Satoru Sohma

Magnetic removal of alkaline batteries from the stomach

Twenty-eight cases of alkaline battery ingestion were treated in a 10-month period. In 16 cases, the batteries were in the stomach. They were all successfully removed using a magnet. This method has been shown to be easy and safe.

Light- and electron-microscopic studies on acetylcholinesterase activity in Auerbach's plexus of the developing rat colon

SummaryThe distal portions of rat colon from 14-, 16-, 18-, and 21-day fetuses, newborns, and adults were histochemically examined for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity by light and electron microscopy. The specificity of AChE activity in Auerbachs plexus was confirmed by specific and/or nonspecific cholinesterase inhibition tests. Enzyme activity was first detectable after 18 days of gestation and became stronger with age. The reaction product was demonstrated by electron microscopy in and between the plasma membranes of the nerve fibers and their terminals. Ganglion cells also showed positive activity in the plasma membrane, nuclear envelope, and rough endoplasmic reticulum. The distribution pattern of the reaction product in fetal and newborn rat colons was basically the same as in adult rat colon. Therefore, the localization of AChE activity is considered to be a good marker for identifying premature ganglion cells in Auerbachs plexus, and the degree of AChE staining is a good indication of the degree of maturation of the plexus.

Abnormality of serum immunoglobulins in chronic liver disease-immune complex like substances, abnormaly basic γ-globulin, secretory IgA and anti-DNA antibody

1) Serum secretory IgA was reduced in chronic liver disease while it was increased in obstructive jaundice. 2) Serum anti-dsDNA antibody was slightly increased in chronic liver disease, especially it was significantly increased in lupoid hepatitis in which its titer paralelled with the course of disease activity. 3) Serum Clq binding activity, Clq binding inhibition activity and polyclonal rheumatoid factor binding inhibition activity were increased in chronic liver disease and their disease activity was correlated with concentration of macromolecular immune complexes which were fractionated with sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. 4) Abnormally basic y-globulin which was dominantly found in chronic hepatitis B sera was determined to be monomeric IgG. I t was increased in aggravation of the disease but has no correlation with Clq binding monomeric IgG. 5) Liver membrane specific lipoprotein (LP-1), Espinosas liver specific antigen (LSA), Nerenbergs hepatorenal antigen (HRA) and Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THGP) had positive charge, and LP-2 and F-antigen did negative charge. 6) Human liver cell membrane fraction could not be obtained by the method of Ray or aqueous two phase polymer system which have been used for rat liver.

Proceedings Of The 21St Autumn Meeting From October 15th-17th, 1979-Maebashi, Japan

When the peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with various types of hepatitis were stimulated in vitro with liver specific protein, lymphocyte transformation and MIF production were detectable in many cases, especially in chronic active hepatitis. The macrophage activating factor (MAF), a kind of lymphokines, was also detected in the culture medium of activated lymphocytes from patients who showed positive blastogenesis. The activated macrophages by MAF were shown to be cytotoxic to the separated liver cells causing the marked inhibition of albumin synthesis. MAF-containing culture supernatants of these active lymphocytes activated guinea pig macrophages which inhibited the albumin biosynthesis of the isolated liver cells. These observations suggest that the macrophagemediated cytotoxicity may play and role in pathogenesis of chronic active hepatitis.