Yokukansan inhibits morphine tolerance and physical dependence in mice: the role of α2A-adrenoceptor.

Yokukansan (YKS) is a traditional Japanese medicine consisting of seven medicinal herbs that is used for the treatment of neurosis, insomnia, and the behavioral/psychological symptoms of dementia. This study examined the effects of YKS on morphine tolerance and physical dependence in mice. Daily oral administration of YKS (0.5 or 1.0 g/kg) for 3 weeks significantly attenuated morphine tolerance and naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal signs (jumps and body weight loss) without affecting the analgesic effect of morphine. The inhibitory effect of YKS on withdrawal jumps in morphine-dependent mice was blocked by a single pretreatment with an α(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine, but not by an α(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin. A similar inhibitory effect on withdrawal jumps was observed by repeated administration of yohimbine. The membrane expression of α(2A)-adrenoceptors in the pons/medulla was decreased in morphine withdrawn animals; this reduction was prevented by repeated administration of YKS or yohimbine. Competitive radioligand and [(35)S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) binding assays revealed that YKS and its constituent herbs, Glycyrrhiza (GR) and Uncaria hook (UH), had specific binding affinity for and antagonist activity against the α(2A)-adrenoceptor. Certain chemical constituents, including GR -derived glycyrrhizin and its metabolite, 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid, and UH-derived geissoschizine methyl ether (GME), shared such activities. Repeated administration of GR, UH, glycyrrhizin or GME significantly inhibited morphine withdrawal signs. These results suggest that YKS and its active constituents inhibit morphine tolerance and physical dependence, and that the latter is due at least in part to the prevention of the decreased membrane expression of the α(2A)-adrenoceptor in the brainstem by its prolonged blockade.

Continent orthotopic ileal neobladder after kidney transplantation in a patient with urothelial cell carcinoma associated with Chinese herb nephropathy.

A 58-year-old man underwent kidney transplantation on November 14, 2002 for end-stage kidney disease after Chinese herb nephropathy. Immunosuppressive therapy was maintained with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and methylpredonisolone. He was diagnosed with right ureteral cancer and underwent right nephroureterectomy on December 13, 2003. Then, he underwent left nephroureterectomy for left ureteral cancer on March 5, 2004. Subsequently, he was diagnosed with multiple bladder cancers and carcinoma in situ. On August 31, he underwent radical cystectomy with an orthotopic ileal neobladder (Studer's method). The postoperative course was uneventful. After 3 years follow-up, this patient shows no evidence of recurrence and his serum creatinine level is stable (1.7 mg/dL). The continence is maintained during both day and night; he voids without intermittent self-catheterization. We suggest that an orthotopic ileal neobladder is a safe method of urinary diversion after cystectomy in kidney transplant recipients.

[Study of blood flow in hyperthermia using human renal cell carcinoma heterotransplanted in nude mice--differences in histological tumour pattern upon the effects of hyperthermia].

Utilizing two types of human renal cell carcinoma heterotransplanted in nude mice (JRC 1; papillary, avascular pattern, grade III, JRC 11; anaplastic and alveolar, hypervascular pattern, grade IV), we investigated the influence of tumor blood flow upon the effects of local hyperthermia (42.5 degrees C), induced by 915 MHz microwave. Blood flow was determined from the rate of thermal clearance by use of the bio-heat transfer equation. The rate of thermal clearance was measured at intervals of approximately 10 minutes throughout the treatment session after turning off the microwave for 50 seconds. With both strains it was necessary to increase the microwave power until the constant steady-state temperature of 42.5 degrees C was reached. The JRC 11 strain needed more power for the constant temperature than JRC 1, but it needed a greater decrease in power level during the heating session to maintain a constant steady-state temperature. This was an indication that the tumour blood flow decreased more markedly in the JRC 11 strain. In both tumours, a decrease of blood flow was observed during the heating session. In the case of the JRC 1 strain, it was observed that the mean value of blood flow was 1.87 times higher than that of JRC 11. This indicated a sharp reduction in blood flow in JRC 11 strain. This reduction was confirmed by the thermal clearance measurement at the end of the treatment session. A sharp reduction in blood flow in hypervascular tumour (JRC 11 strain) is caused by a stasis of intra-tumoural blood circulation during the heating.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of differences in tumor vascularity upon the effects of hyperthermia.

Utilizing two types of human renal carcinoma heterotransplanted in nude mice, we investigated the variations in hyperthermic effects (42.5 degrees C for 30 min) caused by differences in tumor type with special reference to variations in tumor vascularity. In the hypovascular JRC1 strain, sporadic vascular dilation was observed throughout the tumors after heating. Destruction of tumor cells was observed mainly in the region of dilation. In the hypervascular JRC11 strain, homogenous vascular dilation was observed immediately after heating, mainly at the periphery of tumors. There was a decrease in the viability of cells in the center of the tumor. Therefore, the hypervascular tumors showed greater destruction mainly at the center where blood circulation was reduced. The range of necrosis was also greatly affected by the extent of vascular dilation caused by heating in hypovascular tumors.

Antibiotic-induced vitamin K deficiency and the role of the presence of intestinal flora.

Cephalosporin antibiotics with N-methyl-thio-tetrazole (NMTT) side chains have been known to be associated with the development of hypoprothrombinemia. However, it has not been fully established whether these symptoms are induced by an inhibition of vitamin K production by intestinal microorganisms or by an inhibitory action of these antibiotics on endogenous vitamin K metabolism. Therefore, an attempt has been made to clarify the above-mentioned ambiguity by using germfree mice in which primary vitamin K deficiency can be established within a short experimental period. Germfree (GF) and conventional (CV) ICR male mice, 8-13 weeks old were used in this experiment. Vitamin K deficient (Def) and menaquinone-4 supplemented diet (MK-4) were fed to the mice in both rearing conditions. In the antibiotic-treated group, sodium latamoxef (LMOX, 300 mg/kg B.W./day) was intraperitoneally administered once a day, and in the control group the same volume of saline (Saline) was administered. Severe vitamin K deficient symptoms were observed in the GF-K-Def-LMOX group, and both prothrombin time (PT) and activated-partial thromboplastin time (APTT) values were prolonged on the 8th day of the experimental period compared with the GF-K-Def-Saline group. Furthermore the mortality rate of GF-K-Def-LMOX group was comparatively higher than that of the Saline group. This study has provided evidence that vitamin K deficiency is amplified by an administration of LMOX even in the absence of intestinal flora.

Newly developed model for vitamin K deficiency in germfree mice.

The mechanism of induction of vitamin K (VK) deficiency in newborn babies and antibiotics-treated patients has not entirely been clarified because of the difficulty in preparing the true VK deficient model-animals and the complication in an assay system for VK derivatives and of their metabolites until now. Germfree animal is thought to be an useful tool to establish a primary VK deficiency not caused by VK antagonists etc., because of the lack of their intestinal flora. Germfree (GF) and conventional (CV) ICR/JCL male mice, 12-13 week-old were used in this experiment. VK deficient (K-Def), menaquinone-4 (MK-4) supplemented (MK-4), and VK3 (menadione) supplemented diet (K3) were fed to the mice in both GF and CV states. After 8 days, severe VK deficient symptoms were occurred only in GF-K-Def group, whereas not at all in CV-K-Def group. Both prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were also prolonged only in GF-K-Def group. From the HPLC analysis of MK-4 content in liver, it was suspected that the content of MK-4 which has been thought to be an active form of VK was not necessarily paralleled with the degree of VK deficiency.