Ann Chir Gynaecol, 1977, 66(3), 160 - 163 Management of injuries of the large intestine; Kairaluoma MI et al.; Blunt trauma accounted for 1/3 of the 32 patients operated upon for injuries of the large intestine and penetrating wounds for 2/3 . Most of the blunt injuries (9/10) were caused by traffic accidents, and more than half of the penetrating ones (12/22) were stab wounds . The transverse colon was most commonly affected, followed by the ascending, descending and sigmoid colon, rectum and mesentery . Perforation of the small intestine was the most frequent associated intra-abdominal injury, occurring in 11 patients (34%) . Most patients (22/32) underwent simple suture, 6 patients suture with proximal colostomy, 3 primary resection and one exteriorization, combined in all cases with broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage and drainage of the abdominal cavity . Injuries to the right and transverse colon were managed mainly with simple suture, and those to the left colon and rectum with suture and proximal colostomy . 50% of the patients had complications, most frequently wound infection and intra-abdominal abscess . The patients with simple suture had fewer complications than the others . In the absence of complicating factors injuries to the colon are best managed with simple suture, whereas in the presence of complicating factors and in injuries of the rectum, suture or resection with proximal colostomy, especially in cases of severe tissue destruction, remains the treatment of choice. J Int Med Res, 1977, 5(2), 139 - 46 A clinical assessment of locabiotal in the treatment of infections of the nose and throat; Osman MF; One hundred and twenty patients suffering from diseases of the nose and throat were admitted to an open clinical trial of the aerosol inhaler Locabiotal which contains the antibiotic fusafungine . The patient population was derived from three sources--out-patients, patients subjected to surgery and emergencies . The aerosol was administered five times daily to the throat or into the nose . The aerosol was highly effective in controlling infection and in relieving the various symptoms of the diseases treated . Variation in particle size was considered to be an advantage in penetrating various parts of the upper respiratory tract . Thirty-three patients experienced minor side-effects . These were thought to be misuse of the inhaler, or possible allergy to the antibiotic . This form of medication is recommended for a variety of diseases of the nose and throat. Antibiotiki, 1977, 22(2), 99 - 102 {Effect of mineral phosphorus on mycoheptin biosynthesis}; Koroleva TA et al.; The effect of mineral phosphorus in doses of 22.8 to 684 gamma/ml in a synthetic medium on biosynthesis of mycoheptin, an antifungal antibiotic was studied . It was found that the maximum productivity of the mycelium was at the phosphorus concentration in the medium equal to 22.8--45.6 gamma/ml and the concentration of 91.2 gamma/ml was optimal for the growth of the antibiotic-prodicing organism . The phosphorus optimal concentrations for the growth and antibiotic synthesis phases did not coincide that provided consideration of phosphorus as a limiting factor useful in control of the antibiotic biosynthesis . The content of pphosphorus in the medium 6 times higher than the optimal concentration did not inhibit the biomass accumulation and had no significant effect on the colony morphology. Z Erkr Atmungsorgane, 1977, 147(1), 57 - 72 {Unilateral aplasia and hypoplasia of pulmonary artery in childhood (author's transl)}; Rupprecht E et al.; In the light of 8 observations, made by the authors, vasoanomalies underlying the syndrome of the unilateral hyperlucent lung are discussed in their correlation to homolateral bronchial lesions . There were 3 cases with unilateral aplasia of the pulmonary artery in which the unilateral hyperlucency was found always on the healthy side . In these cases there was a normal bronchogram on both sides . The vascularization by the bronchial arteries causes characteristic changes both in the X-ray-picture and endoscopy . Hypoplasia of the pulmonary artery occurring simultaneously with hyperlucency of the affected side of the lung was found in five cases, 4 times in connection with homolateral, severe, diffuse deforming bronchitis and bronchiectases and 1 case with congenital bronchus stenosis . There is the opinion that besides a congenital form of the hypoplasia of the pulmonary artery a (virus?) --pneumonia, acquired in early childhood, can lead to a pulmonary hypoplasia and a bronchopulmonary dysplasia . The diagnosis can be made only after several special examinations performed in a multi-step system . The significance of the lung scintigraphy within the scope of this complex diagnostics is especially emphasized . Indication for surgery should be made very cautiously . Antibiotic long-term therapy and dsipensary care are considered to be essential. Acta Chir Iugosl, 1977, 24(1 Suppl), 519 - 23 {Our experiences with total hip prosthesis model "St . George"}; Smiljanic B; The advantages of the total prosthesis of the hip in the treatment of some degenerative diseases and single traumatic impairments of the hip are described, and the main characteristics of the St . Georg model total prosthesis of the hip are discussed . The results obtained in 92 cases of total prosthesis of the hip have been satisfactory . Special attention has been paid to measures for the prevention of infections . Among the patients treated only one developed infection . The author points to the fact that it is possible to replace an infected prosthesis and achieve complete cure by using bone cement mixed with an antibiotic . The functional results obtained are good: pain is either completely relived, or significantly diminished on walking and movement . During the author's five-year experience signs of wear of the prosthesis have not been recorded in any case. Biofizika, 1977 Jan-Feb, 22(1), 48 - 53 {Dimeric mechanism of the work of nigericin in bilayer lipid membranes}; Markin VS et al.; The electric properties of the bilayer lethitin membranes have been studied in the presense of the antibiotic nigericin . When the antibiotic concentration is about 10(-6) M the condactivity of the BLM is increased upto 10(-7) ohm-1cm-2 . The potassium ion concentration gradient gives rise to a transmembrane potential of the order of 40 mV per 10--fold concentration gradient with the side of the higher potassium concentration negative . The transmembrane potential produced by the hydrogen ion gradient is a function of the potassium ion concentration which is equal on both sides of the membrane . In order to account for the experimental results obtained, a theoretical approach has been developed based on the assumption that charge is transported across the membrane by nigericin dimers. J Toxicol Environ Health, 1977 Jan, 2(3), 713 - 25 Intermediate-duration toxicity study of patulin in rats; Dailey RE et al.; The toxicity of patulin was studied in two generations of Sprague-Dawley rats over a period of approximately 10 months . Patulin in 1 mM citrate buffer was administered by gavage to FO generation rats at a dose level of 0, 1.5, 7.5, or 15.0 mg/kg a body weight five times a week for 10-14 wk; females were treated seven times a week during pregnancy . High mortality and insufficient progeny in the groups given 7.5 and 15.0 mg/kg made it impossible to continue those two regimens into the second generation . The study was continued for 20-23 wk with F1A generation animals given 1.5 mg/kg and controls . The only lesion found at necropsy that could be attributed to patulin administration was gaseous distention of the gastrointestinal tract, which was probably the result of the antibiotic effect of this mycotoxin on the normal intestinal flora . A decreased weight gain in male rats of the FO generation was dose-related . An impairment in growth rates of F1A and F2A progeny of both sexes was statistically significant at the 1.5 mg/kg dose level . Fetuses taken from patulin-treated females on day 20 of pregnancy were noticeably smaller than controls fetuses and the difference was significant for F2A males . No other teratological abnormalities related to patulin dosing at the 1.5 mg/kg level were observed consistently in either F1A or F2A fetuses . Patulin did not appear to produce dominant lethal effects at dose levels up to 15.0 mg/kg when given by gavage to the males five times a week for 10 or 11 wk. Antibiotiki, 1977 Jan, 22(1), 56 - 60 {Characteristics of streptomycin distribution and binding in the body of rabbits depending on their immunobiological state}; Ambartsumian LA et al.; Some regularities of distribution and binding of streptomycin in the blood, organs and tissues of immunized rabbits werer studied . The leveles of the bound and free antibiotic in ther were determined . It was found that the immunobiological state of the rabbits had a definite effect on the distribution character and binding of streptomycin with proteins and cells in the animal organs and tissues . These changes were most pronounced in the organs and tissues of lymphoid and hematopoietic systems, the cells of which are indirect active participants of the immunity formation . As a result of proliferation of these cells the antibiotic was accumulated in higher amounts and bound more actively especially in the thymus gland and bone marrow, the central organs of the immunological reconstruction of the host . The studies are indicative of the presence of interaction between immunogenesis, distribution and binding of streptomycin in immunized animals. Res Vet Sci, 1977 Jan, 22(1), 68 - 71 Effects of concurrent drug therapy and of feeding on plasma chloramphenicol levels after oral administration of chloramphenicol in dogs; Watson AD; On separate occasions, five fasted adult greyhounds were dosed orally with 50 mg chloramphenicol/kg, both alone and in conjunction with other drugs . The same five dogs were later given 50 mg chloramphenicol/kg when fed ad lib . Chloramphenicol levels in plasma were determined at intervals after dosing . The intial plasma chloramphenicol levels were higher when the drug was administered concurrently with calcium lactate tablets (50 mg/kg) or a proprietary enteric mixture containing kaolin, pectin, aluminium hydroxide and belladonna extract . Lower plasma levels resulted when the antibiotic was given with dry extract of belladonna (20 mg/dog) or intravenous chlorpromazine (2 mg/kg) . There was no significant effect with coated ferrous gluconate tablets (30 mg/kg) . Feeding ad lib increased the initial chloramphenicol levels, but produced lower levels subsequently. J Clin Pathol, 1977 Jan, 30(1), 1 - 12 Pseudomembranous colitis; Price AB et al.; Three basic histopathological patterns which may be seen in rectal biopsies from patients with pseudomembranous colitis are described, based on a study of 29 cases . The spectrum of change is illustrated and the problems of differential diagnosis are discussed--from a non-diagnostic proctitis at one extreme to acute ischaemia at the other . In the differential diagnosis of the acute colitic, the importance of urgent rectal biopsy and a carefully taken drug history is stressed . The association of pseudomembranous colitis with pre-existing disease and antibiotic therapy is confirmed . It is suggested that these cause local mucosal damage and may trigger the first part of a local Shwartzman reaction . Capillary microthrombosis may then paly a part in producing the mucosal necrosis seen later in the disease. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Jan, 30(1), 106 - 10 Biosynthesis of streptolidine moiety of streptothricins by Streptomyces noursei JA 3890b; Grafe U et al.; The incorporation of uniformly 14C-labeled compounds into the streptothricin-type antibiotic nourseothricin was studied with a strain of Streptomyces noursei JA 3890b . 6.5% of radioactivity from U-14C-L-arginine was incorporated into the antibiotic, while glutamic acid, aspartic acid, alanine, proline, glycine and leucine displayed much lower incorporations . Furhtermore, 95% of the activity incorporated from arginine was located in the streptolidine moiety supporting the suggestion that this subunit of streptothricin antibiotics is formed via the dehydroarginine pathway. J Int Med Res, 1977, 5(1), 65 - 7 A general practice assessment of Locabiotal in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections; Valle-Jones JC; An open clinical trial of Locabiotal, in which the antibiotic, fusafungine, is presented in a micronized aerosol was performed in general practice . One hundred and ten patients suffering from upper respiratory infections without associated hyperpyrexia or toxic symptoms were treated for 7 days . There was a marked improvement in the symptoms rated during the first 48 hours . After the full course of treatment 37 patients regarded its effect as excellent and 48 as good. Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1977 Jan-Feb, 34(1), 117 - 28 {Neonatal meningoventriculitis}; Calderon E et al.; Clinical and autopsy data indicate that ventriculitis persists despite parenteral and intralumbar antibiotic therapy . In the present study, ventriculitis was documented as postmortem examination in nine newborns . These studies indicate that ventriculitis occurs commonly in neonates with meningitis, particularly when there is delayed sterilization of CSF culture, A clinician has to bear in mind the diagnosis of ventriculitis when: 1) There is poor clinical and/or laboratory response to the usual therapy . 2) He has a critically ill patient with lethargy, convulsions and bulging fontanels . 3) He culture an unusual organism . 4) He faces a suspected complication of meningitis: subdural effusion, ventriculitis or abscess . 5) A CSF from ventricular puncture with more than 150 WBC, glucose less than 50 mg . and protein more than 200 mg. Johns Hopkins Med J, 1977 Jan, 140(1), 9 - 14 The characteristics and mortality of outpatient-acquired pneumonia; Moore MA et al.; One-hundred fifty-four cases of pneumonia occurring over a 6-month period were analyzed . Population characteristics, admission diagnoses, causative pathogens, frequency of associated illnesses, antibiotic usage and mortality were evaluated . Despite population characteristics known to predispose to a poor clinical outcome, the mortality was low, probably because of rapid institution of a single, appropriate antibiotic. J Trauma, 1977 Jan, 17(1), 74 - 6 Steering wheel rupture of the pharyngoesophagus . A solitary injury; Gulbrandson RN et al.; A unique case of a high posterior vertical linear laceration of the pharyngeosophagus secondary to steering wheel trauma without concomitant injury is presented . Diagnosis of this lesion is dependent upon frequently repeated physical examinations combined with appropriate laboratory and roentgenologic evaluations . Early institution of antibiotic therapy combined with early operative drainage and repair when feasible is advocated as the treatment of choice for this unusual entity. J Gen Microbiol, 1977 Jan, 98(1), 239 - 52 Genetic determination of methylenomycin synthesis by the SCP1 plasmid of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2); Kirby R et al.; Evidence is presented that genes determining the pathway of methylenomycin A synthesis are carried on the SCP1 plasmid . All 16 mutations (mmy) leading to lack of antibiotic synthesis were SCP1-linked . Phenotypic classification, by co-synthesis and other criteria, suggested that they fell into at least five classes . When the wild-type SCP1 plasmid was transferred to Streptomyces lividans or Streptomyces parvulus, material that was chromatographically and biologically indistinguishable from methylenomycin A was produced . Recombination between some pairs of mmy mutations was detected . In crosses of mmy mutants of NF (integrated SCP1 donor) strains with SCP1-, a very high frequency of chromosomal recombination occurred; thus methylenomycin production appears not to be an important cause of the ultra-fertility normally associated with NF X SCP1- crosses. J Gen Microbiol, 1977 Jan, 98(1), 155 - 66 The effect of nalidixic acid on the cell cycle of synchronous Rhodopseudomonas palustris cultures; Westmacott D et al.; The influence of the DNA synthesis inhibitor, nalidixic acid, on the properties of synchronous cultures of selected Rhodopseudomonas palustris swarmer cells was examined . There was little alteration in the changes in morphology, extinction, volume distribution and leucine incorporation up to bud development, and photosynthetic membrane lamellae were still synthesized de novo in the bud . However, there was no subsequent division, or flagellum or holdfast synthesis . Instead cells elongated by continued outgrowth of the abortive bud . Since DNA synthesis was also inhibited, this suggested a dependence of cell division, and flagellum and holdfast synthesis, on the completion of chromosome replication . By addition or removal of nalidixic acid at various times in the cell cycle, periods were demonstrated when the organism was insensitive to the antibiotic indicating that there was a pre-synthetic and post-synthetic gap in the pattern of DNA synthesis in R . palustris swarmers. Chemotherapy, 1977, 23 Suppl 1, 281 - 6 Fosfomycin in puerperal infections and its elimination in lochia; Ruiz Garcia A et al.; 31 patients suffering from puerperal endometritis, 16 of whom with other concomitant infections (sepsis, infection of episiotomy, pyelonephritis) were treated with fosfomycin . 86% of the germs isolated were sensitive to fosfomycin . The results obtained have been excellent in 26 patients (84%) and null in 5 (16%) . Fosfomycin showed to be an antibiotic of wide-spectrum, and it acted very rapidly, since apirexia of the patients was achieved after 2-3 days of treatment . The antibiotic had perfect tolerance . No disagreeable secondary effects nor changes in the haematological data were observed . We have also carried out a study on the elimination in lochia of fosfomycin in a group of 21 patients with normal birth and puerperium . The concentrations of the antibiotic in lochia, although variable, are sufficient to achieve the desired bactericide action. Chemotherapy, 1977, 23 Suppl 1, 200 - 3 Renal insufficiency and fosfomycin; Gobernado M et al.; After the parenteral injection of 1 g sodium salt of fosfomycin the serum levels of the antibiotic are detected in a series of eight adult patients with different degrees of chronic renal insufficiencies four of them submitted to periodical dialysis . The results obtained reveal that the levels as well as the time of elimination of fosfomycin maintain an obvious relation to the degree of renal insufficiency in the patients. Chemotherapy, 1977, 23 Suppl 1, 175 - 9 New studies on placental transfer of fosfomycin; Ferreres L et al.; Passage of fosfomycin across the placental barrier and the dynamics of maternal and fetal levels were determined in a group of ten mothers in active labor . To obtain a series of intrauterine fetal samples the Saling technique was used . There exists a clear relation between the levels reached in the mother and in the fetus and in function of time, as well as between the amount of antibiotic in the fetal blood 90 min after injection, and the weight of the placenta. JACEP, 1977 Jan, 6(1), 16 - 20 Cutaneous and subcutaneous complications of calcium infusions; Roberts JR; Five infants with hypocalcemia experienced complications after treatment with calcium gluconate intravenously . Inadvertent soft tissue extravasation resulted in erythema, subcutaneous calcification, tissue necrosis, skin slough, and transient radial nerve damage with wrist drop, the latter previously unreported . The soft tissue lesions may be mistaken for cellulitis, abscess, calcified hematoma, or osteomyelitis, resulting in unnecessary antibiotic therapy or surgical intervention . Initially, no clinical abnormality may be apparent . The lesions appear from days to weeks following extravasation . Radiographs are initially negative but soft calcification appears in one to three weeks . Follow-up x-ray films show complete resorption of the calcium over several months . Skin sloughs heal in four to six weeks without skin grafting . Extreme care in the parenteral use of calcium gluconate and conservative treatment of the complications is advocated. Chemotherapy, 1977, 23(1), 50 - 7 Sinusitis in paediatrics; Herz G et al.; The authors discuss the problem of the diagnosis of sinusitis in children from the viewpoint of the practising paediatrician, on the basis of 106 children and adolescents aged between 6 and 17 years, and suffering from sinusitis . Maxillary sinusitis (56.5%) and a combination of maxillary and ethmoidal sinusitis (24.5%) were commonest, and pan-sinusitis occurred in about 10% of cases . The commonest complaints in the history were cough, headache, pyrexia and rhinitis . The commonest clinical findings were pharyngitis, retropharyngeal drip, tenderness to pressure over the sinus points, otitis media, a deterioration in the general condition, enlarged tender angular lymph nodes, bronchitis and rhinitis . The result of treatment of sinusitis in childhood with the antibiotic used here, doxycycline, are assessed . A successful result was obtained in 94.3% of cases; cure in 77 patients (72.6%) and marked improvement in 23 (21.7%) . There were six failures (5.7%) . In the majority of children - 72 cases (68%), the duration of treatment was 15-21 days . It was 10-14 days in 18 children (17%) and more than 3 weeks in 16 children (15%) . Rapid subjective improvement was seen in 65 cases (61.3%), and rapid objective improvement in 80 (75.5%) . The tolerance of doxycycline was very good in nearly all patients . Mild symptoms of gastrointestinal intolerance were seen in two cases. Jugosl Ginekol Opstet, 1977, 17(5-6), 337 - 9 {Acute edema of the uterine cervix in pregnancy}; Ilic V et al.; A case of the acute edema of the uterine cervix in a woman in the ninth lunar month of pregnancy is described . The cervix was the size of a fist, livid, succulent, with a slightly bloody discharge . No other objective or subjective disorders were obserevd . The swelling disappeared after seven days of rest and antibiotic therapy. Monogr Pathol, 1977, (18), 50 - 94 Colo-rectal biopsy in inflammatory bowel disease; Yardley JH et al.; The term inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is viewed as all-inclusive, covering the full panoply of intestinal disorders in which inflammatory changes are a prominent feature, including those of infectious, toxic, and intrinsic origin as well as the idiopathic entities ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease . This chapter describes and discusses those aspects of colo-rectal biopsy in IBD which can help pathologists make optimal interpretations . The areas covered are: 1) methods used to prepare biopsy specimens for study, 2) normal histologic findings and common artefacts, 3) basic pathologic changes occurring in IBD, 4) a general approach to differential diagnosis in IBD, and 5) discussion of the various individual forms of IBD . The importance of full and reliable information exchange between the endoscopist and pathologist is stressed . Special attention is given to features in biopsy specimens which help in differentiating between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease . Other entities discussed are bacterial dysenteries; gonococcal proctitis; tuberculosis; Whipple's disease; amebiasis; balantidiasis; schistosomiasis; cryptosporidiosis; lymphopathia venereum; cytomegalovirus infection; histoplasmosis; antibiotic colitis; IBD due to cytotoxic drugs (5-FU), heavy metals, and foodstuffs; irradiation colitis; ischemic colitis; solitary ulcer syndrome; diverticulitis; and colitis secondary to obstruction . The term pseudomembranous enterocolitis is also considered. Vet Med Nauki, 1977, 14(10), 73 - 7 {Absorption and retention of ampicillin in calves and sheep}; Chaleva E; Ampicillin-sodium and ampicillin-trihydrate were used in the experiments as an active substance at the rate of 800 IU/mg . Ampicillin-sodium was applied in the form of 5 per cent solution, and ampicillin-trihydrate--in the form of a 5 per cent water suspension prepared extempore prior to their administration . Both forms of ampicillin were used once, muscularly, at rates of 0.01 and 0.025 g/kg body weight with calves and sheep . The results of these comparative studies showed that the levels of the serum concentrations of ampicillin and the time of their deposition in both species of animals correlated with the dose, the chemical composition, and the species of animal . The period of retaining the antibiotic in the blood varied in calves and in sheep . Parallel to these studies the excretion of ampicillin from the body was also followed up--in the ewes' milk at muscular administration, rated 0.025 g/kg body weight . It was found that ampicillin-sodium and ampicillin-trihydrate quickly penetrate in the udder, and are observed in the milk at the 30th minute (0.25 microgram--0.38 microgram/cm3). Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1977, 17(7), 543 - 7 {Physiology and biochemistry of streptomycetes . XIII . Biosynthesis of paromomycin by Streptomyces albus var . metamycinus nov . var . supplied with 14C-glucose, 14C-glucosamine, 14C-2-desoxystreptamine and 14C-ribose}; Reuter G et al.; Distribution of radioactivity in paromomycin ascertained after application of 14C-D-glucose, 14C-D-glucosamine, 14C-2-deoxystreptamine, respectively, 14C-D-ribose is taken as basis for a biosynthesis scheme: While ribose bound in the antibiotic originates from glucose by oxidation and following decarboxylation, glucosamine is formed via fructose-6-phosphate . Paromose I arises from glucosamine, but not the cyclohexan derivative 2-deoxystreptamine, whose biosynthesis pathway is directly branching off glucose. Gastroenterol Jpn, 1977, 12(4), 316 - 20 Acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis in a man with an enlarged inferior pancreaticoduodenal lymphnode; Yamamoto H et al.; A case report of a 55-year-old male, who was seen with epigastric pain and hyperamylasemia, is to be presented . He failed to respond to the intensive antibiotic therapy, and subsequently acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis fully developed . At laparotomy, an inflammatory enlarged inferior pancreaticoduodenal lymphnode, which apparently compressed the common bile duct, was found . To our knowledge, no prior case of acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis provoked by an enlarged lymphnode has been reported . A plea is made for attention to lymphnodes involved by inflammatory or neoplastic disorders, as well as common provoking agents such as calculi. Chemotherapy, 1977, 23 Suppl 1, 1 - 22 Fosfomycin: Laboratory studies; Woodruff HB et al.; Fosfomycin, a nontoxic broad-spectrum antibiotic, different in structure from all previously described antibiotics, acts selectively by inhibiting cell wall formation . It was overlooked during many years of screening because of antagonism by culture medium ingredients and frequent occurrence of resistant mutants . It is effective in many because the neutralizing substances are not present and resistant mutants of most species are avirulent . Fosfomycin has favorable pharmacologic characteristics . It is not cross resistant, does not show antagonism, and has been used successfully in combinations . An insoluble calcium salt is used in oral formulation and a sodium salt for parenteral administration . Overall success rates of 86% were reported with 1,000 patients in Spain and 79% in Japan. Ontogenez, 1977, 8(2), 170 - 5 {Effect of actinomycin D and sibiromycin on 3H-thymidine incorporation into the early developmental stages of Nereis virens Sars}; Donua AK et al.; The Nereis virens embryos at the stages of 2, 8, 16 and 32 blastomeres end of cleavage and beginning of rotation were placed in the actinomycin D or sibiromycin solutions and the effect of antibiotics on 3H-thymidine incorporation during cleavage, at the beginning of rotation and in trochophore was determined by means of autoradiography after careful washing the embryos off . Under the effect of actinomycin D the intensity of 3H-thymidine incorporation during cleavage decreased insignificantly, at the gastrula stage somewhat exceeded that in the control, and at the stages of trochophore formation decreased twice . At the later stages it approached the normal level . In the experiments with sibiromycin which proved to have more distinct inhibitory effect, the stage of trochophore formation was also found to be the most sensitive to the antibiotic. Pflugers Arch, 1977, 372(3), 259 - 68 Chlorotetracycline induces calcium mediated shape changes in human erythrocytes . Is Ca asymmetrically distributed in the red cell membrane? Behn C, Lubbemeier A, Weskamp P. Calcium was localized in the red cell membrane by light microscopy using chlorotetracycline hydrochloride (CTC) as chelate probe . Treating human erythrocytes with CTC dissolved in saline free of divalent cations, leads to a 530 nm fluorescence emission in the cell border and to characteristic cell shape changes which were evaluated to assess intramembrane calcium distribution . CTC prevented and reverted erythrocyte crenation induced either by washing or superfusing the cells with saline . The ionophore A23187, EGTA and glucose depletion depressed the shape modifying effect of CTC . Thus, CTC appears to act on red cell shape by complex formation with membrane associated calcium . This is further confirmed by the failure of degraded CTC, devoid of metal binding capacity, to modify the crenated shape . The CTC effect can be reverted by superfusing the erythrocytes with CTC-free medium . Thus, calcium binds more tightly to the membrane than to CTC and is not displaced by the antibiotic . If the bilayer couple hypothesis {Sheetz, M.P., Singer, S.J., Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . USA 71, 4457-4461 (1974)}applies, crenation is reverted by expansion of the inner membrane half relative to the outer membrane half . Expansion of the inner membrane half results from intercalation of CTC which binds to calcium . Thus, calcium in the red cell membrane preferentially occupies the inner leaflet of the bilayer. Antibiotiki, 1977, 22(2), 146 - 9 {Correlation between the 'active' and 'passive' mechanisms of chlortetracycline penetration in the cells of a sensitive and resistant strains of mycobacteria}; Plakunov VK et al.; The value of chlortetracycline physical diffusion into the cells of the strains of Mycobacterium citreum sensitive and resistant to tetracyclines was estimated . Exclusion of the active transport was achieved with the use of 4 per cent formalin . It was shown that the scale of the 'passive' penetration of chlortetracycline into the cells of the sensitive and resistant strains was the same . Because of the physical diffusion up to 1/3 the absorbed antibiotic appeared to be transferred into the cells of the sensitive strain . When the sensitive strain was grown on the glucose medium, partial repression of formation of the transport system common for chlortetracycline and oxalacetic acid observed . In case of resistant strains the 'glucose effect' was absent. Antibiotiki, 1977 Jan, 22(1), 29 - 32 {Characteristics of fucidin biosynthesis by a Fusidium coccineum 257 A strain}; Penzikova GA et al.; The physiological features of Fusidium coccineum, strain 257 A, an organism producing fusidin were studied . It was found that increased concentrations of the carbon sources in the medium stimulated production of fusidin, while an increase in the content of various forms of nitrogen differently affected the level of the antibiotic viosynthesis: high concentrations of the amino acid-peptide form of nitrogen of corn-steep liquor decreased, while the protein form of nitrogen was associated with consumption of the significant part of carbon in the medium for formation of the fungus mycelium . Therefore, the concentration of the easily mobilizing forms of nitrogen may be considered as a regulator of the growth process of F . coccineum 257 A and production of fusidin by it. Microbios, 1977, 19(77-78), 181 - 90 Studies on the modes of action of azaserine in Escherichia coli . Mechanism of resistance to azaserine; Williams MV et al.; Growth of wildtype Escherichia coli was inhibited by azaserine . There was an inverse relationship between the initial rate of uptake of phenylalanine and the azaserine concentration . Moderately azaserine-resistant mutants exhibited an initial rate that was similar to that of an aroP mutant, but highly azaserine-resistant mutants exhibited little, if any, uptake of phenylalanine . All of the azaserine-resistant organisms tested harboured a mutation in the aroP+ gene . However, resistance to the antibiotic was not due solely to this lesion. Genetika, 1977, 13(12), 2221 - 4 {Supersensitivity to levorin and amphotericin B in several Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants resistant to nystatin}; Levchenko AB et al.; 104 mutants resistant to nystatin were isolated after UV-treatment of two haploid marked strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The analysis of resistance to three polyene antibiotics allowed to determine 8 phenotype classes of mutants including those resistant to nystatin but in various combinations showing hypersensitivity to levorin and (or) amphotericin B . The analysis of UV absorption spectra of sterolic extracts prepared from cells of different mutants showed that similar quality changes in sterol composition could be associated both with polyresistant an supersensitive phenotype . New type of mutants resistant to nystatin and supersensitive to levorin and (or) amphotericin B seems to be promising for studies on the mechanisms of action of polyene antibiotics, the bases of resistance to them and also in consideration of the possibility to increase the efficiency of antimycotic antibiotic therapy. Gene, 1977, 2(2), 95 - 113 Construction and characterization of new cloning vehicles . II . A multipurpose cloning system; Bolivar F et al.; In vitro recombination techniques were used to construct a new cloning vehicle, pBR322 . This plasmid, derived from pBR313, is a relaxed replicating plasmid, does not produce and is sensitive to colicin E1, and carries resistance genes to the antibiotics ampicillin (Ap) and tetracycline (Tc) . The antibiotic-resistant genes on pBR322 are not transposable . The vector pBR322 was constructed in order to have a plasmid with a single PstI site, located in the ampicillin-resistant gene (Apr), in addition to four unique restriction sites, EcoRI, HindIII, BamHI and SalI . Survival of Escherichia coli strain X1776 containing pBR313 and pBR322 as a function of thymine and diaminopimelic acid (DAP) starvation and sensitivity to bile salts was found to be equivalent to the non-plasmid containing strain . Conjugal transfer of these plasmids in bi- and triparental matings were significantly reduced or undetectable relative to the plasmid ColE1. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1977, 17(6), 459 - 64 {Effect of violamycin BI on the process of excision repair in Escherichia coli K 12 following UV irradiation}; Storl K et al.; The influence of violamycin B I on the process of excision repair of DNA-damages after UV-irradiation has been studied by observing the capacity to rejoin single-strand breaks introduced in the DNA at the beginning of the repair process . The number of single-strand breaks remaining unrepaired in the DNA was higher in presence of violamycin B I . Sedimentation analysis of the DNA of unirradiated cells showed in presence of violamycin B I only a small change in the molecular weight . As a possible reason for the lower capacity of the cells to accomplish repair steps following incision in presence of violamycin B I an inhibition of the function of repair enzymes by interaction of the antibiotic with the DNA-template is discussed. Arzneimittelforschung, 1977 Jan, 27(1B), 177 - 81 {IS-elements and transposons: new linkage of genes within bacteria (author's transl)}; Starlinger P; IS-Elements are unique DNA sequences occurring in the DNA of E . coli and its chromosomes . They can be transposed within or between chromosomes in the same cell . Integration into a gene causes mutations and polar effects on adjacent genes . IS-Elements are integration sites for plasmids into chromosomes . IS-Elements also serve as parts of transposons (DNA structures capable to be transposed from one chromosome to another and carrying a gene for the resistance to an antibiotic or heavy metals). Eur J Biochem, 1977 Jan, 72(2), 323 - 30 Inhibition of translation in eukaryotic systems by harringtonine; Fresno M et al.; The Cephalotaxus alkaloids harringtonine, homoharringtonine and isoharringtonine inhibit protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells . The alkaloids do not inhibit, in model systems, any of the steps of the initiation process but block poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis as well as peptide bond formation in the fragment reaction assay, the sparsomycin-induced binding of (C)U-A-C-C-A-{3H}Leu-Ac, and the enzymic and the non-enzymic binding of Phe-tRNA to ribosomes . These results suggest that the Cephalotaxus alkaloids inhibit the elongation phase of translation by preventing substrate binding to the acceptor site on the 60-S ribosome subunit and therefore block aminoacyl-tRNA binding and peptide bond formation . However, the Cephalotaxus alkaloids do not inhibit polypeptide synthesis and peptidyl{3H}puromycin formation in polysomes . Furthermore, these alkaloids strongly inhibit {14C}trichlodermin binding to free ribosomes but hardly affect the interaction of the antibiotic with yeast polysomot interact with polysomes and therefore only inhibit cycles of elongation . This explains the polysome run off that has been observed by some workers in the presence of harringtonine. Am Surg, 1977 Jan, 43(1), 45 - 51 Factors involved in disruption of intestinal anastomoses; Nahai F et al.; Bowel anastomoses, as performed on 181 dogs, were studied: (1) by interposing segments of colon into small bowel and vice versa, (2) by comparing clean anastomoses to those contaminated by feces before and after suturing, (3) with and without parenteral preoperative antibiotic, and (4) with and without coaptation of an inverted serosa . All animals with a timed sacrifice as well as an unexplained death had careful autopsy . Results demonstrated no difference in the healing capacity of large (91%) versus small (92%) intestine under identical circumstances . Intraluminal bacteria were of importance only if spillage caused contamination during operation and thereby subsequent infection of the peritoneal surface of the suture line . Peritonitis preceded all 28 leaks, yet the converse never occurred . Likelihood of a complicating peritonitis (67%) and thus an anastomotic leak (24%) was significantly reduced through the preoperative administration of prophylactic cefazolin (19 and 4%, respectively) . A "serosal seal" also appeared important in obviating suture line disruption . Our data emphasize the value of an inverted and serosal lined anastomosis, bowel preparatory measures, prophylactic antibiotic, and the disruptive action of local bacterial peritonitis. Zentralbl Chir, 1977, 102(5), 305 - 13 {Results of surgical treatment of peptic ulcer in old age (author's transl)}; Erichsen J; The poor results of surgical treatment of peptic ulceration in old age can only be improved if both internal medicine and surgery will find guiding principles for operative indications . 1 . Chronic ulcer is an indication of operative treatment even in old age . - 2 . Conservative treatment of phyloric stenosis caused by peptic ulceration is only permissable, if a florid ulcer in evident . - 3 . The evidence of a chronic bleeding ulcer indicates surgical treatment . Suitable short-time conservative treatment gives better conditions for any type of surgery.-4 . The perforated ulcer in old age should only be treated by the smallest surgical procedure . Antibiotic therapy should begin immediately after establishing the diagnosis. J Clin Invest, 1977 Jan, 59(1), 143 - 8 Immunoinhibition of ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation; Nachman RL et al.; Human platelets washed and fixed in paraformaldehyde aggregate in the presence of the antibiotic ristocetin and normal plasma . This aggregation response is abolished after digestion of the fixed platelets with chymotrypsin . Antisera to fixed washed platelets were produced in rabbits and absorbed with chymotrypsin-treated, fixed washed platelets . Monovalent Fab fragments obtained from the isolated gamma-globulin fractions of the antisera blocked ristocetin-induced aggregation of fixed washed platelets in buffer and normal platelets in platelet-rich plasma . By double-antibody immunoprecipitation, it was shown that the antibody which blocked the ristocetin reaction interacted with a platelet membrane surface protein of mol wt 155,000 . The results suggest that the glycoprotein I complex on the surface of the human platelet mediates ristocetin-induced von Willebrand factor-dependent platelet aggregation. Jpn J Antibiot, 1977 Jan, 30(1), 82 - 93 {The fundamental and clinical studies on clindamycin-2-phosphate in the otorhinolaryngologic field (author's transl)}; Iwasawa T; Fundamental and clinical investigation with a new antibiotic, clindamycin-2-phosphate, were performed with the results which may lead to following conclusions . 1) Concentration in blood: The blood level of clindamycin-2-phosphate in healthy adults who were given 300 mg by intramuscular injection reached a peak level of 4.3 mug/ml one hour after injection . Even after 6 hours, clinically effective serum concentration of 0.5 mug/ml was still demonstrable . 2) Concentration in tissues: Clindamycin-2-phosphate activity was demonstrable at the concentrations of 1.6 approximately 2.3 mug/g in human palatine and mucous membrane of maxillary specimen one hour after the intramuscular injection of 300 mg . Further the concentration was 2.9 approximately 5.4 mug/ml . 3) Results of clinical treatment: When clindamycin-2-phosphate was injected intramuscularly in 30 cases of representative infections in the otorhinolaryngolgic field, it was excellent in 12 cases, good in 12 cases, fair in 4 cases and poor in 2 cases . Excellent and good results were obtained in 24 cases, being the effectiveness 80 per cent . 4) Side effect: No side effect was shown with the intramuscular injection of clindamycin-2-phosphate . The comparative examination of hepatic function, electrolyte and auditory acuity before and after injection showed no significant disturbance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1977 Jan, 74(1), 115 - 9 Synthesis of a 19-residue peptide with alamethicin-like activity; Gisin BF et al.; This paper describes the chemical synthesis of a compound with voltage-gating characteristics similar to those observed in nerve membranes . For alamethicin (ALA), a natural antibiotic that induces such properties in lipid bilayer membranes, there are two proposed structures, one a cyclic and the other an open chain peptide . The open chain sequence (ALA-o) proposed by Martin and Williams {(1976) Biochem . J . 153, 181-190} was synthesized by stepwise solid-phase condensation of four fragments prepared by solid-phase synthesis . The product, purified to homogeneity, was not identical with the main component of natural ALA . Nevertheless, in lipid bilayer membranes the exponential dependence of conductance on voltage and the dependence of conductance on a high power of the peptide concentration were qualitatively similar for ALA-o and for natural ALA . Like ALA, ALA-o showed the characteristics of a channel-former, although the single-channel conductances were less well defined for the synthetic compound . This work establishes that a cyclic structure is not a necessary condition for a peptide to induce voltage-dependent conductances in membranes and that ALA-o possesses all the structural elements required for such an activity. Morphol Embryol (Bucur), 1977 Jan-Mar, 23(1), 49 - 51 Immunoblastic lymphadenopathy with centrofollicular PAS-positive inclusions; Serban A et al.; The authors describe the clinical and histopathologic picture of immunoblastic lymphadenomegaly in a 66-year-old patient with allergic antecedents . The condition of the patient ameliorated following cortisone and antibiotic therapy, but adenomegalia relapsed after several months . PAS-positive granular inclusions were found in the macrophage cells in the germinative centres of the follicles, showing the aspect of a blockade with nuclear significance. Pharmacol Biochem Behav, 1977 Jan, 6(1), 1 - 4 Protein synthesis and amnesia: studies with emetine and pactamycin; Dunn AJ et al.; Two antibiotic inhibitors of protein synthesis, emetine and pactamycin, have been tested for their effects on cerebral and peripheral protein synthesis and amnesia . Peripherally administered emetine but not pactamycin inhibited cerebral protein synthesis, although this inhibition was lower than that observed with cycloheximide or anisomycin . Pactamycin had a lesser effect on adrenal protein synthesis than emetine . This was reflected in the ability of emetine but not pactamycin to block ACTH-induced corticosteroidogenesis . Anisomycin and cycloheximide caused amnesia in a passive avoidance task, whereas pactamycin and emetine did not . These results are inconsistent with the amnesia being due to inhibition of protein synthesis in a peripheral organ . They are also inconsistent with the amnesia being due to the suppression of an adrenocortical response as previously suggested . No obvious correlation between amnesia and the mechanism of protein synthesis was observed . The most parsimonious explanation is that inhibition of cerebral protein synthesis is necessary for amnesia. J Virol, 1977 Jan, 21(1), 375 - 85 Tunicamycin inhibits glycosylation and multiplication of Sindbis and vesicular stomatitis viruses; Leavitt R et al.; Tunicamycin (TM), an antibiotic that inhibits the formation of N-acetylglucosamine-lipid intermediates, thereby preventing the glycosylation of newly synthesized glycoproteins, inhibits the growth of Sindbis virus and vesicular stomatitis virus in BHK cells . At 0.5 mug of TM per ml, the replication of both viruses is inhibited 99.9% . Noninfectious particles were not detected . All the viral proteins were synthesized in the presence of TM, but the glycoproteins were selectively altered in that they migrated faster than normal viral glycoproteins when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, suggesting defective glycosylation . Within 1 h after TM addition, {14C}glucosamine incorporation into glycoproteins was inhibited 20%, whereas {35S}methionine incorporation was unaffected . By 2 to 3 h after TM addition, glucosamine incorporation had fallen to 15% of control value, with methionine incorporation being 60% of normal . TM did not affect the growth of the nomenveloped encephalomyocarditis virus in BHK cells, demonstrating that TM is not a general inhibitor of protein synthesis . These data demonstrate that TM specifically inhibits the glycosylation of viral glycoproteins and that glycosylation may be essential for the normal assembly of enveloped viral particles. J Immunol, 1977 Jan, 118(1), 21 - 7 Inhibition of the mitogenic response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mouse spleen cells by polymyxin B; Jacobs DM et al.; The addition of low doses of the cationic polypeptide antibiotic, polymyxin B (PB), to cultures of mouse spleen cells inhibits lipopolysaccharide-(LPS) induced DNA synthesis but not that stimulated by PPD, PHA, or Con A . Inhibition is stoichiometric; the mitogenic response is suppressed by 50% at a weight ratio of PB:LPS of 0.055 to 1 . Furthermore, PB-LPS complexes have a much reduced mitogenic capacity . These complexes inhibit the mitogenic response of spleen cells to unmodified LPS but not to PPD, Con A, or PHA . The inhibitory activity of PB is less effective when added after LPS is mixed with responding cells, achieving 50% inhibition when addition is made at 4 to 6 hr . Time course experiments indicate that partial inhibition is a reflection of a lower rate of DNA synthesis . Thus, PB inhibition of LPS mitogenesis apparently occurs as a result of formation of PB-LPS complexes with reduced mitogenic capacity . Specific inhibition by the complexes of mitogenesis induced by native LPS suggests that the inactive complex may bind to B cells but is unable to trigger them. Comp Biochem Physiol B, 1977, 57(4), 275 - 80 Effect of puromycin on synthesis, processing, and nucleocytoplasmic translocation of rRNA in Tetrahymena pyriformis; Eckert WA; 1 . Treatment of Tetrahymena pyriformis with various concentrations of puromycin results in a more pronounced inhibition of {3H}uridine accumulation in stable RNA than of protein synthesis . 2 . At a concentration of 500 micrograms/ml, which is almost completely inhibitory to {3H}uridine incorporation in vivo, puromycin has no influence on the incorporation of {3H}UTP into RNA in isolated macronuclei . Pretreatment of the cells with the antibiotic, however, reduces the activity of RNA polymerases in isolated nuclei to less than 30% . 3 . In puromycin-treated cells a small amount of pre-rRNA is synthesized but not processed into cytoplasmic rRNAs . 4 . Puromycin reduces the nucleocytoplasmic translocation of pre-existing RNA to about 25% of the control rate within 5 min, resulting in an accumulation of relatively stable rRNA precursor molecules in the macronucleus. Cytobios, 1977, 20(77), 43 - 70 Electron microscopic detection of phleomycin during different waves of replication in regenerating skeletal muscle of mice following staining with mercuric chloride; Pietsch P et al.; Phleomycin has devastating effects on regeneration of skeletal muscle when applied during an early wave of replication in the pre-myotube (new fibre) period of the reaction . The effect cannot be explained from the contribution of dividing cells to myotubes . Phleomycin's effects on regeneration are much less severe when the challenge coincides with a later wave of pre-myotube proliferation, effects that can be explained from the contribution of such cells to new muscle . An attempt has been made, by means of electron microscopy, to explain how phleomycin distributes early versus late wave cells, using a mercury substitution stain to detect the antibiotic . Cells of the two periods showed conspicuous differences in the staining characteristics of their chromatin . Positive staining reactions outside the nucleus were confined mainly to ribosomes . Exceptions included materials in transit across nuclear and cytoplasmic membranes. Acta Derm Venereol, 1977, 57(5), 373 - 8 Bleomycin: effects upon mammalian epidermal DNA synthesis; Gilmartin ME et al.; The effects of bleomycin upon epithelial DNA synthesis have been evaluated in a keratinizing tissue culture line and following topical application on intact mouse epidermis . In both models, bleomycin inhibited epithelial DNA synthesis after prolonged exposure of the tissue to large doses of the polypeptide antibiotic . The effect is probably limited by the penetration of bleomycin through epithelial cell membranes . Inhibition of epidermal DNA synthesis was also observed in non-treated animals subjected to restraint and/or partial starvation . These conditions, which are commonly associated with studies of topical therapeutic agents, must, therefore, be carefully controlled. Radiology, 1977 Jan, 122(1), 179 - 82 Comparison of I-bleomycin prepared by two methods stability and pharmacokinetics in tumor-bearing mice; Krohn KA et al.; Bleomycin, a chemotherapeutic antibiotic agent, was radio-iodinated by the ICI and chloramine-T methods; the radiochemical stabilities and pharmacokinetics of the two I-bleomycins in tumor-bearing mice were compared . The ICI preparation was more stable with respect to deiodination in vitro . Both products were sufficiently stable in vivo that high body background due to free isotope, a disadvantage of 111In- and 99mTc-bleomycin, was not encountered . Tumor uptake of the ICI preparation was constant from 2 to 24 hrs., and the tumor/blood ratio increased with time; with chloramine-T, this ratio decreased, and was less than that for ICI . The two preparations are chemically and biologically different; the ICI product is the superior tumor radiodiagnostic agent. Infection, 1977, 5(1), 46 - 8 Osteomyelitis caused by mycobacterium fortuitum; Ohry A et al.; A case of osteomylitis of the foot and ankle bones with subsequent complications is presented . Antibiotic therapy was unsuccessful and a below-knee amputation was performed . A comparison of the various Mycobacteria species and their role as etiologic agents in osteomyelitis follows. Biochemistry, 1976 Dec 28, 15(26), 5783 - 92 Disruption of Escherichia coli outer membranes by EM 49 . A new membrane active peptide; Rosenthal KS et al.; A new peptide antibiotic, EM 49, is shown to disrupt the structure of Escherichia coli outer membranes and release outer membrane fragments into the surrounding media . Evidence supporting this conclusion indludes EM 49 stimulated release of outer membrane phospholipids, lipopolysaccharide, and membrane fragments having a phospholipid and polypeptide composition similar to outer membranes . The density of the membrane fragments released by EM 49 was 1.22 g/cm3, which was identical to isolated outer membranes . Approximately 10 to 15% of the E . coli lipopolysaccharide was released upon treatment with EM 49 . Both scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the antibiotic caused the formation of numerous protrusions or blebs on the surface of E . coli with apparent release of membrane vesicles from the cells . Direct interaction between EM 49 and outer membranes was demonstrated using outer membranes labeled with the fluorescent dye diphenylhexatriene . Treatment of the fluorescent-labeled outer membranes with EM 49 increased fluorescence intensity and decreased polarization, indicating that the peptide perturbed outer-membrane structure . In addition, strong interactions between EM 49 and purified E . coli phospholipids were detected using the Hummel and Dreyer technique . Association constants between the peptide and phospholipids were approximately 10(5) M-1 . A model for the disruptive effect of EM 49 on outer-membrane structure is proposed in which the fatty acid chain of the antibiotic is inserted into the hydrophobic core of the membrane . This orientation would allow the polycationic, peptide portion of the antibiotic to disrupt the antibiotic to disrupt the normal electrostatic interactions between divalent cations and components of the outer membrane . Evidence supporting this conclusion includes specific protection of E . coli from EM 49 by Mg2+ and Ca2+ and inhibition of EM 49 stimulated phospholipid release by these cations . Disruption of the antibiotic to penetrate to the inner membrane, which is probably the primary killing site of EM 49. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1976 Dec 13, 454(3), 389 - 96 Rifampicin and chloramphenicol effects on DNA replication in ultraviolet-damaged Escherichia coli B/r WP2 thy trp; Doudney CO; The antibiotic rifampicin, which blocks specifically RNA synthesis, limited DNA replication in Escherichia coli strain B/r WP2 thy trp after an increase of about 50%, when added to the incubation medium at the time of replication initiation after ultraviolet fluences of 20 J/m2... Hosp Pract, 1976 Dec, 11(12), 43 - 50 Influenza: the disease and its complications; Douglas RG Jr; Among the complications (fortunately relatively few), pneumonias are by far the most common, with about one half resulting from pneumococcal invasion . In the acutely ill, multiple antibiotic therapy may have to be initiated pending definitive etiologic diagnosis . Also, in epidemic or pre-epidemic situations, special measures are advocated for hospitals, since influenza so rapidly becomes the dominant nosocominal infection. Thorax, 1976 Dec, 31(6), 757 - 64 Degenerative changes in aortic root allografts placed in the right ventricular outflow tract of growing puppies; Jeong UG et al.; Differently prepared aortic root allografts were implanted in the right ventricular outflow tract of growing puppies to determine the site of origin and progress of degenerative changes in these conduits . The three preparations assessed were as follows: group A, fresh and sterile grafts; group B, antibiotic sterilized grafts in nutrient medium; and group C, beta-propiolactone sterilized grafts . Although calcification of the aortic wall occurred in all groups, the aortic leaflets were minimally affected . A correlation between viability and lack of calcification and between viability and long-term function is emphasized. MMW Munch Med Wochenschr, 1976 Dec 3, 118(49), 1583 - 6 {Prognosis of purulent meningitis with particular reference to the beginning of treatment and age of the patient (author's transl)}; Wegmann T; The relatively high lethality of meningitis is due to the delay in beginning treatment (usually caused by nonrecognition of the disease) and to the greater age of the patient (associated diseases) . New aspects of the improvement of the prognosis were not obtained by comparison of various patient collectives a decade apart in our clinic, although an improvement in additional measures such as artificial respiration occurred . The reason lies in veiling by antibiotic premedication . Before beginning antibiotic therapy an exact etiological diagnosis should be made . This objective can only be attained by better training of the physician, including neurology. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1976 Dec 2, 455(2), 452 - 65 Freeze-fracture ultrastructural alterations induced by filipin, pimaricin, nystatin and amphotericin B in the plasmia membranes of Epidermophyton, Saccharomyces and red complex-induced membrane lesions; Kitajima Y et al.; The effects of chemically different polyenes on fungal membranes (Epidermaphyton floccosum, a human pathogenic fungus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and human red blood cell membranes were studied by freeze-fracture electron microscopy in order to elucidate the interaction of these antibiotics with ergosterol . Each type of neutral, small amphoteric and large amphoteric polyenes produces a distinct morphoneutral, small amphoteric and large amphoteric polyenes produces a distinct morphological effect on the fungal membranes: (1) Pit formation type . Filipin, a neutral polyene, produces 250-300 A diameter "pits" or "invagination" both in ergosterol-containing fungal plasma membranes and cholesterol-containing red blood cell ghost membranes . (2) Network particle aggregation type . The small amphoteric polyene, pimaricin, produces a network of membrane particle aggregation which encloses 1000 A diameter particle-free areas in fungal membranes . These areas are slightly elevated toward the outside of the cell . (3) Random particle aggregation type . The large amphoteric polyenes, amphotericin B and nystatin, cause a random segregation of the fungal plasma membrane and the red blood cell ghost membranes into particle-free and aggregated areas . It is concluded that these morphological differences are due to different mechanisms of polyene-sterol interactions in which the different size of the mocrolide ring in the antibiotic structure may be involved . Since all of these antibiotics, except filipin, cause no alterations on whole red blood cells detectable by negative staining and freeze-fracture electron microscopy, it is possible that they have a higher affinity to ergosterol than cholesterol in membranes. Antibiotiki, 1976 Dec, 21(12), 1066 - 72 {Pleiotropic effect of the mutation of streptomycin resistance in Micromonospora purpurea var . violacea}; Vladimirov AV et al.; Variation of different features of populations of streptomycin-sensitive and streptomycin-resistant forms of M . purpurea var . violacea, an organism producing gentamicin was studied . The population of the initial streptomycin-sensitive culture was characterized by high homogeneity with respect to the cultural, morphological and some physiological properties . The variation of the features, such as the colony size, pigment formation, auxotrophic mutations, antibiotic production significantly increased in populations grown on media with streptomycin . Mutants differing from the initial strain by a complex of cultural, morphological and physiological features and in particular the antibiotic production were isolated from populations of the streptomycin-resistant variants. Biochem J, 1976 Dec 1, 159(3), 819 - 22 Metabolism of daunorubicin by a barbiturate-sensitive aldehyde reductase from rat liver; Turner AJ et al.; A barbiturate-sensitive aldehyde reductase was purified to homogeneity from rat liver and shown to metabolize the cancer-chemotherapeutic antibiotic daunorubicin . The aldehyde reductase may have important roles in the metabolism of exogeneous drugs as well as the aldehyde derivatives of the biogenic amines. Biochem J, 1976 Dec 1, 159(3), 601 - 6 The role of the pseudo-disaccharide neamine as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of neomycin; Pearce CJ et al.; By using wild-type and deoxystreptamine-negative mutants of Streptomyces fradiae grown in media containing {6(-3)H}glucose or {U-14C}glucose, and by subsequent hydrolysis of the labelled neomycin produced, neamines labelled with 3H in both rings I and II, but with 14C in ring I only, were prepared . A mixture of these two forms of neamine was converted by deoxystreptamine-negative Streptomyces rimosus forma paromomycinus into neomycin (not paromomycin) with a 30% yield . The3H: 14C ratio in this neomycin was the same as the measured in neamine produced by hydrolysis of the neomycin, and in unused neamine reisolated from the incubation medium . The 3H:14C ratio in the neomycin was not affected by the presence of unlabelled deoxystreptamine during the incubation . The radioactivity in the neomycin was associated with rings I and II only . It is concluded that the added neamine is incorporated into antibiotic intact, without initial hydrolysis, and that the probable first step in the subunit assembly of neomycin is the formation of neamine. Arch Dermatol, 1976 Dec, 112(12), 1749 - 52 Cutaneous protothecosis . Successful treatment with amphotericin B; Mayhall CG et al.; A patient had cutaneous protothecosis because of the alga-like organism, Prototheca wickerhamii . In vitro sensitivity tests showed that the organism was sensitive to amphotericin B, and was treated successfully with this polyene antibiotic . As with treatment of some fungal infections, a clinical response was achieved when therapy with low doses of amphotericin B was given during a short period of time . The basis of the amphotericin B response may have been due to a combination of its immunostimulatory and antibiotic properties. Am J Med, 1976 Dec, 61(6), 832 - 40 Candida peritonitis . Report of 22 cases and review of the English literature; Bayer AS et al.; Thirty-one patients with Candida isolated from peritoneal fluid were examined . Twenty-two were considered to have Candida peritonitis . The data on these 22 patients, plus 12 additional patients described in the literature, were reviewed . This infection was observed as a complication of peritoneal dialysis, gastrointestinal surgery or perforation of an abdominal viscus . Recent antibiotic administration seemed to be an important predisposing factor . The disease usually remained localized intra-abdominally, although disseminated candidiasis was also noted in three cases . Clinically significant infection could be differentiated from peritoneal contamination with Candida by the presence and persistence of fever, peritoneal signs, peripheral leukocytosis, positive peritoneal cultures for Candida, abnormal films of the abdomen and purulent ascitic fluid . Surgical interventions and removal of infected peritoneal fluid were the cornerstones of therapy . Short-term, low-dose systemic and/or intraperitoneally administered amphotericin B appeared promising in the treatment of unremitting infection . Mortality in treated patients was low and was comparable to that in patients with bacterial peritonitis. Int J Clin Pharmacol Biopharm, 1976 Dec, 14(4), 313 - 8 Distribution and elimination kinetics of intravenously and intramusculary administered tobramycin in man; Pechere JC et al.; The pharmacokinetic profile of Tobramycin, a new aminoglycoside antibiotic, has been determined in man following intravenous and intramuscular administration . The serum elimination of the antibiotic obeys two-compartment open model kinetics after intravenous injection . The fast (alpha) and slow (beta) disposition rate constants averaged 0.1169 min-1 and 0.0099 min-1 respectively . The volume of distribution at the steady-state averaged 0.123 liter kg-1 and the plasma clearance 0.8 ml min-1 kg-1 . Calculation of the intrinsic absorption rate of an intramuscular dose according to the two-compartment open model indicates that absorption increases during the first 40 minutes, then decreases and is virtually complete 90 minutes after administration in all subjects . The absolute physiological availability of the intramuscular dose averaged 84.9% . A method of administration compatible with the kinetic properties of the drug is proposed. Jpn J Antibiot, 1976 Dec, 29(12), 1070 - 92 {A clinical evaluation of the effect of cephacetrile on bacterial pneumonia . A comparative test with cefazolin by a double blind method (author's transl)}; Matsumoto K et al.; The therapeutic efficacy of cephacetrile (CEC) in bacterial pneumonia was evaluated in contrast with that of cefazolin (CEZ) by a double blind method . Both drugs were administered via intravenous route at a dose of 1 g twice daily for 14 days . 1) Of 81 patients, each 2 from both groups were eliminated from the study because of unknown results . In CEC group, 36 out of 38 obtained a slightly effective or better results (94.7% of effectiveness) . In CEZ group, 31 out of 39 showed a similar result and there was no significant difference between the two groups . 2) In more detail, CEC achieved significantly better results in AaDo2 and cardiac insufficiency than CEZ, and this trend was also seen in dyspnea . 3) Regarding background factors, pretreatment severity was slightly in favor of CEC . However, so long as supplementary analysis is concerned, we could not find any relation between the pretreatment severity of symptom and drug efficacy or improvement of symptom . 4) Since there was a slight bias in the background factors, it is difficult to conclude that CEC is better than CEZ in terms of effectiveness . However, we consider CEC is superior to CEZ if compared in details . 5) Both drugs had the same incidence of side effect (6.25%, 3/48 in both groups) . When clinical efficacy of CEC in bacterial pneumonia is evaluated together with the incidence of side effect, we may consider that CEC is an effective antibiotic agent equal to or better than CEZ. Antibiotiki, 1976 Dec, 21(12), 1104 - 6 {Mechanism of action of tetracycline on the functional state of the adrenal cortex}; Polosova RG et al.; The mechanism of stimulation of the adrenal cortex function by tetracycline was studied on albino rats . It was shown that tetracycline administered orally in a dose of 200 mg/kg regularly induced an increase in the corticosterone levels in the peripheral blood of the animals by the 15th day of the antibiotic use . It was shown on the animals with an experimentally suppressed function of the hypophysis by prolonged administration of hydrocortisone acetate that tetracycline primarily stimulated the hypophysis function resulting in production and excretion of increased amounts of the adrenocorticotropic hormone into the blood . The hormone increased the production of corticosterone in the adrenal glands which resulted in its higher levels in the peripheral blood. Can J Biochem, 1976 Dec, 54(12), 1047 - 54 Effects of alkylation by dimethyl sulfate, nitrogen mustard, and mitomycin C on DNA structure as studied by the ethidium binding assay; Hsiung H et al.; The extent of alkylation of DNA by dimethyl sulfate, nitrogen mustard, and the antibiotic mitomycin C is related to the resulting decrease in the fluorescence of intercalated ethidium . The fluorescence losses due to the first two types of reagents show a marked pH dependence, with greater losses of fluorescence being observed at alkaline pH values . At pH 11.6 the fluorescence shows a slow recovery, so that with low levels of methylation (4% deoxyguanosine residues modified) one observes complete return of fluorescence . We postulate that these phenomena are due to conversion of 7-methyldeoxyguanosine to the zwitterionic form, and partial denaturation of the DNA duplex with loss of ethidium binding sites . Hydroxide-ion-catalyzed imidazole ring opening, and the removal of the positive charge permits reannealing with concomitant return of the ethidium intercalation sites . This conclusion is substantiated by enzymatic hydrolysis of 14C-labelled methylated DNA and identifiions of the ethidium assay . The distinctly different behavior of mitomycin C confirms previous conclusions that its alkylation, preferentially on guanine, does not take part at the N-7 position. Langenbecks Arch Chir, 1976 Nov 15, 342, 511 - 2 {Septic complications in vascular surgery: operative treatment and results (author's transl)}; van Dongen RJ; The treatment of infection after vascular operations depends on the severity and extent of this complication . In infections of low virulence an attempt to prevent progression of the infectious involvement should be made with the help of antibiotics and immobilization . Suppurating infection involving a vascular graft but not yet causing bleeding can be treated successfully by drainage and antibiotic irrigation . In case of bleeding at the site of an infected anastomosis it is sometimes possible to prevent further bleeding and to cure the infection by wrapping omentum round the anastomactic lines . Severe infection and repeated hemorrhage require sacrifice of the reconstructed vessel to prevent loss of limb and even life: arteries reconstructed with the use of autogenous material must be ligated; any implanted synthetic material has to be removed . In these cases limb salvage can be accomplished using a remote bypass (axillo-femoral bypass, obturator-bypass, crossed bypass, etc.). MMW Munch Med Wochenschr, 1976 Nov 5, 118(45), 1461 - 4 {Problems of bacterial infections of the sinuses (author's transl)}; Theopold HM; Mechanisms of bacterial infections as well as problems of antibiotic therapy are discussed with particular reference to the human sinuses . Infectious diseases lost their importance as a result of modern chemotherapy . Wrong handling or misunderstanding of antibiotic agents, however, may give rise to new important problems in antibiotic therapy as a result of increasing resistance. Laryngoscope, 1976 Nov, 86(11), 1714 - 7 Quinsy tonsillectomy; Yung AK et al.; The usual treatment for peritonsillar abscess in the United States is incision, drainage and antibiotic therapy followed by tonsillectomy several weeks later . Why this treatment began is not clear but it probably originated from fear of complications which might arise from operating during the acute stage . This therapy requires two hospitalizations and tonsillectomy after previous abscess can be difficult . Tonsillitis or peritonsillar abscess can recur any time after the initial abscess is treated . A series of 50 cases of peri-tonsillar abscesses treated by immediate tonsillectomy is presented and evaluated . The results show this operation has a low morbidity and no significantly greater complication rate than elective tonsellectomy. Cell, 1976 Nov, 9(3), 431 - 8 Dictyostelium 17S, 25S, and 5S rDNAs lie within a 38,000 base pair repeated unit; Maizels N; Mapping with the restriction enzymes Sal 1 and R1 has generated a picture of the organization of Dictyostelium ribosomal DNA . The DNA which codes for 17S and 25S ribosomal RNAs is located within a stretch of repetitive DNA at least 38,000 base pairs long . This repeated unit includes 5S DNA, linked to 25S DNA . Two techniques were especially useful in the mapping: "cloning" 14S + 25S DNA on the plasmid pMB9 to amplify individual R1 fragments, and digesting DNA with R1 in the presence of the antibiotic distamycin A to produce specific partial digestion products. Antibiotiki, 1976 Nov, 21(11), 1000 - 2 {Pharmacokinetics of penicillins in the blood of dogs administered the combination preparation, ampiox, internally}; Vasil'ev VK; The pharmacokinetics of penicillins in the blood of dogs treated with ampiox, a combination of ampicillin and oxacillin at a ratio of 1 : 1 was studied . The drug was administered orally in single or repeated doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg . The maximum levels of ampicillin in the blood serum were observed 1 hour after a single administration of the drug . The therapeutic concentrations of the antibiotic were preserved for 6 hours, its value being depended on the dose used . The maximum concentration of oxacillin was detected 1 hour after the drug administration in various doses and it was preserved in the blood at the therapeutic levels for 3 hours . The dynamics of circulation of ampicillin and oxacillin administered separately did not differ from that established for the use of ampiox . The regularities of the pharmacokinetics of ampiox on its repeated use remained practically unchanged. South Med J, 1976 Nov, 69(11), 1477 - 81 Postoperative infection of lumbar intervertebral disk space; Ford LT; Sixteen cases of postoperative intervertebral disk space infection are reviewed . Most occurred after diskectomy, but one followed an unsuccessful attempt at a spinal anesthetic and two followed diskography . Treatment varied from aggressive surgery, either by a posterior, lateral, or anterior approach, to drain the infected disk space or spaces, to more conservative immobilization . Antibiotics were used in all cases . Needle biopsy is valuable in establishing diagnosis and identifying the organism and its antibiotic sensitivities . In some cases fusion occurred spontaneously from the infection; in others, fusion was a result of surgical fusion preceding or following the infection. Mikrobiologiia, 1976 Nov-Dec, 45(6), 1035 - 9 {Morphofunctional changes in the mycelium of active and inactive variants of Actinomyces parvullus during growth and biosynthesis of actinomycin D}; Zaslavkaia PL et al.; The structure and function of the mycelium were studied with active and inactive variants of Actinomyces parvillus producing actinomycin D . Changes in the morphology were found in the hyphae of the active variant during its growth and production of the antibiotic: the cell wall became first thicker in the course of growth and then thinner with aging; the ribosomes aggregated prior to intensive synthesis of actinomycin but disintegrated later into fine-granular regions; electron-trasnparent bodies of irregular shape appeared in the cytoplasm, and their content was liberated into the medium upon lysis of the cytoplasmic membrane and cell wall . These changes were not detected in the mycelium of the inactive variant . The disintegrated mycelium of the active variant was studied by differential ultracentrifugation, and the electron-transparent bodies in the cells were presumed to be of the antibiotic nature . A capsule is formed around the hyphae at the beginning of the antibiotic synthesis, and thickens in the course of growth . Intrahyphal hyphae are very often encountered in the culture . Possible mechanisms protecting cells in unfavourable conditions are discussed. Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1976 Nov-Dec, 33(6), 1235 - 46 {Perforation of the esophagus . Diagnosis and treatment . Analysis of 20 cases}; Rodriguez Taboada J et al.; The experience on perforation of the esophagus at the Hospital Infantil de Mexico is reviewed . Between 1961 and 1975, 20 cases were attended . The most frequent perforation is the iatrogenic subsequent to dilatations or to esophagoscopy . Esophageal perforation is the most serious of the digestive tube perforations and must be considered as a real medicosurgical emergency . The clinical picture is analyzed and the necessity to take chest x-rays and esophagogram as urgent measures is emphasized at the slightest clinical doubt . The different treatment methods are mentioned and it is stressed that the best results are obtained with an urgent thoracotomy, closure of the perforation, full canalization and antibiotic therapy at high doses . According to the literature referred and to the results obtained from the present study, mortality is higher in cases where treatment is delayed . The clinical and radiological pictures are described together with the therapeutic behavior in spontaneous perforation in the newborn . The theories to explain this etiology are set forth . At present, mortality is still high; therefore, in order to bring down this high percentage, it is concluded that an early diagnosis together with an agressive surgical treatment are necessary. Lab Invest, 1976 Nov, 35(5), 425 - 9 Golgi complex alterations induced by X537A in chief cells of rat parathyroid gland; Ravazzola M; Electron microscopic examination of chief cells of rat parathyroid glands incubated with the antibiotic ionophore X537A showed selective alterations of the Golgi complex . The changes were dependent on the duration of X537A exposure . After 50 minutes of incubation, the cisternae and vesicles of the Golgi complex appeared highly swollen and disorganized . Because of its selective action, X537A might be a useful tool in the investigation of the role of Golgi apparatus in parathormone secretion. J Nutr, 1976 Nov, 106(11), 1591 - 9 Metallothionein and its relationship to the metabolism of dietary zinc in rats; Richards MP et al.; Metallothionein (MTN), a low molecular weight cytoplasmic metalloprotein has previously been implicated in the metabolism of Zn . Experiments were conducted with rats to determine the effect of feeding varying levels of dietary Zn for short periods on the increase or decrease in MTN-bound Zn . The results indicated that MTN-Zn in both liver and intestinal mucosal cytosol responded rapidly to an altered dietary Zn level and that serum Zn was directly related to the appearance of MTN . 65Zn absorption also responded rapidly to a change in dietary Zn and was inversely correlated with intestinal mucosal MTN-Zn . Hepatic 65Zn uptake appeared to be directly correlated with liver MTN-Zn . A 24 hour fast increased MTN-Zn in rats fed two different levels of Zn except in those rats that were previously treated with actinomycin D . The antibiotic, which blocks DNA-dependent RNA synthesis, appeared to block Zn uptake from blood to the liver . These findings offer support for the involvement of MTN in zinc metabolism. Infect Immun, 1976 Nov, 14(5), 1179 - 83 Bacterial decontamination and antileukemic therapy of AKR mice; Srivastava KK et al.; Four nonabsorbable antibiotics (streptomycin, neomycin, bacitracin, and amphotericin B) and a germicidal dip solution (Zephiran chloride/water) were used to eliminate all the detectable bacteria from conventional AKR mice . Control mice were not decontaminated and were used as such . When antibiotic-decontaminated and control mice developed clinical manifestations of spontaneous lymphatic leukemia, each was treated for the disease with an antitumor drug (cyclophosphamide {CP}) at weekly intervals . With the decontamination procedure, mice of each of the two groups became bacteria-free after 16 weeks of continuous oral administration of the antibiotics and two separate germicidal dippings . All decontaminated mice remained free of bacteria throughout the experiment . The bacterial flora of the control mice remained unaltered . With CP therapy, the mean survival time of the female decontaminated mice was 65 days, whereas that of male mice was 218 days . The average survival time of the CP-treated control leukemic mice was 51 days . Untreated decontaminated or control mice usually died of leukemia within 7 days after the onset of symptoms of leukemia . Although CP therapy was not curative, it did prolong the life expectancy of the decontaminated mice significantly. Gastroenterology, 1976 Nov, 71(5), 814 - 20 Lincomycin-induced cholecystitis and gallstones in guinea pigs; Scott AJ; Guinea pigs given lincomycin 60 mg per kg per day showed a striking increase in the renewal of epithelial cells in the gallbladder . This was detectable after only 24 hr of treatment . By 48 hr a precipitate consisting predominantly of calcium and bilirubin had formed in the gallbladder . Gallbladder bile glycoprotein concentrations rose progressively . At 8 days epithelial dysplasia was marked . Treatment was discontinued at 9 days . The guinea pigs that survived beyond 34 days showed that new tubuloalveolar glands had formed focally in the body and fundus of the gallbladder . Multiple calcium-containing stones were present . The failure to culture bacteria from bile, the failure of the bile salt pattern to change, and the progressive nature of the epithelial injury suggested that the changes resulted from a direct toxic effect and were not dependent on the antibiotic activity of this drug . It was concluded that damage to the epithelium of the gallbladder preceded the formation of a precipitate and initiated histological changes which culminated, at the time that the precipitate became organized into stones, in impressive glandular metaplasia. Antibiotiki, 1976 Nov, 21(11), 1022 - 5 {Substantiation for the kanamycin treatment of certain diseases, taking into account its concentration at the sites of localization of the causative agent (an experimental study)}; Finogeev IuP et al.; Kanamycin concentration in the inflammatory foci was studied on experimental models of pneumonia, maxillary sinusitis and acute dysentery . The kanamycin levels in the sites of the pathogen localization were lower than those in the same tissues of healthy animals . The antibiotic dose should be chosen with the account of its concentration in the focus of the pathogen localization rather than in the blood serum. Acta Paediatr Scand, 1976 Nov, 65(6), 725 - 31 Septicaemia of the newborn, associated with ruptured foetal membranes, discoloured amniotic fluid or maternal fever; Knudsen FU et al.; The incidence of neonatal septicaemia associated with prolonged rupture of foetal membranes, discoloured amniotic fluid and/or maternal fever was investigated . A total of 807 blood cultures were performed on 329 neonates, the placental end of 239 umbilical cords and on 239 mothers . The study showed that in 97% of the neonates with a complicated delivery there was no evidence of septicaemia . Septicaemia was verified in 3% of the infants, and was intimately associated with low birth weight (p equals 0.02), neonatal asphyxia (p less than 10(-4)), clinical evidence of septicaemia (p less than 10(-4) and maternal fever (p equals 0.002) . The incidence was particularly high in premature infants with neonatal asphyxia (27%) and in neonates born to febrile mothers (20%) . None of the mothers showed any evidence of septicaemia, and haematogenous, transplacental spread of infection to the child was not seen . Routine prophylactic antibiotic therapy in neonates with a complicated delivery should therefore be reserved, in our opinion, for those infants at high risk of infection. Medicine (Baltimore), 1976 Nov, 55(6), 477 - 86 Candida meningitis . Report of seven cases and review of the english literature; Bayer AS et al.; Seven patients with Candida meningitis are reported . These 7, plus 21 previously cited cases, were reviewed . This infection arose by two distinct mechanisms: hematogenous dissemination and direct inoculation . Recent antibiotic therapy, corticosteroid administration and severe underlying diseases were important predisposing factors . Fever, meningismus, elevated CSF pressures and localizing neurologic signs were commonly noted . Organisms were seen on gram-stain of CSF in only 43% of cases . Mortality rate in patients receiving inadequate or no antifungal therapy was high (greater than 90%), while those patients given appropriate antifungal drugs, especially intravenous amphotericin B, had a significantly lower mortality rate (38%) . Several factors associated with poor prognosis were delineated in this study: diagnostic interval after symptomatic onset longer than two weeks, CSF glucose levels below 35 mg/100 ml and presence of intracranial hypertension and focal neurologic deficits. Laryngol Rhinol Otol (Stuttg), 1976 Nov, 55(11), 927 - 31 {Experiences gained in the treatment of oto- and rhinogenic meningitides, 1965-1975 (author's transl)}; Mitschke H et al.; The studies permit the conclusion that morbidity and mortality due to purulent oto- or rhinogenic meningitides have not essentially changed over the past eleven years despite antibiotics that are more effective and can be given in higher doses than so far . Resistent strains of bacteria, allergies and insufficient antibiotic therapy are probable causes for that fact . Under certain circumstances a sufficient and specific antibiotic therapy may delay surgical intervention or make it even unnecessary . Advanced age and additional diseases seem neither to influence operability nor to increase morbidity. Ann Med Interne (Paris), 1976 Nov, 127(11), 797 - 806 {Sarcoidosis and Whipple's disease . Association? Relation?}; Pequignot H et al.; On the basis of a personal case in which two successive diagnoses of sarcoidosis and Whipple's disease were made at an interval of four years, the authors discuss the possible association or relationship between these two disorders, both diffuse, affecting the reticulo-histiocytic system and diagnosed on a histological basis . Review in the literature of 54 cases of Whipple's disease with pleuro-pulmonary lesions makes it possible on the one hand to associate with the latter numerous examples of extra-intestinal involvement, the histological appearance of which of a non-specific epithelioid granuloma does not indicate the diagnosis during the long pre-intestinal phase, and on the other hand to explain that during this period, the presence of pleuro-pulmonary lesions leads to an initial diagnosis of the probability of sarcoidosis . The practical consequences are as follows: The appearance of intestinal signs during "sarcoidosis" should lead to intestinal or mesenteric node biopsy to seek the macrophages with highly PAS positive cytoplasm characteristic of Whipple's disease . Their discovery necessitats long term antibiotic therapy which has recently transformed the outlook in this disease, invariably fatal in the past. Medicine (Baltimore), 1976 Nov, 55(6), 467 - 76 Neurologic disease in patients with treated Whipple's disease; Knox DL et al.; Four patients with Whipple's disease which had responded to antibiotic therapy, later developed neurologic disease identical to that seen in patients with Whipple's disease who died without treatment . Dementia, myoclonus, ataxia, and supranuclear ophthalmoplegia were the main neurologic features . Restarting antibiotics has been followed by stabilization of disease in all four . Two have improved . In three, the previously diagnosed and treated Whipple's disease was not considered as a possible cause of the neurologic disease until the symptoms and signs were far advanced . It is advisable to periodically evaluate all patients with Whipple's disease, even after successful treatment . Signs of neurologic disease should be considered a possible recurrence of Whipple's disease and antibiotics restarted. Med Klin, 1976 Oct 29, 71(44), 1907 - 9 {Experiences with cephradine (Sefril) in septical-surgery (author's transl)}; Zalaudek G et al.; 100 patients with septic-surgical diseases were treated with the cephalosporine-derivate Cephradine (Sefril) . 79 patients were treated by surgical intervention in advance of the antibiotic therapy, 21 by Sefril in combination with conservative therapy only . The continuance of medication amounted to two weeks in 94% . A complete healing of the pyogenic infection was obtained in 86 patients . Complications occured in 6%. JAMA, 1976 Oct 11, 236(15), 1700 - 3 Infection control in small hospitals . Prevalence surveys in 18 institutions; Britt MR et al.; In prevalance surveys of 18 small hospitals in the intermountain region, 20.4% of the patients had community-acquired infections and 7.2% had infections acquired in the hospital . The types of nosocomial infections and patterns of antibiotic usage were similar to those encountered in large hospitals . In the small hospitals, 49% of the suspected bacterial infection were cultured, whereas at a nearby large hospital 77% were cultured . Seventeen of these small hospitals had an infection-control committee but these committees were unable to assess adequately the extent of their nosocomial infection problems . Monitoring of the environment with bacterial cultures was a frequent practice; overall, a ratio of one environmental culture was performed to each three diagnostic cultures . These results indicate the need to develop and evaluate nosocomial infection control programs in small hospitals. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1976 Oct 2, 106(40), 1369 - 70 {Granulocyte transfusions . Technical data, granulocyte function and results}; Medenica R et al.; A new method called "repetitive filtration leukopheresis" is described for granulocyte transfusion therapy . 23 patients received a total of 91 transfusions . All patients presented neutropenia of less than 300/mm3 and various kinds of infection resistant to antibiotic therapy . A favorable result was observed in 18 cases following these transfusions, which did not produce the secondary effects noted by others (chills, rash, fever, dyspnea) . It was felt that this remarkable tolerance was a result of the collection procedure (elution at pH 7.4 ommission of centrifugation, thus securing the functional integrity of the cells) . This impression was confirmed by the results of a battery of tests performed on the collected granulocytes, which included evaluation of their phagocytic and bacteriolytic functions and of their ability to break down a phagocytized antigen, together with measurements of lysosomial enzymes released in the supernatant. Aust N Z J Med, 1976 Oct, 6(5), 470 - 3 Scleroderma (progressive systemic sclerosis) with severe bowel involvement . Treatment by extensive resection of the small intestine; Barnett AJ et al.; A 48-year-old man with previously diagnosed scleroderma with bowel involvement was admitted to hospital with severe malnutrition attributed to malabsorption . Shortly after this, he developed features of intestinal obstruction followed by paralytic ileus . Due to failure to respond to medical treatment, operation was carried out . On two occasions adhesions were divided, but the bowel failed to function . At a third operation the proximal half of the small bowel below the duodeno-jejunal flexure was excised . Following this the patient made a good recovery . Small bowel involvement in scleroderma is discussed . Malabsorption is probably related to bacterial proliferaiton in the small bowel secondary to stasis and may be helped by antibiotic drugs . Other disturbances resulting in inability of the bowel to propel its contents may comprise syndromes of obstruction and paralytic ileus . Although management of scleroderma bowel involvement is usually medical, surgical treatment may be indicated under certain circumstances . It may be life-saving. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1976 Oct, 73(10), 3599 - 602 A potassium ionophore (valinomycin) inhibits lymphocyte proliferation by its effects on the cell membrane; Daniele RP et al.; Valinomycin is a depsipeptide antibiotic which selectively translocates potassium across biologic membranes . This potassium ionophore was observed to inhibit phytohemagglutinin-stimulated blastogenesis and proliferation in human lymphocytes . The effect was not due to toxicity to the cells, nor appeared to be due to the effects of valinomycin as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation . Furthermore, the inhibitory effect on phytohemagglutinin stimulated lymphocytes was prevented by increasing the potassium concentration of the external media . These results suggest that the interaction of mitogens with specific receptors at the cell membrane may involve mechanisms affecting cation fluxes and membrane potential . These ionic events may play a role in the transduction of membrane signals for lymphocyte stimulation. Wien Klin Wochenschr, 1976 Oct 1, 88(78), 588 - 90 {Diagnostic and differential diagnostic considerations in osteopmyelitis}; Musil HE; A report is drawn up of the available diagnostic procedures in the detection of the different forms of osteomyelitis . Special reference is made to the problems involved in the clinical diagnosis of the mitigated and non-typical forms of haematogenous osteomyelitis which occur more frequently in the present antibiotics era . Early diagnosis of haematogenous osteomyelitis is of the greatest importance, since, in our experience, a cure can only be expected with very early initiation of antibiotic therapy . In regard to the differential diagnosis, abortive manifestations of haematogenous osteomyelitis must be differentiated from rheumatoid arthritic diseases and soft-part inflammations of all kinds, whilst caution must be taken to avoid a mistaken diagnosis of osteosarcoma. Br J Vener Dis, 1976 Oct, 52(5), 337 - 40 Prolonged eradication of urogenital mycoplasmas after administration of tetracycline to men in the Antarctic; MacLeod AD et al.; Meatal swabs were obtained at intervals over 1 year from 23 men in the Antarctic . A 5-day course of tetracycline was given to twelve of them . In retrospect it was found that the antibiotic had been received by two men who were harbouring ureaplasmas, one of whom also had M . hominis . After treatment, these organisms were not found in any of the swabs taken over the next year, except in a swab from one of the men following sexual contact after this time . One of the twelve men developed N.S.U . just before arriving in the Antarctic . He responded clinically to a shorter course of tetracycline and ureplasmas were not recovered from a meatal swab immediately thereafter . However, without further sexual contact, ureaplasmas and disease recurred about a month later . This time, after a 5-day course of tetracycline, disease was not seen, and ureaplasmas were not isolated, over the next year . In contrast, ureaplasmas were isolated consistently over a year from two men who were not given the antibiotic . The evidence strongly suggests that, under natural conditions, the most likely cause of mycoplasmas, particularly ureaplasmas, recurring in the genital tract after apparently adequate tetracycline therapy, is re-infection as a result of sexual re-exposure. JACEP, 1976 Oct, 5(10), 779 - 81 Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction . Case report; Meislin HW et al.; The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is a response to the treatment of syphilis . The most common findings are fever, malaise, headache, and exacerbation of cutaneous lesions . The reaction is thought to be due to the effects of treponema breakdown products, and it should not be confused with an allergic reaction to the antibiotic employed . Thus, further therapy must not be withheld . Treatment is symptomatic. Antibiotiki, 1976 Oct, 21(10), 933 - 6 {Comparative kinetics of oxytetracycline and oxyglucocycline cotent in tissues of the ENT organs}; Pluzhnikov MS et al.; The kinetics of oxytetracycline and oxyglucocycline levels (calculated for oxytetracycline) was studied on 80 patients with chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory organs, the antibiotics being administered intramuscularly . After a single injection of oxytetrachcline hydrochloride in a dose of 1500 Units/kg body weight its levels in the blood serum and certain tissues of the ENT organs were rather low . When the dose was 3000 Units/kg the maximum antibiotic level in the blood level reached 1 Unit/ml . The drug was detected in the bacteriostatic concentrations in the blood serum and tissues within 12 hours . When the dose of oxyglucocycline was 1500 Units/kg the rate of its absorption was 4 times higher than that of oxytetracycline absorption . However, the character of its distribution in the blood and tissues of the ENT organs did not differ from distribution of oxytetracycline as dependent on the duration of the injection period . The both pharmaceutical forms had a tendency to some retention of the drugs in the tissues of the palatine tonsils . Because of better absorption and retention in the tonsils tissue oxyglucocycline may be recommended for therapy of inflammatory processes in the lymphadenoid apparatus of the pharynx. Antibiotiki, 1976 Oct, 21(10), 924 - 7 {Use of Edman's method for splitting actinoidin peptides and aglycone}; Berdnikova TF et al.; Phenylthiohydantoins of amino acids isolated from actinoidine (n-oxyphenylglycine, 3-chlor-4-oxyphenylglycine, actinoidinic amino acid) were prepared . Their spectral and chromagraphic properties were studied . Splitting of the aglycone of actinoidine and the prodlcts of its incomplete acid hydrolysis (peptides Y-Phe and B-Y-Phe) was achieved with the Edman method . Parital structure of tripeptide B-Y-Phe (4NH2-group) was proposed . Tripeptide B-Y Phe constitutes about 80 per cent of the antibiotic aglycone part. Antibiotiki, 1976 Oct, 21(10), 902 - 4 {Effect of lincomycin on a cell culture}; Iakimenko LN et al.; Cumulative and toxic properties of lincomycin evident from increased numbers of pathological mitosis were found on three-fold treatment of various cell lines with the antibiotic in concentrations of 100 or 200 Units/ml for 1.5 years . The toxicity level was not high since the other indices of the mitotic regimen remained unchanged. Br J Surg, 1976 Oct, 63(10), 754 - 8 Complications of supraduodenal choledochotomy: a comparison of three methods of management; Keighley MR et al.; The complications of elective choledochotomy in a prospective study of 116 patients with suspected intraduct calculi are reported . Management included T tube drainage (n = 59), primary closure of the bile duct (n = 29) and choledochoduodenostomy (n = 28) . Septicaemia occurred in 12 patients (10%), with 1 death, and was unrelated to the type of operation . Thirty patients (26%) developed wound infection; this complication was more common after T tube drainage than the other procedures . Intra-abdominal abscess occurred in 3 patients only . Thrombo-embolism was recorded in 10 patients (9%), 7 of whom had an intraduct drain . Postoperative pancreatitis occurred in 5 patients (4%), with 2 deaths; a third of the patients in whom sphincteroplasty had been combined with supraduodenal choledochotomy developed this complication . Reoperation for stones was required in 3 patients with T tube; 3 patients developed a temporary biliary fistula after choledochoduodenostomy . The hospital stay was 9-5 days after primary closure, 14-0 days after choledochoduodenostomy and 16-8 days after T tube drainage . Wound sepsis (32%) and thrombo-embolism (12%) were more common in patients with bacterbilia than in patients where the bile was sterile at operation (13 and 3% respectively) . Furthermore, wound sepsis, septicaemia and thrombo-embolism were reduced in patients who were given effective antibiotic cover. South Med J, 1976 Oct, 69(10), 1356 - 7 Agranulocytosis secondary to methimazole therapy: report of two cases; Luther AL et al.; Seventy-three cases of thyrotoxicosis were treated at Lloyd Noland Hospital with methimazole, propylthiouracil or both . Two cases of agranulocytosis occurred (2.7%) secondary to methimazole . Both responded to hospitalization, reverse isolation, and antibiotic coverage with complete recovery of the peripheral blood picture . The toxicity of methimazole is noted . The need for careful monitoring of blood counts during therapy and immediate discontinuance of the drug at the first clinical sign of granulocytopenia is stressed. Br J Clin Pharmacol, 1976 Oct, 3(5), 891 - 5 Serum and lung tissue levels of cephradine in thoracic surgery; Kiss IJ et al.; Serum and lung tissue levels in fifteen patients who underwent thoracic surgery were determined by the agar-diffusion plate method after i.m . administration of cephradine (500 mg) . The mean value of the serum level 30 to 120 min after administration was 6.5 mug/ml, the mean lung tissue level was 2.6 mug/g . The lung tissue levels reached 40% of the simultaneous serum level . Four patients received cephradine for the treatment of post-operative chest infections . This antibiotic has an important therapeutic role in cases of thoracic-surgical infections. Arch Intern Med, 1976 Oct, 136(10), 1154 - 6 Tuberculosis of the skull; Scoggin CH et al.; Because tuberculosis of the skull is relatively unusual occurrence, it may not be immediately recognized . It responds readily to chemotherapy and should be suspected in disseminated tuberculosis or in any draining lesion of the skull that is sterile or fails to respond to conventional antibiotic therapy. Laryngoscope, 1976 Oct, 86(10), 1503 - 15 Recurrent meningitis secondary to idiopathic oval window CSF leak; Parisier SC et al.; Bacterial meningitis remains a life-threatening infection even in the present antibiotic era; thus, any abnormality which predisposes a patient to a recurrence of this serious disease, must be identified and corrected . This report describes the histroy of a 12-year old boy with a profound neurosensory hearing loss, a related absence of vestibular function and a Mondini-type of temporal bone dysplasia who developed recurrent episodes of meningitis which were due to an idiopathic cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea . Even though the meningitis was labyrinthogenic in origin, the patient did not experience the associated symptoms of hearing loss and/or vertigo since the affected inner ear was clinically unreactive . By surgically exploring the middle ear, the presence of a cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea was confirmed . The leak was observed to be coming from a defect in the stapes footplate, and it was controlled by firmly packing the inner ear vestibule with muscle . A remarkable similarity exists between the patient described above and the 15 previously reported cases of meningitis due to a spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea . Generally, the problem occurred in young children, the average age being 6.4 years; male and female were equally afflicted . All 15 previously reported cases had a severe neurosensory hearing loss which was unilateral in 10 individuals and bilateral in the other five . In 11 of the case reports, the vestibular function was evaluated, and the labyrinth was noted to be unreactive in the affected ear . An associated congenital abnormality of the inner ear was described in 11 of the patients reviewed . Anatomically, in 13 cases, the leak was observed to be coming from the oval window area . Other affected sites included one report of a fissure of the promontory and one report of a defect in the roof of the eustachian tube . Multiple surgical procedures were required in 11 of the 15 patients in order to identify the exact source of the otorrhea and to seal it permanently . In three cases, the successful procedure was a middle ear exploration with stapedectomy and packing of the inner ear vestibule . Overall, a total of 36 operations was performed in the 15 patients reviewed . In conclusion, when the physician is confronted by a case of meningitis in a patient with a unilateral or bilateral total loss of hearing and vestibular function, the possible presence of an idiopathic cerebrospinal fluid leak should be considered, expecially if radiographic studies demonstrate a temporal bone dysplasia . In these selected cases, if the etiology of the meningitis is obscure, a middle ear exploration should be performed both for diagnostic purposes as a means to ascertain definitely the presence of a leak and for therapeutic purposes to seal it effectively. Cancer, 1976 Oct, 38(4), 1750 - 6 Fungemia due to Torulopsis glabrata in the compromised host; Valdivieso M et al.; Ten episodes of Torulopsis glabrata fungemia occurring in nine patients with terminal illnesses are described . Eight patients had underlying malignancies and one patient had a plastic anemia . Two episodes of fungemia were considered transient since they were clearly related to the administration of intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH) . Most patients were adult women and had solid tumors of the genitourinary tract . Contributory factors were: antibiotic therapy (100%), immunosuppressive drugs (75%), abdominal surgery (63%), IVH (50%), neutropenia (38%), and diabetes mellitus (13%) . The clinical course was indistinguishable from a severe bacterial infection . However, endotoxic shock was not observed . The infection was rapidly fatal in four patients . In the remaining five patients, the infection was altered favorably by the discontinuation of infected intravenous hyperalimentation catheters . However, tissue invasion by T . glabrata was found in two of these patients who died shortly thereafter from tumor progression . At autopsy, T . glabrata was identified in tissue sections of the lungs, kidneys, and mucosas of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts . In all cases there was tissue necrosis with a minor inflammatory response consisting of mononuclear cells . To our knowledge, this is the single largest series of T . glabrata fungemia ever reported. Antibiotiki, 1976 Oct, 21(10), 872 - 6 {2 mechanisms of tetracycline resistance in bacteria}; Plakunov VK et al.; Two mechanisms of resistance to chlortetracycline stipulated by retarded transport of the antibiotic or decreased sensitivity to it of the translation apparatus were studied using clinical bacterial strains and strains obtained under laboratory conditions . No strict proportion between the population resistance to the antibiotic and the level of a decrease in its absorption by the bacterial cells was observed in most of the clinical and laboratory strains of Staph . aureus . Apparently the resistance level observed in the bacteria cannot be entirely explained by the retarded transport of the antibiotic in these cases . Direct experiments showed that sensitivity to chlortetracycline in the protein-synthesizing apparatus of some resistant strains of Staph . aureus 209 was decreased 10 times . On the other hand correlation between the level of the decrease in the absorption of the antibiotic and the level of the bacteria resistance to it was observed in resistant strains of E . coli . The protein-synthesizing apparatus of the resistant strains in this case preserved its sensitivity to chlortetracycline . Sensitivity of the protein-synthesizing apparatus to the antibiotic did not change in the process of the resistance induction by incubation of the baceria in the presence of low concentrations of the antibiotic. Eur J Biochem, 1976 Oct 1, 69(1), 233 - 41 Activities of protein-deficient particles derived from 50-S ribosomal subunits by NH4Cl/ethanol treatment; Bernabeu C et al.; Protein-deficient ribosomal particles obtained by treatment of 50-S subunits from Escherichia coli ribosomes with 1 M NH4Cl and 50% ethanol contain less than 3% of proteins L7 and L12 and about 7% of proteins L10 and L11 . Proteins L1, L5, L8/9 and L25 are also released during the treatment but in amounts accounting for less than 40% . The particles are able to form peptide bonds in different systems, such as 'fragment reaction', puromycin reaction and formation of dipeptides . They also bind N-acetylphenylalanyl-tRNA and phenylalanyl-tRNA non-enzymically but are unable to support any of the elongation-factor-dependent reactions tested . However, when methanol is present, they display up to 20% of the control EF-G-dependent GTP activities such as GTP hydrolysis and formation of the ternary complex EF-G-GuoPP(CH2)P-ribosome . The first activity is totally sensitive to the antibiotic thiostrepton while the formation of the ternary complex is unaffected by the drug . When measured by equilibrium dialysis the core particles are shown to be able to bind radioactive thiostrepton . The results show that protein L11 is not an absolute requirement either for peptidyl transferase activity or for the binding of thiostrepton, although in the last case the protein strongly enhances the ribosome affinity for the antibiotic. Mikrobiyol Bul, 1976 Oct, 10(4), 509 - 13 {Enteropathogenic E . coli strains isolated in our laboratory within the last 8 months}; Kihcturgay K et al.; 63 E . coli strains were isolated and typed seriologically from feces samples sent to our laboratory from infants suffering from diarrhea in March-October 1975 . 5 out of these strains were typed as 0111 : B4, one as 055 : B5 and another one as 0125 : B15, which are generally regarded as enteropathogenic E . coli . Also sensitivity test were carried out and many of these strains were found to be multiple antibiotic resistant. Mikrobiyol Bul, 1976 Oct, 10(4), 459 - 71 {Comparison of various aspects of normal and filament forms of S . enteritidis IV}; Baykal M; Induced filament formation of S . enteritidis by means of sodium chloride was previously reported . In this study various aspects of normal and filament forms of S . enteritidis are compared