Mortality from myocardial infarction in different types of hospitals.

Hospitals ranging from large urban teaching hospitals to small country hospitals were stratified into four levels of care and examined for their effectiveness of coronary care in relation to these levels. The crude hospital mortality among 2265 patients admitted for definite or possible acute myocardial infarction was 21% at level 1 (the most elaborate level), 22% at level 2, 21% at level 3, and 19% at level 4 (the least elaborate). Adjustment for age or other prognostic factors produced no significant differences across levels either for coronary care unit care or for combined coronary unit and ward care. Success in resuscitation was also similar across levels. These findings suggest that increased resources for coronary care units--whether for new services or for upgrading existing ones--may not be required.     

New producers of site-specific endonucleases from microorganisms of the Bacillus genus

52 strains of Bacillus generum have been tested for production of site-specific endonucleases. The sequence recognized by the enzyme was determined for 23 enzymes, the cleavage site inside the sequence was determined for 5 enzymes. All the enzymes under study were found to be isomers of the known enzymes. The selected strains are peculiar for the high level of site-specific endonucleases content and may be used as producents of the enzymes.     

Heat shock influences on parasitization of the Angoumois grain moth Sitotroga cerealella Oliv. (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) eggs by the egg parasitoid Trichogramma principium Sug. et Sor. (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) females

Experiments have showed that heat shock (45°C during 30 min) caused a twofold increase in mortality of T. principium females recorded during two days after the shock. The percentage of females that have started parasitization of the grain moth eggs (among all survived females) sharply decreased (40–50% and 30% in controls and in treated females, respectively). Thus, the switch from egg retention to parasitization of less preferred hosts was not the result of “pathological” changes in a senescent or dying wasp, but a “normal” stage of adult life. Females that have already started parasitization before the heat shock, continued to parasitize after the shock (differences between treatments and controls were not significant). Obviously, the heat shock influence on oviposition was mostly indirect (as a cue factor) and the wasps that have already started parasitization, were insensitive to this cue. These data resemble the loss of sensitivity to the diapause-inducing factor which was often observed after reactivation. We conclude that the results of our study confirm analogies between egg retention and reproductive diapause.     

Daily rhythms in parasitization of the Angoumois grain moth <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitotroga cerealella</Emphasis> Oliv. (Lepidoptera,Gelechiidae) eggs by the egg parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichogramma principium</Emphasis> Sug. et Sor. (Hymenoptera,Trichogrammatidae) females

Laboratory experiments conducted at L: D = 16: 8 have shown that the observed temporal pattern of parasitization of the Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella eggs by Trichogramma principium females represents a resultant of arrhythmic age-related trends and circadian rhythms. Most of females delayed parasitization. The daily number of females starting to parasitize was maximal on the first day of contact with the host and then gradually declined. Practically all of the females started parasitization during the photophase. Moreover, when the first contact with the host fell on the scotophase, the total cumulative percentage of females that started parasitization during four days of the experiment significantly decreased. Oviposition activities of parasitizing females also occurred mainly during photophase. However, under constant light, these circadian rhythms were damped out after one cycle. In addition, anticipatory period of darkness during photophase directly inhibited parasitization. This suggests that the observed rhythms can be easily modified by the direct environmental influence. Under natural conditions, such a flexible oviposition rhythm may be of advantage for these parasitoids enabling them to use any opportunity for reproduction. In biocontrol practice, the lability of parasitization rhythms may enable Trichogramma females to adapt immediately to any new light-dark regimes, although darkness may have negative effects on their efficiency.