Somatomedin levels in the diagnosis and therapy of growth hormone deficiency

Serum somatomedin-C (SM-C) and somatomedin (SM) concentrations were measured by, respectively, radioimmuno (SM-C RIA) and radioreceptor assays (SM RRA) in 3 groups of children with short stature. The patient population was different from previously reported series in that it was urban Brazilian, low income, and significantly older. Group A consisted of 6 male and 3 female children, aged 7.7-16.0 years, whose average peak plasma immunoreactive growth hormone (GH) was above 10 ng/ml. Group B contained 8 male and 5 female untreated GH-deficient patients, ranging in age from 9.5 to 21.0 years. In Group C there were 4 male and 1 female GH-deficient subjects treated with I.M. injections of GH (0.1 U/kg) from 1 month to 7 years. The mean +/- SE basal RIA SM-C (ng/ml) concentrations were significantly lower in groups B (34.2 +/- 8.8) and C (43.8 +/- 13.7) than A (214.3 +/- 42.7): A X B, P less than 0.001 and A X C, P less than 0.02. Likewise the mean +/- SE basal RRA SM (ng/ml) concentrations were significantly lower in groups B (78.9 +/- 17.6) and C (90.8 +/- 19.3) than group A (316.3 +/- 43.0): A X B, P less than 0.001 and A X C, P less than 0.002. A significant linear correlation was observed between RIA and RRA in group B (r = 0.84; P less than 0.001) and C (r = 0.96; P less than 0.01), but not for A (r = 0.61; P greater than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Influence of H-2 haplotypes on poly IC induction of xanthine oxidase and poly IC induced decreases in P-450 mediated enzyme activities

Polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (poly IC), a potent interferon inducer, induced xanthine oxidase 24 hours after treatment with 5 mg/kg ip to different degrees among four H-2 congenic mice (P less than 0.05): B10 (H-2b: 236 +/- 27% of the control value) greater than B10.RIII (H-2r: 171 +/- 29%) = B10.F (H-2n: 161 +/- 12%) greater than B10.BR (H-2k: 136 +/- 15%). Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity showed an inverse correlation with inducibility of xanthine oxidase (r = -0.71, P less than 0.01). However, there were no significant changes in activities of heme pool associated enzymes, such as catalase, tryptophan pyrrolase and d-aminolevulinic acid synthase in these mice. H-2 haplotype seems to have an influence on poly IC induction of xanthine oxidase thereby causing a decrease in AHH.     

The correlation between the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges and the kinetics of human lymphocyte proliferation: the dependence on the sex of the donor

Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and average generation time (AGT) were studied in lymphocytes from 35 donors (23 females and 12 males). A higher SCE frequency was found in lymphocytes from females than from males. Smoking increased SCE frequency in lymphocytes of males, but not of females. No differences in AGTs between males and females were found. Partial correlation coefficients between SCE frequency, AGT values, donor's age and smoking were determined. A statistically significant correlation (r = 0.650, P less than 0.01) between SCE frequency and AGT was found in lymphocytes obtained from females. In lymphocytes from males statistically significant partial correlation coefficients were detected between SCE frequency and AGT (r = -0.696, P less than 0.05), SCE frequency and donor's age (r = 0.770, P less than 0.01), SCE frequency and smoking intensity (r = 0.697, P less than 0.01), AGT value and donor's age (r = 0.882, P less than 0.01), and AGT value and smoking (r = 0.634, P less than 0.05). Thus, considerable differences in number of indices between males and females exist. The present observations together with other studies (D'Souza et al., 1988) suggest that considerations for population monitoring using cytogenetic techniques (ICPEMC Publication No 14) may be supplemented with the recommendation to use (whenever it possible) only males as donors in population studies.     

Progesterone, 17-OH-progesterone, androstenedione and testosterone plasma levels in spermatic venous blood of normal men and varicocele patients

Progesterone (P), 17-OH-progesterone (17-OH-P), Androstenedione (delta 4) and testosterone (T) plasma levels were measured in spermatic venous blood of twenty-nine varicocele patients (V) and in twelve normal subjects (N). Our data reveal a significant decrease of the mean testosterone in the spermatic blood of varicocele patients with respect to normal controls: (N = 1708.7 +/- 223.8 (SEM) nmol/l, n = 10. V = 1190.9 +/- 101.1 (SEM) nmol/l, n = 29. P less than 0.03). An inverse correlation has been observed between the age of varicocele patients and 17-OH-P (n = 29. y = -33.38x + 1384.70, r = -0.59, P less than 0.01) and delta 4 values (n = 23, y = -1.62x + 85.65, r = -0.49, P less than 0.05). The 17-OH-P/delta 4 ratio appears significantly augmented in varicocele patients with respect to normal controls (n = 4.80 +/- 0.86 (SEM), n = 12. V = 9.65 +/- 1.21 (SEM), n = 23.0.02 greater than P greater than 0.01). This indicates a deficiency in varicocele patients of 17-20 lyase activity. The positive correlation between the P/17-OH-P ratio and age of varicocele patients (n = 28, y = 0.007 x -0.090, r = 0.45, P less than 0.03) suggests a progressive impairment of 17-alpha-hydroxylase in such patients as they grow relatively older. These data demonstrated that the reduced spermatic levels of testosterone in varicoceles are due to the enzymatic impairment of testosterone biosynthesis, concerning firstly 17-20 lyase activity and secondly 17-alpha-hydroxylase activity. The latter enzymatic impairment is age related as is seen from the significant increase of the P/17-OH-P ratio in older patients.     

支气管哮喘病儿外周血树突状细胞功能变化

目的:观察支气管哮喘病儿外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)来源树突状细胞(DC)功能变化。方法:以18例健康儿童为对照,选择16例支气管哮喘发作期病儿为研究对象,分离PBMC并经rhGM-CSF诱生成熟DC。采用流式细胞仪(FACS)检测DC表面共刺激分子CD80(B7-1)、CD86(B7-2)和CD83的表达率;ELISA法检测培养上清液中IL-10和IL-12的变化。结果:①哮喘组DC表面CD86的表达率明显高于健康对照组(t=2.27,P<0.05),CD80、CD83的表达率与健康对照组比较均无显著性差异(t=1.17,1.34;P>0.05)。②哮喘组DC分泌IL-10、IL-12水平均明显低于健康对照组(t’=3.31,3.39;P<0.01)。③哮喘组DC分泌IL-10与IL-12成正相关(r=0.740,P<0.01),而健康对照组IL-10与IL-12无相关性(r=0.232,P>0.05)。结论:支气管哮喘病儿DC存在功能缺陷,主要表现在CD86表达升高、IL-10、IL-12分泌减少。     

Heterozygotes for cystic fibrosis: models for study of airway and autonomic reactivity

Airway reactivity to cold air and methacholine, alpha-adrenergic and cholinergic reactivity measured as pupillary responses to phenylephrine and carbachol, respectively, and beta-adrenergic reactivity assessed by lymphocyte adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) response to isoproterenol were compared in 108 parents of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and 133 healthy adult controls. No differences were found between CF parents and controls in airway response to cold air or methacholine or in lymphocyte cAMP response to isoproterenol. Significant differences were found, however, in the response of the pupils to both phenylephrine and carbachol. Heterozygotes for CF have more reactive pupils; i.e., they require smaller doses of agonist for a 10% change in pupil size. In control subjects, the response of the pupils to phenylephrine and carbachol is highly correlated (r = 0.45, P less than 0.001), whereas in CF heterozygotes, the correlation is not significantly different from zero (r = -0.02). In controls, the pupil response to carbachol has a significant negative correlation with cold air response (r = 0.39, P less than 0.05), indicating that those whose pupils were most sensitive to carbachol had the greatest airway reactivity to cold air, but in CF heterozygotes the correlation is not significant (r = 0.10). A significant correlation exists between lymphocyte cAMP response and airway cold air response in CF heterozygotes (r = -0.32, P less than 0.05) (those whose beta-adrenergic responsiveness is low have greater airway reactivity), but not in controls. The CF parents with the most reactive airways tend to have lower beta-adrenergic responses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

影响脐带血采集质量的相关性因素分析

目的回顾性分析影响脐带血采集质量的母婴因素和采集处理因素。 方法记录389份脐带血的采集量、母亲年龄、孕龄、新生儿体重、分娩方式、新生儿性别、胎次及脐带血采集至计数间隔以及采集方式。用KX-21型全自动血液分析仪进行细胞计数并计算有核细胞总数（TNC）。采用Pearson相关和Spearman秩相关进行相关性分析,采用t检验、Mann-Whitney U检验、方差分析及Kruskal-Wallis H检验进行分组比较,分析影响脐带血采集量和TNC的相关因素。? 结果脐带血采集量与TNC显著相关（r = 0.723,P < 0.001）,脐带血采集量大于80 ml时的TNC显著高于低体积者。在母婴因素中,母亲年龄与采集量及TNC差异均无统计学意义;孕龄与采集量负相关（r = -0.119,P = 0.019）,而与TNC正相关（r = 0.138,P = 0.007）,足月儿脐带血的TNC显著高于早产儿（P = 0.038）;婴儿出生体重与采集量及TNC均正相关（r = 0.236,P < 0.001;r = 0.275,P < 0.001）,体重较大婴儿脐带血的采集量和TNC均显著高于体重较小者（P?< 0.001）;剖宫产的脐带血采集量虽高于阴道分娩（P < 0.001）,但其TNC不及阴道分娩;男婴与女婴在脐带血采集量和TNC之间无显著差异。在采集处理因素中,脐带血采集至计数的时间间隔与采集量及TNC均无显著相关。 结论为提高脐带血的保存质量,应侧重选择胎儿体重较大、经阴道分娩的产妇作为脐带血供者,实验室应首先处理采集量较大的脐带血。     

菲菊头蝠不同地理种群回声定位声波差异及其影响因子

回声定位声波地理差异及其形成原因是蝙蝠生态学研究领域一个基本而关键的问题,对于探索物种生存机制、物种形成及其保护具有重要科学意义。本研究从较大地理尺度上(9个地理种群)研究了菲菊头蝠(Rhinolophus pusillus)回声定位声波结构的地理差异,并进一步探讨了影响回声定位声波地理种群差异的因素。结果表明,菲菊头蝠雌性的体型较雄性略大,其主频较高。不同地理种群之间回声定位声波差异明显,包括脉冲持续时间、脉冲间隔、主频以及带宽在不同的地理种群之间均表现出一定程度的差异。进一步分析发现,不同地理种群之间的雌性菲菊头蝠前臂长和体重均与主频呈较弱的负相关,降雨量与雌性的主频呈较强的正相关;而不同地理种群之间的雄性前臂长、体重和降雨量与回声定位声波参数均无相关性;此外,地理距离、温度、湿度均与雌雄回声定位声波参数无相关性。本研究结果表明,菲菊头蝠不同地理种群间的回声定位声波出现明显差异,其中,体型和降雨量为主要影响因子,说明蝙蝠回声定位叫声的进化主要受到了当地生境的影响,表现出动物对不同生境的适应性进化。     

A controlled study of Tourette syndrome. V. Depression and mania.

To evaluate the role of depression and mania in Tourette syndrome (TS), we have examined 246 TS patients, 17 attention-deficit disorder (ADD) patients, 15 patients with ADD associated with TS, and 47 controls, using (1) the standardized National Institutes of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule questions for a life history of major depression and/or mania and (2) a modified Beck depression score for evaluation of depression at the time of the examination. The results were combined into depression, Beck, and mania scores. Among the controls, 2.1% had a depression score greater than 9, and none had a score greater than 10. Among the TS patients, 22.9% had a score greater than 9 and the scores ranged up to the maximum of 18 (P less than .0005). None of the pure ADD patients had a score greater than 6, whereas 20% of the ADD-secondary-to-TS (ADD 2(0) TS) patients had scores greater than or equal to 9. Among grade 3 TS patients, 46.6% had scores greater than or equal to 9. There were no differences in the frequency of depression in the TS patients with or without ADD. Comparable results were obtained for the Beck depression score, except that the percent with a score greater than or equal to 8 was higher for the TS patients with ADD (23.7%) than for those without ADD (9.3%). There was a good correlation between the depression score and the Beck score (r = .63), but no correlation between the ADD-with-hyperactivity (ADDH) score and either the depression score (r = .086) or the Beck score (r = .077). Among the controls, none had a mania score greater than or equal to 4, compared with 19.1% of the total TS patients (P = less than .0005), 11.8% of the ADD patients (P = .002), and 26.6% of the ADD 2(0) TS patients (P = .0005). Although some of the mania questions would be expected to be answered positively by ADDH patients, the correlation coefficient between the ADDH scores and the mania scores was only moderate (r = .29), whereas the correlation with the depression score was much higher (r = .63). There was minimal correlation between the number of tics and either the depression score (r = .267) or the Beck score (r = .193). We conclude that depression and manic-depressive symptoms are common in TS patients and are an integral part of the disorder rather than being secondary to motor or vocal tics.     

Variation in estrus-related odors in the cow and its dependency on the ovary

Urine samples were collected from 10 cows during the estrous cycle (Day 0=day of observed estrus) and investigated for pheromone activity using a quantitative rat bioassay. Pheromone activity in this assay was given in impulses/45 sec. Progesterone was measured in milk fat to verify the stage of cycle. The maximal response of rats was found on Day -1 (20.0 +/- 3.5 impulses/45 sec; x +/- SEM), and impulse rates were clearly higher (P 相似文献   

Plasma LDH and CK activities after 400 m sprinting by well-trained sprint runners

Blood lactate concentration and the activities of plasma LDH and CK were determined in 13 well-trained middle distance runners after a 400-m sprint. It was found that there is a significant relationship between mean velocity in the 400-m sprint and plasma CK activity (r = -0.56, P less than 0.05), but the mean sprint velocity did not correlate with peak blood lactate concentration (r = -0.09) or plasma LDH activity (r = -0.40). There was a significant negative correlation between mean sprint velocity and H type LDH isozyme activity (r = -0.66, P less than 0.05), and a significant positive correlation with M type LDH isozyme activity (r = 0.66, P less than 0.05). These results suggest that the magnitude of enzyme efflux from tissue into blood may be depressed by training, and that in well-trained sprinters plasma CK and LDH isozyme activities may be better indicators of physical training and/or physical performance than peak blood lactate or plasma LDH activities.     

Seasonal variation in semen quality in Bos indicus and Bos taurus bulls raised under tropical conditions

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that Bos taurus taurus bulls have greater reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lower activity of antioxidant enzymes in their semen than Bos taurus indicus bulls. Sixteen Simmental bulls (B. t. taurus) and 11 Nelore bulls (B. t. indicus) were managed extensively in a tropical environment. Semen was collected twice annually (summer and winter) for 2 consecutive years. Simmental bulls had significantly higher percentages of major sperm defects during the summer than the winter (20.3+/-3.1% versus 12.2+/-2.4%, respectively; mean+/-S.E.M.). There was an interaction of breed and season for minor sperm defects (P=0.037; highest in Nelore bulls in the summer) and an effect of season on total defects (P=0.066; higher in summer). To evaluate oxidative damage, malondialdehyde (lipid-peroxidation metabolite) concentrations were indirectly measured by semen concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS); these were higher in summer than in winter (728.1+/-79.3ng/mL versus 423.8+/-72.6ng/mL, respectively; P=0.01). Glutathione peroxidase/redutase (GPx) activity in semen was higher in Simmental versus Nelore bulls (741.6+/-62.1 versus 510.2+/-62.8; P<0.01). However, superoxide dismutase (SOD), another antioxidant enzyme, was not significantly affected by breed or season. There were correlations between TBARS and sperm primary defects during the summer for both Simmental and Nelore bulls (r=0.59, P=0.021 and r=0.40, P=0.034, respectively), and between SOD and primary defects during summer for Simmental bulls only (r=-0.51, P=0.041). In conclusion, there was a higher level of lipid peroxidation (ROS) in semen of Simmental versus Nelore bulls; apparently the higher GPx activity in Simmental bulls was insufficient to avoid damage that occurred concurrent with increased ROS production during the summer.     

Vasectomy effect on canine seminal plasma biochemical components and their correlation with seminal parameters

Three semen samples were collected at 48 h intervals from 20 mature research dogs previously conditioned to manual semen collection. Vasectomy was performed in all dogs, and 15 days after surgery, another three ejaculates were similarly collected. The semen was evaluated, and centrifuged to obtain seminal plasma for measurement of pH, and concentrations of total proteins (TP), total chlorides (Cl), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and sodium (Na). The seminal plasma protein profile was evaluated by SDS-PAGE; molecular weights and the integrated optical density (IOD) of each band were estimated. There was a negative correlation between K concentration and progressive motility (r = -0.49, P = 0.027), sperm vigor (r = -0.60, P = 0.0053), and plasma integrity, evaluated by both the hypo-osmotic swelling test (r = -0.50, P = 0.026) and a fluorescent stain (r = -0.45, P = 0.046). Positive correlations between Na and K pre- and post-vasectomy (r = 0.88, P < 0.001; r = 0.56, P < 0.01, respectively) were verified. There were a total of 37 bands pre-vasectomy and 35 post-vasectomy (range, 100.6-3.6 kDa). Bands B9 and B13 (42.6 and 29.2 kDa) were not present post-vasectomy. The IOD of band B3 (73.5 kDa) was higher (P = 0.03) pre-vasectomy, compared to post-vasectomy; conversely, the IODs of bands B29 and B37 (7.8 and 3.6 kDa) increased (P = 0.026 and 0.047). Pre-vasectomy, there was a positive correlation (r = 0.49, P = 0.029) between band B37 band (3.6 kDa) and the Na:K ratio. In conclusion, K appeared to be involved in sperm motility in dogs and could be a tool to evaluate sperm function. The prostate contributed several elements to canine seminal plasma. Vasectomy changed Ca concentrations and the protein profile of the seminal plasma. Further studies must be performed to clarify the function of these elements on the in vivo fertility of dogs.     

补充维生素D联合益生菌对多囊卵巢综合征患者肠道菌群多样性、代谢和激素水平的影响

目的探究补充维生素D联合益生菌治疗多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)对患者菌群多样性、代谢和激素水平的影响。方法选取2019年1月至2019年3月在东南大学附属中大医院诊断并治疗的PCOS患者60例,采用随机数表法分为联合补充组(30例)和维生素D组(30例),联合补充组同时使用维生素D和益生菌,维生素D组只补充维生素D。对治疗前后患者肠道菌群进行检测,并比较代谢因子和激素水平,使用Pearson相关性分析探究指标间的相关性。结果治疗后两组菌群丰富度、Shannon-Wiener指数及最大Shannon-Wiener指数均较治疗前显著升高(均P<0.05),且联合补充组丰富度、Shannon-Wiener指数显著高于维生素D组(t=4.496,2.896,均P<0.05);治疗后两组GSH、TAC水平均显著升高,其中联合补充组TAC显著高于维生素D组(t=2.505,P=0.002);治疗后两组MDA、TT显著降低,其中联合补充组MDA、TT显著低于维生素D组(t=2.371,2.177,P=0.021,0.034)。副拟杆菌属与MDA呈显著正相关(r=0.339,P=0.040),肠杆菌科与TT呈显著正相关(r=0.330,P=0.046),粪杆菌属与TAC呈显著正相关(r=0.437,P=0.007),乳杆菌属与TAC呈显著正相关(r=0.350,P=0.033),与TT呈显著负相关(r=-0.371,P=0.024)。结论补充维生素D联合益生菌可有效改善PCOS患者代谢因子及激素水平,且其肠道微生物与PCOS代谢及激素指标存在一定相关性。     

Effects of granulocyte depletion on pulmonary responsiveness to aerosol histamine

The effects of granulocyte depletion with hydroxyurea on pulmonary responsiveness to aerosol histamine were studied in 10 chronically instrumented unanesthetized sheep. Sheep were studied when granulocyte counts were normal (B), after 3 days of hydroxyurea but before granulocyte counts had dropped below 700 cells/mm3 (H), and after granulocyte counts had fallen below 200 cells/mm3 (D). Hydroxyurea itself had no effect on aerosol histamine responsiveness and the results were unaffected by the order of experimentation. All 10 sheep were less responsive (P less than 0.05) to aerosol histamine when granulocyte depleted effective dose of histamine that caused a reduction to 65% of control dynamic compliance (ED65Cdyn = 23.98 +/- 4.70 mg/ml) compared with base line (ED65Cdyn = 7.06 +/- 1.86 mg/ml). Those sheep initially most responsive to aerosol histamine had the greatest attenuation in their airway responsiveness to aerosol histamine (P less than 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between absolute granulocyte counts in peripheral blood and pulmonary responsiveness to aerosol histamine during base-line (B) condition (r = -0.74, P less than 0.05) and for the data as a whole [r = -0.69, P less than 0.05 (B + H + D)]. Circulating granulocytes and/or pulmonary inflammation may contribute to pulmonary responsiveness to bronchial challenge.     

Hyperpnoea and CO2 sensitivity of the respiratory centres during exercise

The aim of this study was to specify whether exercise hyperpnoea was related to the CO2 sensitivity of the respiratory centres measured during steady-state exercise of mild intensity. Thus, ventilation (VE), breathing pattern [tidal volume (VT), respiratory frequency (f), inspiratory time (TI), total time of the respiratory cycle (TTOT), VT/TI, TI/TTOT] and CO2 sensitivity of the respiratory centres determined by the rebreathing method were measured at rest (SCO2re) and during steady-state exercise (SCO2ex) of mild intensity [CO2 output (VCO2) = 20 ml.kg-1.min-1] in 11 sedentary male subjects (aged 20-34 years). The results showed that SCO2re and SCO2ex were not significantly different. During exercise, there was no correlation between VE and SCO2ex and, for the same VCO2, all subjects had very close VE values normalized for body mass (bm), regardless of their SCO2ex (VEbm0.75 = 1.44 l.min-1.kg-1 SD 0.10). A highly significant positive correlation between SCO2ex and VT (normalised for bm) (r = 0.80, P less than 0.01), TI (r = 0.77, P less than 0.01) and TTOT (r = 0.77, P less than 0.01) existed, as well as a highly significant negative correlation between SCO2ex and (normalised for bm-0.25) (r = -0.73, P less than 0.01). We conclude that the hyperpnoea during steady-state exercise of mild intensity is not related to the SCO2ex. The relationship between breathing pattern and SCO2ex suggests that the breathing pattern could influence the determination of the SCO2ex. This finding needs further investigation.     

Association of body iron stores with low molecular weight iron and oxidant damage of human atherosclerotic plaques

The association between iron, an oxidant catalyst, and atherosclerosis is controversial. In particular, it is unknown whether: (1) stored iron, namely serum ferritin, is correlated with catalytic iron and oxidant damage of human atherosclerotic plaques; (2) catalytic iron is related to oxidative injury within such plaques; (3) plaque oxidant burden is associated with the severity of atherosclerosis. Thus, we assessed low molecular weight iron (LMWI), which represents the metal catalytically active form, together with fluorescent damage products of lipid peroxidation (FDPL) and lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), in 38 atherosclerotic plaques surgically removed from 38 patients who had undergone selective carotid endarterectomy. In each patient, the levels of serum ferritin were measured and correlated with those of plaque LMWI and lipoperoxides by the Spearman rank correlation test with Spearman rank correlation coefficient (r(S)) calculation. Moreover, in patients selected from the same study population, we compared plaque analyte levels between two groups with different severity of atherosclerotic carotid stenosis, i.e., <90% (group A, n = 25) or > or =90% (group B, n = 13), and between another two groups without (group C, n = 27) and with (group D, n = 11) associated contralateral carotid stenosis > or =50%, indicative of "extensive" and more severe atherosclerotic disease. In group A patients, serum ferritin was directly and significantly correlated with plaque LMWI (r(S) = 0.46, P < 0.025) and FDPL (r(S) = 0.58, P < 0.005), while its correlation with plaque LOOH, albeit direct, did not attain statistical significance. Moreover, a direct and significant relationship was evident between the plaque content of LMWI and that of both FDPL (r(S) = 0.61, P < 0.0025) and LOOH (r(S) = 0.51, P < 0.025), suggesting a prooxidant role of catalytic iron within human atherosclerotic plaques. Considering the 13 patients of group B, a positive and significant correlation was observed between the levels of serum ferritin and those of plaque LMWI (r(S) = 0.83, P < 0.0001); on the other hand, serum ferritin, as well as plaque LMWI, showed no significant correlation with either plaque FDPL or LOOH, conceivably reflecting the small number of patients belonging to group B. Finally, plaque LMWI, FDPL, and LOOH content was significantly higher in group B than in group A, and in group D than in group C. These data suggest a role for catalytic iron in atherosclerotic plaque oxidation and in the severity of atherosclerosis, which appears indeed associated with plaque oxidant burden.     

Variability of multilocus DNA markers in populations of the Siberian (Capreolus pygargus Pall.) and European (C. capreolus L.) roe deer

Two types of nuclear DNA markers, M13 minisatellites and RAPD, were used to examine intraspecific and interspecific variation in closely related roe deer species, Capreolus capreolus L. and C. pygargus Pall. The roe deer populations studied were highly polymorphic for minisatellite DNA markers (S = 0.12-0.36). Heterozygosities of the RAPD loci were 0.185 (Russian Far East), 0.145, 0.131, 0.088 (Cis-Ural), and 0.06 (France). They correlated with karyotypic variation of B chromosomes (r = 0.975, P < 0.02; Spearman's correlation coefficient r = 1, P = 0.1 x 10(-5)), which indicated a contribution of microchromosomes to genetic variation of the species. The genetic distance D between the closely related species C. capreolus and C. pygargus was 50 times greater than the distance between populations within a species. The estimates of heterozygosity and genetic distance between local populations of Cis-Ural and the Far East suggest their specific spatial organization within this geographical range and reveal features of their historical development.     

Localization of a sum of acoustic signals in air by the northern fur seal]

The localization of a sum of acoustic signals by two northern fur seals in air depending on sound parameters was investigated using the method of instrumental conditioned reflexes with food reinforcement. It was found that sound perception of northern fur seal proceeds by the binaural mechanism. The time/intensity interchange coefficient was 570 microseconds/dB for series of clicks (with amplitude maximum at 1 kHz) and 250 microseconds/dB for tonal impulses with a frequency of 1 kHz. With click amplitudes being equal, the number of approaches of the animal to the source of the first signal reached a 75% level at a delay of the second signal 0.07 ms (the minimum delay); with a delay of 6 ms (the maximum delay) and more, the fur seal, probably hears two separate signals. The minimum delay depended little on the duration of tonal impulses (with a frequency of 1 kHz) and was 0.3-0.7 ms; the maximum delay was 9-11 ms for tonal impulses with a duration of 3 ms and 37-40 ms with impulse duration 20 ms. The precedence effect became apparent at a greater delay for smooth fronts of impulses than for rectangular fronts.     

Effects of English admixture and geographic distance on anthropometric variation and genetic structure in 19th-century Ireland

The analysis of anthropometric data often allows investigation of patterns of genetic structure in historical populations. This paper focuses on interpopulational anthropometric variation in seven populations in Ireland using data collected in the 1890s. The seven populations were located within a 120-km range along the west coast of Ireland and include islands and mainland isolates. Two of the populations (the Aran Islands and Inishbofin) have a known history of English admixture in earlier centuries. Ten anthropometric measures (head length, breadth, and height; nose length and breadth; bizygomatic and bigonial breadth; stature; hand length; and forearm length) on 259 adult Irish males were analyzed following age adjustment. Discriminant and canonical variates analysis were used to determine the degree and pattern of among-group variation. Mahalanobis' distance measure, D2, was computed between each pair of populations and compared to distance measures based on geographic distance and English admixture (a binary measure indicating whether either of a pair of populations had historical indications of admixture). In addition, surname frequencies were used to construct distance measures based on random isonymy. Correlations were computed between distance measures, and their probabilities were derived using the Mantel matrix permutation method. English admixture has the greatest effect on anthropometric variation among these populations, followed by geographic distance. The correlation between anthropometric distance and geographic distance is not significant (r = -0.081, P = .590), but the correlation of admixture and anthropometric distance is significant (r = 0.829, P = .047). When the two admixed populations are removed from the analysis the correlation between geographic and anthropometric distance becomes significant (r = 0.718, P = .025). Isonymy distance shows a significant correlation with geographic distance (r = 0.425, P = .046) but not with admixture distance (r = -0.052, P = .524). The fact that anthropometrics show past patterns of gene flow and surnames do not reflects the greater impact of stochastic processes on surnames, along with the continued extinction of surnames. This study shows that 1) anthropometrics can be extremely useful in assessing population structure and history, 2) differential gene flow into populations can have a major impact on local genetic structure, and 3) microevolutionary processes can have different effects on biological characters and surnames.