It is generally recongnized the necessity of aquiring adequate scio-psychological informations relevant to the long termed inpatients for the health professional personnels, however, a considerable difficulty has been encountered to accumulate these informations from practical point of view.
Based on this fact, the authors have attempted to analyze the group dynamics in the long termed inpatients in the hospital who are staying in the same room by the scio-psychological analytical method.
The authors detected the group cohesiveness in a single hospital room. Moreover, the interaction of the sociogram and individuals might offer better informative capacity rather than the conventional medical records. The module of this study seemed to be of noteworthy and might be versatile in applying for various fields of clinical medicine.

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Lactoferrin (LF), an iron binding glycoprotein in human milk, is considered important for the nutrition of breast-fed infants. This is because it has been suggested that LF can bind iron in vivo and in vitro, thereby preventing the growth of iron-requiring microorganisms in the intes-tine, and it is possibily a transport carrier for intestinal iron absorption.
In order to investigate further the physiological roles of LF, this protein was isolated from human milk and then biochemical characters and the fluctuation of the protein at different stages of lactation were observed.
The crude LF fraction was obtained from the whey of human milk by ammonium sulfate precipitation. Then, it was treated consecutively with CM-Sephadex C-50 ion exchange chromatography, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration, Cu-affinity chromatography and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration to obtain the pure preparation. SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis indicated a single component having a molecular weight of 78, 000 daltons. The results of amino acid analysis for acid hydrolysate of LF were consistent with those in literature and LF from human milk showed pI 8.02 by isoelectric focusing on the slab gel. LF concentration was measured immunologically in human colostrum and milk, from 1 to 457 days after parturition (146 samples). LF concentration in colostrum (1-3 days of puerperium, n=51), transitional milk (4-7 days, n=63) and mature milk (20-457 days, n=32) were 10.5±8.1, 4.1±1.8 and 2.5±2.2 g/l, respectively. LF concentration was significantly reduced (p<0.02) as the days passed after parturition. As regard to lactoferrin/total protein ratio (If/tp), the mature milk (15.6±7.5%) decreased significantly less than the colostrum (20.1±7.4%) or the transitional milk (21.4±6.0%) (both p<0.02). At each stage of lactation, LF concentration showed a significant correlation to total protein concentration (TP) or If/tp (p<0.01 in every case). Furthermore, through all stages of lactation, LF concentration showed significant correlation to TP and if/tp (p<0.001 in each case) and negative correlation with the days after parturition (p<0.05). These results suggested that the mechanism stimulating the synthesis and secretion of LF is independent of those of total proteins.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of voluntary running exercise on iron metabolism and body composition of rats through two batches of experiments. In experiment 1, 92 male and female wistar rats after weanling were fed on normal diet for 10 weeks or 20 weeks. Ten-week rats were divided into two groups and 20-week rats were into four groups depending on the exercise condition, i.e. non-exercise or exercise. In experiment 2, 37 male wistar rats after weanling were fed on three kinds of diets containing different iron levels for 10 weeks. And the rats of each dietary group were further divided into two groups depending on the exercise condition. Voluntary running exercise was performed by rotating wheel.
The results were summarized as follows:
1) In the rats maintained on normal diet, hemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit value (Ht), red blood cell counts (RBC), serum iron concentration (SI), transferrin saturation, free erythrocyte porphyrin concentration (FEP) and liver ferritin content were not affected by the exercises during growing period and/or post-growing period (Experiment 1).
2) In the rats maintained on iron deficient diet, Hb, Ht, RBC, SI, transferrin saturation and liver ferritin content were affected by the dietary iron levels. But they were not affected by the exercise during growing period (Experiment 2).
3) The exercises decreased the rate of body weight gain and increased the weights per body weight of heart and m. soleus whether the rats were maintained on normal or iron deficient diet. This was caused by the decrease of the rate of adipose tissue weight gain (Experiment 1 and 2).
These results suggest that voluntary running exercise may not be a direct factor on the cause of iron deficiency anemia or latent iron deficiency, and that it may be an effective workout to prevent from obesity.

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An attempt was made to estimate noninvasively cardiac index (CI) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using the theory of quantification, a kind of multivariate analysis. Eighty seven patients with AMI in whom hemodynamic measurements had been made were studied. Thirteen parameters (age, sex, height, body weight, systolic, diastolic and mean BP, rales, S3 or S4, pretibial edema, urine protein, leukocyte count, S-LDH) were selected for the estimation of CI. Six parameters (HR, rates, pretibial edema, S-GOT, S-LDH, ESR) were chosen for the estimation of PCWP. The estimated CI was significantly correlated with the data obtained by thermodilution with a correlation coefficient of 0.749 (p<0.01). The estimated PCWP was also significantly correlated with the data obtained by Swan-Ganz catheter with a correlation coefficient of 0.762 (p<0.01). Among 13 parameters, age, sex, rates, pretibial edema and S-LDH contributed greatly to the estimation of CI. Rales and S-GOT influenced largely for the estimation of PCWP.
When the formulae were applied for subsequent 50 patients with AMI (external samples), the correlation coefficient between estimated and measured CI was 0.453 (p<0.01). The correlation coefficient between estimated and measured PCWP was 0.640 (p<0.01). The difference exceeding 11/min/M' between estimated and measured CI was observed in 8 cases and the difference exceeding 10 mmHg between estimated and measured PCWP was observed in 6 cases. Deviations of estimated values from actual measurements appeared to occur under the following situations : complete A-V block, immediately after ventricular fibrillation, exceeding 72 h after the attack.
The results indicate that the formulae are useful clinically to estimate CI and PCWP in patients with AMI.

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The visualization of the fine mucosal structure has been recognized as one of the most important factors in viewpoint of relatively wide utilization of the magnifying endoscopic diagnostic approach. In this study, the pathological features of the gastric mucosa which was excised or resected on the basis of clinical diagnosis cancer or peptic ulcer of the stomach had been investigated in virtue of the dissecting and conventional light microscopy.
The fine gastric mucosal patterns were classified into the following five subtypes.
The type I is formed of intermingled patterns of the foveolar and linear sulci. The type II is made only by the sulciolar pattern. Type III and IV are formed of intermingled patterns of sulciolar and foveolar features. The type V is featured with a reticular (meshlike) pattern.
The histological study of the above-mentioned regions revealed atrophic, atrophic-metaplastic gastritis. As a matter of fact, type II and IV revealed complicated features, and histologically metaplastic gastritic pattern was prominent. The type III and IV are rather rounded in contour, and histologically it is featured with atrophic gastritis which are also intermingled with a meta-plastic gastric change.
Relevant to the causation of these alterations of the fine mucosal network, it is reasonable to assume that the secondary alteration of the stroma as well as the regenerative change of the mucosal epithelium and atrophy of the glandular structure is contributory.

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The Wistar female rats were subjected for intravenous injection of the ⁵⁹Fe which contained carrier iron and isolation of the hepatocytes was performed by the perfusion of the collagenase and trypsin inhibitor at 1, 3, 24 hours into the liver by Nakamura's modified method. The results were as follows: (1) Approximately 80% of the isolated hepatocytes were essentially intact by Trypan Blue staining, however, further detailed observation using the transmission electron microscope revealed partial destruction of the cell membrane. (2) The hepatocytes were dissolved by 4% Triton X-100 and the extract was subjected for gel filtration on Sepharose 6B, using 0.1% phosphate-potassium buffer, containing 1.0% Triton X-100. Then two fractions of iron containing protein were obtained. The first fraction was the one having macromolecular iron containing protein which was eluted succeedingly from the void volume and was increased obviously by the iron administration. The second fraction was the mixture of ferritin and transferrin which was identified by immunological detection. This fraction was also increased after iron administration and was particularly striking 24 hours after iron administration. (3) The ultrastructural change of the hepatocytes after iron administration was then investigated. In comparison with the control group, the ferritin particles were identified in the forms of dispersed type or siderosome formation after 3 hours. Then increased ferritin at above mentioned locations and presence of ferritin adjacent to the endoplasmic reticulum were obtained strikingly after 24 hours after iron administration. (4) The ferritin amount per DNA was increased in time course and rate summing up to 8.7 times comparing to the control group was noted 24 hours after iron administration. Although the concentration of ferritin against DNA content was higher in whole liver than in hepatocytes, the magnification of ferritin increase was evidently higher in hepatocytes, than in whole liver in iron injection rats comparing to the control. (5) The pI pattern of the hepatocyte isoferritin was investigated by the slab gel isoelectrofocusing. The pI pattern of the isoferritin was confirmed in the range from 5.2 to 5.5, however no alteration of the pI pattern was obseved by the iron administration. Furthermore, pI patterns of hepatocyte isoferritin showed a statistically normal distribution in the control rats and the rats at every time points after iron administration. The results may suggest stability in the relative rate of isoferritin production and/or H/L subunit ratio of ferritin in hepatocytes.

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In order to clarify the interrelationship between the monoamine oxidase (MAO) and iron deficiency anemia, the author has performed the following experiments. Sixty Wistar rats, weighing 50g were divided into sixteen groups. Seven groups were fed on an iron deficient diet (ID). The remaining eight groups were fed on normal diet (C). The last one group was sacrified at the onset of the experiment and the following biochemical studies were carried out. (1) MAO-A and MAO-B activity of the liver mitochondria. (2) Concentrations of liver ferritin and DNA. (3) Hb concentration and Ht value. (4) Body weight and liver weight. The studies were performed at the initiation, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 15 weeks. Moreover, the MAO-B was purified from the control group and the molecular weight and iron atoms per molecule were determined. The results obtained were as follows: (1) There was no significant difference in body weight, liver weight, and DNA density concentration during the entire course of the experiment in ID and C groups. (2) The significant lowered concentrations of liver ferritin and Hb, and Ht value were encountered at 2, 4, 7 weeks in ID group (p<0.05) in comparison with C group. (3) The alteration of the MAO activity was similar in ID and C groups. Moreover, MAO-A activity pattern was similar to that of the MAO-B activity pattern as well. The elevation of activity was encountered at 4 week and the lowest value was seen at 6 week and again the reelevation of value was seen at 8 week. (4) To clarify the further detailed interrelationship between MAO activity and iron deficiency, determination of the MAO activity (activity value of iron deficiency/ respective control) has been performed in MAO-A and MAO-B in respective week. The MAO-A activity disclosed concaved pattern, while, the MAO-B activity disclosed convexed pattern. (5) The molecular weight of the MAO-B which was obtained from the gel filtration with Sepharose 6 B was 75, 000 and that from SDS electrophoresis was 72, 000 respectively. The iron content was determined 3 atoms per one molecule. Based on the observations, the MAO activity was influenced by iron deficiency of the rats. Moreover, the activity ratio pattern may be influenced by the inhibitory metabolic factors which compensate the effect of the iron deficiency.

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The spinal rami of the lumbar artery were observed in 80 lumbar ganglion areas corresponding to the first to the fourth lumbar nerves in relation to their origin, divergence, direction and distribution in 10 Japanese cadavers.
The following results were obtained:
1) By observing ramus spinalis in relation to origin and distribution, four branches were identified: i.e.,
(1)the basivertebral artery (78 out of 80, 97.5%), (2)the superior branch (67 out of 80, 83.7%),
(3)the middle branch (8 out of 80, 10.0%) and (4)the inferior branch (50 out of 80. 62.5%).
2) The superior branch most frequently reached the lumbar ganglion, anterior root, posterior root and spinal cord. In 34 cases out of 67, it formed a stem common to the basivertebral artery. Its origin was classified into the following 4 types according to its relationship with the basivertebral artery.
Type I: Both the superior branch and the basivertebral artery originate from the lumbar artery as an independent branch (31.3%).
Type II: The superior branch forms a stem common to the basivertebral artery and both branches diverge almost equally (11.9%).
Type III: The superior branch emerges from the basivertebral artery (50.7%).
Type IV: The basivertebral artery emerges from the superior branch (4.8%).
3) The distribution of the superior branch to the lumbar ganglion was classified into the following two types.
Type I (anterior type): the superior branch existed anteriorly to the lumbar ganglion (41 out of 67, 61.2%).
Type II (posterior type): the superior branch existed posteriorly to the lumbar ganglion (26 out of 67, 38.8%).
4) The superior branch divides into 1-6 small branches (mean: 2 branches) which penetrated into the lumbar ganglion.
5) The middle branch was found in 8 cases out of 80 (10.0%).
6) The inferior branch was originated from the dorsal branch of the lumbar artery and ran directly to the lumbar ganglionic surface (56.0%).
7) Thirty-seven inferior branches (37 out of 50, 74%) were in contact with the proximal side of the ramus dorsalis, which were classified into following four types.
Type I: The branches penetrating into the proximal ramus dorsalis (7 cases, 18.9%).
Type II: The branches running along the ramus dorsalis (18 cases, 48.6%).
Type III: The branches buried within the ramus dorsalis (3 cases, 8.1%).
Type IV: The branches running beneath the ramus dorsalis (9 cases, 24.3%).

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