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The surface structure of myeloma cells was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The cells were collected from the pleural effusion of a multiple myeloma patient and purified by Conray-Ficoll gradient sedimentation. The cell size ranged from 8 mu to 12 mu in diameter and the microvilli were from 0.8 mu to 1.2 mu in length. The surfaces of the majority of the observed myeloma cells were more villous than lymphocytes.

An anomalous zymogram of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the serum from a patient with liver cirrhosis was reported. Agar-gel electrophoresis of serum showed an extra LDH band close to the anodic side of LDH5 and a wide band of LDH5. Gel filtration of patient's serum in Sephadex G-200 demonstrated an abnormal LDH fraction eluted between immunoglobulin G (IgG) and macroglobulin in addition to a normal LDH component. Chromatographically abnormal LDH was demonstrated on agar gel as extra and wide LDH5 bands and resembled closely human hepatic LDH in various physico-chemical properties such as inhibition by urea or substrate, stability against heat, and Michaelis-Menten's constant. Immunological analyses demonstrated that abnormal LDH could be in the state combined with IgG. Molecular weight of the complex estimated by gel filtration was approximately 300,000. Mixtures of the heated patient's serum with normal or patient's hepatic LDH showed abnormal LDH fraction by gel filtration, whereas abnormal fraction was not demonstrated when heated normal serum was mixed with normal or the patient's hepatic LDH. These results strongly suggest that the occurrence of anomalous LDH zymogram in patient's serum is due to a formation of LDH-IgG complex, which is based on the binding of essentially normal hepatic LDH and abnormal IgG.

The macrophage migration inhibition activity [MI activity) was stable in sensitized lymphocyte-to-marcophage ratios of 1:5 to 1:20 in mice. Antigen protein concentrations under 100 mug/ml did not induce nonspecific macrophage migration inhibition. Inhibition of tumor proliferation and survival was observed after a combined injection of BCG and MH-134 cells. After a single injection of MH-134 tumor cells, MI activity was reinforced and prolonged, demonstrating the clear effects of BCG as adjuvant. In DDS mice MI activity was weakened in the regional lymph node after a subcutaneous injection of just above or below 10(5) Ehrlich cancer cells previously treated with mitomycin C. This finding suggests the presence of an optimal tumor antigen concentration.

A case of alcaptonuria combined with aortic insufficiency was found in a 28-year-old male. The patient was palpitating at admission. The daily excretion of homogentisic acid was 2.0-6.0 g. Electrocardiography indicated atrial fibrillation and left ventricular hypertrophy with a ST-T change and right axis deviation. Cartilage tissues in the knee-joints showed no pigmentation. Vertebral X-ray revealed no calcification. The patient's history disclosed a family intermarriage in his grandparents. The patient's mother noticed the presence of black stains on diapers in his infancy and brown pigmentation on the skin and sclera in childhood. No kin had similar symptoms.

Neocarzinostain (NCS) was first used by Hiraki and his colleagues for induction chemotherapy in acute leukemia. This new anti-tumor agent is a polypeptide with a high molecular weight of 10,700 daltons. Anti-NCS antibody was produced in rabbits administered NCS intramuscularly with or without adjuvant. The production of anti-NCS antibody in patients treated with NCS was investigated. Forty three leukemia cases of various types were examined totally 65 times. Two mg of NCS for four consecutive days by intravenous drip infusion followed by 7 to 10 days of pause was repeatedly administered. The total amounts ranged 8 to 174 mg and the total periods 4 to 87 days. The methods used to measure the antibody titer are the passive hemagglutination (PHA) test on microplate and the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in guinea pigs. The sera of all patients showed only non-specific agglutination at less than 2(3) dilution by PHA test, and to confirm these results four patient sera were tested by PCA reaction. The production of anti-NCS antibody was not detected in patients by PHA test and PCA reaction. The anaphylactic reaction and other adverse reactions due to anti-NCS adtibody production were not demonstrated in patients. Anti-NCS antibody was not detected by these experiments in the dose schedule administered.

"Smoldering acute leukemia", a variant of acute myelogenous leukemia, has been recognized with frequent incidence in recent years. This is chracterized by benign clinical course, poor physical findings, leukopenia and mild anemia in the peripheral blood, and apparent infiltration of abnormal myeloblasts in the bone marrow. Immunological studies of the host defence mechanism were made, because the pathogenesis of its "smoldering" course has never been well understood. Nine cases, seen during last 2 years, were investigated for immunological profile, especially the cellular immunity. Purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test, i.e., tuberculin test, was found to be positive in 8 of 9 cases (88.9%). Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) sensitization test showed to be positive in 4 of 6 cases examined (66.9%). Peripheral lymphocyte balstogenesis by stimulating with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was evaluated using the smear counting method. The blastoid lymphocyte ratio was 55% at the median value (range: 31-68%), compared with 63% in normal young control (age: 25-32) and 41% in normal aged control (age: 60-75). In this report, the cellular immunity in smoldering acute leukemia was proved to be preserved at the normal level and to be more competent than that in aged group. The preserved cellular immunity is considered to explain the phenomenon of "smoldering", in other words, the exacerbating proliferation of leukemic cells is suppressed by immuno-surveillance system.

1. When the various anticancer agents are injected intravenously to normal rabbits and intraperitoneally to normal mice, it seems that the serum properdin levels fall transitorily for some hours after administration with a small dose and then keep rising, but with a massive dose it continues to fall from the beginning. 2. The properdin level is decreased considerably by Thio-TEPA and Carzinophilin; moderately by Mitomycin C; and slightly by M. H. OX-substance hardly changes the level and 8-azaguanine rather has a tendency to raise the level. 3. The administration of most anticancer agents seems to suppress the properdin system. 4. The influence of these agents on human serum properdin is similar to that of rabbits. 5. The properdin levels keep at high titers in the group to which the agents act effectively on the cancer, but the levels fall down more rapidly and animals die earlier in the group to which the agents act ineffectively on the cancer as compared with the control group.

For the purpose to reveal whether or not the liver and the cell organellae are responsible for the abnormal metabolism of polysaccharides found in cancer bearing individuals, the author analyzed the liver and ascites with tumor cells of AH 130 hepatoma bearing rats biochemically with some histochemical observations. A quantitative increase in polysaccharides accompanied by the production of unusual polysaccharides is found in the supernatant of liver from cancer bearing rats, but not from mitochondrial or microsomal fractions. Tumor cells themselves and ascites fluid do not contain the abnormal polysaccharides found in the liver supernatant.

1. The properdin levels in sera from mice bearing Ehrlich ascitic carcinoma and from rabbits with Brown-Pearce carcinoma decrease inversely with the increase of the ascites or the tumors. In the incipient period of tumor transplantation, the level rather rises. When the tumor is proliferating or large, the level keeps falling or is low. On the contrary, when the tumor is regressing or disappears, the level elevates or reverts to that before transplantation. Strong A and R III mice with spontaneous mammary cancer have markedly low serum properdin levels as compared with those of healthy mice. 2. The properdin levels are less than 2 units per milliliter of the serum in 44.4 per cent of patients with gastric cancer, in 18.2 per cent of ones with non-malignant tumor and in 18.2 per cent of ones with gastric or duodenal ulcer. The abnormal low level has been found in 33.3 per cent of patients without recurrence, who had undergone extended radical gastrectomy combined with radical lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer. 3. Some correlation can be seen between the serum properdin levels and the degree of progress of gastric cancer. 4. The cancer patients with low total serum protein have lower serum properdin levels than those having nomal protein. 5. As for influence of surgical operation on the serum properdin levels, there is observed a tendency that a minor operation causes the levels to increase and a major operation causes the levels to fall. 6. It has been inferred that the properdin system could be one of the host natural resistance against cancer.

1. Properdin assay which is comparatively sensitive and reproducible has been described. The assay may be called a modified method of properdin assay by HUNTER·HILL and McNALL. 2. The properdin assay of serum is possible by using a very small amount of test serum (0.1 ml at the least). The necessary amount of zymosan is very little, the procedure of properdin assay is comparatively simple and it can safely be used clinically. 3. Serum properdin of guinea pig, rat, rabbit and mouse can easily be measured by means of Rp and Ra made from guinea-pig sera. 4. In the properdin assay of human serum, human Rp serum IS preferable to guinea-pig Rp serum. 5. Human Rp serum is always prepared easily from pooled sera of advanced cancer bearing patients. 6. Insulin has not such ability of making Rp and R3 as can replace zymosan. 7. Properdin assay is possible by means of goat's hemolytic system as well as sheep's hemolytic system.

The author studied the distribution of polysaccharides and the amino-acid composition of cytoplasmic organellae, the problems that have come to call a great interest in the field of studies on cancer bearing animals. And also biochemical and electron microscopic observations were carried out to study the influences of cytoplasmic organellae in the cancer cells (AH 130), the livers of cancer bearing animals, and normal liver on the catalase activity of the liver. The results obtained are as follows : Cytoplasmic organellae of various cells do not affect so markedly the hexose metabolism of the liver. As for the amino-acid pattern of cytoplasmic organellae of various cells studied by paperchromatography, it is interesting to note that the pattern of the liver of cancer bearing animals, shows lack in histidine, while in can~er tissue and in the liver of cancer bearing animals an increase in phenylalanine can be observed. The decrease in the liver catalase activity is caused by the primary factor of cancer cells, especially their microsomes, and also by the secondary factor of the liver mitochondria in cancer bearing animals. On the other hand, the mitochondria of cancer cells, instead of reducing the catalase activity in the liver, markedly increases the catalase activity. By the morphological changes observed with light microscope and electron microscope, liver cells revealed marked morphological differences, proving that the microsomes of hepatoma cell induce considerably marked changes in the liver, while the mitochondria of hepatoma cell, on the contrary, induce the hypertrophy of liver cells. Sirriilarly in the electron microscopic observations the mitochondria of mouse liver injected with cancer mitochondria are enlarged, but no destruction of cellular structures such as cristae can be recognized. Also microbodies and the growing process of mitochondria can be observed, but no marked changes in endoplasmic reticulum.

1. Clinical and histological evaluation of so-called chorioepithelioma malignum and hydatidiform mole has been made on the cases treated at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Hospital during the 20year period friom 1939 to 1958. 2. CC has been confirmed to be a poor risk in the treatment than CA and SE. 3. The two-year cure rate and the five-year cure rate yield an approximate value in each of CC, CA and SE, so that the two-year survival would be an ideal index for determination of the prognosis. 4. It may be pointed out that CC would indicate a tendency of a higher gonadotropin content suggestive of the poor prognosis, provided the disease contain a greater number of La-cells comparing to Sy-cells. 5. Metastasis of CA is not so infrequent as has been formerly believed, and there were two cases, which proved to be a typical SE and had metastasis to the vaginal wall. 6. Concerning the last labor preceding the chorioepithelioma, it has been clarified that the disease occurs more frequently following spontaneous abortion rather than after artificial abortion. 7. It is noted that the mole showing a marked proliferation of the trophoblasts entailed CC. However, in order to evaluate a correlation of the histological findings of the mole with chance occurrence of the subsquent CC, further study on the cases is required.

A photo tube dew-point hygrometer is used for measuring humidity of respiratory gases, which are in varying conditions. It makes it possible to make an accurate, precise, continuous and automatic recording of the dew point of gas flows. The most notable features of this device are: (1) Simplicity of calculating absolute humidity, since the humidity is indicated with dew point. (2) Calibration is easy and reliable. (3) Performance is stable, and its operation and maintenance are simple. (4) Indication is correct and unaffected by temperature. (5) There is good response to any quick changes in humidity. (6) There is continuous and automatic recording of humidity, especially with simultaneous temperature measurements on the same paper. (7) Impurities such as the vapors of organic substances or volatile agents do not affect the performance. Simple wiping can eliminate the disturbance from mirror contamination. (8) The entire apparatus is on a cart and easily movable. This device provides a new method of studying the functional relationship between humidity and various respiratory states, and it is hoped it will contribute much to physiological and clinical investigations. The principle and structure of the "automatic D.P. hygrometer", the apparatus and method for practical hygrometry and obtained results are described and discussed.

With the purpose to elucidate the relation between the enzyme activity and the morphology of mitochondria the author carried out histochemical and biochemical investigations of cytochrome oxidase and succinic dehydrogenase activities of liver cells obtained at various intervals after the oral administration of CCl4, to male rats. And the data were compared with those reported in the first report. In the normal liver histochemically demonstrable cytochrome c oxidase activity and succinic dehydrogenase activity can be seen in parenchymal cells. In both cases the cells lying in the peripheral area show a more intense activities than those in the central part of liver lobules. The activity of cytochrome c oxidase falls markedly 5 to 6 hours after the CCl4, administration, while the activity of succinic dehydrogenase is retained almost at normal level for about 20 hours. Quantitative estimation of the succinic dehydrogenase activity of tissue homogenate revealed a transient rise in the activity 90 minutes after the CCl4, administration, and thereafter the values have been kept in almost normal level by 20 hours though a gradually fall has been seen in this period with a marked degree at 22nd hour. Taking the changes of minute structure occurring at each stage into consideration, which have been reported in the previous paper, the author concludes that the activity of succinic dehydrogenase is closely correlated with the maintenance of double membraneous structure of mitochondria, but the activity of cytochrome c oxidase is reduced by the swelling of mitochondria.

The excretion of bilirubin and therefore the relief of jaundice is dependent upon at least three factors. First, the bilirubin must be conjugated and thus converted into a water soluble compound: this means its conversion to an ester glucuronide although other conjugates may also be formed. Secondly, there is the problem of the transport of bilirubin through the hepatic cell. A defect in either the up-take of bilirubin or the secretion of conjugated bilirubin may result in jaundice such as is seen in the various types of familial hyperbilirubinemia. Thirdly, there is the possibility of alternative catabolic pathways for bilirubin: this approach to the problem has, however, not yet received the attention of investigators.

The author examined with electron microscope the rod-shaped bacteria obtained from the human mouth, which were peritrichous and Gram stain positive. Observations revaled the granules of 15 mμ-25 mμ in size being arranged neatly and hexagonally in the cell wall. Moreover, these granules were found to detach themselves quite readily by a slight physical process, disclosing the underlying layer. These seemed to show most probably a portion of the fine structure in the cell wall of an unidentified bacterium from the human mouth.

L'auteur donne la description de ses instruments le myotonometre et le myographe servant a mesurer dans des conditions physiologiques sur la base du changement de volume des muscle la capacite de fonctionnement des muscles stries de l'homme et l'animal ainsi qu'a constater l'etat du systeme nerveux des capillaires ou les douleurs abdominales. Le myotonometre enregistre egalsment le tonus (la consistance du tonus).

Depuis que M. le Docteur SZIRMAI a fait connaitre en 1954-55 son invention pharmaceutique, le H.A.H. (Heacrin) et qu'il a expose de la circulation peripherque1, theorie ayant une importance particuliere dans la therapeutique, le traitement par H.A.H. a ete suivie avec un vif interet. La sphere d'indication du medicament a ete essayee dans plusieurs cas pathologiques par l'auteur lui-meme, qui a rendu compte des resultats de ses experiences dans plusieurs publications2,3,4 et conferenceso5. Pour ce qui concerne les details je me permets de renvoyer aux renseignements de la bibliographie respective.

Neomyographic examinations were made by the authors on 28 patients. The extent of reconvalescence was measured on the basis of changes in the values recorded by the myograms taken before and after the treatment.

Every cytologist in biology or medicine knows the so-called "Golgi-Complex", but no cytologist can state exactly the structure and the function of this complex. Nevertheless, in the last six years this" Golgi complex" in about 100 different cells has been seen in the electron microscope. That is the reason I have tried to make a comparative study of these fields. I would like to give a short review of this investigation here, having been kindly invited by Prof. S. SENO.