Phenotypic development of neonatal rat chromaffin cells in response to adrenal growth factors and glucocorticoids: focus on pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide

We have investigated the regulation of the morphological phenotype of chromaffin cells cultured from 6-day-old rat adrenal glands. We show that pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), which is present in and released from nerves innervating chromaffin cells, rapidly induces neuritic growth, affecting 25% of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive chromaffin cells after 3 days at an optimal concentration of about 20 nM. PACAP does not synergistically act with other factors known to promote neurite growth, including nerve growth factor (NGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, FGF-2), and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). The neurite promoting effect of PACAP and FGF-2 is entirely overridden by dexamethasone (2 x 10(-8) M) suggesting that, despite the presence of these promoting factors in the adrenal medulla, glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex are probably sufficient to prevent the development of neuronal traits in adrenal chromaffin cells.

[Effective prevention of indomethacin-induced gastroduodenal mucosal lesions with roxatidine acetate]

In this randomized single-blind cross-over study the gastroduodenal damaging effect of indometacin 75 mg bid alone and in combination with roxatidine acetate (CAS 78628-28-1, Roxit) 75 mg nocte or 75 mg bid was evaluated in 12 healthy male volunteers. Prior to the start of the three therapeutic periods subjects underwent endoscopic examination to exclude gastroduodenal mucosa lesions. On days 7 and 14 of therapy 2 h after the application of the last indometacin dose subjects underwent endoscopy again. The 7- and 14-days administration of indometacin 75 mg bid, indometacin 75 mg bid plus roxatidine 75 mg nocte and indometacin 75 mg bid plus roxatidine 75 mg bid led to gastroduodenal mucosa lesion scores of 1.67 +/- 0.40 and 2.00 +/- 0.35, 1.33 +/- 0.28 and 1.50 +/- 0.29, 0.42 +/- 0.23 and 1.00 +/- 0.33 (mean +/- SEM), respectively. These differences were statistically significant when comparing indometacin 75 mg bid versus indometacin 75 mg bid plus roxatidine 75 mg bid (p < 0.004 and < 0.008, respectively). This study shows that roxatidine acetate represents an effective alternative in the prophylaxis of NSAID-induced gastroduodenal mucosa lesions.

Immunology of reactive arthritides

Reactive arthritis (ReA) and Lyme arthritis together comprise a pair of chronic inflammatory diseases of the joints. Although differing in detail, these relatively rare diseases are related in their immunopathology to the much commoner rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for which they serve as both model and control. The trigger for rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but for these rarer diseases triggering occurs by certain well-defined bacterial infections. Arthritis is an uncommon outcome of these infections, for reasons unknown, and the development of chronic, as distinct from brief, arthritis is even rarer; again, the reasons are unknown. Not only does knowing the trigger greatly assist us in understanding these diseases, so also does knowing the contrasting pattern of Th1 versus Th2 cytokines observed in RA and ReA. ReA and Lyme arthritis are here considered in the wider setting of infections where chronic morbidity arises first from hypersensitivity, and perhaps finally from autoimmunity, such as occurs in some of the major tropical diseases. The immunology of ReA and Lyme disease is surveyed in detail, concentrating on T cells and including an update on the Lyme vaccine(s). Additional sections deal with the enigma of HLA B27, with epidemiological findings relevant to the chronicity of ReA and to the need for enlarged prospective studies of ReA in the setting of a developing country.

Biliary lipids, lithogenic index and biliary drug concentrations during etofibrate and bezafibrate treatment

Hypolipidemic drugs like etofibrate and bezafibrate may induce lithogenic bile and increase the risk of gallstone formation. In this study, biliary lipids, lithogenic index and biliary drug concentrations were investigated in 6 hyperlipidemic patients after cholecystectomy. Patients were treated once daily for 5 days with either 500 mg/day etofibrate or 400 mg/day bezafibrate. Hepatic bile was collected for 6 days via T-drainage in 4 hourly aliquots. In the patients treated with etofibrate, the range of the lithogenic index remained stable with 0.89-1.69 before and 0.78-1.51 after 5 day drug therapy. In the bezafibrate group, the range of the lithogenic index rose from 0.81-1.40 to 1.26-1.66 mainly as a result of an increase of biliary cholesterol concentrations. Biliary drug concentrations were substantially higher under bezafibrate treatment than under etofibrate treatment. In conclusion, the fibrate drugs, etofibrate and bezafibrate, are different with regard to lithogenicity of bile and extent of biliary excretion. The safety profile of etofibrate may be preferably compared to other fibrate drugs.

Enzymatic peptide synthesis by the recombinant proline-specific endopeptidase from Flavobacterium meningosepticum and its mutationally altered Cys-556 variant

Proline-specific endopeptidase (PSE) (EC 3.4.21.26) was investigated for its potential as a catalyst in peptide synthesis. Using an activated peptide ester or a peptide amide as the acyl component, the enzyme catalyzed kinetically controlled aminolysis and transpeptidation respectively, with various amino acid amides as acyl acceptors. To a certain extent the nucleophile preference reflected the amino acid preference in the S1'-position of the enzyme in peptide hydrolysis: the highest fractions of aminolysis were obtained using amino acid amides with hydrophobic side-chains (e.g. Leu-NH2, Phe-NH2). PSE also catalyzed the thermodynamically controlled condensation of short peptides with a free carboxyterminus and various amino acid amides. This enabled us to examine the acceptance of different acyl components in the substrate-binding site of the enzyme with regard to their amino acid composition: In the S1 position proline was clearly favored, but alanine was also accepted, whereas the S2 subsite accepted various amino acids rather unspecifically. Since PSE was shown to be extremely sensitive against water-miscible organic solvents, an alternative approach was used to increase yields in enzymatic peptide synthesis: a derivative of PSE in which the catalytic Ser-556 is converted to a Cys was constructed by protein engineering. This mutant (PSEcys) exhibited a dramatically increased peptide ligase activity in aqueous solution.

Effects of inhalative exposure to dioxins in wood preservatives on cell-mediated immunity in day-care center teachers

The study investigated the effects of chronic inhalative low-level exposure to dioxins in day-care centers containing wood treated with preservatives on (1) the number of peripheral CD4 and CD8 cells and the CD4:CD8 ratio in peripheral blood and (2) the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction of the skin (Multitest Méreux). The study population consisted of 221 exposed and 189 unexposed employees of day-care centers in or near Hamburg. A status of decreased skin test reagibility was operationalized as hypoergy I (score < 5 mm), hypoergy II (< or = 1 positive reaction), and anergy (no positive reaction). Taking the fading during postexposure time into account, a surrogate for the dioxin burden based on the concentration of dioxins in indoor air (measured using the 2,3,7,8-TCDD TEF followed by the Federal Republic of Germany) was modeled. No effect was found regarding the number of CD4 cells, CD8 cells, and CD4:CD8 ratio. However, some evidence for an increasing dose-response relationship between inhalative exposure to dioxins and the risk of hypoergy and anergy was found, both in the total study population and among subjects with a short postexposure time (< or = 6 months). Subjects with a short postexposure time and a dioxin burden > 0.6 pg/m3 had a significantly higher risk of hypoergy than unexposed subjects (hypoergy I: OR = 9.51, 95% CI = 1.96-42.02; hypoergy II: OR = 2.92, 95% CI = 1.14-7.5). It is concluded that a suppressive effect of inhalative exposure to dioxins in wood preservatives on human cell-mediated immunity cannot be ruled out.

Effects of pantoprazole on endocrine function in healthy male volunteers

METHOD

In a randomized, double-blind, two-period crossover study, pantoprazole 40 mg or placebo were given orally to 12 male volunteers for 2 weeks each. There was a wash-out period of at least 1 week between the two treatment periods. The effects of pantoprazole or placebo on cortisol and testosterone (primary criteria), and tri-iodothyronine, thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyronine-binding protein, parathyroid hormone, insulin, glucagon, renin, aldosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteotrophic hormone, prolactin and somatotrophic hormone were compared. In addition, intragastric 24-h pH, 24-h H(+)-activity, and volume of nocturnal gastric juice were determined by gastric aspiration technique.

RESULTS

Pantoprazole did not influence plasma levels of testosterone, circadian cortisol concentrations or plasma cortisol levels after exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation, as compared to placebo (P > 0.05, Koch's test). Furthermore, there were no clinically relevant changes with any of the other endocrine parameters. Pantoprazole significantly increased the median 24-h pH (group median 4.3 vs. 1.8; P < 0.001) and decreased 24-h H(+)-activity (4.0 vs. 22.6 mmol/L; P < 0.001). The volume of nocturnal gastric juice did not significantly differ between the two treatments. Pantoprazole was well tolerated and the frequency of adverse events was similar to placebo. No drug-related changes in laboratory values were observed.

CONCLUSION

Pantoprazole did not influence endocrine function in healthy male volunteers during short-term treatment.

Systemic and local cytokine profiles in endotoxin-induced preterm parturition in mice

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to determine whether endotoxin-induced preterm parturition is preceded by a change in the maternal serum and amniotic fluid concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1 alpha.

STUDY DESIGN

C3H/HeN pregnant mice at 15 days of gestation (70% gestation) were randomized to receive an intraperitoneal injection of phosphate-buffered saline solution or lipopolysaccharide (50 micrograms/mouse). Blood (n = 93) and amniotic fluid (n = 58) were collected at 1, 4, and 10 hours after lipopolysaccharide injection. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1 alpha were determined with sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunoassays.

RESULTS

The injection-to-delivery interval was shorter in mice injected intraperitoneally with 50 micrograms lipopolysaccharide than in phosphate-buffered saline solution-treated mice (median 15.5 hours, range: 10 to 105 hours vs median 88.5 hours, range: 53 to 105 hours; p < 0.001). In comparison with phosphate-buffered saline solution-treated mice, a distinct serum cytokine pattern was observed in lipopolysaccharide-treated mice. Concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha were detectable 1 and 4 hours after lipopolysaccharide injection (median 874 pg/ml, range: < 100 to 8000 pg/ml, p < 0.001; and median 263 pg/ml, range: < 100 to 927 pg/ml, p < 0.001, respectively). Concentrations of interleukin-6 were elevated at 1, 4, and 10 hours (median 11.8 ng/ml, range: 6 to 500 ng/ml, p < 0.001; median 27.1 ng/ml, range: 4.5 to 192 ng/ml, p < 0.001; median 1.95 ng/ml, range: < 0.05 to 35 ng/ml, p < 0.015, respectively). Concentrations of interleukin-1 alpha were significantly increased 4 hours after lipopolysaccharide injection (median 102 pg/ml, range: < 15 to 306 pg/ml, p < 0.001). A cytokine pattern distinct from serum was observed in amniotic fluid of lipopolysaccharide-treated mice. In comparison with controls, concentrations of interleukin-6 were significantly elevated 4 and 10 hours after treatment with lipopolysaccharide (median 0.88 ng/ml, range: 0.40 to 2.7 ng/ml, p < 0.025; and median 4 ng/ml, range: 1.9 to 33.6 ng/ml, p < 0.001, respectively). Interleukin-1 alpha was elevated 10 hours after lipopolysaccharide treatment (median 185.3 pg/ml, range: 38 to 511 pg/ml, p < 0.015). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha was not significantly increased in amniotic fluid.

CONCLUSION

Preterm delivery after lipopolysaccharide administration is preceded by the appearance of dramatic increases in maternal serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1 alpha and in amniotic fluid concentrations of interleukin-6 and interleukin-1 alpha.

Heterologous expression of the clostripain gene from Clostridium histolyticum in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis: maturation of the clostripain precursor is coupled with self-activation

Clostripain-specific antibodies were used to analyse the maturation of clostripain prepro-enzyme and core protein heterologously synthesized in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Core protein purified from E. coli cells harbouring plasmid pHM3-23 underwent calcium-dependent, self-triggered maturation. Concomitantly, the inactive form of the enzyme was converted into an active form, demonstrating the self-activation capacity of the clostripain core protein. As judged from Western blot analysis, the major portion of the protein in E. coli was degraded, presumably by the activated clostripain. The enzyme was not exported to the E. coli periplasm, either by use of the putative Clostridium histolyticum signal peptide or by use of the E. coli OmpA signal peptide. Therefore, the Gram-positive micro-organism B. subtilis was chosen as an alternative host for the expression of the prepro-enzyme and the core protein. BR 151 cells harbouring pHM7-10B secreted clostripain precursor to the growth medium and matured subsequently to the active enzyme. As only a small amount of activity was detected intracellularly, the putative C. histolyticum signal peptide was efficiently recognized by the B. subtilis secretion apparatus. Under optimized conditions, a level of 4500 U I-1 could be obtained in batch cultures.

Early transcription in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos

We have analysed early transcription in devitellinized, cultured embryos of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans by two methods: measurement of [32P]UTP uptake into TCA-precipitable material and autoradiographic detection of [3H]UTP labelling both in the presence and absence of alpha-amanitin. RNA synthesis was first detected at the 8- to 12-cell stage, and alpha-amanitin sensitivity also appeared at this time, during the cleavages establishing the major founder cell lineages. The requirements for maternally supplied versus embryonically produced gene products in early embryogenesis were examined in the same culture system by observing the effects of alpha-amanitin on cell division and the early stereotyped lineage patterns. In the presence of high levels of alpha-amanitin added at varying times from two cells onward, cell division continued until approximately the 100-cell stage and then stopped during a single round of cell division. The characteristic unequal early cleavages, orientation of cleavage planes and lineage-specific timing of early divisions were unaffected by alpha-amanitin in embryos up to 87 cells. These results indicate that embryonic transcription starts well before gastrulation in C. elegans embryos, but that although embryonic transcripts may have important early functions, maternal products can support at least the mechanics of the first 6 to 7 cell cycles.

Structure of the genes encoding Hordeum vulgare (1----3,1----4)-beta-glucanase isoenzymes I and II and functional analysis of their promoters in barley aleurone protoplasts

Barley (1----3,1----4)-beta-glucanase isoenzyme II is synthesized in the aleurone cells during germination and secreted into the endosperm for hydrolysis of the cell walls. Its synthesis is stimulated by gibberellic acid (GA3) and repressed by abscisic acid. The gene for isoenzyme I is expressed in the aleurone, scutellum and prominently in young leaves. Close functional relatedness between the two enzymes is attested by 92% identity at the level of the amino acid sequence. The structural genes for the two enzymes each contain a large intron of 2505 bp and 2952 bp, respectively, in the codon for amino acid 25 of the 28-residue signal peptide. During evolution, homologous regions of the two introns have changed position and orientation. Furthermore, a large palindromic sequence of 327 bp in the 5' end of the intron is present only in the gene for isoenzyme II. In transient expression assays using barley aleurone protoplasts and chloramphenicol acetyl transferase as reporter the promoter of the isoenzyme I gene showed no response to GA3. However, removal of a unique 151 bp region extending from positions -402 to -552 upstream of the TATA box permitted low levels of GA3-induced expression of the reporter gene, suggesting a silencer function for this domain. High levels of GA3-responsive expression were obtained in aleurone protoplasts using the promoter of the gene encoding isoenzyme II. Truncation of this promoter revealed that sequences located within 253 bp upstream from the TATA box are sufficient to direct GA3-stimulated expression. Using the homologous barley aleurone protoplast transfection assay, it was possible to reproduce the in vivo expression characteristics of the genes for the barley (1----3,1----4)-beta-glucanase isoenzymes I and II with reporter gene constructs.

[Stomach tolerance of various fluoride preparations. An endoscopy controlled single-blind study of healthy probands]

In 12 healthy volunteers the gastro-duodenal damaging effects of Ossiplex retard tid, Mono-Tridin tid and Ossin bid were investigated in a randomised, single blind cross-over study. Prior to the start of the three therapeutic phases subjects underwent endoscopic examination to exclude gastro-duodenal mucosa lesions. On day 14 of therapy 2 hours after the application of the last fluoride dose subjects underwent endoscopy again. The 14 days administration of Ossiplex retard, Mono-Tridin und Ossin led to gastro-duodenal mucosa lesion scores of 0.42 +/- 0.26; 1.50 +/- 0.54 and 2.08 +/- 0.71 (mean +/- SEM) respectively. These differences were statistically significant when comparing Ossiplex retard vs Ossin (p less than 0.05), but not Ossiplex retard vs Mono-Tridin. Regarding the number and the severity of lesions the differences between the gastro-duodenal mucosa damaging potency of the three fluoride preparations were also evident. With Ossiplex retard only in three subjects petechiae (n = 1) and antral erythemas (n = 2) were observed. Under Mono-Tridin and Ossin, however, a higher grade of lesions i.e. erosions and an ulcer were seen endoscopically. This study shows that the slow release fluoride preparation Ossiplex retard demonstrates a lower gastro-duodenal mucosa damaging potency when compared to the other fluorides Ossin and Mono-Tridin. There was no relationship between serum fluoride concentrations and the grade of gastro-duodenal mucosa lesions.

Vaginal PO2 in healthy women and in women infected with Trichomonas vaginalis: potential implications for metronidazole therapy

We measured the PO2, pH, and temperature in the vaginal canals of nine patients with symptomatic Trichomonas vaginitis and those of 10 healthy women. The patients included eight women with primary infections caused by metronidazole-susceptible strains and one refractory case that resulted from infection with a metronidazole-resistant Trichomonas vaginalis. The median vaginal PO2, pH, and temperature in the patient group were 1 mm Hg, 6, and 37.3 degrees C respectively; these medians were 1 mm Hg, less than or equal to 4.5, and 37.2 degrees C in the healthy group. These data show that vaginal environment is anaerobic or microaerophilic (it has reduced oxygen tension). Because the activity of metronidazole is reduced under aerobiosis, the vaginal environment should enhance the biologic activity of the drug.

[Acidity profile in humans after multiple oral administration of hydrotalcite]

Acid Suppression Profile of Hydrotalcite in Man. In this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study, the effect of hydrotalcite (CAS 12304-65-3, Talcid), 2 tablets qid (neutralizing capacity 122 mmol) on intragastric 24-h acidity was investigated. 12 healthy male and female volunteers were administered hydrotalcite, 2 tablets qid, or placebo on 2 study days, in each case at 10, 15, 20 and 23 h. Daytime (8-22 h) and nighttime (23-7 h) intragastric H+ concentrations (mmol/l) were significantly reduced by hydrotalcite compared with placebo. The following inhibiton rates were obtained: daytime 37.4%, nighttime 31.5% (p less than 0.05). During the 2-h periods immediately after oral application of hydrotalcite or placebo inhibition rates of up to 65% were observed. These results suggest that hydrotalcite may have also antiulcer activity like other antacids which are used in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease in low daily neutralizing capacities (120-280 mmol/die).

Two types of genetic interaction implicate the whirligig gene of Drosophila melanogaster in microtubule organization in the flagellar axoneme

The mutant nc4 allele of whirligig (3-54.4) of Drosophila melanogaster fails to complement mutations in an alpha-tubulin locus, alpha 1t, mutations in a beta-tubulin locus, B2t, or a mutation in the haywire locus. However, wrl fails to map to any of the known alpha- or beta-tubulin genes. The extragenic failure to complement could indicate that the wrl product participates in structural interactions with microtubule proteins. The whirligig locus appears to be haploinsufficient for male fertility. Both a deficiency of wrl and possible loss of function alleles obtained by reverting the failure to complement between wrlnc4 and B2tn are dominant male sterile in a genetic background wild type for tubulin. The dominant male sterility of the revertant alleles is suppressed if the flies are also heterozygous for B2tn, for a deficiency of alpha 1t, or for the haync2 allele. These results suggest that it is not the absolute level of wrl gene product but its level relative to tubulin or microtubule function that is important for normal spermatogenesis. The phenotype of homozygous wrl mutants suggests that the whirligig product plays a role in postmeiotic spermatid differentiation, possibly in organizing the microtubules of the sperm flagellar axoneme. Flies homozygous for either wrlnc4 or revertant alleles are viable and female fertile but male sterile. Premeiotic and meiotic stages of spermatogenesis appear normal. However, in post-meiotic stages, flagellar axonemes show loss of the accessory microtubule on the B-subfiber of outer doublet microtubules, outer triplet instead of outer doublet microtubules, and missing central pair microtubules.

Gastric aspiration technique for pH recording: a critical evaluation of this method

The most often used methods for the measurement of intragastric acidity are repeated mostly hourly aspirations of gastric contents or continuous pH measuring with an electrode. Intragastric pH, volume of aspirated gastric juice and total acid secretion have been tested over relatively short periods of time (2-12 h) and through an entire 24-hour period. Nearly every clinical antiulcer drug which neutralizes acidity or inhibits acid secretion has been investigated with this method. pH monitoring with the gastric aspiration procedure is a reliable and reproducible method. There is a remarkable global agreement in the results. While pH electrodes provide an alternative means of measuring pH, they have the disadvantage of not allowing measurement of volume and/or acid secretion.

[Anal canal carcinoma: diagnosis--therapy--prognosis]

78 patients with anal canal carcinoma were treated between 1970 and 1988 at the University Hospital Erlangen. 48 patients (35 women, 13 men) were treated by surgery alone, 44/48 by abdominoperineal resection, 4/48 by local excision. Median age was 63 years, median follow-up 8.5 years. The overall local recurrence rate was 16.7%, the overall five-year-survival was 51%. 30 patients received a combined radio-chemotherapy. The small pelvis was treated with a.-p./p.-a. fields up to a total dose between 42 and 50 Gy. Two courses of chemotherapy consisting of 5-FU (800 to 1000 mg/m2 days 1 to 4 and 29 to 32) and Mitomycin C (10 mg/m2 days 1 and 29) were administered. Two months after completion of treatment 83% had a biopsy proven complete remission. After a median follow-up of 15 months 87% are alive with NED, 74% are continent. The combined regimen of radio-chemotherapy is considered as the treatment of the choice for anal canal carcinoma. Abdominoperineal resection is only performed in patients with non response or local recurrent disease.

[Inhibition of 24-hour acidity by nizatidine]

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, comparative cross-over study, we studied the effect of four H2-receptor antagonists on intragastric 24-hour acidity, nocturnal volume and acid output. Ten healthy male volunteers were administered 300 mg or 150 mg nizatidine, 800 mg cimetidine, 300 mg ranitidine, 40 mg famotidine, or placebo on several days, in each case at 9:000 PM. Nocturnal intragastric H+ concentration (mmol/l) (11:00 PM to 7:00 AM) was significantly reduced by all H2 blockers compared with placebo. We obtained the following inhibition rates: Cimetidine 67%; ranitidine 95%; famotidine 89%; nizatidine 80% (300 mg) and 69% (150 mg). Nocturnal acid (mmol/l) and volume output (ml/h) were also significantly (compared with placebo) inhibited by all four H2-receptor antagonists. Inhibition of nocturnal acid secretion was almost identical on nizatidine 300 mg nocte, ranitidine 300 mg nocte, famotidine 40 mg nocte, and cimetidine 800 mg nocte. Nizatidine 300 mg nocte and 150 mg nocte exclusively reduced acid secretion at night, without an aftereffect into the following day (8:00 AM to 6:00 PM). These results suggest that the clinical efficacy of these H2-receptor antagonists is identical with respect to healing peptic ulcer disease and providing freedom from pain. It is generally accepted today that gastric acid inhibitors used in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease should interfere with daytime gastric acid secretion as little as possible, particularly since the acid protects the stomach from bacteria ingested with the food during the day.

[Single evening administration of a new antimuscarinic agent telenzepine in therapy of acute duodenal ulcer. Results of a randomized double-blind comparative study versus pirenzepine]

A multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled study was conducted in 314 duodenal ulcer patients to compare the efficacy and safety of the antimuscarinics telenzepine and pirenzepine in the treatment of duodenal ulcer. Patients received telenzepine 3 mg (156) once-daily at bedtime or 50 mg pirenzepine (158) two times daily for 2 weeks. If ulcerous lesions persisted treatment was extended to 4 weeks. Efficacy was assessed by relief of ulcer pain and endoscopic findings of ulcer healing. Safety was determined on the basis of side effects and results of laboratory tests. The 2- and 4-week healing rates achieved with telenzepine were 21.1 and 67.3%, respectively, and with pirenzepine they were 20.0 an 69.0%, respectively; the differences in healing rates for the two drugs were not statistically significant. Similarly both drugs provided satisfactory relief of pain. The incidence of untoward effects was 24.5% with telenzepine and 29.7% with pirenzepine, dryness of mouth being most prominent (20.4 vs. 19.3%). With telenzepine blurred vision was reported in a significantly lower rate compared to pirenzepine (0.7 vs. 4.2%, p less than 0.05). Clinically relevant abnormal laboratory tests were not observed. The present study shows for the first time that the newly developed antimuscarinic drug telenzepine is in a single nocturnal dosage regimen (3 mg nocte) as effective as pirenzepine (50 mg bid) in the treatment of duodenal ulcer.

Maternal-effect lethal mutations on linkage group II of Caenorhabditis elegans

We have analyzed a set of linkage group (LG) II maternal-effect lethal mutations in Caenorhabditis elegans isolated by a new screening procedure. Screens of 12,455 F1 progeny from mutagenized adults resulted in the recovery of 54 maternal-effect lethal mutations identifying 29 genes. Of the 54 mutations, 39 are strict maternal-effect mutations defining 17 genes. These 17 genes fall into two classes distinguished by frequency of mutation to strict maternal-effect lethality. The smaller class, comprised of four genes, mutated to strict maternal-effect lethality at a frequency close to 5 X 10(-4), a rate typical of essential genes in C. elegans. Two of these genes are expressed during oogenesis and required exclusively for embryogenesis (pure maternal genes), one appears to be required specifically for meiosis, and the fourth has a more complex pattern of expression. The other 13 genes were represented by only one or two strict maternal alleles each. Two of these are identical genes previously identified by nonmaternal embryonic lethal mutations. We interpret our results to mean that although many C. elegans genes can mutate to strict maternal-effect lethality, most genes mutate to that phenotype rarely. Pure maternal genes, however, are among a smaller class of genes that mutate to maternal-effect lethality at typical rates. If our interpretation is correct, we are near saturation for pure maternal genes in the region of LG II balanced by mnC1. We conclude that the number of pure maternal genes in C. elegans is small, being probably not much higher than 12.