The recent advance of both dialysis technique and the management of complications associated with chronic hemodialysis (HD) has brought the remarkable prolongation of survival rate of patients with chronic renal failure resulting in the appearance of various ocular impairments in these patients. However, the precise situation of ocular imparirment in patients on chronic HD has not been elucidated yet. In order to understand the current status of ocular impairments in patients on chronic HD, visual acuity, changes of pre and post HD intraocular pressure, presence of corneal calcification, changes of ocular fundi and catract were investigated in 306 eyes (153 patients) on chronic HD patients in the Dialysis Center of Kyorin University Hospital and two other affiliated hospitals. Eighty-seven percent of the total observed cases sustained good visual acuity levels of 0.5 or more, while 7.5% of the cases showed severe visual loss of less than 0.1. In cases with visual impairment of less than 0.4, the cause of visual disturbance was mostly due to diabetic retinopathy and central retinal vein occlusion. Seventeen percent of the cases had degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and this specific changes of RPE in chronic hemodialyzed patients was thought to be attributed to the impairment of choroidal circulation. Corneal calcification was observed in 34% of the patients, although no specific treatment was required. Serum phosphorus level and serum calcium × phosphate product were statistically different between patients with and without corneal calcification (p<0.01). Slight decrease of intraocular pressure was observed post-HD compared to the pre-HD value. There was no correlation between development of cataract and hemodialysis. It was concluded that patients undergoing chronic HD had various ocular abnormalities, such as central retinal vein occlusion, degeneration of RPE, or corneal calcification.

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The behavioral effects on the rats of various doses, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg of tetraethyl lead, administrated intraperitoneally, were measured on the following : lever press responding for food under positive reinforcement (Fixed-ratio schedule) and discriminative avoidance responding from the electric shock under negative reinforcement in a Skinner box. Daily frequency of fixed-ratio responses significantly decreased and the behavioral pattern on cumulative records of responses was disordered following administration at a dose of 20 and 40 mg/kg. Daily freguency of avoidance responses, which involved the increment of the waste responses, increased and the emotional behavior was often observed especially at a dose of 20 mg/kg. These behavioral impairments appear to be attributable to the toxicity of high doses of tetraethyl lead on the central nervous system and it seems to be necessary to evaluate the toxicity of environmental contaminants on the central nervous system by these behavioral methods.

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Effect of topical indomethacin and dexamethsone on the wound healing of the rabbit iris was studied by light and electron microscopy. In adult pigmented rabbits, the mid area of the unilateral iris was crushed with blunt point forceps and then iridotomy was performed. The animals were divided into 5 groups. Group 1 received no medication. Group 2 received topical 0.5% indomethacin oil drop twice daily for a period of 3 days before iridotomy. Group 3 received a single subconjunctival injection of 0.5ml of dexamethasone (4 mg/ml) after iridotomy. As controls, groups 4 and 5 received a drop of oil and a single injection of 0.5ml of physiological saline in the same manner as in groups 2 and 3, respectively. In groups 1 and 3, an enormous quantity of hemorrhage and fibrin mass appeared in the wound lesion 3 days after iridotomy. The wound was closed by proliferating epithelial cells, stromal cells and fibrinous elements 3 weeks after iridotomy. In group 2, hemorrhage and fibrin were seldom encountered in the iris wound. The incised edges were enveloped by epithelial cells leaving them open in the iris 3 weeks after iridotomy. Groups 4 and 5 revealed essentially the same results as in group 1. It is concluded that topical indomethacin has a potent effect to prevent wound closure after iridotomy.

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About 76% of the total fatty acids constituting triacylglyceride in tung oil is eleostaric acid (&lrtri;9, 11, 13C18 : 3), which has a specific absorbance at 275nm. Thus, we examined a lipase assay using this triacylglyceride as the substrate. The triacylglyceride was obtained from commercial oil by florisil column chromatography. As the substrate for the lipase assay, the obtained triacylglyceride was emulsified with Ca^<2+> and gum arabic. The reaction mixture, in a final volume of 0.5ml, contained 10mg of triacylglyceride, 0.2M Tris buffer (pH 8.0), 6 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate and 0.1ml of the enzyme solution. The mixture was incubated in a 37℃ water bath for 30 min. Then, 1.0ml of 0.1 N-H_2SO_4. Dole's reagent (isopropanol : heptane : 1 N-H_2SO_4=40 : 10 : 1) and 1.0ml of heptane was added. After centrifugation at 3, 000rpm for 5min, 1.0ml of the upper phase was mixed with 1.5ml of chloroform and 2.5ml of 50% methanol in 0.1 N-NaOH and centrifuged again. The optical density at 275 nm in the upper alkaline phase was estimated. The molecular density of eleostearic acid at 275 nm was calculated at 4×10^4. Fifty percent of the total free eleostearic acids was extracted in the alkaline phase, and the calibration curve of the extracted eleostearic acid gave essentially straight line. As compared with the BALB method, the results were well correlated with each other, and the normal value of human serum lipase activity estimated by this techinique showed about 0.1 of the absorption at 275 nm. This lipase assay needs two steps of extraction, which put some difficulty on the procedures of this method, but the sensitivity and the linearity of this technique are favorable. Thus, for estimation of low lipase activity, it may be useful method.

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In 137 cases of chronic schistosomiasis japonica, intradermal skin reactions by using the antigen prepared from adult worms of Schistosoma japonicum by Melcher method were observed. The observation was focused at the trace of relation between intradermal skin reactions and aging, also at the relation between intradermal skin reactions and the concentration of antigen solutions, and the location of injection. The results were as follows : 1) The intradermal reaction of Schistosoma japonicum was continuously positive for a long period of time when using a 1 : 1000 solution, except a few cases of those over 70 years of age. Therefore, the intradermal reaction will be a very effective screening for those with a past history of schistosomiasis japonica. 2) The reaction showed negative in a few cases of patients of those over 70 years old, regardless of the concentration of antigen. Accordingly, the infection of Schistosoma japonicum cannot be always denied even if intradermal reactions of the aged people from an endemic area show negative. 3) The threshold value of reaction became lower with a 1 : 4000 solution. Elderly people, especially those over 70 years old, frequently showed negative even in those having a past history of the infection. Attention will be required in using a 1 : 4000 solution in elderly people. 4) The reaction became weaker as the location of injection was further away from the bend of the elbow, regardless of age. The location of injection must be carefully considered when studying a threshold value.

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The correlation between platelet aggregation and platelet releasing substances was investigated on the cases with arteriosclerotic diseases (angina pectoria, myocardial and cerebral infarctions, totalling 32) as the subjects. The turbiometric method was used to measure platelet aggregation, and ADP (2.9×10^<-6>M), collagen (3μg/ml) and epinephrine (1μg/ml) to determine aggregation agents. RIA kit was used to determine platelet releasing substances. Measurements of serum lipids were made at the same time. The following results were obtained. 1) Regarding the correlation among platelet aggregation substances, significant correlations were observed between ADP and collagen induced platelet aggregations and between ADP and epinephrine induced platelet aggregations. 2) Considerably significant correlation was observed between β-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 (γ=0.71, p<0.001). 3) Regarding the correlation between platelet aggregation and platelet releasing substances, no significant correlation was observed except that significantposltive correlation was seen between epinephrine induced platelet aggregation and platelet factor 4. 4) No significant correlation was observed between serum lipids (total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol) and platelet aggregation and platelet releasing substances. Hence, it was presumed that platelet aggregation can be a good index to determine the trend of in vivo thrombus formation but that it is nothing but at in vitro test for which full consideration isrequired for interpretation of the significance involved in the values obtained.

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Static and dynamic changes in posture is one of the factors affecting the human circulatory and respiratory activities. There has been a need for a method capable of ambulatory measurement of human body posture during the measurement of such activities simultaneously. A new portable device for recording human postures in an ambulatory condition was designed. In order to analyze the human posture changes in back-and-forth direction, the types of the human posture were classified into 9 basic groups ; an uprightly standing (HH), a half-bowing (MH), a bowing (LH), a sit upright (HM), a crouching (MM), a supine with standing legs (LM), a sitting with thrown legs (HL), a recline (ML) and a supine position (LL). A pair of water-filled manometers equipped with a poly-vinyl tube chimney (1.1 mmφ) was placed on the waist and ankle. The pressure differences between the chest and waist level and between the waist and ankle level were detected. The outputs from these manometers obtained at each type of the posture were compared with reference values to detect high (H), middle (M) and low (L) signal. By these signals recorded simultaneously from these two levels, the spacial relationship between the upper chest, waist and the ankle can be represented. These signals were converted into 2 bits digitals for the storage in a 4k CMOS RAM memory element in every 7.5, 30 or 60 seconds interval. Stored data in the memory element can be read out through a D/A converter to display on a pen writer. This device carried on a waist-belt was about 500 grams in total weight. Stable and long term (more than 17 hours) recordings of the human posture could be successfully made by this device.

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An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), employing the microplate method, was used to detect serum antibodies (IgM and IgG) against respiratory syncytial virus (RS virus). Eighty-one serum samples from 45 children with respiratory tract diseases were tested. This microplate ELISA technique was compared with the glass bead ELISA method, complement fixation test and immune adherence hemagglutination test. There was good correlation between the microplate method and the glass bead method for ELISA values of RS virus antibodies (IgG). The microplate IgG ELISA method for RS virus antibodies may therefore replace the glass bead method. The results of microplate ELISA were correlated with immune adhernece hemagglutination titers for serum samples in which IgM antibodies were not detected. The high sensitivity and convenient procedure of this method make it suitable for epidemiological surveys and other studies requiring multiple determinations. The present method revealed an elevation of IgM antibodies in 12 of 14 patients diagnosed to have RS virus infections. The determination of IgM antibodies was thus demonstrated to be indispensable for the diagnosis of RS virus infections in infants, particularly those with questionable elevations of CF and IAHA antibodies and those aged under 6 months who possess maternal antibodies.

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A case who showed marked cyanamide-ethanol reaction is reported. A 49 year-old-man had been taking cyanamide for the treatment of alcohol addiction. On August 5, 1982, he drank about 360 ml of Japanese sake three hours and a half after cyanamide administration. Abrupt onset of severe headache and nausea with shaking chills brought him to our emergency room. He had marked hypotension (50 mmHg systolic), for which nor-adrenaline and dopamine were administered. These vasopressors were required in order to obtain adequate blood pressure for the following four days. Cyanamide has been thought to be fairly safe for the treatment of alcohol addiction. However, as shown in this case, cyanamide may show pronounced hypotension which might be even fatal. Therefore, it should be pointed out that we must be careful in the administration of cyanamide for the alcohol addiction.

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A 44 years old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of headache, palpitation and chest discomfort. She had a past history of hypertension since her age of 33 and a right cervical tumor for 3 years. Physical examinasion on admission revieled the blood pressure of 170/94 mmHg on lying and 140/86 mmHg on standing, Scheie's H_3S_1 degree of arrythmia (Ventricular Premature Contraction), cardiomegary of CTR 57%, and thumb finger tip sized mass on the right cervical region. There were no significant physical abnormalities. Glucose tolerance test showed DM pattern but the other laboratory tests were within normal limits. After the administration of antihhypertensive drugs, blood pressure during daytime lowered considerably, but a nocturnal hypertension (200/100 mmHg) still continued until the excision of the right cervical tumor (Lateral aberrant thyroid). The pathologic examination of the tumor showed the carcinoma with papillary and follicular patterns. After the excision, hypertension and arrpythmia completely disappeared and never resumed. Therefore, as for the hypertension of this case, two kind of pathogenesis should be taken into consideration : One is hormonal secretion from cervical tumor. The other is the compression of baroreceptor by the cervical tumor. However, in this case, the latter is more likely since the excision of the tumor made the symptoms disappear.

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The case at issue was a male child at age of 5 years and 9 months. After being bitten by mosquitoes, he was affected by systemic reactions such as fever, and the region bitten by mosquitoes showed scar formations after forming vesicle and ulcer. We carried out specific lymphocyte blast formation and intracutaneous reaction for this patient using three kinds of mosquito antigens. As a result, evidences suggesting presence of the immediate or delayed type reaction were not obtained from the test, and it was assumed the Arthus type may have been involved in this case, on the basis of clinical symptoms and course. Only 21 cases have so far been reported in Japan concerning mosquito allergy, of which some deaths were reported due to malignant tumor. Therefore, careful observation will be necessary in the future.

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