The effect of low molecular weight dextran (LMWD) on blood coagulation was studied in 66 patients who underwent normothermic open heart surgery using extracorporeal circulation with a disc oxygenator. These patients were divided into two groups. In one group, the LMWD group (53 patients), 10% LMWD solution (average molecular weight of LMWD was about 40, 000) was added to the priming blood (the administration percentage of LMWD to whole blood was used solely as the priming blood.
Changes of blood coagulation in the course of surgery were observed, and differences of the changes were compared with in both groups.
The following results were obtained:
1) The changes of Thrombelastogram: In the whole blood group, r, k, and r+k values were shortened and ma value was increased; however, in the LMWD group, r, k, and r+k values were prolonged and ma value was decreased.
2) In changes of blood platelet counts and prothrombin time, no significant difference was observed in both groups, but decrease of plasma fibrinogen level was greater in the LMWD group than in the whole blood group and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).
3) Fibrinolysis did not occur in both groups at all.
4) The corelation between the administration percentage of LMWD (from 7.4% to 14.7%) and prolongation of k value, r+k value was recognized, and the corelation of administration percentage with the decreasing ratio of ma value was also recognized.
5) It was demonstrated that in cases more than 8.8% administration percentage of LMWD, hypocoagulability occurred.

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Electrical charge of the red blood cells is the major force of repulsion among the red blood cells which have electro-negativity in normal condition. The new apparatus of electrophoresis was devised by the author for the purpose to measure the electrical charge of the red blood cells by means of U tube method applied with U-type electrophoretic cell used in the Tisselius's apparatus. This apparatus is simple and easy to manage. And also it is very convenient to investigate the variation of the electrical charge of red blood cells influenced by the circumstances, especially to examine the effects on the red blood cells as a whole when mixed with several kinds of the parentheral fluids, or exposed in anesthetics and the related gases.
As the results of the basic experiments done by the author, 30% packed red cell fluid (the erythrocyte suspended solution) was the best medium for measurement, and how to formulate the velocity of electrophoresis was calculated.

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The family of Bh blood type was investigated. Mrs. N. has 3 children of the normal phenotype B, both husband and a daughter are group O, the father is group O and her three sisters are O and B, while one brother is O; all of the sibs except the propositus showed normal phenotype. Accordingly, it seems to be warranted to conclude that this phenotype Bh is caused by a new, rare, modifying gene “w” which, in the hemozygous state, partially suppresses both B and H substances in the red cells without any effect on the action of the secretor gene.

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