Structure of bone in the skulls of Neanderthal fossils

Close inspection of surface bone in skulls of Neanderthal man reveals weathering cracks extensive enough in one specimen, La Chapelle-aux-Saints, to allow preliminary analysis of major patterns of orientation and to make inferences about functional relationships of structures. The fine structure of the bone of the brow ridges is very different from the rest of the skull in the two adults examined, having a peculiar vermiculate surface pattern. Weathering cracks do not appear in this region. This indicates that Neanderthal brow ridges are not closely related to normal mechanical forces such as chewing exertion. It may, however, give further support to theories of Neanderthal brow ridges as protection for the eyes. The localized structure of bone often differs from region to region, and offers new possibilities for the analysis of both contemporary and fossil forms.     

Epidemiological problems of ozena and the means for controlling this infection

Clinical, bacteriological, serological and epidemiological studies of ozena morbidity among the population of Minsk were carried out in 1970-1980. On January 1, 1981, the ozena morbidity rate among the inhabitants of Minsk was 26.72%. Ozena was found to affect mainly children and women. A wide spread of the family foci of this disease (31.68%) was revealed. The results of this study indicate that the source of K. ozaenae is a sick person who begins to excrete the bacteria in the prodromal period of the disease and may continue to excrete them for many years. The transfer of K. ozaenae occurs probably by droplet or contact infection. The droplet infection is less active in the absence of symptoms (coughing, sneezing) facilitating excretion of the infective agent into the air and in cases of the low susceptibility of persons to ozena. The main measures for controlling ozena are the timely detection and sanitation of the sources of ozena, as well as the current disinfection of the infection foci in apartments.     

Kinetics of adrenodoxin reductase oxidation by non-physiologic electron acceptors

The reactions of NADPH oxidation by quinones and inorganic complexes catalyzed by NADPH: adrenodoxin reductase were studied. The catalytic constant for the enzyme at pH 7.0 is 20-25 s-1; the oxidative constants for the quinones vary from 5 X 10(5) to 1.1 X 10(3) M-1 s-1 and show an increase with a rise in the one-electron acceptor reduction potential. The mode of adrenodoxin reductase interaction with oxyquinones differs from that of the enzyme interaction with alkyl-substituted quinones and inorganic complexes. NADPH competitively inhibits electron acceptors, whereas NADP+ is a competitive inhibitor of NADPH and a uncompetitive inhibitor of electron acceptors. (Ki = 25 microM). The depth of FAD incorporation into the enzyme molecule as calculated according to the outer sphere electron transfer theory is 6.1 A.     

Effect of adenine nucleotides on the activator function of streptokinase

The addition of ATP or 3,5-AMP (but not UTP, GTP, CTP, AMP, 2,3-AMP, ADP, inorganic pyrophosphate) at a final concentration of 10(-1) M into streptokinase solution, pH 7.0 or 9.5, causes a dramatic inhibition of streptokinase-induced fibrinolysis. The specificity of ATP effect is fully lost at pH 3.0, when all nucleotides completely inhibit the activating function of streptokinase. Ribose-5-phosphate causes a similar effect at pH 3.0. The character of nucleotide action on the activating function of streptokinase considerably differs from their influence on proteolytic reactions.     

Mitogenic action of bacterial T-independent antigens under various conditions of lymphocyte culture

The mitogenic response of lymphocytes in mouse spleen cell culture to the action of Salmonella typhi lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Vi-antigen under different experimental conditions has been studied. The density of the culture has been shown to influence the activation of lymphocytes with Vi-antigen. Thus, macrophages stimulate mitogenesis at the concentration of lymphocytes equal to 1.0-1.2 X 10(6) cells/ml and suppress it when this concentration increases tenfold. The method used for the purification of cell suspension from adhering cells has been shown to influence the level of the mitogenic response of lymphocytes. The cultures, purified from macrophages by filtration through a column packed with cotton wool, have been found to respond to the mitogenic doses of LPS 7-8 times weaker than those purified by adhesion onto plastic. Background and mitogen-induced inclusion of 3H-thymidine into lymphocytic DNA varies in accordance with the presence of adhering cells. For this reason, in the evaluation of the influence of macrophages on mitogenesis it is expedient to consider not only the stimulation index, but also the absolute inclusion of thymidine into cells.