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Biomedical subjects

W C Liu

Publications and source records attributed to W C Liu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Percutaneous intratumoral injection of cisplatin microspheres in tumor-bearing rats to diminish acute nephrotoxicity.

Poly(D,L-lactide) microspheres loaded with cisplatin (PLA-CDDP MS) were prepared by a solvent evaporation technique for direct intratumoral injection. The microspheres, 50-100 microns, containing 40.04% of cisplatin produce sustained release in vitro. PLA-CDDP MS (6 mg/kg body weight of cisplatin) suspensions were injected intratumorally into mammary tumors in rats. Cisplatin solution (6 mg/kg body weight) was injected either intratumorally or intraperitoneally in two groups. After treatments, the tumor size decreased in each of the groups as a function of time. Sixteen days post-injection, the tumors had either disappeared or significantly shrunk. PLA-CDDP MS had a similar antitumor effect compared with cisplatin aqueous solution. Blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and histopathology examinations revealed that the renal toxicity in the PLA-CDDP MS group was significantly less than in the control groups. These results indicate that intratumoral injection of PLA-CDDP MS maintains anticancer potency and reduces acute renal toxicity.

Animals↗

[Studies on semi-synthesis of cephalotaxine esters and correlation of their structures with antitumor activity].

Ten esters of cephalotaxine with amino acids possessing widely different structural features have been synthesized and tested for antitumor activity. Preliminary data showed that compound 6 is the most active one. However, it is still less potent than harringtonine. Other synthetic esters possess varying activities at 10 micrograms/ml. Preliminary structure activity relationship of these esters was discussed.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

10'-Desmethoxystreptonigrin, a novel analog of streptonigrin.

10'-Desmethoxystreptonigrin, a novel analog of streptonigrin produced by Streptomyces albus, was discovered in a screen for inhibitors of farnesylation of RAS p21 protein. The compound was isolated from the fermentation broth and its structure determined. It is markedly cytotoxic to several human tumor cell lines and also exhibits potent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity.

Animals↗

Aerocavin, a new antibiotic produced by Chromobacterium violaceum.

A new antibiotic, aerocavin, has been isolated from fermentation broths of a non-pigmented strain of Chromobacterium violaceum. The structure 1 was deduced from its spectroscopic properties and X-ray diffraction analysis. Aerocavin exhibits activity in vitro against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Exposure of firefighters to diesel emissions in fire stations.

Personal sampling techniques were used to evaluate firefighter exposure to particulates from diesel engine emissions. Selected fire stations in New York, Boston and Los Angeles were studied. Firefighter exposure to total particulates increased with the number of runs conducted during an 8-hr period. In New York and Boston where the response level ranged from 7 to 15 runs during an 8-hr shift, the resulting exposure levels of total airborne particulates from diesel exhaust were 170 to 480 micrograms/m3 (TWA). Methylene chloride extracts of the diesel particulates averaged 24% of the total. The authors' findings suggest that additional research is necessary to assess fire station concentrations of vehicle diesel exhaust that may have adverse health consequences to firefighters.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

Xylocandin: a new complex of antifungal peptides. I. Taxonomy, isolation and biological activity.

Xylocandin is a complex of novel peptides with potent antifungal activity that is produced by Pseudomonas cepacia ATCC 39277. The complex was isolated from the fermentation broth by extraction with butanol-methanol, 9:1, followed by collection of the precipitate formed upon concentration of the solvent extract. Purification was effected by chromatography on reversed phase and size exclusion gels followed by TLC on silica gel. These techniques afforded eight components: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1 and D2. A mixture of the two closely related components, xylocandins A1 and A2, displayed potent anticandidal and antidermatophytic activities in vitro. The activity was diminished by the presence of serum or vaginal washings. No antibacterial activity was demonstrable.

Animals↗

Effect of aerosol size on the blood lead distribution of industrial workers.

The size distribution measurements of lead aerosol from a brass foundry and primary lead smelter are used to simulate blood lead distributions applying a pharmacokinetic model developed by Bernard. The predicted distribution of blood lead levels determined using the actual size distribution of lead aerosol are compared to the blood lead levels predicted according to the model assumptions adopted in setting the OSHA lead standard. In the furnace area of the smelter and the pouring area of the foundry the predicted mean blood lead level is higher than that found in the standard whereas, in the smelter's sintering and mixing operation the blood lead level is less than that suggested by the standard. The data support the conclusion that size-selective sampling needs to be considered for incorporation into the OSHA lead standard.

Aerosols↗

In vivo and in vitro release of cyanide from neurotoxic aminonitriles.

Cyanide release from neurotoxic aminonitriles was measured following in vitro incubation with both microsomes and liver slices. Investigation of cyanide released as urinary thiocyanate following ip aminonitrile administration to rats was also measured. The yield of cyanide in the in vivo study, as measured by the mole percent of administered dose, was greatest from dimethylaminonitrile (DMAA), followed by trimethylaminopropionitrile (TMAPN), dimethylaminopropionitrile (DMAPN), 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN), dimethylaminobutyronitrile (DMABN), and monomethylaminopropionitrile (MMAPN). Urinary excretion of thiocyanate accounted for 48.9% of the administered DMAA, 11.6% of TMAPN, 8.0% of DMAPN, 6.8% of IDPN, 3.1% of DMABN, and 1.8% of MMAPN. Incubation of aminonitriles and related compounds with microsomes or liver slices from rats yielded measurable quantities of cyanide from all the compounds tested except for DMABN, TMABN, and succiononitrile. Quantitative evaluation of the yield of formaldehyde by demethylation following microsomal incubation was also determined. The signs of acute toxicity in rats after ip administration of KCN were similar only to those in rats administered DMAA.

Aminopropionitrile↗

Particle bounce in a personal cascade impactor: a field evaluation.

The collection characteristics of five types of substrates (collection surfaces) used in personal cascade impactors were evaluated for particle bounce in the laboratory with lead dioxide dust, and in the field with brass pouring fume and brass grinding dust. The substrates tested were uncoated stainless steel, silicon grease-coated stainless steel, oil-saturated Millipore membrane filter, oil-saturated Teflon membrane filter and oil-saturated sintered stainless steel. The use of coated and uncoated stainless steel plates to collect lead dioxide dust produced no difference in measured mass median diameter (MMD); however, with brass grinding dust, there was a 50% decrease in measured MMD when uncoated stainless steel substrates were used, as compared with coated stainless steel substrates. Oil-saturated Millipore membrane surfaces gave consistently lower MMDs than coated stainless steel surfaces. Coated and uncoated stainless steel gave similar MMDs when used to sample brass pouring fume. Oil-saturated Teflon membrane and oil-saturated sintered metal, surfaces for which the collection efficiency is presumed to be independent of the particle loading, gave MMDs similar to those measured for grease-coated stainless steel. The implications of these comparisons are discussed. It is concluded that bounce characteristics are strongly dependent on aerosol material and the suitability of collection surfaces needs to be determined by field evaluation.

Aerosols↗

Phenacein--an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor produced by a streptomycete. II. Isolation, structure determination and synthesis.

Phenacein, an inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme, has been isolated from the fermentation broth of a Streptomyces species belonging to the Streptomyces tanashiensis-zaomyceticus group. The inhibitor was shown to be 3,6-dihydroxy-1-phenazinecarboxylic acid by spectroscopic, degradative and synthetic methods.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗