[Histamine content of the sputa of patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis]

The sputa of patients with chronic obstructive lung disease show high histamine concentrations with large individual variations. The fluorometric and the biologic method correlate statistically significantly. Histamine concentrations decrease significantly, during 60 min at 37 degrees C, by different amounts in different patients. The measured histamine concentration can cause bronchoconstriction. The histamine and the NaCl control solutions have been found to liberate histamine into the blood, measured as free plasma histamine. There are still many questions open which should be solved because the histamine concentration in the sputum could play an important role in chronic obstructive lung disease.

Axonal dystrophy in the gracile nucleus in children and young adults. Reappraisal of the incidence and associated diseases

In 656 patients aged from one to 39 years, the incidence of axonal dystrophy in the gracile nucleus (ADG) is correlated with underlying diseases. The age-related incidence of ADG (minimal to severe) in these patients, 13, 53, 76 and 97% in the first, second, third, and fourth decades, respectively, is comparable to that observed by other investigators. The incidence drops to 8, 16, 31, and 60% when more than five spheroids in each gracile nucleus are taken into account. Diseases with which ADG is frequently associated vary according to the patient's age. Congenital biliary atresia and cystic fibrosis account for 71% of cases of ADG (mild to severe) in the first decade, while cystic fibrosis and malignancies account for 38 and 35% in the second decade, respectively. In the third decade, malignancies, renal diseases, cystic fibrosis, and heart diseases account for 30, 14, 12, and 12% of ADG cases, respectively, while malignancies, renal diseases, heart diseases, and diseases of digestive organs account for 30, 24, 15, and 11% in the fourth decade, respectively. The incidence of ADG also increases progressively with age, duration of the clinical course in the individual disease, or both, regardless of types of the diseases. This fact, when viewed together with the precocious development of severe ADG in patients with the malabsorption syndromes and in those with grave illnesses with protracted course leading to cachexia, seems to indicate that malnutrition represents a common factor correlated with severe ADG in the young patients. It seems to be premature at this time to disregard the hypothetical question that ADG in man is in some way related to deficiency or altered metabolism of vitamin E.

Axonal dystrophy in the gracile nucleus in congenital biliary atresia and cystic fibrosis (mucoviscidosis): beneficial effect of vitamin E therapy

In 63 patients with malabsorption syndromes, 16 with congenital biliary atresia (BA) and 47 with cystic fibrosis (CF), axonal dystrophy in the gracile nucleus (ADG) was studied. Of the 16 patients with BA, ADG of considerable severity was observed in all 10 over one year of age. Of the 47 patients with CF, it was observed in 32, 61 and 80% of the cases in the first, second, and third decades, respectively. Evidence is presented that there has been a substantial decrease in the incidence of ADG in CF patients in recent years and that the decreased incidence is attributable to vitamin E (Aquasol E) therapy. The beneficial effect of vitamin E supplementation in CF patients is proffered as strong evidence that ADG in BA and CF is related to vitamin E deficiency. The present study indicates that BA and CF patients require vitamin E supplementation to maintain a normal integrity of axons related to the gracile and perhaps other sensory nuclei. Critical neurological evaluation for possible dysfunction of the sensory nuclei in these patients with malabsorption syndromes is advised.

Studies on flies in Korea. III. Taxonomic studies on muscid flies (Diptera, Muscidae)

Forty species belonging to 14 genera of the family Muscidae were found so far in Korea. They are described in this paper and 5th sternites, forceps and male genitalia are illustrated. Eleven species recorded by Kobayashi (1918-1940) and 16 species by Hori (1952) were revised and redescribed in this paper. The key to the species of the muscid flies in Korea are also presented.

Studies on flies in Korea II. Taxonomical studies on sarcophagid flies (Diptera)

Thirty-eight species belonging to 15 genera of the family Sarcophagidae were found so far in Korea. The description, locality in Korea, distribution and bionomics of these species are given in this paper. The fifth sternite, forceps and genitalia of these male flies are illustrated. The key to the species of sarcophagid flies in Korea are also presented.

Studies on flies in Korea I. Taxonomical studies on calliphorid flies (Diptera)

A total of 97 species of flies collected in Korea since 1919 is described which consists of the collections by Kobayashi, Hori and the author. They include 19 species belonging to 12 genera of the family Calliphoridae, 38 species belonging to 15 genera of the family Sarcophagidae and 40 species belonging to 14 genera of the family Muscidae. The specimens were identified according to the male genitalia, which generally show little variations among the flies of the same species, and were illustrated. The geographical distribution and localities in Korea of all the species are presented, and the medically important species are discussed in detail. Of these flies, the calliphorid species in Korea are described and illustrated in this paper. The author found newly 8 species of calliphorid flies including a new species. As for the families Sarcophagidae and Muscidae, the descriptions on these will be published in part II and part III, respectively, in the near future.