Antibiotics

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1977 Dec 2, 102(48), 1754 - 8
{New aspects in the treatment of puerperal mastitis (author's transl)}; Peters F et al.; 36 women with postpartal breast engorgement were treated with a single oral dose of 2.5 mg bromocriptine (Pravidel) . Significant relief was recorded in 28 patients, 6 patients required a second dose of 2.5 mg bromocriptine, whereas 2 patients failed to respond . Antibiotics were at first avoided in the treatment of puerperal mastitis . 26 patients with all characteristics of breast inflammation were treated exclusively with bromocriptine: for 3 days 2.5 mg t.i.d., for the following 11 days 2.5 mg twice daily . The temperature dropped below 37C in 25 patients within 12-24 hours, tension and pain disappearing simultaneously . One patient did not respond after 36 hours, so that an antibiotic was administered additionally; in another patient who had been admitted to the hospital six days after the onset of the clinical symptoms of breast inflammation, bromocriptine failed to prevent abscess formation . The results indicate that in most cases of puerperal breast inflammation no antibiotics are required . Puerperal mastitis can be treated effectively by the exclusive administration of bromocriptine.

Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 1977 Dec 2, 12(4), 273 - 9
Effect of lidocaine on the absorption, disposition and tolerance of intramuscularly administered cefoxitin; Sonneville PF et al.; The use of lidocaine HCL solution at concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0% to reconstitute sodium cefoxitin relieves the pain associated with intramuscular injections of the antibiotic . Cefoxitin absorption by the intramuscular route is initially rapid and is virtually complete . Peak serum concentrations, corresponding to about one-half those of a comparable intravenous infusion, are achieved in 30 min . Continuing absorption tends to maintain higher serum concentrations for longer times . Renal clearance and serum half-life of cefoxitin do not appear to be affected by lidocaine at its effective anaesthetic concentrations.

J Pediatr, 1977 Dec, 91(6), 991 - 5
Intraventricular chemotherapy in neonatal meningitis; Lee EL et al.; All of 16 infants with neonatal meningitis treated during a 30-month period were found to have accompanying ventriculitis at the time of the initial ventricular puncture . Fifteen of these infants were caused by gramm-negative organisms . All infants received antibiotics systemically and intraventricularly via an implanted ventriculostomy reservoir or by direct ventricular injection . Antibiotic concentrations within the ventricular fluid were monitored during chemotherapy; the complications encountered during treatment are discussed . Fifteen infants survived the infection; of these, seven infants were normal at follow-up examinations . In our experience intraventricular chemotherapy as an adjunct to systemic administration of antibiotics has greatly reduced the mortality rate in neonatal meningitis.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Dec, 136(6), 801 - 4
Effect of hemoperfusion of clearance of gentamicin, cephalothin, and clindamycon from plasma of normal dogs; Rosenbaum JL et al.; Nine normal dogs were divided into three groups of three . Group 1 was given an overdose of gentamicin; group 2, cephalothin; and group 3, clindamycin . Group 1 had hemoperfusion with Amberlite XE-336, and groups 2 and 3 with Amberlite XAD-4 resin adsorbents, for 6 hr with a blood flow rate of 300 ml/min . The plasma clearance and removal rates of antibiotics by the hemoperfusion columns were high . The clearance rate of gentamicin from plasma (mean +/- standard deviation) ranged from 59 +/- 30 to 199 +/- 6 ml/min, of cephalothin from 66 +/- 14 to 157 +/- 8 ml/min, and of clindamycin from 55 +/- 9 to 125 +/- 16 ml/min . Of the total dose of antibiotic administered, the hemoperfusion columns removed 67% from theplasma in group 1, 41% in group 2, and 18% in group 3 . The fact that antibiotics may be rapidly removed from the blood during hemoperfusion should be considered in calculation of the therapeutic dose of antibiotic required for patients who receive this preocedure . Also, hemoperfusion can effectively and rapidly remove certain antibiotics from the blood of patients who have had a potentially toxic overdose.

Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1977 Dec, 119(12), 53 - 6
{Use of oxyglucocycline in surgical practice}; Riazhkin GA et al.; A new antibiotic -- oxyglycocycline was applied in 107 cases of different surgical diseases . In 52 patients the antibiotic concentration in the blood and tissues was studied, and it was shown that the therapeutic concentration of the drug remains in the blood and tissues for 12 hours . Good tolerance to the drug was proved . There were no unfavourable effects upon the organism related to the use of the antibiotic . Oxyglycocycline is recommended for broad use in surgical practice being a good therapeutic and prophylactic preparation in case of surgical infection.

Am J Med, 1977 Dec, 63(6), 933 - 8
Activation of protein mediators of inflammation and evidence for endotoxemia in Borrelia recurrentis infection; Galloway RE et al.; Fifteen patients with Borrelia recurrentis infection were studied to evaluate the role of certain plasma proteins and endotoxin in the pathophysiology of both the acute illness and the Jarisch-Herxheimer-like reaction . The causative spirochetes disappeared from the blood during the Jarisch-Herxheimer-like reaction, which occurred about 2 hours after antibiotic therapy . The mean titers of Hageman factor, plasma prekallikrein and serum hemolytic complement activity were decreased at the time of admission and 2 hours after treatment, and rose to normal values during convalescence . Serum properdin titers were decreased in 14 patients at the time of admission, in 12 patients 2 hours after treatment, and in none during convalescence . The frequency of elevated levels of fibrinogen-related antigens increased from three patients at the time of admission to 12 patients 2 hours after treatment . Results of plasma limulus tests for endotoxin-like material were positive in 11 patients at the time of admission and in 13 patients 2 hours after treatment . These findings demonstrated that Hageman factor, prekallikrein and proteins of the complement system are activated in B . recurrentis infection and that endotoxin may play a role in both the acute illness and in the development of the Jarisch-Herxheimer-like reaction after treatment.

J Clin Pathol, 1977 Dec, 30(12), 1147 - 8
Severe coagulation defect due to a dietary deficiency of vitamin K; Colvin BT et al.; A patient with multiple injuries developed a severe coagulation defect due to a deficiency of vitamin K . None of the usual predisposing factors was present and the patient's diet was very poor . Dietary deficiency of vitamin K and the importance of antibiotic therapy in its production are discussed.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Dec, 30(12), 1073 - 9
Chemical studies on tuberactinomycin . XV . Total synthesis of tuberactinomycin O; Teshima T et al.; Tuberactinomycin O, one of the four congeners of the antituberculous peptide tuberactinomycin, was totally synthesized . The beta-ureidodehydroalanine moiety was constructed from beta,beta-diethoxyalanine with excess urea in acidic medium after a cyclization reaction of a pentapeptide was finished . Cyclization was carried out by means of the 1-succinimidyl ester method . To the cyclic pentapeptide, beta-lysine was introduced as the branched moiety and then deprotected to afford tuberactinomycin O which was completely identified with the natural form of the antibiotic.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Dec, 30(12), 1064 - 72
Fortimicin A production by Micromonospora olivoasterospora in a chemically defined medium; Yamamoto M et al.; A chemically defined medium was devised in order to study the requirements for fortimicin A production by Micromonospora olivoasterospora KY 11515 . Soluble starch was the best carbon source; NH4Cl and NH4NO3 were suitable nitrogen sources both for the growth and fortimicin production . Amino acids such as L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid and L-glutamic acid showed some stimulatory effects on both growth and antibiotic production of M . olivoasterospora while L-serine stimulated only antibiotic production and L-citrulline only the growth . K2HPO4, MgSO4.7H2O and CaCO3 were essential especially for the antibiotic production . The most important finding was that vitamin B12, cobalt and nickel showed marked stimulatory effects on fortimicin A production.

Biokhimiia, 1977 Dec, 42(12), 2149 - 59
{Polysomal apparatus as a reflection of function interactions between translation and transcription processes during protein synthesis inhibited by cycloheximide}; Todorov IN et al.; Distribution of optical density and radioactivity in sucrose density gradient was studied for 14C-RNA and 3H-protein polysomal components isolated from normal rat liver 1, 3, 6 12 and 24 hrs after cycloheximide (CHI) treatment (sublethal dose--0,3 mg/100 g body weight) . Soon after the antibiotic injection (1--3 hrs), when protein biosynthesis was strongly inhibited (more than 90%), the total quantity of "heavy" polyribosomes and 14C-mRNA associated with this fraction significantly increased . At the same time the amount of free ribosomes showed a decrease . On the contrary, after 6 hrs the amount of polysomes sharply decreased and that of ribosomes and their subunits was increased . In the middle period and at the end of experiment (12--24 hrs) when protein biosynthesis was continuously restored, the polysomes sedimentation pattern was restored as well . Specific radioactivity of 14-C-rRNA's and 3H-proteins in this fraction was also increased . The restoration of optimal protein biosynthesis level after its inhibition by a single cycloheximide injection (sublethal doses) is thought to be a complex process of consecutive interactions between translation and transcription cell systems.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Dec, 22(12), 1095 - 100
Auxotrophic mutants in the selection of the rubomycin producer, Actinomyces coeruleorubidus}; Saburova TP et al.; A total of 351 auxotrophic mutants with different antibiotic activity, including several mutants with activity higher than that of the parent prototrophic strains were obtained under the effect of gamma-rays from 3 prototrophic strains of Act . coeruleorubidus . It was shown that most of the auxotrophic mutants did not preserve the property of biochemical insufficiency on passages on complete media . A mutant strain 1059-32 with activity 2 times higher than that of the prototrophic strain 2-39 and the parent auxotrophic culture was obtained from the revertants . Requirements in 29 growth factors including 17 amino acids, 4 nitrous bases, 8 vitamins and coenzymes were determined in 46 stable auxotrophic mutants isolated . The effect of the specific and non-specific growth factors on the culture antibiotic production was studied.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Dec, 22(12), 1085 - 8
{Synthesis and properties of carminomycinone derivatives}; Olsuf'eva EN et al.; The possibility of chemical modification of carminomycinone-aglycone (II) of carminomicin, a side product in the antibiotic production was studied . The methyl group C-14 was functionilized by introducing the bromine atom and performing a number of exchange reactions with the bromine atom . It was found that under definite conditions (1 . 1 equiv . Br2in dioxane, 20 degrees, 24 hours) carminomycinone (II) was subjected to selective bromination into the side acetyl group with formation of 14-bromcarminomycinone (III) . On interaction with anhydrous potassium acetate 14-bromcarminomycinone (III) yield 14-acetoxycarminomycinone (IV) . In its turn the latter compound (IV) easily hydrolized to 14-oxycarminomycinone (V) in treatment with aqueous alkali or acid . 14-oxycarminomycinone (V) was also prepared with a high yield (80 per cent) by direct alkaline hydrolysis of 14-bromcarminomycinone (III) in treatment with 0.1N solution of sodium carbonate in a mixture of dioxane and water . The structure of 14-substituted derivatives of carminomycinone was proved by analytical and spectral data and confirmed by their transformation . Thus, according to the data of mass-spectrometry 14-oxycarminomycinone (V) had a molecular weight of 400 c . u . In treatment with an excess of acetic anhydride in pyridine it formed a hexa-acetyl derivative, i.e . 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 14-hexa-acetyl-14-oxycarminomycinone (VI) . The aglycones (III-V) prepared by us may serve a starting material in chemical synthesis, as well as biosynthesis of semi-synthetic preparations of the carminomycin series.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1977 Dec, 84(6), 815 - 7
Endophthalmitis after pars plana vitrectomy; Blankenship GW; In three cases of bacterial endophthalmitis following pars plana vitrectomy the important diagnostic findings included increased orbital pain, decreased visual acuity, and the presence of a hypopyon . Despite agressive antibiotic therapy, all three eyes became blind, and two progressed rapidly to phthisis.

Surg Neurol, 1977 Dec, 8(6), 461 - 7
Spinal cord abscess: a review; Menezes AH et al.; The literature on abscesses in the spinal cord has been reviewed . A total of 54 cases was reported . A digest is made of information on the subject including the diagnosis, pathology, treatment and the results to be expected . The best results have been achieved by operation plus antibiotic therapy . It is essential that the abscess be drained after aspiration . A case of ours showing the salient features and management of a subacute cervical spinal cord abscess is also reported.

J Pediatr Surg, 1977 Dec, 12(6), 837 - 45
Peripheral total parenteral nutrition employing a lipid emulsion (Intralipid): complications encountered in pediatric patients; Cohen IT et al.; The clinical records of 180 pediatric patients who received Intralipid via peripheral veins at a single institution (1964-1977) were retrospectively analyzed, with particular reference to the complications of this form of therapy . Intralipid was used in a dose range of 2--4 g/kg/day in order to supply 40% of the daily calorie requirements . The patients were neonates, infants, children, and adolescents with a wide range of clinical diagnoses . Local complications associated with Intralipid therapy were minimal . Transient elevations in serum enzyme levels (SGOT, SGPT, and LDH) were observed in 4% of patients, but all of these returned to the normal range after cessation of therapy . Ten patients had histologic evidence of cholestasis, the significance of which is discussed . The lipid emulsion was employed in patients with preexisting hyperbilirubinemia with concomitant resolution of jaundice . Intralipid was administered to patients with known severe thrombocytopenia (secondary to sepsis or myelosuppression) with return of the platelet counts to normal levels during the course of infusion therapy . The use of Intralipid in patients with established sepsis did not delay its response to conventional surgical or antibiotic therapy . There were no instances of the "overloading" syndrome observed.

Infect Immun, 1977 Dec, 18(3), 840 - 6
In vitro guinea pig leukocyte reactions to Rickettsia rickettsii; Kenyon RH et al.; The presence of cell-mediated immunity in Rocky Mountain spotted fever-infected guinea pigs was determined by two in vitro assays: whole blood lymphocyte transformation (LT) and macrophage migration inhibition . Increased LT was detected as early as 1 week in guinea pigs infected with Rickettsia rickettsii and treated with oxytetracycline and was detected by two weeks in infected but untreated guinea pigs . Elevated LT was still detectable at 10 weeks postinfection . Guinea pigs vaccinated with killed rickettsiae failed to develop lymphocyte responsiveness; however, there was a rapid lymphocyte response after challenge with live organisms, suggesting potentiation by the vaccine . Vaccinated guinea pigs that were challenged and then treated with antibiotic failed to develop LT, suggesting that infection is necessary for the observed response . Macrophage migration inhibition was detected in both infected and vaccinated guinea pigs by 1 week after infection, but this response was no longer detected 4 to 5 weeks later . Antibody appeared at 2 to 3 weeks postinfection and was present at low levels through week 10 . Antibody-treated rickettsiae were phagocytized and destroyed by guinea pig peritoneal macrophages, whereas normal serum-treated rickettsiae replicated and eventually destroyed the phagocytes.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1977 Dec, 25(10), 699 - 703
{Cerebrospinal fluid distribution of metampicillin (author's transl)}; Dureux JB et al.; In order to avoid other antibiotics which interfere with plasma and CSF level determination of a given antibiotic the authors use a chemical method of established specificity . 15 patients presenting with purulent meningitis were given a standard daily dose of metampicillin and divided into 3 groups of 5 . On days 2, 4 and 6 after onset of disease plasma and CSF specimens were taken at respectively 1, 2 or 4 hours following metampicillin I.V . injection according to patient group . All patients were cured between days 7 and 21 of therapy . Tolerance was good . Results:--there was no correlation between dose injected and plasma level of drug,--CSF distribution of metampicillin was good and stayed identical throughout the disease period,--peak CSF drug level was delayed as compared to plasma level, occurring more than 4 hours after I.V . injection of metampicillin.

J Periodontol, 1977 Dec, 48(12), 790 - 1
Subcutaneous emphysema during periodontal surgery: report of a case; Snyder MB et al.; Subcutaneous emphysema (S.E.) of the facial region is an uncommon complication of dental procedures . A case is presented which details the development of S.E . following use of an air-water syringe during periodontal surgery . Differential diagnosis of the condition depends upon accurate historical data and the finding of crepitus on palpation of the involved tissues . Treatment is supportive in nature, although prophylactic antibiotic coverage is suggested . The etiology of S.E . is discussed and judicious use of compressed air or gas-producing medicaments during dental treatment is stressed.

Cancer Res, 1977 Dec, 37(12), 4423 - 9
Inhibition of surface immunoglobulin centeral capping of Daudi cells and cell spreading of HeLa-S3 cells by neocarzinostatin; Ebina T et al.; The effects of an antitumor antibiotic, neocarzinostatin (NCS), on the surface immunoglobulin central capping induced by anti-immunoglobulin M antibody on Daudi cells and on the cell spreading of trypsinized HeLa-S3 cells were examined . Pretreatment of Daudi cells and HeLa-S3 cells with NCS, 5 to 30 micrograms/ml, for 4 hr inhibited cap formation and cell spreading, respectively . It was shown that there is a direct relationship between the dose and the degree of inhibition . Inhibitors of DNA synthesis such as bleomycin, mitomycin C, and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine showed no inhibitory effect on cap formation or cell spreading . However, known microtubule-acting agents such as colchicine and vinblastine sulfate completely inhibited both capping and cell spreading at a dose of 10 micrograms/ml . In view of the fact that 10 micorograms NCS per ml also inhibit the formation of microtubular paracrystals induced by vinblastine sulfate in HeLa-S3 cells and that other agents known to influence microtubule function such as local anesthetics and calcium ionophores also inhibit both paracrystal formation and cap formation, these new observations add further support to our hypothesis that NCS affects microtubular proteins transmembranously in vivo.

Cancer, 1977 Dec, 40(6), 2787 - 91
Bleomycin-sensitivity test: application for human squamous cell carcinoma; Muller WE et al.; Bleomycin (BLM)-inactivating enzyme activity, which is probably a parameter for the efficacy of this antibiotic in cancer therapy, was determined in biopsies from human carcinomas in the head and neck region . Twenty-three cases were studied . It was found that highly differentiated as well as moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinomas had low extractable activities of this enzyme, comparably to those found in normal skin tissue . Slightly differentiated as well as undifferentiated carcinomas (only one case) had increased enzyme activity . Parallel experiments estimating the total extractable thiol content in the biopsies gave no obvious correlation . The results are discussed in the light of the reported BLM efficacy in the treatment of differently differentiated squamous cell carcinomas.

Mycopathologia, 1977 Nov 30, 62(1), 53 - 6
Swelling of Penicillium digitatum conidia by a Fusarium acuminatum NRRL 6227 metabolite; Burmeister HR et al.; Fusarium acuminatum NRRL 6227 produces an antifungal metabolite that causes incubating conidia of several Penicillium species to swell 5-10 diameters while inhibiting germination . The swollen conidia are spherical, translucent, nonviable and easily shattered with a slight physical pressure; however, they remain resistant to osmotic shock . This antibiotic has been identified as a cyclic peptide composed of alanine, glutamic acid, leucine, threonine and tyrosine.

Albrecht Von Graefes Arch Klin Exp Ophthalmol, 1977 Nov 25, 204(3), 201 - 7
Penetration of ocular compartments by tetracyclines . II . An experimental study with doxycycline; Salminen L; Using radioactive tracer method the distribution of intravenously injected doxycycline of 7 mg/kg was studied in the rabbit eye . Long-lasting antibiotic concentration of 1 microgram/g or more was measured from all vascularized ocular structures . Vitreous body doxycycline concentration, almost equal to that of aqueous humor, was 0.3 microgram/g . Doxycycline concentration in the cornea exceeded that in the aqueous humor . In all vascularized ocular structures plasma antibiotic concentration was at least once achieved, indicating good penetrability of doxycycline into the tissues . This good penetrability is obviously related to the high lipoidsolubility of doxycycline, whereas its high protein binding is reflected in low concentrations in the aqueous humor.

Albrecht Von Graefes Arch Klin Exp Ophthalmol, 1977 Nov 25, 204(3), 189 - 99
Penetration of ocular compartments by tetracyclines . I . An experimental study with tetracycline; Salminen L; Total antibiotic concentration of tetracycline hydrochloride was determined in the ocular structures of rabbits by radioactive tracer method . Concentration of tetracycline of 0.1 to 5 microgram/g, adequate to inhibit the growth of bacteria of high or medium susceptibility, was measured from all ocular structures with the exception of the lens . Tetracycline concentration in the aqueous humor was inferior to that in the vascularized ocular tissues and to that in the cornea . Vitreous body tetracycline level, about 0.3 microgram/g, was about half of the concentration in the aqueous humor . The disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier following paracentesis led to an immediate increase of tetracycline concentration in the anterior structures of the eye.

Chromosoma, 1977 Nov 14, 64(2), 117 - 24
R-banding produced by DNase I digestion of chromomycin-stained chromosomes; Schweizer D; A distinct reverse (R-) banding pattern was produced on human chromosomes by digesting chromosome spreads with pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) in the presence of an excess of chromomycin A3 (CMA), followed by staining with Giemsa . The banding pattern corresponds with that obtained by chromomycin A3 fluorescence, and bands which fluorescence brightly with chromomycin appear darkly with Giemsa . The same relationship was observed in two plants, Scilla siberica and Ornithogalum caudatum, which have contrasting types of heterochromatin . Chromomycin bright C-bands stained darkly with the CMA/DNase I technique, whereas chromomycin negative C-bands appeared lightly stained . The digestion patterns are thought to reflect the variation in chromomycin binding capacity along the chromosome with R-bands and dark C-bands being sites which preferentially bind the antibiotic.

J Biol Chem, 1977 Nov 10, 252(21), 7431 - 3
Tunicamycin inhibits GlcNAc-lipid formation in plants; Ericson MC et al.; Previous studies from this laboratory (Forsee, W . T., and Elbein, A . D . (1975) J . Biol . Chem . 250, 9283-9293; Forsee, W . T., Valkovich, G., and Elbein, A . D . (1976) Arch Biochem . Biophys . 174, 469-479) have shown that particulate extracts from cotton fibers and mung been seedlings catalyze the transfer of mannose from GDP-{14C}mannose and GlcNAc from UDP-{3H}GlcNAc into lipid-linked saccharides, Concentrations of tunicamycin of 5 microgram/ml or higher inhibit the incorporation of GlcNAc into GlcNAc-pyrophosphoryl-polyprenol but this antibiotic, even at 500 microgram/ml, had no effect on the synthesis of mannosyl-phosphoryldolichol . Tunicamycin also caused a slight inhibition in the incorporation of mannose into lipid-linked oligosaccharides . The concentration of tunicamycin necessary for inhibition was dependent on the amount of particulate enzyme in the incubations.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Nov 7, 500(1), 187 - 96
Inhibitory effects of tunicamycin on procollagen biosynthesis and secretion; Tanzer ML et al.; Chick embryo cells were briefly exposed to the antibiotic, tunicamycin . Pre-exposed cells, compared to control cultures, showed a severe, progressive inhibition of the incorporation of glucosamine and mannose into total cellular macromolecules . Inhibition of the incorporation of glycine, leucine and proline was also progressive but not as marked as for the carbohydrates . Cellular secretion of all macromolecules was severely impaired . while comparison of the procollagens showed no difference in their subunit size or in their degree of glycosylation; the intracellular content of procollagen polypeptides was similar for both types of cells . In vitro studies showed that tunicamycin selectively inhibited glucosamine, but not mannose, incorporation into macromolecules . The composite results indicate that tunicamycin effectively inhibits protein synthesis, protein glycosylation and protein secretion in chick embryo cells.

Langenbecks Arch Chir, 1977 Nov 4, 344(2), 93 - 9
{Closure of instrumental perforation of the stenotic esophagus by means of endo-esophageal tube . On the way from solitary success to clinical principle? (author's transl)}; Meissner K; Instrumental perforation, consequential to esophagoscopic diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, ranges among the inherent and life threatening complications of such manoeuvres . Emergency operations in this situation are dangerous and bedeviled with a prohibitive percentage of mortality . Further spillage into the mediastinum was successfully prevented by introducing an endoesophageal tube of the Celestin-type . Antibiotic protection proved to be the only necessary additional measure.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Nov 2, 479(1), 91 - 7
Biphasic effects of translational inhibitors on liver tyrosine aminotransferase; Baccino FM et al.; Low doses of cycloheximide or emetine cause rat liver tyrosine aminotransferase activity to rise up to twice the control levels in 2 h . By contrast, in the same interval no changes, or only a slight decrease, are produced by either drug at high dosage . Adrenalectomised animals display the same pattern of response . High doses of either antibiotic virtually afford a complete inhibition of 14C-labelled amino acid incorporation into liver and plasma proteins, whereas no more than a 30% decrease is observed with low doses . When administered in the course of the induction by cortisol, high doses of inhibitor prevent any further change in tyrosine aminotransferase activity, stabilising it at the level already attained; low doses, while slightly affecting the synthetic phase evoked by cortisol, drastically interfere with the deinduction . Six hours after various doses of either inhibitor the tyrosine aminotransferase activity is markedly increased, this late effect being largely dependent on the presence of adrenals . The amino acid incorporating actitivy of the liver may exceed that of controls, as observed particularly after small doses of emetine.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Nov 1, 470(3), 357 - 67
Properties of amphotericin B channels in a lipid bilayer; Ermishkin LN et al.; Properties of individual ionic channels formed by polyene antibiotic Amphotericin B were studied on brain phospholipid membranes containing cholesterol . The ionic channels have a closed state and an open one (with conductance of about 6.5 pS in 2 M KCl) . The conductance value of an open channel is independent of cholesterol concentration in the membrane of pH in the range from 3.5 to 8.0 . The voltage-current characteristics of a single channel are superlinear . Zero current potential value in the case of different KCl concentrations in the two solutions indicates preferential but not ideal anionic selectivity of a single channel . Channel conductivity grows as the electrolyte concentration is increased and tends to a limiting value at high concentrations . A simple model having only one site for an ion was shown to represent satisfactorily an open channel behaviour under different conditions . An individual ionic channel performs a large number of transitions between the open and closed states during its life-time of several minutes . Rate constants of these transitions depend on the kind and concentration of salt in aqueous solutions . The switching system functioning is not influenced by an ion situated inside the pore.

South Med J, 1977 Nov, 70(11), 1360 - 1
Topical corticosteroid therapy complicating congenital glaucoma; Harbin TS Jr et al.; A 4-month-old infant with congenital glaucoma had been treated with a topical antibiotic-corticosteroid for three months . This fact complicated initial management, delaying definitive diagnosis and therapy . Topical steroid therapy in infants can produce a condition simulating congenital glaucoma . Since there is little rationale for using topical steroids to treat most infantile external disease processes, they are best avoided . When steroids are used for a prolonged period, some strategy for detecting glaucoma should be adopted.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Nov, 132(2), 497 - 504
Membrane lipid biosynthesis in Acholeplasma laidlawii B: de novo biosynthesis of saturated fatty acids by growing cells; Saito Y et al.; The de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids of 12 to 18 carbons from precursors of 5 carbons or fewer has been demonstrated in Acholeplasma laidlawii B . Radiolabeling experiments indicated that the normal primers for the synthesis of the even- and odd-chain fatty acids are acetate and propionate or valerate, respectively . Saturated straight-chain monomethyl-branched fatty acids of up to five carbons were readily utilized as primers, wheras more highly branched species and those possessing halogen substituents or unsaturation were not utilized . At primer concentrations of 1 to 3 mM, up to 80% of the total cellular lipid fatty acids were derived from exogenous primer . The mean chain length of the exogenous primer-derived fatty acids rose with increasing primer incorporation for methyl-branched short-chain fatty acids but was invariant for propionate . The products of de novo biosynthesis varied only slightly with temperature or cholesterol supplementation, suggesting that de novo biosynthesis is not directly influenced by membrane fluidity . Cerulenin inhibited de novo biosynthesis in a fashion that suggests the presence of two beta-ketoacyl thioester synthetases, which differ in substrate chain length specificity and in susceptibility to inhibition by the antibiotic.

Circulation, 1977 Nov, 56(5), 837 - 41
The use of "fresh" unstented homograft valves for replacement of the aortic valve: analysis of 6 1/2 years experience; Thompson R et al.; Between August 1969 and January 1976, 561 patients underwent homograft replacement of the aortic valve (AVR) . Isolated AVR was performed in 339 patients, ranging in age between 18 months and 74 years . The valves were sterilized in antibiotic solution and preserved at 4 degrees C in tissue culture medium . There were 11 early deaths (3.2%) and 23 late deaths (6.8%) . Actuarial analysis showed 88% survival at 5 years and 85% at 6 years . Valve failure occurred in 13 patients (3.8%) due to prolapse of one cusp in five patients (1.5%), infective endocarditis in three and degeneration of the graft in five (1.5%) . Degenerative valve failure was encountered after the fourth year with an incidence of 3.5% of patients at risk, and occurred only in grafts from donors over the age of 70 years . Diastolic murmurs were present in 22% of patients followed up for more than one month and increased very slightly with time . The clinical result was judged to be good or excellent in approximately 90% of the surviving patients.

Obstet Gynecol, 1977 Nov, 50(5), 518 - 22
Ruptured tuboovarian abscess . Is hysterectomy necessary?
Rivlin ME, Hunt JA.
The use of conservative pelvic surgery combined with intra- and postoperative antibiotic peritoneal lavage has been evaluated in 113 women with generalized peritonitis due to ruptured tuboovarian abscess . Mortality was 7.1% and hysterectomy was only required in 3% of cases . Hormonal and menstrual functions were retained in 73.5% and the potential for future pregnancy in 42.5% . Further surgery was required in 17.5% of the patients . These results are contrasted with recent series of comparable size in which the mortality and morbidity were similar but the frequency of hysterectomy ranged from 70--100% . It is concluded that hysterectomy is not necessary in the management of ruptured tuboovarian abscess if the major source of sepsis is removed and adequate peritoneal drainage is provided by the use of lavage.

Clin Orthop, 1977 Nov-Dec, (129), 223 - 4
Septic arthritis of the hip in a hemophiliac . Report of a case; Houghton GR; Septic arthritis of the hip occurred in a 32-year-old hemophiliac with circulating Factor VIII antibodies . The clinical presentation suggested a soft tissue hematoma, but failure of early resolution with immobilization and Factor VIII replacement led to a correct diagnosis . A non-invasive method of management is essential if antibodies to Factor VIII are present . Compression and Plaster of Paris immobilization of the joint with adequate antibiotic therapy allows resolution of the infection and return to normal function . To avoid the serious complication of septic arthritis in hemophilia, expeditious treatment of all foci of infection is a necessity.

Kidney Int, 1977 Nov, 12(5), 366 - 72
Tetracycline fluorescence in uremic and primary hyperparathyroid bone; Teitelbaum SL et al.; Twenty-five patients with end-stage renal disease, nine of whom were receiving pharmacologic doses of vitamin D, and seventeen patients with primary hyperparathyroidism underwent bone biopsy following a three-day course of tetracycline administration . The mean width of the fluorescent tetracycline bands were significantly greater in the bones of patients with uremia than in those with primary hyperparathyroidism . This difference was due to wide labels present in the patients with uremia who had not been treated with vitamin D, as no differences existed in mean label widths of patients with uremia who had received this compound and the patients with primary hyperparathyroidism . Comparison of the maximum label widths distinguished not only primary hyperparathyroid patients from those with uremia, but uremic patients who had recieved vitamin D from those who had not been so treated . Quantitative microscopy of standard, nonfluorescent histologic features failed to make this latter distinction . These data are consistent with the presence of a wide zone of instantaneously fluorescing material in uremic bone following tetracycline administration, which does not relate to bone apposition occurring during antibiotic administration . This phenomenon probably represents a delay in mineral maturation which is normalized by vitamin D . Furthermore, it is apparent that the use of a continuously administered (single) tetracycline label will result in an overestimation of bone formation rates, particularly in osteomalacic states.

Vopr Pitan, 1977 Nov-Dec, (6), 64 - 7
{Presence of chlortetracycline residues in the organs and tissues of poultry}; Sheveleva SA et al.; Poultry products (meat, liver, kidneys of hens and chicken) were found to be contaminated with chlortetracycline used as a stimulant of the poultry growth . From among 603 samples examined 91 (15.1 per cent) were found to contain residual amounts of the antibiotic comprising from 0.01 to 1.0 gamma/g of the tissue . Most often the antibiotic was definable in the tissues of the kidneys (24.7 per cent), liver (19.5 per cent) and more seldom in that of the muscles (2.4 per cent) . Regular control is needed in the country over the presence of antibiotics in the products of poultry industry.

Somatic Cell Genet, 1977 Nov, 3(6), 611 - 27
Carbomycin resistance in mouse L cells; Bunn CL et al.; A mutant has been isolated from the mouse cell line LM(TK-) which is stably resistant to the macrolide antibiotic, carbomycin . Mitochondrial protein synthesis in this mutant was carbomycin resistant and chloramphenicol sensitive . Fusions between carbomycin-resistant and -sensitive cells produced hybrids, most of which were sensitive to 10 microgram/ml carbomycin . At 7.5 microgram carbomycin/ml, the average population resistance is low initially but increases with time . Carbomycin-resistant cells were enucleated and fused with carbomycin-sensitive cells under a variety of selective regimes designed to allow growth of carbomycin-resistant cytoplasmic hybrids (cybrids) . No transfer of carbomycin resistance via the cytoplasm was detected . Karyoplasts from carbomycin-resistant cells showed a low transfer of resistance to 7.5 microgram carbomycin/ml in karyoplast-cell fusions . Carbomycin resistance in this mutant is therefore most likely encoded in a nuclear gene.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Nov, 30(11), 993 - 8
Synthesis of carbon-14 and tritium labeled sagamicin; Deguchi T et al.; Sagamicin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, was labeled with tritium by means of a platinum catalyzed hydrogen exchange reaction and by carbon-14 in two biosynthetic procedures . 14C-Methyl-L-methionine was used as the radioactive precursor in these biological processes involving Micromonospora sagamiensis . The distribution of radioactivity in 14C-sagamicin and gentamicin C1 was studied by mild acid hydrolysis and Hofmann degradation . The results showed that both C- and N-methyl groups were derived from methionine . One of the biosynthetic processes involved the conversion of gentamicin into sagamicin with resting cells and labeled methionine.

Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1977 Nov-Dec, 34(6), 1331 - 41
{Current concept of chronic secretory otitis}; Avila Lozada A et al.; Excess trust in antibiotic therapy, as well as omission in paracenthesis in treating acute otitis media, are the main factors to account for the development of a new problem in the middle ear: secretory otitis media; that is, presence of liquid, usually of mucoid type, in the tympanic cavity, which constitutes the most common cause of hearing loss in children . The eustachian tube obstruction, being an important mechanical obstructive factor in this pathologic type problem, as well as recent evidence from studies, showing that the mucosa of the middle ear, suffering repeated infections, undergoes metaplasic changes, to a glandular epithelium that maintains the presence of liquid in the cavity . Stress is placed on symptoms and signs in infants and in older children as well as on the medical and surgical therapy of this entity.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Nov, 22(11), 1018 - 22
{Suppression of the damaging effect of amphotericin B on dog kidney lysosomes by amigluracyl}; Kravchenko LS et al.; The effect of amphotericin B and its combination with amigluracyl on the dog kidney lyzosomes was studied in vitro . It was found that on incubation of the lyzosomes with the antibiotic in a concentration of 1 gamma/ml the latter stimulated liberation of proteases from them . At the same time, when the lyzosomes were exposed to amphotericin B in combination with amigluracyl, a significant decrease in the rise of the proteolytic activity in the incubation medium due to the antibiotic was observed . It was found that the combined use of amphotericin B with amigluracyl resulted in an intensive inhibition of the enzyme activity; The data are indicative of the fact that amigluracyl decreases the damaging effect of the antibiotic on the dog kidney lyzosomes.

Am J Hosp Pharm, 1977 Nov, 34(11), 1208 - 24
Drug product advertising and prescribing: a review of the evidence; Smith MC; A review of the effect of advertising drug products in medical journals on the prescribing of drugs is presented . The scope of advertisiig, the content of advertising, the latent effects of advertising, the effects of advertising on prescribing, and the social costs and benefits of advertising are discussed . Advertising for antibiotic and psychotropic drug products is reviewed in some detail . It is concluded that there is inconclusive evidence that the pharmaceutical industry, through journal advertising, is persuading physicians to prescribe drugs too often or unwisely, or both . It is suggested that pharmacists study the information needs of health care practioners and provide good drug information services.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Nov, 30(11), 960 - 4
Spectinomycin modification . III Chloro-deoxy analogs; Carney RE et al.; 9-Epichloro-9-deoxy-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin (3), 9-chloro-9-deoxy-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin (7), 9-deoxy-8, 9-epimino-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin (6), and 9-epichloro-9-deoxy-spectinomycin (10) have been prepared and their structures established by proton magnetic resonance . These analogs are devoid of antibiotic activity.

J Cell Biol, 1977 Nov, 75(2 Pt 1), 483 - 9
Diffusion rates of cell surface antigens of mouse-human heterokaryons . II . Effect of membrane potential on lateral diffusion; Edidin M et al.; The rate of appearance, in a population of mouse-human heterokaryons, of cells with intermixed mouse and human surface antigens may be used to estimate the rate of lateral diffusion of the antigens in a single cell . Most heterokaryons appear to restrict diffusion of their surface antigens . These restrictions are altered by exposing either heterokaryons or their parent cells to conditions that change cell surface membrane potential . Media containing unphysiological concentrations of potassium ion, drugs, affecting the Na+,K+ ATPase, or a channel-forming antibiotic, gramicidin, all affect lateral mobility of cell surface antigens in a manner consistent with a common effect on membrane potential.

Nouv Presse Med, 1977 Oct 29, 6(36), 3317 - 9
{Rupture of an infective aneurysm of the sub-renal abdominal aorta into the inferior vena cava . One case (author's transl)}; Cormier JM et al.; An aorto-caval fistula developed in a 62-year-old woman secondary to the rupture of an infective aneurysm of the aortic bifurcation . Treatment in relation to local and, above all, general infection is discussed, emphasising the value of epiplooplasty and prolonged appropriate antibiotic therapy . However, adequate follow-up is essential in order to be able to affirm cure, recurrence of the infectious process always being possible, even late.

Acta Hepatogastroenterol (Stuttg), 1977 Oct, 24(5), 364 - 7
Brush border peptidases and arylamidases in the experimental blind loop syndrome of the rat; Mazzacca G et al.; Peptidase and arylamidase activities were assessed in purified brush borders from jejunum of rats with surgically created blind loops . The blind loop segment and the jejunum proximal and distal to the blind loop were studied . Comparable jejunal segments from control rats were also studied . The blind loop syndrome was documented by presence of macrocytic anemia . Enzyme activities were determined on purified brush borders . In rats with the blind loop syndromes enzymatic activities hydrolizing sucrose, L-Leucyl-beta-naphthylamide, L-lysyl-beta-naphthylamide, alpha-L-glutamyl-beta-naphthylamide, L-phenylalanyl-alanine and L-leucyl-glycine were significantly reduced as compared to controls (P less than 0.001) . After a short course of antibiotic therapy enzymatic activities returned to normal . Our findings suggest a reversible intestinal mucosa damage in the rat with blind loop syndrome.

J Membr Biol, 1977 Oct, 37(2), 137 - 56
Effects of nystatin on membrane conductance and internal ion activities in Aplysia neurons; Russell JM et al.; Two methods were used to study effects of the antibiotics, nystatin, on giant neurons of Aplysia . In the first method the effects of various concentrations of nystatin on the current-voltage relationship were evaluated at a fixed time after exposure to the antibiotic using a two-microelectrode voltage clamp . Nystatin increased membrane conductance in a dose-dependent manner . The dose-response relation was very steep, with little or no effect below 15 mg/liter and an effect too large to measure at concentrations greater than 30 mg/liter . Upon return to antibiotic-free solution, membrane conductance returned to pre-treatment levels within 30 minutes . The second type of experiment involved use of ion-specific microelectrodes to measure changes of intracellular univalent ion activities which attended the nystatin-induced permeability . Nystatin-induced permeability changes mainly involved univalent cations, but Cl permeability was also increased . Nystatin may therefore be used to selectively rearrange the internal ionic milieu to study the effect of such a change on membrane transport or electrical properties.

J Urol, 1977 Oct, 118(4), 525 - 8
Renal carbuncle: the use of ultrasound in its diagnosis and treatment; Goldman SM et al.; The use of ultrasound in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of 5 patients with renal abscesses is described . A spectrum of ultrasonic findings was noted, with the majority of the lesions being anechoic (3 cases) . However, a few lesions showed a mixed pattern (2 cases) . Ultrasonic aspiration of abscess fluid for culture and sensitivity obviated an operation in 1 case . For the first time, ultrasonically guided, percutaneous, indwelling catheter drainage of a renal carbuncle is reported . Since the patient had failed to respond to systemic antibiotic therapy this technique saved the patient from undergoing an operation . The clinical and ultrasonic findings in the 6 previous case reports of abscesses are reviewed.

Am J Med, 1977 Oct, 63(4), 548 - 55
A controlled study of the efficacy of granulocyte transfusions in patients with neutropenia; Vogler WR et al.; A randomized clinical trial to determine the efficacy of granulocyte transfusions in neutropenic patients with infection was conducted . Criteria for patient selection included a proved infection, a granulocyte count of less than 300/mm3, availability of a suitable donor and failure to respond to at least 72 horus of appropriate antibiotic therapy . Thirty patients were assigned at random to receive either granulocyte transfusions or to serve as a control group . Antibiotic therapy was continued in both groups . Responses were judged by the degree of diminution of infectious episodes and survival . The results showed that 11 of 13 control patients failed to respond during the period of observation, whereas 10 of 17 patients given transfusions responded . The results were statistically significantly different (p less than 0.05) . The median survival was 22.5 days in the group given transfusions (group 2) and 7.7 in the control group (group 1) (p less than 0.01) . The granulocyte transfusions were most effective in patients with hypocellular marrows who failed to recover during the period of observation . These results indicate that granulocyte transfusions are effective in the short-term control of infections in neutropenic patients.

Clin Pharmacol Ther, 1977 Oct, 22(4), 389 - 94
Effects of furosemide on glomerular filtration rate and clearance of practolol, digoxin, cephaloridine, and gentamicin; Tilstone WJ et al.; Furosemide was shown to decrease inulin clearance in 20 of 27 normal subjects . The depression in inulin clearance occurred in both water-loaded and non-water-loaded subjects . The renal clearance of practolol, but not digoxin, was reduced when furosemide was given . The average total plasma clearances of gentamicin and of cephaloridine over a 6-hr period were decreased after furosemide . The reduced clearances of the antibiotics were associated with higher plasma levels, the increase in antibiotic concentration being as much as 100% at 1 hr after an intravenous bolus injection.

Postgrad Med J, 1977 Oct, 53(624), 583 - 7
Prevention of infection in nurseries for the newborn; Keay AJ et al.; Prevention of infection in nurseries involves consideration of the design of hospitals, wards and equipment, the study of nursing and domestic procedures, the monitoring of environmental flora and the planning of antiseptic and antibiotic policies . These subjects cannot be considered in isolation from each other and are most suitably managed by a Control of Infection Committee . Ultimately the safety of infants in nurseries rests upon the degree to which each individual involved in their care pays attention to the agreed policies of general and personal hygiene.

Int Surg, 1977 Oct, 62(10), 564 - 5
Evaluation of bacteria and biliary tract diseases; Singh Z et al.; Bile specimens were taken for culture from 100 patients who had disease originating in the biliary tract . Routine cases of chronic cholecystitis with cholelithiasis were found to have a low incidence of infected bile . An acute process appears to be needed in order to produce infected bile, and an acute obstruction of the bile duct due to gallstones produced infected bile . An effort should be made to select these patients and begin antibiotic therapy as soon as possible.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Oct, 6(4), 328 - 31
Cultivation of Chlamydia trachomatis in cycloheximide-treated mccoy cells; Ripa KT et al.; An isolation technique for Chlamydia trachomatis using McCoy cells is described . In contrast to earlier techniques employing such cells, no pretreatment of the cells was used . The glutarimide antibiotic cycloheximide was added to the culture medium used for incubating the cells after infection . Cycloheximide was used at concentrations that depressed, but did not completely inhibit, the metabolism of the eucaryotic host cells . In studies on different immunotypes of C . trachomatis cultured in the yolk sac of embryonated hen eggs, the cycloheximide technique was compared with a method using pretreatment of cells with 5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine . The cycloheximide method gave greater numbers of inclusion-forming units per cover slip for all the immunotypes of trachoma-inclusion conjunctivitis agents tested, i.e., A through I . In a study of 194 cervical and urethral specimens from women, cycloheximide treatment of McCoy cells was found to be more efficient than 5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine treatment for the isolation of C . trachomatis.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Oct, 22(10), 943 - 6
{Clinical use of rubomycin in neuroblastoma in children}; Durnov LA et al.; The results of treatment of 23 children at the age of 7 months to 11 years suffering from neuroblastoma are presented; 22 patients with tumors, relapses or metastases were subjected to the treatment and 1 child was treated prophylactically after radical operation . Four patients were subjected to roentgen therapy in addition to the treatment with rubomycin . The antibiotic was administered intravenously in doses of 0.7--1.5 mg/kg in 1--3 days or daily . The caurse dose (3--12 mg/kg) was determined by the treatment efficiency and the side reactions . The objective effect was observed in 68 per cent of the patients, including the pronounced objective effect (marks 3 and 2) in 41 per cent of the cases . Leucopenia (less than 4000 cells in 1 mm3 of the blood) . thrombocytopenia, vomiting (or nousea) and changes in the ECG were registered in 20 (87 per cent), 4,9 and 2 patients respectively . When the results of the treatment were positive, repeated courses of the therapy within 1.5--2 years were carried out; 18 patients died within 4 months to 2 years after the first course of the treatment with rubomycin because of the disease development . No signs of the disease were observed in 4 children with in 3--6 years of observation.

Anat Rec, 1977 Oct, 189(2), 177 - 85
Granule release by polymorphonuclear leukocytes treated with the ionophore A23187; Sannes PL et al.; Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN's) incubate three to eight minutes at 37 degrees C in medium containing 1 X 10(-6) M of the ionophore antibiotic A23187 released their cytoplasmic granules into the extracellular medium . Transmission electron microscopy of treated cells showed microfilament bundles extending between adjacent granules within the cytoplasm and between granules and the plasma membrane . Tiny dense projections (beads) 8-12 nm in diameter were observed along segments of the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane with a periodicity of 20-30 nm . These beads were observed on the plasma membrane only in the vicinity of intra- or extracytoplasmic granules . The structural relationships of the beads with the plasma membrane microfilaments suggest they play a role in the process of ionophore-induced granule release from polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Oct, 132(1), 113 - 7
Respiratory competence of Dictyostelium discoideum spores; Kobilinksy L et al.; Analysis of the respiratory chain of spores of Dictyostelium discoideum, which lack a cyanide-sensitive respiration, indicated that cytochromes a-a3, b, and c-c1 are present at levels identical to those found in the vegetative amoebae . The specific activities of enzymes of both the respiratory chain and the citric acid cycle in the 600 x g supernatant fraction of sonically treated spores were at least as high as in similar preparations of amoebae . The activities of glutamic dehydrogenase and oligomycin-sensitive adenosine triphosphatase were reduced in the spores 30 and 56%, respectively . Intact spores appeared to lack a cyanide-sensitive respiration as a result of inadequate quantities of respiratory substrate and, more importantly, as a result of a lack of the cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide . The emergence phase of spore germination was sensitive to the antibiotic chloramphenicol, which is a specific inhibitor of mitochondrial protein synthesis . It is concluded that germination requires the early synthesis of oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and generation of respiratory substrates and one or more mitochondrially synthesized proteins.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Oct, 136(4), 469 - 74
Inhibition of the biologic effects of endotoxin on neutrophils by polymyxin B sulfate; Bannatyne RM et al.; Polymyxin B sulfate diminished the endotoxin-mediated release of human blood neutrophil lysosomal enzymes . Similarly, this antibiotic reduced the endotoxin-induced increase in the neutrophil hexose monophosphate pathway activity as measured by the release of 14CO2 from {l-14C}glucose . Although these effects were seen with therapeutically attainable levels of polymyxin B sulfate, they could not be demonstrated when the cell-endotoxin interaction preceded treatment with polymyxin B sulfate.

Gut, 1977 Oct, 18(10), 800 - 4
Myopathy in Whipple's disease; Swash M et al.; We report a patient with Whipple's disease who developed a myopathy that improved during antibiotic therapy . The muscle biopsy showed mild type 2 fibre atrophy, type 1 fibre preponderance, variability in fibre size, and changes in the myofibrillar pattern of affected fibres . Interfascicular macrophages contained PAS-positive material . With the electron microscope these macrophages contained membranous inclusions and bacillary bodies, similar to those seen in the jejunal biopsy.

Eur J Pharmacol, 1977 Sep 15, 45(2), 101 - 4
Calcium ionophores and tension production in skinned frog muscle fibers; Mobley BA; Antibiotics, X-537A and A23187, were added in micromolar concentrations to selected bathing solutions of skinned frog muscle fibers, and they were shown to affect the production of tension in the skinned fibers . Segments of skinned fibers were bathed in a buffered calcium solution with a pCa near the threshold for contraction . When a segment was moved to a lightly buffered calcium solution with a pCa higher than the threshold for contraction but one containing either antibiotic, a transient contracture of the segment resulted . if the procedure was repeated in the same segment, no contracture was produced . The results are consistent with the idea that the antibiotics function as calcium ionophores in the membrane of the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skinned fibers.

Vopr Virusol, 1977 Sep-Oct, (5), 622 - 5
{Virus and plant-host interrelationships in the presence of rifamycin}; Kovalenko AG et al.; The effect of rifamycine on the infectivity and accumulation in tissues of potato X-virus (PXV) and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) in local and systemic infections of plants was studied . High concentrations of rifamycine (50--100 microgram/ml) were found to inhibit and low (2 microgram/ml) to stimulate the infectivity of the viruses . Rifamycine reduced accumulation of PXV in isolated leaves of thornapple and growth of necrotic lesions caused by TMV on tobacco leaves . The effectiveness of the antibiotic depends on its concentration, method and time of its use and the kind of the experimental system . The activity of rifamycine towards the induced tobacco resistance to reinfection with TMV was found to be insignificant.

Biokhimiia, 1977 Sep, 42(9), 1655 - 9
{Proteolytic activity of lysosomes from dog kidney under the effect of amphotericin B in vitro}; Kravchenko LS; Amphotericin B at concentration of 0.1-1 mcg/ml is found to increase the yield of proteases from isolated dog kidney lysosomes . Further increase of amphotericin B concentration results in the decrease of proteolytic activity in the incubation medium, which is due to a considerable inactivation of proteases by high concentrations of antibiotic . Like amphotericin B, sodium deoxycholate, which is a part of many drugs, sharply inhibits the activity of enzyme, but, in contrast to the antibiotic, it almost does not release proteases from lysosomes . It is suggested that early described degradation of proteins of plasmic membranes and chromatin in dog kidney cells under the injection of amphotericin B is a result of the damage of lysosome membranes by the antibiotic.

Agents Actions, 1977 Sep, 7(3), 341 - 6
Toxicological evaluation of imipramine in combination with adriamycin and strophanthin; Zbinden G et al.; Chronic oral administration of imipramine to rats caused characteristic changes of the electrocardiogram (ECG), i.e . prolongation of the PR interval, widening of the QRS complex, and increase in T-wave voltage . The cardiotoxic anthracycline antibiotic adriamycin induced dose-dependent widening of the QRS complex . This effect on intraventricular conduction was not enhanced in rats receiving both drugs . The high adriamycin dose (5 x 4 mg/kg) abolished imipramine-induced prolongation of the PR interval and T-wave elevation . This was not seen with the low adriamycin dose (20 x 1 mg/kg) . Imipramine prolonged survival time of rats treated with toxic doses of adriamycin, but enhanced growth retardation in animals receiving the low adriamycin dose . Chronic treatment with increasing doses of strophanthin induced significant flattening of the T wave in rats with and without imipramine therapy, but did not influence the changes of the ECG or body weight gain caused by imipramine . It is concluded that the combined use of imipramine and adriamycin or strophanthin did not lead to a serious enhancement of the toxicity of the tricyclic antidepressant.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1977 Sep, (9), 94 - 6
{Effect of leukocyte cation proteins in vitro on the activity of the pathogen of meningopneumonitis}; Kokriakov VN et al.; A study was made of the influence of cation proteins from the lysosomes and nuclei of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes on the survival of the causative agent of meningopneumonia in vitro . As revealed, the greatest antibiotic activity was possessed by the nuclear histones and the low molecular basic proteins of lysosomes . Biological significance of the detected effects is discussed.

Biofizika, 1977 Sep-Oct, 22(5), 948 - 9
{Effect of valinomycin on the phase state and passive permeability for calcium ions of membranes from artificial phospholipids}; Vladimirov IuA et al.; Effect of valinomycin on passive permeability for calcium ions of liposomes from artificial phospholipids of dimiristoillecithin and dipalmitoillecithin under the conditions of thermotropic structural transitions which were controlled by means of fluorescent probe of 3-metoxibenzantron . It was found that the incorporating of valinomycin into the membrane depends on the density of phospholipid packing . The change of the physical state of phospholipids under the effect of antibiotic was correlated with the change of passive permeability of liposomes for calcium ions.

In Vitro, 1977 Sep, 13(9), 548 - 56
Toxicity of nystatin and its methyl ester toward parental and hybrid mammalian cells; Fisher PB et al.; Nystatin methyl ester (NME), the methyl ester derivative of the polyene macrolide antibiotic nystatin, is known to be effective against fungi and is now found to be relatively less toxic than the parent antibiotic nystatin (NYS) to animal cells in culture as measured by 51Cr release, cell survival at different posttreatment periods and cell growth . NYS and NME were tested on TK- mouse (B82) and hamster (B1) cells, HGPRT- mouse (RAG) cells, and on lysolecithin-fused cells selected in HAT medium and confirmed as B82-RAG and B1-RAG hybrids by chromosomal analysis plus polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of lactate dehydrogenase . NME was less toxic and caused less immediate membrane damage than NYS when tested in all five cell systems . However, differences in innate polyene sensitivity were evident between the three parental cell types . B82 and B1 cells were more resistant than RAG cells to NYS and NME . B82-RAG hybrids reflected the higher level resistance of B82 parental cells, and B1-RAG hybrids reflected the higher level resistance of B1 cells . Where one parental cell type is relatively more polyene sensitive, the use of polyenes in the future may be applicable as selective agents in cell hybridization.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Sep, 30(9), 743 - 8
Mechanism of growth inhibition by 2'-amino-2'-deoxyguanosine in Escherichia coli; Nakanishi T et al.; The mechanism of inhibition of Escherichia coli by the new nucleoside antibiotic, 2'-amino-2'-deoxyguanosine (2AG), is described . Upon the addition of 2AG, the syntheses of macromolecules continued for 15 minutes . After this lag time, protein synthesis sharply decreased, Rna synthesis slightly decreased, but DNA synthesis was not affected . Tritiated 2AG was readily incorporated into the acid-soluble fraction of cells in the form of the mono-, di- and triphosphates . In the acid-soluble fraction, radioactivity was found only in the RNA fraction . The major part of the radioactivity was found to be guanylate; only 25% existed as the nucleotide of 2AG . In resistant strains of E . coli, there was a lower degree of phosphorylating activity and less incorporation of 2AG into RNA per unit of cell mass increase . These results suggest that 2AG inhibits growth by its incorporation into RNA and the subsequent distrubance of RNA function causing a block in protein synthesis.

SSO Schweiz Monatsschr Zahnheilkd, 1977 Sep, 87(9), 915 - 20
{General medical concepts for the dental treatment of aging patients}; Rhomberg F; Patients, particularly older ones, with internal medical diseases, may be hazards for the dental treatment . Therefore, anamnestic data seem to be most important in order to uncover the hazard patient (diabetes, survived heart attacks, anticoagulation, rheumatic heart affections, hypertonics, allergies) . Local anesthesia can be another problem, because it may lead to collapse (psychogenous or from anaphylactic shock) . Focal infection, although in general overrated in its importance for the general organism, may pose some problems before heart surgery and antibiotic therapy previously may seem necessary . Finally, therapeutic consequences from emergencies in the dental office are reviewed.

J Oral Surg, 1977 Sep, 35(9), 726 - 9
Fatal mediastinitis after a dental infection; McCurdy JA Jr et al.; The pertinent features of life-threatening complications of dental infections have been briefly reviewed with particular emphasis on the alterations of the clinical features of these conditions induced by antibiotic therapy . The clinician who deals with dental infections must exercise a high index of suspicion to consistently abort the development of these complications, especially when treating debilitated patients or individuals with compromised immune functions.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Sep, 6(3), 285 - 92
Early detection of chlamydial inclusions combining the use of cycloheximide-treated McCoy cells and immunofluorescence staining; Thomas BJ et al.; Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis inclusions only 21 h after a specimen reaches the laboratory has been achieved by the combined use of cycloheximide-treated McCoy cells and immunofluorescence staining . Moreover, cells exposed to cycloheximide were more sensitive for detecting chlamydial inclusions than those pretreated by irradiation, since larger numbers of inclusions were found in the former cells . The application of this rapid and sensitive method allows a diagnosis of chlamydial infection to be made before antibiotic therapy is started . In this way, it should enable the treatment of nonspecific genital infections to be placed on a more rational basis.

J Immunol, 1977 Sep, 119(3), 877 - 82
Effects of C-reactive protein on platelet function . III . The role of cAMP, contractile elements, and prostaglandin metabolism in CRP-induced inhibition of platelet aggregation and secretion; Fiedel BA et al.; It was previously demonstrated that C-reactive protein (CRP) inhibits platelet aggregation and release reactions, activation of platelet factor 3, and platelet-dependent clot retraction . Multiple considerations including selective inhibition of secondary wave aggregation suggested that CRP exerted its inhibitory effects by interfering with the release of endogenous ADP . In the present investigation, CRP was found by direct assay to inhibit the release of endogenous ADP and/or serotonin concomitant with inhibition of platelet aggregation stimulated by ADP, epinephrine, thrombin, and AHGG . CRP did not induce an increase in the basal level of platelet cAMP, suggesting independence of a direct effect upon this mediator system . Furthermore, CRP did not inhibit the aggregation and secretion induced by the antibiotic ionophore A23187, suggesting the absence of a direct effect upon the activation of platelet contractile elements . By contrast, CRP did inhibit both thrombin-induced release of malondialdehyde, a prostaglandin endoperoxide nonprostanoate endproduct, and platelet aggregation induced by the prostaglandin endoperoxide precursor arachidonic acid . These data, therefore, raise the possibility that CRP inhibits platelet reactivities by interfering with an aspect of porstaglandin metabolism, and that this occurs subsequent to the hydrolytic accumulation of arachidonic acid and prior to the movement of calcium from the platelet dense tubules . These studies support the concept that CRP serves to modulate platelet reactivities during acute inflammatory reactions.

Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 1977 Aug 26, 217(3), 289 - 96
{A proposition for mutual genesis of hearing loss, recruitment and ear murmurs in the case of acute inner ear alterations (author's transl)}; Tonndorf J; Pathological changes on the stereocilia of cochlear hair cells observed by Bredberg et al . (1972) after noise exposure and in the early stages of antibiotic intoxication are suggested to cause a mechanical decoupling between the tectorial membrane and the hair cells . During acute episodes of endolymphatic hydrops a similar decoupling is suggested to occur, although for different reasons . Harris (1968) calculated the noise generated at the input to the hair cells on account of the Brownian motion of air particles in front of the tympanic membrane . For tight coupling, he obtained a level of (--)22 dB re auditory threshold . For loose coupling this noise was found to increase to +33 dB, i.e., for 55 dB . These two independent findings are used to account for the combination of hearing loss, recruitment, and tinnitus observed with the inner-ear pathologies mentioned . The proposed hypothesis is in good agreement with clinical observations.

Int J Cancer, 1977 Aug 15, 20(2), 296 - 302
A mouse leukemia cell mutant resistant to blasticidin S; Kuwano M et al.; After nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis we isolated from mouse leukemia L5178Y cells a mutant cell (Bla-R) resistant to blasticidin S, an inhibitor of protein synthesis . Neither growth nor leucine incorporation into hot-acid insoluble fraction of Bla-R cell was inhibited by 5 to 20 microgram/ml blasticidin S, which almost completely blocked protein synthesis as well as growth of the parental L5178Y cells . However, other inhibitors such as fusidic acid, cycloheximide, ricin D or L-asparaginase blocked protein synthesis in Bla-R cells to the same extent as in L5178Y cells . Protein synthesis in vitro using S-30 extracts from the parental cell line L5178Y was almost completely blocked in the presence of the antibiotic, while no inhibition by blasticidin S occurred when S-30 extracts -rom Bla-R mutant cells were used . Protein synthesis assays were made by using the S100 fraction from rat liver together with ribosomes from either L5178Y cells or Bla-R cells . Blasticidin S inhibited protein synthesis when ribosomes were derived from L5178Y cells, but not from Bla-R mutant.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1977 Aug 12, 102(32), 1155 - 60
{Immunopathological findings in herpes gestationis (author's transl)}; Scherer R et al.; Herpes gestationis occurred in a 26-year-old woman during the last weeks of her second pregnancy . Within 8 days of the delivery the disease had progressed to such an extent that systemic treatment became necessary . Whereas pre-delivery treatment had consisted exclusively of local desinfection, and steroid and antibiotic ointments, treatment after delivery also included systemic use of prednisolone . After treatment for 3 weeks the skin changes had disappeared except for minimal pigmentation . Using immunofluorescent microscopy a complement activation in the dermo-epidermal junction and in adjacent clinically healthy skin could be demonstrated: There were massive linear depositions of C3, C1q and C4 . In the basal membrane of the epidermis IgM could be demonstrated as an unusual finding . Further immunopathological features were found in the form of an immune complex vasculitis which could be shown during the active phase of the disease.

Biochemistry, 1977 Aug 9, 16(16), 2641 - 7
Bleomycin-DNA interactions: fluorescence and proton magnetic resonance studies; Chien M et al.; The interaction of bleomycin A2 with DNA has been examined by fluorescence spectroscopy and proton magnetic resonance techniques . Fluorescence bands observed at 353 and 405 nm in the spectrum of bleomycin were assigned to the bithiazole and 4-aminopyrimidine rings, respectively . Quenching of bithiazole fluorescence by DNA was used to determine apparent equilibrium constants for the complex which, in 2.5 mM tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer, pH 8.4, are 1.2 X 10(5) M-1 for bleomycin and 1.4 X 10(5) M-1 for tripeptide S, a partial acid hydrolysis product of the antibiotic . Uner these conditions, one molecule of bleomycin binds for every five to six base pairs in DNA . In the proton magnetic resonance spectrum of bleomycin, resonances emanating from the bithiazole rings and dimethylsulfonium groups are preferentially broadened and reduced in intensity in the presence of DNA, suggesting that these moieties bind most tightly to the polymer.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Aug, 30(8), 639 - 43
Streptomyces laurentii, a new species producing thiostrepton; Trejo WH et al.; The taxonomic description of Streptomyces laurentii, a new species related to but distinguishable from the S . fradiae group, is presented . This new species produces thiostrepton but bears no taxonomic relationship to the known producers of the antibiotic: S . azureus, S . hawaiiensis, and Streptomyces X-14b.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Aug, 22(8), 708 - 12
{Production of carbon-labelled rubomycin by means of biosynthesis}; Paranosenkova VI et al.; The authors obtained 14C-rubomycin biosynthetically with the use of 14C-acetate, 14C-propionate and methionine (methyl-14C) as the label source . It was shown that radiochemically pure 14C-rubomycin may be obtained from a non-purified preparation of radioactive glucose, i . e . a preparation obtained by hydrolysis of chlorella cells grown on a nitrogen-free medium in an atmosphere of 14CO2 . It was found that the use of soyabeen meal + glyserol medium for synthesis of the labeled rubomycin from 14C-glucose resulted in a two-fold increase in the specific activity of the antibiotic.

Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1977 Aug, 125(8), 774 - 6
{Screening of newborns for argininosuccinase deficiency . First experiences in Austria (author's transl)}; Schon R et al.; In 1973, the screening for argininosuccinase deficiency was taken up by the Austrian Metabolic Disorder Screening Program using Murphey's enzyme auxotroph test . Amongst 293802 tested newborn infants, two cases of this disorder could be identified, which under protein restricted diet had a normal development until now . Inhibition zones due to antibiotic or desinfectant contamination do not disturb test evaluation in contrast to the bacterial inhibition assay (Guthrie test) . The frequency of "false positive" results is small (0.05%) as well as additional work for this test procedure . So screening for argininosuccinase deficiency seems to be a useful completion of a neonatal blood screening program.

Urology, 1977 Aug, 10(2), 150 - 1
Testicular torsion in adults: plea for its consideration early in clinical evaluation of acute scrotum; Tolia BM et al.; A case of a thirty-eight-year-old man with acute scrotum is presented . Past history of transient episodes of testicular pain, negative findings on urinalysis, and lack of symptomatic relief despite antibiotic therapy plus a high index of suspicion helped establish the correct diagnosis of testicular torsion . A long delay between onset of symptoms and surgical exploration resulted in testicular infarction . A plea is made to consider torsion of the testis even in the adult with scrotal pain when all of the classic clinical criteria of epididymitis are not present.

J Lab Clin Med, 1977 Aug, 90(2), 259 - 65
Evaluation of tetracycline in the neutrophil chemotactic response; Majeski JA et al.; The chemotactic response of human neutrophils was examined in the presence of tetracycline . High concentrations of the antibiotic decreased chemotaxis in vitro but did not have an inhibitory effect on the ability of neutrophils to respond to the chemotactic components of human complement . Mixtures of human serum and endotoxin had decreased chemotactic ability when they were preincubated with various concentrations of tetracycline, the decrease being concentration dependent . This inhibitory effect of tetracycline on the chemotactic response of human neutrophils was not time dependent . Eight different tetracycline compounds were found to produce similar inhibitory effects on the chemotactic response of human neutrophils in vitro . The results indicated that tetracycline either inhibits the generation of neutrophil chemotactic factors of human serum or binds with the chemotactic factors after their generation to cause inactivation.

Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1977 Aug, 145(2), 179 - 82
The value of laparotomy in staging of lymphoma; Dent DM et al.; Seventy-one patients with lymphoma underwent staging laparotomy . Fifty of the patients had Hodgkin's disease and the remainder, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma . One patient died from pulmonary embolism on the tenth postoperative day, one required temporary assisted ventilation, one required reoperation for hemorrhage and six patients had infectious complications which responded to appropriate antibiotic therapy . Despite extensive noninvasive procedures, including bone marrow trephine biopsy and lymphangiography, in approximately 30% of the patients, the disease was restaged as a result of the operation . Since primary management of these diseases is critically dependent upon accurate staging, we conclude that, at the present time, this procedure is indispensible for proper management, as it contributes information not available from other currently used investigational techniques.

J Pediatr, 1977 Aug, 91(2), 211 - 6
Pancreatitis in children and adolescents; Jordan SC et al.; Normal serum amylase values were established for the pediatric age group (47.7 +/- 28.6 mg/dl); these are higher than previously stated . Average serum amylase values increased with increasing age (r = 0.55) . The three commonest causes of pancreatitis in 54 patients studied were drug induced (16), idiopathic (10), and traumatic (7) . Prednisone was the most frequently implicated drug . Midepigastric pain and vomiting were the presenting symptoms in 75% of the patients . Serum amylase values were more than three times normal in 63.8% of patients; 17% of patients presented with normal serum amylase values . The typical patient received intravenous therapy for 5.4 days and was hospitalized for 9.4 days . Treatment with antibiotic and anticholinergic drugs did not alter mortality or morbidity rates . Mortality rate for acute interstitial pancreatitis was 17.5%, and for acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis was 86%.

Pharmazie, 1977 Aug-Sep, 32(8-9), 486 - 8
Photometric extraction method for determination of cefalotin; Papazova P et al.; A selective, accurate and precise photometric method for the determination of cefalotin (1) is proposed . The method is based on a preliminary hydrolysis of the antibiotic in a strong sulphuric acid medium at 100 degrees C for 15 min . The 2-thienylacetic acid (2) formed as degradation product is determined photometrically with ninhydrin in strongly acidic solution . In these conditions 2 forms a yellow reaction product, which is extracted with chloroform and the absorbance measured at 423 nm . The reaction is practically specific as none of the initial substances used in the preparation of cefalotin or of its degradation products (except 2) reacts with ninhydrin under these conditions . The only other antibiotic which also gives a coloured product with ninhydrin in this strongly acidic medium is cefalexin . The latter however does not interfere at its coloured product absorbs at 520 nm . The method is simple, fast and with sufficient accuracy and precision (coefficient of variation 0,57--0,88% and relative error 0,41--0,64%).

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1977 Aug, 74(2), 317 - 21
The glutaraldehyde-treated heterograft valve: some engineering observations; Thomson FJ et al.; Two commercially prepared, glutaraldehyde-treated porcine heterograft valves mounted on flexible stents have been tested in a pulsatile-flow water tunnel . Measurements of the radial deflections of the stent posts have been made for various applied pressures across the valve . A previous claim of 90 percent reduction in leaflet stress as a result of stent flexibility is of doubtful validity because the measurement technique used was inappropriate for the magnitude of strain involved . Photographs of the valve at various steady forward flow rates show that the leaflets do not open as readily as the antibiotic-treated homograft valve.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Aug, 22(8), 756 - 8
{Use of carminomycin on adult patients with acute leukemias}; Fainshtein FE et al.; The data on the clinical trials of karminomycin, a new antitumor antibiotic are presented . The drug was used in the treatment of 46 adult patients with leukemia . Karminomycin was used in primary inducing therapy and treatment of relapses . The results of the trials showed that karminomycin had a definite therapeutic activity in treatment of acute myeloblast leukemia at various stages of the process . A rapid effect of the antibiotic provided its use in emergency cases with rapidly progressing variants of the disease.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Aug, 22(8), 734 - 9
{Effect of carminomycin on the immunological reactivity of the body}; Gol'dberg ED et al.; The morpho-functional state of the muscle lymphoid tissue of mice treated with karmionmycin (LD50, 1.1 mg/kg) was studied experimentally . Development of a number of changes evident of the cell disorganization in the lymphoid tissue was shown . The cytological shifts in the thymus and spleen were reversible, while the destructive period in the strumous gland was more prolonged . The morpho-structural normalization of the spleen did not coincide with reduction of its immunological function . The studies on the karminomycin effect on the kinetics of the primary immune response showed dependence of the antibiotic effect on the temporal ratio between the antigenic stimulus and the drug administration . The antibiotic had no effect on the inductive phase of the primary immune response but significantly suppressed its productive phase . On reproduction of the secondary immune response, a decrease in the content of the antibody-forming cells in the spleen was observed, production of the circulating antibodies remaining unchanged.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1977 Aug, 74(8), 3386 - 90
Influence of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine on total protein synthesis and on differential gene expression of unique proteins in the rodent malarial parasite Plasmodium berghei; Ilan J et al.; The antibiotic 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine is a drug with a broad spectrum of activity against animal viruses, with little or no effect on mammalian cells, when administered in vivo or in vitro . Here we report that the antibiotic markedly inhibited the incorporation of {35S}methionine into malarial protein . Inhibition was apparent when the parasites were either exposed to the drug in vivo during the course of infection or incubated with the drug in vitro . Moreover, the antibiotic induced pronounced changes in the spectrum of proteins synthesized . Some proteins that are prominently apparent in the control disappear from the drug-treated parasites; others specific for drug-treated parasites appear, indicating changes in the commitment for gene expression as manifested by the appearance of the final protein product . Proteins synthesized were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels; the first dimension used isoelectric focusing in cylinder gels and the second dimension used electrophoresis in a lithium dodecyl sulfate slab gel . Proteins were visualized by radioautography.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Aug, 131(2), 405 - 12
Mutations of temperature sensitivity in R plasmid pSC101; Hashimoto-Gotoh T et al.; Temperature-sensitive (Ts) mutant plasmids isolated from tetracycline resistance R plasmid pSC101 were investigated for their segregation kinetics and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication . The results fit well with the hypothesis that multiple copies of a plasmid are distributed to daughter cells in a random fashion and are thus diluted out when a new round of plasmid DNA replication is blocked . When cells harboring type I mutant plasmids were grown at 43 degrees C in the absence of tetracycline, antibiotic-sensitive cells were segregated after a certain lag time . This lag most likely corresponds to a dilution of plasmids existing prior to the temperature shift . The synthesis of plasmid DNA in cells harboring type I mutant plasmids was almost completely blocked at 43 degrees C . It seems that these plasmids have mutations in the gene(s) necessary for plasmid DNA replication . Cells haboring a type II mutant plasmid exhibited neither segregation due to antibiotic sensitivity nor inhibition of plasmid DNA replication throughout cultivation at high temperature . It is likely that the type II mutant plasmid has a temperature-sensitive mutation in the tetracycline resistance gene . Antibiotic-sensitive cells haboring type III mutant plasmids appeared at high frequency after a certain lag time, and the plasmid DNA synthesis was partially suppressed at the nonpermissive temperature . They exhibited also a pleiotrophic phenotype, such as an increase of drug resistance level at 30 degrees C and a decrease in the number of plasmid genomes in a cell.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1977 Aug, 74(8), 3264 - 7
Conformational alteration of protein synthesis elongation factor EF-Tu by EF-Ts and by kirromycin; Blumenthal T et al.; Alterations of the structure of EF-Tu have been investigated by using the rate of EF-Tu cleavage by trypsin as a conformational probe . The presence of EF-Ts bound to EF-Tu results in a 10-fold increase in the cleavage rate . The antibiotic kirromycin, which inhibits protein synthesis by virtue of its interaction with EF-Tu, mimics this effect of EF-Ts . Both kirromycin and EF-Ts also facilitate the exchange of free GDP with GDP bound to EF-Tu . The results suggest that EF-Ts and kirromycin induce a similar conformational change in EF-Tu, thereby "opening" the guanine nucleotide binding site . The trypsin-cleaved EF-Tu still can bind GDP and EF-Ts and can function in Qbeta replicase, but it no longer spontaneously renatures following denaturation in urea.

Infect Immun, 1977 Aug, 17(2), 344 - 9
Commitment to deoxyribonulceic acid synthesis and the cell cycle in endotoxin-stimulated murine spleen cells; Axelrod BJ et al.; Events associated with endotoxin-induced mitogenesis in murine spleen cells were investigated . Commitment to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, the onset of DNA synthesis, and phases of cell cycle were timed . Increased levels of DNA synthesis in murine spleen cells stimulated with endotoxin were observed 12 to 16 h after the addition of the mitogen . The total cell cycle time of stimulated B-cells was 11 to 14 h . The S-phase was 8 h . The G2-phase was 1 h, and the combined M-plus G1-phase of cycling cells was 2 to 5 h . A 1- to 4-h exposure to lipopolysaccharide elicited a significant increase in DNA synthesis . Progressively longer exposures to lipopolysaccharide, up to 24 h, produced further increases in first-cycle DNA synthesis . Polymyxin B, when added with endotoxin to cultures from the outset, inhibited first-cycle DNA synthesis . However, if addition of the antibiotic was delayed, progressive increases in first-cycle dna synthesis were observed . These data indicate a heterogeneity among B-cells in their responsiveness to endotoxin.

J Cell Physiol, 1977 Aug, 92(2), 265 - 74
A cell membrane alteration specifically induced by SV40 transformation; Lago C et al.; Transformation of mouse 3T3 cells by SV40 results in a specific membrane modification which renders cells resistant to the killing action of the lipophilic antibiotic Amphotericin B . This alteration is under genetic cellular control and is specific for SV40 transformation since transformation with polyoma or mouse sarcoma viruses does not confer resistance to the antibiotic . Analogous resistance is induced by SV40 transformation of primary human fibroblast cells . The acquired resistance is not due to decreased binding of Amphotericin B and is partially reversed if cells are grown in the presence of cholesterol . The results are interpreted as a specific change of sterol structure of the membrane or the loss of a minor cholesterol fraction responsible for the killing action of the antibiotic.

J Cell Biol, 1977 Aug, 74(2), 441 - 52
The sites of synthesis of the principal thylakoid membrane polypeptides in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii; Chua NH et al.; The sites of synthesis of the major thylakoid membrane polypeptides have been studied in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by pulse labeling of cells with {14C}acetate in the presence of inhibitors specific for chloroplast and cytoplasmic protein synthesis . The labeled membrane polypeptides were separated by an improved method of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gradient gel electrophoresis, and autoradiographs were made of the dried gels . The results demonstrate that of the 33 polypeptides resolved in the gels, at least nine are made on chloroplast ribosomes . Two of these (polypeptides 2 and 6) are associated with the reaction centers of photosystems I and II . Another polypeptide (polypeptide 5) appears from genetic data to be coded by chloroplast DNA . Experiments with a mutant whose chloroplast ribosomes are resistant to spectinomycyn (spr-u-1-6-2) show that polypeptides whose synthesis takes place on chloroplast ribosomes are made in the presence of spectinomycin in the mutant although their synthesis is blocked by this antibiotic in wild type cells.

Pediatr Ann, 1977 Aug, 6(8), 514 - 25
Respiratory complications of primary hypogammaglobulinemia; Lischner HW et al.; The primary hypogammaglobulinemias, with onset of acute and recurrent bacterial infections in infancy and early childhood, consist of a heterogeneous group of largely genetically determined antibody deficiency states including that congenital sex-linked form, Bruton's agammaglobulinemia . Patients with panhypogammaglobulinemia require continuous gamma globulin therapy; in spite of this, they continue to develop infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract in the form of otitis media, mastoiditis, sinusitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, tracheobranchitis, or pneumonia of a chronic and recurrent nature . The frequency and severity of these infections vary from patient to patient . These episodes all respond to antibiotic administration, often with a prolonged course . Many patients develop permanent pulmonary sequelae in the form of atelectasis, bronchiectasis, and pulmonary fibrosis . Most of these changes involve focal areas of the lower right middle and left lingular lobes . Occasionally, the patient may develop generalized bronchiectasis but without hilar lymphadenopathy . Management emphasizes early detection, early institution of gamma globulin treatment, and administration of appropriate antibiotic therapy at the earliest onset of infection . Good pulmonary toilet, nutritional care, emotional care, and a loving home environment are of utmost importance . These patients should be followed in a medical center with the joint effort of specialists in various disciplines.

Pflugers Arch, 1977 Jul 29, 370(1), 77 - 80
Determination of oxytetracycline induced fluorescence and autofluorescence as an indicator of age and sex differences in rat femur; Dekanic D et al.; Simple and rapid methods for the determination and detection of autofluorescence and oxytetracycline (OTC) induced fluorescence in powdered and intact bone (without previous chemical extraction of the antibiotic) were used to estimate age and sex related differences in the rat femur . The autofluorescence always had collagen characteristics; it increased with age and was not sex dependent . The intensity of OTC induced fluorescence decreased with age, being higher in males than in females . In the oldest animals, however a slight increase in the fluorescence intensity was observed, and sex differences disappeared . The spectrofluorometric measurements of intact femora indicate a higher OTC retention on the bone surface of young animals and adult males but not in adult females . The results indicate that the determination of OTC retention in the bone using our quantitative fluorometric method and the detection of OTC deposition at bone surface using a spectrofluorometric technique can be a sensitive and inexpensive tool for experimental studies of bone changes in physiological and pathological conditions.

Biochemistry, 1977 Jul 26, 16(15), 3406 - 12
Ficellomycin and feldamycin; inhibitors of bacterial semiconservative DNA replication; Reusser F; The two peptide-like antibiotics ficellomycin and feldamycin impair semiconservative DNA replication but not DNA repair synthesis in bacteria . Specifically both antibiotics cause the accumulation of a 34S DNA species in toluenized Escherichia coli cells which lacks the capability of being integrated into larger DNA pieces and eventually the complete bacterial chromosome . Novobiocin, a known inhibitor of replicative DNA synthesis, was investigated for comparative purposes . The action of this latter antibiotic differs from the ones exerted by ficellomycin and feldamycin in the novobiocin appears to block an event associated with the initiation of Okazaki fragments . The fact that novobiocin impairs DNA gyrase suggests that this enzyme plays an essential role during the initiation of Okazaki pieces.

Histochemistry, 1977 Jul 18, 53(1), 16 - 24
Histochemical studies of noradrenergic innervation of the liver in untreated and daunomycin-pretreated guinea-pigs; Mazzanti L et al.; The pattern of noradrenergic innervation of guinea-pig hepatic tissue was examined by using the fluorescence method of Falk et al . (1962) . The distribution of monoaminergic nerve fibers in untreated animals was clearly evident at the level of the portal vein, the hepatic artery and the bile duct . The hepatic artery was the most densely innervated . Mast cells and Kupffer cells had no connection with the adrenergic fibres . In daunomycin-pretreated animals, the hepatic cells appeared to be deep red in colour owing to the presence of the antibiotic . Some noradrenergic nervous fibres, never previously described, were unexpectedly distinguishable in the liver parenchyma against the background red colour of daunomycin-pretreated tissue . They appeared to be contiguous to the hepatocytes and were of different shapes: comma-like, V-like, or like a string of pearls . The nature and the functional role of these elements is briefly discussed.

Z Gesamte Inn Med, 1977 Jul 15, 32(14), Suppl 214 - 8
{Chemotherapeutic strategy and chemotherapeutic regimes}; Rische H; The problems arisen from plasmid mediated drug-resistance can only be solved by a chemotherapeutic drug policy with due regard to the different ecological processes . The antibiotic policy has the following purpose: 1 . Estimation and prognosis of the use of chemotherapeutics in the therapy and prophylaxis of man and animals, the animal production, other paratherapeutic fields of application (feed-stuff industry, cosmetics etc.); 2 . methods for the limitation of the spreading of infectious drug resistance; 3 . production and import of chemotherapeutic drugs (inclusively antibiotics); 4 . development of new drugs especially for their different application in medicine, veterinarian medicine and other fields . The drug policy is based upon the surveillance of infectious drug resistance and drug monitoring (effectiveness, economy, and side effects of the drugs).

Eur J Biochem, 1977 Jul 15, 77(2), 409 - 17
Limited proteolysis of elongation factor Tu from Escherichia coli, Multiple intermediates; Jacobson GR et al.; Limited proteolysis of native elongation factor Tu (Mr 44 000) by trypsin occurs in at least three distinct steps . The first intermediate arises through cleavage at a site about 65 residues from the amino-terminal end of the protein . It is functionally active {Jacobson, G . R . & Rosenbusch, J . P . (1976) Biochemistry, 15, 5105-5110} and is partially protected from further degradation by the antibiotic kirromycin . The second step converts this intermediate to one of similar size (Mr 37 000) which now is partially inactivated . It is likely to be identical with the intermediate described by Arai et al . {(1976) J . Biochem . Tokyo, 79, 69-83} . In the third step, the partially inactive intermediate is cleaved without any apparent change in the functional properties tested . The resulting two trypsin-resistant fragments have molecular weights of 24 000 and 14 000, and remain associated under nondenaturing conditions . When either of these polypeptides, after isolation in 8 M urea, is allowed to renature, no significant reactivation of GDP binding is observed unless the isolated fragments are mixed before renaturation . These results show that the two fragments are structurally and functionally interdependent.

Science, 1977 Jul 8, 197(4299), 165 - 7
Adriamycin: the role of lipid peroxidation in cardiac toxicity and tumor response; Myers CE et al.; The antitumor antibiotic, adriamycin, induces severe cardiac toxicity associated with peroxidation of cardiac lipids in mice . Both this lipid peroxidation and cardiac toxicity of adriamycin are reduced by prior treatment of the animals with the free radical scavenger tocopherol . Such treatment with tocopherol does not, however, alter the magnitude or duration of the adriamycin-induced suppression of DNA synthesis in P388 ascites tumor, nor does it diminish the antitumor responsiveness of P388 ascites tumor . These results suggest that adriamycin has at least two mechanisms of tissue damage: one, which involves lipid peroxidation, is blocked by tocopherol and results in cardiac toxicity; the other, which involves binding to DNA, is not antagonized by tocopherol and is responsible for tumor response.

JAMA, 1977 Jul 4, 238(1), 40 - 2
The spectrum of vitamin K deficiency; Ansell JE et al.; The coagulopathy induced by vitamin K deficiency commonly results from our lack of awareness of the clinical setting associated with vitamin K deficiency . Thirteen cases are reviewed to illustrate the clinical correlates most frequently observed . Dietary deficiency was always present, but concomitant antibiotic therapy was not an absolute requirement . The postoperative patient is at high risk, as is the patient with cancer or renal failure . Abnormal bleeding was common, but significant hemorrhage occurred only in postoperative patients . Factor assays were helpful and occasionally necessary to make the diagnosis, but a therapeutic trial with parenteral vitamin K was often enough to provide the right diagnosis . Greater awareness of this deficiency syndrome is necessary to avoid the serious morbidity that often results.

Angiology, 1977 Jul, 28(7), 487 - 91
Osteomyelitis following translumbar aortography; Wohns R et al.; Osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine occurred in a patient following translumbar aortography . Treatment included surgical drainage and systemic antibiotic therapy . Fever and progresive neurological dysfunction were relieved . There is controversy about the safety and efficacy of translumbar versus percutaneous transfemoral aortography . The translumbar route, is not the primary approach, is a reasonable alternative; bleeding complications are infrequent and infection is rare.

Farmaco {Sci}, 1977 Jul, 32(7), 471 - 81
Polymorphism of rifampicin; Pelizza G et al.; The antibiotic rifampicin shows polymorphism . Two crystalline forms, an amorphous form and four solvates (S I and S II from water; S III from tetrahydrofuran; S IV from carbon tetachloride) have been isolated and characterized by thermal analysis, infrared and X-ray powder spectroscopy . The functional I.R . bands have been interpreted as indicative of some structural features involved in the polymorphism: the intramolecular H-bonds between C23--OH and O=C--O--C25, C4--OH and O=C11, and C1--OH and O=C15 . The relative physical stabilities of the various forms are reported.

Br J Dis Chest, 1977 Jul, 71(3), 213 - 4
Cellulitis in complicated pneumococcal pneumonia; McGavin CR et al.; Serious complications of pneumococcal pneumonia have become uncommon . This has been attributed to decline in pneumococcal infection (van Roy et al . 1971; Foy et al . 1975), but in this country it is more likely to be due to effective antibiotic therapy . We report a case of pneumococcal pneumonia with severe complications (including a very unusual one) which probably arose through antibiotic failure.

Gene, 1977 Jul, 1(5-6), 389 - 95
Distamycin A and its analogs as agents for blocking of endo R . EcoRI activity; Kuroyedov AA et al.; Distamycin A (Dst) and its analogs protect the lambda phage DNA from cleavage with endoR . EcoRI and show selective affinity for different recognition sites of endoR . EcoRI on this DNA producing enlarged DNA fragments of various composition and length . The affinity of the antibiotic for DNA is influenced by the number of pyrrol carboxamide units in Dst molecule and does not strongly depend on the substitution of the N-methyl group by the N-propyl one . Since in the complex with DNA the antibiotics of the Dst type are localized in its minor groove a conclusion can be made that the minor groove of DNA is needed for the interaction of the restriction endonuclease with DNA.

J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino), 1977 Jul-Aug, 18(4), 353 - 6
Aortic mycotic abdominal aneurysm involving all visceral branches: excision and dacron graft replacement; James EC et al.; A 41 year-old patient with an aortic mycotic abdominal aneurysm involving all visceral branches is presented . Excision and dacron graft replacement involving limbs to the coeliac axis, superior mesenteric, and both renal arteries was accomplished successfully . The rationale for employing dacron material in infected tissue is reviewed . In our opinion, an integral aspect of its usage includes the debridement or removal of the aneurysm in conjunction with prolonged antibiotic coverage postoperatively . The patient is alive and free of apparent infection one year following surgery.

Minerva Stomatol, 1977 Jul-Sep, 26(3), 119 - 21
{A case of difficult diagnostic interpretation}; Piazzini E et al.; Left submandibular adenophlegmon was initially attributed to local dental disease . Recurrence of the symptoms when this was corrected, however, showed that E . coli was responsible, and suitalbe antibiotic management quickly led to a complete cure.

Biokhimiia, 1977 Jul, 42(7), 1278 - 84
{The influence of chloramphenicol on synthesis of ribosomes and beta and beta' subunits of RNA polymerase}; Kliachko EV et al.; The effect of low chloramphenicol concentrations on the biosynthesis of RNA, ribosomal proteins and RNA polymerase in E . coli CP 78 cells was studied . When protein synthesis was decreased by 50--70%, 14C-uracil incorporation in DNA increased twice, the rRNA synthesis being stimulated preferentially . In the presence of antibiotic the RNA/DNA ratio increased from 5,7 to 13,3 . The differential rate of r-protein synthesis increased simultaneously with the stimulation of rRNA synthesis, so that alphar rises from 0,083 (without antibiotic) to 0,122 and 0,161 at 5 and 10 microgram/ml of chloramphenicol, respectively . The inhibition of protein synthesis by chloramphenicol is accompanied also by the increase of differential rate of synthesis of beta and beta' subunits of RNA polymerase . In the presence of 5 and 10 microgram/ml of chloramphenicol, alphap increased from 0,90% to 1,44 and 1,57%, respectively . It is assumed that the genes for beta and beta' subunits of RNA polymerase as the ribosomal genes are negatively controlled by guanosine tetraphosphate which intracellular concentration decreased in the presence of chloramphenicol . The known data on the influence of streptolydigin and rifampicin on the RNA polymerase biosynthesis are discussed in view of proposed hypothesis.

Proc R Soc Med, 1977 Jul, 70(7), 456 - 9
Cavernous sinus thrombosis revisited; Yarington CT Jr; In summary, cavernous sinus thrombosis is still with us . Patients now survive the disease more often than not, and therapy and diagnosis are reasonably clear cut . An increasing array of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been balanced by an increasing army of antibiotics . The controversy over anticoagulation has not changed since reviewed by Parsons (1967) . Ancillary measures remain more of value in diagnosis than in therapy . It is a disease primarily diagnosed by physical signs and symptoms, which requires prompt treatment . In our modern age of computerization and laboratory-based medical care, cavernous sinus thrombosis demands the diagnostic skill of the clinician, whose prompt ministrations should usually yield a favourable result.

J Pharm Sci, 1977 Jul, 66(7), 1052 - 4
Physiologically active substances from marine sponges IV: Heterocyclic compounds; Chib JS et al.; Several guanidine compounds were synthesized by the reaction of acid chlorides of thiophene and furan with guanidines . Some of these compounds showed antibiotic and cytotoxic activities . Series of pyrrole compounds were synthesized and found to have significant antibiotic activity.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Jul, 131(1), 174 - 8
Incompatibility and surface exclusion properties of H1 and H2 plasmids; Taylor DE et al.; Plasmids of the H incompatibility group showed two types of surface exclusion and incompatibility interactions . Strong incompatibility and surface exclusion were evident between plasmids within the same subgroup, and recombination frequently occurred between these plasmids after antibiotic selection for the presence of two plasmids in the same cell . Weaker interactions were seen between plasmids of the different subgroups, H1 and H2, and recombination was not detected . Incompatibility between H1 and H2 plasmids led preferentially to the loss of the H1 plasmid, irrespective of the order of entry of the plasmids . These data are consistent with the hypothesis that incompatibility is negatively controlled.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1977 Jul, 44(1), 50 - 3
Tetracycline-induced extrinsic discoloration of the dentition; Vogel RI et al.; Tetracycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, is known to cause intrinsic discoloration of the dentition . A case is being presented of extrinsic discoloration of the teeth associated with the use of this drug . This is believed to be the first such reported case in the literature . Possible mechanisms of how tetracycline may cause extrinsic tooth discoloration are discussed.

Ukr Biokhim Zh, 1977 Jul-Aug, 49(4), 80 - 4
{Differences in transcription of nuclear RNA from rat liver with normal and malignant growth}; Polishchuk AS et al.; Total nuclear RNA was isolated under conditions of actinomycin D blocking ion-exchange chromatography on kieselguhr columns with methylated albumin detected differences in transpiration of rat liver nuclear RNA with intensive normal and malignant growth . Actinomycin D in doses blocking the appearance of peculiar proteins in the blood serum of rats with the regenerating liver and RS-1 hepatoma produces a different effect on the biosynthesis of nuclear DNA-like RNA of the rat liver . 24h after a partial hepatectomy the antibiotic inhibits considerably the biosynthesis of nuclear DNA-like RNA which is eluated during chromatographying with 0.2% solution of sodium dodecyl sulphate at 70 degrees C . With RS-1 hepatoma the actinomycin D effect is most pronounced with respect to nuclear DNA-like RNA of rats with a tumour which is washed off from the column with a 0.2% solution of sodium dodecyl sulphate at 37 degrees C.

Pol J Pharmacol Pharm, 1977 Jul-Aug, 29(4), 431 - 44
Kinetics of drug decomposition . Part 45 . Logk--pH profile for rolitetracycline degradation; Pawelczyk E et al.; UV spectrophotometry and fluorometry were applied for an examination of rolitetracycline (RT) degradation at pH's ranged from ca 0-8 to 13-0 . It was demonstrated that these methods enable to follow the rate of degradation of tetracycline formed in the course of RT hydrolysis . However, they do not allow to monitor the hydrolysis of RT to tetracycline . Application of the so-called "subtraction technique" permits to calculate the rate constants for the total, reversible epimerization reaction and for the subsequent degradation of the resultant products . A rate equation derived for RT degradation in an alkaline medium beginning at pH 10-5 contains a term second-order in the hydroxide ion . Such a relationship was not yet observed in the course of an antibiotic degradation.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Jul, 22(7), 602 - 6
{Role of the functional groups of the sibiromycin molecule in DNA binding}; Koz'mian LI et al.; Biological activity of 2 derivatives of sibiromycin, an antibiotic close by its chemical structure to antramycin and their capacity for formation of complexes with DNA was studied . Anhydrosibiromycin like sibiromycin formed a complex with DNA . The antibiotic increased the DNA melting point but to a less extent than sibiromycin . Anhydrosibiromycin had a low activity in the system of DNA-dependent RNA-polymerase . The low biological activity of anhydrosibiromycin must be due to instability of the antibiotic complex with DNA . Methyl ether of sibiromycin by the phenol hydroxyl, the other derivative of sibiromycin had no biological activity and did not interact with DNA . On the basis of experimental data it was suggested that definite functional groups of the sibiromycin participated in DNA binding.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Jul, 22(7), 591 - 5
{Ways to optimize the technological process of oleandomycin reextraction}; Slavin AA et al.; Dependence of the oleandomycin distribution coefficient on pH of the acqueous phase and temperature in the system of butylacetate extract-water acidified with orthophosphoric acid was studied . With a purpose of intensification of the process of oleandomycin reextraction, decreasing the antibiotic inactivation and evaporation of the organic solvent it was proposed to perfom oleandomycin extraction at pH 4.0--5.0 accompanied by simultaneous decreasing of the temperature.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Jul, 22(7), 579 - 81
{Effect of different forms of nitrogen in the biosynthesis of gentamicin by a Micromonospora purpurea var . violacea 1935 culture}; Laznikova TN et al.; The effect of different inorganic sources of reduced and oxidized nitrogen on biosynthesis of gentamicin was studied . It was shown that both the ammonium and the nitrate nitrogen were consumed by the antibiotic-producing organism . Out of all the salts tested only ammonium sulfate stimulated the biosynthesis of gentamicin . The positive role of this salt was due to both the ammonium and the sulfogroup, since the presence of the sulfogroup alone in sodium sulfat, magnesium or sulfuric acid resulted only in partial stimulation of gentamicin biosynthesis . Simultaneous addition of sulfuric acid ammonium nitrate which suppressed the antibiotic biosynthesis when used alone was equal to introduction of ammonium sulfate.

Biochemistry, 1977 Jun 28, 16(13), 2885 - 9
Regulation of ribosomal RNA synthesis in mammalian cells: effect of toyocamycin; Iapalucci-Espinoza S et al.; The present study shows that the antitumor agent toyocamycin (4-amino-5-cyano-7beta-D-ribofuranosylpyrrolo(2-3d)pyrimidine) affects rRNA transcription in Ehrlich ascites cells . This action of the antibiotic is dependent on the amino acid composition of the cell culture medium . In cells incubated in a medium rich in amino acids, the high transcription rate of rRNA is lowered by the addition of 2 X 10(-6) M toyocamycin, while in amino acid starved cells the decreased level of rRNA synthesis remains unaffected . Processing of the 45S rRNA precursor is markedly inhibited by toyocamycin in cells incubated in either medium, indicating that the uptake of the drug is unimpaired by amino acid starvation . Toyocamycin does not affect RNA polymerase I (RNA nucleotidyltransferase EC 2.7.7.6) activity when added to in vitro assay systems derived from cells grown in complete or in amino acid deficient media . The drug prevents the activation of rRNA synthesis following the refeeding of amino acid starved cells without affecting the stimulation of protein synthesis.

J Biol Chem, 1977 Jun 25, 252(12), 4402 - 8
Studies of the mechanism of tunicamycin in hibition of IgA and IgE secretion by plasma cells; Hickman S et al.; Tunicamycin, an antibiotic which blocks the formation of N-acetylglucosamine-lipid intermediates, thereby preventing glycosylation of glycoproteins, inhibits the secretion of IgA and IgE by MOPC 315 mouse plasma cells and IR162 rat plasma cells, respectively . At 0.5 microng of tunicamycin per ml, D-{14C}glucosamine incorporation into newly synthesized immunoglobulin was inhibited greater than 90% while the overall rate of protein synthesized was much less inhibited (40% in the case of MOPC 315 cells and 13% in the case of IR162 cells) . This dose of tunicamycin produced an 85% inhibition of IgA secretion by the MOPC 315 cells and a complete inhibition of intact IgE secretion by the IR162 plasma cells . In contrast, tunicamycin had little effect on the secretion of normally nonglycosylated lambda light chains or on cell-free protein synthesis, demonstrating that tunicamycin is not a general inhibitor of protein synthesis or a non-specific inhibitor of protein secretion . No enhancement of intracellular degradation of nonglycosylated immunoglobulin could be demonstrated . Electron microscopy of tunicamycin-treated MOPC 315 cells revealed marked dilatations of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, and direct immunofluorescence indicated that the dilated rought endoplasmic reticulum contained IgA . These data indicate that glycosylation of newly synthesized IgA and IgE may be necessary for normal secretion to occur.

Lancet, 1977 Jun 18, 1(8025), 1282 - 4
Longer term effects of live influenza vaccine in patients with chronic pulmonary disease; Fell PJ et al.; WRL 105 strain live influenza vaccine or placebo was given to patients with chronic bronchitis in a double-blind study . The twenty-one vaccinated and twenty-three placebo-treated patients made daily self-assessments of the severity of symptoms of cough, breathlessness, tightness, wheeze, and sputum production in the following 20 weeks . Symptom scores in the first 2 weeks after vaccination or treatment with placebo were used to calculate a baseline range for each patient . Comparison of symptoms in the two groups in the baseline period showed that symptoms were more often reported by vaccinated than by placebo-treated patients but the differences were not statistically significant . One patient who responded serologically to vaccination had a moderately severe influenzal illness starting on the day after vaccination . Comparison of symptom scores during the 18-week surveillance period with baseline values showed that symptoms of breathlessness, tightness, wheeze and cough were significantly more common in vaccinated than in placebo-treated patients and that antibiotic usage was more common in the vaccinated group.

MMW Munch Med Wochenschr, 1977 Jun 17, 119(24), 845 - 8
{Tetracycline levels in the sputum in chronic obstructive bronchitis (author's transl)}; Zimmermann I et al.; After 3 control days, the tetracycline concentration in the sputum of 34 patients was measured daily on 7 days during treatment with the antibiotic . 14 patients took tetracycline (Hostacyclin) in normal doses (2X500 mg or 2X1000 mg) by mouth . 20 patients received rolitetracycline (Reverin) 2X275 mg i.v . daily . With considerable individual fluctuations, sputum concentrations were attained in all series ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 microgram/ml after intravenous administration and from 1.1 to 1.6 microgram/ml after oral dosage . The higher dosage administered orally had no greater influence on the sputum concentration . In each case, sputum levels were attained which lie above the necessary minimum concentrations (0.5 microgram/ml).

Biochemistry, 1977 Jun 14, 16(12), 2731 - 8
Proton nuclear magnetic resonances study of bleomycin in aqueous solution . Assignment of resonances; Chen DM et al.; The 1H NMR spectrum of the glycopeptide antineoplastic antibiotic bleomycin has been examined in D2O solution (Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance, 270 MHZ) and in H2O solution (correlation nuclear magnetic resonance, 250 MHZ) . Resonances have been assigned to specific hydrogens of the two most abundant congeners, bleomycin-A2 (BLM-A2) and bleomycin-B2 (BLM-B2), on the basis of (1) homonuclear spin decoupling, (2) comparison of the spectra of BLM-A2, BLM-B2, fragments of these antibiotics, and the related antibiotic phleomycin, and (3) the pH dependence of chemical shifts . Resonance assignments are presented for all the CH protons of BLM-A2 and BLM-B2 except for the saccharide groups, for which only the anomeric proton assignments are given . All of the NH protons have been identified with specific resonances except for the two primary amide groups, which yield four well-resolved peaks, whose specific assignment was not attempted . This study serves as a basis for future investigations of the conformation of bleomycin and its interaction with metals and nucleic acids.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Jun 9, 460(3), 455 - 66
The effect of calcium on the respiratory responses of mung bean mitochondria; Moore AL et al.; Purified mung bean hypocotyl mitochondria were examined for their capacity to carry out respiration-dependent accumulation of calcium . The addition of 0.1-1.0 mM calcium to mung bean mitochondria supplemented with succinate gave no stimulation of state 4 respiration even in the presence of inorganic phosphate and the ionophoretic antibiotic A-23187 . Even at high calcium concentrations, no transient changes in the respiratory activity occurred and subsequent addition of ADP initiated a further state 3 response . Although the additions of calcium resulted in a rapid H+ ejection, it was insensitive to lanthanum and uncoupling agents . Similarly, additions of calcium failed to initiate any transient changes in the oxidation-reduction states of either pyridine nucleotides or cytochrome b . Direct spectrophotometric recordings of absorbance changes of murexide revealed no respiration-linked calcium transport . It is proposed that although mung bean mitochondria possess a respiration-linked electrochemical potential gradient it would appear that this potential cannot be expressed as calcium transport even at high ion concentrations, probably due to a low calcium membrane permeability.

Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 1977 Jun, 170(6), 933 - 8
{Malformation of the tear ducts associated with clefts in the face (author's transl)}; Busse H et al.; A case of malformation of the tear duct associated with clefts in the face is described . To our knowledge this combination has not been described before . The whole symptoms complex consisted of: bilateral cleft lip upper jaw and gum, choanalatresia, mucocele of the left nasal cavity from adhesions of the lower concha with the nasal septum, cystic dilatation of the tear sac at the connection to a bony naso-lacrimal duct . Right inguinal hernia, syndactyly of the first and second left toes, iris-chroid coloboma right with congenital cataract and unilateral right convergent squint . Because of the advanced dacryocystitis on the basis of the congenital dacryostenosis, and external dacryostorhinostomy (modified after Kaleff 1937) was performed after pre-treatment by instillation of antibiotic solutions in the tear ducts . At the same time the nasal cavity mucocele was opened by partial excision of the lower concha and opening the choanal atresia . After a post-operative course free of complications and with clear patency of the tear ducts the oral surgical operation was done--closure of the face clefts . The chromosome analysis was normal the only abnormal result here was an unexplained slow rate of multiplication of lymphocytes in four cultures inoculated at various points of time . Because we could not find any hereditary factors, this symptom complex is probably due to exogenous embryo damage during the early development phase.

Contact Dermatitis, 1977 Jun, 3(3), 133 - 7
Tobramycin-neomycin cross-sensitivity; Schorr WF et al.; Fifty normal control volunteers were patch tested to 20% neomycin as well as tobramycin 1%, 10%, 20% and 30% in white petrolatum . Tobramycin is a new aminoglycoside antibiotic for prescription ophthalmologic use in the United States . There were no reactions on any of the control volunteers . Twenty known and proven neomycin-allergic patients were then tested to tobramycin 10% and 20% in white petrolatum, as well as to neomycin 20% aqueous and 20% in white petrolatum . All 20 reacted with a 2+ or greater response to the neomycin patch tests . Twelve out of the 20 or 60% of the neomycin-allergic patients reacted to the 10% tobramycin in white petrolatum . Thirteen out of 20 or 65% reacted to 20% tobramycin in white petrolatum . From these data, tobramycin (ophthalmic) should not be used to treat known neomycin-allergic patients without first patch testing the patient with 20% tobramycin in white petrolatum . It appears probable that 65% of neomycin-allergic patients would react with a dermatitic response to such therapy.

In Vitro, 1977 Jun, 13(6), 366 - 70
Uptake and release of tetracycline by cultured carrot cells; Lesley SM et al.; The nature of tetracycline uptake by carrot cell suspension cultures is described . Tetracycline enters the cells by diffusion and the intracellular level of the antibiotic increases with the amount added . Exposure of carrot cells to high levels of tetracycline for a limited time (24 hr) followed by the removal of the drug and the resuspension of the cells in drug-free medium does not affect cell growth and has no inhibitory effect on protein synthesis (14C-leucine incorporation).

Rev Rhum Mal Osteoartic, 1977 Jun, 44(6), 415 - 9
{Study of 728 cases of children with acute articular rheumatism, divided into 2 similar groups observed at an interval of 10 years}; Paillot B et al.; A group of 364 children treated for acute rheumatic fever between 1955 and 1961 was compared with a similar group of 364 cases matched for age between 1965 and 1972, treated in the same fashion . In the second group an increase was found in the percentage of first attacks compared with relapses, indicating an improvement from prophylaxis . Cardiac involvement on admission, in first attacks, is equally common in both groups but more severe in the first group: in relapses, the severity of cardiac involvement increases with the number of previous attacks . The course of the carditis with corticosteroid treatment is the same in both groups . The reduced severity of the cardiac involvement in first attacks in the recent group suggests a role played by earlier diagnosis, antibiotic therapy previous to hospitalization, or variations in the epidemic nature of the disease.

Carbohydr Res, 1977 Jun, 56(1), 35 - 42
Synthesis of some purine and pyrimidine nucleosides of 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-L-lyxo-hexopyranose (daunosamine); Lazzari E et al.; The daunosaminyl analogue of the antibiotic puromycin and the nucleoside derivatives of daunosamine with adenine, thymine, and cytosine have been synthesised . The nucleoside derivatives of 6-dimethylaminopurine, thymine, and cytosine were prepared by melting the protected daunosamine with the protected base in vacuo . Daunosaminyladenine was obtained by condensing N-trifluoroacetyl-O-trifluoroacetyl-alpha-daunosaminyl chloride either with N6-benzoyl-9-chloromercuryadenine in boiling xylene or with N6-benzoyladenine in dichloromethane at room temperature in the presence of a molecular sieve . In each reaction, the beta-anomeric nucleoside was obtained, as shown by p.m.r . data . The protecting groups were removed with barium hydroxide or methanolic ammonia to give the free aminonucleosides in good yield . 9-beta-Daunosaminyl-6-dimethylaminopurine was coupled to N-benzylocyxcarbonyl-O-methyltyrosine, giving, after hydrogenolysis, the daunosaminyl analogue of puromycin.

Am J Anat, 1977 Jun, 149(2), 181 - 95
Regeneration of tooth development in vitro following sodium fluoride treatment; Kerley MA et al.; Mandibular incisors were dissected from the jaw of 15- and 16-day C57BL/10 mouse embryos and cultured on agar-solidified Eagle's basal medium supplemented with fetal calf serum, an antibiotic, and glutamine, The experimental medium was the same as the control except that fluoride was added such that the final concentrations ranged from 2.0-8.0 mM NaF . Control and experimental explants were recovered after two, four and six days of incubation and studied histologically . After two days of fluoride treatment (3.0 mM NaF), cellular degeneration was observed in the dental papilla mesenchyme while the enamel organ epithelium appeared more resistant . Prolonged treatment or treatment at higher concentrations resulted in destruction of the dental papilla . The enamel organ was still present but was abnormal and reduced . Older tooth germs were less affected overal when incubated at the same fluoride dosage and time of treatment . When explants subjected to limited exposure (2 days) to fluoride were placed on control medium, the suppressed tooth germs recovered . The recovery was enhanced by grafting untreated mesenchyme to the treated explants followed by incubation on control medium . The observations indicate that NaF can suppress the development of tooth germs in vitro and that recovery from the suppresion does occur . The more severe inhibition observed in the mesenchymal component when compared to the response of the epithelial component of the treated explants suggests that fluoride may alter the ultimate morphology of the tooth crown by disrupting the normal epithelial-mesenchymal interaction which occurs during early tooth development.

South Med J, 1977 Jun, 70(6), 669 - 73
Spinal epidural abscess; Schlossberg D et al.; This paper describes problems in the diagnosis and management of six patients with spinal epidural abscess . Since the clinical findings in this disease process are frequently misinterpreted, one must be careful to exclude this diagnosis in any patient with fever, leukocytosis, back pain and recent infection or back trauma . Alcoholic patients, in particular, seem at high risk for missed diagnosis since the clinical findings are frequently misinterpreted to be complications of alcoholism . Suspicion of spinal epidural abscess should lead to immediate lumbar puncture with manometrics as well as myelography . Once the diagnosis is established surgery should be immediate . Gram stains and cultures taken at the time of lumbar puncture or at operation will dictate appropriate antibiotic therapy . The cause of infection can be fairly well determined by the location of the abscess and a knowledge of the pathogenesis . Prognosis seems directly dependent on the preoperative neurologic status of the patient.

J Laryngol Otol, 1977 Jun, 91(6), 511 - 6
Profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss during gentamicin therapy; Moffat DA et al.; A case of profound bilateral sensorineural deafness occurring during gentamicin therapy is presented . Considerable recovery of the hearing in the right ear was observed but the left ear remained "dead" . Electrocochleography confirmed the end-organ nature of the damage . Apart from the profound sudden deafness the unusual feature of this case was the total absence of vestibular effects . The ototoxic effects of gentamicin are discussed including the predisposing factors . While the incidence of ototoxicity with gentamicin is low (2-3%) this figure will only remain acceptable if the use of the drug is restricted to those patients who might die or suffer severe morbidity without it . The factors which make side-effects more likely to occur should always be borne in mind and due attention paid to the monitoring of renal function and serum antibiotic levels.

Arch Intern Med, 1977 Jun, 137(6), 788 - 90
Vegetative bacterial endocarditis on the prolapsing mitral valve . Echocardiographic evaluation; Horowitz MS et al.; Vegetative endocarditis on the prolapsing mitral valve can be diagnosed with an echocardiogram and the response to therapy can be followed with this technique . A dense mass of fuzzy echoes was noted on the prolapsing posterior leaflet of an echocardiogram from a patient with endocarditis . Three months after the initiation of antibiotic therapy, the mass of echoes had disappeared and was replaced by a dense linear echo, suggesting fibrosis of the part of the mitral valve that had been infected previously . Persistence of the echocardiographic evidence of endocarditis, despite negative blood cultures, may indicate persistence of the risk of peripheral embolization.

Am J Dis Child, 1977 Jun, 131(6), 655 - 8
'Myelokathexis' . Neutropenia with marrow hyperplasia; O'Regan S et al.; A 10-year-old girl was first seen at age 5 years with pneumonia and neutropenia . Since then, she has remained leukopenic, although manifesting a leukocytosis only when she has pulmonary infection . A rapid fall in her peripheral WBC count occurs with initiation of antibiotic therapy . Despite her neutropenia, marked myeloid hyperplasia is evident on marrow smear examination; many cells being hypersegmented with fine intralobular bridging with chromatin strands and cytoplasmic vacuolation . The peripheral WBC response to epinephrine adminstration did not indicate a shift from the circulating to marginal neutrophil pool . Results from a Rebuck skin window test suggested poor neutrophil tissue migration . A defect in granulocyte release from the patient's marrow may explain these bizarre hematologic findings.

Postgrad Med, 1977 Jun, 61(6), 70 - 6
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment of refractory osteomyelitis; Bingham EL et al.; Of 70 patients with refractory osteomyelitis who received treatment with hyperbaric oxygen, all improved and 63% have remained free of disease . Treatment is supplemental to properly timed surgery and antibiotic therapy.

Blood, 1977 Jun, 49(6), 947 - 56
Lipid A as the biologically active moiety in bacterial endotoxin (LPS)-initiated generation of procoagulant activity by peripheral blood leukocytes; Niemetz J et al.; Preparations of rabbit or human leukocytes, when incubated with bacterial endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) are stimulated to generate a procoagulant-tissue factor activity (TFa) . As LPS has been shown to consist of specific repeating oligosaccharide side chains (O-antigen) linked to a central polysaccharide core region that is, in turn, linked to the lipid region of the molecule (lipid A), we have examined the biochemical requirement of the LPS necessary for generation of TFa . Using preparations of LPS from mutant strains of bacteria, which contain varying amounts of polysaccharide in relation to lipid A, we have demonstrated that activity is associated with the lipid A region of the LPS molecule . These observations have been confirmed using isolated lipid A, which is a potent stimulator of TFa, as well as a native protoplasmic polysaccharide that is both devoid of lipid A and without detectable TFa stimulatory activity . Modification of LPS by treatment with mild alkali abrogated its capacity to stimulate TFa generation . In addition, such altered preparations of LPS partially inhibit the stimulatory effect of native LPS . Similarly, treatment of LPS (or lipid A) with the antibiotic polymyxin B substantially inhibited the stimulatory effect of LPS.

Ann Surg, 1977 Jun, 185(6), 626 - 33
Incidence and significance of intra-operative bacterial cultures during abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy; Ernst CB et al.; Eighty patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy were studied to identify sources of potential graft sepsis . All but one patient received perioperative antibiotics . Samples obtained from aneurysm contents in 78 and bowel bag fluid in 45 were cultured for organisms . Twelve of 78 (15%) aneurysm cultures and five of 45 (11%) intestinal bag cultures yielded bacterial growth . Sixteen patients had positive cultures from either source and one from both, an overall incidence of 20% . Forty-four patients had asymptomatic aneurysms, 23 had symptomatic aneurysms, and 13 had ruptured aneurysms . A significantly greater frequency of bacterial growth occurred from ruptured than from non-ruptured aneurysms (p less than 0.05) . Two patients (2.5%) developed graft sepsis . Comparing survivors followed a minimum of 6 months in the positive and negative culture groups, the late graft sepsis rate was 10% and 2% respectively . Two heretofore not widely recognized sources for late graft sepsis were identified: aneurysmal contents and intestinal bag fluid . Reasons for difference between potential graft sepsis incidence of 20% and actual incidence of 2.5% may include antibiotic therapy, host resistance, or other unidentified variables . Routine culture of aneurysm and intestinal bag contents is recommended . Upon identifying bacterial growth from such sources, organism-specific antibiotics are required.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Jun, 22(6), 495 - 8
{Derivatographic analysis of 6-beta-{(hexahydro-1H-azepin-1-yl) methylenamino}penicillanic acid}; Veinberg GA et al.; Derivatographic analysis of 5 samples of 6-beta-(hexahydro-IH-azepin-I-yl)methylenamino penicillanic acid was performed . In addition to the antibiotic the samples had water and acetone in their composition . No effects associated with changes in the physical and chemical state of the substance were observed on the derivatogramme of the samples containing 0.2 and 0.8 per cent of water up 140 degrees C . With a further increase in the temperature an exothermic effect was observed with maximum at 152--153 degrees C connected with melting and chemical degradation of the substance . The derivatogrammes of the samples containing 89--96.4 per cent of the antibiotic were characterized by an endothermic effect with minimum at 65 degrees C caused by evaporation of acetone and partially water from them and by an exothermic effect with maximum at 120 degrees C practically not accompanied by any change in the weight resulting from chemical interaction of the antibiotic with water . The study showed sensitivity of 6-beta-(hexahydro-IH-azepin-I-yl)methylenaminopenicillanic acid to the presence of even insignificant amounts of water in it, maximum elimination of which from the antibiotic is an important factor of increasing its stability.

Can Med Assoc J, 1977 May 21, 116(10), 1151 - 3
Lawnmower injuries in children; Letts RM et al.; Over an 8-year period 31 children in the Winnipeg area were admitted to hospital with lawnmower injuries . The accidents were always preventable and were caused by patient or parent carelessness . The wounds were severe, often resulting in amputation of a portion of an extremity . Infection was common; prophylaxis with a broad-spectrum antibiotic and human antitetanus globulin is recommended . Radiography, debridement of the wound with thorough exploration under general anesthesia, and defatting and reapplication of degloved skin should be done initially, then the wound should be reinspected and redressed at 2 to 3 days, and finally closed or skin grafted at 6 to 8 days . Children must be educated about the dangers of lawnmowers and prevented from riding on tractor mowers . The grass catcher should be used and the path cleared of missiles . Hand controls should be mounted on the mower's handle and the blade should be kept sharp so that the machine's speed can be reduced.

N Engl J Med, 1977 May 19, 296(20), 1141 - 5
Mid-trimester abortion by dilatation and evacuation: a safe and practical alternative; Grimes DA et al.; Abortions by dilatation and evacuation after the 12th menstrual week of pregnancy are said to be both hazardous and impractical . To evaluate this hypothesis, we compared the safety and feasibility of 6213 abortions by this means and 8662 induced by intra-amniotic instillation of saline during the 13th to the 20th week of pregnancy . Abortions by dilatation and evacuation had a lower rate for major complica-tions (0.69 vs . 1.78 per cent; P is less than 0.001) and lower rates for treatment of complications, including antibiotic administration (2.22 vs . 5.65 per cent; P is less than 0.001), blood transfusion (0.19 vs . 0.91 per cent; P is less than 0.001), and curettage or manual evacuation of the uterus (0.98 vs . 34.10 per cent; P is less than 0.001) . Such abortions also had a lower rate for failure of the method to produced abortion (0.11 vs . 2.52 per cent; P is less than 0.001) . Although large, randomized trials are required to determine the appropriate role of mid-trimester abortion by this means, this method appears safe and practical through the 20th week of pregnancy.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 May 12, 482(1), 109 - 24
Studies on almond emulsin beta-D-glucosidase . II . Kinetic evidence for independent glucosidase and galactosidase sites; Grover AK et al.; A purified beta-D-glucosidase (beta-D-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.21) isozyme isolated from almond emulsin was found to catalyze hydrolysis of beta-D-glucopyranosides and beta-D-galactopyranosides but not the corresponding alpha-D-derivatives . Hydrolysis of the corresponding beta-D-thioglycopyranosides at rates 10(3)--10(4) times lower than those for the hydrolysis of the beta-D-glycopyranosides was also noted . The enzyme does not exhibit any transferolytic activity using D-glucose or D-galactose as acceptors . D-glucose, p-nitrothiophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 5-deoxy-5-thio-D-glucose and D-glucono-delta-lactone are shown to exert mainly competitive inhibition on beta-D-galactopyranoside hydrolysis . D-galactose, p-nitrothiophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranside and methylthio-beta-D-galactopyranoside are shown to inhibit the glucopyranoside hydrolysis mainly non-competitively and to exert competitive inhibition of galactopyranoside hydrolysis . The inhibition caused by the antibiotic Nojirimycin (5-amino-5-deoxy-D-glucose) is shown to be more complex . Analysis of the kinetic data indicates that the catalytic site of the enzyme responsible for the beta-D-glucosidase activity is kinetically distinct from the beta-D-galactosidase site.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 May 3, 476(1), 38 - 46
The interaction of adriamycin and its beta anomer with DNA; Zunino F et al.; The results of thermal denaturation, fluorescence, calorimetric and viscosimetric studies on the interaction of adriamycin and its beta anomer with DNA are reported . Whereas all equilibrium, hydrodynamic and thermodynamic measurements are consistent with the proposed intercalative binding model for the adriamycin-DNA complex, the binding mechanism for the reaction of the beta anomer with DNA remains uncertaian . All DNA binding properties of this stereoisomer are substantially different from those of the parent compound . The results suggest that the amino sugar residue of the natural antibiotic may interact stero-specifically with the DNA helix, thus dictating the orientation of the tetracvclic chromophore within the intercalation site . The alteration in the DNA binding capacity and the changes in interactions with DNA following in inversion of configuration at C-1', parallel a lack of biological activity observed for the beta anomer.

Clin Allergy, 1977 May, 7(3), 285 - 90
Tetracycline asthma--a case report; Menon MP et al.; A mechanic working in the antibiotic capsuling section of a pharmaceutical company developed asthmatic attacks 1 year after starting work . His occupation involved exposure to a variety of chemical agents including tetracycline . He developed immediate weal and flare reaction to the intradermal test and an immediate (type 1) asthmatic response to intradermal, inhalation and oral challenge tests with tetracycline . On leaving the tetracycline plant he became symptom free.

Arch Tierernahr, 1977 May, 27(5), 333 - 7
{Proof of sex-dependent effect of lambdamycin in mice}; Heinecke H et al.; The juvenile mouse is used as screening model to test feed additives for their potentially ergotropic effects . Weight development in 20-day old mice was found to be much more strongly influenced than in animals being 25 to 30 days old . The antibiotic lambdamycin inhibited weight gain in female mice, whilst males were promoted in weight development following lambdamycin application.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 May, 30(5), 383 - 7
Amino acids and derivatives of thiazole-4-carboxylic acid as constituents of thiopeptin B; Muramatsu I et al.; L-Alanine, L-threonine, L-valine, D-cystine and three derivatives of thiazole-4-carboxylic acid (thiostreptin, 1-aminomethylthiazole-4-carboxylic acid and thiostreptoic acid) were isolated from the acid-hydrolysate of thiopeptin B . In addition, the presence of dehydrobutyrine and dehydroalanine residues in the antibiotic was determined . Other components remain unidentified.

Antibiotiki, 1977 May, 22(5), 413 - 7
{Effect of gentamicin on the state of cellular resistance}; Shcherbakova EG et al.; The effect of gentamicin on the functional state of the cells of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) of the abdominal cavity of mouse macrophages and the cell culture of the rabbit embryon kidneys was studied . Gentamicin administered intramuscularly in multiple doses of I and 10 mg/kg for 6--14 days did not induce significant changes in the absorptive activity of the RES . In doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg gentamicin induced some inhibition of the absorptive activity of the abdominal cavity macrophages, which was accompanied by a decrease in the content of the total protein and an increase in the activity of the acid phosphatase in the cell cytoplasm . The changes were reversible and persisted for not more than 48 hours after the last administration of the antibiotic . Gentamicin inhibited the cell growth in the culture of the rabbit embryon kidneys in concentrations higher than 1000 mg/kg, LD50 of gentamicin for mice weighing 20--22 gm being 244 mg/kg . Preliminary administration of amigluracyl provided a decrease in the toxic effect of gentamicin in both the cell culture and the host, which was possibly associated with the anabolyzing effect of amigluracyl.

Antibiotiki, 1977 May, 22(5), 396 - 400
{Comparative study of the action of streptomycin on the variability of levorin and amphotericin B producers}; Shabas MN et al.; The study of the effect of streptomycin on viability of Act . levoris, strain LIA=0868 producing levorin and Act . nodosus, strain LIA-0861 producing amphotericin B showed that streptomycin had a lethal effect which increased with increasing of its concentration from I to 6 gamma/ml . While the lethal effect of streptomycin on the above cultures was comparatively the same, it had a selective effect on the levorin-producing organism and a marked inhibitory effect on the amphotericin B-producing organism . The selective effect of streptomycin was evident from inhibition of some types of the morphological mutants and variants characterized by a high level of levorin production and from selection of streptomycin-resistant variants . The inhibitory effect of streptomycin was evident from a marked increase in the number of the morphologically changed colonies and variants characterized by a low level of the antibiotic production.

Antibiotiki, 1977 May, 22(5), 391 - 5
{Spontaneous variability of Actinomyces werraensis}; Kolesnikova NS et al.; The study of spontaneous variation of Act . werraensis not subjected to the treatment with mutagens and stabilizing selection revealed 6 variants within the homologous series of hereditary variation of apigmental actinomyces . The example of revealing the proactinomycete-like variants in Act . werraensis confirmed the prognosticating principle of the homologous series law in the hereditary variation of actinomycetes . Correlation between the cultural and morphological features of the spontaneous variants and the antibiotic-production level was shown . It was found that the variants of Act . werraensis had a high variation coefficient characteristic of the wild type actinomycetes . A possibility of increasing the biosynthetic activity of Act . werraensis by selection of spontaneous variants with artificial mutagenesis was shown.

Cardiovasc Res, 1977 May, 11(3), 223 - 30
Influence of viability on canine allograft heart value structure and function; Wheatley DJ et al.; A study was undertaken to determine whether, in antibiotic sterilised and stored valves, the state of preimplantation leaflet viability could be shown to influence valve structure and function following isotopic allotransplantation in dogs . Fourteen viable and 12 nonviable valves were assessed after periods of up to 8 weeks' implantation . Assessment of valve structure was made macroscopically with measurement of leaflet surface areas, and microscopically . Pressure measurements were made across the allografted valve both at insertion and at removal . The results of this study indicate that preimplantation viability results in gross valve leaflet distortion and shrinkage with consequent loss of function . Nonviable valves, in contrast, showed minimal alteration in valve dimensions with retention of normal function . These findings have considerable implications in the preparation and clinical use of allograft heart valves.

Acta Paediatr Scand, 1977 May, 66(3), 317 - 22
Sisomicin treatment of serious neonatal infections . A clinical and pharmacokinetic study; Henriksson P et al.; 23 infants, 20 of which had verified or clinically highly suspected serious infections in the neonatal period, were treated with a new antibiotic aminoglycoside, sisomicin, i.m . in doses from 2.8 to 6.6 mg/kg/24 h . Clinical cure was obtained in 18 of 20 caes, and marked improvement in one case . Adverse effects were only observed in two infants with tenderness at the injection sites . Serum concentrations and half-life estimations showed that the concentrations were similar to those obtained for gentamicin, and that half-life was independent of postnatal age, but highly correlated to the gestational age and to body weight . Consideration should therefore be given to the prolonged half-life of the drug in immature and low birth weight infants.

Farmaco {Sci}, 1977 May, 32(5), 339 - 47
{Study on substances with antiblastic activity . LIX - Anthramycin and analogs . VIII : synthesis of derivatives of 4H-pyrrolo/1,2-a/{1,5}benzodiazepine}; Chimenti F et al.; Preparation of 4H-pyrrolo{1,2-a}{1,5}benzodiazepine derivatives related to the antitumoral antibiotic anthramycin, a derivative of 5H-pyrrolo{2,1-c} {1,4}benzodiazepine, is reported . Reaction between 1-(o-acetamidophenyl)-2-dimethylaminomethylpyrrole iodomethylate and potassium cyanide afforded 4,6-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo{1,2-a}{1,5}benzodiazepine-5-one, which was then reduced to 5,6-dihydro-4H-pyrrolo{1,2-a}{1,5}benzodiazepine by the action of lithium aluminum hydride . Some 6-acylderivatives of the latter compound are also described . The Vilsmeier-Haack reaction on 6-acetyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-pyrrolo{1,2-a}{1,5}benzodiazepine furnished the corresponding 1-formyl derivative which was then condensed with ethyl cyanoacetate to give the related compound with the acrylic moiety.

Am J Public Health, 1977 May, 67(5), 472 - 4
The epidemiology of recurrent otitis media; Onion DK et al.; Nearly one-half of 165 children with episodes of acute otitis media had at least one recurrent acute episode within the year . Males had significantly more recurrences . Most (60 per cent) of the recurrent episodes occurred within four months of the index episode . Hearing loss persisted beyond two weeks in 8 per cent of testable children . This experience suggests that prophylactic antibiotic use within the first few months after an episode of acute otitis media in young children should be evaluated.

Arch Otolaryngol, 1977 May, 103(5), 299 - 300
Thyroid abscess in a 3 1/2-year-old child; Mann CH; Thyroid abscess is a rare occurrence; there have been only six reported cases in children in the past 20 years and none of these in the otorhinolaryngologic literature . The presentation of suppurative thyroiditis in the 3 1/2-year-old child described here is somewhat atypical, with a rather insidious onset of swelling in the neck . The white blood cell count was elevated; thyroid function, however, was normal . The child also had an abnormal thyroid scan . Rapid improvement ensued with incision and drainage and appropriate antibiotic therapy . A brief discussion and review of the literature is provided regarding manifestations of previously reported cases . The recognition of this entity is important in order to differentiate from other fascial abscesses of the head and neck.

Arch Surg, 1977 May, 112(5), 574 - 8
Salvage of infected total joint replacements; Burton DS et al.; Among 424 total joint replacement (362 hip and 62 knee replacements) since 1971, eight deep infections have occurred (two primary and six late) in six patients . Removal of the prosthesis has been necessary in only one patient to date . Our follow-up experience, extending over a maximum period of 20 months, indicates that successful salvage of infected total joint arthroplasties without bone involvement may be accomplished without removal of the prosthesis if there is adequate surgical debridement and proper antibiotic therapy.

Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1977 May, 144(5), 699 - 702
The significance of intracapsular cultures in total hip operations; Tietjen R et al.; In a consecutive retrospective study of 1,500 total hip replacements, analysis of cultures taken at the time of operation revealed that positive cultures obtained in primary arthroplasties are not significant . In our series, no statistical difference could be demonstrated between primary and revision arthroplasty cultures as related to joint infection, but on the basis of other clinical studies and the higher incidence of positive cultures in revision arthroplasty cultures as related to joint infection, but on the basis of other clinical studies and the higher incidence of positive cultures in revision arthroplasties, it is believed that these cultures should be treated vigorously . Further studies are being carried out to help clarify the role of prophylactic antibiotics in hip replacement operations in the prevention of postoperative hip joint infection . Antibiotic therapy for the treatment of potentially contaminated hips is also being reviewed . Such studies must be performed over a long term period.

Obstet Gynecol, 1977 May, 49(5), 612 - 6
Midtrimester abortion by intraamniotic prostaglandin F2alpha . Safer than saline?
Grimes DA, Schulz KF, Cates W Jr, Tyler CW Jr.
Published reports disagree on the risks of intraamniotic prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) for midtrimester abortion . To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intraamniotic PGF2alpha, we compared 1241 PGF2alpha and 10,013 saline abortions performed during the 13th to the 24th menstrual week . The results were reported in the Joint Program for the Study of Abortion/CDC, a multicenter prospective study . PGF2alpha abortions required less time (P less than .001) but had higher rates of major complications (P less than .01), antibiotic and operative treatment of complications (P less than .001), and readmission to a hospital (P less than .001) . These findings challenge the current contention that PGF2alpha is safer than saline as an abortifacient.

J Neurosurg, 1977 May, 46(5), 601 - 8
Pituitary abscesses . Report of seven cases and review of the literature; Domingue JN et al.; Seven cases of pituitary abscess are presented and the relevant world literature is reviewed . An enlarged sella co-existing with bacterial meningitis, or bacterial meningitis coinciding with a known or suspected pituitary tumor should suggest the diagnosis of pituitary abscess . Visual field defects should evoke similar suspicion when present in a patient with meningitis . This reasoning enabled us to make the first reported preoperative diagnosis of pituitary abscess . Therefore, in the management of purulent meningitis, we recommend the following: first, skull films are mandatory; second if the sella turcica is abnormal, the correct presumptive diagnosis is pituitary abscess; and third, if prompt improvement does not follow appropriate antibiotic therapy, the suspected abscess should be explored and drained via the transsphenoidal approach.

Rev Gastroenterol Mex, 1977 May-Aug, 42(2), 77 - 82
{Acute emphysematous cholecystitis . Report of 3 cases}; Ramirez Sanchez C et al.; Three cases of acute emphysematous cholecystitis are reported . Our experience has been that this disease, compared with the occurrence of common acute cholecystitis, is rare . The clinical picture is discussed and emphasis is made concerning the roentgenographic diagnosis and surgical findings, such as obstruction of the cistic duct, which is probable the cause of the histopathologic changes found in the gall bladder . The negative results from the culture of material obtained from the gall bladder was probably due to antibiotic administration prior to surgery . A review of the recent literature and surgical treatment, after correction of metabolic and hydroelectrolito imbalances, is made.

Clin Orthop, 1977 May, (124), 311 - 2
Leaching out from acrylic bone cement . Experimental evaluation; Wroblewski BM; Using common salt and C.M.W . bone cement mixture with Barium it has been shown that even with relatively high concentrations, only a small proportion of salt is released . This release seems to be a purely surface phenomenon and the amount released is directly proportional to the surface are of the cement . If a water soluble antibiotic and NaCl are released from the bone cement by a comparable mechanism, the inclusion of antibiotic/methylmethacrylate is difficult to justify in clinical practice.

Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1977 May, 144(5), 691 - 4
Classification and management of mycotic aneurysms; Patel S et al.; After a review of 14 patients with extracranial mycotic aneurysms, a classification of mycotic aneurysms has been proposed based upon the pre-existing pathologic condition of the artery and on the pathogenesis . Ten aneurysms resulted from an infection due to intravascular sources and four, due to extravascular sources . Ten patients in this series were treated surgically, and of these, eight were cured . All four patients who did not undergo a surgical procedure died . Early diagnosis, appropriate antibiotic therapy and prompt surgical intervention are recommended in the management of these aneurysms . Excision or exclusion of aneurysms is preferred . If necessary, the circulation to the distal part of the extremity can be restored by vascular reconstruction using an autogenous bypass graft, preferably through a noninfected field.

Pediatr Clin North Am, 1977 May, 24(2), 277 - 91
Primary deficiencies in humoral immunity; Goldman AS et al.; Patients with primary disorders of B lymphocytes and immunoglobulins usually display increased susceptibility to bacterial infections but atopic, autoimmune, and malignant disorders are also more common in these patients . The spectrum of these disorders ranges from a virtual absence of B cells and immunoglobulins to selective deficiencies of immunoglobulin subclasses . The diagnosis is dependent upon the demonstration of the immunologic deficits by specialized laboratory procedures which include the quantitation of immunoglobulins, the formation of antibodies in vivo and in vitro and the demonstration of B cells in the tissues or the peripheral blood . There are five major points in the management of these patients: (1) the delineation of the immunologic defects by laboratory testing, (2) the use of parenterally injected human immunoglobulins, (3) the rapid identification of infecting organisms and the prompt institution of appropriate antibiotic therapy, (4) screening the family for immunodeficiency in those cases which are of genetic origin, and (5) genetic counseling.

J Bacteriol, 1977 May, 130(2), 805 - 11
Physiological function of superoxide dismutase in glucose-limited chemostat cultures of Escherichia coli; Hassan HM et al.; Conditions for continuous culture of Escherichia coli K-12 His- Thi- under glucose limitation were established . Both the capacity for respiration, at D greater than 0.2/h, and specific activity of superoxide dismutase increased as a function of specific growth rate, whereas peroxidase and catalase were either invariant with or inversely related to this growth rate . The abrupt increase in the availability of glucose, as a means of elevating the growth rate, was followed by an increase in superoxide dismutase, which reached a plateau before there was a significant increase in the growth rate . Thus, an increase in superoxide dismutase appeared to be a prerequisite for an increase in the rate of growth . Cells that had higher levels of superoxide dismutase, because of varying specific growth rates, were more resistant to the toxicity of hyperbaric oxygen . Superoxide dismutase thus behaved like an essential defense against the toxicity of oxygen . Sensitivity towards streptonigrin increased with specific growth rate in the range of 0.09 to 0.25/h but decreased with further increases in the growth rate . Since this antibiotic has been shown to shunt electrons to oxygen, with concomitant production of O2-, these results indicated a progressive deficiency of reducing power at growth rates below 0.25/h and a surfeit of reducing power with progressively greater protection against O2- by superoxide dismutase at growth rates greater than 0.25/h.

Am J Med Technol, 1977 May, 43(5), 417 - 8
The response of C3H mice to streptozotocin . I . Thymic depression and leukocyte toxicity; Nevalainen DE et al.; Streptozotocin, an antibiotic with reported antileukemic activity, was administered to C3H mice to evaluate the response of peripheral blood leukocytes and thymic lymphocytes . The hematologic effects of a single diabetogenic dose of streptozotocin include an absolute neutropenia and a depression of tritiated thymidine incorporation into thymic lymphocytes.

Macromolecules, 1977 May-Jun, 10(3), 520 - 6
Structural properties of double-stranded helical poly (gamma-benzyl-D-L-glutamate) in solution . Comparison with some solution properties of linear gramicidin; Heitz F et al.; The double-stranded helical conformations of alternating PBD-LG found in the solid state have been studied in infrared, circular dichroism, and NMR techniques in solution in methylene chloride, chloroform dioxane, and collidine . The infrared and CD properties of the solutions, transconformations between single- and double-stranded helices and transconformations within the family of double helices, support the hypothesis that the conformation in solution is the same as that found after evaporation of the solvent, namely the pi pi DL 7.2, pI pI DL 9.0, and pi pi DL 10.8 helices, depending on the solvent . An attempt to identify the conformation of linear gramicidin is made on the basis of the CD spectra and the infrared frequencies conformation relationship established for PBD-LG . However, owing to the great number of different conformations observed for the antibiotic, no firm conclusion can yet be drawn, except for the probable existence of the double antiparallel helical structure.

Nouv Presse Med . 1977 Apr 30;6(18):1568.
{Antagonistic action of rifampicin and isoniazid on the metabolism of oral contraceptives}; Bessot JC et al.; PIP: In less than 1 year, 3 undesired pregnancies have occurred in patients being treated with antituberculin polychemotherapy while taking different oral contraceptives which were all combinations of estrogen and progesterone . It is agreed that contraceptive failures during the simultaneous treatment with rifampicin (R-AMP) is explained by the inductive effect of the antibiotic . It provokes an enzyme induction which destroys the estrogen . Isoniazid (INH) can have an opposite effect on the estrogen depending on the concentration of INH . It could be that the rapid inactivators of INH ran a higher risk of pregnancy while taking R-AMP and oral contraceptives . 1 explanation is the INH would prevent the breakdown of the estrogen . Some cases of gynecomastia have been due to isoniazid . It seems that some inactive elements of the INH may be responsible; e.g., Vitamin-B6 inhibits the hepatic conjugation of the estrogen . It has not been proven that this action persists in rapid acetylizers . In case of treatment with INH and R-AMP the plasmic half-life of rifampicin would be longer in rapid acetylizers than in slow ones .

Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 1977 Apr 27, 215(2), 151 - 8
{Aspects of labyrinthectomy (author's transl)}; Jung H; Since the introduction of Antibiotics labyrinth operations have become very seldom . In those days before the Antibiotic Era the indication to function-destructing radical surgery was justified in cases of suppurative labyrinthitis . Only in cases of mild serous (irritative) labyrinthitis were conservative treatments with drugs successful . Nowadays, labyrinthoperations are not necessary in most cases . Endocranial complications and high mortality rates of the disease are no longer feared today . All the same, there are cases were the labyrinth operation is justified despite high dosis of Antibiotica . Spceial problems and indications for labyrinthectomy are discussed with own examples.

Eur J Biochem, 1977 Apr 15, 74(3), 549 - 51
Synergistic interaction of the streptogramins with the ribosome; Contreras A et al.; Quantitative binding studies of {G-3H}streptogramin A and {G-3H}streptogramin B with high-salt-washed ribosomes were carried out in the presence of a minimum of 10% (v/v) ethanol because of the antibiotic insolubility in water . It was observed that the presence of streptogramin A increases the affinity of {G-3H}streptogramin B for the ribosome . Thus the dissociation constant for {G-3H}-streptogramin B interaction with the ribosome is Kd=13.3 nM in the presence of streptogramin A and Kd=59 nM in its absence . Furthermore the values for the dissociation constants for {G-3H}-streptogramin B interaction in the presence of 50% (v/v) ethanol, were Kd=0.13 micronM in the presence of streptogramin A and Kd=0.70 micronM in its absence . This increased affinity of {G-3H}streptogramin B in the presence of streptogramin A can explain the synergistic effects of mixtures of streptogramins A and B at the ribosome level.

Sem Hop, 1977 Apr 9-16, 53(14-15), 823 - 6
{Treatment of the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone with demethylchlortetracycline . Apropos of 2 cases}; Cledes J et al.; Two cases of inappropriate antidiuresis are reported, one associated with small cell anaplastic bronchial carcinoma, the other secondary to acute hydrocephalus . ttreatment with demethylchlortetracycline proved effective in both cases . Treatment of the inappropriate antidiuretic syndrome is discussed and the advantages of demethylchlortetracycline emphasised . This antibiotic seems to represent the treatment of choice of the chronic syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis.

Histochemistry, 1977 Apr 4, 51(4), 305 - 13
Extended application of flow microfluorometry by means of dual laser excitation; Stohr M et al.; A dual laser beam excitation device for flow analysis of biological particles has been developed . The aid of this arrangement is to increase the range of fluorescent agents employed so far in quantitative and qualitative cytochemistry . Combining an argon ion and a helium-cadmium laser two color fluorescence measurements were performed employing propidium iodide as a DNA stain and fluorescamine which stains total protein in fixed cells . Energy transfer processes between the antibiotic and DNA specific dye mithramycin and propidium iodide both being bound to nuclear chromatin were analyzed . Utilization of energy transfer processes is generally discussed as a mean to extract information about the structure and conformation of nuclear chromatin in situ . The application of a crypton ion laser with three lines near 400 nm and a single line at 350 nm having a light output in each range of nearly one Watt gives the opportunity of utilizing DNA fluorochromes which have an excitation maximum in the deep blue region, DNA spectra are shown employing mithramycin, the benzimidazol derivative 33258 (Hoechst) and the indol compound DAPI which has a high DNA specificity combined with a great stability under UV illumination . By separating two focussed laser beams at their intersecting points with the liquid sample stream the trajectory of each flowing cell crosses the beams sequentially, which causes a solitary dual excitation of each cell . The advantages of a solitary excitation device compared with a simultaneous one is discussed.

Med J Aust, 1977 Apr 2, 1(14), 477 - 8
Filtration leukopheresis granulocyte support for infected neutropenic patients; McLennan R et al.; A pilot study of granulocyte support for neutropenic infected patients by means of white cells collected from the Aminco Celltrifuge at the Peter MacCallum Clinic showed acceptable side effects in donor and recipients, and an encouraging recovery occurred in two out of four patients treated . White cell filtration leukopheresis was introduced at the Alfred Hospital Haematology and Medical Oncology Unit in November, 1975, for supportive therapy of all patients with white cell counts below 500/mm3 who had sustained febrile episodes (temperatures greater than 38 degrees C for more than 48 hours) while receiving appropriate or empiric parenteral antibiotic therapy . A minimum of four or more daily transfusions was given from group and cross-matched compatible donors until fever lysis, recovery of the neutrophil count to over 500/mm3 or death . Of 13 patients given white cell support, 12 survived and were discharged from hospital . One patient died having received only one transfusion when he was moribund . We believe that white cell filtration leukopheresis cell support is useful when used with parenteral antibiotic therapy for infected neutropenic patients, and it has resulted in a high rate of recovery from life-threatening infection in patients at risk.

Sex Transm Dis, 1977 Apr-Jun, 4(2), 39 - 43
Recidivism among patients with gonococcal infection presenting to a venereal disease clinic; Noble RC et al.; We studied the incidence of gonorrhea, gonococcal recidivism and related factors in venereal disease clinic patients . A sample of 2029 records, which were selected randomly, were reviewed . Gonorrhea and gonococcal recidivism were more common in nonwhite patients, particularly in nonwhite men . Gonorrhea occurred more than once in 23% of the patients with gonorrhea and those patients accounted for 48% of all cases of gonorrhea . We also interviewed 627 new patients attending the venereal disease clinic . Gonococcal recidivism was reported more often by older men and younger women . Use of contraceptives was less frequent among white women who were gonococcal recidivists . However, contraception was not used by 40% of the patients or their partners . Gonococcal isolation rates were lowest in men who used condoms . The number of sexual partners did not correlate with age, use of contraceptives or results of cultures for gonococci . Men had more sexual partners than women and white women had more partners than non-white women . Nine percent of patients took oral antibiotics prior to their visit to the clinic; antibiotic ingestion did not correlate with the patients' race or the results of their cultures.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Apr, 22(4), 367 - 71
{Penetration of oleandomycin into the subarachnoid space of neurosurgical patients}; Imshenetskaia VF; Penetration of oleandomycin into the subarachnoid space in neurosurgical patients treated with the drug administered orally and intramuscularly in doses of 375 and 500 mg respectively was studied . The oleandomycin levels in the blood and cerobrospinal fluid were determined after a single administration of the antibiotic at an interval of 30 minutes to 7 hours . A total of 52 observations were recorded . Relation between oleandomycin penetration into the cerebrospinal fluid from the blood and the administration route was shown . The index of penetration through the blood-liquor barrier for the antibiotic intramuscular or oral administration was 9--70 and 3--40 per cent respectively . The maximum concentrations of the drug in the liquor were found in the patients with the clinical picture of meningitis.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Apr, 22(4), 335 - 40
{Optimal regime of intravenous administration of lincomycin in osteomyelitis}; Koroleva VG et al.; The pharmacokinetics of lincomycin in the blood of 8 patients with osteomyelitis was studied on the drug single and uninterrupted intravenous administration in therapeutic doses . It was found that when the antibiotic was administered continuously according to the routine scheme, its therapeutic blood levels were attained only 1.5 hours after the drug infusion . The optimal regimen of lincomycin uninterrupted infusion providing its constant rate in combination with the single intravenous administration was estimated with the help of the constants of the two-compartment model of lincomycin pharmacokinetics . According to the calculations the rate of the antibiotic administration necessary for providing therapeutic levels should be 2.2 mg/kg in complex with the loading dose equal to 5.4 mg/kg . Practical trials showed that intravenous administration of lincomycin with the above regimen remained within therapeutic range already 10 to 20 minutes after the beginning of the drug infusion . Therefore, from the pharmacokinetic point of view the recommended regimen for lincomycin infusion should be considered preferable to that used presently.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Apr, 30(4), 314 - 20
Further studies on ASN-136 and monoketo-organomycin cystaurimycin, a broad spectrum substance produced by partial enzymic digestion of monoketo-organomycin; Imam GM et al.; The two antibiotics ASN-136 and monoketo-organomycin (MKOM) showed very close similarities in their UV, IR spectra and elemental analysis to those of tuberactinomycin and yazumycin respectively . Further chemical and enzymic studies revealed the novelty of the two former antibiotics . Partial enzymic hydrolysis of MKOM yielded a hydrolytic product of more potent inhibitory action compared with the parent antibiotic . Having cystine as the N-terminus and taurine as the C-terminus in its molecule, this enzymic degradation product was designated cystaurimycin . Performic acid oxidation of MKOM and of cystaurimycin improved their growth inhibitory effects on the test organisms used.

Wien Klin Wochenschr, 1977 Apr 1, 89(7), 227 - 31
{Serum lipase activity and evocation test after endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (author's transl)}; Kratochvil P et al.; Serum lipase activity, which is a more specific indicator of pancreatic damage than serum amylase activity, was determined in 51 patients before and immediately after endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) and 24 hours subsequently . An increase in serum lipase activity without clinical signs of acute pancreatitis was observed immediately after pancreatography in 20 cases . Increased serum lipase activity after 24 hours is largely observed in patients with parenchymography or those displaying increased values already in the fasting state before ERCP . This observation emphasizes the need for caution in the assessment of the indication for ERCP in patients with preexisting increased serum lipase activity in view of the very real risk of acute pancreatitis and the need to avoid parenchymography of the pancreas . According to our experience the addition of a broadspectrum antibiotic such as gentamycin to the contrast medium may, to a large extent, avoid the development of acute pancreatitis . Lipase evocation tests carried out 10 days after the ERCP showed negative results in patients with increased enzyme activity and parenchymography after pancreatography . Hence, it is concluded that ERCP causes symptomless reversible biochemical pancreatic changes, as opposed to irreversible pancreatic damage.

Am J Pathol, 1977 Apr, 87(1), 33 - 46
The induction of human myospherulosis in experimental animals; De Schryver-Kecskemeti K et al.; Tissue lesions similar to those in human myospherulosis were reproduced in experimental animals and studied by light and electron microscopy . The lesions were produced by the use of petrolatum-based antibiotic ointments . These ointments, which are marketed as nonsterile products, are similar to those used for hemostatic packing in otolaryngologic surgery . To date, use of these ointments has been reported to precede the finding of human paranasal sinus myospherulosis . The exact nature of the structures of myospherulosis remains unknown . The experimental evidence strongly suggests that they can be iatrogenically produced by the use of these nonsterile ointments.

J Med Chem, 1977 Apr, 20(4), 500 - 5
Polyamine biosynthesis in rat prostate . Substrate and inhibitor properties of 7-deaza analogues of decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine and 5'-methylthioadenosine; Coward JK et al.; The 7-deaza analogue of 5'-methylthioadenosine, a nucleoside end product in polyamine biosynthesis, has been synthesized . This analogue has been shown to competitively inhibit the hydrolytic cleavage of the purine-ribose bond in methylthioadenosine with Ki congruent to Km . In addition, the 7-deaza analogue of decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine, a cofactor in the biosynthesis of both spermidine and spermine, has been synthesized . This analogue has been shown to act as a substrate in the reaction catalyzed by spermidine synthase, in which severe substrate inhibition by both the normal nucleoside substrate and the 7-deaza analogue is observed . These results are discussed in terms of possible end product regulation of polyamine biosynthesis and the possible substitution of the nucleoside antibiotic, tubercidin, for adenosine in reactions involving S-adenosylmethionine and its metabolites.

Dis Colon Rectum, 1977 Apr, 20(3), 236 - 51
Spontaneous ischemic colitis; Hagihara PF et al.; Eighteen cases of spontaneous ischemic colitis are reviewed . The diagnosis was established according to the following criteria: 1) clinical background, 2) clinical characteristics, 3) morphologic characteristics, and 4) clinical and morphologic course . The last three constituted the diagnostic criteria . The cases were divided into mild-to-moderate, moderate-to-severe, and gangrenous categories . Although data on clinical background did not establish the diagnosis of spontaneous ischemic colitis, they were essential in strict diagnosis . Patients who had histories of Crohn's disease, chronic ulcerative colitis, and recent antibiotic administration were excluded from consideration . Appropriate stool examinations obtained in all of the mild-to-moderate and all except two of the moderate-to-severe cases excluded colitis due to pathogenic bacterial organisms or parasites . Spontaneous ischemic colitis generally occurs in older individuals; the average age in our patients was 60 years . Twelve of the 18 patients had at least some evidence of major cardiovascular disease.

Arch Surg, 1977 Apr, 112(4), 495 - 500
Treatment of corrosive burns of the esophagus; Campbell GS et al.; Forty patients with caustic ingestion have been treated between 1955 and 1975 . Strong alkali was the corrosive in 95%, and 80% were under 10 years old . Early esophageal stricture developed in 18 patients four weeks after lye ingestion . Among these, esophageal bougienge restored an adequate lumen in two patients with short, soft annular strictures, and right colon interposition was used for esophageal subsitution in ten who had long, dense strictures . We recommend early diagnostic esophagoscopy, to the uppermost level of burn injury only, to determine the presence and severity of the esophageal injury . If esophagoscopy reveals esophageal burn injury, corticosteroid and antibiotic therapy are continued . If no burn injury is visualized, the patient is spared unnecessary treatment . Long, dense strictures unresponsive to bougienage place the patient at risk from instrumental perforation, and these patients should undergo colon interposition through a substernal extrapleural tunnel.

J Am Osteopath Assoc, 1977 Apr, 76(8), 595 - 8
Granulocyte transfusion therapy: experimental basis and clinical applications; Adler LM et al.; Granulocyte replacement therapy for the infected patient with severe neutropenia is effective in improving the short-term and possibly the long-term prognosis . The best methods of procuring and administering granulocytes still are under investigation, and no reliable method for predicting compatibility has been developed . At present granulocyte transfusion therapy is indicated for severely neutropenic patients with documented infection as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy . It should be used only at institutions that offer the necessary professional and technical skills to minimize danger and discomfort to both donor and recipient as well as the expense of the treatment.

J Neurosurg, 1977 Apr, 46(4), 428 - 37
Treatment of mycotic intracranial aneurysms; Bingham WF; Two patients with mycotic intracranial aneurysms were successfully treated with only antibiotic therapy . One patient, who had subacute bacterial endocarditis, rheumatic valvular disease, and an abscessed tooth, sustained a subarachnoid hemorrhage from a ruptured right middle cerebral artery trifurcation aneurysm . The other patient, who had Turner's syndrome and probable congenital aortic stenosis, developed multiple neurological findings during an ipisode of acute bacterial endocarditis precipitated by an infected ingrown toenail; a false aneurysm of the distal left middle cerebral artery and two lesions involving the left superior cerebellar artery were found . A study of the literature shows that only 45 patients with mycotic intracranial aneurysms have received adequate antibiotic therapy and angiographic documentation . Statistically, there does not appear to be a clear-cut advantage to antibiotic plus surgical therpy over antibiotic alone . In fact, in 21 patients who underwent serial angiography, lesions were smaller in six and not visualized in 11 . In four patients the aneurysms increased in size; in two others fresh lesions formed . The author proposes the following diagnostic and therapeutic regimen: 1) earliest possible diagnosis of the underlying disorder; 2) appropriate antibiotic therapy; 3) early four-vessel cerebral angiography and follow-up studies every 2 to 3 weeks; study; 5) definitive operation upon completion of antibiotic therapy if the lesion is larger or the same size; and 6) postoperative angiography to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and to search for interim lesions.

Cornell Vet, 1977 Apr, 67(2), 245 - 53
Control of the yeast Torulopsis glabrata in the stomachs of glucose fed lambs by oral dosing with nystatin and amphotericin "B"; White RW; In the absence of specific dietary lipids, large amounts of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) are produced from glucose in the stomachs of ruminant neonates by the resident yeast Torulopsis glabrata . Using new born lambs, oral dosing with the antifungal antibiotics Nystatin and Amphotericin "B" was shown in samples of stomach contents, to control the ethanol production entirely, and to suppress the yeast numbers partially but not permanently . Of 11 lambs receiving heavy and continous doses orally of the pure antibiotic powders, 7 died, of these 5 had developed adhesive peritonitis.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Apr, 22(4), 353 - 6
{Lysis of bacterial protoplasts and spheroplasts and suppression of their dehydrogenase activity by neotehomycin}; Petrykina ZM et al.; Neotelomycin induced lysis of the protoplasts of Bac . megaterium and inhibited their succinate dehydrogenase activity . Direct correlation between the lytic activity of the antibiotic and its effect on succinate dehydrogenase was found . Neotelomycin had no effect on the dehydrogenase activity of the protoplast lysates . Possibly, suppression of the protoplast succinate dehydrogenase of Bac . megaterium under the effect of neotelomycin was due to significant structural changes caused by the antibiotic in the protoplast membranes and leading to their lysis and not to the direct effect on the enzyme . Neotelomycin had practically no effect on the spheroplast dehydrogenase activity of E . coli resistant to the antibiotic and did not induce their lysis . Resistance of E . coli to neotelomycin must be associated not with the presence of the antibiotic non-permeable cell wall but the peculiar properties of the membrane cytoplasm.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1977 Apr, 83(4), 530 - 9
Comparing radioactive and trephine-disk bioassays of dicloxacillin and gentamicin in ocular tissues in vitro; Barza M et al.; Trephined disks of tissue (6 mm diameter) from fresh rabbit eyes were immersed overnight in solutions of radioactive carbon (14C)-dicloxacillin or gentamicin, then assayed by one of two methods: agar-diffusion bioassay, using filter-paper disks immersed in known concentrations of antibiotic as standards, or radioactive assay . The bioassay underestimated the concentrations of antibiotic in sclera and iris by 38 to 72%, and slightly overestimated those in the cornea . A corrected bioassay was calculated, based on the differences in fluid mass between tissue specimens and filter-paper disks; this value was within 20% of the radioactive assay in 18 of 24 experiments with dicloxacillin, and in 14 of 24 with gentamicin . There was evidence of pronounced binding of gentamicin to ocular tissues (iris greater than sclera greater than cornea); this appeared to be a saturable and reversible phenomenon . Less marked binding of dicloxacillin to iris and sclera was noted . The results indicated that, depending on the degree of accuracy required, the corrected trephine-disk agar-diffusion bioassay provides a reasonable estimate of the antibiotic content of ocular tissues.

Physiologie, 1977 Apr-Jun, 14(2), 107 - 12
Studies on the sensitizing activity of alpha-chymotrypsin in man; Cirstea M et al.; The sensitizing effect of alpha-chymotrypsin was followed up in a group of 116 women to whom parenteral treatment with this drug was associated to antibiotic therapy for various chronic inflammatory gynecopathies . The mean antibody titre to alpha-chymotrypsin, assayed by a passive hemagglutination technique, and the mean intensity of the intradermal tests with this drug were found significantly higher in 15 patients previously treated with alpha-chymotrypsin by comparison with 16 non-treated controls . A significant direct correlation was found between the titre of anti-alpha-chymotrypsin antibodies and the intensity of the intradermal tests . In 12 patients who had not previously been treated with alpha-chymotrypsin the antibody titre and the intensity of the intradermal tests rose significantly after a series of 10 injections with this drug . Eight of 116 patients (approximately 7%) treated with alpha-chymotrypsin developed overt symptoms of sensitization to the drug . The symptoms announcing the sensitization, the relation with the amount of the drug administered and the diagnostic value of intradermal tests are analysed . No relation was found between the presence of atopy and the sensitization to other drugs, on the one hand, and the sensitization to alpha-chymotrypsin, on the other hand.

Int J Oral Surg, 1977 Apr, 6(2), 90 - 4
Osteomyelitis of the maxilla in the newborn; Ramon Y et al.; A case of osteomyelitis of the maxilla in a healthy infant is presented, the etiology of which seems to have been an upper respiratory tract infection . There was no evidence of lowered resistance and immunologic studies did not reveal any abnormality . Lincomycin seems to be the antibiotic drug of choice . In the present case, it was used, effectively, in conjunction with other antibiotics and surgical drainage.

Postgrad Med, 1977 Apr, 61(4), 208 - 15
Neutropenia: when and when not to treat; Trowbridge AA; When the number of neutrophils is substantially lower than normal or their function is impaired, the patient is at increased risk of infection . Antibiotic therapy is indicated only when infection is apparent.

J Lab Clin Med, 1977 Apr, 89(4), 861 - 7
A rapid radiometric method for determining the sensitivity of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to several chemotherapeutic agents; McDaniel RE et al.; Current methods of performing antibiotic susceptibility tests on M . tuberculosis require 4 to 6 weeks for completion and in some cases have a poor correlation with clinical results . We have developed a rapid radiometric method of sensitivity testing which utilizes the incorporation of 3H-uracil into ribonucleic acid (RNA) as a measure of mycobacterial growth . The radiometric method is sensitive and reproducible and the results are completed in 48 hours . An excellent correlation was found between the radiometric method of sensitivity testing and the traditional agar plate technique when the two were compared with respect to isoniazid, streptomycin, and rifampicin sensitivities . There was no correlation between the two methods when ethambutol was tested . These results have confirmed our previous experiments on the usefulness of the radiometric method for the rapid determination of antibiotic susceptibilities of mycobacteria.

Pahlavi Med J, 1977 Apr, 8(2), 157 - 80
Enteric pathogens in infants and children in Shiraz, Iran: A study of their incidences and infectious drug resistance; Behforouz NC et al.; Gastroenteritis is a serious problem among young children in Shiraz Iran and often requires antibiotic therapy as it is commonly superimposed on other debilitating clinical conditions . Stool specimens from over four hundred cases of gastroenteritis among children up to six years of age were examined for the presence of bacterial pathogens and the pattern of drug sensitivity for each pathogenic genus was determined . The presence of infectious drug resistance factors among these isolates was also established.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Apr 1, 466(1), 160 - 75
Biosynthesis and structure of lipopolysaccharide in an outer membrane-defective mutant of Escherichia coli J5; Pazoles CJ et al.; Membrane-defective mutants of Escherichia coli J5 were isolated on the basis of supersensitivity to the antibiotic novobiocin . These mutants display an increased sensitivity to a wide range of antibiotics and to several dyes and detergents . In addition, several mutants leak the periplasmic enzymes, alkyline phosphatase and ribonuclease . This evidence indicates an outer membrane defect in these mutants . The inner and outer membranes of one mutant were separated and subjected to compositional analysis . A deficiency in galactose containing lipopolysaccharide in the outer membrane of the mutant was observed . Two possible causes of this deficiency were examined and discounted: defective galactose uptake into the cell, and defective translocation of lipopolysaccharide from the inner membrane . Extraction and chemical analysis of mutant and wild type lipopolysaccharides suggests that the mutant is defective in the enzyme which transfers glucose to the growing lipopolysaccharide core, UDPglucose transferase . Thus, the mutant's deficiency in galactose-containing lipopolysaccharide can be ascribed to the fact that addition of glucose to the lipopolysaccharide core is a prerequisite for galactose addition . The physiological implications of this alteration are discussed.

Refuat Hapeh Vehashinayim, 1977 Apr, 26(2), 33 - 4, 23-4
Acute maxillary sinusitis caused by a guttapercha point; Minkow B et al.; A case of acute sinusitis caused by a gutta-percha point is presented . The foreign body was introduced into the sinus during root therapy . Antibiotic therapy was ineffective . Surgical treatment consisted of radical antrostomy and removal of the foreign body.

Eur J Biochem, 1977 Apr 1, 74(2), 285 - 92
An investigation of mistranslation in vivo induced by streptomycin by an examination of the susceptibility of abnormal proteins to degradation; Hewitt J et al.; Proteolysis rates in vivo were measured in Escherichia coli cultures during treatment with dihydrostreptomycin and under various other conditions . Dihydrostreptomycin treatment caused an increase in the proteolysis rate, compared to untreated controls . The proteolytic system in vivo responsible for the elevated proteolysis in the early stages of dihydrostreptomycin treatment, or that during canavanine and puromycin treatment, were not inhibited by addition of phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride . This agent did inhibit proteolysis rates in cultures whose growth was inhibited by starvation, or had been completely stopped by dihydrostreptomycin . It seems, therefore, that the extremely high proteolysis rates in cultures at this stage of dihydrostreptomycin treatment were due to the action of two protease systems: the one concerned with the breakdown of abnormal proteins, and the other concerned with normal protein turnover and active during a non-specific decline of growth . The proteolytic rate at complete growth inhibition brought about by dihydrostreptomycin was intermediate between those induced by canavanine and puromycin at the same stage of treatment . This indicated a similar hierarchy in the extent and nature of abnormality in the proteins synthesized under these conditions . The relationship between the abnormality of proteins induced by dihydrostreptomycin and the importance of this in the antibiotic mechanism is discussed.

J Biol Chem, 1977 Mar 25, 252(6), 2004 - 9
Magnetic resonance studies of the manganese guanosine di- and triphosphate complexes with elongation factor Tu; Wilson GE Jr et al.; Analysis of titration data of EF-Tu-GDP with Mn(II) where free and bound Mn(II) were determined by proton relaxation rate of water (PRR) yields one tight Mn(II) binding site and a value of 2 muM for the dissociation constant of Mn(II) from the EF-Tu-MnGDP complex, K'A . The dissociation constant of manganese nucleotide from the ternary EF-Tu-MnGDP complex, K2, 0.2 muM, was derived from the known value of Ks, the dissociation constant for the binary EF-Tu-GDP complex, and the titration data of the ternary complex with excess GDP as titrant . The apparent number, n, of rapidly exchanging water ligands coordinated to bound Mn(II) in the ternary complex EF-Tu-MnGDP is estimated from the frequency dependence of the PRR of the complex to be approximately 1 . The value of n and the values of PRR enhancements, epsilont = 4.3 for EF-Tu-MnGDP at 21 degrees, 24.3 MHZ and epsilont = 4.1 for the ternary GTP complex, are unusually low for protein-Mn-nucleotide complexes . The antibiotic X5108 which induces GTPase activity in EF-Tu-MgGTP was shown to bind stoichiometrically to EF-Tu-MnGDP and thereby change the PRR enhancement of the complex from 4.3 to 7.4 . The characteristic broad lines in the EPR spectra of Mn(II) nucleotides are strikingly narrowed upon binding of Mn(II) nucleotides to EF-Tu . The long electron spin relaxation times inferred from the EPR spectra indicate a limited access of solvent water to the first coordination sphere of Mn(II) in its EF-Tu-nucleotide complexes . The frequency dependence of the PRR indicates that the electron spin relaxation time, T1e, is the dominant process modulating the Mn(II)-H2O interaction of the EF-Tu-MnGDP complex and consequently determines the correlation time . The value of T1e, estimated from the PRR experiments to be 2.5 ns at 21 degrees, is consistent with the lower limit of T1e obtained from the line widths of the EPR spectrum of the complex . Upon binding of a stoichiometric quantity of the antibiotic X5108, the EPR spectrum of EF-Tu-MnGDP is severely broadened indicating greater access of solvent water to the manganese coordination sphere, i.e . an opening of the nucleotide binding site as already suggested by the increased PRR enhancement.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Mar 18, 475(2), 294 - 306
Single-strand nicking of DNA in vitro by neocarzinostatin and its possible relationship to the mechanism of drug action; Beerman TA et al.; Neocarzinostatin, a protein antibiotic with anti-tumor activity was found to place single-strand scissions in DNA in an in vitro reaction . The drug's cutting activity was strongly dependent on the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol but some cutting did take place in the absence of reducing agent at very high drug levels and prolonged incubation . The requirement for reducing agents could not be replaced with NAD+, FAD, NADH or H2O2 and the strand-scission reaction was not affected by Mg2+, EDTA or intercalating agents . Similar profiles of heat-inactivation of neocarzinostatin were found whether activity was measured by the scission of DNA strand either in vitro or in HeLa cells treated with the drug . Furthermore, both of these parameters corresponded closely with the ability of the modified drug to inhibit DNA synthesis and growth of HeLa cells . By column isoelectric focusing it was shown that all four activities are associated with the same protein band (pH 3.28) . From these data we conclude that the cytotoxic activity of neocarzinostatin and the nicking of DNA strands in vitro appear to reside in the same protein.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Mar 17, 465(3), 471 - 85
Calcium ion-flux across phosphatidylcholine membranes mediated by ionophore A23187; Wulf J et al.; The antibiotic A23187 carries Ca2+ across Muller-Rudin membranes made from 1,2-dierucoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and n-decane . The conductance of the membranes is not increased by the Ca2+-transport . The flux depends linearly on Ca2+ concentration and ionophore concentration (above pH 6) . It increases with increasing pH, approximately by a factor of 4-5 between pH 6 and pH 8 . Maximal Ca2+-fluxes of about 10(-10) mol-cm-2-s-1 were found . A counter transport of H+ could not be detected . The complex formation between A23187 and Ca2+ in egg phosphotidylcholine vesicles was studied spectroscopically . The results are consistent with the formation of a 2:1 complex . Optical absorption measurements on single phophatidylcholine membranes were used to calculate the concentration of membrane-bound ionophore A23187.

Mol Gen Genet, 1977 Mar 16, 151(3), 253 - 9
Anisomycin sensitive mutants of Physarum polycephalum isolated by cyst selection; Gorman JA et al.; The haploid myxamoebae of Physarum polycephalum reversibly differentiate to form dormant microcysts under conditions of starvation . The thin-walled cysts can be selective recovered from a cell suspension which has been treated with the surfactant Triton X-100 to lyse amoeboid forms . Excystment, which is initiated by suspension in liquid medium, is inhibited by antibiotics which block protein synthesis . Cysts of drug resistant mutants excyst rapidly in media containing sufficient antibiotic to maintain drug sensitive strains in the encysted state . The selective survival of non-excysted cells following Triton X-100 treatment has been employed to enrich for drug sensitive mutants . Several anisomycin sensitive mutants have been isolated, one of which has been analysed genetically . The possible applications of this mutant enrichment technique are discussed.

J Biol Chem, 1977 Mar 10, 252(5), 1576 - 81
Effects of prostaglandins and oxytocin on calcium release from a uterine microsomal fraction; Carsten ME et al.; A microsomal fraction resembling striated muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum was isolated from uterine smooth muscle . ATP induces calcium accumulation in this fraction . Increased temperature enhances calcium accumulation and calcium-activated ATPase . In the absence of ATP, approximately 35% of the intrinsic calcium exchanges with the 45Ca in the incubation medium . In the presence of ATP, exchange of intrinsic calcium with 45Ca increases by an amount which equals the ATP-dependent calcium binding . In preparations partially preloaded with calcium, a steady state of bound calcium is reached when the ATP is exhausted . Calcium is released under these conditions by prostaglandins E2 and F2alpha, but not by PGF1beta . The antibiotic ionophores X537A and A23187, as well as oxytocin, also release calcium previously accumulated under ATP stimulation . None of these agents, with the exception of oxytocin, release intrinsic calcium . Thus, the effect of prostaglandins resembles that of the ionophores, suggesting an ionophoretic action of these prostaglandins . The release of calcium conforms with the in vivo smooth muscle contracting action of these agents.

Biochemistry, 1977 Mar 8, 16(5), 914 - 20
Escherichia coli DNA-directed beta-galactosidase synthesis in presence and absence of Ca2+; Jacobs KA et al.; DNA-dependent synthesis of beta-galactosidase was optimized in extracts made from cells lysed by a standard French pressure cell . Extracts made at 3200 psi synthesized up to 25-fold more beta-galactosidase than extracts made at 7500 psi . beta-Galactosidase synthesis was cyclic 3', 5' AMP dependent, as expected, and in optimal conditions transcription and translation proceeded at 8.6 nucleotides and 2.7 amino acids per s, respectively . The high pressure extracts were stimulated 3- to 5-fold by Ca2+, especially at low Mg2+ concentrations . In contrast, extracts prepared at low pressure were inhibited as much as 50-fold by Ca2+ ions . The inhibition by Ca2+ was analyzed further . Addition of kasugamycin, an antibiotic that acts on ribosomes, to reactions containing Ca2+ stimulated beta-galactosidase synthesis to nearly control levels . Extracts from a kasugamycin resistant mutant were neither inhibited by Ca2+ nor stimulated by the addition of kasugamycin to in vitro reactions containing Ca2+ . The change in the mutant was ascribed to the ribosomes by testing combinations of soluble proteins, ribosome wash, and ribosomes from parental and mutant strains . These results suggest that Ca2+ ions inhibit translation by ribosomes, very likely at an initiation step; and that they enhance enzyme synthesis only in conditions where translation is inefficient (high-pressure extracts at low concentrations of Mg2+, for example) . This latter effect is probably a consequence of increased RNA stability in the presence of Ca2+ (Cremer, K., and Schlessinger, D . (1974), J . Biol . Chem . 249,4730).

Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1977 Mar 4, 284, 667 - 75
Effect of an interferon inducer, 9-methylstreptimidone, on influenza virus infection in mice; Suzuki F et al.; The antiviral effect of 9-MS was examined in mice infected with mouse-adapted influenza A2 (H2N2) virus . Either a single or a continuous prophylactic administration of 9-MS protected mice from virus infection, and comparison of the minimal effective dose with the lethal dose gave a therapeutic index of approximately 60 . When the treatment was started after infection, however, no antiviral effect was demonstrated . A potent virus-inhibitory factor was detected in the lung and serum after a single intraperitoneal administration of 9-MS in uninfected mice, and on the basis of chemical characteristics of this inhibitory factor, it was assumed to be an interferon . These results suggest that the protective activity of the antibiotic in mice is due to interferon induction.

Acta Anaesthesiol Belg, 1977 Mar, 28(1), 41 - 52
Treatment of gas gangrene . Interest of hyperbaric oxygen therapy; Blaise G et al.; We report 27 cases of gas gangrene treated at the University Hospital of Liege since the Anesthesiology Department has been using a caisson for hyperbaric oxygen therapy . Frequency of gas gangrene does not appear to have decreased during recent years . The etiologies now encountered are mainly of post-traumatic and post-operative origin (especially surgery on the digestive tract); arterial insufficiency is a predisposing factor . The prognosis depends on the speed with which an effectual treatment is started; the latter consists in intensive hyperbaric oxygen therapy, antibiotic therapy and resuscitation . Surgery should be as conservative as possible and is undertaken only when progress of the disease has been checked by hyperbaric oxygen therapy . The association of these various modes of treatment proves effectual despite a still significant mortality.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Mar, 30(3), 262 - 6
Antileishmanial activity of mycobacillin; Chattopadhyay TK et al.; Mycobacillin, a cyclic polypeptide antifungal antibiotic effectively inhibits the growth of promastigote form of the protozoal organism, Leishmania donovani, strain 81 in liquid medium . Oxygen uptake by intact cells of the protozoa with exogenous glucose is appreciably reduced within first 30 minutes in presence of the antibiotic at a concentration of 15 microng/ml . Appreciable leakage of intracellular 260 nm and 280 nm absorbing materials takes place from the protozoan cells incubated with the antibiotic at similar concentration.

Biomedicine, 1977 Mar, 27(2), 66 - 9
Inhibition of human platelet mitochondrial protein synthesis by chloramphenicol; Agam G et al.; Human platelet mitochondrial protein synthesis, assayed by "in vitro" 3H-leucine incorporation into the protein moiety of isolated mitochondria, was shown to be inhibited by a therapeutic concentration of chloramphenicol (CAP) . This finding is in accordance with the ultrastructural damage caused to these organelles by the antibiotic, and with the inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis found in other kinds of mammalian cells.

J Laryngol Otol, 1977 Mar, 91(3), I85 - 99
An evaluation of per-scalar cochlear electrode implantation techniques . An histopathological study in cats; Clark GM; This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of infection and trauma on the organ of Corti and spiral ganglion cells following per-scalar cochlear electrode implantations in cats . The results showed that the incidence of infection with a per-scalar electrode inserted through an opening made directly into the apical and middle turns is low, provided the procedure is carried out aseptically with an antibiotic cover . Trauma could also be kept to a minimum by inserting the electrode into the scala tympani, taking care to insert the electrode without applying force, and ensuring that the first insertion is the only one . Furthermore, the tip of the electrode should be blunt, and its diameter smaller than the width of the scala tympani . It was noted that damage to the organ of Corti, and loss of spiral ganglion cells only occurred as a local phenomenon, and its extent was related to the severity of the damage to the Reissner's and basilar membranes . The insertion of an electrode through the round window and along the scala tympani was not free of risk, as infection which led to a marked loss of spiral ganglion cells occurred, particularly in the basal turn . On the other hand when the size of the electrode was small in relation to the cross sectional area of the scala tympani, and it was not inserted far along the length of the basal turn, the evidence of trauma was minimal . Tissue reaction to the teflon-coated platinum electrode was also not observed.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Mar, 22(3), 259 - 60
{Pharmacokinetics of rifampicin in single and repeated administration to patients with inflammatory processes in the lungs of nontuberculotic etiology}; Makarenkova RV et al.; Rifampicin is a broad spectrum semisynthetic antibiotic of the group of rifampicins . It is active against both grampositive and gramnegative organisms and mycobacteria . The studies on the pharmacokinetics of rifampicin showed that the drug was well absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract . After a single administration of rifampicin in a dose of 150 mg its maximum concentration in the blood was registered in an hour . This concentration was preserved at the therapeutic level for 5 hours . Practically no accumulation of rifampicin was observed in its use in a dose of 150 mg 4 times a day for 5 days . Perspectivity of rifampicin use in the treatment of patients with inflammatory processes in the lungs of non-tuberculosis etiology was shown.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Mar, 22(3), 252 - 8
{Action of cycloheximide on RNA synthesis and the formation of structures in the Venezuelan equine encephalomelitis virus}; Sokolova TM et al.; The studies showed that the effect of cycloheximide on reproduction of the virus of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) depended on the time of the antibiotic administration . When the antibiotic was added 3--5 hours after the inoculation (after formation of the virus RNA-polymerase), accumulation of virus RNA and 60--100 S virus structures was observed in the cells, while virus nucleotides and infection virus did not practically form . The 60--100 S structures included the cell proteins . They were resistant to EDTA and their swimming density in cesium chloride was 1.3--1.4 gm/cm3, it was characteristic of RNA of a non-ribosomic nature . According to these properties 60--100 S structures may be classified as belonging to the "hybrid" RNA analogous to the RNA complexes of VEE virus with the cell proteins . Probably addition of cycloheximide provided conditions in the infected cells for increase of the "hybrid", structural pool since the synthesis of the structural virus proteins was suppressed.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Mar, 22(3), 195 - 9
{Comparative study of the effect of aeration conditions on the biosynthesis of oxytetracycline by an actinomyces rimosus culture and of lincomycin by an Actinomyces roesolus culture}; Oblozhko LS et al.; The effect of aeration conditions on growth of the oxytetracycline- and lincomycin-producing organisms and antibiotic biosynthesis was studied . It was shown that the lincomycin-producing organism respiration rate was much higher and required better aeration condition-than the oxytetracycline-producing organism . The highest respiration rate of the young myces lium was observed in the growth phase . During the period of the antibiotic biosynthesis the rate of oxygen consumption somewhat decreased though remained sufficiently high . Decreased productivity of the mycelium at the end of the process was accompanied by a drop in the respiration rate . The lack of oxgen lowered the mycelium productivity with respect to the antibiotic formation to a much much greater extent than the culture growth rate . The limiting of the antibiotic biosynthesis process by the lack of dissolved oxygen was accompanied by changes in the culture metabolism evident from production of organic acids: ketoacids and volatile acids by Act . rimosus and volatile and lactic acids by Act . roseolus.

Ann Surg, 1977 Mar, 185(3), 301 - 6
Acute renal failure following blunt civilian trauma; Matas AJ et al.; Renal failure developed in 20 patients following blunt civilian trauma . Ten recovered normal renal function; 8 currently survive . Survivors and nonsurvivors did not differ in age, time from trauma to anuria, mean blood urea nitrogen or creatinine level prior to the first or to subsequent dialyses . However, there was an increased incidence of sepsis and liver failure in those who died . When outcome was related to site of injury, patients with closed head injury and/or intra-abdominal injury had a worse prognosis than those with thoracic or extremity injury only . Only 2 patients with perforated bowel survived; both had peritoneal dialysis combined with peritoneal lavage with antibiotic solutions . Mortality in patients with posttraumatic renal failure remains high; however, death is usually a result of associated complications rather than a result of the renal failure . Aggressive management of other complications of the trauma, especially sepsis or potential sepsis, is necessary . We recommend peritoneal dialysis combined with peritoneal antibiotic lavage where there is a potential for posttraumatic intra-abdominal sepsis associated with renal failure.

Clin Obstet Gynecol, 1977 Mar, 20(1), 145 - 53
Infections in elderly women; Ledger WJ; The topic of infections in elderly women is reviewed . In this age group consideration must be given to possible underlying disease and to the patient's age when antibiotic therapy is to be utilized . Preventive measures are stressed in the care of elderly women with infections.

Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi, 1977 Mar, 73(2), 205 - 14
{Pharmacological studies of Shikon and Tooki . (3) Effect of topical application of the ether extracts and Shiunko on inflammatory reactions}; Hayashi M; Pharmacological effects of topical application of Shiunko, a main prescription of Shikon (Lithospermum Officinale Linne var . erythrorhizon Maximowicz), were studied in comparison with that of ether extracts of Shikon and Tooki . Ointment of Shikon ether extract (50 mg/site) inhibited markedly an increased vascular permeability and acute edema induced by histamine, serotonin, bromelain, anti-rat rabbit serum and heat . It also inhibited an increase of local cutaneous temperature induced by phlogistic stimulation (ultraviolet irradiation and heat) . On the other hand, it accelerated wound healing in rats . The activity of Shikon ether extract on inflammatory reaction was the most potent in 0.2 approximately 0.1% of ointment concentration and was diminished in higher or lower concentrations . Tooki extract inhibited slightly an acute inflammatory reaction, but had no effect on increase of cutaneous temperature and wound healing in rats . Shiunko contains about 0.2% of Shikon and 0.04% of Tooki extract . The effect of Shiunko was similar to that of Shikon ether extract, but the activity was slightly more potent than that of Shikon . Shiunko inhibited rubor, calor and tumor in acute inflammatory reaction and promoted wound healing . Furthermore, it was reported that pigments of Shikon have antibiotic activity . The results suggest that Shiunko is an effective ointment for cutaneous injuries.

Mikrobiologiia, 1977 Mar-Apr, 46(2), 257 - 62
{Lipid composition of Escherichia coli cells sensitive and resistant to tetracycline}; Kuzina ZA et al.; The following variants of E . coli resistant to tetracycline have been obtained from a strain of E . coli W-677 susceptible to 2.5 mcg/ml of the antibiotic: Ri, a recombinant resulting from crossing E . coli W-677 (recipient) and E . coli CSH-222 (donor), resistant to 200 mcg/ml of tetracycline; R2, a strain isolated upon numeros passaging E . coli W-677 on media containing the antibiotic, resistant to 25 mcg/ml of tetracycline . The ability of the resistant variants to bind the antibiotic decreased, as was found in experiments with 14C-tetracycline . Preincubation with low concentrations of the antibiotic resulted in an additional decrease of the sorption by the resistant variants, and in a decrease by 15--18 per cent in the case of the susceptible culture . The R2 variant differed in lipid composition from the parent, susceptible culture: it contained less total lipids and unsaturated fatty acids, and more branched fatty acids . The R1 variant hardly differed in lipid composition from the susceptible culture.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Mar, 129(3), 1593 - 600
Regulation of murein biosynthesis and septum formation in filamentous cells of Escherichia coli PAT 84; Mirelman D et al.; Both the beta-lactam antibiotic, cephalexin, and the deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis inhibitor, nalidixic acid, are known to inhibit cell division in Escherichia coli and induce the formation of filaments . The biosynthesis of murein was investigated in these filaments and compared with the murein synthesized by the normally dividing rods of E . coli PAT 84 . Differences were found in the extent of peptide side-chain cross-linkage . Filamentous cells had higher extents of cross-linkages in their newly synthesized murein . Quantitative analyses of the D-alanine carboxypeptidase and transpeptidase reactions in the different cells revealed that the carboxypeptidase activity of the filamentous cells was partially inhibited . These results were similar to those previously found with filaments that were obtained after growth of the thermosensitive division mutant at its restrictive temperature . We conclude that the formation of new cell ends (septa) depends on the proper balance between the activities of the D-alanine carboxypeptidase that regulates the availability of precursor doners and the transpeptidase, which catalyzes cross-linking and attachment of newly synthesized murein.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Mar, 129(3), 1466 - 75
Temporal sequence of events during the initiation process in Escherichia coli deoxyribonucleic acid replication: roles of the dnaA and dnaC gene products and ribonucleic acid polymerase; Zyskind JW et al.; Three thermosensitive deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) initiation mutants of Escherichia coli exposed to the restrictive temperature for one to two generations were examined for the ability to reinitiate DNA replication after returning to the permissive temperature in the presence of rifampin, chloramphenicol, or nalidixic acid . Reinitiation in the dnaA mutant was inhibited by rifampin but not by chloramphenicol, whereas renitiation was not inhibited by rifampin but not by chloramphenicol, whereas reinitiation was not inhibited in two dnaC mutants by either rifampin or chloramphenicol . To observe the rifampin inhibition, the antibiotic must be added at least 10 min before return to the permissive temperature . The rifampin inhibition of reinitiation was not observed when a rifampin-resistant ribonucleic acid ((RNA) polymerase gene was introduced into the dnaA mutant, demonstrating that RNA polymerase synthesizes one or more RNA species required for the initation of DNA replication (origin-RNA) . Reinitiation at 30 degrees C was not inhibited by streptolydigin in a stretolydigin-sensitive dnaA muntant . Incubation in the presence of nalidixic acid prevented subsequent reinitiation in the dnaC28 mutant but did not inhibit reinitiation in the dnaA5 muntant . These results demonstrate that the dnaA gene product acts before or during the synthesis of an origin-RNA, RNA polymerase synthesizes this origin RNA, and the dnaC gene product is involved in a step after this RNA synthesis event . Furthermore, these results suggest that the dnaC gene product is involved in the first deoxyribounucleotide polymerization event wheareas the dnaA gene product acts prior to this event . A model is presented describing the temporal sequence of events that occur during initiation of a round of DNA replication, based on results in this and the accompanying paper.

Ann R Coll Surg Engl, 1977 Mar, 59(2), 73 - 103
A reappraisal of the use of antiseptics in surgical practice; Gilmore OJ; The use of antiseptics was reappraised because of the increasing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria . A formaldehyde (noxythiolin) and a halogen (povidone-iodine) were investigated, these being the most appropriate antiseptic groups . Povidone-iodine solution significantly reduced the mortality of mice (P less than 0.01) and rats (P less than 0.01) with peritonitis . Noxythiolin (1% and 0.5%) did not . Antiseptic irrigation of the rat colon before and after anastomosis resulted in significantly fewer 'poor' anastomoses (P less than 0.05) without inhibiting healing . Noxythiolin 2.5% and 1% significantly reduced peritoneal adhesion formation in rats, but a newly formulated povidone-iodine solution with increased polyvinylpyrrolidone content was superior to noxythiolin 1% and 0.5% . Povidone-iodine neither inhibited rat abdominal wound healing nor induced bacterial resistance . In 3 subsequent controlled clinical trials a dry-powder povidone-iodine formulation halved wound infection after grid-iron appendicectomy (P less than 0.025), reduced infection in elective 'clean' surgery, and significantly reduced infection after a wide variety of 'potentially contaminated' abdominal procedures (P less than 0.01) . A return to the principles of Lister is advocated.

J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1977 Mar, 59(3), 228 - 31
Inhibition of theophylline clearance by troleandomycin; Weinberger M et al.; The effect of troleandomycin, a macrolide antibiotic, on theophylline elimination was examined in eight patients with chronic asthma . Clearance from serum was reduced by 50 +/- 6% (mean +/- SD) during administration of 250 mg troleandomycin four times daily . Reduction of clearance persisted to a lesser degree in one of these patients examined while receiving 250 mg troleandomycin daily . An increase in serum theophylline concentration can thus result from initiating troleandomycin in asthmatic patients receiving continuous treatment with theophylline . This may be at least a partial explanation for the apparent benefit of troleandomycin in chronic asthma and also suggests that possibility of inducing theophylline toxicity, including seizures, as was observed in one of the patients in this study.

Scand J Dent Res, 1977 Mar, 85(3), 169 - 74
Histologic demonstration of bacteria subjacent to dental restorations; Mjor I; Sections of demineralized teeth which had received experimentally inserted restorations using a variety of materials have been stained according to the Brown and Brenn technique . Conventional cavity preparations had been made in intact areas and the cavities were dried gently without additional treatment prior to restoration . Different restorative materials were used and the teeth were extracted after 3-117 days' observation . No bacteria could be demonstrated at the dentin/filling interface or in the dentin if zinc oxide/eugenol, Ca(OH)2 mixed with water or corticonsteroid/antibiotic preparations were employed as base or lining materials . A few bacteria were found subjacent to two of seven unlined amalgam fillings and subjacent to three silicate restorations which had been lined with a polymeric material.

J Clin Invest, 1977 Mar, 59(3), 418 - 25
Effects of ionophore A23187 on base-line and vasopressin-stimulated sodium transport in the toad bladder; Wiesmann W et al.; The cation specific ionophore A23187 (Io) is a useful tool for studying the role of intracellular Ca++ (Ca++)i in physiologic processes . The present studies explore the role of (Ca++)i on Na transport in the toad bladder . Scraped bladder cells exposed to 1 muM Io for 60 min took up 100% more 45Ca than control cells . Io, 1 muM, added to the serosal side of bladders incubated in standard Ringers containing 2.5 mM Ca++ inhibited short circuit current (SCC) values by a mean of 30% at 60 min and 50% at 90 min . Io did not inhibit SCC significantly in bladders incubated in Ringers containing 0.2 mM Ca++ . These data indicate that the effects of Io on SCC depend on the levels of external Ca++ and suggest that entry of Ca++ into cells mediates the inhibition of base-line SCC . PReincubation of the bladders with either lanthanum chloride or pentobarbital prevented the increased 45Ca uptake produced by ionophore as well as theinhibition of SCC caused by the antibiotic . Vasopressin, antidiuretic hormone (ADH) . 10 MU/ml, increased peak SCC by 247% in bladders preincubated for 1 h in Ringers with 2.5 mM Ca++ and 1 muM Io and by 318% in control bladders (P less than 0.01) . Bladders exposed to 1 muM Io in Ringers with 0.2 mM Ca++ had an increase in SCC after ADH comparable to that observed in controls . Since the effects of ADH on SCC are mediated by cyclic AMP, we tested the effects of Io on cAMP production by scraped toad bladder cells . ADH increased cAMP from 8 to 30 pmol/mg protein in controls but it did not increase cAMP over base-line values in the presence of Io when the Ringers contained 2.5 mM Ca++ . Io did not inhibit cAMP production in response to ADH when the Ca++ in the Ringers was 0.2 mM . The results indicate that Io inhibits baseline and ADH stimulated SCC by increasing (Ca++)i or Ca++ bound to the cell membrane . It is suggested that: ()( (Ca++)i or membrane-bound Ca++ plays a key role in base-line and ADH stimulated Na transport in the toad bladder; (2) inhibition of ADH stimulated SCC may be due inpart to decreased cAMP generation in response to ADH when (Ca++)i or membrane-bound Ca++ levels are increased.

Fertil Steril, 1977 Mar, 28(3), 257 - 61
Reversible inhibition of the motility of human spermatozoa by cytochalasin B; Peterson RN et al.; Cytochalasin B inhibits the motility and metabolism of washed human spermatozoa at low concentrations (20 to 200 mum) . Spermatozoal motility (primarily the frequency of flagellar contraction) declines slowly after addition of the antibiotic but is not abolished even after treatment for several hours . The addition of caffeine or dibutyrylcyclic adenosine 3' :5'-monophosphate to washed sperm suspensions increases the percentage of motile cells, the frequency of flagellar contraction, and the rate of glycolysis . These effects are blocked by cytochalasin B . However, cytochalasin B-treated spermatozoa regain their responsiveness to these agents when the antibiotic is washed out of supporting media . These effects are discussed in terms of an interaction of cytochalasin B with the sperm plasma membrane.

Cancer Res, 1977 Mar, 37(3), 761 - 4
Interaction of amphotericin B and 43 degrees hyperthermia; Hahn GM et al.; At 43 degrees (but not at 41 degrees), the polyene antibiotic amphotericin B effectively inactivates mammalian cells in vitro even at doses which are used prophylactically, routinely, and continuously in some tissue culture laboratories . The greatly enhanced killing may reflect interactions between the drug and hyperthermia at the level of the cells' plasma membrane . A similar enhancement of cell killing at 43 degrees was seen when cells were exposed to nonisotonic salt solutions . Another polyene, nystatin, shows no temperature dependence, at least over the dose range examined, while another antifungal agent, polymyxin B, does so only at very high doses . The in vitro thermosensibility of cells to amphotericin B is reflected in vivo: EMT-6 murine tumor cells were killed much more efficiently in situ at 43 than at 37 degrees . Amphotericin B may be a useful agent in multiple drug thermochemotherapy.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1977 Mar, 4(3), 523 - 38
DNA-polymerase inhibitors . Rifamycin derivatives; Frolova LY et al.; Ten new derivatives of the antibiotic rifamycin with variable side chains at position 3 were synthesized . The inhibitory activity of these derivatives against DNA-polymerases isolated from avian myeloblastosis virus, E . coli and calf thymus were studied at various conditions . 3-(2,4,6-trinitrophenylhydrazone-(methyl) rifamycin SV is a strong inhibitor for all the polymerases tested and belongs to the C class inhibitors of reverse transcriptase . 3-(monoallylhydrazone-(methyl) rifamycin SV possesses a selective action on polymerases: at 0.1 mg/ml concentration it almost completely inhibits the reverse transcriptase and less than half of the bacterial and eukaryotic enzymes . A drug is found which strongly inhibits the DNA-polymerases from E . coli and calf thymus and weakly the viral enzyme . The inhibitory effect on reverse transcriptase is independent of the choice of template-primer; it could be overcome by the addition of excess enzyme but not of excess template-primer; the inhibition could be completely reversed by dilution of the drug-enzyme mixture . From Lineweaver-Burk analysis, the inhibition is noncompetitive with respect to the template-primer and, thus the drugs bind to the site different from the active site for the template-primer . From protective action of the template-primer and other data it might be suggested that the rifamycin derivatives act at an early step(s) in DNA synthesis catalyzed by reverse transcriptase . The obtained data are in agreement with the results for other derivatives of rifamycin SV described in literature.

Transfusion, 1977 Mar-Apr, 17(2), 141 - 6
Hydroxyethyl starch and prednisone as adjuncts to granulocyte collection; Bearden JD 3rd et al.; A total of 232 leukaphereses were performed with a continuous flow (CFC) of 89 donors related to recipients to obtain granulocytes for infected granulocytopenic recipients . One hundred fifteen runs were done without pretreatment of the donors and were used as controls . Pharmacological pretreatment of the remaining one hundred seventeen donors included Prednisone, given in an oral dose (50 mg) the evening prior to the run, and/or 250ml of 6 per cent hydroxyethyl starch added to the input line of the CFC throughout the run . A median of 9.2 liters of donor blood was processed with each run . The pretreatment of the donors with Prednisone plus the addition of HES to the input line significantly increased the number of granulocytes collected . Donors tolerated the leukapheresis procedure well, and no significant side effects were associated with Prednisone or HES administration . Early and frequent use of such granulocytes was effective in the short-term control of fever in the granulocytopenic recipients who failed to respond to 48 hours of broad spectrum antibiotic coverage.

Am J Pathol, 1977 Mar, 86(3), 603 - 22
Disseminated intravascular coagulation induced by progesterone in the pregnant rat . Prevention by estogens; Stamler FW; PIP: Fatal disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was induced in female rats by administration of progesterone in late pregnancy . This prevented parturition, with intrauterine fetal death 2-4 days past term and subsequent retention of dead fetuses . Concomitantly with, or closely following the intrauterine death of their litters, a large proportion of pregnant rats died with histologically evident DIC . Administration of cortisone, heparin, or dicoumarin did nothing to prevent DIC, and epsilon-aminocaproic acid, acetylsalicylic acid,or an onion-rich diet tended to increase its incidence . Antibiotic regimens gave variable results, with significant decrease in DIC only with a combination of 2 wide-spectrum penicillins . Neomycin and polymyxin had little effect on susceptible Sprague-Dawley derived rats, but polymyxin caused a significant increase in DIC in a resistant strain of hooded rats . Fatal maternal DIC was completely prevented only by use of natural or synthetic estrogens concurrently with progesterone, although the sequence of abnormally prolonged pregnancy with intrauterine fetal death and retention of dead fetuses remained . Potencies of estrogens varied greatly, but all compounds tested prevented DIC at adequate dosage levels . Diethylstilbestrol, the most potent drug tested, was completely protective at 1 mcg daily given sc . Bate-estradiol was the most effective natural estrogen, giving complete protention with a 10 mcg daily sc injection . Estrogens were much more potent by sc injection than by oral ingestion, and toxic side effects were sometimes noted with higher levels of the latter . For estrogen therapy to be effective, it was necessary to begin its use before the expected onset of DIC . Reversal of this process once DIC has started is beyond the powers of this therapy .

Cancer Lett, 1977 Mar, 2(4-5), 227 - 32
The comparative toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of adriamycin and the adriamycin-DNA complex in the chemotherapy of C3H mice with transplanted mammary adenocarcinoma; Brown I et al.; Tissue analyses and tumour regression studies using the oncolytic antibiotic, adriamycin (14-hydroxydaunomycin), and its DNA complex at adriamycin dosages of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg were made on C3H mice with transplanted mammary adenocarcinoma . Chemical analysis indicated a significantly lower (P < 0.05) uptake of adriamycin into cardiac tissue for the adriamycin-DNA complex . Tumour regression was comparable for both the complex and free adriamycin . Results suggest an advantageous role for the adriamycin DNA complex in the chemotherapy of metastatic breast carcinoma.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Mar, 22(3), 244 - 7
{Experimental study of a gentamicin aerosol}; Prokhorova II et al.; The study of gentamicin aerosol showed its relative innocuousness: it did not inhibit the growth and development of young animals, did not induce pathological changes in the upper respiratory tract, kidneys, liver, heart and spleen on its prolonged use . Pathohistological examination revealed slight irritating effect of the gentamicin aerosol in the lungs after its use in a dose of 8 or 25 mg/kg for 6 weeks . A procedure for investigating the effect of the aerosol on the activity of the trachea ciliated epithelium of warm blooded animals was developed . The gentamicin aerosols prepared from solutions of different concentrations (1 to 50 mg/ml) induced ingibition of the ciliated epithelium function at average from 15 to 35 per cent which was associated with the solution acidity (pH 4.54 to 4.82) . Such a decrease in the function of the ciliated epithelium due to the antibiotic aerosol use was a factor prolonging the antibiotic retention time in the respiratory organs . It was found that aqueous solutions of drugs used for inhalation, such as ephedrin, euphelin, dimedrol, N-acetyl-L-cystein and others had no effect on the activity of gentamicin and may be used with it in a form of aerosols.

JAMA, 1977 Feb 28, 237(9), 892 - 4
Retropsoas and subgluteal abscesses following paracervical and pudendal anesthesia; Svancarek W et al.; Retroperitoneal abscesses are uncommon in obstetrics and gynecology . Recently, seven reported cases of retropsoas-subgluteal abscesses following paracervical-pudendal anesthesia have been reported, and we have seen two additional cases . The infrequent occurrence and diagnostic difficulties make these abscesses especially dangerous . They can result in substantial patient morbidity and mortality . They must be suspected in patients receiving paracervical-pudendal anesthesia prior to vaginal delivery in whom hip pain subsequently develops . Therapy consists of prompt surgical exploration and drainage and appropriate antibiotic therapy.

J Biol Chem, 1977 Feb 25, 252(4), 1309 - 15
Mitochondrial metabolism of pyruvate in bovine spermatozoa; Hutson SM et al.; Treatment with the polyene antibiotic, filipin, renders the spermatozoan cell membrane permeable to small molecules, but not to the intracellular enzymes aldolase and lactate dehydrogenase . Pyruvate (10 mM) as the sole substrate was metabolized very slowly . L-Carnitine increased pyruvate metabolism 3- to 4-fold and allowed limited rates of oxidative phosphorylation . When spermatozoa treated with filipin were supplemented with malate, there was a rapid, almost linear rate of pyruvate metabolism which was slightly increased by L-carnitine . In the absence of malate, 20 to 30% of the pyruvate used was reduced to lactate; this increased to 57% in the presence of malate . Without malate, about 90% of the pyruvate metabolized was converted to lactate and acetate or L-acetylcarnitine . Rutamycin or rotenone increased both the rate of pyruvate use and the delta lactate/deltapyruvate ratio . Under all treatments, L-carnitine consistently reduced the percentage of pyruvate converted to lactate by about 10%; part of the pyruvate was preferentially shunted into L-acetylcarnitine rather than lactate . The mitochondrial inhibitors, rotenone or rutamycin, did not change the amount of pyruvate that was converted to metabolites other than lactate, or L-acetylcarnitine, or both . Pyruvate-supported State 3 respiration was linear only if L-carnitine, or malate, or both, were added to the incubation medium . Added malate was necessary to produce a rapid State 3 respiratory rate and was also required for significant respiratory activity in the presence of rotenone or rutamycin . From cells metabolizing {2-14C}pyruvate (1.4 mM), 14C-labeled acid-extractable metabolites were separated by ion exchange column chromatography . All of the {2-14C}pyruvate (+/-5%) used was recovered in 14C-labeled metabolites and 14CO2 . In the presence of malate, citrate accumulation was significant, and was always large in comparison to flux through the citric acid cycle . Glutamate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, fumarate, aspartate, and alpha-ketoglutarate did not accumulate in significant amounts . Some 14C-labeled succinate was produced but only in the presence of malate . Alkaline hydrolysis of a fraction containing carnitine esters yielded acetate and a compound tentatively identified as beta-hydroxybutyrate or lactate . As in intact cells, intramitochondrial lactate dehydrogenase competes successfully with the electron transport system for the NADH generated by pyruvate metabolism . The role of lactate and L-carnitine, and conclusions suggested by the accumulation of certain metabolites are discussed in relation to control of citric acid cycle activity.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Feb 23, 486(2), 254 - 9
Inhibition of sterol synthesis by citrinin in a cell-free system from rat liver and yeast; Kuroda M et al.; Citrinin, a fungal metabolite known as an antibiotic, strongly inhibited the labeled acetate incorporation into nonsaponifiable lipids by a cell-free system from rat liver but not the labeled mevalonate incorporation . Of the enzymes involved in cholesterol synthesis, two enzymes, acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (EC 2.3.1.9) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (EC 1.1.1.34), were specifically inhibited by the antibiotic . The concentration required for 50% inhibition was 0.2 mM for the former enzyme and 0.5 mM for the latter . Essentially the same results were obtained with a cell-free system from yeast although higher concentrations of the antibiotic were required for inhibition.

Med Klin, 1977 Feb 22, Spec No, suppl 38 - 44
{Vibravenös--a report of a multicenter trial (author's transl)}; Swarz H; A multicenter trial was conducted in Austria, Germany Holland and Switzerland . A total of 944 patients were included . They had a variety of diagnoses which required hospital admission and intravenous antibiotic therapy . The majority of patients (86.9 p.c.) started therapy with 200 mg doxycycline on the first day . All patients began therapy with an intravenous administration of doxycycline and most were later switched to an oral formulation . Various parameters of response were examined . Resolution of temperature as well as a decrease in associated pain was recorded . Side effects were usually mild and self limiting and were the reason to stop therapy in 1.2 p.c . of the patients . Early improvement was noted in the majority of the diagnostic categories . In 11 p.c . of the cases the response was not indicated or a poor response was noted but overall 89 p.c . of the patients responded to therapy . Doxycycline can be considered a truly useful hospital antibiotic in both its intravenous and oral forms.

Int J Cancer, 1977 Feb 15, 19(2), 186 - 93
Molecular interactions between adriamycin and x-ray damage in mammalian tumor cells; Byfield JE et al.; The effect of the anthracycline antibiotic, Adriamycin (Ad), on the sedimentation properties of pre-labelled mammalian DNA has been studied . Ad induces DNA degradation in vivo in both excision repair-competent (HeLa and Me-180) cells and in excision repair-deficient (REQ) cells . When X-irradiated cells are exposed to Ad during the period of repair of DNA single-strand breaks, small numbers of residual breaks persist following completion of repair . These are attributable to those induced by Ad alone . The effects of Ad and X-rays therefore appear to be similar and additive . No clear-cut evidence that Ad can inhibit the repair of X-ray-induced DNA single-strand breakage was found . Ad also induced the formation of DNA double-strand breaks and inhibits the repair of X-ray-induced base damage (repair replication) . The induction of DNA strand breakage may be responsible for Ad cell toxicity and may contribute to its capacity to enhance primary X-irradiation damage when the two types of lesions co-exist.

Eur J Biochem, 1977 Feb 15, 73(1), 275 - 86
Mucidin resistance in yeast . Isolation, characterization and genetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial mucidin-resistant mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Subik J et al.; Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae resistant to the antibiotic mucidin, a specific inhibitor of electron transport between cytochrome b and c, were isolated and divided into three phenotypic groups, as follows . Class 1 mutants were cross-resistant to a variety of mitochondrial inhibitors and exhibited no resistance at the mitochondrial level . Class 2 mutants were specifically resistant to mucidin exhibiting resistance also at the level of isolated mitochondria . Biochemical studies indicated that the mucidin resistance in class 2 mutants involved a modification of mucidin binding of inhibitory sites on the mitochondrial inner membrane without a significance change in the sensitivity of mitochondrial oxygen uptake to antimycin A, 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide, and 2,3-dimercaptopropanol . Class 3 was represented by a mutant which showed a high degree of resistance to mucidin and was cross-resistant to a variety of mitochondrial inhibitors at the cellular level but exhibited only a resistance to mucidin at the mitochondrial level . Genetic analysis of mucidin-resistant mutants revealed the presence of both nuclear and mitochondrial genes determining mucidin resistance/sensitivity in yeast . Resistance to mucidin in class 1 mutants was due to a single-gene nuclear recessive mutation (mucPR) whereas that in class 2 mutants was caused by mutations of mitochondrial genes . Resistance in class 3 mutant was determined both by single-gene nuclear and mitochondrial mutations . In the mitochondrial mutants the mucidin resistance segregated mitotically and the resistance determinant was lost upon induction of petite mutation by ethidium bromide . Allelism tests indicated that the mucidin resistance mutations fell into two genetic loci (MUC1 and MUC2) which were apparently not closely linked in the mitochondrial genome . Recombination studies showed that the two mitochondrial mucidin loci were not allelic with other mitochondrial loci RIB1, RIB2 and OLI1 . An extremely high mucidin resistance at the cellular level was shown to arise from synergistic interaction of the nuclear gene mucPR and the mitochondrial mucidin-resistance gene (MR) in a cell . The results suggest that at least two mitochondrial gene products, responsible for mucidin resistance/sensitivity in yeast, take part in the formation of the cytochrome bc1 region of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Feb 14, 465(1), 110 - 7
Membrane-bound ATPase of intact vacuoles and tonoplasts isolated from mature plant tissue; Lin W et al.; Intact vacuoles were isolated from petals of Hippeastrum and Tulipa (Wagner G.J . and Siegelman, H.W . (1975) Science 190, 1298--1299) . The ATPase activity of fresh vacuole suspensions was found to be 2--3 times that of protoplasts from the same tissue . 70--80% of the ATPase activity of intact vacuoles was recovered in tonoplast preparations . The antibiotic Dio-9 at 6mug/10(6) vacuoles or protoplasts causes 40% inhibition . However, only the protoplast ATPase is sensitive to oligomycin . N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) slightly stimulates ATPase activity in both vacuole and protoplast suspensions, whereas ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl carbodiimide) (EDAC) strongly inhibits . Spectrophotometric studies show that in the petal the vacuolar contents have a pH of 4.0 for Tuplipa and 4.3 for Hippeastrum, whereas the intact isolated vacuole has an internal pH of 7.0 (in pH 8.0 buffer) for (Tulipa and about 7.3 for Hippeastrum . Internal ion concentrations of 150, 46, 30, 30 and 6 mM were found for K+, Na+, Mg2+, Cl-, and Ca2+ respectively, which are about the same as those in protoplasts.

J Biol Chem, 1977 Feb 10, 252(3), 1007 - 13
Evidence for the participation of saccharide-lipids in the synthesis of the oligosaccharide chain of ovalbumin; Struck DK et al.; To obtain information on the mechanism of glycosylation of ovalbumin, three types of experiments were performed with either hen oviduct membrane preparations or tissue slices and the antibiotic tunicamycin . First, experiments involving the addition of tunicamycin to oviduct membranes demonstrated that this antibiotic inhibited the synthesis of a N-acetylglucosaminyl-lipid with the properties of N-acetyl-glucosaminylpyrophosphorylpolyisoprenol . No inhibitory effects on the other steps in the synthesis of oligosaccharide-lipid were observed . Thus, tunicamycin inhibits the lipid-linked pathway for membrane protein glycosylation by blocking the first step in the synthesis of oligosaccharide-lipid, namely, the synthesis of N-acetylglucosaminylpyrophosphorylpolyisoprenol . Second, in experiments using membranes prepared from oviduct tissue slices preincubated with tunicamycin, it was found that mannosylphosphoryldolichol was the only saccharide-lipid synthesized . This result indicates that tunicamycin administered in vivo depletes endogenous pools of N-acetylglucosamine-lipid precursors to oligosaccharide-lipid in a manner consistent with its activity in vitro . Finally, it was found that tissue slices incubated in the presence of tunicamycin synthesized the polypeptide chain of ovalbumin at almost normal rates . However, the protein newly synthesized in vivo did not contain labeled N-acetylglucosamine or mannose and had the properties of unglycosylated ovalbumin . These results indicate that saccharide-lipids participate in the assembly of the core oligosaccharide of the secretory glycoprotein, ovalbumin.

Biochemistry, 1977 Feb 8, 16(3), 486 - 93
Characterization of DNA strand breakage in vitro by the antitumor protein neocarzinostatin; Poon R et al.; The antitumor protein antibiotic neocarzinostatin causes strand scission of DNA in vitro in the presence of a sulfhydryl compound . The breaks are single stranded in nature and bear 5'-phosphoryl termini . All four deoxymononucleotides are recoverable at the 5'-ends of the cleavage sites although a higher proportion of dGMP and TMP are consistently found . The lesions are not repairable with polynucleotide ligase from Escherichia coli . A quantitative assay was developed to determine the pH profile and time course of the reaction . Data from protection experiments with synthetic and natural DNAs indicate the requirement for thymidylic acid and deoxyadenylic acid in the DNA for cutting . In DNA-RNA hybrids, riboadenylic acid can substitute for deoxyadenylic acid, whereas ribouridylic acid cannot substitute for thymidylic acid . Release of thymine is detected, and the amount of release correlates well with the number of strand scissions.

Biochemistry, 1977 Feb 8, 16(3), 479 - 85
Effect of neocarzinostatin-induced strand scission on the template activity of DNA for DNA polymerase I; Kappen LS et al.; Neocarzinostatin (NCS), an antitumor protein antibiotic that causes strand scissions of DNA both in vitro and in vivo, is shown to lower the template activity of DNA for DNA polymerase Iin vitro . There is a correlation between the extent of strand scission and the degree of inhibition, maximal inhibition of the polymerase reaction being obtained under conditions promoting maximal strand scission . These effects can be related to the concentrations of NCS and of 2-mercaptoethanol and are maximized by pretreatment of the DNA with drug . Results from polymerase assays in which the amount of drug-treated DNA template was varied at a constant level of the enzyme suggest that the sites associated with NCS-induced breaks are nonfunctional in DNA synthesis but bind DNA polymerase I . The binding of the enzyme to the inactive sites is further confirmed using {203 Hg} polymerase . It is shown that the lowering of the template activity of DNA by NCS under conditions of strand scission is due to the generation of a large number of inactive sites that block, competitively, the binding of DNA polymerase to the active sites on the template . Furthermore, the inhibition of DNA synthesis, which depends on the extent of strand breakage and on the relative amounts of template and enzyme, can be reversed by increasing the levels of template or polymerase . The finding that DNA synthesis directed by poly {d(A-T)} is much more sensitive to NCS than that primed by poly {d(G-C)} suggests that the drug preferentially interacts at regions containing adenine and/or thymine residues.

Z Erkr Atmungsorgane, 1977 Feb, 147(2), 175 - 80
{Therapy of chronic bronchial foreign bodies in children (author's transl)}; Huhnerbein J et al.; During infancy bronchoscopic removal of a foreign body firmly embedded in the granulation tissue sometimes causes considerable difficulties so that surgical procedures (bronchotomy) must be envisaged . On the basis of 4 observations, the distinct influence of daily prednisolone inhalations (25 mg of prednisolone) and antibiotic therapy on the retrogression of endobronchial granulation tissue has been proved: resulting in a spontaneous expectoration of the foreign bodies or in enabling the bronchoscopic removal of the foreign bodies . If chronic foreign bodies cannot be removed immediately and especially before undertaking surgical measures, treatment by prednisolone inhalation should be tried.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1977 Feb, 30(2), 197 - 202
{The clinical studies on midecamycin granules in the otorhinolaryngological field (author's transl)}; Iwasawa T; Clinical investigation with a new macrolide antibiotic, midecamycin granules was performed with the results which may lead to the following conclusion . 1) Results of clinical treatment: When midecamycin granules were administered orally in 31 cases of representative infections in the otorhinolaryngological field, it was excellent in 7 cases, good in 20 cases, fair in one case and poor in 3 cases . When the cases in which it was excellent and good were considered together, good results were obtained in 27 cases, that is a ratio of effectiveness of 87.1 per cent . 2) Side effect: No side effect was shown with the oral administration of midecamycin granules.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1977 Feb, 67(2), 118 - 30
Myospherulosis of the paranasal sinuses, nose and middle ear . A possible iatrogenic disease; Kyriakos M; Sixteen cases of myospherulosis, a disease of unknown etiology previously reported only from East Africa, were found in the St . Louis metropolitan area . Although the disease in Africa occurred in the peripheral deep and superficial soft tissues, in St . Louis it involved the paranasal sinuses, nose, and middle ear . All patients had previously had surgical procedures involving the regions subsequently shown to contain the structures of myospherulosis . A common denominator in these cases was the operative use of hemostatic packing containing petrolatum-based ointments and gauze . These ointments, usually containing an antibiotic, were nonsterile . This raised the possibility that the as yet unidentified structures of myospherulosis may be introduced via these petrolatum-based substances.

Am J Surg, 1977 Feb, 133(2), 247 - 8
Pseudomembranous colitis associated with cephazolin therapy; Fee HJ et al.; This is the first reported case of cephazolin-associated pseudomembranous colitis . The disease followed a relentless course from its onset to twelve days later when the patient underwent total colectomy for multiple perforations and then died of sepsis . Recent reports indicate that the incidence pseudomembranous colitis is higher than initially appreciated . Early recognition of this entity with confirmation by proctosigmoidoscopy and immediate discontinuance of of antibiotic therapy may reduce the morbidity and mortality of this disease.

Am J Med, 1977 Feb, 62(2), 200 - 8
Daunomycin-induced cardiotoxicity in children and adults . A review of 110 cases; Von Hoff DD et al.; Daunomycin, like its anthracycline analog adriamycin, is a cardiotoxic antitumor antibiotic . Reports on 5,613 patients receiving daunomycin were reviewed for cardiotoxicity . Two distinct patterns of cardiotoxicity were defined, congestive heart failure (cardiomyopathy) and electrocardiographic changes . Dose-response curves were constructed using the percent incidence of cardiomyopathy versus the total dose of daunomycin in mg/m2 . There was a dose-response relationship between the total dose of daunomycin and the development of cardiomyopathy, both in children and adults . The children seem more susceptible to the drug-induced cardiomyopathy . The electrocardiographic changes in the children and adults did not show a dose-dependent relationship, were present consistently even at the lowest dosage levels, and did not predict for subsequent development of cardiomyopathy . The dose-response curves constructed enable the clinician to judge the relative risk of developing cardiomyopathy at a given total dosage level and allows comparison of the human experience with the experimental animal model data.

Surg Neurol, 1977 Feb, 7(2), 95 - 103
The danger of intracranial wood; Miller CF et al.; Peri-orbital puncture wounds by sharp wooden objects are not rare, but can be dangerous when there is intracranial penetration by and retention of the wooden foreign body . Days to years after an apparently trivial initial wounding, serious intracranial complications can occur . The authors have reviewed 42 case reports from the literature . Morbidity-defined as permanent neurologic sequelae-occurred in 74% of the cases . Intracranial suppuration was the major complication, with brain abscess having occurred in nearly one-half of the cases . Mortality occurred in 25% of 28 cases occurring in the post-antibiotic era . The qualities of wood which make it especially hazardous as a wounding agent and foreign body are discussed . The role of orbital anatomy in affording easy access to the cranial contents is described . Surgical exploration in all those cases in which there is a reasonable suspicion of intracranial injury is recommended.

Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1977 Feb, 144(2), 195 - 8
Prevention of gallstone formation in rabbits by the oral administration of kanamycin; Carlisle VF et al.; Rabbits fed a diet containing 40 per cent casein, 15 per cent oleic acid and 45 per cent laboratory pellets developed glycoallodeoxycholic acid and glycodeoxycholic acid gallstones . The oral administration of kanamycin prevented allo bile acid stone formation in the oleic acid fed rabbit without leading to cholesterol gallstone formation . Kanamycin reduced the concentration of allodeoxycholic acid in the bile of oleic acid fed rabbits from 16.6+/-4.1 per cent of total bile acids to 1.1+/-1.1 per cent, with a reciprocal increase in deoxycholic acid concentration . The allodeoxycholate concentration was far below that found in control bile samples, 10.2+/-2.3 per cent . If the effect of kanamycin on the bile composition is by its antibiotic action, this eliminates the importance of a hepatic contribution to allodeoxycholate stone formation.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1977 Feb, 73(2), 306 - 8
Management of an infected Hancock prosthesis after repair of truncus arteriosus; Moseley PW et al.; This report described a case in which purulent mediastinitis involving a Hancock prosthesis developed after repair of truncus arteriosus in a 6-year-old boy . The graft and surrounding area became sterilized after having been irrigated with povidone-iodine and antibiotic solutions for 6 weeks . At his most recent visit, the child was completely active and asymptomatic.

Circulation, 1977 Feb, 55(2), 346 - 53
Two-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of vegetative endocarditis; Gilbert BW et al.; Real-time, two-dimensional echocardiography was used to document the presence and assess the size and location of vegetative lesions of the cardiac valves and chambers in seven patients with bacterial endocarditis . Anatomic correlation (surgical or autopsy) was accurate in all patients . Two-dimensional echocardiography was shown to be of particular value in determining morphologic characteristics of the lesions since this technique provides spatial information concerning moving cardiac structures . The results of two-dimensional echocardiography were most helpful in determining selected aspects of the clinical care provided for each patient . These data demonstrate that real-time, two-dimensional echocardiography, in combination with M-mode imaging techniques, may be of great potential value in the detection of vegetative endocarditis . Furthermore, reliable assessment of lesion size and location may, in time, become a valuable method for following the morphologic changes that occur in vegetative lesions, and thus determine the efficacy of antibiotic therapy . This information may also provide a means for evaluating certain patients for surgical intervention.

Gastroenterology, 1977 Feb, 72(2), 319 - 21
Tetracycline-induced pleural symphysis for recurrent hydrothorax complicating cirrhosis . A new approach to treatment; Falchuk KR et al.; Two patients with cirrhosis and ascites complicated by extensive unilateral pleural transudates refractory to therapy with dietary sodium restriction, diuretics, and repeated thoracentesis were successfully managed by tetracycline-induced pleural symphysis . The intrapleural instillation of this antibiotic prevented the recurrence of the effusion and substantially relieved the patients' symptoms with minimal undesirable side effects.

Clin Otolaryngol, 1977 Feb, 2(1), 53 - 63
Temporal bone pathology in an active case of glue ear; Smith C et al.; A child aged 3 1/2 died from a cardiac condition after many and prolonged antibiotic courses: bilateral glue ear had been treated for the previous 18 months . Histopathology showed cholesterol granulomata in the mastoid air cells, with evidence of old hemorrhage, and of former inflammation of bone . The exudate was histiocytic with some giant cells . An 'orange spot' on the tympanic membrane was hyperaemic middle-ear mucosa, heavily infiltrated by plasma cells, lymphocytes and histiocytes . There was no evidence of hypersecretion . Some of the most abnormal areas were around the stapedial niche and the round window.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Feb, 129(2), 616 - 22
Rate of ribonucleic acid chain growth in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv; Harshey RM et al.; Two methods were employed to measure the rate of ribonucleic acid (RNA) chain growth in vivo in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv cultures growing in Sauton medium at 37 degrees C, with a generation time of 10 h . In the first, the bacteria were allowed to assimilate {3H}uracil or {3H}guanine into their RNA for short time periods . The RNA was then extracted and hydrolyzed with alkali, and the radioactivity in the resulting nucleotides and nucleosides was measured . The data obtained by this method allowed the calculation of the individual nucleotide step times during the growth of RNA chains, from which the average rate of RNA chain elongation was estimated to be about 4 nucleotides per s . The second method employed the antibiotic rifampin, which specifically inhibits the initiation of RNA synthesis without interfering with the elongation and completion of nascent RNA chains . Usint this method, the transcription time of the 16S, 23S, and 5S ribosomal RNA genes was estimated to be 7.6 min, which corresponds to a ribosomal RNA chain growth rate of 10 nucleotides per s.

Mutat Res, 1977 Feb, 42(2), 215 - 22
Optimal conditions for selecting specific auxotrophs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae using temperature-sensitive suicide mutants; Hardie ID et al.; Of 48 temperature-sensitive mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae examined, five belonging to the same complementation group were found to undergo extensive loss of viability at the restrictive temperature . These mutants were protected from the lethal effects of exposure to a non-permissive temperature by starving for an auxotrophic requirement . By analogy with the method described by Littlewood {6} for selecting antibiotic-sensitive mutants, these temperature-sensitive mutants were found suitable in enriching for specific auxotrophs . Optimal conditions have been determined for selecting specific auxotrophs after mutagenesis by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine . These enable 20-fold enrichment and at least in the case of mutation to adenine dependence the method does not appear to favour mutations at any particular locus.

Mutat Res, 1977 Feb, 42(2), 181 - 90
Sulphydryl-mediated DNA breakage by phlemomycin in Escherichia coli; Sleigh MJ et al.; Sulphydryl-mediated DNA breakage, which is induced by the antibiotic phleomycin in vitro, has been found to contribute significantly to the DNA damage produced by phleomycin in Escherichia coli . The effect of pleomycin was inhibited in vivo, as in vitro, by chelating agents, sulphydryl blocking agents and antioxidants . An increase in the intracellular concentration of free sulphydryl resulted in an increased response to phleomycin, while mutants containing very low levels of free sulphydryl due to a defect in glutathione synthesis showed greatly reduced DNA breakage, particularly at low phleomycin concentrations . In spheroplasts of these gshA mutants, restoration of the response to phleomycin of dithiothreitol . Sulphydryl-mediated breakage appears to be the principal mechanism for DNA damage in E . coli at libly enzymic, operates at higher phleomycin concentrations.

J Histochem Cytochem, 1977 Feb, 25(2), 122 - 8
Mithramycin fluorescence for quantitative determination of deoxyribonucleic acid in single cells; Johannisson E et al.; The use of the antibiotic drug mithramycin for cytoflurometric assessment of deoxyribonucleic acid in single cells has been studied in smears of a standard cell population of rat thymocytes . The optimal staining conditions have been determined including the influence of fixation (freeze-drying, formalin and ethanol) . The drug equilibration time has been estimated in relation to the concentration of the mithramycin and to Mg++ was found to enhance the fluorescence intensity produced by the mithramycin-deoxyribonucleic acid interaction . The stability and the reproducibility of the fluorescence reaction are discussed.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Jan 4, 464(1), 202 - 16
Vibrational Raman spectra of lipid systems containing amphotericin B; Bunow MR et al.; Resonance-enhanced and normal vibrational Raman spectra were observed for both multilamellar and single-wall vesicle assemblies of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine containing amphotericin B, a channel-forming polyene antibiotic, and cholesterol . The decrease in the frequency of the polyene antibiotic C = C stretching mode at 1556 cm-1 and the increase in intensity of the C-C-H in-plane deformation mode at 1002 cm-1 indicate that amphotericin B is ordered in a lipid-cholesterol medium similarly to the solid, but is surrounded by a slightly more polar environment . The intensity of the C = C stretching mode I1556 decreases 4-fold during the broadened gel to liquid crystalline phase transition (16--32 degrees C) of dimyristoyl lecithin-cholesterol (4 : 1) multilayers . Other resonance-enhanced vibrations of amphotericin B exhibit similar behavior . For amphotericin B in pure dimyristoyl lecithin multilayer or vesicle systems, however, the vibrational intensity associated with the C = C stretching mode remains constant during the melting of lipid hydrocarbon chains . In addition, a third effect occurs in liquid crystalline egg lecithin-cholesterol (4 : 1, mol ratio) multilayers in which I 1556 first increases by 25% between 3 and 25 degrees C, in parallel with the loss of active channels, and then remains constant as the temperature increases from 25 to 42 degrees C . This latter intensity pattern is masked in the dimyristoyl lecithin-cholesterol system by the overwhelming effect upon the C = C mode from changes in the lipid chain packing characteristics which occur during the phase transition . The broadened phase transition in 4 : 1 dimyristoyl lecithin-cholesterol multilayers (16--32 degrees C), as followed by the ratio of intensities at 2880 and 2850 cm-1 (asymmetric and symmetric methylene C-H stretching modes, respectively) is slightly narrowed by the addition of amphotericin B, and effect from which a binding stoichiometry at 24 degrees of 1 : 1 amphotericin B: cholesterol is estimated . This stoichiometry was confirmed by differential calorimetric scans, which also show the presence of a peak proportional to cholesterol content . Raman I2880/2850 peak height ratios in pure dimyristoyl lecithin bilayers were increased over the 14--38 degrees C range by amphotericin B, a spectral effect which suggests an ordering of the lipid matrix perhaps as a consequence of the polyene binding to the bilayer surface . For bilayers containing cholesterol, the ratios of intensities of the 2935 cm-1 feature, composed mainly of acyl chain terminal methyl and underlying methylene C-H stretching modes, to the 2850 cm-1 feature are significantly increased by amphotericin B . This effect indicates that the antibiotic penetrates the bilayer in the lipid-sterol system.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Jan 3, 474(1), 154 - 61
Evidence for cycloheximide acting as a glutamine analogue in plant tissue; Jones RA; In growing maize root tissue {14C}asparagine formation in inhibited and {14C}glutamine accumulation stimulated by treatment with cycloheximide or glutamine analogs such as azaserine . In contrast, puromycin enhances the accumulation of {14C}asparagine but not {14C}glutamine . Cycloheximide and puromycin alone inhibit protein synthesis . This is interpreted to mean that the alteration in amide metabolism following cycloheximide treatment is a direct result of the antibiotic acting as a glutamine analog . While cycloheximide is often the cytoplasmic protein synthesis inhibitor of choice due to its potency and rapid action, its assumed specificity of action of eukaryotes is doubtful.

Physiol Chem Phys, 1977, 9(1), 63 - 74
Protoporphyrin IX sensitized photohemolysis: stoichiometry of the reaction and repair by reduced glutathione; Strom R et al.; Protoporphyrin IX acts as a sensitizer in the photohemolysis of bovine erythrocytes by binding to a limited number of membrane sites . The cholesterol-specific antibiotic lucensomycin competes with protoporphyrin in binding to the membranes . The possibility of cholesterol peroxidation as a primary event in photohemolysis is supported by the repairing effect of exogenous cholesterol and by the increased susceptibility of the photosensitized erythrocytes to lucensomycin . Glutathione, if present within the erythrocyte, postpones the onset of lysis; if added after irradiation, it may repair the membrane damage and prevent hemolysis . This effect appears to be related to a redox reaction (possibly involving glutathione peroxidase) between reduced glutathione and the cholesterol peroxide molecules.

Vet Med Nauki, 1977, 14(3), 73 - 8
{Ampicillin tolerance and content in the mammary gland of lactating cows and sheep}; Chaleva E et al.; Experiments were carried out with lactating cows and ewes consisting in the intramammary application of ampicillin-trihydrate with the use of syringe cannules, and with paraffin and vaselin as constituents . Cows were treated with 10 cm3 (500,000 IU) (in the respective quarter of the udder), and ewes--with one half of the syringe content . The milk of the treated animals was sampled prior to manipulation, at the 24th, the 48th, 72nd and 96th hour in order to follow up the time during which the antibiotic was retained in the milk as well as the changes in the cell content and the hydrogen ion concentration . It was found that ampicillin persisted in milk up to the 48th hour in therapeutic concentrations . At the 96th hour the milk proved free of the antibiotic in both cows and ewes and could be offered for consumption or technologic processing.

Lepr India, 1977 Jan, 49(1), 96 - 9
Isolation of a mycoplasma from three patients with lepromatous leprosy; Jansson E et al.; Using a modified cell-free culture medium and modern microscopic equipment, a mycoplasma was isolated from scrapings of skin lesions of three patients with lepromatous leprosy . Three specimens were taken from the first patients . All five isolates were arginine-positive and their antibiotic sensitivity was identical with only one slight exception.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1977, 22(4), 275 - 85
Studies on the production of daunomycinone-derived glycosides and related metabolites in Streptomyces coeruleorubidus and Streptomyces peucetius; Blumauerova M et al.; Strains of Streptomyces coeruleorubidus ISP 5145, JA 10092 and 39-146, differing mutually in antibiotic activity, were found to produce identical spectrum of metabolites (at least nine antibiotically active glycosides, 13-dihydrodaunomycinone, epsilon-rhodomycinone and a larger number of unidentified compounds); only trace quantities of daunomycin and daunomycinone could be detected . A fraction of glycosides with a higher RF (0.4-0.7), isolated from strain 39-146, could be transformed to daunomycin by mild hydrolysis and to daunomycinone by total hydrolysis . Streptomyces peucetius IMI 101 335 differed from Streptomyces coeruleorubidus in an increased production of epsilon-rhodomycinone and a lower content of glycosides; the zone of daunomycin was most pronounced among the glycoside spots . Streptomyces coeruleorubidus 39-146 exhibited the highest activity in a medium containing 3.5% soluble starch, 3.0% soybean meal, 0.3% NaCl and 0.3% CaCo3; glucose was a more useful carbon source for the remaining strains . The activity of Streptomyces coeruleoribidus was inhibited by 1-propanol, Na-propionate, 5,5-diethylbarbiturate and bacitracin . Ferrous sulphate stimulated the production of glycosides only in strain JA 10092, decreasing simultaneously the production of aglycones.

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