Effects of bisphosphonates on human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell survival.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most malignant cancers in Japan. Anticancer chemotherapy has been useful for ESCC treatment. However, therapeutic options are limited. Recently, bisphosphonates (BPs), which are osteoporosis drugs, have shown anticancer effects in several cancer cell lines, but the effects against ESCC cell lines are unknown. In this study, we examined the cytotoxic effects of BPs and their mechanisms of cytotoxicity in human ESCC cell lines. A first-generation BP (etidronate), two second-generation BPs (alendronate and pamidronate), and two third-generation BPs (risedronate and zoledronate) were used in this study. All BPs, except etidronate, were cytotoxic, as indicated by increased caspase-3/7 activity and numbers of Annexin-fluorescein isothiocyanate positive cells in ESCC cell lines. From cell cycle analysis, G0/G1-phase arrest was observed upon treatment with second- and third-generation BPs. In addition, Cyclin D1 protein expression levels were decreased by second- and third-generation BP treatment. Although squalene and trans, trans-farnesol minimally affected BP cytotoxicity, treatment with geranylgeraniol inhibited BP cytotoxicity almost completely. We concluded that second- and third-generation BPs are cytotoxic to ESCC cell lines as they induce apoptosis and inhibit the cell cycle through mevalonate pathway inhibition. Therefore, BP treatment may be a beneficial therapy in ESCC patients.

Chlorination by-products of fenitrothion.

The mutagens produced through chemical reaction between chlorine and the insecticide fenitrothion were studied by using a quadrupole GC-MS. The mutagenicity and the mutagen formation potential (MFP) of the identified by-products were evaluated by the Ames assay (preincubation method) using Salmonella typhimurium TA100 without exogenous activation by S9 mix (TA100-S9). Before conducting GC/MS analyses, six compounds were presumed to be produced in chlorinated fenitrothion. These compounds were confirmed to be produced by the GC/MS analyses, but none of them were mutagenic. One of the chlorination by-products, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, has 19 times greater MFP than that of fenitrothion. This result suggests that a major mutagen in chlorinated fenitrothion will be produced via a chemical reaction between chlorine and 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol.

Mitemcinal (GM-611), an orally active motilin agonist, facilitates defecation in rabbits and dogs without causing loose stools.

The effects of mitemcinal (GM-611), an orally active motilin agonist, on defecation were investigated in rabbits and dogs. In normal rabbits, within 0-3 h of dosing, orally administered mitemcinal (2.5-10 mg kg(-1)) increased stool weight in a dose-dependent manner without causing loose stools. Sennoside (12-48 mg kg(-1)) also facilitated defecation within 2-9 h of oral administration, but the stools were significantly loosened. In the morphine-induced constipation model, the stool weight of morphine-treated rabbits (1 mg kg(-1)) was only 37.5% of that of untreated animals. Mitemcinal (0.5-20 mg kg(-1)) dose-dependently increased stool weight without increasing stool water content. At the highest dose of mitemcinal, stool weight recovered to 83.9% of that of untreated animals. In normal dogs, mitemcinal (0.3-3 mg kg(-1)) reduced the time to first bowel movement after oral administration without inducing diarrhoea at any dose. These results indicate that mitemcinal facilitates defecation without inducing severe diarrhoea. It is suggested that mitemcinal may be a novel therapeutic agent for constipation that enables easier control of the timing of defecation because of the early onset and short duration of its action, compared with sennoside.

Mitemcinal (GM-611), an orally active motilin receptor agonist, accelerates colonic motility and bowel movement in conscious dogs.

The prokinetic effects of mitemcinal, an orally active motilin receptor agonist, on the lower gastrointestinal tracts were investigated in conscious dogs. Oral administration of mitemcinal (0.1-1 mg/kg) stimulated colonic motility, which was measured by chronically implanted force-transducers, as well as gastric motility in a dose-dependent manner. The gastrointestinal contractile activities induced by mitemcinal were inhibited by the continuous intravenous infusion of GM-109, a selective motilin receptor antagonist. Oral administration of mitemcinal (0.3-3 mg/kg) also accelerated bowel movement after feeding without inducing diarrhea in dogs. The results demonstrate that mitemcinal stimulates colonic motility via motilin receptors and the effect of mitemcinal on colonic motility may reflect bowel movement after feeding. Thus, mitemcinal could be a promising agent for treatment of not only the upper but also the lower gastrointestinal motility disorders.

Arsenic removal from groundwater by a newly developed adsorbent.

A novel adsorbent, which had been developed for phosphate adsorption, was adopted for arsenic removal from groundwater. Adsorption isotherm, pH dependence of the isotherm and adsorption rate were studied by batch method. Furthermore, by using a granular adsorbent of 1.8 mm diameter which is commercially available, lab-scale experiments of continuous adsorption treatment of actual groundwater containing arsenic at 50 mg m(-3) were conducted to examine the performance of the adsorbent. A large amount of arsenic, i.e., 10 g As kg(-1), was adsorbed at pH 7.0 and 10 mg As m(-3) in equilibrium concentration. It was only a 5% higher amount compared to conventional activated alumina. However, twice the bed volume, i.e., total volume of effluent divided by empty column volume, was achieved till breakthrough by using this novel adsorbent. This may be because the pH decrease, which enlarges apparent adsorption capacity of the adsorbent, is caused by a self-pH decrease function of the adsorbent. The self-pH decrease function must be delivered by dissociation of Al (III) aquoion. The proton release was clearly observed in batch experiments.

Denitrification of industrial wastewater with sulfur and limestone packed column.

An autotrophic denitrification system was developed for nitrate contaminated industrial wastewater whose C/N ratio was very low. The microbes containing Thiobacillus denitrificans as a dominant species were attached on the surface of granular elemental sulfur packed in a column. Elemental sulfur was used as an electron donor for autotrophic denitrification. The granules of limestone were mixed with the granular sulfur to moderate the decrease of alkalinity during autotrophic denitrification. The stoichiometry and basic kinetics of denitrification were studied in column runs. The effects of minerals such as phosphorus on treatment performance were clarified. The wastewater from steel production plants was treated by the present biofilm process. Low extent of nitrogen removal was caused by the lack of minerals.

Removal of mutagen precursor from wastewater by activated sludge and oxidation treatment.

Removal of mutagen precursors from wastewaters was investigated. Removal extent of mutagen precursor was evaluated by the mutagen formation potential (MFP) which is mutagenicity of pollutants capable of forming mutagens when chlorinated under the conditions of water purification processes. 77% of the MFP reduction extent for a wastewater from a university was achieved by activated sludge treatment. However, no significant reduction of the MFP was observed for wastewater from food industry, a landfill leachate and mold extract. The Fenton oxidation treatment and ozone treatment are able to remove mutagen precursors from the mold extract and the wastewater from a university, respectively. 90% of the MFP reduction extent was achieved for the mold extract by the Fenton treatment. 54% of the MFP reduction extent was achieved for a sewage by the ozone treatment. Using the oxidation treatments, biodegradability of mutagen precursors in the mold extract and sewage was improved. From the viewpoint of treatment cost, the oxidation treatments should be oriented to the improvement of biodegradability.

Method for measuring mutagen formation potential (MFP) on chlorination as a new water quality index.

A novel water quality index, the mutagen formation potential (MFP) is proposed for use in evaluation of the quality of drinking water which may contain pollutants capable of forming mutagens when chlorinated under the conditions used in water purification processes. A method for measuring MFP was established as follows. The water sample to be tested is diluted until the TOC reaches 3-4 mg l-1, the pH is adjusted to 7.0 +/- 0.2, sodium hypochlorite is added to obtain conditions where Cl/TOC = 3-4 mg Cl (mg C)-1, and the water sample is left standing for 24 +/- 2 h at room temperature. Thereafter, 21 of the chlorinated water sample at pH 2.0 +/- 0.1 is passed through a Sep-Pak Plus CSP-800 cartridge to adsorb any mutagens formed, and DMSO is applied to the cartridge to desorb the mutagens. Then, a 2 ml sample of the eluate is collected after the DMSO had begun to flow out of the cartridge and evaluated by the Ames Salmonella mutagenicity assay (preincubation method).

Anti-apolipoprotein A-I autoantibody: characterization of monoclonal autoantibodies from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: The autoantibody to apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), a major constituent of high density lipoproteins (HDL), has been detected in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We established a series of monoclonal anti-apoA-I antibodies (MAAI) from 2 patients with SLE and report the reactivities of MAAI with oxidized HDL, anionic substances, and blood coagulation factors. METHODS: Peripheral blood B cells from patients with SLE were immortalized by Epstein-Barr virus, and B cells secreting anti-apoA-I antibodies (AAI) were fused with mouse myeloma cells. Six MAAI reactive with human apoA-I in both ELISA and immunoblotting analysis were established. The reactivities of MAAI with HDL, ssDNA and dsDNA, phospholipids such as cardiolipin (CL), and coagulation factors were examined by ELISA. RESULTS: Although all MAAI bound effectively to apoA-I after the protein had been denatured and transferred to the filter membrane (in immunoblotting analyses), they bound less effectively to apoA-I present in HDL. Both oxidation of HDL in the presence of Mn2+ and an association of apoA-I with autoxidized trilinolein strongly enhanced the binding of MAAI to apoA-I, suggesting that MAAI recognize a defined region of apoA-I, which is exposed upon interacting with oxidatively modified lipids. MAAI showed a functional heterogeneity in their cross-reactivity with self-components: some MAAI were shown to cross-react with anionic substances such as CL and ssDNA, and one MAAI was shown to bind effectively to thrombin. CONCLUSION: We identified a novel family of AAI that shows preferential binding to apoA-I in oxidatively modified HDL. These AAI are composed of antibodies with heterogeneous cross-reactivities to various self-components such as anionic phospholipids, ssDNA, and thrombin.

Design and synthesis of N-terminal cyclic motilin partial peptides: a novel pure motilin antagonist.

Motilin antagonist was designed and synthesized on the basis of the structure-activity relationship analysis of porcine motilin that we reported recently. The drug design was performed on a specific concept to reduce a flexibility of peptide conformation of porcine motilin partial peptide by its cyclization. The cyclic peptide was synthesized using Boc (tert-butyloxycarbonyl) solid phase methodology, followed by cyclization using the azide procedure, and tested for the binding activity to motilin receptor and smooth muscle contractile activity. The cyclic peptides 3, 4, and 5 showed antagonistic property on contraction assay (pA2 [the negative logarithm of molar concentration of antagonist causing a 2-hold shift to the right of the concentration-response curve for motilin]: 4.5, 4.34, and 4.04, respectively, in rabbit duodenum) and no contractile activity even at high concentration.

Contractile effects and intracellular Ca2+ signalling induced by motilin and erythromycin in the circular smooth muscle of human colon.

Motilin has excitatory effects on the colon of the rabbit and the dog, but little is known of its effect on the human colon. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects induced by motilin and erythromycin A (EMA) on muscle strips and on single cells from primary cultures from human colon. Isotonic contraction was recorded in circular muscle strips from macroscopically normal resection specimens of patients operated on for colonic neoplasm. Agonist-induced intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) signalling was studied in primary cultures of colonic smooth-muscle cells using the ratiometric Ca2+ indicator Indo 1, on a laser-scanning confocal epifluorescence microscope. In circular muscle strips, norleucine13-porcine motilin ([Nle13]-pm)and EMA induced tonic contractions with an EC50 of 92 +/- 21 nmol L(-1) and 31 +/- 16 micromol L(-1), respectively. The maximal contraction was 21 +/- 4% (motilin) and 33 +/- 12% (EMA) of the response to 10(-4) mol L(-1) acetylcholine (ACh). The motilin antagonist OHM-11526 (10(-5.5) mol L(-1)) abolished the effects of both [Nle13]-pm and EMA. Neither tetrodotoxin (10(-5.5) mol L(-1)), L-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (10(-3.5) mol L(-1)) nor guanethidine (10(-5) mol L(-1)) interfered with the effects of [Nle13]-pm or EMA. [Nle13]-pm (10(-11)-10(-6) mol L(-1)) induced rises of [Ca2+]i in cultured colonic myocytes. At 10(-6) mol L-1, 94% of the cells responded, and half of the cells responded at 1.4 nmol L(-1) [Nle13]-pm. 81% (35/43) and 95% (75/79) responded to EMA (10(-6) mol L(-1)) and acetylcholine (ACh, 10(-4) mol L(-1)), respectively. The motilin antagonist GM-109 inhibited motilin- and EMA-induced [Ca2+]i rises. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, only 13% (7/52) of the cells responded to [Nle13]-pm (10(-6) mol L(-1)) vs. 90% (47/52) to ACh (10(-4) mol L(-1)). Motilin and EMA have direct excitatory effects on circular smooth muscle from the human colon and these effects are mediated via a smooth-muscle motilin receptor. These findings suggest that motilin may regulate colonic motility and that motilides may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of colonic hypomotility.

[Intraperitoneal cisplatin chemotherapy for ovarian cancer].

It is well known that the 5-year survival rate of advanced ovarian cancer patients greatly improved after the appearance of cisplatin. Recently, paclitaxel has been reported to be effective in the treatment of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer. However, control of intraperitoneal lesions is still the biggest problem in this treatment, and attention is focused on the development of effective approaches. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is considered to be a mode of administration expected to have a direct effect on ovarian cancer by penetrating the tumor and an indirect effect via blood vessels. We examined the outcome and adverse drug reactions in 102 ovarian cancer patients who underwent repeated intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin in our hospital between April 1987 and April 1999. We confirmed that this method may greatly improve the five-year survival rate compared to intravenous administration.

Comparative study of lymphocyte-suppressive potency between prednisolone and methylprednisolone in rheumatoid arthritis.

We compared lymphocyte-suppressive potencies of prednisolone and methylprednisolone in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). IC(50)s of the glucocorticoids (GCs) on concanavalin A-induced blastogenesis of peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 44 RA patients and 30 healthy subjects were estimated in vitro, and differences in the IC(50)s of the two GCs were evaluated. The mean (+/-SD) IC(50)s for prednisolone and methylprednisolone on PBMC-blastogenesis of RA were 17.2+/-17.1 and 12.6+/-18.4 ng/ml, respectively, and no significant differences were observed between prednisolone-IC(50) and methylprednisolone-IC(50). In contrast, the mean IC(50)s of prednisolone and methylprednisolone on healthy PBMCs were 19.4+/-22. 4 and 3.7+/-3.9 ng/ml, respectively, and thus methylprednisolone potency was significantly higher than prednisolone potency (p<0.01). Methylprednisolone potency against PBMCs in RA patients exhibiting a high level of rheumatoid factor (RF) (>20 IU/ml) and the rheumatoid arthritis particle-agglutination value (RAPA) (>80) was significantly higher than that of patients exhibiting a lower level of RF or RAPA (p<0.05). In prednisolone-IC(50), however, such differences between the two patient-subgroups were not observed. Unlike reported cases of renal transplantation and healthy subjects, there was no difference in the lymphocyte-suppressive potencies for both prednisolone and methylprednisolone on RA-PBMCs. However, PBMCs from RA patients exhibiting high levels of RF or RAPA are more sensitive to methylprednisolone rather than prednisolone.

Neural and muscular receptors for motilin in the rabbit colon.

Motilin receptors were classically recognized in the gastroduodenal area, where they help to regulate interdigestive motility. More recently, motilin receptors were identified in the colon where their biologic significance remains unclear. We aimed here to characterize the motilin receptors of the rabbit colon. Distal colon and duodenum were obtained from sacrificed rabbits. Tissues homogenized by Polytron were submitted to differential centrifugation to obtain neural synaptosomes or smooth muscle plasma membranes enriched solutions. Motilin binding to these membranes was determined by the displacement of (125)I MOT by the native peptide MOT 1-22, or by peptide analogues MOT 1-12 [CH(2)NH](10-11) or GM-109 and by erythromycin derivative GM-611. Motilin binding capacity was maximum in colon nerves (49.5 +/- 6.5 fmol/mg protein vs. 19.9 +/- 2.5 in colon muscles or 9.4 +/- 2.8 and 6.6 +/- 1.2 in duodenal muscles and antral nerves respectively); all tissues expressed similar affinity for MOT 1-22, and the motilin agonist GM-611 bound equally to neural or muscle tissues from the rabbit colon; the synthetic antagonist MOT 1-12 [CH(2)NH](10-11) showed greater affinity for colon nerves than for colon muscles (plC50: 7.23 +/- 0.07 vs. 6.75 +/- 0.03). Similar results were obtained with the peptide antagonist GM-109; receptor affinity toward MOT 1-12 [CH(2)NH(10-11)] was always five times superior in neural tissues, whether they came from the colon or the antrum, than in muscle tissues, whether they were obtained from colon or from duodenum. Motilin receptors are found in very high concentration in nerves and in muscles from rabbit colon; specific motilin receptor subtypes are identified in nerves (N) and muscles (M) of the rabbit colon; N and M receptor subtypes seem independent of the organ location.

Structure-activity study of intact porcine motilin.

Biologically important sites on intact porcine motilin (pMTL) were explored using its partial peptides. The partial peptides were synthesized using Fmoc (9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl) solid phase methodology, and tested for the binding activity to motilin receptor and the smooth muscle contractile activity. The results were as follows: important residues for the contractile activity were found to be Phe1, Ile4, and Tyr7, and an open space existed beyond the N-terminus between motilin and its receptor. On the model of interaction between motilin and motilin receptor evolved from these results, the three points of interaction, due to Phe1, Ile4, and Tyr7, and the presence of an open space were expected. The motilin agonist and antagonist, designed on this model, will help the inquiry into motilin associated diseases.

Frigen II improves the reliability of measurement of interleukin-1 related substances in amniotic fluid.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the role of interleukin-1 related substances in amniotic fluid in normal term labor without intrauterine infection. METHODS: Amniotic fluid samples were collected from forty-one patients with various backgrounds. A novel pre-assay treatment using Frigen II was introduced to improve the recovery rates of cytokines, i.e., interleukin-1alpha, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, prior to ELISA assay. Urine samples from newborn infants were also tested. RESULTS: The concentrations of interleukin-1alpha, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-1ra were significantly higher in samples from normal vaginal delivery. The higher levels of interleukin-1alpha were also observed in samples from preterm labor without infection. Preterm infants produced more of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in urine compared with term infants. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of the possible involvement of interleukin-1 related substances in labor without signs of infection. The data from newborn urine suggests that amniotic interleukin-1ra originates from the fetus. However, amniotic fluid interleukin-1alpha and interleukin-1beta may be derived from maternal tissue, such as decidua.

Effect of icatibant, a bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, on the development of experimental ulcerative colitis in mice.

Dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice has been recognized as a model for human ulcerative colitis. Using this model, we carried out a study on the preventive effect of Icatibant, a bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist previously called HOE 140, on the development of colitis. Subcutaneous administration of Icatibant (0.3 or 1.5 mg/kg) significantly suppressed shortening of the large intestine and worsening of the general health. Oral administration of Icatibant (50 mg/kg) significantly suppressed shortening of the large intestine, the onset of diarrhea, and worsening of the general health. In addition, the oral treatment significantly inhibited the development of colitis that was observed histopathologically. These results indicate a role of BK in the development of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice, and suggest that BK could be important in human ulcerative colitis.

Statistical procedures for estimating the detection limit and determination limit of the Ames Salmonella mutagenicity assay.

Novel and flexible procedures for estimating the detection limit as well as the determination limit of the Ames mutagenicity assay were proposed to evaluate the genetoxicity of a water sample. The accumulated data under the test conditions of TA 100-S9 by our group were taken as examples and analyzed to estimate the detection limit and the determination limit. The detection limit was estimated at 1.7 as the MR value when duplicate plates were used in the negative control test. However, it decreased to 1.4 as the MR level when quadruple plates were used in the negative control test. Therefore it was found that the sensitivity of the Ames mutagenicity assay was improved very easily by increasing the number of plates for the negative control test from two to four. The application of the conventional twofold rule to the data obtained with the strain TA100 was considered too conservative. The determination limit was regarded at 2.2 as the MR value under the following conditions: (a) quadruple plates were used in the negative control test; (b) three dose-steps including negative control step were designed at regular intervals; and (c) duplicate plates were used for each dose-step. It was proved by comparing data of two students that the detection limit and the determination limit estimated in this study were considered acceptable to any well trained students.

Effect of dual inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase and aromatase on spontaneously developed canine prostatic hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to assess the effect of dual inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase and aromatase on prostate glands. METHODS: We investigated the morphological changes in the prostate gland and the changes in the hormonal environment after administration of finasteride and arimidex to intact canine specimens. The study consisted of four groups: a 5-alpha-reductase only group (5RI only, n = 5); a 5RI plus aromatase-inhibitor combination group (5RI + ARI combination, n = 5); a BPH control group (n = 3); and a castration control group (n = 3). Finasteride (1 mg/kg/day) and the same dose of arimidex were orally administered for 80 days. RESULTS: In the 5RI group, a significant decrease in the serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) level was found, and prostatic volume was significantly decreased. However, significant increases in serum testosterone (T) and DHT levels were observed, with a concomitant increase in prostatic volume in the 5RI + ARI combination group. Morphometric analysis showed that histopathological findings in the 5RI + ARI combination group were similar to those in the BPH control group. CONCLUSIONS: Dual inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase and aromatase resulted in a significant increase in prostate volume, accompanied by a 3-10-fold increase in serum testosterone levels and a significant increase in testicular volume.