A hormonal signaling pathway influencing C. elegans metabolism, reproductive development, and life span.

During C. elegans development, animals must choose between reproductive growth or dauer diapause in response to sensory cues. Insulin/IGF-I and TGF-beta signaling converge on the orphan nuclear receptor daf-12 to mediate this choice. Here we show that daf-9 acts downstream of these inputs but upstream of daf-12. daf-9 and daf-12 mutants have similar larval defects and modulate insulin/IGF-I and gonadal signals that regulate adult life span. daf-9 encodes a cytochrome P450 related to vertebrate steroidogenic hydroxylases, suggesting that it could metabolize a DAF-12 ligand. Sterols may be the daf-9 substrate and daf-12 ligand because cholesterol deprivation phenocopies mutant defects. Sensory neurons, hypodermis, and somatic gonadal cells expressing daf-9 identify potential endocrine tissues. Evidently, lipophilic hormones influence nematode metabolism, diapause, and life span.

"This is not death, it is something safer": a psychodynamic approach to Sylvia Plath.

An attempt is made to illustrate the chronic suicidality and the separation-individuation conflict in the life and work of Sylvia Plath. Explanations of female suicidality in prevailing suicidality research are primarily influenced by male fantasms and gender role cliches. Plath's work, however, not only enables insight into her individual fate, but also offers a differentiated perception of suicidality among women. It becomes apparent that the texts in question are centered on specific conflict areas, in the sense of the formation of female identity and subjectivity, which affect current discussion on imagined concepts of femininity, and which are closely interwoven with the problems of female suicidality.

[Severe Klebsiella serogenes infections]. / Schwer verlaufende Infektionen mit Klebsiella aerogenes.

It is reported on 2 cases of Klebsiella-septikaemia with difficult course. Germs of the group Klebsiella aerogenes could be proved microbiologically. On the basis of the peculiarities of the clinical course the author adopts a definite attitude to the development of the infection, the pathogenesis, to the microbiological proof and to the aimed antimicrobial chemotherapy. The antibiotic treatment was successful in the first case with karbenicillin and gentamycin and in the second case with cephalotin and gentamycin during 4 weeks when a penicillin allergy was present and following this with chloramphenicol and streptomycin during 3 weeks.

[Comparison of various screening methods for the diagnosis of chronic ischemic heart disease]. / Vergleich verschiedener Screeningmethoden zum Nachweis einer chronische ischmischen Herzkrankheit

The screening phase of a multifactorial intervention study which is carried out under the direction of the WHO and the aim of which is the influence on mild forms of hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and slightly disturbed glucose tolerance was supplemented by an electrocardiogram after work under the conditions of screening. The questionnaire contained in the investigation program for the statistical establishment of a typical angina pectoris after work according to Rose and the modified electrocardiographic test after work were tested concerning their evidence in the early recognition of a coronary sclerosis. As reference test served the Watt-step-test recommended by a group of experts of the WHO. An extensive correlation between screening after work and Watt-step-test was found. Questionnaire according to Rose and gradual load, however, had a smaller correspondence. The result of other investigations was that the distribution of the factors of risk does not give any clear reference to the existence of a latent coronary insufficiency.