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Changes of basophil leucocyte counts of the peripheral blood in bronchial asthma were investigated mainly by our improved method of KOVACS (4). The results are as follows. I) The basophils in bronchial asthma generally show a higher count than in healthy controls. 2) During the interval of repeated asthmatic attacks the basophil count is higher than in the asymptomatic period. 3) Particularly in an episode of asthmatic attack, the basophils increase immediately before the attack and decrease to the normal level or lower after the attack has begun. 4) During asthmatic attacks it may be possible to expect another attack, if the basophil count again tends to increase from the previous low count. 5) This counting method of basophils is easy enough for the routine examination like calculation of peripheralleucocytes. 6) Observation of the changes of peripheral basophils appears to be a useful laboratory aid for the diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of bronchial asthma, making possible an early detection of the next attack. A discussion is given of the behavior of the basophils in bronchial asthma.

For the purpose to reveal the correlation between molecular structure and biochemical functions of cytochrome oxidase the author studied purified cytochrome oxidase by using high resolution electron microscope and biochemical methods. 1. Cytochrome oxidase was purified from the cytochrome oxidase-rich submitochondrial membrane (green membrane), obtained from beef heart mitochondria, by three different methods; modification of the method of OKUNUKI et ai., method of FOWLER et ai. and modification of the method ofJACOBS et ai. All the preparations showed a high specific activity under appropriate conditions and consisted mainly of small particles measuring approximately 80 to 90 A. in diameter. 2. The particle, measuring approximately 80 to 90 A. in diameter, took a cylindrical form measuring about 70 A. in diameter at the base and 95 A. in height in an appropriate condition. Many experimental results indicate that the particle is the smallest, fundamental unit of the active cytochrome oxidase. For this reason it was designated as the unit particle of cytochrome oxidase (abbreviated as UPCO). 3. The molecular weight of the unit particle, calculated from its volume and average density (1.24) of lipoproteins (3: 7), was about 270,000. The value was roughly twice the minimum molecular weight of 128, 000 calculated from the heme a content. Accordingly, it is considered that the unit particle contains two heme a molecule and two copper atoms. 4. It was suggested electron microscopically that the particle collected in the 22.6 S position by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugal analysis was a dimer of the unit particle of cytochrome oxidase and also that the particle collected in the 5. 7 S position was a half of the unit particle of cytochrome oxidase. 5. It was also suggested that the particle observed on the green membrane was a subunit of cytochrome oxidase, containing one heme a and one copper atom, and the unit particle of cytochrome oxidase was constituted of two of the particles observed on the green membrane. Namely, the results indicate that the molecular state of cytochrome oxidase on the green membrane apparently differs from that of the purified cytochrome oxidase.

1. A cytochrome oxidase-rich submitochondrial membrane (green membrane) was obtained from beef heart mitochondria after extraction of flavoproteins, cytochrome b, Cll C, etc. by treating with deoxycholate and potassium chloride. 2. The green membrane was formed by self assembly from the membrane fragments (flat sheets), which derived from the cristae membrane of mitochondria and had essentially the same particulate structure as the green membrane. 3. The green membrane exhibited regular arrays of small particles on the surface, measuring approximately 50 to 60 A in diameter with center to center distance of about 70 A. These particles sometime were arranged in a woven structure on the surface. 4. Both the configuration of the particles and the regularity of the arrangement were influenced by detergents and temperature. 5. Green membranes as well as beef heart mitochondria and electron transfer particles commonly retained membrane-structure after sonication and exhibited higher specific activity of cytochrome oxidase than that of purified cytochrome oxidase, if the activity is calculated on the basis of heme a concentration (sec1 / 10 m,lJ.moles of heme a/3 ml). The results suggest that the active sites of cytochrome oxidase are arranged on the surface of these membranes. 6. From these results and other experimental findings, an intimate correlation between cytochrome oxidase and the particles observed on the green membranes is suggested.

In order to know the precise quantity of catalase protein in acatalasemic and hypocatalasemic blood, immunological studies were conducted using hemolysates or acetone extracts of those blood as antigen. 1) The ratio of catalase contained in normal, hypocatalasemic and acatalasemic blood, calculated from precipitates produced in the reaction between catalase antibody and hemolysates was 1.0 : 0.5 : 0.07. 2) The ratio of catalase in normal, hypocatalasemic and acatalasemic blood, calculated from precipitates from the catalase antibody and the acetone extracts was 1.0: 0.49 : 0.11. In the precipitin ring tests using acetone extract, the antigen titer in normal, hypocatalasemic and acatalasemic extracts was 40, 20, and 0 respectively. 3) From our experiments it can be said that hypocatalasemic blood shows one half the catalase activity of normal blood, due to one half the quantity of catalase protein, and that acatalasemic blood lacks catalase activity due to the absence of the catalase protein. These findings strongly suggest that no substances exist which suppress or inhibit the catalase activity in hypocatalasemic and acatalasemic blood.

For the purpose to reveal the mechanism of uptake and degradation of NAD by cells, the authors conducted the observation on the L cells cultured in the medium containing NAD and the following results have been obtained. 1. NAD in the medium is taken up by the cells in its intact form, reaching about twice the value of the control. 2. The spontaneously degraded products of NAD, nicotinamide and adenine dinucleotide ribose, in the same molar concentration as NAD used in the present experiment, have no effect on the NAD content of L cells. 3. The NAD taken up by the cells is degraded into nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and adenine mononucleotide (AMP) by pyrophosphatase including NADpptase and excreted in the medium. Unexpectedly the ingested NAD is not degraded by NADase in the L cell. 4. L cells metabolize the same amount of NAD as that contained originally in the cell for about ten minutes, as calculated from the amount of NMN excreted in the medium.

The effects of intravenous infusion of isoproterenol on stenosis resistance were studied in the anesthetized open-chest dog. The circumflex coronary artery (LCx) was isolated near its origin and an electromagnetic flow transducer was placed around the vessel for measuring coronary flow. A polyethylene catheter was inserted into the small branch of LCx for monitoring distal coronary pressure. LCx was constricted with a thick cotton string to a degree of obstruction that eliminated reactive hyperemia following a 20-second coronary occlusion. The coronary resistance across the stenotic segment (RL) was calculated as the pressure gradient across the stenosis divided by coronary flow. Isoproterenol was infused intravenously in a dose to keep the heart rate at a level 25-30% above the control with and without coronary constriction. For maintaining the ascending aortic pressure at the pre-isoproterenol level, the descending thoracic aorta was constricted with a tape. In the absence of coronary constriction, the vascular resistance of large coronary arteries was not affected by isoproterenol with a significant increase in coronary flow. In the presence of coronary stenosis, isoproterenol markedly increased RI regardless of additional aortic constriction. The magnitude of the increase in RL during aortic constriction varied directly with the percent increase in the pressure gradient across the coronary stenosis. Pacing-tachycardia essentially did not affect RL. These results suggest that isoproterenol increased the vascular resistance of the stenotic segment with fixed caliber.

Maximal expiratory volume-time and flow-volume (MEVT and MEFV) curves were constructed from the measurements of young male nonsmoking, mild and moderate asthmatic patients (mean age, 29.7 yrs.). Eleven parameters of the pulmonary function tests, two MEVT, six MEFV, and three mean time constant (MTC) parameters, were calculated from the curves. These parameters were used in 15 analyses through the all possible selection procedure (APAP) discriminating between mild and moderate asthmatics. The probability of misclassification was computed with each of the eleven parameters, and all eleven probabilities thus obtained were compared with each other. This procedure showed us that the probability of misclassification ranged from 30.83% to 45.40% and that the most useful parameter was MTC50-25. The probability of misclassification computed using all eleven parameters (total parameter group) was 15.90%. The discriminant analysis indicated that the flow-volume patterns varied according the severity of bronchial asthma, thus, the flow-volume curve was considered to be important in analyzing the severity of bronchial asthma.

For the elucidation of the relationship between the toluene concentration in the air and the amount of hippuric acid excreted in the urine as a metabolite after the work in the workshop where they use toluene, we have succeeded in measuring minute quantities of urinary hippuric acid by a modified method of Gaffney's paperchromatography and also by a simple mass screening examination method devised by us, and obtained the following results. 1. The average concentration of hippuric acid in the urine collected at 2 p. m. from healthy individuals proved to be 184 μg/ ml, and the amount of its excretion was 174 μg/ min. 2. After the three-hour inhalation of toluene whose concentration in the air ranged 20, 50, and 160 ppm, the average concentration of hippuric acid in the urine was found to be 190,863 and 1,930 μg/ml, and the avarage increment of hippuric acid, 33.2, 193.9, and 1060 μg/min respectively. From this results we have found that there is a linear relationship between the toluene concentration in the air on one hand and the concentration of urinary hippuric acid and the increasing amount of its excretion on the other. Thus it has become possible to calculate the toluene concentration in the air even in the workshop where the workers are exposed to toluene discontinuously from the curves of the linear relationships just mentioned. 3. For the control of health in the workshop where they use toluene (such as auto-tricycle factory) we have devised a simple mass screening examination method for the detection of urinary hippuric acid, in which urinary hippuric acid is extracted with ether alcohol, and the coloration of its spots on filter paper is conducted with aroylglycine reagent (DAB and acetic anhydride mixture) in order to find out those excreting 1,000 μg/ml (the maximum allowable concentration) or over.

A study was conducted to analyze the distribution and diameter of muscle fiber types in samples of the medial paravertebral lumbar muscle, i.e., multifidus muscle, obtained from 76 patients who underwent surgery for disc herniation. The samples were compared with 41 control samples of corresponding muscle tissue taken from 41 young healthy subjects who had died a sudden death. Histochemical analysis of fibers associated with myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) revealed the presence of Type I fibers (slow-twitch fibers) and of Type IIA and IIB fibers (fast-twitch fibers) in both the experimental and control samples. The respective percentage of muscle fibers was calculated and their diameters were measured. Type I fibers predominated in both groups and were significantly larger in diameter than Type IIA and IIB fibers. Both fast-twitch fiber types were distributed in almost equal proportions in the healthy women. In the healthy men, Type IIA fibers prevailed. In the healthy females, the percentage of Type I fibers was found to be slightly higher than in the males, but the diameter of all fiber types was respectively smaller. In the females who had undergone surgery, Type I fibers were significantly larger in diameter than those of the healthy subjects. On the other hand, the diameters of all muscle fiber types were significantly larger, and the percentage of both fast-twitch fibers were Idwer in the samples from men who underwent surgery, as compared to the healthy tissue samples. The morphometric changes in the multifidus muscle at the level of the protruded disc observed by the histochemical method for demonstration of myofibrillar ATPase could not be related to the compressed nerve root in the majority of cases in our study.

We developed a sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum DNA from mosquitoes collected in the field. Plasmodium falciparum was detected from 15.2% of 1-parous mosquitoes, Anopheles farauti, in the Solomon Islands through use of the PCR method. A novel mathematical model was developed to estimate the sporozoite rate based on the malaria-positive rate of 1-parous mosquitoes. Using this model, the sporozoite rate of Anopheles farauti in the Solomon Islands was calculated to be 0.09%. This method enables estimation of the sporozoite rate based on a relatively small number (100-200) of mosquitoes compared with the number needed for the ELISA method.

We studied the differentiation of thyroid nodules using fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) and Tl-201 scintigraphy quantitative analysis. One-hundred and thirty-one thyroid nodules were examined: 83 follicular lesions (58 benign and 25 malignant lesions) and 48 non-follicular lesions (8 benign and 40 malignant lesions). During Tl-201 scintigraphy examinations, an early and a delayed image were acquired 10 and 120 min after an intravenous injection, respectively. The T/N ratio (counts of nodular lesion/counts of contralateral normal thyroid tissue) of each image was calculated quantitatively. We assessed the ability of the Tl-201 scintigraphy and of the FNA analysis to differentiate benign and malignant lesions and determined the cut-off levels for the assays. For the follicular lesions, the area under the ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curve (Az) for the Tl-201 scintigraphy data was greater than that for the FNA data. For the non-follicular lesions, the Az for the FNA data was greater than that for the Tl-201 scintigraphy data. We set cut-off levels at 1.370 for follicular lesions, and 1.070 for non-follicular lesions. The sensitivity and specificity were 76% and 82.7% for follicular lesions, and 90% and 87.5% for non-follicular lesions, respectively. The overall accuracy of the analysis was 84.0%.

We investigated the diagnostic capabilities of I-131, Tl-201, and Tc-99m-MIBI (hexakis-2-methoxyisobutyl- isonitrile) scintigraphy for thyroid cancer metastases after total thyroidectomy over the entire body and for every locus before and after thyroid bed ablation. After total thyroidectomy of thyroid cancer, 36 cases were subjected to I-131 treatment 64 times. They consisted of 17 men and 19 women with 31 papillary carcinomas and 5 follicular carcinomas. Their ages were 22--75(an average of 60.5+/-12.3) years. I-131 scintigraphy(I-131), Tl-201 scintigraphy(Tl-201), and Tc-99m- MIBI scintigraphy (Tc-99m-MIBI) were performed. We defined the metastases as those cases in which serum thyroglobulin (Tg)increased significantly or in which we were able to prove the lesions on CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or bone scintigram. Three radiology medical specialists visually evaluated each scintigram and calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio. For whole-body sensitivity, both Tl-201 and Tc-99m-MIBI were high before ablation and I-131 was high after ablation. Before ablation, the negative likelihood ratio was less than 0.1 for Tl-201 and Tc-99m-MIBI, while the positive likelihood ratio was more than 10 for Tl-201. After ablation, the positive likelihood ratio for I-131, Tl-201, and Tc-99m-MIBI was more than 10. The sensitivity of the mediastinum was appropriate, except for I-131 before ablation, and the sensitivity of the lung before and after ablation was inferior for either tracer. The specificity of the cervix for I-131 before ablation was markedly deteriorated, but it increased after ablation.

Surgical treatment of metastatic spinal cord compression is controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of our current surgical treatments and the use of spinal instrumentation. In this retrospective study covering the years between 1990 and 2006, 100 patients with spinal metastases which were secondary to various cancers underwent posterior and/or anterior decompression with spinal stabilization for the purposes of reduction of pain, and/or to help correct or improve neurological deficits. The group was made up of 60 men and 40 women whose ages ranged from 16 to 83 years (average of 60 years), and the average follow-up period was 14 months. The effect of treatment upon pain relief and neural deficits was assessed, and the cumulative survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The average surgical time was 185min. This was calculated based on the following times, listed here with the surgery type:178min for posterior surgery;245min for anterior surgery;465 min for combined surgery;and 475min for total en bloc spondylectomy. Average blood loss during surgery was 1,630 ml for posterior surgery, 1,760 ml for anterior surgery, 1,930 ml for combined surgery, and 3,640 ml for total en bloc spondylectomy. Preoperative pain and paralysis were improved by 88% and 53%, respectively. In regards to surgical complications, postoperative epidural hematoma was observed in 2 patients, and instrumentation-related infection was observed in 1. Only 2 patients died within 2 months of surgery. In conclusion, posterior and/or anterior decompression with spinal stabilization is a safe and effective treatment for patients with spinal metastases, and can improve their quality of life.

The number of suicide deaths in Japan has continued to be high, and is a pressing social problem. Although the weekly distribution of suicide deaths has been documented, no nationwide analysis has yet been conducted. In the present study, the ratios of the number of suicide deaths per day, by day of the week, and on weekdays relative to holidays were calculated using the data for all suicide deaths recorded in 2003. The suicide deaths recorded on holidays were treated as the reference, and a confidence interval of 95% (95% CI) was used. We calculated the suicide death ratios among men and women of all ages (men:23,396, women:8,713, total:32,109) and also among those of productive age (age:15-64 years, men:18,552, women:5,481, total:24,033). Among men of all ages, the suicide death ratio on Mondays was found to be significantly high at 1.49 (95% CI:1.04-2.14), and the ratios were found to decrease over the course of the week from Monday to Friday. On each weekday, the suicide death ratios among men of productive age were found to be higher than those among men of all ages. Among women, the suicide death ratios on any weekday were found to be higher than 1, but there was no significant difference between the days. Among both men and women, the number of suicide deaths on holidays was lower than that on weekdays. This study revealed that the number of suicide deaths recorded per day on Mondays is 1.5 times higher than that on holidays among men. This suggests that the structure of the work week may possibly influence suicide deaths among men. Future discussions regarding the arrangement and distribution of weekly holidays should be conducted in order to reduce the number of suicide deaths.

Conventionally, the carrying angle of the elbow is measured using simple two-dimensional radiography or goniometry, which has questionable reliability. This study proposes a novel method for estimating carrying angles using computed tomography that can enhance the reliability of the angle measurement. Data of CT scans from 25 elbow joints were processed to build segmented three-dimensional models. The cross-sectional centerlines of the ulna and the humerus were traced from the 3D models, and the angle between 2 vectors formed from the centerlines of the humerus and the ulna was defined as the "three-dimensional carrying angle." These angles were compared with those measured by simple radiograph. Two cases of angular deformity were underwent surgery based on this preoperative surgical planning, and the postoperative 3D carrying angles were evaluated using the proposed method. The mean value of the calculated three-dimensional carrying angle was 20.7 degrees +/-3.61, while it was 16.3 degrees +/-3.21 based on simple radiography without statistical difference. Based on the 3D carrying angle estimations, 2 surgical cases of cubitus deformities were planned by comparison with the normal contra-lateral elbow. Postoperative angle estimations confirmed that the corrected angles were nearly identical to the planned angles for both cases. The results of this study showed that the carrying angle can be accurately estimated using three-dimensional CT and that the proposed method is useful in evaluating deformities of the elbow with high reliability.

The apparatus to measure multi-point critical flicker fusion frequency (MCFF) was devised for more precise determination of the critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF). Using this apparatus, the variations in flicker value after the work load of the television (TV) game, the Kraepelin using the video display terminal (VDT-Kraepelin) and the paper-Kraepelin were examined in order to test its practical applicability. The following results were obtained. The degree of decrease in the CFF values of some peripheral eye fields was larger than that on the central field of both eyes (ordinary CFF) after work load. The variation rates of the central and the peripheral flicker values were measured before and after loading in each work, and the correlations of variation rates between two CFF values among them were calculated. The numbers of peripheral eye fields showing significant correlation of variation rates between two eye fields in the TV game and the VDT-Kraepelin, were greater than those in the paper-Kraepelin.

Gastroparesis is a frequent and sometimes life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus. Autonomic neuropathy seems to be one of the most important mechanisms underlying this entity, together with the other probable pathologies. The present study was performed in order to identify an alternative to gastric scintigraphy as a screening test. The gastric emptying times of 60 subjects (Group 1: 20 insulin-dependent patients, Group 2: 20 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients, and Group 3: 20 healthy volunteers) were monitored by gastric scintigraphy. Perception thresholds for cold, heat, and vibration were tested by a quantitative sensory test, and QTc dispersions were calculated from standard electrocardiography recordings. In addition, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c and urine beta2-microglobulin and microalbumin concentrations were determined for the patient groups. Funduscopic examination was performed by an independent ophthalmologist. Gastroparesis was determined in both patient groups, regardless of fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c concentrations. A strong correlation was observed between nephropathy, retinopathy, and cardiac autonomic denervation (QTc) and gastroparesis. In conclusion, retinal and renal microvasculopathy parameters and cardiac autonomic function tests may be useful for screening diabetic patients for gastroparesis.

The morbidity of diabetes mellitus is increasing gradually in Japanese populations. It is important to clarify the risk factors of diabetes in Japanese populations in order to take adequate measures against the increasing morbidity of diabetes. In order to evaluate the link between past and concurrent obesity and diabetes in middle-aged Japanese men, we conducted a worksite-based historical cohort study in Okayama, Japan in 1999. Annual health examination data of middle-aged male workers in a worksite were collected. The relative risks of past and concurrent obesity for developing diabetes were calculated. Subjects with a past history of obesity at between 40 and 50 years of age had a significantly higher risk of developing diabetes by age 55 than did subjects in the normal weight group. These results suggest that, in order to prevent diabetes in middle-aged Japanese men, health guidance for normal weight maintenance should be provided not only for middle-aged men, but also for men under age 40.

To better understand the spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we studied the association of HCV infection with similarly transmissible hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and with hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection, which is supposed to be related to a nosocomial transmission of HCV. This was done by studying the presence or absence of antibodies to these viruses, as well as hepatitis B surface antigen, in a population of 1,398 inhabitants with abnormal liver function tests or history of liver disease and/or blood transfusion. This group was drawn from a group of 7,905 examinees screened for liver disease in 26 districts of Okayama prefecture, Japan. The prevalence of antibody-positive cases increased with age for those viruses. Small but significantly increased odds ratios were obtained among anti-HCV antibodies (HCVAb), anti-hepatitis B core antibodies (HBcAb) and anti-hepatitis A antibodies (HAVAb). After adjusting odds ratios by logistic regression analysis, a significant association was present only between HCVAb and HBcAb. The distribution of age-adjusted prevalences (AAP) of HCVAb in 26 districts was significantly wider than those of HBcAb or HAVAb. The district-based AAP of HCVAb, but not of HBcAb and HAVAb, correlated significantly with the district-based prevalence of infectious hepatitis having a tendency of chronicity reported in 1953-1955. Adjusted odds ratios calculated by logistic regression analysis of the virus markers showed that HCVAb was significantly associated with a past history of blood transfusion. Thus, the spread of HCV infection is speculated to have been triggered by blood transfusion, particularly from paid donors initially, followed by transmission by nosocomial or close person-to-person contact.

The relationship between past and present lifestyle and urinary excretion of type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptides (NTx) was studied in 61 Japanese females aged 34-59, with a view toward using NTx excretion rates as a predictor of future osteoporosis. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine, the speed of sound (SOS) and broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) of the os calcis, urinary NTx, serum osteocalcin (BGP) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) were measured. Stiffness index (stiffness) was calculated from SOS and BUA. The subjects were asked whether they took regular exercise in their childhood and teen years (in elementary, junior-high, senior-high school and college), the past (20-40 years of age) and present adulthood. Regular calcium intake, smoking habits, alcohol and other beverage consumption and milk consumption were also covered in the questionnaire. The mean NTx values of premenopausal and postmenopausal group were 22.2 and 56.0 nM bone collagen equivalents (BCE)/mM urinary creatinine (Cr), respectively. The group which did not exercise regularly between the ages of 20 and 40 had a higher mean NTx value (40.9 nMBCE/mMCr) than the group which did exercise regularly (22.7 nMBCE/mMCr). In multiple regression analyses, age, stiffness and exercise in past adulthood could explain 43.5% of the NTx variance. For prevention of bone metabolic increases around menopause, habitual exercise in early adulthood seems to be effective.