Complete genome sequence of Habenaria mosaic virus, a new potyvirus infecting a terrestrial orchid (Habenaria radiata) in Japan.

The complete genomic sequence of Habenaria mosaic virus (HaMV), which infects terrestrial orchids (Habenaria radiata), has been determined. The genome is composed of 9,499 nucleotides excluding the 3'-terminal poly(A) tail, encoding a large polyprotein of 3,054 amino acids with the genomic features typical of a potyvirus. Putative proteolytic cleavage sites were identified by sequence comparison to those of known potyviruses. The HaMV polyprotein showed 58 % amino acid sequence identity to that encoded by the most closely related potyvirus, tobacco vein banding mosaic virus. Phylogenetic analysis of the polyprotein amino acid sequence and its coding sequences confirmed that HaMV formed a cluster with the chilli veinal mottle virus group, most of which infect solanaceous plants. These results suggest that HaMV is a distinct member of the genus Potyvirus.

[The effect of pentoxifylline and nicergoline on the systemic and cerebral hemodynamics and on the blood rheological properties in patients with an ischemic stroke and atherosclerotic lesions of the major cerebral arteries]. / Vliianie pentoksifillina i nitsergolina na sistemno-tserebral'nuiu gemodinamiku u reologicheskie svoistva krovi u bol'nykh ishemicheskim insul'tom na fone ateroskleroticheskogo porazheniia magistral'nykh arterii golovy.

Pentoxifylline versus nicergoline therapy has been studied in 56 patients with atherosclerosis of major cerebral arteries who had ischemic apoplexy. Pentoxifylline enhances circulation primarily in the stenotic vessels, while nicergoline in the intact cerebral arteries. The former is more potent in inducing antiaggregation inhibiting spontaneous platelet and red cell aggregation and reducing blood viscosity. The results of the study suggest better response in case of pentoxifylline treatment of patients with hypo- and eukinetic circulation, while in nicergoline treatment hyperkinetic hemodynamics patients benefit more in view of the drug cardiodepressive activity.

Serum lipids, lipid peroxides and the care of children with high risk atherosclerotic family history.

Children of parents who had their first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) before the age of 45 years were investigated and divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 12 children: both their parents or one parent and grandparents suffered from AMI. Group 2 consisted of 55 children, each of whom had one parent with AMI. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and lipid peroxide (LP) were higher in these children and HDL-cholesterol values were lower than those of 39 control children. The extent of serum TC and HDL-C differences was similar in both high risk groups but the serum LP level was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. The serum free cholesterol (FC) level was higher in group 1 than in controls. Children were treated according to a program giving advice on diet, physical exercise and health education for 1 year. At the end of this period the serum HDL-C level increased in both groups, while LP and TC levels decreased. The high serum FC level did not change.

[Significance of mental factors in paroxysmal ventricular tachycardias]. / Die Bedeutung psychischer Faktoren bei paroxysmalen Kammertachykardien

In this paper is reported on two cases of paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia. The clinical and paraclinical examinations did not reveal any organic heart disease, the psychological one, however, found a very severe neurotic personality disorder. Antiarrhythmic drugs were ineffective in both cases. Meanwhile one female patient went through a brief psychotherapy which dismissed the arrhythmia.

The second phase of subendocardial infarction--transmural infarction.

Analysing the clinical course of 30 consecutive patients with acute subendocardial myocardial infarction, the authors draw attention to the frequent development of transmural infarction in patients with septal subendocardial infarction. Heparin treatment of subendocardial infarction can prevent the immediate second phase of the disease.