[Pharmacological profile of F-0401, a novel dihydropyridine derivative. (2). The vasodilator action of F-0401 in isolated canine arteries].

F-0401 ((+/-)-(E)-3-[4-(1-imidazolyl)methylphenyl]-2-propen-1-yl methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate) is a newly synthesized dihydropyridine derivative. We investigated the vasodilator action of F-0401 in isolated canine cerebral and peripheral arteries. F-0401 reduced KCl-induced contraction of the arteries in a concentration-dependent manner.

Isolation of tissue plasminogen activator from skin lesions with allergic vasculitis.

A tissue plasminogen activator was extracted from skin lesions with allergic vasculitis and purified by successive column chromatography on Sephadex G-200, DEAE-cellulose, Hydroxyaptite-cellulose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. By these procedures, 160 micrograms of enzyme with a specific activity of 843.8 international units/mg protein was obtained from 5 g of original skin.

Enhancement of mite antigen-induced histamine release by deuterium oxide from leucocytes of chronic urticarial patients.

The mite antigen-induced histamine release from leucocytes of chronic urticarial patients was enhanced in the presence of deuterium oxide, which stabilizes microtubules. This enhancing effect of deuterium oxide on the histamine release from leucocytes may provide a useful means for the detection of allergens in vitro in chronic urticaria.

The significance of cell-bound antigen-specific IgE in chronic urticaria.

Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) was performed on the sera obtained from chronic urticarial patients from whose leucocytes significant histamine release by mite antigen was observed. In 14 out of 19 cases investigated, no mite-antigen-specific IgE was detected in their sera by RAST, in spite of significant mite-antigen-induced histamine release from their leucocytes. The results suggest that type I reaction may be involved in chronic urticaria and the cell-bound, antigen-specific IgE may be important rather than the circulating antigen-specific IgE in this disease.

Studies on the blood fibrinolytic enzyme system of patients with cutaneous vasculitis.

The fibrinolytic enzyme system in thirty-two patients suffering from cutaneous vasculitis was investigated. In five of seven patients with Behçet's disease and in five of thirteen patients with erythema nodosum a significant elongation of euglobulin lysis time was observed. On the other hand, in two patients with allergic vasculitis, a significant shortening of euglobulin lysis time was noticed.

Further studies on a new kallikrein inhibitor in human skin--its purification and characterization.

A new kallikrein inhibitor in human skin extract was further purified by successive column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, hydroxylapatite-cellulose, and p-cellulose. By these procedures, 0.7 mg of purified preparation was obtained from 10 g of original skin.

The role of mite allergen in chronic urticaria.

Fifty-two patients with chronic urticaria were tested intradermally with mite allergen (Dermatophagoides farinae). None had any past history of any other atopic diseases. Thirty of the 52 patients gave positive skin tests to mite allergen.

Kinin-forming enzyme in human skin: the purification and characterization of a kinin-forming enzyme.

A kinin-forming-enzyme in human skin extract was further purified by successive column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Hydroxylapatite-cellulose and Sepharose-4B. By these procedures, 2.7 mg of purified enzyme was obtained from 10 gm of original skin.

In vitro release of eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis (ECF-A) from guinea pig skin.

An in vitro release of the eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis (ECF-A) in anaphylactic reactions was studied using skin slices from actively sensitized guinea pigs. ECF-A and histamine were released in vitro from actively sensitized guinea pig skin by antigen challenge. The magnitude of ECF-A release did not always parallel that of anaphylactic histamine release in guinea pig skin, suggesting that there may be no correlation between the amount of ECF-A and that of histamine released from the skin in anaphylactic reactions in guinea pigs.

Studies on the effect of plasminogen activator on the interaction between alpha 2-macroglobulin and plasmin.

Six different plasmins were prepared by incubating human plasminogen with various amounts of streptokinase or urokinase. It was confirmed that the six different plasmins possessed similar caseinolytic activities, and the inhibitory effects of a alpha 1-antitrypsin on caseinolytic activities of the six different plasmins were all the same. On the other hand, interactions between the six different plasmins and alpha 2-macroglobulin were complicated.

Plasma-kinin-forming enzyme in human skin: extraction and column chromatographic separation of plasma-kinin-forming enzyme and its inhibitor.

The optimal salt concentration for extraction of plasma-kinin-forming enzyme from the human skin was investigated. It was confirmed that a salt concentration higher than 1.5 M in the extraction buffer was required for optimal extraction of this enzyme.

A case of eosinophilic lymphfolliculosis of the skin (Kimura's disease).

Eosinophilic lymphfolliculosis of the skin (Kimura's disease) in a 31-year-old male is reported. He had two subcutaneous tumors, 10 x 9 x 3 cm and 9 x 7 x 2 cm in size, in the right retroauricular and submaxillary areas respectively. Histopathologic examination of the tumors showed marked infiltration of eosinophils, mast cells and lymphocytes, and angiomatous proliferation of blood vessels from the dermis to the skeletal muscular tissue.

Prevention of plasmin autodigestion by human plasma alpha2-macroglobulin.

The autodigestion of plasmin in neutral solution at 37 degrees C and prevention of plasmin autodigestion by methylamine were confirmed by using rho-Tosyl-L-Arginine-Methyl ester as a substrate of plasmin. The autodigestion of plasmin was prevented by human plasma alpha2-macroglobulin which has been reported as an antiplasmin of immediate and reversible type but was not prevented by alpha1-antitrypsin which has been reported as an antiplasmin of slow and irreversible type.