Stress and psychological factors before a migraine attack: A time-based analysis

Background

The objective of this study is to examine the stress and mood changes of Japanese subjects over the 1–3 days before a migraine headache.

Methods

The study participants were 16 patients with migraines who consented to participate in this study. Each subject kept a headache diary four times a day for two weeks. They evaluated the number of stressful events, daily hassles, domestic and non-domestic stress, anxiety, depressive tendency and irritability by visual analog scales. The days were classified into migraine days, pre-migraine days, buffer days and control days based on the intensity of the headaches and accompanying symptoms, and a comparative study was conducted for each factor on the migraine days, pre-migraine days and control days.

Results

The stressful event value of pre-migraine days showed no significant difference compared to other days. The daily hassle value of pre-migraine days was the highest and was significantly higher than that of buffer days. In non-domestic stress, values on migraine days were significantly higher than on other days, and there was no significant difference between pre-migraine days and buffer days or between pre-migraine days and control days. There was no significant difference in the values of domestic stress between the categories. In non-domestic stress, values on migraine days were significantly higher than other days, and there was no significant difference between pre-migraine days and buffer days or between pre-migraine days and control days.There was little difference in sleep quality on migraine and pre-migraine days, but other psychological factors were higher on migraine days than on pre-migraine days.

Conclusion

Psychosocial stress preceding the onset of migraines by several days was suggested to play an important role in the occurrence of migraines. However, stress 2–3 days before a migraine attack was not so high as it has been reported to be in the United States and Europe. There was no significant difference in the values of psychological factors between pre-migraine days and other days.

     

Regression of isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy

Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in adult female Wistar rats after 8 days of daily subcutaneous injections of isoproterenol (ISO). Regression from hypertrophy was studied following 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 20 days of ISO withdrawal. After 8 days of treatment cardiac mass increased 40%. Following ISO withdrawal, ventricular regression occurred during the first 8 days. After 12-20 days of recovery, a new steady-state heart weight to body weight ratio was established that was 12-13% above the controls. The half-time recovery for heart weight was 3.8 days. Ventricular RNA content was stimulated 76% after 8 days of ISO-induced hypertrophy. During regression RNA content decreased rapidly during the first 8 days with a half-time of 3.4 days. Following 20 days of recovery ventricular RNA was still 31% above the controls. However, myocyte RNA was stimulated 86% following 8 days of ISO treatment and returned to control level after 12 days of regression. Myocardial DNA was increased 23% in the hypertrophied hearts and did not change during the recovery period. Hydroxyproline was increased in the ISO-treated hearts and decreased only slightly during the recovery interval. These data indicate that ISO-induced hypertrophy was reversible while ventricular RNA content only partially recovered. Nevertheless, myocyte RNA showed a large stimulation that was completely reversible at least after 12 days of recovery.     

Control data on pre- and neonatal survival of captive chimpanzees

Colony breeding records were analyzed in order to obtain information on pre- and neonatal survival in chimpanzees. Biweekly urinary chorionic gonadotrophin testing appeared suitable for determining pregnancy age. The probability of pregnancy termination was low (0.008 per 10 days) to a pregnancy age of 180 days. Between the ages of 180-210 days it was 0.080 per 10 days, and it steadily increased to one per 10 days after 240 days of age. There were no livebirths before 190 days of pregnancy age. Thereafter, the probability of a delivery to be a livebirth rapidly increased to about 0.90 after 210 days of pregnancy age. Infant mortality was less than 0.026 during the first two years of life.     

Photoperiodic regulation of gonadal growth and pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion in male ferrets

Testicular growth was monitored in male ferrets subjected to one of the following photoperiodic treatments begun at weaning (8 weeks of age): 8 hr light/day (short days), 18 hr light/day (long days), or short days followed by transition to long days at either 10, 12, or 14 weeks of age. Mean ages to achieve adult testis width of greater than or equal to 12 mm were 27.5 +/- 1.3, 25.0 +/- 1.5, 23.6 +/- 2.9, 20.0 +/- 0.8, and 21.2 +/- 1.0 weeks in ferrets raised from weaning in long days, raised from weaning in short days, and transferred from short to long days at 10, 12, or 14 weeks, respectively. This criterion was met significantly earlier by ferrets experiencing the photoperiod transition at 12 or 14 weeks of age than by ferrets housed in long days from weaning. At the end of the experiment (30 weeks of age), mean testis width was significantly smaller in ferrets raised in long days from weaning or transferred to long days at 10 weeks of age, compared to that of the other three groups (p less than 0.05). In a second experiment, photoperiod experience with long or short days was begun at birth, and testicular size was monitored for a longer period of time. The time courses for testicular maturation were similar to that obtained when these treatments began at weaning. By 40 weeks of age, mean testis width of ferrets raised in long days was comparable to that of ferrets raised in short days. A third study determined that the retarded testicular growth observed in ferrets exposed to long days from weaning was correlated with diminished pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. At 28 weeks of age, mean LH pulse frequency was 0.86 +/- 0.09 pulses/hr in ferrets undergoing spontaneous puberty in short days or photoinduced puberty after a short-to-long-day transition; pulse frequency was significantly lower (0.46 +/- 0.26 pulses/hr; p less than 0.05) in ferrets raised in long days. These results indicate that gonadal growth can be precociously induced in male ferrets by exposure to a sequence of short days followed by long days, and that the absence of sufficient prepubertal exposure to short days compromises pulsatile LH secretion and rate of gonadal growth. Experience with short days during development may be necessary for manifestation of stimulatory responses to long days.     

Effects of photoperiod and social variables on reproduction and growth in the male musk shrew (Suncus murinus)

In Exp. 1, the time course for the photoperiodic response in juvenile male musk shrews was examined by exposing animals to short (10L:14D) or long (14L:10D or 18L:6D) daylengths for 10, 20, 40 or 56 days. When compared with the response of animals maintained in long days, those exposed to short days showed an inhibition of reproductive maturation by 40 days of treatment. In Exp. 2, the combined effects of photoperiod and social cues were investigated in juvenile males that were either housed in short days (with or without a female) or in long days (with or without a female) for 40 days. The short photoperiod was generally inhibitory to sexual maturation, while the presence of an adult female was generally stimulatory, i.e. animals living with a female in long days had the greatest level of sexual maturity, while those living alone in short days had the lowest level of maturity. Animals that received opposing signals, i.e. short days in the presence of a female, had an intermediate response which was equivalent to the response seen in males living alone in long days. These results suggest that the presence of a female can partly reverse inhibitory effects of short days. In Exp. 3, the effects of photoperiod and social cues on the reproductive physiology of the adult male (same design as in Exp. 2) were investigated. The results show that the adult male musk shrew is responsive to both photoperiodic and social cues, in a manner similar to that of juvenile animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

齐口裂腹鱼幼鱼疲劳后游泳特性恢复状况研究

以中国地质公园（神农架）野生动物繁育基地提供的齐口裂腹鱼（Schizothorax prenanti）幼鱼（体长为14.017.5 cm,体重为39.665.6 g）为研究对象,利用自制鱼类游泳特性（Swimming performance）研究装置,运用递增流速法（Stepped velocity test）,研究了鱼类疲劳后20d和40d的游泳特性恢复状况。结果表明:（1）在20d内齐口裂腹鱼临界游泳速度（Critical swimming speed,Ucrit）相比于初次测试（20d前）有所降低,20d内的恢复状况较差;而在40d后,临界游泳速度已经基本恢复到最初状况,40d内的恢复状况较好。（2）疲劳后鱼类游泳效率显著下降,并且在40d后无法恢复正常。虽然40d后速度指数低于20d后速度指数,40d后游泳效率高于20d后游泳效率,但是相对于初次测试,40d后游泳效率恢复效果并不明显。（3）齐口裂腹鱼在疲劳后40d内,恢复能力（Recovery capability）无法恢复到正常状况,但由于3次测试中疲劳后过量耗氧（Excess post-exercise oxygen cost,EPOC） 波动并不大,说明疲劳对其恢复能力影响并不大。（4）20d后和40d后无氧呼吸时间均较第一次测试时提前,说明疲劳损伤对其有氧呼吸能力产生了持续影响。（5）疲劳对鱼类生态行为（Ecological behavior）影响不明显。研究有利于为鱼道建设提供基础资料,对生物多样性保护具有深远意义。       

Influence of short days on diurnal patterns of serum gonadotrophins and prolactin concentrations in the male Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus

Exposure to short days for 8 weeks suppressed mean serum concentrations of FSH, LH and prolactin compared to hamsters kept in long days. Hamsters in short days exhibited a small afternoon rise in serum FSH, but serum LH and prolactin did not exhibit 24-h variations. In hamsters under long days, a late afternoon-early evening increase was evident for circulating prolactin but none was detected for the gonadotrophins. A fall in testes weights rapidly occurred by 14-28 days after transfer to short days. This was accompanied or preceded by a decrease in serum gonadotrophins and prolactin. Reductions in serum FSH and LH occurred in short days in blood samples taken at 09:00 h or 15:00 h. However, the nadir in serum prolactin was first achieved (at 09:00 h), at least 7 days before that at 15:00 h (i.e. Day 14 versus Day 21 of short photoperiod, respectively). The ability to secrete gonadotrophins was further tested in hamsters that had undergone gonadal regression. Castration of hamsters exposed to short days or injected with melatonin in the afternoon, a treatment known to mimic short day effects, induced a 3- to 5-fold increase in serum gonadotrophins. However, this rise in FSH and LH was significantly attenuated compared to the 10-fold response in controls in long days. The results indicate that gonadal involution induced by short days may be mediated by the decline in mean gonadotrophin secretion which, in turn, is regulated by responsiveness to steroids, as well as a mechanism independent of the negative feedback action of gonadal steroids.     

Development of isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy

The development of cardiac hypertrophy was studied in adult female Wistar rats following daily subcutaneous injections of isoproterenol (ISO) (0.3 mg/kg body weight). A time course was established for the change in tissue mass, RNA and DNA content, as well as hydroxyproline content. Heart weight increased 44% after 8 days of treatment with a half time of 3.4 days. Ventricular RNA content was elevated 26% after 24 h of a single injection and reached a maximal level following 8 days of therapy. The half time for RNA accumulation was 2.0 days. The total content of hydroxyproline remained stable during the first 2 days of treatment but increased 46% after 4 days of therapy. Ventricular DNA content was unchanged during the early stage (1-4 days) of hypertrophic growth but increased to a new steady-state level 19% above the controls after 8 days of treatment. Intraventricular pressures and coronary flow measures were similar for control and experimental animals following 4 days of developed hypertrophy. However, dP/dt in the ISO-treated hearts was slightly but significantly (P less than 0.05) elevated. These data indicate that the adaptive response to ISO shows an early hypertrophic phase (1-4 days) characterized by a substantial increase in RNA content and cardiac mass in the absence of changes in DNA. However, prolonged stimulation (8-12 days) appears to represent a complex integration of both cellular hypertrophy and hyperplasia within the heart.     

Plasma Levels of Progesterone and Oestradiol-17 β in Reindeer (Rangifer Tarandus Tarandus) During Pregnancy

The plasma concentrations of progesterone and oestradiol-17p during pregnancy and the first 20 days after parturition were estimated in reindeer. The concentration of progesterone in the period 75–25 days prior to parturition was significantly higher than in the period 200– 75 days prior to parturition (P < 0.001). During the last 25 days before parturition the concentration decreased significantly. The concentration of oestradiol-17β was in most cases below 70 pg/ml until 50 days prior to parturition. During the last 25 days of pregnancy there was a significant increase in oestradiol-17β and the ratio progesterone/ oestradiol-17β was markedly lower than in the period 75–25 days before calving.     

Induction of arginase I and II in bleomycin-induced fibrosis of mouse lung

Arginase, which hydrolyzes arginine to urea and ornithine, is a precursor for the synthesis of polyamines and proline, which is abundant in collagen. The supply of proline can be a crucial factor in the process of lung fibrosis. We investigated the induction of arginine metabolic enzymes in bleomycin-induced mouse lung fibrosis. Histological studies and quantification of lung hydroxyproline showed that lung fibrosis develops in up to 14 days after bleomycin treatment. Under these conditions, collagen I mRNA was induced gradually in up to 15 days, and the content of hydroxyproline reached a maximum at 10 days. Arginase I mRNA was undetectable before bleomycin treatment but was induced 5-10 days after this treatment. Arginase I protein was induced at 7 days and remained little changed for up to 10 days and decreased at 14 days. On the other hand, arginase II mRNA that was detectable before treatment was increased gradually for up to 10 days and decreased at 14 days. Arginase II protein began to increase at day 5, increased for up to 10 days, and was decreased at day 14. mRNAs for cationic amino acid transporter-2 and ornithine decarboxylase were induced in a manner similar to that seen with collagen I mRNA. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that arginase I is induced in macrophages, whereas arginase II is induced in various cell types, including macrophages and myofibroblasts, and roughly colocalizes with the collagen-specific chaperone heat shock protein 47. Our findings suggest that arginine metabolic enzymes play an important role in the development of lung fibrosis, at least in mice.     

Experimental studies on vertical infection of mice with Japanese encephalitis virus III. Effect of gestation days at the time of inoculation on placental and fetal infection

An experiment was carried out on the effect of gestation days at the time of inoculation on the establishment of experimental vertical infection with Japanese encephalitis virus in mice. In it, mice of the CFW strain in a closed colony were inoculated intravenously with a field strain at different times over a period from 3 to 12 days of gestation. After that, an attempt was made to recover the virus from the placenta and fetus to estimate the rate of infection. As a result, placental infection was established not when the virus was inoculated at 3 days of gestation, but when it was inoculated at 4 days of gestation or later. The rate of infection was relatively high when the virus was inoculated at 6 days of gestation or later. Fetal infection was established relatively frequently when the virus was inoculated some time between 7 and 10 days of gestation, but quite infrequently when the virus was inoculated at any other time than this. There was a difference in rate between placental and fetal infection at a given time of inoculation in days of gestation. This difference seemed to have been induced not by a difference in intensity of viremia appearing after inoculation, but by a difference in degree of development between placental and fetal tissues at the time of inoculation.     

Reproduction in a laboratory colony of the pouched mouse, Saccostomus campestris

Pouched mice ovulate spontaneously and have a 4-day cycle (3-5 days). The variation was caused by prolonged oestrus. The vagina opened at about 34 days of age and the first oestrus was experienced at 44 days of age. Females experienced several sterile cycles before their first conception, which occurred at an age of about 56 days. The gestation period in most cases was 21 days and implantation occurred about 4-5 days after mating. The females were not receptive post partum. Litter size varied from 3 to 13 with a mean of 7.1 in young primiparous females and 7.9 in adult multiparous females, indicating that fecundity did not increase with age or parity in this species. Mortality of young was highest during the first 2 days post partum. The young were not attached to the nipples and were weaned at 25 days of age. Females did not cycle during lactation. After lactation most females exhibited one or two oestrous cycles without mating or became oestrous and mated without conceiving, resulting in a litter interval of about 53 days.     

Chlorophyll Formation in the Dark I. Chlorophyll in Pine Seedlings

In black pine (Pinus nigra) chlorophyll was first detected two days after planting of the soaked seeds. There was a slight change in the chlorophyll content between two and five days, then a faster chlorophyll synthesis started. The maximum chlorophyll content was found after 15 days of germination. Thereafter the content showed a gradual decrease. The chlorophyll a/b ratio decreased from 10 at two days to 3 after five days. Protochlorophyllide did not accumulate after 6 days of germination.     

Impact of a single insulin treatment (imprinting) applied during liver regeneration on hepatic insulin receptor development, blood glucose level and liver function parameters in adult rats.

Rats subjected to partial hepatectomy (surgical removal of two thirds of the liver) showed no appreciable change in serum cholesterol, bilirubin, albumin, total protein and A/G values at 2, 5, 12 and 21 days after the intervention. The enzyme activities characteristic of liver damage (GOT, GPT, LDH, AP) were high in the control group and low in the insulin-imprinted group at 2 days, tended to normalize in both groups at 5 days and changed slightly at 12 days. The blood glucose level was markedly decreased in the control group and to a lesser degree also in the experimental group at 2 and 5 days of sampling. Insulin treatment (loading) performed at 2 and 5 days accounted for a drop of blood glucose which was followed by normalization within 2 h. Starving value and response to insulin loading uniformly fell into the physiological range at 21 days, whereas at 12 days no normalization occurred in either group within 2 h of insulin loading, although the starving value was physiological. The binding capacity of the insulin receptor was markedly low in the control group as long as 12 days, and tended to normalize by 21 days. In the insulin-imprinted group the binding capacity increased over the control at 2 and 5 days and normalized by 12 days.     

Short- and long-term effects of hypophysectomy and unilateral ovariectomy on ovarian follicular populations in sheep

The effects of hypophysectomy and unilateral ovariectomy on the total number of follicles with greater than 3 layers of granulosa cells were determined at 4 and 70 days following treatment. The population of preantral follicles (less than 0.23 min diam.) was found to be under the control of gonadotrophins but such control was only evident on a long-term basis. At 70 days after unilateral ovariectomy there was a large increase in the number of preantral follicles but at 70 days after hypophysectomy there was a large decrease. The population of antral follicles (greater than 0.23 mm diam.) was under the immediate control of gonadotrophins. By 4 days after hypophysectomy all large antral follicles had become atretic and the number of antral follicles was further decreased at 70 days after treatment. At 70 days after unilateral ovariectomy there was an increase in the number of antral follicles. The follicular growth rates at 70 days following treatment were decreased in hypophysectomized ewes but increased in ewes after unilateral ovariectomy.     

The ageing phenomenon of turbot spermatozoa: effects on morphology, motility and concentration, intracellular ATP content, fertilization, and storage capacities

The deleterious effect of the ageing phenomenon of turbot spermatozoa was investigated in relation to the sampling date. Spermatozoa with a low or highly condensed chromatin and a middle piece containing numerous or a few vesicles were observed simultaneously 80 and 47 days before the beginning of the spawning period of the females. The middle piece of spermatozoa contained few vesicles, 39 days after the end of the reproductive period. At the same date, some spermatozoa appeared in which the plasma membrane was broken. Sperm motility, assessed just after collection in terms of arbitrary motility scores from 0 to 5, was significantly increased both at 10 and 60 s post-activation, for samples collected 18 days after, 25 days before and 9 days after the beginning of the spawning period of the females, respectively compared to samples collected 6 days before, 55 days after and 88 days after the end of this period. A lower short-term storage capacity was recorded at 10 and 60 s post-activation for sperm samples collected 6 days before and 88 days after the end of the reproductive period, respectively compared to 18 days and 9 days after the beginning of the spawning period. At 60 s post-activation, a higher motility of thawed spermatozoa was observed for samples collected 5 days before the beginning of the spawning period (motility recovery index: 86.4 ± 19.4%) compared to 71 days after the end of this period (55.0 ± 12.0%). The fertilizing capacity of sperm samples collected 61 days after the end of the spawning season (66.1 ± 14.6%) was significantly lower than that recorded for samples collected 34 days after the beginning of the spawning period (75.2±9.6%). On the contrary, there was no significant decrease in endogenous ATP content (31 days after the beginning of the spawning period, 14.53 ± 0.84; 48 days after the end of this period, 10.75 ± 5.26 nmol 10^{? 8} spermatozoa). Furthermore, sperm concentration significantly increased between the same dates (respectively 3.3 ± 0.8–9.4±4.8×10⁹ spermatozoa ml^?1).     

Effects of the desiccation on Biomphalaria tenagophila (Orbigny, 1835) (Mollusca) infected by Schistosoma mansoni Sambon, 1907

Specimens of Biomphalaria tenagophila exposed to miracidia of Schistosoma mansoni were submitted to different desiccation periods as follows: group I: 24 h after exposure, desiccated for 28 days; group II: after cercariae elimination, desiccated for 7 days; group III: 21 days after exposure, desiccated for 7 days; group IV: 14 days after exposure, desiccated for 14 days; group V: 7 days after exposure, desiccated for 21 days. From the obtained data it was verified that desiccation was not capable of interrupting the development of larvae of S. mansoni in mollusks. A delay in the development of S. mansoni larvae in groups I, III, IV and V was observed. A pause was verified in the development of S. mansoni larvae in groups II, III, IV and V. Some larvae, in groups I, III, IV and V, did not suffer as a result of desiccation and continued their development. Larvae in the cercariae stage were shown to be more sensitive to desiccation. It was possible to obtain clearing of mollusks infected by sporocysts II and cercariae using a period of 7 days of desiccation.     

Nutritional regulation of body condition score at the initiation of the transition period in primiparous and multiparous dairy cows under grazing conditions: milk production, resumption of post-partum ovarian cyclicity and metabolic parameters

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different body condition score (BCS) at 30 days before calving (-30 days) induced by a differential nutritional management from -100 days until -30 days on productive parameters, the interval to first ovulation and blood parameters in primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows under grazing conditions until 60 days post partum. The experimental arrangement was a randomized complete block design, where cows were blocked according to BW and expected calving date and then randomly assigned to different nutritional treatments from -100 to -30 days relative to calving to induce different BCS. As the assignment of cows to treatments was random, cows had to lose, maintain or gain BCS; thus, different planes of nutrition were offered with approximately 7, 14 or 20 kg dry matter per day. The BCS score was assessed every 15 days and animals were reassigned in order to achieve the desired BCS at -30 days. Only animals that responded to nutritional treatment were considered and this was defined as follows: primiparous and multiparous high cows (PH and MH) had to gain 0.5 points of BCS, primiparous low (PL) had to lose 0.5 points of BCS and multiparous low (ML) had to maintain BCS at least in two subsequent observations from -100 to -30 days. From -30 days to calving, primiparous and multiparous cows (P and M cows) were managed separately and cows were offered a diet once a day. From calving to 60 days post partum, cows of different groups grazed in separate plots a second year pasture. Cows were also supplemented individually with whole-plant maize silage and commercial concentrate. Cows had similar BCS at -100 days and differed after the nutritional treatment; however, all groups presented similar BCS at 21 days post partum. The daily milk production and milk yield at 60 days post partum was higher in M than P cows. The percentage of milk fat was higher in PH cows compared with PL cows. Concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were affected by the BCS at -30 days within parity, and in PH cows the concentration of NEFA was higher than in PL cows. The concentrations of total protein were higher in M cows. A lower probability of cycling was found in PL than in PH cows (P < 0.05) and in ML than in MH cows (P < 0.05). Treatment affected various endocrine/metabolic profiles according to parity, suggesting that the metabolic reserves signal the productive/reproductive axis so as to induce a differential nutrient partitioning in adult v. first-calving cows.     

Growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus when in the presence of Streptococcus lactis

Streptococcus lactis was grown with Aspergillus parasiticus in modified APT broth. Three inoculation procedures were used: (a) S. lactis was grown 3 days, then conidia of A. parasiticus were added (SLAP), (b) both organisms were added simultaneously (ST) and (c) A. parasiticus was grown 3 days, then S. lactis was added (APSL). At 3, 6 and 10 days of incubation, contents of flasks were analyzed for growth of each organism, pH of broth and aflatoxin content. S. lactis did not survive past 3 days when grown alone. In ST cultures, S. lactis grew to the same extent as in the control at 3 days; it remained viable at a low level through 10 days. In APSL cultures, S. lactis growth was inhibited at 3 days but the bacterium survived through 7 days (10 days of mold growth) at reduced numbers. At 3 days there were no appreciable differences in growth of A. parasiticus. At 6 days, in ST and SLAP cultures, growth of the mold was inhibited, while in the APSL culture growth increased over that in the control. At 10 days, growth of mold was somewhat increased over the control in all test conditions. The pH of broth in the A. parasiticus control and APSL culture was 6 at 3 days, dropped to 4.5–4.6 at 6 days and rose to 7 by 10 days. In ST and SLAP cultures, the pH was at 4.1 at 3 days and rose to pH 7 by 10 days. Aflatoxin (B₁ plus G₁) content was lowest at 3 days and increased at 6 days. Between 6 and 10 days two patterns were observed. In APSL and SLAP cultures, aflatoxin content decreased, while it increased in the ST culture. These patterns occurred when aflatoxin content was expressed on a total or per gram of dried mycelium basis. At 3 days the amounts of aflatoxin B₁ and G₁ were approximately equal. Between 3–6 days the amount of G₁ increased more rapidly than that of B₁. Between 6 and 10 days in the ST culture, the amount of G₁ increased at a slower rate than that of B₁ while in SLAP and APSL cultures, the amount of G₁ decreased more rapidly than that of B₁. When a different lot of the same medium was used, aflatoxin production was greatly reduced. The pH of broth at all test conditions rose through the incubation period.