We studied the effects of slime protease obtained from Staphylococcus epidermidis on membrane surface antigens (CD2, CD3, CD4, and CD8) and on the production of a macrophage activating factor (MFA) from T lymphocytes. The numbers of CD2, CD4 and CD8 positive cells were reduced by the treatment with S. epidermidis slime protease. Namely, the binding of the monoclonal antibody to each of the antigens was inhibited. The MAF production was suppressed dose-dependently after the treatment with S. epidermidis slime protease. Futhermore, S. epidermidis slime protease had no toxic effect on the lymphocytes.

These results suggest that S. epidermidis slime protease cleaved the lymphocyte membrane antigens to suppress the production of MAF from activated T lymphocytes.

During the 8 years from 1982 to 1989, 1,843 streins of beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated from various clinical specimens collected at the Kuji area of Iwate. The isolates were serologically grouped. Group A streptococci were devided by T-pattern, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of penicillin (PCG), ampicillin (ABPC), cephaloridine (CER), cephalexin (CEX), tetracycline (TC), chloramphenicol (CP), erythromycin (EM), oleandomycin (OL) and lincomycin (LCM) were determined. Theresults were as follows; Of these isolates 1,393 were serologically classified as group A, and 442 as group B, and the remaining 8 as group C and G. Of the 1,393 strains of group A streptococci, 386 were identified to be T-12 type, 260T-1 type, 249 T-4 type and the remaining T-6 and T-13 types. Predominating types varied chronologically; T-1 type was predominant in 1982 and 1989, T-13 type in 1983, T-4 type in 1984 and 1985, T-12 type in 1986 and 1987, and then T-6 type in 1988. The yearly distribution T-pattern apparently differed between the Kuji area and Morioka City. The isolated strains were highly susceptible to PCG, AMPC, CER and CEX. However, there were strains highly resistant strains to EM, OL and LCM. Resistant strains to TC were isolated very frequently in 1984 and 1985. In the same years, T-4 type was isolated as predominant type. These results indicate a close rerationship between antimicrobial resistant to TC and T-4 type of group A streptococci.

The condition of restorations for 12,066 deciduous teeth and 727 permanent teeth were investigated in 1,579 children, aged between 1 and 17 years, treated at our Pediatric Dental Clinic during the past five years from 1983 to 1987. Troubles occurring after restoration were also examined. The total number of restorations increased to two and a half times as much in 1987 as that in 1983. Application of metal inlay was most frequent to 36.5% of all the restorations during the past five years. In each year, restoration was most frequently performed on children ranging in age from 3 to 5 years (approximately 70% of all the children). Lower first deciduous molars were the most frequent sites of restoration for the deciduous teeth and lower first molar in permanent teeth. Troubles occurred in 16.5% of the treated teeth during the past 5 years. Falling was the most common type of all troubles. The incidence of troubles decrease year by year and was reduced to one-third in 1987. The most frequent sites of troubles were upper and lower deciduous central incisors in deciduous teeth and upper lateral incisors in permanent teeth.