Oral intake of γ-aminobutyric acid affects mood and activities of central nervous system during stressed condition induced by mental tasks.

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a kind of amino acid contained in green tea leaves and other foods. Several reports have shown that GABA might affect brain protein synthesis, improve many brain functions such as memory and study capability, lower the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats, and may also have a relaxation effect in humans. However, the evidence for its mood-improving function is still not sufficient. In this study, we investigated how the oral intake of GABA influences human adults psychologically and physiologically under a condition of mental stress. Sixty-three adults (28 males, 35 females) participated in a randomized, single blind, placebo-controlled, crossover-designed study over two experiment days. Capsules containing 100 mg of GABA or dextrin as a placebo were used as test samples. The results showed that EEG activities including alpha band and beta band brain waves decreased depending on the mental stress task loads, and the condition of 30 min after GABA intake diminished this decrease compared with the placebo condition. That is to say, GABA might have alleviated the stress induced by the mental tasks. This effect also corresponded with the results of the POMS scores.

Chemical carcinogenesis in the rat: common mode of action of carcinogens at the chromosome level.

The chromosomal distribution of chromosome aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) induced by various chemical carcinogens such as 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, 7,8,12-trimethylbenz[a]anthracene, 1-butyl-1-nitrosourea, urethan, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide, 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide, and the antineoplastic compound mitomycin C was studied with the use of noninbred Long-Evans male rat bone marrow cells in vivo and in vitro. The CA and SCE induced by these structurally different chemicals were distributed in a similar pattern among and along chromosomes when the chemicals were given a short time (6 hr) before the metaphase cells were harvested. The specific distribution pattern of chemically induced CA and SCE along chromosomes was attributed to the late DNA replication of the vulnerable chromosome regions. Conversely, X-ray-induced CA were distributed more randomly. Thus the different chemical carcinogens were shown to exert a similar genetic effect at the chromosome level.

Expression of maturation-specific nuclear antigens in differentiating human myeloid leukemia cells.

The expression of three myeloid-specific nuclear antigens was studied by indirect immunofluorescence with murine monoclonal antibodies in human myeloid (HL-60, ML-2, KG-1, and B-II) leukemia cells treated with chemical inducers of cell differentiation. Treatment of the promyelocytic HL-60 cells with dimethyl sulfoxide or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 induced the cells to acquire a phenotype that resembled that of granulocytes and monocytes-macrophages, respectively. These phenotypes were characterized by changes in cell growth, cell morphology, expression of specific cell surface antigens, and activities of lysozyme and nonspecific esterase enzymes. Induction of these differentiation markers in the HL-60 cells was associated with induction of the myeloid-specific nuclear antigens. The ML-2 cells, which are arrested at the myeloblast-promyelocyte stage, were also susceptible to the induction of cell differentiation and to changes in the expression of the nuclear antigens, but the degree of susceptibility was less than in the HL-60 cells. The less-differentiated KG-1 and B-II myeloid cells were either not responsive or responded only in a limited degree to the induction of cell differentiation or to changes in the expression of the nuclear antigens. We suggest that the reactivity of cells with monoclonal antibodies to specific nuclear antigens can be used as a maturational marker in cell differentiation studies. Furthermore, nuclear antigens expressed early in cellular differentiation may provide information about changes in regulatory elements in normal and malignant cells.

Enhanced inhibition of colony formation of human renal cell carcinoma in soft agar by the combination of alpha-difluoromethylornithine and recombinant gamma-interferon.

We studied the inhibitory activity of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and alpha-, recombinant beta-, and recombinant-gamma-interferons (alpha-, rec-beta-, and rec-gamma-IFNs) on in vitro growth of 3 established human urogenital tumors (KO-RCC-1 from renal cell carcinoma, Bewo from choriocarcinoma of the uterus, and HT-1197 from transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder) and 16 primary renal cell carcinomas obtained by nephrectomy. Treatment with DFMO together with rec-IFN-gamma synergistically inhibited KO-RCC-1 cell growth in monolayer culture and in soft agar. The other two established cell lines were less susceptible to this treatment. Combination of DFMO and rec-IFN-gamma was more inhibitory than that of DFMO and either IFN-alpha or rec-IFN-beta. The polyamine content in KO-RCC-1 cells was decreased to a greater extent by combined treatment with DFMO and rec-IFN-gamma than that in Bewo and HT-1197 cells. The effect of these agents in 11 of the 16 primary renal cell carcinomas, which could show clonal growth in double layer soft agar, was examined. More than 50% inhibition of colony growth was seen in only one case (9%) treated with 5 mM DFMO alone and in 2 cases (18%) treated with rec-IFN-gamma alone (1,000 units/ml) but in 10 of the 11 cases (91%) with the combined treatment. Our results indicate that combined treatment with DFMO and rec-IFN-gamma can be more effective than that with either agent individually in inhibiting cell growth of human renal cell carcinoma in vitro.

Specific protein phosphorylation in human promyelocytic HL-60 leukemia cells susceptible or resistant to induction of cell differentiation by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate.

The pattern of protein phosphorylation induced by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in human HL-60 leukemia cells, which are susceptible to induction of cell differentiation by PMA, and in cells from an HL-60 cell variant designated R-94 that are resistant to such an induction. Protein phosphorylation was detected by observing either a rapid acid-directed charge shift of [35S]methionine-labeled protein or an increase in the amount of phosphate label in a 32P-labeled protein. The results indicated that PMA at 10(-7) M causes within 30 min after treatment the phosphorylation of at least ten different proteins in both the HL-60 and R-94 cells. Among these ten phosphorylated proteins, we identified a major cytoplasmic polypeptide (Mr approximately 64,000), a cytoskeletal protein (Mr approximately 56,000), a nonmuscle myosin light chain, and two proteins (Mr approximately 60,000 and 64,000) localized in or around the cell nucleus. Phosphoamino acid analysis of six of the ten phosphoproteins showed that they contain phosphoserine. None of these proteins contained phosphotyrosine or phosphothreonine. The R-94 cell variant was found to be capable of increased protein phosphorylation after PMA treatment; however, the level of phosphate incorporation reached only the level of the untreated HL-60 cells and thus fell far short of the level observed in the HL-60 cells after PMA treatment. It is suggested that the basis for the acquired resistance in R-94 cells towards induction of cell differentiation by PMA is a block in signal transmission involving phosphorylation of nuclear protein(s) following the binding of the inducer PMA to its receptor (protein kinase C).

Control of macrophage cell differentiation in human promyelocytic HL-60 leukemia cells by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate.

Human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) were induced to differentiate into macrophage-like cells in a dose (3 X 10(-10) to 10(-7) M) and time (1 to 6 days)-dependent manner by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and the tumor promoter, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate. Differentiation was determined by an increase in the percentage of morphologically mature cells, in lysozyme and nonspecific esterase activities, and in reactivity with the murine OKM1 monoclonal antibody. Two HL-60 cell variants, designated as R-80 and B-II, were also examined. R-80 cells, which are resistant to induction of cell differentiation by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, also exhibited resistance, although to a lesser degree, to induction of cell differentiation by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The resistance to the action of the two compounds is presumably not due to similar binding sites for the two inducers, since 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was unable to compete for the phorbol diester binding sites as measured by [3H]phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate binding. B-II cells were resistant to induction of cell differentiation by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, retinoic acid, and dimethyl sulfoxide. Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of HL-60 cell protein patterns indicated that treatment of the HL-60 cells with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, retinoic acid, and dimethyl sulfoxide caused the cells to express various monocyte-macrophage and granulocyte marker proteins. None of the inducers caused a protein pattern identical to that of peripheral monocytes or granulocytes in the HL-60 cells, but the protein pattern of the HL-60 cells treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was the closest to that of peripheral blood monocytes. These results indicate that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 induces in the HL-60 cells a phenotype that resembles, but is not identical to, that of peripheral monocytes-macrophages.

Purification and properties of a proteinaceous metallo-proteinase inhibitor from Streptomyces nigrescens TK-23.

A novel metallo-proteinase inhibitor which is capable of inhibiting the activities of metallo-proteinases such as the thermolysin, was isolated from the culture filtrates of Streptomyces nigrescens TK-23. The inhibitor was purified batch-wise from the culture filtrate by Amberlite IRC-50 and column chromatographies on CM-Sephadex C-50 and Sephadex G-50. The purified inhibitor showed a single band on 15% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 4.3, and at pH 7.5 on SDS-gels. The inhibitor retained 80% of its original activity after treatment of 100 degrees C for 5 min between pH and 7. The molecular weight was estimated to be 12 000 by gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and calcuated as 11 950 from its amino acid composition. The isoelectric point was pH 10.3. The inhibitor showed a high content of hydrophobic amino acids, did not contain tryptophan, and had two disulfide bridges. It also showed specific inhibitory activity for metallo-proteinases but not for serine-, thio- and carboxyl-proteinases.

Purification and properties of a pepstatin-insensitive carboxyl proteinase from a gram-negative bacterium.

A carboxyl proteinase was found in the culture filtrate of a Gram-negative bacterium. The optimum for the action of the purified enzyme was approx. pH 3 and its caseinolytic activity was not inhibited by carboxyl proteinase inhibitors, such as pepstatin, Streptomyces pepsin inhibitor and diazoacetyl-DL-norleucine methyl ester. 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane modified the enzyme with concomitant loss of its enzyme activity. The enzymatic and physicochemical properties of the enzyme were compared with those of known pepstatin- and diazoacetyl-DL-norleucine methyl ester-insensitive carboxyl proteinases previously reported. To our knowledge, this is the first carboxyl proteinase isolated from bacteria.

The influence of temperature and urea on intrinsic fluorescence of Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor. A study by fluorescence polarization and quenching.

Intrinsic fluorescence of new microbial protease inhibitor, Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor was studied by observing fluorescence polarization degree and lifetime in the temperature range 25-81 degrees C. Striking thermal changes in these fluorescence properties of tryptophan residues were observed. The apparent molecular volumes for tryptophan and tyrosine residues in the native form were determined to be 89 and 75 A3, respectively. The fluorescence quenching by Br- or Cs+ was investigated to obtain a microenvironmental information around tryptophan residues both in the native and denatured form. Cs+ quenches the fluorescence slightly stronger than Br-, implying that there is not any distinctive electrostatic interaction between tryptophan residues and their neighborhood.

An unusual fluorescence spectrum of a protein proteinase inhibitor, Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor.

Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor, a dimeric protein proteinase inhibitor isolated in crystalline form by Murae et al. in 1972, contains three tyrosine and one tryptophan residues per monomer unit and has unusual fluorescence properties. When excited at 280 nm, it shows a characteristic fluorescence spectrum having a peak at 307 nm and a shoulder near 340 nm, a feature which has been recognized only for a very few cases in proteins containing both tryosine and tryptophan residues. When excited at 295 nm, at which tryrosine scarcely absorbs, the inhibitor shows an emission spectrum with a peak at 340 nm characteristic of a tryptophan residue. The emission with a peak at 307 nm is considered to arise from the tryrosine residues. The tryptophan quantum yield of Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor excited at 295 nm is very small, indicating that the tryptophan florescence is strongly quenched in the native state of the inhibitor. Below pH 4 the peak of the fluorescence spectrum of the inhibitor excited at 280 nm shifts toward 340-350 nm with a concomitant increase in the quantum yield. The structural change induced by low pH seems to release the tryptophan fluorescence from the quenching.

Studies on the interaction between Streptomyces pepsin inhibitor and several acid proteinases by means of a zinc(II)-dye complex as a probe.

The zinc(II) complex of pyridine-2-azo-p-dimethylaniline is bound to several acid proteinases, at pH 5.0, accompanied by a change is the visible absorption spectrum. Streptomyces pepsin inhibitor, which was discovered by Satoi and Murao (Satoi, S. and Murao, S. (1970) Agric. Biol. Chem. 34, 1265-1267 and Satoi, S. and Murao, S. (1971) Agric. Biol. Chem. 35, 1482-1487), is also bound to acid proteinases. Spectrophotometric studies with ten acid proteinases from different sources have revealed that in several acid proteinases, zinc(II)-pyridine-2-azo-p-dimethylaniline is released from the enzyme by the inhibitor, while some acid proteinase forms a quaternary complex, zinc(II)-pyridine-2-azo-p-dimethylaniline-inhibitor-enzyme. It is speculated that zinc(II)-pyridine-2-azo-p-dimethylaniline is bound to two catalytic carboxylate groups in the active site of the acid proteinases and the inhibitor is bound mainly to the substrate-binding site of the enzymes. The binding of the inhibitor may overlap the catalytic site completely or partially. The degree of overlapping is characteristic of the kind of acid proteinases.

Peptide hydrogen exchange rates in Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor.

The exchange reaction of the peptide NH protons of a microbial protease inhibitor (Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor) with deuterium atoms in 2H2O (p2H 6.8) has been studied by proton magnetic resonance in the temperature range 56-71 degrees C. Both slowly and rapidly exchanging processes have been observed. The number of slowly exchanging protons is estimated to be 25 +/- 2 per subunit of the protein molecule. The decay of the slowly exchanging proton signals follows a single time-exponential function at each temperature. The observed first-order rate constants have been analyzed to give the denaturated fraction of the protein as a function of temperature with a consequent enthalpy (56 kcal/mol) and an entropy (137 cal/degree per mol) of denaturation. The results indicate the high conformational stability of this protein against heat denaturation.

Cloning of a thermostable ascorbate oxidase gene from Acremonium sp. HI-25 and modification of the azide sensitivity of the enzyme by site-directed mutagenesis.

A gene encoding a thermostable ascorbate oxidase (ASOM) was cloned from Acremonium sp. HI-25 and sequenced. The gene comprised 1709 bp and was interrupted by a single intron of 57 bp. ASOM consisted of 551 amino acids including a signal peptide with a molecular mass of 61200, and contained four histidine-rich regions with high sequence homology to the corresponding regions of other multicopper oxidases. The ASOM gene was expressed in Aspergillus nidulans under the Aspergillus oryzae Taka-amylase A gene promoter. The recombinant enzyme (An-ASOM) exhibited almost the same enzymatic properties as ASOM. The ASOM gene was mutated by site-directed mutagenesis with reference to the amino acid sequences of plant enzymes to generate enzymes with altered azide sensitivity. Site-directed mutagenesis at the trinuclear active copper site resulted in an increase in azide resistance; the Ala465Leu and Phe463Trp/Ala465Leu mutants exhibited approximately 10 and 20% increases in azide resistance, respectively.

Effects of atrial pacing, isoprenaline and lignocaine on experimental polymorphous ventricular tachycardia.

In 22 anaesthetised dogs, iv, administration of quinidine sulphate (30 mg X kg-1) over 5 min produced bradycardia and marked prolongation of the QT interval. Right ventricular extrastimulations, four times diastolic threshold, provoked polymorphous ventricular tachycardia in 18 dogs, and typical torsade de pointes was observed in four of these 18 dogs. Ventricular flutter was induced in another four dogs. In one of these 22 dogs, double stimuli were required to induce ventricular tachyarrhythmias, in 19 dogs triple stimuli, and in two dogs quadruple stimuli. Using this experimental model, effects of interventions including atrial pacing, isoprenaline, and lignocaine on the QT interval and induction of polymorphous ventricular tachycardia by extrastimuli were studied. Atrial pacing shortened QT interval only slightly and did not prevent induction of polymorphous ventricular tachycardia in nine dogs studied. Isoprenaline infusion definitely shortened QT interval, and in four out of nine dogs triple stimuli could not elicit polymorphous ventricular tachycardia. By contrast, although the QT interval was not shortened, lignocaine was effective in preventing induction of polymorphous ventricular tachycardia by triple stimuli in three out of nine dogs. These results indicate atrial pacing is an ineffective means of preventing induction of polymorphous ventricular tachycardia by extrastimuli in dogs with a long QT interval, but that isoprenaline and lignocaine are effective in some dogs.

Ventricular fibrillation threshold in canine hearts with quinidine induced prolonged QT interval: effects of atrial pacing, isoproterenol, and lignocaine.

Ventricular fibrillation threshold was determined using a train of pulses, 4 ms in duration, delivered at 10 ms intervals, in 20 anaesthetised dogs receiving toxic doses of quinidine sulphate (30 mg X kg-1) injected intravenously over 5 min to prolong the QT interval. The effects of atrial pacing, isoproterenol, and lignocaine on ventricular fibrillation threshold were investigated. Quinidine administration lowered the mean(SD) threshold from 14.7(5.1) to 8.8(3.6) mA (n = 20, p less than 0.001). Atrial pacing shortened the mean(SD) basic cycle length from 652 to 400 ms and the QT interval (378(28) vs 334(19) ms, n = 8, p less than 0.01) but did not alter the mean(SD) threshold (7.0(2.3) vs 7.5(1.5) mA). Isoproterenol infusion to maintain basic cycle length at 421(23) ms shortened the mean(SD) QT interval to 291(14) ms (p less than 0.001) and increased the mean(SD) threshold to 13.6(5.9) mA (n = 8, p less than 0.01). Lignocaine (plasma concentration 1.36 micrograms X ml-1) increased the mean(SD) threshold from 10.9(3.4) to 16.7(6.7) mA (n = 7, p less than 0.02) without affecting basic cycle length and QT interval. Thus atrial pacing shortened the QT interval slightly but did not make the canine heart with a quinidine induced prolonged QT interval less vulnerable to electrically induced ventricular fibrillation, whereas both isoproterenol and lignocaine did, although they affected basic cycle length and QT interval differently.

Hemochromatosis associated with brain lesions--a disorder of trace-metal binding proteins and/or polymers?

A 68-year-old man, after having been diagnosed as having hepatic disease at about the age of 41 years, had been hospitalized frequently until his death. Blood sugar, iron, and copper had not increased during his illness. Although the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis had been made and he had been receiving therapy, various neurologic symptoms without disturbances of consciousness appeared six months before his death. Autopsy revealed hemochromatosis, liver cirrhosis, and pancreatic fibrosis. A large amount of iron had accumulated in the liver, the pancreas, and the thyroid gland, while considerable numbers of ceroid and lipofuscin pigment granules had accumulated diffusely in the brain. Abnormal astrocytes of the Alzheimer II type were diffusely distributed in the brain and contained no intranuclear glycogen which stained positive with the carmine stain. No spongy changes were seen in the deeper layers of the cerebral cortex. Chemical analyses for trace metals in the brain, liver, and kidneys revealed a large amount of iron and increased copper in the liver, and considerable quantities of copper, manganese, calcium, and mercury in the brain. Because of changes in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and marked thymol turbidity seen before and after the occurrence of the neurologic symptoms, this man was suspected of having disorders of the trace-metal binding proteins and/or of their polymers.

Suppression of episodic growth hormone secretion in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice: time-course studies on the hypothalamic pituitary axis.

To elucidate the roles of the hypothalamic peptides, GH-releasing hormone (GRH) and somatostatin (SRIH), potentially responsible for altered GH dynamics in diabetes, we studied the time courses of their changes in level associated with altered GH secretion in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Diabetic mice were used at 4, 7, and 14 days after STZ injection for analyses of 1) GH secretion in vivo, 2) hypothalamic GRH and SRIH messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, 3) pituitary GH mRNA and protein contents, and 4) pituitary GH response to GRH in vitro. GH secretion was completely suppressed 7 and 14 days after STZ injection. The hypothalamic GRH mRNA level was reduced to 59.8%, 61.2%, and 48.5% of control values at 4, 7, and 14 days, respectively. In contrast, the hypothalamic SRIH mRNA level was not altered at all of these time points. Pituitary GH mRNA and protein contents were significantly reduced to 70.2% and 61.5% of those in controls, respectively, only at 14 days. Pituitary GH responses to GRH at three doses (10, 50, and 250 nM) in vitro were remarkably increased at 4, 7, and 14 days. These findings indicate that the diabetic state rapidly and primarily inhibits hypothalamic GRH gene expression without affecting SRIH. A persistent decrease in hypothalamic GRH tone has been suggested to result in inhibition of GH synthesis in the pituitary. Enhancement of GH responsiveness to GRH may be due to the up-regulation of GRH receptors in the pituitary.

Elevation of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in patients with hyperthyroidism.

The activity of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (S-ACE) was determined spectrophotometrically in 45 patients with hyperthyroidism (30 untreated and 15 treated and euthyroid patients), 14 patients with hypothyroidism, and 135 normotensive healthy subjects. S-ACE was significantly higher in the patients with untreated hyperthyroidism (51.6 +/- 1.9 less than SE greater than nmol.min/ml) than in the healthy controls (28.6 +/- 0.6 nmol.min/ml; P less than 0.001). On the other hand, S-ACE was found to be within the normal range in patients with hypothyroidism (23.2 +/- 1.3 nmol.min/ml). In patients with hyperthyroidism, S-ACE gradually fell into the normal range as the thyroid function became normalized, and there were significant positive correlations between S-ACE and the plasma T3 or T4 concentration (r = 0.60 and P less than 0.001; r = 0.61 and P less than 0.001, respectively ). S-ACE had no definite relation to blood pressure, serum glutamic oxaloacetic acid transaminase, or glutamic pyruvic acid transaminase. When the physicochemical characteristics of the enzyme in the sera of hyperthyroidism patients were compared with those in sarcoidosis patients, similar peak activities of S-ACE on gel chromatography and identical Michaelis constants were obtained; the effects of ethyldiaminetetraacetic acid, SQ14225, and pH on the enzymatic reaction were also similar in both diseases. Thus, hyperthyroidism is considered to be one of the diseases in which S-ACE is elevated. The elevation of S-ACE might be directly or indirectly related to the hyperthyroid state. In addition, it is suggested that the enzyme characteristics are identical in hyperthyroidism and sarcoidosis.

Elevated plasma catecholamines in hypertensives with primary glomerular diseases.

Supine plasma concentration of norepinephrine (PNE), epinephrine (PE), and aldosterone (PA), plasma renin activity (PRA), and blood volume (BV) were measured in 25 normotensive and 11 hypertensive patients with biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis who had serum creatinine concentrations of less than 1.6 mg/dl, and in 20 normotensive control subjects. PNE and PE were measured according to the trihydroxyindol method using high pressure liquid chromatography. Renal clearances of p-aminohippurate (CPAH) and endogenous creatinine (Ccr) were also determined. Age, BV, and 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium were not significantly different in the three groups. Although all the measured variables were comparable between the control subjects and the normotensive nephritic patients, blood pressure, PNE, PE, PRA, and PA were significantly higher and CPAH and Ccr were significantly lower in the hypertensive nephritic patients than in the normotensive nephritic patients or the control subjects. In the pooled nephritic patients, mean blood pressure was significantly correlated with PNE (r = 0.76, p less than 0.001), PE (r = 0.34, p less than 0.05), PRA (r = 0.33, p less than 0.05), PA (r = 0.40, p less than 0.05) and CPAH (r = -0.51, p less than 0.01). Highly significant positive correlation was also observed between PNE and systolic pressure (r = 0.63, p less than 0.001) or diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.78, p less than 0.001). The results suggest that deterioration of renal function is an important factor in the development of hypertension even in non-azotemic patients with glomerulonephritis, and that increased activities of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-aldosterone system participate, in part, in elevating blood pressure in the hypertensive nephritic patients. Mechanisms involved in the elevation of plasma concentrations of catecholamines and renal effects on the plasma catecholamines remain to be elucidated.

Effect of a new coronary vasodilator, nicorandil, on variant angina pectoris.

The effect of nicorandil, a new coronary vasodilator, was evaluated in 32 patients with variant angina pectoris in a single-blind trial. The study was comprised of a pretreatment period of 2 days with a placebo, a 3-day nicorandil medication period (20 mg/day), and a 2-day posttreatment period with the placebo. Anginal attacks disappeared completely in 24 of the 32 patients. The number of attacks during the pretreatment period, 3.6 +/- 0.4 per day, became significantly reduced to 0.7 +/- 0.2 per day during nicorandil therapy (P less than 0.001) and significantly increased to 1.3 +/- 0.3 per day after withdrawal of the drug (P less than 0.05). In 17 patients with continuous ECG monitoring, the frequency of occurrence of ST-segment elevation was 8.6 +/- 2.7 per day during the preobservation period, significantly decreased to 0.4 +/- 0.2 per day during nicorandil therapy (P less than 0.01), and significantly increased to 1.9 +/- 0.7 per day after withdrawal of the drug (P less than 0.05). The results demonstrate the effectiveness of nicorandil in the treatment of variant angina pectoris.