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In guinea pigs the lumen of an excised jejunal segment was perfused to study the effect of intraluminal pressure on the frequency of rhythmic contraction waves. Within the range of 0 to 40 mmH2O, increases in intraluminal pressure caused increases in the frequency of contraction waves. At pressures of 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 mmH2O the frequency was 7.9, 9.0, 10.9, 12.5 and 13.3 per min (mean of ten preparations), respectively. An exponential relationship was proved to exist between the pressure and the frequency.

A near diploid clone derived from a rat liver cell line was continuously treated with various concentrations of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-Me-DAB) in culture. By treatment with 2.8 micrograms/ml, cells with 41 chromosomes formed a mode and which then shifted to 39. The chromosome numbers of cells treated with 5.4 micrograms/ml were widely distributed at early stages, but later the mode shifted to hypotetraploid region. Untreated control cells were confirmed as near diploid. Increased plating efficiency by 3'-Me-DAB as well as the appearance of large sized colonies was obtained. The production of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) by the cells was slightly enhanced by treatment with 3'-Me-DAB. The cells treated with and without 3'-Me-DAB did not produce any tumor in rats 6 months after their intraperitoneal injection.

Immune complexes in liver specimens from 10 patients with chronic liver diseases [2 with chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), 3 with chronic aggressive hepatitis (CAH) of moderate activity, 3 with CAH of severe activity, and 2 with liver cirrhosis] were examined by a technique of direct immunofluorescence using FITC-labelled human purified Clq (FITC-Clq). FITC-Clq bound to the nuclei of all cells in liver tissue. After DNase treatment, positive nuclei were absent, but positive staining with FITC-Clq remained in amorphous deposits and hepatic cell membranes in the areas of piecemeal necrosis of four CAH patients. Since FITC-Clq could not be demonstrated in the liver tissue of CPH and liver cirrhosis which contained no piecemeal necrosis, positive fluorescence in the liver of CAH patients was thought to indicate immune complexes bound to FITC-Clq. The fact that these positive substances, however, were few in number, may be the result of physiological mechanisms of immune clearance which rapidly eliminate immune complexes from the body.

Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) was measured by radioimmunoassay using CORAB (Abbott Laboratories) in 10 cases of chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), 46 cases of chronic aggressive hepatitis (CAH), 33 cases of liver cirrhosis (LC) and 53 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in relation to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and its antibody (anti-HBs). Ninety-eight point four percent of patients with HBsAg and 93.8% of patients with anti-HBs were positive for anti-HBc and the titers of anti-HBc in patients with HBsAg were significantly higher than those with anti-HBs. Thirty-five point five percent of patients negative for either HBsAg or anti-HBs were positive for anti-HBc. The titers of anti-HBc in patients with CPH, CAH and LC were relatively low, whereas 7 (46.8%) of the HCC patients negative for either HBsAg or anti-HBc had high titers of anti-HBc. The significance of the presence of anti-HBc alone is discussed.

A papillary (villous) adenoma of the duodenum was found in a 67-year-old male. Radiographic barium studies of the upper gastrointestinal tract revealed a tumor in the second portion of the duodenum. Biopsied specimens taken through a duodenofiberscope showed papillary adenoma. A partial duodenectomy with duodenojejunostomy was performed. The specimen was a pedunculated tumor measuring 3 X 2 X 1.5 cm. Histologically, the tumor was composed of villous and tubular arrangements of mucus-secreting columnar epithelial cells. A moderate number of entero-endocrine cells and a few Paneth cells were also noted. Forty-two other cases reported in Japan are briefly reviewed.

In the aortic stenosis group, the left ventricular (LV) muscle mass index was a good parameter for predicting the prognosis. Associated mitral valve disease had no influence on long term survival after aortic valve replacement. In the aortic insufficiency group, associated mitral valve disease had a marked influence on the results of aortic valve replacement. In general, the aortic insufficiency group had less clinical improvement postoperatively than the aortic stenosis group. In the annuloaortic ectasia group, left ventricular enddiastolic pressure (LVEDP) might be the predictor to the prognosis. This group had the worst prognosis, of the three groups. Early operation should be considered for patients who have no, or only mild symptoms of, aortic valve disease.

The precise distribution of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) in 23 discrete brain nuclei and areas of Wistar strain male rats was determined by specific radioimmunoassay. TRH was detected in most of these areas. The highest concentration was found in the median eminence (27.52 +/- 2.84 ng/mg protein). The arcuate nucleus (4.92 +/- 0.58 ng/mg protein), dorsomedial nucleus (4.77 +/- 0.59 ng/mg protein) and medial preoptic area (3.94 +/- 0.15 ng/mg protein) also contained a considerable concentration of TRH. However, no TRH was detected in cerebral cortex, cerebellar hemisphere, anterior pituitary or pineal body. The data indicated that TRH was widely distributed throughout the hypothalamus; in particular, high concentrations occure in relatively restricted areas: in the median eminence, arcuate nucleus, dorsomedial nucleus and medial preoptic area. These areas coincide well with the so-called "thyrotropic" area of the hypothalamus.

<p>The levels of HDL-cholesterol and gamma-glutamyltransferase in the sera of 17 patients with alcoholic liver injury were followed after abstinence and compared with those of 11 patients with acute non-alcoholic hepatitis. The activity of gamma-glutamyltransferase decreased in all cases irrespective of the type of liver injuries. The level of HDL-cholesterol also decreased in 11 of 17 cases with alcoholic liver injury. The other alcoholics, in whom HDL-cholesterol level increased or showed no definite change after withdrawal of alcohol, had severe and advanced liver injuries. In non-alcoholic hepatitis, the HDL-cholesterol level increased as normal liver functions were restored except for one case with cholestatic features. It was concluded that alcohol intake can increase HDL-cholesterol level even in the presence of a concomitantly induced hepatic lesion.</p>

The effectiveness of tranexamic acid treatment for sudden deafness was studied in detail. The results of treatment with tranexamic acid administration in 19 cases (25 ears) of sudden deafness and two historical control groups using various treatments were compared by the chi square contingency test. The data suggested that tranexamic acid treatment may be superior to traditional treatments especially if treatment is begun early. Among ears treated with tranexamic acid, 11 ears (44%) were healed or recovered remarkably, 8 ears (32%) recovered slightly and 6 ears (24%) were unchanged or worsened. Fibrinolysis in the inner ear may be the pathophysiology of sudden deafness. Treatment with tranexamic acid starting within 4 days after onset of symptoms was most effective in patients whose initial audiogram was flat or concave, initial average hearing loss at 5 frequencies (250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz) was between 23 dB and 76 dB (mean; 45.1 dB) and was not accompanied by dizziness.

<P>A 73-year-old man with a left testicular tumor is presented. Orchiectomy was performed and the tumor was diagnosed as a plasmacytoma. There has been no bone lesion or immunoglobulin abnormality during a follow-up period more than one year. For several reasons, the tumor was regarded as a primary plasmacytoma of the testicle. The literature concerning testicular plasmacytoma is reviewed briefly.

The three-dimensional architecture of the collagen framework of human lumbar intervertebral discs was studied with scanning electron microscopy and polarized light microscopy concentrating on the fibrillar interconnection between the intervertebral disc and the vertebral bodies. The fibrillar framework of the annulus fibrosus and the cartilage end-plates encircled the nucleus pulposus as a closed-pack system in the adult. This closed-pack system developed in the seventh embryonic month and was completed by the tenth month. In general, fibrils composing the framework in the fetus were thinner than in the adult. There was no fibrillar interconnection between the cartilage end-plate and subchondral bone. In the inner one-third of the annulus, obliquely oriented fibrillar lamellae interconnected with the cartilage end-plate. In the outer two-thirds, the fibrillar bundles of the lamellae were firmly anchored into the vertebral bodies. This fibrillar anchoring system was already present in the full-term fetus although the vertebral rim was not ossified.

Twelve patients with refractory acute leukemia (7 patients with acute myelocytic leukemia and 5 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia) were treated with a new anthracycline antibiotic, aclacinomycin-A (ACM). ACM was administrated by intravenous drip infusion at a dose of 20 mg/day for 7 or 14 days and this was repeated after at least 7 days. Four of 12 patients (33.3%) achieved a complete remission; 3 of 7 acute myelocytic leukemia (42.8%) and 1 of 5 acute lymphocytic leukemia (20.0%). The days required for achieving the complete remission ranged from 23 to 78 days (median: 61) and the total doses of ACM used from 180 to 500 mg (median: 310), and the durations of complete remission from 11 to 28+ weeks (median: 21+). The untoward effects on digestive organs, such as nausea, vomiting and anorexia, and hematological toxicities were frequently seen; however, they were controlled by supportive treatment. Alopecia was not observed. Arrythmia was recognized in one patient at the initiation of ACM infusion with complete remission without withdrawal of ACM. These results suggest that ACM is a potentially effective anthracycline antibiotic in the clinical management of acute leukemia.

A rare case of bilateral fat necrosis of the breast is reported. The patient was a 50-year-old unmarried woman having no history of trauma, disease or surgery of the breast. In the bilateral breasts, ill-defined, firm masses with skin retraction were noted. Bilateral breast cancer was diagnosed clinically. However, both lesions showed histologically chronic granulomatous inflammation with foci of fatty necrosis, infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells, lipid containing foamy cells, foreign body giant cells engurfing choresterol-crystals, and calcification. "Paraffinoma" was thus suspected, but there was no history of cosmetic mammoplasty and histochemical studies failed to demonstrate saturated lipid indicating paraffin or other mineral oils

For the detection and characterization of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in various liver diseases, a Clq binding test was used. Though the CIC level was almost normal in HB surface antigen (HBsAg) positive asymptomatic carriers, the level increased in patients with liver diseases. During acute exacerbation of chronic viral hepatitis, the CIC level reached peaks 1 to 3 weeks before and after the hepatic cell necrosis. Study of the sedimentation rates of CIC in various liver diseases showed CIC in the 19s-22s region and in the 7s-19s region. In acid buffer, CIC was dissociated into 5 to 6 components by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In one case of HBsAg positive severe chronic aggressive hepatitis, CIC was composed of HBsAg, IgG and another three or four undetermined components. During acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis, minor changes of these dissociation patterns of CIC were observed.

The effects of changes in distal resistance on stenotic resistance were studied in vitro. Physiological saline was passed through the left carotid artery obtained from the dog, flexible rubber tubing, or through solid polyethylene tubing with a constant perfusion pressure or with a constant flow rate. Various stenotic resistances were established using a screw type constrictor and the distal resistance was varied by allowing physiological saline to pass through either a 23 gauge hypodermic needle (high peripheral resistance) or 23 and 20 gauge needles (low peripheral resistance ). For arteries with anatomically fixed stenosis, the calculated resistance was increased in association with reduction of the distal resistance. The stenotic resistance in the flexible rubber tubing changed in the same manner as that of the carotid artery, while the solid polyethylene tubing showed no significant stenotic resistance changes due to altering the distal resistance. These findings suggest that the stenotic resistance change of the artery correlates with the elasticity of the vessel wall and also indicate that resistance values were of little usefulness for evaluating the effects of vasodilating stimuli on the vessel segment with a significant stenosis.

Ultrastructural and histochemical changes of experimental vasospasm were studied in 46 cats. Prolonged vasospasm of the exposed basilar artery was produced by continuous irrigation with serotonin. Vasospasm, lasting for less than 10h was relieved by topical application of vasodilators. However, the spasm which continued for more than 10h failed to respond to vasodilators. In the vessels responsive to vasodilators, the electron density of the aggregation of granules and vesicles in the extracellular space of the media revealed by electron microscopy remained unchanged after treatment with 5-hydroxydopamine, while the electron density of the vesicles in adrenergic terminals was increased. The granules and vesicles morphologically resembled the adrenergic vesicles but were biochemically different from them. Necrotic fhanges of the vessel wall such as the fragmentation of myofilaments were observed in the vessels unresponsive to vasodilators. The potassium pyroanitimonate staining technique revealed fine deposits with-in the nucleus, sarcoplasm, sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and along sarcolemma in normal vesels. The deposits were shown to contain calcium by X-ray microanalysis and EGTA-chelation. The deposits along the sarcolemma decreased in number in the lanthanum-loaded vessels, and most of them were confirmed to reside on the outer surface of sarcolemma. The calcium deposits increased somewhat in number in the sarcoplasm of spastic vessels responsive to vasodilators, but the deposits along the sarcolemma remained unchanged. The most characteristic change was that calcium along the sarcolemma had disappeared in the spastic vessels unresponsive to vasodilators.

Chromosome analysis was performed on cells obtained from the pleural effusion of a Japanese patient with Burkitt's lymphoma. Two modal chromosomal numbers were found: 45 and 46. Five different karyotypes were present, all having a t (8q-;14q+) translocation. This case illustrates that Burkitt's lymphomas of Japanese are no exception to the frequent association of this chromosomal abnormality with Burkitt's lymphomas.