Original Article

It has been the general practice to employ culture methods in discerning whether Ascaris eggs are alive or dead. Although culture methods are most reliable, they are not without shortcomings- -the time required in going through the procedures is very long. The discovery of some reliable and simple methods, therefore, has eagerly been awaited. However little research has been done on this subject and no better methods have ever been developed. Sudan III staining method is one of the methods developed so far, but its reliability is doubted by many researchers. In an effort to devise a new staining method, the author carried out a series of experiments; sudan III staining method was first checked on the attempts were made to enhance the ability of eggs to stain by pre-treating them with acid and alkali, and finally a number of dyes, especially fatty dyes, were experimented on. As a result of these experiments, the author has developed anew staining method using Lugol\u27s solution and has proved that it is superior to sudan III staing method. Further experiments were carried out in order to investigate into the mechanism of staining. A comparative study of this method with the staining method using fluoroscopic dye, which had recently been developed, was also performed. The results of the experiments are summarized as follows: 1. The eggs killed by heating stained well by sudan III staining method, but the eggs killed by other means did not stain well. Attemts were made to enhance the ability to stain by applying various pre-treatment but without success. 2. The live eggs stained with Lugol\u27s solution are not decolorized by alcohol, but the dead eggs stained with Lugol\u27s solution are decolorized by alcohol. It would thus be possible to discern by this method whether eggs are dead or alive. Although it has no absolute value, this method is superior to sudan III staining method and is availabe for experimental purposes.3. It seems that the permeability of the egg-shell plays an important part in Lugol\u27s solution staining method. Although results vary with the change in the methods used for killing eggs, it seems that the permeability of shells of eggs are enhanced when they are dead, thereby promoting decolorization. 4. It is assumed that it is the .third layer that plays a significant role in the permeability of the eggshell. 5. It seems that the staining method using fluoroscopic dyes, which has more or less similar value as sudan III staining method, is inferior to Lugol\u27s .solution staining method in discerning whther Ascaris eggs are dead or alive

Original Article

Phosphodiesterase specific for the hydrolysis of diphenylphosphate, one of aromatic phosphodiesters, was obtained from hog kidney by following procedure. To hog kidney homogenized in a Waring blendor with 3 volumes of distilled water was added solid sodium chloride to a final concentration of 1% and after adjusting of pH to 5 with ca. 5 N hydrochloric acid, it was shaken for 10 minutes with an equal volume of n-butanol, allowed to stand for one hour, and centrifuged. The aqueous extract present beneath the floating gel layer of protein and butanol mixture, was siphoned out and fractionated with ammonium sulfate. The precipitate obtained between 45 and 70 % saturation was dissolved in a small volume of distilled water, dialyzed for 48 hours against running tap water, and then, to inactivate the monoesterase, heated in water bath of 100° for 5 minutes, whereby the solution became faintly turbid. The enzyme solution, thus prepared, hydrolyzed diphenylphosphate, liberating phenol but no inorganic phosphate, while it was inactive to monophenylphosphate. Diphenylphosphate of a final concentration of 0.0005M could be hydrolyzed in one hour at the optimum pH 7 to the extent of 40%. At this pH, the enzyme activity was not influenced by addition of Mg^, Ca^, or CN^. Bis-dichloroisopropylphosphate, dibenzylphosphate, diethylphosphate, lysolecithin, RNA, and DNA were resistant to this enzyme. It is conceivable that these diesters are hydrolyzed by other enzymes different from the aromatic phosphodiesterase, presented in this paper

Original Article

Part I. Digitalis Ecg. in Goldberger\u27s Augmented Unipolar Limb Leads and Wilson\u27s Unipolar Chest Leads. There were analyzed the electrocardiograms of selected 37 cases which were scrupulously observed under the digitalis therapy on account of cardiac insufficiency. 1. P. a) Goldberger\u27s leads: The changes of P are generally not striking, only 2 cases showed the significant transformation in aV_R and aV_L, respectively. b) Wilson\u27s chest leads: The changes of P in V_1〜V_6 were found only in 4 cases. 2. Cardiac position and rotation. a) Goldberger\u27s leads: No more than 2 cases gave the disjtinct changes of the cardiac position in aV leads. b) At the early stage of digitalization the clockwise rotation was more frequently seen than the anticlockwise one. 3. ST. a) Goldberger\u27s leads: ST in aV_R were tend upward and ST in aV_F downward. ST in aV_L was either raised or lowered according to the cardiac position, but these changes were for the most part within normal limits. b) Wilson\u27s chest leads: Except for the extreme right ventricular strain curve, the digitalis ST depression was markedly observed in those leads which showed the largest upward deflection of QRS. Digitalis depresses ST of the levogram, and elevates ST of the dextrogram. However both in the excessive right ventricular strain curve and in the case with vivid Halb-seiten Effekt, digitalis does not raise ST of the dextrogram. 4. T. a) Goldberger\u27s leads: T in aV_F relatively often decreases in its positivity, becomes negative, and increases in its negativity. The characteristic changes due to digitalization are not clearly recognized in aV_R and aV_L. b) Wilson\u27s chest leads: T frequently decreases in its positivity, becomes negative or diphasic, and increases in its negativity. These changes are in special measure repeatedly found in the levogram. 5. Under the digitalization ventricular premature beats, auricular flutter and fibrillation appeared in several cases. Ventricular bigeminy and atrioventricular block were observed in each of two cases.On the contrary, there were found some cases in which the digitalization extinguished ventricular extrasystoles or bigeminy and auricular fibrillation persisted so long. Even in the presence of the ventricular bigeminy which is as a rule considered to be the indication to stop the digitalis use, yet digitalis can be administered under the closed notice. 6. Among 25 cases which showed sinus full rhythm, the prolongation of PR complicated with ST depression was observed in 6 cases (24 %). 7. Among 36 cases in which QT was estimated satisfactorily, the shortening of QT was found in 17 cases (47 %); 59 % of cases with shortened QT were accompanied by ST depression. 8. The digitalis bradycardia was recognized in 18 cases (49 %) and 65 % of bradycardic cases showed ST depression. 9. In the electrocardiograms of 7 cases suffered from the side effects of digitalis, i. e. vomitting, visual disturbance and so on, there could be often found arrhythmia and distinguished ST depression. The outburst of clinical side, effects was preceded by the clear-cut ST depression in two cases, so that it may possibly be taken the onset of the remarkable ST depression granted for an alarming sign of the threatening side effects. 10. The characteristic patterns of digitalis ecg. can be recognized even in the cases with digitalis refractoriness, the extent of such changes is, however, generally less striking and becomes as slighter as near death. Part II. Experimental Studies on so-called Digitalis Ecg. The experiments were carried on the dog\u27s hearts which were relatively resistive against digitalis Cdorsal fixation, isomytal anesthesia). a) the drip infusion of 1.0 mg of Strophosid intravenously. b) 5 times of the intravenous injections of 0.25 mg of Strophosid every 20 minutes. c) 3 times of the intravenous injection of 0.6 mg of Digicorin (AD-1), in total 1.8 mg. d) the intravenous injection of 1.0 mg of Acetylcholine before and after 1.8 mg of Digicorin.e) 2 times of the intravenous injection of 0.25 mg of Strophosid after the injection of 3.6 mg of Digicorin intravenously. f) the intravenous injection of 300 mg of Pronestyl at the event ventricular tachycardia due to over dosage of digitalis. The timepoint of every observation after the various digitalis injections is always the same; at each observation, besides registration of ecg., blood pressure and respiration, Wezler\u27s analysis was performed. 1) Either Strophosid or Digicorin, which is the limit of calculated therapeutic dosage, do not bring ST-T depression, whereas the calculated toxic doses of two drugs lower ST-T distinctly. There are found some cases in which the extrasystoles are preceded by the appearance of ST-T depression; therefore it cannot be concluded that changes of ST-T pattern can be possible for guide of the digitalis bioassay. 2) In the cases injected with Strophosid fractionatedly, ST-T depression can be recognized earlier at the smaller dosis than that in the cases treated by the drip intravenous infusion. Undiluted Strophosid does often elevate the blood pressure, chiefly due to increase in output. 3) The negative chronotropic action of both Strophosid and Digicorin is more or less weak. 4) The stimulation immediately after the cervical vago-sympathectomy prolongs PR, moreover occasionally elicits atrioventricular dissociation. 5) Even in the toxic stage of Strophosid the essential pattern of carotid sinus pressor reflex can be observed, although the degree \u27of reflexibility becomes smaller than that before the injection, and the reflex tachycardia becomes more vague. From these results it may be safe to say that the effect of reflexly augmented sympathicotonia by means of Hering\u27s second stimulation is difficult to take place because of the inhibitory vagal action of Strophosid. 6) The intravenous injection, of 1.0 mg of Acetylcholine administered before the use of Digicorin lowers the blood pressure range abruptly, and there develops apnea instantly after temporal hyperpnea.Electrocardiographically after ventricular arrest due to atrioventricular block followed tachycardic auricular impure flutter, there occured initially bradicardic, thereafter tachycardic auricular fibrillation, sinus complete rhythm, temporal atrioventricular dissociation in turn untill the complete sinus rhythm was recovered. The tachycardia which breaks out at the beginning, is considered to depend upon sinocarotid or cardioaortic chemoreceptor reflex, whereas the intravenous injection of 1.0 mg of Acetylcholine after Digicorin does not cause such an initial tachycardia, so that it may be appropriate to say that Digicorin does exert influence upon these reflex arcs. 7) The intravenous injection of Acetylcholine after application of Digicorin reveals quite the same extent of the reactivity with merely one half dosis, therefore it may be concluded that Digicorin is sure to promote the vagal tonisity. 8) The intravenous injection of Acetylcholine after the administration of Tropin brings out the inverse reaction of blood pressure, whereas the hyperventilation of short duration appears. The former phenomenon may be concerned with suppression of muscarinlike action of Acetylcholine, the latter with the deficiency of the paralytic action against visceroafferent fibre. 9) After the saturation accomplished with Digicorin the intravenous injection of Strophosid depresses ST-T and further there occurs ventricular tachycardia. Even after the saturation of Digicorin, of which toxity is very slight, the injection of Strophosid proves dangerous. 10) After the, saturation by the application of Digicorin, the ventricular tachycardia due to the intravenous injection of Strophosid cannot be prevented with the administration of 300 mg of pronestyl intravenously, so the arterial depression develops. But there appeared the reduction of QRS interval which can be thought to be improvement of intraventricular conduction disturbance; therefore in such event Pronestyl proves necessary.11) All instances injected with Strophosid as above mentioned may show subendocardial haemorrhage which was observed more markedly in the outflow area beneath aortic valves than in the inflow area under mitral valves. The subendocardial haemorrhage lacked in inflammation histologically. The cases treated with the singular use of Digicorin do not show the subendocardial haemorrhage even if ST-T depressed remarkably

Original Article

To investigate the influences of current changes in community to the development of preadolescent personality structure, three areas near by Keiyo industrial zone (A: a country town, B: a farm village, C: a collective housing area) were chosen for the materials of research project. Five types of psychological tests to 408 pupils on the first-grade of junior high school in these areas, and the questionnaire tests to their parents and teachers were adopted for this purposes. The results were as follows: 1) These three areas were obviously different on the geographical, cultural and sociological points of view. In A; most evident varieties were noticed in occupations, dwelling areas and so on. In B; almost all families had lived natively in their own houses. In C; the majority of people, who lived in the apartment houses, recently transfered here for the newly-established offices. 2) About the mental and werking faculties, C was superior and B was inferior to others. Remarkable emotional problems of complexed varieties were observed in all areas, especially aggression in B, dependency in C. 3) Questionable tendencies of the family to bring up children were to leave the children alone in B, overprotection or interference in C, and all of these in A. Problems linking to the pathological state in adolescence were noticed in the questionable groups in Sentence Completion Test, that is, disturbance of identity in A, weakness of defence in B, and friendlessness or identity diffusion in C

Original Article

ネコ32匹について,10% urethane-1% chloralose(5ml/kg)の腹腔内麻酔を行ない,横隔膜運動神経を機能的単一神経発射としてとり出し,その基本的特性と換気機構との相関および横隔膜神経支配について検討した。1)横隔膜運動神経線維について,機能的単一神経発射115本の発射パターンを自発呼吸下における気速曲線と対比し,I〜IV型に分類した。2)横隔膜神経におけるこれらの線維の構成は,I型40%,II型48%,III型10%そしてIV型は2%以下であった。3)I・II・III型の線維の基本的特性は,気道抵抗を加えた場合および呼気反射における発射パターンの変化からI型は相動性の要素を有し,II・III型は緊張性の要素を有している。4)これらの線維と換気機構の相関をみると,I型の線維は,主として効果的な吸気を瞬間的に行なうためにdynamicであり,II型の線維は,静的状態における吸気に主役を演じstaticである。さらに初期の呼出を円滑に行なわせるのにおもな役割を果たしている。III型は,主として腹圧に拮抗した緊張性の線維と考えられる。IV型については,ガンマ-運動線維である可能性について考察した。6)横隔膜筋支配については,腰部はI型,肋骨部は,I・II・III型の線維によって支配されていると考えられる。32 cats weighing 1.8 to 3.4 kg were intraperitoneally anesthetized with 10% urethane and 1% chloralose (5 ml/kg). 115 functionally unitary discharges of the phrenic nerve classified into four different types. Type I fibres initiate their firings after the beginning of the inspiratory phase and cease their activities prior to the onset of the expiratory flow change. Type II fibres fire with the very onset of the inspiratory phase and extend their activites untill the initial part of the expiration. The firings of Type III fibres dominate the whole inspiratory phase and initial two thirds of the expiration. Type IV showed continuously tonic firing throughout the whole respiratory cycle and increase their activities slightly during the inspiratory phase. Type I and II occupied more than 80% of all pattern. Modification of firing mode of each fibre type was observed under spontaneous respiration with air-way resistance and deflation reflex. The results may indicate characteristic features of each fibre type. Type I fibres may contribute to the kinetic contraction of the diaphragm and Type II the tonic one. Type III fibres were more tonic than Type II and may keep diaphragmatic tension against the intra-abdominal pressure. Type IV fibres probably belong to gamma motoneurons. Electromyographic observations suggested dominant innervation of Type I fibres to the pars cruralis. Pars costalis was mainly innervated by Type II fibres

Original Article

The pancreas taken from the frog (Rana nigromaculata) was fixed in 1% OsO_4 and sliced into ultrathin sections for electron microscopic studies. The following observations were made: 1. A great \u27number of minute granules found in the cytoplasm of a pancreatic cell were called the microsomes, which were divided into two types, the C-microsome and S-microsome. 2. Electron microsopic studies of the ergastoplasm showed that it is composed of the microsome granules and A-substance. The microsomes were seen embedded in the A-substance which was either filamentous or membranous. The membranous structure, which was called the Am-membrane, was seen to form a sac, with a cavity of varying sizes, or to form a lamella. 3. The Am-membrane has close similarity to α-cytomembrane of Sjostrand, except that the latter is rough-surfaced. It was deduced that the Am-membrane, which is smooth-surfaced, might turn into the rough-surfaced α-cytomembrane. 4. There was the Golgi apparatus in the supranuclear region of a pancreatic cell. It consisted of the Golgi membrane, Golgi vacuole and. Golgi vesicle. 5. The mitochondria of a pancreatic cell appeared like long filaments, and some of them were seen to ramify. 6. The membrane of mitochondria, i. e. the limiting membrane, consisted of the Ammembrane. The mitochondria contained a lot of A-substances, as well as the C-microsomes and S-microsomes. When the mitochondria came into being, there appeared inside them chains of granules, which appeared like strips of beads, as the outgrowths of the A-substance and the microsome granules attached to the Am-membrane. They are the so-called cristae mitochondriales. 7. The secretory granules originate in the microsomes. They came into being when the microsomes gradually thickened and grew in size as various substances became adhered to them. Some of the secretory granules were covered with a membrane and appeared like what they have called the intracisternal granule of Palade.It seemed that this was a phenomenon attendant upon the dissolution and liqutefaction of the secretory granule. 8. Comparative studies were made of the ergastoplasm of the pancreatic cells from the frogs in hibernation, the frogs artificially hungered, the frogs which were given food after a certain period of fasting, the frogs to which pilocarpine was given subcutaneously, and the very young, immature frogs. The studies revealed that the ergastoplasm of the pancreatic cells greatly varied in form with the difference in nutritive condition and with different developmental stages of the cell. The change in form and structure occured as a result of transformation of the microsomes and A-substance. The ergastoplasm, even after it has come into being, might easily be inactivated if nutrition is defective. The ergastoplasm is concerned in the secretory mechanism, which is different from the secretory phenomenon of the secretory granules. It would seem that structurally the mitochondria have no direct relation to this mechanism

Original Article

The present paper deals with an investigation on the changes appearing in the mucous membrane of the nose (physiologic atrophy) in normal persons of different age groups, as contrasted with a wasting of the mucous mambrane of the nose in cases of atrophic rhinitis. The investigation has been performed for the purpose of contributing to the studies of the pathology of atrophic rhinitis. 1. Pathologic changes of a considerable degree were. observed in the epithelium in quite a large section of infants and children where it had been considered normal as a results of macroscopic examinations. 2. Metaplasia of the epithelial cells developing in the mucous membrane in the forepart of the respiratory region seems to occur as a result of the stimulus applied from without. The phenomenon was marked in the front and along the lower edge of the inferior turbinal, showing a tendency to increase in magnitude as the age advance. It did not, however, spread over a wide area, nor was there any marked development of cornification. An increase in mucus secretion, as well as in the number of goblet cells, was noticed in the epithelium as the age advance. Mucous degeneration gradually set in at the end of forties, becoming marked in the sixties. 4. In the basal membrane, the hyaline layer, which is its secondary form, grew in size with age, and a substance which stains with Hale\u27s stain was detected in it. This substance seems to have an important share in the mucus secreting function of the epithelium. 5. It seems that the epithelium of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract continues to function even in considerably advanced ages. 6. The lymphoid tissue situated underneath the epithelium attained the largest quantity in persons about 20 years old; it began to diminish and grow less thick in persons over 40. The presence of the elastic fiber was noticed in the subepithelial layer in all age groups, though the number of persons with this phenomenon was small.7. The glands wers under-developed in children of about 10; they grew rapidly after that age until about 40 when they began to show a tendency to atrophy. 8. It seems that the periglandular lymphocytes, which infiltrate without bringing about the disintegration of the glands, take charge of the metabolism of the glands. A large number of them were found in infancy but they showed a marked decrease in number in persons over about 40. It would seem that, in highly advanced ages, non-inflammatory disintegration of the glands could possibly occur as a result of the infiltration of the lymphoid tissue. 9. The formation of the oncocyte, an unusual cell of the epithelium of the gland which characterizes the old age, was noticed in 7 cases. 10. The blood vessels manifested changes of a high degree in persons of advanced ages: they revealed evidences of functional disturbance of a high degree when stained by the stains of H. E, Weigert, PAS and Hale. This would show the measure of the influence that has been exerted on the function of the mucous membrane. 11. Corpora cavernosa was under-developed in infancy but became well-developed in persons of about 20; a decrease in the number of bodies and a diminution in size of the inner lumen became marked in persons over 40, becoming more marked in persons over 50

Original Article

Tetrodotoxin, a toxic substance obtained from the globe fish, has been known to paralise the neuromuscular system as well as the central nervous system and recently, it was found to block production of the action potential through its selective inhibition of the sodium-carrying mechanism, but has no effect on the resting potential. In this paper, the effects of tetrodotoxin on the four kinds of skeletal muscle fibers were compared and analysed. Four muscle fibers are tonic and phasic fibers of the extrafusal muscle, and nuclear-bag and nuclear-chain fibers of the intrafusal muscle fibers. The extrafusal muscle is a dynamic source of posture and locomotion, the intrafusal muscle being the regulating source of them. Paralysis of the extrafusal muscle fibers was determined by measuring the decrease in maximum contraction of the soleus (tonic muscle) and tibialis anterior (phasic) produced stimulation of the distal cut end of the ventral root. Paralysis of the intrafusal muscle fibers wasmeasured by a change in the frequency of Group la discharge led from the functionally isolated single filaments of the distal cut end of the dorsal root. By intravenous administration of 4γ/kg tetrodotoxin, paralysis advaces beginning with the intrafusal muscle fibers, and then on to the tonic muscle and phasic muscle fibers. They recover according to the same order. When the intrafusal muscle fiber recovers during an advance in paralysis of the extrafusal muscle, intrafusal muscle fibers contract by the γ-efferent activated by stimulation of the ventral root, and the Group la discharge increases. Frequency of the Group la discharge increases in proportion to muscle extension, therefore the contraction curve of the intrafusal muscle fiber is measured from augmentation of the discharge frequency. Contraction of the intrafusal muscle fibers lasts for several hundred msec, and the curve has two peaks at about 60 msec, and 110 (Fig. 5).It is clear then that the former corresponds to contraction of the nuclear-bag fiber, and the latter to contraction of the nuclearchain fiber

Original Article

Recovery cycle of the evoked potential in the thalamic nuclei was investigated in 18 adult cats under moderate chloralose-urethane anesthesia. Both concentric bipolar electrode and glass-insulated tungsten microelectrode were used to record the amplitude of mass response or the number of the unit discharge respectively. Stimuli were applied to the peripheral (radial, tibial, peroneal and sural) nerves in the following three different ways : 1) double shocks to a nerve in a extremity, 2) two shocks separately to two different nerve trunks in the same extremity, 3) two shocks separately to two different nerve trunks in the different extremities. It was observed that the time course of the recovery cycle became shorter in the following order : 1) recovery tested by the routine double shock method in the same nerve trunk, 2) recovery tested by the stimuli separately applied to the different nerve trunks in the same extremity, 3) recovery tested by stimuli separately applied to the different nerve trunks in the different extremities. Such an order was also found to exist in the absolute refractoriness. This conclusion is schematically illustrated in Fig. 10 of the text. Different degrees of interference between two responses were discussed from the point of view that they might be attributed to the different overlapping density in the termination of sensory neurons at the thalamus where sensory afferents have some aspect of somatotopic alignment. The relatively long absolute refractoriness was also discussed in the text and might be explained by the thalamic recurrent inhibitory neurons which were proposed by Andersen and others (1962), to which the present observation also gave further confirmation (Fig. 9)