Search

For the periods ranging from the fifth gravid month to the sixth post partum week continuous examinations were conducted on the blood picture of 10 multiparas and 18 primipars who came to the Second Maternity Hospita, Okayama University Medical School, from December 1955 to December 1956, and all those who had no complications throughout pregnancy, delivery and puerperium. In addition observations were carried on the 245 subjects who had no complibation throught pregnancy, delivery and puerperium to see what influences the blood loss during delivery might exert on blood picture during puerperium, particularly the changes of hemoglobin concentration (Hb), and the author arrived at the following conclusions: 1) By the continuous examinations of pregnat women the existence has been recognized of physiological anemia which recovers close to the level of healthy non-pregnant women within one month after delivery. Namely, it has been found that already by the fifth month of pregnancy a considerable decrease both in erythrocyte counts and Hb values is recognized as compared with those of healthy non-pregnant women (the control), but starting around the eighth month the values of both keep on increasing month after month until reaching their maximum at delivery yet still a little below those of the control, and particularly Hb values as compared with those of the control show a significant fall. During puerperium erythrocyte counts and Hb values recover rapidly and by the sixth post partum week they reach close to the level of the control. 2) By the latter part of pregnancy both in multipara and primipara Hb values shew a marked decrease as compared with erythroyte count. Gradually presenting hypochromic-anemia picture, even in the sixth post partum week a delay in the recovery of Hb values can still be recognized, the delay being particularly striking in primipara. 3) It has been noticed that there is a greater tendency of delay in the recovery of Hb values along with increase in blood loss during delivery. Namely, though in the groups with blood loss of less than 10g./kg. at delivery the recovery of Hb values during puerperium is smooth and hematopoietic functions seem to be undisturbed. However, with increase in blood loss the recovery is proportionately delayed and in the groups with over 12.5 g./kg. loss a marked delay in the recovery of Hb has been recognized. 4) In primipara groups with under 7.5g./kg. blood loss and in multipara with under 12.5 g./kg. loss, the recovery of Hb values during puerperium is smooth; but in primipara with blood loss of over 10 g./kg. and in multipara with the loss of over 15 g./kg. the delay has been quite marked. In other words, in the groups with blood loss of over 7.5 g./kg. the rate of recovery in Hb values tends to be faster in multipara than in primipara. 5) Along with increase in the frequency of labor, the rates of increase have tended to increase by degrees.

A sanitary mass-disposal of nightsoil constitutes one of the major public health problems in the majority of Japanese cities and towns. Under the present economic situations in Japan, however, a low construction and operation cost and a simple disposal plant easy to operate are most essential to meet the prevailing needs, not to speak of complete destruction of pathogenic bacterial and parasitic organisms contained in the excreta to be disposed of.

1. The descending fi bers from the areas 8 and 6 aβ reaching the lateral and ventral nuclei of the homolateral thalamus are recognized. They are considered to be the conduction pathways of the adversive movements caused by the stimulations on the areas 8 and 6 aβ. 2. The descending fibers from the areas 5, 7, 19 and 22 reaching the head and the tail of the homolateral caudate nucleus are revealed. These fibers are considered to be the conduction pathways of the adversive movement caused by the stimulation on these areas. Moreover, the descending fibers from the areas 7, 19 and 22 reaching the homolateral superior colliculus are recognized. These fibers are also considered to participate in the adversive movement. 3. The fibers from the lateral and ventral nuclei of the thalamus reaching the homolateral superior colliculus, Cajal's interstitial nucleus and reticular formation of the mesencephalon are observed. These fibers are considered to be the conduction pathways of the adversive movement from the thalamus. 4. The caudate nucleus and the lenticular nucleus are connected closely by the numerous fiber bundles crossing the internal capsule. 5. The fibers from the lenticular nucleus which participate in the adversive movements descend through the lenticular fasciculus, Forel's field, the comb-fibers in the cerebral peduncle, substantia nigra and medial lemniscus, and then reach the stratum lemnisci et profundum of the homolateral superior colliculus, Cajal's interstitial nucleus, Darkschewitsch's nucleus, Westphal-Edinger's nucleus, oculomotor nucleus and trochlear nucleus. 6. The tectobulbar tracts from the superior colliculus joined with the both oculomotors, contralateral trochlear, abducens, facial and accessory nuclei, thus they are considered to take part in the adversive movement. 7. The ascending fibers from the dentate nucleus pass through the homolateral brachium conjunctivum and reach the contralateral trochlear and oculomotor nuclei, superior colliculus and the lateral and ventral nuclei of the contralateral thalamus. These ascending fibers are considered to be the conduction pathways of the adversive movement from the cerebellum.

The author has carried out the investigations from various angles on the relationship between the function of diencephalon and the eye pressure, and has found that all the evidences in the investigations point to a quite important role being played by the diencephalon in regulation of the eye pressure. Today it is a common physio-anatomical knowledge that the functions such as respiration, pulsation, blood pressure, and digestive actions which are essential for the maintenance of life, all possessing autonomy, are performed and regulated by the centers existing in the diencephalon. Now, the eye pressure, having such an important relationship to the visual functions, can not possibly be a lone exception. From these, therefore, it may be concluded that at least an autonomic center of the eye pressure exists in the diencephalon.

Separation of the urinary ester-form bilirubin was attempted, and the results obtained may be summarized as follows: 1. A brown pigment was obtained from jaundiced urine by the following procedures; namely, salting out, methanol extraction, chloroform flocculation, and separation on cellulose column. The pigment has been found to be easily soluble in water, displaying the absorption maximum at 420 - 410 mμ at pH 7.0, and it also gave a positive reaction both to GMELIN's and EHRLICH's diazo reagents within a minute without the addition of alcohol. These characteristics agree well with those of the socalled ester-form bilirubin. 2. On the basis of the results of paper chromatography and paper electrophoresis, the pigment has been determined to contain no amino acid, steroid, nor reducing substance. Moreover, no glucuronic acid could be detected whether examined in vitro or by paper chromatography together with paper electrophoresis, either.

From these experimental results, the author has reached the following conclusion: The choroid possesses abundant blood vessels, and inasmuch as they carry a large amount of blood on account of their large tubular space, they also have such structural formation as to enable their distension or contraction greatly to influence the volume of intraocular contents. Moreover, as the autonomic nerves distributed in the eye are connected with the wall of vessels in a compact network of nerve fibers, the width of the choroidal vessel can be regulated by the autonomic center ; and thus the intraocular pressure seems to be regulated by an increase or a decrease in the amount of intraocular circulating blood. On the other hand, the ciliary body likewise seems to take a part in the adjustment of the eyepressure as the width of vessels, the permeability of blood vessel walls, and the aqueous production are all controlled by the autonomic nerve, and because the contraction of ciliary muscles, as already mentioned, also exerts a great influence on the intraocular pressure. Therefore, the author believes that a regional adjustment of eye pressure is being performed by these mechanisms, working as they are in conjunction with each other, and maintaining a harmonious relation among themselves under the control of the autonomic center.

From the results of various experiments in an attempt to investigate the relationship between the intraocular pressure and the ophthalmic nerve, the author has come to the conclusion that the ophathalmic nerve is one of the afferent pathways transmitting the various impulses caused by the changes in the intraocular pressure to the autonomic eye pressure center, and the impulses created by these stimuli in the eye pressure center are in turn transmitted to the eyeball by way of the autonomic nerves and thus the eye pressure is autonomically regulated by these reflexes.

Recording the motility of the stomach as well as the small intestine by the balloon method in the dogs decerebrated and unanesthetized, we found a factor conditioning the inhibitory effect of the intestinal motility to the stimulation of the perpheral cut-end of cervical vagus nerves. The results may be summarized as follows: (1) The stimulation of the peripheral cut-end of the cervical vagus nerve frequently produces the yarious patterns and degrees of inhibition of the intestinal motility of the stomach as well as of the small intestine. (2) The inhibitory effect still appears after the severing of the vagus nerves at the caudal end of the esophagus, but is obliterated and reversed to the augmentory when the splanchnic nerves are bilaterally severed. (3) The cause of the inhibition is attributable to the strong excitation of the intestinal inhibitory centers brought about by the central stimulating action of the anoxemia resulting from the stimulation of the cervical vagus nerves, and the reversal of the response is due to the peripheral stimulating action of the anoxemia upon the intestinal muscles, its central action being excluded from the action on the intestine by the severing of the splanchnic nerves.

In order to produce vomiting in the dogs decerebrated and unanesthetized, apomorphine or copper sulfate was administered. The behaviors of both the inspiratory and the expiratory muscles were studied through the course of the act of vomiting by the electromyographic technique. The results are summarized as follows: (1) The most significant signs of vomiting seems to be the recurrent vomiting volleys from the vomiting center each of which is produced abruptly and transiently. (2) The peculiarities of the vomitng volley consist in the simultaneous discharges of both the inspiratory and the expiratory muscles, resulting in the so-called retching movement. (3) The vomiting volleys, in their rhythm, seem to arise independent of the respiratory center, but the former are capable of affecting the respiratory centers at any respiratory phase. (4) The acceleration of the breathings observed prior to the retching seems to be due to the invigorated activity of the respiratory centers affected directly by the administration of the vomiting agents without an intermediate step by the vomiting centers. (5) The simultaneous contraction of the diaphragm and the abdominal muscles are merely a component of a peculiar type of the respiratory movements, namely, that of the retching. (6) The glottis muscles are, however, ruled out from the principle described in (2): the closer of the glottis muscles contracts during the retching, while the opener is completely inhibited.

An outbreak of encephalomeningomyelitis in Ehime·Syuso area from April to June 1956 was clinico-virologically investigated with the materials obtained from 28 hospitalized cases and their healthy visiting relatives. The major rise in polio type I antibody titer and the positive isolation of 4 strains of type I indicate the epidemy in this area to be the polio type 1. Three undeterminable cytopathogenic agents were concomitantly obtained in the HeLa cultures. The style of this episode was duly compared with the documents already reported.

Tyrosine metabolism of toxohormone-treated mice and acatalasemic patient was not disturbed. These facts do not concur with the report of Zannoni and Bert who stated that catalase was an essential factor for the oxidation of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid.

By prepariug over 100 thin slices from 77 cases of urinary calculi mainly consisted of vesical calculi and immersing them in various solvents, the solubility of these calculi has been examined by polarization microscopy from the standpoints of the composition and structure of urinary calculi. (1) MgNH4P04·6H20 (struvite) has been found to be most soluble and it is the best example in the dissolution of urinary calculi; and as for the solvents, Versene proved to be the best solvent. (2) The alkaline pH seems to have an intimate relationship with the dissolution of uric acid calculi. (3) Calcium oxalate proved to be insoluble in any solvent. In addition, no difference in its stability against solvents could be recognized in its monohydrate or dihydrate: (4) Cystine dissolved in the 10% Versene solution. (5) Amorphous-like substance apparently was dissolved slightly in 0.5% urease solution at 37°C, however, it is not possible to dissolve this substance completely, From these results calcium oxalate and amorphous-like substance seem to be the most difficult substances to dissolve, and therefore, the bearing they have on the dissolution of urinary calculi seems to most significant. In the present stage where little is known of real etiologic factors concerning the formation of urinary calculi, in the clinical application of the dissolution of stones further studies need to be carried on, but from the very nature of construction of urinary calculi, the local dissolution methods seem to be rather difficult at present, and rather somatic dissolution in connection with prophylaxis against recurrent stones seems to be the direction in which future studies need to be carried out.

The process of hemoglobin sythesis in erythroid cells have been traced mainly by observing cells under the light of 4,060 Å. To scrutinize the theory of hemoglobin synthesis in the nucleus of erythroblasts, several cytochemical and morphological observations were also carried out. The conclusions derived from them are as follows: 1 The absorption at 4,060 Å of the cell, which indicates the location of heme, appeared in the nucleus as early as in the develpmental stage of basophilic erythroblasts. The absorption of hcme in cytoplasm likewise appeared in this stage showing nearly the same intensity of the absorption. The absorption picture of heme in the nucleus, which is coincidental with that of interchromatin, increased along with the progess of maturation as well as in the cytoplasm. The absorption in the nucleus disappeared at the orthochromatic stage where the picture of interchromatin disappeared, while the intensity of absorption in the cytoplasm continued to increase till the stage of reticulocyte. 2 The pseudoperoxidase reaction of hemoglobin, the appearance of acidophlic protein and masked lipids detectable in the location of hemoglobin gave an exactly identical picture with that of the absorption of heme in the nucleus as well as in the cytoplasm. 3 Permeability test performed by supravital staining with Nile blue revealed that the nucleus of erythroblasts from the basophilic to the orthorchromatic stages has increased its permeability being stained selectively as in the case of dead cells. 4 The mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum proved to be retained well in the entire course of hemoglobin synthesis, even after the denucleation, the reticulocyte stage. From these observations the authors believe that the hemoglobin syntheis will take place in the cytoplasm throughout the life cycle of erythroid cells, pointing out that the absorption picturebf heme appearing in the nucleus will be in all likelihood due to the infusion of the hemoglobin from the cytoplasm.

1. Quantitative examinations were made on the effect of benadryl and neoantergan on the histamine release in vitro from chopped skin of dogs and in vivo from rat skin. For estimation of the in vitro histamine release by biological method, a chemical procedure for separating the diffused-out histamine from mixed antihistamines was carried out. 2. Both antihistamines caused a fairly marked release of histamine from chopped skin tissues in comparatively higher concentrations. This action was synergistic with histamine-releasing effect of sinomenine and anaphylatoxin. 3. In lower concentrations, however, both antihistamines inhibited the in vitro histamine-releasing effect of sinomenine and anaphylatoxin. 4. Administration of a comparatively large amount of benadryl markedly depleted the skin histamine of a rat in vivo but smaller amount clearly suppressed the histamine depletion by subsequently administered sinomenine. 5. Based on the evidence of such dual action of antihistamines, some considerations were made on the site of action of these agents.

In our country it has been believed that there is no histoplasmosis here in Japan. However, from the above clinical signs, radiological characteristics, laboratory tests, pathological and mycological examinations, and experimental findings, we believe this is the first case of histoplasmosis in Japan.

In the observations of the pelvic nerves both in the reconstruction model of the pelvis of newborn and that of the extripated specimen after OKABAYASHI's hysterectomy as well as in the observations of pelvic nerves at autopsy, it has been verified that the vesical nerves are extensively extirpated and severed by the radical extensive hysterectomy for cancer of the uterus. Moreover, the micturitional functions after the disruption of communication with the center of micturition in the spinal cord seem to be undertaken by lower peripheral reflex arches located in the vesical wall and in the periurethral region. Therefore, for the recovery of postoperative urinary disturbances, systemic findings as well as findings on the vesical wall seem to be quite important.

This study was performed on 17 hyperthyroid patients and 15 healthy controls. The patients were under propylthiouracil (PTU) therapy at a dosage of 3 x 100 mg/day for one month. Blood samples, taken at the beginning and on the 30th day of therapy, were analyzed for hormonal parameters (T3, T4, TSH), lipid peroxidation endproduct [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)] and antioxidant status parameters: glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD). Hyperthyroid patients were observed to have significantly higher TBARS, GSH and CuZn SOD levels than controls (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). PTU therapy caused a relief in oxidative stress as reflected by significantly decreased TBARS levels (P < 0.001) and a selective modification in the antioxidant status parameters: significant decreases in GSH and CuZn SOD levels (P < 0.001) and a significant increase in GSH Px (P < 0.01) activity. Our findings suggest a selective modification of the antioxidative profile in hyperthyroidism. PTU should also be considered as an in vivo antioxidant, in addition to its antithyroid action.

The aim of this study was to determine suitable image parameters and an analytical method for phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) as a means of measuring cerebral blood flow volume. This was done by constructing an experimental model and applying the results to a clinical application. The experimental model was constructed from the aorta of a bull and circulating isotonic saline. The image parameters of PC-MRI (repetition time, flip angle, matrix, velocity rate encoding, and the use of square pixels) were studied with percent flow volume (the ratio of actual flow volume to measured flow volume). The most suitable image parameters for accurate blood flow measurement were as follows: repetition time, 50 msec; flip angle, 20 degrees; and a 512 x 256 matrix without square pixels. Furthermore, velocity rate encoding should be set ranging from the maximum flow velocity in the vessel to five times this value. The correction in measuring blood flow was done with the intensity of the region of interest established in the background. With these parameters for PC-MRI, percent flow volume was greater than 90%. Using the image parameters for PC-MRI and the analytical method described above, we evaluated cerebral blood flow volume in 12 patients with occlusive disease of the major cervical arteries. The results were compared with conventional xenon computed tomography. The values found with both methods showed good correlation. Thus, we concluded that PC-MRI was a noninvasive method for evaluating cerebral blood flow in patients with occlusive disease of the major cervical arteries.

We applied an in situ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) hybridization method in order to detect human T-lymphotropic virus type I-infected cells in routinely-processed paraffin sections of the lung from 13 autopsied patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Previously reported protocol resulted in somewhat non-specific staining in our sections. Therefore, we used a hot start PCR method using specialized commercially-available polymerase in order to increase the specificity. Of 6 patients with ATL cell invasion into the lungs, 4 exhibited strong positive staining of almost all invading ATL cells. In contrast, 7 patients without ATL cell invasion into the lungs did not demonstrate any significant reactivity. Since the method described here is a relatively simple hot start method and does not yield false-positives, it may allow us to determine whether human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) associated disorders are related to lymphocytes integrating the HTLV-I genome.

Gamma-Glutamylpropargylglycylglycine (gamma-Glu-PPG-Gly) was isolated as a metabolite of propargylglycine (2-amino-4-pentynoic acid, a natural and synthetic inhibitor of cystathionine gamma-lyase) from human blood incubated with D,L-propargylglycine in the presence of L-glutamate and glycine, and identified by fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry, indicating that human blood can metabolize propargylglycine to gamma-Glu-PPG-Gly. When whole blood was incubated with 2 mM D,L-propargylglycine in the presence of 10 mM L-glutamate and 10 mM glycine at 37 degrees C for 16h, 0.094+/-0.013 micromol of gamma-Glu-PPG-Gly was formed per ml of whole blood. When erythrocytes were incubated under the same conditions for 16h, 0.323+/-0.060 micromol of gamma-Glu-PPG-Gly was formed per ml of erythrocytes, suggesting a large contribution of erythrocytes to gamma-Glu-PPG-Gly formation in whole blood. The apparent Km value of gamma-Glu-PPG-Gly formation in human erythrocytes for D,L-propargylglycine was 0.32 mM. The observed rate of gamma-Glu-PPG-Gly formation and the Km value for D,L-propargylglycine suggest that metabolism of propargylglycine to gamma-Glu-PPG-Gly can play a definite biological role in human subjects who are loaded with propargylglycine.