A study on dermatoses due to tonsillar focal infection using a nation-wide questionnaire in Japan

The relation of the infected to nephritis, rheumatic and heart diseases has been recognized but that to dermatoses has not been fully established nor applied clinically by dermatogists or otolaryngologists in the treatment of such patients. In order to assess to attitude of dermatologists as regards the dermatoses due to focal tonsillar infection, a questionnaire was sent to the departments of dermatology of 72 universities in Japan: 44 (61.1%) have replied. There were 40 dermatoses listed as possibly associated with a focal infection. About 60% of the universities endeavoured to detect the focus although the focus was not always removed when identified.

Thymus abnormalities in ulcerative colitis- comparative study with other autoimmune diseases

Since the thymus is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis, thymus abnormalities were studied on 18 cases of ulcerative colitis by using pneumomediastinography and histopathological examination. We have compared the thymic abnormality of ulcerative colitis with that of 104 cases of variety of autoimmune diseases. The denser and larger thymic shadow was seen in ulcerative colitis and this finding was same as in other autoimmune diseases. But the thymic size in ulcerative colitis was the largest in all examined autoimmune diseases. The incidence of thymic lymphoid follicle formation in ulcerative colitis was significantly higher than that of accidental death and this high incidence of lymphoid follicle formation is similar to other autoimmune diseases. We suggested that ulcerative colitis might be caused by the abnormal thymus dependent system.

Chemical and biological properties of hot water extract from delipidated cells of Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG

A water-soluble fraction was isolated from delipidated cells of Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG by extraction with hot water. Chemical analyses revealed that the above fraction presumably consisted of a peptidoglycan containing 5-10% of nucleic acids. When it was injected into guinea pigs with Freund's incomplete adjuvant plus egg white albumin as antigen, an increase of circulating antibody was observed as shown by the augmented titers of precipitin and hemagglutinin. The results of skin test and corneal reaction indicated that the fraction mentioned above induced delayed hypersensitivity to egg white albumin. Footpad reaction in mice demonstrated that the above fraction induced delayed hypersensitivity to sheep red blood cells. It was confirmed in addition that the adjuvant activity of this fraction was not due to the presence of nucleic acids. This adjuvant-active fraction was designated as HSA (hot-water soluble adjuvant.