Acromegalic gigantism with low serum level of growth hormone and elevated serum insulin-like growth factor-I

In a case of acromegalic gigantism with hyperprolactinemia is reported, the basal serum growth hormone (GH) levels ranged from 1.2 to 1.9 ng/ml. Serum GH response to either insulin-induced hypoglycemia or GH-releasing hormone was blunted. Frequent blood sampling showed non-pulsatile GH secretion. Serum prolactin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels were elevated. After unsuccessful surgery, bromocriptine treatment normalized serum prolactin without affecting serum GH and IGF-I levels. Combined administration of octreotide with bromocriptine reduced serum GH and IGF-I levels. In this case, non-pulsatile GH secretion and enhanced tissue sensitivity to GH may induce hypersecretion of IGF-I and cause clinical acromegalic gigantism.

[Effect of the interaction of tannins with coexisting substances. VIII. Inhibitory effect of tannins on discoloration of natural pigments]

The discoloration of shikonin (1) and beta-carotene (2), occurring during storage of their ethanol solutions in the presence of oxygen in an illuminated room, was remarkably suppressed by hydrolyzable tannins, such as geraniin (4) and tannic acid JP (3) in the solution. The inhibitory effect of tannins was enhanced by the coexistence of metallic ion. The irradiation with ultraviolet lamp (254 and 365 nm) gave, at the first stage of the discoloration, two products, one of which was found to be 5,8-dihydroxy-2-(1-hydroxy-3-oxo-4-methyl-4-pentenyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone (7). The presence of hydrolyzable tannins induced higher accumulation of these two products in the solution, showing that the secondary structural transformations of these two products were strongly inhibited by these coexisting tannins. These results suggest that tannins could be efficient inhibitors of discoloration of natural pigments.

Effects of lipopolysaccharides on human dental pulp cells

Human dental pulp cells were treated with 1, 10, and 100 micrograms/ml of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The effects of treatment were examined by measurement of the DNA content, protein content, and alkaline phosphatase activity of the cells. LPS samples were purified from Porphyromonas gingivalis, Porphyromonas endodontalis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum isolated from root canals, and Escherichia coli 0111:B4 LPS was used as a positive control. At a concentration of 1 microgram/ml, none of the LPSs caused any change in the production of DNA or protein, whereas the amount of DNA was increased at 10 micrograms/ml and inhibited at 100 micrograms/ml. Protein synthesis was decreased by LPSs at both 10 and 100 micrograms/ml. Alkaline phosphatase activity was not changed at any concentration of LPS tested.

[The relationship between the cerebral blood flow, oxygen consumption and glucose metabolism in primary degenerative dementia]

The CBF, CMRO2 and CMRGlu were measured in patients with primary degenerative dementia including 5 patients with dementia of Alzheimer's type and 4 patients with Pick's disease, and then the correlation between the cerebral blood flow and energy metabolism was evaluated. The control subjects consisted of 5 age-matched normal volunteers. The CBF, CMRO2 and CMRGlu decreased in the bilateral frontal, temporal and parietal regions in the patients with Alzheimer's dementia, while they decreased in the bilateral frontal and temporal regions in the patients with Pick's disease. Both the CBF and CMRO2 were closely correlated with each other. However, the CMRGlu was more severely impaired than the CBF or CMRO2 in both pathological conditions. These results suggested that CMRGlu began to decrease before the reduction of the aerobic metabolism and thus measuring the CMRGlu is considered to be the most sensitive method for detecting abnormal regions in primary degenerative dementia.

Molecular cloning of a novel C or gamma type chemokine, SCM-1

From human PBMC stimulated with PHA, we have isolated cDNA clones encoding a novel cytokine named SCM-1, which is significantly related to the CC and the CXC chemokines but has only the 2nd and the 4th of the four cysteines conserved in these proteins. Its gene is also distinctly mapped to human chromosome 1. SCM-1 is strongly induced in human PBMC and Jurkat T cells by PHA stimulation. Among various human tissues, SCM-1 is expressed most strongly in spleen. SCM-1 is found to be 60.5% identical to lymphotactin, a recently described murine lymphocyte-specific chemokine, which also retains only two cysteines. SCM-1 and lymphotactin may thus represent the human and murine prototypes of a novel C or gamma type chemokine family.

Demonstration that histidine 25, but not 132, is the axial heme ligand in rat heme oxygenase-1

A truncated, soluble rat heme oxygenase-1 lacking its C-terminal, membrane-anchoring segment, and its His25-->Ala and His132-->Ala mutants have been prepared by site-directed mutagenesis and expression in Escherichia coli. We found that wild-type enzyme can degrade heme to biliverdin, but its specific activity was about one-fifth that of the native, full-length enzyme, suggesting that the C-terminal segment is important for accepting electrons from NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase. His132-->Ala mutant had an enzyme activity comparable to that of the wild-type enzyme; hence, the highly conserved His132 is not essential for the display of the heme oxygenase activity. In contrast, His25-->Ala mutation completely abolished the enzyme's catalytic activity. A five-coordinate type ferrous NO EPR spectrum was observed for the heme-heme oxygenase H25A complex. Hence, we conclude that His25 is the proximal axial ligand of the heme iron and is essential for the heme degradation activity of the enzyme.

fra-2 promoter can respond to serum-stimulation through AP-1 complexes

fra-2 (fos-related antigen-2) expression is detected at a basal level even in growth-arrested chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF), but upon serum-stimulation high levels of its transcripts are transiently observed. This induction is delayed and prolonged compared to that of c-fos. Transient expression experiments in CEF using a series of constructs of chicken fra-2 promoter region linked to the CAT reporter gene indicated previously that serum response element (SRE) is not required for full serum inducibility. In this report, we show that constructs in which the CRE-like sequence and both AP-1 binding sites are disrupted lack serum inducibility, suggesting that either of these enhancers is important in serum induction of fra-2. In growth-arrested CEF, small amounts of Fra-2/c-Jun complex bind to the AP-1 consensus sequences in fra-2 promoter, while a significant part of the enhanced AP-1 binding activity after 60-120 min of serum stimulation is attributable to c-Fos/c-Jun heterodimer. At later times Fra-2/c-Jun again becomes the main complex. Transient expression assays in F9 cells indicated that c-Fos/c-Jun heterodimers have strong stimulatory effects on fra-2 promoter activity, while Fra-2/c-Jun complex has lower transcriptional activity than that of c-Jun homodimer. These results suggest that c-Fos (induced at earlier times) and c-Jun proteins are at least partly responsible for serum-induced expression of fra-2.

Solution structure of omega-conotoxin MVIIC determined by NMR

The solution structure of the P- and Q-type Ca2+ channel blocker, omega-conotoxin MVIIC (a peptidic neurotoxin composed of 26 amino acid residues), has been determined by 1H-NMR and simulated annealing calculations. The resulting calculated structures converged very well to a conformation with an average value of pairwised RMSD for N, C alpha and C' of 0.62 A. Lys-25 is buried in the molecule and less flexible so that among the four Lys residues, its side chain provides the lowest reactivity on biotinylation and the mono-biotinylation in this residue less influences the biological activity.

In vivo responsiveness of thyroid glands to TSH in normal and novel 'growth-retarded' mice: transient elevation in normal mice and impairment in 'growth-retarded' mice

The in vivo responsiveness of thyroid glands to TSH at various ages in novel 'growth-retarded' (grt/grt) mice derived from Snell's dwarf (DW/J) mice and in their normal counterparts were analysed by determining serum T4 concentrations before and after the administration of exogenous TSH. The serum T4 concentration in normal mice increased in response to TSH at 2, 4 and 12 weeks of age but not at 1 week of age. A transient augmentation of such thyroidal responsiveness to TSH was apparent in normal mice at 2 weeks of age, when the serum T4 level exhibits a peak and the pubertal growth of mice starts. In contrast to normal mice, at any age examined from 2 to 12 weeks after birth, exogenous TSH did not influence serum T4 concentrations in the grt/grt mice at all. On the other hand, serum TSH concentrations in young grt/grt mice were highly elevated compared with those in normal mice and they were normalized by a 2-3 week's treatment with T3. Morphological studies demonstrated degenerated thyroid glands in the grt/grt mice. These results suggest that the severe hypothyroidism and consequent growth retardation in growth-retarded mice are due to impairment of the thyroid glands of the mutant mice in producing and/or secreting thyroid hormones in response to TSH.

[Three cases with systemic rheumatic diseases who developed pulmonary lesions suggestive of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia]

Three cases with systemic rheumatic diseases who developed lung diseases compatible with BOOP were reported. Underlying diseases of these patients were: RA (1 case), SLE (2 cases). Respiratory symptoms were observed in one case such as dry cough at the time of diagnosis of BOOP. Chest radiography showed multiple infiltrates in 2 cases, bilateral reticular shadow in one case. In one case characteristic finding described as wandering shadow was observed. TBLB was done in 3 cases. Pathohistological findings were compatible with BOOP. Repeated Bacteriological examinations failed to demonstrate specific organisms implicated for lung lesions. Cytological studies of sputum and TBLB specimens were all negative for malignancy. Antibiotic agents including anti-tuberculosis drugs were not effective for pulmonary diseases. Moderate doses of prednisolone were effective in 3 cases. Although the open lung biopsy has been recommended for establishment of diagnosis of BOOP, in patient with systemic rheumatic diseases this invasive procedure is not always easily performed. Further characterizations of clinical and laboratory features are indicated for noninvasive diagnosis of BOOP.

Isolation and biological activity of thielocins: novel phospholipase A2 inhibitors produced by Thielavia terricola RF-143

Thielocins A2 alpha, A2 beta, A3, B1, B2 and B3 were isolated as a novel family of phospholipase A2 inhibitors from the fermentation broth of Thielavia terricola RF-143 together with thielavins and thielocins A1 alpha and A1 beta. The most potent inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.0033 microM) against rat group II phospholipase A2 was shown by thielocin A1 beta. Against human group II phospholipase A2, thielocin B3 (IC50 = 0.076 microM) was the most potent.

Purification and characterization of the recombinant alginate lyase from Pseudomonas sp. leaked by Escherichia coli upon addition of glycine

The plasmid pAL205 encodes an alginate lyase gene of Pseudomonas sp. OS-ALG-9, fused in frame to the beta-galactosidase alpha-peptide gene. The alginate lyase (Aly) expressed in Escherichia coli (pAL205) was significantly secreted into the medium by the addition of glycine. The extracellular enzyme isolated from the culture of E. coli JM109 (pAL205) was purified over 15,000-fold by successive chromatography and subjected to amino acid sequence analysis. The sequence determined was identical to that of the intracellular protein. Since the activity and molecular size of the extracellular Aly is identical to the intracellular protein and to the Aly isolated from Pseudomonas, the glycine does not affect or modify the Aly during its leakage into the medium.

Identification of Mycobacterium avium complex isolated in eastern and central Japan by using DNA probes

An attempt was made to identify Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare in the M. avium intracellulare complex (MAC) isolated in the Tohoku (38 strains) and Tokai (30 strains) districts of Japan by using DNA probes which are specific for M. avium, M. intracellulare and M. tuberculosis complex, respectively. The incidence of M. avium infection (82%) by far exceeded that of M. intracellulare infection in the Tohoku district of eastern Japan. In the Tokai district of central Japan, the incidence of M. avium infection (57%) were slightly larger than that of M. intracellulare infection. Five of 68 strains showed a positive reaction with two different DNA probes. Thus a possibility of mixed infection could not be ruled out, because reference strains showed a positive reaction with only one species-specific DNA probe.

Increased bile acid concentration in liver tissue with cholesterol gallstone disease

Patients with cholesterol gallstone disease have a reduced pool of bile acids. Overly sensitive feedback inhibition of bile acid synthesis has been postulated to explain this size reduction. To test this hypothesis, hepatic bile acid concentration and the activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme for bile acid biosynthesis, were determined in ten patients with cholesterol gallstones and ten patients without gallstones. The bile acids present in liver tissue are the sum of those returning to liver and those newly synthesized in liver. If an overly sensitive feedback inhibition truly existed in our gallstone patients, a decreased concentration of hepatic bile acids would have been expected. However, patients with cholesterol gallstones had significantly higher total (143.3 +/- 25.5 vs 64.5 +/- 10.8 nmol/g liver, P < 0.01), chenodeoxycholic (64.1 +/- 9.9 vs 29.8 +/- 5.4, P < 0.01), deoxycholic (22.8 +/- 10.9 vs 2.0 +/- 0.7, P < 0.05), and ursodeoxycholic acid (6.2 +/- 1.4 vs 1.5 +/- 0.6, P < 0.01) concentrations than patients without gallstones. The activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase did not differ significantly between the two groups. Impaired hepatic transport or secretion of bile acids is strongly suspected in cholesterol gallstone patients. The findings of the present study showed no evidence of overly sensitive feedback inhibition of bile acid synthesis in cholesterol gallstone patients. Bile acid pool size may be affected by the inappropriate increase of hepatic bile acids rather than by overly sensitive feedback inhibition.

[MMIP chemotherapy for the treatment of the relapsed and refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]

For salvage chemotherapy, 30 cases of relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were treated with MMIP regimen (mitoxantrone 15 mg/m2, methotrexate 400 mg/m2, and ifosfamide 2 g/m2 intravenously in day 1, respectively, and prednisolone 20 mg/m2 orally from day 1 to 5). The overall complete response rate (CR rate) was 20% and the median survival duration was 153 days. In patients with favorable performance status (PS), the CR rate and survival duration were 30% and 407 days, respectively. These results were almost equivalent to previously proposed salvage regimens. The overall disease free survival rate of CR cases at 4 years was 62%, which was excellent as compared with the other salvage regimens. Five of 8 (62.5%) patients previously treated with etoposide-non-containing regimens achieved CR, and the CR rate was significantly superior to that of patients previously treated with etoposide-containing ones. These results indicate that MMIP is a useful salvage regimen for relapsed or refractory NHL, while it seems to be difficult to salvage patients previously treated with etoposide-containing regimens.

[In vitro studies on the combined effects of arbekacin and fosfomycin on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus]

We investigated the bactericidal activity and post-antibiotic effect (PAE) of arbekacin (ABK) and fosfomycin (FOM) on clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain 1936, and the morphological changes of the bacterium. Both antibiotics were used in combination at concentrations lower than their respective MICs. The following results were obtained. 1. When the bacterium was simultaneously exposed to ABK and FOM, growth inhibition and a PAE longer than that effected by ABK alone were observed. 2. When exposed to ABK after treatment with and removal of FOM, bactericidal activity was stronger than that obtained when exposed to ABK alone. However, no increase in bactericidal activity was obtained when exposed to FOM after pretreatment with ABK. 3. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that, when the bacterium was exposed to ABK after treatment with and removal of FOM, large bacterial cells with cross walls at irregular sites and lysed cells showing destruction of the cell wall at the site of bacterial segmentation caused by ABK and FOM. These results demonstrated that ABK in combination with FOM shows stronger bactericidal activity against MRSA in vitro than ABK alone.

High gene expression in Escherichia coli of recombinant alginate lyase as a fused protein with beta-galactosidase alpha-peptide

Escherichia coli LE392 (pAL28) was previously isolated as a positive clone harboring the alginate lyase gene (aly) from an alginate-degrading strain, Pseudomonas sp. OS-ALG-9. The plasmid pAL205, one of the constructs obtained after successive subcloning of pAL28, gave the highest expression of aly in E. coli cells. A 8-fold increase in the alginate lyase (Aly) activity in E. coli JM109 (pAL205) was induced with isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside, which was 210 times higher than that in E. coli LE392 (pAL28). The highly significant increase in the expression of the Aly enzyme with pAL205 was investigated through the nucleotide sequence around the 5' region of aly as well as the N-terminal sequence of the purified enzyme. It was found that the Aly expressed in E. coli (pAL205) was a fused protein containing 7 residues from the N-terminus of beta-galactosidase alpha-peptide and the mature protein found in the Pseudomonas sp. except for three residues in the N-terminal.

Early immunohistochemical changes of microtubule based motor proteins in gerbil hippocampus after transient ischemia

Changes of immunoreactivities for microtubule based motor proteins, kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein, and non-motor protein, microtubule associated protein (MAP) 2 were investigated in gerbil hippocampus after transient ischemia. The immunoreactivities for kinesin showed a progressive decrease in hippocampal CA1 cells from 8 h after transient 5 or 15 min of ischemia that is lethal to the CA1 cells, while it showed no change after 2 min of ischemia that is non-lethal to the cells. The immunoreactivities for cytoplasmic dynein showed a decrease from 3 or 1 h of reperfusion in the CA1 cells after 5 or 15 min of ischemia, respectively. In contrast, the immunoreactivity for MAP2 remained normal until 2 days in the CA1 cells after 5 min of ischemia. These results showed an early changes of microtubule based motor proteins, such as kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein in vulnerable CA1 neurons. These changes may affect the mitochondrial shuttle system between neuronal cell body and the peripheries such as axon terminal and dendrites. This early disturbance may cause a failure to obtain newly synthesized nuclear encoded mitochondrial protein, and result in mitochondrial dysfunctions and the subsequent cell death.

Inhibitory effects of bromocriptine on phospholipid peroxidation induced by dopa and iron

Membrane lipid peroxidation has been suggested to participate in the nigral degeneration of Parkinson's disease. In the present study, we demonstrate that bromocriptine inhibits lipid peroxidation in phospholipid liposomes induced by dopa and iron complexes. Because this lipid peroxidation is not mediated by active oxygen species, antioxidant properties of bromocriptine do not seem to be derived from radical scavenging effects in our experimental conditions. Bromocriptine had no scavenging effect on superoxide produced by hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase when determined by the chemiluminescence assay using MCLA, a Cypridina luciferin analog, as a probe.

Effect of MPL 9000 extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy on renal hemodynamics and urine flow: assessment by 99mTc-DTPA renal scintigraphy

The effect of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) with an MPL9000 lithotriptor on renal hemodynamics and urine flow was investigated by 99mTc-DTPA renal scintigraphy. In the first-pass scintigrams obtained within 1 min after injection of 99mTc-DTPA, there was no significant change in the time to the maximum radioactivity level and the maximum radioactivity ratio at 1 day before ESWL and 1 day or 1 month after ESWL. However, analysis of 30-min scintigrams showed that urinary clearance of radioactivity was delayed in the treated kidney 1 day after ESWL, particularly in the region targeted by shock waves, despite the absence of overt urinary tract obstruction by residual stone fragments. This change was reversible and was no longer noted 1 month after ESWL. These results suggest that ESWL with the MPL9000 lithotriptor induces a focal and temporary decrease in urine flow in the treated kidney, but has little or no effect on renal hemodynamics.

[Sequential neuroimaging in a patient with delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy]

We described a patient with delayed cerebral demyelination following a post-operatively hypoxic encephalopathy. A 65-year-old man, with a history of exposure to the atomic bomb at Hiroshima in 1945, suffered from hypoxia, hypotension and respiratory acidosis and became unresponsive 10 hours after a laminectomy for lumbar disc herniation, in December 1993. Following an emergent resuscitation, the patient had gradually recovered and could walk 2 weeks later. Three weeks after the insult, however, the patient developed an apallic state with frontal lobe signs. Except an increased level of myelin basic protein in the CSF, there were no other abnormal laboratory findings. Brain CTs showed a leukoaraiosis. MRI one month post-operation, demonstrated extensive high signal intensity areas in the cerebral white matter on T2-weighted image, and a gadolinium-enhanced spotty lesion in the right globus pallidus on T1-weighted image. Three months after the operation, the high signal intensity on T2-weighted image became more intensive and extensive, while the enhanced spotty lesion in the globus pallidus disappeared. The corpus callosum and cerebellar white matter were spared throughout the observation. The SPECT using 123I-IMP showed a hypoperfusion in the frontal lobe at 1 month. Three months later, the hypoperfusion areas extended to the whole cerebral and cerebellar cortices, relatively less affected in the motor area and basal ganglia. The patient had improved slightly over the next few months. We speculate that subclinical vulnerability in the white matter secondary to exposure to the atomic bomb, in addition to the incomplete prolonged hypoxia, hypotension and acidosis, caused selective cerebral demyelination in this patient.

Effect of aerobic capacity on sweat rate and fluid intake during outdoor exercise in the heat

We measured the aerobic capacity, sweat rate and fluid intake of trained athletes during outdoor exercise and examined the relationship between aerobic capacity and thermoregulatory responses at high ambient temperatures. The maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) of the subjects, nine male baseball players of college age, was determined by maximal exercise tests on a cycle ergometer. The subjects practised baseball regularly without drinking fluids from 1330 to 1530 hours. After 30 min rest, they played a baseball game with free access to a sports drink at 15 degrees C from 1600 to 1830 hours. At a mean ambient temperature of 36.7 (SEM 0.2) degree C, the mean percentage of body mass loss (delta mb) and increase of oral temperature (delta To) from 1330 to 1530 hours was 3.47 (SEM 0.12)% and 0.81 (SEM 0.14) degree C, respectively. The sweat loss from 1330 to 1830 hours was 56.53 (SEM 1.56)ml.kg-1 of body mass (mb) while the mean fluid consumption was 44.78 (SEM 2.39)ml.kg-1 of mb, with recovery of 76.08 (SEM 2.81)% of sweat loss. The VO2max was significantly inversely correlated with delta mb, fluid intake and rehydration amount, but showed no correlation with delta To. These results would suggest that at a given exercise intensity in subjects with a higher aerobic capacity body temperature is maintained with a lower sweating rate than that in subjects with a lower aerobic capacity.

Origin of ciliated craniopharyngioma: pathological relationship between Rathke cleft cyst and ciliated craniopharyngioma

Histological study was undertaken on ciliated craniopharyngioma and Rathke cleft cyst, to know the origin of ciliated craniopharyngioma. Subjects were 7 cases with symptomatic Rathke cleft cysts and a ciliated craniopharyngioma. Light and electron microscopic observations were made on surgically resected specimens of the 8 cases. The ciliated craniopharyngioma was composed mainly of papillary type of craniopharyngioma and of dispersed ciliated columnar epithelium including goblet cells. Four cases with Rathke cleft cyst showed squamous metaplasia of which the basal cells were histologically similar to that of papillary type of craniopharyngioma. Other 3 cases of Rathke cleft cyst, basal cells were revealed to have tonofilaments and desmosomes. It seems possible that ciliated craniopharyngioma has derived from the basal cells of Rathke cleft epithelium.

Role of micro-chimerism in inducing immunological tolerance by intraportal injection of donor spleen cells in rats

Recently, we reported that intraportal (IP) injection of donor spleen cells (SPCs) prevented liver allograft rejection. Moreover, we developed a new method using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-mediated restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, and demonstrated micro-chimerism (MC) at the DNA level in the spleen 14 days after IP injection. In the present study, the long-term presence of injected allogeneic SPCs was investigated at the cellular level by immunofluorescence staining as well as the DNA level using RFLP analysis. Male ACI (RT1a) rats were used as the donors and Lewis (RT1(1)) rats as the recipients. After DNA preparation from the lymphoid organs, RT1B beta domain 1 region was amplified by PCR, and RFLP analysis was performed with PvuII restriction enzyme. In the immunofluorescence staining, the monoclonal antibody, MN4-91-6, was used to detect the injected donor ACI SPCs in a frozen specimen. We did not detect MC in Lewis rats intravenously injected with 5 x 10(7) ACI SPCs on day 14. On the other hand, stable chimerism in the spleen was observed in intraportally injected rats up to 28 days after injection at not only the DNA level but also the cellular level. No chimerism was detected in other organs (including the thymus, lymph nodes, and liver). In conclusion, the long-term presence of injected allogeneic SPCs in the spleen was demonstrated after IP injection but not after IV injection, and this phenomenon may be one of the mechanisms involved in portal venous immunosuppression.

[Incidence and serotypes of Salmonella in apparently healthy swine at slaughterhouses in Japan: 1975-1989]

To find healthy Salmonella carriers among swine, isolation of Salmonella from fresh cecum samples was attempted at slaughterhouses in Tokyo, Saitama, and Tochigi during a period of 11 years. Of a total 3,058 samples, 1,341 were collected between 1975 and 1979, and the other 1,717 between 1984 and 1989. The overall isolation rate of Salmonella was 13.3% (408 pigs). The rate was 23.1% between 1975 and 1979 and 5.7% between 1984 and 1989. A total of 1,037 isolates were identified as Salmonella and classified into 28 serotypes. These serotypes involved Salmonella typhimurium (26.1%), S. derby (25.4%), and S. london (9.5%). However, the detection rate of these serotypes varied from year to year. Two serotypes were detected from each of 37 pigs and three from a pig. Of these 38 pigs, 27 carried the serotypes of S. typhimurium or S. derby or both. The present study revealed that Salmonella carriers were highly frequent among healthy swine in Japan in 1970s, but decreased in 1980s.