Psychosomatic treatment of phantom limb pain with post-traumatic stress disorder: a case report.

The successful treatment of severe left lower limb phantom pain is reported. Hypnosis and antidepressant drugs were the basis for the treatment which controlled the phantom limb pain and an associated post-traumatic stress disorder.

Stimulative effects of lead on bone resorption in organ culture.

To clarify whether hypercalcemia after injection of Pb to rats is due to biological bone resorption or physicochemical mineral dissolution, the effect of lead (Pb) on release of previously incorporated 45Ca in organ culture was investigated. Pb at 50 microM and above stimulated the release of 45Ca and hydroxyproline (Hyp). Pb did not stimulate 45Ca release from the bones inactivated by freezing and thawing. Eel calcitonin (ECT), bafilomycin A1 and scopadulcic acid B (SDB) inhibited Pb-stimulated 45Ca release. These results indicate that Pb-induced 45Ca release is due to osteoclastic bone resorption. Pb-stimulated bone resorption was inhibited by indomethacin and flurbiprofen. Pb stimulated the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) from the bones into the media. There was significantly high correlation between 45Ca and PGE2 release. Pb-induced bone resorption was inferred to be mediated by PGE2. From these results, it was suggested that hypercalcemia after Pb injection might be caused by biological bone resorption.

Bone-resorbing activities of 24-epi-1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D2 and 24-epi-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2.

Bone-resorbing activities of 24-epi-1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D2 [24-epi-1 alpha(OH)D2], 24-epi-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 [24-epi-1,25(OH)2D2], and 1 alpha,24S,25-trihydroxyvitamin D2 [1,24S,25(OH)3D2], which might be a metabolite of 24-epi-1,25(OH)2D2, were investigated. In an in vitro bone resorption test, the activity of 24-epi-1 alpha(OH)D2 was similar to that of 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha(OH)D3] at 10(-9) M-10(-6) M. The activity of 24-epi-1,25(OH)2D2 was weaker than that of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] at 10(-11) M-10(-8) M. On the other hand, the activity of 1,24S,25(OH)3D2 was similar to that of 24-epi-1,25(OH)2D2 at 10(-11) M-10(-9) M. In the formation assay of osteoclast-like cells, the activity of 24-epi-1 alpha(OH)D2 was weaker than that of 1 alpha(OH)D3 at 10(-7) M. The activity of 24-epi-1,25(OH)2D2 was almost similar to that of 1,25(OH)2D3 at 10(-11) M-10(-7) M. The activity of 1,24S,25(OH)3D2 was significantly weaker than that of 24-epi-1,25(OH)2D2 at 10(-11) M-10(-9) M. In the two experiments, the potencies of 24-epi-1,25(OH)2D2 were about 100 times higher than those of 24-epi-1 alpha(OH)D2. In an in vivo/in vitro bone resorption test, the activity of 24-epi-1 alpha(OH)D2 was almost similar to those of 1 alpha(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 and higher than those of 24-epi-1,25(OH)2D2 and 1,24S,25(OH)3D2. 24-epi-1 alpha-(OH)D2 and 1 alpha(OH)D3 were longer lasting than 24-epi-1,25(OH)2D2 and 1,25(OH)2D3 in this experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium regulating activity of 26,27-dimethyl analog of 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

To determine the possibility that methyl substitution in 26- and 27-positions of 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24,25(OH)2D3] alters activities of the original compound, the effects of 24,25(OH)2D3 on calcium (Ca) regulating activity were compared with those of its methyl analog [24,25(OH)2(CH3)2D3] in addition to 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]. 24,25(OH)2D3 at 10(-6) M and 24,25(OH)2(CH3)2D3 at 10(-7) M and above significantly stimulated both bone resorption in neonatal mouse calvaria cultures and formation of osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (MNC) in mouse bone marrow cultures. A stimulative effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on bone resorption and MNC formation was recognized in very low concentrations (10(-11) M and above). Although a potency of 24,25(OH)2(CH3)2D3 in stimulating bone calcium (Ca) mobilization and intestinal Ca transport was higher than that of 24,25(OH)2D3, the potencies of both compounds were similar to that of 1,25(OH)2D3 unlike in vitro experiments. As 1,24R,25-trihydroxy-26,27-dimethylvitamin D3 showed almost the same effect as 24,25(OH)2(CH3)2D3, the dihydroxy form is suggested to be hydroxylated at 1 alpha position and converted to trihydroxy form in vitamin D-deficient rats. From these results, methyl substitution in 26- and 27-position of 24,25(OH)2D3 was found to elevate Ca regulating activity of the original compound. In addition, it is suggested that the basis for a similarity in potency between 1,25(OH)2D3 and 24,25(OH)2D3 or its dimethyl analog in vitamin D-deficient rats is likely the result of 1 alpha-hydroxylation.

Effects of lead on osteoclast-like cell formation in mouse bone marrow cell cultures.

To examine an effect of lead (Pb) on the process of osteoclast-like cell formation from its progenitors, we used a mouse bone marrow culture system in which osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (MNCs) were formed in response to bone-resorbing agents. In a 9-day culture period, Pb dose-dependently stimulated MNC formation over the concentration range 2-10 microM, whereas at 40 microM Pb, MNC formation declined. In an 11-day culture period, MNC formation reached a maximum at 5 microM Pb and decreased with increasing concentration of Pb at 10-40 microM. Pb-stimulated MNC formation was inhibited by both indomethacin and SC19220, an antagonist of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) receptor. Pb stimulated the production of PGE2 in marrow cell cultures, suggesting that Pb-stimulated MNC formation is dependent on the production of PGE2. 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine potentiated Pb-stimulated MNC formation and 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine, an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, inhibited it. A calcium ionophore A23187 increased Pb-induced MNC formation and verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, depressed it. It is possible that a PGE2-induced increase in the levels of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and calcium ions in marrow cells is involved in Pb-induced MNC formation. Pb and parathyroid hormone showed a synergistic stimulation on MNC formation. From these results, Pb is thought to induce osteoclast-like cell formation by a mechanism involving PGE2 which increases the intracellular levels of cAMP and calcium ions.

Calcium regulating activity of 24a-homo-24,24-difluoro-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 26,27-dimethyl-24,24-difluoro-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

Two fluoro analogs of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], 24a-homo-24,24-difluoro-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24aF2-homo-1,25(OH)2D3], and 26,27-dimethyl-24,24-difluoro-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24F2-1,25(OH)2(Me)2D3] were examined for calcium (Ca)-regulating activity. The objective of the present study was to determine whether or not fluoro substitution at 24-position would alter activities of the original compounds, that is, 26,27-dimethyl 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin. D3[1,25(OH)2(Me)2D3] and 24-homo-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24homo-1,25(OH)2D3], respectively. The relative activities of 24aF2-homo-1,25(OH)2D3, 24F2-1,25(OH)2(Me)2D3, and 1,25(OH)2D3 in competing with 1,25(OH)2D3 for binding to chick intestinal cytosol receptor were 0.28:0.5:1.0. The relative potencies of the same series of compounds in competition for the vitamin D-deficient rat serum binding sites were 0.04:0.15:1. Bone-resorbing activities of two fluoro analogs in cultures of neonatal mouse parietal bones were more potent than that of 1,25(OH)2D3. Similar results were recognized in stimulating activities of osteoclast-like cell formation. Responses of two fluoro analogs to intestinal Ca absorption were similar to that of 1,25(OH)2D3. The potencies of 1,25(OH)2D3 and its fluoro analogs in bone Ca mobilization were the highest with 1,25(OH)2D3, followed by 24F2-1,25(OH)2(Me)2D3 and 24aF2-homo-1,25(OH)2D3, in that order. From these results and the data of Paulson et al., fluoro substitution in 24-position of 1,25(OH)2D3 apparently does not alter their activities,hence, the fluoro substitution at 24-position of 1,25(OH)2D3 and the elongation of side chain of 1,25(OH)2D3 may not intensify Ca-regulating activity.