[Psychosomatic aspects of stress].

We established the Bromocriptine test for the dopaminergic function of the hypothalamopituitary gland. The secretion patterns of plasma GH and PRL to 2.5 mg Bromocriptine, a dopamine receptor agonist, were classified into two types; a response type and a non-response type. The former showed an increase in plasma GH levels and suppression of PRL secretion; the latter showed no change in GH after Bromocriptine administration. The response type cases corresponded to psychosocial stress by neurotic and maladaptive behavior. The non-response type cases corresponded to psychosocial stress by alexithymic and over adaptive behaviors. Case Presentation 1. Essential Hypertension: a. 56-year old male, response type, blood pressure elevated by stress in daily life. Psychosomatic treatment: advice about blood pressure measurement at his home, brief psychotherapy and drug therapy. b. 53-year-old male, non-response type, type A behavior. Psychosomatic treatment: advice to increase awareness of body-mind relationships of his disorder, self-control training and drug therapy. 2. Gastric ulcers: a. 40-year-old male, response type, CMI IV region (Neurotic tendencies). Psychosomatic treatment: autogenic training and drug therapy. b. 28-year-old male, non-response type, high JAS scores(Over adaptative behavior). Psychosomatic treatment: advice to increase awareness of body-mind relationships of occurrence of his ulcers, to induce change in his perceptions of way of life, to encourage taking rest. 3. Technostress syndrome: a. 23-year-old female, response type, technoanxiety. Psychosomatic treatment: advice to make her take rest, and change in arrangements at her working place. b. 27-year-old male, non-response type, technodependent. Psychosomatic treatment: Fasting therapy. This therapy changed the non-response pattern to normal.

Relationships between Jenkins Activity Survey scores and responsivity of the dopaminergic system in psychosomatic disorders.

First, the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) was administered to 150 healthy subjects and 127 psychosomatic patients. Next, the responsivity of the dopaminergic system of the hypothalamo-pituitary gland was measured in 81 of these psychosomatic patients by examining the effect of bromocriptine on plasma growth hormone levels. Subjects were classified as either responders or nonresponders based on their secretion patterns. Multidimensional scaling techniques successfully discriminated between healthy subjects, psychosomatic responders and psychosomatic nonresponders using the items of the JAS. Implications for treating nonresponder psychosomatics in Japan are discussed.

[Apparatus for heart rate biofeedback training].

Present study was undertaken to develop an apparatus for heart rate biofeedback training in clinical basis. The plethysmographic transducer was used for detection of pulses. The main part of this apparatus is composed of three systems in function, that is, an audiovisual feedback system of heart rate in analogue and digital manners, a reinforcement system of exteroceptive stimuli of light and/or sound and operant biofeedback system. Experimental inspection of the apparatus showed no problem except a case of angiospasm of fingers. Clinical trials revealed that this apparatus was available to the biofeedback control of heart beats in both normal volunteers and some cardiac patients.

On the condition and activities of Jeddah Endoscopy Center.

Present condition and activities of Jeddah Endoscopy Center managed in cooperation with Saudian and Japanese doctors are reported. Total number of patients examined are 1,183 cases; 73% of which were subjected to endoscopy and 27% were to fluoroscopy. With respect to the stomach diseases, gastric cancer and ulcer were found in 16% and 14.7%, respectively. On the other hand, high incidences of severe atrophic gastritis and haemorrhagic or erosive gastritis accounted totally 64.7% of all stomach diseases were noted. Out of 264 cases of duodenal diseases, duodenal ulcer was diagnosed in number of 202 cases (76%). The ratio between gastric and duodenal ulcer was, therefore, approximately 1:6. It was further noted that most of patients with esophagus cancer were found in males having the local habit of taking green tobacco. From the results obtained, discussions were made on the statistical differences of gastrointestinal diseases between Saudi Arabia and Japan.