This study was carried out to investigate the response of interphase Y chromosome to some drugs and toxins by observing the rate of leukocytes showing Y-body in the peripheral blood. The interphase Y chromosomes of blood leukocytes were stained with quinacrine mustard and the animals used were rabbits, rats and guinea pies. Y-bodies of leukocytes were studied in the animals as well as in man. Changes in positive rate of Y-body in leukocytes and total leukocyte count were observed in the rabbits administered with drug or toxin. The results concerning the rate of Y-body were as follows: 1. Y-bodies were present in the blood leukocytes of the animals. However positive rates in mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were lower in animals that in man. The positive rate of Y-body was higher in mononuclear leukocytes than in polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the animals as in man. 2. Bacterial toxins such as typhoid, D.P.T. and cholera vaccines and anticancer drugs such as busulfan and endoxan reduced the positive rates of Y-body both in mononuclear leukocytes and in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. 3. Benzene known as bone marrow toxin reduced the positive rate of Y-body in mononuclear leukocytes, but not that in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Quinine known as general protoplasmic poison reduced the positive rate of Y-body not only in mononuclear leukocytes but also in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. 4. Antibiotics such as tetracycline and chloramphenicol and steroid hormones such as estrogen, testosterone and prednisolone had no effects on the positive rate of Y-body both in mononuclear leukocytes and in polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacterial Toxins ; Benzene ; Bone Marrow ; Busulfan ; Chloramphenicol ; Cholera Vaccines ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cytoplasm ; Estrogens ; Guinea ; Interphase ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes* ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Neutrophils ; Prednisolone ; Quinacrine Mustard ; Quinine ; Rabbits* ; Rats ; Testosterone ; Tetracycline ; Typhoid Fever ; Y Chromosome

Two cases of human infection by adult Spirometra erinacei were proved by collection of worms in Korea. The patients were 24 and 21-year old males residing in a mountainous village in Kangwon-do. They had the clinical complaints of abdominal pain and epigastric discomfort, revealing the diphyllobothriid eggs, 53~59 x 37~42 micrometer in size, in their stools. They were treated with 500 mg atabrine and purgated with magnesium salts, and 3~4 hours later several chains of tapeworm segments were recovered from the diarrheal stools. The recovered worms revealed the morphological characteristics of spiral-form or coiled uteri, separated vaginal opening from the cirrus sac, incorporated seminal vesicle into the cirrus sac, distribution of testes at the junction between proglottids, asymmetrical eggs with one pointed eggs, etc. and were identified as Spirometra erinacei(Rudolphi, 1819). The cases had the history of eating raw flesh of the snakes and these are considered the source of infection.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; case report ; Spirometra erinacei ; atabrine

The amebicidal activity of traditional anitiamoebic drug (emetine, carbasone, diodoquin, chloroquine, atabrine, chloramphenicol and tertracycline) and newly appeared chemicals(niridazole, metronidazole and No. 8603 substance) were assayed by in vitro experiment using five strains of human originated E, histolytica. The variety of amebicidal activity of drugs by the strains were discussed. Ranges of amoebicidal activity of traditional antiamoebic drugs kept almost similar titers of previous reports at the concentration; 1:5,000 to 1:20,000 with emetine hydrochloride, 1:10.000 to 1:20,000 with carbarsone, 1:8,000 to 1:16,000 with diodoquin, 1:50,000 with chloroquine, 1:1,000 to 1: 4,000 with atabrine ,1:1,000 to 1:2,000 with chloramphencol and 1:5,000 to 1:8,000 with tetracycline. The newly appeared chemicals showed higher amebicidal titres at the concentration; 1:500,000 to 1:5,000,000 with niridazole, 1:50,000 to 1:100,000 with metronidazol and 1:100,000 to 1:500,000 with No.8603 substance. Emetine, chloramphenicol and No. 8603 substance showed amebicidal activities at lower concentration to intestine originated amebae (YS 14, YS 15 and NAMRU II strain) than to liver originated amebae (YS 24 and YS 25 strain ), while carbarsone, chloroquine and metronidazole showed the activity at higher concentrations. Diodoquin showed lower amebicidal titres to trophozoite borne amebae (NAMRU II, YS 24 and YS 25 strain) than to cyst borne amebae(YS 14 and YS 15 strain), but niridazole showed converse results. The concentration of atabrine for amebicidal activity was not constant according to strains of the amoeba, but tetracycline showed almost settled titers.
parasitology-protozoa ; Entamoeba histolytica ; virulence ; in-vitro ; chemotherapy ; emetine ; carbasone ; diodoquin ; chloroquine ; atabrine ; chloramphenicol ; tertracycline ; niridazole ; metronidazole ; No. 8603 substance

Summary Treatment of refractory cutaneous lupus is challenging. When conventional therapy, including hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, has failed, the addition of quinacrine may be a promising option. We describe a case of refractory chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) who responded well to quinacrine.
Quinacrine ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous

In this study seminal fluid samples were obtained from 20 normal adult males to know the percentage of the spermatozoa containing the fluorescent body (F-body), after staining the seminal fluid with 0.5% aqueous quinacrine HCI. In this study the preparations were observed with an AO fluorescent microscope. The following results were obtained. 1) In 20 men, the mean percentage of F-body containing spermatozoa was 31.3%. 2) There was no relationship between sperm density in semen analysis and F-body rate 3) There was no relationship between sperm motility in semen analysis and F-body rate. 4) In 5 men, methyl alcohol-acetic acid (3:1) preparations, as a fixation solution, showed better F-body rate than that of ethyl alcohol preparations. 5) In 4 men, the preparations which were fixed and stained within 2 hours after obtaining seminal fluid showed better F-body rate than that fixed and stained after 6 hours. 6) In 10 men, after low speed centrifuging of the seminal fluid, the deposit preparations, showed decreased mean percentage of F-body containing spermatozoa by 4.2%.
Adult ; Ethanol ; Humans* ; Male ; Quinacrine ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa*

OBJECTIVE: To identify cytogenetic diversity of Turner syndrome, and its correlation with clinical manifestation including fertility. METHOD: From 1986 to 1996, we reviewed medical records of 137 patients, cytogenetically and clinically diagnosed as Turner syndrome. Cytogenetic study was performed using peripheral lymphocytes with GTG banding. Marker chromosomes were re-evaluated by quinacrine staining. RESULTS: Overall incidence of mosaic pattern was 57.7% in Turner syndrome, showing 45,X line combined with structural anomalies of X chromosome(n=39), marker chromosome(n=22), numerical abnormalities of sex chromosome(n=6), and 46,XX(n=5). With comparison of clinical manifestation in 45,X/46,XX(n=5) and four most common pattern, 45,X(n=42), 45,X/46,X,i(Xq)(n=26), 45,X/46,X,+mar(n=22), 46,X,i(Xq)(n=9), there was no significant differences statistically, except short stature and diabetes. Incidence of short stature was significantly higher in 45,X or 46,X,i(Xq) than 45,X/46,XX(78.6%, 88.9%, 20.0%), and significant difference existed in incidence of diabetes between 45,X and 46,X,i(Xq)(0%, 22.2%). Sixteen patients had a history of marriage, but only one had a history of spontaneous conception and delivery with mosaic 45,X[2]/51,XXXXXXX[1]/46,XX[47]. CONCLUSION: The karyotypes of Turner syndrome was very variable, and about 60% had mosaicism. Patients with 45,X/46,XX had a significant lower incidence of short stature than in 45,X or 46,X,i(Xq), and 46,X,i(Xq) had a significant higher incidence of diabetes than in 45,X. We identified a woman with mosaic 45,X/51,XXXXXXX/46,XX was fertile.
Cytogenetics* ; Female ; Fertility ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Karyotype ; Lymphocytes ; Marriage ; Medical Records ; Mosaicism ; Quinacrine ; Turner Syndrome*

The present study was undertaken to examine the role of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in oxidant-induced inhibition of phosphate transport in primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubule cells. Uptakes of phosphate and glucose were dose-dependently inhibited by an oxidant t-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP), and the significant inhibition appeared at 0.025 mM of tBHP, whereas tBHP-induced alterations in lipid peroxidation and cell viability were seen at 0.5 mM. tBHP stimulated arachidonic acid (AA) release in a dose-dependent fashion. A PLA2 inhibitor mepacrine prevented tBHP-induced AA release, but it did not alter the inhibition of phosphate uptake and the decrease in cell viability induced by tBHP. tBHP-induced inhibition of phosphate transport was not affected by a PKC inhibitor, staurosporine. tBHP at 0.1 mM did not produce the inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity in microsomal fraction, although it significantly inhibited at 1.0 mM. These results suggest that tBHP can inhibit phosphate uptake through a mechanism independent of PLA2 activation, irreversible cell injury, and lipid peroxidation in primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubular cells.
Arachidonic Acid ; Cell Survival ; Glucose ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Phospholipases A2* ; Phospholipases* ; Quinacrine ; Staurosporine ; tert-Butylhydroperoxide

The present study was designed to assess the roles of PLA2 activation and arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites in hypoxia-induced renal cell injury. Hypoxia increased LDH release in a dose-dependent manner in rabbit renal cortical slices, and this increase was significant after 20-min hypoxia. The hypoxia-induced LDH release was prevented by amino acids, glycine and alanine, and extracellular acidosis (pH 6.0). Buffering intracellular Ca2+ by a chelator, but not omission of Ca2+ in the medium produced a significant reduction in hypoxia-induced LDH release. The effect of hypoxia was blocked by PLA2 inhibitors, mepacrine, butacaine, and dibucaine. A similar effect was observed by a 85-kD cPLA2 inhibitor AACOCF3. AA increased hypoxia-induced LDH release, and albumin, a fatty acid absorbent, prevented the LDH release, suggesting that free fatty acids are involved in hypoxia-induced cell injury. These results suggest that PLA2 activation and its metabolic products play important roles in pathogenesis of hypoxia-induced cell injury in rabbit renal cortical slices.
Acidosis ; Alanine ; Amino Acids ; Anoxia ; Arachidonic Acid ; Dibucaine ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Glycine ; Phospholipases A2* ; Phospholipases* ; Quinacrine

The role of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in tumor cell growth was investigated using SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cells. 4-Bromophenacyl bromide (BPB) and mepacrine (Mep), known PLA2 inhibitors, suppressed growth of the tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner without a significant cytotoxicity. Melittin (Mel), a PLA2 activator, enhanced the cell growth in a concentration-dependent fashion. The growth-enhancing effects of Mel were significantly reversed by the co-treatment with PLA2 inhibitors. In addition, Mel induced intracellular Ca2+ release from internal stores like as did serum, a known intracellular Ca2+ agonist in the tumor cells. Intracellular Ca2+ release induced by these agonists was significantly blocked by PLA2 inhibitors at growth-inhibitory concentrations. Arachidonic acid (AA), a product of the PLA2-catalyzed reaction, induced cell growth enhancement and intracellular Ca2+ release. These effects of AA were significantly blocked by BAPTA/AM, an intracellular Ca2+ chelator. Taken together, these results suggest that the modulation of PLA2 activity may be one of the regulatory mechanisms of cell growth in human neuroblastoma cells. Intracellular Ca2+ may act as a key mediator in the PLA2-induced growth regulation.
Arachidonic Acid ; Cell Proliferation* ; Humans* ; Melitten ; Negotiating* ; Neuroblastoma* ; Phospholipases A2 ; Phospholipases* ; Quinacrine

Many reports represent that angiotensin II (ANG II) caused a dose dependent biphasic effects on fluid transport in the proximal tubule. However, respective roles of different signaling pathways in mediating these effects remain unsettled. The aim of the present study was to examine signaling pathways at high doses of ANG II on the Na+ uptake of primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubule cells(PTCs) in hormonally defined serum-free medium. High concentrations of ANG II (> 10(-9) M) inhibited Na+ uptake and increased (Ca2+)i level in the PTCs. However, low concentrations of (< 10(-11) ANG II) stimulated Na+ uptake and did not affect (Ca2+)i level. 8-(N, N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,3,5- trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8), ethylene glycol-bis(beta-amino ethyl ether)-N,N,N', N'-tetra acetic acid (EGTA), and nifedifine partially blocked the inhibitory effects of ANG II on Na+ uptake. When ANG II and bradykinin (BK) were treated together, Na+ uptake was further reduced (88.47 +/- 1.98% of that of ANG II, 81.85 +/- 1.84% of that of BK). In addition, W-7 and KN-62 blocked the ANG II-induced inhibition of Na+ uptake. Arachidonic acid reduced Na+ uptake in a dose-dependent manner. When ANG II and arachidonic acid were treated together, inhibitory effects on Na+ uptake significantly exhibited greater reduction than that of each group, respectively. When PTCs were treated by mepacrine (10(-6) M) and AACOCF, (10-5 M) for 1 hr before the addition of 10(-9) M ANG II, the inhibitory effect of ANG II was reversed. In addition, econazole (10(-6) M) blocked ANG II-induced inhibition of Na+ uptake. In conclusion, the (Ca2+)i (calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) metabolites are involved in the inhibitory effects of ANG II on Na+ uptake in the PTCs.
Acetic Acid ; Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Arachidonic Acid ; Bradykinin ; Econazole ; Ion Transport* ; Kidney ; Negotiating ; Phospholipases A2 ; Quinacrine