Maternal nutrition in pregnancy. Part I: a review.

Maternal undernutrition may result in a greater deprivation of the fetus than has previously been believed. The infant not only may be "light for dates" but also has an increased risk of perinatal disability or death secondary to gross neurologic and developmental abnormalities. This article reviews current knowledge of the energy, protein, iron, vitamin, sodium and calcium requirements in pregnancy, with special reference to the management of the underweight and overweight pregnant women.     

Increased phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 in hamster fibroblasts transformed by polyoma virus and simian virus 40

The extent of phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 was compared in normal hamster fibroblasts and in fibroblasts transformed by polyoma virus or simian virus 40. In both strains of transformed cells the protein was more highly phosphorylated than in the normal cells.     

The acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein of eukaryotes and its relationship to ribosomal proteins L7 and L12 of Escherichia coli.

The acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein, Lgamma, of Krebs II ascites cells was further characterized and compared with proteins L7 and L12 of Escherichia coli. Ribosomal protein Lgamma was selectively removed from 60S sibosomal subunits by 50% ethanol and 1M-NH4Cl, and antibodies raised against protein Lgamma cross-reacted with E. coli protein L12 in immunodiffusion experiments. These and other, previously reported, data support the proposal that the uekaryotic counterpart of E. coli proteins L7 and L12 is phosphorylated.     

Hyperosmotic readjustment of the crab,Hemigrapsus edwardsi

Summary Daily changes in the composition of the haemolymph and muscle tissue ofHemigrapsus edwardsi, following transfer to hyperosmotic saline, were investigated. The haemolymph approached a new equilibrium, with respect to ionic constituents, within 48 h. The muscle fibre water content, expressed in kg/kg dry weight, fell initially and then rose. This was associated with a rise in the amount (per kg tissue dry weight) of intracellular ninhydrin-positive substances (mainly amino acids) which was substantially complete within four days. It was concluded that this crab is capable of relatively rapid intracellular readjustment to hyperosmotic stress.     

The ribosomal proteins phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase activities from Krebs II ascites cells

Studies were performed to identify in cytoplasmic extracts of Krebs II ascites cells protein kinase activities that might be responsible for the phosphorylation of the ribosomal proteins previously identified as phosphoproteins in these cells in vivo. Column chromatography resolved a casein kinase activity that could use ATP or GTP as a phosphoryl donor to phosphorylate, in ribosomes, exclusively the acidic 60S phosphoprotein(s) phosphorylated in vivo. A second casein kinase fraction could use ATP, only, in a similar reaction, but also contained protein kinase activity with respect to other ribosomal proteins, including the basic ribosomal protein phosphorylated in vivo, ribosomal protein S6. This latter was also among several proteins phosphorylated by an activity in the cyclic AMP-independent histone kinase fraction.     

Vaginally administered 16, 16-dimethyl-prostaglandin E2 as an agent for pre-operative cervical dilatation.

Twenty-one women in the 10th-12th week of pregnancy were treated prior to vacuum aspiration with vaginal suppositories containing 16, 16-dimethyl-PGE2 (free acid). An average total dose of 3.4 mg led to abortion or adequate cervical dilatation in all patients. Based upon previous experience with the compound, no prophylactic anti-emetic or anti-diarrhetic medication was given. Gastrointestinal side effects were minimal. Excessive bleeding was not observed. In two cases, slight temperature elevation was noted prior to abortion. The low incidence of side effects in combination with the effectiveness of the compound help to make this method an attractive therapeutic adjunct to vacuum aspiration beyond the 10th week of gestation. Under the experimental conditions of this study, the results suggest that vaginally administered 16, 16-dimethyl-PGE2 can be a safe and effective method for cervical dilatation before vacuum aspiration.