The binding affinities of 12 different neurotransmitter receptors were measured using a radio-labeled receptor assay.
The profiles of the pharmacological affinities of 20 antipsychotic drugs were assessed. Based on the Ki values for the D₂ receptor, 5HT₂ receptor, and α₁ receptor, the antipsychotic drugs were classified into five groups (i.e., three anti-DA activity predominant groups and two anti-5HT activity predominant groups).
A theoretical basis for drug choice in clinical settings is also proposed. We recommend that the groups of the drugs having predominantly anti-DA activity be used in the treatment of hallucinations and delusions and that the drugs in the anti-5HT activity predominant group be used to treat hypobulia. If it is necessary to administer two or more of these drugs together, we propose that they should be drugs with different profiles. Extrapyramidal symptoms, side effects of antipsychotic drugs, were interpreted in terms of interaction among the anti-D₂ activity, anti-5HT₂ activity, and anti-Ach activity.

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This paper reviews the organization of the cardiovascular control neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). Above all, the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) is the most important relay station in these neurons.
A topological difference in cardiovascular neurons in the brain stem was found between those projecting to the cardioacceleratory center in the intermediolateral nucleus (IML) of the T2 segment and those projecting to the vasomotor center in the IML of the T₁₁ segment. This was determined by the retrograde transport of WGA-HRP to and the immunoreactive response to glutamate and GABA in the supraspinal CNS of rats. These findings indicate that : 1. The glutamatergic projections, from the RVLM and the A5 area, to the lower thoracic vasomotor center were more frequent than those to the upper thoracic cardioacceleratory center. 2. The glutamatergic and GABAergic projections from the caudal ventrolateral medulla to the upper thoracic cardioacceleratory center were more frequent than those to the lower thoracic vasomotor center. 3. In the RVLM, there was no viscerotopic distribution of the glutamatergic neurons between those projecting to the upper thoracic cardioacceleratory center and those projecting to the lower thoracic vasomotor center.

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To elucidate brain dysfunction in patients with methamphetamine psychosis, we examined background EEG activities by means of the frequency analysis, P300 of auditory event-related potentials and the auditory brainstem evoked response (ABR) in 17 patients and 35 normal controls. The patients were divided into two subgroups according to their symptomatology in the acute stage of psychosis : the hallucination-delusion group of 10 patients who had experienced paranoid delusions and hallucinations and the psychomotor excitement group of 7 patients who had exhibited a severe catatonia-like excitement but had never experienced hallucinations or delusions. Abnormalities found in the patients were as follows : 1) The total powers were decreased in δ, θ and α₂ frequency bands ; the decrease was most prominent in the α₂ band and more pronounced in the psychomotor excitement group. 2) P300 amplitudes were decreased ; the decrease was found only in the hallucination-delusion group. 3) ABR latencies were increased, particularly for wave V and waves V-I inter-peak interval ; the delay was more marked in the hallucination-delusion group. The findings suggest that the cortical dysfunction is mainly involved in the psychomotor excitement group, while the subcortical dysfunction in the hallucination-delusion group.

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The prevalence of hyper-and hypocholesterolemia in 42 districts of Gunma Prefecture was investigated. There are many cases of hypocholesterolemia and its prevalence increases with aging in males, but they are fewer increase with aging in females. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia is higher in females than in males, except for those in their 40's and its rate does not decrease up to the 60's in females.
Even in the obese state, many hypocholesterolemics are seen among males, on the other hand, even in the thin state, many hypercholesterolemics are seen among females except in their 40's.
The prevalence of a total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio equal to or greater than 4.5 at different cholesterol levels is higher in males than in females.
Finally, this study suggested that a cerebrovascular accident and gastric cancer are apt to occur in a hypocholesterolemic area, and breast cancers are fewer in a hypocholesterolemic area.

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Purpose : We designed this study to investigate the mechanism of reduced cardiac β-adrenoceptor function that is associated with aging.
Materials and Methods : We assessed the density and affinity of β-adrenoceptors by (-) - [¹²⁵I] iodocyanopindolol binding in the right atrial appendages obtained from 40 patients of varying age (range : 2 to 56 years) undergoing open-heart surgery. The mean right atrial pressure and cardiothoracic ratio were measured in all of the patients.
Results : There was a significant negative correlation between human right atrial β-adrenoceptor density and patient age (r = 0.575, p <0.001). Neither preoperative mean right atrial pressure nor preoperative cardiothoracic ratio was correlated with β-adrenoceptor density. The affinity of β-adrenoceptors did not correlate with patient age.
Conclusions : The decrease in human cardiac β-adrenoceptor function associated with increasing age is due, in part, to the reduced cardiac β-adrenoceptor density.

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The clinical progress of 17 patients with a history of cerebral infarction exhibiting vertigo who could not be diagnosed based on audiometry, vestibular function tests and magnetic resonance imaging was observed following a diagnostic treatment, in order to clarify clinical the features and pathology.
The clinical features were as follows :

1) Vertigo is transient and recurrent, rotatory or floating and occurs spontaneously or upon moving.
2) Cochlear symptoms, if present, do not appear or disappear accompanying vertigo.
3) Transient nystagmus findings suggesting a transient central vestibular disorder are occasionally observed in nystagmus tests.
4) Directional preponderance is occasionally obtained in caloric testing.
5) A reduction in hearing in the low-tone region is observed at a similar level on audiograms of both ears.
A circulatory disorder in the vertebrobasilar artery was considered as the pathogenesis of vertigo inpatients with the above clinical features.

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Although many patients may be expected to exhibit vertigo due to a circulatory disorder of the vertebrobasilar arterial system, findings to serve as a definite basis for diagnosis of such circulatory disorders have yet to be obtained.
We present here cases exhibiting peripheral vertigo alone that was considered to be due to circulatory disorders in the vertebrobasilar arterial system, and we examined the progress of therapy in conjunction with audibility.
The hypacusis in the low-tone region observed at a similar level in audiograms of both ears was an important finding suggesting a circulatory disorder in the vertebrobasilar arterial system, and also was considered to be a possible index to evaluate the effects of curative agents on vertigo due to circulatory disorders, since hypacusis is responsive to circulation improving agents.

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We measured the bone mineral density and bone metabolic markers of 8 young females with diabetes (22 to 32 years old) as well as those of a control group of 6 healthy subjects matched for sex and age. There was only one patient whose bone density decreased significantly during poor control for diabetes in the earlier stage whereas other patients show a normal level of bone density. It may be suggested that in this case diabetes was not controlled strictly in the earlier stage of illness. We consider that itis essential to inspect both bone density and bone metabolic markers for young females with diabetes.

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We here report a 69-year-old female patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) which was complicated by bilateral malleolus skin ulcers. She was diagnosed as having CML in October 1993 and had been treated with hydroxyurea (HU) since December 1993. As she developed a right malleolus skin ulcer in September 1996, she was admitted to our hospital in February 1997. She developed another skin ulcer in the left malleolus region after admission, so HU treatment was discontinued in March 1997. Her skin ulcers gradually improved after that. Although cases of skin ulcers have been reported since 1975, the mechanism is not fully elucidated. Therefore, it is important to pay particular attention to skin changes during treatment with HU.

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We experienced a case of synchronous multiple lung cancer developed in the right middle and lower lobe in a 69-year-old male. The patient was admitted to our hospital to undergo further examinations of abnormal shadows on his chest X-ray films. A transbronchial lung biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma in S⁴ and adenocarcinoma in S⁶. A pneumonectomy was performed and his postoperative course was uneventful. The final histologic diagnosis was large cell carcinoma in S⁴ and adenocarcinoma in S⁶. We report this case because it represents a rare histologic combination.

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