Establishment of enzyme immunoassay for measuring serum sultopride levels.

Measurement of serum sultopride levels was performed using an enzyme immunoassay. Little or no cross-reactivity with metabolites of sultopride and other drugs was found. The results of reproducibility, recovery, and dilution testing were all good enough for clinical use. A comparison between the measurement values of this method (y) with that of high-performance liquid chromatography (x) showed high correlation (n = 211, r = 0.991, p < 0.0001, y = 0.99x + 107.5). In a comparison between the sultopride dose and serum levels in 161 patients, interindividual differences were large (19 times for same doses), implying that the serum level cannot be predicted from the dosage. The method was found to be reliable for serum level measurements of sultopride and useful for monitoring compliance and assessing the optimal dose.

Carbon dioxide laser vaporization for turbinate: optimal conditions and indications.

UNLABELLED: Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser vaporization for turbinate has rapidly gained acceptance in Japan for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of laser output, patient age, and the presence of a deviated nasal septum on treatment outcome in patients with intractable allergic rhinitis. METHODS: The inferior turbinates were irradiated at an output of 3 or 5 W for 0.1 s. RESULTS: Of 67 patients, 43 (64.2%) were judged to have symptoms which improved markedly or moderately after a single treatment. Treatment was more effective with a laser output of 5 W than with an output of 3 W. However, treatment was judged less effective in patients aged 15 years or less than in older patients. The presence of a slightly deviated nasal septum had no effect on treatment outcome. CONCLUSION: Although assessing outcome on the basis of symptoms is difficult, we believe that these findings will suggest the optimal conditions and indications for laser surgery for allergic rhinitis.

Suppressed induction of 2-5AS in cells with HTLV-I is not associated with the fluctuation of IFN-receptor, IFN-regulatory factors (IRF-1 and IRF-2) or STAT-1 alpha.

Some viruses seem to be capable of suppressing interferon (IFN)-induced 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5AS) induction. Cells infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I) show different natures for the constitutive production of IFN-gamma or sensitivity to IFN. Poor induction of 2-5AS was found in IFN-gamma producer cells carrying HTLV-I (MT-1, MT-2 and SMT-1). On the other hand, in non- or low-producing cell lines of IFN-gamma such as HUT102 and OKM-2, significant activity of 2-5AS was induced by treatment with IFN-alpha. A satisfactory level of IFN receptor was detectable in SMT-1 cells in spite of the poor induction of 2-5AS. There were no differences in either the interferon regulatory factor-2 (IRF-2) mRNA transcript or the level of STAT-1 alpha between SMT-1 and HUT102 cells. However, the transcription of IRF-1 mRNA was slightly reduced in SMT-1 cells as compared with that of HUT102 cells.

Quantitation of a new potent angiotensin II receptor antagonist, TCV-116, and its metabolites in human serum and urine.

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is described for the determination of a new potent antihypertensive agent, TCV-116, and its two metabolites (M-I and M-II) in human serum or urine. After pre-treatment of the specimens, the analytes were determined using a column switching technique, except for the metabolites in urine which were determined by gradient elution mode HPLC. The quantitation limits for TCV-116, M-I and M-II were all 0.5 ng/ml in serum, and 0.5, 10 and 110 ng/ml in urine, respectively. The methods were applied to clinical trials of TCV-116.

Augmentation of interferon production after cell-differentiation of U937 cells by TPA.

Persistent infections with mumps virus were established in several human lymphoid cells of T-cell origin (Molt-4, TALL-1, and CCRF-CEM) and human monocyte cells (U937 and THP-1). 2',5'-Oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5AS) activity was demonstrated to be only slightly induced by interferon (IFN) or TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate) treatment in these cells. Treatment of the persistently infected cells with IFN or TPA did not stimulate an increase in the amount of synthetase mRNA. Induction of cell differentiation and augmentation of IFN production by TPA were demonstrated in U937 cells persistently infected with mumps virus (U937-MP). Similar results for IFN production were obtained from differentiated U937 cells. It is suggested that cell differentiation of U937 cells might be associated with the development of IFN inducibility.

Investigation of IFN type-I receptor and IFN regulatory factor expression relating to induction of 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase in cells persistently infected with the mumps virus.

Poor induction of interferon-induced 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5AS) activity has been demonstrated in cells persistently infected with the mumps virus or human T-lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I). The suppression of 2-5AS induction is the result of the repression of 2-5AS gene expression at the transcription level. In a general way, after the binding of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) to cell surface-specific receptors, expression of 2-5AS gene is thought to be regulated by some transacting factors, IFN-regulatory factors (IRF-1 and IRF-2) and the IFN-stimulated gene factor (ISGF-3, a complex consisting of STAT-1 alpha, STAT-2 and p48). To clarify the cause of the suppression mechanism(s), fluctuation in the number of IFN receptors and the levels of mRNAs in both IRF-1 and IRF-2 were examined in cells persistently infected with the mumps virus (FLMT and KBMT). There were few differences in the number of IFN receptors and the level of IRF-2 mRNA between persistently infected cells and uninfected control cells. After the treatment of cells with IFN, a slight reduction of IRF-1 mRNA was found in persistently infected cells as compared with that of the uninfected control cells.

Sensitive determination of methotrexate in monkey plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography using on-line solid-phase extraction.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the sensitive determination of methotrexate (MTX) in monkey plasma using direct injection and on-line solid-phase extraction. After application of a 100-microliters aliquot of plasma to a pre-treatment column, the column was washed with 0.02 M phosphate buffer (pH 7) to eliminate plasma proteins and endogenous substances, and subsequently the adsorbed MTX was eluted. The MTX fraction was transferred to an analytical column by a column-switching (heart-cutting) technique, and MTX was analyzed using ion-pair chromatography with tetrabutylammonium bromide. More than 50 injections could be performed onto one pretreatment column. The accuracy, precision, reproducibility and linearity were satisfactory over a wide range of MTX concentrations (5-1000 ng/ml). The quantitation limit was 5 ng/ml with a signal-to-noise ratio of 5. The method was suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of MTX in monkey.

Sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of chlorpheniramine in human serum using column switching.

A sensitive method for the determination of chlorpheniramine in human serum was developed using column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet detection at 210 nm. The analyte was extracted with diethyl ether from alkalinized serum. After evaporation of the organic layer, the reconstituted residue was analyzed by HPLC using a heart-cut technique. Good recoveries of the analyte from spiked human serum samples were obtained with a coefficient of variation below 7%. A good linear response was obtained for the concentration range 0.5-50 ng/ml, with a correlation coefficient higher than 0.999. The lower limit of quantitation for chlorpheniramine in human serum was 0.5 ng/ml. The method was satisfactorily applied to the determination of chlorpheniramine in human serum after oral administration of chlorpheniramine maleate.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of phenylephrine in human serum using column switching with fluorescence detection.

A method for the determination of total phenylephrine (free plus conjugated) in human serum was developed using column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. After serum was deproteinized with acetonitrile, the conjugated phenylephrine was hydrolyzed with diluted hydrochloric acid. The solution was evaporated to dryness. The reconstituted residue was analyzed with HPLC using a heart-cut technique. Good recoveries of the analytes from spiked human serum samples were obtained with small coefficients of variation. A good linear response was obtained for the concentration range 5-500 ng/ml. The lower limit of quantitation for phenylephrine in human serum was 5 ng/ml. The method was applied to the determination of phenylephrine in human serum after oral administration of phenylephrine hydrochloride.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of busulfan in human serum with on-line derivatization, column switching and ultraviolet absorbance detection.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is described for the determination of busulfan in human serum using on-line derivatization and column switching. Busulfan was extracted from serum with a mixture of diethyl ether and dichloromethane. After the evaporation of the organic layer, the reconstituted residue was injected into the HPLC system and busulfan was derivatized with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate on the first short column. The back-flushed derivative was then separated on the second column. Finally, after column switching, the heart-cut fraction containing the derivative was further analysed on the third column and monitored with ultraviolet absorbance detection at 278 nm. The lower limit of quantitation in serum was 10 ng/ml.

Sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of EM523, a new erythromycin derivative, in human plasma and urine with ultraviolet detection using column switching.

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method using column switching is described for the determination of EM523 (I), a new erythromycin derivative, in human plasma and urine. The analyte was extracted from alkalinized plasma or urine with a mixture of n-hexane and acetone. After the evaporation of the organic layer, the reconstituted residue was injected into the HPLC system and separated on the first column. After column switching, the heart-cut fraction contamination the analyte was further separated on the second column and monitored by ultraviolet absorbance at 210 nm. The detection limits were 1 ng/ml in plasma and 10 ng/ml in urine. The method was applied to the clinical trials of I.

Sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of 2,2'-[(2-aminoethyl)imino]diethanol bis(butylcarbamate) and its metabolites in human serum following pre-column derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde and stabilization of the derivatives.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the sensitive determination of 2,2'-[(2-aminoethyl)imino]diethanol bis(butylcarbamate) (I) and its metabolites in human serum has been developed. The method was based on a pre-column derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde. The derivatives were stabilized at least for 24 h at 4 degrees C by using N-acetyl-L-cysteine as a thiol and by eliminating the excess o-phthalaldehyde in the reaction mixture by solvent extraction and the addition of an ammonium salt after the reaction. The recoveries and reproducibilities in human serum spiked with I and its two metabolites were satisfactory, and the responses were linear over a wide range of analyte concentrations. The detection limits of I and its metabolites, II and III, in serum were 0.5, 4 and 2 ng/ml, respectively, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 5. The method was satisfactorily applied to the clinical study of I.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the nontoxic component of Clostridium botulinum type E progenitor toxin.

We have analysed the genes borne on a 6.0 kb HindIII fragment cloned from the chromosome of Clostridium botulinum type E strain Mashike. This fragment, cloned within plasmid pU9EMH, contains part of the structural gene for botulinum toxin type E neurotoxin as well as the entire structural gene for a nontoxic component of botulinum type E progenitor neurotoxin gene, ent-120. ent-120 is transcribed in the same direction as the neurotoxin gene and consists of one open reading frame encoding 1162 amino acid residues. Western blotting with anti-nontoxic component sera demonstrates that ent-120 encodes a protein of 120 kDa which forms part of the nontoxic component. ent-120 is homologous to an analogous gene found in botulinum type C strains (69.3% identity at the nucleotide level and 56.1% at the amino acid level). Two stretches of amino acids at the N-terminus of the ent-120 protein are highly homologous to amino acid sequences within the type E neurotoxin. The stop codon of the ent-120 gene is situated 27 nucleotides upstream from the start codon of the neurotoxin gene.

Similarity in nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding nontoxic component of botulinum toxin produced by toxigenic Clostridium butyricum strain BL6340 and Clostridium botulinum type E strain Mashike.

The complete nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of the nontoxic component of botulinum type E progenitor toxin is determined in recombinant plasmid pU9BUH containing about 6.0 kb HindIII fragment obtained from chromosomal DNA of Clostridium butyricum strain BL6340. The open reading frame (ORF) of this nontoxic component gene is composed of 3,486 nucleotide bases (1,162 amino acid residues). The molecular weight calculated from deduced amino acid residues is estimated 13,6810.1. The present study revealed that 33 nucleotide bases of 3,486 are different in the nontoxic component gene between C. butyricum strain BL6340 and C. botulinum type E strain Mashike. This corresponds to the difference of 17 amino acid residues in these nontoxic component.

Analysis of phage M13mp2 mutants produced from transfection of phage DNA having N4-aminocytosines at defined sequence positions.

N4-Aminocytidine is mutagenic in various organisms. In the cell, this cytidine analog is metabolized into N4-aminodeoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate, which will then be incorporated into DNA and mutation will result during the replication of the DNA. To prove that the N4-aminocytosine residue in DNA is indeed the site of mutagenesis, we prepared a series of phage M13mp2 DNA samples that bear N4-aminocytosine residues at a few defined positions in the lacZ alpha region, by carrying out in vitro limited extension of primed phage DNA. We then transfected the DNAs to Escherichia coli and examined the progeny phages for the forward mutations. The M13mp2 DNAs bearing N4-aminocytosines produced mutant phages at high frequencies. Furthermore, DNA sequencing of the resulting mutants demonstrated that both AT-to-GC and GC-to-AT mutations took place at those positions where N4-aminocytosine residues were originally present.

Automated high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of cefotiam and delta 3-cefotiam in human plasma using column switching.

An automated high-performance liquid chromatographic method using column switching was established for the simultaneous determination of cefotiam (I) and delta 3-cefotiam (II) in human plasma after oral administration of cefotiam hexetil dihydrochloride. The method allowed the determination of analytes in plasma by the direct injection of diluted specimen with phosphate buffer. The analytes were enriched onto the C18 short pretreatment column by 0.05 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.7), while proteins and endogenous hydrophilic substances in plasma were washed off to waste. The enriched analytes were then back-flushed onto the analytical C18 column, separated by a mixture of 0.05 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.7)-acetonitrile (88:12, v/v) and detected by the ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm. Recoveries from spiked plasma were quantitative, and the coefficients of variation were below 4%. The lower detection limits in plasma were 10 ng/ml for both I and II. Concentrations of I and II in plasma determined by the present method were in good agreement with those obtained by the conventional deproteinization method.

Determination of manidipine enantiomers in human serum using chiral chromatography and column-switching liquid chromatography.

A stereoselective and highly sensitive method using chiral chromatography and successive column-switching liquid chromatography is described for the determination of manidipine enantiomers in human serum. A human serum sample obtained after ingestion of manidipine was extracted twice with a mixture of n-hexane-diethyl ether under alkaline conditions. The enantiomers in the extract were separated on a chiral stationary phase column (Chiralcel OJ), and the effluents containing the respective enantiomers were collected. Each fraction was then analysed by column-switching liquid chromatography. The proposed stereoselective method offered high sensitivity: detection limits for both isomers were 0.2 ng/ml in human serum, both at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The method is suitable for the pharmacokinetic studies of manidipine enantiomers.

Cloning and whole nucleotide sequence of the gene for the light chain component of botulinum type E toxin from Clostridium butyricum strain BL6340 and Clostridium botulinum type E strain Mashike.

Chromosomal DNAs were extracted from Clostridium butyricum strain BL6340 and Clostridium botulinum type E strain Mashike. The 6.0 Kbp fragment coding for the entire light chain (L) component and the N-terminus of heavy chain (H) component of botulinum type E toxin was obtained from each extracted DNAs after digestion with HindIII. The entire nucleotide sequences for the light chain components of these cloned genes were determined, and the derived amino acid sequences were compared to each other, and with those of botulinum type A, C1, D, and tetanus toxins reported previously. The cleavage site of L and H components of type E toxin was presumed to be Arg-422. In a total of 422 amino acid residues of L component, 17 residues were different between butyricum and type E toxins, and all these differences were found within 200 residues of N-terminus of L component. On the contrary, five regions showing highly homologous sequences were found in L components among these six toxins, and one more region between botulinum type E and tetanus toxins.

Oligo-2',5'-adenylate synthetase activity in cells persistently infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I).

Spontaneous production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was shown in several T-lymphoblastoid cell lines persistently infected with human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1). However, the produced IFN-gamma was not always associated with the induction of the antivirus state. The induction of oligo-2',5'-adenylate synthetase (2-5AS) by IFN was studied in five human T-cell lines persistently infected with HTLV-I (MT-1, MT-2, SMT-1, HUT 102 and OKM-2). Four cell lines are able to produce IFN-gamma spontaneously, while the OKM-2 cell line is not. Poor induction of 2-5AS was recognized in three (MT-1, MT-2 and SMT-1) of the four cell lines producing IFN-gamma, though the poor induction was improved after long-term cultivation of cells with IFN-alpha. On the contrary, in the OKM-2 cell line, significant activity of the enzyme was induced by IFN-alpha. Induction of 2-5AS was not correlated with cell growth inhibition, but with the antivirus state. Furthermore, an inverse relationship between IFN-gamma production and 2-5AS induction was demonstrated in these cell lines with the exception of HUT 102 cells.