Generation of alloxan free radicals in chemical and biological systems: implication in the diabetogenic action of alloxan

Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies that on reaction with NADPH, alloxan was reduced forming labile anion radicals giving a 7-line signal with g = 2.005. These radicals were also produced on incubation of alloxan with rat liver subcellular fractions and their production was greatly enhanced by NADPH. Alloxan effectively scavenged superoxide anion generated by a xanthine-xanthine oxidase (XOD) system in association with its reduction to these anion radicals. These radicals were also formed during incubation of alloxan with rat pancreatic beta-cells. These results suggest that the cytotoxicity of alloxan is related to the formation of alloxan anion radicals.     

Diabetogenic action of alloxan in short-term termination of the blood supply to the pancreas and spleen

It has been shown that the development of alloxan diabetes in rats and the appearance of diabetogenic factor in blood is caused by the direct alloxan action on pancreas and spleen--the organs supplying by blood through the spleen artery. The stopping of blood circulation in that artery preserves rat's organism from the development of general toxic effect of alloxan. The inactivation of alloxan as a diabetogenic agent has been shown after its 5-minute at 37 degrees C incubation with blood. It has been established that the half activity of intravenous injected alloxan disappears in rat's organism during 50 s. and does not depend on alloxan sensitivity of animals.     

The Evil Eye (għajn) in Malta: Grappling with Skinner’s pigeons and rehabilitating lame ducks1

In this paper, I construct a plea for superstition and examine the ways in which contemporary scholars use the term to denote irrational belief. ‘Superstition’ has, throughout history, been used as a derogatory term denoting inferior and dangerous beliefs. Examining the process whereby people continue to believe that which they deem irrational, I adopt a reflexive and phenomenological approach. Focussing on the evil eye (g?ajn) in Malta and the Mediterranean, I redefine ‘superstition’ as the product of an intrasubjective antinomy between orthodoxy and its subversion.