Effect of anthropometric characteristics and socio-economic status on physical performances of pre-pubertal children living in Bolivia at low altitude

We have previously observed that 11-year-old children of low socio-economic status (LSES) showed a delayed physical growth of approximately 2 years and developed lower normalized short-term power output than children of high socio-economic status (HSES) of the same age. In contrast, maximal oxygen uptake per unit of fat free mass was no different in either group. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anthropometric characteristics between HSES and LSES prepubertal children in aerobic and anaerobic performance. To compare children of the same body dimensions, 11-year-old boys (n = 30) and girls (n = 31) of LSES and 9-year-old boys (n = 21) and girls (n = 27) of HSES were studied. Anthropometric measurements, (direct test), maximal anaerobic power (P _max, force-velocity test) and mean anaerobic power ( , Wingate test) were determined. In these children having the same body dimensions: mean were the same in LSES and HSES children [1.2 (SD 0.2)1-min^–1];P _max and were lower in LSES subjects [154.0 (SD 33.2) vs 174.6 (SD 38.4) W and 116.3 (SD 23.3) vs 128.2 (SD 28.0) W, respectively]; the linear relationships between and fat free mass were the same in LSES and HSES boys but, in the girls, the LSES group had lower values. For anaerobic performance, the relationships were significantly different: the slopes were the same but LSES values for the both sexes were lower. These results would suggest that factors other than differences in body dimensions alone were responsible for the lower performance of LSES girls and boys. Cultural factors and motor learning, structural and functional alterations of muscle induced by marginal malnutrition have been discussed.     

Mixed connective tissue disease. A clinico-serological study of 17 cases

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) was described as a distinct clinical syndrome in 1972. Since then many cases have been reported in the literature worldwide. In this study we present our experience with a group of 17 Mexican patients with this syndrome, and we analyze their clinical and serological features, as well as the causes of death in these patients. The patients are Mexican mestizos living in Guadalajara and most of them have been followed-up at Hospital General de Occidente for a period of 1–10 years. The female/male ratio was 16:1, and their age ranged from 14–55 years with a mean of 29 years. The disease duration has ranged from 1–17 years, with a mean of 6 years. Among the clinical manifestations we have found a high frequency of lymphadenopathy when compared with published series (13/17 or 76%), and the laboratory findings in our patients included a very high polyclonal increase of gammaglobulins (93%), lymphopenia (76%), direct immunofluorescence speckled nuclear epidermal deposits in skin biopsies (75%) and positive rheumatoid factor (65%). Other clinical and serological features were similar to those reported in other series of patients with MCTD. Six of the 17 patients have died (35%), and in 3 of them (17.5%) the cause of death was due to an infectious disease that suddenly presented, and apparently was not related to a concomitant high dose of steroids or malnutrition in the patients. It seems that in addition to the already well known autoimmune abnormalities that occur in MCTD, there are other features like the presence of lymphadenopathy, the high polyclonal increase of gammaglobulins, and the lymphopenia, that reflect the profound disturbance of the immune system in this syndrome, possibly contributing to the sudden appearance of a severe infectious disease in some of our patients.Abbreviations ANA antinuclear antibody - CIE counterimmunoelectrophoresis - MCTD mixed connective tissue disease - PHA passive hemagglutination - PM polymyositis - RF rheumatoid factor - SLE systemic lupus erythematosus - SS systemic sclerosis (SS)     

Theory of multivalent binding in one and two-dimensional lattices

Ligand binding to a linear lattice composed of N sites, under general conditions of cooperativity and number of sites covered upon binding, m, is approached in terms of the theory of contracted partition functions. The partition function of the system obeys a recursion relation leading to a generating function that provides an exact analytical solution for any case of interest. Site-specific properties of the lattice are derived from simple transformations of the analytical expressions. The McGhee-von Hippel model is obtained as a special case in the limit N --> infinity. The derivation is straightforward and involves no combinatorial arguments. Partition functions and site-specific properties are also derived for the case of non-cooperative binding to a two-dimensional torus of length N, containing s sites in its section for a total of sN sites. The torus provides a relevant model for ligand binding to double-stranded DNA (s = 2) or protein helices (s = 3,4). It is proved that non-cooperative binding to the two-dimensional torus can mimic cooperative binding to a one-dimensional linear lattice when m = s. The dimensional embedding of the lattice and the geometry of interaction of its sites play a crucial role in defining the binding properties of the system accessible to experimental measurements. Hence, caution must be exercised in the interpretation of Scatchard plots in terms of the one-dimensional McGhee-von Hippel model, especially when m < or = 4 and the geometry of the system is clearly two-dimensional.     

Keratella distribution in North Patagonian lakes (Argentina)

The distribution of Keratella species from 15 different lakes in North Patagonia (Argentina) was analysed. The genus was not present at altitudes above 1000 m. K. tropica was restricted to Patagonian Plateau lakes with a comparatively high conductivity. A morphometric analysis of the widely distributed K. cochlearis was performed. Results showed three groups of K. cochlearis corresponding to Andean lakes, Patagonian Plateau lakes and a Patagonian Reservoir.     

Aquatic Oligochaeta in Italy, with special reference to Naididae

We present a list of Italian freshwater and marine Oligochaeta in the families Lumbriculidae, Haplotaxidae, Tubificidae, Naididae, Propappidae, Criodrilidae, and Lumbricidae, representing 57 genera and 130 species. Published data reflect the incomplete knowledge of the Italian oligochaete fauna, restricted to certain geographical areas. Subterranean aquatic and marine fauna are of particular interest as these have been studied the least. We provide a comprehensive review of the Naididae including, for the first time, southern Italy and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. The distribution of species is discussed and taxonomic problems arising from the morphological variability of Italian material are examined.     

Transient reduction in secreted 32 kD chitinase prevents somatic embryogenesis in the carrot (Daucus carota L.) variant ts11

At the nonpermissive temperature, somatic embryos of the temperature-sensitive (ts) carrot (Daucus carota L.) cell variant ts11 only proceed beyond the globular embryo stage in the presence of medium conditioned by wild-type cells. The causative component in the conditioned medium has been identified as an acidic 32 kD endochitinase. An antiserum raised against the 32 kD chitinase detected this protein in culture medium from ts11 embryo cultures grown at the permissive temperature as well as at the nonpermissive temperature. No difference in biochemical characteristics or in effect on ts11 embryo development could be detected between the 32 kD chitinase purified from wild-type cultures and the chitinase from ts11 cultures grown at the permissive or at the nonpermissive temperature. Compared to the amount present in a ts11 embryo culture at the permissive temperature, a reduction in the amount of 32 kD chitinase was observed during the temperature-sensitive period at the nonpermissive temperature. These results imply that the arrested embryo phenotype of ts11 is not the result of a structural difference in its 32 kD chitinase, but is the result of a transient decrease in the amount of 32 kD chitinase present. Morphological observations indicate that the ts11 phenotype is pleiotropic and also affects the cell wall of nonembryogenic cells. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A组轮状病毒SA11VP6基因的克隆和表达

从ＳＡ１１ＶＰ６基因全序列克隆开始,设计一对两端带有酶切位点的引物,逆转录ＰＣＲ扩增出ＶＰ６全基因ＣＤＮＡ。经酶切后插入ＰＵＣ１９,构建了ＶＰ６全基因克隆ＰＲＡ６。再经酶切后插入痘苗病毒载休质凿ＰＪＳＡ１１７５中。利用Ｌｉｐｏｆｅｃｔｉｎ导入ＴＫ１４３细胞,利用ＴＫ基因和Ｌａｃ基因作为重组病毒的筛选标记。表达产物用单克隆抗体ＥＬＩＳＡ法检测,发现细胞培养上清和细胞裂解液都是阳性。Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂ