Polymorphism in Cepaea Hortensis in marginal populations in Spain

Cepaea hortensis (Mull) is found in Spain only in the western part of the Iberian mountain range. This is the southernmost limit of its range. The most frequent colour is yellow, brown being very rare. The most frequent band patterns are 12345, fused banded and unbanded. There are associations between maximum and minimum temperatures and pink and effectively unbanded yellow phenotypes. The populations may be grouped into two zones, one located in the north and the other in the south of the sampled area. Visual predation was not observed. The marginal populations studied by us were compared with others from Northern Europe, and it was observed that pink snails are more frequent at the southern limit, and unbanded ones at the northern limit. This was interpreted as a climatic selection.     

Gender differences in fat patterning in children living in Ankara

Body composition is an excellent indicator for assessing obesity and nutritional status of both individuals and populations. Youth obesity has important health and social implications, because a large proportion of adult obesity has its origin in childhood. Numerous studies report that adverse levels of cardiovascular diseases risk factors are associated with adiposity in children. Concerning the Turkish population there is up to now only limited information with regard to adiposity in children. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the anthropometric and body composition characteristics and to investigate sex differences in fat patterning including fat distribution in a group of children living in Ankara. The present study evaluated the body composition of 332 boys and 269 girls aged between 8 and 11 years, attending public schools. It was carried out by a cross-sectional study and was focused on that anthropometric variables, which reflect body fat and fat-free mass. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, triceps and subscapular skinfolds thickness were carried out on these children. The body mass index (BMI) was also calculated. The measurements were used to estimate the two-compartment model of body composition: fat-free mass (FFM) and body fat (BF) from skinfold equations. The mean fat percentage in boys is highest at 11 years (16.8%) and lowest at 10 years (15.6%). In girls these figures come to 18.2% and 17.1%, respectively. Girls of these age groups have a significantly larger percentage of body fat and skinfold thickness. At this young age there is therefore clear evidence of sexual dimorphism in fat patterning, as girls are showing a greater subcutaneous adiposity, which is mainly contributed by the triceps fat. The body fat (kg) increases in both sexes all over the investigated age groups. The Pearson correlation matrix showed a high significant relation between the anthropometric measurements (p < 0.01). The present study confirms the findings that sexual dimorphism of fat patterning in children is to be seen in the age of 8 - 11 years. It furthermore presents basic data of body composition, which could serve as reference data in other studies on the Turkish population.     

Changes in the cyclic AMP concentration in muscle in experimental dexamethasone myopathy

A study was made of muscle cAMP content in rabbits with dexamethasone-induced myopathy. The experiments were performed in 15 male rabbits weighing 2.5--3.5 kg. Steroidal myopathy was produced by daily administration of 0.8 dexamethasone/kg body weight. Muscle biopsy was taken on experimental days 1, 3, 7 and 14. The content of cAMP was determined by radioimmunoassay. The clinical signs of myopathy occurred by day 7. The animals were immobilized day 14. The content of cAMP increased after the first administration of dexamethasone and remained unchanged till the end of the experiment. The increased cAMP content may be accounted for by dexamethasone effect on the enzymatic system that monitors the processes of cAMP activation and inhibition.     

Studies in biochemical genetics in Drosophila

The metabolism of the imaginal discs of wild type, miniature, vestigial, and four-jointed varieties of Drosophila was investigated using the Cartesian diver ultramicrorespirometer. Wild type and vestigial wing disc respiration is inhibited by cyanide and azide and thus is mediated by an iron or copper porphyrin system, presumable cytochrome-cytochrome oxidase. Respiration is also inhibited by certain hydroxynaphthoquinones, believed to inactivate some enzyme between cytochromes b and c. The respiration of the vestigial and miniature wing discs is increased to normal by the addition of ascorbic acid and to a lesser extent by p-phenylenediamine and hydroquinone, hence the cytochrome oxidase and cytochrome c systems of vestigial and miniature wing discs are normal and the effects of these genes are on enzymes below cytochrome c in the respiratory chain. The respiratory enzymes of the developing imaginal discs of insects are similar to those of a wide variety of cells from bacteria to mammals. The correlation of these biochemical findings with embryological studies of the discs is discussed.     

Immunologic findings in healthy Haitians in Montreal

To investigate the occurrence of acquired immune deficiency syndrome in Haitians, a health status questionnaire was administered and selected studies of immune status done in a randomly chosen sample of 189 healthy adult Haitians living in Montreal. The study group was comparable to a large sample of Haitians in Montreal interviewed in the 1981 census with respect to age, sex, number of persons per household and year of immigration, but the proportion of currently married people in the study was larger (60.8% v. 42.6%). The results in the study group were compared with those in a sample of 189 non-Haitians matched for age, sex and neighbourhood of residence. Persons with known causes of impaired immune function were excluded. The participation rate was 87.5%. The study and control groups both reported few symptoms and chronic health problems and had comparable demographic data, including rate of employment and income. The mean total numbers of lymphocytes, OKT3 and OKT4 (helper) and OKT8 (suppressor) cells were significantly higher in the Haitians than in the controls, though still within normal limits. There was a borderline elevation of the lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin in the Haitians. The ratios of helper to suppressor T cells in the two groups were, however, not significantly different. The Haitians, in comparison with non-Haitians living in the same community, had no demonstrable abnormalities of cellular immune function.     

Long-lasting inward current in snail neurons in barium solutions in voltage-clamp conditions

Summary The inward membrane current was recorded under voltage clamp from nonbursting neurons of the snailHelix pomatia in Na-free solutions containing Ba ions but no other divalent cations. The inward current was separated into two components: (i) an early fast inactivating component and (ii) a smaller long-lasting component. Both components were dependent on the external Ba concentration. It is concluded that both components of the inward current are carried by Ba ions. The activation of the early fast inactivating component of the inward current occurred at more positive membrane potential than that of the long-lasting component. The shape of the inactivation curve for the peak value of the inward current was similar to that for the long-lasting component. The potentials of half-inactivation for the peak value of the inward current and for its long-lasting component were –28 and –22 mV, respectively. The blocking effect of Co⁺⁺ on the early fast inactivating component was substantially greater. In some neurons after treatment with 15mm Co⁺⁺ only the long-lasting component was recorded. The activation kinetics of the long-lasting component of the inward current were analyzed using the Hodgkin-Huxley equations. The results could be explained by assuming that two components of the inward current in Na–Ca-free solution with Ba ions flowed through the two different channels. The significance of the long-lasting inward current for the normal spike generation is discussed.     

Anthocyanins in Catharanthus roseus in vivo and in vitro: a review

The production of anthocyanin in Catharanthus roseus flowers from both field-grown and regenerated by somatic embryogenesis plants and cell cultures was described. The anthocyanins were identified as the 3-O-glucosides, and the 3-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl) glucosides of hirsutidin, malvidin and petunidin, respectively both in vivo and in vitro. The influence of environmental conditions on in vitro anthocyanin accumulation is described. The relationship between in vivo and in vitro anthocyanin production is discussed.     

Problems in maintaining hybridomas in vivo

The literature data on the regularities of the manifestation of tumorigenic capacity in somatic hybrids, on the correlation of this sign with the features of the in vitro transformation of hybrid cells, on the chromosomal stability and taking capacity of hybridomas have been analyzed. The expediency of the inoculation of animals with hybridomas, made considerably earlier than required by the traditional scheme of obtaining monoclonal antibodies, with a view to the selection of tumorigenic hybridoma variants is suggested. The aims of the experimental work have been determined.     

Cardiac dimensions in athletes in relation to variations in their training program

The cardiac dimensions of male long-distance runners (LDR) and cycle racers (CR) were determined echocardiographically during four different training seasons, i.e., a preparation, a competitive, a slowing-down and a resting season, and were compared with those of control subjects (CS). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was also assessed from the electrocardiogram. The maximal aerobic performance was determined on a bicycle ergometer. In the athletes, left ventricular mass was significantly greater in all seasons than the values in the CS. This difference resulted from a thicker interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall as well as a larger left ventricular internal diameter. The existence of LVH was confirmed by the electrocardiographic findings. No differences were observed between the four different training seasons, despite considerable changes in the training program for weeks to months. The maximal aerobic performance test in LDR showed a significantly higher workload during the competitive than during the preparation season. The CR reached significantly lower values during the resting season than during the other seasons. The results indicate that the possible adaptation of the cardiac dimensions to variations in the heaviness of the training program is relatively slow.     

Alterations in the heart lysosomal stability in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats

The alterations in the heart lysosomal stability following isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction were studied in albino rats. The rate of release of beta-glucuronidase at various time intervals at 37 degrees C from lysosome rich fraction was taken as a measure of lysosomal stability. As compared to the control day one, three and five samples exhibited a significant increase in beta-glucuronidase activity at all the time intervals. The subcellular distribution of beta-glucuronidase was also studied and the soluble and total activities exhibited an increase at peak infarction stage and returned to normal during the recovery. The decrease in the lysosomal stability might be attributed to the increased beta-glucuronidase activity observed following myocardial infarction.     

Cycloheximide genotoxicity in in vitro and in vivo test systems

The aim of this study was to investigate if there was any genotoxic effect produced by the antibiotic cycloheximide, widely used as a fungicide in agriculture as well as in everyday laboratory practice. The battery of test systems included the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium (strains TA98 and TA100), the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (D7), Allium cepa somatic cells and mouse bone marrow cells. This combination of test systems enabled us to establish possible effects caused by cycloheximide at different levels of the genome and to indicate a possible mechanism of action. The results obtained in experiments showed that cycloheximide did not induce frameshift or base-pair substitution mutations in S. typhimurium regardless of metabolic activation. In S. cerevisiae cycloheximide had only toxic effects but no increase of mitotic gene conversion was noticed under the conditions of the experiment. However, in A. cepa somatic cells as well as in mouse bone marrow cells cycloheximide showed its activity causing different genetic damages, e.g., chromosome breaks, mitotic disturbances and nuclear abnormalities.     

国内双歧杆菌制剂预防小儿继发性腹泻临床疗效的Meta分析

目的系统评价国内双歧杆菌制剂临床预防小儿继发性腹泻的效果。方法按照系统评价的要求检索CBMd isc、VIP、CNK I以及万方数据库等,获得18篇符合纳入标准的文献,共计患儿4050例,对其进行M eta分析,并评价M eta分析结果的稳定性和发表偏倚。结果异质性检验χ^2=34.60,P=0.007〈0.05,采用随机效应模型进行M eta分析,合并RR=0.41,95%C I为0.35～0.49,总体效应检验,Z=10.39,P〈0.00001,差异具有非常显著性,固定效应模型RR值和95%C I与随机效应模型完全一致,剔除小样本报道后的合并RR=0.42,95%C I为0.35～0.50,与剔除前的结果基本一致,且本研究的发表偏倚得到了很好地控制。结论从现有的临床证据来看,双歧杆菌制剂能降低小儿继发性腹泻的发生率,对预防小儿继发性腹泻起到了满意的效果。     

珠江口横琴岛海域春季海洋浮游生物的初步研究

根据2008年5月在珠江口横琴岛海域的调查采样,本文对该海域的叶绿素a、初级生产力(C)、浮游动、植物进行了初步的研究,分析了浮游动、植物的种类组成、群落结构、数量和生物量等.结果表明,叶绿素a浓度和初级生产力(C)均值分别为5.27 mg·m^-3和123.56 mg·m^-2·d^-1.浮游植物共有111种,以硅藻为主,绝对优势种为中肋骨条藻Skeletonema costatum,调查海域浮游植物平均细胞丰度为6832.75×10⁴cell·m^-3,以近海广布种为主要类群,多样性指数和均匀度均值分别为2.29和0.45.浮游动物共有41种,暖水种沿岸类群种类占大多数,以中华异水蚤Acartiella sinensis为绝对优势种,平均丰度和生物量分别742.25 ind·m^-3和131.12 mg·m^-3,多样性指数和均匀度均值分别为2.54和0.67.     

Iminoglycinuria in a child in Czechoslovakia

Summary The child with iminoglycinuria is in our observation. Hyperprolinuria was seen at 5 months by screening program. The child was repeatedly examined in the hospital and was seen last time at 16 months. IQ was 67, in the urine were excessive amounts of glycine, proline a hydroxyproline. In the blood aminoacids were in normal levels. In the child was noticed the same increase of proline in the blood as in the control child of the same age following loading test with L-proline, indicating normal intestinal absoption. Both parents and father's sister's 2-year-old mentally retarded child exhibit excessive glycinuria. The father, his sister, father's father, and grandfather are partialy, congenitaly deaf.     

Changes in retinal arbors in compressed projections to half tecta in goldfish

In adult goldfish, electrophysiological studies have shown that the retinotectal projection reorganizes, following removal of half of the tectum, to form a complete but compressed projection over the remaining half tectum. As a result, each fiber terminates more rostrally than normal. Electron microscopic studies suggest a competition between retinal fibers for a fixed number of synaptic sites. The current study examines whether retinal arbors in the compressed projection are smaller than normal in extent or branching and whether the fiber paths in the tectum show the rostral movements and the search strategy that the retinal fibers use. The caudal half tectum was removed without cutting retinal fibers except those at the cut edge. At 3 to 19 months afterward, retinal fibers were labeled with horseradish peroxidase. In whole-mounted tecta, fibers and terminals were drawn under camera lucida and compared with normal arbors. The axonal paths were also traced across the tectum to their termination sites. At 3 to 6 months (early stages of compression), the arbors were rather normal in appearance, although they were actually significantly larger (23%) than normal in linear extent, arborized somewhat deeper and had fewer branches (18%). The fibers normally terminating in the rostral tectum followed normal stereotyped paths, whereas those cut at the edge had grown back and forth loops (apparent searching behavior) with little branching. By 10 months when compression is complete, arbors were significantly smaller than normal (19%), were arborizing significantly deeper, and had significantly fewer branches (19%). The differences were more pronounced in arbors of coarse and medium caliber than in fine caliber axons. The axons still ran in stereotyped fascicles, but included an extrafascicular portion that, unlike any axons in normals, turned back in a rostral direction before branching. This striking effect, present even in far rostral tectum, indicated that arbors had been forced to move rostrally to accomodate those from the ablated half. The small effect on arbor extent suggests that this is influenced by factors other than the magnification factor of the map, perhaps postsynaptic dendritic extent. The increased depth of termination is consistent with the increased thickness of the retinal terminal layer. The decreased number of branches is consistent with the conclusion that the remaining fixed number of synaptic sites shared among the full complement of retinal fibers should result in fewer synapses per retinal fiber. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Improvements in cytological preparations for fluorescent in situ hybridization in Passiflora

Cytological preparations for the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique require cytoplasm-free metaphases, with well-spread chromosomes, for the localization of DNA sequences and chromosome mapping. We tested various procedures for FISH analysis of Passiflora cacaoensis, P. gardneri and hybrid F? progeny of P. gardneri x P. gibertii. Two treatments with four enzymes and three incubation times were compared. The material was treated with 1.0 M HCl before enzymatic digestion. The following criteria were used to determine the quality of the metaphases: a) lack or presence of cytoplasm; b) well-spread chromosomes or with overlap; c) complete or incomplete chromosome number (2n). The enzyme Pectinex(?) SP ULTRA gave the best performance, with the shortest incubation time. The best results were observed after 30 min of incubation; more than 70% of the metaphases did not have large amounts of cytoplasm or overlapping chromosomes, and about 75% maintained the chromosome number. FISH was carried out using a 45S rDNA probe (pTa71) labeled with biotin and detected with fluorescein isothiocyanate. Sites with strong staining and without nonspecific signals were observed. Our methodological adaptations allowed the preparation of metaphase slides of high quality for the FISH technique, with less time required for the preparation of samples.     

Chimeric heterosis in mandibular size in mice

Morphometrical observations were carried out on the mandibles of chimeras made from the embryos of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice to compare with the two strains and their reciprocal F1 crosses. The results of the principal component analysis indicate that the first principal component (PC1) and the second principal component (PC2) extracted might be acceptable as size and shape factors, respectively. Variations of both PC1 and PC2 were generally larger in the chimeras than in the two component strains and their F1 crosses. The mean PC1 value of the chimeras was larger than that of the two component inbred strains, and it was similar to that of F1 crosses, or slightly larger. The overall size of the mandible represented by PC1 tended to be larger in the chimeras consisting of two component cells that were approximately equivalent than in those that shifted to either cell population. The above trend was observed in both sexes. These results indicate that chimeric heterosis due to the interaction between genetically different cells (C57BL/6 and BALB/c) has some relation to mandible size. The mean PC2 value, which was accepted as shape factor, was intermediate between the two inbred strains. The mandible size (PC1) and shape (PC2) were bilaterally symmetrical, except for the shape in the female chimeras and in (C57BL/6 x BALB/c)F1.     

Seasonal variation in alkalinity in pans in Central Africa

Summary The alkalinity and pH of lakes (pans) in Central Africa on Kalahari Sand, varies with the physical nature of the pan. Natural pans show a range of pH from 6.1 to 8.7, and of total alkalinity from 10 mg/l to 580 mg/l. This range is attributable to local soil differences. Some pans have been deepened or have had water pumped into them to provide drinking points for game animals. The alkalinity of pumped pans is determined by the alkalinity of the water pumped into the pan and the time during which this has taken place. All these types of pan show cyclic seasonal variation in alkalinity and pH. The range in these factors is similar from one year to the next. Animals living either in permanent (deepened or pumped) pans or in temporary (natural) pans have to withstand a wide range of alkalinity fluctuation in the course of the year.     

Desmosome development in an in vitro model

A model has been devised to study the in vitro formation of desmonsomes. The model is based on the differential labeling of two subpopulations of a desmosome-forming human cancer line (C4I). The labeled subpopulations are dispersed, preincubated separately on a shaking water bath for 24 h to allow the internalization of desmosome fragments and the repair of the cell surface, and then mixed, and allowed to aggregate. Aliquots of the mixed suspension are fixed at various intervals. The time between mixing and fixation represents the maximum age of any junction between dissimilarly labeled cells. The beginnings of desmosome formation were observed within a few minutes after the beginning of aggregation. Close apposition of cell membranes was seen immediately after mixing, followed within 15 min by the appearance of a submembrane density in one or both of the interacting cells. Intracytoplasmic filament formation takes place at between 15 and 30 min. Desmosome formation is complete by 90 min. The process is accompanied by a progressive widening of the extracellular space and the desification and organization of the extracellular material and the submembrane plaques.