Evolution of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): a molecular supermatrix approach

We present a time‐calibrated phylogeny of the charismatic green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Previous phylogenetic studies on the family using DNA sequences have suffered from sparse taxon sampling and/or limited amounts of data. Here we combine all available previously published DNA sequence data and add to it new DNA sequences generated for this study. We analysed these data in a supermatrix using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods and provide a phylogenetic hypothesis for the family that recovers strong support for the monophyly of all subfamilies and resolves relationships among a large proportion of chrysopine genera. Chrysopinae tribes Leucochrysini and Belonopterygini were recovered as monophyletic sister clades, while the species‐rich tribe Chrysopini was rendered paraphyletic by Ankylopterygini. Relationships among the subfamilies were resolved, although with relatively low statistical support, and the topology varied based on the method of analysis. Greatest support was found for Apochrysinae as sister to Nothochrysinae and Chrysopinae, which is in contrast to traditional concepts that place Nothochrysinae as sister to the rest of the family. Divergence estimates suggest that the stem groups to the various subfamilies diverged during the Triassic‐Jurassic, and that stem groups of the chrysopine tribes diverged during the Cretaceous.     

Diagnostic importance of determining leucine aminotransferase activity in acute pancreatitis

It has been experimentally and clinically established that the determination of leucine-aminotransferase activity in the blood serum and abdominal exudate may serve as a marker for the early determination of pancreonecrosis and edematous (serous) pancreatitis.     

Somatostatin-detergent interaction

The effect of cationic, anionic and nonionic detergents on the EPR spectrum of spin-labeled somatostatin has been studied. At detergent concentrations well above the critical micelle concentration, nonionic detergents do not alter the EPR spectrum. Sodium dodecyl sulfate markedly alters both the line height ratio and the hyperfine splitting constant, whilst dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide alters only slightly the hyperfine splitting constant and line height ratio. The somatostatin-sodium dodecyl sulfate complex appeared monodisperse by sedimentation equilibrium with about 17 g bound detergent per g peptide. Circular dichroic and difference spectra of the dodecyl sulfate-somatostatin complex show that the tryptophanyl residue is buried in a nonpolar environment and that the secondary and tertiary structure of the peptide is markedly altered. Sedimentation equilibrium studies suggest that two types of dodecyltrimethylammonium-somatostatin complex exist. One type resembles the dodecyl sulfate-peptide complex, whilst the other appears to include several peptide units with only about one gram bound detergent per gram peptide.     

Reduction in size of prolactin-secreting tumours in men treated with pergolide.

The effect of pergolide mesylate was studied in two previously untreated men with large prolactinomas and exceptionally high prolactin concentrations. The study was designed to determine whether pergolide would be effective in alleviating symptoms, correcting hormonal abnormalities and shrinking the tumour. Starting with 50 micrograms daily the dose of pergolide was slowly increased over 10 weeks to 1 mg once daily, when repeat assessment was performed. Both patients reported complete relief of symptoms, with no side effects. Serum prolactin concentration was suppressed to normal in both subjects, and evidence to suggest tumour shrinkage was observed. Pergolide appears to be effective treatment for men with large prolactinomas.     

Regulation of beta-endorphin and ACTH in brain by estradiol

The effect of estradiol on the brain concentration of immunoreactive beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and C-terminal ACTH (CLIP) was studied in ovariectomized rats. Dopamine, a known inhibitor of pituitary intermediate lobe pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), was examined as a possible mediator of the estradiol induced changes in brain POMC. Animals were treated for 1 or 3 weeks with either 1) saline; 2) silastic estradiol implants; or 3) estradiol implants plus haloperidol 1 mg/kg/day. After one week of treatment no significant change in hypothalamic beta-EP content was noted in any group compared to the control level of 4.13 +/- .33 (SEM) pmoles although in the neurointermediate lobe beta-EP increased from 566 +/- 72 to 942 +/- 73 pmoles after haloperidol (p less than .005). After 3 weeks, however, hypothalamic beta-EP decreased from 3.96 +/- .28 to 2.74 +/- .19 pmoles (p less than .005) and C-terminal ACTH decreased from 3.78 +/- .33 to 2.82 +/- .18 pmoles (p less than .02) in the estradiol treated rats. This estradiol induced decrease in the hypothalamic content of beta-EP and C-terminal ACTH was not blocked by haloperidol. We conclude that estradiol lowers the hypothalamic content of beta-EP and CLIP and that this effect does not appear to be mediated by dopamine.     

Screening for Down's syndrome using serum alpha fetoprotein: a retrospective study indicating caution.

A report was made on the outcome of a four year retrospective study in 27 064 pregnancies, of the clinical efficiency, sensitivity, and specificity of a screening programme for Down''s syndrome based on reported strategies related to the measurement of maternal serum alpha fetoprotein. This study identified 27 pregnancies affected by Down''s syndrome with a median multiple of the median maternal serum alpha fetoprotein concentration of 0.82. This figure is considerably higher than that obtained from previous reports on this subject. With an age related multiple of the median maternal serum alpha fetoprotein strategy, 30.8% of Down''s affected pregnancies were identified as well as 11.6% of unaffected pregnancies. Perhaps a United Kingdom collaborative study should begin to investigate the reasons for such wide population variance in the reports for the median multiple of the median for Down''s affected pregnancies. Until such studies are carried out, screening for Down''s syndrome based on low maternal serum alpha fetoprotein concentration is premature.     

Effect of a low-frequency magnetic field on systemic arterial pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The effect of low-frequency magnetic field (MF) on systemic blood pressure has been studied in chronic experiments on 21 spontaneously hypertensive rats. The animals' kidney area was exposed to MF (induction value 30T). Direct blood pressure measurements have revealed an antihypertensive effect.