NGC 4945 is one of the nearest (D≈3.8 Mpc; 1 ′′ ≈ 19 pc) starburst galaxies. To investigate structure, dynamics, and composition of its dense nuclear gas, ALMA band 3 (λ≈3-4 mm) observations were carried out with ≈2 ′′ resolution. Measured were three HCN and two HCO + isotopologues, CS, C3H2, SiO, HCO, and CH3C2H. Spectral line imaging demonstrates the presence of a rotating nuclear disk of projected size 10 ′′ ×2 ′′ reaching out to a galactocentric radius of r≈100 pc with position angle PA = 45 • ±2 • , inclination i = 75 • ±2 • and an unresolved bright central core of size < ∼ 2 ′′ . The continuum source, representing mostly free-free radiation from star forming regions, is more compact than the nuclear disk by a linear factor of two but shows the same position angle and is centered 0 . ′′ 39 ± 0 . ′′ 14 northeast of the nuclear accretion disk defined by H2O maser emission. Near the systemic velocity but outside the nuclear disk, both HCN J=1→0 and CS J=2→1 delineate molecular arms of length > ∼ 15 ′′ ( > ∼ 285 pc) on opposite sides of the dynamical center. These are connected by a (deprojected) ≈0.6 kpc sized molecular bridge, likely a dense gaseous bar seen almost ends-on, shifting gas from the front and back side into the nuclear disk. Modeling this nuclear disk located farther inside (r < ∼ 100 pc) with tilted rings provides a good fit by inferring a coplanar outflow reaching a characteristic deprojectd velocity of ≈50 km s −1 . All our molecular lines, with the notable exception of CH3C2H, show significant absorption near the systemic velocity (≈571 km s −1 ), within a range of ≈500 -660 km s −1 . Apparently, only molecular transitions with low critical H2-density (ncrit < ∼ 10 4 cm −3 ) do not show absorption. The velocity field of the nuclear disk, derived from CH3C2H, provides evidence for rigid rotation in the inner few arcseconds and a dynamical mass of Mtot = (2.1±0.2) × 10 8 M⊙ inside a galactocentric radius of 2 .′′ 45 (≈45 pc), with a significantly flattened rotation curve farther out. Velocity integrated line intensity maps with most pronounced absorption show molecular peak positions up to ≈1 .′′ 5 (≈30 pc) southwest of the continuum peak, presumably due to absorption, which appears to be most severe slightly northeast of the nuclear maser disk. A nitrogen isotope ratio of 14 N/ 15 N ≈ 200-450 is estimated. This range of values is much higher then previously reported on a tentative basis. Therefore, with 15 N being less abundant than expected, the question for strong 15 N enrichment by massive star ejecta in starbursts still remains to be settled.

Abstract. A 63-kD Schistosoma mansoni antigen was detected in 149 (86%) of 174 umbilical cord blood sera from infected women at delivery. Specific IgG antibodies to this antigen were also detected in 80% of cord blood sera. The 63-kD antigen showed the same molecular mass by Western blotting when isolated from cord blood, maternal blood, breast milk, and urine from women infected with S. mansoni. This antigen was detected in the urine of 25 infants born to infected mothers and followed for 18-24 months after delivery. It was also detected in some infants up to 21 days after parturition and then disappeared at 28 days, demonstrating the influence of breast-feeding on persistence of antigen in infants born to infected women. Thus, exposure to Schistosoma antigens and maternal antibodies to this organism may influence the developing immune responses to natural infection or vaccination of children born in endemic areas.

Aim: We aimed to investigate the relationship between unexplained male infertility, and the-677C/T (rs1801133) and-1298A/C (rs1801131) polymorphisms of the MTHFR gene in a group of Turkish infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia in this study. Materials and Methods: Study group includes 50 non-obstructive azoospermic patients, 50 severe oligospermic patients and 50 healthy controls with normal sperm parameters who had had more than one child. Genotyping was performed by generated amplicons from melting curve analysis after real time PCR. Results: The distribution of the 677CC genotype was significantly higher in the control group than the infertile group (p= 0.046). There was a significant frequency of the polymorphic T allele in infertile patients higher than the control group (p=0.015). Neither the frequency, nor the allelic distribution of A1298C genotype was different between infertile groups compared with the control. Conclusions: The MTHFR 677TT genotype is a genetic risk factor for unexplained male infertility, especially in the group with oligospermia and non-obstructive azoospermia.

There is increased frequency of ACE and eNOS mutant allele carriage among Saudi patients affected with hypertension, particularly if accompanied by obesity and diabetes.

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