Creatol (5-hydroxycreatinine), a new toxin candidate in uremic patients

Summary Both 5-hydroxy-1-methylhydantoin (3) and the hitherto unrecognized 5-hydroxycreatinine (2-amino-5-hydroxy-1-methyl-imidazol-4(5H)-one or creatol) (6) can be isolated from the urine of uremic patients, in whom these compounds probably arise as oxidative metabolites of creatinine (1). The enhanced production of the well-known uremic toxin, methylguanidine (8), from creatinine (1) in such patients, almost certainly occurs via the newly recognized metabolite (6).     

Das Verhalten des Quotienten Harnstoff-N:Rest-N bei normalen und nephrektomierten,urämischen Ratten

Summary (1) The quotient urea nitrogen: non-protein nitrogen was determined in nephrectomized uremic rats and compared with the quotient in control animals. The quotient in nephrectomized uremic animals was 0.74, in control animals 0.35. The elevation of the quotient is of hepatic origin.(2) The desamination was increased in the liver of nephrectomized uremic animals in comparison to controls; the urea production was unchanged.     

Marine eicosanoids: Occurrence of 8-(R)-HETE in the starfishPatiria miniata

Summary The first isolation of 8-(R)-hydroxy-5Z, 9E, 11Z, 14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid [8-(R)-HETE] from a marine source, the pacific starfishPatiria miniata, is reported. 8-(R)-HETE occurs together with 8-(R)-hydroxy-5Z, 9E, 11Z, 14Z, 17Z-eicosapentaenoic acid.     

Naphthoquinone derivatives from the fungusHendersonula toruloidea

Summary 2 yellow naphthoquinone derivatives were isolated from several pathogenic strains ofHendersonula toruloidea Nattrass. They were identified as 2,7-dimethoxy-6-ethyl-5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and 2,7-dimethoxy-5-hydroxy-6-(1-acetoxyethyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone by means of physico-chemical methods.Thanks are due to Mr A.J.M. van Beijnen, Laboratory for Organic Chemistry, State University of Utrecht, for optical rotation measurements.The authors are indebted to Mr C. Versluys, Analytical Laboratory, State University of Utrecht, for measuring the mass spectra.We thank Mr J. W. Marsman, Institute for Organic Chemistry TNO, Utrecht, for the PMR-spectra.     

Leukocyte mobilization by epinephrine and hydrocortisone in patients with chronic renal failure

Summary The mobilization of WBC from the bone marrow, as judged from hydrocortisone-induced leucocytosis, is markedly impaired in dialyzed and nondialyzed uremic patients. The release of WBC from the marginal pool by epinephrine was found to be normal.     

Irritant resiniferonol derivatives from EgyptianThymelaea hirsuta L.

Summary Two new aromatic derivatives of 5, 12-dihydroxy-6, 7-epoxy-resiniferonol were isolated from the leaves and twigs ofThymelea hirsuta L. (fam. Thymelaeaceae). These compounds were assigned the structures 12-O-cinnamoyl-5-hydroxy-6, 7-epoxyresiniferonol-9, 13, 14-ortho benzoate 1 and 12-O-heptadecenoyl-5-hydroxy-6, 7,-epoxy-resiniferonol-9, 13, 14-ortho benzoate 2. Both compounds induced erythema of mouse ears in a dose of 0.1 g per ear.Acknowledgments. S. Ismail and M. El-Missiry are grateful to the Royal Society for a travel and support grant.     

The loss of biological activity of 5-hydroxytryptamine creatinine sulphate.

5-Hydroxytryptamine creatinine sulphate loses its biological activity when maintained at room temperature. The loss of 5-HT activity (in stimulating sodium transport across frog skin) is greater than the loss of creatinine sulphate activity (inhibition of sodium transport).     

The loss of biological activity of 5-hydroxytryptamine creatinine sulphate

Summary 5-Hydroxytryptamine creatinine sulphate loses its biological activity when maintained at room temperature. The loss of 5-HT activity (in stimulating sodium transport across frog skin) is greater than the loss of creatinine sulphate activity (inhibition of sodium transport).     

On the biosyntheses of artemisia ketone and bakuchiol

Summary New biosynthetic pathways for the irregular terpenes, artemisia ketone and bakuchiol, are proposed. It is suggested that 2-(1-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl)thiamine and 2-(1-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl) thiamine are key intermediates in the biosyntheses of artemisia ketone and bakuchiol, respectively.     

Clausarin — a novel coumarin from Clausena pentaphylla (Roxb.) DC

Summary Clausarin (1), a novel coumarin, has been isolated along with methyl linolenate, dentatin, clausenidin, -sitosterol and heptaphylline from the roots of Clausena pentaphylla. Based on spectroscopic evidence, its structure has been established as 3, 10-bis (1, 1-dimethylallyl)-8, 8-dimethyl-5-hydroxy-2H, 8H-benzo (1, 2-b5, 4-b) dipyran-2-one.     

The instability of dietary iodine supply over time in an affluent society

In the Bernese region, where goiter was formerly endemic, alimentary salt has been supplemented by increasing amounts of potassium iodide (KI): 5, 10, 20 mg KI/kg in 1922, 1965 and 1980 respectively. Ioduria rose from <30 g I/g creatinine in 1920 to >100g I/g creatinine in the 1980s. In 1992 ioduria was estimated in 55 healthy volunteers (group A and individual B) and 234 thyroid carcinoma patients after thyroidectomy: hypothyroid patients with (C) and without thyroid remnants (D) and euthyroid patients on T4^** substitution (E). The arithmetic mean iodine excretion of the healthy volunteers in group A and individual B was found to be 87±40 g I/g creatinine. This is insufficient according to the recommendations of the WHO. In all groups, the iodine excretion reached the recommended level only in some members: 24% (A, B), 19% (C), 38% (D) and 81% (E).It was thought in the 1980s that in a formerly iodine-deficient society, iodinated salt would continue to provide an adequate supply of iodine. However, iodine intake in this affluent society has proved to be unstable. This can be attributed to modifications of eating habits, which include a reduction of total salt consumption, combined with a growing consumption of manufactured food of cosmopolitan origin, prepared using salt containing little or no iodine.     

Isolierung eines neuen Guanidin-Derivates aus der Geissraute,Galega officinalis L.

Summary A new guanidine derivative has been isolated from the seeds ofGalega officinalis L., for which the structure 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl-guanidine-(1) was proposed.     

Trichinella spiralis: acceleration and inhibition of cyst calcification in rats.

Daily administration of vitamin D3 (75,000 IU/kg b. wt) for 7 days accelerated Trichinella spiralis cyst calcification in rats with a 14-week-old infection. When disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate (EHDP) was administered (50 mg/kg b. wt) from 2 days before until 2 days after vitamin D3 treatment, cyst calcification was inhibited. Thus, the ability to inhibit E. spiralis calcification has demonstrated for the first time.     

Australian goats detoxify the goitrogen 3-hydroxy-4(1H) pyridone (DHP) after rumen infusion from an Indonesian goat

The failure of Australian goats fed Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) to degrade 3-hydroxy-4(1H) pyridone (DHP), the goitrogenic metabolite of mimosine, was overcome when they were infused with rumen fluid from an Indonesian goat. The leucaena toxicity problem in Australia may well be solved by transfer of specific bacteria capable of degrading DHP anaerobically.     

Serotonin-stimulated protein phosphorylation in aortic smooth muscle cells

The effects of serotonin on the formation of inositol phosphates and protein phosphorylation were examined in cultured smooth muscle cells. Serotonin stimulated the formation of [3H]inositol monophosphate, [3H]inositol bisphosphate and [3H]inositol trisphosphate. This effect was prevented by 5-HT2 specific antagonist, 6-methyl-1-(1-methylethyl)ergoline-8-carboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-1-methylpropyl ester [Z]-2-butenedioate (LY53857). Serotonin stimulated the phosphorylation of many polypeptides, among which a 20 kDa polypeptide was the most prominent. The phosphorylation was also inhibited by LY53857. LY53857 alone produced no effects on protein phosphorylation. The 20 kDa polypeptides were also phosphorylated by the addition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. These results suggest that serotonin stimulates protein phosphorylation through 5-HT2 receptors and possibly activates protein kinase C in intact vascular smooth muscle cells.     

A potent attractant of zoospores ofAphanomyces cochlioides isolated from its host,Spinacia oleracea

A highly potent attractant of zoospores ofAphanomyces cochlioides, a causal fungus of the root rot disease of spinach (Spinacia oleracea), was isolated from spinach roots, and its structure was determined by spectroscopic evidence and chemical synthesis as cochliophilin A (5-hydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone,1). A chromosorb particle prepared by soaking in solution of1 showed a potent attracting activity toward the zoospores using concentrations of1 above 10^–9 or 10^–10 M.     

Mechanism of urea nitrogen binding by proposed oxidized starch gastrointestinal absorbents.

By use of 14-C label it was demonstrated that apparent binding of urea N to polyaldehyde starch was probably preceeded by hydrolysis to ammonium ion. Thus direct urea binding was not the mechanism through which ingested polyaldehyde starch might increase fecal N excretion in uremic patients.     

Structure of furasterin,a chlorinated metabolite from the fungusPhialophora asteris (downson) burge et isaac

Summary Furasterin, 4-chloro-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2-methyl-benzofuran, a new naturally occurring mono-chlorinated fungal metabolite was isolated fromPhialophora Asteris (Downson) Burge et Isaac. Its possible relationship with the biosynthetical pathway of the fungitoxic dichlorinated fungal metabolite cryptosporiopsin is discussed.This work was supported by a combined grant from the French C. N. R. S. and the Dutch foundation Z. W. O.     

Dichloroverongiaquinol,a new marine antibacterial compound fromAplysina cavernicola. Isolation and synthesis

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences - Dichloroverongiaquinol (1), a 4-hydroxy-4-acetamidocyclohexa-2,5-dienone, which inhibits gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, has been isolated from the...     

Cyclohexadienones-insect growth inhibitors from the foliar surface and tissue extracts ofSenecio cannabifolius

Dewaxed leaf surface extracts of 12 plants from Hokkaido, prepared by dipping fresh leaves in chloroform for 3 min, were used in a choice leaf-disk bioassay against larvae of the tobacco cutwormSpodoptera litura. Activity was found only in the extract ofSenecio cannabifolius, a very successful weed in Hokkaido. Individual fractions of the extract, however, were not active. Incorporation of the individual fractions of the surface extracts as well as fractions of the methanolic extracts of the leaf residue into an artificial diet fed to neonateS. litura led to the isolation of ethyl (1-hydroxy-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-yl) acetate, the major surface compound, as the active principle. This compound was also present in the methanolic extract of the leaf residue together with methyl (1-hydroxy-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-yl) acetate, which had the same growth inhibitory effect on the larvae. The presence of these compounds in the foliar surface and tissue suggests a defensive role against herbivores.