Kunihiko Sawano

High plasma, erythrocyte, lymphocyte and granulocyte zinc concentrations in a patient with the Chediak-Higashi syndrome.

Zinc determinations were made in a 5 month-old female with the Chediak-Higashi syndrome. Zinc concentrations in plasma, erythrocytes, lymphocytes and granulocytes from the patient were significantly higher than those in healthy children of a similar age, and were higher than—or equal to—those of healthy adults. Lymphocyte zinc levels in the parents were significantly lower than those of healthy adults. Although the cause of the high zinc concentrations in these samples cannot be fully explained, abnormally high zinc levels may be partially responsible for impairment of some leukocyte functions in patients with CHS since zinc plays a central role in cellular metabolism.

A Chromosomal Study on 100 Cases of Cerebral Palsy

Abstract A chromosomal study was conducted on the patients of cerebral palsy with congenital anomalies. One hundred cases were investigated on the chromosomal abnormalities and fragile sites. As a result of this study, 8 cases had abnormal karyotypes showing an incidence of 8.0%. Three out of the 8 cases had chromosomal aberrations transmitted from their parents showing an incidence of 37.5%. Only one case had a folic acid sensitive heritable fragile site at 12q13. Fragile X was not detected.

Natural Killer Activity in Two Cases of Ataxia Telangiectasia

ABSTRACT. We report two cases of ataxia telangiectasia in which a small number of T cells and a slightly diminished response to phytohaemagglutinin or concanavalin A were observed. In one case, serum IgA was undetectable. In spite of T and/or B cell involvement, natural killer activity and the percentage of natural killer cells determined by monoclonal antibodies Leu 7 were normal in both cases.