Antibodies to adult T-cell leukemia-virus-associated antigen (ATLA) in sera from patients with ATL and controls in Japan: a nation-wide sero-epidemiologic study

A nation-wide sero-epidemiologic survey of adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV), detected es anti-ATLA (ATLV-associated antigen), was made in Japan. Sera from adult donors in 15 different locations were screened for anti-ATLA. High incidences (6 to 37%) of antibody-positive donors were found in seven regions, one in northern Japan, and the others in southwestern regions. These areas are ATLV-endemic areas corresponding to ATL-endemic areas. Examination of sera from healthy donors aged 6 to 80 years in ATL-endemic areas showed an age-dependent increase of seropositive donors with a maximum of about 30% at 40 years of age. Anti-ATLA was found in all but two of 142 patients with ATL. Anti-ATLA-positive patients with ATL were mainly found in ATLV-endemic areas, and only a few in ATL-nonendemic areas. Six patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in ATLV-nonendemic areas gave a negative reaction for anti-ATLA. The geometric mean titer of anti-ATLA of patients with ATL was higher than that of healthy donors.

Age-related changes of cardiac control function in man. With special reference to heart rate control at rest and during exercise

Heart rate control function at rest and during exercise in regard to age were studied in 39 healthy male volunteers (age 15 to 75). The heart rate control function during exercise was evaluated by using system analysis of heart rate response to two-step exercises (66 and 84 steps/min). No age-related changes were found in the resting heart rate at supine position or in oxygen consumption at upright rest and during the exercises. However, the mean value and the magnitude of variation of the heart rate at upright rest and the difference of heart rate at upright and supine rest showed significant negative correlations with age. As age advanced, the transfer function of the system during exercise exhibited characteristic changes depending on the frequency ranges. These findings suggest that activity of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems were depressed at rest, and that contributions of sympathetic and vagal nervous systems during exercise are more enhanced and more depressed, respectively, in older subjects than in younger subjects.