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Radial Immuno Diffusion performed by including in agar serum from a polytransfused Cooley patient (beta-thalassemic homozygous) allowed to identify a human serum antigen marker of an autosomal polymorphic locus. the antigen and its coding gene were named AS and AS respectively. Genetic tests indicate that the AS1 dominant allele codes for the presence of AS in the serum while the AS0 recessive allele codes for its absence. The frequency of the AS0/AS0 homozygous genotype results to be greater in Cooley than in healthy people thus suggesting that the AS0 and beta-thal alleles may be in linkage disequilibrium. The observation that the frequency of the AS0 beta-thal haplotype is greater than the product of the frequencies of the alleles which form it, confirms such a linkage.

Breast cancer nodule shape has been investigated by two analytical procedures: upper degree polynomials and harmonic Fourier analysis. An automized method (TV camera interfaced with a computer) has been employed to find the coefficients of kth order equation giving the best fit. Then the difference between real node contour and function curve has been calculated and submitted to harmonic analysis. This gives the sine/cosine coefficients of the two series and the amplitude of the harmonics. The results point out that no difference exists between metastatic and non metastatic tumors and suggest that parametrized descriptors calculated may represent a peculiar behaviour in the growth of the tumor.

Follicular growth and egg deposition were induced in the Grey Partridge (Perdix Perdix) after stimulation with Gn-RH and artificial light. The experiment was carried out from November to December 1983, during the short day period, and during the non egg laying period for this bird-sp. Two groups consisting of ten pairs of Grey Partridge each (female and male), received 3.8 mcg of Gn-RH (pGlu-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH2) every 8 hours for 10 and 15 days, respectively. With interruption of the Gn-RH treatment we observed follicular regression. For this reason the birds were stimulated with artificial light daily from the 15th day of treatment until egg deposition. Fifty-five days after the start of the Gn-RH treatment the Grey Partridge laid eggs. Forty days of this period the birds were supplemented with artificial light. Twenty pairs of Grey Partridge were used as controls. Periodically two experimental female subjects (treated and control) were sacrificed to observe the development of ovary and oviducts.