Mitotic induction in human circulating leucocyte cultures has been studied by the twin method. The study of this phenomenon in 20 individuals belonging to 5 MZ and 5 DZ twin pairs shows that its variability depends on the adopted dose of phytohemoagglutinin, and not on the individual genotype, nor on the characteristics of the single pair, or type of zygosity.

The Authors have analyzed the data concerning length of gestation and neonatal weigth and length measurements in 2,440 living twin pairs (from the files of the Mendel Institute), in order to verify the frequent assumption that all twins should be considered as prematures and, as such, affected by congenital debility.

Comparing their findings with the standard values for prematures, they reach the conclusion that the majority of twins who have survived the perinatal period were not prematures. Furthermore, the less developed among such twins differ from single-born prematures by reason of their subsequent normal auxologic development, whereby the Authors propose that they should rather be considered as “premature-like”.

A study has been carried-out on familial glioma, according to various data, both personal and drawn from the literature. The statistic evaluation indicates, at least in part, a probable hereditary conditioning. Out of 393 cases of glioma, three have been found to be familial, which is much more than it would be expected on the basis of statistical evidence. This should be taken into account in the evaluation of the origin of tumours.

A case of monochorial and monoamniotic pregnancy is described. Of the four products of conception, two were apparently normal (stillborn) and two were monsters.

On the basis of current classifications, the latter two can be defined one as acardiacus acephalus and the other as acardiacus amorphus. After presenting the data resulting from all the investigations carried-out (radiography, sex chromatin, histological examinations, injection of the placental and foeto-placental circulation) the etiopathogenetical factors to be examined in determining congenital serious deformities are discussed in relation to the case under examination and on the basis of the most recent findings.

Two etiopathogenetical hypotheses are then suggested, resting on the supposition of a genie lesion which directly conditions either the subdivision into several embryos following ontogenesis or the « monstruosity » of the placental circulation.

On the basis of the results obtained it can be held that further discoveries on the subject will derive from genetics and experimental embryology.

The Anglo-Indians of India have been tested for the Tasting of P.T.C. The frequency of non-tasters in general shows that the population is intermediate between the European and Indian frequencies. They show a rise in the non-taster gene frequency with the rise in the dosage of European ancestry in their parentage.

The Mendelian law has further been established among the hybrid group as far as the frequency of non-taster gene frequency is concerned. In general the Anglo-Indians have 28.12 percent non-tasters of P.T.C., which shows a comparatively higher shifting towards the Indian range of values than towards the European one. It is explained to be due to the later practise of the Anglo-Indians to take in Indian brides, thus diluting the hybrids in favour of the base population.

187 patients suffering from renal lithiasis have been examined to find out an association with ABO blood groups. It has been found that the incidence of Renal Lithiasis is comparatively higher in the patients of blood group A than in those of blood group O. The difference in percentage ratios A/(A+0)% in patients and controls is 17.96; the χ2 17.4331 for one degree of freedom shows that it differs from unity significantly. The frequencies of renal lithiasis in persons of blood group A against those of B, O and AB are 1.91, 1.59 and 1.31 respectively.

M, N, S and P factors have been studied in a selected sample of the Rome population. A comparison of the findings with the sofar available data shows that the distribution of the examined factors is not influenced by the variations of the geographic position in Italy. The frequency of the « s » factor also appears to be greatly higher than that of « S ».

Runts were observed in the offspring of mice which were injected, when newborn, with foreign bone marrow cells. The incidence of runting in the litters obtained from crosses between injected females and injected males was higher than in the litters obtained from crosses between injected females and normal males.

The hemoglobin pattern of 18 inbred strains of mice was studied by starch-gel electrophoresis. In 7 strains (C57BL/10, C57BL/6, C57BR/cd, C57L, C58, SWR, and SEC/1Re) the electrophoretic pattern was found to be of single-band type: in the remaining 11 strains (AKR, DBA/1, DBA/2, CBA, C3H/He, C3HeB/Fe, Fl/1Re, RF, 129, A, and A/He), 6 components were constantly observed when the electrophoretic run was carried out for 20 hours. Hemoglobin from late C57BL/6 fetuses showed an electrophoretic pattern identical to that of the adult animal. Hemoglobin from AKR and DBA/2 late fetuses and newborns showed an electrophoretic pattern similar to that of the adult animal, but the slowest band was more intensely stained as compared with the corresponding band of the adult animal.

Taste thresholds for phenylthiourea were measured among 58 Caucasoid subjects affected with both tuberculosis and leprosy. The frequency of non-tasters among them (12.1%) is significantly lower than that found among healthy controls (24.7%) but not different from the frequency of non-tasters among tuberculous patients (14.1%) or leprous patients (19.6%). These results suggest a correlation between taste ability to phenylthiourea and the constitutional susceptibility to tuberculosis and leprosy.

Taste thresholds for phenylthiourea were measured among 900 Caucasoid leprous patients and among 1000 healthy Caucasoid control males, of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

The frequency of non-tasters among the leprous sample (19.7%) is significantly lower than that found among the healthy sample (24.7%). These results suggest a correlation between taste ability to phenylthourea and leprosy.

Taste thresholds for phenylthiourea were measured among 100 females, during the menstruation and in non-menstrual period.

The results cannot support any influence of menstruation on taste threshold for phenylthiourea.

The taste thresholds of 315 lepromatous patients confined more than four years in a Leprosarium was determined. These patients were ascribed to three clinical groups according to their clinical and bacilloscopical regression during the treatment.

The data obtained show no correlation between tasting and clinical conditions.

Among the 85,976 children born at the «Istituto Ospitaliero Provinciale per la Maternità di Milano» from January 1st 1942 through December 31st 1962, 1185 newborn infants have

been observed with one or more congenital malformations, i. e. with a frequency of 13,8°/°°. Distribution of this material in a first period of six years and in three subsequent quinquennia, and comparison of the frequencies of the subjects with malformations observed in the various periods allow us to draw the following conclusions:

1) in the period 1942-1962, especially in the latest years, the total frequency of congenital malformations has not exhibited significant variations;

2) the frequency of harelip and/or cleft-palate, omphalocele, hypospadia, polydactily, hypodactily and syndactily appears rather uniform. The same applies, as a whole, to CNS malformations, though a certain heterogeneity has been found in the frequencies of rachischisis observed in the various periods;

3 ) as for mongoloid, dysmyelitic and club-foot subjects a significant heterogeneity of the frequencies observed in the various quinquennia has been demonstrated.