Book Reviewes

Interest and Emotion: Essays on the Study of Family and Kinship . Hans Medick and David Warren Sabean , eds.
Kinship in the Past: An Anthropology of European Family Life, 1500–1900 . Andrejs Plakans.     

Lecithin in synthetic larval diet for Aedes aegypti improves larval and adult performance

A chemically defined synthetic rearing medium was used to compare larval growth of Aedes aegypti with or without crude animal lecithin or synthetic dipalmitoyl lecithin. Pupal weights, adult female life spans and oviposition histories of pupae and adults derived from synthetic diet rearings and from crude culture (liver powder) rearings were also compared. Both lecithins improved larval growth rate; optimal concentrations reduced time to pupation by 2 and 1 days for animal and synthetic lecithins respectively, and animal lecithin was better tolerated by the mosquito larvae at the higher concentrations tested. Addition of crude animal lecithin to the basal synthetic rearing medium had little effect on the weights of male and female pupae, but it increased adult female life spans and improved weekly egg production. In no case did mosquitoes from axenic rearings in synthetic media deviate greatly from limits specified by earlier workers for field-derived mosquitoes.

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Résumé Les développements larvaires d'Aedes aegypti ont été comparés sur des substrats alimentaires avec ou sans lecithine animale brute ou DL-a-dipalmitoyle lecithine synthétique.Les comparaisons ont porté aussi sur les poids nymphaux, la longé-vité et la fécondité de femelles élevées sur régime synthétique ou à partir de poudre de foie.Les deux types de lecithines améliorent le développement larvaire; les concentrations optimales des deux régimes (lecithine animale et lecithine synthétique) avancent respectivement la pupaison de 2 et 1 jour; les lecithines animale et synthétique sont tolérées par les larves respectivement jusqu'aux concentrations de 0,008 et 0,006%.L'addition de lecithine animale brute au régime contenant de la lecithine synthétique a eu peu d'effets sur les poids des nymphes mâles et femelles mais a augmenté la longévité et la fécondité hebdomadaire des femelles.Les performances des moustiques élevés sur substrat aseptique synthétique n'ont jamais été très éloignées des limites indiquées antérieurement par les travaux sur moustiques provenant de la nature.

     

Adaptation of an insect cell line (Agallia constricta) in a mammalian cell culture medium

Summary An established insect cell line (AC20) from the leafhopperAgallia constricta has been adapted to a mammalian cell culture medium based on the formulation of two commercially available media. The cell population doubling time of the adapted line in this medium is approximately 45 hr at 30°C. This research was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant GB29277X.     

Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography—Report of a Technique

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography was carried out in 30 patients with jaundice of unknown cause. The examination was successful in 24, and the correct diagnosis was established before operation in 23.Among the specialized radiographic procedures useful in the differential diagnosis of jaundice, the percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram is simple and reliable. It will distinguish intrahepatic from extrahepatic biliary obstruction. In benign structures, it can give a good anatomical and pathological definition of the problem which faces the surgeon. Occasionally, it may make operation unnecessary.Serious complications are hemorrhage and bile peritonitis. The incidence is low and by careful management they can be avoided.