[Qualitative study of municipalities' maternal and child health promotion planning].

From 1997, basic maternal and child health services have been provided through municipalities. The ministry of Health and Welfare has requested all municipalities to publish a MCH promotion plan. We conducted a qualitative analysis of important contents of the plans using an evaluation index of original dichotomous variables. Out of 3,256 municipalities, 2,873 developed the plans for MCH promotion. Most of the plans present descriptions of the significance of MCH promotion planning, goals of the plans, problems of current MCH statistics and services, and plans of providing services. The proportion was low for plans which have needs assessment of target population, indicators of evaluation of plans, description of the relationship between objectives and services, importance of objectives, action plans, specific chapter or evaluation of the plan, monitoring of the plan, and plans for informing public of the MCH plan. Therefore, the MCH promotion plans have weaknesses in evaluation and action. The MCH promotion plans of middle sized cities were more likely to have these important contents. We will continue to analyze the processes for producing of excellent MCH promotion plans to extract universal promoting factors for producing MCH promotion plans.

Drinking habit as a base for blood pressure elevation--difference in epidemiological significance by beverage type.

To investigate whether blood pressure differs by taking preferred alcoholic beverage among habitual drinkers, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) were compared among groups with different beverage types in 563 middle-aged Japanese males using data from a cross-sectional health survey conducted from February, 1989 through March, 1991 in five areas of Japan. Mean values of SBP and DBP, adjusted for residence, age and body mass index (BMI), were significantly greater in 'exclusively sake' drinkers (adjusted SBP: 127.2 mmHg, adjusted DBP: 83.0 mmHg) and in 'exclusively shochu' drinkers (adjusted SBP: 127.5 mmHg, adjusted DBP: 84.2 mmHg) than in non-drinkers (adjusted SBP: 120.9 mmHg, adjusted DBP: 77.3 mmHg). Adjusted SBP and DBP of 'exclusively beer' drinkers (adjusted SBP: 121.9 mmHg, adjusted DBP: 79.1 mmHg) were significantly (for SBP: p = 0.016, for DBP: p = 0.008) lower than those of 'exclusively sake' drinkers. Similar patterns of blood pressure differences between five beverage types of habitual drinkers were found especially in the group with less than 150 g of weekly ethyl-alcohol consumption. Even after adding ethyl-alcohol consumption as a covariate among 479 habitual drinkers, the significant differences in adjusted SBP and DBP between 'exclusively beer' drinkers and 'exclusively sake' drinkers (for SBP: p = 0.032, for DBP: p = 0.044) were noted. These results may suggest that the effects of drinking on blood pressure differ by beverage type in middle-aged Japanese males.

[A study of relapsed cases of vivax malaria after the standard primaquine therapy].

Vivax malaria is the most frequent among imported malaria in Japan, comprising about 60% of the total cases. Usually, after the acute phase therapy, e.g. with chloroquine, patients with vivax malaria are treated with the standard course of primaquine, i.e. 15 mg base/day for 14 days, as curative therapy. Recently, however, cases of relapse of vivax malaria after this standard primaquine therapy were reported from various countries and were also encountered in Japan. This report showed that the relapse after the standard primaquine therapy occurred most frequently in the cases acquired in Papua New Guinea, followed by Indonesia and Thailand. In contrast, the relapse rate of the cases acquired in India was low. Most of the relapsed cases were successfully treated with either of the regimens 1) 30 mg/ day for 7 days, 2) 2 courses of the standard primaquine therapy given 1 month apart or 3) 15 mg/ day for 21 days, without noticeable side effects. It is imperative to establish the most appropriate regimen with primaquine for the curative treatment of vivax malaria contracted in the areas mentioned above.

[Clinical study of prulifloxacin on infectious enteritis. Japan Research Committee of Prulifloxacin, Research Group on Infectious Enteritis].

Prulifloxacin (PUFX), a new quinolone antimicrobial agent, was administered to a total of 122 patients and carriers to investigate its clinical efficacy, safety and usefulness in infectious enteritis (bacillary dysentery, enteritis caused by Salmonella spp. and enteropathogenic E. coli, cholera and so on). In addition, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of UFX (active compound) was determined against each clinical isolate, and compared with that of ciprofloxacin (CPFX), ofloxacin (OFLX), tosufloxacin (TFLX) and nalidixic acid (NA). The correlation between the concentration of UFX in feces and the change of the fecal microflora were also investigated when PUFX was administered to the patients with acute infectious enteritis. A daily dose of 400 mg of PUFX was administered orally in two divided doses (morning and evening) for 5 days, with the exception of 7 days administration against salmonella enteritis and 3 days administration against cholera. 84 cases were adapted for evaluating the usefulness. The clinical efficacy was 100% in all the enteritis except salmonella enteritis, in which it was 88.9% (8/9 cases). On the bacteriological efficacy, the elimination rate was 100% in all isolates except Salmonella spp., in which it was 75.0% (12/16 cases). As for the adverse effect, uriticaria in moderate degree was observed in 1 (0.9%) of 109 cases. Abnormal changes in laboratory findings were seen in 3 (3.0%) of 100 cases, consisting of 1 with eosinophilia and 2 with elevated S-GPT, although they were all slight in degree. The usefulness rate was 65.5% (55/84 cases) for "very useful" and 95.2% (80/84 cases) for "very useful" and "useful". MIC90 of UFX against Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., E. coli and V. cholerae, was 0.025, 0.05, 0.025 and 0.05 microgram/ml, respectively. These values were the same as those of CPFX and TFLX, and superior to OFLX and NA. UFX concentrations in feces followed by administration of PUFX in 3 cases with acute infectious enteritis were higher than that of MIC90 of UFX against Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., E. coli and V. cholerae. The changes of the fecal microflora, which influence the efficacy and safety of PUFX, were not observed.

[Basic and clinical studies of pazufloxacin on infectious enteritis research group of T-3761 on infectious enteritis].

A clinical study was carried out on pazufloxacin (PZFX) in 137 patients including shigellosis, Salmonella enteritis, enteropathogenic Esherichia coli enteritis and cholera, and carriers of these pathogens. Antibacterial activity of PZFX against clinical isolates, fecal concentration of PZFX and effects of PZFX on fecal microflora were also investigated. The overall clinical efficacy rate was 97.2%. The bacteriological efficacy rates were 98.2% against Shigella spp., 81.8% against Salmonella spp., 50% against Vibrio cholerae O1, and 100% against E. coli, V. parahaemolyticus, Aeronomas spp., Plesionomas shigelloides and V. cholerae non-O1, respectively. Side effect (epigastralgia) was observed in 1 of 130 cases (0.8%). The rate of abnormal laboratory findings was 11.2% (11/98). These were mainly elevation of GOT and/or GPT and increased eosinophils. The clinical usefulness rate was 95.2%. The MIC90 values of PZFX against Shigella spp., Salmonella spp. and E. coli were 0.025, 0.025 and 0.025 micrograms/ml, respectively. The results of fecal drug concentration and the effects on fecal microflora in one patient were compatible with those obtained in healthy volunteers.

[clinical study of balofloxacin on infectious enteritis and assessment of the fecal drug concentration and intestinal microbial flora in patients with inpatients with infectious enteritis. Research group of balofloxacin on infectious enteritis].

The efficacy, safety and usefulness of balofloxacin (BLFX) for patients with acute infectious enteritis and the carriers mainly shigellosis, were investigated. The drug was administered at a daily dose of 200 mg twice a day for 3 days to patients with cholera, 7 days to patients with Salmonella enteritis and 5 days to patients with other conditions of infectious enteritis including shigellosis; 1. The efficacy was analyzed in 89 of the 135 patients who received the administration (43 patients with shigellosis, 14 with Salmonella enteritis, 8 with enteropathogenic/ enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli enteritis, 3 with cholera, 7 with enteritis with other pathogenic bacteria, 6 with polymicrobial infectious enteritis and 8 with acute enteritis that was pathogen-negative). 2. In patients bearing symptoms and who thus could be analyzed for drug efficacy, the drug was markedly effective or effective 50/52 (96.2%). 3. Bacteriologically, the drug was effective for Shigella spp. in 41 (100%) of 41, Salmonella spp. in 12 (85.7%) of 14, and enteropathogenic/enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in 8 of 8 cases. 4. Adverse effects were seen in 5/133 patients (3.8%) receiving the drug, including two cases of skin eruption, one of the numbness of the hands, one of oral aphtha, and one of nausea. In patients for whom laboratory findings were available, 20/115 (17.4%) showed abnormalities, mainly elevations of GOT and/or GPT, but these were slight. 5. In terms of subjective reports of usefulness, 51/82 (62.2%) were markedly satisfied, and 73/82 (89.0%) were either satisfied or markedly satisfied. 6. The influence of administration of BLFX on fecal concentration and intestinal microbial flora was investigated in 2 patients with acute infectious enteritis. Results approximately equivalent to such flora levels in healthy subjects were obtained. These results suggest that BLFX is highly useful for infectious enteritis such as that caused by shigellosis.

[Current status of HIV epidemic and prevention and control program in Cambodia].

PIP: The authors of this paper visited Cambodia in March 1994, as part of the Ministry of Education program of international cooperation in AIDS research, to investigate the current status of the AIDS epidemic and develop plans for prevention and control. Cambodia is faced with an HIV crisis; examples are the dramatic increase in HIV-positive blood donors (0.08% in 1990, 3.6% in 1994) and the high rate of infection among high-risk behavior groups. The route of infection in all cases in which it was traceable was heterosexual. While the heterosexual route is considered to be the major route of transmission, unclean needles used in medical services are also suspected. Since 1991, aided by the World Health Organization, HIV infection surveillance and a comprehensive national plan for AIDS prevention and control have been established. In cooperation with nongovernmental organizations, policies have been put into effect. With the decline of the country's socioeconomic structure, however, the level of public hygiene has been drastically reduced and HIV/AIDS prevention and control plans have been facing great difficulties. Now, at the onset of the epidemic, which is a crucial time, there is urgent need for international assistance.^ieng

[Basic and clinical studies of fleroxacin on infectious enteritis. Research Group of AM-833 on infectious enteritis].

A clinical study was conducted on fleroxacin (FLRX) in 143 patients and carriers with infectious enteritis (shigellosis, Salmonella enteritis, Campylobacter enteritis, pathogenic Escherichia coli enteritis, Vibrio parahaemolyticus enteritis, cholera, multiple bacterial infections, pathogen-negative enteritis). Furthermore, its antibacterial activity against clinical isolates, fecal concentration and effect on fecal microflora were conducted. FLRX was administered orally in doses of 200 mg once a day (200 mg group) or 300 mg once a day (300 mg group) for 3 days to cholera, for 7 days to Salmonella enteritis and for 5 days to the other infectious enteritis. The clinical efficacy rates were 100% in both the 200 mg and 300 mg groups. The bacteriological efficacy rates were 100% against Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., pathogenic E. coli, V. parahaemolyticus and V. cholerae O1, and 63.6% against Campylobacter spp. in the 200 mg group. The rates of the 300 mg group were 93.3% against Shigella spp., and 100% against Campylobacter spp. and pathogenic E. coli. As adverse effects, skin rash was observed in 1 case each in both groups (1.1%, 2.1%). Abnormal laboratory findings consisted of 1 case of increased eosinophils and 1 case of elevated GOT and GPT levels in the 200 mg group (2.8%), and 1 case of elevated GPT in the 300 mg group (2.9%). The clinical usefulness rates were 92.9% and 93.3% in the 200 mg and 300 mg groups, respectively. Antibacterial activity was somewhat inferior to that fo ciprofloxacin and equal to or better than that of norfloxacin, demonstrating MIC90 values against Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., pathogenic E. coli, V. parahaemolyticus and Campylobacter spp. of 0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.78 micrograms/ml, respectively. Peak fecal concentrations of the drug were 49.0 micrograms/g and 274.4 micrograms/g in the 200 mg group, and 43.3 micrograms/g and below the detection limit (5.0 micrograms/g) in the 300 mg group. With respect to fecal microflora (4 cases), a decrease in Enterobacteriaceae was observed in 3 cases during dosing. But this change showed a tendency to recover after completion of dosing. No effects were observed on anaerobic bacteria.

[Long term observation on beta-hemolytic streptococci in institutions for handicapped preschool children. Streptococcal Diseases Study Group].

Studies on beta-hemolytic streptococci have been carried out in 2 institutions for handicapped preschool children during the last nine-year period from 1985 to 1993. These studies were based on continuous throat cultures, 4 to 12 times a year, from 244 children including Down's syndrome and mentally retarded children in K-institution (K), and from 134 including cerebral palsy and other cerebrospinal disorders in H-institution (H). A significant difference (p < 0.05) was demonstrated in the isolation rates between K (11.1%) and H (6.4%). In K, isolation rates of beta-hemolytic streptococci ranged from 0 to 43.5%, showing a higher rate in winter (16.5%) than in summer (6.6%), and elevated-isolation rates of homologous types were demonstrate four times during the study period; i.e., type T12 in '87, type T28 in '88, type T1 in '90 and '92. In H, on the other hand, no higher rates (as to group A) were observed in winter or summer. In relation to disorders of children, the rates were 12.6% in Down's syndrome (mean age 2.7y), 10.0% in mentally retarded children (3.9y) and 6.4% in cerebral palsy or others with cerebrospinal disorders (3.3y). Down's syndrome, the youngest group, revealed the highest isolation rate of beta-hemolytic streptococci. In only two cases isolated hemologous types detected were over two times continuously.

Development and evaluation of capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detection of immunoglobulin G and M antibodies to group A streptococcal antigens.

Capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed to detect immunoglobulin G and M antibodies to group A streptococcal (GAS) antigens, streptolysin O, streptokinase, and group A carbohydrate. The sensitivities and the specificities of the IgM capture ELISAs to each GAS antigen were high enough to distinguish the patients with GAS infections (diagnosed as GAS pharyngitis or scarlet fever) from the control groups (healthy people and patients with pharyngitis from whom GAS could not be isolated). On the other hand, the specificities of the IgG capture ELISAs were not very effective in diagnosis of GAS infections. When the capture ELISA and an indirect ELISA detecting IgM antibodies to group A carbohydrate were compared, false-positive reactions due to rheumatoid factor occurred in the indirect ELISA, but did not occur in the capture ELISA. These results indicate that the capture ELISA works better than the indirect ELISA in detecting the IgM antibody, and that the IgM capture ELISA to GAS antigen provides a rapid and highly reliable serodiagnosis for GAS infections employing only a single serum.

[A clinical experience of rokitamycin on Campylobacter enteritis. Research Group of Rokitamycin on Infectious Enteritis].

Rokitamycin, a newly developed macrolide, was administered to a total of 107 cases, 16 years old or more, in order to evaluate its clinical efficacy, safety and usefulness on Campylobacter enteritis. Daily dosage of 600 mg of rokitamycin was administered orally in three divided doses for 5 days. Bacteriological and clinical efficacies were judged by the attending doctors from the evaluation criteria made by the committee and from the days required for improvement of diarrhea, defervescence and so on, respectively. Antibacterial activities against the isolates were tested of rokitamycin (RKM), erythromycin (EM), josamycin (JM) and ofloxacin (OFLX). The results were as follows; 41 symptomatic patients and 5 carriers were evaluated. Clinical efficacy (n = 41) was 100% (excellent; 34.1%, good; 65.9%). Bacteriological efficacy (n = 41) was 97.6%. Eight of the 9 cases with consecutive stool cultures were free of the bacteria on and after one day of the drug administration. Clinical usefulness (n = 46) was 97.8%. Slight epigastric pain was seen in only one as a side effect. The items of abnormal laboratory findings were 4 elevated GPT and/or GOT and one increased number of WBC in 4 cases. MIC90 of RKM, EM, JM and OFLX against 41 clinical isolates of C. jejuni were 1.56, 3.13, 3.13 and 0.78 micrograms/ml, respectively. Rokitamycin was considered clinically useful to treat Campylobacter enteritis.

[Comparison of clinical efficacy of rokitamycin (RKM) and ofloxacin (OFLX) for the treatment of Campylobacter enteritis by a double-blind method. The Research Committee for the Effect of Rokitamycin, Research Group for Infectious Enteritis].

The clinical efficacy, safety and usefulness of Rokitamycin (RKM), a new macrolide antibiotic, were compared with those of Ofloxacin (OFLX) for the treatment of Campylobacter enteritis by a double blind method. The daily dose level of RKM or OFLX was 600 mg. They were orally administered in three divided doses for 5 days. Of 223 cases studied, 106 cases were diagnosed as Campylobacter enteritis. Ninety cases (RKM group: 50, OFLX group: 40) except for 16 excluded or drop-out cases were analysed. There was no significant difference between the two groups in any background factors. The effectiveness and usefulness was evaluated in 88 cases (RKM group: 48, OFLX group: 40). The results obtained were as follows: 1. In a total of 82 strains of Campylobacter jejuni/coli (RKM group: 42, OFLX group: 40), the bacteriological efficacy rate of RKM (95.2%) was superior to that of OFLX (70.0%) with a significant difference (p = 0.006). 2. In 76 symptomatic patients (RKM group: 42, OFLX group: 34) on the day of the beginning of drug administration, the clinical efficacy rate was 97.6% in the RKM group and 85.3% in the OFLX group with no significant difference between the two groups. 3. In 88 evaluable patients, the global clinical efficacy rate of RKM (95.8%) was superior to that of OFLX (67.5%) with a significant difference (p = 0.001). 4. Side effect was observed in 1 (1.9%) of the 54 patients in the RKM group and none of the 44 patients in the OFLX group. Slightly abnormal laboratory findings were seen in 4 (10.8%) of the 37 patients treated with RKM and 3 (9.7%) of the 31 patients treated with OFLX, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. 5. In 88 evaluable patients, the clinical usefulness of RKM (91.7%) was superior to that of OFLX (67.5%) with a significant difference (p = 0.01). From these results, RKM is considered to be a very useful agent for the treatment of Campylobacter enteritis.

[Serotypes and antibiotic susceptibility of group A and B streptococci clinically isolated in Sapporo in the last five years].

During the last five-year period between 1985 and 1989, serotypes of 671 strains of group A and 238 strains of group B streptococci isolated from clinical specimens in Sapporo city general hospital were studied. Results of serotyping were given as under; Type T4 (25.8%), T12 (25.6%), T1 (11.5%), T3 (9.2%), T6 and T28 (6.3% each), T8 and T22 (0.6% each), T13 (0.4%), T9 and B3264 were found in group A. Type T4 and T12 formed main types up to this time and T1, T3, T6 and T28 were other predominant types. The elevated isolation rates of type T3 and T28 were remarkable in this period. In group B, Ia (31.5%), III (16.8%), Ib (14.3%), II (8.0%) and V (4.2%) were observed. On 617 samples (391 group A, 226 group B) out of these strains, antibiotic susceptibility to 9 drugs were examined. No resistant strain (MIC greater than or equal to 25 micrograms/ml) to beta-lactam antibiotics was found in each group. Resistant strains in group A streptococci were demonstrated 24.3% to TC, 0.5% to OL. No resistant strain, however, was observed to CP or EM. In group B, resistant strains were found in 39.8% to TC, 6.6% to CP, 2.2% to EM. Strains resistant to only TC (31.0%) were most prevalent followed by TC.CP (6.2%) and TC.MLs (2.7%). Multi-resistant strain (to TC.CP.MLs) was not found.

[A dying clinical diagnosis of scarlet fever--the last sixteen years survey].

11,119 patients with scarlet fever admitted in the last sixteen years, from 1973 to 1988, to Sapporo City General Hospital, were studied statistically on symptoms and laboratory findings. The results were summarized as follows: 1. Annual number of patients have reduced suddenly since 1981, and become zero in 1989. The patients increased in number during the winter season. Eighty two percent of the cases were between 3 and 8 years of age, and the average age was 5.8 year-old. 2. Cases of above-38 degrees C temperature were seen in about 81.4%, and from 2 to 5 days-duration of temperature were seen in 86.6% of the patients in the year 1976. Cases of above-moderate rash were observed in 68.2%, sever redness of throat in 29.9%, strawberry tongue in 86.3% and angular stomatitis in 37.7% of the patients. In recent statistical analysis (1982-1988), we found, however, a tendency that patients having stronger symptoms were being introduced to our hospital. 3. The higher rates of cases showing elevated ASD titer were seen in the elder patients and in the winter. C-reactive protein (CRP) titers were mostly in the range of (-) to (greater than or equal to 6+), having 2.4 + on an average. 4. Patients who developed into overt nephritis were not seen. Cases of microscopic hematuria (greater than or equal to 3 red cells/f in urine sediments), however, were observed in 1.1% (125/11,119). Sever complications were hardly seen. 5. Reappearance of beta-hemolytic streptococci (on a week after discharge) were found in 3.1% (241/7,877). 6. Reinfection or relapse cases of scarlet fever were found in 6.7% (642/9,585).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Control of gaze and locomotion by spatial orientation].

We reported a new theory for daily vestibular functions which advocates top-down regulation of posture and gaze by supposing the coordinates in the brain. The hypothesis consists of three principles; first, the vestibular system is primarily a sensory system to detect spatial orientation; second, multisensory integrations reconstruct three-dimensional coordinates in the brain, which ascertain spatial orientation; third, daily behaviours like gazing or walking are controlled in a feed-forward manner by programming on the coordinates in the brain. The hypothesis was useful to understand strategic differences between active and passive movements, to distinct gaze control from ocular reflexes, to apply the rules of gaze control to posture control, and to clarify the mechanism to produce motion sickness.

[The motion sickness under reversing goggles (1st report)].

We observed locomotion and motion sickness in 10 normal adults wearing reversing goggles while moving outdoors. Horizontal reversal of the visual field produced moderate to severe ataxia and motion sickness in all subjects except one. There was marked variability in the sensitivity among different subjects. In contrast, vertical reversal produced no symptoms. Confusion of information relation to spatial orientation possibly caused both the motion sickness and abnormal locomotion. Horizontal reversal of visual information produces disorientation because visual information is equal in importance to that from the semicircular canals. In the case of vertical reversal of visual information, orientation may be assured by gravity. The present study suggests that motion sickness is a biological signal alerting the organism to loss of spatial orientation rather than a mere autonomic symptom produced by mismatched sensory information. It appears that motion sickness is accompanied by dysequilibrium and abnormality of locomotion.

Locomotion and motion sickness during horizontally and vertically reversed vision.

Locomotion and motion sickness during reversed vision were studied in ten normal subjects and a patient with bilateral labyrinthine loss. Whereas horizontal reversal produced moderate to severe gait disturbances as well as motion sickness in all normal subjects, vertical reversal failed to induce such symptoms. The patient, being free of motion sickness during both reversals, could not walk straight during horizontal reversal. The difference in the strength of sensory mismatch between both directions seemed to result from a difference in the role of vision for spatial orientation which is produced by the proprioceptive as well as otolithic inputs of gravity.

Questionnaire evaluation of balance in the performance of everyday activities after acoustic neuroma surgery.

We report the results of a questionnaire survey of balance during the performance of everyday activities in 57 patients who underwent acoustic neuroma surgery from one month to 13 years previously. Performance of everyday activities was temporarily impaired after surgery, but soon recovered to preoperative levels in most items. Unilateral labyrinthine loss impaired balance during actions involving head movement. However, there was no correlation between the results of rotation test VOR and the results of the questionnaire. Here we propose a new method of evaluating balance in everyday activities which takes into account the following five basic factors in assessing the difficulty of every day actions: 1) passivity, 2) involvement of head motion, 3) absence of vision, 4) shifting of center of gravity, 5) reduction of supporting foot area.

Effect of alcohol on VOR compensation after unilateral labyrinthine loss.

It has been reported that alcohol ingestion reduces cerebellar control of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). To investigate the compensatory processes following labyrinthine loss, we examined gaze function and VOR before and after alcohol ingestion in 10 patients with unilateral lesion. The subjects were rotated sinusoidally in an electrically driven chair under two different visual conditions, i.e., mental arithmetic in the dark, and gaze fixation on a target on the wall. Whereas a control group (17 normal adults) showed no significant change after alcohol ingestion, patients showed a greater difference in gain between rotation to the intact side and affected side under the two conditions. The present study suggested significant cerebellar control of VOR and gaze function during recovery from unilateral labyrinthine dysfunction.

Roles of head, gaze, and spatial orientation in the production of oscillopsia.

To clarify the factors causing oscillopsia, we investigated head movement, gaze stability, and perception under various situations. High-frequency head movements, whether they were horizontal rotations or passively induced vertical oscillations, produced blurred vision and gaze fluctuations in patients with labyrinthine loss. However, this sensation differed from the oscillopsia perceived during walking, as it did not involve a sensation of oscillation of the surrounding space or a loss of body balance. Although patients with labyrinthine loss showed large irregular head perturbations during stepping, the resultant retinal velocity slips seemed too small to explain oscillopsia. Walking while wearing horizontal reversing prisms produced loss of spatial orientation, dysequilibrium, and instability of vision in normal subjects, which resembled the symptoms found in patients with oscillopsia. The present study suggests that oscillopsia represents a perceptual inability to detect spatial orientation during head or body movements rather than a mere blurring of vision caused by deficient compensation.