AN ASSESSMENT OF THE GROWTH RATE OF MPASA,OPSABIDIUM MICROLEPIS (GUNTHER, 1864) (PISCES: CRYPRINIDAE), BY LENGTH FREQUENCY ANALYSIS

SUMMARY

The mpasa, Opsaridium microlepis, is an important commercial species in areas of Lake Malawi near major inflowing rivers during annual spawning migrations. Plots of length frequency data collected over a series of years from mpasa catches in the Bua and North Rukuru Rivers show consistent peaks and these are believed to represent year classes. Growth in length is approximately linear, about 11 cm per year, until about five years of age. Males and females have similar growth rates.

Catch per unit effort is positively related to river level at time of sampling, and to river levels in earlier years, thus high river levels improve recruitment.     

Usefulness of Fluoxetine in Obese Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetics: A Multicenter Study

Weight reduction is essential in the management of most noninsulin-dependent diabetics, but this therapeutical goal is difficult to obtain. In this double-blind parallel study, 82 noninsulin-dependent diabetics, moderately obese (BMI = 30–39 kg/nr²), were given for an 8-week period either placebo (P) or fluoxetine (F), a specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor, in addition to their usual antidiabetic treatment. Thirty-nine of them received 60 mg fluoxetine a day and 43 were given the placebo. At admission, both groups had similar weight excess, metabolic control and serum lipid values. In comparison with the P-treated subjects, those treated with fluoxetine (F) lost more weight after 3 weeks (-1.9 vs. ?0.7 kg, p<0.0009) and after 8 weeks (-3.1 vs. ?0.9 kg, p<0.0007). Fasting blood glucose decreased in group F after 3 weeks (- 1.5 vs. ?0.4 mmol/L, p<0.003) and after 8 weeks (-1.7 vs. ?0.02 mmol/L, p<0.0004). HbAlc decreased from 8.5% to 7.7% in group F and from 8.6% to 8.3% in group P (p=0.057). Mean triglyceride level was also reduced in group F after 8 weeks (p=0.042). Fasting C-pep-tide did not change in either group, but fasting insulin values decreased in group F after 3 weeks (p<0.02) and after 8 weeks (p<0.05). The insulin/C-peptide molar ratio decreased significantly in group F after 3 weeks (p<0.04) and after 8 weeks (p<0.05) in comparison with group P. The drug was generally well tolerated and no major side effects were reported. In conclusion, the addition of fluoxetine to the usual oral hypoglycemic agent therapy might be beneficial in obese non-insulin-dependent diabetics, at least on a short-term basis.     

Cytological studies inCyclamen subg.Cyclamen (Primulaceae)

Although theCyclamen subg.Cyclamen spp. are morphologically variable, previous studies suggest a superficial cytological uniformity. New chromosome numbers and an indication of karyotypic instability are reported inC. hederifolium andC. africanum that reveal that the cytology of the subgenus is more complicated than previous accounts suggest. The possible significance of these phenomena is discussed. The diploid status ofC. purpurascens has been confirmed and a distinction between the three diploid karyotypes has been described. The cytological variation may help to explain the well documented morphological variation exhibited in these species.     

Studies on phosphate metabolism in obligate methanotrophs

Abstract Studies on three representative species of methane-utilizing bacteria revealed high intracellular levels of inorganic pyrophosphate (5 mM) in contrast to low levels of ATP (0.5 mM) as well as the differences in the sets of enzymes utilizing pyro- and polyphosphates as phosphate and metabolic energy donors.