Symmetry breaking in the female germline cyst.

In mammals and flies, only one cell in a multicellular female germline cyst becomes an oocyte, but how symmetry is broken to select the oocyte is unknown. Here, we show that the microtubule (MT) minus end-stabilizing protein Patronin/CAMSAP marks the future Drosophila oocyte and is required for oocyte specification. The spectraplakin Shot recruits Patronin to the fusome, a branched structure extending into all cyst cells. Patronin stabilizes more MTs in the cell with the most fusome material. Our data suggest that this weak asymmetry is amplified by Dynein-dependent transport of Patronin-stabilized MTs. This forms a polarized MT network, along which Dynein transports oocyte determinants into the presumptive oocyte. Thus, Patronin amplifies a weak fusome anisotropy to break symmetry and select one cell to become the oocyte.

Asthma management within North Canterbury general practice.

During 1980/81 a primary medical care survey comprising 4629 patient visits to North Canterbury general practitioner surgeries was undertaken. Given the current concern about asthma management information concerning asthma consultations was extracted from the survey. The diagnostic procedures undertaken, therapeutic services provided and follow-up arrangements are outlined for 96 patients with a primary diagnosis of asthma. Pharmaceuticals prescribed to 116 patients with either a primary or secondary diagnosis of asthma are described. Of those patients requiring medication 52% received only one item. Beta 2-agonists were the most commonly used antiasthmatic and were prescribed to 78% of the 116 patients. Theophylline was prescribed to 41% of cases, beclomethasone to 28%, oral corticosteroids to 22%, sodium cromoglycate to 12% and an antibiotic to 10% of cases. These results reflect pharmaceuticals prescribed at one point in time of on-going care.

Effect of daily supplements of selenium on patients with muscular complaints in Otago and Canterbury.

The alleged beneficial effect of selenium (Se) on fibromuscular rheumatism in residents of low soil-Se areas of New Zealand has been explored. Three dosing trials, two of them double blind trials, using physiological daily supplements (100 micrograms Se) of sodium selenite or selenomethionine and a placebo have been carried out. Blood Se and glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9; GSHPX) activities were monitored and clinical assessment of the efficacy of the treatment was made during the trials. Blood Se and GSHPX activities rose in all patients who received Se whereas those in control groups remained more or less constant throughout the study. Clinical assessment of muscular symptoms showed that approximately half of the patients in both trial groups and placebo groups responded to treatment. Thus we have been unable to give conclusive evidence of a response to Se supplementation for relief of muscular complaints.