Isolated rat hepatocytes as a tool for the determination of antibodies against human liver cell membrane.

Antibodies against liver cell membrane are measured by counting the percentages of fluorescent rat hepatocytes ( FRH ), obtained by an indirect immunofluorescence method after incubation of isolated rat hepatocytes with sera of patients with chronic liver diseases. A close relationship exists between the percentages of FRH and the serological and histological parameters of diseases activity, there was no difference between HBsAg-positive or -negative sera.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis and anthropometry in Ecuadorian children of African ancestry.

In the city of Esmeraldas, north-western coast of Ecuador, height, weight, and body composition of 600 male and female schoolchildren of African ancestry in the age groups four, five and six years were investigated. All the children were apparently healthy without any obvious or reported pathologies and in accordance with data from personal information were assigned to one of two socio-economic classes. The greater values for weight and height shown by children in the higher socio-economic group than in the less well off are compatible with those for more fat and water as obtained by the BIA investigation. Additional information on nutritional, muscular and general health status was obtained from positioning and degree of dispersion of the 'Biagram' ellipses. It seems that both the anthropometric and the bioelectrical impedance methods provide useful information on the differences due to belonging to one or other of the socio-economic groups.

The AcP polymorphism frequencies in the Mbugu and Sango of Central Africa. (Correlations between the Pr allele frequencies and some climatic factors in Africa).

This paper reports AcP frequencies in the Mbugu and Sango of Central Africa. Among 39 sub-Saharan populations, correlations between Pr allele frequencies and latitude, humidity and altitude indicate that AcP frequencies are significantly correlated with humidity, temperature and altitude. The first-order correlations (constant humidity) diminish by approximately 70% relative to the zero-order correlation.

Heavy metal concentration in hair of students in Rome.

The levels of five heavy metals (As, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb) in scalp hair were measured in 20 male and 20 female biology students of Rome. Female levels were generally higher except for arsenic and chromium. Sex and smoking resulted most important for heavy metal concentration in hair. Thus smokers show significantly higher levels of lead and slightly increased levels of cadmium, cobalt and nickel.

A demographic investigation of the four Albanian communities living in Molise, Italy.

In a study of the four Albanian villages of Molise, Italy (Campomarino, Montecilfone, Portocannone and Ururi), demographic data have been obtained through national censuses and direct interviews of 382 subjects. The data demonstrate an increase of the population from 1700 to the middle of the twentieth century. From that time the population decreases in three villages, which now present a considerable degree of ageing. On the contrary, in the fourth village (Campomarino) the population continues to increase during the second half of the twentieth century, and now appears as a relatively young population. Immigration has proved to be somewhat elevated and shows a diminishing trend from the great-grandparents to the propositi. The endogamy decreases passing from the generation of the great-grandparents to that of the parents, and is higher along the paternal ascendence than along the maternal one. The exogamy, on the contrary, increases passing from the generation of the greatgrandparents to that of the parents, demonstrating a rather considerable mixture with the surrounding population. The percentage of Albanian surnames, or those of probable Albanian origin, has also been estimated in the parents of the propositi, and resulted to be higher in Montecilfone and Ururi, in comparison with Campomarino and Portocannone.

Red cell polymorphisms in Sardinia.

Acid phosphatase (ACP1), esterase D (ESD) and phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM1) polymorphisms have been studied in Sardinia and the following gene frequencies have been found: ACP1*A = 0.235, ACP1*B = 0.684 and ACP1*C = 0.081; ESD*2 = 0.118 and PGM1*2 = 0.233. These findings confirm the genetic uniqueness of Sardinians compared to the other Italian and European populations.

Some erythrocyte polymorphisms in Bari and its district (South Italy).

Seven erythrocyte polymorphisms, namely AcP, PGM1, PGM2, EsD, GLO I, G-6-PD and Hb, have been typed in 556 unrelated adult male subjects from Bari (South Italy) and its district. The gene frequencies obtained in this sample are compared with the hitherto reported corresponding data from other Italian population samples. The results are critically discussed.

Some genetic erythrocyte polymorphisms in the Mbugu and other populations of the Central African Republic with an analysis of genetic distances.

Phenotype and gene frequencies of four blood group polymorphisms (ABO, MNSs, Rhesus, and Duffy) as well as hemoglobin types of four populations of the Republic of Central Africa are reported. All these polymorphisms are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Regarding the four blood group polymorphisms mentioned above the genetic distances according to NEI have been computed for fifteen populations of the Central-Eastern and Central-Western areas of Africa, including the four own samples. The results of these analyses are discussed.

An anthropobiological study in Basse Kotto (Central Africa). I. Erythrocyte and sero-genetic markers: an analysis of the genetic differentiation.

Phenotype and allele frequencies for hemoglobin types (Hb beta), acid phosphatase (AcP), phosphoglucomutase (PGM1 and PGM2), esterase D (EsD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD), glyoxalase I (GLO), superoxide dismutase (SOD A), and adenylate kinase (AK) as well as for haptoglobins (Hp), group-specific component (Gc), transferrin (Tf), Gm, and Inv groups and albumin, are reported in the Mbugu, Sango, Yakpa, and Baya Mandja ethnic groups in the Basse Kotto district of the Central African Republic. The total sample size amounts to 133 males and 128 females aged from 16 to 60, unrelated and healthy. A new albumin variant (albumin Mbugu) is described and discussed. The average heterozygosity is high in each group because of a high degree of exogamy. the FST average standardized value among the four groups indicates that the genetic differentiation in Basse Kotto is at level of about 2%. This indicates that the four examined groups might be considered genetically homogeneous, in spite of their different ethnic origins. The genetic distances among the four groups show that only the Baya Mandja are less closely related to the other three groups because of their foreign origin.

Red cell enzyme polymorphisms in Friuli Venezia Giulia (northeast Italy).

Seven erythrocyte enzyme polymorphisms (ACP1, ADA, ESD, GLO1, PGD, PGM1 and PGM2) were investigated in a sample of 673 unrelated adult individuals from Friuli Venezia Giulia (or Friuli) and Istria. The gene frequencies found in the four provincial samples of Friuli and Istria fall within the range previously reported for Italy, showing a genetic homogeneity among the considered samples. However, comparisons with data from ex-Yugoslavian samples--using the chi 2 test--showed rather marked differences, probably due to a real different genetic structure of the compared samples. A significant association was found assuming a linear relation between the ADA*2 allele frequencies and longitude (r = +0.5503) and between the PGD*C frequencies and latitude (r = -0.6483), suggesting the existence of a clinal trend for these allele frequencies in Italy. These results seem to disagree with foregoing conclusions stated by other authors, probably because these studies were carried out in an area either rather narrow from the geographical point of view or affected by small size migration movements.