In the intrahepatic lymphocyte fraction (IHL) of mice whose livers have been perfused by Ca⁺⁺ and Mg⁺⁺ free Hank's balance salt solution, flow cytometric analysis reveals various cells similar to those found in the spleen (CD3⁺ cell, CD4⁺ cell, CD8⁺ cell, αβTCR⁺ cell, γδTCR⁺ cell, Thy1.2⁺ cell, B220+ cell and asialo-Gm1⁺ cell). The cytotoxic activity against YAC-1 cells in IHL is significantly higher than that in spleen cells. Furthermore, IHL has cytolytic activity against syngeneic thymoma BW5147 cells which is not found in spleen cells. Both cytotoxic activities of IHL are greatly weakened by the pretreatment of IHL with anti asialo-Gml Ab and rabbit complement. During liver regeneration after a partial hepatectomy, the parcentages of lymphocyte subsets of IHL such as αβTCR+ cells, γδTCR+ cells and asialo-Gm1⁺ cells transiently increase 2 days after the partial hepatectomy and their cytotoxic activities against YAC-1 and BW5147 cells also reach a peak at that time. It is well known that the peak of mitotic index in regenerating parenchymal liver cells peaks 2 days after a partial hepatectomy and that the number of Pit cells peaks 10 to 14 days after. Compared with the time for reaching the highest mitotic index in regenerating parenchymal liver cells, the proliferation of Pit cells comes very late. It has not been clear which proliferation process in parenchymal liver cells is suppressed by activated Pit cells. Our findings in this paper reveal that the percentages and the cytotoxic activities of asialo-Gm1⁺ cells in IHL reach their peak 2 days after an operation. This strongly suggest that Pit cells suppress the proliferation of parenchymal liver cells at the primary stage of liver regeneration.

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Using the primary culture of liver cells, we showed that interferon produced by nonparenchymal liver cells inhibits the proliferation of cultured parenchymal liver cells. DNA synthesis of parenchymal liver cells was suppressed not only by their coculture with nonparenchymal liver cells but also by the addition of the culture supernatant of nonparenchymal liver cells. The suppressive activity of the supernatant correlated closely with the interferon (α+β) level in the supernatant and was reduced by anti interferon (α+β) serum. Furthermore, purified interferon (α+β) also suppressed parenchymal liver cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and the suppression was released by anti interferon (α+β) serum.
The interferon level of the supernatant necessary for suppressing parenchymal liver cell proliferation, however, was extraordinarily low compared with purified interferon. The possibility exists that IFN in the culture supernatant of nonparenchymal liver cells works synergistically with other factors in the supernatant to suppress the cell proliferation.

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We examined the distribution and population density of human mast cells in thyroid glands. The results were compared with those of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats because the thyroid function of SD rats is known to be under the control of bioactive amines discharged from mast cells. Normal thyroid tissues were obtained either from autopsy or from a normal portion of the tissue distant from nodular lesions.
Thyroid tissues were surgicaly removed from cases of Graves' disease and other tumorous lesions such as follicular adenoma, follicular carcinoma, papillary carcinoma and medullary carcinoma. The tissues were fixed with buffered formaldehyde or Carnoy fluid and embedded in paraffin. Mast cells were stained with toluidine blue and naphthol ASD chloroacetate esterase (esterase). Immunoperoxidase reactions to anti-human tryptase and chymase monoclonal antibodies were then observed. The mast cells were also observed by electron microscopy. The histamine content of the thyroid tissues was estimated by the high-performance liquid chromatography method. The mast cells in SD rat thyroid glands were scattered in perifollicular connective tissues which were comprised of capillaries, fibroblasts, nerve fibers and occasional fine deposits of collagen fibrils. Their cytoplasmic granules appeared to be distinct, electron dense and amorphous. In contrast, the mast cells in normal human thyroid glands were scattered exclusively over relatively thick interstitial spaces like the interlobular and subcapsular connective tissues. These mesenchymal tissues were composed of bundles of collagen fibrils, fibroblasts, histiocytes and thin cytoplasmic processes of unknown origin.
In pathologic thyroid tissues, the mast cells were distributed in a similar pattern over the connective tissues. No mast cells were present in the interfollicular connective tissues, the sites of mast cell distribution in rats. Thus, human thyroid follicular epithelial cells could not be easily accessed by their chemical mediators.
The ultrastructural features of the mast cell granules in normal and pathologic thyroid glands were similarly characterized by electron-dense scrolls. These mast cells were distinctly stained with toluidine blue and esterase, and showed positive reactions to tryptase and chymase. A few others showed little reaction to chymase but were positive to tryptase. In these mast cells, particulate substructures dominated in the granules and they often underwent filamentous alterations. The morphologic heterogeneity of thyroid mast cells suggests that their functional state reflects a microenvironmental condition. Histamine content varied greatly, and did not show significant values at any lesions in comparison with normal thyroid glands.
In conclusion, human thyroid mast cells might not play any obvious role in the process of hormone secretion. But they are rather involved in the maintainance of the constituents of interstitial connective tissues, which we suggest is the case in many other organs as well.

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The effects of cervical intermittent traction on neck and shoulder pain were evaluated in 96 patients. Namely, a 15-second traction of the neck was repeated with a 5-second interval between tractions.
In 39 patients, blood flowmetry and electromyography were performed in the cervical paraspinal muscles before and after the traction treatment.
The pain was relieved in 76 out of 96 cases (79.2%).
The blood flow in the affected muscles was significantly decreased as compared with the controls. However, it showed a significant increase following the treatment in patients whose pain was relieved. The mean frequency of the initial myoelectric signals as observed with the surface electrode on the affected muscles was significantly lower than the controls. It increased however following the traction treatment in the case in which the pain was relieved.
In conclusion, it may be stated that the cervical intermittent traction is effective in relieving pain, increasing the frequency of myoelectric signals and improving blood flow in affected muscles.

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Neuroblastic tumor cases in our departments were evaluated in terms of the stage of the tumor, N-myc amplification, urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA)/homovanillic acid (HVA) and survival rate.
Two asymptomatic cases, diagnosed when under a year old by mass screening, had no amplifications of N-myc but showed more than one value of urinary VMA/HVA ratio. The patients are now doing well eight years after complete excision of the neuroblastoma which had originated in the sympathetic ganglion. On the other hand, two other symptomatic cases, operated on at the ages of 3 and 5 years, showed remarkable amplifications with less than one value of urinary VMA/HVA, and died from the tumor soon after partial resection of the neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroblastoma which had originated in the adrenal gland and the sympathetic ganglion, respectively.
The present monograph reports our cases and discusses prognostic factors.

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