Mineralocorticoid receptor blocker eplerenone improves endothelial function and inhibits Rho-associated kinase activity in patients with hypertension.

Hypertension is associated with endothelial dysfunction and activated Rho-associated kinases (ROCKs). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the selective mineralocorticoid receptor blocker, eplerenone, on endothelial function and ROCK activity in patients with hypertension. The study was carried out over 48 weeks in 60 untreated patients with hypertension who were randomly assigned to eplerenone, nifedipine, and losartan groups. We evaluated the effects of each treatment on flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and ROCK activity in peripheral leukocytes. Eplerenone increased FMD and decreased leukocyte ROCK activity. Nifedipine decreased ROCK activity but did not alter FMD. Losartan increased FMD but did not alter ROCK activity. Hypotensive effects were similar in the three groups, as was nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation during the follow-up period. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to other parameters. The study results show that eplerenone improves endothelial function and inhibits ROCK activity in patients with essential hypertension.

On-line automated high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of total riboflavin phosphates using immobilized acid phosphatase as a pre-column reactor.

An automated chromatographic detection system for the determination of total riboflavin phosphates using immobilized sweet potato acid phosphatase as a pre-column reactor is reported on. An immobilized enzyme reactor, incorporated in the on-line analytical system, hydrolysed riboflavin phosphates to riboflavin, and then lipophilic riboflavin was concentrated at the top of an ODS trap column. Enzymatically hydrolysed riboflavin was back-eluted from the trap column using a mobile phase containing methanol, and then subsequently chromatographed on an ODS analytical column. The effluents were monitored by UV absorption at 280 nm. The calibration graph for total riboflavin phosphates, determined by this method, was linear over the range 0.5-500 nmol/ml, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999. The detection limit at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 was 25 pmol/ml. The average conversion rate of riboflavin phosphates to riboflavin was estimated at 97%. The relative standard deviations of the intra- and inter-assay precision were 1.2 and 2.6%, respectively.

[A case of primary orbital lymphoma with macroglobulinemia].

A rare case of primary orbital lymphoma with macroglobulinemia was reported. The patient was a 74-year-old male with bilateral orbital tumor. Exophthalmos and eye movement disturbance appeared in his left eye. Blood analysis showed a marked increase of serum immunoglobulin M. Immunochemical study showed 7,097 (mg/dl). The left tumor was partially removed and examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically. H.E. staining revealed the proliferation of lymphoplasmacytoid cells. Immunocytochemical staining showed these cells to be immunoglobulin G (-), immunoglobulin A (-), immunoglobulin M (+), immunoglobulin light chi-chain (-), immunoglobulin light lambda-chain (+), LCA (+), L-26(PAN-B)(+), MT-1(-), and UCHL(-). Based on these results, our diagnosis was non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the diffuse small, lymphoplasmacytoid type.