Comparative epidemiological features of Japanese encephalitis in the Republic of Korea, China (Taiwan) and Japan

The epidemiology of Japanese encephalitis in the Republic of Korea from 1949 to 1966 is described and comparisons are made with the situations in Japan and China (Taiwan). Some similarities and some differences are noted. Recent epidemics in Korea coincided with those in southern Japan but the annual fluctuations were more distinct in Korea. The disease mainly affected children in Korea and, in contrast to the situation in Japan, persons in the older age-groups were rarely affected. The authors also discuss the geographical pathology of Japanese encephalitis in Korea.

Thyroxine interaction with actinomycin D and possible biological implications

Actinomycin D and thyroxine interact in solution (pH 8 to 10), as revealed by changes in the absorbance of actinomycin D. Thyroxine can prevent the growth-inhibitory effect of actinomycin D on Bacillus subtilis if it is present in a molar ratio of 3000 (thyroxine to actinomycin D).

Properties and distribution of intracellular putrescine in a pseudomonas

Kim, Ki-Han (Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich.). Properties and distribution of intracellular putrescine in a Pseudomonas. J. Bacteriol. 91:193-197. 1966.-A Pseudomonas species which contains putrescine as the only intracellular polyamine was used to study the distribution of putrescine in the cells and the changes in putrescine content upon nitrogen or carbon and nitrogen starvation. In the cell-free extract, approximately 80 to 90% of the putrescine was found in the soluble fraction, and the rest was found in the ribosomal fraction; 50% of the putrescine could be removed from the cells by nitrogen starvation. Putrescine content in the ribosomes prepared from nitrogen-starved cells was about one-half of that in the unstarved cells. Putrescine was found in both 30S and 50S ribosomal particles. In the presence of 10(-3)m Mg(++), the ribosomal particles did not exchange bound putrescine for free putrescine, but did incorporate free spermine from the medium. Cells grown on glucose-NH(3) medium contained large amounts of acetyl putrescine. Cells grown on putrescine contained negligible amounts of acetyl putrescine, but readily formed acetyl putrescine when subjected to starvation.