To determine the factors involved in the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia frequently found in human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection, we studied the clinical and laboratory findings of 35 Japanese HIV-infected hemophiliacs regarding their association with thrombocytopenia. Seventeen HIV-positive patients were thrombocytopenic. They had fewer CD4⁺ cells and were in more advanced stages of the disease, compared with the 18 patients without thrombocytopenia. We carried out the stepwise regression analysis on 32 patients in the early stage of HIV infection, with the platelet count as the dependent variable, and with the CD8⁺ cell count, serum cholinesterase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), CD4⁺ cell count and white blood cell count as explanatory variables. The CD8⁺ cell count, serum cholinesterase, and ALT were entered into the regression model as explanatory variables of the platelet count with statistical significance. A positive linear correlation in these 32 patients between the CD8⁺ cell count and platelet count (r=0.50, P<0.01) was noted. We conclude that the decrease of the CD8⁺ cell count may play a role in the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia in Japanese hemophiliacs in the early stage of HIV-infection.

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Three neurobehavioral tests and a profile of mood states (POMS) test, which are included in the WHO neurobehavioral core test battery, were applied to 106 workers engaged in manufacturing automotive parts, especially for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a significant difference in the score between a group of sixty-one workers chronically exposed to organic solvents and a group of forty-five workers unexposed. The scores of both pursuit-aiming and digit-symbol substitution tests were lower (P<0.02 and P<0.01, respectively, in analysis of covariance) in the group of exposed workers than in the group of unexposed workers. Furthermore, in the group of exposed workers, the pursuit-aiming and digit-symbol substitution scores showed a positive correlation (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively) to the fatigue score in the POMS test. On the other hand, the score of the digit span test showed no significant difference between the two groups. No significant correlation was found between the urinary hippuric acid level and the score of each of the three neurobehavioral tests. Therefore, among the exposed workers, the perceptual motor function evaluated in pursuit-aiming and digit-symbol tests seems to be affected. The neurobehavioral tests administered in this study are limited in number and in function, however, the comparison of their scores between the exposed and unexposed workers may suggest the presence of adversive effects of chronic exposure to organic solvents.

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Pulmonary function tests were done on 146 established chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and 151 normal non-smoker and smoker subjects. These patients were assembled from Garden Reach Railway Hospital (Calcutta), West Bengal, India, 79 of which suffered from chronic bronchitis, 8 from chronic bronchitis with mild emphysema (who were included in the chronic bronchitis group), 38 from emphysema and 21 from asthma. In the normal subjects 75 were non-smokers and 76 smokers. All the subjects were in the age range of 16－60 years. The mean values obtained in COPD patients were compared with those of normal non-smokers and smokers in each group and amongst the different categories of COPD patients. All the pulmonary function tests (PFT) were measured by the standard spirometric technique, and the Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) was studied by Wright's Peak Flow Meter. The values were expressed in body temperature at ambient pressure saturated with Water Vapour Pressure (BTPS). The PFT values significantly deteriorated in all categories of COPD patients as compared to normal non-smokers and smokers, but a few parameters showed exceptions. Significant deterioration was observed in emphysematous patients when compared to other categories of COPD patients. No definite trend of reduction of pulmonary function test values were found according to the years of suffering from the disease. A product moment correlation matrix showed a highly significant positive correlation between FVC and FEV₁, in all four groups of patients. These two parameters also showed a strong positive relationship with FEF_25－75%, EFF_200－1200ml, FEF_75－85%, MVV_F and PEFR. The regression equations for some of the closely related variables of high correlation coefficient were calculated in COPD patients and presented.

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Hypoglycemia is known to be a rare consequence of non-islet cell tumors. A patient having severe, episodic hypoglycemia was found to have a large mass occupying the right hemithorax. The hypoglycemia resolved immediately after surgical removal of the tumor. Histologic examination of the tumor revealed localized fibrous mesothelioma.

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A 54-year-old woman underwent a left upper lobectomy for lung carcinoma after which hyponatremia developed within 5 days. Her serum concentration of ADH was within normal range disapproving the presence of SIADH frequently associated with lung carcinoma. An endocrinological examination showed panhypopituitarism. From her anamnesis it was seen that there was much perinatal bleeding and amenorrhea. She was diagnosed as suffering from Sheehan syndrome. She was treated with glucocorticoid and beneficial results were obtained. Her serum concentration of natrium returned to normal and she discharged on the 74th postoperative day. We present this paper because we had difficulty in determining that she had Sheehan syndrome, and think that a careful search for a diagnosis before operation is important for the management of the patient during the perioperative and postoperative period.

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Much general information can be obtained through the Internet. Also, through the Internet's network news, we can obtain useful knowledge without too much effort. This report summarizes the network news structure and the employment of network news at the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan.

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The novel "The Never Endmg Story" by Micheal Ende was No. 1 on the weekly bestseller-list of the German news magazine 'Der Spiegel' for at least 3 years and 3 months. This long-term run was an outstanding record for any book published in post-war Germany. The 'Reader', a boy called Bastian, enters the story himself and in this world of Fantasy he undergoes many experiences, struggles with different thoughts, and gradually matures after several defeats, errors, disappointments and victories, becoming more and more conscious of his true "self". The literary style of this book full to the brim with its fantastic words is aimed first at the young generation, but at the same time, it also delivers a strong message to all adults of the 20th century who seem to have lost their sense for Fantasy - encouraging them with an energetic appeal to re-discover Fantasy and poetics in order to create a balance with the too realistic-minded world of adults. Being structured in an ambigious style and combined with numerous images, this novel suggests a possible way to correct the difficulties in our society. Therefore, this novel aims not only at the young generation but also carries a strong message for all adults.

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