Kazuo Tanimoto

Isolation of human erythrocyte membranes in glucose solution

A method is described for the preparation or removal of erythrocyte membranes from hemolysates by a glucose solution. The procedure is simple and rapid, requiring centrifugation at 8000g for 2 min. The preparation has microscopic shape and two-dimensional peptide patterns similar to those of the membrane isolated by conventional procedures (10,000g for 20 min). The present procedure is suitable for dealing with a bulky preparation or for removal of erythrocyte membranes from large volumes of hemolysates to purify enzymes and proteins of soluble or membrane fractions.

Systemic mastocytosis without cutaneous involvement.

An autopsy case of systemic mastocytosis without cutaneous involvement in a 76‐year‐old woman was described. The patient presented with general malaise, chest and epigastric discomfort, flushing of the face and progressive hepatosplenomegaly, and she terminated in hemorrhagic complications of DIC within 2 months. There was neither rash nor urticaria pigmentosa recognizable in the entire course. The diagnosis was made by the histologic identification of abnormal aggregates of mast cells in a bone marrow aspirate. These mast cell granules were chloroacetate esterase‐positive, peroxidase‐negative, and electronmicroscopically they were composed of fine granular materials containing variable numbers of lamellar structures. At autopsy, diffuse infiltration of the mast cells was found in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes, lungs, kidneys, stomach, and adrenal glands.

Met-Form Hemoglobins in Long-Term Stored ACD Blood

On passing ACD blood stored for a year at 4 degrees C through a column of Sephadex G-75, the surviving erythrocytes were separated from hemolyzed cells and plasma. About 18% of stored erythrocytes survived a year of storage, and were spherocytic. The concentration of total ferric hemoglobins in the surviving erythrocytes was about 75% of that in the supernatant. The met-form hemoglobins in the erythrocytes and hemolytic solutions were further analyzed by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, and (alpha 2+ beta 3+)2 and (alpha 3+ beta 2+)2 valency hybrids were found in addition to methemoglobin. Since the activity of NADH cytochrome b5 reductase was extremely low in the surviving erkythrocytes, the difference in proportion of ferric hemoglobins (valency hjybrids + methemoglobin) in these two fractions might be due simply to the difference in pH between intracellular and extracellular fluids, which is largely reflected in the oxidation rate of hemoglobin. The course of hemoglobin oxidation seems to be through hemoglobins such as (alpha 2+ beta 3+)2 and (alpha 3+ beta 2+)2 to methemoglobin.

A simple rapid autoradiography for 3H-thymidine labeling index and its application to therapy of adult acute leukemia

Our simple rapid autoradiography for 3H‐thymidine (3H‐TdR) labeling index (LI) of leukemic cells was introduced. Thirty‐nine adult patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia were treated under a new protocol using 3H‐TdR LI as a parameter and inserting a trial of partial synchronization by Ara‐C. The success rate of synchronization by Ara‐C (rise of the LI up to 10%) was 62.5% out of 32 courses. By our regimen the complete remission (CR) rate of 71.4% in 35 first treated cases, that of 44.0% in 25 courses of recurrent cases, and a median survival of 12 months were achieved. A survey of literature revealed that our results were favorably compared with others. Our new protocol is advantageous in permitting one to precisely know the proper time for chemotherapy and thus avoiding unnecessary side effects.

Urine Cytology of Transitional Cell Carcinoma in the Upper Urinary Tract

自然尿細胞診で腫瘍細胞が検出された腎盂移行上皮癌 (Grade III) を報告し, あわせて最近経験した上部尿路移行上皮癌17症例を校閲し尿細胞診と組織診における腫瘍細胞の異型度や正診に与える因子について検討した. 異型度の高い移行上皮癌においては尿細胞診で比較的容易に腫瘍細胞は検出されたが異型度の低い乳頭状癌においては陽性率は低かった. 細胞診における腫瘍細胞の異型度は比較的よく組織診における細胞異型度を反映しているのが知られた.