Tasaka et al. (A-63) note that Corynebacterium parvum (CP) increases susceptibility to endotoxin, which is associated with increased production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). They investigated the effect of CP-priming on the pathogenesis of acute lung injury caused by intratracheal Escherichia coli endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]). Experimental animals consisted of female guinea pigs divided into four groups. Animals in two groups received a 4-mg/kg treatment of CP 7 days before the study. Subsequently, nonpretreated animals received either saline alone (Control) or endotoxin (LPSalone). The pretreated groups received either saline (CP-alone) or LPS CP ð Þ þ LPS . Among the data collected were the following values of lung tissue-to-plasma ratio of radio-iodized serum albumin assay:

Control CP-alone LPS-alone CP þ LPS 0.12503532 0.18191647 0.17669093 0.3651166 0.10862729 0.30887462 0.25344761 0.64062964 0.10552931 0.25011885 0.17372285 0.39208734 0.15587316 0.23858085 0.1786867 0.49942059 0.13672624 0.26558231 0.22209666 0.85718475 0.11290446 0.32298454 0.27064831 0.93030465

. According to Takahashi et al. (A-64) research indicates that there is an association between alterations in calcium metabolism and various bone diseases in patients with other disabilities.
Using subjects with severe mental retardation (mean age 16 years) who had been living in institutions for most of their lives, Takahashi et al. examined the relationship between bone change and other variables. Subjects were divided into groups on the basis of severity of bone change. Among the data collected were the following serum alkaline phosphatase (IU/L) values:
Grade I: 109, 86, 79, 103, 47, 105, 188, 96, 249 Grade II: 86, 106, 164, 146, 111, 263, 162, 111 Grade III: 283, 201, 208, 301, 135, 192, 135, 83, 193, 175, 174, 193, 224, 192, 233 Source: Data provided courtesy of Dr. Mitsugi Takahashi.