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Biomedical subjects

H Mizoguchi

Publications and source records attributed to H Mizoguchi.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Response to immunosuppressive therapy and an HLA-DRB1 allele in patients with aplastic anaemia: HLA-DRB1*1501 does not predict response to antithymocyte globulin.

HLA-DRB1*1501, a subtype of HLA-DR2, has been shown to be closely associated with a good response to cyclosporine (CyA) therapy in patients with aplastic anaemia (AA). To determine whether this DRB1 allele can also predict a response to antithymocyte globulin (ATG) therapy in AA patients, we analysed the results of HLA-DRB1 typing in 59 Japanese patients who received ATG within 2 years after diagnosis of AA and also in 52 patients treated with CyA. All patients were divided into three groups: those with DRB1*1501, those with DRB1*1502, and those without either of these two alleles (DR2-). The response rate to ATG in DRB1*1501+ patients (56%) was not significantly higher than that in DRB1*1502+ patients (47%) and in the other DR2- patients (54%). In contrast, the response rate to CyA therapy in DRB1*1501+ patients (92%) was significantly higher than that in the DRB1*1502+ (41%) and in DR2- patients (57%). Multivariate analysis revealed that possessing DRB1*1501 was an independent factor significantly predictive of a good response to CyA. These results indicate that although identifying the DRB1*1501 allele in AA patients prior to therapy is predictive of a good response to CyA therapy, it does not have a predictive value for ATG therapy.

Adolescent↗

Growth stimulatory effect of thrombopoietin on the blast cells of acute myelogenous leukaemia.

Thrombopoietin stimulated blast colony formation in 11/20 acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) patients studied. The FAB subtypes of the blasts responding to thrombopoietin were not restricted to those of the megakaryocyte lineage, but also included M1-M5 AML blasts. The morphology of colony cells produced by megakaryocytic blasts showed megakaryocytoid features, whereas colony cells produced by M1-M5 AML blasts remained myeloblasts. An increase in CD41 was observed in the cells of colonies produced by blasts from the megakaryocyte lineage involving leukaemia and chronic myeloid leukaemia in blastic crisis. Thrombopoietin receptor was observed on leukaemic blasts which formed colonies following incubation with thrombopoietin.

Cell Division↗

A transcription factor with a leucine-zipper motif involved in light-dependent inhibition of expression of the puf operon in the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

In the purple nonsulfur photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides the synthesis of components of the photosystem is regulated in response to oxygen tension and light intensity. We have purified and cloned a trans-acting protein (SPB) that binds to the promoter region of the puf operon, which encodes the apoproteins of light-harvesting complex I and the reaction center. The SPB was composed of a single polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of 15.0 kDa. The nucleotide sequence of the spb gene was determined. The gene encoded 104 amino acid residues, which correspond to a molecular mass of 11.5 kDa. SPB exhibited 53% homology to HvrA in Rhodobacter capsulatus. The deduced amino acid sequence indicated that SPB contained a region with homology to the leucine-zipper motif of c-JUN, a transcription factor in eukaryotes, and SPB also had a DNA-binding domain on the amino-terminal side of the leucine-zipper motif. The leucine-zipper motif of SPB might contribute to the formation of a dimer. Northern analysis indicated that spb was constitutively and monocistronically transcribed in R. sphaeroides, irrespective of growth conditions. Structural and functional differences between SPB and HvrA are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

In vitro parathyroid hormone release in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the precise endocrine characteristics of parathyroid function in secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT). METHODS: We examined the effects of extracellular ionized calcium (Ca2+) varying from 0.5 to 2.0 mM on parathyroid hormone (PTH) release in parathyroid cell suspensions using a mid-regional PTH assay. Cells were obtained from 26 patients with sHPT who were divided into two groups according to the type of hyperplasia they exhibited, either nodular (n = 16) or diffuse (n = 10). For comparison, we also analyzed data from nine patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT; adenomas). RESULTS: Significant in vitro suppression of PTH release by Ca2+ was observed in the majority of subjects, regardless of the histologic abnormality. The pHPT group exhibited no significant relationship between clinical and in vitro data. In contrast, in the sHPT group (taken as a whole), suppression of PTH release by Ca2+ exhibited a plateau at a total serum calcium concentration of 2.5 mmol/L, and a parathyroid gland weight of 2 g. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that there is a curvilinear relationship in sHPT, but not pHPT, between the in vitro calcium sensitivity of parathyroid cells and total serum calcium, as well as gland weight. The in vitro calcium sensitivity in sHPT remains constant when the total serum calcium concentration exceeds 2.5 mmol/L, or when the gland weight exceeds 2 g.

Adenoma↗

Role of protein kinase C in desensitization of spinal delta-opioid-mediated antinociception in the mouse.

1. Receptor phosphorylation and down-regulation by protein kinases may be a key event initiating desensitization. The present studies were designed to investigate the effect of a potent protein kinase C (PKC) activator, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), on antinociception induced by intrathecal (i.t.) administration of a selective delta-opioid receptor agonist [D-Ala2] deltorphin II in the male ICR mouse and on the specific binding of [3H]-[D-Ser2, Leu5]enkephalin-Thr6 (DSLET), a delta-opioid receptor ligand, in the crude synaptic membrane of the spinal cord. 2. Intrathecal (i.t.) pretreatment with PDBu at low doses, which injected alone did not affect the basal tail-flick latency, dose-dependently attenuated the antinociception induced by i.t. administration of [D-Ala2]deltorphin II. The attenuation of i.t.-administered [D-Ala2] deltorphin II-induced antinociception by PDBu was reversed in a dose-dependent manner by i.t. concomitant pretreatment with a specific PKC inhibitor, calphostin C. 3. In the binding experiment, incubation of the crude synaptic membrane of the spinal cord for 2 h at 25 degrees C with PDBu (0.03 to 10 microM) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the [3H]-DSLET binding. Scatchard analysis of [3H]-DSLET binding revealed that PDBu at 10 microM displayed a 30.7% reduction in the number of [3H]-DSLET binding sites with no significant change in affinity, compared with the non-treatment control, indicating that the activation of membrane-bound PKC by PDBu causes a decrease in the number of specific delta-opioid agonist binding sites. 4. An i.t. injection of [D-Ala2]deltorphin II produced an acute antinociceptive tolerance to the antinociceptive effect of a subsequent i.t. challenge of [D-Ala2]deltorphin II. Concomitant pretreatment with calphostin C markedly prevented the development of acute tolerance to the i.t.-administered [D-Ala2]deltorphin II-induced antinociception. On the other hand, a highly selective protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, KT5720, did not have any effect on the development of acute tolerance to [D-Ala2]deltorphin II antinociception. 5. These findings suggest that a loss of specific delta-agonist binding by the activation of PKC by PDBu is involved in the PDBu-induced antinociceptive unresponsiveness to delta-opioid receptor agonist in the mouse spinal cord. Based on the acute tolerance studies, we propose that PKC, but not PKA, plays an important role in the process of homologous desensitization of the spinal delta-opioid receptor-mediated antinociception.

Analgesics↗

Effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on combination therapy with aztreonam and clindamycin for infections in neutropenic patients with hematologic diseases.

The present multicenter study was performed to evaluate the effect of recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) on combination therapy using aztreonam (AZT) and clindamycin (CLDM) to treat severe infection in neutropenic patients with hematologic diseases. Forty-three neutropenic patients with infections (rhG-CSF group) were treated with AZT (2 g) and CLDM (600 mg) 2-3 times daily as well as rhG-CSF (Lenograstim or Filgrastim: 2-5 mu/kg/day). The clinical efficacy of this regimen was compared to that obtained in 44 febrile neutropenic patients, with hematologic diseases, who received only AZT and CLDM in a previous study (historical control group). The overall efficacy rate was 69.8% (30/43) in the rhG-CSF group and 65.9% (29/44) in the historical control group. Although the neutrophil count was significantly increased and C-reactive protein tended to be lower in the rhG-CSF group, the daily maximum body temperature profiles of the 2 groups were nearly the same. These results suggest that rhG-CSF is of little benefit in the treatment of single infectious episodes in neutropenic patients, and that appropriate antibiotic therapy is more important.

Acute Disease↗

Special Education: Aplastic Anemia.

WHAT IS HYPOPLASTIC ANEMIA? Aplastic anemia is a hematological disease characterized by pancytopenia and bone marrow hypoplasia. Acquired cases of aplastic anemia are almost all idiopathic and arise from unknown causes. Other cases of aplastic anemia are secondary and are caused by radiation, chemicals or viruses. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: Aplastic anemia is manifested as a marked reduction in the number of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells, but why this occurs is still uncertain. Some of the proposed causes include abnormalities of the hematopoietic stem cells, abnormalities in the hematopoietic microenvironment, and immunologically mediated damage to the hematopoietic stem cells (Figure 1). ABNORMALTIES OF THE HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS: Patients with aplastic anemia, and long-term survivors in particular, are at increased risk of developing paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), or acute myelocytic leukemia. This suggests that, in at least some of these patients, the hematopoietic stem cells themselves are abnormal. It also suggests that in some of these patients the blood cells are clonal (that is, all the blood cells are derived from a single pluripotent stem cell). In short, what these findings imply is that aplastic anemia may be caused by the emergence of an abnormal clone. Clonal hematopoiesis, however, can also be considered nothing more than a consequence. In other words, it is possible that hematopoiesis in this kind of patient is performed by a lone pluripotent stem cell that somehow managed to survive eradication. No definitive interpretation of clonal hematopoiesis has been agreed upon, and it is still a topic for future research. ABNORMAL HEMATOPOIETIC MICROENVIRONMENT: The presence of stromal cells, which form the microenvironment of bone marrow, is very important in hematopoiesis. Hematopoietic stem cells proliferate and differentiate either by adhering to stromal cells or by being stimulated by the various hematopoietic factors that stromal cells produce. Therefore, it is quite possible that aplastic anemia is caused by abnormalities in the hematopoietic microenvironment. However, many separate studies have demonstrated that the hematopoietic microenvironment in the vast majority of aplastic anemia cases is normal. IMMUNE MECHANISMS: Immunosuppressive agents are often effective in treating aplastic anemia, and therefore it is believed that immunological mechanisms contribute to the disease in more than half the cases. The following mechanisms have been proposed as causes for the onset of immunologically mediated aplastic anemia: * Decreases in Hematopoietic Factors Produced by Monocytes and Lymphocytes. Some patients with aplastic anemia show decreased production of interleukin 1 (IL-1) by peripheral blood monocytes, and it is possible that a drop in the concentration of this factor is linked to the onset of the disease [1]. It is also possible, however, that decreased IL-1 production by monocytes is not a cause of the disease, but merely a consequence. Moreover, no cases have been reported that exhibit reduced production of hematopoietic factors produced by lymphocytes such as GM-CSF, IL-3, or IL-6. * Damage by Cytokines that Suppress Hematopoiesis. It has been reported that increased levels of interferon &ggr; (IFN-&ggr;), which is produced by lymphocytes, and tumor necrosis factor &agr; (TNF-&agr;), which is produced by monocytes and macrophages, are found in the bone marrow and peripheral blood of aplastic anemia patients [2, 3]. These two factors act as suppressors of hematopoiesis, and it is possible that they contribute to the disease. The increase of these inflammatory cytokines in the bone marrow strongly suggests the presence of either specific or non-specific destruction of the hematopoietic stem cells by immunoregulatory cells. * Suppression of Hematopoiesis by Cytotoxic T Cells (Killer T Cells). Cases have been reported in which cytotoxic T cell clones that damage the autologous hematopoietic precursor cells are present [4]. Therefore, we can easily conceive of a mechanism in which these cytotoxic T cells specifically destroy the hematopoietic stem cells and cause aplastic anemia. * Suppression of Hematopoiesis by Natural Killer (NK) Cells. NK activity of aplastic anemia patients is depressed, and, generally speaking, it is highly unlikely that NK cells contribute to this condition. However, it has been reported that clonal NK cells are thought to cause the disease in patients exhibiting pancytopenia and bone marrow hypoplasia. Therefore, when this disease is diagnosed, a peripheral blood granular lymphocyte count and NK cell surface marker analysis should always be performed. DIAGNOSIS: A necessary condition for the diagnosis of aplastic anemia is the presence of pancytopenia. Moreover, it is necessary to rule out all other causes of pancytopenia. It is especially important in differential diagnosis to look for PNH and MDS. In cases of aplastic anemia there are patients that exhibit PNH during the course of the disease, and this condition is called aplastic anemia-PNH syndrome. It has recently been shown that bone marrow and peripheral blood cells in some patients diagnosed with aplastic anemia are partially lacking GPI anchor proteins (CD16, CD55, and CD59) [5]. Whether such patients become to exhibit aplastic anemia-PNH syndrome in the future remains to be elucidated. In MDS the bone marrow generally exhibits normoplasia or hyperplasia, and only in rare cases does it exhibit hypoplasia. This condition is referred to as hypoplastic MDS. Hypoplastic MDS can be differentiated from aplastic anemia by the presence of abnormal cell morphology that is sometimes accompanied by chromosomal abnormalities. TREATMENT:Aplastic anemia is treated with androgens, high-dose methylprednisolone, cyclosporin A (CyA), antithymocyte globulin (ATG), antilymphocyte globulin (ALG), hematopoietic growth factors such as G-CSF, and bone marrow transplantation. Interestingly, patients who require continuous CyA administration to maintain stable hematopoiesis have a specific HLA class II haplotype (DRB1*1501-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602) [6]. Recent reports from EBMT SAA Working Party showed the excellent therapeutic result (response rate 82%) when severe cases were treated with ALG, CyA and G-CSF in combination [7].

Journal Article↗

Activation and priming of human monocytes by monocyte chemotactic activating factor: cooperation with other inflammatory cytokines and close association between an increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ and intracellular acidification.

Both monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF) and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) stimulated an increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and changes in intracellular pH (pHi) in human monocytes in parallel at lower concentrations and stimulated superoxide (O2-) release and changes in transmembrane potential in parallel at higher concentrations. The changes in pHi were characterized by initial rapid acidification followed by sustained alkalinization, and the changes in transmembrane potential were characterized by initial depolarization followed by partial repolarization. The time courses of all responses stimulated by MCAF and FMLP were similar to each other, although the magnitude of all responses was less in MCAF-stimulated cells. MCAF by itself was a very weak stimulus for inducing O2- release. However, MCAF primed monocytes and enhanced O2- release stimulated by FMLP. The priming effect of MCAF was maximal within 5 minutes of preincubation, and the dose-response curves for priming were identical to those for triggering of an increase in [Ca2+]i. Treatment of monocytes with the intracellular Ca2+ chelator, 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA), abolished not only the increase in [Ca2+]i but also the changes in pHi (both acidification and alkalinization) induced by MCAF or FMLP. MCAF further potentiated FMLP-induced O2- release in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-, or IL-3-primed monocytes. These findings suggest that MCAF, alone or in concert with other cytokines, primes monocytes for enhanced release of 02-, and that MCAF- or FMLP-induced intracellular acidification and alkalinization are closely associated with an increase in [Ca2+]i, but not O2- release.

Adult↗

[Hemolytic anemia due to abnormalities in erythrocyte nucleotide metabolism].

Abnormalities in erythrocyte nucleotide metabolism are associated with hereditary nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia. Deficiency of adenylate kinase and pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase and hyperactivity of adenosine deaminase shorten the red cell lifespan. Deficiency of adenylate kinase has been reported in four different families. Although in one family, total absence of this enzymatic activity was documented in one hematologically normal sibling, there is doubt about the capacity of this single enzyme deficiency to produce hemolysis. A deficiency of pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase is a cause of hemolytic anemia characterized by red cells with basophilic stippling. This enzyme has been reported to catalyze the hydrolytic dephosphorylation of pyrimidine 5'-ribose monophosphate. Red cells of patients contain an increased concentration of pyrimidine nucleotides and reduced form of glutathione. In hyperactivity, the adenosine deaminase activity in erythrocytes may be increased to 100 times the normal level. The high adenosine deaminase activity of erythrocytes depletes adenine nucleotides, inhibiting its metabolism.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

[Postoperative sore throat--a comparison of standard cuff, gas-barrier cuff and Brandt anesthesia tube cuff].

Excessive intracuff pressure due to nitrous oxide diffusion into the cuff can damage the tracheal mucosa. Several endotracheal tubes have been developed (Trachelon gas barrier type tube, Brandt Anaesthesia tube) to limit nitrous oxide-related intracuff pressure increase. We investigated whether the incidence of postoperative sore throat could be reduced by using these tubes. Endotracheal intubation was performed in 37 adult female patients with either a standard tube (group S, n = 14), a gas barrier type tube (group G, n = 11), or a Brandt tube (group B, n = 12). All patients were interviewed 16-30 h postoperatively by anesthesiologist who did not know which tube had been used. The increase of intracuff pressure was significantly lower in group G (7.6 +/- 5.1 mmHg, mean +/- SD) and in group B (3.4 +/- 1.7 mmHg) than that in group S (24.0 +/- 9.5 mmHg). The incidence of postoperative sore throat was not significantly different among the groups, 36% (5/14) in group S, 45% (5/11) in group G, and 33% (4/12) in Group B. This incidence did not correlate with intracuff pressure increase. In conclusion, specially manufactured endotracheal tubes to limit excessive intracuff pressure did not effectively attenuate the incidence of postoperative sore throat in this patient population.

Adult↗

[Acute myelogenous leukemia with ins(21;8) expressing AML-1-MTG8 fusion transcript].

Here we report a case of acute myelogenous leukemia (M2, FAB classification) presenting with cytogenetic abnormalities of ins(21;8), +del(8) without t(8;21). A 8;21 chromosome translocation is frequently found in acute myelogenous leukemia, especially in the M2 subtype. The translocation results in a fusion transcript between AML1 and MTG8 (ETO), assigned on chromosomes 21 and 8, respectively. Among patients with a t(8;21) abnormality, solid leukemic tumor deposits outside the marrow or good response to chemotherapy are observed frequently. Decrease in neutrophil alkaline phosphatase score and positive rate, and eosinophilia in bone marrow or the blast cells with Auer rods expressing CD19, CD56 antigens occur at a relatively high rate. Although our case lacked these clinical, cytological and cytochemical features, expression of chimeric AML1-MTG8 mRNA was detected. AML1-MTG8 fusion transcript may play a critical role in leukemogenesis of AML M2. Studies on this case may help to reveal the oncogenic function of the AML1-MTG8 fusion gene in AML M2.

Adult↗

[Polycythemia vera progressing to acute lymphoblastic leukemia after 13 years].

A 54-year-old woman with leukocytosis, was referred to our clinic in February 1982. Based on findings of pancytosis, high NAP score, high serum vitamin B12, increase in total red cell volume and splenomegaly, she was diagnosed as having polycythemia vera (PV). Since then, she has been treated with pipobroman, hydroxycarbamide and phlebotomy. Leukocytosis with increase in blastic cells and thrombocytopenia was noted in August 1995, and she was admitted to our hospital. Since the blastic cells were CD10(+)19(+)20(+), she was diagnosed as having acute lymphoblastic leukemia and treated with vincristine and prednisolone, resulting in remission. This case suggests that PV is a disease of multipotent stem cells including those with a lymphoid lineage.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Clinical study on a concomitant therapy with fluconazole and human recombinant granulocyte colony stimulating factor in the treatment of systemic fungal infections with hematological disorders].

The clinical efficacy and the safety of concomitant therapy with fluconazole and recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) was compared with fluconazole monotherapy in neutropenic patients with hematological disorders. The clinical efficacy rate was 73.5% (25/34) in the combination therapy and 48.1% (37/77) in monotherapy. The difference between the two is statistically significant. Side effects were not observed in the combination group, but laboratory abnormalities were found in 6 patients with an incident rate of 11%. The combination therapy with fluconazole and rhG-CSF may be selected as empiric therapy for systemic fungal infection associated with hematological disorders, since this combination therapy showed high efficacy and low incident of side effects. Some patients, however, did not show increased neutrophil counts in spite of rhG-CSF administration.

Adolescent↗

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to a delta-opioid receptor blocks the antinociception induced by cold water swimming.

The type of opioid receptors in the spinal cord involved in antinociception induced by cold water swimming (CWS) was studied in male ICR mice. Mice were submitted to CWS for 3 min and antinociception was measured 7 min after the CWS by the tail-flick test. Intrathecal (i.t.) injection of naltrindole (NTI, 5 micrograms) which blocked i.t. DPDPE ([D-Pen2,D-Pen5]en-kephalin, 5 micrograms)-induced antinociception, blocked the CWS-induced antinociception. On the other hand, i.t. injection of CTOP (D-Phe-Cys-Try-D-Try-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2, 50 ng) and norbinaltorphimine (nor-BNI, 5 micrograms) which blocked i.t. DAMGO ([D-Ala2,NHPhe4,Gly-ol]enkephalin, 10 ng)- and U50,488H (trans(+/-)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)- cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide, 75 micrograms)-induced antinociception, respectively, did not block CWS-induced antinociception. Intrathecal pretreatment with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to delta-opioid receptor mRNA (delta-AS oligo, 163 pmol) once a day for 1 to 3 days caused a time-dependent attenuation of CWS-induced antinociception. delta-AS at doses from 1.6 to 163 pmol pretreated i.t. for 3 days caused a dose-dependent blockade of CWS-induced antinociception. However, i.t. pretreatment with mismatch oligodeoxynucleotide (MM oligo, 163 pmol) for 3 days did not affect the CWS-induced antinociception. The results indicate that CWS-induced antinociception is mediated by the stimulation of delta-opioid receptors in the spinal cord.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Maintenance of normal imprinting of H19 and IGF2 genes in neuroblastoma.

H19 and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2) are among a few genes which have been confirmed to be imprinted in normal human embryonal tissues. This results in monoallelic expression of maternal H19 and paternal IGF2. Loss of imprinting of these genes producing biallelic expression has been observed in Wilm's tumor and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, suggesting that an epigenetic change of DNA, in addition to a genetic change in oncogene(s) and/or tumor suppressor gene(s), may be involved in the development of these childhood cancers. Neuroblastoma, which is an embryonal tumor originating from neural crest-derived cells, occasionally occurs in individuals with the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome; Wilm's tumor and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma occur even more frequently in the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome; and paternal uniparental disomy of H19 and IGF2 loci (chromosome 11p15) is present in the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Furthermore, neuroblastoma cell lines express IGF2, and autocrine/paracrine effects of IGF2 have been demonstrated in these cells. Thus, we examined for imprinting of both H19 and IGF2 in primary untreated neuroblastomas using the RsaI and ApaI polymorphisms within these genes, respectively. Seven of 15 tumors were informative for H19 and for IGF2, and all of these cases showed monoallelic expression of both of these genes. These results indicate that loss of imprinting of H19 and IGF2 does not occur in neuroblastomas.

Base Sequence↗

A randomized trial comparing interferon-alpha with busulfan for newly diagnosed chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase.

A multicenter randomized study was conducted to compare the effect of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) with that of busulfan in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic phase. From October 1988 to October 1991, 170 patients were randomized to receive either IFN-alpha or busulfan. Of 159 eligible patients, 31 (38.8%) of 80 patients in the IFN-alpha group and 43 (54.4%) of 79 patients in the busulfan group achieved complete hematologic remission, and 38.8% in the IFN-alpha group and 43.0% in the busulfan group achieved partial hematologic remission. A complete cytogenetic response was induced in seven (8.8%) of 80 patients treated with IFN-alpha and two (2.5%) of 79 patients treated with busulfan, and a partial cytogenetic response was 7.5% (6/80) and 2.5% (2/79), respectively. The difference in major (complete and partial) cytogenetic response between the two groups was significant (P = .046). At a median follow-up of 50 months, the predicted 5-year survival rate was 54% in the IFN-alpha group and 32% in the busulfan group (P = .0290), and the predicted 5-year rate of remaining in chronic phase was 41% in the IFN-alpha group and 29% in the busulfan group (P = .1165). As compared with the patients with no cytogenetic response, the patients with any cytogenetic response (complete, partial or minor) after the IFN-alpha or busulfan treatment were significantly superior in the duration of chronic phase (IFN-alpha group; P = .0017, busulfan group; P = .0010) even after correction for the time to response using the landmark analysis. However, there was no significant difference in survival rate in the IFN-alpha group (P = .1065). There was no significant difference in survival rate (P = .3923) and the duration of chronic phase (P = .6258) between the IFN-alpha and the busulfan group in the patients with a cytogenetic response (complete, partial or minor). These results demonstrate that IFN-alpha treatment produces a significantly superior cytogenetic response and survival rate as compared with the busulfan treatment, and unexpectedly, that busulfan can also eliminate Philadelphia chromosome positive clone in a few patients who showed prolonged survival rate and duration of chronic phase.

Adult↗

Inhibition of protein kinase C, but not of protein kinase A, blocks the development of acute antinociceptive tolerance to an intrathecally administered mu-opioid receptor agonist in the mouse.

A specific protein kinase C inhibitor, calphostin C, which injected alone had no effect on the antinociception induced by intrathecal (i.t.) administration of a selective mu-opioid receptor agonist, [D-Ala2,NMePhe4,Gly(ol)5]enkephalin (DAMGO), dose-dependently attenuated the development of acute tolerance to the i.t. DAMGO-induced antinociception in male ICR mice. On the other hand, a selective protein kinase A inhibitor, KT5720, did not have any effect on the development of acute tolerance to DAMGO antinociception. These findings suggest that protein kinase C, but not protein kinase A, plays an important role in the development of acute tolerance to the mu-opioid receptor agonist-induced antinociception.

Analgesics↗