[in Japanese]

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This work was done to clarify the maximum viral incubation period and the onset of response to immunization in children inoculated with live, attenuated mumps virus, “Hoshino”strain vaccine. The subjects, 89 children (2-13years old), who were negative in circulating interferon (IF) and mumps neutralizing (NT) antibodies prior to vaccination were recruited in this study, They were inoculated subcutaneously with 0.5 ml (5×10⁴ TCID₅₀) of the vaccine. Blood sampling after vaccination was performed once per child at the following times : day after inoculation, 4th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th days and 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th weeks. As a result, (1) Acid-stable IF was detected after the 7th day and then through the 16th day after inoculation. On the other hand, mumps NT-antibody was not detected until the 14th day, and its seroconversion rate was as low as 9%. These results suggest that the maximum viral incubation period in most vaccines may be around the period of between the 6th day to the 13th day after inoculation, and the immunizing effect of this vaccine can be expected to start after about 14 days of inoculation. (2) Temporal NT-antibody production, hemagglutina-tion-inhibition (HI) antibody and complement-fixing (CF) antibody to S-antigens were studied. Both antibodies, NT and CF- (S) became detectable in the 2nd week, but HI antibody was not so until the 3rd week. However, in the 5th week, all three kinds of antibodies rea-ched maximum seroconversion rates together. The rates were as follows : CF- (S) antibody, 100%; NT antibody, 90%; HI antibody, 80%. (3) In the cases detected, 10 units of IF before vaccination, the patterns of development of each kind of antibody following vaccination was similar to that of IF-negative cases. However, in the case of 20 units, the antibody development was inhibited.

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In order to clarify the relationship between animal posture and muscle function, the myofibrous organization of M. sternomastoideus of 17 rats (9 males and 8 females) were examined, noting the number and the thickness of muscle fibers, which were classified into 3 types by Sudan Black B staining method. The results obtained were compared with previously reported pertinent data from rats and man. The M, sternomastoideus of rats were noted as to their range in the cross-sectional area of muscle belly (19.7 mm²), in terms of number of muscle fibers per sq. mm. (221), in terms of the total number of muscle fibers (4180), thickness of white mu-scle fibers (3861.9 μ²), intermediate fiber (2221.6 μ²) and red muscle fiber (1195.1 μ²) . In addition, we studied the distribution ratio of the three types of muscle fiber: 52.6 % for white, 22.0 % for intermediate and 26.0 % for red muscle fiber. Data on sex difference is as follows: the crosssectional area of the muscle belly and the thickness of muscle fibers were greater in males and the number of muslce fibers per sq. mm was greater in females than in males. As to the relationship between muscle fiber thickness to rat body weight, a positive correlation was found to exist in this respect. Compared to the others, the size of muscle belly and the total number of muscle fibers were less than the lower extremity muscles, although, resembling M. rectus abdominis. The developments in the thickness of muscle fiber and the distribution ratio of the white fibers in M. sternomastoideus tended to be the same as that of M. tibialis anterior and greater than that of M. rectus abdominis. These tendencies were in contrast to those in man. It is considered that these characteristics of myofibrous organization of M, sternomastoideus in rats are a function of their prone body posture.

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The ability of the gamma camera to detect lesions was studied using a phantom consisting of a spherical hot lesion against uniform background activity. Phantom images taken with three different collimator-source distances and with six different count densities were studied by three different observers to determine how precisely photon-sufficient lesions could be seen. From their findings, the average level of accuracy on visual evaluation was calculated and this value was used as a measure of the gamma camera's ability to detect lesions. The level of confidence was found to correlate with the image contrast defined by the maximum signal to background. Using this relationship, a determination of delay times in bone scintigraphy was attempted.

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Semi-alkaline-Protenase, Seaprose (SAP), produced by Aspergillus mellus, was investigated using human alcohol EEG and neuronal activity of various regions of rat brain was studied. SAP, administered at doses of 30 mg×3/3 days, p. o., markedly blocked alcohol-slow-wave in most test subjects. SAP administration produced no significant effect on blood pressure, body temperature, cardiac function or various biochemical tests. Among 169 neurons tested, 79 % responded to SAP microinjection (1-10 μg/0.1-1, μl) into various regions of brain; 69.8 % increased in activity and 30.2 % decreased. Among 298 neurons tested, 64.4 % responded to direct microelectro-osmotic application of SAP to various regions of the brain; 46.3% increased in activity (discharge frequency) ; whereas, only 3.7 % decreased. Most cerebral neurons and some hypothalamic neurons responded to electro-osmotic SAP application. It is concluded, SAP potently facilitates neuronal activity in various brain regions, including the cerebral cortex and hypothalamus. SAP might, therefore, be expected to have clinical application in the relief of edema in most organic tissues.

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Elderly patients usually show renal hypofunction and a decrease in body fluid due to ageing and are liable to suffer renal hypofunction after operation because of marked effect on the renal function during and after surgery. For the purpose of studying changes in the renal function associated with major surgical procedures in elderly patients, we determined creatinine clearance, free-water clearance, creatinine and blood urea N on a time course basis before and after operation in 51 patients who underwent laparotomy. The cases were divided into three groups, namely, the non-transfusion group aged under 65 years (group A : 21 cases), as was the control group, the non-transfusion group aged over 65 years (group B : 15 cases) and the transfusion group over 65 years (group C : 15 cases), and a comparative study was made of these groups. The preoperative level of creatinine clearance tended to be low in groups B and C compared with group A, with 74.1±36.5 ml/min in group A, 54.6±15.5 ml/min in group B and 57.6±18.1 ml/min in group C. A look at changes after operation showed that the level fell off after operation and rose gradually with the lapse of time thereafter in all of the three groups. Whereas group A and group C followed a relatively similar course with the preoperative level restored within 12 hours after operation, the recovery was delayed considerably in group B. A significant difference was noted between group B and group C from three hours to 12 hours after operation (p<0.05) . The absolute value for preoperative level of free-water clearance tended to be low in group B and group C compared with group A, with 0.81±0.49 ml/min in group A, 0.52±0.31 ml/min in group B and 0.57±0.35 ml/min in group C. A look at changes after operation showed that the value closed to zero and fell off gradually thereafter in all of the three groups. In group A, the absolute value closed to zero after operation, fell off to 0.28±0.13 (34/0 of the preoperative level) one hour after operation, but recovered markedly to 0.67±0.42 ml/min three hours after operation and returned to the preoperative level 12 hours after operation. In group B, on the other hand, the absolute value closed to zero after operation, fell off to 0.09±0.07 ml/min (17% of the preoperative level) one hour after operation and showed tendency to slight recovery with 0.16±0.07 ml/min three hours after operation, but recovery to the preoperative level was delayed considerably. In group C, the recovery was better than in group B, and the preoperative level was restored 12 hours after operation. There was a significant difference between group B and group C from three hours to 12 hours after operation (p<0.05) . Whereas creatinine clearance and free-water clearance showed a marked change associated with surgical procedures, creatinine and blood urea N exhibited no marked change. From the above, it was understood (1) that the effect of surgical procedures on the function of the glomerulus and the renal tubules is great, (2) that preoperative transfusion is particularly effective for maintaining the postoperative renal function and (3) that determining preoper-ative and postoperative creatinine clearance and free-water clearance on a time course basis makes it possible to grasp changes in the postoperative renal function early for sure. These results appear to have very important implications for prediction and prevention of postoperative acute renal insufficiency in elderly patients.

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Gastric cancer in the young was said to be quick in advance and poor in prognosis, and there have been many reports on its clinicopathological characteristics. However, opinions of researchers are more or less varied and no unified view has been yet presented. We studied the clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer in the young in comparison with gastric cancer in the old. Of 1335 in primary cases of gastric cancer which we had treated in the past 20 years (1961-1980), 50 cases of gastric cancer in the young aged under 29 years (3.7%) and 224 cases of gastric cancer in the old aged over 70 years (16.8%) were selected as the subject of the study. Results obtained are as follows: The male to female ratio was 1 : 1.5 in gastric cancer in the young and 2.6 : 1 in gastric cancer in the old ; more women were found in gastric cancer in the young, 4 cases aged under 19 years all being women. Eight (26.7%) out 30 female cases of gastric cancer in the young were related to pregnancy. Regarding the hereditary background, there was no difference between gastric cancer in the young and that in the old. As clinical features of gastric cancer in the young, both primary symptoms and chief complaints were acute in many cases and the incidence of epigastric pain was the highest. The duration of illness (average 11.8 months) tended to be longer than that in the old. As to the duration of illness of not more than 3 months, there was a difference between the young with 30 percent and the old with 48.7 percent (p<0.02) . A delay in receiving the medical consultation and treatment was seen in gastric cancer in the young. The resectability and the curative rescctability were 72.3 percent and 44.7 percent respectively, there being no difference between gastric cancer in the young and that in the old. As the pathological characteristics of the resected gastric specimen in gastric cancer in the young, superficial cancer was of depressed type in all cases ; in advanced cancer, Borrmann type III was the most at 55.2 percent, type III-IV accounting for 72.4 percent of the total ; as to the location of cancerous lesion, M was the most at 52.9 percent accounting to gross findings. According to the histologic findings, the incidence of poorly differentiated type (76.5%) by histologic type, scirrhous type (35.3%) by degree of stromal reaction, y (70.6%) by infiltrative growth (INF), ps (+) (70.6%) by depth of invasion and III-IV (79.4%) by stage was high compared with gastric cancer in the old, the difference being significant as to degree of stromal reaction, INF and depth of invasion. Against the background of these histopathological characteristics, a difference in site of histogenesis of cancer between gastric cancer in the young and that in the old was suggested. While there was no difference in lymphatic involvement [n (+) ] n₃ and n₄ were somewhat many in the young and no difference was observed between the young and the old as to vascular invasion. Gastric cancer in the young was liable to develop disseminated metastasis to the peritoneum. P₁ and over at laparotomy was found in 19 (40.4%) out of 47 cases, and cases of P_{1, 2} accounted for 89.5 percent. This is probably because of there being many cases of poorly differentiated type, INF r and ps (+) in gastric cancer in the young. When the prognosis was examined by the relative survival rate, relatively good results were obtained with the 5-year survival rate being 48.9±19.6 percent in all the resected cases and 75.8± 22.2 percent in the curatively resected cases, there being no significant difference from gas-tric cancer in the old. While cases high in the degree of malignancy and advance were many in gastric cancer in the young histopathologically, results obtainned indicated that long-term survival would be possible particularly in curatively resected cases.

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A questionaire was answered by post-gastrectomy patients, and 150m1 of 50% glucose solution was given to 42 of these patients with suspected dumping syndrome. As a result, in 20 patients, early dumping syndrome was induced. To clarify the involvement of changes in circulatory dynamics, biochemical changes and changes in the circulatory system in dumping syndrome, blood serotonin, blood catecholamines, serum potassium, acid-base balance, changes in ECG and ventricular work load were all studied and following results were obtaine. 1) Significant increases in blood serotonin and blood catecholamines were observed, and a parallel relationship was suggested between serotonin and catecholamines. 2) Serum potassium was decreased by dumping syndrome. This was considered to have been induced by increase in blood insulin as a result of a temporary increase in blcod sugar level. 3) As an acid-base balance in PaO₂ and an increase in PaCO₂ were observed, a decrease in espiratory function was suggested. 4) From an overall standpoint, the pathological condition of dumping syndrome closely resembles that of reversible shock. That is it is considered that various symptoms of circulatoty system disorders appear because a decrease in cardiac output and increase in ventricular work load are present, and peripheral circulatory insufficiency is induced. 5) It is believed that peripheral circulatory insufficiency, observed after glucose loading, activates catecholamines and also acclerates peripheral circulatory insufficiency and an increase in ventricular work load. According to these considerations, the presence of catecholamines like serotonin, is an indispensable factor in the onset of dumping syndrome.

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In this paper, we report results of investigations on the usefulness of a simple and rapid modified fluorimetric method for simultaneous assay of norepinephrine (N), epinephrine (E) and dopamine (D) levels in urine samples from 57 healthy adults and from brain samples of 28 stressed rats. The principle of this method is based on separation by boric acid gel. chromatography and a subsequent modified tri-hydroyindole reaction with iodine in solution with different pH. 1) With regard to recovery, the intra- and inter-assay variations of this method were found to be sufficient for routine use. 2) The minimum limits of detec-tion (sensitivity) were 3 ng (N, E) and 19 ng (DA) . 3) The correlation coefficient (r) between the values by this method and those by the chromatography method were 0.913 for N, 0.880 for E and 0.915 for DA. 4) The total assay time was 3 hrs, and considered rapid. 5) The values of samples taken from healthy humans by this method were consistent with those obtained by a method previously employed. 6) In rat brain, N and DA values were higher in SHR (16 W) than those in WR (16 W) ; however, with this method, it was impassible to detect E in rat brain. Immobilization cage stress produced an increase in brain N in SHR, but not in WR. 7) Finally, results confirmed the rapidity and efficacy of this modified method and, thus, it appropriateness for routine use.

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Using various monoamines as substrates, the present study revealed the existence of two different amine oxidases, both monoamine oxidase (MAO) and another amine oxidase, termed clorgyline-resistant amine oxidase (CRAG) or benzylamine oxidase, which is different in inhibitor sensitivity from MAO in frog heart. The proportional contribution of CRAO towards total oxidations of benzylamine, tyramine and β-phenylethylamine in frog heart was found to be extremely greater than that of MAO, but that towards serotonin, in contrast, was lower under the conditions used. This difference in proportion might be due to different CRAO Km values as compared to those for MAO for these substrates. This CRAO highly oxidized tyramine, β-phenylethylamine and benzylamine in decreasing order, but it also oxidized serotonin to a relatively higher extent that by oxidations usually found for mammalian heart tissues. This substrate specificity of frog heart CRAO seems to be different from that in mammals and may indicate the presence of an enzyme with properties differing from those of various mammalian sources. The results obtained with frog heart are discussed with respect to data obtained for MAO and CRAO in animal hearts and other tissues from various species.

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A minor component in rat liver microsomes which reacted with anti-catalase antibodies was investigated. The molecule possessed no enzyme activity and was rapidly labelled by an injected radioactive amino acid. Effective separation of this entity from mature catalase tetramer was substantially achieved by treatment with microsome extracts (pH 6.0) (with sodium deoxycholate) and by desalination with ammonium sulfate at 30 % (w/v) . The possi-bility of this minor component being a monomeric catalase subunit existing as a precursor to the mature enzyme has been suggested.

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Minor components in rat liver cytosol reacting with anti-catalase antibody were investigated. They were soluble in 30 g w/v ammonium sulfate solution, being separated from the mature molecule of catalase (tetramer) ⁵ and labelled rapidly by an injected radioactive amino acid. Analysis by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the immunoprecipitate of these components yielded, besides a catalase monomer, several bands of smaller size which have not yet been described.

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The inner circumference of the brain arteries from 54 human adults (32males; 22 females) were measured and the individual characteristics were examined. The following results were obtained: 1) As to the mean values of inner circumference of brain arteries, A. carotis interna were larger than A. vertebralis, and A. cerebri media was the largest among 3 arteries. No size differences, however, were noted between A. communicans anterior and A. communicans posterior. 2) As to the size of arteries examined, they were generally larger in males than in females, and this tendency was marked in A. basilaris and A. vertebralis. 3) The tendency towards increased size of arteries in an age-dependent manner was seen significantly in A. carotis interna, A. cerebri media and A. cerebri posterior. 4) In size comparison of arteries in both the left and right sides, A. carotis interna, A. communicans posterior and A. cerebri media were slightly larger in the right side and A. vertebralis was larger in the left side than in the right. 5) As to the relationship of the size of each artery examined, A. carotis interna was positively correlated with A. cerebri media and negatively with A. vertebralis. In addition, A. cerebri anterior was larger in males, but contrastingly, A. cerebri posterior was larger in females than in the other arteries examined.

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Nicardipine, Ca⁺⁺antagonist, which has a dilatatory effect on cerebral vessels, caused flattened or inverted T waves on the ECG's of bedridden elderly patients. Nicardipine decreased systolic blood pressure and increased heart rate. These effects may be related to T wave changes in bedridden elderly patients. Therefore, when dosing each patient with this drug, clinicians should be careful to always monitor and follow up on blood pressure, heart rate and ECG changes.

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A 76-year-old male with a 7-year history of respiratoty insufficiency died due to carcinoma of the stomach. Borrmann 2-type gastric carcinoma (5×4 cm) in the greater curvature of the gastric body and a necrotic, cystic tumor (20×16×18 cm) had grown exophysically from the gastric wall, as revealed by autopsy examination. Histological findings showed papillary adenocarcinoma involving s. s. and direct extension of the abovementioned tumor. We reported the case as gastric carcinoma, with a rare, massive gastric tumor.

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Two autopsy cases of partial rupture of the left posterior papillary muscle caused by myocardial infarction are reported here. One case was a 68-year-old woman with mitral insufficiency. On admission, a Grade 3 apical pansystolic murmur was heard but there was no thrill. Electrocardiograms revealed an acute inferior myocardial infarction, and she died of acute heart failure caused by a repeat attack on the 8th day of hospitalization. The heart weighed 490 grams at autopsy, and the right coronary artery was completely obstructed by a thrombus. The circumflex of the left coronary was severely arteriosclerotic. The transmural infarction involved the posterolateral wall of the left ventricle, spreading to the septum and posterior walls of the right ventricle. Rupture of the posterior papillary muscle occurred simultaneously with the repeat attack. The other case herein reported is that of a 61-year-old male with diabetes mellitus, angina pectoris and hypertension. Electrocardiograms revealed an acute inferior myocardial infarction. A Grade 3 apical pansystolic murmur was suddenly heard on the 12th day of hospitalization, but there was no thrill. He died of heart failure on the 21st after admission. The heart weighed 490 grams at autopsy and the right coronary artery was completely obstructed by a thrombus. The left oronary arteries were moderately arteriosclerotic. Transmural infarction involved the posterior wall and septum of the left ventricle and an old antero-septal infarction was found. Torsion and twisting ofchordae tendineaein the rupture of the left papillary muscle was found. Neither of these cases had their coronary conditions diagnosed in their lifetimes.

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