Prenatal diagnosis of unilateral proximal femoral focal deficiency at 19 weeks' gestation: case report and review of the literature.

Proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD) represents a rare and complex deformity manifested by hypoplasia of a variable portion of the femur with shortening of the entire limb. The condition may be unilateral or bilateral and is often associated with other congenital anomalies. Recent technological advances in ultrasound imaging offer the opportunity to detect an increasing number of rare skeletal malformation syndromes whose correct diagnosis is essential for adequate counseling and management of the pregnancy. We report a case of fetal non-familial PFFD diagnosed prenatally using two-dimensional and three-dimensional images. Clinical findings, differential diagnosis and management of this rare skeletal dysplasia are discussed and a review of the recent literature is given.

Chromosome elimination in the interspecific hybrid medaka between Oryzias latipes and O. hubbsi.

An interspecific hybrid medaka (rice fish) between Oryzias latipes and O. hubbsi is embryonically lethal. To gain an insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that cause the abnormalities occurring in the hybrid medaka, we investigated the behavior of chromosomes and the expression patterns of proteins responsible for the chromosome behavior. The number of chromosomes in the hybrid embryos gradually decreased to nearly half, since abnormal cell division with lagging chromosomes at anaphase eliminated the chromosomes from the cells. The chromosome lagging occurred at the first cleavage and continued throughout embryogenesis even after the midblastula transition. Fluorescent in-situ hybridization analyses revealed that the chromosomes derived from O. hubbsi are preferentially eliminated in both O. latipes-hubbsi and O. hubbsi-latipes embryos. Whole-mount immunocytochemical analyses using antibodies against alpha-tubulin, gamma-tubulin, inner centromere protein, Cdc20, Mad2, phospho-histone H3 and cohesin subunits (SMC1alpha, SMC3 and Rad21) showed that the expression patterns of these proteins in the hybrid embryos are similar to those in the wild-type embryos, except for phospho-histone H3. Phospho-histone H3 present on chromosomes at metaphase was lost from normally separated chromosomes at anaphase, whereas it still existed on lagging chromosomes at anaphase, indicating that the lagging chromosomes remain in the metaphase state even when the cell has proceeded to the anaphase state. On the basis of these findings, we discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms of chromosome elimination in the hybrid medaka.

New marine prostanoids from the okinawan soft coral, clavularia viridis

Two new marine prostanoids-17,18-dehydroclavulone I (1) and clavulolactone I (2)-were isolated from the Okinawan soft coral, Clavularia viridis. Their structures, including absolute configurations, were determined based on the results of spectroscopic analysis and chemical conversions.

Nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist recognizes inter-species differences in angiotensin AT1 receptors.

Oral administration of the angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist 3-methyl-2,6-dimethyl-4-[[2'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1,1'-biphenyl-4-yl ]methoxy] pyridine (ME3221) inhibited the pressor response to angiotensin II at doses of 0.3-1.0 mg/kg in rats. A higher dose of ME3221 (3-10 mg/kg) was required to obtain the same inhibitory potency in dogs. The antagonistic potency of ME3221 for angiotensin II-induced contraction in the rabbit aorta (pA2 = 8.82) was about five times higher than that in the canine aorta (pA2 = 8.18). The inhibition constant of ME3221 for displacing [125I]angiotensin II binding to membrane fractions from the rabbit aorta (Ki = 3.84 nM) and rat liver (Ki = 2.55 nM) was significantly lower than that for the canine aorta (Ki = 84.5 nM), canine liver (Ki = 122 nM) and bovine adrenal cortex (Ki = 21.5 nM). In contrast, [Sar1, Ala8]angiotensin II had a similar inhibition constant (Ki = 0.85-4.67 nM) in the species investigated. Treatment with 5 mM dithiothreitol significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the angiotensin II-induced contractile response to 1.2% in the rabbit aorta, but it did not significantly reduce the response in the canine aorta (83.2%). Dithiothreitol reduced [125I]angiotensin II binding to membrane fractions from the rabbit aorta and the rat liver but partially inhibited binding in preparations that had a low affinity for ME3221. These data indicate a species difference in the angiotensin AT1 receptor: the canine and bovine angiotensin AT1 receptor has a relatively low affinity for ME3221 and is slightly resistant to dithiothreitol. The species difference in the angiotensin AT1 receptor reflects the in vivo efficacy of ME3221 in rats and dogs.

Benzoxazole derivatives as novel 5-HT3 receptor partial agonists in the gut.

A series of benzoxazoles with a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic substituent at the 2-position was prepared and evaluated for 5-HT3 partial agonist activity on isolated guinea pig ileum. The nature of the substituent at the 5-position of the benzoxazole ring affected the potency for the 5-HT3 receptor, and the 5-chloro derivatives showed increased potency and lowered intrinsic activity. 5-Chloro-7-methyl-2-(4-methyl-1-homopiperazinyl)benzoxazole (6v) exhibited a high binding affinity in the same range as that of the 5-HT3 antagonist granisetron, and its intrinsic activity was 12% of that of 5-HT. Compound 6v inhibited 5-HT-evoked diarrhea but did not prolong the transition time of glass beads in the normal distal colon even at a dose of 100 times the ED50 for diarrhea inhibition in mice. Compounds of this type are expected to be effective for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome without the side effect of constipation.

A new 5-HT3 receptor ligand. II. Structure-activity analysis of 5-HT3 receptor agonist action in the gut.

Several modified 2-piperazinyl benzoxazole derivatives, which exhibit an agonistic effect on gastrointestinal motility, were synthesized and their effects on the contraction of guinea-pig ileum were examined. The quaternary piperazinyl benzoxazole structure has a restricted conformation and stereostructure compared to those of the other 5-HT3 receptor agonists, serotonin and meta-chlorophenylbiguanide. The mutual positions of the aromatic ring, nitrogen atom and terminal amine are considered to form the pharmacophore of the 5-HT3 receptor agonist in the gut. In the serotonin-evoked reflex bradycardia [Bezold-Jarisch (B-J) reflex] inhibition test using rats the B-J reflex-inducing ratio was different for each synthesized compound. These results suggest that, in these 5-HT3 receptor agonists, the substituents of the benzoxazole ring influence the B-J reflex-inducing activity in rats.

CP2289, a new 5-HT3 receptor ligand: agonistic activities on gastroenteric motility.

A new 5-HT3 receptor ligand, CP2289, was synthesized and pharmacologically tested. Although CP2289 inhibited the Bezold-Jarisch reflex, it contracted the excised ileal muscle of mice, rats and guinea pigs. This response may reflect a partial agonist character of CP2289 in the gut. In vivo antiemetic and gastric emptying tests gave similar results.

Tiludronate inhibits protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in osteoclasts.

Signaling pathways mediated by tyrosine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation have been reported to be involved in the regulation of cytoskeletal organization in osteoclasts, the principal cells responsible for bone resorption. We examined the effects of tiludronate [(4-chlorophenyl)thiomethylene bisphosphonate] on the cytoskeleton and the balance of phosphotyrosine levels in osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (OCLs) formed in cocultures of mouse osteoblastic cells and bone marrow cells. When OCLs were placed on plastic dishes in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum, they formed a ringed structure of F-actin dots (actin ring) within 2 h. Tiludronate did not inhibit the process of actin ring formation, but it disrupted preformed actin rings in a time- and a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis using an antiphosphotyrosine antibody revealed that tyrosine phosphorylation of certain proteins in OCLs was stimulated by tiludronate added to the purified OCLs. Tyrosine kinase activity of the p60c-src immunoprecipitated from cell lysates of the purified OCLs was not affected by tiludronate directly added to the kinase assay. OCL lysates stimulated dephosphorylation of tyrosine-phosphorylated substrates such as phosphoneuroprotein 14 and epidermal growth factor receptors. Like sodium orthovanadate, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases, tiludronate dose-dependently inhibited tyrosine dephosphorylation of those substrates induced by OCL lysates. These findings suggest that tiludronate disrupts the preformed actin rings and suppresses bone-resorbing activity by inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatases in osteoclasts.

ME3221, a surmountable angiotensin AT1-receptor antagonist, prevents hypertensive complications in aged stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The protective effects of ME3221, 3-methoxy-2,6-dimethyl-4-[[2'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1,1'-biphenyl-4-y l]methoxy] pyridine, on aged (32-week-old) stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) were studied following long-term (for 8 months) oral administration. At a dose of 10 mg/kg/day, ME3221 suppressed the mortality and the hypertensive complications observed in control SHRSP: cerebral apoplexy (hemorrhage, and spongeform and malacia in the cerebral cortex), increased proteinuria, and total N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity, and cardiac hypertrophy and pleural effusion. The protective activity of ME3221, a surmountable angiotensin AT1-receptor antagonist, was comparable to losartan, an insurmountable AT1-antagonist, and also to enalapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. In addition, ME3221 reduced the systolic blood pressure more effectively than the two reference drugs.

Protective effects of ME3221 on hypertensive complications and lifespan in salt-loaded stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

1. A comparison was made on the protective effects of the following: ME3221, a competitive angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist; losartan, in which a major active metabolite is a non-competitive angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist; and enalapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, using the salt-loaded stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). 2. SHRSP received orally ME3221 (3 and 10 mg/kg per day), losartan (10 mg/kg per day) and enalapril (10 mg/kg per day) from the 6th to the 20th week of age. All the control rats showed rapid elevation of systolic blood pressure (SBP), accompanied by hypertensive complications, and died by 15 weeks of age. 3. ME3221, losartan and enalapril suppressed the elevation of SBP in the salt-loaded SHRSP to a comparable degree. ME3221 and losartan increased the survival rate to > 90%, and diminished hypertensive complications such as cerebral apoplexy (stroke), renal injury (increased proteinuria, and total N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity) and heart failure (cardiac hypertrophy and pleural effusion). 4. Competitive (ME3221) and non-competitive (losartan) angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonists showed comparable efficacy against the complications and mortality of the salt-loaded SHRSP; both were more potent than enalapril in the protective effect.

Pharmacological profile of ME3221, a novel angiotensin II receptor antagonist.

The pharmacological profile of a new surmountable angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, ME3221, 3-methoxy-2,6-dimethyl-4-[[2'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1,1'-biphenyl-4- yl]methoxy]pyridine, was studied in several animal models, and was compared with that of losartan. EF2831, 3-hydroxy-2,6-dimethyl-4-[[2'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1,1'-biphenyl-4- yl]methoxy]pyridine, a metabolite of ME3221, is also a surmountable angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, whose potency was 1/30 that of ME3221 in vitro, but equal to or 1/3 of that of ME3221 in in vivo experiments. In rats and marmosets, ME3221 antagonized angiotensin II-induced pressor responses, but did not affect bradykinin-induced depressor responses. ME3221 lowered the blood pressure in renal hypertensive rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and its ED25 value was 3 times that of losartan. Repeated administration of ME3221 to SHR had a stable and long-lasting antihypertensive effect without influencing heart rate. Thus ME3221, like losartan, may be useful in the treatment of renal and essential hypertension.

Antiarrhythmic effect related to the plasma concentration of pentisomide in vivo and the antiarrhythmic-concentration relationship in vitro.

Pentisomide, 2-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl)-4-methyl-2-(pyridyl)- pentanamide, is a novel antiarrhythmic agent structurally related to disopyramide. Using a glass bead arrhythmic model, the authors studied the antiarrhythmic effect of pentisomide in dogs by monitoring the plasma concentrations. When pentisomide was infused at 1 mg/kg/min for 20 min, the ventricular tachycardia was significantly reduced at 5 min after starting the infusion; the arrhythmias were reduced to less than 5% at the end of the 20 min infusion. The plasma-free concentration of pentisomide was about 3 micrograms/ml at 5 min; it increased to about 10 micrograms/ml at the end of 20 min infusion. With 0.3 mg/kg/min infusion, the arrhythmias were reduced to about 60% but were not significant at 20 min of infusion. The plasma-free concentration of pentisomide did not reach 3 micrograms/ml until 20 min of infusion. The 3 micrograms/ml plasma-free concentration for pentisomide seems to be a critical concentration in inducing a significant antiarrhythmic effect. Pentisomide dose-dependently inhibited ischaemia-reperfusion arrhythmia at doses of 30 microM and higher concentrations in vitro. In conclusion, pentisomide inhibits arrhythmias dependent with the plasma concentration or with the concentration of the external solution. The critical plasma-free concentration for inhibition of arrhythmias was 3 micrograms/ml (not equal to 10 microM) and the in vitro effect also had a similar concentration. Therefore, the in vivo and in vitro antiarrhythmic concentrations were well correlated.

Effect of chronic treatment with ME3221 on blood pressure and mortality in aged stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

1. The protective effect of ME3221, a surmountable AT1 antagonist, on the hypertension and its concomitant complications in aged (32 week old) stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) was studied following long-term (32 weeks) oral administration, and compared with those of losartan (metabolite EXP3174 is an insurmountable AT1 antagonist) and enalapril. 2. During the treatment period, ME3221, at a dose of 10 mg/kg per day steadily reduced the systolic blood pressure, and no tolerance was developed to the fall in blood pressure. The reference drugs showed similar activity, but the antihypertensive effect of ME3221 was more potent. 3. In the control group, rats began to die from 52 weeks of age and all rats had died by 64 weeks of age. In contrast, no rats treated with ME3221, losartan or enalapril died before 64 weeks of age. 4. ME3221, losartan and enalapril suppressed the hypertensive complications observed in control SHRSP, that is, cerebral apoplexy (stroke and cerebral oedema), renal injury (increased proteinuria, total N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity and ascites) and heart failure (cardiac hypertrophy and pleural effusion). 5. These results indicate that ME3221 has a stable anti-hypertensive effect, prevents hypertensive complications and prolongs survival in aged SHRSP equally as well as losartan and enalapril.

Interaction of newly synthesized N-cyclopropylmethyl derivatives of (-)-6 beta-acetylthionormorphine with opioid receptors.

1. Analgesic activities of N-cyclopropylmethyl derivatives of (-)-6 beta-acetylthionormorphine, KT-89 and KT-90 and their interactions with opioid receptors were studied. 2. KT-89 and KT-90, as well as morphine inhibited the twitch response of the guinea-pig ileal preparation to electrical stimulation. Their pD2 values indicated that KT-89 and KT-90 are about 6.5 and 10 times as potent as morphine, respectively. In guinea-pig ileal preparation KT-89 and KT-90 also behaved as a mu-antagonist. 3. In rabbit vas deferens which contains kappa-receptors, these substances inhibited the twitch response to electrical stimulation and were about 6 times as potent as dynorphin. 4. Their effects on specific binding of [3H]naloxone (mu-selective ligand), [3H]ethylketocyclazocine (kappa-selective ligand) and [3H]D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin (delta-selective ligand) to the synaptosomal fractions from rat brain were tested. Though both drugs had a nonselectively high affinity to mu-, kappa- and delta-receptors, affinities of KT-89 and KT-90 to kappa-receptors were about 6 and 13 times higher than that of morphine, respectively. 5. Analgesic activities of KT-89 and KT-90 were 6 and 10 times as potent as morphine in an acetic acid-induced writhing test, and 4 and 5 times as potent in a pressure test. 6. The present results suggest that KT-89 and KT-90 induced analgesic actions are mediated through an activation of kappa-receptors. Both the drugs acted as delta-receptor antagonists. Further experiments are needed to study effects of their property as a delta-antagonist on analgesic action.

Relationship between the contractile responses and their coupling second messenger systems for muscarinic drugs in the guinea-pig ileal longitudinal muscle.

The relationship between the contractile responses and their coupling second messenger systems such as IPs formation, release of intracellular Ca2+ and Ca2+ influx in the presence of muscarinic agonists and antagonists in guinea-pig ileal longitudinal muscles was examined by using several pharmacological methods. The pD2 for carbachol-induced contraction in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ was greater than that obtained for carbachol in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, which was, in turn, greater than that for carbachol-induced stimulation of IP formation. The pD2-values of oxotremorine and pilocarpine were also higher for the contraction occurring in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and for the normal contractions than for those of the contraction occurring when Ca2+ was deleted from medium and the IPs formation. In normal contraction and in contraction occurring in the presence of extracellular Ca2+, pilocarpine and oxotremorine were full agonists or highly efficacious partial agonists, while in contraction occurring when Ca2+ was removed from the medium and in IPs formations, they behaved as partial agonists with lower efficacy. However, the dissociation constants for muscarinic agonists and selective or non-selective antagonists were similar under the experimental conditions used. These results suggest that the muscarinic receptors, coupled to each of the different second messenger systems in the ileum, are of the same type.

Involvement of threshold level in the contractile responses for some alpha 1-andrenoceptor agonists in the rabbit iris dilators.

1. The relationship between receptor occupancies and contractile responses for some alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists were investigated in rabbit iris dilator smooth muscles. 2. Noradrenaline acted as a full agonists, while oxymetazoline and xylometazoline behaved as partial agonists with moderately higher intrinsic activity, and tizanidine and clonidine were partial agonists with lower intrinsic activity. 3. The pD2-values of oxymetazoline and xylometazoline were practically equal to the corresponding pKB-values, the negative log of dissociation constant, estimated by the partial irreversible blockade of alpha 1-adrenoceptors with phenoxybenzamine. However, the pD2-values of tizanidine and clonidine were significantly lower than the corresponding pKB-values. 4. The threshold phenomena lay between the receptor occupations and tissue responses, therefore, the pKB-values of partial agonists with lower intrinsic activity were different from their pD2-values. 5. These results suggest that the threshold phenomena in the tissue used may be an important factor in determining the agonist sensitivity.

Kappa-receptor mechanisms in synaptosomal Ca uptake.

1. Inhibition of Ca uptake by certain opioids was tested in synaptosomes of rat brain. The potency order was dynorphin A 1-13, a kappa-selective agonist greater than nalorphine greater than nalorphine epoxide greater than morphine. 2. The pA2 values (negative logarithms of dissociation constant) of naloxone against four opioids were not significantly different from each other, suggesting that the site of action of the four opioids is identical. 3. Morphiceptin, a mu-selective agonist and DADLE, a delta-selective agonist had no effect on Ca uptake. 4. These results suggest that the site of action of the four opioids is kappa-receptors. 5. Potency order estimated from competition inhibition curves of specific binding of [3H]ethylketo-cyclazocine (kappa-selective ligand) by the test opioids was nalorphine greater than nalorphine epoxide greater than dynorphin A 1-13 greater than morphine. 6. The difference between the two potency orders suggests that affinities and intrinsic activities of the drugs are important factors in determining their agonistic activity in kappa-receptor mechanisms.

Some pharmacological properties of a newly synthesized morphine derivative, (-)-6 beta-acetylthiomorphine.

Some pharmacological properties of a newly synthesized morphine derivative, (-)-6 beta-acetylthiomorphine (AcS-morphine) were studied. AcS-morphine was about twice as potent as morphine in the inhibitory action of the twitch response of the guinea-pig ileal preparation to electrical stimulation. AcS-morphine, however, was 5 times as potent as morphine in the analgesic action in the rats. Both the effects of AcS-morphine were inhibited by naloxone, suggesting that the site of action of AcS-morphine is mu-receptors. It is interesting that 6 beta-isomer of AcS-morphine is 5 times as potent as 6 alpha-OH isomer of morphine in the analgesic action, because 6 alpha-OH isomer of morphine is much more potent than that of 6 beta-OH isomer. The effects of AcS-morphine on the specific binding of [3H]-naloxone, [3H]-ethylketocyclazocine and [3H]-D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin to the membrane fractions from the rat brain were tested. AcS-morphine was about 5 times as potent as morphine in its interactions with opioid receptors, as determined by the binding assay. AcS-morphine, as well as morphine, had a selectively high affinity to mu-receptors. The "sodium effect" and the "GTP effect" of AcS-morphine were almost the same as those of morphine. The dependence liability of AcS-morphine was preliminary tested in the guinea-pig ileal preparations treated with a high concentration of AcS-morphine for 24 hr. Results suggested that AcS-morphine is weaker than morphine in its dependence liability, though it seems almost certain that AcS-morphine does have this liability.

Pharmacological properties of a new centrally acting muscle relaxant (NC-1200) in isolated muscle preparations.

1. Pharmacological properties of a new centrally acting muscle relaxant (NC-1200) were tested in isolated muscle preparations. 2. NC-1200 acted as a Ca-blocker in the guinea pig taenia caecum. The pA2-value was 5.67. 3. In the rabbit aorta, NC-1200 competed with serotonin at serotonin receptors and also shifted the concentration response curves of histamine and norepinephrine suggesting the possibility that NC-1200 interacted with histamine and norepinephrine receptors. The pA2-value of NC-1200 against serotonin was 6.02. 4. There was no evidence that NC-1200 interacted with drug-receptors in the muscles except the rabbit aorta. 5. The present results are similar to the previous findings that the properties of serotonin, histamine and norepinephrine receptors in the rabbit aorta were different from those in other muscles.