An origin of excess vibrational entropies at grain boundaries in Al, Si and MgO: a first-principles analysis with lattice dynamics.

First-principles lattice dynamics is applied to symmetric tilt grain boundaries (GBs) in Al, Si and MgO, with the goal of revealing critical factors in determining excess vibrational entropies at the atomic level. Excess vibrational entropies at GBs are found to vary depending on the substances. Al GBs tend to show larger excess entropies and hence larger temperature dependence of the GB free energies than those in Si and MgO. Most of the Si GBs show small excess entropies. For Al and MgO, atom-projected vibrational entropies are well correlated with bond-length changes at GB cores, and have large positive values as bond lengths increase for GB atoms. This demonstrates that a similar mechanism likely dominates excess vibrational entropies of GBs for both substances, despite their dissimilar bonding nature. For Si GBs, atoms with threefold coordination do not simply follow such a correlation, implying the importance of other factors that are different from bond-length changes. These systematic comparisons will be a foothold for understanding a physical origin of excess entropies at GBs even in more complex substances.

Pharmacokinetic modelling of serum and bronchial concentrations for clarithromycin and telithromycin, and site-specific pharmacodynamic simulation for their dosages.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Clinical pharmacokinetic profiles of clarithromycin and telithromycin in bronchopulmonary sites have not been fully characterized. This study aimed to describe in more detail the pharmacokinetics of the two macrolides in epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of human bronchi and to evaluate their pharmacodynamic target attainment at this site. METHODS: Previously reported drug concentration data for serum and ELF were simultaneously fitted to a three-compartment pharmacokinetic model using nonmem program. The model parameter estimates were used for site-specific pharmacodynamic simulation. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Population mean parameters for clarithromycin were as follows: distribution volumes of central, peripheral and ELF compartments (V1 /F, V2 /F and V3 /F) = 204·7, 168·9 and 67·1 L; clearance (CL/F) = 34·4 L/h; absorption rate constant (Ka ) = 0·680 1/h; transfer rate constants connecting compartments (K12 , K21 , K13 and K31  = 0·0193, 0·434, 0·667 and 0·260 1/h, respectively). Mean parameters for telithromycin were as follows: V1 /F, V2 /F and V3 /F = 370·3, 290·3 and 213·8 L; CL/F = 89·5 L/h; Ka  = 0·740 1/h; K12 , K21 , K13 and K31  = 0·0026, 1·044, 0·758 and 0·158 1/h, respectively. Using these parameters, the mean ELF/serum ratio in the area under drug concentration-time curve (AUC) was 7·80 for clarithromycin and 8·05 for telithromycin. Clarithromycin achieved a ≥ 90% probability of attaining a pharmacodynamic target [AUC/minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 100] in ELF against bacterial isolates for which MICs were ≤0·5 and ≤1 mg/L for twice-daily doses of 250 and 500 mg, respectively. For telithromycin, once-daily doses of 600 and 800 mg achieved a ≥90% probability in ELF against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Moraxella catarrhalis isolates but not Haemophilus influenzae isolates. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: These results should provide a better understanding of the bronchial pharmacokinetics of clarithromycin and telithromycin, while also providing useful information about their dosages for respiratory tract infections based on site-specific pharmacodynamic evaluation. Further studies in a large number of patients are needed to confirm our findings and clarify their therapeutic implications.

Peritoneal pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic target attainment of meropenem in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Although meropenem is commonly used for intra-abdominal infections, its penetration into the abdominal cavity is not well understood. Meropenem (500 mg) was administered intravenously to 8 patients with inflammatory bowel diseases undergoing laparotomy. The drug concentrations were analyzed and used for a Monte Carlo simulation with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data. Meropenem concentrations in peritoneal fluid (PF) and plasma were similar at 1 h after the end of a 0.5-h infusion. The probabilities of target achievement of drug concentrations over the MIC in PF for 40% of the dosing interval with 500 mg every 8 h and 1000 mg every 8 h, were 84% and 90% against Bacteroides spp., 98% and 99% against Escherichia coli , and 76% and 83% against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. In conclusion, meropenem penetrated PF well, and 500 mg every 8 h or 1000 mg every 8 h would be suitable for the therapy for intraabdominal infections.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of meropenem in the cerebrospinal fluid of neurosurgical patients.

This study examined the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of meropenem in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Meropenem (0.5 g every 8 h) was administered by 0.5-h infusion to six neurosurgical patients. Lumbar CSF and venous blood samples were obtained at 0.5-16 h after the start of the first infusion. Drug concentrations in the CSF and plasma were analyzed pharmacokinetically and used for a Monte Carlo simulation with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data of clinical isolates in Japan. Meropenem penetrated into the CSF with the area under the drug concentration-time curve ratio of 0.10 +/- 0.03 (mean +/- SD) and the repeated infusions caused the drug concentration in the CSF to accumulate slightly. Against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Escherichia coli isolates, 0.5 g q8h achieved a >90% probability of pharmacodynamic target (50% of the time above MIC) attainment, and 1 g q8h was needed for a >90% probability of target (100% of the time above MIC) attainment. However, against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 2 g q8h achieved a lower probability of target attainment. These results should help us to better elucidate the pharmacokinetics of meropenem in the cerebrospinal space while also helping us to choose the appropriate drug dosages for the management of bacterial meningitis.

Penetration and exposure of cefotiam into the peritoneal fluid of abdominal surgery patients after intravenous administration.

The present study aimed to examine the peritoneal pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic exposure of intravenous cefotiam. One gram of cefotiam was administered to eight patients before abdominal surgery. Venous blood and peritoneal fluid (PF) samples were obtained at the end of infusion (0.5 h) and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 h afterwards. The drug concentrations in the plasma and PF were determined, analyzed pharmacokinetically, and used for a stochastic simulation with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data. Cefotiam penetrated well into the PF with the area under the drug concentration-time curve ratio of 0.88 +/- 0.18 (mean +/- SD, n = 8). Regarding the pharmacodynamic exposures against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species, the probabilities of attaining the bacteriostatic target (40% of the time above MIC) in the PF using 0.5 g every 12 h, 1 g every 12 h, and 2 g every 12 h were 88.3-93.6%. However, 1 g every 8 h was needed for 89.7 and 91.6% probabilities of attaining the bactericidal target (70% of the time above MIC). These results should help us to understand better the peritoneal pharmacokinetics of cefotiam while also helping us to choose the appropriate dosage for intra-abdominal infections.

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analysis of voriconazole in Japanese patients with hematological malignancies.

Voriconazole has been shown to be safe and effective for fungal infection. However, its population pharmacokinetics for patients with hematological malignancies remains unknown. We performed a population pharmacokinetics study of nine hematological patients with 36 points samples. We approximated the drug concentration curve using a linear one-compartment model. The distribution of volume (Vd), elimination rate constant, and clearance (CL) were 68.7 L, 0.163 h(-1), and 11.2 L/h, respectively. By coincidence, our study has verified that the current administration is enough to treat fungus infections by using Monte Carlo simulation. Our data demonstrated that the current administration method is appropriate and effective. Our results may prove to be useful as a basic reference for the clinical usage of voriconazole.

Population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of biapenem in paediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a population pharmacokinetic model for biapenem in paediatric patients and to use the parameter estimates to assess pharmacodynamic exposure of common bacterial populations. METHODS: Biapenem plasma concentrations (n = 125) from 25 paediatric patients were analysed using nonmem. The parameter estimates were used in a Monte Carlo simulation to predict the exposure time during which the drug concentration remains above the minimum inhibitory concentration. RESULTS: A two-compartment model fitted the data, and creatinine clearance (CL(cr)) and total body weight (TBW) were the most significant covariates. The final model was CL (L/h) = 0.0458 x CL(cr), V(c) (L) = 0.162 x TBW, Q (L/h) = 2.05, V(p) (L) = 1.73, where CL is the clearance, V(c) is the volume of distribution of the central compartment, Q is the intercompartmental clearance and V(p) is the volume of distribution of the peripheral compartment. Biapenem regimens of 5 mg/kg q8h and 10 mg/kg q8h provided sufficient pharmacodynamic exposures to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumoniae in most typical patient populations. CONCLUSION: These results better define the pharmacokinetics of biapenem and help in the choice of the appropriate dosage regimens for paediatric.

Population pharmacokinetics of high-dose methotrexate in Japanese adult patients with malignancies: a concurrent analysis of the serum and urine concentration data.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a population pharmacokinetic model for high-dose methotrexate (MTX), specifically focusing on the drug urinary excretion process. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-eight serum samples and 416 urine samples from 51 Japanese adult patients with malignancies were concurrently fitted into a multi-compartment model using the nonmem program. In the final model, creatinine clearance (CCR, mL/min) and the MTX dose (DOSE10G; 0 when <10 g, 1 when >or=10 g) were the most significant factors that affected the renal clearance (CL(r)) and non-renal clearance (CL(nr)), respectively: CL(r)(L/h) = 5.57 x (CCR/80.0)(0.112), V(1)(L) = 26.9, Q(L/h) = 0.0778, V(2)(L) = 2.27, CL(nr)(L/h) = 0.567 x 3.39(DOSE10G), where V(1) and V(2) are the volumes of distribution of the central and peripheral compartments, respectively, and Q is the inter-compartmental (central-peripheral) clearance. For another nine patients, the model enabled a satisfactory Bayesian estimation using two time-point serum concentrations. CONCLUSION: The newly developed population pharmacokinetic model should improve the quality of serum concentration monitoring of high-dose MTX to predict and control toxic events.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide and somatostatin releases correlated with the area under the lafutidine concentration-time curve in human plasma.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of the histamine H(2)-receptor antagonist, lafutidine, at clinical dosage (10 mg tablet after a standardized meal) on plasma levels of the gastrointestinal peptides, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), somatostatin and gastrin. METHODS: Six healthy male volunteers ate a standardized meal, and received either lafutidine orally at a dose of 10 mg or water only (control). Blood samples were taken before and up to 4 h after the drug administration. Plasma lafutidine concentrations were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic analysis of lafutidine was performed using one-compartmental model. The levels of immunoreactive substances of plasma CGRP, somatostatin and gastrin were measured by enzyme immunoassay, and the amount of peptide release was calculated by the trapezoidal method. Lafutidine significantly increased plasma CGRP levels at 1, 1.5, 2.5 and 4 h and the total amount of CGRP release (192 +/- 14.0 pg.h/mL) compared with the control group (128 +/- 21.5 pg.h/mL). RESULTS: Lafutidine significantly increased the plasma somatostatin levels at 1 and 1.5 h, and the total amount of somatostatin released (107 +/- 18.2 pg.h/mL) compared with the control (78.4 +/- 7.70 pg.h/mL). The area under the drug concentration-time curve (AUC) from 0 to 4 h after administration correlated well with the Delta-CGRP and Delta-somatostatin release but not with total amount of gastrin released. However, plasma gastrin levels were significantly elevated at 1.5 h after drug administration. CONCLUSION: Lafutidine at clinical dosage increases plasma CGRP and the somatostatin. The amounts released correlated with the AUC of lafutidine in humans. These results suggest that the increased release of CGRP and somatostatin may contribute to its gastroprotective and anti-acid secretory effect.

Fetal DNA diagnosis from maternal blood: PEP-TaqMan PCR analysis of a single nucleated erythrocyte (NRBC).

Development of a real-time quantitative TaqMan PCR assay permits the high-quality analysis of DNA or RNA. This study demonstrates the successful detection of single locus genes from single NRBCs, retrieved by micromanipulation of cells on a blood smear slide. Quantitative data in relation to the concentration of a single locus DNA amplified by PEP from a single NRBC are also provided. In summary, a PEP-TaqMan system can potentially be a powerful tool for noninvasive fetal DNA diagnosis through the use of maternal blood.

Simultaneous resection of pancreas and liver metastases from different metachronous primary cancers.

Resection of a pancreatic head tumor and partial resection of the liver for metastatic lesions were carried out simultaneously in a 72-year-old woman. The patient had a history of two previous operations, right nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (clear cell type), done 14 years previously, and an Autincloss procedure for cancer of the left breast (solid tubular carcinoma); (T1N0M0; stage I) done 7 years previously. At the current presentation, preoperative radiographic examination showed a hypervascular tumor in each of the pancreatic and hepatic lesions, but with different patterns. On the basis of histological findings in the two resected specimens, it was difficult to establish whether the hepatic tumor originated from the renal cell carcinoma or the breast cancer, but postoperative immunohistochemical studies for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), estrogen receptors, and gross cystic disease fluid protein (GCDFP)-15 showed that the pancreatic tumor had metastasized from the renal cell carcinoma, and the liver tumor from the breast cancer. The immunohistochemical investigation of different markers thus proved to be useful in making the final diagnosis of metastatic lesions from different and metachronous cancers.

Reversal effect of sulpiride on rotational behaviour of rats with unilateral frontal cortex ablation: an alternative explanation for the pharmacological mechanism of its antidepressant effect.

The antidepressant effect of sulpiride has been generally explained as the result of its preferential blocking effect on self-inhibitory presynaptic dopamine autoreceptors at low doses. Low dose haloperidol has the same blocking effect. In rats with unilateral ablation of the frontal cortex, methamphetamine administration induced mild contralateral rotation 10 days after the operation. We examined whether low dose sulpiride and haloperidol would have the same effect on this rotational model. High dose sulpiride (100 mg/kg) or low dose haloperidol (0.05 mg/kg) prevented this methamphetamine-induced rotation. However, low dose (15 mg/kg) sulpiride clearly reversed the direction of rotation. This reversal effect of low dose sulpiride is not explained by the preferential blocking effect on dopamine autoreceptors. The results suggest that low dose sulpiride, unlike low dose haloperidol, has a prominent blocking effect on D2 receptors in the frontal cortex. This unique effect of sulpiride may be relevant to its clinical antidepressant and anxiolytic effects at low doses.

Expression of apoptotic signaling proteins in leukoplakia and oral lichen planus: quantitative and topographical studies.

Although the pathogenesis of leukoplakia has been unclear, carcinogenic transformation is postulated to result from alterations of apoptotic signal transduction proteins in epithelial cells. The pathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP) has also been unclear, but apoptotic changes of the epithelial cells in OLP have been reported. In the present study, we used a histochemical approach to describe human keratinocyte-expression of several apoptotic signaling proteins in leukoplakia, in OLP, and in normal oral mucosa as a control. Mucosal biopsies from patients with leukoplakia (n=13), OLP (n=10), and normal oral mucosa (n=9) were frozen, sectioned and immunostained with monoclonal antibodies to wild-type (wt) tumor suppressive protein p53, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1 and the oncoproteins MDM2, and Bcl-2. Apoptosis was assessed in all cases by the TUNEL method. MDM2 and Bcl-2 expression in keratinocytes were quantitatively greater in leukoplakia than in OLP. Wt-p53 and p21WAF1/CIP1 expression was quantitatively greater in keratinocytes in OLP than in leukoplakia. Keratinocyte maturation appeared histologically normal in OLP, even though wt-p53 and p21WAF1/CIP1 were expressed in these cells. Altered keratinocyte maturation was seen in leukoplakia lesions expressing MDM2 and Bcl-2. No significant difference for the number of apoptotic epithelial cells was observed between leukoplakia and OLP, in spite of the divergent outcomes of the apoptotic signaling proteins.

Hyperexpression of the gene for a Bacillus alpha-amylase in Bacillus subtilis cells: enzymatic properties and crystallization of the recombinant enzyme.

We have constructed a new excretion vector, pHSP64, to develop a hyperexcretion system for Bacillus subtilis [Sumitomo et al., Biosci. Biotech. Biochem., 59, 2172-2175 (1995)]. The structural gene for a novel liquefying semi-alkaline alpha-amylase from the alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. KSM-1378 was amplified by PCR. It was cloned into a SalI-SmaI site of pHSP64 and the recombinant plasmid obtained was introduced into B. subtilis. The transformed B. subtilis hyperproduced the alpha-amylase activity extracellularly, corresponding to approximately 1.0 g (5 x 10(6) units) per liter of an optimized liquid culture. The recombinant enzyme was purified to homogeneity by a simple purification procedure with very high yield. No significant differences in physiochemical and catalytic properties were observed between the recombinant enzyme and the native enzyme produced by Bacillus sp. KSM-1378. The enzymatic properties of the recombinant enzyme were further examined with respect to the responses to various metal ions. The recombinant enzyme could easily be crystallized at room temperature within one day in a buffered solution of 10% (w/v) ammonium sulfate (pH 6.5).

Improved thermostability of a Bacillus alpha-amylase by deletion of an arginine-glycine residue is caused by enhanced calcium binding.

alpha-Amylase from alkaliphilic Bacillus KSM-1378 (LAMY) is a novel semi-alkaline enzyme which has a high specific activity, a value 5-fold higher than that of a Bacillus licheniformis enzyme at alkaline pH. Thermostability of this enzyme could be improved by deletion of the Arg181-Gly182 residue by means of site-directed mutagenesis. The wild-type and engineered LAMYs were very similar with respect to specific activity, pH-activity curve, temperature-activity curve, susceptibility to inhibitors, and pattern of hydrolysis products from soluble starch and maltooligosaccharides. However, the engineered enzyme also acquired increased pH stability and resistance to sodium dodecyl sulfate and especially chelating reagents, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetate and ethyleneglycol-bis (beta-aminoethylether)tetraacetate. This is the first report that thermostability of alpha-amylase is improved by enhanced calcium binding to the enzyme molecule.

The effects of thermal and mechanical stimulation on blood flow in healthy and inflamed gingiva in man.

The purpose of this study was to compare the state of the microcirculation in healthy gingiva with that in untreated, inflamed gingiva in humans. Reflection photoplethysmography (RP) was used to record blood flow from 13 clinically healthy, attached gingival sites in seven adults and 11 inflamed sites in seven patients. Changes in the pulse amplitude of the RP signal were measured before and after application of thermal (cold and hot water) and mechanical (brushing) stimuli to the gingiva. Hot water and brushing, but not cold water, produced a significant increase in the pulse amplitude in healthy gingiva (p < 0.05, Friedman analysis and Student-Newman Keuls test). None of the stimuli produced a significant change in inflamed gingiva. In neither group of participants was there a significant correlation (Spearman rank correlation coefficient) between vascular responsiveness and age. The results indicated that vasomotor control may be impaired in inflamed gingiva.

Correlation between measurements using a new halitosis monitor and organoleptic assessment.

Halitosis is known as unpleasant oral odor and is a health concern among the general public. Previously, we reported on a new portable monitor with a zinc-oxide, thin-film, semiconductor sensor which demonstrated simplicity of handling, high reproducibility and correspondence for organoleptic assessment. The results suggested its usefulness for the diagnosis of halitosis. Using the monitor, oral air samples of 94 subjects were measured in a field survey, and the values were compared with the organoleptic rates of corresponding samples assessed by two judges. A highly significant correlation (r = 0.824, P < 0.01) was demonstrated between the measures obtained by the two methods. The results suggest that the monitor is useful for not only a clinical study but also a field study of halitosis.

Elcatonin raises levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide in human plasma.

Elcatonin, used for treatment of hypercalcaemia, Paget's disease and osteoporosis, causes flushing of the face and hands. To determine whether this was because of increased levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide, which is known to induce vasodilation, the effect of elcatonin on the plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide was studied in five healthy volunteers. After a single intramuscular administration of elcatonin (20 int units), peak plasma elcatonin levels (approx. 30 pg mL-1) were achieved 30 min after injection. Plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide concentrations rose similarly with peak levels of about 17 pg mL-1 after 30 min. Side-effects such as cutaneous flushing (most obvious in the face and hands) occurred to an extent dependent on the amount of elcatonin administered, and declined over 45 min in parallel with the fate of plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide. The side-effects of elcatonin, especially cutaneous flushing, seem to be closely connected with vasoactive intestinal peptide.

Substance P-like immunoreactive substance in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary sarcoidosis.

In order to find out whether substance P (SP) participates in the inflammatory and fibrotic processes of interstitial lung diseases or not, SP-like immunoreactive substance (SP-IS) concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and pulmonary sarcoidosis were measured using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The mean SP-IS concentrations in BAL fluids from healthy nonsmokers and healthy smokers were 0.87 +/- 0.19 and 0.98 +/- 0.23 pg/ml, respectively. The mean SP-IS concentration in BAL fluids from patients with IPF was 1.15 +/- 0.39 pg/ml. The value of patients with IPF was significantly higher than that of healthy nonsmokers (p < 0.01). The mean SP-IS concentrations in BAL fluids from pulmonary sarcoidosis patients in stage I, stage II and stage III were 0.91 +/- 0.19, 0.96 +/- 0.35 and 1.00 +/- 0.29 pg/ml, respectively. No correlation was found between SP-IS concentration and pulmonary functions in IPF and sarcoidosis patients. The present results indicate that SP may be involved in the inflammatory process in IPF.