Antibiotiki, 1976 Feb, 21(2), 147 - 51 {Distribution and binding of oxytetracycline in the body of immunized animals}; Danielova LT et al.; Distribution and binding of oxytetracycline in immunized animals at various periods of immunogenesis (5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 90 days after vaccination) were studied on rabbits, using dry live brucellosis vaccine, strain 19 as the antigen . The results of the study showed that immunological reconstruction of the macroorganism, its protective forces had a definite effect on the character of distribution, absorption and levels of oxytetracycline, as well as the processes of the antibiotic binding in the organism . The changes were indirect dependence on the immunogenesis periods: at the beginning of immunogenesis there was some increase in the antibiotic levels, as well as increased binding of the drug in the organs where reconstruction, activation and hyperplasia of the lymphoreticular cells occurred . During the productive phase of the antigen formation the antibiotic levels were 1,5-2 times lower, however, the processes of the antibiotic binding were more pronounced in the organs, where immunocompetent cells and antibodies were synthesized . During extinction of immunogenesis reduction of the initial antibiotic levels was recorded . Therefore, the changes directly depended on the periods of immunogenesis. Antibiotiki, 1976 Feb, 21(2), 108 - 12 {Action of N-nitroso-N-methylbiuret on Penicillium nigricans Thom and the protective effect in UV irradiation}; Kommunarskaia AD et al.; N-Nitrozo-N-methylbiuret (NMB) in a concentration of 0.2% and exposition for 2,3,4 and 6 hours with the survival rate of the conidia of 4-25% induced slight morphological variation of the griseofulvin-producing organism and increased the variation rate with respect to the antibiotic production by 40-140% . Preliminary treatment of the conidia with NMB decreased the lethal effect of UV-rays approximately by 15-25 times . The protective range with respect to morphological variation was 10 times lower . With an increase in the toxicity of NMB its protective effect in irradiation with UV-light decreased. Antibiotiki, 1976 Feb, 21(2), 105 - 8 {Effect of population density on Actinomyces resistomycificus biosynthesis of heliomycin and resistoflavin}; Poltorak VA; Determination of heliomycin and resistoflavin contents in colonies of Act . resistomycilicus grown on pads with different density showed that the population density may be a factor controlling the level of the antibiotic biosynthesis by Act . resistomycificus and directing it along production of heliomycin or resistoflavin. Cancer Res, 1976 Feb, 36(2 Pt 1), 496 - 504 Potentiation of actinomycin D or adriamycin antitumor activity with DNA; Marks TA et al.; Several antitumor agents known to bind DNA were complexed with this macromolecule and tested for activity against experimental animal tumor systems . Combination studies with these agents and DNA were carried out at the same time . Actinomycin D activity against the P388 lymphocytic leukemia in BALB/c X DBA/2 F1 mice was significantly potentiated by calf thymus DNA, both when complexed and when injected in combination . The DNA could be given as much as 4 hr before or after the antibiotic and still give potentiation . Synergism was also obtained when the DNA was autoclaved prior to complexing and/or injecting . Similarly, adriamycin activity against the L1210 lymphoid leukemia in DBA/2 mice was significantly potentiated by autoclaved herring sperm DNA, both as a complex and when injected in combination . When above-optimal levels of adriamycin were complexed with autoclaved herring sperm DNA and injected into BALB/c mice inoculated with the Madison 109 alveogenic carcinoma, the early lethality was delayed and antitumor activity was sometimes observed . Herring sperm DNA injected alone also had antitumor activity against the Madison 109 tumor . Similarly, activity was obtained against this tumor system with calf thymus DNA and actinomycin D when injected alone . In addition, DNA, in combination and when complexed with actinomycin, prevented the toxicity observed with BALB/c mice, inoculated with the Madison 109 tumor, were given injections of an above-optimal dose of this antibiotic. Nucleic Acids Res, 1976 Feb, 3(2), 393 - 8 Biosynthesis of the modified nucleoside Q in transfer RNA; Kuchino Y et al.; During biosynthesis of the modified nucleoside Q, 7-(4,5-DIHYDROXYL-1-1-CYCLOPENTEN-3-YL-AMINOMETHYL)-7-DEAZAGUANOSINE, IN TRNA, the carbon atom at position 8 in precursor molecule guanine was expelled together with the nitrogen atom N-7 in a fashion similar to that in the biosynthesis of the nucleoside antibiotic toyocamycin. In Vitro, 1976 Feb, 12(2), 133 - 40 Reduced toxicity of amphotericin B methyl ester (AME) vs . amphotericin B and fungizone in tissue culture; Fisher PB et al.; The comparative toxicities of amphotericin B methyl ester (AME), the parent antibiotic amphotericin B (AB), and the deoxycholate solubilized complex of AB, Fungizone (FZ), toward five cell lines has been determined as measured by early membrane damage (51Cr release), 24 hr survival, 72 hr viability, and growth rate . Cells used were of turtle (TH-1), marsupial (PT K2), human MA 160), rabbit (RK-13) and hamster (BHK-21) origin . AME: (a) caused less membrane damage at 1 hr than AB or FZ; (b) was less toxic than AB or FZ as indicated by 24 hr cell survival and 72 hr cell viability; and (c) was required in higher levels than AB or FZ to reduce the growth rate of all five cell lines . Spectrophotometric analysis of residual polyene levels indicated that AME had good stability in tissue culture medium . Previous studies have indicated that AME has the same in vitro antifungal activity as the parent antibiotic AB (1, 2) . These findings suggest that AME may prove to be superior to AB and FZ for use as an antifungal agent in tissue culture systems. Gastroenterology, 1976 Feb, 70(2), 244 - 7 Reduction of gastric ammonia by ampicillin in normal and azotemic subjects; Meyers S et al.; Ampicillin was tested with regards to its capacity to reduce gastric ammonia production in basal and betazole-stimulated gastric secretion . A 7-day course of oral ampicillin (4 g per day) reduced basal gastric ammonia concentration from 5.5 +/- 1.4 to 1.8 +/- 0.3 mM and postbetazole ammonia from 4.7 +/- 0.9 to 1.3 +/- 0.3 mM (P less than 0.01) in 7 control subjects . Similar results were obtained after oral neomycin (4 g per day) or intramuscular ampicillin (4 g per day), each given to a separate group of 7 control subjects . In 5 azotemic patients, oral ampicillin treatment resulted in a reduction of ammonia concentration from 16.3 +/- 4.7 to 3.1 +/- 0.7 mM in basal secretion and from 18.3 +/- 8.1 to 2.3 +/- 0.6 mM in betazole-stimulated gastric juice (P less than 0.01) . Antibiotic therapy did not alter volume of gastric secretion . Gastric acidity appeared lower in azotemic patients and increased significantly after treatment, indicating that the higher ammonia content could account for at least part of the hypoacidity . Because ampicillin is active orally as well as parenterally and can be readily used in renal failure, it may be of value for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, especially in the azotemic patient in whom neomycin is toxic. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1976 Feb, 71(2), 207 - 11 Cephalothin prophylaxis assay during cardiopulmonary bypass; Williams DJ et al.; Efficient use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery demands their presence in adequate serum concentration at the time of maximal potential contamination . This cover should extend from the moment of incision until at least the time of removal of large tubes and intravenous connulas . Critical cardiac contamination may occur during the bypass procedure while the operation within the cardiac chambers is being done . This is a special danger in valve replacement with prostheses . The antibiotic regimen of the Cardiothoracic Unit was studied in 12 consecutive patients and was generally found to provide adequate antibiotic coverage throughout the surgical procedure, including the bypass procedure . In all patients, a reinforcing cephalothin dose on completion of bypass ensured adequate circulating cephalothin levels for the completion of surgery . Clearance of the cephalothin from the blood of patients was found to decrease markedly during cardiopulmonary bypass. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 1976 Feb, 151(2), 293 - 6 A spectrophotometric assay for measuring the uptake of actinobolin by components of human enamel; Hunt DE et al.; A spectrophotometric assay was developed for measuring the uptake of the antibiotic actinobolin by hydroxylapatite (HAP) or powdered human enamel . The assay is sufficiently sensitive to detect less than 2.0 mug actinobolin/ml of: 0.01 M sodium phosphate buffer at pH 5.5, 7.0, or 8.0; deionized water; deionized water containing 1% salivary supernatant; or each of the above indicated solvent systems containing 1-5 parts per million sodium fluoride . The utility of the assay system has been demonstrated by date which show that approximately 5-7 mug of actinobolin are bound per 10 mg of HAP or powdered enamel. Int J Oral Surg, 1976 Feb, 5(1), 13 - 8 Apical curettage as a treatment of acute periapical inflammation; Altonen M et al.; In 16 incisors, one canine, and one premolar with an acute periapical infection which had perforated the cortical bone, an apical curettage was carried out . During the treatment and the following 5 days, the patients were protected with antibiotic therapy . The curettage was performed through a slightly arched incision, convex toward the gingival margin . At the same sitting, a guttapercha root filling was made in the conventional way . Irrespective of operation, which involved a somewhat larger than normal incision, no spread from local to general infection was found in any of the cases . The patients were free from pain and other symptoms of infection after one treatment . In the radiographic examinations carried out from 6 to 12 months and 3 years later, it was found that 50% of curetted roots showed complete healing, 33% were uncertain and 17% were unsatisfactory . Bone formation was most rapid during the first postoperative year, after which it decreased . The bone formation was also most rapid in larger lesions but decreased, even in these, when it advanced to the vicinity of the root. J Clin Ultrasound, 1976 Feb, 4(1), 23 - 7 Bacterial endocarditis . Echocardiographic and clinical evaluation during therapy; Nomeir AM et al.; In two patients with bacterial endocarditis and apparent vegetations, the echocardiographic findings included thickening but normal excursion of the mitral leaflet and abnormal shaggy echoes superimposed on the mitral leaflet echogram . Both patients had had endocarditis several weeks before the study was performed . In both patients the abnormal echoes disappeared after antibiotic therapy . Whether or not the echocardiographic findings are specific to bacterial endocarditis must be determined by further studies . One patient had evidence of "immune complex disease" with vasculitis, hypocomplementemia, and renal failure which persisted for weeks after disappearance of vegetations on the echocardiogram . This sequence was unexpected, as a continued source of antigen for this reaction was not apparent. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1976 Feb, 29(2), 155 - 68 Mechanism of action of bicyclomycin; Tanaka N et al.; Microscopic examination of cultures of Escherichia coli exposed to bicyclomycin revelaed elongated or spheroplast-like cells . At the lethal level, bicyclomycin was shown to inhibit the synthesis of RNA and protein in the growing cells of E . coli 15 THU, whereas DNA and lipid synthesis were not significantly affected . However, the antibiotic did not block RNA and protein synthesis in vitro . Bicyclomycin was observed to inhibit the synthesis of envelope proteins more markedly than that of cytoplasmic proteins . The synthesis of two major envelope proteins was more sensetive to bicyclomycin than that of the other envelope proteins . One (peak I), which was inhibited to the greatest extent, seemed to be identical with a bound form of lipoprotein, and the other (peak V) with a free form of lipoprotein . Bicyclomycin exhibited inhibitory effects on the exclusive biosynthesis of the lipoprotein in histidine-starved cells of E . coli 15 THU . The biosynthesis of the bound form of lipoprotein was more profoundly inhibited by bicyclomycin than that of the free form . These results indicate that the primary action of bicyclomycin may be due to the interference with the biosynthesis of lipoprotein, and its assembly to peptidoglycan. Antibiotiki, 1976 Feb, 21(2), 159 - 62 {Study of the effect of rifampicin on certain immunological and protective reactions of the body}; Shapovalova SP et al.; The effect of rifampicin on formation of hemagglutinins in mice in response to administration of sheep erythrocytes was studied . The experiments showed that rifampicin administered orally in doses 10-25 times higher than the therapeutic ones did not suppress formation of the antibodies and protective mechanisms of the organism . The antibiotic did not lower the absorbing capacity of the cells by the reticuloendothelial system and the rate of phagocytosis by the leucocytes of the peritoneal exudate in mice . Rifampicin had no effect as well on adaptation of a skin homotransplant in the animals. Cancer, 1976 Feb, 37(2 Suppl), 1186 - 1200 Quantification of combined radiation therapy and chemotherapy effects on critical normal tissues; Phillips TL et al.; In order to determine the modification of radiation effects on critical normal tissues which occurs with combinations of radiation and cancer chemotherapy, a review of laboratory and clinical data has been carried out . Information on 10 different normal tissues is available . It is clear that the antibiotic cancer chemotherapeutic agents are the most likely to enhance radiation injury, with increased levels reported in all tissues except the central nervous system . The second most common type of injury with combination therapy appears to occur with drugs causing injury to the normal tissue on their own, such as adriamycin in the heart and methotrexate in the central nervous system . Quantification of the dose-effect factor is only available on a limited number of tissues, and, primarily, in experimental animals . From these limited data, it is clear that dose-effect factors between 1.1 and 1.8 are seen, indicating that radiation doses must be reduced by 10-80% for the same level of injury when combined with chemotherapy . The augmentation of radiation damage by cancer chemotherapeutic agents is a serious problem in a wide range of tissues, but a problem which can be dealt with by accurate knowledge as to the dose-effect factor and appropriate modification of the radiation treatment. Ann Intern Med, 1976 Feb, 84(2), 168 - 70 Penetration of clindamycin phosphate into the abnormal human biliary tract; Brown RB et al.; Clindamycin phosphate, 600 mg, was given intravenously to 14 patients undergoing biliary tract surgery . Seven had complete obstruction of the common bile duct . Concentrations of total and active (nonesterified) antibiotic were measured in serum, gall bladder and common duct bile, gall bladder wall, and liver . Persons with patent common ducts had high levels of active drug at all hepatobiliary sites; concentrations were two and one half to three times higher in bile and liver than in serum . Persons with obstruction of the common duct had no measurable drug in bile and had reduced levels in gall bladder wall; however, concentrations in the liver were slightly higher than those in the group without obstruction . The results of this study suggest that, even in the presence of common duct obstruction, the concentrations of active clindamycin in the liver may be sufficient to limit the spread of intrahepatic infections due to susceptible organisms. JAMA, 1976 Jan 26, 235(4), 407 - 9 Neonatal meningitis and mastoiditis caused by Hemophilus influenzae; Lee TB et al.; A newborn infant developed Hemophilus influenzae meningitis associated with acute coalescent mastoiditis and a cutaneous abscess in the mastoid region . Mastoidectomy was followed by prompt recovery from the meningitis, which had failed to clear previously despite antibiotic therapy . Mastoiditis may exist as an infective focus in neonatal meningitis more frequently than has been appreciated . Mastoid roentgenograms are usually the only clue to diagnosis of this infection and should be obtained in patients with neonatal meningitis responding poorly to antibiotic therapy. S Afr Med J, 1976 Jan 17, 50(3), 61 - 6 Adriamycin in the treatment of cancer; van Dyk JJ et al.; Adriamycin is a new anticancer antibiotic with a wide spectrum of activity against solid tumours . The results obtained with this agent in 159 patients with histologically confirmed advanced metastastic malignancies are reported . Encouraging results were obtained in patients with sarcomas of bone and soft tissue (12/22) . Response was also seen in mesothelioma (3/9) and lung cancer (5/15) . A variety of other neoplasms was also treated and results obtained in neuroblastoma, testicular tumours, stomach carcinoma, breast cancer and nephroblastoma are reported . Treatment is discussed, with reference to response rates and toxicity . Results in 72 patients with advanced breast cancer, who received adriamycin in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, are presented . Seventeen patients with primary liver cancer were also treated with adriamycin . To date, this is the only chemotherapeutic agent that appears to significantly improve survival times in patients with this resistant form of cancer . The prophylactic use of adriamycin against osteogenic sarcoma is also discussed. Minerva Chir, 1976 Jan 15-31, 31(1-2), 16 - 9 {Ceporex in the treatment of closed injuries of the thorax}; Scarpellino P et al.; The effectiveness of antibiotic therapy with Cefaloridine in 49 patients with thoracic trauma is presented and the results obtained evaluated. Arch Surg, 1976 Jan, 111(1), 78 - 80 Experimental evaluation of primary repair of colonic injuries; Matolo NM et al.; To evaluate the management of colonic injuries, experimental models simulating acute injuries of the colon were studied utilizing New Zealand white rabbits . Seventy-nine rabbits underwent primary repair of colonic injuries in the presence of massive contamination and none showed any evidence of anastomotic leakage or breakdown . The fact that primary colonic repairs do heal even in the presence of infection suggests that breakdown of colonic anastomosis results from factors other than infection . Despite the absence of anastomotic leaks in this series, morbidity and mortality were high in those animals not given antibiotics . The high morbidity and mortality were due to peritonitis, intra-abdominal abscess, and wound infection, and were directly proportional to the length of time from colonic injury to repair . On the basis of this study, it is concluded that most isolated injuries of the colon can be closed primarily, if antibiotic therapy is begun immediately after injury and continued throughout the operative and postoperative periods. Sem Hop, 1976 Jan 9, 52(2), 99 - 103 {Infectious complications observed during the use of antimitotic agents in hematology}; Schaison G et al.; During acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children, bacterial infections occur during initial treatment, whereas virus infections are observed during remission . Mycoses and pneumocystis carinii infections are the commonest late complications . During agranulocytosis, any prolonged fever should be considered as due to infection and probably septicemia . The bacteria are usually of digestive origin . Antibiotic therapy is only very inconstantly efficacious, and the course follows closely the number of granular cells, thus justifying the use of white cell transfusions. Sem Hop, 1976 Jan 9, 52(2), 111 - 3 {Episodes of fever in the agranulocytic phase of the treatment of acute myeloblastic leukemia in adults}; Bernard JF et al.; This retrospective study of 44 attacks of fever during the agranulocytic stage of treatment of acute myeloblastic leukemia in adults, sought the cause of the fever, the efficacy of antibiotic associations and the efficacy of white cell transfusions . In 28 cases, the fever was associated with bacterial or mycotic infection, proved in 19 cases . Appropriate antibiotic therapy alone was able to cure the fever, whereas white cell transfusion did not seem of any use . In the 16 other cases, the fever appeared alone . Antibiotic associations were ineffective, whereas the fever was cured by white cell transfusions or cure of the agranulocytosis. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1976 Jan 5, 418(1), 24 - 8 Mechanism of action of acetyl kidamycin . I . Interaction with DNA; Takeshima H et al.; Acetyl kidamycin, an antitumor antibiotic, was strongly bound to DNA in vitro, consequently, the melting temperature of DNA was significantly increased, and its buoyant density was decreased . From these results, it was suggested that acetyl kidamycin stabilized residual links between complementary strands by binding to DNA . An additional action was observed in that acetyl kidamycin caused single-strand scission of DNA in an alkaline sucrose density gradient solution. Z Krebsforsch Klin Onkol Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 1976 Jan 2, 85(1), 63 - 72 Effect of bleomycin on the fine structure of mouse fibroblasts; Madreiter H et al.; Asynchronously dividing mouse fibroblasts (L-cells) treated with the antitumour antibiotic Bleomycin show various rather specific morphological alterations . Many of the cells exposed to bleomycin assume a more or less epitheloid cell shape and are larger than untreated cells; in addition to an increase in nuclear size these cells often contain multiple nuclei . In most of the cells nuclei show an almost complete loss of peripheral condensed chromatin . The nucleolar hypertrophy initially observed is followed by a shrinkage and segregation of the nucleolar components . The cytoplasmic alterations include dilatation of the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum as well as an increase of free, non membrane attached ribosomes, often arranged in spiral- and rosette-shaped polysomes; they are not specific for bleomycin. Antibiotiki, 1976 Jan, 21(1), 79 - 81 {Local use of neomycin . The histomorphological changes on the part of the neuroreceptor apparatus of the rabbit cornea}; Verzin AA et al.; The experimental histological studies with rabbits showed that neomycin in the form of 1 and 10 per cent solutions and ointments used for prolong periods of time affected the neuroreceptor apparatus of the animal cornea . It is not recommended to use 10 per cent solutions and ointments in the ophthalmological practice . Before using neomycin it is necessary to examine the cornea sensitivity and if it is lowered, the antibiotic should not be used. Antibiotiki, 1976 Jan, 21(1), 14 - 19 {Study of the chemical makeup of the mycelium from an active strain of Act . rimosus and from an inactive mutant in relaiton to oxytetracycline biosynthesis}; Bryzgalova TE et al.; Chemical composition of the mycelium of the active and inactive mutants of Act . rimosus grown under conditions favourable for oxytetracycline biosynthesis on the starch or maltose medium and under favourable conditions on the glucose medium was studied . It was shown that according to its chemical composition the above strains did not practically differ . When grown on the starch medium the mycelium of both strains contained great amounts of carbohydrates and comparatively small amounts of nucleic acids and nitrogen . Replacement of starch in the medium by glucose or maltose induced significant changes in the mycelium composition: the synthesis of intracellular polysaccharides was markedly suppressed and the synthesis of nucleic acids and nitrogen containing compounds increased . RNA was the main nucleic acid in both strains on starch and glucose media . The content of DNA was low and did not practically change . The mycelium of both strains contained small amounts of lipids which did not significantly change during the process of cultivation and did not correlate with the antibiotic activity. Clin Orthop, 1976 Jan-Feb, (114), 214 - 5 Pyarthrosis of the manubriosternal joint; Glushakow AS et al.; This is a case report of primary osteomyelitis of the sternum, the only case of pyarthrosis of the manubriosternal joint the authors are able to find in the American literature . The diagnosis was established by tomogram and open biopsy . The treatment was thorough and specific antibiotic coverage. Am J Dig Dis, 1976 Jan, 21(1), 26 - 32 Clindamycin-associated colitis . Review of the clinical spectrum of 47 cases; Tedesco FJ; A review of 47 cases of clindamycin-associated colitis demonstrates two groups of patients . Group I includes patients who developed diarrhea and colitis while they were still receiving clindamycin and the antibiotic was immediately stopped . Group II includes patients who developed diarrhea and colitis either after a complete course of antibiotics had been given, or while they continued to receive clindamycin . It is in this latter group of patients that significant morbidity and occasional mortality occurs. Br J Dermatol, 1976 Jan, 94(1), 89 - 95 Postoperative progressive gangrene: a reminder; Hutchinson PE et al.; A classical example of progressive postoperative gangrene is described and the relevant literature has been reviewed . After consideration of the evolution and the clinical appearances of the condition, of the consistency of the associated bacterial flora and of the response to antibiotic therapy alone, we suggest that progressive postoperative gangrene is a distinct entity and separate from pyoderma gangrenosum. Padiatr Padol, 1976, 11(1), 283 - 6 {Clinical aspect and therapy of BCG-lymphadenitis (author's transl)}; Lachmann D et al.; BCG-Lymphadenitis is a local complication of BCG-vaccination . The rate of complication depends on the kind of vaccine used, the dose and the used technique . In the last 9,5 years 32 infants with BCG-Lymphadenitis complicated with suppuration or perforation have been treated surgically . For 6 patients the treatment included a pre- and postoperative tuberculostatic therapy, for 11 patients included antibiotics . In 15 cases only surgical treatment was performed . In all 3 groups satisfactory results have been achieved, therefore tuberculostatic therapy seems not to be necessary and an antibiotic therapy ought to be reserved for cases with secondary miscellaneous infection . There is no doubt that it is possible to shorten the duration of this disease through early extirpation and to achieve a favourable cosmetic result too. Obstet Gynecol, 1976 Jan, 47(1), 90 - 4 Postmenopausal tuboovarian abscess; Heaton FC et al.; Twelve postmenopausal women with tuboovarian abscess were manages at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center in the period 1970 to 1975 . Post-menopausal uterine bleeding and a palpable pelvic mass were the most common findings . On admission however, presenting signs and symptoms were generally not helpful in making a correct descriptive diagnosis . Four of the patients had a ruptured tuboovarian abscess at the time of surgery, and additional pathologic findings were common . The total hospital course was prolonged, with significant postoperative complications in 7 patients . Three patients developed gastrointestinal fistulas and 5 patients required further surgery . Possible etiologies of these adnexal abscesses and suggested patient management including appropriate antibiotic therapy is discussed. Radiology, 1976 Jan, 118(1), 7 - 11 Plain-film findings in severe pseudomembranous colitis; Stanley RJ et al.; Plain-film abdominal changes in 5 patients with severe antibiotic-related pseudomembranous colitis were found to be strikingly similar and distinct from those seen in other colitides . These consisted of moderate gaseous distension of the colon and unusual wide transverse bands of thickened bowel wall associated with giant "thumbprinting" which was universal in distribution, with minimal or absent small-bowel abnormalities . While the radiographic findings were not pathognomonic, they were highly suggestive of advanced pseudomembranous colitis when combined with the clinical data . Prompt recognition of this entity by the radiologist is extremely helpful in management, since such patients frequently present with physical findings of an acute abdomen requiring surgery. Ann Surg, 1976 Jan, 183(1), 77 - 83 Acute colitis in the renal allograft recipient; Perloff LJ et al.; Four renal allograft recipients with evidence of ischemic damage to the colon are presented and compared with 11 cases from 5 major series . Similarities in the patients included: deterioration of renal function, multiple immunosuppressive and antibiotic regimens, the use of cadaver renal allografts, and diagnostic and therapeutic measures requiring frequent enemas with barium and ion-exchange resins . Two of our patients underwent surgery for the removal of segments of necrotic colon after several weeks of fever and abdominal pain initially attributed to either acute rejection, viral infection, or pancreatitis . One patient had three days of melena and responded to non-operative therapy . The fourth patient developed ischemic colonic changes 10 weeks after allograft nephrectomy and was receiving no immunosuppression at the time . Broad spectrum antibiotics were used at various times in all patients . Early aggressive evaluation of gastrointestinal complaints--including barium enema, upper gastrointestinal series with small bowel follow-through, proctosigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, and arteriography--is indicated, in view of the lethality of the complication of colonic ulceration . The clinical pictures presented emphasize the fact that recipients of renal allografts are commonly heir to many complications which may be considered rare in the normal population. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh), 1976 Jan, 81(1), 73 - 81 Effect of actinomycin D on the pituitary response to LH-RH; Vilchez-Martinez JA et al.; The effect of Actinomycin D (Act D) on the release of LH and FSH induced by LH-RH was investigated in rats . Immature male rats received an iv infusion over a period of 3-4 h or a quick iv injection of synthetic LH-RH . Infusion of LH-RH significantly increased serum LH and FSH levels at 1, 2, 3 and 4 h after the initiation of infusion . Pre-treatment with 100 mug/100 g.b.w . Act D failed to affect the rise of serum LH and FSH levels 1 h after the infusion but significantly suppressed the response at 2, 3 and 4 h . The increase in serum LH and FSH levels after a quick injection of LH-RH was unaffected by pre-treatment with Act D whether the antibiotic was injected 1 or 2 h before LH-RH . The results suggest that the initial phase of the pituitary response to LH-RH does not require DNA-dependent RNA synthesis, whereas that in the later period does . RNA synthesis may be necessary only to maintain the increased secretion of both LH and FSH during a continuous stimulation with LH-RH. J Supramol Struct, 1976, 4(4), 515 - 20 Light-induced tetracycline accumulation by Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides; Weckesser J et al.; Light has been used as a primary energy source in studies of tetracycline transport by Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides . Accumulation of the antibiotic occurs in light, while efflux occurs in dark . Both fluorescence enhancement and radioisotopic tracing have been used to monitor transport . Km's obtained from both techniques are similar . Light-induced accumulation of tetracyclines is inhibited by a variety of inhibitors, including antimycin A, N-ethylmaleimide, carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, and 2,4-dinitrophenol . A rapid efflux is observed after loading when cells are placed in the dark or treated with inhibitors. J Clin Invest, 1976 Jan, 57(1), 112 - 24 Platelet membrane glycoproteins implicated in ristocetin-induced aggregation . Studies of the proteins on platelets from patients with Bernard-Soulier syndrome and von Willebrand's disease; Jenkins CS et al.; The antibiotic ristocetin only aggregates platelets in the presence of plasma von Willebrand factor . Platelets from patients with Bernard-Soulier syndrome do not aggregate upon addition of ristocetin although, in contrast to von Willebrand's disease, plasma levels of factor VIII complex (factor VIII clotting activity, von Willebrand factor activity, and von Willebrand antigen) are normal . The membrane surface of normal platelets was modified and compared to the surface of platelets from a patient with Bernard-Soulier syndrome in an attempt to identify the receptor involved in von Willebrand factor-ristocetin-induced aggregation . After the incubation of washed normal platelets with a preparation of ristocetin previously shown to contain a proteolytic contaminant, the aggregation response is significantly decreased on addition or normal plasma . Analaysis by gel electrophoresis of such platelets when stained for carbohydrate revealed a decrease in the relative amounts of membrane glycopro-eins . Chymotrypsin-treated normal platelets had less membrane glycoproteins in addition to giving a reduced aggregation response in ristocetin-induced aggregation . Staining of gels for protein and carbohydrate indicated that there was an extensive change in the surface of Bernard-Soulier platelets, whereas those from patients with von Willebrand's disease appeared the same as normal . Platelets from patients were labeled by the lactoperoxidase iodination technique . Not only was the relative intensity of staining of platelet-specific proteins and glycoproteins changed in Bernard-Soulier platelets, but the iodination of the glycoproteins on the membrane surface relative to other membrane constituents was lower . In contrast, platelets from patients with von Willebrand's disease showed a normal exposure of membrane components . These data suggest therefore that membrane glycoproteins may play a functional role in ristocetin-induced aggregation. Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1976, (9), 67 - 71 A computerized study of bacterial resistance patterns (1971-1974) . A preliminary report; Driessen JH; In an effort to provide information concerning the bacterial sensitivities in the Dordrecht area, continuing surveys are performed on the laboratory results . In 1974 information was presented on the bacterial sensitivities and resistance patterns during the period between 1968 and 1970 . It has now been possible to study data from 1971 to 1974 . Approximately 4000 sensitivity reports were surveyed--1000 from each year . A transfer sheet which could be entered into a computer was filled in for each patient who had a bacterial isolate and an antibiotic sensitivity test . This report gives the results of the survey . It is concluded that specific antibiotic testing must be performed . As an example more strains are sensitive to doxycycline than to tetracycline. Arzneimittelforschung, 1976, 26(8), 1517 - 21 {Binding of sisomicin and gentamicin to serum proteins (author's transl)}; Rosenkranz H et al.; The binding of sisomicin and gentamicin to the proteins of human serum was investigated by the dialysis method at 37 degrees C . The antibiotic concentrations were determined by the disc diffusion assay as well as by measurements of the optical rotation of the antibiotics in the buffer solutions . Serum was dialyzed against buffer solutions to obtain the standards for the antibiotic assay with regard to the electrolytical exchange at dialysis . In studies on protein binding of sisomicin and gentamicin no measurable binding to human serum proteins could be found, neither in the therapeutically possible concentrations nor at higher ones . Therefore a different binding of the two antibiotics cannot be the reason of the advantage of sisomicin over gentamicin in tests in vivo with animals described in literature nor of its higher activity against several bacterial strains of different species tested in the presence of serum. Arzneimittelforschung, 1976, 26(7), 1377 - 82 {The geriatric pharmacology of cefazolin, cefradin and sulfisomidine}; Simon C et al.; Clinical pharmacology of 3-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylthiomethyl)-8-oxo-7-(tetrazol-1-ylacetamido)-5-thia-1-azabicyclo-(4,2,0)oct-2-en-carbonic acid (cefazolin) and D-7-{2-amino-(cyclohexa-1,4-dien-1-yl)-acetamido}-3-methyl-8-oxo-5-thia-1-aza-(4,2,0)-oct-2-ene-2-carbonic acid monohydrate (cefradine) was compared in young and old adults without renal disease after i.v . injection of 1 g . Mean serum levels of cefazolin after 4 h and 6 h were significantly higher in old persons (25.0 and 14.7 mug/ml, resp.) than in young persons (16.2 and 7.8 mug/ml, resp.) . Serum concentrations of cefradine after 2 and 4 h were found also higher in the aged (11.2 and 4.4 mug/ml, resp.) than in young adults . Half-life of cefazolin was prolonged from normally 94 min to 189 min, half-life of cefradine from 32 min to 72 min . Skin blister fluid punctured once for antibiotic assay contained less cefazolin in old persons (after 4 and 6 h only 22.4 and 17.4 mug/ml, resp.) than in young persons (32.7 and 27.6 mug/ml, resp.) . Cefradine levels in skin blister fluid 0.5 and 1 h after i.v . injection showed also a significant difference (11.4 and 11.9 mug/ml, resp.) in old persons, 17.3 and 16.5 mug/ml, resp., in young persons) . Elimination constants (alpha, beta, kel, k12, k21) were always lower in geriatric patients . Renal clearance of cefazolin was reduced from 83 ml/min to 43 ml/min, and renal clearance of cefradine from 378 ml/min to 152 ml/min . After i.v . injection of 1 g 6-sulfanilamido-2,4-dimethyl-pyrimidine (sulfisomidine) total content of the drug in blood was higher in elderly people than in young persons, but proportion of acetylated sulfisomidine was nearly the same in both groups (15%) . It is supposed that higher serum levels of some drugs in old persons (over 70 years) can be explained by impaired renal excretion and slower tissue penetration of the compound from the blood. J Int Med Res, 1976, 4(6), 449 - 53 Pharmacokinetics of amoxycillin according to administration schedule; Leng BM et al.; Thirty subjects, free of any heart, kidney or liver disease, were given the same dosage of amoxycillin--100 mg/kg/24 hr . The first ten were given the drug in three equal doses at 8-hourly intervals, a further ten in four doses at 6-hourly intervals, and the last ten in eight doses at 3-hourly intervals . The final administration schedule resulted in much higher and more regular serum levels of amoxycillin than the other two, suitable for the treatment of severe infectious conditions, and has the advantage of avoiding prolonged antibiotic infusions which are a source of venous complications in the patient . The first results obtained clinically, which will be published in a further paper, seem favourable. Arkh Patol, 1976, 38(10), 19 - 25 {Characteristics of umbilical septicemia in premature infants}; Potapova IN et al.; An analysis of 60 deaths of premature infants with umbilical sepsis revealed a number of peculiar features of this disease under current conditions: septicopyemia with a fatal outcome in the perinatal period in intrauterine infection, predominance of productive inflammation in the primary focus in infants with septicemia, the effect of acute respiratory diseases on clinico-morphological manifestations of sepsis and its complications, frequency of ulcerative lesions of the intestine against the background of antibiotic therapy. Biokhimiia, 1976, 41(7), 1216 - 9 {Effect of hydrocortisone and actinomycin D at different time of the day on incorporation of labeled precursor into the nuclear proteins of intact rat liver}; Savina MI et al.; Variations in the incorporation of labelled precursor into nuclear rat liver proteins during a day in normal conditions and in the presence of hydrocortisone and actinomycin D are studied . Synthesis of nuclear proteins is found to have a fluctuating character . Hydrocortisone and actinomycin D, injected at different day time, induce changes in the character of nuclear proteins synthesis , which are more pronounced for histones . The effect of the hormone and the antibiotic is tightly bound with the functional state of liver cells at given moment. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1976, 21(6), 488 - 92 Composition of lipids and production of mucidin in a submerged culture of the basidiomycete Oudemansiella mucida; Nerud F et al.; Mycelial lipids of the submerged culture of Oudemansiella mucida contain acylglycerols, free and esterified sterols . Free fatty acids are not present . Development of the culture is associated with an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids and, on the contrary, with a decreased content of saturated fatty acids . Content of total lipids depends on age of the culture and is inversely related with production of the antibiotic mucidin. J Perinat Med, 1976, 4(3), 168 - 83 The influence of various aminoglycoside preparations on bilirubin/albumin binding; Ballowitz L et al.; The effect of antibiotics of aminoglycoside structure on the albumin binding of bilirubin has been tested in homozygous (jaundiced) Gunn rats aged 3-5 days . The following drugs were investigated: different preparations of gentamycin, kanamycin, tobramycin and sisomicin . The animals received 50-75% of the LD50 of heterozygous (non-jaundiced) Gunn rats . Mortality, weight gain and changes in the plasma bilirubin concentration were recorded . It was found that the displacement of bilirubin from albumin is caused by the different stabilizers used and not by the antibiotic itself . With the exception of lyophilized preparations of gentamycin for intrathecal application all vials contain different amounts of these preservatives . Special preparations used during the newborn period contain relatively more of these stabilizers . The toxicity of the additives has already a negative influence on the LD50 for heterozygous Gunn rats when the low dosed Refobacin and Sulmicin vials are given . For Refobacin (production 1973/74) the tolerance is reduced by nearly 50% . The toxicity caused by the stabilizer alone is even more marked when given to homozygous (jaundiced) Gunn rats . It becomes evident that benzylalcohol is the substance responsible for the displacement of bilirubin from albumin . The serum concentration of bilirubin decreases for 3-24 hrs depending on the doses given to the animal . This offers the opportunity to measure the competitive displacement of bilirubin easily and exactly . The free unbound, unconjugated bilirubin tends to diffuse into the lipid of the brain with resultant kernicterus . This was shown in histochemical preparations of the cerebellum of young homozygous Gunn rats . Using enzyme reactions for lactic acid dehydrogenase and NADH2-tetrazolium reductase the cytotoxic effect of bilirubin on PURKINJE cells could be demonstrated . The effect of the stabilizers used in the other antibiotic drugs tested can be neglected under clinical conditions . Finally the steepness and duration of the decrease of plasma bilirubin after injection of the dangerous stabilizers was studied in animals of different age (3-5 days; 3-4 weeks) . Different results observed can be explained by the more rapid metabolism of benzoates in older animals . However, it remains an open question at what age Gunn rats reflect most precisely the human situation in premature and newborn babies. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1976, 24(3), 336 - 48 Modification of immunologic response . IV . A factor in the serum of mice treated with streptomycin, its character and mode of action in vitro; Zimecki M et al.; A factor contained in the serum of mice treated with streptomycin (SM) when added to spleen cell cultures stimulated the primary immunologic humoral response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in vitro . The magnitude of the immunologic response was measured as the number of specific antibody-producing cells . By the use of an immunoadsorbent, it was shown that the factor is not SM or a protein-SM complex remaining in trace amounts in the serum of mice treated with this antibiotic . Studies on the mechanism of stimulation by this factor showed that it reacts in a late stage of the immunologic response to already differentiated precursors of antibody-producing cells, and that higher concentrations of this substance added to cultures, instead of stimulating, inhibit producing of antibodies to SRBC . The mechanism of the stimulating action of this factor on antibody-producing cells is discussed. Major Probl Clin Surg, 1976, 20, 129 - 46 Malabsorption following gastric resection; King CE et al.; We have tried to stress the complexity of the bacterial ecology that may exist in the intestine of patients and experimental animals with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth . The multiplicity of organisms often makes the management of these patients quite frustrating . A number of metabolic derangements of varying severity may occur in any given patient . Although many of the observed abnormalities are secondary to disturbed events with the luminal environment of the small intestine, the significance of direct damage to the small intestinal epithelium has been emphasized . Since intestinal cultures are both cumbersome and difficult to perform on a routine basis, the use of labeled substrate breath tests will allow guided, outpatient therapy more easily than in the past . Since full correction of the malabsorption is seldom achieved with antibiotic therapy, nutritional supplementation deserves more attention than it has previously received. Nephron, 1976, 17(4), 307 - 13 Renal failure following gentamicin in combination with clindamycin; Butkus DE et al.; Acute renal failure (ARF) occurred concomitantly with the administration of gentamicin in combination with clindamycin in three patients in whom no other known predisposing cause of ARF could be demonstrated . The evidence for combined nephrotoxicity consisted of the temporal relationship between administration of the antibiotics and the development of ARF, and the prompt improvement in renal function upon cessation of therapy . Complete or partial recovery of renal function occured in all patients . Renal function should be carefully monitored in patients receiving this antibiotic combination. Digestion, 1976, 14(2), 108 - 16 Exocrine pancreatic function in man after treatment with oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol; Fleischer K; The exocrine pancreatic function was studied in humans by performing a secretin-cholecystokinin test before and after treatment with oxytetracycline or chloramphenicol . In the oxytetracycline-treated patients there was a depression of the amylase and lipase outputs in the duodenal secretion, chymotrypsin decreasing only slightly . After treatment with the two antibiotics the calcium secretion was reduced . The other parameters measured in the duodenal secretion remained essentially unchanged . The enzyme dissociation observed in the present studies is considered to reflect the onset of pancreatic dysfunction due to antibiotic administration . As in the previous animal onset of pancreatic dysfunction due to antibiotic administration . As in the previous animal experiments, the suggested explanation for the changes in enzyme secretion is an inhibition of protein synthesis in the exocrine pancreas due to oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol. Arzneimittelforschung, 1976, 26(1), 28 - 32 {On the inhibitory effect of chloramphenicol on mitochondrial protein synthesis as a possible cause of its selective toxic side effects (author's transl)}; Summ HD et al.; The inhibition of protein synthesis by tetracycline and chloramphenicol in mitochondria isolated from rat liver or rabbit bone marrow was investigated in vitro . It could be demonstrated that there is but little difference between the inhibitory effect of both substances in regard to mitochondria protein synthesis . Therefore, a selective interference of chloramphenicol with bone marrow mitochondria cannot be concluded . In in vitro tests the concentrations required for inhibiting the mitochondria protein synthesis are comparable to those found in blood levels measured under usual therapeutic conditions . It can be assumed that in the living organism the mitochondria are protected against tetracycline or chloramphenicol interference . This hypothesis is supported by the fact that due to the increase in the substrate concentration (phenylalanine), the expected inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis does not occur . There may be an inhibition of influx of the antibiotic by competition with substrate for transport through mitochondrial membrane . The reason for myelotoxicity of chloramphenicol is not an increased sensitivity of mitochondrial ribosomes located in the bone marrow to chloramphenicol . But the existence of special conditions for chloramphenicol influx into mitochondria of bone marrow must be concluded. Arch Otolaryngol, 1976 Jan, 102(1), 51 - 4 Poststapedectomy otitis media and meningitis; Newlands WJ; A patient developed acute otitis media, labyrinthitis, and meningitis 16 months after a stapedectomy operation, and 14 similar cases have been collected from the literature . Poststapedectomy otitis media carries an increased risk of labyrinthitis and meningitis and requires prompt antibiotic therapy and regular observation until cured . Should labyrinthitis occur, with or without meningitis, fistula repair must be undertaken as soon as the infection is eliminated . All stapedectomy patients require regular supervision, and must report for urgent treatment if symptoms of otitis media or perilymph fistula occur . Stapedectomy techniques should not employ sharp bevelled prostheses, and autogenous tissue grafts are probably superior to an absorbable gelatin sponge in protecting the inner ear . Eustachian tube problems and recurring or chronic upper-respiratory tract infections can predispose to middle ear infection and are thus contraindications to stapedectomy. Mikrobiologiia, 1976 Jan-Feb, 45(1), 133 - 6 {An electron microscopic study of the vegetative mycelia of Actinomyces flavus during flavofungin biosynthesis}; Kulalaeva ZI et al.; The vegetative mycelium of a submerged culture of Actinomyces flavus 12 was studied by complex electron microscopy (negative and positive contrasting, cryofractography) in the course of biosynthesis of flavofungin . The antibiotic is accumulated first in the cytoplasm as singular small granules which later grow larger . Accumulation of flavofungin is accompanied with destruction of the cytoplasm, nucleoid and other structures . Secretion of the antibiotic is supposed to be accomplished according to holocrine type. Arch Chir Neerl, 1976, 28(1), 43 - 53 A simple surgical method of treating pilonidal sinus; Kam BH; A simple surgical method of treatment was used in 63 patients with pilonidal sinus . Adequate block excision with primary closure is the basis of this technique . The problem of closure and obliteration of the dead space was solved by using absorbable sutures to unite fascia and subcutis in the midline, after mobilization of the skin and subcutaneous layers of the wound edges . In 59 (93.6%) of 63 patients treated, primary healing was obtained; in 4 (6.4%) disturbances of wound healing occured; and in 3 (4..8%) recurrences developed . The average stay in hospital was 10.4 days and the average healing time 10 days . The follow-up period was between 1 year and 6 years . The scars were sound, supple and painless . Our results include 6 patients, treated several days before the definitive procedure by incision and drainage for a pilonidal abscess . Antibiotic or chemotherapeutic agents were not used. Antibiotiki, 1976 Jan, 21(1), 71 - 4 {Tetracycline distribution in the body of animals and its effect on cellular interaction in the immune response}; Karput' IM; Distribution of tetracyclines and their effect on interaction of the cells in the immune response were studied on pigs and rabbits non-vaccinated, immunized with formolvaccin against paratyphoid fever and experimentally infected with the paratyphoid causative agent . It was found that oxytetracycline and tetracycline administered parentally to the animals formed complexes with the proteins and especially with albumins and gamma-globulins, were rapidly adsorbed by the lymphocytes and consumed by the cells of the reticulo-macro- and micro-phage systems, epithelium of the kidney cannaculi and the cells of the liver parenchyma . Immunomorphological changes accompanied by formation of antibodies to the antibiotics were found in the bloodforming-lymphoid system after repeated parental administrations of the tetracyclines . The titers of the antibodies to oxytetracycline and tetracycline were high by the 5th--14th day after the antibiotic administration and the relatively high levels persisted for 1.5 months . The use of tetracyclines during the induction stage of immunogenesis had a pronounced inhibitory effect on development of immunity against the paratyphoid fever antigen . On the basis of the tetracycline capacity for binding with immunoglobulins and intensive adsorption by the lymphocytes it is possible to suppose that the inhibitory effect of the antibiotics on immunogenesis was connected with their blocking the receptors of T- and B-lymphocytes. Clin Pharmacokinet, 1976, 1(1), 67 - 78 Computer assisted prescribing of drugs; Mawer GE; Computer programs for drug dosage adjustment may be fixed, adaptive or empirical . The aminoglycoside antibiotic dosage requirements of individual patients are relatively predictable, and it seems to be adequate to assume that volume of distribution is a fixed proportion of body weight and that renal clearance is a fixed proportion of creatinine clearance . This approach has been less successful with digoxin because patient compliance, the proportion absorbed and liver clearance are not yet predictable . Accordingly, adaptive programs have been developed which use feedback from drug concentration measurements to predict the future dosage needs of the patient . When individual needs are known for a large patient group it becomes possible to predict the dosage requirements of a new patient from the same population by empirical methods . Computer programs for dosage adjustment will not be widely used until their scope is increased and objective evidence of clinical benefit is obtained. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1976, 82(11), 1324 - 6 {Colicin El synthesis in a cell-free system of paired transcription--translation}; Emel'ianov VV et al.; Proteins were synthesized in the cell-free coupled transcription-translation systen (S30) under the control of the DNA-templates of plasmid ColEl, phages T2 and Sd . The most active templates were phage T2 DNA and closed plasmid DNA . Plasmid DNA induced synthesis of 8 individual proteins, one of which was a biologically active antibiotic of protein nature--colicin . The titre of colicin synthesized in such a cell-free system reached 1024 U/ml, this being about 100 times greater than the titre of this antibiotic in the colicinogenic bacteria cultures. Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1976, (9), 94 - 9 Systemic prophylaxis with doxycycline in surgery of the colon and rectum; Wetterfors J et al.; A prospective randomized double-blind study on the effects of doxycycline as prophylactic antibiotic in elective colonic surgery is presented . 82 patients were evaluated . 39 were treated and 43 were controls . Mechanical cleansing of the bowel and a low residue diet for two days was routine . 200 mg doxycycline or placebo (2 capsules) were given orally 4-6 hours preoperatively and 100 mg (1 capsule) for 5 postoperative days . A significantly lower incidence of wound sepsis, intraabdominal complications and septicemia was registered in the doxycycline compared to the control group, 12.8 and 44.2 per cent respectively . After proctectomies, infections in the perineal field occurred in 3/9 and 5/10 cases in respective groups . In the doxycycline group, however, they were the only complication, whereas among the controls they were generally combined with infections in the abdominal field, 4/5 . Peroperative contamination seemed to carry easier consequences in the doxycycline group . The results are discussed further . Doxycycline appears to be an excellent antibiotic for peroperative and short postoperative prophylactic use in potentially contaminated abdominal operations, not only because of its observed effects, but also when its negligible tendency to cause adverse reactions is taken into consideration . Bacterial cultures, concentrations of doxycycline in serum and tissues and their relation to infections will be accounted for and discussed in a separate paper. Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1976, (9), 58 - 61 In-vitro effect of doxycycline on levels of adenosine triphosphate in bacterial cultures . Possible clinical applications; Hojer H et al.; Short-term effects of doxycycline on viability and levels of intracellular ATP in bacteria were studied . Inhibition of growth by doxycycline was reflected in a corresponding inhibition of the accumulation of intracellular ATP which was clearly demonstrable within 1-2 hours . The effects of doxycycline on intracellular ATP were dose-dependent and the use of ATP assays for quantitation of antibiotics in serum is discussed . In 45 clinical isolates exposed to doxycycline a positive correlation was found between antibiotic-induced inhibition of intracellular ATP levels and inhibitory zone diameters with the disc diffusion method, indicating possible clinical applications in rapid susceptibility testing. Biokhimiia, 1976, 41(7), 1193 - 9 {Effect of streptomycin on RNA synthesis in E . coli cells}; Drobyshev VI et al.; Under streptomicin administration (10-200 mug/ml), initiation of translation is blocked at any steps before the formation of tightly bound subunits . Incomplete supression of protein synthesis with streptomycin stimulate rRNA synthesis in rel+ CP78 E . coli cells . Thus, partial uncoupling of translocation and transcription promotes compensatory synthesis of rRNA synthesis directed by rel-gene, but on addition to pre-starved cells, antibiotic can not stimulate rRNA formation . It is shown, that in contrast with many other ribosomal antibiotics streptomycin do not penetrate into the cell during aminoacid starvation. Drugs, 1976, 11(5), 394 - 404 Drug-induced anaemias; Girdwood RH; PIP: Several forms of drug-induced anemia are discussed . Anemia resulting from toxic effects on the marrow may occur after large doses or long treatment courses of alkylating agents, the plant alkaloids vinblastine and vincristine, and antibiotics used in cancer chemotherapy . A lesion of the stem cells in bone marrow is thought to be caused . Aplastic anemia has been produced by chloramphenicol in a small percentage of cases . This has led to its disuse except when no suitable alternative is available or where the mortality of the disease being treated is high . Some nonnarcotic analgesics, e.g., amidopyrine, have caused agranulocytosis . Gold injections have also been implicated . Insecticides or an inhaled agent such as benzine or a glue solvent may cause hypoplastic anemia . A list is given of drugs that have been reported as having caused aplastic anemia . Chromosomal changes have rarely been reported . An alleric mechanism is sometimes responsible for drug-induced aplastic anemia . There may be individual variations in ability to metabolize a drug . Treatment of drug-induced aplastic anemia requires transfusions . Bone marrow transplants have also been used . Antibiotic therapy is needed . Oral contraceptives may be of value if there is menorrhagia . Megaoloblastic anemia may be due to defective metabolism of folate . Anticonvulsant drugs may also cause megaloblastic anemia, especially primidone . Giving folic acid with these drugs may prevent this development . Oral contraceptives have been reported to cause folate depletion but megaloblastic anemia has not been shown to follow . Alimentary bleeding with peptic ulcer or following drug use may cause anemia . Sideroblastic anemia may be a congenital abnormality of iron metabolism or an acquired form induced by drugs or lead poisoning . Pyridoxine therapy is used . Drug-induced leukemia may follow use of radioactive compounds or may develop in patients with a drug-induced aplastic anemia . J Biochem (Tokyo), 1976 Jan, 79(1), 61 - 8 Mechanism of polyadenylate-polyuridylate synthesis by RNA polymerase holoenzyme II of Escherichia coli; Iwakura Y; Poly(A)-poly(U) synthesis in the absence of template DNA is a unique reaction catalyzed by the RNA polymerase {EC 2.7:7.6} holoenzyme II of Escherichia coli . As one approach to investigating the physiological role of the enzyme, the molecular mechanism of poly(A)-poly(U) synthesis was studied . Streptolydigin, an inhibitor of the elongation of RNA chains, was shown to inhibit poly(A)-poly(U) synthesis, and the inhibition was released by a streptolydigin-resistant mutation on the beta subunit . These observations indicate that the active site for the reaction might be located on the beta subunit . Another antibiotic, rifampicin, which is known to be a specific inhibitor of the initiation of DNA-dependent RNA synthesis, effectively inhibited both initiation and elongation steps in poly(A)-poly(U) synthesis . This suggests that the enzyme conformation during the chain elongation reaction might be different in this case from that in DNA-dependent RNA synthesis . Analysis of the products formed during the initiation reaction indicated that the rate-determining reaction in poly(A)-poly(U) synthesis was the formation of primers of short chain length, and that holoenzyme I was unable to form the first phosphodiester bond in this reaction . Functional properties of holoenzyme II are discussed in connection with these observations. Drugs, 1976, 11(4), 315 - 20 Treatment of gastroenteritis in children; Tan G; Mortality and morbidity in gastroenteritis in children is the result of fluid loss, acid-base and electrolyte imbalance . Hence therapy should be aimed at preventing or correcting this imbalance . The use of intestinal antibiotics to treat the condition should not be a routine, but parenteral antibiotic therapy in the presence of septicaemia is mandatory. Antibiotiki, 1976 Jan, 21(1), 75 - 9 {Tetracycline and the primary immune response}; Slavcheva EK; The effect of tetracycline on proliferation of plate- and rossette-forming cells in the spleen and mesenterial lymph nodes of rats in case of the primary immune response with respect to the sheep erythrocytes was studied using the methods of Jerne, Notta and Zaalberg . It was found that tetracycline acted as an inhibitor when it was administered 48 hours before introduction of the antigen . When they were administered simultaneously its inhibiting effect decreased . When tetracycline was injected 24 hours after the antigen administration it had induced stimulation of immunogenesis . The inhibiting effect of the antibiotic was more pronounced with respect to the plate-forming cells and less pronounced with respect to the rossette-forming cells . The inhibiting effect of the antibiotic was lower in the mesenterial lymph nodes than in the spleen . The problem of independent antibody genesis in the lymph nodes is discussed. Adv Intern Med, 1976, 21, 349 - 61 Acute bacterial diseases; Hornick RB; The manner by which bacteria cause diarrhea has been clarified as a result of the understanding of mechanisms involved in fluid secretion . It is conceivable that many of the undiagnosed mass of diarrheal cases are in fact caused by E . coli or other organisms capable of eleborating an enterotoxin or of invading the epitehlial surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract . Confirmation of this concept would permit a better estimation of the importance of "viruses" in causing diarrhea . Proper treatment for bacterial diarrhea requires fluid replacement . Antibiotic therapy and antidiarrheal drugs need to be used with caution since they may worsen the diarrheal process or may complicate recovery. Vet Med Nauki, 1976, 13(10), 87 - 90 {Action of actidione on the multiplication of Aujeszky's disease virus}; Tatarov G; Studied was the effect of actidione on the propagation of the Aujeszky's disease virus (strains 2,7,10--virulent,, and strain MK--avirulent virus mutant) . It was found that at a concentration of 2 microng/cm3 actidione discontinues the reproduction of the most virulent strain 2 when the antibiotic was added immediately after the adsorption of the virus on the cells . The decrease in the virulence of the virus strain was associated with the decrease in the concentration of the antibiotic needed for the inhibition of its propagation . Thus, the reproduction of the more slightly virulent strain 10 was fully inhibited at actidione concentration of 0.75 microng/cm3, while that of the avirulent strain MK was discontinued at 0.4 microng/cm3 . The preliminary cultivation of the cells with 1 microng/cm3 actidione for 24 hours and the adsorption of the virus on the cells jointly with actidione showed no effect on the vitality of the virus particles. Acta Biol, 1976, 27(1), 37 - 44 Cross-resistance of transformed mouse cells to some drugs; Stovrovskaya AA et al.; The Colcemid-resistant L--53 cell strain was examined for cross-resistance to metaphase inhibotors (Vincristine, Vinblastine, estradiol-17beta), an antitumor antibiotic (Rubomycin C) and an alkylating agent (Lycurim), compared with the Colcemid-sensitive L cells . The L-53 cells proved to be resistant besides colchicine to Vincristine, Vinblastine and estradiol-17beta concerning their antimitotic effect . The comparison of the viability of L and L-53 cells in the presence of Rubomycin C and Lycurim showed a resistance of the L-53 cells to Rubomycin C, while the effect of Lycurim was the same on both cell lines . The chromosome-mutagenic action of Lycurim was also equal on both cell lines. Vet Med Nauki, 1976, 13(3), 85 - 91 {Action of rifampicin on the reproduction of Aujeszky's disease virus}; Tatarov G; The study on the effect of rifampicin on the reproduction of Aujeszky's disease virus (strains 2, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 17, which are virulent, and strain MK, which is an avirulent virus mutant) in cell cultures revealed that the formation of plaques is inhibited, though to a slighter extent, at a concentration of the inhibiting agent of 100 mug/ml, the value of their titer lowering by one logarithm . All virus strains have proved equally susceptible to the effect of rifampicin . During the virus multiplication in the presence of rifampicin the diameter of the plaques formed decreases from 2.8 to 0.5 mm, and with the avirulent strain MK it decreases up to 0.2 mm . They have rose tint in contrast to the plaques formed by strain 2, which are colourless . Rifampicin has no effect on virus reproduction when the cells are cultivated 24 hours prior to adding the antibiotic or when the virus adsorption on the cells takes place simultaneously with rifampicin . At lower rates the latter does not alter the reproduction process of the virus, however, at doses higher than 10 mug/ml it becomes toxic for the cells . Rifampicin inhibits the multiplication of the virus if it is added to the infected cell cultures up to the 12th hour following the adsorption of the virus . When 25-diacetyl-rifampicin is added to the nutrient medium the number of the plaques formed decreases but no change in their diameter occurs . However, with the avirulent MK strain both the number of plaques and their size decreases . Rifampicin B and rifampicin SV have no effect on the reproduction of Aujeszky's disease virus. An Esp Pediatr, 1976 Jan-Feb, 9(1), 53 - 68 {Inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung in infancy (histiocytoma) (author's transl)}; Gomez-Rivas B et al.; A four year old boy with a clinical picture of acute pneumonia is presented . Antibiotic therapeutic improved the clinical and analytic symptomatology but a round, radiologic shadow persisted after three months of evolution . Thoracotomy was performed and by histopathologic examination histiocytoma of lung diagnosed . Literature is reviewed and the clinical, radiologic, pathologic and etiopathogenetic features are commented . These lesions should be considered as benign to avoid extensive resection. Ukr Biokhim Zh, 1976 Jan-Feb, 48(1), 67 - 71 {Interrelation between changes in RNA transcription and glycine-14C incorporation into protein peculiar to hepatoma PC-1}; Polishchik AS et al.; Incorporation of labelled precursor, glycin-1-14C, into the fraction and individual subfractions of blood serum immunoglobulin G (namely into protein positively reacting in the precipitation test) testifies to the fact that at early stages of the tumour development in the rat organism there occurs an intensive synthesis of protein peculiar to hepatoma PC-1 . Actinomycin D in a dose blocking the appearance of the peculiar protein in the blood serum of rats with the tumour has a selective effect on the transcription of liver nuclear RNA in rats with hepatoma PC-1 . Its inhibitory effect is most pronounced with respect to ribosomal RNA and one of the fractions of DNA-like RNA--RNA-85 . It is observed that the fraction of DNA-like RNA--RNA-63, being stable to the effect of actinomycin D at normal state and with liver regeneration is inhibited to some extent by the antibiotic with the presence of the tumour in the rat organism. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil, 1976, 170(5), 994 - 8 {The mode of action of antifungal agents . Effect of horse erythrocyte membranes on amphotericin B}; Moulki H et al.; The Tris-HCl solution of the heptaen antibiotic, amphotericin B, gives a very important circular dichroism exhibiting a disymetric couplet . The absorption is affected by a blue shift of the maxima . The addition of erythrocyte membranes reduces the couplet and increases the small negative peaks to positive values at 422 and 399 nm . As a time function the evolution of spectra is hyperbol like . Such transformations are more important than those obtained with molecular cholesterol . These striking modifications of the C . D . spectra are correlated with conformational changes of the aggregative form of the antibiotic. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil, 1976, 170(5), 1092 - 4 Details of the fungistatic effect of Phialophora cinerescens}; Tirilly Y; We have previously isolated two chlorinated antibiotics from Phialophora asteris and P . asteris f . sp . helianthi, vascular pathogens on plants . P . cinerescens, pathogen on carnation, also presents a fungitoxic activity but the nature of the antibiotic compound is still unknown . We point out that this activity can be lost by sectorial variations on the growing margin and that the antibiotic product shows a striking photolability. J Supramol Struct, 1976, 5(1), 37 - 58 Functional organization of the outer membrane of escherichia coli: phage and colicin receptors as components of iron uptake systems; Braun V et al.; The functional interaction of outer membrane proteins of E . coli can be studied using phage and colicin receptors which are essential components of penetration systems . The uptake of ferric iron in the form of the ferrichrome complex requires the ton A and ton B functions in the outer membrane of E . coli . The ton A gene product is the receptor protein for phage T5 and is required together with the ton B function by the phages T1 and o80 to infect cells and by colicin M and the antibiotic albomycin, a structural analogue of ferrichrome, to kill cells . The ton B function is necessary for the uptake of ferric iron complexed by citrate . Iron complexed by enterochelin is only transported in the presence of the ton B and feu functions . Cells which have lost the feu function are resistant to the colicins B, I or V while ton B mutants are resistant to all 3 colicins . The interaction of the ton A, ton B, and feu functions apparently permits quite different "substrates" to overcome the permeability barrier of the outer membrane . It was shown for ferrichrome dependent iron uptake that the complexing agent was not altered and could be used repeatedly . Only very low amounts of 3H-labeled ferrichrome were found in the cell . It is possible that the iron is mobilized in the membrane and that desferri-ferrichrome is released into the medium without having entered the cytoplasm . Growth on ferrichrome as the sole iron source was used to select revertants of T5 resistant ton A mutants . All revertants exhibited wild-type properties with the exception of partial revertants . In these 4 strains, as in the ton A mutants, the ton A protein was not detectable by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses of outer membranes . Albomycin resistant mutants were selected and shown to fall into 5 categories: 1) ton A; 2) ton B mutants; 3) mutants with no iron transport defects and normal ton A/ton B functions, which might be target site mutants; 4) mutants which were deficient in ferrichrome-mediated iron uptake but had normal ton A/ton B functions . We tentatively consider that the defect might be located in the active transport system of the cytoplasmic membrane; 5) a variety of mutants with the following general properties: most of them were resistant to colicin M, transported iron poorly, and, like ton B mutants, contained additional proteins in the outer membrane . The outer membrane protein patterns of wild-type and ton B mutant strains were compared by slab gel electrophoresis in an attempt to identify a ton B protein . It was observed that under most growth conditions, ton B mutants overproduced 3 proteins of molecular weights 74,000-83,000 . In extracted, iron-deficient medium, both the wild-type and ton B mutant strains had similar large amounts of these proteins in their outer membranes . The appearance of these proteins was suppressed by excess iron in both wild-type and mutant . From this evidence it is apparent that the proteins appear as a response to low intracellular iron rather than being controlled by the ton B gene... Dermatologica, 1976, 152 Suppl 1, 27 - 36 Penetration of drugs through the skin; Stoughton RB; Various methods for measuring percutaneous absorption are discussed with particular reference to glucocorticosteroids . Increasing concentrations of steroids in a given formulation will yield a decreasing percent of amount penetrating and a corresponding propertionate decrease in biologic activity . The formulation can shift the relationships of concentration to penetration and to biologic activity . The use of bioassay methods to detect penetration of antibiotics has been applied to find an active topical antibiotic for treatment of acne vulgaris. Acta Cardiol, 1976, 31(1), 1 - 13 Protein synthesis in heart mitochondria: mechanism and metabolic aspects; Kroon AM et al.; A short review is given with respect to the status quo of the knowledge of mitochondrial protein synthesis in mammalian tissues . The inhibitory effects of antibiotic such as chloramphenicol and thiamphenicol are discussed from the point of possible complications for cardiac metabolism . It is shown that a decrease of the activity of cytochrome c oxidase, the terminal enzyme of the respiratory chain, caused an increase in the production of lactate, if beating heart cells are cultured in the presence of chloramphenicol . In vivo treatment of rabbits with the chloramphenicol analogue thiamphenicol causes a strong fall in the cytochrome aa3 content of the hearts . The results are discussed in the light of the possible implications for cardiac function and metabolism in man. Prog Biochem Pharmacol, 1976, 11, 48 - 58 Actions of bleomycin on DNA ligase and polymerases; Ono T et al.; Bleomycin inhibited the ligase, which was partially purified from rat ascites hepatoma, AH-130, even at a concentration as low as 0.01-1 mug/ml . The DNA degraded by bleomycin was not repaired by ligase . Therefore, it was suggested that bleomycin at higher concentration produced strand scission of DNA, which could not be repaired by the ligase, and at lower concentration inhibited the ligase reaction presumably by binding to DNA strand or to ligase . Also, the specificity of inhibition by bleomycin on the DNA polymerase of oncogenic RNA virus was tested, comparing with the four kinds of DNA polymerases extracted from the spleen of mice infected with Friend virus . Three kinds of DNA polymerases from spleen were not inhibited by bleomycin, but the fourth enzyme, which was induced in the spleen by virus infection, was inhibited by the antibiotic, when poly-d(AT) and poly-dG with dC were used as template. Prog Biochem Pharmacol, 1976, 11, 28 - 47 Effect of bleomycin on DNA, RNA, protein, chromatin and on cell transformation by oncogenic RNA viruses; Muller WE et al.; Bleomycin (BLM) exclusively affects thymidine-containing compounds such as DNA and polydeoxyribonucleotides by releasing free thymine and leaving aldehyde functions . Molecular morphology and base sequence of the DNA strongly influence BLM activity . High BLM concentrations, besides modifying DNA into oligothyminic or athyminic nucleic acids, cause strand scissions . Enzymatic DNA and RNA synthesis is strongly influenced by BLM . The inhibition in DNA-dependent DNA polymerase and DNA-dependent RNA polymerase assays is of the non-competitive type . Protein biosynthesis in in vitro systems is not affected by BLM even at high concentrations . BLM turns out to be a strong inhibitor of DNase I and of DNase II; the inhibition is of the competitive type . The enzymatic activities of nucleases using RNA as substrate (RNase A, RNase B, Rnase T1, venom phosphodiesterase I and spleen phosphodiesterase II) are not influenced by this antibiotic . The antibiotic reduces cell proliferation (L5178y mouse lymphoma cells) in vitro in low concentrations by cytostasis and at higher concentrations by cytotoxicity . In BLM-treated L5178y cells, DNA synthesis is strongly reduced, while RNA and protein synthesis are not affected . In vivo, using growing quail oviducts, cell proliferation and cytodifferentiation are markedly inhibited after BLM treatment . This is attributed to the observed inhibition of DNA synthesis . RNA and protein synthesis as well as gene expression are not influenced by BLM under the conditions used . The selective inhibition of DNA synthesis in vivo may be caused by the following mechanisms: (1) competition of BLM with RNA; (2) blocking of the accessibility of DNA in chromatin to BLM, and (3) dependence from the repair processes . BLM inhibits growth of sarcomas, induced by oncogenic RNA viruses in vivo; well-developed tumours show regression after BLM treatment . Transformation of chick embryo fibroblasts by oncogenic RNA viruses in vitro and growth of these viruses is blocked by BLM; the most sensitive period for BLM inhibition is the time during the first period (integration of viral genome into cellular genome?) after infection. Immunol Commun, 1976, 5(1-2), 27 - 39 The use of 3H serotonin release from mast cells of the mouse as an assay for mediator liberation; Otsuki JA et al.; The release of 3H 5-HT from murine mast cells is shown to be a simple reproducible method for studying the activation of such cells by various agents . 3H-serotonin was taken up by peritoneal cell suspensions in vitro and was released by antigen, Concanavalin A, Forssman antiserum, anti-mouse immunoglobulin, or a polypeptide antibiotic, Cinnamycin. Johns Hopkins Med J, 1976 Jan, 138(1), 19 - 23 The endoscopic appearance of the duodenum in Whipple's disease; Volpicelli NA et al.; Duodenoscopic examination of a patient with Whipple's disease revealed that the duodenal mucosa appeared to be partially covered with a yellow-white material . On closer inspection, however, this was found to consist of enlarged villi interspersed with normal-looking mucosa . Histologically these enlarged white villi were shown to contain a heavy accumulation of lipid and typical PAS positive macrophages . The duodenal mucosa was endoscopically normal and histologically showed only a few PAS positive macrophages one year after instituting antibiotic therapy. Cancer, 1976 Jan, 37(1 suppl), 487 - 95 The radionuclide identification of tumors; Kaplan WD et al.; Tumor-seeking radiopharmaceuticals have been employed in the diagnosis of primary neoplasms, in the detection of distant disease, particularly in the localization of tumor foci to facilitate biopsies and the planning of radiation portals, and in assessing the response to tumor therapy . At the present, there is no ideal tumor-scanning agent . However, several approaches appear to be useful and offer promise for further study . The greatest experience has been with Gallium-67, which has major utility in the staging of Hodgkin's disease, in the diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma, in the detection of certain metastatic brain tumors, in the identification of recurrent disease, and in the noninvasive diagnosis of leukemic complications . A number of radiolabeled antibiotic and chemotherapeutic agents have shown promise, including tetracycline and bleomycin . A major drawback, however, of these agents which is shared with Gallium-67 is that they appear to be sequestered by inflammatory as well as neoplastic tissue . A most intriguing approach is the use of radiolabeled antibodies to tumor-associated antigens . Animal and clinical experiments have employed antifibrin, antifibrinogen, anticarcinoembryonic antigen, and antiferritin . Theoretically, agents such as these should allow for greater tumor specificity. Zentralbl Chir, 1976, 101(24), 1519 - 24 {Lymphogenic osteomyelitis of the foot (author's transl)}; Clemens M et al.; The special way of infection of the lymphogenic osteomyelitis caused by trivial trauma is demonstrated in 4 cases . Germ ascension is done by lymphatics or fissures in the tissue, as it is well known in the panaritium ossale . The treatment consists in removing the focus of infection, irrigation-suction drainage and specific antibiotic therapy . Trivial trauma of the lower extremity should be treated according to the principles of asepsis. Mycopathologia, 1975 Dec 23, 57(2), 109 - 11 {Common presence on strawberries of ascospores of Byssochlamys nivea capable of producing patulin}; Percebois G et al.; Tha auteurs have obtained a strain of Byssochlamys nivea from heat processed strawberries . The mold grown on synthetic media shows antibiotic properties . The metabolite responsible is patulin which has been purified and characterized . Several strains of B . nivea produced this mycotoxin . Patulin seems to be stable in strawberries juice. Mol Gen Genet, 1975 Dec 23, 142(1), 35 - 43 Cooperative control of translational fidelity by ribosomal proteins in Escherichia coli . II . Localization of amino acid replacements in proteins S5 and S12 altered in double mutants resistant to neamine; Yaguchi M et al.; Protein S5 and S12 were isolated from 30S ribosomal subunits of two E . coli mutants highly resistant to the antibiotic neamine, and of the parental strain . Proteinchemical analyses on these proteins led to the following results: a) In protein S5 the arginine residue in peptide T2 of the parental strain is replaced by glycine in one (nea 314) or serine in the other (nea 319) of the two mutants . b) In protein S12 The proline residue in peptide T15 of the parental strain is replaced by leucine in mutant nea 314 and by glutamine in mutant nea 319 . Comparison of these results with those obtained in earlier studies on other mutants with altered ribosomal proteins revealed that the amino acid replacements in neamine resistant mutants and in "revertants" from streptomycin dependence occur at the same amino acid positions of proteins S5 and S12 . Therefore it is likely that both types of mutants belong to the same class. Mol Gen Genet, 1975 Dec 23, 142(1), 19 - 33 Cooperative control of translation fidelity by ribosomal proteins in Escherichia coli . I . Properties of ribosomal mutants whose resistance to neamine is the cumulative effect of two distinct mutations; De Wilde M et al.; Two spontaneous mutants of Escherichia coli strain KMBL-146 selected for resistance to the aminoglycoside antibiotic neamine show severe restriction of amber suppressors in vivo . Purified ribosomes from the mutant strains exhibit low neamine-induced misreading in vitro and a decreased affinity for the related antibiotic streptomycin . Biochemical analysis shows that the mutants each have two modified 30S ribosmal proteins, S12 and S5 . In agreement with these results, genetic analysis shows that two mutations are present, neither of which confers resistance to neamine by itself; the mutation located in gene rpxL (the structural gene for protein S12) confers streptomycin dependence but this dependence is suppressed in the presence of the second mutation, located in gene rpxE (the structural gene for protein S5). Lancet, 1975 Dec 20, 2(7947), 1251 - 4 Changing patterns of bacterial resistance in relation to prophylactic use of cephaloridine and therapeutic use of ampicillin; Pollock AV et al.; Antibiotic sensitivities of 15302 organisms of common pathogenic species isolated in one hospital pathology department in 1971 and 1974 have been studied . Resistance to cephaloridine did not change materially . The proportion of strains resistant to ampicillin did, however, increase, and this is attributed to the widespread therapeutic use of the antibiotic . Cephaloridine, on the other hand, was largely used in the hospital as a single-dose, intra-incisional prophylactic against surgical wound sepsis. Thromb Diath Haemorrh, 1975 Dec 15, 34(3), 770 - 9 Evans blue: a specific inhibitor of factor VIII-induced platelet agglutination; Kirby EP; Low concentrations of Evans Blue (less than 1 muM) inhibit the agglutination of formalin-treated platelets by bovine Factor VIII or by human Factor VIII in the presence of the antibiotic ristocetin . Evans Blue is a specific inhibitor of this reaction and acts by inhibiting the binding of Factor VIII to the platelet surface. South Med J, 1975 Dec, 68(12), 1564 - 9 Infections after retinal detachment surgery; Hagler WS et al.; The signs and symptoms of infection after retinal detachment surgery may be subtle and frequently are overlooked during early stages . A retrospective analysis of 3,334 consecutive procedures for retinal detachment revealed 37 cases (1.1%) with postoperative infection . In 13 of these a scleral abscess and a form of endophthalmitis developed, whereas 24 had no evidence of vitreous involvement and were classified as the granuloma type . Only 43% of infected patients had positive cultures . Analysis of changes in infection rate involved comparison with changes over the years in suture material, implant material, performance of scleral undermining, drainage of subretinal fluid, number of previous surgical procedures, age of patient, use of diathermy or cryotherapy, and type of prophylactic antibiotic therapy . During the 13 years studied the rate of infection decreased from 2.2% to 0.7% . Treatment requires surgical removal of all foreign material before the inflammatory signs can be cleared . Concurrent appropriate antibiotic therapy also is recommended . With this form of treatment, all but one patient showed a satisfactory response, although 4 patients still have mild conjunctival congestion. J Membr Biol, 1975 Dec 4, 25(1-2), 23 - 45 Nigericin-induced charge transfer across membranes; Markin VS et al.; The electric properties of the bilayer lecithin membranes have been studied in the presence of the antibiotic nigericin . When the antibiotic concentration is about 10(-7) ohm-1 cm-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 concentration gradient is a function of the potassium ion concentration which is equal on both sides of the membrane . For low potassium ion concentrations the hydrogen potential has the expected polarity with the solution having higher concentration of protons negative . For potassium ion concentrations exceeding 0.03 M the hydrogen potential has the reverse polarity . This unexpected result cannot be accounted for in terms of the available simple hypotheses about the charge transport mechanism for nigericin in BLM . 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 . The theoretical predicitons are in satisfactory agreement with the experimental results . The model also yields some predictions which may be verified in future experiments. Chir Ital, 1975 Dec, 27(6), 691 - 9 {A case of non-familial ulcer mutilating acropathy of the foot}; Monteleone R et al.; A case of non-familial pseudo-syringomyelic acropathy is presented; in view of its rarity, numerous hypotheses had to be considered with regard both to diagnosis and to pathogenesis . It was first taken to be an undoubted case of osteomyelitis, but the rapid advance of the osteolytic form, which resisted all treatment both local and general, whether antibiotic, surgical or orthopaedic, led to consideration of the possibility of sarcoma or some other benign tumoral form . The conclusion was reached that doubtful diagnosis can be settled only by bioptic examination, whereas aetiopathogenetic doubts still remain within the field of hypotheses (Lattuada). Gann, 1975 Dec, 66(6), 655 - 61 Potentiation of cytostatic effect of sulfur- or chlorine-containing purines and related ribonucleosides by amphotericin-B on cultured mouse leukemia cells; Kuwano M et al.; Synergistic effects of sulfur-containing purines and related ribonucleosides (6-thioinosine, 6-thioguanine, 6-thiocyanatopurine, 6-methylthioinosine, 6-thiocyanatoguanine, 6-thiocyanatoguanosine, 6-phenacylthioinosine, 6-nitrobenzlythioinosine, 6-(p-chlorobenzyl)thioinosine, 6-(p-nitrobenzyl)thioguanosine, 6-benzylthioinosine, 6-ethylthioinosine, 6-benzylthioguanine, 6-benzylthiopurine, 6-methylthiopurine, and 6-thiocyanatoinosine) and chlorine-containing purine and its ribonucleoside, (6-chloropuine and 6-chloropurine riboside), in combination with the polyene antibiotic, Amphotericin-B, on cell survival and synthesis of DNA were examined in mouse leukemia L5178Y cells . 6-Methylthioinosine, 6-thiocyanatopurine, 6-thiocyanatoinsoine, 6-methylthiopurine, and 6-thiocyanatoguanine (or -guanosine) among sulfur-containing compounds were strongly potentiated by Amphotericin-B, and 6-chloropurine riboside, which is electronically analogous to methylthioinosine, was also enhanced by the polyene . Thiocyanoto or methylthio group at position 6 of the purine ring seems to be important for the polyene-mediated potentiation . 6-Methylthioinosine alone had much greater effect on DNA synthesis of HeLa cells than on L5178Y cells, and Amphotericin-B failed to potentiate the action of 6-methylthioinosine in HeLa cells. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1975 Dec, 80(12), 31 - 4 {Dynamics of Ca2+ transport in rat liver mitochondria in anoxia}; Korkina LG et al.; Tetracycline was used as a fluorescent test-antibiotic for Ca2+ ions in rat liver mitochondria . Incubation of the isolated mitochondria under anaerobic conditions at 20 degrees C resulted in a rapid (in 30-min) loss by the mitochondria of the property to accumulate Ca2+ . Disturbances of the mitochondrial Ca2+-accumulating property during the survival of the liver developed much more slowly (it took over 2 hours) and were not monotonous; the maximal values were recorded during the 5th-10th and the 60th minutes of survival. J Dairy Sci, 1975 Dec, 58(12), 1828 - 35 Effect of drying off practices on mastitis infection; Natzke RP et al.; Two methods of drying off cows, intermittent milking and abrupt cessation, were studied with data from 9254 quarters of cows on 36 New York dairy farms . Eighty percent of the cows were infused with nine different antibiotic preparations separately at drying off, and 20% served as controls . Cows dried off by intermittent milking has a similar number of quarters infected at drying off, had fewer spontaneous recoveries, had a higher rate of cure, and developed fewer new infections in control quarters in comparison with cows dried off by the stop method . Methods worked equally well in treated cows . However, intermittent milking resulted in fewer infections at subsequent calving than stop milking in nondry treated cows . Cows producing less than or equal to 4 kg of milk at drying off were more highly infected than higher producing cows . Hind quarters contained more infections at drying off, fewer responded to therapy, and more infections developed in the dry period . Cows with dry periods of less than or equal to 30 days had more infected quarters respond to therapy and had the fewest new infections in the dry period . The role of routine dry cow therapy in decreasing the number of infections in dairy herds by preventing new infections and removing old infections is demonstrated. Am Surg, 1975 Dec, 41(12), 755 - 60 Diagnosis and management of major vascular injuries: a review of 200 operative cases; Cheek RC et al.; In a series of 250 civilian vascular injuries, 85 per cent were due to firearms and 50 per cent involved the torso, both of which represent an increased frequency of occurrence over other reports . There were 40 deaths, 31 of which occurred during operation or in the recovery room and were due to irreversible shock or coagulopathy . Of the nine late deaths, failure of the vascular repair was responsible for only three . In 124 extremity artery injuries, there were 12 leg amputations (10%) with shotgun wounds responsible for nine and popliteal artery injuries involved in seven . In gunshot wounds of the aorta and iliac arteries, there were five suture line disruptions in nine primary repairs and no disruptions in 11 patients repaired by grafts . The evidence indicates that an antibiotic soaked dacron graft is the method of choice to repair gunshot wounds of the aorta and iliac arteries at this time. J Pediatr Surg, 1975 Dec, 10(6), 959 - 63 Fatal outcome in a child with pseudomembranous colitis; Fee HJ et al.; The clinical and histologic changes occurring with antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis are usually reversible with discontinuation of the causative medication . The spectrum of disease patterns ranges from a benign form to a very fulminant and occasionally fatal one . This report describes a child with a severe form of the disease . Despite recognition and sigmoidoscopic confirmation of this syndrome and cessation of antibiotics, his course continued to deteriorate . Sepsis, leukocytosis, refractory diarrhea, and abdominal distension led to exploratory laparotomy . A proctocolectomy was performed for necrosis of the entire colon; however, the patient died of sepsis. Am J Physiol, 1975 Dec, 229(6), 1520 - 5 Effects of amphotericin B on ionic transport and sodium permeability of the toad lens; Bentley PJ et al.; The polyene antibiotic amphotericin B decreases the PD and short-circuit current (SCC) across the amphibian lens in vitro . It was only effective when placed in the solution at the anterior side and its effect was reversible . Amphotericin B caused a large decline in the PD across the anterior surface of the lens and a smaller reduction in the PD across the posterior side . This seems to be due to a direct decrease of the electrical resistance of the anterior face . The effects required the presence of sodium in the Ringer solution bathing the anterior surface . The translenticular Na fluxes were increased in both directions so that the net flux changed little . Amphotericin B produced a considerable increase in the rate of accumulation of sodium and loss of potassium by the lens . The oxygen consumption of the lens was unchanged by amphotericin B . Amphotericin B appears to act on the lens epithelium by selectively increasing its passive sodium permeability. Acta Orthop Scand, 1975 Dec, 46(6), 968 - 78 Infection following total hip replacement in a general hospital without special orthopaedic facilities; Benson MK et al.; Infection following total hip replacement is a serious complication for it is frequently impossible to resolve without removal of the prosthesis . We have reviewed 321 total hip replacements undertaken in a general hospital without special orthopaedic theatres . There were 17 deep infections, nine early and eight late . Athough the diagnosis of early infection is usually not difficult, the differentiation between late infections, mechanical failure and metal sensitivity may be a problem . This paper discusses the use of ESR, radiographs, isolation of pathogenic organisms and bone scanning in reaching the diagnosis of infection of the hip . There is possibly a parallel between prosthetic infection and subacute bacterial endocarditis . Therefore all intercurrent infections and episodes of trauma should be given an adequate course of a broad spectrum antibiotic . Sterile air and laminar flow systems are discussed and compared with prophylactic antibiotics, both systemic and local, in attempting to reduce the overall rate of infection following total replacement of the hip. J Clin Invest, 1975 Dec, 56(6), 1431 - 41 Effects of taurodihydrofusidate, a bile salt analogue, on bile formation and biliary lipid secretion in the rhesus monkey; Beaudoin M et al.; Bile salts play a major role in bile formation and biliary lipid secretion . Sodium taurodihydrofusidate (TDHF), a derivative of the antibiotic fusidic acid, closely resembles bile salts in terms of structure, micellar characteristics, and capacity ot solubilize otherwise insolbule lipids . We have therefore studied the biliary secretion of this bile salt analogue and its influence on bile formation and biliary lipid secretion in primates . Alert, unanesthetized female rhesus monkeys prepared with a total biliary fistula were allowed to reach a steady bile salt secretion rate before each study . In three animals (group I),{14C}TDHF was infused intravenously . Most of the compound was secreted rapidly in bile chemically unchanged . The biliary secretion of this drug produced a twofold increase in bile flow; however, the bile salt output was markedly reduced during the infusion . In spite of this reduction, the phospholipid output remained essentially unchanged whereas the cholesterol output increased almost twofold . In five other animals (group II), the effect of TDHF on the bile salt secretion was further investigated by an intravenous infusion of {14C}taurocholate followed by a combined infusion of {14C}taurocholate and TDHF . When TDHF was added to the infusate, a reduction in the {14C}taurocholate output and a progressive rise in the plasma {14C}taurocholate concentration were observed in each animal . An analysis of the data in both groups indicates that (a) the most likely explanation to account for the decreased bile salt output is that the bile salt analogue, TDHF, interfered with bile salt secretion into the biliary canaliculi; (b) TDHF induces a greater secretion of biliary water than was observed with bile salts, an effect consistent with a stimulation of the bile salt-independent canalicular flow; (c) at similar 3alpha-hydroxysteroid secretion rates TDHF caused a significant increase in cholesterol secretion compared to that induced by bile salt . This finding suggests that TDHF affects cholesterol metabolism or secretion in a way distinct from bile salts . Thus, the solubilization of biliary lipids in mixed micelles, although essential, is only one of the factors which determine their secretion into bile. Cancer Res, 1975 Dec, 35(12), 3705 - 9 Inhibition of formation of microtubular paracrystals in HeLa-S3 cells by neocarzinostatin; Ebina T et al.; The effect of an antitumor antibiotic, neocarzinostatin (NCS), on the formation of microtubular paracrystals (PC) induced by vinblastine sulfate, 10 mug/ml, in HeLa-S3 cells was examined by phase-contrast microscopy . The pretreatment of HeLa-S3 cells with NCS, 5 to 50 mug/ml, for 4 hr prevented the PC formation, and there was a dose response of NCS to the degree of inhibition . When the same inhibitory effect on PC formation was examined with other antitumor agents at high doses (50 mug/ml), colchicine was found to be one of the most effective agents, like NCS . Puromycin, antimycin, adriamycin, cytochalasin B, and cycloheximide revealed moderate activity, and the other antibiotics, such as mitomycin C, bleomycin, and rifampicin, did not show any effect at all . NCS was a unique antibiotic that inhibited PC formation among inhibitors of DNA synthesis . It was suggested that NCS affects the microfibrillar-microtubular proteins system in vivo, resulting in the inhibitions of organization of spindle fibers from microtubules at the G2 phase in HeLa cells. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1975 Dec, 28(12), 960 - 4 Spectinomycin modification . II . 7-EPI-sectinomycin; Rosenbrook W Jr et al.; 7-Epi-spectinomycin (9) and 7-epi-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin (10) have been prepared and their structure firmly established by proton magnetic resonance . Both of these spectinomycin analogs are devoid of antibiotic activity. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1975 Dec, 28(12), 953 - 9 Spectinomycin modification . I 7-EPI-9-deoxy-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin; Rosenbrook W Jr et al.; 7-EPI-9-deoxy-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin (10) had been prepared and its structure firmly established by complete analysis of its pmr spectrum . This analog of spectinomycin is devoid of antibiotic activity. Leber Magen Darm, 1975 Dec, 5(6), 256 - 64 {Clinical and morphological features during the course of Whipple's disease(author's transl)}; Atefie K et al.; Clinical and histological characteristics of Whipple's disease have been described extensively by various authors, but there are only few reports about repeated documentation of clinical and especially of micromorphological features during the course of the disease . We therefore report a case who was followed closely over a period of 3 years; small bowel biopsy was performed on 6 occasions during this time . Antibiotic therapy brought complete recovery from the disease and was followed by the disappearance of bacillary bodies in the lamina propria of intestinal mucosa . Despite this, many macrophages containing the typical PAS-positive material could still be demonstrated . The development of macrophages as well as etiologic aspects of the disease are discussed. Gann, 1975 Dec, 66(6), 701 - 3 Combined effect of X-ray and bleomycin on cultured mammalian cells; Terasima T et al.; Investigations were carried out with cultured mammalian cell lines to assess the effect of combination of radiation and Bleomycin . When cells were treated with the antibiotic before and during exposure to X-rays, a slight potentiating effect was consistently found . The magnitude of potentiation of the radiation effect appeared to depend on the concentration of Bleomycin . When the cells were treated pulsewise at various periods after irradiation, the potentiating effect was found only during the first 2 hr . Simultaneous application of X-rays and Bleomycin provided the greatest effect. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1975 Dec 1, 413(2), 252 - 64 Reversed transport of amino acids in Ehrlich cells; Johnstone RM; Gramicidin induces a marked Na+-dependent efflux of amino acids from Ehrlich cells . In absence of Na+, gramicidin does not alter the efflux . In presence gramicidin, glycine efflux is inhibited by methionine and less so by leucine . Glycine efflux caused by HgCl2 is neither Na+ dependent nor inhibitable by amino acids . Neither efflux of inositol which is transported by an Na+-dependent route, nor efflux of several other solutes which are transported by Na+-independent routes, is affected by gramicidin . The antibiotic appears to permit a reversal in the direction of of the operation of the Na+-dependent amino acid transport system . The increased efflux is partly, but not entirely, due to an increase in the cellular Na+ concentration and a reduction of the electrochemical potential difference for Na+. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1975 Nov 18, 414(1), 1 - 8 Some characteristics of the DNA-tyrocidine complex and a possible mechanism of the gramicidin action; Ristow H et al.; 1 . The cyclic peptide antibiotic tyrocidine which inhibits RNA synthesis in vitro by forming a complex with the DNA (Schazschneider, B., Ristow, H . and Kleinkauf, H . (1974) Nature 249, 757-759) induces hypochromicity of the DNA . The complex dissociates at elevated temperatures but which are below the melting temperature of the DNA . 2 . The linear peptide antibiotic gramicidin which reverses the inhibitory effect of tyrocidine (Ristow, H., Schazschneider, B., Bauer, K . and Kleinkauf, H . (1975) Biochim . Biophys . Acta 390, 246-252) does not bind to DNA and does not induce hypochromicity of the DNA . However, the DNA-tyrocidine complex dissociates at lower temperatures when gramicidin is present . Thus gramicidin weakens the binding of tyrocidine to DNA . 3 . The presence of DNA quenches the fluorescence of tyrocidine but not that of gramicidin . This quenching of tyrocidine fluorescence is reduced in the presence of gramicidin . 4 . Tyrocidine inhibits transcription of single-stranded DNA as well . This inhibition too can be reversed by gramicidin . Thus the action of the peptides is not dependent on a double-stranded DNA conformation. Ann Sclavo, 1975 Nov-Dec, 17(6), 803 - 16 {Studies on the relation between the production of anti-O and anti-H agglutinins and the specific treatment of typhoid fever}; Ferlazzo B et al.; The AA, studied the behaviour of anti-O and anti-H agglutinins in patients with typhoid fever treated with CAF or with CAF+ corticosteroides . They have shown that, during the treatment with antibiotics, the O-agglutinins, which appeared extremely quickly, can be present at a high level and for a long time in the serum; on the other hand the H-agglutinins are usually present at a lower level and tend to decrease more rapidly . In patients treated with CAF+ corticosteroides the agglutinins behaviour was not substancially different from that in patients treated with antibiotic only . These modifications in humoral immunity are notable only when treatment is begun early . On the basis of the results and of data in the most recent literature, the AA . also discuss the problem of typhoid relapses, the pathogenesis of which cannot depend from the modifications of humoral immunity only. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1975 Nov 1, 105(44), 1439 - 42 {Proceedings: Surgical treatment of infectious endocarditis}; Gradel E; Surgical therapy of infective endocarditis can be undertaken as a prophylactic measure to avoid infection, e.g . in patent ductus arteriosus . In the majority of cases operations are done electively for correction of residual valvular defects ensuing on healed endocarditis . The most challenging problem is cardiac failure in the presence of active infection . While the surgical indication for life-threatening failure is generally recognized, the necessity of early operation, i.e . for acute valvular insufficiency with only mild cardiac failure, is still controverted . Valve replacement to remove a valvular form refractory to antibiotic therapy is less frequently necessary . In fungal endocarditis surgical intervention is recommended as soon as the diagnosis is established . Seven personal cases operated on in the presence of active infection are presented . All survived, but in one patient with fungal endocarditis the infected valve had to be replaced three times before healing was achieved. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1975 Nov, 28(11), 896 - 902 Stimulatory effect of amphotericin B methyl ester on the grwoth of L-M and Vero cells; Fisher PB et al.; The chemically modified polyene macrolide antibiotic, amphotericin B methyl ester (AME), exhibited a concentration-dependent growth stimulatory effect on established lines of mouse (L-M) and monkey (Vero) cells . Stimulation was indicated by increases in growth rate, and in the enhanced synthesis of DNA and RNA . In contrast, the parental antibiotic amphotericin B and the desoxycholate complex of amphotericin B, FungizoneR, did not elicit a similar proliferative response in L-M or Vero cells . AME was not growth-promoting toward low passage strains of mouse (PMK 6) and monkey cells (MGK 8). S Afr Med J, 1975 Nov 1, 49(46), 1907 - 10 Acute renal failure in Indian and Black patients; Seedat YK et al.; This preliminary study of 50 patients suffering from acute renal failure showed the aetiology to be medical in 30 patients, gynaecological in 9 patients, abstetric in 6 patients, and surgical in 5 patients . The commonest medical causes of acute renal failure were septicaemia and nephrotoxins (mainly from herbal medicines) . The commonest gynaecological cause of acute renal failure was self-induced abortion . The relevant clinical and biochemical features are described . In spite of adequate dialysis and antibiotic therapy, the mortality was 34% . Adverse factors affecting prognosis were septicaemia, jaundice, the cause itself of the acute renal failure, and delay in beginning dialysis. J Trauma, 1975 Nov, 15(11), 1014 - 20 Pulmonary aerob