A dose-response study of anorectic drug effects on food intake, self-stimulation, and stimulation-escape

The DNA polymerase of Ustilago maydis is stimulated by a DNA binding protein from the same organism. Analysis of this stimulation shows that there is an increase in affinity for both substrates of the reaction. The apparent Km for deoxynucleoside triphosphates is decreased 3 fold, and that for denatured DNA by 4 fold. In both cases the maximum velocity (Vmax) is increased 1.2 to 1.4 fold. It is suggested that the variability in the affinity of the enzyme for deoxynucleoside triphosphates mediated by the binding protein may provide the basis for the UV sensitivity of pyrimidine auxotrophs in this organism.     

Effects of hypertension on the static mechanical properties and chemical composition of the rat aorta

The contributions of the relative radius, relative wall thickness, incremental strain, incremental elastic modulus, and medial scleroprotein content to the static elastic properties of the rat aortic wall have been examined in three groups of rats. Controls, rats made hypertensive at four weeks of age, and rats whose blood pressure was lowered after 6 weeks hypertension, were studied. The results show evidence of adaptive changes in the aorta of hypertensive animals, and that irreversible alterations in the mechanical properties of the wall may be induced by a brief period of hypertension. A direct relationship between aortic medial scleroprotein content and the elastic properties of the wall is demonstrated.     

Intensive care of the pregnant diabetic

Over the last 2 years at Metropolitan Hospital Medical Center 245 diabetic women have been seen on the obstetric service. This complication of pregnancy comprises 7.9 per cent of 3,076 deliveries, resulting in an over-all uncorrected perinatal mortality rate of 2.9 per cent. We believe that early detection and strict rigid control of diabetes is the key to improved perinatal outcome. This article presents the classification, diagnosis, and management which have led to these results.     

Activation-inactivation coupling in Myxicola giant axons injected with tetraethylammonium

Myxicola giant axons internally injected with tetraethylammonium chloride to block potassium currents were examined under voltage clamp. The sodium inactivation time constants obtained from the decline in INa during step depolarizations were substantially smaller than those obtained using conditioning prepulses to the same potentials and the ratios agreed with previous observations using TTX. Inactivation shifts were also measured and found to be comparable to previous results.     

Fetal heart rate patterns preceding death in utero

Four cases of intrauterine fetal demise in term infants are presented. From these cases and other published reports, a sequence of fetal heart rate changes preceding intrapartum death is presented. Late or variable decelerations, if unrelieved or uncorrected, lead to baseline heart rate changes of tachycardia and loss of variability reflecting loss of fetal reserve and fetal distress. This is followed by an unstable heart rate, a sinusoidal pattern, or a rapidly changing fetal heart rate. The final event is a profound bradycardia just prior to fetal demise.     

Ischemic therapy in thrombocytopenia from hypersplenism

Percutaneous transfemoral arterial balloon occlusion or gelatin sponge embolization of the splenic artery or both were carried out in three high-risk patients with hepatic cirrhosis to reduce splenic hyperfunction and improve severe thrombocytopenia. Although this maneuver raised peripheral platelet counts in each patient, in one patient left upper quadrant pain with splinting of the lower chest cage led to hypostatic lower lobe pneumonia, while in another septic splentitis with gas-forming organisms necessitated splecectomy. Transfemoral occlusion of the splenic artery, although an effective, noninvasive approach to control splenic hyperfunction, has at the same time potential dangers that should be viewed with extreme caution in therapeutic application.     

Effect of preharvest applied herbicides on breadmaking quality of hard red spring wheat

Certain herbicides can be applied prior to harvest for weed control in wheat. Research was conducted to determine the effect of preharvest applications of glyphosate, paraquat and metsulfuron + 2, 4‐D on grain, flour and the breadmaking quality of hard red spring wheat. Herbicides were applied at soft dough (SD), ～500 g kg^?1 kernel moisture and hard dough (HD), ～350 g kg^?1 kernel moisture stages of ‘Parshall’ hard red spring wheat. Test weight was reduced 1.3 and 2.3 kg hl^?1, 1000 kernel weight was reduced 3.5 and 4.5 g, and large kernel content was reduced 230 and 280 g kg^?1 by glyphosate and paraquat respectively when applied at SD. Metsulfuron + 2, 4‐D did not affect physical grain quality. Glyphosate and paraquat applied at SD and HD increased gluten index two to eight units. Metsulfuron + 2, 4‐D reduced the gluten index four units when applied at SD. Dough mixing stability was increased 1.7 min by glyphosate applied at SD or HD, and by paraquat applied at SD. Dough mixing time during bread making was 0.5 min longer with flour from wheat treated with glyphosate and was 0.4 min shorter with flour from wheat treated with Metsulfuron + 2, 4‐D at SD. Loaf volume, symmetry and crumb score were not affected by herbicide treatments. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry