Twenty-five hepatitis B antigen positive individuals, found from the survey study on 1, 984 rural populations, were followed.On repeated examinations, 16 consistently carried the antigen, 7 changed to negative. The remaining one was the wife of a carrier and changed to show antibody.
Transaminases were within normal limits in all cases.
Hepatitis B virus is spreading unrecognisedly in general population and overt hepatitis is rather of exceptional case.
The mechanism by which liver cirrhosis developes on carriers is the question open to future.

Hepatitis B antigen and antibody were examined on 1, 984 adults in a village;for antigen with immune adherence hemagglutination method and for antibody with passive hemagglutionation method. Antigen were detected for 25 and antibody for 398 sera.The prevalence of 1.3 per cent for the antigen with this method is lower than that suspected from blood donors in Tokyo. Higher frequency was found in male, and in youth.In elderly persons, however, rather high prevalence was found than suspected before.

Sera from 1, 726 adults in Yachiho, a small village in Nagano, were examined for hepatitis B antigen, antibody and GOT value. Among them 1, 404 were found to have been examined in the study done one year ago.
Fourteen individuals were consistently antigen positive. Seven antigen positive individuals changed to negative and 10 negative to positive.
All antigen positive individuals showed normal SGOT level.

The results obtained from epidemiological studies of hepatitis B antigen-antibody system in a rural village were reported. The studies were carried for 5 years on 2719 persons. Among them 1.1% were chronic surface antigen carriers, 0.2% were transiently antigen-positive in turn and 20.0% were antibody-positive.
Some of the antigen carriers showed familial clustering. All surface antigen carriers with e-antibody, however, did not show familial clustering except one case. Subtype of adr is prevalent in this area. 13of15persons whose subtypes were identified, showed adr subtype. The remaining2were adw, and they were sporadic cases with no familial clustering. In a community a large family pedigree of carriers was discovered. Both antigen and antibody were prevalent among persons living in the community.
Among pick-upped 144 persons who showed abnormal liver functions, 12 (8.3%) were found to be surface antigenpositive

A total of 194 cases of liver cirrhosis, which had been treated in our hospital during the past 5 years, were calssified by the causes into the following four groups:(I) hepatitis B virus, (II) alcoholic, (III) special origins, and (IV) reasons unknown. They each accounted for 23.2%, 35.6%, 1.5% and 39.7%, of the total.
Their clinical features and prognosis were examined. To be noted is the finding that many patients in group IV had had blood transfusions. This suggests that non A non B hepatitis viruses might be involved in the occurrence of the liver disease. On the whole, the five-year survival rate was 45.6%. There was not any significant difference among the four groups. However, prognoses were poor in groups II, I and IV, in that order.
As regards the cause of death, rupture of esophageal varice and hepatic failure showed a gradual decline, but complications of hepatocellular carcinomas sharply increased. Especially, in group I, this mortality was as high as 31.1%.

In order to carry out mass examination for detection of stomach ailments effectively and improve screening accuracy, the Nagano Prefectural Welfare Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives, with its mass gastric examination committee as a driving force, has made every endeavor in close collaboration with Federation-affiliated hospitals.
The ratio of those receiving detailed examination to the total number of those who have undergone mass screenings, and the detection ratio of gastric cancer cases, especially those in early stages, have increased steadily over the past years.
This is due in the main to untiring effort exerted by public health nurses and other persons concerned with health problems.
However, the results of X-ray examination made on the basis of the diagnostic standards prepared by the Federation show that there is much need of improving examiners' ability to read mass miniature radiographs correctly.