Okayama University Medical School

CHBB male rats, 120-150 g in weight, were used both as animals to be sensitized and as donors of homologous islets as antigen. At no time did sensitized animals give a positive reaction for islet-cell antibodies or islet-cell surface bound antibodies at any of the dilutions tested. None of the frozen sections of the pancreas were positive for fluorescence specific for IgG or C3. Marked fibrosis and cell infiltration of pancreatic islets, a high degree of pyknosis of parenchymatous cells of islets, phagocytosis of fragmented islet cell nuclei by histiocytes, and a marked reduction in the number of beta cells were noted.

In the anterior horn of the cat thoracic cord, networks of the monoaminergic fibers surrounding the alpha-motoneurons were investigated by fluorescent microscopy and submicroscopically. Monoaminergic terminals were recognized by the administration of 5-OHDA electron microscopically. These terminals could be classified morphologically into three types. The physiological significance of monoaminergic control of alpha-motoneurons was discussed. Type I of the labeled terminals did not show any typical synaptic specialization, such as aggregation of synaptic vesicles or thickening of the pre- and postsynaptic membranes. This type did not have synaptic contact with the alpha-motoneurons. Type II showed typical synaptic contact and asymmetrical synaptic type membranous thickening. A large number of small dense-cored vesicles were accumulated in the vicinity of the presynaptic membranes. Type III contained a large number of small and large dense-cored vesicles and a few flattened small vesicles. This type had synaptic contact with the presynaptic nerve ending in which a large number of agranular vesicles were contained. This study demonstrated that alpha-motoneurons in the anterior horn receive supraspinal monoaminergic control in three ways: modulator control through Type I, monosynaptic direct control through Type II, and inhibitory control through Type III.

Myocardial necrosis was produced in rats by injection of isoproterenol (80 mg per kg body weight). Lipid peroxides were measured by the thiobarbituric acid reaction. alpha-Tocopherol was assayed by fluorometric analysis. Immediately after isoproterenol injections, serum lipid peroxides increased and serum alpha-tocopherol decreased, then gradually returned to the pre-injection levels. Lipid peroxides increased more rapidly in the heart and liver than in serum. Alpha-Tocopherol decreased in the heart and liver, then gradually returned to the pre-injection levels. These results indicate that increase in serum lipid peroxides reflects production of peroxides in myocardial tissue and in liver. The decrease in alpha-tocopherol may be due to consumption as anti-oxidants in the vascular system and organs.

The effect of dopamine on cyclic AMP levels in tissue slices of canine myocardium and kidney, and in chopped superior mesenteric arterial wall was investigated to identify dopamine receptors. Tissues were incubated in modified Krebs-Henseleit Ringer bicarbonate solution at 37 degrees C for 20 min with test drugs, after 20-min preincubation. In the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), dopamine and apomorphine caused dose-dependent increases in cyclic AMP levels in the myocardium, kidney and superior mesenteric artery. Phentolamine significantly intensified the cyclic AMP-increasing effect of dopamine in the superior mesenteric artery, but it did not influence the cyclic AMP increase caused by dopamine or apomorphine in the myocardium and kidney. Propranolol markedly blocked the effect of dopamine on cyclic AMP levels in all tissues studied. Haloperidol slightly inhibited the effect of dopamine and completely blocked the effect of apomorphine in the myocardium and kidney. These data suggest that dopamine increases cyclic AMP levels by activating predominantly beta-adrenergic receptors and partly dopamine receptors in the canine myocardium, kidney and superior mesenteric artery. The present results also suggest that dopamine acts not only on beta-adrenergic and dopamine receptors but also on alpha-adrenergic receptors in the superior mesenteric artery. Contrary to the activation of beta-adrenergic and dopamine receptors, the activation of alpha-adrenergic receptors resulted in a decrease in cyclic AMP levels in this tissue.

A specific chromosome translocation, t(8q-; 14q+), was observed in a 43-year-old female with non-African Burkitt's lymphoma in which leukemic conversion had occurred. The chromosome studies used cells from ascites. The ascites was apparently the result of a primary tumor involving the ovaries and contained 68% of lymphoma cells. The frequent occurrence of abnormalities related to chromosomes 1, 8 and 14 in African and non-African Burkitt's lymphomas was emphasized.

The reaction between acatalasemia hemolysate and anti-normal erythrocyte catalase IgG gave a precipitin line which was interrupted by a normal precipitin line, in the double immunodiffusion method. Hypocatalasemia hemolysate revealed two precipitin lines, one completely, the other partially, fused with a normal precipitin line. No immunological reactions between fresh hemolysates of acatalasemia, hypocatalasemia and normal erythrocytes and antihuman C-reactive protein serum were observed, but the lysates stored for 4 weeks in an ice cold water bath reacted slightly with this antiserum.

As a staging procedure before treatment, examination of bone marrow from the posterior iliac crest was performed on a total of 107 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma. Among them, 11 patients (10.3%) had metastasis in the bone marrow: five of 39 adenocarcinomas, five of 33 small cell carcinomas, one of four large cell carcinomas, and none of 31 epidermoid carcinomas. Leukoerythroblastosis was found exclusively in the patients with metastasis, although the presence of tumor cells in the bone marrow did not correlate well with peripheral blood cell counts. Survival following an intensive chemotherapy in patients with bone marrow metastasis was substantially longer for those with small cell carcinoma than for those with other histologic types of bronchogenic carcinoma.

Volume-time (V-T) and flow-volume (F-V) curves were measured in all the subjects of nonsmoking young males (mean value 26.3 yrs.), healthy and asthmatic. Eleven parameters of pulmonary function tests, which were composed of two V-T, six F-V, and three mean time constants (MTC) parameters, were calculated from the curves. These were used in the discriminant analysis through all possible selection procedures (APSP) to make clear the importance of the F-V recognition. In using only one parameter, V75, which was one of the F-V parameters, showed the lowest probability of misclassification, 18.78%, and was the most useful parameter to discriminate the two groups. The probability of misclassification of the eleven parameters showed 15.46%, and that of the six F-V ones showed 17.45%. Though the probability of the six F-V ones was higher than that of the eleven ones, it was lower than that of the twoV-T or of the three MTC ones. Therefore the six F-V parameters including V75 was sufficient to discriminate the two groups of subjects. Thus it was made clear that the flow-volume recognition was important by the discriminant analysis.

An 11-year-old male with monostotic fibrous dysplasia of the left temporal bone was reported. At the age of seven years, the patient began having epileptic attacks, and a bony swelling of the left temporal region was noticed by his mother. Roentgenologically, there were almost thorough osseous obstruction and osseous proliferation of the external auditory canal and pars petrosa, respectively. Audiologic examinations indicated gradual functional disturbance based on the affected internal ear. A total of 20 cases with monostotic fibrous dysplasia of the temporal bone reported between 1946 and 1980 was analyzed, and the association of fibrous dysplasia and epilepsy was discussed.

Cytochalasin B (CB) treatment induces or accelerates the capping phenomenon in some cells. In Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC) CB treatment apparently induced the capping of Con A binding sites as observed under a fluorescent microscope. However, electron microscopic examinations revealed that the CB treatment did not induce a rearrangement of Con A binding sites, but rather it only induced a change in cell shape. On the contrary, CB treatment inhibited the capping phenomenon induced by treatment with Con A. Electron microscopic observations may give exact information on the distribution of lectin binding sites.

Differences in urinary excretion of monochlorobenzene between rats and humans were studied. Monochlorobenzene was administered to rats and humans intraperitoneally, orally or by inhalation. Urinary p-chlorophenylmercapturic acid and 4-chlorocatechol, after hydrolysis of its conjugate, were measured. The excretion of p-chlorophenylmercapturic acid was somewhat more than that of 4-chlorocatechol in rats which were administered monochlorobenzene orally or intraperitoneally. The excretion of p-chlorophenylmercapturic acid was markedly less than that of 4-chlorocatechol in humans who received monochlorobenzene orally or by inhalation. The results indicate that the 4-chlorocatechol conjugate is a suitable index of metabolites in the urine of workers exposed to monochlorobenzene.

Two cases of malignant melanoma arising in the maxillary sinus are reported. Cytological examination of the solution obtained by local washing through the sinus puncture identified numerous melanoma cells together with melanophages. The cases were then scheduled for well-planned, preoperative treatment. The cytological criteria for diagnosing malignant melanoma are outlined, and the cytological approach is stressed as a valuable diagnostic procedure for early detection of malignant tumors and surveillance of postoperative recurrence, especially in paranasal sinuses.

The amount of S-100 protein in rat brain embolized with carbon microspheres decreased in parallel with the development of cerebral edema as judged by water content, recovering to the normal range by 24h after embolization. These results suggest the participation of S-100 protein in the permeability characterisitics of nervous system capillaries known as the blood-brain barrier.

The effects of insulin and glucagon administration on serum amino acid levels were investigated in patients with severe liver disease, since simultaneous injection of pancreatic hormones has been recently introduced as a therapeutic approach. The changes in serum amino acid concentrations, as observed 3 h after ceasing a 3 h infusion of insulin and glucagon in 500 ml glucose solution, were an elevation of serum branched chain amino acid (BACA) levels and of the molar ratio of BCAA/aromatic amino acid (AAA) levels in patients with liver cirrhosis. Similar increases of serum BCAA levels during the infusion were also observed in patients with fulminant hepatitis. The results suggest that insulin-glucagon therapy for severe liver disease has no harmful side effects at least with respect to alterations in the serum aminogram.

Pretreatment laboratory parameters were analyzed as prognostic factors in patients with small cell lung cancer. Serum lactic dehydrogenase activity, serum albumin concentration, PPD skin reaction, and peripheral lymphocyte count were of prognostic importance. When these factors were evaluated by multivariate analysis together with performance status and disease extent, lactic dehydrogenase and albumin were the most influential factors related to survival.

The applicability and accuracy of isotachophoresis in measuring the concentrations of some of the intermediates of red cell metabolism during blood bank storage in acid-citrate-dextrose preservative was assessed. Preparative treatment consisted of washing with isotonic sucrose solution and centrifugation to remove serum, but white cells and platelets were not separated out from red blood cells. The results for 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, ATP, inorganic phosphate and lactate were also confirmed enzymatically. The technique had good reproducibility (variation less than 3%) and was extremely convenient compared to traditional enzyme assays of the same components. It enabled simultaneous measurement of components with concentrations greater than 1 mumole/red blood cell.

Paraquat is a broad spectrum herbicide known to be highly lethal to man and animals. Its toxicity is characterized by acute lung injury. Paraquat produces such toxic effects through the generation of the superoxide anion according to one proposed mechanism. The present experiment, methemoglobin formation was demonstrated after incubation of oxyhemoglobin with paraquat. The generation of the superoxide anion through the interaction of oxyhemoglobin with paraquat was suggested by chemiluminescence of luminol. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalare inhibited methemoglobin formation. The generation of the superoxide anion is discussed in regard to methemoglobin formation by paraquat.

A total of 19 cases with bone tumors, including six osteosarcomas. three giant cell tumors of bone, one malignant fibrous histiocytoma, four nonossifying fibromas, four chondromas and one chondrosarcoma, were examined as to enzyme histochemistry; the enzymes consisted of alkaline phosphatase (ALPase), acid phosphatase (ACPase), nonspecific esterase (NSE), adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), 5'-nucleotidase (5'-Nucl) and beta-glucuronidase (beta-Gl). Osteosarcoma was strongly positive for ALPase followed by 5'-Nucl. Giant cell tumor, malignant fibrous histiocytoma and nonossifying fibroma showed enzyme histochemistry similar to each other: multinucleated giant cells and round cells in these tumors were strongly positive for ACPase, NSE, ATPase and 5'-Nucl simulating osteoclasts and histiocytes, whereas spindle cells were positive for ATPase and 5'-Nucl in their cytoplasm and weakly positive for ACPase. Chondroma and chondrosarcoma were focally positive for ACPase and NSE; the ACPase was sensitive to tartaric acid treatment. These observations showed that ALPase activity is very characteristic to osteosarcoma, and is useful for its diagnosis. From enzyme histochemistry, giant cell tumor, malignant fibrous histiocytoma and nonossifying fibroma can be regarded as a histiocyte-derived tumor of bone in contrast to osteosarcoma and cartilaginous tumors.

The diameter of the mitral annulus as measured on the long axis by two-dimensional echocardiogram was found to correlate well with the size of the sewing ring used to replace the mitral valve in 35 consecutive patients. The size of the prosthesis which was used could be predicted within 1 mm of error in 83% of the mitral stenosis (MS) patients and in 76% of the mitral regurgitation (MR) patients in the study. Preoperative echocardiographic estimation of the size of the mitral valve annulus and prediction of the sewing ring size of the prosthetic valve used could reduce the incidence of valve prosthesis-patient mismatch.

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations were serially determined during the period following cessation of alcohol on thirty-five medical and psychiatric patients with histories of long-term excess drinking. In all except two cirrhotics with posttransfusion hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma, all AFP determinations for more than 2 months following abstinencewere negative(<40ng/ml). The results suggest that AFP elevations after abstinence from alcohol should raise the question of associated viral hepatitis or hepatoma in alcoholics.