Effects of linoleic acid hydroperoxide on the formation of lipid peroxide in the rat liver mitochondria]

An in vivo study was made on the effect of linoleic acid hydroperoxide on the formation of lipid peroxide in rat liver mitochondria, and results are as follows: There were no changes in contents of lipid peroxide and total sulfhydryl in rat liver mitochondria after daily administration of linoleic acid hydroperoxide (10 mg/kg, i.p.) for 3 or 7 days. Changes in the fatty acid composition in plasma and liver after i.p. administration of linoleic acid hydroperoxide for one week were not observed as compared to that of control animals. In addition, no appreciable change was found in the fatty acid composition of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol in liver mitochondria from rats treated with linoleic acid hydroperoxide. After treatment with linoleic acid hydroperoxide for 3 days, content of plasma triglycerides increased, but no effect was observed in liver triglycerides. However, plasma triglycerides returned to the control level and triglycerides in liver increased by treatment with linoleic acid hydroperoxide for one week. Free fatty acids decreased in plasma but not in the liver from rats treated with linoleic acid hydroperoxide for 3 or 7 days.     

SCREENING SYSTEM: School Physical Examination and Mass Screening for Tuberculosis

The spread of tuberculosis has been arrested in Japan, and this is especially remarkable in children. Taking as an example the incidence rate of tuberculosis in children of 5 ～ 9 years of age, there has been a remarkable decrease from 261.3 in 1962 to 4.2 in 1983. In Japan, mass examination for tuberculosis is performed on primary school children in the 1st grade and also on junior high school children in the 1st grade. The detection rate of tuberculosis for these groups is very low. The future direction of examination for tuberculosis in school is as follows:

• 1) Records of examinations should be prepared carefully, so as to avoid omitting absentees in examinations.
• 2) Emphasis should be placed on examination of children who are in contact with newly detected active tuberculous patients.
• 3) Early visits to doctors are recommended when symptoms such as fever of unknown origin or persistent cough appear.