[Usefulness of one point measurement method of pediatric dose and UV spectrophotometry for filterability test of in-line filter].

The adsorption of Bevacizumab, Trastuzumab, Rituximab, Nedaplatin, Vincristine sulfate, Nogitecan hydrochloride, Actinomycin D and Ramosetron hydrochloride to 0.2 µm endotoxin-retentive in-line filters was evaluated with pediatric doses by UV spectrophotometry. The results indicated that some drug adsorption was shown with Nogitecan hydrochloride, Actinomycin D and Ramosetron hydrochloride, and good recovery was shown with the other five drugs. For the three drugs which showed some losses, drug recovery was investigated at multiple test doses. The approximation formula for each drug adsorption was recorded as Y=100-A/X (X: dose (mg), Y: recovery rate (%), A: a constant for individual drug). The results showed there was high correlation between the reciprocal of test drug dose and the recovery rate. Furthermore, in the cases where adsorption to the filter were observed, it was found that it was possible to determine the relationship between dose and the recovery rate from a filterability test with one point pediatric dose. Since the recovery rate obtained from the approximation formula with multiple doses and that calculated from the prediction formula with one point pediatric dose were almost the same, then it was concluded that it is not necessary to conduct the filterability tests with multiple doses. We have shown that using UV spectrophotometry and carrying out a filterability test using one point pediatric dose is relatively easy method and reduces the effort and expense. This method for analysis of drug adsorption is extremely useful when using in-line filters with infusion therapy.

Structural confirmation of oligosaccharides newly isolated from sugar beet molasses.

BACKGROUND: Sugar beet molasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar beets into sugar. The molasses is known to contain sucrose and raffinose, a typical trisaccharide, with a well-established structure. Although sugar beet molasses contains various other oligosaccharides as well, the structures of those oligosaccharides have not been examined in detail. The purpose of this study was isolation and structural confirmation of these other oligosaccharides found in sugar beet molasses. RESULTS: Four oligosaccharides were newly isolated from sugar beet molasses using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and carbon-Celite column chromatography. Structural confirmation of the saccharides was provided by methylation analysis, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionaization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. CONCLUSION: The following oligosaccharides were identified in sugar beet molasses: ß-D-galactopyranosyl-(1- > 6)-ß-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 <-> 1)-α-D-glucopyranoside (named ß-planteose), α-D-galactopyranosyl-(1- > 1)-ß-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 <-> 1)-α-D-glucopyranoside (named1-planteose), α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1- > 6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 <-> 2)-ß-D-fructofuranoside (theanderose), and ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1- > 3)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 <-> 2)-ß-D-fructofuranoside (laminaribiofructose). 1-planteose and laminaribiofructose were isolated from natural sources for the first time.

Bowman-birk proteinase inhibitor confers heavy metal and multiple drug tolerance in yeast.

Cultured Coptis japonica cells show tolerance to various toxic compounds. By yeast functional screening of cadmium (Cd) plates with its cDNA library, we isolated a gene encoding Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitor (CjBBI). The yeast transformant of CjBBI showed multiple tolerance to various drugs adding to Cd, and revealed reduced Cd accumulation in cells. Preferential organs for Cjbbi expression were aerial parts of intact plants, and the subcellular localization of CjBBI was shown, using its green fluorescent protein fusion, to be the apoplast. Induction of Cjbbi expression by Cd treatment suggested that CjBBI was responsible for the tolerance to Cd observed in C. japonica cells.