Design of a gradient refractive index phase zone plate for soft x-rays.

A new type of zone plate has been designed for soft x-rays, based on radial modulation of the refractive indices of the material. It is made with two materials; the concentration of one material increases gradually and that of the other decreases with increasing radius in each pair of zones. When such a zone plate is made with titanium and chromium and their concentrations are optimized for use at the wavelength of 2.74 nm, its x-ray focusing efficiency would be 34%. This value is 3.4 and 1.4 times the efficiencies of the Fresnel zone plate and the pi-radian phase shifting zone plate, respectively.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of procaterol derivatives having a tert-amino group.

A series of procaterol derivatives having a tert-amino group was synthesized. Among them, a morpholino derivative (4a, R1 = H, NR2R3 = morpholino) showed beta-selective and rather potent adrenoceptor stimulant activities in an in vivo assay using anesthetized dogs. On the other hand, a morpholinopropanol analogue (4j, R1 = CH3, NR2R3 = morpholino) showed 400 times less potent bronchodilator activity than that of 4a. Some of the compounds showed weak bronchodilator activities and weak effects on the heart. It seems that steric hindrance around the nitrogen atom of catecholamines has a significant influence on beta-adrenoceptor stimulant activities. Compound 4a also showed anti-allergic action estimated in terms of the inhibition of homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats.

General pharmacological properties of cilostazol, a new antithrombotic drug. Part II: Effect on the peripheral organs.

The pharmacological effects of the new antithrombotic drug, cilostazol (6-(4-(1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)butoxy]-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-qui nolinone, OPC-13013) on the peripheral nervous system and miscellaneous organs were studied. Cilostazol produced a very slight increase in beating rate of the isolated atrium and a very slight increase in contraction of the papillary muscle of guinea pigs induced by cilostazol compared with that of isoproterenol (isoprenaline). The beating rate increasing effect was not antagonized by propranolol and it augmented isoproterenol's effect. When administered intravenously in anesthetized dogs, cilostazol increased blood flow in the coronary, internal carotid, vertebral and femoral arteries and transiently decreased blood flow in the renal and superior mesenteric arteries probably because of blood pressure fall. In anesthetized dogs, cilostazol decreased blood pressure by reducing the resistance in the peripheral blood vessels. An increase in heart rate, cardiac contractile force, myocardial oxygen consumption and respiration rate were also observed. In conscious rats, the drug increased heart rate. Cilostazol produced a slight relaxation of the smooth muscle of all organs except for blood vessels and slightly inhibited spontaneous motility of the isolated uterus of pregnant rats, the isolated ileum of rabbits and the ileum of rats in situ. It was considered that cilostazol had no specific effects against norepinephrine, serotonin, acetylcholine or histamine based on the results that the drug was only slightly antagonistic against the contraction of rabbit aorta induced by norepinephrine and serotonin, the contraction of isolated guinea-pig ileum induced by acetylcholine, histamine and barium chloride and the contraction of the isolated uterus of non-pregnant rats induced by oxytocin. The drug had little effect on the contraction of the nictitating membrane induced by stimulation of the preganglionic sympathetic nerve in the cat. These results suggest that cilostazol had little effect on the autonomic nervous system. Cilostazol slightly inhibited edema induced by carrageenin, but showed no diuretic effect and had little effect on neuromuscular transmission or the secretion of gastric juice, bile and pancreatic juice, and therefore it was considered to have no appreciable effect on the peripheral nervous system or organs except for its vasodilating and cardiac effects.

Antiarrhythmic properties of 5-(3-tert-butylamino-2-hydroxy)propoxy-3,4-dihydrocarbostyril hydrochloride (OPC-1085), a newly synthesized, potent beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist.

1. The antiarrhythmic properties of 5-(3-tert-butylamino-2-hydroxy)propoxy-3,4-dihydrocarbostyril hydrochloride (opc-1085) were compared with those of propranolol and pindolol using various kinds of preparations for experimental arrhythmia in dogs. 2. Although OPC-1085 was the most potent drug to antagonize adrenaline-induced arrhythmia in animals anaesthetized with either pentobarbitone sodium or halothane, it was scarcely effective on ouabain-induced arrhythmia in pentobarbitone sodium anaesthetized animals. 3. When these compounds were administered intravenously to conscious dogs 24 h after two-stage ligation of the anterior descending artery, ectopic ventricular beats of coronary ligation-induced arrhythmia were reduced while regular sinus beats were simultaneously increased. 4. OPC-1085 was very effective on aconitine-induced arrhythmia in dogs anaesthetized with pentobarbitone sodium. The effective dose was similar to that of propranolol but about fifteen times less than that of pindolol. 5. It is concluded that different potencies among these beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists against various kinds of experimental arrhythmias cannot be simply deduced from any one of the following properties; beta-adrenoreceptor antagonism, intrinsic myocardial stimulation, local anaesthetic and so-called quinidine-like effects.