For elucidation of the type of population distribution of Frank-vector-cardiographic items of normal Japanese population, forty-eight measurements were obtained from 364 healthy Japanese men in the fourth decade. These measurements were studied with Fisher's g test of normality of population distribution, which showed that normal population distribution could be assumed in only six items (12.5%)-the maximal QRS vector angle and the directional QRS-T angle in the frontal plane, Rx and Tz height, Qz duration, and anterior accession time. The frontal maximal T vector angle was regarded to have an approximately normal population distribution. In the remaining forty-one items logarithmic normalization of distribution was attempted with a transformation formula, Y=Log₁₀ (kX+c). Being applied to Y's, the variate logarithm-transformed with an appropriate value of c, Fisher's g test accepted the null hypothesis of normality of population distribution in 27 items (56.3%); in other words, the population distribution of 27 items was lognormal. These included the magnitudes of maximal QRS and T vectors and T/QRS ratios in the three projection planes, and some of vector angles. The population distribution was usually lognormal in scalar amplitudes and ratios except for items related to Q and S waves in leads X and Y. Bimodality of distribution was seen in six items (12.5%), which consisted of the maximal QRS vector angle and the QRS-T angles in the horizontal and left sagittal planes. In these planes the maximal QRS vector and the directional QRS-T angles showed bimodality attributed to combination of two normal distributions. Three of the four QRS-T angles in these planes and also the horizontal maximal QRS vector angle were lognormalized, although a lesser degree of bimodality still remained after seemingly successful logarithmic transformation in respect to the tg statistics. Chi-square test accepted the null hypothesis of exponential population distribution in four items (8.4%), which included the depth of Qx, Sx, and Sy, and S/(S+R) ratio in lead Y. Exponential approximation appeared much better than normal one in the rest of measurements related to Q and S waves in leads X and Y. The following conclusions were drawn form the present study: i) statistical tests based on nonmal population distribution should be carefully applied to Frank-vectorcardiographic measurements of healthy Japanese men in the fourth decade and, presumably, of healthy Japanese adults regardless of age and sex; and ii) logarithmic transformation is an efficient means to normalize a skewed distribution in the majority of measurements.

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A method for the determination of the left ventricular volume by scintillation angiocardiography following a peripheral venous injection of a radioactive isotope was described. Salient points in its methodology were as follows; 1. This volume study was composed of non-gated scintillation angiocardiography and cumulative gated scintiphotography. 2. The non-gated scintillation data were stored into video recording system. 3. The gated scintiphotography was performed during a play-back of non-gated scintillation data, opening the gate at desired points of time during a cardiac cycle. 4. The left ventricular scintillation image was photographied in life-size on x-ray film by superimposing, 10-20 times, the gated image of the several consecutive heart beats during the "left ventricular phase" of the dilution of intravenously injected radionuclide. For validation of this method, the stroke volume obtained with this method was compared with that obtained by precordial radionuclide dilution curve recordable during the non-gated scintillation angiocardiography, and also with that obtained by non-simultaneous radiocardiography. It was concluded that the present method may be sufficiently accurate for clinical use.

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In the isolated rabbit heart, it was shown that verapamil suppressed the electrical activities of the SA and AV nodes without preventing regenerative responses in atrial muscle fibers. It was concluded that the different effects of verapamil on SA and AV nodal action potentials resulted from the operation of a different ionic channel (slow channel) from that of ordinary atrial muscle.

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Esterase and Acid phosphatase isozymes were examined in a number of organs, glands and tissues from Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR) and kidney and liver from DOCA hypertensive rats at various stages in comparison with those of normotensive rats (CR). In SHR, the abnormalities in the patterns of esterase isozyme were demonstrated in endocrine glands and respiratory tracts as well as in the kidney, liver and digestive tracts throughout the whole life span, and abnormalities in the patterns of acid phosphatase isozyme was also demonstrated in the liver after seven days of age. Moreover, in DOCA hypertensive Rats, minute alterations in esterase isozyme were demonstrated in the kidney and liver after seventh month of the duration of hypertension.

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HBEs were recorded from either the right or left ventricle or simultaneously from both in 26 patients with chronic rheumatic mitral stenosis alone or in association with other mild valvular lesions during th diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Eleven of the patients had auricular fibrillation. Of the remaining 15 patients with sinus mechanism and P mitrale in the surface electrocardiogram, 12 were noted to have H potential preceded the termination of P wave and gave P₂H interval of negative value -so-called "Bachmann's bundle block". Among these, double atrial activities (A and A' waves) could be identified on the HBE recorded from the left ventricular endocardial surface with catheter electrodes positioned at the subaortic region in 7 patients studied. Interatrial conduction time (P₁A' interval) measured in these patients was prolonged in all and ranged from 47 to 82 with an average of 66 msec. Prolongation of intraatrial (or internodal) conduction time was noted in only one patient who also had first degree A-V block and prolonged A-H interval. There was no cor-relation of either P₁P₂ or P₂H interval to the degree of left atrial enlargement. The P₁P₂ or P₂H interval also had no correlation with hemodynamic parameters. In patients with auricular fibrillation, all impulses unable to conduct to the ventricle were blocked proximal to the His bundle and concealed conduction was not observed distal to it.

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It is surprising that little attention has been payed to the correlation between the clinical pictures and the extent and distribution of myocardial infarction (MI) confirmed at necropsy. The purpose of this study is to analyse the pathoanatomical basis of the following clinical manifestations in MI i e the duration of clinical course, complications following initial infarction (angina pectoris, acute coronary insufficiency and congestive heart failure (CHF)) and mode of death (cardiogenic shock (CS), CHF and intractable arrhythmia). Materials and Methods: Twenty consecutive cases with MI (17 males and 3 females) were selected. All the patients were hospitalized in the Cardiovascular Institute Hospital and died at least after 12 hrs following onset of the last MI, either without clinical evidence of severe papillary muscle dysfuction, cardiac rupture or ventricular septal perforation. After formalin fixation each heart was cut into slices 5mm thick form the apex to the atrioventricular groove. Histological preparations (hematoxylin and eosin, and azan staining) were made in each slice, and the morphological classification of MI (acute or healed, massive or scattered and its localization) was made. By "point-counting" method the area of acute and healed MI of the three representative transverse cross-sections (apical, middle and basal one-third levels) were measured and expressed as percent values of acute, healed and total lesions in the whole myocardium. And also, the sum of the both was referred to percentage of total destruction of ischemic myocardium. The main coronary arteries and their branches were sectioned at 5mm interval along the epicardial course, and maximal degrees of obstruction were observed, and their mathematical average was regarded to represent the severity of coronary stenoses.

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