Lecithins are important constituents of biomembranes. In general, saturated fatty acids are present predominantly in the α-position and unsaturated ones in the β-position of lecithins. However, this positional specificity (of the fatty acids) is not always found, particularly in some experimental tumor lipids. It is described in this paper that lecithi ns of human stomach cancers were subjected to elucidate the positional specificity of the constituent fatty acids and the results obtained were as follows.
1. There was no significant difference in phospholipid composition between normal and cancer stomach tissues.
2. The main constituent fatty acids of the lecithins isolated from both stomach tissues were,16:0,16:1,18: 0,18:1,18:2 and 20: 4.
3. In lecithins of cancer tissues, compared to normal ones,16:0 decreased and 18:0,18: 1,18: 2 and 20: 4 increased, resulting in more unsaturates were present in th e lecithin molecules than the saturates. At the α-position, the decrease of 16:0 and increase of 18: 0,18: 1 and 18: 2 were found and the decrease of 16:0 was over the increase of 18:0. At the,β-position,18:1 and 16:0 decreased and 18: 2 a nd 20:4 increased.
The finding suggested that some metabolic disorders of lecithins were present in stomach cancer tissue.

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Part I and II
Elect r o n Microscopic Studies on the Phagocytic Activity, and Proliferation of the Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Phagocytic and proliferative activities of the retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE cells)of the albino and pigmented rabbits were studied under electron microscope. Polystyrene spheres of various sizes (6μm and 1μm in diamete r) and homologous erythrocytes, suspended in a saline solution, were injected into the subretinal space through the choroid by micropipett. The following results were obtained.
1) Phagocytic activity Following inje ction the small spheres ( 1μm in diameter) were filled between the sensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium. Six hours after injection, they were enclosed by the microvilli of the RPE cells, and then, they were engulfed into the cells. The phagocytosis of the large spheres (6μm in diameter) into the cells were begun observe in 12 hours later after injection. All of the particles, injected into the subretinal space, were engulfed by the RPE cells and disappeared completely from the space within 24 hours. At that time, the cytoplasma of the each epithelial cells was filled with the spheres, to which lysosomes in the cells fused and surrounded. Only a few of erythrocytes, which were a similar size in diameter to the larger spheres, were phagocytized into the cytoplasma on the third day. From our these experiments, it clarified that the RPE cells showed remarkable phagocytic activity to the particles injected into the subretinal space, however, in phagocytic process, the microvilli of the cells seemed to be capable of selecting a size and a property of the material to be engulfed.
2) Cell proliferation and migration On the third day, many proliferated cells, which seemed to be originated from the pigment epithelial cells, appeared over the pigment epithelium. On the 5th day, these cells became rather slender in shape and increased to multilayers from 2 to 5 cell layers. Desmosome like structure were seen as the intercellular junctional complex between the proliferated cells. The cell nuclei were irregular in shape and deeply indented, and the rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulums were prominent in the 1 lcytoplasm. Each proliferative cells also contained many polystyrene spheres, especially in the cells located at the apical area. Mitotic figures of the RPE cells were to some extent detected at the basal layer, but such incidence were rare. In the pigmented rabbits, these proliferated cells located at the apical area container many melanin granules, and in the cells located at the basal area numerous premelanoso. mes in various stages were observed in their cytoplasm. In the experiment of erythrocytes injection, proliferation of the RPE cells was rarely seen, however, migration of many macrophages in to the subietinal space were frequ ently observed. On the 5th day, macrophages which engulfed the polystyrene spheres were seen in and beneath the Bruch's membrane. These observations showed the retinal pigment epithelial cells have marked proliferative activity and migratory nature of them.
3) Fibrous metaplasia (Production of collagen fibers)The proliferated cells seemed to be originated from the pigment epithelium which became spindle form in shape, spreading long processes, produced collagenous fibrils outside of the cells. These cells resembled the fibroblast in appearance. The observations revealed the fibrous metaplasia of the retinal pigment epithelial cells. It may be considered dubious that the RPE cells can produce collagenous fiber, but such fact is feasible when it is considered that the RPE cell originates from the neuroepithelial tissue. Collagenous fiber in the vitreous body are also considered to be produced by nonpigmented ciliary epithelium which originates in same tissue. It clarified in our observations that the pigment epitheli al cells of the retina show the active pathologic reactions

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For active chemo-immunotherapy against leukemia, leukemic cells are harvested and stored to be used as immunogen. If, therefore, chemotherapy induces marked antigenic changes in the leukemic cells, an adequate effectiveness of the succeeding immunotherapy cannot, theoretically at least, be expected. From this point of view, the author designed a series of studies on the antigenic changes occurring in tumor cells in concomitance with their acquisition of resistance against anti-tumor drugs. The experimental materials consisted of Donryu rats and Yoshida sarcoma (YS) cells, which are allogeneic to this species. YS strains made resistant t o cyclophosphamide (CPM) (Endoxan) or to nitrogen mustard-N-oxide hydrochloride (NMO) (Nitromin) were examined as to their antigenicity in comparison with the original sensitive strain.
1) Comparison between the antigen icities of the CPM-resistant YS (E-YS) cells and the original YS (S-YS) cells: Rats bearing the E-YS cells survived slightly longer than those bearing the S-YS cells after intraperitoneal implantation of the tumor cells. Following subcutaneous implantation, the growth of the E-YS tumor was slower than that of S-YS tumor, showing a tendency to regress 10 days after implantation, but this regression could scarcely be observed when the hosts had been treated with corticosteroid (βmethasone). The generation time of E-YS cells was found to be shorter than that of S-YS cells. “Weak immunization” studies (subcutaneous implantation of 10² cells) revealed that transplantation immunity was more quickly established with the E-YS cells than with the S-YS cells. Although attempts to demonstrate the specific cell-mediated immune response by the blast formation test or the cytotoxicity test using spleen cells from the tumor-bearing rats proved unsuccessful, seral examination revealed specific cytotoxic activity in vitro against the target cells. Serial estimation of this activity revealed that the titers of the anti-EYS sera rose earlier and reached much higher levels than those of the anti-S-YS ones. This finding was coincident with the growth rates of the subcutaneous tumors produced by cell implantation at the “weak-immunization” rate. On the other hand, no significant difference could be observed between the immunosensitivities of the E-YS cells and the S-YS cells against the cytotoxic sera. These findings seem to suggest that the CPM-resistant YS cells acquired an altered and a strOnger antigenicity compared with the original sensitive cells. Concerning the mechanism of this antigenic alteration, some genetic change in the cells appears to be the most probable, since chromosomal deviation was more frequently detected among the E-YS cells than among the S-YS cells.
2) Comparison between the antigenicities of the NMO-resistant YS (N-YS) and the original YS (S-YS): The N-YS cells were obtained by treating the S-YS with NMO through four generations in vivo. The growths of the subcutaneously implanted N-YS cells were slower than those of the S-YS cells and they tended to regress similarly to the E-YS cells. The cytotoxic activity of the immune sera was more efficiently absorbed by the cells of the same strain as that used for immunization than by those of the other strain, and the titers of the cytotoxic activity of the sera immunized with the N-YS strain rose more quickly than did those immunized with the S-YS strain. These findings suggest, as did the E-YS findings, that the antigenicity of the YS cells are partially altered and intensified, so far as their humoral immunity is concerned, when they become resistant to NMO. Changes in the cytotoxic titers of the sera correlated to considerable extent with the growth curves of the subcutaneously implanted tumors. Cells of both strains, N-YS and S-YS, show ed similar immunosensitivity against the cytotoxic sera. The resu lts of further investigations suggested that

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Mice were made to inhale carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) vapor 5 to 103 times (at a rate of three times a week); the liver was collected from the mice after completion of inhalation, and prepared chiefly into Epon sections without electron staining; and these sections were examined under the electron microscope for the yellow-brown pigment made up of ceroid and hemosiderin that appeared in the Kupffer cells. It was found that osmiophilic bodies occurring in the phagolysosomes in the Kupffer cells increased in number as well as in size, and were fused with each other as the experimental period was prolonged, the giant phagolysosomes being filled with ceroid granules made up of clusters of osmiophilic multivacuolar structures and osmiophilic fingerprint-like structures at the end of the experiment over a longer period.
The ferritin-like particles appeared scatte red or as clusters or in the shape of siderosomes in the cytoplasmic matrix. The clusters were also seen protruding out of the limiting membrane of phagolysosomes in such a way as if budding, and thus being pushed out of the phagolysosomes. Subsequently the ferritin-like particles or hemosiderin granules mentioned above were identified by their disappearance following the dithionite desiderization method (the tissue piece method) applicable to the ultrastructural level.
On the other hand, the participation of erythrocytes in ceroid formation could be confirmed by the fact that erythrocytes engulfed by Kupffer cells are frequently found in the giant phagolysosomes where ferritin-like particles or hemosiderin granules are coexistent with ceroid granules. These findings are thought to support the view of Maeda et al. that erythrocgtes may becoine common origin of ceroid and hemosiderin.
In the carbon tetrachloride inhalation experiment ov er a long period, the Kupffer cell came to include numerous large phagolysosomes filled with ceroid granules, while ferritinlike particles or hemosiderin granules were hardly found except in the rim of phagolysosomes in the same cell. This finding suggests that with the process of the CCl₄ inhalation experiment, ceroid granules greatly accumulate in the cytoplasm, while hemosiderin granules in the cytoplasm decrease gradually through lysosornal discharge (“reverse pinocytosis”) into the cytoplasmic matrix in the shape of ferritin particles.

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In order to investigate the role of the renin-angiotensin system on the regulation of aldosterone in essential hypertension, plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), plasma cortisol concentration (PC) and circulating blood volume (CBV) were measured before and after the renin provocation test in 103 patients with essential hypertension and in 28 normal subjects. The subjects had discontinued taking their antihypertensive drugs at least one week prior to the study. In the morning, urine was voided and blood samples were obtained on a fasting condition in the supine position after bed rest for one hour. Then, the subjects took 80 mg of furosemide orally and the second blood sample was obtained after 3 hrs ambulation. Circulating blood volume was estimated in 6 normal subjects and 60 hype rtensives by the RISA method.
The results were a s follows: 1) PRA levels decreased with age both in normal controls and hypertensives, while PAC did not decrease with age in either group. It is suggested that PAC is inappropriately high as compared with PRA level in the aged subjects.2) In the low renin group, PRA showed little rise after the provocation, but PAC elevated at the same degree as in normal subjects. In other words, a dissociation between PRA and PAC was found in the low renin group.3) Although there was no significant difference in PC between normal subjects and hypertensives, high PC values were revealed in some cases of the high renin group. It seems that ACTH may play a role in the regulation of aldosterone secretion in these patients.4) As to hematocrit, no significant difference was noted between normal subjects and hypertensives. The hematocrit in the low renin group was significantly lower than in normal subjects both before and after the provocation.5) Urine volume and sodium excretion after furosemide were lesser in hypertensives than in normal subjects. Among the renin subgroups, urine volume and sodium excretion were highest in the low renin group, in the normal renin group next, and in the high renin group the lowest.6) There was no statistically significant difference in CBV between normal subjects and hypertensives. But CBV was greatest in the low renin group and least in the high renin group. This fact suggests the relative increase in CBV in the low renin group.

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小腸に発生する腫瘍は比較的まれであり,しかも臨床上診断の盲点にあたる部位である.従って,臨床診断はかなり困難で,術前に正確に診断される例は少いとされる.我々は上部消化管造影検査上の奇妙な異常陰影発見を契機として精査した結果,小腸平滑筋肉腫であることが判明し,その組織学的所見は,類上皮様平滑筋肉腫(Epitheloid leiomyosarcoma)であった症例を経験した.ここに若干の文献的考察を加えて報告する.

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A 62 years-old female was admitted with complaints of general fatigue, loss of appetite and pallor of the face for 3 months duration. She had been pointed out as having proteinuria three years before by the life insurance survey.
Clinical studies and laboratory findings on admis sion as described briefly bellow was compatible with multiple myeloma of IgA (κ) type. Peripheral blood analysis revealed hypochronic microcytic anemia with RBC 241 X 10⁴/mm³, Hb 6.5 g/dl and Hct 21% and 7300/mm³ of WBC with left shift. Profound increase in blood sedimentation rate (lhr,144mm,2 hr,163mm), i9-hyperglobulinemia (Totalprotein 7.1g/di, Alb.59.8%, a1Gl.3.2%,α2G1.8.4%,βGl.24.6%,γG1.3,8%) and positive Bence Jones' protein in urine were noted. Determination of serum immunoglobulin disclosed marked increase in IgAglobulin, IgA being 3100mg/d1, IgG 400mg/d1 and IgM 10.5mg/b1. The skull X-ray revealed disseminated punched-out lesions.
6-mercaptopurine (6MP) in combin ation with paramethasone was employed for the treatment. Oral administrations of 0.15gr of 6MP and 24mg of paramethasone for 10 days, and 0.075gr and 12mg for 4 weeks, respectively, produced a striking clinical improvement. The subjective symptoms were not complained any more, with improvement in peripheral blood and serum protein profiles including M component, and with negative Bence Jones protein. With a maintenance daily dosage of 0.04gr of 6MP and 4mg of paramethasone, the patient was thereafter doing well.
According to the recent literatures, cyclophospha mide and melphalan are most widely and frequently employed for the treatment of mltiiple myeloma. However, the both drugs have a potential depressant effect on bone marrow function, and melphalan is not commercially available in Japan. There are no recent reports concerning 6MP for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
As shown in the case presented above,6MP could be used with success. We would feel that 6MP should be remembered as a choice of drugs for multiple myeloma since it is easily available and has a relatively low incidence of the side effect.

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心電図は他の循環器系検査にくらべ操作が簡単で,一般臨床における親近感もつよく,またその解読で得られる情報の利用価値は高い.ことに危険な虚血性心疾患や不整脈の診断治療には欠くことのできないものであり,日常検査法のひとつとして手術適応の決定や手術後経過の管理にも用いられている.もちろん,心電図所見のみでは臨床状態の把握は不可能であり,他の系統的な検査結果とあわせて判断しなければならない.
一方,実施臨床上,手術前後に危険な不整脈に遭遇した際には,その成因の解明とともに適切な処置が必要とされる,しかし,一般病院における手術後管理の大部分は一部の心電図専門家の取り扱いから離れることも多く,外科領域でも不整脈に対する原因対策および応急処置の必要な状態も生じてくる.開胸手術ばかりでなく,開腹手衛においても不整脈の発生することはよく知られており,種々の集計的報告も少なくない.しかしながら個々の症例をとうし,その臨床経過および発生過程をかえりみることもあながち無意味とは思われない.最近,われわれは泌尿器科手術後に著明な不整脈の発生した3例を経験したので報告するとともに,若干の文献的考察を加える.

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The influence of radiation on the hemolysis of the extracted rabbit blood induced by cooling and the effects of glucose, sucrose, and galactose on the influence were examined.
1) The degree of the hemolysis of the blood, which was stored in the cold r oom kept at a temperature of 7 °C, increased in proportion to the increase of the days during which the blood was stored, and the hemolysis was evident after 14 days.
2) When the extracted blood had been irradiated by the cobalt radia tion at intensities more than 2,000 R, the hemolysis of the blood stored in the cold room was considerably accelerated.
3) The cooling- and radiation-induced hemolysis was reduced by the addition of an isotonic glucose, sucrose, or galactose solution at concentrations higher than 12.5 volume percent of the irradiated blood.
4) From the results, it was assumed that the membrane of rabbit erythrocyte might be influenced by the radiation at such low intensity as 2,000 R, and that the addition of isotonic glucose solution could protect the blood from the hemolysis induced by cooling and radiation.

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