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We treated 14 patients with high grade sarcomas by angiotensin II-induced hypertension chemotherapy. The chemotherapy protocol described by Rosen was selected according to histological classification of sarcomas (small cell sarcoma, spindle cell sarcoma, pleomorphic sarcoma). The level of angiotensin-induced hypertension was one and half times as high as blood pressure at rest. Induced hypertension was maintained for 30-60 minutes. In three cases of 5 primary osteosarcomas, induced hypertension resulted in the increase of tumor stain and/or vascularity angiographically, and chemotherapeutic effects were CR or PR. The six cases with soft-tissue sarcomas were 2 cases each of CR, PR, and NC. The decrease of relative tumor blood flow under the condition of angiotensin II-induced hypertension was detected in 5 cases of 6 soft-tissue sarcomas by 133Xe clearance method. In the case of rhabdomyosarcoma, the decrease of tumor stain and vascularity by induced hypertension was observed on angiogram. As the side effects accompanying induced hypertension, nausea and chest oppression were noted in 2 cases, respectively. In this study it was suggested that angiotensin II-induced hypertension chemotherapy was effective for osteosarcoma, but that it might be ineffective for soft-tissue sarcomas.

Serum PGI2 stabilizing factor (PSF) was purified from human serum to a single protein with a molecular weight of 28,000 D by SDS-PAGE. Analyses of NH2-terminal sequence (32 residues), COOH-terminal sequence (3 residues) and the composition of amino acids disclosed its homology with human apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), a major apolipoprotein of HDL. Apolipoprotein A-II, C-I, C-II, C-III, D and E, as well as LDL, and VLDL did not possess this activity. The alpha-helix structure of Apo A-I is necessary for the binding of PGI2. HDL and nascent HDL reconstituted from Apo A-I and phospholipid significantly prolonged the half-life of PGI2. PGI2 stabilization by HDL and Apo A-I may be an important protective action against the accumulation of platelet thrombi at sites of vascular damage. The beneficial effect of HDL in the prevention of coronary artery disease may be partly due to this action.

This study was carried out to determine whether the ovulatory response with clomiphene citrate and bromocriptine in 20 amenorrheic women with normoprolactinemia and gestagen withdrawal bleeding is influenced by the pretreatment pattern of pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. Two patients who had no LH pulse for 3-5 h failed to respond to clomiphene. One of them was treated with bromocriptine, but ovulation did not occur. Eleven of 12 patients who had one or more LH pulses and LH pulse/h ratios of less than 1 for 3-5 h ovulated with clomiphene. One clomiphene nonresponsive patient ovulated with combined therapy of bromocriptine and clomiphene. All 6 patients who had LH pulse/h ratios of greater than or equal to 1 for 3-5 h failed to ovulate with clomiphene. Three of them were treated with bromocriptine. Two of 3 patients ovulated with bromocriptine alone and 1 ovulated with combined therapy of bromocriptine and clomiphene. These results suggest that the pretreatment pattern of pulsatile LH secretion may predict the clinical response to clomiphene and bromocriptine treatment in amenorrheic women with normoprolactinemia and gestagen withdrawal bleeding.

We constructed a gene coding for the 56-amino acid human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI), and ligated it on a plasmid downstream from the trp promoter and the signal peptide sequence of alkaline phosphatase. The resulting plasmid was transfected into a lipoprotein deletion mutant (Escherichia coli JE5505) and the plasmid-carrying cells were induced with 3-indoleacrylic acid. A considerable amount (50 micrograms/ml culture) of the mature PSTI protein was detected in the culture supernatant. The excreted PSTI was identical to the natural PSTI protein with respect to the trypsin-inhibiting activity, the N-terminal and the C-terminal amino acid sequences and the amino acid composition.

cDNA of human natural TNF (n-TNF) obtained by stimulating human leukemic B cell line (Ball-1) with Sendai virus was cloned. Valine-started-TNF (V-TNF) gene was constructed from the cDNA and expressed in E.coli HB101 under the control of a trp promoter by the induction of 3-indoleacrylic acid. The expression level of V-TNF clone was about 10% of the total E.coli protein. On the other hand, the expression level of glutamine started-TNF (Q-TNF) gene having the same SD-ATG sequence which was constructed from V-TNF gene was as low as about 1/20 of that of V-TNF. The nucleotide sequence around ATG (-4 approximately +12) of Q-TNF gene was randomly changed without modifying the coded amino acid sequence, resulting to obtain high expression clones as similar TNF protein yield as that of V-TNF. These clones possessed A residue rich sequence around the initiation codon ATG. These results show that some correlation might exist between the high expression rate and A residue rich sequence around the initiation codon.

In cycling rats exposed to a controlled light schedule of 12 h of light daily from 22.00 to 10.00 h the concentration of estradiol in the anterior hypothalamus at 5.00-6.00 h on the day of proestrus was significantly higher than those at 0.00-1.00 h on day 1 of diestrus and estrus, and was about twofold higher than serum estradiol concentration, which reached a peak at 5.00-6.00 h on the same day. Autoradiographically, the uptake of tritiated estradiol by the nuclei of neurons in the nucleus (n.) preopticus, pars suprachiasmatica (POSC), n. preopticus periventricularis (POP), and anterior part of n. anterior hypothalami (AAH) was significantly higher at 1.00 h on the day of diestrus 1 than at 6.00 h on the day of proestrus and at 1.00 h on the day of estrus. These results suggest that the POSC, POP and AAH may be target sites in the anterior hypothalamus of estradiol for its feedback action.

The effects of glycine on serum gonadotropins and estradiol (E2) and on concentrations of free amino acids in the middle hypothalamus have been studied in diestrus-1 rats. 20 min after intraperitoneal administration, glycine in doses of 50 and 100 mg had no significant effect on serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, but 200 mg significantly elevated serum LH levels. Glycine in doses of 50-200 mg had no effect on serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels at 20 min after intraperitoneal injection. 200 mg of glycine significantly elevated serum LH levels at 20 and 50 min and serum E2 levels at 50 and 80 min after intraperitoneal injection. The effects were maximal at 20 min after injection for LH and at 50 min after injection for E2. 20 min after intraperitoneal injection, 200 mg of glycine significantly increased the concentration of glycine in the middle hypothalamus, but had no effect on the concentrations of the other free acidic and neutral amino acids in the middle hypothalamus. These results suggest that glycine may play a role in the neural regulation of LH secretion.

The active smooth muscle inhibitory factor (IF) is generated by acidifying the extracts from the bovine retractor penis muscle (BRP). The activated IF is very similar to endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). However, the mechanism for the generation of active IF is yet unknown. From reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatographic data, the activities of nitrite loss were closely related to the contents of both sulfhydryl (SH) groups and L-cysteine. Thus, under acidic conditions, RSH and nitrite in the extracts are considered to react as follows: RSH + HNO2----RSNO + H2O, RSNO----(1/2) RSSR + NO, NO + (1/2)O2----NO2, NO2 + (1/2)H2O----(1/2)HNO2 + (1/2)HNO3. In addition to NO, RSNO is also a labile but potent vasodilator. Thus, activated IF seems to consist of RSNO and NO, and thiol-containing small molecules (molecular weight of less than 1,000) from BRP are closely involved in the generation of active IF.

Chlorogenic acid (3-O-caffeoylquinic acid) inhibited haematin- and haemoglobin-catalysed retinoic acid 5,6-epoxidation. Some other phenol compounds (caffeic acid and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid) also showed inhibitory effects on the haematin- and haemoglobin-catalysed epoxidation, but salicylic acid did not. Of the above compounds, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid were potent inhibitors compared with the other two, suggesting that the o-hydroquinone moiety of chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid is essential to the inhibition of the epoxidation. Although caffeic acid inhibited retinoic acid 5,6-epoxidation requiring the consumption of O2, formation of retinoic acid radicals was not inhibited on the addition of caffeic acid to the incubation mixture. The above results suggest that caffeic acid does not inhibit the formation of retinoic acid radicals but does inhibit the step of conversion of retinoic acid radical into the 5,6-epoxide.

The actions on the bronchial smooth muscle and cardiovascular system S-1540 (Bitolterol) (Shionogi Pharmaceuticals), a new bronchodilator which is chemically related to isoprenaline, and S-1541 which is the active metabolite of S-1540 were studied in comparison with the action of isoprenaline (isoproterenol) and orciprenaline (metaproterenol). 1) The relaxing effect on isolated guinea-pig tracheal muscle constricted previously with histamine BaCl2 or acetylcholine was highest with S-1541, followed by isoprenaline and orciprenaline, in that order, and lowest with S-1540. The relaxing effect of S-1541 on acetylcholine-induced tracheal constriction was reduced and that of S-1540 was completely abolished by a previous treatment with propranolol. The relaxing actions of those drugs on bronchial spasms induced by histamine in vivo were highest with S-1541, followed by isoprenaline, and lowest with S-1540. 2) All these drugs exhibited the depressor and positive chronotropic actions in guinea-pigs. The potencies of the actions were found to be in the following order; isoprenaline was most potent, followed by S-1541 with a little less intensity, orciprenaline much weaker, and S-1540 still weaker with a positive chronotropic action of about 1/1000 of S-1541 and depressor action about 1/500. In the open chest guinea-pig, positive inotropic and chronotropic actions of S-1541 were about the same or slightly more potent than those of isoprenaline; S-1540 had a very weak action, being only about 1/1000 as active as S-1541. These actions of S-1540 were completely eliminated by propranolol pretreatment. S-1540 induced to remarkable changes in the electrocardiogram wave forms even in high doses. 3) Those drugs elicited the depressor, positive chronotropic and inotropic actions in rabbits and dogs. In rabbits, isoprenaline was most potent; S-1541 was similar to or a little weaker than isoprenaline; and S-1540 was extremely weak. In the dog, isoprenaline showed the highest of the above effect, followed by S-1541, orciprenaline and S-1540 in that order, with S-1540 having an extremely low activity. 4) The actions of S-1541 and isoprenaline appeared very rapidly but were of short duration, the duration of orciprenaline was moderate, and the actions of S-1540 rapidly appeared and were of an extremely long duration. It is suggested that S-1540 itself has pharmacological activities in vivo and the active metabolites such as S-1541 also have the activities. S-1540 can be administered by the oral route, is of long duration, and is thus considered to be a bronchodilator with a relative high specificity.

In this hospital, gastric cancers showed a slightly lower incidence (9.3%) of hematemesis and/or melena than gastric ulcers (13.9%), and no distinct difference in such incidence between early gastric cancers and advanced gastric cancers was observed. A study of the literature on early gastric cancers presenting such symptoms revealed that male patients showed an extremely high incidence of these symptoms, as did those with depressed lesions, including types II c + III, and lesions occurring in the MC-C regions dominated by the left gastric artery.

Plasma LRH-immunoreactive substance in puerperal women was very low on days 5 and 10 post-partum and significantly increased between days 10 and 20 post-partum, but remained at a similar level on day 30 post-partum, which was significantly lower than that in eumenorrhoeic women on day 8 or 9 of the normal cycle. Although LRH administration did not significantly increase serum FSH on day 11 post-partum, daily injections of LRH from days 5 through 10 post-partum caused a significantly increased secretion of FSH on day 11 post-partum, both basally and in response to LRH. No significant difference was observed in serum oestradiol and Prl levels on day 11 post-partum between the two groups of women with and without LRH pre-treatment. It is concluded that the amount of hypothalamic LRH secretion may be small during the first month post-partum, and low basal FSH and unresponsiveness of the pituitary to LRH observed in the early puerperium may result from hypothalamic hypofunction.

A quantitative analysis for urinary acylcarnitines in a patient with neonatal multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenation deficiency is described. This method (liquid chromatography) can quantify twelve acylcarnitines including glutarylcarnitine and 3 isomeric acylcarnitines (butyryl-1, valeryl- and octanoylisomer) in urine. Before and up to the 15th hour of DL-carnitine therapy, isovalerylcarnitine was the largest single component existing in urinary acylcarnitines. Its excretion increased approximately 10 times within 1 day of DL-carnitine therapy. However, the acetyl-, the isobutyryl- and the butyrylcarnitine values increased gradually. From the 8th day of the therapy, the isobutyrylcarnitine value exceeded the isovalerylcarnitine. The patient's dominant urinary specific acylcarnitine derived from amino acids oxidation deficiency was changed from isovalerylcarnitine(leucine) to isobutyrylcarnitine(valine) during the early period of DL-carnitine therapy. Glutarylcarnitine was a minor component in the urine. Its degree of increase was as small as that of octanoylcarnitine. 2-Methylbutyrylcarnitine and propionylcarnitine were not detected.

The high-performance liquid chromatographic separation and identification of the phenolic compounds in extracts from coffee bean are described. The system consists of Fine SIL C18-5 analytical and preparative columns and gradient elution (solvent A, 10 mM H3PO4; solvent B, methanol). The seven chlorogenic acids isolated were identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The isolated and identified compounds are 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 3-O-feruloylquinic acid.

The direct and indirect anti-cell proliferation effects of IFN-alpha produced by BALL-1 cells were examined. Of 23 cell lines, 7 including 2 normal diploids were resistant to a dose 1000 IU/ml of IFN-alpha. On the other hand, 16 cell lines were sensitive and showed IC50 values of less than 1000 IU/ml. This anti-cell proliferation spectrum showed no specificity to tumor origin and its activity was reversible. Cellular oncogene expression was markedly suppressed by IFN-alpha treatment. This finding showed that there might be some correlation between anti-cell proliferation activity and anti-oncogene expression activity. Furthermore, by activating natural killer cell activity and antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, IFN-alpha potentiated indirect anti-cell activity.

Cardiovascular effects of brovincamine (BV) and possible modes of action were studied in dogs, rabbits and guinea-pigs. In pentobarbitone-anaesthetized dogs, intravenous administration of BV (1.6-12.8 mg/kg) induced a dose-dependent decrease of blood pressure and heart rate, a slight and transient stimulation of respiration, and a prolongation of the R-R interval in ECG without changes of wave pattern. In the isolated atria of guinea-pigs, BV showed no effect at 10(-7) and 10(-6) g/ml, but dose-dependently inhibited both myocardial contractile force and heart rate at the higher concentrations of 10(-5) and 10(-4) g/ml. In pentobarbitone-anaesthetized dogs, BV (0.1-1.6 mg/kg) administered to the vertebral or carotid artery dose-dependently increased the blood flow in the respective artery. Intravenous administration of BV (0.8-12.8 mg/kg) also exhibited a dose-dependent increase of the vertebral and carotid blood flow, but the increase was a little reduced at the higher dose of 12.8 mg/kg, probably resulting from marked hypotension and negative chronotropism. Intravenous administration of BV at 6.4 mg/kg induced a marked increase of the coronary flow, a slight increase of the renal flow and a slight decrease of the femoral flow. 11-Bromovincaminic acid (BVA, 0.1, 0.2 mg/kg), a major metabolite of BV, given intravenously or to the internal carotid artery, did not exert actions on the blood pressure, heart rate and carotid blood flow, implying that it is an inactive metabolite. In rabbit pulmonary arterial strips, BV showed no influence on effects of noradrenaline and adenosine but inhibited KCl-induced contracture. This inhibitory effect of BV, but not papaverine, was antagonized by an increase of external Ca2+ concentration. In conclusion, BV rather selectively increases the cranial and coronary blood flow. The vasodilative effects of BV seem to involve an inhibition of depolarization dependent Ca2+ slow channel. A major metabolite of BV, BVA, is inactive.

A study was performed on the antiviral effects of human interferon-alpha (MOR-22) produced by a human lymphoblastoid cell line (BALL-1). Of 4 DNA and 9 RNA viruses used in this study, all were inhibited by the IFN-alpha and the IC90s obtained were 10(1)-10(4) IU/ml. Results showed that IFN-alpha had a very wide antiviral spectrum. The IFN-alpha was able to induce 2',5'-oligo A synthetase activity in RSa, HeLa S3 and M08 cell lines but not in a HEC-IC cell line lacking receptors for IFN-alpha. This strongly suggests that one of the antiviral mechanisms might function through the induction of 2',5'-oligo A synthetase activity through the IFN-alpha receptor.

The changes elicited after ephedrine tachyphylaxis in the dog femoral and rabbit aortic strips isolated from the untreated and ephedrine pre-treated animals have been studied. In untreated strips, ephedrine exhibited dose-dependent contractions which were blocked by phenoxybenzamine. These contractile responses to ephedrine were reduced after pre-treatment with ephedrine in vivo. In rabbit aortic strips previously contracted with noradrenaline or KCL, ephedrine induced dose-dependent relaxations at high concentrations, which were not affected by propranolol. These relaxation responses were likewise diminished after ephedrine. Dose-related contractile responses to noradrenaline were potentiated at low concentrations and depressed at high concentrations after ephedrine whereas those to adrenaline were inhibited over the entire agonist range. Responses to KCL were not affected. These reductions in the responses to noradrenaline and adrenaline after treatment with ephedrine in vivo were inhibited by icreased calcium2+ concentration. From the results, it can be presumed that the observed changes in vascular responsiveness may be partially involved in the development of ephedrine tachyphylaxis.

Pharmacodynamic effects of [6-(5-chloro-2-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-7-oxo-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrazin -5- yl]-4-methyl-1-piperazine-carboxylate (zopiclone, RP-27267), chemically unrelated to benzodiazepines and a potential new sleep inducer, on the peripheral system were investigated in several species of animals. The drug was dissolved in the vehicle of 0.01 mol/l HCl solution for intravenous administration or for addition to the bath medium and was suspended in 0.25% carboxymethylcellulose solution for oral administration. In unanesthetized rabbits, zopiclone, 0.5 mg/kg i.v., exerted no action and at 1 mg/kg slightly decreased respiration and heart rate without affecting blood pressure and ECG. Zopiclone at 10(-6) g/ml had no action in the isolated guinea-pig atria but at 10(-5) g/ml it produced a gradual and slight decrease in heart rate without affecting the contraction. In the isolated small intestine of rabbits and guinea-pigs, zopiclone at 10(-6) g/ml had no action but produced a slight inhibition in a dose of 10(-5) g/ml. Zopiclone, 10(-5) g/ml, did not affect the stimulatory effects of acetylcholine, serotonin, histamine and barium in the isolated guinea-pig intestine. Zopiclone, 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg i.v., exerted no action on rabbit intestinal movement in vivo. Zopiclone, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mg/kg p.o., had no effect on the propulsive motility of the mouse intestine. Zopiclone, 10(-5) g/ml, did not affect contractile movement of the uterus isolated from rabbits and did not influence the contractile response to epinephrine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

1. The properties of ATPase activity were studied with the mycelial form cells of Saccharomycopsis fibuligera. 2. Optimal pH for the activity was about 9.5. 3. The activity was stimulated by Mg2+. 4. The activity was inhibited by DCCD, NaF and oligomycin, but not inhibited by ouabain.

In order to investigate the sequence of events concerning gonadotropin surge, serum LH, FSH and estradiol concentrations were measured during the rat estrous cycle as well as hypothalamic and blood levels of LH-RH in the preovulatory stage. Normally cyclic female Wistar rats kept on 12 hr light (from 22.00 hr to 10.00 hr) and 12 hr dark were killed at different times of day during each stage of the cycle. The hypothalamus was quickly dissected out, divided into 3 portions (the anterior, middle and posterior) and extracted in 90% methanol. Blood LH-RH was extracted by affinity chromatography prior to radioimmunoassay. The content of LH-RH in the anterior and middle hypothalamus started to decrease between 1.00 hr-3.00 hr, reached its nadir at 6.00 hr on proestrus and recovered to its previous values on estrus. Almost simultaneously blood LH-RH concentration showed an increase of 18.3 pg/ml-8.8 pg/ml between 1.00 hr-3.00 hr, and then fell to less than 1.0 pg/ml at 6.00 hr. On the other hand, serum estradiol level began to elevate on diestrus II followed by its peak at 6.00 hr on proestrus, while the peaks of serum LH and FSH were observed at 8.00 hr and 10.00 hr, respectively. These studies indicate that the elevation of serum estradiol was followed by the release of LH-RH from the hypothalamus and the LH-RH may be responsible for the preovulatory discharge of gonadotropin.

Muscle biopsy specimens from two patients with MELAS syndrome (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes) were studied biochemically. 14CO2 production rates from (1-14C)pyruvate, (U-14C)malate, and (1-14C)2-ketoglutarate were all decreased in intact mitochondria in both patients. Rotenone-sensitive NADH cytochrome c reductase activities were decreased to 8% (patient 1) and 6% (patient 2) of control values; succinate cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome c oxidase values were within normal limits. These results indicate that both patients have a defect of NADH-CoQ reductase of the respiratory chain and that MELAS can be brought about by a defect of NADH-CoQ reductase.

In September, 1980, a 57-year-old male, was admitted to hospital for precise examinations to determine if he had Recklinghausen's disease, pneumoconiosis, and a duodenal ulcer. Endoscopy revealed a redness and a shallow depression of the posterior wall of the antrum, and a biopsy of a specimen led to the diagnosis of early gastric cancer, Stage II c. After the examination, the patient did not return to our department again. In May, 1987, however, the man was readmitted to our hospital, suffering from pains in the right back. X-ray and endoscopic findings revealed a gastric cancer with a center depression and a peripheral elevation (II a + II c). Histological findings showed the gastric cancer to be a moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, with a submucosal invasion that was also seen. This case, uncovered 80 months earlier, represents a rare instance in which an early gastric cancer, accompanied by Recklinghausen's disease, expanded slowly.

12 normal ovulatory women were studied during 17 menstrual cycles. The first day on which the women had increasing quantities of 0.1 ml or more clear cervical mucus (IQCCM) was closely related to the time of ovulation as monitored by basal body temperature and radioimmunoassay of serum-luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, and progesterone. The results show that the time of ovulation can be predicted clinically without specialized tests by observing the day of onset of IQCCM.

Reproductive function following advanced ovulation induced by a single injection of 1 microgram synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) has been studied in rats. While advanced ovulation induced by an injection of the agent on the day of proestrus was followed by pregnancies occurring as frequently as those in spontaneous ovulation group, incidences of mating behavior, fertilization, and pregnancy were considerably reduced in the advanced ovulation group when induced by an injection of synthetic LH-RH during the early period of diestrus 2. The mean volume of primary oocytes of the three largest follicles at 1.00 h on the day of diestrus 2 was significantly smaller than that at 1.00 h on the day of proestrus. However, shortly before ovulation, the mean volume of secondary oocytes in the preovulatory follicles from rats treated with synthetic LH-RH at 1.00 h on the day of diestrus 2 was approximately the same as that in the preovulatory follicles from rats treated with the agent at 1.00 h on the day of proestrus. Shortly after ovulation the number of mitotic cumulus cells around the oviductal ova was significantly greater in advanced ovulation group induced by synthetic LH-RH injection during the early period of diestrus 2 than in spontaneous ovulation group. Furthermore, when examined 13 h after ovulation, the layers of cumulus cells were thicker, and cumulus cells were more tightly arranged around the ova in the advanced ovulation group induced by injection of synthetic LH-RH during the early period of diestrus 2 than those in the group with with spontaneous ovulation. These results suggest that the cumulus-oocyte complex from advanced ovulation group induced by injection of synthetic LH-RH in the early period of diestrus 2 is less potent in fertilizability than that from spontaneous ovulation group, leading to a reduction in the rate of subsequent pregnancy.

A multinucleated giant cell tumor developed in the left renal pelvis of a 60-year-old man. The tumor was morphologically indistinguishable from giant cell tumor of bone and considered to be both primary and benign, with a follow-up period of one year and no evidence of either recurrence or metastasis.

A technique for the identification of glutarylcarnitine in urine from a patient with glutaric aciduria type 1 is described. The patient's urine sample was partially purified using an anion exchange column and analyzed by a carboxylic acid analyzer fitted with an ODS reverse-phase column. The chromatogram of the patient's urine sample revealed 3 different peaks, which corresponded respectively to those of carnitine with amino acids, acetylcarnitine and glutarylcarnitine. Following hydrolysis of the sample, the chromatogram had no peaks of acetylcarnitine and glutarylcarnitine but had remarkably amplified peaks of carnitine, acetic acid and glutaric acid. The eluent fraction of glutarylcarnitine from the non-hydrolyzed sample was hydrolyzed and analyzed again. It no longer had the glutarylcarnitine peak on the chromatogram, but had only two separate peaks of carnitine and glutaric acid. This technique simplifies the identification of glutarylcarnitine, in that it requires only removal of organic acids for preparation of samples, and does not require radioisotope or mass spectrometry.

Hypothalamic function during pregnancy and hypothalamic-pituitary function during the first month after abortion or premature labor have been studied. The plasma LH-RH level in pregnant women was significantly lower between 18 and 23 weeks' gestation than that in eumenorrheic women on day 8 or 9 of the normal cycle, and thereafter decreased until term. Serum FSH showed normal response to LH-RH on day 10 after pregnancy termination between 5 and 23 weeks' gestation, but no FSH response to LH-RH was found on day 10 after premature labor at 33 weeks' gestation. Serum FSH responded normally to LH-RH on day 30 after pregnancy termination at 18 weeks' gestation, but serum FSH responded excessively to LH-RH on day 30 after premature labor at 30 weeks' gestation. The positive feedback effect of estrogen on LH release was not operative on day 30 after pregnancy termination beyond 18 weeks' gestation, though it was operative on day 30 after pregnancy termination between 6 and 11 weeks' gestation. These results indicate that the duration of pregnancy has an influence on the recovery of hypothalamic-pituitary function after pregnancy termination and that the recovery of hypothalamic-pituitary function during the first month after premature labor beyond 30 weeks' gestation is similar to that after normal labor.