Intradermal tests were compared among 4 groups of Behcet's disease, other uveitis caused by unknown agent, sarcoidosis and SLE. The size of indurations of PPD, SK-SD and Candida was the largest in Behcet, followed by other uveitis, sarcoidosis and SLE in a descending order. Pustule formation was frequently seen in Behcet and other uveitis, in contrast to low incidence in sarcoidosis and not at all in SLE. Using saline solution or phosphate-buffered saline reaction, however, Behcet group shows erythema formation rather frequently which differentiate Behcet disease from other uveitis, sarcoidosis and SLE.

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Effect of dexamethasone od the growth of two T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (TALL) cell lines, JM and TALL-1 and an American Burkitt lymphoma cell line, Ramos, ofB-cell type was examined. While the growth of both TALL-1 and Ramos cell lines wassignificantly inhibited by dexamethasone at the low concentration of 10^-7M, JM cell linewas markedly resistant at the high concentration of 10^-5M of dexamethasone. The assayof glucocorticoid receptors showed that a small amount of the binding site was found inboth T-cell leukemia cell lines, JM and TALL-1 and that a moderate amount of the binding site was found in Ramos cell line. Thus, glucocorticoid sensitivity (growth inhibition of these leukemia-lymphoma cell lines by dexamethasone) did not correlate with either the number of glucocorticoid receptor or with surface membrane markers of the target cells.This result suggests further marked heterogeneity of leukemic cells.

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We studied the relationship between plasma soluble fibrin monomer complexes (SFMC) and diabetic microangiopathy. SFMC concentrations were investigated in 7 patients with advanced retinopathy (group II) and in 10 patients with both retinopathy and proteinuria (group III), and also in 12 control patients (group I). The age of the patients in each group was similar and overnight fasting blood sugar levels were below 220mg/dl. Group II had higher levels of SFMC(21.8-3.8mg/dl) than group I (7.3-4.8m/dl). Group III showed the higher value of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) than other groups and showed higher levels of SFMC (31.5-12.3mg/dl) than group II. There was no significant correlation between the levels of SFMC and blood sugar, but positive correlation between BUN concentrations and SFMC was recognized in group III. Increasing of SFMC levels were correlated to fibrinogen (Fbg) levels in all subjects. There was no correlation between the levels of SFMC and antithrombin (AT-III) except in group II. The 24-h urinary protein was significantly correlative to SFMC, and Fbg was also considered to be closely associated with microangiopathy and act to promote it.

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Rolling Mouse Nagoya (RMN), weaver and reeler mice were examined for the clinical effectiveness of drugs (thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), reserpine, L-dopa) that are reported to facilitate or alter the metabolic system of noradrenaline (NA). Behavioral changes and ataxic gait were recorded by 16mm cinefilms and EMG of the thigh extensor muscles. In addition, latencies in the reflex discharge of the muscle by tilting load were measured before and after the intraperiotoneal injection of each drug and compared to those of normal littermates. TRH injection increased spontaneous behavioral activity in RMN and weaver, and shortened the latency of the reflex discharge by tilting load in RMN. Reserpine injection did not increase behavioral activity, but was accompanied by a slight shortening of latencies in the reflex discharge by tilting load only in RMN. L-dopa did not affect behavioral and EMG activities of these cerebellar mutant mice. No remarkable deficit has yet been in any selective intracortical neurons in RMN and no other characteristic abnormality in central and peripheral nervous, skeleton and muscular systems. It was, therefore, suspected that there was a possibility of metabolic disorders of NA in the cerebellum not only in RMN, but also in patients with certain spinocerebellar degenerations.

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A 59-year old female with gammaheavy chain disease associated with giant lymphnode hyperplasia and multiple immunodisorders is described. Such various disorders maybe the result of abnormal immune reaction in the presence of impaired Tcell function.

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A 40 year-old woman with acute myelogenous leukemia developed an advanced atrioventricular block and pericardial effusion. On autopsy, pericardial effusion without pericarditis and mononuclear cell infiltration in His bundle were found. Focal infiltration of His bundle by leukemic cells was suggested as the cause of the atrioventricular block.

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Clinicopathological features of three male cases with malignant histiocytosis (MH) are described. Case 1, aged 27, had had an indurated swelling of the left mandibular region, histologically being chronic lymphocytic inflammation, with ebb and flow for 4 years prior to the onset of MH, with low grade fever, lymphadenopathy and pulmonary infiltration. Histology of the lymph node was compatible with MH, and only a temporary improvement was obtained by COP therapy. Case 2, aged 32, showed acute febrile onset with severe anemia and splenomegaly. Diagnosis of MH was determined by bone marrow histology. COP therapy appeared effective, but caused severe leukopenia and thrombocytopenia resulting in fatal gastrointestinal bleeding. Case 3, aged 16, had high fever and cutaneous mass of the left chest wall, histology of which suggested MH. Bone marrow biopsy was also diagnostic. Severe pancytopenia allowed only a limited therapy. Morphology of the histiocytes was variable in each case. Diffuse infiltration of neoplastic histiocytes in many organs and erythrophagocytosis in the bone marrow were commonly found in all the cases. The present cases suggested a diagnostic value of bone marrow biopsy and possible effect of antineoplastic combination therapy on earlier stage of MH.

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A case of male pseudohermaphroditism due to 17α-hydroxylase deficiency is described. A 24-year-old womanwith a quadriplegic attack exhibited primary amenorrhea, lack of secondary sexual characteristics, hypertension, hypokalemic alkalosis and hyporeninemia. She had female external genitalia together with a 46 XYkaryotype and intraabdominal testes. No uterus was found. Endocrinological studies showed low levels of urinary pregnanetriol, plasma cortisl and urinary 17-OHCS, high level of urinary pregnanediol, and markedly elevated plasma levels of deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone with a low level of plasma and urinary aldosterone. Plasma ACTHwas high. Plasma and urinary androgens and estrogens were low in the presence of a high level of plasma and urinary gonadotropins. Treatment with 2-0.5mg/day of dexamethasone improved the abnormal plasma levels of the corticosteroids and normalized the blood pressure, serum potassium and PRA. The addition of estrogen (ethinylestradiol, 0.05mg daily) to dexamethasone treatment produced only poor development of the breasts six months later.

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