The prevalence of sexually transmitted disease agents in pregnant women in Suva

Routine testing of 440 women (257 Fijians, 183 Indians) at the first antenatal attendance identified Chlamydia trachomatis in 50% of Fijians and 38% of Indians; the seropositivity rates for syphilis were 14.2% and 1.7% respectively, and the isolation rates for N. gonorrhoeae were 3.1% in Fijians and 1.1% in Indians.

Measurements of mosaicity and perfection of crystallites in commercially available crystals using a 4-axis perfect-crystal x-ray diffractometer

Measurements of mosaicity and the intrinsic scattering from individual crystallites of commercially available crystals are presented. The set of crystals investigated has been proposed to be used as the energy dispersive element in a high resolution Bragg spectrometer for x-ray astronomy. The measurements reveal a high degree of perfection of the crystallites, even in the presence of considerable mosaicity. This is encouraging with relation to an eventual use of the crystals in a high resolution Bragg spectrometer for x-ray astronomy. The measurements were performed using a novel four-crystal x-ray diffractometer. The resolution properties of this diffractometer are discussed in detail and compared with more conventional three-crystal and twocrystal x-ray diffractometers.

Effect of protein A on mast cell numbers and macrophage phagocytic activity

Swiss albino male mice were given Protein A (PA) treatment ip (0, 1.0, 6.0 or 12.0 micrograms per mouse) twice weekly for two weeks. Alterations in white blood cell counts, peritoneal cell number, peritoneal macrophage and mast cell number were found. Macrophage induced phagocytosis of sheep red blood cells was also found enhanced in PA group. The maximum effect was found in 1.0 microgram of PA dose group of mice. From our studies it can be derived that PA induced tumor regression may be due to potentiation of macrophage induced antitumor activity.

Increased macrophage activity in protein A treated tumor regressed animals

Male swiss albino mice transplanted with 1 x 10(6) viable fibrosarcoma tumor cells were treated with Protein A (60 micrograms/kg) right from the day of transplantation for 4 weeks, twice weekly. The therapy resulted in lesser tumor incidence, significant inhibition of tumor growth and enhanced percent survival in treated animals as compared to untreated controls. Treated animals also showed gains in body weight, an increase in peripheral blood leucocyte count, significant increase in macrophage function and number. Stimulation of macrophage number and macrophage function by Protein A may be related to its antitumor.

Seasonal variation in the biomass and non-structural carbohydrate content of fine roots of teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) plantations in a dry tropical region

Seasonal variation in the biomass and total non-structural carbohydrate content (TNC) of fine roots of teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) were studied in 19- and 29-year-old plantations in a dry tropical region. Fine root TNC content was highest during the dry summer (May), and lowest in the early part of the rainy season (July). Generally, seasonal trends in TNC content were the opposite of those in fine root biomass. The TNC concentration of roots increased with diameter and decreased with soil depth. In the 19-year-old plantation, fine root TNC content was approximately 12% higher than in the 29-year-old plantation.

Association between mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum (rer) in rat hepatocytes

The relative contact area between rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria of hepatocytes in newborn to 27 months old rats is described by morphometric methods. The contact area decreases from 52.62% to 27.46% of the mitochondrial surface between newborn and rats being 27 months old. However, there is an increase in the contact area per hepatocytic cytoplasm and in the fraction of rer in contact with mitochondria during the first days post partum.

Effects of chloroquine on hepatocytic organelles in rat

The administration of chloroquine (Resochin) in rats produces significant changes in the hepatocytic organelles, which are described by morphometric and biochemical methods. There is an increase in oxygen uptake by the isolated mitochondria together with an increase in the specific surface of cristae. Volume densities of mitochondria, lysosomes, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus increase, while that of glycogen decreases. The affecting mechanisms are discussed.

Inheritance of seed yield and quality traits in peas (Pisum sativum L.)

A half diallel analysis involving nine cultivars showed that additive as well as non-additive gene effects were important for the inheritance of seed yield per plant, 100-seed weights, protein content and potassium per cent. For remaining traits non-additive genetic components were important. Overdominance was observed for all traits except for 100-seed weight, which expressed partial dominance. Parents PMR-T10, EC21857, EC109182, T163 and EC109189 were good general combiners for seed yield, seed weight and quality traits. In general there was a good relationship between per se performance and the gca effects of the parents for all traits. Cross combinations such as LMR8 x EC109182,LMR8 x PMR-T10,LMR8 x EC21857,PMRT10 x EC21857 and P23 x EC21857 were found promising. The seed yield was positively correlated with other quality traits. Protein had a positive correlation with methionine and phosphorus. All the values of correlation co-efficients were non-significant except for yield with potassium, 100-seed weight and protein with methionine, indicating that yield and quality attributes can be improved simultaneously by simple selection procedures.

Macroradiographic study of post-burn contracture of limbs

Fifty patients with post-burn contracture involving various joints of the limbs were analysed. To study the minor skeletal changes the patients were subjected to macroradiography. In half of the patients various types of pathology were observed and their therapeutic and prognostic significance have been discussed.

Influence of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists on spontaneous rate and on force of contraction of isolated rabbit atria

The influence of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists on the spontaneous rate and on force of contraction of the myocardium was studied independently on spontaneously beating right and electrically driven isolated left atria of rabbit. On spontaneous rate, practolol had sympathomimetic effect only, N-isopropylmethoxamine (IMA), had both sympathomimetic as well as depressant effects, whereas alprenolol, procinolol, bunolol and H 35/25 had depressant effects only in higher concentrations. The order of potency was procinolol greater than bunolol greater than alprenolol greater than H 35/25 greater than and IMA. On the contractions of isolated left atria, all beta-adrenoceptor antagonists produced concentration-dependent depressant effect. In relation to procinolol, these agents were 5-125 times less potent for depressing the contractions of left atria by 15% and the order of beta-potency was procinolol greater than alprenolol greater than bunolol = H 35/25 greater than IMA greater than and practolol. The present results indicate that the depressant effects of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists on spontaneous rate of right atria and on contraction of isolated left atria are not related to each other.