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The production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) that are exposed to lambda-carrageenan (100 micrograms/ml) and 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 100 ng/ml) was measured by a colorimetric method. After a lag period of 15 min the release of H2O2 by carrageenan-stimulated PMNs increased until a plateau level was reached at 60 min. The amount of H2O2 released was dependent on the number of cells in well or the concentration of carrageenan, reaching a maximum production of H2O2 at 5 X 10(6) cells per 3-cm dish and 100 micrograms/ml of carrageenan, respectively. The maximum amount of released H2O2 from carrageenan-treated PMNs was approximately 11 n moles/hr/10(6) cells. In contrast, TPA-stimulated PMNs released H2O2 linearly for 60 min without a lag period and produced a maximum of 60 n moles/hr/10(6) cells. These results show that lambda-carrageenan stimulates an oxidative burst from in vitro PMNs and furthermore suggest that these carrageenan-stimulated PMNs release sufficient H2O2 to induce DNA damage in mammalian cells.

Three assay methods which have been reported previously for the detection of drug-resistant mutation in mammalian cells were compared using V79 cells growing monolayer and FM3A cells growing in suspension. 8-Azaguanine and ouabain were used for the selection. A method in which mutagen-treated cells were replated and cultured in the control medium during expression period, followed by the incubation in a selection medium (we named immediate replating method), was more efficient for demonstrating mutated cells than other replating methods in every occasions examined. Further, the optimum expression periods by this method were shown to be 3 to 4 cell divisions after the replating on cells treated with different concentrations of a mutagen.

The usefulness of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using technetium-99m pyrophosphate (99mTc-PPi) was evaluated in 15 patients with acute myocardial infarction. SPECT was performed with a rotating gamma camera after conventional planar images were made. Infarct size was measured from transaxial images of myocardial pyrophosphate uptakes. In each slice, the boundary was defined by subtracting 70 percent of the maximal counts and the number of voxels automatically counted. This subtraction rate was determined by phantom study and by comparing SPECT using 99mTc-PPi with thallium-201-gated myocardial scintigraphy (201Tl gated SPECT). The planar images showed diffuse uptakes in two of the 15 patients, and in these cases it was difficult to detect the infarct site. In contrast, SPECT images clearly imaged the infarct site consistent with the electrocardiographic findings, and they were definitely separated from the uptakes in the bones in all cases. Infarct size, ranging from 3.4 ml to 78.3 ml, correlated well with cumulative creatine kinase release (r = 0.84, p less than 0.01, y = 772x + 13900). Correlation of infarct size with peak serum creatine kinase level was also significant (r = 0.66, p less than 0.01, y = 10.6x + 693). In conclusion, SPECT with 99mTc-PPi is a useful means of investigating the spatial distribution of pyrophosphate uptake and of evaluating the size of myocardial infarction.

Myeloid growth activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and normal serum was measured with a newly developed simple method. Abnormally high titers of this activity were found in the bone marrow blood serum adjacent to joints with RA where abnormal myelopoiesis had been found. Maximal activity for myeloid growth was found at a molecular weight of 70 kDa in gel filtration of serum, different from the size of any known factors involved with myelopoiesis.

Effect of methylnitrosocyanamide (MNC) on a cultured mammalian cell line was examined in comparison with that of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). It was observed that MNC was about 3 times more potent than MNNG in the experiments on toxicity and inducibility of chromosome aberration and mutation. An increase in toxicity of MNNG was observed by minimizing the elevation of pH, while toxicity of MNC was more potent in the serum-free condition than in the presence of serum. Further, MNC was shown to be extremely rapid-acting, that is, 10 min was enough to exert its toxic effect.

The presence of a specific type of cell, highly expressing difucosyl type 2 chain (dimeric Lex; FH-4 antigen), was found in the epiphyseal bone marrow cells of affected joints from patients with active severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The antigen was defined by monoclonal antibody FH-4 which was previously found to be directed to the oncofetal marker. The FH-4(+) cell population was identified as myeloid cell lineage with usual morphology specifically found in bone marrow of patients with severe RA, but is virtually absent in the same cell fraction of patients with osteoarthritis, infectious arthritis, and from normal adult subjects.

In an attempt to restore articular cartilage, allogeneic articular chondrocytes embedded in collagen gels were transplanted onto full-thickness defects in rabbit articular cartilage. Within 24 weeks after the transplantation, the defects were filled with hyaline cartilage, specifically synthesizing type II collagen. These chondrocytes were autoradiographically proven to be originated from the originally transplanted chondrocytes. As histologically assessed, success rate was about 80%, a marked improvement over the results (40% success rate) in previous studies reporting chondrocyte transplantation without collagen gels. On the other hand, the defects without chondrocyte transplantation healed with fibrocartilaginous tissue more than 24 weeks after treatment. Immunological enhancement induced by transplanted allogeneic chondrocytes or collagen was not significant for eight weeks after treatment, so far as shown by both direct and indirect blastformation reactions. Thus, allogeneic transplantation of isolated chondrocytes embedded in collagen gels appears to be one of the most promising methods for the restoration of articular cartilage.

The furanocembranoid skeleton of lophotoxin-type has been constructed efficiently by a method utilizing the formation reaction of a furan ring for the macrocyclization.

During the last 6 years, we examined 402 cases (including 5 cases in their 20's and 17 cases in their 30's) of colorectal cancer. We compared three groups (cases in their 20's, cases in their 30's, and cases over 40 years old), and had the following results. Cases in their 20's had a higher rate of familial history of colorectal cancer, and the cancer was located mainly in the proximal colon. Well differentiated and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma was dominant in the cases in their 30's and in those over 40 years old. On the other hand mucinous adenocarcinoma and signet ring cell carcinoma was dominant in the cases in their 20's. A case of cancer family syndrome is also presented.

Two types of virus particles, intracisternal type A and extracellular type C with budding, were detected in the same cells of BF osteosarcoma, its cultured cell lines, and their BFO tumors in CBA mice. The type C particles were approximately 100 microns in diameter. The buoyant density of the virions was 1.16g/ml in sucrose and 1.07 g/ml in Ficoll. A 72S RNA was demonstrated by gel electrophoresis, but no DNA was detected. Reverse transcriptase activity was also demonstrated in detergent-treated virions. Thus, the particles seem to be RNA virus. Cellular transformation and focus formation were observed after rat and mouse embryo cell monolayers were infected with the virus. The same kind of osteosarcoma was produced by inoculation of cloned transformed cells (BFOSV) of CBA embryo cells into CBA mice. Thus, the virus seems to be an oncornavirus.

A 48-year-old man with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) was studied by serial cardiac catheterization during incidentally induced syncope. His hospital admission was for repeated syncopal attacks and chest pain. His electrocardiogram showed giant negative T waves (greater than 10 mm) in V3, V4 and V5 leads, and his M-mode echocardiogram disclosed typical asymmetric septal hypertrophy, systolic anterior movement of the mitral valve, and a midsystolic semiclosure of the aortic valve. During cardiac catheterization, we incidentally induced syncope and recorded the serial pressure changes. During syncope, systemic blood pressure dropped without appreciable changes in pulmonary arterial and right ventricular pressures. Although blood pressure was maintained by administering etilefrine and hydrocortisone, syncope persisted. After administration of propranolol, he recovered from syncope. He was on sinus rhythm throughout the examinations. The ejection time (ET) obtained from the aortic pressure curve was extremely short (160 msec) during syncope and prolonged (300 msec) after recovery without significant change in the heart rate. We believe that the prompt intravenous administration of propranolol was very effective in relieving myocardial spasm as a possible cause of syncope.

The initiating complement component (C1q) in the classical pathway of 730 subjects and the first essential component (C3) in the alternative pathway of 461 subjects in Japan were examined. The study population consisted of normal healthy newborns, infants, children, adults and the old (from birth up to 75 years of age). In cord sera, both C1q and C3 were about 60% to the total mean level. At 3 days of age, C1q markedly increased to the mean level which remained relatively invariable up to 40 years of age. And above 40 years, the C1q level increased steadily with age up to about 75 years of age. C3 reached the mean level at about 1 month of age, and was highest during infancy. This level declined at about puberty and then continued to increase steadily with age up to around 55 years. In normal healthy subjects, a moderate positive rank correlation was found between C1q and C3 amounts. No significant differences of C1q and C3 levels were evident between male and female. No C1q was demonstrable in the colostrum from which lipids were previously removed, but after concentration by precipitation in a chelating agent with a low ionic strength, C1q, measured immunochemically, was detectable at concentrations of 300 ng/ml of colostrum. C3 was also detected at concentrations of about 200 microgram/ml of colostrum.

The amount of the initiating complement component (Clq) in the classical pathway and the first essential component (C3) in the alternative complement pathway were measured with a single radial immunodiffusion (SRID). A high ionic strength was used corresponding to that of 0 . 25 M NaCl and 0 . 01 M EDTA to avoid nonspecific binding of Clq with immune aggregates. Measurements were made on sera and/or synovial fluids from 165 patients with various bone and joint diseases. Values of Clq and C3 in synovial fluids were also expressed as ratios to that of albumin in the same specimens to avoid the influence of differences in volume of synovial fluid in various diseases, and this appeared to provide a reliable index reflecting pathological conditions. Both serum Clq and C3 levels were raised highly in rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and osteomyelitis, but the extent of the elevation of C3 was less conspicuous. Values of Clq and C3 in synovial fluids also markedly increased in rheumatoid arthritis.

Chronic polyarthritis was produced in inbred C3H/He mice after intraperitoneal (ip) administration of allogeneic thymocytes of inbred line BALB/c mice. The polyarthritis persisted more than 18 months without additional ip treatment. Histologically, synovial cell hyperplasia, granulation tissue formation, and inflammatory cell infiltration were seen. More than 6 months after the initial administration, range of motion of the affected joints was significantly restricted and the erosive destructions of joint cartilage were found roentgenographically. Thus, this experimentally induced arthritis proved to have many pathologic features in common with human rheumatoid arthritis.

We analyzed more than 4 consecutive measurements of the central area of the visual field in 1,004 eyes of 533 subjects with various types of glaucoma as diagnosed by the Octopus 201 and its examination program No. 31. We used a non-repeated analysis of variance to determine the statistical relationship between the mean sensitivity measurements for individual quadrants of the central visual field. We made the series of measurements used in this statistical analysis during repeated examinations that took place over a follow-up period of 1 year. Out of 1,004 eyes, 53 eyes (5.3%) were shown to have an improved mean sensitivity of the central 30 degrees of the visual field. We adopted the degree of sensitivity improvement [(final mean sensitivity - initial mean sensitivity)/follow-up period] as the indicator of the degree of reversibility in the central visual field to determine which factors might influence changes in the visual field. In patients under 50 years of age, who were at an early stage of the disease, as opposed to those over 50 years of age, who were at an intermediate or advanced stage of this disease or who had undergone reduction of intraocular pressure, a relatively high degree of sensitivity improvement was more frequently observed. In the cases with primary open angle glaucoma which includes low tension glaucoma, we think treatment for abnormality in the aqueous humor dynamics is very important. We concluded, that the reversibility of the central visual field defect in glaucomatous eyes is possible, though it can only be clearly detected by careful follow-up examinations employing computerized perimetry.

It is important to know quantity of wash load for the integrated sediment management from upstream through downstream river basins. Generally, both continuous turbidity measuring and bottle sampling are used for suspended-sediment concentration measurement in rivers or reservoirs. Here, we have developed a new suspended sediment concentration measuring system with differential pressure transmitter (hereafter, we call SMDP). The SMDP has advantages in long-term and high turbidity measurement because differential pressure transmitter is measuring density of water directly. Based on measuring conditions, a submersible type and a water circulating type SMDP are available, and both of them have shown good performances through laboratory tests and field experiments at the Miwa dam, the Tenryu river and the Kurobe river.

研究目的温湿度の調節出来る簡単な強伸度試験機を組立て、その試験として晒綿糸の糊付量及び湿度につき強伸度と吸湿性を調べた。研究結果温湿度調節は良好な結果を示し商用試験等には適する。綿糸の強伸度は一般に糊量及び湿度と共に増すが、次第にそめ増加率を減ずる。吸湿性は糊付の或る量にて最大値が存在する。

研究目的紡織機その他の鑄物部品製作に当り、余り良質でない鑄鉄の性質を改良して、良質材及び特殊材の節約、不良品或は使用中の消耗の減少等への資料として、鑄鉄に簡単な熱処理を施しその性質変化を調べた。研究結果熱処理によう性質変化は著しい。これを熱処理費と考え台わせて適当に利用すれば、経済的な点が多いようである。