Virology, 1986 Apr 15, 150(1), 178 - 86 Characterization of c-myc proteins from avian bursal lymphoma cell lines; Morgan JH et al.; We have used a rabbit antiserum directed against a portion of the MC29 viral myc protein expressed in bacteria to characterize the cellular myc protein from three different avian bursal lymphoma cell lines (1104HI, 1104BI S13, BK25), and from normal chick embryo cells . The phosphorylated myc proteins immunoprecipitated from these cells varied in molecular weight from 58 to 62 kDa and localized to the cell nucleus, as shown by cell fractionation experiments . Pulse-chase experiments established that these proteins had short half-lives ranging from 12 min for the myc proteins from the 1104BI S13 cell line to 25 min for myc proteins from both the 1104HI and the BK25 cell lines . The structural relatedness of the proteins was established by comparing their partial proteolytic digestion products (Cleveland analysis) with the partial proteolytic digestion products of the MH2 viral myc protein . The anti-myc-serum also immunoprecipitated a 48-kDa protein from each of the bursal cell lines . We have identified this protein as a breakdown product of the bursal cell myc proteins . The different size and number of these bursal cell myc proteins may be a direct result of the specific site of integration as well as the orientation of the retrovirus LTR sequence relative to the adjacent cellular myc allele. Cancer, 1986 Apr 15, 57(8 Suppl), 1648 - 56 The preclinical development of Roferon-A; Trown PW et al.; Interferon alfa-2a (Roferon-A, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, NJ) is identical to one of approximately 15 subtypes of interferon alpha made by human leukocytes and is produced in bacteria using recombinant DNA techniques . In its antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory activities it is similar to leukocyte interferon alpha . These activities are species-restricted and have been demonstrable, thus far, only in humans, certain other primates, bovines, and guinea pigs or cells derived therefrom . The possibility that the toxicity of interferon alfa-2a would also be species-restricted appears to have been confirmed by results obtained thus far . Toxicological studies in rats, mice and several species of monkeys have failed to indicate the side effects that have been observed in humans . However, studies in species in which interferon alfa-2a is active and in others in which it is not, have revealed similar pharmacokinetics and elimination mechanisms. Biochemistry, 1986 Apr 8, 25(7), 1682 - 7 NADPH-cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase: flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide domains evolved from different flavoproteins; Porter TD et al.; The FMN-binding domain of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase, residues 77-228, is homologous with bacterial flavodoxins, while the FAD-binding domain, residues 267-678, shows a high degree of similarity to two FAD-containing proteins, ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase . Comparison of these proteins to glutathione reductase, a flavoprotein whose three-dimensional structure is known, has permitted tentative identification of FAD- and cofactor-binding residues in these proteins . The remarkable conservation of sequence between NADPH-cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase and ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase, coupled with the homology of the FMN-binding domain of the oxidoreductase with the bacterial flavodoxins, implies that NADPH-cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase arose as a result of fusion of the ancestral genes for these two functionally linked flavoproteins. Science, 1986 Apr 4, 232(4746), 15 - 6 Larger public sector role sought on biotech; Crawford M; KIE: Increasing opposition to field tests of genetically altered organisms is causing the biotechnology industry to look to some form of government regulation as a way to calm the public's fears . Industry leaders are concerned that future developments will be subject to costly legal delays unless an efficient regulatory system is in place, although neither the federal government nor industry has been able to determine what standards are needed or what classes of products should be regulated . The two biotechnology trade associations have begun to work on their positions, regulatory legislation has been introduced in Congress, and the roles of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture are about to be defined . There is a divergence of opinion about federally-supported intermediate test facilities, which some industry spokesmen believe would be unnecessary . Am J Physiol, 1986 Apr, 250(4 Pt 1), E367 - 72 Effects of local administration of GH and IGF-1 on longitudinal bone growth in rats; Isgaard J et al.; The effect of local administration of growth hormone (GH) and insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) on longitudinal bone growth was studied in the proximal tibia of hypophysectomized rats, by using the tetracycline method . Human GH (hGH) stimulated local bone growth when administered into the epiphysial growth plate, into the epiphysis through an implanted cannula, or into the knee joint intraarticularly . In contrast, hGH administration into the metaphysis did not cause such a stimulation . The effect of hGH was dose dependent, and the lowest daily dose of hGH that caused a stimulation was 50 ng . hGH produced by cloned bacteria was as effective as pituitary-derived hGH, excluding the possibility of a pituitary growth factor being the active compound . GH from other mammalian species (rat GH, ovine GH, and bacterially produced bovine GH) also stimulated local bone growth . Ovine prolactin (oPRL) stimulated local bone growth but the threshold dose of oPRL was approximately 100 times higher than that of hGH, suggesting that contamination of this preparation by GH may account for the stimulation . Reduced carboxymethylated human GH, that has a greatly reduced anabolic activity, did not stimulate local bone growth . Local administration of 5 micrograms of bacterially produced human IGF-1 per day produced a small but significant effect on unilateral bone growth . Simultaneous administration of hGH had no additive effect with, nor did it potentiate, the stimulatory effect of IGF-1 . The present study confirms and extends earlier investigations, showing that local injection of GH at the site of the epiphysial growth plate stimulates unilateral bone growth . The study also shows that local administration of IGF-1 stimulates longitudinal bone growth. Surg Neurol, 1986 Apr, 25(4), 393 - 6 Phaeohyphomycosis complicating compound skull fracture; Biggs PJ et al.; Intracranial infection is a well-recognized complication of compound skull fractures . In most cases various bacteria are identified as the etiologic agents . Fungal infection complicating open head trauma is unusual . We describe a patient who contracted fatal meningoencephalitis due to Drechslera spicifera, a rarely pathogenic soil saprophyte, after open head trauma. Arch Tierernahr, 1986 Apr-May, 36(4-5), 429 - 54 {Protein and amino acid metabolism in the digestive tract of growing bull calves . 5 . The amino acid flow into the duodenum}; Gabel M et al.; The flow of the individual amino acids (AA) into the duodenum was determined after the feeding of 28 different rations to young bulls supplied with duodenal re-entrant cannulae in the live weight range between 140 and 460 kg . The distribution of AA into AA of bacterial origin and AA from the feed was made by difference calculation between the AA at the duodenum (corrected by the endogenous AA quota) and the AA from the bacteria crude protein, with our own results based on a constant AA composition of the bacteria crude protein; by the regression analysis from relative values according to AAD/app . dig . org . m . = a + b AAF/app . dig . org . m . and by the regression analysis of the absolute values according to AAD = b1 app . dig . org . m . + b2 AAF showed the same results from the regression methods but deviating ones from the difference method . The calculation of the flow of the individual AA into the duodenum from the AA content of the ration and the content of app . dig . org . m . of the ration is possible . The equations derived for this purpose of the individual AA are given. Arch Tierernahr, 1986 Apr-May, 36(4-5), 409 - 18 The effects of different sources of nitrogen supplementation on the post ruminal flows of organic matter and different nitrogenous constituents in steers; McAllan AB et al.; Friesian steers, virtually protozoa free, were equipped with simple rumen and abomasal cannulas . They were given diets consisting of approximately equal proportions of ground, pelleted alkali treated straw and a rolled barley, tapioca mixture supplemented with urea + casein (UC), soybean meal (SBM), 'normal' white fishmeal (NDF) or white fishmeal designated as being of 'low' rumen degradability (LDF) . The diets were isoenergetic (the protein sources replacing part of the tapioca) and they were given in amounts to supply sufficient metabolizable energy (ME) to support an average growth rate of 0.5 kg/d . Rumen degradable nitrogen (RDN): ME values were estimated to be 2.08, 1.40, 1.90 and 1.66 for diets UC, SBM, NDF and LDF respectively . RNA, alpha-epsilon-diaminopimelic acid and 35S (added as sulphate) were used as bacterial markers . Chromic oxide and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were given as flow markers and flows (g/24 h) at the abomasum of organic matter (OM) and nitrogenous constituents were calculated . Rumen volumes and ruminal liquid fractional outflow rates were measured using PEG . Samples of mixed rumen bacteria separated from strained rumen digesta from animals receiving diet UC contained significantly less DAP-N (0.322 g/kg DM) than those from animals receiving diets SBM, NDF or LDF (0.530 g/kg DM) . Mean rumen volume (approximately 15 l) and liquid fractional outflow rates (approximately 0.105/h) were similar on all diets but there was appreciable variation between animals . The proportion of OM intake digested in the rumen was similar on all diets . The proportional contribution of bacterial-N to the total non-ammonia-N passing the abomasum based on mean values derived from DAP and 35S as markers was 0.57, 0.47, 0.39 and 0.31 for diets UC, SBM, NDF and LDF respectively . Corresponding values based on RNA were 0.71, 0.50, 0.48 and 0.35 respectively . Bacterial-N (RNA) flows at the abomasum were 31, 25, 26 and 20 g/d for diets UC, SBM, NDF and LDF respectively . Corresponding values for 35S and DAP were 26, 24, 21 and 18 g/d respectively . Values derived from RNA flows were consistently and significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than those based on DAP or 35S . Mean estimated efficiencies of bacterial protein synthesis (g bacterial-N/kg OM truly digested) were 15, 15, 14 and 12 for diets UC, SBM, NDF and LDF respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Jpn J Exp Med, 1986 Apr, 56(2), 51 - 60 Neuropathogenesis of Tyzzer's organism in intranasally infected mice; Okada N et al.; The neuropathogenesis of Tyzzer's organism was comparatively studied in suckling and weanling mice after intranasal inoculation . In sucklings, suppurative rhinitis was produced in 24 hr postinoculation (p.i.) and organisms were detected in olfactory as well as supporting cells of the nasal mucosa . The lesions later developed to the lamina propria and propagation of organisms was seen within basal and glandular cells . On day 3 p.i., some organisms were found along with the olfactory nerve fibers and within neurons in the olfactory bulbs . Meningoencephalitis was produced with intraneuronal growth of bacteria on day 5 p.i . or later . On day 7 p.i., the brain lesions spread multifocally to the posterior parts and bacterial antigen in the nasal mucosa disappeared . In weanlings, infection was first established in the nasal mucosa and then some necrotized lesions were produced in the olfactory bulbs though much less in severity as compared to those of sucklings . Both suckling and weanling mice had necrotizing hepatitis while hemorrhagic enteritis was seen only in some sucklings. Int Surg, 1986 Apr-Jun, 71(2), 115 - 6 Emphysematous cholecystitis; Gerritsen GP; Emphysematous cholecystitis is an acute inflammation of the gallbladder caused by gas forming bacteria . The diagnosis is easily made on a plain abdominal X-ray showing air in the gallbladder . A fatal case is presented and some aspects of the disease are discussed. Jikken Dobutsu, 1986 Apr, 35(2), 199 - 202 {Hygienic effect of periodical draining from auto-watering piping for laboratory animal breeding}; Takiguchi K et al.; To prevent the bacterial contamination of the drinking water, we developed a periodical draining machine system which were composed of the electromagnetic valve and the time switch . The machine system is able to replace standing water with fresh water on optional volumes and intervals . The total bacterial numbers of standing water were counted as an indicator of the bacterial contamination . The number of total bacteria were reduced to less than 5 per ml by working the machine system on 6-hour-interval with replacing twice as much as standing water, although more than 10(3) per ml of the bacteria were found when the system was not operated . It was demonstrated that the periodical draining of the machine prevented the drinking water in auto-watering piping from bacterial contamination. Hepatogastroenterology, 1986 Apr, 33(2), 66 - 70 The role of protein metabolism in 204 liver cirrhotics with and without hepatic encephalopathy . II . Amino acids, free phenols and indoles; Muting D et al.; Toxic protein metabolites are assumed to play an important role in the multifactorial pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) . To investigate this, we examined the serum levels of free amino acids, free phenols and indoles in 100 healthy adults, and in 124 liver cirrhotics with HE and 80 without HE . We found a significant increase in free serum phenols and indican already in liver cirrhosis without portal hypertension (PH) and HE . In stage III and IV HE large amounts of p-hydroxy-phenyl lactic acid were detected, which was not the case in cirrhotics without HE . In HE the increase in free serum phenols and indican was much higher than that of the mother substances tyrosine and tryptophan . The quotient BCAA/AAA was decreased significantly already in PH without HE . In addition to the increased formation by intestinal bacteria, a diminished oxidative capacity of the cirrhotic liver seems to be one of the main causes of the increased serum levels of toxic protein metabolites in HE. J Wildl Dis, 1986 Apr, 22(2), 209 - 13 Gyrodactylus salmonis (Yin and Sproston, 1948) parasitizing fry of Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill); Cusack R et al.; Fry of brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill), were infected under controlled conditions with Gyrodactylus salmonis (Yin and Sproston, 1948) and the course of infection followed for 22 days in four groups of 40 fish and for 60 days in a group of 200 fish . Between 15 and 44% mortality occurred among infected groups compared with less than 5% in noninfected control groups . Intensely infected moribund fish were cachexic, lethargic, and often darkened in color . Histologic studies revealed that intensely infected fish had a thinner epidermis with fewer goblet cells than control fish . Internally the only obvious lesions involved the kidney where there was extensive tubular degeneration and necrosis . It is hypothesized that attachment and grazing activity by G . salmonis can lead directly to death of fry through disruption of the osmotic permeability of the epidermis . There was no evidence of secondary invasion by bacteria or fungi. Biochem Soc Trans, 1986 Apr, 14(2), 383 - 7 Peptide derivatives as prodrugs; Thomas WA; The results quoted here suggest strongly that peptides as prodrugs are a real possibility for future forms of therapy . Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability are certainly altered by such modifications, usually in a positive sense . The possibilities in utilizing active transport permeases to direct drugs to the desired receptor are an obvious reality, and will undoubtedly lead to new methods for treating bacterial, fungal or even viral infections, and for improved ways of presenting anti-tumour agents . The number of patents appearing in this field is indicative of the interest shown in the pharmaceutical industry. EMBO J, 1986 Apr, 5(4), 793 - 8 In vitro binding of LexA repressor to DNA: evidence for the involvement of the amino-terminal domain; Hurstel S et al.; Both the amino-terminal and the carboxy-terminal domain of the LexA repressor have been purified using the LexA protein autodigestion reaction at alkaline pH, which leads to the same specific products as the physiological RecA-catalyzed proteolysis of repressor . We show by circular dichroism (c.d) that, upon non-specific binding to DNA, the purified amino-terminal domain induces a very similar if not identical conformational change of the DNA as does the entire repressor . The positive c.d . signal increases approximately 3-fold if the DNA lattice is fully saturated with protein . Further, the amino-terminal domain of the LexA protein binds specifically to the operator of the recA gene, producing qualitatively the same effects on the methylation pattern of the guanine bases by dimethylsulfate as the entire repressor, consisting of a methylation inhibition effect at four distal operator guanines and a slight enhancement at the central bases . The spacing between these contacts suggests that LexA does not bind to the operator along the same face of the DNA helix . As shown by c.d . studies the amino-terminal domain harbours a substantial amount of residues in alpha-helical conformation, a prerequisite for DNA recognition via a helix--turn--helix structural motif as proposed for many other regulatory proteins. Br J Surg, 1986 Apr, 73(4), 295 - 7 Incidence of bile reflux in gastric ulcer and after partial gastrectomy; Poxon V et al.; Duodenogastric bile reflux (DGBR) is reported to be increased in patients with gastric ulcer (GU) and following Billroth I partial gastrectomy (BIPG) . pH, total bacterial counts, and total and free bile acids were measured in gastric juice aspirated hourly for 24 h in 6 patients with GU, 7 patients with a BIPG performed for GU and in 8 healthy normal controls . Intragastric pH was significantly higher in the BIPG group during the day (P less than 0.001) and at night (P less than 0.001) compared with normals and the GU group . There were no differences between GUs and normal patients . Bile acid concentrations in the gastric juice were not significantly different between GU and control groups over the 24 h . Median and range values were 0.14 (0.06-0.52) mmol l-1 in GU patients and 0.14 (0.05-0.67) mmol l-1 in the normals . However total bile acid concentrations were significantly greater in the BIPG group (0.23, 0.04-0.84) compared with GU or controls . (P = 0.04, P = 0.02) . Our data do not support the role of DGBR in the pathogenesis of GU, but deoxycholic acid was detected in significantly greater amounts in BIPG subjects than controls (chi 2 = 12.94, P less than 0.001) or GU subjects (none detected) and may be important in the pathogenesis of gastric stump cancer. Infect Control, 1986 Apr, 7(4), 223 - 6 The antiseptic efficacy of chlorxylenol-containing vs . chlorhexidine gluconate-containing surgical scrub preparations; Soulsby ME et al.; The studies described here evaluate the efficacy of the chlorxylenol-containing surgical scrub formulations against the chlorhexidine gluconate-containing formulations using the Glove Juice Test, as recommended by the FDA's panel to develop guidelines for the study of antiseptic agents . Similar reports from the literature evaluating the relative efficacies of the iodophor-containing and the hexachlorophene-containing formulations are cited . Results fail to detect any significant differences in the efficacy of these two preparations, each significantly reducing the bacterial flora on the hands as indicated by immediate post-wash colony counts, and each demonstrating the continuing ability to significantly reduce bacterial growth with continued regular use. Arq Gastroenterol, 1986 Apr-Jun, 23(2), 70 - 5 {Prevention of infection in closure surgery in colostomies . Double-blind study with tinidazole}; Cunha JC et al.; A comparative double-blind study of tinidazole vs placebo was conducted in order to assess the prophylaxis of post-surgical abdominal infections in 40 patients undergoing closure colostomy surgery . During three days the patients were kept on a low residue diet, and underwent a colon mechanical cleansing . About 10 to 12 hours prior to surgery the patients were given placebo or tinidazole in tablets of identical appearance; the dose of tinidazole was of 2 g (4 tablets) in a single oral dose . Evaluation performed after surgery showed that in the tinidazole group occurred two surgical mild infections (10%), while in placebo group occurred nine infections (45%)--four of them severe and one very severe, showing a significative difference between the two groups (p less than 0.05) . In placebo group 21 bacteria were isolated, 3 of them were anaerobic; only two aerobic species were identified in the tinidazole group (p less than 0.001) . No adverse reactions were reported in both groups . The authors concluded that in this study, tinidazole showed a prophylactic effect on post-surgical abdominal infections in patients who underwent closure colostomy surgery. Vet Microbiol, 1986 Apr, 11(4), 357 - 72 Studies on the purification of the leucocidin of Fusobacterium necrophorum and its neutralization by specific antisera; Emery DL et al.; Leucocidin from several strains of Fusobacterium necrophorum was partially purified by gel filtration on Fractogel HW55 (F), the majority of the activity being present in the 50 ml of filtrate collected after 1.1 void volumes had passed through the column (termed Fraction 1, or #1) . The material also contained lipopolysaccharide in 12.5% SDS-PAGE gels run under reducing conditions, but the protein did not migrate into 7.5% PAGE gels run under non-reducing conditions . Rabbit and bovine antisera to the leucocidin possessed antibodies against antigens in concentrated, washed culture supernates from toxigenic F . necrophorum and neutralized the leucocidal activity of such supernates . Absorption of the antisera with homologous, washed F . necrophorum cells reduced ELISA antibody titres by greater than 50%, but decreased neutralization titres by 15% . Absorbed rabbit IgG anti-#1 precipitated a single rocket in crossed immunoelectrophoresis and identified two proteins, of molecular weights (M.W.) 14 000 and 13 000, and 1 protein of M.W . 13 500 in immunoblots from toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains, respectively . An additional protein of M.E . 103 000 was present after SDS-PAGE separation of supernates from toxigenic but not non-toxigenic F . necrophorum and was not present in whole cell components . It was considered that the leucocidin may be present in a dimeric form in culture supernates from toxigenic strains . Antisera to leucocidins from several strains of F . necrophorum exhibited variable neutralization titres against leucocidins from heterologous bacteria. J Clin Periodontol, 1986 Apr, 13(4), 249 - 57 Calculus revisited . A review; Mandel ID et al.; Although there is no doubt that gingivitis can develop in the absence of supragingival calculus, it is not clear to what extent the presence of mineralized deposit enhances gingival inflammation . Partial inhibition of plaque mineralization can be accomplished by chemical agents, but there has been no demonstration in humans of a reduction in gingivitis . It remains to be established what level of inhibition (if any) is required to have more than a cosmetic effect . Since the accepted scenario is that apical growth of supragingival plaque precedes the formation of subgingival calculus, there is no longer an issue of whether subgingival calculus is the cause or the result of periodontal disease . Subgingival mineralization results from the interaction of subgingival plaque with the influx of mineral salts that is part of the serum transudate and inflammatory exudate . This chronology, however, should not be the basis for relegating calculus to the ash heap . Morphologic and analytical studies point to the porosity of calculus and retention of bacterial antigens and the presence of readily available toxic stimulators of bone resorption . When coupled with the increased build up of plaque on the surface of the calculus, the combination has the potential for extending (beyond that of plaque alone) the radius of destruction and the rate of displacement of the adjacent junctional epithelium . The centrality of thorough scaling and root planing in the successful maintenance of periodontal health supports the view that subgingival calculus contributes significantly to the chronicity and progression of the disease, even if it can no longer be considered as responsible for initiation. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Apr, 29(4), 625 - 7 Prevention of traveler's diarrhea by the tablet form of bismuth subsalicylate; Steffen R et al.; In a randomized double-blind study, Swiss adults traveling to tropical countries for 12 to 28 days took a solid formulation of bismuth subsalicylate (1.05 or 2.1 g/day on a twice-daily regimen) or placebo . Efficacy was evaluated in 231 volunteers . Diarrheal incidence was reduced by 41% in persons taking the high dose (P = 0.007) and by 35% in those taking the low dose (P = 0.03) with excellent compliance . No serious adverse reactions occurred, but objectionable taste, constipation, and nausea were seen more frequently with active medication (P = 0.04) . Twenty patients provided stool samples: no bacteria were detected in the 8 volunteers who were on active medication, but various bacteria were found in 5 of the 12 patients who had taken placebo (P = 0.04). J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Apr, 17 Suppl B, 111 - 5 Efficacy and safety of pefloxacin in the treatment of severe infections in patients hospitalized in intensive care units; Lauwers S et al.; Sixteen patients, 14 with an infection of the lower respiratory tract and two with cholangitis, were treated with pefloxacin 400 mg bid or tid . The original pathogens were eradicated in all but one patient . Pefloxacin therapy resulted in clinical cure in 11 patients, three patients were improved clinically and in two patients a clinical failure was observed . No adverse effects were noticed during or after pefloxacin administration. J Periodontol, 1986 Apr, 57(4), 218 - 24 Effect of metronidazole on development of subgingival plaque and experimental periodontitis; Polson AM et al.; Active tissue destruction in experimental periodontitis has been positively correlated with subgingival spirochetes and total number of organisms . The present study was designed to inhibit spirochete populations and evaluate the effect upon periodontal destruction . Metronidazole was administered orally to four squirrel monkeys (100 mg/kg/bwt) for 17 days . After 3 days, marginal periodontitis was induced around bicuspids and molars by tying silk ligatures at the gingival margins . Subgingival plaque samples were taken baseline and 14 days after ligature placement . Dark-field microscopy quantitated motile forms, spirochetes, straight and curved rods, filament, cocci and fusiforms . Periodontal destruction was evaluated at 2 weeks by histometric analysis of connective tissue attachment, crestal alveolar bone and infiltrated connective tissue . Bacterial and histometric comparisons were made with experimental periodontitis data from four animals (control) which had not received metronidazole . Subgingival plaque prior to periodontitis induction was dominated by cocci, but fusiforms and straight rods were also present . Straight rods formed a greater proportion of the plaque which developed in metronidazole-receiving animals . The absence of spirochetes and motile rods contrasted with the control group where spirochetes were the predominant type . The total number of bacteria was also larger in the control animals . Histometric analysis showed that areas of infiltrated supracrestal connective tissue were similar in both groups . Loss of connective tissue attachment and alveolar bone was significantly less in experimental animals, and the latter values did not differ significantly from baseline dimensions . The results indicated that the subgingival bacterial populations which developed during metronidazole administration did not result in an experimental periodontitis. Mol Cell Biol, 1986 Apr, 6(4), 1102 - 7 Enhanced mutagenesis of UV-irradiated simian virus 40 occurs in mitomycin C-treated host cells only at a low multiplicity of infection; Sarasin A et al.; Treatment of monkey kidney cells with mitomycin C (MMC) 24 h prior to infection with UV-irradiated simian virus 40 (SV40) enhanced both virus survival and virus mutagenesis . The use of SV40 as a biological probe has been taken as an easy method to analyse SOS response of mammalian cells to the stress caused by DNA damage or inhibition of DNA replication . The mutation assay we used was based on the reversion from a temperature-sensitive phenotype (tsA58 mutant) to a wild-type phenotype . The optimal conditions for producing enhanced survival and mutagenesis in the virus progeny were determined with regard to the multiplicity of infection (MOI) . Results showed that the level of enhanced mutagenesis observed for UV-irradiated virus grown in MMC-treated cells was an inverse function of the MOI, while enhanced survival was observed at nearly the same level regardless of the MOI . For the unirradiated virus, almost no increase in the mutation of virus progeny issued from MMC-treated cells was observed, while a small amount of enhanced virus survival was obtained . These results show that enhanced virus mutagenesis and enhanced virus survival can be dissociated under some experimental conditions . Enhanced virus mutagenesis, analogous to the error-prone replication of phages in SOS-induced bacteria, was observed, at least for SV40, only when DNA of both virus and host cells was damaged and when infection occurred with a small number of viral particles . We therefore hypothesize that an error-prone replication mode of UV-damaged templates is observed in induced monkey kidney cells. J Bacteriol, 1986 Apr, 166(1), 349 - 52 Transposonlike elements in Caedibacter taeniospiralis; Quackenbush RL et al.; We report that the 1.5- and 7.5-kilobase-pair (kbp) transposonlike sequences present in the R-body-coding plasmids of Caedibacter taeniospiralis share homology . The R-body-coding plasmids of two new strains of C . taeniospiralis, derived from strains 169 and A30, carry the 7.5- and 1.5-kbp elements, respectively, inserted at new positions . Sequences homologous to the 7.5-kbp sequence from C . taeniospiralis 47 were detected in the chromosomes of three other strains of C . taeniospiralis. Scand J Dent Res, 1986 Apr, 94(2), 154 - 63 Monkey pulp reactions to restorative materials; Horsted PB et al.; Deep buccal cavities in 99 teeth in eight young monkeys were filled with the following combination of materials: a light-cured microfilled composite with or without a base, a chemically cured composite with a base, a silicate cement, and a zinc oxide-eugenol cement . The acid etch technique and intermediate layer of resin was used in the composite group . Pulp reactions and presence and location of bacteria were studied after 8 days and after 90 days . In the short observation period the inflammatory reactions were more pronounced when unlined composite fillings were evaluated compared with silicate cement fillings and with lined fillings . Bacteria were seen in all unlined cavities and a significant association between presence of bacteria and moderate to severe inflammatory responses was found . The most severe inflammatory reactions were seen when bacteria were found in the dentinal tubules . After 90 days slight inflammatory changes prevailed in all groups . A significant correlation between bacteria and inflammatory reactions could still be observed. Agents Actions, 1986 Apr, 18(1-2), 262 - 5 Collagen-derived peptides release mast cell histamine; Wize J et al.; The effect of collagen degradation products by bacterial (BCDP) and synovial fluid collagenase (SCDP) on histamine release from peritoneal mast cells of rat was estimated . Some BCDP as well as SCDP released 60-80% of mast cell histamine . In BCDP fraction the most active were BCDP II (m.wt . 13 kD) and BCDP III (m.wt . 6 kD) . The last contained the highest percentage of hydroxyproline . As compared with bradykinin, BCDP III was about 50 fold more active as histamine releaser. J Interferon Res, 1986 Apr, 6(2), 107 - 14 Interferon inhibits the growth of Legionella micdadei in mouse L cells; Whitaker Dowling P et al.; The intracellular growth of Legionella micdadei was inhibited in mouse L cells treated with interferon (IFN) . This IFN-mediated restriction was dose-dependent and required preincubation of the L cells with high doses of IFN (1,000 U/ml) for maximal inhibition . Incubation of L . micdadei with IFN alone had no detectable effect on growth of the bacteria . The IFN-mediated growth restriction was not dependent upon tryptophan concentration in the culture medium. Anal Biochem, 1986 Apr, 154(1), 132 - 7 Bioluminescent immunoassay for alpha-fetoprotein; Terouanne B et al.; A bioluminescent immunoassay of alpha-fetoprotein is described . It uses monoclonal antibodies labeled with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and polyclonal antibodies coimmobilized on Sepharose with bioluminescent enzymes from marine bacteria . The bioluminescent reaction which occurs in the immunosorbent is proportional to the amount of alpha-fetoprotein in the assay . The protocol is simple and rapid, and no separation step is required to remove the excess labeled antibodies . The assay can be performed directly on 25 microliters serum and it is as sensitive as other immunometric assays. Nucleic Acids Res, 1986 Mar 25, 14(6), 2621 - 36 The promoters of the genes for colicin production, release and immunity in the ColA plasmid: effects of convergent transcription and Lex A protein; Lloubes R et al.; The initiation sites of transcription in vivo for the three genes caa, cai and cal encoding respectively colicin A (Caa), the immunity protein (Cai) and the pColA lysis protein (Cal) have been analysed by nuclease S1 mapping . This analysis demonstrates that caa and cal form an operon . cai is located between these two genes and transcribed in the opposite direction from its own promoter . The start sites for caa and cai have also been determined in vitro . For caa, the same start site was found in vivo and in vitro . In contrast, for cai the most efficient start site in vitro was not used in vivo . LexA protein strongly repressed the in vivo and in vitro transcription of the caa-cal operon . As determined by DNase 1 protection experiments, LexA protein binds with a high affinity to an approximately 40 bp long sequence just downstream of the Pribnow box . The sequence of the binding site is composed of two overlapped "SOS boxes" . Two transcripts of the caa-cal operon were detected by blot hybridization . The longer mRNA can direct the synthesis of both Caa and Cal while the shorter one is terminated at the end of caa . When the transcription of the caa-cal operon is induced, there is a strong interference with cai transcription. FEBS Lett, 1986 Mar 17, 198(1), 61 - 5 In vitro study of the interaction of the LexA repressor and the UvrC protein with a uvrC regulatory region; Granger-Schnarr M et al.; The in vitro interaction of the LexA repressor with a regulatory region of the uvrC gene has been studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Although the uvrC promoter region shows some homology with the canonic LexA binding site, no specific binding of the repressor to this DNA sequence could be observed, but only a cooperative nonspecific binding . By the same technique we show that the UvrC protein does not bind specifically to this regulatory DNA sequence either, although the protein is able to bind nonspecifically and cooperatively to the double-stranded DNA fragment. Nucleic Acids Res, 1986 Mar 11, 14(5), 2269 - 85 Total reconstitution of active large ribosomal subunits of the thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus; Londei P et al.; The large ribosomal subunit of the extremely thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus has been reconstituted from the completely dissociated RNA and proteins by a two-step incubation procedure at high temperatures . Successful reconstitution requires a preliminary incubation of the ribosomal components for 45 min at 65 degrees C, followed by a second heat-treatment at 80 degrees C for 60 min . Structural reassembly depends upon high concentrations of K+ (300-400 mM) and Mg2+ (20-40 mM) ions . In addition, complete recovery of subunit function stringently requires the presence of a polyamine, thermine (or spermine) . The reconstituted archaebacterial subunits are essentially indistinguishable from the native ones by a number of structural and functional criteria. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, 1986 Mar-Apr, 10(2), 184 - 7 Protective effect of vitamin E in rats with acute liver injury; Sclafani L et al.; We have previously shown that supplemental vitamin E has a cytoprotective effect in the liver of rats with chronic CCL4-induced liver cirrhosis . In this study, we hypothesized that vitamin E would have a protective effect in acute liver injury induced by D-galactosamine . D-Galactosamine-induced injury has been thought to be due to a synergistic direct toxic effect and presence of intestinal bacteria and/or endotoxins . D-Galactosamine was used to induce acute "hepatitis" (1.5-2.0 g/Kg body weight, ip) . Rats were placed on either standard chow or the same chow supplemented with vitamin E (300 mg DL-alpha-tocopherol/Kg diet) and 6 days later were given D-galactosamine . There was significantly improved early (5-day) survival and late (14-day) survival in the vitamin E-supplemented group . The vitamin E beneficial effect was manifested also by decreased liver fat and collagen content and decreased SGPT level . Because bacterial endotoxins have been implicated as playing a role in the pathogenesis of D-galactosamine hepatitis, the same experiment was carried out using germ-free and conventional rats . There was significantly improved survival in both the germ-free and conventional vitamin E-supplemented groups both at 5 and 14 days . There was no significant difference between conventional and germ-free rats with or without vitamin E supplementation . In summary (a) vitamin E improves the early fat and collagen accumulation in the liver, decreases SGPT level, and improves survival in the D-galactosamine experimental model of acute liver injury in both conventional and germ-free rats; and (b) D-galactosamine toxicity is probably not mediated through intestinal bacteria and/or endotoxins. J Am Geriatr Soc, 1986 Mar, 34(3), 192 - 8 Correlates and consequences of eating dependency in institutionalized elderly; Siebens H et al.; Loss of independent eating capacity is a major problem for the institutionalized elderly . Few studies have examined the factors associated with loss of functional eating capacity . The authors cross-sectionally studied 240 residents of a skilled nursing facility, classified their functional eating status, identified correlated deficits, and followed these residents for six months . Information was gathered through questionnaires, chart review, and physical examinations . Residents were stratified into independent (68%, N = 164) and dependent (32%, N = 76) eating status groups according to the need for physical assistance during meals . Dependency status did not correlate with age (P = .88) or weight loss (P = .27) . Loss of independence in eating was associated with impaired mobility (P = .0001), impaired cognition (P = .0001), modified consistency diets (P = .0001), upper extremity dysfunction (P = .0001), abnormal oral-motor examinations (P = .0002), absence of teeth and dentures (P = .002), behavioral indicators of abnormal oral and pharyngeal stages of swallowing (P = .0001), and increased mortality within six months (P = .0001) . Eating dependency is therefore associated with multiple impairments and early mortality. Obstet Gynecol, 1986 Mar, 67(3), 443 - 6 Vaginoplasty using amnion; Ashworth MF et al.; Fifteen patients with various developmental and acquired abnormalities of the vagina were treated by the application of human amnion over a mold after surgical dissection of a space for the new vagina or enlargement of an existing but strictured one . Excellent results were achieved in cases of complete and partial vaginal agenesis, and there was improvement in all of the patients with vaginal strictures. Adv Contracept, 1986 Mar, 2(1), 37 - 54 The Ljubljana IUDs: further observations on surface morphology; Keith LG et al.; Twelve IUDs that had been worn from 8 years 10 months to 24 years were examined by SEM . Photomicrographs of selected samples are shown, and a discussion of the nature of the surface encrustations is provided . The authors are of the opinion that surface encrustations are generic to different types of IUDs and that their clinical significance is presently unknown. J Gen Microbiol, 1986 Mar, 132 ( Pt 3), 839 - 43 Mycobactin and the competition for iron between Mycobacterium neoaurum and M . vaccae; Hall RM et al.; Two closely related species of mycobacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae and M . neoaurum, were grown under conditions of iron-deficiency (0.02-0.05 microgram Fe ml-1) and iron-sufficiency (2-4 micrograms Fe ml-1) in a simple glycerol/asparagine medium . The strain of M . vaccae used was a nonmycobactin producer whereas M . neoaurum synthesized between 6-8% of its cell biomass as the lipid-soluble siderophore when grown under iron-limitation . The role of mycobactin for iron-acquisition was examined using both pure and mixed cultures, with cell viability determined following growth at various iron concentrations . M . neoaurum, the mycobactin producer, outgrew M . vaccae when iron was readily available . When grown under conditions where iron was limiting, M . neoaurum showed a decline in viable cell number compared with its competitor, highlighting its increased requirement for the metal . Some recovery was observed following mycobactin biosynthesis, this being greatly enhanced by the addition of an iron supplement to the growing cells . Mycobactin biosynthesis allowed M . neoaurum to rapidly acquire any additional iron presented to the bacteria when growing under iron-limitation . However, M . vaccae did not synthesize the lipid-soluble siderophore with its iron-requirement satisfied by production of extracellular exochelin. Scand J Gastroenterol, 1986 Mar, 21(2), 193 - 8 Epidemiology of polyps in the rectum and sigmoid colon . Evaluation of breath methane and predisposition for colorectal neoplasia; Hoff G et al.; The clinical significance of methanogenic bacteria in large-bowel carcinogenesis has not been established so far . As part of a screening study of a randomized population sample of 200 men and 200 women aged 50-59 years, the present breath methane study was designed to gain further information on methane excretion in relation to premalignant colorectal lesions, familial cancer disposition, and dietary fat and fiber . Testing for breath methane excretion did not contribute towards the identification of individuals with premalignant colorectal lesions and therefore should probably not be considered a screening tool. Environ Health Perspect, 1986 Mar, 65, 351 - 61 Indirect health effects of relative humidity in indoor environments; Arundel AV et al.; A review of the health effects of relative humidity in indoor environments suggests that relative humidity can affect the incidence of respiratory infections and allergies . Experimental studies on airborne-transmitted infectious bacteria and viruses have shown that the survival or infectivity of these organisms is minimized by exposure to relative humidities between 40 and 70% . Nine epidemiological studies examined the relationship between the number of respiratory infections or absenteeism and the relative humidity of the office, residence, or school . The incidence of absenteeism or respiratory infections was found to be lower among people working or living in environments with mid-range versus low or high relative humidities . The indoor size of allergenic mite and fungal populations is directly dependent upon the relative humidity . Mite populations are minimized when the relative humidity is below 50% and reach a maximum size at 80% relative humidity . Most species of fungi cannot grow unless the relative humidity exceeds 60% . Relative humidity also affects the rate of offgassing of formaldehyde from indoor building materials, the rate of formation of acids and salts from sulfur and nitrogen dioxide, and the rate of formation of ozone . The influence of relative humidity on the abundance of allergens, pathogens, and noxious chemicals suggests that indoor relative humidity levels should be considered as a factor of indoor air quality . The majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimized by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60% . This would require humidification during winter in areas with cold winter climates . Humidification should preferably use evaporative or steam humidifiers, as cool mist humidifiers can disseminate aerosols contaminated with allergens. Agents Actions, 1986 Mar, 17(5-6), 466 - 71 Formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine causes bronchoconstriction in rabbits; Berend N et al.; Formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) is a synthetic acylated oligopeptide related to chemotactic peptides released by bacteria . In order to determine whether FMLP causes bronchoconstriction in vivo, we studied the effects of nebulized FMLP on lung resistance (RL) in the rabbit . In fourteen rabbits baseline RL was measured and than dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) alone and 0.3, 1, 3 and 10 mg/ml FMLP in DMSO was nebulized and inhaled by the rabbits over periods of 2 min each . After each concentration the RL was re-measured and the results expressed as a % of the RL following DMSO alone . In 6 rabbits the response to serial nebulization of DMSO alone was 5.5 +/- 10.4% (mean +/- 2 SD) . In 8 rabbits receiving FMLP there was a dose dependent increase in RL of 20% or greater whereas 6 rabbits failed to respond . Since there are known receptors for FMLP on neutrophils, 10 further rabbits were rendered neutropenic using nitrogen mustard and then studied as above . Eight of these rabbits failed to respond significantly to FMLP whereas 2 had a 20% or greater increase in RL . In each bronchial specimen from 6 additional rabbits FMLP failed to induce airway contraction in vitro . We conclude that FMLP causes a variable degree of bronchoconstriction in rabbits, that this response may, in part, be mediated via the neutrophil and is unlikely to be due to direct smooth muscle contraction. Res Vet Sci, 1986 Mar, 40(2), 219 - 24 Aetiology of food-related oral lesions in chickens; Gentle MJ; Brown Leghorn chickens fed on a mash diet developed ulcerated oral lesions with extensive epithelial erosion and large colonies of bacteria . Some birds had lesions by six weeks old and by 30 weeks oral lesions were present in all birds fed on a mash diet . These lesions occur infrequently in birds fed a pelleted diet and the relatively extensive lesions shown by birds on a mash diet heal quickly (in many cases within two weeks) when the birds are transferred to a pelleted diet . The cause of the lesion is unknown but there was no evidence for food impaction, mechanical damage to the epithelium, specific dietary constituents or blocked salivary ducts . The lesions may be due to poor oral hygiene which results from the lack of mechanical stimulation of the oral epithelium to which fine particles of mash adhere. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis, 1986 Mar, 54(1), 1 - 10 Adenosine triphosphate content of Mycobacterium leprae isolated from armadillo tissue by Percoll buoyant density centrifugation; Kvach JT et al.; A buoyant density centrifugation procedure using Percoll was developed for the isolation and purification of Mycobacterium leprae from experimentally infected armadillo liver tissue . The method separates the bacteria from host adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and tissue debris and recovers 20-25% of the bacteria within 2-2 1/2 hours under controlled conditions . The mean ATP content (585 pg/10(6} of the purified bacteria was similar to cultivable bacteria . The organisms did not leak intracellular ATP when exposed to phosphate buffer . Temperature-dependent ATP synthesis was observed within minutes and could be inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol . Freeze-thawing M . leprae as purified suspensions in buffer damaged the organisms, resulting in decreased ATP levels and an accelerated loss of ATP upon incubation under defined conditions . In vitro treatment with the antileprosy drug clofazimine increased the rate of ATP decay directly proportional to drug concentration. J Clin Immunol, 1986 Mar, 6(2), 107 - 13 Clinical and laboratory features of patients with an inherited deficiency of neutrophil membrane complement receptor type 3 (CR3) and the related membrane antigens LFA-1 and p150,95; Ross GD; Over the last 3 years a group of more than 20 patients has been described worldwide who have a similar history of recurrent bacterial infections and an inherited deficiency of three related leukocyte membrane surface antigens known as CR3, LFA-1 (lymphocyte function-associated antigen type 1), and p150,95 (function unknown) . These antigens share a common beta-chain structure linked noncovalently to one of three distinct alpha-chain types . It is believed that the patients with this disease have a reduced or absent ability to synthesize the common beta subunit of the antigen family, resulting in absent or reduced expression of all three antigen family members on different leukocyte types . Neutrophils have a reduced phagocytic and respiratory burst response to bacteria and yeast as well as a reduced ability to adhere to various substrates and migrate into sites of infection . In vitro functional studies of normal neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes treated with monoclonal antibodies to the individual alpha and beta chains of these antigens suggest that most of the clinical features of the patients may be due to the neutrophil and monocyte deficiency of CR3 . Although natural killer-cell activity is diminished or absent, no immune deficiency of the patients' lymphocytes attributable to the absence of LFA-1 has been detected . Diagnosis of this disease has been facilitated by the commercial availability of monoclonal antibodies specific for the alpha chains of CR3 and p150,95. Am Fam Physician, 1986 Mar, 33(3), 195 - 202 Aspiration pneumonia: a review; Chokshi SK et al.; The damage caused by aspiration depends on the volume, nature and pH of the aspirate and the type of pathogen involved . Aspirate with a pH below 2.5 is much more likely to be toxic than less acidic material . Anaerobic organisms are common pathogens, but aerobic bacteria frequently appear in the hospital setting . Steroids may be useful if administered within minutes of the aspiration . Lavage with large amounts of alkaline fluid has not proved helpful. Transplantation, 1986 Mar, 41(3), 301 - 10 Manipulation of graft-versus-host disease for a graft-versus-leukemia effect after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in AKR mice with spontaneous leukemia/lymphoma; Truitt RL et al.; Graft-versus-host (GVH) disease can result in a beneficial graft-versus leukemia (GVL) effect after bone marrow transplantation in patients with malignant disease . In this report, we used bacteria-free AKR (H-2k) mice bearing advanced spontaneous T cell leukemia/lymphoma as a moel to evaluate the GVH and GVL effects of bone marrow transplantation using fully incompatible SJL (H-2s) donors . A therapeutic GVL effect, accompanied by increased leukemia-free survival, was obtained only when 0.5 X 10(6) allogeneic lymphocytes (lymph node cells) were added to the marrow inoculum . Transplantation of allogeneic bone marrow without added lymph node cells (or use of syngeneic cells) resulted in a significant increase in leukemia relapse; increasing the dose of allogeneic lymph node cells to 2.0 X 10(6) resulted in significantly higher GVH-associated mortality . Survival and therapeutic benefits were obtained only when the intensity of the GVH reaction was carefully controlled by manipulation of alloreactive lymphocytes present in the marrow . These results suggest, indirectly, that T cell depletion may abolish any GVL effect of marrow transplantation, even if the donor is mismatched with the host at the major histocompatibility complex . The frequency in the spleen of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) reactive against host alloantigens was estimated using limiting-dilution microcytotoxicity assays at various times after transplantation of allogeneic bone marrow with and without added lymph node cells . The average frequency of CTL was highest in mice that were given marrow plus lymph node cells and tested within the first four weeks after transplantation . The level of CTL activity measured in vitro was dependent on the dose of lymphocytes injected and correlated with both the GVL and GVH effects in vivo . Down-regulation of CTL activity against host, but not third-party, alloantigens in vitro was observed under limiting dilution assay conditions, leading to the suggestion that host-specific regulatory cells may be present in these allogeneic bone marrow chimeras. J Clin Periodontol, 1986 Mar, 13(3), 237 - 42 The effects of a simplified mechanical oral hygiene regime plus supragingival irrigation with chlorhexidine or metronidazole on subgingival plaque; Sanders PC et al.; 23 patients with pockets greater than or equal to 4 mm and evidence of bone loss on radiographs received thorough scaling and root planing followed by instruction in Bass brushing . They refrained from routine interdental cleaning for the first 28 days . A pulsating jet irrigator was used once daily supragingivally with 0.02% chlorhexidine (CH) 0.05% metronidazole (MD) or 0.01% quinine sulphate inactive control (PL), on a randomized double blind basis . Molar sites were not irrigated and served as control sites; they were only mechanically cleaned . For each patient, subgingival plaque samples were obtained from 2 test and 1 control sites at baseline (day 0), and on days 7, 28, 56 and 84 . Plaque samples were monitored by darkfield microscopy on the basis of morphological characteristics of 4 types of bacteria: cocci, motile cells, spirochaetes and "others" (nonmotile rods, filaments and fusiforms) . The simplified oral hygiene regime of scaling, root planing and Bass toothbrushing combined with interdental supragingival pulsating jet irrigation with CH, MD or PL appeared superior to a system of simplified oral hygiene alone, particularly during the first 4 weeks . However, at most time-points, the benefits were not statistically significant except for metronidazole . By day 84, the end of the experimental period, all groups approximated baseline levels . The results indicate that supragingival pulsated jet irrigation has limited effects on the composition of subgingival plaque . More marked changes occur when the irrigation fluid contains a chemical agent such as metronidazole known to be effective against important subgingival organisms, but probably not to such an extent as to change the composition of the flora from one associated with diseased sites to one associated with healthy sites. J Clin Periodontol, 1986 Mar, 13(3), 175 - 81 A perspective on periodontal diagnosis; Listgarten MA; Periodontal diseases are best considered as the outcome of an imperfect host-parasite interaction . In most cases, diagnosis involves labelling certain clinical manifestations without a complete understanding of the causes of the disease . Therefore, treatment based on the "diagnosis" is not necessarily logical or effective . As the causes which underly the disease become more evident, the underlying mechanisms of disease can be used to refine our diagnostic methods . For example, deficiencies in host defenses, or the presence or increased proportions of certain bacterial pathogens may be indicative of imbalances in the normal host-parasite equilibrium . For a laboratory test to be reliably applied to the diagnosis of a clinical condition, it is essential that an absolute criterion of the clinical disease first be established . Then the sensitivity and the specificity of the test can be determined using appropriate experimental designs . The demonstration of a good correlation between a test outcome and a clinical condition is, of itself, insufficient grounds to use the test for diagnostic purposes. Microbiol Sci, 1986 Mar, 3(3), 84 - 7 Factors limiting the efficiency of cellulase enzymes; Saddler JN; The major reasons behind the low efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose are reviewed . The problem is a result of the heterogeneous nature of the hydrolysis reaction which involves a multicomponent soluble catalyst, an insoluble substrate and products which are both. Yale J Biol Med, 1986 Mar-Apr, 59(2), 107 - 16 Fever: is it beneficial? Blatteis CM. Data obtained in lizards infected with live bacteria suggest that fever may be beneficial to their survival . An adaptive value of fever has also been inferred in mammals, but the results are equivocal . Findings that certain leukocyte functions are enhanced in vitro at high temperatures have provided a possible explanation for the alleged benefits of fever . However, serious questions exist as to whether results from experiments in ectotherms and in vitro can properly be extrapolated to in vivo endothermic conditions . Indeed, various studies have yielded results inconsistent with the survival benefits attributed to fever, and fever is not an obligatory feature of all infections under all conditions . Certainly, the widespread use of antipyretics, without apparent adverse effects on the course of disease, argues against fever having great benefit to the host . In sum, although fever is a cardinal manifestation of infection, conclusive evidence that it has survival value in mammals is still lacking. Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1986 Mar, 136(3), 85 - 8 {Methods of sterilizing and preserving tendon transplants}; Savel'ev VI et al.; The authors describe three methods for making tendon transplants by using chemical sterilizing and preserving means having no unfavorable effect on their biological and plasty properties . The methods are simple, reliable and fairly suitable for a wide supply of clinical institutions with tendon transplants. Gan No Rinsho, 1986 Mar, 32(3), 234 - 40 {Tuberculosis in patients with malignant neoplasms}; Fukushige J et al.; Out of 810 patients autopsied at our institute between 1972 and 1985, tuberculosis was demonstrated in 12 (1.5%), all between 40 and 80 years of age, regardless of cancer type . Of 4,272 patients who underwent surgery for malignant neoplasms, 481 were examined for M . tuberculosis by culture in different specimens . All of eight positive cases were with sputum or bronchial mucus specimens, regardless of the site of primary cancer . Tuberculosis complicating malignant thymoma or Hodgkin's disease was found to be generalized and severe . Remarkable growth of elongated bacteria was observed in host macrophages in these immunodeficient patients, suggesting their altered intracellular environment . These findings warrant special attention to tuberculosis in hospital care of cancer patients, who are often immunodeficient. Biol Chem Hoppe Seyler, 1986 Mar, 367(3), 191 - 7 Quinones from archaebacteria, II . Different types of quinones from sulphur-dependent archaebacteria; Thurl S et al.; From the sulphur-dependent, anaerobically grown archaebacterium Sulfolobus ambivalens Caldariella quinone, CQ-6(12H) and the new Sulfolobus quinone SQ-6(12H), 6-(3,7,11,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosyl)-5-methyl-benz{b}thioph en-4, 7-quinone have been isolated as main components . Lower homologues SQ-5-(10H), SQ-4(8H), SQ-3(6H), phylloquinone-like species CQ-6(10H), SQ-6(10H) and the menaquinone MK-6(12H) are present as minor components . The results are compared with those from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius . Thermococcus celer, Desulfurococcus mucosus and Desulfurococcus mobilis do not contain quinones in comparable amounts. J Bacteriol, 1986 Mar, 165(3), 864 - 70 Regulation of nitrogenase activity by ammonium chloride in Azospirillum spp; Hartmann A et al.; Ammonium chloride (greater than or equal to 0.05 mM) effectively and reversibly inhibited the nitrogenase activity of Azospirillum brasilense, Azospirillum lipoferum and Azospirillum amazonense . The glutamine synthetase inhibitor L-methionine-DL- sulfoximine abolished this "switch-off" in A . lipoferum and A . brasilense, but not in A . amazonense . Azaserine, an inhibitor of glutamate synthase, inhibited nitrogenase activity itself . This provides further evidence for glutamine as a metabolite of regulatory importance in the NH4+ switch-off phenomenon . In A . brasilense and A . lipoferum, a transition period before the complete inhibition of nitrogenase activity after the addition of 1 mM ammonium chloride was observed . The in vitro nitrogenase activity also was decreased after treatment with ammonium . During sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a second dinitrogenase reductase (Fe protein) subunit appeared, which migrated in coincidence with the modified subunit of the inactive Fe protein of the nitrogenase of Rhodospirillum rubrum . After the addition of ammonium 32P was incorporated into this subunit of the Fe protein of A . brasilense . In A . amazonense, the inhibition of nitrogenase activity by ammonium was only partial, and no transition period could be observed . The in vitro nitrogenase activity of ammonium-treated cells was not decreased, and no evidence for a modified Fe protein subunit was found . Nitrogenase extracts of A . amazonense were active and had an Fe protein that migrated as a close double band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. J Chir (Paris), 1986 Mar, 123(3), 188 - 96 {Free radicals}; Elkoubi P; Oxygen in absolutely necessary to life but it is also a toxic gas . 1 to 2% of molecular oxygen undergoes an univalent reduction which produces very reactive and very cytotoxic species . Against them there are different protector antioxidant systems, called scavengers . Pathologically four points are fundamental: Free radicals have a main role in inflammation and fight against bacteria . In carcinogenesis, they have a key role in promotion . The cellular ageing appears to be imputable to a defect of the scavengers . Reflow following ischemia involves toxic free radicals . To prevent the tissue injury due to reperfusion pre treatment by SOD, catalase, allopurinol are at their beginning but the first results are hopeful for skin, kidney, heart and pancreas. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Mar, 83(6), 1641 - 5 DNA supercoiling of recombinant plasmids in mammalian cells; Shen CK et al.; We have used chloroquine/agarose gel electrophoresis and a blot-hybridization technique to study the modulation of superhelicity of extrachromosomal DNA in mammalian cells . The high sensitivity of the procedure has allowed us to measure the change in the specific linking difference or superhelical density (sigma) of a plasmid, psvo alpha 1p3d, after its introduction into COS-7 cells by DNA transfection . Because the molecular weight of psvo alpha 1p3d is approximately the same as that of simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA, the latter can be used as a standard for estimating the average linking difference or number of superhelical turns (tau) of psvo alpha 1p3d after separation of the different supercoiled species on chloroquine/agarose gels . It was found that transfection of monkey cells with either fully supercoiled psvo alpha 1p3d isolated from bacteria (tau = -27 +/- 1, sigma congruent to -0.051) or its relaxed form after treatment with DNA topoisomerase I yields psvo alpha 1p3d samples of the same tau and sigma values of -20 +/- 1 and -0.038, respectively . The difference between the tau values of psvo alpha 1p3d and SV40 in COS-7 cells, in which both plasmids undergo rounds of replication, corresponds to an average difference of 5 +/- 1 superhelical turns . Plasmid psvo alpha 1p3d remains at this lower level of superhelicity for at least 72 hr . The distribution in linking numbers of the topoisomers of psvo alpha 1p3d isolated from transfected COS cells is also more heterogeneous than that of SV40 DNA . These results suggest that the regulation of DNA supercoiling and chromatin assembly may be closely associated with specific DNA sequences . The approach presented here should have a wide application in the study of the regulation and functional role(s) of DNA supercoiling of plasmids in mammalian cells. Blood, 1986 Mar, 67(3), 657 - 65 Spontaneous tumor cytolysis mediated by inflammatory neutrophils: dependence upon divalent cations and reduced oxygen intermediates; Lichtenstein A; The role of divalent cations and reactive products of the respiratory burst were investigated in spontaneous tumor lysis mediated by inflammatory neutrophils (PMNs) . Murine peritoneal PMNs, obtained five hours after intraperitoneal injection of bacteria, conjugated and lysed teratocarcinoma cells in chromium release and single-cell cytotoxicity assays . The presence of extracellular magnesium was required and was sufficient for tumor cell binding to PMNs . Postbinding lytic events depended upon the simultaneous presence of extracellular calcium and magnesium . Catalase and superoxide dismutase inhibited postbinding lytic events, indicating that production of reduced oxygen moieties was important . Scavengers of hydroxyl radicals could inhibit tumor cell binding, but none could affect postbinding lytic events . Neither could inhibitors of myeloperoxidase decrease tumor lysis . The ability of conjugating PMNs to lyse their bound targets correlated with their reduction of nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) . Optimal concentrations of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) markedly increased the NBT positivity of PMNs and the killing of bound tumor cells . Even with optimal stimulation of the respiratory burst, however, there was still a significant number (19%) of bound targets that escaped lysis, suggesting active resistance to oxygen-mediated tumor cell injury. Curr Eye Res, 1986 Mar, 5(3), 231 - 40 Induction of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis and pinealitis by IRBP . Comparison to uveoretinitis induced by S-antigen and opsin; Broekhuyse RM et al.; Microgram quantities bovine IRBP (interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein) injected in Freund's complete adjuvant induced severe autoimmune uveoretinitis and pinealitis in Lewis rats . At low doses the onset was accelerated and intensified by co-injection of Hemophilus pertussis bacteria . Wistar, BN and PVG rats were less susceptible, while the eyes of athymic, nude rats did not respond . The disease developed similar to but faster than S-antigen-induced uveoretinitis, while its onset was one day earlier and the reactions were slightly more severe . As distinct from these two types of uveoretinitis, opsin (in much higher doses) caused milder reactions in the anterior segment, while retinitis dominated . In each type of inflammation the photoreceptor cell layer was totally destroyed . All three ocular diseases were inhibited by cyclosporine treatment, which indicates that T cell-dependent mechanisms are essential for the development. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1986 Mar, 94(3), 334 - 9 Defective immunoregulation in children with chronic otitis media with effusion; Bernstein JM et al.; Otitis media and middle ear effusions (MEE) are most common clinical problems in early childhood, for which an estimated one million tympanostomies are performed each year in the United States . Although many factors have been associated with MEE (age, sex, genetics, otitis media, socioeconomic status, feeding style, atopy or hypersensitivity, certain bacteria and viruses), a defective immunoregulatory mechanism in the host may also contribute to the pathogenesis . During the past 2 years, we have evaluated immune function in 90 randomly selected children who underwent repeated tympanostomy for persistent MEE . The T-cell subset ratio (OKT-4/OKT-8) was reduced (below 1.25) in 16% . In 33 children, generation of T-cell growth factor (IL-2) by peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was evaluated and found to be decreased in 11 . The mitogenic response of PBL to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulation was abnormal in almost half of the cases . Imbalance of T-cell subsets and decreased production of IL-2 indicate defective immunoregulatory function in some of these children, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of persistent MEE. Biochimie, 1986 Mar, 68(3), 347 - 55 {Use of chemical probes in the study of F1-ATPases}; Lunardi J; The purpose of the present review is to discuss in brief the use of chemical probes for the study of the structure and the function of F1-ATPases . Special focus is brought on probes that bind covalently to the proteins. J Hosp Infect, 1986 Mar, 7(2), 161 - 8 A comparative study of 'Op-site' and 'Nobecutan gauze' dressings for central venous line care; Andersen PT et al.; A comparative study of 'Op-site' and 'Nobecutan-gauze' dressings for central venous lines was performed . Seventy-seven long antebrachial and 68 infraclavicular subclavian catheters were studied . A statistically significant reduction in the incidence of positive cultures from the catheter tip and from the skin puncture site was found with the 'Nobecutan-gauze' dressing . No difference in the incidence of catheter-related septicaemia was found . The theoretical advantage of being able to observe signs of inflammation when 'Op-site' was used did not reduce the incidence of local infection at the skin puncture site . In conclusion we found that a 'Nobecutan-gauze' dressing was a satisfactory alternative to an 'Op-site' dressing. Ann Trop Paediatr, 1986 Mar, 6(1), 41 - 5 Measles pneumonia: lung puncture findings in 56 cases related to chest X-ray changes and clinical features; Morton R et al.; Fifty-six African children with pneumonia following measles were investigated . Lung puncture identified bacteria by culture or countercurrent immune electrophoresis in 38% and blood culture with blood countercurrent immune electrophoresis (CIE) identified a further 17%, a bacterial diagnosis being made in a total 55% . Pneumococcus was the most common organism found, occurring in 30% of all measles pneumonias . More severe changes on chest X-ray at presentation were associated with higher rates of bacterial identification and worse outcome at 2 weeks . Chest X-ray changes were worse and bacterial identification was more common in poorly nourished children . Pneumothoraces occurred following lung puncture in 21% and surgical drainage was needed in 11%. Pharm Weekbl Sci, 1986 Feb 21, 8(1), 22 - 5 Quinolones: pharmacology; Verbist L; The quinolones are synthetic antibiotics chemically related to nalidixic acid . Since its introduction, several structural analogues have been synthesized . A fundamental breakthrough was the addition of a fluorine atom . The quinolones interfere with bacterial DNA transcription by inhibiting the enzyme DNA gyrase, that so far has only been found in bacteria . The nature of the activity of the quinolones on DNA gyrase makes it highly unlikely that resistance is carried on plasmids. Nature, 1986 Feb 20-26, 319(6055), 666 - 8 A new synthetic approach to the ferritin core uncovers the soluble iron(III) oxo-hydroxo aggregate {Fe11O6(OH)6(O2CPh)15}; Gorun SM et al.; Hydrolytic polymerization of iron(III) occurs in many reactions in vivo, for example, the formation of bacterial magnetite in magnetotactic organisms, biomineralization of iron and the synthesis of the metallic core of the iron-storage protein ferritin . The ferritin core contains aggregates of up to 4,500 oxygen-bridged, octahedrally coordinated, high-spin iron(III) centres and is attached to the protein shell through carboxylate groups of amino-acid side chains . The X-ray and electron-diffraction patterns of this core resemble those of the mineral ferrihydrite, a hydrated iron oxide formed in nature, inter alia, by iron-dependent bacteria . The preparation and structural characterization of such large poly-iron aggregates has been a challenge to inorganic chemists . We have recently shown that tri- and tetranuclear iron(III) oxo complexes of the type thought to be important in ferritin-core formation can be prepared by reacting mononuclear {FeCl4}- and binuclear {Fe2OCl6}2- components in aprotic solvents (ref . 9 and S.M.G., W . H . Armstrong and S.J.L., in preparation) . Here we report the discovery of a remarkable new molecule, {Fe11O6(OH)6(O2CPh)15}, obtained by hydrolysis of the {Fe2O}4+ unit in the presence of limited amounts of water and carboxylate salts . The synthesis and properties of this soluble iron(III) oxohydroxo aggregate should help to elucidate the mechanism of formation of poly-iron centres. J Immunol, 1986 Feb 15, 136(4), 1418 - 21 Mechanisms of immunity to rickettsial infection: characterization of a cytotoxic effector cell; Rollwagen FM et al.; Rickettsiae, as other intracellular bacteria, are relatively sequestered from the effects of antibody and local antibody-independent responses . Considering the obligate intracellular nature of rickettsia, the exact mechanisms by which lymphocytes and macrophages encounter rickettsial antigens and eliminate the infection depends upon the appropriate presentation of antigen to the immune system . We demonstrate here that cells taken from the spleens of Rickettsia typhi- or R . tsutsugamushi-infected mice are able to lyse specifically tissue culture targets infected with the homologous organism . This effect was eliminated upon treatment of the spleen cells with anti-Thy-1.2 + complement . Furthermore such T cells exhibit H-2-restricted killing when tested on infected targets of different genetic backgrounds . We propose that a T cell-mediated cytotoxic immune mechanism exists that may play an important role in the elimination of rickettsial organisms during infection. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1986 Feb 14, 869(3), 350 - 7 Purification and characterization of ATP:AMP phosphotransferase from Mycobacterium marinum; Batra PP et al.; ATP:AMP phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.4.3) (adenylate kinase) has been purified 1746-fold from Mycobacterium marinum (ATCC 927) by successive column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose (DE-53), Reactive Blue agarose, Sephadex G-75, hydroxyapatite and, finally, DEAE-Sephadex A-50 . The final enzyme preparation had a specific activity of 576 mumol/min per mg protein with an overall yield of 51% . The preparation was homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The enzyme was estimated to have an Mr of 29500 and an isoelectric point of 6.7, properties which generally resemble those of the mitochondrial enzyme . Indeed, the two enzymes failed to separate when subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions . The extinction coefficient (at 276 nm) was calculated to be 3.114 X 10(4) M-1 X cm-1 and E1%1cm = 10.556 . Adenylate kinase was present at a concentration of 0.06 mg/g (wet weight) bacteria . Enzyme was stable for months in 60% glycerol in the freezer; at 4 degrees C, less than 5% of the activity was lost over a 7 day period. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1986 Feb 13, 134(3), 1167 - 74 Extended secondary structure in 5S rRNAs from a sulphur metabolizing archaebacterium, Thermococcus celer; McDougall J et al.; While this sequence shares a significant homology with the 5S RNAs of other archaebacteria and is consistent with current models for the secondary structure of 5S RNAs, it contains three unusual features . The G + C content (72-74%) is significantly higher than other 5S RNAs; the secondary structure is distinguished by unusually stable and extended helical structures and, most important, there is evidence for sequence heterogeneity in the form of complementary base substitutions and precursor processing . This supports recent evidence (Newmann, H., Gierl, A., Tu, J., Leibrock, J., Staiger, D . and Zillig, W . (1983) Mol . Gen . Genet . 192, 66-72) that, like many of the higher eukaryotes, this group of sulphur-metabolizing bacteria may contain multiple 5S RNA genes. J Immunol Methods, 1986 Feb 12, 86(2), 257 - 64 Affinity purification of human antibodies directed against cloned antigens of Plasmodium falciparum; Crewther PE et al.; A technique has been developed for the affinity purification of antibodies recognizing cloned antigens of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum expressed in bacteria . Adsorbents prepared by coupling bacterial lysates to Sepharose were used to isolate monospecific antibodies from human immune sera . Production of an abundant stable fused polypeptide by the bacteria was not a prerequisite for the success of this approach . Also the procedure permits the characterization of antigens which elicit the production of very low levels of antibodies . Affinity-purified human antibodies were used to characterized the corresponding P . falciparum antigens by immunoblotting and a number of antigens identified in this way illustrate some commonly observed features of P . falciparum antigens . Several of these antibody preparations recognized multiple bands in the electrophoretic patterns . Studies on a number of isolates of P . falciparum indicate that many antigens exhibit size polymorphisms . Production of some antigens was shown to be restricted to particular stages of the asexual blood cycle of the parasite while others appear to be specifically processed during the life cycle . Affinity-purified antibodies have also been used to locate antigens within the infected erythrocyte and to delineate subsets of antibodies recognizing different epitopes of a single antigen. Arch Microbiol, 1986 Feb, 144(1), 96 - 101 Suboptimal growth with hyper-accurate ribosomes; Andersson DI et al.; Mutant bacteria with hyperaccurate ribosomes support their excessive accuracy of translation in vitro by dissipating 1.5 to 2.5 cognate ternary complexes per peptide bond formed . This is to be compared with a dissipation rate close to 1.1 for wild-type ribosomes . Here, we have tested the hypothesis that a corresponding loss of translational efficiency in vivo would lower the growth rate of the mutants . Such a growth inhibitory effect would explain why the lower accuracy of wild-type ribosomes is more fit . Our data show that as expected the mu of the hyperaccurate mutants is smaller than that of wild-type bacteria . In contrast, during glucose-limited growth in chemostats there is not the same simple correlation between growth yield and ribosomal efficiency for the hyperaccurate mutants. Pediatrics, 1986 Feb, 77(2), 152 - 7 Outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in a day-care center; Alpert G et al.; An outbreak of diarrhea due to infection with Cryptosporidium occurred in a day-care center . During a period of 2 months, 23 of 53 (43%) children attending the day-care center and 15 of 104 (14%) household contacts had diarrhea . Cryptosporidium oocysts were identified in 13 of 20 (65%) symptomatic children tested compared with three of 27 (11%) asymptomatic children (chi 2 = 12.56, P less than .001) . Enteropathogenic bacteria, enteroviruses, rotavirus, and other protozoan parasites were ruled out as the cause of the diarrhea . A history of diarrhea in household contacts was associated with excretion of Cryptosporidium oocysts by the children . Human-to-human transmission of the infection was suggested by the epidemiology. Infect Immun, 1986 Feb, 51(2), 661 - 7 Description and characterization of a surface lectin from Giardia lamblia; Farthing MJ et al.; The mechanisms by which the human enteric pathogen Giardia lamblia colonizes the proximal small intestine are poorly understood . Although the parasite possesses an attachment organelle on its ventral surface, the "sucking" disk, we considered that like many bacteria and some protozoa, G . lamblia might also have a surface membrane-associated modality for adherence to its host . Using an erythrocyte mixed-agglutination model, we demonstrated a parasite surface lectin with specificities for D-glucosyl and D-mannosyl residues . This lectin is soluble in Triton X-100, is calcium dependent, and is maximally active at pH 5.5 to 6.0 . Partial purification was achieved by serial extraction of parasites in Triton X-100 followed by Sephadex G-150 affinity chromatography . The lectin could not be surface radiolabeled with 125I-Bolton-Hunter reagent, but radiolabeling of the hapten eluate from an affinity column produced four bands of 57,000 to 78,000 Mr on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels under reducing conditions . The biological function of this lectin is unknown . The presence of mannosyl residues on the luminal surface of human small intestinal epithelial cells suggests that there are receptors for Giardia lectin at the site of colonization. Environ Res, 1986 Feb, 39(1), 8 - 18 Respirable droplets from whirlpools: measurements of size distribution and estimation of disease potential; Baron PA et al.; Droplets generated from water surfaces have been implicated in a number of diseases such as Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever . These droplets can be inhaled by people and can deposit in the respiratory system . The physical size of the droplets is critical in determining whether the droplets can contain the bacteria, reach the breathing zone of the subject, and deposit in the respiratory tract . The present study establishes the presence of water droplets above the surface of health club whirlpools . These droplets are of the appropriate size for causing respiratory disease . Several factors including pool temperature, bubbling action during operation, and height above the water surface have been investigated . The results are related to the deposition of the droplets, and hence bacteria, in the various regions of the respiratory tract. Nuklearmedizin, 1986 Feb, 25(1), 28 - 30 Tumor localization and biodistribution of 99mTc-muramylpolypeptide (MPP) in the rat; Schumichen C et al.; Muramylpolypeptide, extracted from Nocardia opaca bacteria and originally designed for immunotherapy of malignant tumors, proved to localize in malignant tumors, when labeled with 99mTc . In the tumor-bearing rat 99mTc-muramylpolypeptide (MPP) showed a fast turnover and optimum tumor to soft tissue ratios were obtained as early as between 30-60 min after application . The uptake mechanism in malignant tumors remains uncertain. Ann Rheum Dis, 1986 Feb, 45(2), 144 - 8 HLA-B27 associated cross-reactive marker on the cells of New Zealand patients with ankylosing spondylitis; McGuigan LE et al.; We have previously shown that antibodies raised in rabbits to certain enteric bacteria will specifically lyse, in a 51Cr release assay, the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 80% of HLA-B27 positive patients with ankylosing spondylitis (B27+ AS+) but not the PBL of HLA-B27 positive normal controls (B27+ AS-) . Other laboratories have been unable to reproduce these findings . This study was designed to ascertain whether this lack of reproducibility was due to a peculiarity of our B27+ AS+ patients or to technical difficulties in the complement mediated 51Cr release assay . We have shown in this blind study that the PBL of 16 out of 18 B27+ AS+ patients from a New Zealand population were lysed by our antisera but none of the PBL of 20 B27+ AS- normal controls were lysed . The phenomenon of 'cross reactivity' between certain enteric bacteria and B27+ AS+ PBL is not confined to the Sydney AS population. J Infect Dis, 1986 Feb, 153(2), 277 - 82 Randomized study of single-dose, three-day, and seven-day treatment of cystitis in women; Greenberg RN et al.; We evaluated the following five treatment regimens for acute cystitis in nonpregnant women: cefadroxil, 1,000 mg single-dose; cefadroxil, 500 mg twice a day for three days; cefadroxil, 500 mg twice a day for seven days; trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ), 320-1,600 mg single-dose, and TMP-SMZ, 160-800 mg twice a day for three days . At four weeks after the end of treatment, 25%, 58%, 70%, 65%, and 88% of patients, respectively, remained cured of infection . The results indicated that three-day treatment (1) might improve cure rates (over single-dose), (2) would reduce incidence of relapse (vs . single-dose), and (3) may be as curative as seven-day treatment . The results of the antibody-coated bacteria test did not predict treatment failure or relapse. Hinyokika Kiyo, 1986 Feb, 32(2), 303 - 9 {Treatment of nongonococcal urethritis--studies on clinical effects of ofloxacin}; Saito I et al.; Clinical effects of ofloxacin (OFLX) in the treatment of chlamydial urethritis was compared with those in the treatment of non-chlamydial urethritis . Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 33 (39.3%) out of 84 patients with nongonococcal urethritis . OFLX was administered at a dose of 100 mg, three times daily (300 mg) for 14 days . In 31 (93.3%) of the 33 patients with chlamydial urethritis, C . trachomatis was eliminated within 7 to 14 days after the start of administration, and, in two patients, inclusion bodies decreased in number but persisted . The subjective and objective clinical symptoms, urethral discharge, polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMNL) in smears, and pyuria in VB1 of the patients with chlamydial urethritis, disappeared in 56.0, 57.6, and 63.0% of the cases, and improved in 24.0, 30.0 and 29.6% respectively, whereas those of the patients with non-chlamydial urethritis, urethral discharge, PMNL, and pyuria in VB1 disappeared in 57.6, 56.9 and 32.9%, and improved in 26.9, 13.7 and 37.9%, respectively . There was no significant difference in the clinical effects of OFLX between cases of chlamydial urethritis and those of non-chlamydial urethritis . Marked improvement in clinical symptoms were observed between day 7 and day 14 of medication in cases of both chlamydial and non-chlamydial urethritis . In nine out of 11 cases of non-chlamydial urethritis where OFLX was ineffective, no Ureaplasma nor aerobes, nor C . trachomatis, were isolated . In the remaining two cases where Ureaplasma and S . epidermidis were isolated respectively, these two bacteria were eradicated after medication, but urethral discharge and PMNL remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Dent Res, 1986 Feb, 65(2), 89 - 94 A theoretical analysis of the effects of plaque thickness and initial salivary sucrose concentration on diffusion of sucrose into dental plaque and its conversion to acid during salivary clearance; Dawes C et al.; A mathematical model, written in FORTRAN, has been developed to simulate the interrelated processes of salivary sucrose clearance from the mouth, diffusion of sucrose into dental plaque, and conversion of sucrose to acid and glucan . Reaction of acid with enamel is not included in the model . A total of 28 parameters can be varied by the user, and the relative importance of the different factors affecting acid formation can be assessed . The output of the program gives sucrose and acid concentrations and pH at different depths within the plaque . The initial variables studied were plaque thickness, the salivary sucrose concentration, and the duration of exposure of the plaque to sucrose . Stephan curves typical of those recorded in vivo were generated by the model . With any particular salivary sucrose concentration, there was an optimum plaque thickness at which a minimum pH was achieved at the enamel surface, with very thin or thick plaque samples producing a smaller pH fall . With thick plaque, the minimum pH was often not achieved at the inner surface but at some intermediate depth, which may explain the location of early caries lesions in fissures . The extent of the pH fall at the inner surface and the duration of the pH-minimum region of the Stephan curve were directly related to the initial salivary sucrose concentration and to the duration of exposure to sucrose prior to normal salivary clearance . Simulation of a water rinse at as short a time as two min after the beginning of normal salivary sugar clearance showed that this procedure had only a very small effect on the shape of the Stephan curve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Clin Periodontol, 1986 Feb, 13(2), 97 - 102 The effect of artificial crown margins at the gingival margin on the periodontal conditions in a group of periodontally supervised patients treated with fixed bridges; Muller HP; The purpose of this investigation was to study whether or not artificial crown margins at the gingival margin are compatible with periodontal health . Periodontal conditions and the composition of subgingival plaque of 47 crowned teeth, 22 with crown margins at the gingival margin and 25 with a supragingival location of the margin, in 5 patients with extensive fixed bridgework has been examined 1 year after prosthetic treatment . Patients had been treated for periodontal disease and were recalled for prophylaxis sessions once every 2nd or 3rd month . Clinical data indicated little inflammation of the gingival tissues of crowned teeth with margins at the gingiva while a teeth with a supragingival location of the crown margin, gingival tissues showed minor or even no clinical signs of inflammation . In general, the composition of the subgingival plaque was similar to a flora regularly found to be associated with healthy conditions. J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Feb, 23(2), 258 - 61 Comparison of quantitative and semiquantitative culture techniques for burn biopsy; Buchanan K et al.; Accurate evaluation of bacterial colonization as a predictive index for wound sepsis has relied on a quantitative culture technique that provides exact colony counts per gram of tissue by culture of five serial dilutions of biopsy tissue homogenate . The method, while useful to the physician, is both labor intensive and expensive . In this study 78 eschar biopsies were cultured by a semiquantitative technique that involved the use of 0.1- and 0.01-ml samples of inocula and by the serial dilution method . Exact colony counts from the semiquantitative culture method were available only from cultures containing 10(4) to 10(6) CFU/g of tissue . Other colony counts were reported as less than 10(4) or greater than 10(6) CFU/g . Agreement by category of colony counts between the two methods was 96% . For prediction of wound sepsis, the semiquantitative procedure had a positive predictive value of 100% and a negative predictive value of 93.7% . This method also resulted in an approximately 30% reduction of work units (as defined by the College of American Pathologists) and a 60% reduction in the amount of media for specimen processing . Therefore, this semiquantitative culture technique provides accurate information to the physician while saving both time and materials. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Feb, 83(3), 684 - 7 Irradiation-resistance conferred by superoxide dismutase: possible adaptive role of a natural polymorphism in Drosophila melanogaster; Peng TX et al.; The toxic effects of ionizing radiation to DNA are thought to be due to the generation of the superoxide radical, 02- . Superoxide dismutase (SOD), which scavenges 02-., has been invoked as a protecting enzyme against ionizing radiation in viruses, bacteria, mammalian cells in culture, and live mice . We now demonstrate that SOD is involved in the resistance of Drosophila melanogaster against irradiation . The protection is greatest when flies carry the S form of the enzyme (which exhibits highest in vitro specific activity), intermediate when they carry the F form of the enzyme, and lowest when they are homozygous for N, an allele that reduces the amount of the enzyme to 3.5% of the normal level . Natural selection experiments show that the fitness of the high-activity S allele is increased in an irradiated population relative to the nonirradiated control . These results point towards a possible adaptive function of the S/F polymorphism found in natural populations of D . melanogaster. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1986 Feb, 17(2), 147 - 54 The identification of the aminoglycoside-phosphorylating enzymes APH(2'') and APH(3') from the characterization of their reaction products by high performance liquid chromatography; Lovering AM et al.; A method is described for the identification of the aminoglycoside-phosphorylating (APH) enzymes APH(2'') and APH(3') by the high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) identification of their products of reaction with kanamycin and ATP . Twelve reference strains which produce either APH(2'') or APH(3') were examined by both this method and the radioenzymatic profile method; correct enzyme identification was made with 12/12 of the strains by the HPLC method and 11/12 of the strains by the radioenzymatic profile method . Reaction products of APH(2'') or APH(3') with ATP and butirosin, geneticin, lividomycin, ribostamycin, sissomicin or tobramycin were also characterized by HPLC . Conditions for their chromatography are given. Eur J Immunol, 1986 Feb, 16(2), 187 - 93 A protective human monoclonal IgA antibody produced in vitro: anti-pneumococcal antibody engendered by Epstein-Barr virus-immortalized cell line; Steinitz M et al.; Human lymphocytes that produce anti-pneumococcal antibodies were separated and immortalized by Epstein-Barr virus and then cloned . One clone (NAD-Sel) produces an IgA, kappa antibody which is specific for the polysaccharides of type 8 pneumococcus, while not reactive with any of the polysaccharides derived from 24 other pneumococcal strains . The antibody, which is present in the cell supernatant as monomer and polymer, binds to protein A and does not fix complement . When incubated in vitro with type 8 pneumococci, it induces direct killing and increases the opsonization of these bacteria by mouse macrophages. Cryobiology, 1986 Feb, 23(1), 14 - 27 Pharmacology of DMSO; Jacob SW et al.; A wide range of primary pharmacological actions of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been documented in laboratory studies: membrane penetration, membrane transport, effects on connective tissue, anti-inflammation, nerve blockade (analgesia), bacteriostasis, diuresis, enhancement or reduction of the effectiveness of other drugs, cholinesterase inhibition, nonspecific enhancement of resistance to infection, vasodilation, muscle relaxation, antagonism to platelet aggregation, and influence on serum cholesterol in experimental hypercholesterolemia . This substance induces differentiation and function of leukemic and other malignant cells . DMSO also has prophylactic radioprotective properties and cryoprotective actions . It protects against ischemic injury. Clin Endocrinol Metab, 1986 Feb, 15(1), 99 - 115 Paracrine action of transforming growth factors; Gol-Winkler R; Polypeptide growth factors form a class of regulatory molecules which exert their effects by binding to specific receptors present on the cell surface . Most of the time the exact role of these factors in the healthy body is unknown . Some, like PDGF and TGF beta, seem to be involved in wound healing . Others, like EGF, promote epithelial cell growth and differentiation . The site of synthesis of most polypeptide growth factors is unknown . Their target can be identified by detecting the cells which present the specific receptors at their surface . It is though that polypeptide growth factors have a paracrine mode of action . Many different cancerous cells produce polypeptide growth factors and the appropriate receptors . Thus, they are able to stimulate their own growth in an autocrine fashion . Recently, some polypeptide growth factors and receptor genes or cDNAs have been molecularly cloned . Growth factor genes and messengers are much more complex than would be expected from the size of the polypeptide . Some cDNAs have been introduced into bacterial expression vectors and large amounts of the factors have been produced by bacteria . New tools, such as molecular probes and specific antibodies, are thus now available to investigate the production of the growth factors and their receptors . The same tools will facilitate the identification and understanding of the molecular mechanism whereby cancerous cells produce the growth factors and the appropriate receptors simultaneously . The importance of growth factors and receptors in cancer is stressed by the finding that three oncogenes are in fact the genes coding for one growth factor and two receptors . Finally, the molecular probes and the specific antibodies raised against these molecules can be used to identify precisely the growth factor(s) and receptor(s) produced abnormally in cancers . Antibodies that inhibit specifically the interaction of this very growth factor with its receptor could then be developed, thus allowing human tumour cell growth to be controlled. J Appl Physiol, 1986 Feb, 60(2), 353 - 69 The alveolar macrophage; Fels AO et al.; The alveolar macrophage is one of the few tissue macrophage populations readily accessible to study both in the human and in animals . Since harvesting of these cells by bronchoalveolar lavage was first described in 1961, alveolar macrophages have been extensively investigated . This population is the predominant cell type within the alveolus, and undoubtedly serves as the first line of host defense against inhaled organisms and soluble and particulate molecules . Early studies focussed on this endocytic role and delineated the cells' phagocytic and microbicidal capacities . More recent investigations demonstrated an extensive synthetic and secretory repertoire including lysozyme, neutral proteases, acid hydrolases and O2 metabolites . In addition, the complex immunoregulatory role of the macrophage has also been appreciated . These cells have been shown to produce a wide variety of pro- and anti-inflammatory agents including arachidonic acid metabolites of the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways, cytokines which modulate lymphocyte function and factors which promote fibroblast migration and replication. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1986 Feb 1, 244(2), 713 - 8 Respiration-linked proton flux in Wolinella succinogenes during reduction of N-oxides; Shapleigh JP et al.; Formate uncoupled proton translocation in formate-grown Wolinella succinogenes cells supplied with N-oxides as terminal electron acceptors . In suspensions containing KSCN (but not valinomycin), H2 supported proton translocation when NO3-, NO2-, and NO were provided as oxidants . H+/N-oxide ratios were 4.77 for NO3-, 2.49 for NO2-, and 1.75 for NO . KSCN inhibits N2O reduction thus precluding use of N2O as oxidant . Repeated exposure of cells to NO inhibited their ability to translocated protons with NO as oxidant but only slightly diminished and did not eliminate their capacity for NO3(-)- or NO2(-)-dependent proton flux . Substituting reduced benzyl viologen for H2 and measuring proton uptake provided results consistent with an extramembranal location for the N- oxide reductases . The uncoupler, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, collapsed proton gradients, permitted uptake of 2 mol H+/mol NO3- or NO2-, but unaccountably inhibited NO3- reduction by 50% while leaving H+ uptake stoichiometry of the cells unaffected. Infect Immun, 1986 Feb, 51(2), 514 - 20 Mycobacterium leprae fails to stimulate phagocytic cell superoxide anion generation; Holzer TJ et al.; Mycobacterium leprae is an intracellular pathogen that is ingested by and proliferates within cells of the monocyte/macrophage series . Mechanisms by which intracellular pathogens resist destruction may involve failure to elicit a phagocyte "respiratory burst" or resistance to toxic oxygen derivatives and lysosomal enzymes . We have studied the ability of M . leprae and Mycobacterium bovis BCG to stimulate the generation of superoxide anion (O2-) in vitro by human blood neutrophils and monocytes and murine peritoneal macrophages . M . leprae bacteria failed to stimulate significant O2- release except at high bacteria-to-cell ratios (greater than 50:1) whether or not they were pretreated with normal serum or serum from patients with lepromatous leprosy . Either viable or irradiated BCG; on the other hand, stimulated the three cell types to release significant amounts of O2- when challenged with as few as 10 organisms per cell . Serum pretreatment enhanced the release of O2- by the three cell types . Preincubation for 18 h with viable M . leprae did not inhibit the ability of monocytes to respond with an oxidative burst to phagocytic stimuli . The failure of M . leprae to stimulate phagocyte O2- generation may be an important factor in its pathogenicity. Genetics, 1986 Feb, 112(2), 359 - 83 The evolution of self-regulated transposition of transposable elements; Charlesworth B et al.; This paper examines the conditions under which self-regulated rates of transposition can evolve in populations of transposable elements infecting sexually reproducing hosts . Models of the evolution of both cis-acting regulation (transposition immunity) and trans-acting regulation (transposition repression) are analyzed . The potential selective advantage to regulation is assumed to be derived from the deleterious effects of mutations associated with the insertion of newly replicated elements . It is shown that both types of regulation can easily evolve in hosts with low rates of genetic recombination per generation, such as bacteria or bacterial plasmids . Conditions are much more restrictive in organisms with relatively free recombination . In haploids, the main selective force promoting regulation is the induction of lethal or sterile mutations by transposition; in diploids, a sufficiently high frequency of dominant lethal or sterile mutations associated with transpositions is required . Data from Drosophila and maize suggest that this requirement can sometimes be met . Coupling of regulatory effects across different families of elements would also aid the evolution of regulation . The selective advantages of restricting transposition to the germ line and of excising elements from somatic cells are discussed. J Mol Biol, 1986 Jan 20, 187(2), 241 - 50 Three-dimensional structure of the regular surface layer (HPI layer) of Deinococcus radiodurans; Baumeister W et al.; The low-resolution structure of the regular surface layer of Deinococcus radiodurans has been determined from negatively stained specimens by three-dimensional electron microscopy . The layer has P6 symmetry, a lattice constant of 18 nm and a thickness of 6.5 nm . Three-dimensional reconstruction was performed by a hybrid real space/Fourier space approach that incorporates partial compensation of lattice distortions: The model obtained is discussed in the light of independent information about the surface structure of this layer, derived from metal shadowing and surface relief reconstruction . While agreement is quite satisfactory for the apparently more rigid inner surface, the outer surface shows severe flattening effects . The structure of the HPI layer is compared with other bacterial surface layers using a classification scheme that is outlined in the Appendix. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1986 Jan 17, 869(1), 81 - 8 Studies on the spin-spin interaction between flavin and iron-sulfur cluster in an iron-sulfur flavoprotein; Stevenson RC et al.; When the di- or trimethylamine dehydrogenases (trimethylamine:(acceptor) oxidoreductase (demethylating), EC 1.5.99.7) of certain methylotrophic bacteria are reduced by two electrons with substrate unusual EPR signals arise at g = 2 and g = 4 (Steenkamp, D.J . and Beinert, H . (1982) Biochem . J . 207, 233-239; 241-252) indicative of spin-spin interaction between the FMN and iron-sulfur compounds of these enzymes . An attempt is made to understand, describe and simulate these spectra in terms of a triplet state with possible contributions from both dipolar and anisotropic exchange (J) interactions . No direct measurement of J is available, but various approaches to setting limits to J are outlined . According to these, J approximately 0.4 to 3 cm-1 or 15 to 50 cm-1 . The spectra show, in the g = 2 region, a pair of rather sharp inner and a pair of broad outer lines; the latter broaden as well as move out from the center with increasing time (after substrate addition) and substrate concentration, while there is little change of g = 4 . The best fits to such spectra were obtained by assuming distribution of D and E values, depending on substrate effects and arriving presumably from 'g-strain' . The fact that both shapes and intensities at g = 2 and g = 4 could be reproduced simultaneously at two frequencies indicates that the assumptions underlying our approaches and interpretations are permissible and reasonable, although we cannot claim their uniqueness . The distance between the centers of the spin densities of the flavin radical and the Fe-S cluster is thought to lie between the limits 3 to 5 A if the asymmetries in the spin-spin interaction are magnetic dipole-dipole in origin . Because there is an indication that the interaction is anisotropic exchange, the upper limit is less stringent. Am J Ophthalmol, 1986 Jan 15, 101(1), 49 - 57 Microwave sterilization of hydrophilic contact lenses; Rohrer MD et al.; We used standard 2,450-MHz microwave irradiation to achieve sterilization of hydrophilic contact lenses contaminated with a variety of bacterial, fungal, and viral corneal pathogens . A three-dimensional rotisserie was used to overcome the problem of "cold spots" within the microwave oven . The contact lenses became dehydrated in approximately two minutes . Rehydration with normal saline restored their shape and appearance . The time necessary to prohibit all growth of the bacterial and fungal organisms studied ranged from 45 seconds to eight minutes . All viral contaminants were completely inactivated after four minutes of microwave exposure . Refractive properties were unaffected after 101 exposures to microwaves for ten minutes . Slit-lamp examination and scanning electron microscopy disclosed minute particles on the surface of these contact lenses but no damage to the lens matrix from irradiation. J Biol Chem, 1986 Jan 15, 261(2), 949 - 55 Multiple red cell ferritin mRNAs, which code for an abundant protein in the embryonic cell type, analyzed by cDNA sequence and by primer extension of the 5'-untranslated regions; Didsbury JR et al.; Ferritin maintains iron in a bioavailable, nontoxic form for vertebrates and invertebrates, higher plants, fungi, and bacteria; the protein is formed from two classes of subunits (H and L) in ratios which vary in different cell types . Ferritin may be an abundant, differentiation-specific protein or a "housekeeping" protein . The red cells of embryos are specialized for iron storage and have abundant ferritin; iron regulates the synthesis of ferritin in such cells translationally by recruitment of stored, ferritin mRNA and by translational competition . To characterize mRNA regulated in such a manner, we prepared cDNA from reticulocytes of bullfrog tadpoles, a readily available source of embryonic red cells; moreover, no protein sequence information was available for nonmammalian ferritin . An almost full-length (817 base pairs) cDNA (pJD5F12) was isolated and sequenced, the 5' end was analyzed by primer extension, and the cloned DNA was used as a hybridization probe . We have shown that ferritin mRNA is stored in the cytoplasm and that the 5' end of the mRNA is heterogeneous . The 5'-untranslated region of ferritin mRNA consisted of 143 nucleotides in the major (65%) species and 146 or 152 in the minor species (approximately 17% each) . (Heterogeneity is characteristic of some other abundant mRNAs, e.g . globin, which is also translationally regulated.) Since excess iron had no detectable effect on the heterogeneity of the 5' end of ferritin mRNA, the feature is more likely associated with mRNA abundance and/or cell specialization than translational control . In the bullfrog, as in humans and rats, ferritin is encoded by multiple genomic sequences (four to eight) which specify proteins of considerable homology . For example, 75 of the 81 amino acids present in all mammalian ferritins sequenced are also present in the frog; the overall homology between frogs and humans or rats is 59-66% . Ferritin H and L subunits in humans are distinct (overall homology 56%) and appear to have diverged from a common precursor relatively recently . In contrast, ferritin H and L subunits have high homology in tadpole red cells, determined by hybrid select translation, which suggests that bullfrog red cell ferritin may be close to the primordial sequence. Biochemistry, 1986 Jan 14, 25(1), 152 - 61 Oxygenation of carbon monoxide by bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase; Young LJ et al.; Cytochrome c oxidase (ferrocytochrome c:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.9.3.1), as the terminal enzyme of the mammalian mitochondrial electron transport chain, has long been known to catalyze the reduction of dioxygen to water . We have found that when reductively activated in the presence of dioxygen, the enzyme will also catalyze the oxidation of carbon monoxide to its dioxide . Two moles of carbon dioxide is produced per mole of dioxygen, and similar rates of production are observed for 1- and 2-electron-reduced enzyme . If 13CO and O2 are used to initiate the reaction, then only 13CO2 is detected as a product . With 18O2 and 12CO, only unlabeled and singly labeled carbon dioxide are found . No direct evidence was obtained for a water-gas reaction (CO + H2O----CO2 + H2) of the oxidase with CO . The CO oxygenase activity is inhibited by cyanide, azide, and formate and is not due to the presence of bacteria . Studies with scavengers of partially reduced dioxygen show that catalase decreases the rate of CO oxygenation. J Mol Biol, 1986 Jan 5, 187(1), 1 - 14 Transcription initiation in vitro and in vivo at a highly conserved promoter within a 16 S ribosomal RNA gene; Amemiya K et al.; Transcription initiation has been shown to occur in vitro at several sites within a cloned Caulobacter crescentus ribosomal RNA gene cluster that lacks the major promoter region 5' to the 16 S rRNA gene . The predominant transcription start site in vitro was located near the 3' end of the 16 S rRNA gene . Transcription initiation from this region was also detected in vivo, when the cloned rRNA gene cluster was present on a multi-copy plasmid . The transcription start sites in vitro and in vivo were shown to be identical by S1 nuclease mapping and were found to be located approximately 300 nucleotides upstream from the 3' end of the 16 S rRNA gene . The transcript synthesized in vitro was shown to be cleaved by C . crescentus RNase III and to release the transfer RNA genes from the downstream 16 S/23 S intergenic spacer region . Analysis of the nucleotide sequence near the internal 16 S rRNA transcription start site revealed the presence of a consensus promoter sequence followed by the beginning of an open reading frame approximately 90 nucleotides downstream . Examination of the 16 S rRNA genes from other bacterial species and chloroplasts and 18 S rRNA genes from Xenopus and yeast revealed that the nucleotide sequence of this internal 16 S rRNA promoter region was highly conserved . Although the length of these 16 S and 18 S rRNA genes is slightly variable, the distance of the conserved promoter sequence from the 3' end of these genes has been conserved. Anat Embryol (Berl), 1986, 173(3), 317 - 22 Quantitative electron microscopic observations on Paneth cells of germfree and ex-germfree Wistar rats; Satoh Y et al.; Ultrastructural changes of Paneth cells of germfree (GF) rats which had been inoculated with bacteria-containing feces from conventionally-reared (SPF) rats were quantitatively examined . 12 and 24 h after inoculation, the Paneth cells showed a striking decrease in the number of secretory granules and the occurrence of large vacuoles . Phagosomes containing bacteria were not seen . After 4 days,