Food allergy in preterm infants fed human milk.

In 80 preterms aged 9-24 months (mean age: 15.9) and in 80 sex- and age-matched full-terms the frequency of atopic diseases and of positive skin tests to 8 food and 6 inhalant allergens was determined. The two groups did not differ as to overall percentages of cutipositive subjects and patients with atopic diseases.

[A new case of fronto-nasal dysplasia associated with craniosynostosis].

The Authors report a case of frontonasal dysplasia, a rare congenital syndrome, accompanied by multiple cranial synostosis. According to Cohen, frontonasal dysplasia associated with craniosynostosis may be considered as a separate syndrome and Cohen himself has described its occurrence in members of two families as "Craniofrontonasal Dysplasia". The Authors describe a sporadical case presenting various minor abnormality reported by Cohen, in addition to the hypoplasia of the corpus callosum, demonstrated by the Cranial Ultrasonography and by the NMR study of the brain.

Effects of 5 azacytidine on DNA methylation and early development of sea urchins and ascidia.

5-azacytidine (5-azaCR), an analogue of cytidine, inhibits nuclear DNA methylation in early sea urchin embryos. This inhibition is specific and dose-dependent. Exposure of sea urchin embryos at any stage between one-cell and blastula, to micromolar quantities of 5-azaCR invariably inhibits development beyond the blastula stage.

[A disease that needs to be recognized: "importation malaria"].

The author's relieve the increase of number of the cases of malaria verified during the previous years in Italy, in subjects coming from malaria regions. The social and medical implications of this phenomenon are remarked. Epidemiology, pathology, immunology, clinical features and therapy of "imported malaria" are briefly elucidated.

Purification and properties of a 3'-phosphoryl former endodeoxyribonuclease from eggs of Asterias forbesi.

A DNA endonuclease has been purified from eggs of Asterias forbesi by a simple four-step-purification procedure. The purified enzyme is at least 96% pure and is free of phosphatase, phosphodiesterase, and RNase. It has a pH optimum of 6.

Oxygen determinations with the aluminium corrosion electrode.

A method for the determination of molecular oxygen in a great variety of liquid and gaseous samples has been developed. The method seems adaptable for control analysis by reason of its sensitivity, rapidity and ease of operation. It gives accurate determinations in the presence of many chemical substances which interfere with other methods.