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As a forestep to study the various diseases of the human adrenal gland, the adrenal glands of rat were investigated with several histochemical stainings after various treatments of the animals.

Leupeptin, isolated from Actinomycetes, is a potent and specific inhibitor of proteases. We found that the administration of leupeptin enhanced that size of urinary bladder tumors induced in rats by the oral administration of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN). BBN was given as a 0.05% solution in the drinking water for 6 weeks, and then animals were fed a diet with or without 0.1% leupeptin for 30 weeks. The average weight of the bladders with tumors in rats fed a leupeptin diet was about eight times that of rats on a diet without leupeptin, though the incidences and average numbers of tumors in the bladders were similar in the two groups.

Pituitary-gonadal endocrine functions were studied in 15 patients with Sertoli-cell-only syndrome and a comparison was made with other testicular diseases, such as Klinefelter’s syndrome. Elevated levels of serum luteinizing hormone as well as follicle stimulating hormone and lowered levels of serum testosterone suggested the existence of Leydig cell failure in addition to germ cell failure. However, the degree of these endocrinological abnormalities in patients with Sertoli-cell-only syndrome was mild compared to that in patients with Klinefelter’s syndrome. Reserve capacity of Leydig cells in patients with Sertoli-cell-only syndrome was considered to be preserved as suggested by the human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation test.

Age-related changes of serum gonadotropin levels in normal men were studied using a specific double-antibody radioimmunoassay of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The subjects were divided into age groups of 5-yr intervals from 0 to 20 yr, of 10-yr intervals from 21 to 70 yr and the final or oldest group of ages after 71 yr. Normal adult serum LH and FSH levels were attained after 16 yr of age and significant elevations in serum gonadotropin levels were first noted in the fifth decade of life. However, the degree of the elevation of serum gonadotropin levels in the aged men was relatively small, when compared with that observed in women of the same age group. The difference is considered to be due to the fact that the decline in gonadal function with advanced age in the male is not as drastic as in the female.

We reviewed 50 cases of bladder cancer treated with the hydrostatic pressure technique. Results were encouraging when 1) single or multiple papillary tumors were not located around the ureteral orifice, with a presumed depth of tumor infiltration within T2, 2) there was no history of open operations, 3) there was observed activity of immunological surveillance, for example a positive reaction to a tuberculin test, and 4) management of anesthesia was satisfactory. Hydrostatic pressure therapy is not palliative treatment for far-advanced cases of bladder cancers but should be the first choice for new cases beyond the scope for transurethral operations and when indications in tumor and host condition are satisfied.

Subject and Method. Plasma erythropoietin levels were determined by Keighley's method to study the changes in erythropoiesis before and after human renal homotransplantation. Results. Erythropoietin titres in pre-transplant patients were low, while they returned to normal after successful renal transplantation. In acute rejection they were significantly high. After its reversal normal levels of erythropoietin were obtained in accordance with a normalization of the graft functions. Reticulocyte counts paralleled with erythropoietin values. Conclusion. High levels of plasma erythropoietin contribute to the diagnosis of acute rejection. Normalization of the plasma erythropoietin levels after the acute rejection could be regarded as an indication for good function of the graft. The grafted kidneys seem to function in producing erythropoietin.

In patients with Klinefelter's syndrome (KS) serum levels of testosterone (T) were scattered within a wide range and about half were within the normal range. A similar scattering was noted in elevated levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in these patients. On the other hand, serum levels of LH, FSH and T in patients with hypogonadotropic eunuchoidism (HE) were consistently low, remaining at prepubertal levels. In patients with KS who were receiving long-term treatment with T injections serum LH and FSH remained elevated, whereas in patients with HE after the treatment LH and FSH levels were significantly lower than those before treatment. Short-term studies of serum T, LH and FSH levels after a single im T injection revealed that in patients with KS suppression of serum gonadotropins occurred only transiently and modestly, while a normal man had rapid suppression of serum LH and FSH levels to substantially undetectable levels. Long-term studies were made in ca...

A statistical analysis of 520 ureteral calculi was undertaken to elucidate the correlation between sizes of calculi and the probability of spontaneous passage. The mean length and width of 286 calculi passed spontaneously were 6.3 +/- 2.5 (S.D.) and 4.0 +/- 1.5 mm., respectively; those of 219 calculi removed surgically were 11.7 +/- 5.0 and 7.1 +/- 2.8 mm., respectively, the difference between the two groups being statistically significant. The rate of spontaneous passage of stones within one year after diagnosis was analyzed in relation to sizes of stones which were grouped at successive 1-mm. intervals both in length and width, the over-all rate of spontaneous passage being 53 per cent. It was concluded that stones larger than 8 mm. in width on x-ray films should be removed surgically, while in those smaller than 8 mm. in width higher chances of spontaneous passage by expectant treatment would be anticipated.

Renal tumours, obtained after nephrectomy, were subjected to in vitro study of the incorporation rate of C 14-8-adenine into nucleic acid bases.-In 10 examples of renal cell carcinoma, the incorporation rate into adenine and guanine were 2.01x10-2 (cpm/umole base) and 1.83x10-2 for DNA, and 3.00x10-2 and 2.83x10-2 for RNA. The incorporation rate in renal pelvic tumour was rather higher than that in renal cell carcinoma. It was demonstrated that the incorporation rate in Wilms tumour was highest.-These incorporation rates provide an index of the biological activity of the tumour cells.

A strain of Proteus vulgaris isolated from the urinary tract of a patient with postoperative pyelonephritis and resistant to sulfonamide, streptomycin, tetracycline, and kanamycin (KM) was found to transfer only KM resistance by cell-to-cell conjugation. The genetic determinant controlling the transferable KM resistance was considered to be an R factor and was designated R (KM). Successive transfer of KM resistance was demonstrated also from Escherichia coli 20S0, which received the R (KM) factor, to other substrains of E. coli K-12 or Salmonella typhimurium LT-2. The transfer of the R (KM) factor was strongly affected by the temperature at which the mating culture was kept. The transfer frequency of R (KM) at 25 C was about 10 5 times higher than at 37 C. The R (KM) factor was spontaneously eliminated from the host bacterial cells when P. vulgaris was cultured at 42 C, but no elimination occurred at 25 C. This elimination of the R (KM) factor at elevated temperature was also observed when the R (KM) factor infected E. coli and S. typhimurium . On the other hand, a normal R factor could not be eliminated from the same E. coli host strain by cultivation at the higher temperature. We consider the thermosensitive transfer and the spontaneous elimination of the R (KM) factor at higher temperature to depend upon thermosensitive replication of the R (KM) factor.

Ultrastructural and biochemical studies were conducted on three ganglioneuromas to elucidate the morphological features in relation to catecholamine synthesis, storage and secretion.

The fingerprint-like granules in the prostatic cancer tissue were observed elec-tronmicroscopically. The granules containing membranous structure were round in shape and measured 0.25-0.7μ in diameter. The granules are supposed to correspond to the lysosomal bodies of macrophage.

A case of normotensive hyperaldosteronism, with hypokalemic alkalosis and hypergranularity of the juxtaglomerular apparatus, was reported in an adult 24 yr of age. Reduced vascular response to angiotensin and norepinephrine, increased plasma renin activity and renin content of the kidney were clearly demonstrated. Potassium-losing tendency was demonstrated with sodium loading and a positive potassium balance was obtained with salt restriction. Subtotal adrenalectomy was performed with temporary improvement. Pathophysiology and treatment were discussed.

IT was shown earlier1 that an R factor determining resistance to kanamycin is spontaneously eliminated at 42° C, and its conjugal transfer is inhibited at this temperature. This temperature sensitivity was ascribed to temperature sensitive replication of the R factor. We present here evidence that the growth of cells is also inhibited at higher temperatures as a result of the presence of the temperature sensitive R factor.