Atmospheric electromagnetism: attempted replication of the correlation between natural sferics and ESP.

In a previous study a negative correlation was found between the natural sferics activity and scores on an ESP task. We attempted a replication in three studies with 37, 100, and 68 participants. In these studies ESP scores and the level of sferics activity were not significantly correlated. The result for all combined data is significant but with a quite low effect size. Other trends in the data could not be confirmed.

Geophysical variables and behavior: LXXXVIII. Atmospheric electromagnetism: the possible disturbing influence of natural sferics on ESP.

Sferics are electromagnetic impulses generated by electrical discharges during thunderstorms (lightning). One category is comprised of very low frequency electromagnetic waves, traveling over distances up to a thousand kilometers. Sferics have been shown to affect biological responses such as pain syndromes, reaction times, and power in the alpha band of the EEG. In the present study, in which 100 subjects took part, sferics have been studied in their relation to performance on a forced-choice extrasensory perception (ESP) task and to several secondary variables. The general finding is a negative correlation between ESP performance and sferics activity around the time of the session, most notably 24-48 hours prior to the session. Secondary variables appear to modulate this correlation, as has been found in previous research on sferics: the correlation tended to be stronger for persons who scored lower on Neuroticism and higher on the Openness scale of a Five-Factor Personality Questionnaire.

Energy supplementation during pregnancy and postnatal growth.

The effect of improving maternal nutrition during pregnancy on growth of the child has not been assessed, since previous studies supplemented the diets of children as well as mothers. In a controlled randomised trial in Madura, East Java, pregnant women received a high (HE) or low (LE) energy supplement that provided 1950 kJ (465 kcal) or 218 kJ (52 kcal), respectively, in the last trimester of pregnancy. The effect of this intervention on the children's growth was assessed longitudinally for the first 5 years of life. Only the children of mothers who had complied for at least 90 days were included. Infants entered the study at birth and their growth was measured at 4-week intervals until 12 months old; thereafter they were measured every 3 months. Growth curves were calculated from a mathematical model, based on the best fit of actual measurements and the age-related growth velocity. Up to the age of 24 months, HE children were significantly heavier than LE children (p less than 0.05). HE children were also taller throughout the first 5 years (p less than 0.005 from 15 to 48 months, p less than 0.05 at both 3-12 and 60 months). Weight-for-height by age was similar in both groups, but stunting (height-for-age) was less prevalent in HE children. In a community characterised by chronic energy deficiency among women of reproductive age, energy supplementation of women for the last 90 days of pregnancy was effective in the promotion of postnatal growth and reduction in malnutrition of preschool children.

PIP: In 1982-84, health workers randomly assigned 542 women in the last trimester of pregnancy who lived in 3 villages in East Java, Indonesia to either the low energy (LE) or high energy (HE) supplement group (52 kcal vs. 465 kcal). They followed the children for 5 years to determine the association between prenatal nutrition and postnatal growth. No difference in infant and child mortality (mean=116 and 32, respectively) existed between the HE and LE children. The supplement had no effect on growth of children whose mothers took it for 45 days. HE children weighed more and were taller than those of LE children during the entire 5 years. The weight differences were significant only until 24 months (p.05), but height differences were significant during the entire 60 months (p.005 from 15-48 months; p.05 from 3-12 and 60 months). Weight differences peaked at 9 months (463 gm). Height differences rose with age (0.9 cm at 3 months and 1.7 cm at 60 months). Growth rates were always more rapid in HE children, and differences in height gain were only significant at 2-3 months (p.01) and in weight gain from 1-6 months (p.05). Thus improved growth was realized early in life. 38% of the HE children had a satisfactory nutritional status based on height for age at 12 months compared with 16% for LE children (p.01). These corresponding figures for weight for age were 28% and 14%. At 24 months, however, the weights were similar for both groups. 23% of HE children at 24 months had a satisfactory height compared with only 8% of LE children. After 24 months, the differences no longer existed for either weight or height. No significant differences existed for weight for height thus showing that both groups of children were stunted. Prevalence of stunting was lower among HE children, however. These results indicated that high energy supplementation during the 3rd trimester boosted postnatal growth and reduced malnutrition in 1-60 month old children.

Sirius red histophotometry and spectrophotometry of sections in the assessment of the collagen content of liver tissue and its application in growing rat liver.

By means of staining with Sirius Red F3BA in a saturated picric acid solution, the collagen contents of rat livers with varying degrees of fibrosis have been measured quantitatively in fixed and sectioned material, using both histophotometry in situ and extraction of bound dye with colorimetric analysis. These findings have been correlated with chemical assays of the hydroxyproline content in homogenates from the same livers. It appears that a highly significant correlation exists between both section-based analysis methods and the hydroxyproline content, the Spearman-Rank correlation coefficients being virtually identical. For analysis of collagen accumulation in rat liver, both section-based methods seem to be useful and reliable, the extraction method giving the quickest results for large-scale screening, and the histophotometric method being more appropriate to take readings in selected areas. With human liver material, indications have been obtained for the existence of large sampling errors due to inhomogeneous distribution of collagen deposits. Using the extraction method, no significant changes could be observed in the volume density of collagen during postnatal growth from 1 week to 21 months in rat liver: only on the third day after birth was a higher value of collagen/total protein obtained, possibly due to a higher water content of the hepatocytes. Partial hepatectomy was found to have no influence at all on the collagen content of rat liver during the period of restorative growth or after it.

Incidence, prognosis and recovery of Bell's palsy. A survey of about 1000 patients (1974-1983).

Over a 10-year period the diagnosis Bell's palsy was made in 1293 patients. The files of 1235 patients were studied; the relevant data were stored in a computer and analysed. Factors analysed included the source of referral of the patients as well as their age and sex, the time of onset of the paralysis, recurrence, side of the face, and pregnancy. The incidence of hypertension, diabetes and other diseases was evaluated. The fate of the nerve is determined to a large extent in the first week of the disease. The nerve excitability test is a reliable predictor of the final outcome. The system of classification of recovery we have used for many years is compared to the International Facial Nerve grading system. If denervation and poor recovery are to be prevented as far as possible, early examination and treatment of selected patients with prednisone is mandatory. An important factor in recovery is the age of the patient.

Quantitative aspects of the parenchyma-stroma relationship in experimentally induced cholestasis.

In order to quantify changes of the parenchyma/stroma relations in the progression of experimentally induced biliary fibrosis in the rat, localisation of lactate dehydrogenase activity and Sirius Red staining were used as criteria to detect parenchymal cells and collagen fibers, respectively. Blood levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, anti-thrombin III activity, alpha 2-antiplasmin, factor II and factor X were related to the data obtained by histomorphometric measurements in sections gathered 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the onset of cholestasis in three animals and after 8 weeks in one animal. Histophotometry showed a reduction in volume density of the parenchymal cell mass of 96%, 78%, 76%, 62% and 59% of the control values, respectively. During the same period, the collagen increased 5-fold in 4 weeks time, levelling off afterwards. Newly formed collagen appeared in the portal areas in close association with proliferating ductules, invading with the latter into the parenchymal mass. After 6 weeks, regressive changes were observed in the ductule complexes formed, manifested by a lowering of the epithelium in which extensive apoptotic cell death was observed with the electron microscope. Of the blood parameters analyzed, the clotting factor X showed the best inverse correlation with the Sirius Red readings (rs = -0.84), i.e. the volume density of collagenous fibers.

Cytophotometric analysis of alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase activity in regenerating rat liver after partial hepatectomy.

Alkaline phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase activities were analysed cytophotometrically in cryostat sections of female rat liver after partial hepatectomy. Alkaline phosphatase activity increased rapidly after operation up to a maximum seven-fold rise at 24 h in comparison with sham operated or control rats. There was no indication of preferential localization of alkaline phosphatase activity in either periportal or pericentral areas at any time point in control rats, sham operated rats or hepatectomized rats. Microscopical observation revealed that (a) all alkaline phosphatase activity was present at the bile canalicular surface of hepatocytes and (b) hepatocytes in mitosis did not show any increase in activity. These findings indicate that the high alkaline phosphatase activity after partial hepatectomy is not involved primarily in proliferation processes because cell division mainly takes place periportally. It may be needed for enhanced bile secretion by conversion of intracellular phosphorylcholine into choline which can be transported into the bile. The intracellular phosphorylcholine level is high after operation due to changes in phospholipid metabolism. 5'-Nucleotidase appeared to be three times higher pericentrally than periportally under normal conditions. Partial hepatectomy caused a 40 per cent decrease in activity in pericentral areas and only a small decrease periportally. It has been suggested that 5'-nucleotidase plays a role in breakdown of messenger RNA and its activity in control liver could be considerably lower periportally because plasma protein synthesis mainly takes place in this area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age-related changes of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in mouse oocytes.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity was measured in follicular oocytes and in ovulated eggs of prepubertal, adult and aged mice. G6PDH activity in ovulated eggs was 60% of the activity in follicular oocytes in all age groups. The mean G6PDH activity was significantly higher in follicular oocytes of adult mice than in oocytes of both prepubertal and aged mice. In aged mice, the decreased mean activity in follicular oocytes as well as in ovulated eggs was mainly due to a high percentage of cells with extremely low activity (25 and 18%, respectively). The percentage of preovulatory oocytes with low activity in prepubertal mice was 9% and in adult mice 0.3%. For ovulated eggs these percentages were 0% for both prepubertal and adult mice. In every age group, all ovulated eggs showed a normal morphology. When ovulated eggs with extremely low G6PDH activity can still be fertilized, it can be questioned whether this loss of activity could cause disturbances in development of (preimplantation) embryos. Our findings emphasize the potentialities of investigating intact singly oocytes for changes in enzyme activities, which could be applied as parameters for 'quality control' of these cells.

Naphthol-yellow-S protein content of individual rat hepatocytes as related to food intake and short-term starvation.

With regard to the protein content, as analysed cytophotometrically, of hepatocytes from rats kept under a 12L 12D photoperiod (photophase 7:00-19:00), the following facts have been established: 1) Hepatocytes of different classes of ploidy all demonstrate, more or less equally, daily variations in protein content and also its reduction after 24-h fasting. 2) With computer analysis of data obtained at eight time points during a period of 24 h, a sinusoidal curve of the protein content of individual mononuclear tetraploid hepatocytes throughout the day could be demonstrated with a maximum at 6:20 and a minimum at 18:20. 3) Animals, fed with meals via a dispensing machine from 23:00 to 24:00 only, show a similar sinusoidal curve but with higher amplitude, and a virtually identical mean value as those fed ad libitum. The maximum was found at 10:40, revealing a time lag of 12 h after food intake, the minimum at 22:40. 4) Trained animals deprived of food during the standardized feeding time revealed a moderate reduction of their hepatocyte protein content in the first 6 h, then a 6-h period with a steep fall followed by a slower reduction. After 24 h, the mean hepatocyte protein mass had decreased to 72% of that at the commencement of fasting at 23:00.

Quantitative changes in the lysosomal vacuolar system of rat hepatocytes during short-term starvation. A morphometric analysis with special reference to macro- and microautophagy.

Ultrastructural morphometric analysis was used to study time-dependent variations in macro- and microautophagy in rat hepatocytes. Except during periods of short-term starvation for up to 24 h, animals were kept under standardized conditions of food intake. In hepatocytes of meal-fed rats the volume fraction of macroautophagic vacuoles is significantly higher at 23:00 h, i.e., immediately before food intake, compared to 11:00 h, i.e., 12 h following feeding. During fasting, macroautophagy drops to a low level. Microautophagic vacuoles in hepatocytes of meal-fed rats, sacrificed at 11:00 or 23:00 h respectively, do not show any significant quantitative differences. However, during 12 h of starvation, the volume fraction of microautophagic vacuoles rises significantly, whereas the numerical density remains constant. Subsequently, during the second 12-h period of fasting, the volume fraction of microautophagic vacuoles remains unchanged, but the numerical density increases. Over a period of 24 h of starvation the volume fraction of the total lysosomal system does not change significantly, whereas the numerical density rises. The time-dependent changes of the macroautophagic vacuolar system correlate with the circadian, food-related variations in the protein content of individual hepatocytes from meal-fed animals. The increase in volume fraction and thereafter in number of microautophagic vacuoles, as observed during starvation, coincides with a large decrease in protein content of individual hepatocytes.

Histophotometric estimation of volume density of collagen as an indication of fibrosis in rat liver.

The development of fibrosis in the liver of 16 rats treated for 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks with CCl4, has been followed with chemical hydroxyproline determination and histophotometric analysis of histological sections stained with Sirius Red F3BA in saturated aqueous picric acid. The readings were taken with a scanning and integrating microphotometer and corrected for picric acid absorbance as a measure for mean protein mass per unit area of the section. It appears that the integrated absorbance readings of Sirius Red absorbing material in the section show a highly significant correlation with the hydroxyproline determinations. It is concluded that picrosirius photometry can be used to give a measure of the volume density of collagen in sections. An advantage of the photometric assay is that measurements are taken on the basis of the microscopic image, so that it is also possible to estimate collagen density in a selected area, e.g. a tumour formation amidst normal tissue, or to exclude necrotic areas.

Ploidy class-dependent metabolic changes in rat hepatocytes after partial hepatectomy.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity and the single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) content of isolated hepatocytes of different ploidy classes from adult male rats have been studied after partial hepatectomy using quantitative cytochemical means. The SDH activity and ssRNA content in all classes of hepatocytes are decreased during the first hours after operation followed by an increase above control values. The increase of both SDH activity and ssRNA content is significant only in the mononuclear diploid (MD) cells but not in the hepatocytes of higher ploidy classes and is related with the mitotic wave at 32 h after hepatectomy. After the mitotic wave, the values quickly return to normal levels. The G6PDH activity does not show any significant change in hepatocytes other than MD cells. In MD cells the G6PDH activity is elevated on a highly significant level up to a maximum value of 3.5 times the control value at 48 h after operation. The G6PDH activity in MD cells is returned to normal values within 14 days after operation. It is concluded that: 1. The MD cells show a distinct metabolic behaviour due to their function as stem cells of liver parenchyma and retain at least some of their fetal characteristics. 2. G6PDH activity is not a transformation-linked discriminant for neoplastic metabolism.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in individual rat hepatocytes of different ploidy classes. I. Developments during postnatal growth.

The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity of isolated male rat hepatocytes has been investigated in relationship to the ploidy classes of the cells during the first 20 weeks of postnatal growth. The G6PDH activity in the individual cells was measured with an improved quantitative cytochemical method. The data obtained showed that throughout the whole period of postnatal growth there existed a proportional relationship between the genome copies per cell and the amount of G6PDH activity per cell for binuclear diploid (BD), mononuclear tetraploid (MT) and binuclear tetraploid (BT) cells but not for mononuclear diploid (MD) cells. In the MD cells, which are the stem cells of the liver parenchyma, the activity measured was 1.5 times higher than expected. Furthermore, during postnatal growth, the G6PDH activity per hepatocyte was low at the age of 2 weeks, increased somewhat after weaning (5 weeks) and then more dramatically after 8 weeks to reach a maximum between 12 and 16 weeks. This development occurred in MT and BT cells at an earlier age than in MD and BD cells, in which the increase in enzyme activity followed some 3 weeks later. Castration of the rats before puberty did not influence the development of the amount of G6PDH activity per cell of any of the ploidy classes.

The preschool child in Suka Village, North Sumatera. I. Feeding practices and measured food intake.

PIP: The primary objective of a prospective study conducted over the July 1976-August 1977 period, as part of the joint project of the University of North Sumatra, Medan and the University of Amsterdam, was to determine the duration of prevention against hypovitaminosis A by 1 oral dose of 300,000 IU vitamin A. At 3-month intervals children were examined critically, fresh stool specimens were analyzed on the presence of parasite ova and protozoa, blood specimens were collected for analysis of protein and vitamin A status. Anthropometric measurements were scheduled at monthly (weight, height) and 6 monthly intervals (upper arm circumference and skinfolds). A dietary history was taken at the start of the study. Food consumption was measured separately. In this discussion only the dietary aspects of the study were reported. Families with children age 0-5 years in Suka Vilage, North Sumatra, were included in the prospective study. Childfeeding practices were recorded by interview (dietary history and 24 hour recall method for types of food eaten) and by observation during home visits. For the 1st period 59 children, age 1-4 years, were chosen at random from the total number of children in the respective age group. In the 2nd period in 39 of the same children and in 13 of their older siblings food weighing was repeated. As in most rural areas in Indonesia infants were put to the breast after birth and breastfeeding was continued for about 2 years. After the 1st year the percentage of chidlren breastfed dropped gradually. Exclusive breastfeeding was practiced by most mothers during the 1st 5 months. Few mothers supplemented her own milk with fresh cow's milk or milk formula. The 1st supplementary food given to the infant was almost exclusively rice in different consistencies. After 1 year of age fish was introduced. At age 2 children were given part of the family diet composed of rice, fish, and some vegetables mainly of the nonleafy type. In 2 seasons food consumption of the 59 children was weighed. The habitual diet was somewhat low in energy (65-98% of RDI), ample in protein (108-158% of RDI) but inadequate in calcium (36-86% of RDI), iron (44-48% of RDI), retinol equivalents (26-44% of RDI) and riboflavin (34-41% of RDI). The inadequacy of the diet was primarily due to improper use of available foods, cultural habits, and mother's permissiveness towards the child. In this village nutrition and health education along with improved child care can make a contribution to the diversification and improvement of the preschool child's diet.^ieng

Dependence of the chronotropic effects of calcium, magnesium and sodium on temperature and cycle length in isolated rabbit atria.

Ca (1.1--5.5 mM) acts positive chronotropic on isolated right atria of the rabbit at 38 degrees C. At 34 degrees C, the chronotropic effect was also positive but smaller than at 38 degrees C. At 30 degrees C, the chronotropic effect is variable. Negative and positive chronotrpic effects were observed. At all three temperatures, the magnitude of the effect depended on the cycle length. Mg (0.6--6.0 mM) has a negative chronotropic effect. This effect was not dependent on the cycle length. The relationship between prolongation of the cycle length and the Mg concentration turned out to be linear. The chronotropic effects of Ca and Mg were simply algebraically additive. On the average, Na (77.4--154.8 mM) has no significant chronotropic effect. However, it acts positive chronotropic on fast preparations, although it acts negative chronotropic on slow preparations. So the chronotropic effect of Na depends on the cycle length also.

Frequency of occurrence and position of cilia in fibroblasts of the periodontal ligament of the mouse incisor.

Solitary cilia occur in motile as well as in non-motile fibroblasts of the peridontal ligament. The cells which moved with the erupting incisor are bipolar and oriented with their long axes parallel to the tooth surface. In cross section these cells have a flattened appearance. Cilia are localized in close vicinity to the nuclear area and show a definite orientation with respect to the transverse cell axis. The frequency of occurrence of this organelle was estimated from the percentage of diplosomes containing a basal body. Analysis of the composition of the paired structures indicated that at least 70 per cent of the fibroblasts are ciliated. The frequency of cilia in motile fibroblasts does not differ from that in non-motile cells suggesting that the presence of this organelle is not directly associated with cell locomotion.