The aims of the present study were to examine the appropriateness of the rat as a model for human pregnancy in distribution of body fluid volumes and pressor response to vasoconstrictor substances. Body fluid volumes and the pressor response to angiotensin II (AII) and norepinephrine (NE) were determined in unanesthetized nonpregnant and pregnant rats, at 6-10 days gestation (early gestation) and 16-20 days gestation (late gestation). The distribution of body fluid volumes was measured by an isotope dilution method; plasma volume (PV), extracellular fluid volume (ECFV), and total body water (TBW) by ¹³¹I-radio-iodinated serum albumin, ³⁵S-sodium sulfate, and tritiated water respectively. Late gestation rats had signficantly (p<0.01) increased PV and TBW but only slight increased ECFV when compared to nonpregnant rats, while the pregnant rats had elevated PRA values (p<0.01). The results are almost compatible with the data in human pregnancy. In early gestation, the pressor response to AII tended to decrease, while that to NE was found to be almost the same with that in nonpregnant rats. In late gestation, on the other hand, the pressor response to both AII and NE decreased significantly (p<0.05) compared with nonpregnant rats. The reduced AII pressor response in late gestation decreased further by the treatment with indomethacin (10mg per kg), while response to NE increased significantly (p<0.05) to the normal level in nonpregnant rats. The treatment did not alter the response to AII and NE in either nonpregnant or early gestation of rats. PRA was measured in other groups of unanesthetized pregnant and nonpregnant rats before and after the treatment with indomethacin. PRA values were significantly (p<0.05) elevated both in early and late gestation rats compared with nonpregnant rats before the treatment. The treatment did not change PRA values either in nonpregnant or early gestation rats, but increased them in late gestation rats. These results suggest that the mechanisms of reduced pressor response to AII and NE in late gestation rats might be different : the response to AII is mainly determined by the increased activity of the renin-angiotensin system, and that to NE might be related to increased vasodilator prostaglandins. The rat could serve as another animal model in investigating AII and NE refractoriness in pregnancy.

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A rapid radioimmunoassay (RIA) method for serum estradiol using directly radioiodinated estradiol and polyethylene glycol was devised. Estradiol (E2) was directly radioiodinated by the chloramine T method with minor modifications and purified with two dimensional thin layer chromatography. After mixing the standard or sample solution, antibody solution, and radioiodine labelled estradiol solution, the mixture was incubated for 15 minutes at 37°C. Polyethylene glycol was used for the separation of the bound and unbound form. Estradiol was serially diluted with the steroid free serum which was prepared from non-pregnant women serum by the dextran coated charcoal adsorption to be used for “serum standard” for evaluating unknown samples. The intraassay and interassay coefficient of variations were 8.6% and 10.3% respectively. It took only 2 to 3 hours to determine the serum E₂ values. This method seems to be useful for serial monitoring of induction of ovulation by human menopausal gonadotropin and other medical practice in rapidity, simplicity and disposability.

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To evaluate the therapeutic policy for metastatic brain tumors, 40 cases of intraparenchymal nodular tumors were investigated. A correlation to survival was observed in six factors : site, histological type and therapeutic condition of primary lesions, and symptom, site and operative method of metastatic tumors. In primary lesions considered by site, histology and therapeutic condition, lung and gastrointestinal tract groups, carcinoma simplex group and untreated group respectively had poor outcomes. In brain metastasis considered by symptom, site and operative method, signs of increased intracranial pressure, deep and multiple lesions and decompression respectively were correlated to poor outcomes.
Patients admitted for suspected brain metastasis with known primary neoplasms (group A) and patients operated on for primary brain tumors (group C) had a few factors which correleted to poor outcome. Those two groups had a relatively good short-term (0.5-1Y) survival rate. Group C had also a good long-term (over 2Y) survival rate. In contrast, patients hospitalized for symptoms of brain lesions whose primary neoplasms were not known at the time of admission, but were discovered prior to craniotomy (group B), had many poor factors and the short-term surival rate was very poor. It was considered that for groups A and B, if a useful life over six months could be expected from treatment of the the primary lesion, brain metastasis should be treated actively. For group C, radical operations on primary and brain lesions should be planned.
Generally, it is suggested that the outcomes of all patients will be improved by active treatment for metastatic tumors, and, if radical treatment can done for the primary lesion, permanent cure can be expected

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It is the purpose to define more accuratory the clinical course of an acute pancreatitis from the onset of an attack to the recovery.
Fourteen patients complained sever pain in the upper abdomen, but two groups of patients were noticed for the duration of abdominal pain. In 8 patients it stopped within 5 days but in 6 it continued over three weeks. Abdominal masses due to swelling of the pancreas were palpated in 7 (50%) patients and its positive durations were correlated with that of abdominal pain.
The average of laboratory data of 14 patients were examined from the onset to the recovery on successive days. Elevated serum amylase (1833±1034 S.U.) or urine amylase (12672±7554 S.U.) decreased rapidly to normal levels within 5-7 days, but fever, tachycardia and leucocytosis continued for about three weeks. For blood pressure, erythrocyte, hemoglobin, electrolyte and liver function no remarkable changes were recoginized.
By the abdominal radiograph sentinel loop and dilated colon were noticed in 7 (88%) of 8 patients. By intravenous cholangiography the gallbladder was not demonstrated in 7 of 14 patients. In these patients the association of cholecysitis or cholelithiasis were suggested. Intraoperative cholangiography was perfomed in 3 patients and common channels were recoginized in all three patients. The radiographic evaluation of upper gastrointestinal tracts and computerlized tomography were also useful for the diagnosis of acute panctreatitis.
Laparotomies were perfomed in 8 (57%) of 14 patients (cholecystectomy 3, cholecystostomy 1, drainage 4), and the severity of the abdominal inflammation for example the degree of abdminal exsudate was in inverse proportion to the duration from the onset of an attack to the operation.
The fistula of transverse colon was the only complication and one patient was died.
Results of our study suggest the importance to consider the duration from the onset of an attack when the patients of acute pancreatitis were examined or laboratory data were discussed.

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To predict the result of the decompressive surgery of 29 patients with cubital tunnel syndrome, motor and sensory conduction velocities (MCV and SCV) and terminal latency (TL) were measured both preoperatively and postoperatively. Furthermore, these patients were evaluated by clinical and electrophysiological examinations.
Consequently MCV and SCV are useful in the diagnosis of preoperative severity. Especially TL is very useful in predicting the prognosis after the decompressive surgery. But SCV is not so useful.

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Restoration of motor function following hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage was examined. Fifty six cases of putaminal hemorrhage (lateral type) and 27 cases of thalamic hemorrhage (medial type) were treated conservatively or operatively. Rhehabilitation was carried on from early stage. The degree of hemiplegia by Brunnstrom stage were evaluated in lateral and medial type of hemorrhage. In lateral type of hemorrhage, the stage of upper extremity was 2.1 in early period, 3. 2 in 3 months and 3.8 in 6 months ; lower extremity 2.3, 3.7 and 4.3 ; finger 2.0, 2.8 and 3.4 respectively. In medial type of hemorrhage, the stage of upper extremity was 2.5 in eraly period, 3. 9 in 3 months and 4.4 in 6 months ; lower extremity 2.6, 3.8 and 4.3 ; finger 3.3, 4.3 and 4.6 respectively.
Restoration of motor function of upper extremity, especially fingers, was difficult in the lateral type of hemorrhage as compared with the medial type of hemorrhge. However, 57 out of 63 cases were able to walk by themselves.

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