Enhancement of antitumor activity of alkylating agents by the radiation sensitizer misonidazole.

The influence of the radiosensitizer misonidazole on the effectiveness of several alkylating agents and cis-platinum against advanced solid murine tumors was investigated. Tumor regrowth delay, frequency of tumor regressions, and animal life span were used to evaluate misonidazole in combination with cyclophosphamide, L-phenylalanine mustard, 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-trans-4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea, aziridinyl-benzoquinone, and cis-platinum. In the advanced M5076 ovarian carcinoma, misonidazole enhanced the activity of cyclophosphamide, L-phenylalanine mustard, 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-trans-4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea, and aziridinyl benzoquinone, but not cis-platinum.

Nitroglycerin causes vasodilatation within ischaemic myocardium.

Vasodilators such as nitroglycerin have been reported to increase collateral blood flow to ischaemic myocardium. One proposed mechanism of action is dilatation of collateral vessels. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dilatation of vessels within the ischaemic area also contributes to the increase in flow.

Enhancement of L-dopa incorporation into melanoma by dopa decarboxylase inhibition.

Melanoma cells possess a special biochemical pathway for the conversion of L-dopa to melanin. Selective incorparation of exogenous L-dopa into melanoma cells in vivo has been limited by extensive decarboxylation to dopamine. Pretreatment of animals bearing the S-91 Cloudman or ACI melanomas with Ro4-4602, a potent dopa decarboxylase inhibitor limited incorporation of label into adrenal tissue and enhanced entry of label into tumor.

Cefamandole---a review of chemistry and microbiology.

The discovery of cephalosporin C and its conversion to 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) are reviewed. The syntheses of cefamandole and three other injectable cephalosporins from 7-ACA are described, and the antibiotic properties of the four drugs are compared. The microbiological potency of cefamandole is comparable to that of cephalothin, cephaloridine, and cefazolin against gram-positive organisms.

Sexual behavior and plasma androgen concentrations in the male eider duck (Somateria mollissima).

Eider ducks showed clear tidal and seasonal cycles of display when involved in pair-formation behaviour. Plasma androgen (testosterone and dihydrotestosterone) concentrations did not follow similar tidal cycles but there was a 4-fold increase of androgen in spring when rates of display increased 2-fold. There was no difference in androgen levels in blood samples taken from paired birds before and after coitus.

Community absorption of the mentally ill: the new challenge.

In 1975, twelve years after enactment of the Community Mental Health Centers Act, we find one of the greatest obstacles to fulfillment of our hopes to be pervasive hostility to acceptance of the mentally ill in many communities. The River Region Program has hurdled this obstacle by breaking the artificially large mental health catchment areas into manageable segments of 16 smaller service areas close to the people it serves in seven counties of Kentucky. In each of these service areas it has involved a broad spectrum of citizens in the planning of every service.

Biosynthesis of monensin.

The biosynthesis of monensin by Streptomyces cinnamonensis was studied by using (14)C-labeled glucose, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and methionine. The results indicated that the antibiotic is synthesized from five acetate, seven propionate, and one butyrate molecules. The o-methyl group of monensin is derived from methionine, whereas the terminal hydroxymethyl group is incorporated from acetate.