[A case of conjunctival mucosal neuroma without multiple endocrine neoplasia]

Non-traumatic conjunctival mucosal neuroma (CMN) is usually complicated by multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN). We report the first case of CMN without MEN type IIb (III). A 14-year-old Japanese girl had CMN in the conjunctival fornix of right eye. CMN was diagnosed from histopathology and immunohistochemistry. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a circular scribed iso-intensity signal, and the T2-weighted image showed iso-or high-intensity signal. There were no abnormal findings in the tongue, the neck or the abdomen.

[Effect of a novel tachykinin NK-2-receptor antagonist, TAC-363, on bronchoconstriction and airway hyperresponsiveness in guinea pigs]

We examined the effect of a novel tachykinin NK-2-receptor antagonist, N alpha-(tert-Butylcarbamoyl)-L-glutaminyl-L-tryptophyl-alpha-aza- phenylalanine 2-benzyloxyethylamide (TAC-363), on hyperventilation- and citric acid-induced bronchoconstriction and neurokinin A (NKA)-, capsaicin- and antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in guinea pigs. The i.v. administration of TAC-363 at doses of 0.01-1 mg/kg inhibited hyperventilation- and citric acid-induced bronchoconstriction in a dose-dependent manner, while FK-888, a tachykinin NK-1-receptor antagonist, did not inhibit hyperventilation-induced bronchoconstriction. NKA-induced airway hyperresponsiveness to acetylcholine was attenuated by i.v. injection of TAC-363, but not by the thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor ozagrel and the mast cell stabilizer DSCG. Furthermore, TAC-363 prevented the occurrence of capsaicin- and antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness to acetylcholine, while FK-888 did not prevent occurrence of capsaicin-induced airway hyperresponsiveness. In summary, TAC-363 inhibits bronchoconstriction and airway hyperresponsiveness induced by various stimuli. These results suggest that NKA mediates bronchoconstriction and airway hyperresponsiveness. Thus, TAC-363 is expected to be useful in the treatment of airway diseases such as asthma.

[Pharmacological profiles of a novel tachykinin NK-2 receptor antagonist, TAC-363]

We examined the pharmacological profiles of a novel tachykinin NK-2 receptor antagonist, Na-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)-L-glutaminyl-L-tryptophyl-alpha-azap++ + henylalanine 2-benzyloxyethylamide (TAC-363). In vitro studies showed that TAC-363 caused a rightward shift of the contraction response curve with a slight inhibition of maximal response for the neurokinin A (NKA)-induced contraction of the hamster trachea and parallel rightward shift of the curve for the substance P (SP)-induced contraction of the guinea-pig ileum. The pA2 values were 9.82 and 8.42 on the contraction by NKA and SP, respectively. The selectivity of TAC-363 to NK-2 receptor was 25 times higher than that to NK-1 receptor. The compound did not affect the histamine and acetylcholine-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea-pig ileum. Intravenous administration (0.1-1 mg/kg) of the compound inhibited dose-dependently both NKA- and capsaicin-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea-pigs. The inhibitory effect of the compound lasted up to 60 min on NKA-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea-pigs. These results suggest that TAC-363 is a potent and selective NK-2 receptor antagonist, which is effective in vitro and in vivo. It may be useful in the treatment of NKA-dependent pathology, especially bronchial asthma.

[Pharmacological profiles of F-1322, a novel anti-asthmatic agent. (1). Mechanisms of action]

The pharmacological effects of N-[2-(4-(benzhydryloxy)piperidino)ethyl]-3-hydroxy-5-(3-pyridyl methoxy)-2- naphthamide (F-1322), a novel anti-asthmatic agent, was investigated in vitro. The results obtained were as follows: 1) In the isolated trachea of guinea pigs, F-1322 showed a markedly potent antagonistic action against the contraction induced by histamine, while it had little or no effect on 5-hydroxytryptamine-, acetylcholine-, leukotriene D4- or U-46619-induced contractions. 2) In rabbit platelets, F-1322 did not affect the platelet aggregation induced by platelet activating factor. 3) F-1322 significantly inhibited the thromboxane (TX) A2 synthetase (IC50 value: 1.7 x 10(-8) M) and 5-lipoxygenase (IC50 value: 9 x 10(-7) M) activities. 4) F-1322 had no effect on phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase and phosphodiesterase activities. These in vitro studies suggest that the anti-asthmatic action of F-1322 is associated with histamine antagonism and an inhibitory action on TXA2 synthetase and 5-lipoxygenase activities.

[Pharmacological profile of F-0401, a novel dihydropyridine derivative. (1) Mechanisms of action]

F-0401 is a novel dihydropyridine (DHP) derivative with potent vasodilative and anti-aggregatory actions. In the present study, we examined the mechanisms of the actions of F-0401 and obtained the following findings: F-0401 suppressed [3H]nitrendipine binding to rat heart membrane (Ki value: 2.2 x 10(-7) M). CaCl2-induced contractions of rabbit aorta and guinea pig taenia coli were inhibited by F-0401 (pA2 values: 7.7 and 6.6). These results indicated that F-0401 had calcium antagonistic activity slightly less potent than that of the other DHP derivatives. In addition, F-0401 significantly inhibited the activity of thromboxane (TX) A2 synthetase (IC50 value: 2.5 x 10(-7) M) and [3H]PAF binding to rabbit platelets (Ki value: 1.4 x 10(-8) M). The other DHP derivatives tested did not affect TXA2 synthetic activity, and the PAF antagonism of the other derivatives were less than that of F-0401. Neither F-0401 nor the other DHP derivatives inhibited cAMP- or cGMP-dependent phosphodiesterase activity. These results revealed that F-0401 has calcium antagonistic, anti-PAF and TXA2 synthetase inhibitory actions in the same dose ranges.

[Effects of alminoprofen on the allergic reactions]

The effects of alminoprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, on the experimental animal models of allergic reactions were examined and compared with those of ibuprofen. Alminoprofen at 30 mg/kg given intraduodenally significantly suppressed passive anaphylactic bronchoconstrictions, while ibuprofen did not at the same doses. In vitro studies revealed that alminoprofen, in contrast to ibuprofen, exerted an inhibitory effect on arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase activity which initiates the bio-synthesis of leukotrienes. Alminoprofen inhibited arachidonic acid-induced ear edema in mice and homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats at high doses, while ibuprofen did not at the high doses. From its characteristic feature of inhibitory effects on 5-lipoxygenase activity and the experimental model of type I allergic reaction, it is suggested that alminoprofen is a new type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent.

[Susceptibilities of Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from animals to ofloxacin and commonly used antimicrobial agents]

Susceptibilities of Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from chickens, pigs and cattle to ofloxacin (OFLX) and commonly used antimicrobial agents were investigated. 1. E. coli (28 isolates) demonstrated the highest level of susceptibility of OFLX (MIC 0.10-0.39 micrograms/ml for all the isolates) among all the test drugs. Commonly used antimicrobial agents to which these isolates responded with relatively high susceptibilities (MIC50 0.78-6.25 micrograms/ml) included oxolinic acid (OXA), ampicillin (ABPC), kanamycin (KM) and chloramphenicol (CP) with their MIC50 values in the increasing order as above. Drugs to which these isolates responded with moderate to weak susceptibilities (MIC50 25 approximately greater than 800 micrograms/ml) were doxycycline (DOXY), streptomycin (SM), spectinomycin (SPCM) and sulfadimethoxine (SDMX) in the increasing order of MIC50. E. coli isolates with resistances to all the test drugs other than OFLX and OXA amounted to 7.1-57.1% of the isolates examined and 20 isolates (71.4%) in total. 2. Susceptibilities to OFLX and 4 existing pyridonecarboxylic acid derivatives of E. coli (48 samples) isolated recently from diarrheal pigs were compared. When evaluated in terms of MIC50, the values of OFLX and norfloxacin were both 0.10 micrograms/ml. The values increased by differences of 0.39-3.13 micrograms/ml in an order of OXA, pipemidic acid and nalidixic acid. 3. Salmonella (28 isolates) demonstrated the highest level of susceptibility to OFLX (MIC 0.20-0.39 micrograms/ml for all the isolates) among all the test drugs. The drugs to which these isolates responded with relatively high to moderate susceptibilities (MIC50 0.78-12.5 micrograms/ml) included ABPC, OXA, DOXY, KM, CP and SM with their MIC50 values increasing in this order. The drugs to which the isolates responded with low susceptibilities (MIC50 above 100 micrograms/ml) were SPCM and SDMX. Of all the 28 Salmonella isolates tested, 7.1-32.1% were resistant to all the test drugs other than OFLX and OXA. These resistant isolates amounted to a total of 12 isolates (42.9%). 4. S. aureus (28 isolates) were highly susceptible to OFLX (MIC50 and MIC90 were both 0.78 micrograms/ml). Commonly used antimicrobial agents to which the isolates responded with high to relatively high susceptibilities (MIC50 0.10-6.25 micrograms/ml) were, in the increasing order of MIC50: DOXY, ABPC, tylosin, tiamulin, KM, OXA and CP. Drugs with moderate to low bacterial susceptibilities (MIC50 12.5-100 microns/ml) were SD, SDMX and SPCM. Isolates resistant to all the test drugs except OFLX and SDMX amounted to 3.6-50% of the 28 isolates examined and they totalled 20 isolates (71.4%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)