106 patients with acute purulent pericarditis were treated surgically with three different methods without operative mortality. The pericardiectomy plus continuous pericardial lavage was more effective than pericardiectomy without irrigation or simple pericardial drainage in several aspects, such as recovery of body temperature, elimination of infectious-toxic symptoms and cutting short hospitalization days. Besides, cardiac tamponade or late constriction of the pericardium could be avoided.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1991

[The structure and absolute configuration of isorupestonic acid from Artemisia rupestris L].

A new sesquiterpene compound named isorupestonic acid was isolated from Artemisia rupestris and its absolute stereostructure was elucidated as 3B by spectral and X-ray crystallographic methods. Interestingly, the isorupestonic acid is based upon an unusual 6, 7 membered ring skeleton differing from the 5, 7 membered ring rupestonic acid although both have the same absolute configuration at C-1. The biogenesis of isorupestonic acid most likely involves breaking the C4-C5 bond of rupestonic skeleton and forming the C5-C14 bond. The absolute configuration of rupestonic acid was also determined as 4C by X-ray analysis and CD data.

Azulenes↗

PubMed1991

[16-Hydroxytriptolide, a new active diterpene isolated from Tripterygium wilford II].

A new diterpene triepoxide, 16-hydroxytriptolide was isolated from the root and leaves of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f. 16-Hydroxytriptolide was obtained as white cluster crystal, mp 232-233.5 degrees C. Its molecular formula is C20H24O7. The structure and stereochemistry of 16-hydroxytriptolide was established as L2 on the basis of spectral data (IR, MS, UV, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 2d-NMR, NOE) and X-ray crystallographic analysis. In the pharmacologic screening, 16-hydroxytriptolide showed definite antiinflammatory actions and strong immunosuppressive and antifertile activities. In antiinflammatory action, its half effective dose (ED50) was 0.12 mg/kg with the model of croton oil induced ear swelling of mice. In immunosuppressive action, its ED50 was 0.05 mg/kg with the model of the formation of haemolysinantibody of mice. Its lowest effective dose (po) was 0.027mg/kg x 33d in antifertile action.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

LINKERS: a simulation programming system for generating populations with genetic structure.

Significant features are described of a Monte Carlo simulation system, LINKERS, that generates nuclear family data conforming to one locus and two loci genetic models. Software engineering techniques help to produce a user friendly environment for studies of genetic ascertainment. LINKERS' 39 code modules are maintained and optimized using VAXset. Within a VAX/VMS workstation environment LINKERS generates a useful population of 10,000 families in 1 min. An example is presented to illustrate the use of LINKERS. Generated data were analysed using the segregation program POINTER. Likelihood ratio tests showed the effects of multiple alleles, gene frequency and incorrect specification of disease prevalence.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed1990

Pathologic findings associated with interleukin-2-based immunotherapy for cancer: a postmortem study of 19 patients.

The use of interleukin-2 (IL-2), either alone or in combination with lymphokine-activated killer cells, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, or other immunotherapeutic agents has added a new list of alternatives to conventional antineoplastic regimens. Little information is available about the pathologic changes occurring in patients treated with these agents. In this study, we reviewed the necropsy materials from 19 patients, 12 men and 7 women, with a variety of malignancies including melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, gastrointestinal and pulmonary adenocarcinoma, and metastatic gastrinoma, who died after receiving IL-2-based immunotherapy. Death occurred at intervals ranging from less than 1 hour to 143 days following the last dose of therapy. All patients dying at or less than 43 days following cessation of therapy had lymphoid infiltrates of varying intensity in residual tumor. At necropsy, the major cause of death unrelated to the presence of metastatic tumor was bacterial sepsis. In addition, we found evidence of significant cardiac and pulmonary toxicity: two patients with acute myocardial infarction, one with and one without significant coronary artery disease, two cases of unexplained lymphocytic myocarditis, and one case of fatal pulmonary capillary plugging following an infusion of lymphokine-activated killer cells. Thus, not unlike other forms of therapy for cancer, IL-2-based immunotherapy does not appear to be without significant toxicity.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Primary renovascular effects of erythromycin in the rat: relationship to cyclosporine nephrotoxicity.

Erythromycin is known to exacerbate cyclosporine nephrotoxicity. This has been attributed to the potential of erythromycin to reduce the hepatic microsomal metabolism and clearance of cyclosporine. Erythromycin may also be nephrotoxic. We tested the hypothesis that erythromycin may have direct effects on the renal vasculature which are additive or synergistic with the effects of cyclosporine. Sprague-Dawley rats were administered graded doses of either erythromycin, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mg/kg BW/min i.v. over consecutive 10-min intervals; cyclosporine, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg/kg BW/min i.v. over consecutive 10-min intervals; or both drugs simultaneously. In separate experiments, identical doses of erythromycin or cyclosporine were infused intravenously following acute unilateral renal denervation. Infusion of erythromycin led to an initial decline in arterial blood pressure whereas infusion of cyclosporine resulted in a dose-related increase in arterial blood pressure. Despite these different systemic effects, each drug alone produced a striking decrease in renal blood flow. This effect was more pronounced when the drugs were infused concomitantly. The reduction in renal blood flow occurred in an additive manner as a direct consequence of increased renal vascular resistance. Prior renal denervation did not modify the response to either erythromycin or cyclosporine. These results demonstrate that cyclosporine-induced vasoconstriction is exacerbated by erythromycin and suggest that the decline in renal function observed in patients coadministered these drugs may be due in part to additive renovascular toxicity.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

[Synthesis of ganoderma alkaloid A and B].

Ganoderma alkaloid A (IA, 1-isopentyl-2-formyl-5-hydroxymethylpyrrole) and B (IB, 1-phenylethyl-2-formyl-5-hydroxymethylpyrrole) were discovered in the hypha of deep fermented Ganoderma capense. Both are new pyrrole alkaloids. In order to provide samples for bioassay, we completed the synthesis of these new alkaloids and their acetyl derivatives. The route of synthesis included six steps. The whole yields were 20.7% for IA and 24.7% for IB. Synthetic IA and IB were found to be identical with the natural compounds by comparison of spectral data. IA and IB showed some antiinflammatory activity in animal experiments.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed1990

An automated myeloperoxidase assay.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Autoanalysis↗

PubMed1990

[Chemical constituents of Armillaria mellea mycelium. VI. Isolation and structure of armillaripin].

A new protoilludane sesquiterpenoid aromatic ester, named armillaripin, C24H30O6, mp 202-204 degrees C, [alpha]D15 + 130 degrees (c 0.055, CHCl3), was isolated from the petroleum ether extract of the artificially cultured mycelium of Armillaria mellea (Vahl. ex Fr.) Quel. (Tricolometaceae) by silica gel chromatography. On the basis of spectral (UV, IR, 1HNMR 13CNMR and MS) analysis its structure was deduced as I and confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis.

Agaricales↗

PubMed1989

Pre- and postoperative sequential study on the immunosuppressive activity of serum and cell-free skin bleb fluid of patients with lung cancer and esophageal cancer.

Serial changes of immunosuppressive activity of serum and cell-free skin bleb fluid that can suppress the activity of acid a-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) of lymphocytes and phagocytosis of macrophages were detected by immunoregulatory tests in vitro in 50 lung cancer and 42 esophageal cancer patients. In comparing these tests with those of 53 cases of noncancerous thoracic lesion and 69 normal adults, the immunosuppressive activity of serum and skin bleb fluid from cancer patients is significantly higher than that of noncancerous thoracic lesions and normal individuals (P less than .01). The activity is related to the stages of cancer, the size of primary tumor, the presence of lymph node metastasis, and tumor resect-ability, but not to histological classification, sex, and age. The immunosuppressive activity of serum and skin bleb fluid decreased gradually after the removal of the tumor and was eliminated on the 30th postoperative day. These results suggest that serum and skin bleb fluid from cancer patients may contain immunosuppressive factors that can suppress the immune responsive functions of lymphocytes and macrophages in vitro in a manner similar to that seen in vivo. Therefore, complete surgical removal of cancer is likely the most effective immunotherapy.

Adult↗