Early assessment of sweet sorghum as an agro-industrial crop. I. Varietal evaluation

Thirty-seven sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) cultivars were evaluated for sugar, solubles, grain, fibre and leaf production in first and ratoon crops under irrigation at Ayr, North Queensland, over the winter-summer period. Highest sugar yields were from cv. Rio, which produced 3.6 and 1.6 t ha-1 over 145 and 79 days from first and ratoon crops, respectively. Highest solubles (brix) yields of 7.6 and 4.8 t ha-1 were produced by cv. Italian over 141 and 81 days. The highest grain yield was 5.7 t dry matter ha-1 in the first crop by cv. FS26. Stem fibre yields of about 9 t dry matter ha-1 were realised from the higher yielding cultivars. In the first crop, sugar and solubles yields were found to be negatively correlated with grain yield, early development rate and fibre yield. They were positively correlated with time to maturity, plant leaf area and leaf area index at anthesis, a low position of the largest leaf on the stem, dry matter yield of plant fractions, high stem-juice extraction rates, and degree days and accumulated radiation received. In the ratoon crop, age and environmental variables showed a weaker association with yields. Productivity of fermentables appeared to be comparable with that of sugar cane for the region.

Enzymatic determination of faecal bile acids. A simple test for bile acid malabsorption

A simple method for total faecal bile acid (FBA) determination was carried out. This test involves a 72 hour stool collection, homogenization and FBA determination by means of an enzymatic-fluorimetric method (3 -Hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase). The reliability of this test was discussed. FBA levels were tested in twelve healthy volunteers. In addition, two patients with bile acid malabsorption syndrome due to terminal ileitis and one patient with cholegenic diarrhoea caused by biliocolonic fistula were examined. The mean +/- SD of FBA values in healthy subjects was 0.49 +/- 0.3 g/72 hours. However, all patients tested show a marked increase of FBA levels. In conclusion the present method for bile acid determination in the faeces seems to be a useful tool in the diagnosis of bile acid malabsorption syndrome and in cholegenic diarrhoea.

Total fasting and postprandial serum bile acids determination by 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in normal subjects

Total serum bile acids (SBA) have been evaluated in 28 healthy subjects by an enzymatic-fluorimetric method using the enzyme 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The healthy subjects showed a value of 2.78 +/- 1.84 microM/1 (mean +/- SD), ranging 0.5 to 4.7 microM/1. In addition, two hours postprandial evaluation of SBA was carried out in five of the above subjects. The mean value of SBA before and after the meal was 2.58 +/- 1.4 and 8.73 +/- 1.7 microM/1 respectively and the postprandial increase was found statistically significant (P less than 0.001). The present method for quantitative determination of SBA seems to be sensitive, reliable and useful as a routine clinical aid.

[Immunopathology of the hepatic damage caused by alcohol. Recent acquisitions]

Recent findings in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease suggest that immunological factors play a leading part in addition to the damaging action of alcohol. Immunological phenomena affected by Mallory's bodies take on considerable importance with respect to humoral immunity. As regards cell immunity, the leucocyte migration inhibition test shows that the lymphocytes of liver-diseased alcoholics can produce the migration inhibiting factor. Deposit of collagen in the liver appears to be induced by lymphocytes sensitized by Mallory's bodies. Recent experimental studies based on the use of collagen synthesis inhibitors (colchicine and penicillamine) may have therapeutic implications.

[Absorbed dose by the crystalline in middle ear tomography (author's transl)]

Measurements of the incident dose on the eye have been taken during the tomographic examinations of the middle ear. These measurements have been effectuated without any protection of the eye, and with a Pb-diaphragm protection, thickness 2mm. The tomograph which has been used is an Italian one (Eurostrator-Zuder, Genoa) provided with complex radiation movements (circular, spiral) and which gives technical resutlts such as the Polytom (generally used for these researches) but which has a focus film distance of 1m instead of 1.40 m. The average incident dose on the erystalline lens is high (11.7 R): the use of the Pb-diaphragm reduces the dose considerably (0.65 R) without any significant imperfections on the radiological image.

[Complications observed in the radiosurgical management of cervical cancer (author's transl)]

Radiosurgical management, using 192Ir instead of radium, was carried out in 58 cases of cervical cancer. The complications are described and discussed on relation to the dose employed.

[Technical modification of moulds construction for gynecological curietherapy (author's transl)]

The authors describe a new, faster and less-laborious method of moulds construction for gynecological curietherapy.

[Endocavitary radiotherapy of carcinoma of the cervix uteri using a modeled device and Ir-192. Computerized dosimetry]

A computerised dosimetry programme for use in intracavitary radiotherapy of cervical carcinoma using a shaped after-loading apparatus and 192Ir wires is described. The technique for its use is explained and the results observed are discussed.