Effective inhibition of Candida albicans growth by the combination of murine peritoneal neutrophils and activated macrophages.

The effect of leukocytes on the anti-Candida activity of neutrophils was examined. Murine neutrophils which were purified from casein-induced peritoneal cells inhibited the mycelial growth of Candida albicans. This anti-Candida activity of neutrophils was augmented by the addition of spleen cells prepared from mice pretreated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide 3 hr before, but not from non-treated mice.

Pharmacological study of stem-cell-factor-induced mast cell histamine release with kinase inhibitors.

Stem cell factor (SCF) is a ligand for c-kit receptor and has a critical role in the development of mast cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of a panel of kinase inhibitors on SCF-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. Genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases, inhibited SCF-induced histamine release with IC50 of 1.

Prevention of diabetes by thymic hormone in alloxan-treated rats.

We investigated the effects of facteur thymique sérique (FTS), a thymic peptide hormone, on alloxan- and streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Pretreatment with intravenous injection of FTS significantly suppressed both alloxan- and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia. The effects of FTS were time dependent.

[Overview on synthetic steroid hormone-chemistry and definition].

Synthetic steroids are reviewed in terms on "synthetic", "steroid" and hormone. Natural steroids are also synthesized but, are not included in this review, because "synthetic" is rather well defined by the term "not natural". A short history of development of "not natural" steroids are described for the better understanding.

Inhibition of Candida albicans growth by murine peritoneal neutrophils and augmentation of the inhibitory activity by bacterial lipopolysaccharide and cytokines.

Anti-Candida activity of murine neutrophils and its regulation by immunomodulators were studied in vitro. Murine neutrophils which were prepared from peritoneal-exudated cells inhibited the growth of Candida albicans at an effector: target (E/T) ratio of 30/1 or above. This anti-Candida activity of neutrophils was augmented by lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli, murine tumor necrosis factor (TNF), murine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and murine granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) but not by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) added to the incubation medium.

Reproductive rates in schizophrenic outpatients.

We investigated the marriage rates, the reproductive rates and the marital reproductivity of schizophrenic outpatients in Japan. A total of 553 patients with DSM-III-R-diagnosed schizophrenia at the Teikyo University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan were compared with age- and sex-matched outpatients at surgical clinics of the same hospital. Our findings indicate that the reproductivity of schizophrenics is reduced, even though the sample consists of outpatient population and modern operational diagnostic criteria have been used.

[Clinical significance of thrombocytopenia associated with hemorrhagic cerebrovascular diseases].

We investigated the clinical significance of thrombocytopenia (platelet counts less than 10 x 10(4)/mm3) associated with hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease. This study was conducted in 96 patients suffering from hemorrhagic cerebrovascular diseases. We divided the clinical course into 3 stages: acute (from the 1st to 7th day), subacute (8th-21st day) and chronic (after the 22nd day).