This paper presents results of the long-term maintenance of human gall-bladder epithelia as xenografts following explant organ culture. The sequential changes in morphological appearance during the period of in vitro organ culture as well as in vivo xenografts were extensively studied. Surgically resected gall-bladder tissues (8 cases with cholecystolithiasis and one with cholecysto-choledocholithiasis) provided the materials used in this study. They were cut into small fragments and maintained as explant organ cultures according to the method of Resau et. al. After several weeks of organ culture, about half of the explants were xenotransplanted into nude mice. The xenografts recovered at particular intervals were studied by microscopy and histochemistry. The results were as follows.
In explant tissues, sequential changes in morphology, which included degeneration, regeneration and proliferation of the epithelia, were observed during the course of in vitro culture. These findings were substantiated by the viable epithelia composed of flat, cuboidal and columnar cells. The morphological viability was well preserved during the initial three weeks. However, it began to deteriorate thereafter, and no viable epithelia were obtained after 7 weeks. In contrast to the morphological viability, lactate dehydrogenase activity in the explant media showed bi-phasic elevation. The first peak, which occurred within 24 hours, was remarkably high ; however, the second peak, at around 10 days, was relatively low. These findings in morphology and enzymology are compatible with the process generally observed after cell injury and subsequent regeneration.
In the xenografted tissues, the formation of multiple cysts of various sizes was noted. These cysts and the surrounding tissue contained various kinds of morphological architecture including projection of proliferated epithelial cells in the lumen and sinus-like structures. The viability of the epithelial cells composing the inner surface of the cyst walls was excellent. These cells showed various stages of morphological differentiation (flat, cuboidal and tall columnar cells) depending on how long the xenograft was maintained in vivo. In addition, acid muco-substance or sulfomucin, which was evidenced by positive staining with periodic acid-Schiff-alcian-blue and high-iron-diamine-alcian-blue, was observed in the tall columnar epithelial cells. These findings indicate functional differentiation in these cells.
These results may extend the knowledge of human gall-bladder organ culture, and indicate that the method employed in the present study is potentially applicable to the study of human gall-bladder carcinogenesis in an experimental model.

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The biochemical and immunochemical properties of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) obtained from 4 patients with thyroid carcinoma were studied. All patients had distant metastases. One patient with thyroid carcinoma was histologically classified as having trabecular carcinoma (case 1), two as follicular carcinoma (cases 2 and 3) and one as papillary carcinoma (case 4). Tg levels of the patients' sera ranged from 323 ng/ml to 1, 480 ng/ml.
The molecular weight of the serum Tg obtained from two patients (cases 2 and 3) was approximately 660, 000 daltons as determined by gel filtration. More than 90%of the serum Tg from case 3 was precipitated by 1.8 M ammonium sulfate. More than 80%of the serum Tg from cases 2 and 3 was adsorbed to a DEAE-cellulose column and eluted with a buffer of low ionic strength, suggesting that the serum Tg was very poorly iodinated. A portion of the patients' serum Tg (cases 1-4) passed through a concanavalin A (con A)-sepharose column and/or an RCA-sepharose column without being adsorbed. The unadsorbed fraction of serum Tg probably had a carbohydrate moiety with an abnormal structure. The partially purified preparations of serum Tg from cases 3 and 4 reacted with a monoclonal antibody (B2F) which recognized the higher structure of 19S-Tg. This indicates that patients' serum Tg has a higher structure of native gland Tg.
These properties of patients' serum Tg were similar to those of Tg obtained from thyroid carcinoma tissues, suggesting that tissue Tg with abnormal carbohydrate structures and low iodine content is released into the circulation without being hydrolyzed.

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Lymphocytic blastogenesis with PHA is widely known as a nonspecific cell-mediated immuno-parameter. Since a defect in purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) has been described in the case of cell-mediated immunodeficiency disease, PNP activity is also useful as an immuno-parameter. We measured these two parameters and examined the immunoactivity of lymphocytes of peripheral blood and regional lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer. Between June 1982 and December 1985, 74 patients with breast cancer were studied. We also examined T-cell subsets (OKT 4, OKT 8) in regional lymph nodes. The following results were obtained.
(1) The blastogenesis with PHA of peripheral blood lymphocytes showed higher levels in the earlier stage than in the advanced stage, and PNP activity was inversely correlated with blastogenesis with PHA.
(2) The regional lymph node lymphocytes showed a higher level of blastogenesis induced by PHA in the group without lymph node involvement (n (-)) than in the group with nodal involvement (n (+)). On the other hand, the n (-) group showed lower PNP activity than the n (+) group.
(3) In the n (+) group, the increased PNP activity and the decreased blastogenesis with PHA of the juxtaregional lymph nodes were highly correlated with increasing lymph node metastases compared with those of the regional lymph nodes. The juxtaregional lymph nodes were considered to represent the so-called “sentinel nodes” in immunopotency in the axilla.
(4) The percentage of OKT 8 in lymphocytes of the axillary lymph nodes in the n (+) group was higher than in the n (-) group.

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One hundred sixty patients with advanced cancer detected by mass survey and 235 patients at the outpatient clinics who underwent curative resection were analyzed to evaluate the significance of mass survey for stomach cancer.
A higher 10-year survival rate was obtained in the mass survey group as compared to the outpatient group, that is, 64% in the former and 41% in the latter. The factor contributing to the better prognosis in the former were considered to be based on not only a higher frequency of patients with early stage, but the carcinoma invading to the proper muscle layer (pm cancer).

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The prevalence of persons antibody-positive for adult T cell leukemia virus-associated antigen (ATLA) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was determined in 1, 815 blood donors and 3, 511 patients (total 5, 326) between April 1986 to February 1988.
Among 1, 815 blood donors (healthy persons), 5 (0.28%) were confirmed to be sero-positive for ATLA by indirect immunofluorescence and Western-blot tests. None were positive for HIV.
Among 2, 848 serum specimens of patients analyzed in the immunological laboratory of Gunma University Hospital, 26 (0.91%) were antibody-positive for ATLA and 13 (0.46%) for HIV. Twelve of the 13 anti-HIV antibody-positive patients had hemophilia, the other positive patient was a young male AIDS patient (non-Japanese) who had severe interstitial pneumonia.
Among 663 patients who visited a venereal disease clinic, 2 (0.30%) were found to be positive for ATLA, but none were positive for HIV.

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Using the web microcirculation of the anesthetized albino frogs, we examined the influence of burst-type radio-frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation on arterioles. When the web arterioles had been precontracted with noradrenalin, EMF radiation had an antagonistic effect on vasoconstriction. The mechanism of the antagonism probably involves facilitation of Ca²⁺ outflow across the arteriolar smooth muscles.

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Two patients with common bile duct stone were treated with an electrohydraulic apparatus through the percutaneous transhepatic choledochoscopic channel (EH-PTCL). One of them, a 57 year old male whose gallbladder had been resected due to gallstones 17 years ago, complained of epigastralgia, fever and jaundice. Percutaneous transhepatic choledochography (PTC) revealed an incarcerated residual stone in the lower common bile duct. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed immediately, and 3 weeks later, EH-PTCL was carried out and the stone was removed completely.
The other patient, an 82 year old female, complained of epigastralgia and fever, echography showed common bile duct dilatation and CT showed a large mass lesion in the upper common bile duct.PTBD and PTCS were carried out and a large stone was found. EHPTCL was performed and the stone was removed completely. However bile drainage was inadequate therefore endoscopic sphincterotomy was added and tube choledochoduodenostomy was placed.
The primitive treatment for stones in the biliary system is surgical operation, but if only the removal of stones is sufficient, EH-PTCL is highly effective and safe especially for large or incarcerated stones.

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Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung, in a 57-year-old female is described. The tumor was located in the left lower lobe and measured 9 mm in diameter. It protruded into the bronchial lumen, but invasion to the adjacent lung parenchyma was minimal. Histologically, it showed differentiation to both glandular formation and squamous cell nests in the same areas, but keratinization was absent. Immunohistologically, keratin was present. Actin-and desmin-positive cells were scattered in the solid growth areas. Electron microscopically, mucus production was present but luminal differentiation and keratinization were obscure. These findings suggest that this tumor was derived from the bronchial gland and that a portion of the tumor had a myoepithelial nature.

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A 35-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of consciousness disturbance and fever. He was a recreational runner, and had successfully completed a 10-km road race 6 days before. In September 1984, he ran a 10-km race. At 9.2 km, he suffered from muscle cramps in the legs and fell into a state of mental confusion.
His temperature was 40.5°C, the pulse was 102, and blood pressure was 128/80 mmHg. He was confused and excited, but neurological examinations were negative. His skin was slightly moist. The urinary protein test was positive : the sediment contained 20-30 red cells and 10-15 white cells. Serum LDH was 882 IU, GOT 71 IU and CPK 1891 IU per liter. Serum potassium was 3.2 mEq/L. Analysis of arterial blood gas showed marked metabolic acidosis (pH 7.21, base excess -14 mEq/L). We cooled him physically and administered a large quantity of fluid. His temperature decreased to 37°C on the 2nd day. From the 2nd to the 8th hospital day, hepatic abnormality, renal insufficiency, abnormal ST-T change on electrocardiogram and coagulation disorders were observed. On the 10th day, laboratory data for the liver, kidney and blood became normal, and electrocardiogram demonstrated deep negative T waves in the precordial leads. Coronary arteriography and left ventriculography done on the 30th day were normal.
Exertion induced heat stroke can occur in healthy, trained individuals.

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Two patients with peripheral artery occlusion underwent short-term intraarterial infusion of high-dose urokinase. Urokinase was administered through a catheter embedded into the arterial thrombus at a rate of 10, 000 IU/min. The catheter was advanced over the guide wire into the proximal part of the thrombus when partial thrombolysis occurred. The total doses of urokinase used were 600, 000 and 1, 200, 000 IU. Complete recanalization was performed without a complication in each case, combined with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.
The thrombolysis with short-term intraarterial infusion of high-dose urokinase is an effective and safe method for patients with peripheral arterial thrombosis.

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A 28-year-old man was admitted on November 8, 1986, because of anemia and petechiae. He was diagnosed as having acute myelogenous leukemia (M2). Complete remission was obtained with a BH-AC·DMP regimen, but relapse occurred August 1987. Shortly thereafter, he received an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from his HLA-compatible sister following conditioning with high-dose cytosine arabinoside and total body irradiation. No additional chemotherapy was given. A successful engraftment was confirmed by karyotypic conversion of bone marrow cells from male to female type on day 24 after transplantation. He is alive and with normal haematopoiesis and is in excellent clinical condition ten months after BMT.

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