Non-invasive assessment of the age related changes in stiffness of major branches of the human arteries

The static mechanical properties of major branches of the human arteries (common carotid artery, abdominal aorta, femoral artery, and brachial artery) were studied in 39 subjects, aged 6-81 years, using an ultrasonic phase locked echo tracking system that allows continuous transcutaneous measurement of the diameter of the artery. The stiffness indices were calculated from the relation between systemic blood pressure and arterial diameter. With advancing age there was a significant increase in the diameter of all arteries with a reduction in percentage change in diameter. The stiffness index increased with age in all arteries; however, in the brachial and femoral arteries there was considerable variation in the individual values for a given age. The age associated increase in stiffness was statistically significant only in the common carotid artery and the abdominal aorta. Although the mechanical properties of the peripheral arteries were significantly influenced by the measuring environment, the calculated stiffness indices were less vulnerable to these stimuli in the central arteries. These results indicate that the stiffness indices of the peripheral muscular arteries are modified appreciably by vasoactive stimuli and that the mechanical properties of the deeper elastic arteries provide sufficiently reliable information about changes caused by aging and arteriosclerosis. The new ultrasonic method used appears to be suitable for this analysis.

[Relationship between left ventricular diastolic behavior and the A wave ratio by the apexcardiogram: a study with echocardiography and pulsed Doppler echocardiography]

We investigated the relationship between parameters of left ventricular diastolic filling using pulsed Doppler echocardiography and the A wave ratio of apexcardiography (ACG), and then evaluate the characteristic features of diastolic behavior in hypertrophic hearts and in various cardiac diseases. The study population consisted of 68 patients and 25 normal subjects, and included 19 cases of chronic renal failure (CRF), 17 cases of ischemic heart disease (IHD), 16 cases of hypertension (HT), six cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, two cases of aortic stenosis, two cases of arrhythmias, and six of other cardiac diseases. The A wave ratio of ACG was calculated as the ratio of A wave amplitude and total excursion [(A/E-O) x 100]. At the same time, the peak early filling velocity (R), the peak late filling velocity (A), the ratio of R to A (A/R), acceleration time (AT), and deceleration time (DT) were measured from the left ventricular inflow velocity pattern using pulsed Doppler echocardiography. The results were as follows: 1. There was a close positive correlation between the A wave ratio of ACG and the A/R of pulsed Doppler echocardiography. 2. In patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), both the A wave ratio and the A/R were significantly higher than those in normal subjects. And in LVH with asynergy, both the A wave ratio and the A/R were significantly higher than those in LVH without asynergy. 3. In CRF, IHD, and HT, both the A wave ration and the A/R were significantly higher than those in normal subjects, but there were no significant differences among these three disease entities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

High-performance liquid chromatographic system for the rapid purification of growth-hormone receptor in rabbit livers

A system consisting of high-performance affinity chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography has been developed for the rapid purification and isolation of relatively labile membrane proteins, such as growth-hormone receptor. The crude membrane sample containing growth-hormone receptor was obtained from rabbit livers by ultracentrifugation, followed by solubilization with Triton X-100. The sample was introduced into the high-performance affinity gel column through a large-volume loop injector. After removal of unretained proteins, the fraction containing the growth-hormone receptor was eluted with 6 M urea solution. The eluate from the affinity column passed directly into the size-exclusion gel column, where rapid desalting and separation from contaminants were achieved. The eluate was monitored by UV absorption at 280 nm and fractionated for the subsequent binding assay with 125I-labelled human growth hormone.

[Immunotherapy of terminal-stage malignant tumors with the immunopotentiator OK-432--a comparison between SU-PS test-responder and -nonresponder patients]

We treated terminal malignant tumor cases with the immunopotentiator OK-432 and determined the absolute numbers of neutrocytes, lymphocytes, and lymphocyte subpopulations, carrying out the SU-PS and PPD skin tests. After the start of therapy, SU-PS test changed to positive in one-third of the patients. The SU-PS -responder patients showed an increase in lymphocytes and Leu 11A-positive cells, and an elevation of the OK T4/T8 ratio two weeks later. In the SU-PS-nonresponder group, OKT4-positive cells declined, while OKT8-positive cells increased with time. That is, the OKT4/T8 ratio remained low throughout the test period. In the SU-PS-responder group, OK-432 therapy was found to prolong the survival period.

Prostaglandins in enhanced pressor response in renal prehypertensive rabbits

The role of prostaglandins (PGs) in the pressor response to norepinephrine (NE) was examined in one-kidney, one clip rabbits with renal artery stenosis for 3-day's duration (3-day clipped rabbits) and in sham operated rabbits with one-kidney without renal artery stenosis. An exaggerated pressor response to NE, 800 ng/kg/min, was observed in the 3-day clipped rabbits, and it was abolished by angiotensin II antagonist, [Sar1, Ile8] angiotensin II (AIIA). Treatment with indomethacin, 10 mg/kg, induced hyperresponsiveness to NE in the sham operated rabbits and also produced a further increase in the response in the 3-day clipped rabbits: the enhanced responses with similar levels were not attenuated by AIIA in both groups. A subdepressor dose of PGE2, 800 ng/kg/min, abolished the hyperresponsiveness in the 3-day clipped rabbits, while subdepressor or depressor dose of PGI2, 10 or 20 ng/kg/min did not, but the concurrent infusion of AIIA with PGI2 attenuated it. These results indicate that PGs, in particular PGE2 might be involved in the enhanced pressor response to NE in the 3-day clipped rabbits in addition to the altered renin-angiotensin system.

Feedback of estrogen in postmenopausal women

The effect of exogenous estrogen on gonadotropin secretion was studied in postmenopausal women. Twelve postmenopausal Japanese women were administered 40 micrograms/day of ethinyl estradiol (EE) orally throughout the study. The ages of the volunteers ranged between 51 and 86 years. In the fourth week of the study, a daily dose of 200 micrograms of EE was also given orally to each subject for 4 days. The original administration of 40 micrograms/day of EE resulted in a gradual decline in both FSH and LH during the treatment. The degree of change in percent in decrease of FSH release was greater than that of LH release. When EE 200 micrograms/day was also given for 4 consecutive days a positive feedback action in both the FSH and LH levels was evident. The duration to the peak of the positive feedback action in LH and FSH was 5.3 and 4.4 days, respectively. These results suggest that the negative and positive feedback actions of estrogen on FSH and LH release are preserved in postmenopausal women.

Effects of insulin on pressor responsiveness and baroreflex function in diabetes mellitus

The effects of insulin on pressor responsiveness to alpha agonist (phenylephrine) and angiotensin II, and baroreflex function were studied in fifteen diabetic patients without autonomic neuropathy. The dose of phenylephrine required to increase systolic pressure by 25 mmHg (PD25) was significantly increased from 38 +/- 7 to 62 +/- 9 micrograms (p less than 0.05) after IV injection of 4 U of Actrapid monocomponent insulin. The dose of angiotensin II required to increase systolic pressure by 30 mmHg (AD30) was also increased from 0.29 +/- 0.07 to 0.48 +/- 0.10 micrograms (p less than 0.01). Following insulin administration, the dose-response curves for phenylephrine and angiotensin II were shifted to the right. The baroreflex sensitivity was not affected by insulin. In contrast, there was no significant change in PD25, AD30 or baroreflex sensitivity after the injection of saline. These results suggest that insulin attenuates the pressor responsiveness to alpha agonist and angiotensin II, which may be one of the significant mechanisms in insulin-induced vasodilation.

The localization of human keratin proteins at cytological and histological levels in carcinomatous and sarcomatous lesions

Immunoperoxidase staining for human keratin proteins was performed cytologically on samples from 90 patients with malignant tumors, and histologically on samples from 164 patients with malignant tumors. At the cytological level, almost all tumor cells not only in squamous cell carcinoma but also in nonsquamous cell carcinoma were positive for keratin proteins, in contrast with the apparent abscence of keratin proteins in sarcoma. At the histological level, almost all neoplastic cells of squamous cell carcinoma were positive for keratin proteins, the same as at the cytological level. In contrast, among cases of nonsquamous cell carcinoma, the frequency of appearance of keratin proteins varied according to the organ; it tended to be low in tumors with relatively good prognosis, such as carcinomas in the digestive system or thyroid cancer, and to be high in tumor with poor prognosis, such as pulmonary cancer, gallbladder cancer and endometrial cancer. However, there was a marked difference between the frequency of appearance of keratin proteins at the cytological level and that at the histological level, particularly in the cases of gastric cancer.

Effect of propranolol on baroreflex control of heart rate in young patients with essential hypertension

The effect of propranolol on baroreflex control of heart rate was studied in 12 young patients with essential hypertension and was compared with that of 12 age-matched normotensive subjects. Resting heart rate and cardiac index in patients with essential hypertension were significantly higher than those of control subjects (p less than 0.001, p less than 0.01, respectively). The reduction of heart rate and cardiac index after propranolol were significantly greater in patients with essential hypertension than in control subjects (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.05, respectively). In the control state, the baroreflex slope in young patients with essential hypertension was significantly less than that of control subjects (p less than 0.01). After propranolol, the baroreflex slope was significantly increased in control subjects (p less than 0.01), but remained unchanged in patients with essential hypertension. These results suggest, first that the antihypertensive action of propranolol must be due to a mechanism other than the augmented baroreflex function and, second that increased beta-adrenergic activity is not a factor contributing to impaired baroreflex function in young patients with essential hypertension.

The localization of cytoskeletal proteins and thyroglobulin in thyroid microcarcinoma in comparison with clinically manifested thyroid carcinoma

A comparative study was performed by the use of immunoperoxidase staining of 11 cases of thyroid microcarcinoma and 7 cases of clinically manifested thyroid carcinoma. Antibodies against four kinds of cytoskeletal proteins and thyroglobulin were used. In both the microcarcinoma and manifested carcinoma groups, actin and myosin were found in almost all neoplastic cells of all patients, and keratin and vimentin were present in the tumor cells of several patients. Keratin was found only in papillary carcinoma cells. Thyroglobulin was present in the neoplastic cells of several patients from each group; follicular carcinoma cells and keratin-negative cells reacted more strongly with thyroglobulin than did papillary carcinoma cells or keratin-positive cells. There was no special difference between microcarcinoma and clinically manifested carcinoma in the location of cytoskeletal proteins and thyroglobulin.

[The concentration of cefmenoxime after intravenous drip infusion in digestive organs and exudates from abdominal and thoracic cavities in human]

We investigated the concentrations of cefmenoxime (CMX) after administration of 2 g of CMX, in the tissues resected during operation 2 hours after the beginning of intravenous drip infusion, and in the exudates from abdominal or thoracic cavities in the postoperative period. The results were as follows: The highest tissue concentration of CMX was found in the liver (59.0 +/- 20.3 micrograms/g), and the lowest was in the pancreas (13.9 +/- 8.1 micrograms/g). The concentrations of CMX in the tissues were in order of liver much greater than colon = esophagus = stomach greater than pancreas. The peak concentration of CMX in exudate from thoracic cavity was 15.6 +/- 10.1 micrograms/ml, and was observed 2 hours after the beginning of intravenous drip infusion, later than that in serum. Furthermore, the concentration of the exudate was maintained to a reasonable extent for 5 hours. The concentrations of CMX in both tissues and exudates were enough to inhibit the growth of many kinds of bacteria isolated from abdominal infections.

Two stage total gastrectomy in a case of multiple bleeding gastric ulcers

A 78-year-old man with severe diabetes mellitus fell into shock due to bleeding from multiple gastric ulcers. Near-total gastrectomy without reconstruction was performed in the initial operation to save his life. After his general condition improved, total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy was performed in a second procedure. As this two stage total gastrectomy can avoid excessive operative stress, and prevent rebleeding and breakdown at the anastomosis, we consider it a valuable procedure for patients who have multiple bleeding gastric ulcers involving almost the whole stomach, and who have very poor general condition or severe complications at the time of operation.

[Immunohistochemical localization of cytoskeletal proteins and thyroglobulin in the follicular cells of Hashimoto's thyroiditis]

Using antisera against three kinds of cytoskeletal proteins (keratin proteins, actin protein and myosin protein) and thyroglobulin, immunoperoxidase staining was performed on the follicular cells of 30 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. These patients were subdivided into three types by Woolner's classification: 9 patients of lymphoid type (L-type), 12 patients of oxiphilic cell type (O-type), and 9 patients of pronounced epithelial destruction type (P-type). The results obtained were as follows: (1) In three-ninths to seven-twelfths of the patients of O-type and P-type, the cytoskeletal proteins were identified in the epithelial cells forming degenerating or atrophic thyroid follicles. In the patients of L-type, however, the cytoskeletal proteins which form large follicles containing much colloid were not found in the epithelium. (2) In some patients of O-type, keratin proteins were abundantly present in the epithelial cells with squamous cell metaplasia. (3) In the patients of L-type, thyroglobulin was found in most of the epithelium forming large follicles, but it was not found in those forming degenerating or atrophic follicles in the patients of O-type and P-type.

Peripheral circulatory effects of insulin in diabetes

Peripheral circulatory effects of insulin were studied in the diabetic patients with and without autonomic neuropathy. Forearm blood flow, calf venous volume and calf venous distensibility were measured by strain gauge plethysmography. In the diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy, mean blood pressure fell from 96 +/- 5 to 88 +/- 5 mmHg after an intravenous injection of 4 U of monocomponent insulin (p less than 0.001). Forearm vascular resistance decreased from 53.99 +/- 8.29 to 45.88 +/- 7.76 mmHg X ml-1 X 100ml-1 X min-1 after insulin (p less than 0.01). Insulin increased calf venous volume from 1.20 +/- 0.19 to 2.23 +/- 0.44 ml/100ml (p less than 0.05) and calf venous distensibility from 0.039 +/- 0.004 to 0.082 +/- 0.016 ml/mmHg (p less than 0.05). In contrast, in the diabetic patients without autonomic neuropathy, there were no significant changes in the mean blood pressure, forearm vascular resistance, calf venous volume and calf venous distensibility. Symptoms of hypoglycaemia did not occur in any patient. These results suggest that insulin has a vasodilator action on both resistance and capacitance vessels, which may be one of the main factors in insulin-induced hypotension.

Effect of spironolactone on fluid volumes and adrenal steroids in primary aldosteronism

Plasma volume (PV) and extracellular fluid volume (ECF) were determined in 7 patients with essential hypertension (controls) and in 10 patients with primary aldosteronism, while on a high Na diet (342 mEq/day) and on a low Na diet (12 mEq/day). The volume studies were repeated in 6 of the primary aldosteronism patients during treatment with spironolactone for over 3 months. Plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), cortisol concentration, and serum Na and K concentrations were measured in all patients while on a Na-restricted diet (85 mEq/day) as well as on high-Na and low-Na diets. There were no significant changes in arterial pressure during different Na diets in any groups of patients with essential hypertension, or primary aldosteronism with and without spironolactone therapy. Spironolactone treatment normalized the arterial pressure in patients with primary aldosteronism at all Na intakes. These patients had greater values for PV and ECF than did those with essential hypertension. Spironolactone treatment reduced PV during the low-Na diet, but did not alter it during the high-Na diet. Spironolactone did not produce significant changes in ECF during either the high-Na or low-Na diets. Although there were no changes in PV and ECF in patients with primary aldosteronism due to changes in Na intake, both PV and ECF were significantly less in these patients during spironolactone treatment and in patients with essential hypertension during low-Na intake than during high-Na intake. With primary aldosteronism, PRA was depressed and PAC was elevated when compared to essential hypertension, these were not altered by different Na diets in the patients with primary aldosteronism as they were in those with essential hypertension. During treatment with spironolactone the PRA was restored to normal and showed normal changes with variations in dietary Na, but PAC remained elevated during spironolactone. Plasma cortisol was the same among those with essential hypertension and patients with untreated and spironolactone-treated primary aldosteronism. Serum K was less in untreated primary aldosteronism during all Na diets than in essential hypertension, but during spironolactone it was restored to normal. These results suggest that in primary aldosteronism the reduction in arterial pressure by spironolactone treatment does not occur simply by reductions in body fluid volumes. The long-term treatment of patients with primary aldosteronism with spironolactone does not inhibit the production of aldosterone, possibly because of enhanced activity of the renin-angiotensin system and an increase in serum K.

[Immuno-cytochemical and -histochemical localization of human keratin proteins in various kinds of cancerous lesion]

Immunoperoxidase staining for human keratin proteins (hKP) was performed cytochemically in samples from 79 cancer patients, and histochemically in samples from 134 cancer patients. Immunohistochemically, hKP was present in almost all patients with squamous cell carcinoma (lung), transitional cell carcinoma (urinary bladder), adenocarcinoma (lung, stomach, breast, ovary), bronchiole-alveolar carcinoma (lung), and large cell carcinoma (lung). It was detected in 40% of the patients with small cell carcinoma (lung). Histochemically, hKP was present in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (lung, uterine body), adenocarcinoma (lung, stomach, colon, gall bladder, thyroid, uterine body), adenosquamous cell carcinoma (gall bladder, uterine body), Signet-ring cell carcinoma (stomach), clear cell carcinoma (uterine body) and undifferentiated carcinoma (uterine body). However, it was not detected in patients with brochiole ++-alveola ++ carcinoma (lung) and mucinous carcinoma (gall bladder).

[Evaluation of regional wall motion in myocardial infarction using animation ECG gated cardiac computed tomography]

Regional wall motion of the left ventricle was evaluated in 21 patients with myocardial infarction using an animation system of gated cardiac computed tomographic (CT) images (animation gated CCT). The results obtained were compared with data by two-dimensional echocardiography (2-DE). Evaluation of the asynergic area by animation gated CCT and 2-DE: Animation gated CCT detected the following specific regions with asynergy established by 2-DE; 10/10 cases (100%) at the anterior wall of the left ventricle, 14/14 cases (100%) at the interventricular septum, and 9/11 cases (81.8%) at the infero-posterior wall. In addition, one false positive case and one negative case were observed at the lateral wall and the apex, respectively. Of 37 instances with asynergic areas established by 2-DE, 21 cases or 89.2% were detected by animation gated CCT; the sensitivity was 91.9%. Evaluation of severity of asynergy by animation gated CCT and 2-DE: The degree of asynergy evaluated by both methods was compared with each other, and the agreement was as follows: 10/10 cases (100%) at the left-ventricular anterior wall, 13/13 cases (100%) at the interventricular septum, and 7/9 cases (77.8%) at the infero-posterior wall. Evaluation of the asynergic area by nonanimation gated CCT and 2-DE: Nonanimation gated CCT detected asynergic areas ascertained by 2-DE at the following areas; 8/10 cases (80%) at the left-ventricular anterior wall, 12/14 cases (85.7%) at the interventricular septum, and 4/11 cases (36.4%) at the infero-posterior wall. The difference between animation and nonanimation gated CCT was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). The severity of asynergy could not be evaluated by nonanimation gated CCT. For the evaluation of severity as well as detection of asynergy of the left ventricle, animation gated CCT was more useful than non-animation gated CCT. False negative cases observed at the infero-posterior wall and apex were decreased by alteration of a gantry, improvement of software and hardware, and additionally by an injection of contrast medium. Animation gated CCT is considered to become a useful clinical method in evaluating myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular disease in future. However, we will need the further improvements, such as reduction of administration dosage of contrast media, shortening of film shooting and irradiation times.

[Immunohistochemical localization of cytoskeletal proteins and thyroglobulin in thyroid micro cancers]

We performed a comparative study using immunoperoxidase staining on 11 cases of thyroid micro cancer (TCM) and 7 cases of clinically manifested cancers (CMC). Antibodies against 4 kinds of cytoskeletal proteins and thyroglobulin were used. In the TCM and CMC groups, actin and myosin were identified in almost all neoplastic cells of all patients; keratin and vimentin were present in the tumor cells of several patients. Keratin was found only in papillary carcinoma cells. Thyroglobulin was present in the neoplastic cells of several patients from both groups; follicular carcinoma cells and keratin-negative cells reacted more strongly with thyroglobulin than papillary carcinoma cells or keratin-positive cells. There was no special difference between TMC and CMC in the localization of cytoskeletal proteins and thyroglobulin.

[Case of yolk sac tumor decreasing in size and the normalizing of alph-fetoprotein level by anticancer chemotherapy]

A 19-year old man was hospitalized suspected of a mediastinal tumor with superior vena caval syndrome. As the chest X-ray film and thoracic CT scan on admission revealed a huge anterior mediastinal tumor, and the value of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was high, we made a diagnosis of malignant mediastinal tumor from the germ cell. Radiation therapy was not effective, but a combination chemotherapy consisted of cis-platinum, adriamycin, and vincristine was clearly effective, decreasing the size of the tumor and normalizing the value of serum AFP. As the tumor acquired tolerance to the anticancer drugs before long, the chemotherapy became ineffective and the patient died 9 months after the initiation of the treatment. This tumor had endodermal sinus structure, Schiller-Duval body, and eosinophilic hyaline globulus which were histological characteristics of yolk sac tumor, and was confirmed to be originated from anterior mediastinum.

Body fluid distribution in the maintenance of DOCA-salt hypertension in rats

Body fluid volumes and their relation to mean arterial pressure and plasma renin activity (PRA) were examined in heminephrectomized rats after 4 wk of treatment with deoxy-corticosterone acetate (DOCA) and placed on one of three levels of salt intake, either high (D-HS), normal (D-NS), or low (D-LS); sham-operated rats, which received heminephrectomy and no DOCA treatment, also received high (S-HS), normal (S-NS), or low (S-LS) intakes of salt. Body fluid volumes were measured as the distribution volumes of radioiodinated serum albumin, 35SO4, and tritiated water for plasma volume (PV), extracellular fluid volume (EFV), and total body water (TBW), respectively. Approximately the same degrees of hypertension occurred in the D-HS and D-NS rats, but the D-LS rats were normotensive. PV and EFV were increased only in the D-HS rats, with no prominent changes occurring in the D-NS rats. Intracellular fluid volume (ICF) was not changed in the D-NS rats when compared with the S-NS rats. The ratios of PV/EFV and EFV/TBW in the DOCA-treated groups on high or normal salt were not different from their controls. PRA was greatly suppressed in the D-HS and D-NS rats when compared with all other groups. In another group of D-HS rats, sodium was restricted for 2 wk; in this group the mean arterial pressure fell to control levels without significant changes in PV, but interstitial fluid volume was reduced to normal levels. These results demonstrated that 1) in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats there is expansion of body fluid volumes that are proportionally distributed among the PV, EFV, and ICF; 2) increases in body fluid volumes are not necessary for DOCA to maintain hypertension; 3) a certain minimal amount of dietary sodium is necessary for the development and maintenance of hypertension; and 4) following DOCA treatment the suppression of PRA is not due solely to expansion of body fluid volumes.

Feedback mechanism in sulpiride-induced hyperprolactinaemia

Feedback of oestrogen on gonadotrophin release was studied in five normally cycling normoprolactinaemic women who were rendered moderately hyperprolactinaemic by oral administration of sulpiride (150 mg daily) for 11 consecutive days. Five patients with peptic ulcer, who had been given 150 mg of sulpiride for 3-18 months and had chronic marked hyperprolactinaemia were also studied. Ethinyl oestradiol (200 micrograms) was administered by mouth daily for 4 consecutive days and serum concentration of prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol were measured by a double-antibody radioimmunoassay for 11 days. Oral administration of ethinyl oestradiol caused an initial decrease followed by a rebound of LH with a peak in all the women tested. The serum FSH levels showed only the initial decrease, followed by a slight rebound. Serum oestradiol levels decreased during oral administration of ethinyl oestradiol in all the women. The results of the present investigation suggest that oestrogen feedback effect on LH release is maintained in sulpiride-induced hyperprolactinaemic women as well as in women with normal cycles.

Population of K-lymphocytes in various kinds of thyroid disease

We have measured the population of Killer (K) lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of 108 patients with various kinds of thyroid disease. In the patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease, the relative and absolute numbers of K-lymphocytes were significantly lower than those seen in healthy controls (p less than 0.001), and the longer the duration of medication, the lower the K-lymphocyte population. However, there was no apparent correlation between the serum titers of thyroid autoantibodies and the K-lymphocyte population. In the patients with malignant and benign thyroid tumors, the relative and absolute numbers of K-lymphocytes significantly decreased when compared with those of controls (p less than 0.001), the decrease was more prominent after surgical operation than before operation. A prominent decrease in the K-lymphocyte population was evoked to maximum 2 to 4 weeks after surgical operation. The patients with both malignant and benign tumors having abundant lymphocytic infiltration in their surgical specimens generally revealed a lower K-lymphocyte population than those having no lymphocytic infiltration.

Pituitary and ovarian response to luteinizing hormone releasing factor in normal and sulpiride-induced hyperprolactinemic women

Five Japanese women with regular menstrual cycles (control group) and 5 sulpiride-induced hyperprolactinemic women (sulpiride group) were given a 100-microgram synthetic luteinizing hormone releasing factor (LRF) intravenously, on the 20th day of the menstrual cycle and on the 10th day of the next cycle. The mean responses of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone to LRF in the sulpiride group were higher than those in the controls. Despite enhancement of the gonadotropin levels, the mean response of estradiol was suppressed significantly in the sulpiride group in the luteal and follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. However, the mean response of progesterone was not statistically different, in either group, in the luteal phase. The results suggest that sulpiride-induced hyperprolactinemia exerts an inhibitory effect on steroidogenic activity in estradiol but not in progesterone in the ovary.

Tension-pCa relation and sarcoplasmic reticulum responses in chemically skinned smooth muscle fibers

Properties of bundles of smooth muscle fibers in which the surface membrane has been rendered highly permeable by chemical treatment (saponin) are described. These preparations are termed chemically skinned smooth muscle fiber bundles. Thin bundles were isolated from guinea pig teniae ceci and skinned in a relaxing solution by treatment with 50 micrograms/ml saponin for 20-30 min. Because Ca2+ sensitivity progressively decreased on repeating contractions or on incubating in a relaxing solution, the tension-pCa (-log10 [free Ca2+]) relationship was determined soon after the skinning by a single contraction in which the [free Ca2+] was increased in a stepwise manner. Unlike skinned skeletal muscle fibers, in skinned smooth muscle fiber bundles the tension-pCa relationship was not affected appreciably by the changes in pH from 6.4 to 7.2, in ionic strength from 0.15 to 0.30 M, or in [MgATP] from 0.4 to 8 mM. The saponin-treated smooth muscle fiber bundles retained a functional sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Ca can be loaded in the SR if the [free Ca2+] is in the micromolar range and MgATP is present and can be released by an application of caffeine. Mitochondria also appear to be functional in saponin-treated fibers.