Vitamin Bi Research Articles

Clinical Experiences with BTDS (Beston) in the Treatment of Inner Ear Deafness

Patients who had the main complaints of dysacousis and tinnitus and were diagnosed as possible inner ear deafness were treated with a large dose (150mg. daily) of BTDS (O-Benzoylthiamine disulfide) in tablet form for a long period of time, 28-170 days. This paper reports clinical course of 12 cases in whom auditory examination could be made after the treatment.Among these 12 cases, the drug was remarkably effective in 3 and effective in 2 cases. It was failed in 7 cases but the tinnitus was relieved in 3 of them. In no case side effects were observed.Some of the patients had previously received various other therapies, especially massive administration of vitamin BI preparations other than BTDS. In these patients vasodilators or metabolic stimulants were concurrently given with BTDS. In general BTDS afforded a greater benefits to those having no previous treatment.The onset of hearing improvement was not always clearly observable. There were no cases, in which immediate effect was seen but some improvement or other was obtained in 2 or 3 weeks. During the long-term treatment with BTDS, the improvement of hearing acuity was seen not always progressively but the period of follow-up examination for half a month to 30 months, there were no worsened cases.

スグキ漬に関する研究 (第1報)

Sugukizuke-pickle, made of Suguki-na (a variety of Brassica Rapa L) as a winter farm product in Kamigamo district in Kyoto, is popularly known throughout the country, because it has a characteristic smell and taste accompanied by the sourness and it differs from the other distributed pickles in Japan.The procedure of pickling with a unique fermenting process has been exclusively carried out by farmers in the district with the traditionally developed skill, and no scientific studies have been made thereon.The authors picked up samples from the different stages of the process, analyzed them quantitatively and investigated the change in the chemical compositions of Suguki-na.At the first half stage of the process, reactions proceeded even at low temperature and it was observed that the amounts of acid, ash, NaCl, ether extracts slightly increased, while moisture and vitamin Bi decreased. But at the end of the second half where by the process was carried out at 28-32°C in a fermenting cellar, the amounts of acid, NaCl, ether extracts, vitamin B2 increasd remarkably, while pH and the amounts of soluble reducing sugar and total carbohydrate decreased considerably.

Pharmacological stimulation of arithmetic performance and graphomotor expansion.

The objective of these experiments was to test the effects of stimulating pharmacological agents on performance while at the same time studying the empirical validity of a simple graphomoror indicator. The entire series consisted of two tests per week for 9 wk., subdivided into a pre-drag period, a main period, and a post-drug period. Eight Ss, all seniors in high school, participated. During the main period half of the Ss received a daily dose of 0.65 gm. of pure lecithin and 2 mgm. of aneurinhydrochloride (vitamin BI), while during both the pre-drug and the post-drug period a placebo was administered. The other half of the Ss served as controls and received placebo during the entire series. A 40-min. session consisting of several hundred mental arithmetic tasks was held on each testing day immediately after the end of the normal school period, following the procedure introduced by H. Dueker (1949). Solutions were written down inco a prepared booklet, and the times required for solution were automatically recorded for each unit by special multi-channel equipment designed and adapted by H. W . Wendt and one of the authors. Twenty solution-time values each were sampled from Min. 29, 30, 39, and 40 of all testing periods. The means per S and day were defined in terms of per cent of intra-individual means of the predrug period and served as indices of performance. The height of the numeral 5 was used as an index of graphomotor expansion. Measurements here were taken from the lasc 10 wricten entries in the arithmetic work booklet, the angle of slant being taken into account. Again, the individual means were converted inco per cent of the intra-individual means of the pre-drug period. Fig. 1 shows the differentiation obtained between the lecithin + vitamin B1 group and the controls. Despite the limited number of Ss, the drug effects are clearly seen as an improvement in performance and an increased motor expansion. Although both effects are due to the drug, the mental and motor effects are essentially different. Thus, the effect on arithmetic performance is evident even on the first day of the main period but is significant for this period only ( t test of mean differences between experimental group and controls yielded a p < 0.001). On the other hand, the motor effect develops only gradually, beginning with the second day of the main period, and is then

Some clinical aspects of vitamin B deficiencies

HE discovery that “water soluble B” consisted of more than one nutritional factor really opened a new era in nutrition and medicine. The vitamin B complex consists of a multiplicity of substances, several of which are of considerable clinical interest and importance. This discussion will be limited to the B vitamins which appear to be of most clinical importance at present. These are thiamine (vitamin Bi), niacin, ribofldvin (vitamin Bs), cyanocobalamin (vitamin Biz), folic acid and pantothenic acid. The discovery, chemical identification and production in pure form of all these nutrients have resulted in great progress in our understanding of their biochemical and physiological actions. The clinical effect of thiamine, niacin and riboflavin in controlling beriberi, pellagra and ariboflavinosis has been so spectacular that these diseases are now almost curiosities in this country. In spite of this, our knowledge of the fundamental importance of these substances in maintaining the normal functions of the body through biochemical regulatory mechanisms is still very meager. The ready availability of these vitamins and their potent effect on the specific diseases mentioned have opened the way to studies on their mechanism of action. This phase of development of medical knowledge is now well underway and already offers some exciting possibilities, both in clinical and preventive medicine. In this connection, I would like to emphasize the importance of the distinction between vitamins as nutrients and vitamins as drugs. Although they may be used as drugs, the fundamental difference is that they are necessary for the normal functions of the body and are essential constituents of our food. In pure form they can be taken in relatively large amounts for long periods of time without physiological damage. As with all substances, even water, sugar or salt, vitamins taken in excessive and

A Vitamin B12 Binding Substance Obtained from L. Leichmannii 7830

A substance which binds vitamin was obtained from the L. Leichmannii 7830 organism and the U. S. P. medium in which this organism was cultured. This sub-stance inhibits the growth of L. Leichmannii 7830. Extracts which were Selas candle filtered, charcoal adsorbed, and freeze dried retained their activity. The dried cell extract was about three times more active in binding vitamin Bi, than dried used medium.

Vitamin B 12 and choline synthesis from glycine in vivo

The effect of vitamin Bi 12 on choline synthesis from glycine was studied in 2–3-day-old baby pigs fed an α-protein synthetic milk ration containing 2.2% glycine, 0.8% methionine, and less than 0.01% choline. In the groups receiving vitamin B 12, histological examination of the livers revealed no fatty infiltration characteristic of a choline deficiency; whereas, in the B 12-deficient groups all the animals had markedly fatty livers. These results indicate that vitamin B 12 is required for the synthesis of methyl groups from glycine and that glycine will serve as a methyl source only in the presence of B 12.

Further Studies on the Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 Content of Cow's Milk

The relic acid and vitamin BI.~ content of cow's milk has been reported by Collins, Harper, Schreiber and Elvehjem (4). The colostrum from one Guernsey cow was observed to contain higher levels of these vitamins than the milk; therefore, further analyses have been made in an effort to determine the average relic acid and vitamin B~2 content of the colostrum of the various breeds of dairy cows. Since the data reported by Collins et al. (4) represent samples obtained only during the summer of 1950, the content of these vitamins in cow's milk during other seasons also was investigated.

The effect of aneurin on uterine contractions.

1. The effect of aneurin on inadequate pains in 47 cases has been studied. An injection of 100 mg was administered and the results were recorded tocographically.2. In cases of inertia no clear effect could be observed.3. In cases of exhaustion the strength of uterine contractions was increased as a rule, sometimes to such an extent that there was a therapeutical value of the procedure.4. The effect is ascribed by the writers to the circumstance that aneurin promotes the acetylization of choline, thus rendering the synaptic reaction more sensitive. It is suggested that the phenomenon is largely due to hypervitaminosis produced by large doses of vitamin Bi.

The stability of thiamine hydrochloride and mono-nitrate in parenteral vitamin B complex and iron solutions

Vitamin B1, in parenteral solutions in admixture with riboflavin and niacinamide, exhibits maximum stability with respect to potency and clarity of solution at pH 4 under a nitrogen atmosphere. In admixture with iron compounds, vitamin Bi is more stable in the presence of ferrous gluconate than of iron peptonate or ferric ammonium citrate. The optimum pH is 4. Of the specific grades studied, thiamine mononitrate is somewhat more stable than the hydrochloride in the above solutions.

The Value of the Addition of Fresh Bakers’ Yeast to a Normal Ration for Lactating Dairy Cows

Numerous feeding trials have been conducted in this country and in Europe on the nutritional value of yeast. However, the results of experiments with yeast in the rations of domestic animals have not been consistent because of differences in the kind of yeast, the class of experimental animals, and feeding practices. Bunger (3) found that the digestibility of the protein o f wood sugar yeast was equal to that of crude extracted soybean oil meal; and that yeast and soybean oil meal were of equal value for milk production, per kilogram of crude protein consumed. Barton, Ness, and Crampton (1) concluded that dried brewers' yeast could be substituted for linseed meal pound for pound in the rations of dairy cows. Kranss and Hunt (5) fed dried yeast to dairy cows in amounts up to three-quarters of a pound per cow per day, and found no increase in the vitamin B content of the milk although there was some indication that riboflavin was slightly increased. Golf and Seeling (4) showe~ that feeding irradiated and non-irradiated yeast to dairy cows had no effect on the amount or fat content of the milk produced. Bilek and Hynek (2) obtained an increase in milk production with no change in the fat content when irradiated yeast was added to the winter ration of dairy cows, but when the cows were fed ample supplies of fresh fodder, the effect was no longer present. Lucadou (6) fed 5 grams of living bakers' yeast to dairy cows which resulted in an increased fat test, but milk production remained unchanged. The same quantity of dried living brewers' yeast provedunpalatable and had no effect on either the amount of milk produced or the fat test. Feeding 50 rag. of vitamin BI, or 6 rag. of vitamin B2 separately failed to ~ve positive results. However, when 20 rag. of B1 and 6 nag. of B~ were fed together, this investigator noticed a distinct rise in the fat content of the milk. Under winter feeding conditions, ten times as much vitamin B1 and B2 were required to give the response obtained with cows on pasture.

EFFECT OF THIAMIN DEFICIENCY AND CONTROLLED INANITION ON OVARIAN FUNCTION

EXPERIMENTAL studies have shown that a diet deficient in the vitamin B complex or thiamin (vitamin Bi) will interfere with ovarian function and produce anestrous (Evans and Bishop, 1923; Parkes, 1928; Shin, 1933; and others). However it is not clear from these studies if the resulting anestrous was due to a deficiency of vitamin B complex, or due to a thiamin deficiency per se, or an effect of the concomitant inanition. In more recent studies Coward and Morgan (1941) observed that rats fed a thiamin-free diet had two or three normal cycles and then entered into anestrous. Again the effect may have been due to the thiamin deficiency per se or the resultant inanition. Others have reported that partial or acute starvation will result in ovarian atrophy or loss of estrus in rats, which they attributed to insufficient pituitary gonadotropin secretion (Mulinos et al, .1939; Mulinos and Pomerantz, 1940; Werner, 1939).

EFFECT OF VITAMIN B1AND YEAST ON CALORIE INTAKE AND WEIGHT BALANCE OF HYPERTHYROID DOGS12

IT HAS BEEN SHOWN that experimental hyperthyroidism increases the requirements for the B vitamins. Himwich, Goldfarb and Cowgill (1) first studied the calorie intake during thyroid feeding and demonstrated an increased requirement for undifferentiated vitamin Bi. They found that dogs receiving a yeastfree diet developed anorexia in an average of 34 days, whereas dogs fed the same diet plus thyroid gland showed anorexia in an average of 17 days. Drill (2) reported that removal of the yeast from the diet of hyperthyroid dogs produced a rapid fall to values below normal in calorie intake, complete anorexia being produced in some cases. The loss of appetite in turn was followed by a secondary loss of weight. The subcutaneous injection of 2 mg. of vitamin B1 would raise the calorie intake to the previous hyperthyroid level within 24 to 48 hours. The weight of the animals was maintained as long as no deficiency of the B vitamins occurred.

Response of Excised Tomato Roots to β (-4-Methylthiazolyl-5) -Alanine1

The probability that thiamin (vitamin Bi) is essential for most if not all organisms makes any information on its synthesis in vivo of considerable importance. Buchman and Richardson (2) synthesized an amino acid, ? (-4r-methylthiazolyl-5) -alanine which they consider might be the precursor of the thiazole which makes an integral part of the thiamin molecule. The compound they synthesized has the following structure.

The administration of vitamin B 1 by intraspinal injection : Observations and deductions

The widespread publicity given by the daily press to the inaccurate, optimistic accounts of medical research frequently arouses false hopes in those afflicted with the disorders which happen to be the subjects of the scientific investigation unfortunately exploited for sensational news value. Our attention was directed to the intraspinal injection of vitamin b 1 in the treatment of chronic neurologic disorders by patients who had such disorders and who had learned of the injections through the accounts in their newspapers. A survey of the medical and scientific literature indicated that there was a relationship between vitamin Bi and metabolism in the neural tissues, that a “biochemical lesion” in the central nervous system was caused by Bi hypovitaminosis, that the clinical manifestations of beriberi (absolute Bi hypovitaminosis) included nervous symptoms now acknowledged to be remarkably similar to those seen in degenerative neurologic disorders, and that the use of vitamin Bi in some disorders of the peripheral nerves, for example the neuritides, brings about improvement. The intraspinal injection of vitamin b 1, in the light of the survey, seemed to merit consideration, particularly since reports of improvement following such therapy appeared in the medical literature. The administration of vitamin Bi by intraspinal injections (and other avenues as well) was evaluated in a group of patients suffering from chronic neurologic disorders. Our experience with this type of therapy has led to several conclusions.

EXPERIMENTS ON PHOTOPERIOD IN RELATION TO THE VEGETATIVE GROWTH OF PLANTS

It has long been known that relative length of day and night effects the vegetative as well as the reproductive activity of plants. Since the appearance of the paper of Garner and Allard (7) which first dealt with this subject, abundant factual material has accumulated relating to the influence of photoperiod on such varied processes as shoot elongation, leaf size, accumulation of dry weight and root growth (6, 10). It has been frequently, although not invariably, found that vegetative growth as measured by one or more of these criteria, is greater in long days than in short days irrespective of the reproductive behavior of the species in question. The promotive effect of long daily photoperiods on vegetative growth does not appear to be directly attributable to increased duration of C02 assimilation (11). Plants grown under conditions of long day made up of a short photoperiod of natural light supplemented by light of exceedingly low intensity exhibit the vegetative vigor typical of plants on a long day rather than that of plants on a short day regime (13). It is known that the reproductive response of photoperiod sensitive plants is to be attributed to the production of a specific hormone (or hormones) in the leaves under conditions of suitable day length (8, 9). The production of this particular hormone or hormones would appear to depend on the length of day to which the leaves are subjected. It seems logical to inquire in how far the vegetative responses of plants to varying photoperiods are also attributable to the influence of day length on the production of the several hormones which regulate vegetative growth. In the present paper evidence will be presented to show that the production of vitamin Bi, a hormone for the growth of roots (1), is affected by the length of day to which the plant is subjected. It is known that length of day exercises a profound effect on the extent of the root system in many species of plants. Thus Weaver and Himmel (12) found that the root system is invariably more extensive under conditions of long photoperiod irrespective of whether the species of plant is long day, short day, or indeterminate with regard to flowering behavior. Crist and Stout (5) have also shown that the root system of plants grown under short photoperiod may be several times smaller than the root systems of similar plants grown under conditions of long photoperiod. These observa-

ACCESSORY SALTS IN THE NUTRITION OF EXCISED TOMATO ROOTS

In a recently reported study of the effect of vitamin Bi on the growth of isolated tomato roots (9), evidence was obtained which showed that the regularly included in the medium employed in earlier work (7, 8) constituted a growth-limiting factor. Vitamin Bx proved to be beneficial only in the presence of these salts. That result has since been repeatedly verified. The salt mixture used was modeled after that of Trelease and Trelease (3). It was thought that the ions of its 12 salts might take the place of unidentified but important ash constituents contained in the yeast extract which it was desired to replace. No effort was made to determine the relative importance of the constituents. With the establishment, however, of a synthetic nutrient capable of maintaining continuous growth of isolated roots, at a fairly satisfactory level, a quantitative examination of all its constituents appeared to be an essential step in attempting further improvement of this nutrient (9). The accessory salt mixture was the only portion of the nutrient which had not been subjected to at least a preliminary examination of this sort (4, 7, 8, 9). The observations of Robbins, White, McClary, and Bartley (2) also suggested that the ash constituents might be worthy of closer examination. The present paper records the results of a quantitative study of the effects of each of the components of this accessory salt mixture. The materials and general methods employed were the same as those reported in earlier papers (7). The roots had been maintained for 200 or more passages under standard conditions (6) before being subjected to experimental treatments.

Difficulties in the Use of Brachycardia Method of Assaying Vitamin B

Using the brachycardia method as described by Harris and Leong,1 we have attempted to assay vitamin B1 hydrochloride (Merck),∗ and the international standard of vitamin B1. Young piebald rats from our own rat colony, when 45 to 50 gm. in weight, were put on a vitamin B1-free diet made up of crude casein 18%, McCollum's Salt Mixture (No. 51) 4.5%, sugar 61.5%, cod liver oil 1%, and autoclaved yeast 15%. The latter was strongly alkalinized, autoclaved at 15 lb. pressure in thin layers for 5 hours, and then neutralized and ground. The rats were all kept in wire cages, having meshes 5/8 in. square, in order to prevent possible coprophagy. After about 12 days on the diet, the rats were weighed daily. When the body weights were constant, electrocardiograph records, using a standard Cambridge electrocardiograph, were taken each day. When the heart rate came down to 370 to 390 per minute, the rat was given a single dose of vitamin B1. A solution of the vitamin Bi hydrochloride was made up daily in distilled water...