Nerve fibers containing immunoreactivities for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY), and exhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) reactivity were examined by means of histochemical and immunohistochemical methods in the caudal lobe of the prostate in the monkey, Macacus fuscatus. TH-like immunoreactive nerve fibers were distributed abundantly in the interstitium where smooth muscle fiber bundles were rich and scarcely in the paraurethral region where they were rare. NPY-like immunoreactive nervef ibers, less abundant than TH-like immunoreactive nerve fibers, were observed not only in the interstitium but also around the prostatic acini. AChE-positive nerve fibers were much denser around the acini than in the interstitium. Both the NPY-like immunoreactive and the AChE-positive nerve fibers showed an intimate spatial association with the epithelium of the acini. Judging from the distribution pattern of these nerve fibers, the following assumption is possible. Secretion of the prostatic gland as well as the outflow of the prostatic fluid into the urethra induced by contraction of the smooth muscle cells in the interstitium may be controlled by sympathetic adrenergic nerves, while cellular secretion of the acinar epithelium is regulated by parasympathetic cholinergic nerves. The NPY-like immunoreactive nerve fibers around the acini may be non-noradrenergic; they may regulate the cellular secretion by acting on the cholinergic nerves as well as by having a direct effect on the acinar secretory cells.

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The gene of catalytic domain of the protein kinase of RSV-src was cloned into the BamHI cloning site of a translation vector pET-8c which containing T7 RNA polymerase promotor, and transformed BL21 (DE3) pLys S (Studier and Moffatt, 1986). The putative molecular weight of the protein was about 33 kd as evaluated on the basis of its nucleotide size showed the identical mobility in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. However, yield of protein production was not high, probably, because of its instability in Escherichia coli.

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Intraperitoneally transplanted tumors implanted and began developing with ascites in about 62% of the female rats within 4 to 6 weeks after transplantation. The tumor used in this study was an adenocarcinoma and which originated from a primary ovarian cancer in rats of the same strain (Wistar). The morphology and biological behavior of the tumor were very similar to the tumor in humans. Moreover, the preliminary results with cisplatin therapy indicate that intraperitoneal cancer corresponding to stage III or IV in the FIGO classification is a promising model for experimental therapeutic studies of common epithelial carcinoma at an advanced stage.

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Chromosomal aberrations were evaluated between 1974 and 1987 in 1077 individuals, consisting of 1042 pediatric patients and 35 adults who visited Kurume University Medical Center. Chromosomal aberrations were detected in 187 out of the 1042 (18%) children. These 187 children exhibited at least 108 types of symptoms or syndromes which were suggestive of chromosomal aberrations. Chromosomal aberrations were suspected in 757 pediatric patients who presented with 22 types of symptoms or syndromes. Among these 757, a total of 187 patients with chromosomal aberrations were identified, resulting in an overall incidence of 24.7% (187/757). Autosomal aberrations were demonstrated in 150 out of 672 children in whom autosomal aberrations had been suspected, yielding a detection ratio of 22.3% (150/672), whereas sex chromosome aberrations were found in 37 patients out of 85 who were suspected of possible sex chromosome aberrations, with a detection rate of 43.5% (37/85). The detection rate of chromosome aberrations was almost 20 to 30 times higher than that in the random surveys carried out by others in general newborn populations. This high detection rate suggests that a high incidence of chromosomal aberrations may be encountered in medical centers to which patients at risk with respect to chromosomal aberration syndromes are referred by local physicians. Chromosomes were analyzed also in a total of 37 adults, consisting of 26 women and 9 men, who had had abortions. The age at which abortions had occurred ranged from 23 to 39 years in women, and 25 to 35 years in men, respectively. Twelve women and 6 men out of the 35 people exhibited normal karyotypes. The satellite associations of D group and G group chromosomes were observed in 15 out of the 35 people.

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Although the accumulation of Ga-67 citrate in gynecomastia has been described, no researchers have reported that Ga-67 citrate accumulates in a “doughnut” pattern. Basically, gynecomastia is due to an increase of estrogens. Since estrogens accelerate the proliferation of lactiferous ducts in the center of breast, Ga-67 citrate may accumulate in it. On ther hand, prolactin increases the proliferation of the glandular lobules and the acinus. When the serum prolactin increases after child birth or renal insuffiency, the image from the accumulation of Ga-67 citrate in the breast may have a “doughnut” pat-tern. A patient with gynecomastia had high levels estrogens because he was being treated with an estrogen medication. He was referred for liver cirrhosis. The results of the present report indicate that the “doughnut” pattern occurs in the margin of the hyperplasic glandular lobule.

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A case of intestinal bleeding caused by multiple ulcerations near the terminal ileum is presented. Abdominal scanning with Tc-99m tagged red blood cells (Tc-99m RBC) demonstrated the intermittent bleeding in short intervals. Selective angiography did not demonstrate the bleeding site. Exploratory laparotomy showed 3 ulcers on the ileum at a site near the terminal ileum, with bleeding from one site. Tc-99m RBC abdominal scanning was very useful in this case for localization of the site of gastrointestinal bleeding before laparotomy.

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A horseshoe kidney was incidentally diagnosed while performing an abdominal scan using autologous human red blood cells labeled with Tc-99m (Tc-99m RBC) on a patient with suspected gastrointestinal bleeding. This patient repeatedly tested positive on occult blood stool examinations. In the first scintigram, an increase in well-defined activity was found on the right side under the liver. This could have been caused either by bleeding of the gastric antrum or the duodenal bulb. A second abdominal scan with Tc-99m RBC revealed faint radionuclide accumulation in the shape of a horseshoe with symmetrical, well-defined activity. However, the well-defined activity decreased with time on both images, and on this basis a horseshoe kidney was diagnosed.

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