Using results of periodic health examinations of middle or small size establishments in Kitakyu shu-City conducted by an occupational health service from April to September in 1982 the relationships among ten obesity indices of 30-59 years old male workers (27,376 persons) were investigated classified by age groups (30-39, 40-49 and 50-59 age groups) and by occupations (total occupation, field workers and office workers). Obesity indices adopted here are those derived from weight and height and are used mostly in Japan. 1) Though the means of obesity values were various, the means in the 40-49 age group were higher than those in other age groups through all the indices and all the occupations. And those for office workers were higher than those for field workers through all the indices and all the age groups. 2) The percentage of workers whose obesity values were 20+ in the Minowa index was about 14% and this percentage was attained almost by 20+ in the Katsura and the Kato indices, by 15+ in the NK, the Matsuya, the Matsuki and the CN indices, by 5+ in the Broca index, by 25+ in the Quetelet index and by 156+ in the Rohrer index. 3) Though the percentage of hypertensive office workers was higher than that of hypertensive field workers in the 40-49 age group, proportion adjusted by any obesity index was similar and there were scarcely any differences of adjusted proportions between office workers and field workers.

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The immunocytochemical localization of factor Ⅷ-related antigen in the human umbilical vein was investigated with the light microscopic immunoperoxidase and immunoelectron microscopical protein A-gold techniques. The light microscopic observation showed that peroxidase reactions were found exclusively in the endothelia of the vessel. By the protein A-gold method, immunoreactive gold particles were located in endothelial specific granules (Weibel-Palade bodies). These data suggest that endothelial specific granules are storage sites of factor Ⅷ-related antigen.

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Eighty-eight strains of staphylococci were isolated from a variety of specimens collected from patients at our university hospital from June to August 1982. These strains were identified as Staphylococcus aureus (86%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (6.8%), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (2.3%), Staphylococcus capitis (2.3%), and Staphylococcus simulans (1.1%). One strain could not be identified with certainty as a currently recognized species. A majority (70%) of the S. aureus strains was resistant to two or more of the following drugs; penicillin G, kanamycin, doxycycline, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol. As for susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics, most of the strains that were resistant to penicillin G were also resistant to aminobenzyl peniciliin and cephalexin. Whereas none of the strains was resistant to methicillin, cloxacillin, dicloxacillin, nor cefmetazole, and only a few strains were resistant to cefoperazone or cefazolin or both. Over 50% of the S. aureus strains were found to be resistant to each of four aminoglycosides (Kanamycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, and sagamicin), while only 5% of the strains were resistant to amikacin. Multiple resistance to the above four aminoglycosides was observed among more than 40% of the S. aureus strains, and also observed among three of six strains of S. epidermidis.

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In nursing, if we know an elderly person's mental condition, and that which does not make him/her too tired, this method can be very useful. Using this method we predicted the MAS score from scores of Y-G scales. We obtained the MAS score results by the following formula:
MAS score
≒ 0.31 × Lack of objectivity
+ 0.41 × Inferiority feelings
- 0.15 × Ascendance
+ 0.34 × Y-G Nervousness
+ 0.30 × Y-G Depression
+ 9.54

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In Wistar rats subjected to a six-hour exposure to ethylene oxide (ETO) at the concentration of 250 parts per million once a day, five times a week for 9 months, histopathologic studies of myelinated fibers of the proximal sural, distal sural and peroneal nerves and of the fasciculus gracilis at the fifth thoracic and third cervical segments of the spinal cord were performed to reveal whether ETO of such concentration produces the degeneration of the primary sensory neuron. Throughout the study, no definite abnormality of the gait or posture was observed in both control and test rats. Qualitative histologic studies disclosed preferential distal axonal degeneration of myelinated fibers in both sural nerves and gracile fascicles in test rats, although the extent of the distribution and the severity of the degenerative findings were variable among test rats. Therefore, it was concluded that exposure to 250 ppm ethylene oxide produces central-peripheral distal axonal degeneration of the primary sensory neuron in rats.

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A study of the clinical significance of serum sialic acid (SA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is presented in this paper. Because a definite correlation (n=30, r=0,74, P<0.001) between SA and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and a good reflection of SA to disease activity in clinical course were revealed in RA patients, we were able to use SA in place of ESR as a marker of disease activity and a guide to treatment. On the other hand, although a good correlation (n=22, r=0.62, P<0.01 ) between SA and ESR was revealed in SLE patients, SA was inapplicable as a marker of disease activity in SLE because of a poor correlation between SA and anti-DNA antibody or serum complement which is mainly used as a marker of disease activity and a guide to treatment.

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Gestrinone (R 2323) is a synthetic progestogen, and noteworthy agent for endometriosis treatment. The effect of this reagent on cultured cells from porcine granulosa, human endometrial and endometrial carcinoma origin was investigated concerning their hormonal activities and cell proliferations. Also, the effect of gestrinone on the serum levels of gonadotropins and gonadal steroids in patients with XY gonadal dysgenesis (Swyer's syndrome) and uterine myoma was studied. The monolayer cell colony established from the endometrial tissue fragments was positively stained by PAS similar to the secretory phase endometrium by 10 ng/ml gestrinone in the culture media. Endometrial carcinoma cells from a 65-year-old patient were proliferated by gestrinone at the concentration of 50 ng/ml in the culture media. The effect of gestrinone on the secretions of progesterone and estradiol-17β with or without hCG/testosterone from the cultured porcine granulosa cells was also investigated. Progesterone secretions were stimulated at the 50 ng/ml concentration of gestrinone, especially in association with hCG. Nonetheless, at the concentration of 500 ng/ml, those were inhibited. The secretions of estradiol-17β were stimulated by this reagent both with and without testosterone in dosedependent manners. The effect of 25 mg gestrinone administration for 3 days on the levels of LH, FSH, progesterone and estradiol-17β in a patient with XY gonadal dysgenesis was as follows. Both LH and FSH Ievels gradually decreased, whereas estradiol-17β Ievel was increased. The same dosage of this reagent was administered to a patient with uterine myoma on her menstrual days 7, 8 and 9. All hormone levels were within normal ovulatory limits, and her ovulation was not interrupted. In conclusion, gestrinone was thought to act as a so-called mini-pill, via the hypothalamic-pituitary axis or directly to the ovaries and endometrium more in the fashion of pseudopregnancy drugs than danazol for endometriosis.

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Early detection and correct diagnosis of breast cancer is necessary and an important determinant of prognosis. Clinical echography is increasingly being used as it offers a high degree of diagnostic accuracy and no physical hazards such as x-ray mammography. Ultrasonic tissue characterization study is an important factor in determining and refining diagnostic criteria and for developing new ultrasonic diagnostic equipment in clinical breast echography. Therefore, various echographic characteristics and their ultrasonic tissue characterization were analysed in various types of breast tumors such as medullary carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, scirrhous carcinoma, malignant lymphoma, lymphatic infiltration, benign cyst, fibroadenoma, cystosarcoma phylloides, gynecomastia and nodular fibrosis with fat necrosis, in routine clinical echograms.

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Pathology, particularly histology and histogenesis, of thymic neoplasms is reviewed. In this report, thymic neoplasms include thymoma, lymphoma, carcinoid and germ cell tumors (teratoma group) originating from the thymus. Ultrastructures, enzymohistochemistry and immuno-histochemistry have increased the knowledge on the relation between the histogenesis, morphology and function of each neoplasm. Recently, various kinds of monoclonal antibodies have easily been available, and the use of them in immunohistochemistry is useful for differentiating the subpopulation of lymphocytes in thymomas. Some interpretations referring to the microenvironment by thymoma cells and developing T lymptocytes are described. We stressed that peanut lectin was useful for identifying cortical thymocytes in paraffin sections, and functions of S-100 protein positive cells in thymomas should be investigated for elucidating one of the questions concerning the microenvironment by thymoma cells.

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A survey using a questionaire was conducted to elucidate the employment conditions and a system of occupational health administration status of the disabled workers in private enterprises. The average employment rate of disabled workers was found to be higher in small-scale enterprises, than in larger-scale enterprises. Also, the low employment rate was found among cases of spinal cord injuries and hemipregia. The reasons for workers becoming disabled were "private accident and illness" (59.2%) "congenital" (30.6%) and "labor accident" (10.2%). The main physical factor influencing work efficiency of disabled workers was "degree of disability" while "work morale" was found to be the most influential psychological factor. Also it was found that about 50% of private enterprises will accept the reinstatment and employment of spinal cord injury or hemipregia workers. But it will be necessary that the disabled workers are able to do the requested job. However, it is necessary for employers of disabled workers to make various efforts in overcoming situations such as, changes in organization, improvement of occupational health administration staffs and improvements in the working environment and equipment.

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