Spectroscopy of Pionic Atoms in

We observed the atomic 1s and 2p states of π^{-} bound to ^{121}Sn nuclei as distinct peak structures in the missing mass spectra of the ^{122}Sn(d,^{3}He) nuclear reaction. A very intense deuteron beam and a spectrometer with a large angular acceptance let us achieve a potential of discovery, which includes the capability of determining the angle-dependent cross sections with high statistics. The 2p state in a Sn nucleus was observed for the first time. The binding energies and widths of the pionic states are determined and found to be consistent with previous experimental results of other Sn isotopes. The spectrum is measured at finite reaction angles for the first time. The formation cross sections at the reaction angles between 0° and 2° are determined. The observed reaction-angle dependence of each state is reproduced by theoretical calculations. However, the quantitative comparison with our high-precision data reveals a significant discrepancy between the measured and calculated formation cross sections of the pionic 1s state.

Measurement of Excitation Spectra in the

Excitation spectra of ^{11}C are measured in the ^{12}C(p,d) reaction near the η^{'} emission threshold. A proton beam extracted from the synchrotron SIS-18 at GSI with an incident energy of 2.5 GeV impinges on a carbon target. The momenta of deuterons emitted at 0° are precisely measured with the fragment separator (FRS) operated as a spectrometer. In contrast to theoretical predictions on the possible existence of deeply bound η^{'}-mesic states in carbon nuclei, no distinct structures are observed associated with the formation of bound states. The spectra are analyzed to set stringent constraints on the formation cross section and on the hitherto barely known η^{'}-nucleus interaction.

Molecular analysis of non-specific supersensitivity induced by AF64A in rat iris smooth muscle.

Characteristics of supersensitivity induced by the pretreatment with AF64A, an inhibitor of choline uptake at parasympathetic nerve endings, were examined in rat iris sphincter. In preparations isolated and skinned by beta-escin after the micro injection of AF64A to eyes in vivo, the amplitude of maximum contraction in pCa 4.5 solution was increased by 180% of the control from the contralateral eyes. The Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile system was slightly but significantly increased by AF64A injection; the half maximum contraction was obtained at pCa 5.87 and 6.05 in the control and AF64A-injected eyes, respectively. The increase in maximum contraction in AF64A injected ones was neither affected by the addition of calmodulin, GTPgammaS nor H-7. The increase in Ca2+ sensitivity by AF64A injection was not affected by calmodulin, enhanced by GTPgammaS and abolished by H-7. AF64A injection increased the total protein content only by 30% of the control. The contents of contractile proteins per iris were quantified using Western blotting with monoclonal antibodies. The contents of actin and calponin were increased by AF64A, whereas those of myosin, calmodulin and caldesmon were not affected. The results indicate that AF64A-induced enhancement of the maximum contraction is not mainly due to the increase in the contents of major contractile proteins and that the increase in Ca2+ sensitivity could be due to the mechanism in which changes in protein kinase C and/or GTP binding protein activity are involved.

[Reductive effect on ascites, of neocarzinostatin in patients with ovarian cancer].

Neocarzinostatin (NCS) was administered intravenously by drop infusion to 16 patients with ovarian cancer, and intrathoracically to one patient. In addition to evaluation of the efficacy of the chemotherapy, we mainly investigated its effect on ascites and pleural effusion, and carried out continuous measurements of the abdominal circumference in 3 patients. NCS relieved thoracic effusion in 1 patient. We observed that abdominal circumference decreased in 10 patients after administration of NCS. The results obtained from continuous measurement of abdominal circumference revealed that NCS significantly reduced ascitic retention in ovarian cancer.

[Clinical trials on cefuzonam in obstetrics and gynecological infections].

Ten patients (3 cases of abscess of vaginal cuff, 1 case of abscess of vaginal cuff complicated with parametritis, 2 cases of pyosalpinx, 1 case each of abscess of abdominal wall, pelvic cellulitis, pyometra with cervical cancer and paraovarian abscess were treated with cefuzonam (CZON), which was administrated by intravenous drip infusion at a dose of 1,000 mg twice a day for 3 to 10 days (6 g to 19 g total). The clinical effectiveness reached 70.0% including 1 excellent case, 6 good cases and 3 poor cases. Bacteria were detected in all the 10 cases, and with CZON treatment, bacterial eradication were obtained in 3 cases, bacteria decreased in 3 cases, no change in 2 cases and bacterial replacement occurred in 2 cases. No abnormal laboratory findings and side effects were noted. From the above results, CZON seemed to be a highly effective and useful agent for gynecological infections.

[Fundamental and clinical studies of imipenem/cilastatin sodium in the field of obstetrics and gynecology].

Seven patients with gynecologic infections were treated with the new carbapenem class of antibiotic, imipenem/cilastatin sodium (MK-0787/MK-0791) at a dose level of 500 mg/500 mg or 250 mg/250 mg administered intravenously every 12 hours for 5 days. The results obtained were as follows. Clinical effects of MK-0787/MK-0791 were analyzed in 7 patients, including 1 case with pelvic peritonitis, 2 cases with endometritis, adnexitis and pelvic peritonitis, abdominal abscess, vaginal cuff infection and parametritis, and pyometra. Excellent clinical response was seen in 3 cases and good response in 4 cases. No side effect nor abnormal finding in clinical laboratory values was seen in all patients.

[Studies on changes in serum estrone, estradiol, estriol, DHA-S, and cortisol and urinary estriol excretion].

Radioimmunoassay was used in order to investigate changes in steroid hormone, serum estrone, estradiol, estriol, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHA-S) and cortisol in 71 cases of twin pregnancies. Also, urinary estriol was measured by the Amberlite XAD-2 method. These results were compared with those in 90 cases of single pregnancies. In the third trimester, the increase in serum estrogen levels in twin pregnancies was significantly higher than that in single pregnancies. From 28 to 34 weeks of pregnancy, the DHA-S level in single pregnancies rapidly dropped and after that, gradually decreased to the base level. But in the other weeks of pregnancy, no change in DHA-S was observed. The serum cortisol level in twin pregnancies was slightly higher than in single pregnancies. There was no significant difference between them. The nse in the cortisol level in twin pregnancies was significantly greater than in single pregnancies after 38 weeks of pregnancy. The urinary estriol level in twin pregnancies was significantly higher than in single pregnancies and had values 1.8-3.0 times higher than in single pregnancies.

Possible role of the pineal gland in pituitary prolactin secretion in female rats.

Wistar female rats housed under conditions of 12 hr dark/12 hr light were pinealectomized (PX) or underwent sham-operation (SO) 21 days after ovariectomy, on the 7th or on the 15-17 th day of pregnancy. Serum and pituitary prolactin (PRL) levels in ovariectomized (OVX) rats were determined 9 days after pinealectomy. In the case of OVX rats receiving estrogen and progesterone injections (OVX-EP), PRL levels were determined 48 hr after injection administered 7 day after pinealectomy. PRL levels in pregnant rats were determined on the 20th day of pregnancy and in postpartum rats, on the 3rd day following parturition. As compared with the SO control, pinealectomy resulted in a significant decrease in the serum PRL level in the OVX-EP rats but in a significant increase in that level in the OVX, pregnant and postpartum rats. In OVX-EP rats, exogenous estrogen raised the serum PRL level less in PX than in SO rats, probably because the pineal gland is closely related to the facilitation of PRL secretion by estrogen. The high estrogen level in OVX-EP rats seemed to trigger pineal stimulation of PRL release, but low estrogen levels in OVX and postpartum rats or markedly high levels of progesterone in pregnant rats on the 20th day are thought to cause pineal inhibition.

The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on serum steroid concentration in singleton and twin pregnancies and its effect on cervical canal-ripening in singleton pregnancies.

Each of 20 pregnant women (greater than or equal to 39 weeks) was given an intravenous injection of various doses (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg) of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHA-S) and each of 5 pregnant women (greater than or equal to 39 weeks) was given glucose solution as a control. After the administration of DHA-S, significant increases in serum estrogen concentration, especially estradiol-17 beta concentration, and in the Bishop score were observed. The maximum increase in the level of estradiol-17 beta was significantly correlated with the doses of 50-200 mg of DHA-S. However, serum levels of estrone or estriol were not dose-dependently increased by DHA-S. Since the rate of conversion of DHA-S to estrogen did not necessarily seem to be dose-dependent, there may be some limitation regarding converted doses of DHA-S. There was a significant correlation between the increase in serum estrogen concentration and the increase in the Bishop score. Two hundred mg DHA-S were administered to 4 subjects pregnant with twins. Serum estrogen concentrations in these subjects were significantly higher than those in singleton pregnancies after the administration.

Evidence for prolactin-releasing and release-inhibiting effects of melatonin, serotonin and arginine vasotocin.

Adult female Wistar rats (in 12 hr light/12 hr dark) were pinealectomized (PX) or sham-operated (SO) either 21 days after ovariectomy or on the 15-17th day of pregnancy. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were injected with estrogen and progesterone (EP) 48 hr before decapitation. Melatonin, serotonin or arginine vasotocin (AVT; 50, 100 or 200 micrograms) were administered intravenously into OVX-EP rats 9 days after pineal removal. In PX and SO groups, the same study was done 3 days after delivery. Sera and pituitaries were collected 30 min after injection in order to determine prolactin (PRL) levels. Fifty micrograms melatonin significantly suppressed serum PRL levels in PX-OVX-EP rats and PX postpartum rats, but had not significant effect in SO-OVX-EP or PX postpartum rats. After administration of AVT, serum PRL levels markedly rose in PX and SO rats. These results suggest that melatonin may act not only to stimulate but also to inhibit rat PRL secretion and that the stimulatory function would be superior to its inhibitory function when the pineal gland is intact.

Variation of serum prolactin-releasing activity in women with the galactorrhea-amenorrhea syndrome after bromocriptine treatment.

Serum methanol extracts were obtained from nine women with the galactorrhea-amenorrhea syndrome, 24 pregnant women in the third trimester, and 18 normal men and women. The serum extract released prolactin (PRL) in significant amounts from rat anterior pituitary in vitro. The extracts from patients with galactorrhea-amenorrhea released PRL in large quantities. A significant positive correlation was observed between the PRL-releasing activity and serum PRL levels in individual samples from the pregnant women and normal subjects but not from the patients with galactorrhea-amenorrhea. Bromocriptine therapy suppressed serum PRL levels of five patients without tumors but increased the PRL-releasing activity in three out of five patients after treatment for 1 or 2 months. Apparently hypothalamic regulation of PRL secretion was disrupted in these three patients after bromocriptine therapy.

[Prolactin releasing activity in serum of pregnant women and patients with galactorrhea-amenorrhea syndrome].

Serum samples obtained from 18 normal men and women, 24 pregnant women of the third trimester, and 8 patients with galactorrhea-amenorrhea syndrome (GAS) were subjected to a 3-phase methanol extraction. The serum extract released prolactin (PRL) specifically from rat anterior pituitary in vitro. The PRL releasing activity (PRA) was dependent on the incubation time and dose of serum extract, while independent on TRH or PRL in serum. The mean PRA in serum of pregnant women was significantly (p less than 0.02) higher than one of normal subjects. The mean PRA in serum of GAS was significantly higher than in pregnant women (p less than 0.05), and in normal subjects (p less than 0.001). When the individual PRL levels were compared to the PRA in samples from pregnant women and normal subjects, a significant (p less than 0.02) positive correlation evolved. These results indicate that a PRL releasing substance(s) distinct from TRH is (are) present in serum, and has (have) a relationship to the PRL concentration and late pregnant states.

[The concentration of serum unconjugated estradiol, estriol and estetrol in pregnant women, and the significance of these hormones in pregnancy (author's transl)].

Simultaneous determinations of unconjugated estradiol (E2), estriol (E3) and 15 alpha-hydroxyestriol (E4) levels in maternal serum were studied serially to ascertain the significance of these estrogens in the feto-placental unit. The samples of serum were collected serially from 25 normal and 44 abnormal pregnancies. In normal pregnancy, these estrogen levels increased throughout pregnancy, especially E3 and E4 nearing the term. In 15 cases of IUGR pregnancy (including 4 cases of perinatal death), E2 levels were mostly low (less than M -- S.D.), E3 was within normal limits (M +/- S.D.) or low, and E4 was either high (greater than M + S.D.) or relatively low, and normal. In 9 cases of twin pregnancy, most E2 levels were within normal limits, while E3 and E4 were remarkedly high. The results signified that E2 indicated placental function, that E3 indicated placental and fetal function, and that E4 indicated fetal function.