Electroantennogram responses of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera; Gelichiidae)to plant volatiles.

Electroantennograms (EAGs)were recorded from males and females of the potato tuber moth,Phthorimaea operculella in response to a broad range of plant volatile compounds belonging to diverse chemical classes.The responses to 27 compounds were evaluated,which indicated significant differences in EAGs between chemicals as well as between sexes.The fatty acid derivatives comprising essentially green leaf volatile components elicited significantly greater responses in females.The response profile of males was,in general,lower than that of females.EAG responses to the oxygenated and hydrocarbon monoterpenes were lower in both males and females.Dose -response studies indicate differences in response between the sexes and concentrations,suggesting the existence of sexual dimorphism. Compounds belonging to the fatty acid derivatives class appear to be important for an oligophagous pest such as the potato tuber moth and the findings are discussed in relation to host plant selection in this species.

The koro epidemic in lower assam.

This paper deals with the recent epidemic of kore which occurred in four districts of Assam lasting from later part of June, 1982 to middle of September, 1982, In a survey of 83 cases including 19 females seen by the Psychiatry department of Gauhati Medical College-various socio-economic-Cultural factors and clinical symptomatology are analysed. The significant findings are : Koro affected mostly young males below 30 years belonging to Hindu Assamese community, coming from middle class families, suffering preponderantly from genital symptoms. Koro attacks mostly occurred during the night when the patients are indoor. Exposure to hearsay and/or witnessing a koro case is an important predeterminant of the episode of illness. In the series, marriage educational status and skill in occupation did not seem to offer any immunity to the victims. Relapses are few. The epidemic subsided without any fatality after massive reassurance to the public through mass media.

Insulin binding and degradation by human erythrocytes at physiological temperature.

When evaluated at 15 C, insulin binding to human erythrocytes is similar to that of human adipocytes fibroblasts, monocytes and placental membranes. At 37 C, however, both insulin binding and degradation by human erythrocytes have a unique character. At this temperature, by the end of the first 30 minutes, erythrocyte specific insulin binding is 3 to 4% of the total available insulin. This percentage of binding remains until the end of the first hour, then for the next four hours, increases linearly to 24%. Intact erythrocytes had negligible degradation of the free 125I-insulin but 56% of the 125I-insulin associated with the erythrocytes was degraded after five hours of incubation at 37 C. The degradation of the bound insulin was determined to be an intracellular property of erythrocytes. This degradation may be the mass action driving force responsible for the increased association of 125I-insulin observed after one hour of incubation. On the other hand, erythrocyte ghosts reached a steady state with 2% of the 125I-insulin bound after 1.5 hours of incubation at 37 C. More than 94% of the bound and free insulins were intact after 5 hours of incubation. These observations indicate, for the first time, that erythrocyte insulin degrading activity is localized inside the cells, not in their membranes, and that the human erythrocyte with its insulin receptors may be one of the important cell types in the metabolism of insulin.