[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

Age-adjusted death rates for diabetes in 1933-36, 1947-50, 1951-53, 1953-57, 1958-62, 1963-67 and 1970-1975 and standardized mortality rates for diabetes in 1969-78 were used as indices of the incidence level of diabetes by Prefecture. Various food items purchased during 1959, 1969 and 1979 were used as indices for the level of food consumption : rice, fish, soybean paste, edible oils and vinegar, etc. Correlations between mortality and food consumption indices showed typical prewar and postwar mortality patterns, and a special pattern related to regional clusterings of food consumption : Hokuriku, Kinki and Shikoku regions. Correlations between mortality and food consumption indices revealed a high correlation between edible oil consumption and a low incidence of diabetes. Soybean paste consumption also was weakly related to a low mortality index, but vinegar, rice and fish were slightly related to a higher incidence of diabetes. Considering that excess intake of saturated fat is thought to trigger diabetes, edible oil consumption may be negatively related to this due to it unsaturated fatty acid composition.

View full abstract

Some properties of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in carp heart homogenate were studied using the radioisometric method with¹⁴C-tyramine, ¹⁴C-5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and¹⁴C-β-phenylethylamine (PEA) as substrates. The Michaelis-Menten kinetic constants (Km values) of the enzyme for tyramine, 5-HT and PEA were determined from Lineweaver-Burk plots. MAO activities in carp heart homogenate with tyramine, 5-HT and PEA as substrates increased with increase in the enzyme volume up to 30μl at a protein content of 4.3 mg/ml and with increase in the incubation time up to 30 min in linear manner. The optimum pH and temperature in this enzyme reaction were observed at pH 8.0 and 37.0°C with tyramine, 5-HT and PEA as substrates. MAO in carp heart homogenate was stable for 56 days when they were stored at -20°C until use for assay. The thermostabilities of MAO in three subcellular fractions of carp heart were examined with tyramine, 5-HT and PEA as substrates and found to be more thermostable than those of carp liver. Among these fractions, the enzyme in nuclear fraction was the most thermostable. In inhibition studies using clorgyline, deprenyl and semicarbazide as inhibitors, it is clear that carp heart contains a small amount of clorgyline resistant amine oxidase (CRAG) activity.

View full abstract

The myofibrous organization of the gluteal muscle groups (M. gluteus max., M. gluteus med. and M. gluteus min.) was examined. Muscle samples were obtained from 10 adult crab-eating monkeys (6 females and 4 males), and these muscle fibers were differentiated into 3 types : white fibers, red fibers and intermediate fibers by Sudan-Black B staining contrast. The following results were obtained: 1) The muscle weight of the gluteus max. was about one-third that of the gluteus med, and about three times that of the gluteus min. and about one-half compared to lower extremity muscles. Muscles of males were heavier than those of females, but this finding was not related to individual body weights. The same tendency was found in the total number of muscle fibers and their cross-sectional size. 2) The gluteus max, and the gluteus med. had almost the same number of muscle fibers per sq. mm., but fewer than the gluteus min.; the muscle fibers in the gluteal groups were fewer in number as compared to other muscle groups. 3) The ratio of white muscle fibers in gluteus max. was highest (about 60 per cent) among the muscles compared, on the other hand, the average sizes of these fibers were the greatest among the gluteal groups, but smaller than those of biceps femoris. 4) The red fibers in gluteus med. and min. were more than 40 per cent aespectively, and those of the white were about 20 per cent. These two muscle fibers showed a different structure from that of the gluteus max. or other muscles 5) All types of fibers of gluteus max. were the largest, followed by those of the gluteus med., and those of the gluteus min. were smallest among the three gluteal groups. 6) Concerning the sizes of the muscle fibers in the gluteal groups, white had the largest diameter, and showed a wide, low distribution pattern in gluteus max. This tendency was also found in the gluteus med.

View full abstract

Experimental rats in five different stages of growth development were used here. Operation-stress-like excision of the skin was done in the buccal region, as well as resection of malar bone and the influence on the craniofacial bones and the different growth process of each was observed. As a result, cranfofacial bones were found to deviate on the same side in the rats excised with maximum tonus on the same side of the buccal skin. The lighter the weight, the more deviated was the affected region, showing that too much tonus on facial skin in the early stage of growth process causes growth disturbance in craniofacial bones. In the rats resected right malar bones, although the deviation of craniofacial bones to left side was recognizable in this experiment, it was not markedly so.

View full abstract

In this study, we investigated the microdetermination of human platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and compared the previous method for determination of platelet MAO activity. As the enzyme materials, platelet rich plasma (PRP) that was collected without centrifugation and with centrifugation at 175×g (centrifuged PRP) and platelet pellet that was collected with recentrifugation of the centrifuged PRP at 2000×g were used. Platelet MAO activity was assayed radiometrically. The effects of clorgyline, specific inhibitor of type A MAO, and deprenyl, specific inhibitor of type B MAO, on MAO in semicarbazide-pretreated PRP were examined using tyramine, benzylamine and β-phenylethylamine (PEA) as substrates. MAO activities were inhibited by high concentrations of clorgyline, but inhibited by low concentrations of deprenyl and inhibition curves were single sigmoidal with these three substrates. From these results, it is confirmed that almost only type B MAO is contained in human platelet. Specific activities of platelet MAO were 13.3, 11.6, 3.11 and 0 n mole/hr/mg protein using tyramine, benzylamine, PEA and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) as substrates. The effects of semicarbazide, specific inhibitor of plasma amine oxidase, and pargyline, specific inhibitor of platelet MAO on MAO activity in PRP were examined since plasma and platelet are included in PRP. Semicarbazide did not inhibit MAO activity at all, while pargyline completely inhibited its activity at concentration of 1μM using tyramine as substrate. Using benzylamine as substrate, platelet MAO activity remained about 10% of control by pargyline at a concentration of 1μM. However, MAO activity was completely inhibited by pargyline at a concentration of 10μM when the enzyme preparation was pretreated with 1mM semicarbazide. These results indicate that plasma amine oxidase activity is negligible when enzyme material is pretreated with semicarbazide. MAO activity in PRP, centrifuged PRP and platelet pellet were examined using tyramine as substrate. The dpm/number of platelets were 2.04×10^-3, 2.07×10^-3and 0.65×10^-3and the dpm values were 2437, 1074 and 1537 using PRP, centrifuged PRP and platelet pellet, respectively. The relationship between platelet MAO activity and number of platelets was examined in 54 normal subjects. The number of platelets were from 45 to 78×10⁴/μl and platelet MAO activity ranged from 523 to 2593 dpm. Reciprocity was y=11.2x+690.4 and the correlation coefficient was 0.784. These results indicate that our microdetermination method of human platelet MAO activity is easy to assay and it requires a very small amount of enzyme material in comparison with the method previously used.

View full abstract

Bile acid is used clinically as a gallstone dissolving agent, but it possesses some side effects, such a hepatotoxicity by its surface activity. Various surface-active agents may obstruct the functioning of human isolated hepatocytes ; and biphasic effects such as protection of hypotonic hemolysis in lower concentrations and promotion of hemolysis in higher concentrations are seen. The author this time conducted a study on four kinds of bile acids : Cenodeoxycholic Acid (CDCA), Deoxycholic Acid (DCA), Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA) and Cholic Acid (CA), by observing, firstly, effects on their membranes of leakage of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) from isolated rat hepatocyte ; secondly, by their biphasic effects, such as those found in hypotonic hemolysis, using erythrocytes of rats ; and, thirdly, through surface activities. The author also conducted a simi lar study on Alkyltrimethylammonium Salts-Decyltrimethylammonium Bromide (C₁₀), Dodecyltrimethylammonium Bromide (C₁₂), Tetradecyltrimethylammonium Bromide (C₁₄) and Hexadecyltrimethylammonium Bromide (C₁₆) -which are all surface-active agents. The results showed a close correlation between membrane effects and those of surface-active agents. These membrane effects changed according to the number and place of hydroxy group in the hydrophilic region in the case of bile, and according to the length of the Alkyl chain in the hydrophobic region in the case of Alkyltrimethlammonium Salts. The order of strength for the bile acids was CDCA≥DCA>UDCA≥CA and in the Alkyltrimethylammonium Salts was C₁₆≥C₁₄>C₁₂>C₁₀. Surface activities seem to be related to the occurrence of hepatic damage and, therefore, they should be studied more thoroughly as to the membrane effects of agents.

View full abstract

Lymphocytes and lymphoblasts from 31 patients with lymphoblastic lymphoma were studied and compared with thymic lymphoblasts of human fetuses by using acid phosphatase and nonspecific acid esterase stains. Both enzymes could be demonstrated in T lymphoblastic lymphoma and weaker and more diffuse reaction pattern or even negative results were obtained in B lymphoblasts, B lymphocytes and non-T lymphoblasts. As in acid phosphatase reaction nonspecific acid esterase activity was demonstrated as coarse localized paranuclear reaction products. In most cases acid phosphatase reaction was more pronounced than nonspecific acidesterase activity. This corresponds to the reaction pattern of fetal thymocytes.

View full abstract

5-FU levels in gastric juice, pancreatic juice and bile were examined chemically after 10 mg/kg 5-FU and 20 mg/kg Tegaful bolus iv. injections, respectively, in dogs. In the case of 5-FU administration, appearance of 5-FU was very short with a steep peak, 0.996μg/ml in 20 min., in gastric juice, 9.85μg/ml in 10 min. in bile. In addition, a decreasing curve was also steep in pancreatic juice and bile. But, in gastric juice, the decreasing curve was very slow and, rather, was sustained with 0.238μg/ml in 60 min. In the case of Tegaful administration, it appeared in all three fluids within a short time, and its content revealed its highest value in 10 min. in bile and pancreatic juice and in 30 min. in gastric juice. After Tegaful appeared in these fluids, it was slowly converted to 5-FU. 5-FU concentration peak was 0.085μg/ml in 40 min. in gastric juice, 0.069μg/ml in 10 min, in pancreatic juice and 0.269μg/ml in 30 min. in bile. Above findings suggest strongly that the application of a fluorinated pyrimidine is most reasonable in treatment of GI malignancies, but further studies are necessary.

View full abstract

A total 501 of in-and outpatients with schizophrenia have been directly observed for over 10 years at Karasuyama Mental Hospital affiliated with Showa University as of Sept. 20, 1979, in which, actual status has been investigated and analyzed for 68 cases, while excluding those patients over 55 years old, graft schizophrenia, and robotomy-treated cases out of 134 inpatients admitted for over 17 years. Accordingly, discussion was made on the effect of psychiatric rehabilitation at Karasuyama Mental Hospital for 20 years for long-term hospitalized patients. Also, simultaneous discussion was made on the countermeasures and treatments hereafter for these patients. In view of the psychiatric symptoms and social adaptability, long-term admitted inpatients showed the significantly unfavourable symptoms than those of the population (501 cases), and also, decrease of values in behavioral rating scale was significant. That is, when the prognosis was divided into symptomatic groups, namely, unfavourable, intermediate and favourable cases, they are composed of one group as“nucleus”showing the unfavourable prognosis and intermediate group, thus it may be called“intractable group”. The present subjects are remaining cases“result”under the psychiatric rehabilitation system in Karasuyama Mental Hopital, while as compared with the symptoms 10 years ago in view of the clinical progress, unchanged symptom was most numerously observed, followed by the“improvement”and“aggravation”. As a whole, mutual“offset”is observed with the“unchanged symptom”as center, thus no significant difference was observed on the mean value of the obtained points for behavioral rating scale. Whereas, by the existence of one group showing the improving tendency at least, the effect of psychiatric rehabilitation cannot be neglected, and especially, this tendency was more markedly observed in the execution-cases of night hospital (N.H.), on the other hand, its change remained within the frame of the defective image as a result of chronic symptoms. The current subjects have already been receiving the treatments by the application of the Government's or other social insurance systems in almost all cases. At any rate, it is necessary to take countermeasures for protection hereafter as to the treatments of long-term hospitalized patients, especially. It is important to make applications in the phase of welfare. Moreover, even though the major point placed with importance in the therapy in psychiatric clinic has been moved to the rehabilitation and community care, there is still no fundamental solution for the prognosis and the clinical progress of schizophrenia, therefore, it is necessary to pay full attention to one group as shown in the present subjects.

View full abstract

A componental transfusion method has recently been developed, and the demand for platelet transfusion is quickly increasing clinical effectiveness of platelet transfusion in 88 cases with malignant hematological diseases and changes in platelet function were investigated. The death rate in patients with bleeding was 37.5 % during the period of 1976 through 1978, however, this death rate was reduced to 17.3 % for the period of 1979 through 1982 by means of prophylactic platelet transfusion. Bleedingi tendency occurred in 73 cases (83 %) . Poor factors affecting the effectiveness of platelet transfusion occurred with remarkably deep bleeding or the increment of platelet counts of less than 2×10⁴/μl, in cases refractory to therapy, in cases in terminal stages or with fibrinogen levels less than 100 mg/dl. The data suggested that prophylactic platelet transfusion should be applied to patients with platelet counts below 2×10⁴/μl. The ADP, epinephrine-induced aggregation of platelets was markedly impaired in platelet concentrates before transfusion. However, these decreased aggregations of platelets improved after transfusion. Adenine nucleotide content of platelets and platelets and platelet volume indicated no statistically significant difference before or after transfusion or with control. It was suggested that several factors, including pH in plasma, improve the decreased platelet function before transfusion.

View full abstract

Some studies have suggested that the Histamine H-2 receptor antagonist, Cimedtidine, may cause a pharmacological blockade of suppressor cells. In animal studies, we looked at the effect of Cimetidine against tumors. Various concentrations of Cimetidine were administered intramuscularly to C3H/He mice, each with a growing MH 134 tumor. As a result, the surviving mice in the group were injected with 100 mg of Cimetidine per kg every 4 days. They were significantly longer than the ones injected with only saline, and, in the 100 mg/kg Cimetidine group, they also showed a significant inhibition of tumor proliferation. We also studied the anti-tumor effect of OK-432; animals were injected i. p. every 2 days and 100 mg/kg of Cimetidine was administered i. m, every 4 days. The OK-432+Cimetidine group had significantly inhibited tumor proliferation in comparison with the other 3 remaining groups : 1) only saline 2) only Cimetidine 3) only OK-432. In addition, the anti-tumor effects of Cimetidine combined Mitomycin C were assessed by measuring the weights of tumor-bearing mice. Mitomycin C+the Cimetidine group significantly inhibited tumor proliferation in comparison to the group given only Mitomycin C. At present, inducing cytotoxic cell generation is the main recourse in immunotherapy, but hereafter, the use of Cimetidine may become popular, as it is a new immunomodulator which inhibits suppressor cells.

View full abstract

This study was undertaken to elucidate the reasons for the predilection toward infection in patients with biliary obstructions. We thus studied the cell-mediated immunity of 41 such patients, and laboratory evaluation of cellular responses, PPD skin reaction, lymphoproliferation to Phytohemagglutinin, Autoplasma Inhibition and other factors were studied in 20 benign patients and in 21 with malignancy. Serum concentration of direct bilirubin in patients correlated with reaction to PPD antigen, CRP, C₄and α₁-Antitrypsin. Autoplasma from patients with obstructive jaundice inhibited lymphoproliferation to PHA, moreover, Autoplasma Inhibition correlated well with direct bilirubin, and α₁-Antitrypsin also increased in patients correlated with Autoplasma Inhibition. The results of the present study suggest that the depressed immunity in obstructive jaundice is not only due to the depression of lymphocytic function, but that obstructive jaundice sera contains immunosuppressive substances and it is this suppression of cellular immune response which appears to be induced by α₁-Antitrypsin. In conclusion, depressed cellular immunity in biliary obstructed patients is not a direct factor in their predilection toward infection, but it has been suggested as a contributing element.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

An account was given in this study of the clinical and pathological features of 144 consecutive exmaples of tumors of the hand and forearm treated at Showa University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, in a twenty-year period, from 1963-1983. Ganglia have been excluded from consideration in this series. The ratio of males to females was nearly the same, and peak age of incidence was noted in youth. In this series there were 50 cases of bone tumors, including 27 Enchondromas, 9 Exostosis, 3 Bone Cysts and 2 Osteomas ; there were no cases of malignant bone tumors. Among 94 soft tissue tumors, some such as Hemangioma, Neurilemmoma, Lipoma, Glomus Tumor and Giant Cell Tumor, were frequently seeen in the hand. Malignant soft tissue tumors were rare in 8 cases ; 3 Malignant Melanomas, 3 Squamous Cell Carcinomas and 2 Rhabdomyosarcomas. Many of the tumors could be anatomically localized at the finger region, because traumata to this region might be a significant factor in etiology in the earlier stages. The 913 tumors of the hand reported for the past decase in Japan were compared with corresponding statistics published in Western articles and journals. As a result, the majority of reported cases were quite similar to those in Japan ; however, benign nerve tumors and squamous cell carcinomas were more frequent in the West than in Japan.

View full abstract

All-night polygraphy was performed twice on one subject (a 23-year-old female) who received clinical examination under suspicion of cerebro-organic disease, suspected due to the subject's frequent, sudden and continuous lapses into a state of sleep. The result and some discussion are reported here. The subject twice fell into REM-stage sleep immediately after sleep by both records, and, thereafter, irregular occurrences were observed in the REM-stage, in which, awakening on the way was also observed. While, slow-wave sleep (4th stage) was not observed, and the incidence of REM-stage and REM-density showed higher levels than the mean values. These EEG findings were characteristic of narcolepsy, thereby, diagnosis was easily established. Narcolepsy shows 4 major symptoms, namely, sleep attack, cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations. This subject rarely had isolated sleep attacks, and, in fact, the occurrence of this is reported to take place in only 5 % of all narcoleptic cases. A narcoleptic whose only major symptom is sleep attack does not show REM sleep at the onset stage. This sleep-onset process is reported to show a similar process to that of the sleep-onset time in normal subjects, while, in the present case, it is interesting to have observed sleep-onset REM.

View full abstract