Size at birth and some sociodemographic factors in gypsies in Hungary

In 10,108 babies born to gypsy parents, birth weight, birth length and gestational age are compared with a national reference sample, taking into account maternal education, age, and birth interval. The gypsy babies tend consistently to be smaller, and this difference is attributable to the circumstances in which the gypsies live as well as the poorer maternal education. There appears to be a vicious circle--poor hygiene and living conditions adversely affect birth size, which in turn puts the child at a disadvantage in terms of survival, health and development.     

Morphological effects of the catechol estrogens on rat epididymal epithelia

The 2-hydroxy and 4-hydroxyestradiols (2-/4-OHE₂) caused marked cytotoxic effects, including vacuolation and nuclear changes, in rat epididymal epithelia, after exposure to very low levels (40 ng/rat/week) for 20 weeks. The effects of the 2-/4-OHE₂ metabolites were more pronounced than that of estradiol-17β(E₂).     

Characterization of aerobic,facultative anaerobic,and anaerobic bacteria in an acidogenic phase reactor and their metabolite formation

Fifty-two aerobic and facultative anaerobic and 57 anaerobic bacterial isolates were obtained from an acidogenic phase digestion system. These isolates were characterized and the similarities between the different strains were calculated using Sokal and Michener's similarity coefficient. The aerobic and facultative anaerobic strains clustered in two major groups with the strains of the first main group being gram-negative fermentative rods, representing the generaKlebsiella, Enterobacter, Escherichia andAeromonas. Isolates of the second group were gram-positive streptococci similar toStreptococcus lactis. The strict anaerobic isolates also clustered into two main groups with strains of cluster A being identified as members of the genusFusobacterium while strains in cluster B were members of the genusBacteroides. Hypothetical mean organisms were calculated for each cluster and used in further culture studies. The major products of the continuously fed acidogenic phase reactor were ethanol and acetic, propionic, and butyric acids. In batch cultures, ethanol, acetic acid, diacetyl, and 2,3-butanediol were formed by the strains as major products both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The ability of the aerobic and facultative anaerobic strains to be metabolically active under anaerobic conditions indicates a prominent role in acidogenic reactors.     

The effect of gamma-linolenic acid, an in vitro cytostatic substance contained in evening primrose oil, on primary liver cancer. A double-blind placebo controlled trial

The cytostatic effects of essential fatty acid metabolic intermediates and of some prostaglandins and leukotrienes in vitro have been extensively documented. The essential fatty acids (EFAs) exhibit no side-effects when taken as a dietary supplement, even in large doses. Primary Liver Cancer (PLC) is a fatal disease in our area as it is always multifocal in nature. In vitro studies have shown a cytostatic effect of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) on primary liver cancer cells. In a double-blind placebo controlled trial, using Evening Primrose Oil (as a source of GLA) as a dietary supplement in PLC patients, no statistically significant effect was observed on survival time or liver size. There was however a statistical significant beneficial effect on Gamma Glutamyl transferase values as a measure of liver function. No side-effects were observed. The large size of tumour and the low doses of GLA used in this trial probably explain the lack of significant effect on survival times.     

Purification and some properties of low-molecular-weight proteins of Aspidelaps scutatus (shield or shield-nose snake) venom

1. Fourteen low-molecular-weight proteins from Aspidelaps scutatus venom were purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. 2. The proteins (toxins) have i.v. LD50 values ranging from 0.12 to 54 micrograms/g mouse. 3. The amino-terminal sequences of the proteins show that 12 of the 14 proteins were pure. 4. The proteins were preliminarily assigned as phospholipases A2, long neurotoxins and cytotoxin homologues.     

Dihydropyridine calcium antagonists depress the amplitude of the plasma melatonin cycle in baboons

An investigation into the effects of verapamil and some dihydropyridine derivatives on plasma melatonin levels was undertaken in baboons. In a number of separate experiments, groups of young male chacma baboons (mean body weight 13 kg) received intraperitoneal injections of the drugs, under ketamine anaesthesia, roughly 30 minutes prior to the following time points: 1200, 1800, 0000, 0200, 0600 and 1200 h. Lights went off at 1800 h and came on at 0600 h. The drugs used, and their respective dosages (expressed per kg body mass), were verapamil up to 4 mg/kg, nifedipine at 0.2 mg/kg, nitrendipine at 0.5 mg/kg and nisoldipine at 0.1 mg/kg. Blood samples, taken at the said time points, were assayed for melatonin. The nighttime peak of the plasma melatonin cycle was significantly depressed by all three dihydropyridine calcium antagonists (up to 40%), while verapamil, even at the relatively high total dose of 24 mg/kg per day, had no significant effect on the circulating plasma melatonin levels.     

The effect of effluent recirculation on the performance of a two stage anaerobic process

Biotechnology Letters -     

Cellobiose metabolism in Erwinia: genetic study

Summary The study of mutants of Erwinia specifically unable to ferment cellobiose indicates that the mutations are clustered between arg and ile on the chromosome of this organism. In vivo cloning of the genes responsible for cellobiose utilization lead to a plasmid, pBEC2, which complements all Erwinia Clb^- specific mutants. When introduced into wild-type E. coli it allows this organism to use cellobiose, arbutin and salicin; it also complements bglB and bglC mutants of Escherichia coli indicating that arbutin and salicin utilization is due to the products of the pBEC2 cloned genes. From the characterization of mutants pleiotropically affected in the utilization of various carbon sources, including cellobiose, arbutin and salicin, it is proposed that the three--glucosides are substrates of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS).