Intracranial germinoma was transplanted to hereditary athymic (Nude) mice. There was a proliferation of large polygonal cells, subdivided into connective cells, in the transplanted tumor. Immunohistochemically, the original tumor was positive for placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), but negative for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The transplanted tumor, however, was negative for these antigens and was totally devoid of alkaline phosphatase activity. Ultrastructurally, tumor cells were characterized by a large nucleus with distinct nucleoli and scanty cytoplasm. Desmosome type intercellular junctions were observed. In this animal model intracranial germinoma, some but not all of the properties of germinoma cells were maintained.

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Stroke-prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SH-RSP) develop hypertension at a young age due to genetic predisposition, and most die of cerebral apoplectic strokes. We previously reported that lymphocytic immunological abnormalities are involved. The present study demonstrated that the immune system was suppressed by oral administration of prenisolone to young SHRSP which had not as yet attained a markedly hypertensive state, and also that the formation of vascular lesions similar to human polyarteritis nodosa was inhibited. These findings ssggest that the immune system has some role in the development of vascular lesions in SHRSP.Stroke-prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SH-RSP) develop hypertension at a young age due to genetic predisposition, and most die of cerebral apoplectic strokes. We previously reported that lymphocytic immunological abnormalities are involved. The present study demonstrated that the immune system was suppressed by oral administration of prenisolone to young SHRSP which had not as yet attained a markedly hypertensive state, and also that the formation of vascular lesions similar to human polyarteritis nodosa was inhibited. These findings ssggest that the immune system has some role in the development of vascular lesions in SHRSP.

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A retrospective study of 56 cases of malignant tumors of the pancreaticobiliary tract system with obstructive jaundice was carried out to evaluate the usefulness of preoperative biliary drainage. In consideration of the degree of operative stress, the cases were divided into the two groups of major surgery (19 cases of pancreatoduodenectomies and one case of total pancreatectomy) and minor surgery (36 cases of biliary bypass procedure). The results were as follows : 1) Major surgery group Of the 20 cases, 17 underwent preoperative biliary drainage with postoperative complications occurring in 4 cases (23.5 %) and operative death in one case (5 %). In the 3 cases without proerative biliary drainage, there were postoperative complications in 2 cases (66.7 %) and operative death in one case (33.3 %). Postoperative complications occurred in 5 (71.4 %) of 7 cases in which the preoperative serum total bilirubin (T.Bil) levels were more than 11 mg/dl, and in one (7.7) of 13 cases in which they were less than 10 mg/dl (p<0.05). 2) Minor surgery group Postoperative complications occurred in only one (8.3 %) of 12 cases which underwent preoperative biliary drainage. No operative death was seen. Among the 24 cases which did not undergo preoperative biliary drainage, there were postoperative complications in 10 cases (41.7 %) and postoperative death in 7 cases (29.2 %). Postoperative complications occurred in 7 (70.0%) of 10 cases in which preoperative T.Bil levels were greater than 21 mg/dl, and in 3 (11.5 %) of 26 cases in which the levels were less than 20 mg/dl (p<0.01). 3) Preoperative T.Bil levels should be decreased to under 10 mg/dl for major surgery and to less than 20 mg/dl for minor surgery.

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Using a noninvasive portable ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measuring device, the influence on pulse rate, circadian variations of BP and averaged BP over 24 hours of 29 outpatients (mean age 69.0+/-8.7 : +/-SD) with implanted cardiac pacemakers (13 DDD, 16 VVI) brought about by alteration of pacing mode and setting rates of from 50 to 80 pulses per minute were studied. Concerning circadian variations of BP, patients broadly could be divided into three groups: Group I with increased BP during day time (48%, 14/29), Group II with increased BA night (21%, 6/29) and Group III with no notable differences (31%, 9/29). Changes in pacing mode and alteration of the set rate appeared to have little or no effect on the patterns of circadian BP variations. Among the 13 DDD patients, there was no significant difference in the 24-hour mean pulse rate between sinus node insufficiency syndrome (SSS) and atrioventricular block (AVB) groups. Among the 16 VVI patients, however, significantly higher pulse rates were observed in the atrial fibrillation group with slow responses. At VVI pacing rates of 50 and 60 ppm, significantly higher pulse rates were observed in the SSS group as compared with the AVB group. More than half of DDD pacing patients demonstrated decreases in 24-hour averaged BP with a change in mode from DDD to VVI. The percentage of patients exhibiting a decrease in 24-hour averaged BP with a lowering of the pulse rate setting. Patients in the VVI group appeared to show significant decrease in 24-hour averaged BP when the setting rate was reduced. Paced patients thus demonstrated circadian variation of BP with little or no influence from alterations in pacing mode or setting rate. Alterations in pacing mode from DDD to VVI, or decreases in VVI mode setting rates, brought about decreases in 24-hpour averaged BP, which indicates that such conversions must be carried out with great caution.

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We previously reported, based on the results of in vitro study, that lymphocyte system abnormalities exist in Stroke-prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHRSP). The present study was designed to evaluate antibody production in vivo. Utilizing human AB-type red blood cells as antigen, specific antibody production after the induction of primary and secondary immunity was measured. In addition, peripheral lymphocyte subsets after induction of primary immunity were studied by monoclonal antibody technique and flow cytometry. The results demonstrated that in SHRSP, as compared with normal blood pressure rats i.e. Wistar Kyoto Rats (WKY), specific antibody production decreased after the induction of primary and secondary immunity. Furthermore, there also was a difference in the variation of peripheral lymphocyte subsets. The decrease in immune response associated with SHRSP may be ascribable to lymphocyte system abnormalities which also are considered to contribute to the high susceptibility to infection and early mortality of SHRSP.

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The nutrient arteries of the bilateral palmaris longus muscles in 10 adult Japanese cadavers were examined, and the following findings obtained. The palmaris longus muscles were classified, by origin and pattern of distribution of supplying arteries, into five types. The most common was Type II, in which the lateral area of the middle portion of the muscle was supplied by a branch arising from the brachial artery and the upper and medial areas of the middle and lower portions by branches (mainly ulnar recurrent and median arteries) from the ulnar artery. It was found in 50 % of cases. The branch from the brachial artery supplied 39.4 % of the entire muscle, and the branches from the ulnar artery 60 % (including the ulnar recurrent artery which supplied 44.2 %). Type III, supplied only by branches of the ulnar artery, was next in line (30 %). The main artery of these muscles was the ulnar recurrent artery, found in all cases, which supplied 52 % of the entire muscle. This artery was classified by origin into five types. Type 2, which originated from the ulnar artery porximal to branching of the common interosseous artery, had the highest incidence of 65 %. Total numbers of arteries found were 1 in one case, 2 in six cases, and 3 in 13 cases.

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Despite the original notion , that murine Thy-1^+ epidermal cells (Thy-1^+ EC) are derived from bone marrow precursors, recent observations indicate that they are derived from the the fetal thymus. To elucidate whether bone marrow-derived Thy-1^+ EC represent a lineage distinct from those originally residing in the epidermis, bone marrow-derived Thy-1^+ EC were analyzed using Thy-1 disparate, radiation bone marrow chimeras. Contrary to complete reconstitution by donor cells in lymphoid tissue, only a small portion of Thy-1^+ EC was replaced by donor cells one year after bone marrow transfer. The donor bone marrow-derived Thy-1^+ EC, unlike host-derived original Thy-1^+ EC, expressed CD8 and TCRαβ and were observed in areas, where host-derived original Thy-1^+ EC were depleted. The selective migration of bone marrow-derived TCRαβ^+, CD8^+ cells was observed only in the epidermis and not in other lymphoid organs. Our results indicate that a loss of original Thy-1^+ EC could be covered by supply of precursors present in the bone marrow, but that the latter cells are different from those which originate from the fetal thymus.

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We have developed a new system using an impedance-cuff for evaluation of the effect of acupuncture on peripheral circulation. This system measures blood pressure, blood flow, and modulus of volume elasticity (Ev) of finger artery, heart rate and cardiac output simultaneously and noninvasively. Seventy healthy adults were subjected to acupuncture stimulation of LI10 and LI4. There was a significant decrease in Ev and an increase in finger segment blood flow in response to LI10 stimulation, while LI4 stimulation resulted in a slight decrease in Ev without significant change in blood flow. Cardiac output and heart rate showed no significant change to either stimulation. The results suggest that LI10 stimulation increases peripheral blood flow by decreasing vascular Ev.

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There has been an increasing number of papers on the effective treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn (PPHN) with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Several reported an increase of thromboxane B_2 (TXB_2) in the blood of PPHN patients. TXB_2 is a metabolite of thromboxane A_2 which is known to cause bronchoconstriction and vasoconstriction. It still is not clear, however, why ECMO was effective against PPHN. The influence of long-term ECMO (24 hours) on the production of TXB_2 and 6 keto-PGF_1α was investigated using 7 normal infant beagles. 6 keto-PGF_1α is a metabolite of PGI_2 which is known to cause bronchodilatation and vasodilatation. The effect of ECMO on pulmonary and circulatory conditions was also investigated. The study resulted in the observation that the function of blood gas exchange in the lungs was effectively replaced by long-tern ECMO and that pulmonary and circulatory functions were well-preserved during this time. There was no significant influence on TXB_2 and 6 keto-PGF_1α production during ECMO.

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The nuclear DNA content of cells obtained from sectioned specimens of several male Wistar rat organs either frozen or embedded in paraffin was measured. Paying attention to the coefficient of variance (CV) of the diploid G /G_1 peak, the results obtained using several preparations were compared by flow cytometry. The CV and stainability with propidium iodide of DNA obtained from paraffin-embedded tissue usually was not as good as that obtained from frozen tissue. Hedley's method failed to determine CV in several paraffin-embedded sections, but that determined by the Vindelφv method was 7.5±0.8 (mean±SD), while the CV determined by Triton X-100 was 6.8 ± 1.3 (mean±SD). The results suggested that Triton X-100 could be useful in measuring cellular DNA content of paraffinembedded material, which would thereby allow retrospective study of archival material where the clinical outcome already is known. This is supported by the fact that it is easier to use, has a shorter processing time, and the CV value is lower than that of the other methods, even though it tended to be higher than frozen section CV of 4.7±1.5 (mean±SD).

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A 67-year-old female came to our hospital with the complaint of epigastric discomfort. Esophageal radiography revealed a raised lesion at the lower esophagus measuring approximately 1 cm. Esophagoscopy showed a dark purple raised lesion and an adjacent area of discoloration. Biopsy disclosed melanoma cells with junctional activity. Esophagogastrectomy was performed. The excised specimen demonstrated a 9 × 9 mm dark purple raised lesion 3 cm orad from the esopohagogastric junction, and a 10 × 4 cm dark purplish isocolored area adjacent to it. Histopathological findings coincided with the biopsy observations. Tumor infiltration was limited to the submucosal level, and no lymphatic metastasis was seen. Primary malignant melanoma of the estophagus usually already is far advanced at the time of diagnosis. Early diagnosis and early treatment are important for improved prognosis.

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