Acta Medica Okayama volume25 issue2

Electron microscopy of the body wall of Opisthorchis viverrini shows the integument which is connected to the epidermal cell with fine protoplasmic tubules, to form a syncytium, as in Clonorchis sinensis and other trematodes. Vacuole-like secretory granules are distributed in the matrix of the integument, and mitochondria are arranged at the proximal outer surface of the integument. The crystalline inclusions are observed in the perinucleus of some epidermal cells.

In vitro cell transformation of human embryonic cells could be induced by DNA extracted from virions of SV 40 purified by density gradient centrifugation. The result shows clearly that cell transformation is in· duced by incorporation ofa part of viral DNA into the genome. In addition, for the purpose of clarifing the biological differences between the normal and transformant, the alteration of the cell membrane structures of transformants was observed from the mechanism of phagocytosis. The iron colloid particles are taken up by normal diploid fibroblasts but not by the human and hamster transformants. This fact suggests a difference in the molecular arrangement of the cell membranes between the normal and transformants. In the presence of histones, however, the transformants phagocytize the colloid particles very actively. The results show cell membranes of transformants are altered in the molecular structure responsible for the surface charge.

Japan was the first Asian country to introduce social insurance measures and it has expanded them during the last few decades. The first social insurance law was passed in 1922, dealing with worker's health insurance, and it was followed by the National Health Insurance in 1938, Seamen's Insurance in 1939, and Employees' Pension Insurance in 1921. However, these were seldom widely available in actual practice because of the characteristics of public assistance which limited them to the poor.

The concentration of catalase protein in anemic blood with enhanced population of reticulocytes and in non-anemic blood was determined immunologically by double diffusion test with anti-mome-liver catalase rabbit serum. The change in catalase protein concentration in anemic blood during incubation at 37°C for 24 hours was also studied. It was indicated that the diminished catalase activity in acatalasemic blood was due to the depletion of the protein and that catalase protein in acatalasemic reticulocytes decreased markedly by in vitro maturation. Furthermore, the possible presence of inactive catalase protein in acatalasemic blood was also suggested. Catalase protein concentration of acatalasemic anemic blood decreased by the incubation at 37°C for 24 hours in parallel with the decrease in reticulocyte count and catalase activity, and the decrease in catalase protein concentration of hemolysate by the same incubation parallel with the decrease in catalase activity. It is hypothesized that the unstable catalase protein with genetical change in structure easily decomposes during acatalasemic reticulocyte maturation is presented.

In order to examine how long diploid cells can be maintained in vitro cultivation without any chromosomal aberrations and to evaluate the mechanism of chromosomal heteroploid transformation, changes of chromosomes were studied in the course of serial in vitro transfers in four normal rat liver cell lines. As a result the diploid cells decreased in number gradually at early culture stage and disappeared completely in the periods between 350 and 500 days. The culture shifted to heteroploid as follow: diploidy---tpseudodiploidy---thypodiploidy---thypertriploidy or hypotetraploidy. This proces to heteroploid transformation is divided into five stages according to ploidy: 1- and II-stages show diploidy, III-stage, pseudodiploidy, IVstage, hypodiploidy and V-stage, hypertriploidy or hypotetraploidy. Chromosomal heteroploid transformation and neoploastic conversion occurred in IV-stage of the cultures. A possible mechanism involved in the process of chromosomal transformation was discussed.

Three inoperable patients with primary hepatoma could be placed on gluconeogenic diets (minimum carbohydrate-high fat diets) for one to three months. A transient inhibition or a marked retardation of the tumor growth was observed with these patients and their entire clinical courses were fairly good. These results confirmed our previous observation with a metastatic liver tumor patient.