Biotransformation of bromosesquiterpenes by marine fungi.

Biotransformation of bromosesquiterpenes was investigated with two types of fungi, Rhinocladiella atrovirens NRBC 32362 and also Rhinocladiella sp. K-001, isolated from the Okinawan brown alga Stypopodium zonale. R. atrovirens NRBC 32362 converted aplysistatin 1 into three compounds 5alpha-hydroxyaplysistatin 4, 5alpha-hydroxyisoaplysistatin 5 and 9beta-hydroxyaplysistatin 6. Transformation of 1, palisadin A 2 and 12-hydroxypalisadin B 3 by Rhinocladiella sp. K-001 gave two compounds, 3,4-dihydroaplysistatin 7 and 9,10-dehydrobromopalisadin A 8.

Biotransformation of zerumbone by Caragana chamlagu.

Suspension cultured cells of Caragana chamlagu (Leguminosae) converted zerumbone (1) into zerumbone epoxide (2) as the intermediate, (2R,3R,7R)-2,3-epoxy-9-humulen-8-one (3) and (2R,3S,7R)-2,3-epoxy-9-humulen-8-one (4) as new sesquiterpenes in 11%, 36% and 21% yields, respectively.

Biotransformation of (+/-)-2-methylcyclohexanone by fungi.

The biotransformation of 2-methylcyclohexanone (1) using 16 fungal strains and some mushroom cultures was investigated. Fusarium sp. was one of the effective biocatalysts for oxidoreduction of 2-methylcyclohexanone (1). cis-2-Methylcyclohexanol (2a) was isomerized to trans-2-methylcyclohexanol (2b) by Fusarium sp. In addition, the corresponding lactones 3 was obtained by Baeyer-Villiger oxidation using Fusarium sp. AP-2 (46%, 94% ee).

Stereoselective oxidation of racemic 1-arylethanols by basil cultured cells of Ocimum basilicum cv. Purpurascens.

The biotransformation of racemic 1-phenylethanol (30 mg) with plant cultured cells of basil (Ocimum basilicum cv. Purpurascens, 5 g wet wt) by shaking 120 rpm at 25 degrees C for 7 days in the dark gave (R)-(+)-1-phenylethanol and acetophenone in 34 and 24% yields, respectively. The biotransformation can be applied to other 1-arylethanols and basil cells oxidized the (S)-alcohols to the corresponding ketones remaining the (R)-alcohols in excellent ee.

Glyoxal sample preparation for high-performance liquid chromatographic detection of 2,4-dinitro-phenylhydrazone derivative: Suppression of polymerization and mono-derivative formation by using methanol medium.

Some difficulties on a sampling of gaseous glyoxal using DNPH-silica cartridge were discussed, and an alternative sampling procedure was proposed. When glyoxal was sampled using the cartridge, it partially formed mono-hydrazone with various degrees, whereas it was quantitatively converted into its bis-hydrazone when sample gas was directly bubbled into a DNPH acidic solution. Additionally, glyoxal polymerized on the inner wall of the system during trapping to the silica cartridge. We found that the polymerization of glyoxal was effectively suppressed by dissolving glyoxal into methanol under reduced pressure; glyoxal in methanol readily reacted with DNPH in a hydrochloric acid solution and gave bis-hydrazone derivative, without any interference of methanol and any formation of mono-hydrazone derivative. When glyoxal was sampled by the proposed method, 102% of recovery was obtained, whereas it was reduced to 92.7% when the trapped glyoxal was dissolved into methanol under atmosphere.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with carboplatin and uracil-ftegafur in patients with stage two (T2 N0 M0) squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy as a primary treatment modality for larynx preservation in patients with stage two squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the glottic larynx. Between February 2000 and August 2003, a total of 20 patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Carboplatin was given intravenously once a week during the period of radiotherapy. The weekly carboplatin dose was based on the area under the curve 1 to 1.25. Uracil-ftegafur (UFT) was given in a daily oral dose of 300 mg as tegafur. Radiotherapy was delivered five days a week using a once-daily fractionation of 2.0 Gray (Gy), to a total dose of 66-72 Gy. The three-year overall survival rate with larynx preservation was 100 per cent. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with carboplatin and UFT for stage two SCC of the glottic larynx was safe and effective in improving local control with larynx preservation.

Biodegradation of bisphenol A by fungi.

The biologic degradation of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol A [BPA]; 1) was studied with 26 fungi. An initial BPA concentration of 40 ppm in an aqueous solution was degraded in the dark for 14 d. Among the 26 strains tested, 11 degraded BPA at 50% or more. Furthermore, four strains (F. sporotrichioides NFRI-1012, F. moniliforme 2-2, A. terreus MT-13, and E. nidulans MT-98) were more effective for degradation of BPA.

Phase I trial of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a concurrent chemoradiotherapy using docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (TPF) in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). In total, 19 patients with previously untreated stage III-IV SCCHN were entered onto this trial. Patients received two cycles of chemotherapy. Cycles were repeated every 4 weeks. The starting doses (dose level 1) were docetaxel 60 mg m(-2), cisplatin 70 mg m(-2), and 5-day continuous infusion of 5-FU 600 mg m(-2) day(-1). Radiation was targeted to begin on the first day of chemotherapy, day 1. The total radiation dose to the primary tumour site and neck lymph nodes was between 63.0 and 74.0 Gy. At least three patients were examined at each dose level before advancing to the next level. The maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of this regimen was docetaxel 60 mg m(-2), cisplatin 60 mg m(-2) and 5-FU 600 mg m(-2) day(-1). The main toxicities were mucositis (grade 3 and 4, 79%), leukocytopenia (grade 3 and 4, 53%), neutropenia (grade 3 and 4, 42%), anaemia (grade 3, 16%), liver dysfunction (grade 3, 11%) and renal dysfunction (grade 2, 11%). The overall response rate was 100%, including 84% complete responses (CRs). This concurrent chemoradiotherapy with TPF was safe and well tolerated. The high CR rate justifies further evaluation of this chemoradiotherapy modality in advanced SCCHN patients.

Biodegradation of bisphenol A by cultured cells of Caragana chamlagu.

The biological degradation of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenol)propane (1; bisphenol A, BPA), a representative endocrine disruptor, was studied with plant-cultured cells of Caragana chamlagu. An initial BPA concentration of 425 microM in an aqueous solution was degraded by C. chamlagu at 25 degrees C for 2 days in the dark, and two intermediates were then completely dissipated after 10 days.

Oxidative cleavage of the C-C bond of 3,6-dialkylcyclohexane-1,2-diones by cell suspension cultures of Marchantia polymorpha.

Biotransformation of 3,6-dialkylcyclohexane-1,2-diones by cell suspension cultures of Marchantia polymorpha involves regioselective oxidative cleavage of the C-C bond to give the corresponding oxocarboxylic acids shortened by one carbon unit. In the case of cyclohexane-1,2-dione, adipic acid was obtained.

Biotransformation of (+)- and (-)-camphorquinones by plant cultured cells.

Biotransformation of (+)- and (-)-camphorquinones with suspension plant cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum and Catharanthus roseus was investigated. It was found that the plant cultured cells of N. tabacum and C. roseus reduce stereoselectively the carbonyl group of (+)- and (-)-camphorquinones to the corresponding alpha-keto alcohols.

Biotransformation of thujopsene by Caragana chamlagu.

Biotransformation of thujopsene (1) using a cell suspension culture of Caragana chamlagu for 14 days gave mayurone (2, 52%) and two new compounds, 3beta-hydroxy-4-thujopsene (4, 16%) and 3beta-epoxythujopsa-5beta-ol (3, 22%).

Influence of microinjection of insulin into amygdala on acetate metabolism in liver slices of rabbit.

Insulin was injected directly into the medial amygdala (AMYG) of rabbits, and changes in hepatic acetate metabolism were studied. The injection of 50 microU insulin into the AMYG decreased the rates of 14C transfer from 14C-1-acetate into CO2 and cholesterol ester, and increased those into free cholesterol and phospholipids. But after insulin injection into parietal cortex of intact rabbits and into the AMYG of rabbits with lesions of stria terminalis (ST), hepatic acetate metabolism did not differ from that of the control rabbits, which received saline injection into the same brain regions. These observations support the hypothesis that the AMYG is a part of insulin-sensitive brain regulator system in the hepatic acetate metabolism.

Influence of lesions in the limbic-hypothalamic system on metabolic responses of pyruvate to daily repeated heat exposures in rabbits.

The effects of lesions of the limbic-hypothalamic structures on the pyruvate metabolic responses to daily repeated heat exposures in the liver of rabbits have been investigated. The experimental results were as follows: 1. The pyruvate metabolic responses to the 1st heat exposure (heat exposure on the 1st day) were altered by lesions of periventricular arcuate nucleus (ARC), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), stria terminalis (ST) and dorsal fornix (FX). 2. The pyruvate metabolic responses to heat exposure were completely abolished by the ten times repetition of daily heat exposures in rabbits with lesions of ARC, VMH and ST, as same as in each sham-operated group. 3. In rabbits with FX lesions, the pyruvate metabolic responses to heat exposure remained even after the ten times repetition of daily heat exposures. 4. From these results, it might be suggested that ARC, VMH, amygdala (AMYG)-ST system and dorsal hippocampus (HPC)-FX system played a certain role in the mechanisms of pyruvate metabolic responses to the 1st heat exposure, but only the HPC-FX system participated in the process of pyruvate metabolic adaptation to daily repeated heat exposures.

Studies on algal cytochromes. I. Purification and properties of cytochrome b-561 from Enteromorpha prolifera.

Cytochrome b-561 (Enteromorpha prolifera) was extracted from a green alga, E. prolifera, by immersion of the dried thalli in phosphate buffer solution. Purification was carried out by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose and DEAE-Sephadex column chromatographies, Bio-Gel gel filtration, and hydroxyapatite column chromatography. The reduced form of the cytochrome exhibited absorption maxima at 561 (alpha), 530.5 (beta), and 428.5 nm (gamma), and the oxidized form at 530.5, 417 (gamma), and 275 nm. The alpha-band of the reduced form was symmetric without any shoulder. The pyridine hemochrome showed absorption maxima at 556, 524, and 418 nm. The cytochrome does not combine with carbon monoxide or cyanide. The cytochrome showed little peroxidase activity. The cytochrome is oxidized by ferricyanide and reduced by cysteine, ascorbate, and hydrosulfite. Ferrocyanide and hydroquinone do not completely reduce it. Autoxidation of the cytochrome was found to be very slow. The midpoint potential (Em) of the cytochrome was determined by equilibration with the ferro- and ferri-EDTA system to be +0.23 volt at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. The molecular weight of the cytochrome, estimated by Sephadex gel filtration, was 67 x 10(3).