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Serum hCG, hPL and progesterone levels in women with early pregnancies were measured with radioimmunoassay, simultaneously diagnosed whether the fetus was viable or nonviable by real-time ultrasonography. According to the ultrasonographic diagnosis, combined with subjective or objective signs of abortion, patients were divided into three groups-normal pregnancies, threatened abortions and missed abortions. There was no significant difference between serum hCG levels in women with normal pregnancies and those in women with threatened abortions. Whereas, significant difference was observed about serum progesterone and hPL levels between those two groups, at 12 approximately 13 weeks of pregnancy. Abnormally low serum hCG, hPL and progesterone levels were observed in women with missed abortions. In 8 out of 11 cases of patients with missed abortions, serum hCG or hPL levels have been rising after the fetal death had been identified. Above results suggest that impairment of translocation of production site of progesterone could be a cause of clinical manifestations in threatened abortions, and that the synthesis and secretion of two protein hormones are still taking place in trophoblasts after the fetal death occurred.

In the present study, in order to clarify the defense mechanisms against S. schenckii infections, we examined the tissue reactions of mice against the pathogen over a period of time by both light and electron microscopy. The histological features were, at an early stage, a mixed cell granuloma consisting of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and macrophages, and, later on, enlargement and vacuolation of the macrophages at the periphery. In electron microscopy, blastospores had been phagocytized by the PMNs and macrophages, and no extracellular blastospores were seen. PMNs taking up blastospores were phagocytized by other PMNs or by macrophages. After 3 or 4 months, the phagosomes of the macrophages had grown in size, and contained a number of blastospores. During the experiment, the ultrastructure of the blastospores was well preserved, and their viability was considered high. Of the defense mechanisms against S. schenckii infection, PMN phagocytosis is of great importance, but the fact that proliferation of this organism was observed within the macrophages, suggested that the macrophages were not able to destroy the organisms, but rather were responsible for the disease becoming chronic.

Marathon runners tend to form clusters during competition, possibly as a means of improving their performance. Studies of international competitors in Fukuoka and Tokyo races have shown a density of 0.44 to 0.80 runners.m2 among those maintaining a pace of 4.8-5.6 m.s-1, clustering being most marked among elite performers. Some 95% of clustered runners maintained a minimum distance of 0.5-1.5 m from other competitors; moreover, such competitors avoided occupying an angle of +/- 15 degrees either before or behind other runners. The phenomenon merits closer study by those interested in the bettering of marathon performance.

Regression equations relating heart rate (fh) to relative oxygen intake (% VO2max) have been calculated for bicycle ergometer exercise. The five groups of subjects were boys aged 10--11, 13--14 and 16--17 years, average young adults aged 23--27 years, and middle and long distance runners aged 20--25 years. The heart rate at a given % of VO2max was higher for younger than for older boys; however, the heart rate discrepancy between groups diminished at increasing intensities of exercise. The results are discussed in relation to the use of heart rates in training and exercise prescription. At high work loads, graphs of % maximum heart rate against % VO2max are relatively independent of age, but at the lower levels of activity common in everyday life, the % VO2max of adolescents must be predicted for age-specific regression lines.

We studied piperacillin (PIPC) clinically to evaluate its utility and safety, and obtained the following results. PIPC was given at a daily dose of 1 approximately 4 g for 3 approximately 10 days by bolus injection or dripping infusion to 18 patients with various infections in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Four of 5 cases with intrauterine infection, 2 of 3 cases with focus infection of uterine cancer, 2 cases with perinatal intrauterine infection, 2 of 6 cases with adnexal infection and 2 cases with vulvar infection proved to respond effectively. The overall efficacy rate was 66.7%. No side effect or abnormal laboratory findings were observed except for 1 case with rash.

Ceftazidime ( CAZ ) was evaluated for its pharmacokinetics and clinical effects in the treatment of obstetrical and gynecological infections. The following results were obtained: Transfer of CAZ into various parts in the uterus and the uterine adnexa was found to be satisfactory, and relatively high concentration of the drug was maintained in the pelvic dead space exudate. Infections in the obstetrics and gynecology: 2 approximately 4 g of CAZ was given to 12 patients for 4 approximately 11 days and satisfactory clinical effect was obtained in 9 patients. There was a slight GOT elevation in 1 case but no other appreciable side effect or abnormal laboratory value was observed.

Since Morgan, many research workers have attempted to answer the question whether intensive training and athletic competition can alter life span. A review of the literature yields few clear conclusions. The difficulty seems that the human life span is affected by a multiplicity of factors including physical characteristics (sex, age and body type), lifestyle (factors such as habitual activity, smoking and drinking habits and diet), environmental variables (air and water quality, exposure to sunlight, noise etc.), physiological factors, personality and inheritance. Relative to these confounding factors, athletic competition usually occupies too short a portion of the life span to have a significant effect on longevity. The important question may well be not the kind of sport pursued or the intensity of the required training, but whether the activity is continued to an advanced age.

Three different techniques of middle distance running (fast/slow, slow/fast, and steady pace) have been compared in terms of oxygen intake, blood lactate and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). The subjects (10 middle distance and long distance male runners) carried out the three patterns of running on the laboratory threadmill according to a randomly ordered sequence, on each occasion covering 1400 m in 4 min. The fast/slow protocol resulted in a rapid and sustained on-transient of oxygen intake, less lactate accumulation, and a lower rating of perceived exertion during the final 2 min of th4 min run. Physiological data thus support coaching impressions of the superiority of the fast/slow protocol.

As one of our clinical studies on per rectal administration of antibiotics, children who suffered respiratory tract infection (RTI) were administered with ampicillin (ABPC) through this route. Our conclusions drawn from this study are as follows: 1. One hundred and eighty strains of aerobic bacteria which were isolated by us in 1984-1985 were tested for the sensitivity to ABPC using plate-disk method. MIC's of ABPC for all the strains of Streptococcus pyogenes were lower than 0.024 micrograms/ml. MIC's for all the strains of Streptococcus haemolyticus were 0.05-0.20 microgram/ml. MIC's for 88% of the strains tested of Haemophilus influenzae were 0.10-0.78 microgram/ml. 2. Bacterial flora in the respiratory tract of 97 cases of children, who suffered RTI, were cultured. Almost half of them were Gram-positive cocci, the rest belonged to Gram-negative groups. This indicates that broad-spectrum antibiotics should be chosen first even before the diagnosis of causative organisms is established. 3. Soon after a per rectal administration of ABPC to children, high blood concentrations of the drug were observed by paper-disk method. 4. Eleven cases, which included 2 cases of pneumonia, of 15 children who suffered RTI and were given this antibiotic were greatly improved within 3-10 days. No serious side effects were observed. 5. Our brief study reported here indicates that ABPC administration by rectal route is safe and useful for the clinical treatment of RTI of children.

T-1982 (cefbuperazone), a new cephamycin antibiotic, was fundamentally and clinically studied in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. The following results were obtained. The concentrations of T-1982 in arterial and venous blood and genitalia following intravenous injection were measured. The results demonstrated favourable transfer of the drug into various internal genital organs. T-1982 was administered to 12 patients. The efficacy rate was 75.0%, that is to say, good in 9 cases. No side effects were noted in any cases. It is, therefore, presumed that T-1982 is a useful drug for the infectious diseases in the field of obstetrics and gynecology although the number of subjects was not so large in this study.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the design of zoom lens, which is the condition under which the effect of its use is produced. The magnification or the focal length should be varied continuously, and the final image position should remain stationary during the variation. Zoom lenses are utilized in all fields of optical instrumentation and find their most extensive applications in television and motion-picture cameras, and 35 mm single-lens reflex cameras. There are various types of zoom lenses. The design of a zoom lens begins by choosing an adequate lens type. Then the focal length, position, and movement of each constituent member of the lens are determined to meet the given zoom ratio, the required system size, and the other requirements. The distribution of the intrinsic coefficients corresponds to the refractive-power assignment in the Gaussian region. Thus the design of the zoom lens is reduced to the relatively simple problem of the design of ordinary lenses.