild turbidity of calcium phosphate appeared gradually, and then rapid turbidity of magnesium ammonium phosphate occurred. Therefore, it is suggested that various crystallizations may be developed in the infected human urine according to the constituents of calcium and magnesium.

[Retropharyngeal node metastasis in cancer of the oropharynx and hypopharynx: analysis of retropharyngeal node dissection regarding preoperative radiographic diagnosis].

In our department, all patients with advanced carcinoma of the oropharynx and hypopharynx are treated by retropharyngeal (RP) node dissection in addition to primary resection and standard neck dissection. Records of 42 patients (11 oropharynx, 29 hypopharynx and 2 retromandibula) who received RP node dissection from 1992 to 1996 in our department were examined for metastasis to RP nodes and for preoperative radiographic diagnosis (MRI or CT). The criteria for radiographic involvement of RP nodes are as follows: a diameter greater than 10mm on axial images or central necrosis within the nodal substance. Of the 42 patients, 6 (14.3%) had pathologically positive RP nodes and of those 6 patients, 5 were able to be diagnosed preoperatively by either CT scan or MRI. Results of radiographic diagnosis (MRI or CT) were as follows: by CT scan the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were all 100% and by MRI the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 83.3%, 100% and 97.0% respectively. It is our conclusion that preoperative radiographic diagnosis (MRI or CT) is very useful and effective for diagnosis of metastasis to RP nodes.

[A case of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia showing the regression of coronary atherosclerosis by LDL-apheresis].

A case showing the regression of coronary atherosclerosis by the treatment with LDL-apheresis, was reported. The patient was a 67-year old female with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. She had noticed the xanthelasma or left cubital xanthoma at the age of 50 years old. She was informed about her high serum cholesterol level (greater than 350 mg/dl), and the abnormal thickness of her bilateral achilles tendon at the age of 61 years. As her serum cholesterol level did not decrease sufficiently with several lipid-lowering drugs, she was referred to our hospital in order to obtain treatment for it by LDL-apheresis at the age of 66 years. LDL-apheresis was performed once every two weeks with drugs such as probucol, cholestyramine and pravastatin. Her coronary angiogram after two and half years of LDL-apheresis showed a decrease of the coronary narrowing in segment 1 and segment 13 (from 96.8% to 74.6% in segment 1, and from 81.5% to 61.7% in segment 13, respectively). The thickness of her bilateral achilles tendons had also decreased from 18 mm in the right and 19 mm in the left to 14 mm in both, after receiving LDL-apheresis for two and half years. It is suggested from the result of this case that the regression of coronary atherosclerosis could be expected after treatment with LDL-apheresis in hypercholesterolemic patients.

[An increase in calcitonin levels in the thyroid gland of infant rats following parathyroidectomy].

It is well known that serum calcitonin (CT) levels in infantile rats are higher than those in adult rats. In the present experiment, the effects of parathyroidectomy or calcium administration on serum calcitonin levels were observed in suckling rats. Bilateral parathyroidectomy (Px) on 3-, 5-, 7-, 8- or 14-day-old Wistar-Imamichi female rats was performed surgically under a dissecting microscope. Ether anesthesia was used. In the first experiment, the Px rats of various age groups were killed 1 week after the operation. In the second experiment, time course effects of Px on one-week-old rats were observed 1, 2 or 3 weeks after the operation. CT in the serum and thyroid extracts (0.001N HCl) was measured using radioimmunoassay kits for human CT. Serum Ca was measured by the OCPC method and serum inorganic phosphates was measured by the Takahashi method. Serum calcium levels showed a significant decrease 1 week after Px in all age groups. In these rats, serum CT levels showed a slight increase or no changes, and a significant increase in CT concentrations in the thyroid gland was observed in all age groups. Moreover, the increase in CT contents in the thyroid gland became larger 3 weeks after Px in rats operated on at one week of age. Thyroid extract containing 70 pg immunoreactive CT was effective in decreasing 1.22 mg/100 ml serum calcium at 15 min after i.v. injection in a bioassay system in which a dose response curve of human calcitonin was used as standards. Acute s.c. injection of CaCl2 solution resulted in a significant increase in serum CT levels 15 and 30 min later in intact 2- and 3-week-old rats, whereas no significant change in serum CT levels was observed in one-week-old intact rats. Three and 15 min after s.c. injection of Na2EDTA, serum Ca levels decreased markedly, but thyroidal CT contents tended to increase 3 and 5 min after the injection. The results indicated that parathyroidectomy in infantile rats induces a marked increase in biologically active calcitonin in the thyroid gland, inspite of the significant decrease of serum Ca levels.

[Pharmacological studies on diuretic action of azosemide [5-(4'-chloro-5'-sulfamoyl-2'-thenylamino)-phenyltetrazole], a new diuretic (2). Diuretic action of azosemide in HgCl2-induced acute renal failure in rats].

The diuretic effect of azosemide in HgCl2-induced acute renal failure of rats was investigated in comparison with that of furosemide. Acute renal failure was induced by the single s.c. injection of 1, 2, or 4 mg/kg HgCl2; and the test drug was administered 48 hr after treatment with HgCl2. Treatment with HgCl2 resulted in a dose related elevation of plasma urea nitrogen and creatinine levels (mg/dl). In rats with 1 mg/kg HgCl2-induced acute renal failure, azosemide at doses ranging from 10 to 40 mg/kg p.o. dose-dependently increased urinary volume (ml/5 hr) and urinary Na+, K+, and Cl- excretions (mEq/5 hr). In this case, azosemide at 40 mg/kg caused a 3.5-fold increase in urinary volume and 4.5-, 2.1, and 4.1-fold increases in urinary Na+, K+, and Cl- excretions, respectively. Although plasma electrolyte levels were little affected by azosemide, plasma urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were significantly elevated by doses of more than 20 mg/kg of this drug. The diuretic effect of azosemide was more markedly reduced in rats with 2 mg/kg HgCl2-induced acute renal failure than in rats with 1 mg/kg HgCl2-induced acute renal failure. In the case of treatment with HgCl2 of 2 mg/kg, the diuretic effect of azosemide at doses ranging from 40-320 mg/kg p.o. was dose-dependent. However, azosemide had no effect on plasma electrolyte, urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels. The diuretic effect of azosemide in rats given 4 mg/kg HgCl2 was more pronouncedly reduced as compared with that in the case of 2 mg/kg HgCl2. In this case, azosemide at 320 mg/kg brought about a 2.6-fold increase in urinary volume and 4.8-, 4.6-, and 3.9-fold increases in urinary Na+, K+, and Cl- excretions, respectively. This drug had no effect on any plasma parameters. The diuretic effect of azosemide was slightly more potent than those of furosemide in the case of acute renal failure induced by 2 and 4 mg/kg HgCl2.