Comparative investigation of the mutagenicity of propenylic and allylic asarone isomers in the Ames fluctuation assay.

α-, β- and γ-asarone are naturally occurring phenylpropenes that occur in different plant families, mainly in Aristolochiaceae, Acoraceae and Lauraceae. Plants containing asarones are used as flavouring ingredients in alcoholic beverages (bitters), traditional phytomedicines and the rhizome of e.g.

Evaluation of the cytotoxic and mutagenic potential of three ginkgolic acids.

Ginkgolic acids (GAs) are alkylphenols which can be found in the fruits and leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgoaceae) used in herbal teas, drugs and food supplements. Standardized leaf extracts of G.

Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification improves diagnostics in spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by decreased levels of survival motor neuron protein (SMN). In the majority of cases, this decrease is due to absence of the SMN1 gene. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) is a modern quantitative molecular method.

A high frequency of germline BRCA1/2 mutations in western Sweden detected with complementary screening techniques.

Dominant inheritance is presumed in 6-10% of breast and ovarian cancers. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most commonly identified causative genes in such families. The frequency of mutation carriers with breast/ovarian cancer depends on the population studied, and display considerable variation that coincides with ethnic and geographical diversity.

The decision making process including assessment of ethical principles in the commitment of police-referred, psychiatric patients.

Objectives: to identify determinants for psychiatric commitment and analyse physicians' assessment of ethical principles concerning interested groups on the decision to commit a psychiatric patient.

Design: a prospective physician survey concerning commitment of patients brought by police to a psychiatric emergency unit.

Patients: Two hundred consecutive, police-conveyed patients.