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Several procedures for evaluating fetal well-being are in clinical use. The cardiotocograph is mostly used as a non-invasive procedure to measure fetal well-being in clinical settings. The cardiotocograph displays the fetal heartbeat counts that vibrate. This variation has been classified into 2 categories. We investigated this variation by a novel method, in which we analyzed the change of structure of the attractors in the phase spaces according to the time course. We adopted the global spectrum, which means the distribution of fractal dimensions, for that structure. In this procedure, we discovered a new variation in which the cycle is much longer than the 2 types of known variabilities. Although loud noises such as white noises with a magnitude 1/4 times as large as the standard deviation of the original data were added to the original data, the variations were still detected. The variation is very difficult to detect by Fourier or wavelet transformation, however, because it changes very slowly. Through this new way of analyzing the vibration phenomena, we obtained a new perspective on the biological information available.

We observed a bilateral and symmetrical variation of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle during the dissection of a 35-year-old female cadaver. The accessory muscle bundles were arranged in a cross. These bundles were found superficial to the mylohyoid muscle and deep in the platysma. Such a variation from perfect symmetry has not been previously reported. To avoid misinterpretation of radiological tests, it is important to be aware of bilateral and symmetrical variations of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle when examining the floor of the mouth and the submental region.

Localization of IgM and IgG sypylitic antibodies in the sera of patients and the experimental syphylitic rabbits was examined by the gel filtration on Sephadex G.200 column. I) In the case of late syphylitic patients; OGATA test-reactive antibodies were contained in IgM and IgG fractions. On the other hand, RPCF test-reactive antibody was contained only in IgG fraction. This discrepancy may be due to the difference in antigens; Cardiolipin.resicin and T. P. Reiter protein. 2) In the case of the experimental syphylitic rabbits; The results were as follows. a) Variation in the level of the titer. The peaks of the titer were seen 3-4 weeks after inoculation of T. P. Nichols by OGATA test, VDRL test and RPCF test, thereafter titers decreased. On the other hand, the titer kept on rising up to 2 months and maintained high level during the periods of 3, 4 and 5 months by TPHA test. b)Transformation of antibody from IgM to IgG. Transformation of antibody from IgM to IgG was seen 3-4 weeks after inoculation by all four tests; OGATA test, VDRL test, RPCF test and TPHA test, and such a transformation was completed 3 months after inoculation.

Since detection of hepatitis C virus RNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that there existed anti-C100-3 (anti-HCV) antibody negative patients infected with HCV, we attempted to find out whether there were any clinical or viral genomic differences between the anti-HCV antibody positive and negative groups. One hundred and fifty-nine patients with chronic liver diseases with hepatitis C virus RNA in their sera were selected. Anti-HCV antibody was tested for anti-C100-3 antibody by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The incidence of anti-HCV antibody was 129/159. The concentration of serum gamma-globulin, the titier of ZTT, and the positive rate of the PCR with the primers of the NS3/4 region (NS3/4PCR) were significantly higher in the anti-HCV antibody positive group than in the negative group. However, the other data such as alanine aminotransferase activity or past history were not significantly different. Nucleotide sequence of the cDNA fragments of NS3/4 region amplified by the PCR did not differ significantly between isolates from anti-HCV antibody positive and negative sera. The sequences observed in the present study did not differ significantly from those reported previously. Although there remains the possibility that the variation of viral genomic sequences may cause the absence of anti-HCV antibody, these results suggested that the individual clinical backgrounds or immunoreactivity of the patients might influence the antibody development.

1. A respiratory-deficient mutant strain of yeast was obtained from wild strain of Saccharomyces servisiae by treatment with 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide. Ultrastructure and function of the wild or mutant strains and the mitochondrial fractions isolated from these strains were examined by biochemical and electron microscopic analyses. 2. The frequency of the respiratory-deficient mutant strain in yeast induced with 10-6M 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide was about 40 %. 3. Respiratory-deficient mutant strain is incapable of reducing 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride salt and to grow on lactate medium. In addition to this, the mutant has been found to have lost its ability to take up oxygen in sodium succinate and pyruvate. 4. 4.Nitroquinoline N-oxide in the concentration that induces a mutant of yeast cells or its kin inhibits the oxygen uptake in normal strain. 5. The normal strain of yeast is characterized by difference spectrum corresponding to cytochromes a+as, band c+Cll respectively, whereas, the mutant strain containes almost no cytochromes a+ as, band C1 but contains normal or increased amount of cytochrome c. 6. Mitochondrial fraction isolated from mutant strain has largely lost its ability to oxidize succinate. On the other hand, NADH-, lactate-and cytochrome c-oxidase activities are reduced by about 1/17, 1/7 and 1/8 of that of normal strain, respectively. 7. Succinate dehydrogenase activity of mutant strain is almost zero. Moreover, this activity is not affected on the addition of phenazine methosulfate. NADH dehydrogenase activity of mutant stran is about 1/2 of normal strain. 8. The variations in mitochondrial structure of normal and mutant strain in the stationary phase have been followed with the aid of electron microscopy. In contrast to the normal strain, the mutant strain revealed distinct morphological changes in mitochondria, especially, the lack of cristae in its interior. The results have been interpreted to indicate that the mutant induced by 4.nitroquinoline N.oxide has a character of cyto. plasmic mutant.

An experimental study was attempted to make an analysis of the subcortical and brain stem lesion effect on the Metrazol-induced corticogenic epileptic convulsion based on EEG-discharge and EMG-convulsion as indicators. utilizing 42 adult cats. 1. A definite threshold increment of eliciting the seizure was found in the case of bilateral lesion of the Forel H-field. In contrast to it, no variation in the threshold was found in the case of the lesions at the other parts of brain stem, thalamus, red nucleus and its neighborhood, and lenticular nucleus. 2. There was a parallel relation between EEG discharge and convulsion. Dissociation could be obtained in none of the cases. 3. It is, therefore, to be concluded that the Forel H-field is composed of the main axis of cortico-subcortical reverberating circuit and that the lesion causes a decrement of the excitability at cortex and an inhibition of the corticogenic epileptic convulsion.

Interference of oncogenic N-nitrosourea in intraocular tumor induction by human adenovirus type 12 in rats was examined. Transplacental administration of methylnitrosourea to rat embryo reduced significantly the latent period of the intraocular adenovirus tumor in each animal whereas in groups preadministered with ethylnitrosourea the decrease in the latent period showed marked individual variation. Preadministration of N-nitrosourea caused little change in the morphology and incidence of adenovirus tumors. The histological picture of adenovirus induced intraocular tumors which developed in each group of rats was that of retinoblastoma-like tumor identical to the tumor induced by single virus injection.

The effects of surgical intervention by removal of the primary focus, and the effectiveness of an immunomodulator, Corynebacterium parvum (Cp), on the proliferation of metastatic tumor tissue were investigated by following the postoperative changes in the 3H-thymidine labelling rate of metastatic tissue in an experimental model of metastasis in mice. In addition, the delayed type hypersensitivity reaction (DTH) was studied to investigate the immune capacity of the host. The labelling rate of mice that had the primary focus removed remained high with little variation, while that of the mice not operated on decreased gradually. On the other hand, in mice undergoing a sham operation, the rate was the same as that of the mice with the primary focus removed for a short while, but then gradually decreased. When Cp was administered, especially before removal of the primary focus, the rate was lower than that of the tumor bearing control group and decreased steadily. The number of pulmonary metastatic nodules was increased by removal of the primary focus, but this increase was inhibited by the administration of Cp which prolonged life. The depression in the DTH was less in the group given Cp preoperativeLy than in either the group of mice having the primary focus removed or those not having it removed.

In order to elucidate the mechanism of latent infection of herpes simplex virus (HSV), reactivatable latency of three avirulent strains (SKO-1B, -GCr Miyama, SKa) of HSV type 1 was comparatively examined in a mouse latency model. The SKO-1B strain showed high rate of virus reactivation from explanted trigeminal ganglia without n-butyrate enhancement, while the other two strains showed a very low rate of virus reactivation in the absence of n-butyrate. In the presence of n-butyrate, however, the rate of the -GCr Miyama strain jumped to a comparable level with that of SKO-1B, although the rate of SKa remained at a low level. A more precise follow-up experiment changing the virus dose highlighted the difference of the ability to reactivate from the latent state between SKO-1B and -GCr Miyama. Virus titer in trigeminal ganglia during acute phase, infectivity to cell lines of neural origin, and susceptibility to acyclovir and phosphonoacetate were assayed to know the reasons for the variation in the ability of reactivatable latency among these strains. It was concluded that the reduced infectivity to neural cells, and limited ability of reactivatable latency shown by the SKa strain could mainly be attributed to the deficiency of thymidine kinase activity.</P>

In order to clarify difference of the mucosal immunity in various sites of normal large and small intestines, we studied the population of lymphocyte subsets and immunoglobulin (Ig)-containing cells in situ in biopsy specimens taken from various sites (ascending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum) of the large intestine and from the duodenum using an immunohistochemical method. Monoclonal antibodies against pan-T (Leu 1), cytotoxic/suppressor T (Leu2a), helper/inducer T (Leu3a), suppressor T (Leu15) and natural killer/K (Leu7) cells, and polyclonal antibodies to human IgG, IgA and IgM were used. In the duodenum, intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) were more prominent than in the large intestine. Immunoelectron microscopic observation revealed that some Leu2a+ IELs possessed pseudopods extending into intestinal epithelial cells, indicating that some IELs belong to the cytotoxic T cell subset. Leu7+ IELs were scarcely observed and Leu7+/Leu1+ ratio was higher in the large intestine than in the duodenum. Furthermore, the number of Leu7+ cells were more in the distal than the proximal colon. In the lamina propria Ig-containing cells tended to be fewer in the rectum than in the duodenum and the proximal colon. Our findings may suggest the variation of local immune responses and the difference of assigned immunological functions among the various sites of the intestines.

Concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were determined in eleven brain regions of rats following acute and repeated ethanol administration: (a) an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 1, 2, 3 or 4g ethanol/kg body weight and (b) i.p. injection of 1 or 2g ethanol/kg body weight for seven consecutive days. After acute administration, the concentrations of monoamines and their metabolites appeared to be altered in all brain regions examined except substantia nigra and dorsal amygdala, with maximal variation 2 or 3h after 3g ethanol administration. After repeated administration, the alterations following injections of 2.0g/kg were more marked than the injections of 1.0g/kg. Generally, the levels of NE, DA and 5-HT were decreased while the levels of HVA, DOPAC and 5-HIAA were increased with a few exception. The most prominent findings were seen in the striatum, nucleus accumbens and locus coeruleus. These data indicate that concentrations of monoamines and their metabolites can be determined simultaneously in discrete brain regions and that monoaminergic systems in the brain respond region-specifically to ethanol treatment.</P>

Genetic variation of hepatitis C virus was assessed. We prepared RNA fractions from 21 patients' sera which were positive for hepatitis C virus RNA, synthesized their cDNAs, and amplified fragments, 406 base pairs, encoding a putative core protein, by polymerase chain reaction. One of them, N 15, was cloned and sequenced. N 15 showed 92.4% homology at the nucleotide level and 97.0% homology at the amino acid level compared with HC-J 1 which is the first isolated clone in Japan and similar to that isolated in USA. By restriction fragment length polymorphisms analysis, 14 out of 21 patients (66.7%) showed the same pattern as N 15. No patients showed the pattern of HC-J 1. We could not find a correlation between the genetic variation and clinical features of hepatitis C virus infection. These results indicate that the region, which encodes the core protein and is believed to be relatively conserved in hepatitis C virus genome, has several variations at the nucleotide level, and the major part of hepatitis C virus in Okayama district is different from HC-J 1 and the USA clone.

We estimated the frequency of anatomic variations in origin of the left coronary artery in a Turkish population by analyzing the angiographic data of 10,042 consecutive adult patients undergoing coronary angiography. Among 10,042 adult patients, 5 (0.04%) patients (4 men and 1 woman, age range 40-74, median 58 years old) had anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery. The left main coronary artery arose from the right coronary sinus of Valsalva in 2 (0.019%) patients (both of them had a retro-aortic course), from above the left coronary sinus of Valsalva in 2 (0.019%) patients, and from above the non-coronary (posterior)-left coronary commisure in 1 (0.009%) patient. Anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery is potentially a serious condition, as it can lead to myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death under physical exertion. Therefore, greater effort for early detection and surgical repair of this anomaly are warranted. The angiographic recognition of anomalous origin of this vessel may prove useful for physicians dealing with diagnosis and treatment of anomalies of the left main coronary artery.