Inhibitory effect on expression of angiogenic factors by antiangiogenic agents in renal cell carcinoma.

Since it has been widely recognised that renal cell carcinoma is refractory to standard therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, a new modality of treatment is needed. One of the potential alternative therapies for renal cell carcinoma may be inhibition of angiogenesis. In this study, we analysed the inhibitory effects of several potential agents on expression of angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor, which are the main mediators in angiogenesis of renal cell carcinoma. We used medroxyprogesterone acetate, interferon-alpha, interferon-gamma, minocycline hydrochrolide and genistein, which are known to be antiangiogeneic. Northern blot analyses revealed that, among the five agents examined, genistein had a strong inhibitory effect on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA and basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA. Medroxyprogesterone acetate and interferon-alpha did not significantly decrease the level of either vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA or basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA. Interferon-gamma and minocycline had mild inhibitory effects on vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA and basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA expression. Genistein also inhibited both vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA and basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA expression after treatment with epidermal growth factor and hypoxia. These findings suggest that one of the mechanisms of the inhibition of angiogenesis by genistein is suppression of the expression of the angiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in renal cell carcinoma.

[Clinical efficacy of levofloxacin (LVFX) single-dose therapy in female acute uncomplicated cystitis].

Treatment of infections by the use of antimicrobial agents should be made essentially in a dose close to the minimally required dose. Acute uncomplicated cystitis in female fits as the subject for a single-dose therapy since it is an infection reactive relatively easily to antimicrobial agents. Accordingly, an assessment has been made regarding the therapeutic results of the single-dose therapy in 76 female cases of acute uncomplicated cystitis by the use of LVFX 200 mg which is a new quinolone. The urinary concentration more than MIC90 to Escherichia coli is sustained for about 3 days by this single-dose therapy. As a result of judging the therapeutic results from the reactions of the three clinical findings of pain on micturition, pyuria and bacteriuria, excellent therapeutic results were obtained with effective rates being 100% (76/76) on the day 3, 93.9% (46/49) on the day 7 and 94.4% (34/36) on the day 14. The rate of cystitic symptoms which recurred posed no problem, being 12.5% (5/40) up to three months, as investigated by a questionnaire. As a result of performing close urological examinations such as cystoscopy on six cases with insufficient results or recurrence, we could detect mild underlying conditions which are considered to be intractable factors in the bladder in three cases. From the above results, the single-dose therapy of acute uncomplicated cystitis in the female by LVFX which is a new quinolone was considered to be an excellent therapeutic drug from its characteristics such as its therapeutic results being the same as the conventional therapy by daily administration, excellent drug compliance, low cost, hard selectiveness of resistant strains, less side effects and furthermore it gives the opportunity of detecting a latent and mild underlying condition.