RESUMEN
A 'PLUS' stack which provides a friendly user interface for the GCG suite of programs is presented. The interface takes advantage of the whole set of programming tools available in a graphical and object-oriented environment and its major features include: (i) an efficient management of the on-line help documents, and (ii) a flexible editor for macrocommands. The former facilitates finding specific information in the huge documentation bundled with the GCG suite, and the latter is useful whenever several GCG programs must be run in sequence with automatic piping of the intermediate results.
Asunto(s)
Sistemas de Administración de Bases de Datos/estadística & datos numéricos , Bases de Datos Factuales , Polinucleótidos/química , Proteínas/química , Interfaz Usuario-Computador , Humanos , MicrocomputadoresRESUMEN
Variations in ovary weight and seasonal changes in plasma androgens, 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone have been studied during the reproductive cycle of female Podarcis s. sicula Raf. Adult female Podarcis were captured in the surroundings of Naples during the years 1988 and 1989. Ten lizards were sampled monthly (except in February, August, October and December). Ovaries and oviducts were submitted to morphological examination, and in the blood samples androgens, 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone were assessed by the radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Ovary weight, expressed as the gonadosomatic index (GSI), presented two statistically significant peak values in April and June, related to the ovulatory waves observed in this study. Several shelled oocytes were also found in the oviducts in this period. Progesterone titers mirrored the modifications of GSI and a very significant correlation (p less than 0.001) between the two parameters can be ascertained. Androgens increased in early spring, peaked in April, and low levels of androgens were found in September and during the winter months. Estradiol titers reached the peak values in March, and, after a sharp decrease in April, remained high until the winter months. The results reported here substantiate the periovulatory changes of the three major gonadal steroids during the annual ovarian cycle of Podarcis s. sicula.
Asunto(s)
Estro/fisiología , Hormonas/sangre , Lagartos/fisiología , Ovario/fisiología , Andrógenos/sangre , Animales , Estradiol/sangre , Femenino , Tamaño de los Órganos , Ovario/anatomía & histología , Periodicidad , Progesterona/fisiología , Análisis de RegresiónRESUMEN
In 2 independent samples of low-birth-weight infants the proportion of females and homozygotes for a series of polymorphic systems was higher in light-for-dates than in preterm babies. The observation seems to give support to the hypothesis that homozygosity for 'normal' polymorphisms may decrease in general intrauterine growth rate. Since it is known that survival rate is strongly related to birth weight, a correlation between growth retardation and homozygosity may have a major role in the maintenance of such polimorphisms.
Asunto(s)
Heterocigoto , Recién Nacido de Bajo Peso , Polimorfismo Genético , Sistema del Grupo Sanguíneo ABO , Fosfatasa Ácida/sangre , Adenosina Desaminasa/sangre , Eritrocitos/enzimología , Femenino , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Masculino , Fenotipo , Fosfoglucomutasa/sangre , Sistema del Grupo Sanguíneo Rh-Hr , Factores SexualesRESUMEN
Low molecular weight peptides from calf thymus cause a strong dose-dependent stabilization of the DNA. The strength od DNA-peptide interaction is pH-dependent and decreases repidly above pH 6.5. Moreover the complete kinetics of DNA denaturation and renaturation demonstrates that the peptide fraction increases significantly the DNA renaturation mostly at low temperature, showing that the interaction DNA-thymic effector helps the recombination of complementary DNA segments. The DNA stabilization rate by the peptide fraction is comparable to that obtained by means of high concentration of histones or synthetic polycationic peptides. However, the lack of basic amino acids in the peptide structure is not in favor of strong electrostatic interactions and implies a specific binding of peptide to DNA. The possible correlation of the specific thymic peptides-DNA interaction with the stereochemical kinking scheme of DNA is discussed.
Asunto(s)
ADN , Conformación de Ácido Nucleico , Péptidos/farmacología , Timo , Fenómenos Químicos , Química , ADN/metabolismo , Concentración de Iones de Hidrógeno , Desnaturalización de Ácido Nucleico , Renaturación de Ácido Nucleico , Péptidos/metabolismoRESUMEN
Secondary sex ratio (SR) in man is influenced by various genetic and environmental factors. It has been observed that SR in subjects of blood group B compatible with their mothers is higher than in other subjects. The analysis of 676 newborns of the Rome population and 1,684 newborns of the New Haven (Connecticut) population have confirmed a higher SR in B group subjects compatible with their mothers. The data also indicate that placental alkaline phosphatase is another genetic factor influencing SR in man and that there is a strong interaction among ABO phenotype, fetomaternal ABO compatible status and PAP phenotype concerning their effects on SR.