ABSTRACT
The exposure of human lymphoid leukemia Molt 4B cells to sodium 1-monolinolenin (SML) which was isolated from the leaves of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) and identified by Mass, and (1)H- and (13)C-NMR, led to both growth inhibition and induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis). Morphological change showing apoptotic bodies was observed in the Molt 4B cells treated with SML. The fragmentation by SML of DNA to oligonucleosomal-sized fragments, that is a characteristic of apoptosis, was observed to be both concentration- and time-dependent. These findings suggest that growth inhibition by SML of Molt 4B cells results from the induction of apoptosis in the cells.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Apoptosis/drug effects , Linolenic Acids/pharmacology , Lolium/chemistry , Cell Size , DNA Fragmentation , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Humans , Leukemia, Lymphoid , Lymphocytes/drug effects , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Molecular Structure , Time Factors , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
The effects of amezinium metilsulfate (Risumic) were studied in patients with sick sinus syndrome. Four males and 11 females with clinical symptoms were treated with 0.5 mg/kg for 1 to 40 weeks. In all patients, the length of sinus pause observed during 24-hour Holter monitoring was longer than 2.0 sec, and/or the sinus node recovery time in the electrophysiologic study was longer than 2.0 sec. The effects were evaluated by Holter monitoring and standard electrocardiography. The total number of heart beats every 24 hours by Holter monitoring were significantly increased from 78,917 +/- 15,983 (mean +/- SD) to 85,753 +/- 17,849 beats after the treatment. The length of the sinus pause was significantly decreased from 3.89 +/- 1.24 to 2.36 +/- 1.45 sec. Patients with sinus node recovery time of less than 5.0 sec showed the effects especially clearly. The total number of premature ventricular contractions was decreased from 530 +/- 767 to 123 +/- 182 beats. The PQ, QRS and QTc intervals did not change. Only diastolic pressure was slightly increased. Clinical symptoms disappeared in almost all patients and the clinical courses were favorable. Amezinium metilsulfate, which stimulates the intrinsic sympathetic nervous system, increased total heart beat and shortened sinus pause in patients with sick sinus syndrome. Few side effects, such as arrhythmogenecity or increase of blood pressure were observed. These results show that amezinium metilsulfate is useful in the treatment of patients with sick sinus syndrome, if the disease is not so severe as to require implantation of a cardiac pacemaker.
