Distal radioulnar joint subluxation and dislocation diagnosed by standard roentgenography

The use of standard lateral roentgenography for diagnosing distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) subluxation and dislocation was investigated. Using a wrist support, bilateral standard lateral roentgenograms of the wrist were obtained in 42 patients with normal wrists and in 56 patients with a unilateral wrist injury. In normal wrists the difference between the radioulnar distance in the right and the left wrist did not exceed 4 mm when the difference in the pisoscaphoid distance was less than 3 mm. Of the 36 patients with wrist injury whose difference in pisoscaphoid distance was less than 3 mm, 15 had a radioulnar distance of 5 mm or more, and computed tomography (CT) confirmed DRUJ dislocation in 14. Concordance between lateral roentgenograms and CT was present in 33 of 36 patients (92%). These results demonstrate the value of a standardized technique for bilateral lateral roentgenography in diagnosing DRUJ subluxation and dislocation.

Magnitudes of neurological disorders in a farming town in Kyushu, Japan: frequency of neurological symptoms and signs

We examined 1,270 elderly residents aged 60 years and over in a cross-sectional study of a standardized clinical examination to determine the frequency of 'abnormal' neurological findings in 27 randomly selected communities in the town of Mifune, Japan. The survey showed one or more neurological symptoms in 89.1%, and one or more signs in 94.4% of the examined elderly. Most of the symptoms and signs increased with age, especially after 70 years, indicating the importance of neurological afflictions in the community health of the elderly.

Portal and peripheral endotoxins in patients with esophageal varices undergoing surgery

Under the hypothesis that portal endotoxemia, which has been considered evidence of endogenous endotoxemia, is actually a false-positive reaction of the Limulus test, the conventional method of determination, Toxicolor (TOX) and a new endotoxin-specific method, Endospecy (ES) were investigated, whereby portal endotoxemia was reexamined. Peripheral and portal blood samples were collected from 12 patients at various intervals during surgery for esophageal varices, and then evaluated by TOX and ES, the normal values of which are under 60.0 pg/ml and under 9.8 pg/ml, respectively. The mean peripheral and portal endotoxin (Et) levels by TOX were 23.1 pg/ml and 38.9 pg/ml, 1.5 h after the start of surgery, which continued to increase thereafter, the corresponding levels being 48.1 pg/ml and 58.7 pg/ml 8 h after the start of surgery, respectively. The portal Et levels were significantly higher by ES, indicating portal endotoxemia, the mean peripheral and portal Et levels being 6.9 pg/ml, and 6.5 pg/ml, 1.5 h after the start of surgery, these levels showing changes within a similar range. The levels determined by the conventional TOX method increased with time, to a portal Et level of 5.0 pg/ml 8 h after the start of surgery, whereas those determined by ES changed within the same range suggesting that the onset of portal endotoxemia primarily involves the G-factors and that endogenous endotoxemia does not occur.

Isolation and culture of bovine mammary epithelial cells and establishment of gene transfection conditions in the cells

Bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC) were isolated as acinous fragments from a mammary gland of a lactating cow. They grew well on plastic substratum, showed the characteristic cobblestone morphology of epithelial cells, and secreted alpha s1-, beta-, and kappa-caseins even when grown on plastic substratum. A plasmid containing the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene was transfected to the isolated BMEC by calcium phosphate precipitation and electroporation methods. The transfection efficiency of BMEC by the calcium phosphate method was greatly improved by post-transfection osmotic shock with glycerol or polyethylene glycol. An about 700 bp DNA fragment containing 5'-flanking sequence of bovine alpha s1-casein gene showed promoter activity in the transfected BMEC. The primary culture of BMEC might be useful for studies on regulation of bovine milk-protein gene expression.

Palmar dermatoglyphics in congenital hand anomalies

A palmar dermatoglyphic study of 392 hands of patients with congenital hand anomalies was performed to evaluate the number of digital triradii, the position of an axial triradius, the incidence of hypothenar patterns, the pattern intensity, and the main line index. Remarkable variations, which are rare in normal hands, were frequently observed. The results deviated from the normal range in cases of ectrodactyly and syndactyly, but were within the normal range in cases of polydactyly. The dermatoglyphics associated with each type of hand anomaly was characteristic and discriminative. Dermatoglyphics was also helpful in evaluating the function of the hand, and in estimating the time of the damage to the hand in embryogenesis.

Inhibition by lithium of cyclic GMP formation without inhibition of nitric oxide generation in the mouse neuroblastoma cell (N1E-115)

We investigated the effects of lithium ion (Li+) on muscarinic receptor-mediated nitric oxide (NO) generation, and guanylate cyclase (GCase) activation using the mouse neuroblastoma clone, N1E-115. The levels of released NO were determined by measuring the levels of nitrite/nitrate in the incubation medium, and the activity of GCase was measured with an assay for cellular cyclic [3H] GMP levels. We determined that Li+ had no effects on muscarinic receptor-activated elevation of nitrite/nitrate levels, which were significantly inhibited by 100 microM L-NG-monomethylarginine, although it has been reported that Li+ inhibits muscarinic receptor-activated cyclic GMP formation in the cells. In addition, Li+ inhibited the cyclic GMP formation induced by an NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), in both intact cells and a crude cellular homogenate; thus, the inhibition by Li+ of muscarinic receptor-mediated cyclic GMP synthesis appeared to be at the level of GCase, but not NO synthase.

Late-onset selective neuronal damage in the rat spinal cord induced by continuous intrathecal administration of AMPA

Neurotoxicity mediated by 1-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) was investigated by infusing this agent continuously for 7 days intrathecally to adult rats using a mini-osmotic pump. Behavioral changes were apparent only after the second postoperative day, when the rats displayed hindlimb palsy or incontinence of urine. The behavioral deficits became progressively severe and the rats usually displayed both hindlimb paraplegia and incontinence of urine by the 7th postoperative day. These progressive behavioral deficits were induced in a dose-dependent manner in the rats that received AMPA at a dose of > 100 pmol/h (100 microM at 1 microliter/h, 17 nmol in total dose). The severity of behavioral deficits was in parallel with that of neuropathological changes in the lumbosacral cords. In spinal segments rostrally adjacent to those with severe pathological changes, only the neurons in the dorsal horns (Rexed's laminae II-IV) were destroyed with intense gliosis. These changes were not induced by infusing AMPA for 1 day. The concomitant administration of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), an antagonist for non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, with AMPA, but not that of 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV), an antagonist for NMDA receptor, prevented induction of the behavioral and neuropathological changes. The findings of the present study suggest that this late-onset, selective neurotoxicity is mediated by AMPA-type glutamate receptors.

Evidence for impaired cellular cholesterol removal mediated by apo A-I containing lipoproteins in patients with familial lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency

We investigated the cholesterol reducing capacity of two species of lipoproteins containing apo A-I, one containing only apo A-I (LpA-I) and the other containing apo A-I and apo A-II (LpA-I/A-II), in 7 patients (4 homozygotes and 3 heterozygotes) with familial lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency. Interaction of normal LpA-I or LpA-I/A-II with macrophage foam cells induced a mass reduction in cholesterol from these cells and the cholesterol reducing capacity of LpA-I was greater than that of LpA-I/A-II. When foam cells were incubated with these lipoproteins from homozygotes or heterozygotes, the capacity of LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II particles to reduce cellular cholesterol was decreased by approx. 50% in the homozygotes but was increased by 25-50% in the heterozygotes. These results suggest that LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II isolated from homozygotes and from heterozygotes differ in their ability to accept cellular cholesterol. The former are poor and the latter good acceptors of intracellular cholesterol. We conclude that factors other than reverse cholesterol transport via apo A-I containing lipoproteins have to be considered to explain why homozygotes for LCAT deficiency are not at high risk for premature atherosclerosis.

[Present situation in self-injection therapy with interferon-alpha for patients with renal cell carcinoma]

Interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) is often used for the treatment of renal cell carcinomas. The injections are frequently self-administered at home. To assess how this therapy was accepted by the patient we sent out a questionnaire. For the past 2 years until March 1993, this therapy was performed in our department on 52 patients, of whom 45 were selected for the study. All patients were informed of their disease and consented to the necessity of this treatment. Thirty-eight patients answered this questionnaire. Almost all patients injected this agent mainly by themselves. These findings suggested that they regarded this therapy as a strategy to be executed by themselves for the treatment of carcinoma. The main toxic symptoms in this therapy were asthenia, fever and loss of appetite. Leukocytopenia occurred in about half of the patients, of whom 1 patient required medication because of a rapid decrease in the white blood cell count shortly after inception of this therapy. The treatment was discontinued in 50% of the patients because of these adverse effects. Systemic toxicity disappeared after cessation of IFN alpha administration. Additionally, over 80% of the patients expressed concern about effectiveness, the duration and high cost of this therapy. The patients had to be repeatedly instructed about the method of disposing used needles and syringes. This study revealed that self injection of IFN alpha, which required strict management particularly at the initiation, can be performed at home. However, countermeasures must be taken against the side actions and an optimum regimen of IFN alpha should be established as soon as possible.

Role of fine needle aspiration cytology and endoscopic biopsy in the preoperative assessment of pancreatic and peripancreatic malignancies

Sixty-seven of 207 patients with pancreatic and peripancreatic malignancies underwent preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA), and 24 patients underwent intraluminal endoscopic biopsies. All patients had confirmation of the diagnosis of malignancy either at operation, autopsy, or by clinical follow-up. FNA of liver metastases was positive for malignancy in 12 of 12 patients. FNA of the pancreas was performed on 44 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 11 patients with other pancreatic or peripancreatic malignancies. The diagnosis of cancer was established by FNA in 32 of 44 (72.4%) patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 1 of 11 patients (9.1%) with other pancreatic or peripancreatic malignancies. In the patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 17 of 18 patients (94.4%) who had no operative intervention, 12 of 18 (66.7%) patients who had palliative bypass procedures, and 3 of 8 (37.5%) patients resected had positive FNA. Eighteen of 24 patients (75%) who underwent intraluminal endoscopic biopsies, and 11 of 15 (73.3%) with ampullary carcinoma were positive. We believe that FNA is of limited value in the diagnosis of small resectable tumors of the pancreas as it identified cancer in only 3 of 8 patients in whom it was employed. False negative FNA may delay the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic malignancies. Patients in whom there is a high index of suspicion of pancreatic or peripancreatic malignancy based on clinical presentation, CT scan, or ERCP assessment do not require preoperative, histologic proof of malignancy prior to pancreaticoduodenectomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Psychometric equivalence of the Hasegawa Dementia Scale-Revised with the Mini-Mental State Examination in stroke patients

Responses to the Hasegawa Dementia Scale-Revised and the Mini-Mental State Examination were examined for 49 stroke patients to investigate the psychometric equivalence between the two tests. Pearson product-moment correlation and Spearman rank-order correlation between the two tests were 0.87 and 0.78. Each test's scores significantly correlated with the Full Scale IQs on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale--Revised: 0.61 for Hasegawa's Dementia Scale and 0.69 for the Mini-Mental State Examination. These values indicate that the two tests are judged comparable measures for screening cognitive impairment in stroke patients.

Immunologically cross-reactive 57 kDa and 53 kDa glycoprotein antigens of bovine milk fat globule membrane: isoforms with different N-linked sugar chains and differential glycosylation at early stages of lactation

Two glycoprotein antigens with molecular masses of 57 kDa (MGP57) and 53 kDa (MGP53) were co-purified from bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) by immunoaffinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody raised against the MFGM. Their N-terminal sequences of 22 amino acids determined were identical, and the sequence was homologous (about 60% identical) to the deduced amino acid sequence of mouse milk fat globule epidermal growth factor (EGF) factor 8 (MFG-E8) (Ref. [12], Stubbs, J.D. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 87, 8417-8421, 1990). This suggests that MGP57/53 are bovine MFGM components 15/16 (PAS-6 and PAS-7), which have recently been reported to be bovine homologs of MFG-E8. N-Glycanase treatment of these glycoproteins reduced their molecular masses, and consequently the enzymatically deglycosylated MGP57 and MGP53 converged on a single band of 50 kDa as measured by SDS-PAGE, indicating that the polypeptide portions of these two distinct glycoprotein antigens are very similar or identical and that their N-linked sugar chains contributed to minor difference in their molecular masses. Western blot analyses using lectins also revealed that they were differentially glycosylated; MGP57 was stained with concanavalin A (Con A) more strongly than MGP53, whereas MGP 53 was stained well with soybean agglutinin (SBA). Reactivity with SBA remarkably increased during early stages of lactation. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that MGP57 and MGP53 were electrically heterogeneous; from day 9 after parturition, both glycoproteins fell in almost the same range of isoelectric points between 6.4 and 7.6, also, such glycoproteins from day 1 after parturition were more acidic, probably due to terminal sialylation of their sugar chains.

[Toxicity of AMPA, an excitatory amino acid, to rat spinal cord neurons under intrathecal administration]

The neurotoxicity mediated by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), an agonist for glutamate receptors, was investigated by infusing adult rats with this agent intrathecally for either a short term (2 hours) or a long term (7 days) using a mechanical pump or a mini-osmotic pump, respectively. In the short-term infusion group, spasticity of the hindlimbs developed during infusion at 0.5 nmol/h or more of AMPA, tremors at 50 nmol/h or more, and flaccidity at 65 nmol/h or more. One day later, flaccid paralysis of the hindlimbs and urinary incontinence were observed in the rats that received 50 nmol/h (total dose: 100 nmol) or more of AMPA. These symptoms were thought to be permanent. On the other hand, in the long-term infusion group, behavioral changes were apparent only after second postoperative day, when rats displayed hindlimb palsy or urinary incontinence. Behavioral deficits became progressively severe, and rats usually displayed both hindlimb paraplegia and urinary incontinence by the 7th postoperative day. These progressive behavioral deficits were induced in a dose-dependent manner in rats that received AMPA at doses greater than 0.1 nmol/h. Gliosis with neuronal loss involving the partial (lumbar segments) and whole (sacral segments) gray matter of the spinal cord was induced in rats that received AMPA at doses greater than 50 nmol/h in the short-term infusion group and greater than 0.1 nmol/h in the long-term infusion group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of subspecies of apolipoprotein A-I-containing lipoprotein in homozygotes for familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency

We characterized the two species of lipoproteins containing apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), one containing only apoA-I (LpA-I) and the other containing apoA-I and apoA-II (LpA-I/A-II), in four homozygotes for familial lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency. Two homozygotes lacked both LCAT mass and activity, whereas the other two had some residual LCAT mass and activity. In these patients, the amount of all apoA-I-containing lipoproteins was one fourth that of normal control subjects, and > 60% was LpA-I. The chemical composition of both LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II is characterized by markedly decreased ratios of neutral to polar lipids compared with those of normals and the sizes of LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II particles are shifted to smaller and larger diameter ranges when compared with those of normal particles. Changes in particle diameter are also reflected in slower electrophoretic mobilities of both LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II particles. All of these abnormalities were more evident in the two homozygotes who lacked LCAT activity. Incubation of LCAT-deficient plasma with LCAT markedly corrected the chemical and physical abnormalities in both LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II particles. These data, taken together, emphasize the importance of LCAT in modifying the chemical composition, size, and shape of LpA-I and LpA-I/A-II particles.

The position of symbrachydactyly in the classification of congenital hand anomalies

The clinical features of 53 cases of intercalated hypoplasia and 113 cases of distal aplasia are reviewed and compared with each other and with 129 cases of syndactyly. Tri-, di- and mono-phalangeal symbrachydactyly, and adactyly with nubbin digits are consecutive anomalies. Transverse deficiency may result if the mesenchyme is damaged severely, and if damage is mild and formation has continued, intercalated transverse deficiency may occur. Webbing in symbrachydactyly may result from failure of the apical ectodermal ridge under the influence of damaged mesenchyme.

[Epidemiological remarks on low serum cholesterol level and cancer risk of all sites]

Epidemiological studies which examine an association between low serum cholesterol level and cancer risk of all sites were reviewed and a summary of major findings are as follows: (1) In most reports, low serum cholesterol level, which associated with cancer of all sites, cancer deaths/incidence occurred within a few years after cholesterol measurement were performed. This short-term association is believed to be a preclinical cancer effect, i.e., preclinical cancer itself reduces serum cholesterol level. (2) A long-term inverse association between serum cholesterol and cancer risk of all sites was observed in some studies. This association cannot be explained by either a preclinical cancer effect or by chance. The epidemiological implications of this association was discussed in depth. (3) A long-term inverse association between serum cholesterol level and cancer mortality/incidence was observed mainly in men, but not in women. In a few studies which reported an inverse association in women, follow-up periods were rather short. (4) A few epidemiological studies conducted in Japan also detected a long-term inverse relationship between serum cholesterol level and cancer risk of all sites in men, but not in women. Since low serum cholesterol level may possibly be a risk factor for cancer of all sites, further investigation involving experimental studies on animals and longitudinal population-based study appear to be necessary for confirmation of this factor.

Dystrophin-related protein is found in the central nervous system of mice at various developmental stages, especially at the postsynaptic membrane

Dystrophin deficiency is known to be the cause of X-linked Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A recently cloned B3-cDNA shares 80% homology with the C-terminus and actin-binding portion of dystrophin. This autosome-derived gene product is called dystrophin-related protein (DRP). DRP is known to exist in fetal muscles even in mdx mice, an animal model for X-linked DMD, but not in mature mouse muscles. We raised a polyclonal antibody against a B3-unique amino acid sequence (Ab-LDP) and investigated the existence and distribution of DRP in the central nervous system (CNS) tissues of mdx and normal control B10 mice at various stages of development using immunoblotting and immunohistochemical methods. The former shows that DRP exists in the CNS of both B10 and mdx mice, regardless of the developmental stage, with the exception that the 420 kDa DRP band of the 15-day fetus is faint. In immunohistochemical studies, the choroid plexus, some neurons, glial cels, pia mater, and blood vessels were stained with Ab-LDP. Staining intensity did not differ between B10 and mdx mice or between developmental stages except that the 15-day fetus stained only faintly. This is in contrast to the results obtained for muscles in which DRP localized to muscle membrane in embryo decreases and is assembled at the neuromuscular junction in adults. In addition, an electron microscopic study on the cerebral cortex from adult B10 mice was also performed and revealed Ab-LDP staining of the postsynaptic membrane of dendrite and the rough endoplasmic reticulum of neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ulnar ray deficiency. A report of a family

We report three cases of ulnar ray deficiency in one family. The father had a left ring finger deficit, and a hypoplastic little finger was amputated at childhood. His first baby had a deep cleft between the ring and little finger in the right hand, and his second baby had complete absence of the left ulna, only one metacarpal, and two digits were present on the hand. All three cases were unilaterally involved and they had no other skeletal abnormalities.

Spinocerebellar degenerations in Japan: a nationwide epidemiological and clinical study

A nationwide survey of patients in Japan with spinocerebellar degenerations (SCD), including SDS and SND, was conducted from 1988 to 1989. The survey consisted of two parts. The first revealed that the estimated total number of patients with SCD in Japan was 5,050 (range: 4,100-6,000) with an estimated prevalence of 4.53 per 100,000 in 1987. The second part investigated the neurological and functional status of patients with SCD. The percentages of those belonging to each subtype of SCD were: OPCA; 34.4%, LCCA; 15.2%, MHCA; 12.6%, HHCA; 7.5%, SDS; 7.0%, HSP; 3.9%, DRPLA; 2.5%, FA; 2.4%, MJD; 2.0% and SND; 1.5%. Compared with European epidemiological studies Japan had a higher proportion of non-hereditary types of SCD. Various clinical features of SCD subtypes were compared grouped by pathological lesion and heredity. HHCA and LCCA: cerebellar ataxia predominated in all stages, and neurological signs other than cerebellar ataxia were rare. MHCA, DRPLA and MJD: in the early phase ataxia was the most common symptom in MHCA, the AC form of DRPLA and MJD, but ataxia was less common and chorea or epilepsy were often observed in ME and PH forms of DRPLA. Other frequently observed clinical features were parkinsonian rigidity in MHCA, abnormal movements and posture in DRPLA and MJD, and disturbances of eye movements in MHCA, the AC form of DRPLA and MJD. OPCA, SDS and SND: dominant clinical features were cerebellar ataxia in OPCA, autonomic disturbance in SDS, and parkinsonian rigidity in SND. FA and HSP: both were rare in Japan. Clinical features related to supra-supinal lesions were frequently observed in FA. Functional status of SCD: the severity of illness was significantly associated with the level of independence in each item of ADL. Activities not requiring dynamic balance were performed independently for a longer period than those requiring dynamic balance. Among SCD subtypes, functional prognosis was poorest in non-hereditary, multi-systemic types (OPCA, SDS and SND) followed by hereditary multi-systemic types (MHCA, DRPLA and MJD), and better in spinal types (FA and HSP) and cerebellar types (HHCA and LCCA).

Scaphoid fracture as a "puncher's fracture"

We investigated 18 scaphoid fractures induced by punching. The wrist position while punching was neutral to slight palmar flexion. We postulated that the mechanism of the fracture was caused by the concentration of the external force to the second metacarpus. The forces are then dispersed to the trapezium and trapezoid, which produces shear stress at the waist of the scaphoid. In spite of the differences in mechanism, the location of the fracture was similar to fractured scaphoids caused by wrist extension injuries. Regardless of the wrist positions, the carpal scaphoid is most vulnerable to fracture due to its characteristic morphology.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies directed against bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM)

Nine hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) were produced from spleen cells of three immunized BALB/c mice. Several MFGM antigens recognized by some mAbs were identified as a 120 kDa protein and 67 kDa (butyrophilin), 57 kDa (PAS-6), 53 kDa (PAS-7), 33 kDa glycoproteins. The other mAbs secreted by four independent hybridoma clones recognized many broad bands ranging from 20 to 200 kDa. The 120 kDa protein and 67 kDa, 57 kDa, 53 kDa glycoproteins were detected by each mAb in the plasma membrane fraction prepared from a lactating bovine mammary gland. Moreover, mammary gland epithelium of a thin section was specifically stained with these mAbs, indicating that these mAbs directed against MFGM recognized membrane proteins and glycoproteins of lactating mammary epithelial cells. Upon heating of the MFGM in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 at 100 degrees C for 10 min, the antigens still retained most of its reactivity to these mAbs, whereas, proteolytic cleavage by trypsin and chymotrypsin strongly reduced its reactivity to these mAbs by 60% or more except for two mAbs which recognized the 57 and 53 kDa glycoproteins, respectively.

Participation of an arginyl residue of insulin chain B in the inhibition of hemagglutination by Porphyromonas gingivalis

Insulin chain B, containing each one arginyl and lysyl residue in its peptide chain, inhibited hemagglutination by Porphyromonas gingivalis. To determine the further inhibitory profile, chain B was digested into 4 fragments by protease, which was contained in the preparation of hemagglutinin from P. gingivalis. Identification of each fragment by the amino acid analysis revealed that the chain was cleaved at the carboxyl site of arginyl and/or lysyl residues, but one fragment contained citrulline instead of arginine at its carboxyl terminal. This citrulline might have originated from arginine by an arginine deiminase-like enzyme of P. gingivalis. Only one fragment that contained the arginyl residue exhibited inhibitory activity on hemagglutination, but it was considerably weakened compared with that of the intact chain B. The difference in the inhibitory activity seemed to depend on the position of an arginyl residue in the peptide; this was also confirmed using several derivatives of bradykinin. The present result suggests that the internal arginyl residue in a peptide chain may be critical for the inhibition of the hemagglutination by P. gingivalis.