CLINICAL AND CHEMICAL STUDIES OF JAPANESE B ENCEPHALITIS

PART 1. SERUM PROTEIN IN JAPANESE B ENCEPHALITIS

Abstract

In the study on the changes of the serum protein ocurring in Japanese B encephalitis the author carried out investigations on 34 cases of the patients with this disease and also on 60 mice inoculated with the virus of Japanese B encephalitis. The total protein were estimated by the refractometer, while their fractions were determined by paper electrophoresis.
As the results it has been found that the total protein in the acute stage decreases in amount and it requires quite a long period of time to recever to the normal level. The albumin decreases while α-globulin increases, but this condition returns to normal quickly when the acute stage is past.
On the other hand, β-globulin in the case of mice increases and that in the patients decreases. The contents of γ-globulin likewise show different results, namely a decrease in the case of mice while no change in the patients. It can be assumed that the different behaviors of β-and γ-globulins between mice and patients are due to the different reactions against the disease.
These changes of the serum Protein in Japanese B encephalitis, namely, the decrease in the total proteins and albumin and the increase in α-globulin, are common changes observable in general acute inflammatory diseases, and it is believed that the same thing can also apply in the present instance.