Infect Dis Clin North Am, 1988 Mar, 2(1), 183 - 202 The painful mouth . Mucositis, gingivitis, and stomatitis; Epstein JB; The oromucosal manifestations of infection and painful mouth have important implications for both medical and dental professionals . The immunocompromised patient presents a particular challenge because clinical signs and symptoms may be minimal, and prompt and appropriate treatment is critical to prevent life-threatening complications . Effective control of infection and oral symptoms are both important, and this can be achieved by judicious use of topical and systemic agents . Prevention of mucosal breakdown, suppression of microbial colonization, control of reactivating viral infections, and effective management of severe xerostomia are all critical steps to reduce the overall morbidity and mortality of oromucosal infections in the severely immunocompromised patient. Infect Dis Clin North Am, 1988 Mar, 2(1), 1 - 19 Normal flora and mucosal immunity of the head and neck; Roscoe DL et al.; The study of the human resident flora has grown from Antony van Leeuwenhoek's simple descriptions some 300 years ago to the sophisticated investigations being done today . The acquisition of organisms and the subsequent course of either stable colonization or invasion of the host involve complex host-parasite interactions . From one perspective, clearly host factors are operative that appear to select against certain species while being permissive for others . From another perspective, microbial species that are successful at colonization must overcome certain host factors to maintain a selective advantage and flourish within a particular body habitat . It is intriguing that whereas host mucosal defenses are a significant influence contributing to selection of the resident flora, it is this established flora that provides the host with perhaps its most important local defense system . In the head and neck areas, many of these mucosal surfaces are contiguous and thus for the most part share a common resident flora . These organisms are rarely involved in infection unless some breach of the mucosal surface or some upset in the balance of the normal flora occurs . On these occasions, the host is susceptible to infection from both newly acquired organisms and those previously present, which may now become invasive . In any event, it is clear that improved knowledge of the normal flora of the head and neck is essential for understanding and for effective treatment of infectious processes in this area . It is hoped that a better appreciation of the important role of the normal flora in maintaining the host mucosal defenses will further focus our attention on its preservation. Can J Microbiol, 1988 Mar, 34(3), 319 - 22 Immunogenetic aspects of host immune response; Inman RD; The central role of histocompatibility leukocyte antigens (HLA) class II molecules in antigen presentation has received great attention in recent years, yet class I molecules have been defined as primarily functioning as a restriction element for cytotoxic T cell killing of virus-infected cells . Extensive clinical evidence, however, indicates that the HLA class I genes are strongly associated with nonseptic complications of enteric and genitourinary bacterial infections . Ninety percent of patients with Reiter's syndrome and reactive arthritis are positive for HLA-B27, yet the mechanism of disease susceptibility conferred by this gene remains obscure . Hypotheses concerning this interaction include (i) class I antigens functioning as receptors for microbial antigens; (ii) class I antigens expressing determinants that cross-react with microbial antigens; and (iii) class I genes controlling immunoregulatory functions that dictate qualitative differences in immune response to pathogenic organisms . These hypotheses await formal testing and hold great promise for understanding immunogenetic control of immune responses in general. Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1988 Mar-Apr, 24(2), 280 - 3 {A method for S-adenosylmethionine determination in extracts of microbial cells}; Bykovskaia SV et al.; A technique for quantification of S-adenosylmethionine in microbial cell-free extracts is proposed that involves dilution of S-adenosyl-L-(methyl-3H)methionine with non-labelled S-adenosylmethionine followed by DNA-cytosine-methyltransferase reaction . The content of S-adenosylmethionine and the activity of S-adenosylmethionine synthetase in yeasts and E . coli MRE-600 are in good agreement with the results obtained with labelled L-methionine and consistent with literature data . The sensitivity of the technique is about 0.1 nmol/0.1 ml of the reaction mixture (10(-6) M) . The error was about 5% in every series of experiments . However, the combined use of different DNA-methyltransferase preparations resulted in a higher experimental error (up to 15%), which should be taken into consideration. JAMA, 1988 Feb 12, 259(6), 870 - 4 Biomaterial-centered sepsis and the total artificial heart . Microbial adhesion vs tissue integration; Gristina AG et al.; The principal barrier to the extended use of the total artificial heart is infection that is centered on the biomaterial constituting the prosthetic device and exacerbated by the surrounding damaged tissue . Ultrastructural studies of total artificial hearts removed from two patients indicate a failure of true tissue integration and diffuse, adhesive bacterial colonization of biomaterial surfaces . Biomaterials are, in part, susceptible to infection because, at the present state of the art, they are usually not well integrated with host tissue or, if hemodynamic, not optimally biocompatible or antiadhesive. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1988 Feb 10, 952(3), 309 - 16 Isolation and characterization of two new low-molecular-weight protein proteinase inhibitors from the granule-rich fraction of equine neutrophilic granulocytes; Pellegrini A et al.; A new species of protein proteinase inhibitors was detected in the granule-rich fraction of equine neutrophilic granulocytes . Five isoinhibitors were identified with a narrow enzyme specificity towards two microbial proteinases, e.g., proteinase K and subtilisin . Two isoinhibitors were purified and partially characterized . They had an Mr of 11,300 and 7400, respectively, and were resistant to perchloric acid and heat treatment at 100 degrees C for 20 min . The inhibitors retained their activity over a broad range of pH (1-9 and 1-12, respectively) . The possible biological function of this species of protein proteinase inhibitors as defensins (= endogenous antibiotics) is tentatively discussed. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 54(2), 590 - 3 Influence of pH on microbial hydrogen metabolism in diverse sedimentary ecosystems; Goodwin S et al.; Hydrogen transformation kinetic parameters were measured in sediments from anaerobic systems covering a wide range of environmental pH values to assess the influence of pH on hydrogen metabolism . The concentrations of dissolved hydrogen were measured and hydrogen transformation kinetics of the sediments were monitored in the laboratory by monitoring hydrogen consumption progress curves . The hydrogen turnover rate constants (kt) decreased directly as a function of decreasing sediment pH, and the maximum hydrogen uptake velocities (Vmax) varied as a function of pH within each of the trophic states . Conversely, the half-saturation concentrations (Km) were independent of pH . The steady-state hydrogen concentrations were at least 2 orders of magnitude lower than the half-saturation constants for hydrogen uptake . Dissolved hydrogen concentrations were at least fivefold higher in sediments from eutrophic systems than from oligotrophic and dystrophic systems . The rates of hydrogen production determined from the assumption of steady state decreased with sediment pH . These data indicate that progressively lower pH values inhibit microbial hydrogen-producing and -consuming processes within sedimentary ecosystems. Environ Res, 1988 Feb, 45(1), 101 - 7 Fluorocarbon-enhanced mutagenesis of polyaromatic hydrocarbons; Mahurin RG et al.; The widely used fluorocarbon refrigerant and cleaning solvent 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (Freon TF), though generally considered biologically inert, enhances the metabolic activation of chemical carcinogens . Liver microsomal extracts from mice given single intraperitoneal injections of this fluorocarbon showed significant increases in their ability to activate carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons to form mutagens, compared to control mice injected with saline . Polyaromatic hydrocarbons aminofluorene and acetylaminofluorene were activated in this way . Mutagenicity was measured by a microbial assay . Both commercial grade and redistilled fluorocarbons gave similar results, that is, more highly active liver extracts after administration of the fluorocarbon preparation to mice . Neither industrial grade nor redistilled preparation was itself mutagenic . A combined liver microsomal extract from mice breathing Freon TF at 20,000 ppm in air for 8 hr also had enhanced ability to activate aminofluorene as a mutagen . Exposing mice to Freon TF by inhalation more closely matches the normal route of human exposure to fluorocarbons . The results of this study imply that low-molecular-weight fluorocarbons may pose a carcinogenic risk by acting as cocarcinogenic enhancers of carcinogen activation . The possibility that fluorocarbons are cocarcinogens in this way has apparently not been heretofore considered. J Nutr, 1988 Feb, 118(2), 242 - 8 Update: dietary protein and microbial protein contribution; Polan CE; Factors influencing microbial protein synthesis in the rumen have been reviewed several times in recent years . Original publications in the past 3 yr have reported microbial and feed protein nitrogen contribution postruminally when feeding a variety of dietary proteins . Ammonia is a satisfactory source of nitrogen for growth of the majority of rumen species, but substitution of intact protein for urea (source of ammonia) usually stimulates microbial protein production . Protein sources such as soybean meal appear to possess properties (perhaps rate of degradability) that optimize microbial growth in vivo . Protein sources more undegradable than soybean meal, when fed as the major nitrogen source, sometimes reduce microbial growth . However, nondegradable proteins may compensate for less microbial protein by supplying intact dietary protein postruminally, so the amino acids potentially available may be equal to or greater than those available when readily degradable protein is fed . Soybean meal may reduce microbial growth in diets containing grass silage at protein exceeding 16.8% . Various measurements of microbial and intact dietary protein postruminally show that the contribution of each can be manipulated . Accuracy of quantitative predictions of postruminal contribution depends on several factors that require more research. Infusionstherapie, 1988 Feb, 15(1), 27 - 32 {Need-related availability of short-chain peptides--a prerequisite for their use in artificial feeding}; Stehle P; The present knowledge about extraintestinal peptide assimilation opens now for the first time the possibility to formulate "complete and well-balanced" as well as "tailored" amino acid solutions by using short-chain peptides . A prerequisite for a commercial production of such amino acid/peptide preparations to be used in parenteral nutrition is, however, an adequate provision of suitable synthetic peptides in industrial scale . By applying the N-carboxy-anhydride method we have synthesized various glutamine-, tyrosine- and cystine-containing peptides in high yields . The dipeptide L-alanyl-L-glutamine as well as the tripeptides bis-L-tyrosinyl-L-lysine, bis-glycyl-L-cystine and bis-L-alanyl-L-cystine exhibit high chemical and optical purity, excellent solubility in water and stability during heat sterilization and storage thereby complying with all chemical/physical criteria for substrates in clinical nutrition . In the frame of our biotechnological research, we successfully applied proteases of plant, animal or microbial origin for the synthesis of various glutamine- and cyst(e)ine-containing peptides . Compared with chemical methods, this enzyme-catalyzed peptide synthesis offers certain advantages, especially the (stereo-)specificity of the reaction, short reaction times as well as simple purification procedures . The use of immobilized biocatalysts facilitates the development of a rational and economic method for an adequate provision of short-chain peptides in industrial scale. J Hosp Infect, 1988 Feb, 11 Suppl A, 37 - 42 Database handling for infection control and hospital epidemiology; Feldman RG et al.; In 1977 the Department of Microbiology, University College Hospital, London introduced an integrated data processing system . The system was designed primarily to produce individual reports on specimens processed . Input was via visual display units (VDU's) using nmemonic codes . Additionally data is sorted by the software to provide daily, weekly, monthly and annual listings for epidemiological use . Listings concerning specific problem area can be produced as required . As computing power and data storage systems become cheaper it should be possible to improve upon the quality of epidemiological information available . A continuous surveillance system is envisaged where each day all potential outbreaks are displayed and help with their management is offered . Information on incidence of infections and changing trends (such as anti-microbial resistance patterns) would be instantly available in numerical and graphical form . Modern colour VDU's and new programming techniques would make the system especially easy to use by the untrained operator. J Anim Sci, 1988 Feb, 66(2), 487 - 500 Low-quality roughages in high-concentrate pelleted diets for sheep: digestion and metabolism of nitrogen and energy as affected by dietary fiber concentration; Kinser AR et al.; Two trials were conducted to evaluate effects of, and interactions between, level and source of fiber in the diet on ruminal environment, microbial protein synthesis, nutrient digestion and flow of digesta through the gastrointestinal tract of multiple-fistulated sheep (trial 1; 4 X 4 Latin square design) and on ruminal, digestive and metabolic characteristics of early-weaned lambs (trial 2; randomized complete block design; 3 periods) . All diets tested were pelleted and were formulated to contain either 39% or 25% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), with corncobs or cottonseed hulls (CSH) as the major NDF (roughage) sources . In trial 1, dry-matter (DM) and organic-matter (OM) digestibilities were not different (P greater than .05) among treatments . Digestibility of NDF was higher (P less than .05) with high-fiber . Bacterial N synthesis (g N/kg OM truly digested) was not different (P greater than .05) among treatments . Molar proportion acetate was higher (P less than .05) and molar proportion propionate lower (P less than .05) when sheep were fed high-fiber diets . In trial 2, apparent DM digestibility was higher (P less than .05) for lambs fed diets containing corncobs . Energy digestibility was higher (P less than .05) at the low-fiber level and for lambs fed diets containing corncobs . Apparent NDF digestibility by lambs was higher (P less than .05) at the high-fiber level and for lambs fed diets containing corncobs . Nitrogen retained (percentage of N intake) was higher (P less than .05) for lambs fed diets containing CSH . Ruminal pH and molar proportion acetate were higher (P less than .05) and molar proportion propionate lower (P less than .05) for lambs fed high-fiber diets . Although responses to corncob vs CSH inclusion in high-energy pelleted diets differ, both roughages are effective as fiber sources in sheep diets. J Clin Periodontol, 1988 Feb, 15(2), 110 - 5 Relationship between lactate dehydrogenase and myeloperoxidase levels in human gingival crevicular fluid and clinical and microbial measurements; Wolff LF et al.; The present study was designed to determine, in a cross-sectional study, whether there was any relationship between levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and clinical periodontal status or microbial parameters . Another objective was to determine, in a longitudinal study, the effect of a single session of root planning on GCF levels of LDH and MPO and the relation to changes in clinical and microbial measurements . 15 and 12 test subjects with moderate to severe periodontal disease were seen in the cross-sectional and longitudinal study, respectively . 1 healthy and 2 diseased sites were evaluated in each subject . Higher LDH and MPO levels in GCF were closely associated with higher clinical and microbial signs of periodontal disease . Root planing was effective in reducing these enzymes in GCF, with an accompanying decrease in clinical and microbial signs associated with disease . The return of LDH to baseline levels at 3 months after instrumentation, without a corresponding return of clinical signs of disease, may serve as a marker for subclinical periodontal pathology. J Clin Periodontol, 1988 Jan, 15(1), 53 - 9 Microbial colonization patterns of loosely adherent subgingival plaque in adult periodontitis; Offenbacher S et al.; Periodontal plaque is a complex bacterial ecosystem that carries an innate history of colonization, selection and maturation . Detailed examination of this balanced environment can reveal developmental sequences and certain interrelationships, much like an archeological record, that can provide insight in the understanding of plaque formation and maturation . For the present investigation, methods are employed which enable the retrospective elucidation of the historical data of plaque development and the nature of bacterial interactions . Nonparametric statistical methods are used to analyze risk, agreement and interdependence, following analytical techniques which are well established in medical epidemiology, but not generally employed in dentistry . The fundamental concept is that many organisms which are present in plaque prefer or require a pre-existing bacterial miliue for colonization and growth to steady-state level . Plaque samples and Ramfjord attachment level measurements were obtained from 60 adult periodontitis patients . Loosely adherent plaque was sampled and different morphotypes were enumerated by darkfield microscopy . The colonization of small spirochetes (S-SP) within the loosely adherent plaque was essential for the colonization of medium spirochetes (M-SP), odds ratio = 15.7 and filaments (FIL), odds ratio = 22.2 . Thus, a temporal colonization sequence is inferred for FIL and M-SP, both requiring S-SP as a prerequisite morphotype . Medium spirochetes, in turn, are required for fusiform (FUS) colonization . M-SP also enhance the colonization of FIL and large motile rods (L-MO-R) within the loosely adherent plaque . These morphotypes were inferred to be sequentially interdependent, each preferring or requiring the presence of the preceding morphotype.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Br J Rheumatol, 1988, 27 Suppl 2, 173 - 5 Observations on the causes of rheumatoid arthritis; Atkin S et al.; Inflammatory, symmetrical peripheral polyarthritis is observed in a small proportion of patients following a variety of parasitic, viral and microbial infections . The development of such a post-infective arthritis disorder may depend on a sequence of events, which need not be confined to one extrinsic pathogenic organism. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1988, 33(3), 208 - 12 Synergism of rumen microbial hydrolases during degradation of plant polymers; Kopecny J et al.; In isolated mixture of exocellular enzymes of rumen bacteria Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis, specific activities of cellulases, hemicellulases and glycosidases were determined . The highest specific activities were shown mostly for proteins of N . frontalis. Radiat Environ Biophys, 1988, 27(2), 165 - 76 Effect of microbial biomass reduction by gamma-irradiation on the sorption of 137Cs, 85Sr, 139Ce, 57Co, 109Cd, 65Zn, 103Ru, 95mTc, I by soils; Bunzl K et al.; Six soils, two Sphagnum peat samples and a clay mineral were irradiated with 40 and 80 kGy (4 and 8 Mrad) from a 60Co source . As a result the microbial biomass, determined separately for each sample, decreased considerably . Depending on the radionuclide, the sorption, as characterised by the distribution coefficient, decreased, increased or remained unchanged . The effect of the irradiation on the sorption of the radionuclides depended, in general, also on the type of the sample, especially whether well humified soils, (e.g . crop soils), poorly humified samples (Sphagnum peat, O-horizon from woodland), or a clay mineral was employed . The data reveal that irradiation produces, besides sterilization, also other effects in soils, which can change their sorption properties. J Anim Sci, 1988 Jan, 66(1), 194 - 203 Intake and digestion in cattle fed warm- or cool-season grass hay with or without supplemental grain; Jones AL et al.; Intake and digestion in cattle fed warm- or cool-season grass hay with or without low-level grain supplementation were studied with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in two 4 x 4 Latin square experiments . In Exp . 1, four cannulated beef cows (396 kg) were given Bermuda grass (B) or orchard grass (OG) hay at 1.5% body weight (BW) with 0 or .3% BW of ground corn (C; dry matter) . Bermuda grass contained 12.1% crude protein, 79.3% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and 5.5% acid detergent lignin (ADL); OG contained 10.6% crude protein, 82.4% NDF and 8.1% ADL . An interaction (P less than .07) between forage type and C supplementation was noted for microbial N entering the duodenum; C supplementation had a positive effect with B (30% increase) and little effect with OG . Corn supplementation did not affect ruminal NDF digestion with B, but it elicited an increase with OG (interaction, P less than .05; means were 60.7, 60.1, 61.5 and 66.3%) . In the second experiment, growing dairy steers (196 kg) were given ad libitum access to similar B or OG hays and were fed 0 or .5% BW of C . Dry matter (DM) intake was lower for OG than for B (P less than .05) and was lower with than without C (P less than .06; means were 2.76, 2.56, 2.53 and 2.30% BW for B, BC, OG and OGC, respectively) . Total tract organic matter digestion (%) was higher for OG than for B (P less than .10) and was higher with than without C (means were 54.7, 61.5, 60.4 and 65.3%) . In conclusion, chemical constituents such as NDF may govern differences in intake between warm- and cool-season grasses, but physical attributes of the forages appear more important to digestion. J Comp Pathol, 1988 Jan, 98(1), 31 - 53 Intracellular iron storage and the pathogenesis of paratuberculosis . Comparative studies with other mycobacterial, parasitic or infectious conditions of veterinary importance; Lepper AW et al.; The distribution of iron and mycobacteria was examined in the intestinal tract of ruminants with naturally-occurring M . paratuberculosis infection and compared with mycobacterial infections in several species . This distribution was compared with that of iron in chronic lesions caused by other microbial or parasitic agents . In the clinical form of paratuberculosis in cattle, sheep and goats there was marked lymphangiectasis and a high proportion of the granulomatous lesions contained siderotic macrophages with a high mycobacterial content . In cattle with preclinical lesions of granulomatous enteropathy, the greatest number of acid-fast organisms was present in siderotic, non-differentiated, ileo-caecal macrophages; concurrent mast cell-associated allergic enteropathy was also apparent in the duodenum, proximal and mid-ileum of most animals . In paratuberculosis-affected herds, a high proportion of non-productive cows were without classical granulomatous change but had cultural or immunological evidence of M . paratuberculosis infection and similar allergic catarrhal enteropathy of the upper intestinal tract . Interstitial haemorrhage of the ileocaecal valve, with the accumulation of haemosiderin and ferritin in undifferentiated macrophages was observed in some of these cattle and also in others with experimentally-induced copper deficiency and acute ostertagiasis . Colonisation of the ileo-caecal or caecal glandular crypts by large, apparently saprophytic acid-fast organisms indicated regional tolerance to such organisms in all cattle . In other mycobacterioses such as bovine or avian tuberculosis, undifferentiated, siderotic macrophages containing mycobacteria were also seen in early granulomas, but epithelioid and giant cell differentiation invariably led to the disappearance of intracellular iron and a reduction in mycobacterial numbers . In possums in which epithelioid and giant cells did not occur in response to M . bovis infection, siderosis persisted in many macrophages and overwhelming mycobacterial multiplication occurred . These studies indicate that, in most infections with mycobacteria, differentiation of macrophages radically reverses their iron acquisitive properties, creating an intracellular environment unsuitable for mycobacterial multiplication . It seems likely that allergically mediated microvascular haemorrhage, local tolerance of commensal mycobacteria and attenuation of the macrophage siderosis reversal mechanism provide unique conditions for early, uninhibited, intracellular multiplication of M . paratuberculosis in the ileo-caecal valve of certain mature ruminants. Immunology, 1988 Jan, 63(1), 125 - 31 Rate of incorporation of radiolabelled nucleosides does not necessarily reflect the metabolic state of cells in culture: effects of latent mycoplasma contamination; Merkenschlager M et al.; In response to cell-free conditioned medium derived from the human bladder carcinoma line T24 (T24 SN), we found greatly reduced incorporation of tritiated thymidine and uridine ({3H}TdR, {3H}UR) by the human carcinoma lines UCHNCu (small-cell lung carcinoma) and LS174T (colon carcinoma) . The effect was not due to an excess of nucleosides or cytokines known to be present in T24 SN . Cell-cycle distribution, increase in cell numbers, and de novo nucleoside synthesis in the indicator cells were only slightly altered . This was in contrast to the gross reduction in {3H}TdR/{3H}UR incorporation and seemed to indicate selective downregulation of pyrimidine-salvage pathways, despite ongoing polynucleotide synthesis . Spontaneous {3H}TdR uptake remained low for several passages in vitro but was readily restored by pharmacological inhibition of de novo pathways with 5-fluoro-deoxy-uridine (5-FUdR) . This suggested a stable but reversible regulatory effect of T24 SN on the pyrimidine metabolism of the indicator cells . Further investigation showed degradation of {3H}TdR by a particle-bound activity in T24 SN . Mycoplasma contamination of T24 had not been detectable using standard cultural and staining methods, but became apparent when T24-cell lysates were hybridized with a recently described DNA probe (Goebel & Stanbridge, 1984) . We conclude that latent mycoplasma contamination can stimulate changes in cellular pyrimidine metabolism . Our results provide an example for latent mycoplasma infection mimicking metabolic changes in cultured cells by direct interference of a microbial enzyme with the assay system . We describe a rapid and simple bioassay to detect and distinguish particle-associated and soluble phosphorylase activity by {3H}TdR degradation . It may be a useful screening assay for mycoplasma contamination in tissue culture. Adv Exp Med Biol, 1988, 222, 579 - 84 Emulsified perfluorochemicals for oxygenation of microbial cell cultures? King AT, Lowe KC, Mulligan BJ. PFCs and their emulsions may have value for increasing the efficiency of O2-transport to microbial cultures . Therefore, the effects of emulsion components on growth of S . cerevisiae and E . coli have been examined . Viable cell counts revealed that perfluorodecalin or the commercial emulsion, Fluosol-DA 20%, produced no obvious growth-inhibition over 6h . However, incubation of cells with up to 10% of the Pluronic F-68 surfactant reduced absorbance at 600nm . Further experiments to assess the effects of PFC emulsion components on growth and structure of microbial cells are in progress. Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Jan, 33(1), 16 - 22 {Isolation of 5-benzyl hydroxytryptophan enantiomers by using microbial aminoacylase}; Kushashvili LT et al.; The process of asymmetric deacylation of an acetyl derivative of 5-benzyl hydroxytryptophan racemate in the presence of native microbial aminoacylase was studied . The effect of pH, temperature, concentration of the enzyme and substrate were investigated . Conditions for preparation and isolation of individual amino acids were defined by optimization of N-Ac-DU-5-BOT hydrolysis. Arch Tierernahr, 1988 Jan, 38(1), 77 - 9 Rumen microbial changes in calves fed on alpha amylase diet; Kmet V et al.; Fifty-six calves in the period of a milk nutrition, randomly assigned to two groups (control and alpha amylase fed) were used to monitor the changes in the rumen microbial populations and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations associated with feeding Amylosubtilin G10X (0.6 g.day-1) . Statistically significant increase was observed for amylolytic counts in experimental calves on 20th or 30th days . The counts of rumen cellulolytic bacteria and selenomonas tended to have increase in the value, but were not significantly different from those in the control valves . The results show that alpha amylase fed calves has a relative higher rumen microbial population. J Exp Med, 1988 Jan 1, 167(1), 183 - 96 Differential regulation of IgG1 and IgE synthesis by interleukin 4; Snapper CM et al.; IL-4/B cell stimulatory factor-1 is a T cell-derived lymphokine that has been shown to enhance IgG1 and IgE and to suppress IgG3 and IgG2b secretion by B cells stimulated with bacterial LPS . We show here that the stimulation of IgG1 and IgE secretion in response to rIL-4 is differentially regulated . The dose-response curve for IgG1 production is bimodal with peaks at 100 and 10,000 U/ml . IgE production is modest at 100 U/ml and exhibits a progressive enhancement as the IL-4 concentration is increased to 10,000 U/ml, reaching approximately 1 microgram of IgE from an initial cell number of 2 X 10(4) . Both of these effects are reversed by monoclonal anti-IL-4 antibody . Neither the enhancing nor suppressing effects of IL-4 can be explained by changes in viable cell yields or {3H}thymidine incorporation . The production of both IgG1 and IgE is controlled by IL-4 in a two-phase manner . During the initial 2 d of culture with LPS, IL-4 action for both IgG1 and IgE production is relatively concentration independent at doses greater than 600 U/ml . This 2-d treatment leads to maximal IgG1 production at day 6 with no further addition of IL-4 . Addition of IL-4 during the final 4 d of culture has no effect at concentrations under 100 U/ml . At higher concentrations, IL-4 is strikingly suppressive for IgG1 production . By contrast, little IgE is produced unless IL-4 is present after 2 d of culture and the response is directly dependent on the concentration of IL-4 during this second phase of culture with maximal responses observed at 10,000 U/ml . These differences in IL-4 requirements for IgG1 and IgE production, respectively, may have an important role in the regulation of the synthesis of these isotypes in responses to microbial antigens. Reprod Nutr Dev, 1988, 28 Suppl 1, 65 - 6 {Effect of the mode of incorporation of lucerne serum on digestibility and microbial activity in the rumen}; Fassih A et al.; The extraction of protein from lucerne produces some liquid residue (called lucerne serum), the effects of which were studied on rumen microbial activity in 6 adult fistulated wethers . The introduction of the serum directly into the rumen stimulated cellulolytic activity whereas its incorporation into the lucerne solid residue before dehydration seemed to have no effect. Reprod Nutr Dev, 1988, 28 Suppl 1, 105 - 6 {Bacterial colonization of different types of feeds incubated in sacco in the rumen: consequences for estimation of nitrogen degradability}; Bernard L et al.; Kinetics of the microbial contamination of the residues of various feeds incubated in sacco in sheep rumen were estimated using 15N . In sacco, N degradability values, corrected for microbial N contamination were inversely related to the N content of feeds. Cancer Detect Prev, 1988, 13(3-4), 225 - 38 Antitumor activity of tritiated tumor polysaccharide substance (H3-TPS) in sarcoma 180 of mice; Makari JG; Small doses of H3-TPS given to newborn mice have been found to induce protection in 70% of mice transplanted with sarcoma (Sa) 180 . Mice rendered tolerant with large doses of TPS and DNA from Sa 180 in early life developed large tumors after transplantation with Sa 180 . Subsequent treatment with H3-TPS gave rise to 90% cure, the result of "reverse tolerance" (Makari JG: Nature 205:1178, 1965) . Macrophages (M phi s) selectively phagocytose polysaccharides and are thus labeled by H3-TPS . Radioisotope studies showed that the greater the tritium level in a tumor, the smaller its size, with the highest levels found at the cured tumor area (CTA) . The radioactivity in progressively deeper samples of tumors demonstrated a bimodal peak in activity in large tumors, indicating inability of most M phi s to pierce the tumor, and a peak in small tumors indicating penetration of tumor by M phi s . Mice whose M phi s have already been stimulated by microbial infection have much higher cure rates and much higher H3-TPS uptake at the CTA . The local increase of uptake of H3-TPS at the CTA in the immunostimulated groups (whether by experimental stimulation or by natural infection) is believed to reflect increased proliferation and increased phagocytosis leading to M phi stimulation and tumoricidal activity . In the "reverse tolerant" group, in which the uptake of H3-TPS is low despite a high ratio of of H3-TPS uptake in CTA/tumor, the mechanism of cure seems to be one of marked stimulation by H3-TPS of the M phi surface membrane without phagocytosis, resulting in the activation of M phi s to tumoricidal activity . Thus M phi stimulation and M phi activation seem to be the basis for the antitumor effect of H3-TPS. Nahrung, 1988, 32(6), 627 - 33 {The effect of microbial protein, obtained on a hydrocarbon base (fermosin), with a defined fatty acid composition on fat metabolism and fat composition in slaughter animals . 1 . The effect of fermosin on the composition of broiler depot fat}; Lusky K et al.; A study has been undertaken to investigate the influence of fermosin on the depot-fat composition of broilers and the oxidative stability of these fats in parallel with test animals fed yeast conventional produced on carbohydrate base . The data obtained are discussed with reference to literature. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl, 1988, 454, 178 - 84 Microbial ecology and tonsillar infection; Ozawa A et al.; The results of quantitative and qualitative analyses of tonsillar bacterial flora in chronic tonsillitis patients and healthy subjects are reported . Based on these results, the pathogenesis of tonsillar infections is discussed from the standpoint of bacterial ecology. Scand J Infect Dis, 1988, 20(5), 495 - 501 Bacteremia and candidemia in hematological malignancies: clinical findings; Hovgaard D et al.; 171 episodes of bacteremia and candidemia in 142 patients were recorded during the period 1981-1985 in patients with hematological malignancies . Overall mortality, within 1 week of onset of bacteremia, was 20% . Increased mortality was found in patients with poor disease-prognosis (39%), with granulocytopenia for more than 6 days (30%), and in those developing hypotension (49%) . Compared to a similar previous study from 1970-1974, the incidence of bacteremia remained unchanged, but the mortality had decreased by 50% . This result could not be explained by changes in microbial spectrum, in patient groups, or in the initial antibiotic regimen used . An improved general condition of these patients due to better supportive treatment may be the single most important factor in improving the outcome of septicemia. Int Ophthalmol, 1988, 12(1), 25 - 9 The microbial epidemiology of trachoma; Treharne JD; Detailed longitudinal studies of the microbiology of endemic trachoma in field situations have provided useful information concerning the epidemiology of this blinding disease . This knowledge should be of particular value for the further development of diagnostic techniques, and for the design of future trachoma control programs. Prog Clin Biol Res, 1988, 281, 15 - 32 Ontogeny of host defense systems and congenital infections; Osburn BI; There are a number of factors which contribute to the large number of congenital infections which occur in domestic animals . The more important factors include: 1) The agammaglobulinemic fetus because of a lack of transplacental transfer of maternal immunoglobulins, 2) An immature immune and accessory immune system, and 3) Undifferentiated cells in a number of developing organ systems in the fetus . The immune and accessory immune systems and other organ systems develop in a sequential manner . The types of lesions associated with a microbial agent depends upon the status of the target organ, immune response and accessory immune response at the particular moment of the insult . Once immune competence is attained, the fetus clears infection . Immune tolerance occurs with certain pestiviruses which have a predilection for lymphoid cells . Infection must occur before immune competence to these viruses is attained. Braz J Med Biol Res, 1988, 21(2), 273 - 9 Experimental murine schistosomiasis mansoni: inhibition of neutrophil granulocyte inflammatory reaction; Santos-da-Silva C et al.; 1 . The mobilization of neutrophils into the peritoneal cavity following stimulation with sterile mineral oil was studied in normal and schistosome-infected mice . This response was correlated with changes in blood neutrophil counts and with the production and release of medullar granulocytes . 2 . The peritoneal neutrophil inflammatory reaction was considerably reduced in schistosome-infected mice . The medullar pool of mature neutrophils was totally depleted, in spite of an increased number of immature neutrophil precursors . 3 . We conclude that the decreased inflammatory response of neutrophils during schistosomiasis is due to the delay of their maturation in the bone marrow . A similar delay has been observed in schistosomal patients . A causal relationship between delay of neutrophil maturation and sensitivity of schistosomal patients to chronic microbial infections is suggested by these data. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1988 Jan, 185(4-5), 379 - 96 {Microbial growth in mixed-bed ion exchange columns}; Scheer R; The microbial growth in ion-exchange columns of Christ GmbH Leonberg (Germany) was studied under differing water processing conditions . Continuous processing led to the same or slightly higher microbial counts in the product water compared to the feed water . Feeding the considerably contaminated column with slightly contaminated water (less than 40 CFU/100 ml) also didn't prevent microbial growth in the column . If water was withdrawn on demand only, an overnight no-demand period with closed inlet of the column led to considerable microbial growth, raising the microbial counts of the product water to well above the feed water level . But lower microbial counts were found in the product water than in the feed water by tightly closing the outlet of the column and hereby keeping the column at the same pressure as exists in the piping system . This was observed in several months long experiments operating with disinfected as well as freshly regenerated resin . The passage through a column of freshly regenerated resin led to a germ reduction of approximately 2 powers of ten and to an elimination of pyrogens. Drug Metabol Drug Interact, 1988, 6(3-4), 203 - 17 Sulphoconjugation and sulphohydrolysis; Powell GM et al.; The formation of sulphoconjugates is a ubiquitous phenomenon and the addition of the sulphate moiety to a variety of endogenous and exogenous molecules dramatically alters their physico-chemical properties and also their biological functions . Large numbers of different types of sulphoconjugate exist and their formation is catalysed by the versatile sulphotransferases . An equally versatile family of enzymes, the sulphohydrolases exist that are capable of accomplishing the reverse reaction . This paper comprises an appraisal of sulphoconjugation and sulphohydrolysis in the metabolism of xenobiotics and addresses the wider issues of sulphur availability and the interplay between mammalian and microbial enzyme systems in the sulphate cycle. Int J Biochem, 1988, 20(12), 1369 - 80 Intermediate peptides of insulin degradation in liver and cultured hepatocytes of rats; Takahashi S et al.; 1 . Bestatin, a microbial aminopeptidase inhibitor, induced accumulation of low-molecular weight intermediate peptides of insulin degradation in liver of rats in vivo and in primary cultured rat hepatocytes . However, bestatin did not affect the association and internalization of the hormone into hepatic cells . 2 . Results of the HPLC analyses showed that the intermediate peptides of insulin degradation are small ones and specifically accumulate only in the presence of bestatin . 3 . The above results, together with those employing other protease inhibitors, show that cytosolic bestatin-sensitive protease(s), trypsin-like protease(s) and thiol protease(s) play an important role in the intracellular degradation process of insulin. Scand J Rheumatol Suppl, 1988, 75, 2 - 12 Development of rheumatoid factor research through 50 years; Milgrom F; The discovery of Waaler in 1937 initiated fruitful research on RFs . It was not until the early 1960s that investigators in the field agreed that RFs are antibodies to Fc fragment of IgG . Separate factors combining with human and rabbit IgG and a factor combining with both these IgGs were at first demonstrated by mixed agglutination and then by separation through IgG-conjugated columns . Only RF combining with native autologous IgG should be considered an autoantibody . Other RFs are allo- or heteroantibodies . Cross-reacting RFs that combine with IgG of various species or with IgG and antigens of cell nuclei are of considerable interest . This cross-reactivity may be due to a combining site interacting with shared epitopes or otherwise to multispecificity of the RF molecule in that it has separate or partially overlapping combining sites acting on different epitopes . Experimental studies conducted since the mid-1950s showed that formation of RFs may be elicited by altered autologous IgG . Under natural conditions such alteration was shown to result from interaction of IgG antibody with its corresponding antigen and RF in many infectious diseases and possibly also in rheumatoid arthritis appeared to result from stimulation by immune complexes . More recently alterations of IgG by its reaction with microbial Fc receptors as well as non-specific polyclonal stimulation of B cells were shown to play a role in RF formation . RFs have been implemented in the pathogenicity of rheumatoid arthritis . Recent studies on dispersion of immune complexes in tissue sections by aggregated IgG showed that self-polymerization of IgG RFs results in formation of glomerular deposits in various nephropathies. Scand J Rheumatol, 1988, 17(6), 435 - 43 The role of infectious agents in the spondylarthropathies; Phillips PE; The clinical similarities of the spondylarthropathies and their frequent association with both HLA B27 and microbial infections suggest common pathogenetic mechanisms . The latter may include deposition of immune complexes containing bacterial antigens . or cross-reactivity of such antigens with host target tissue or responding cell antigens . Enteric bacteria, chlamydia and mycoplasma are all candidate etiologic agents, but proof is difficult because they are often found as normal flora, although only genetically susceptible individuals may acquire disease, and many patients have been treated with antibiotics before they can be studied . Nonetheless, a role for endogenous bacteria in reactive arthritis at least seems certain, and should stimulate further investigation into similar pathogenetic mechanisms in other chronic arthritides. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1988, 542, 140 - 52 Design of enzyme systems for selective product release from microbial cells; isolation of a recombinant protein from yeast; Asenjo JA et al.; The development of expression systems for recombinant proteins and recombinant protein particles that cannot be secreted and that are located in specific cell locations necessitates the development of novel, more selective, techniques for cell disruption . Mechanical cell disruption methods do not discriminate the release of the desired product from among a host of other contaminating molecules and cell debris, and they also may damage the protein product . In contrast, the use of lytic enzyme systems, which can provide biological specificity to the process of cell lysis and disruption, shows an interesting potential for controlled lysis . In this report, the design and the use of lytic enzyme systems for differential product release from microbial cells have been reviewed . Lytic enzyme systems are usually specific either for yeast or for different types of bacteria . Moreover, the activity profile of a lytic system will have an effect on the product distribution . This profile can be manipulated at the genetic, physiological, production reactor, enzyme purification, and lysis reactor levels . Alternative process designs that will allow the sequential release of products from different cell locations have been reviewed and discussed . Alternatives have been explored by process modeling, process simulation, and optimization techniques . These studies show that the use of lytic enzyme systems has tremendous promise as a method of controlled lysis and differential product release . Finally, the release of a specific recombinant protein, human serum albumin (HSA) from yeast cells, has been investigated . The low levels of wall-lytic protease present in the Oerskovia lytic enzyme system have no deleterious effect on the protein product, and the level of HSA extracted from two positive yeast clones using lytic enzymes is similar to that extracted after bead breakage. Acta Med Austriaca, 1988, 15(3), 65 - 8 {Wegener's granulomatosis: classification and therapy}; De Remee RA; Wegener's granulomatosis in its classic form is manifested by necrotizing granulomas of the upper and lower respiratory tract, focal necrotizing vasculitis involving both arteries and veins which may be widely disseminated, and focal necrotizing glomerulitis . The disease may present with incomplete expression involving any combination of the major sites, including the upper respiratory tract (E), the lung (L), or the kidney (K) . A newly emerging test for the disease called antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) shows promise in studying the disease in its various expressions . Standard current treatment includes glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide . Recently, favorable reports of improvement on trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole combination have appeared, suggesting the possibility that the disease may be incited by a microbial infection. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1988, 33(5), 401 - 6 Effect of cyclophosphamide on the candidacidal activity of rabbit peritoneal macrophages; Kotulova D et al.; Single and repeated intravenous administration of cyclophosphamide significantly decreased the candidacidal activity of rabbit peritoneal macrophages . Using higher doses of the drug, a more pronounced decrease, persisting up to 10 d, was observed . The phagocytic index has not changed significantly 10 d after cyclophosphamide injection as compared with controls . No changes in the phagocytic activity were recorded . The decreased candidacidal activity may be one of the causes of serious microbial infections in cyclophosphamide-treated patients. Pharmacol Ther, 1988, 39(1-3), 13 - 20 Requirements of radioprotectors for military and emergency needs; Walker RI; Uncontrolled exposure to radiation from nuclear weapons, space, or accidents presents challenges unlike those met in radiotherapy . For example, the time and quality of exposure are uncertain . Thus it is necessary to develop radioprotectors that can be given chronically (e.g . as vitamin combinations), or shortly before exposure (e.g . as WR-2721 and related compounds), or after exposure (e.g . as immunomodulators) to cover all possible situations of use . Also, for military purposes, performance capability, as well as survival from acute effects, must be maintained . In contrast to clinical and experimental exposure, it is likely that stem cells will survive in military and accident situations, making supportive therapy (e.g . fluids, antibiotics) of real value . Radioprotectors that can increase cell survival or enhance repopulation by the remaining cells can reduce the time required for supportive therapy and enhance its effectiveness . First-generation agents to accomplish this may be combinations of agents to mitigate free radical damage such as dietary supplements or WR-2721 and related compounds . Immunomodulators, either microbial agents (e.g . glucan, TDM) or recombinant cytokines (e.g . interleukin-1, colony-stimulating factor), can enhance hematopoietic and functional cell recovery after irradiation . Synergistic effects can be demonstrated with some combinations of these agents . This is important because agents with individual DRFs of less than two can be significant radioprotectors in combinations . Whether these combinations are effective against combined injury remains to be determined . Future research into mechanisms of radiation-induced damage and natural repair mechanisms should lead to even better second-generation radioprotectants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Comput Biol Med, 1988, 18(5), 367 - 76 An integrated microcomputer system using immobilized cellular electrodes for drug screening; Li XM et al.; Biosensors based on immobilized microbial cells were developed for drug screening in our laboratory . Compared with the conventional methods such as diffusion and dilution tests, biosensors have been demonstrated to be superior in sensitivity and require much shorter screening time . An integrated microcomputer system has been developed for data acquisition, database management, and mode of action estimation, which automates the screening processes and reduces the labor requirements significantly. Jpn J Physiol, 1988, 38(3), 233 - 50 Fever and fever syndrome--current problems; Iriki M; Research into the complex humoral and neurophysiological events of pyrogen-induced fever has proceeded rapidly to establish the thermal and non-thermal components of the fever syndrome . The major breakthroughs derive from the elucidation of the identity of the endogenous pyrogen interleukin 1 with the humoral factors responsible for the acute phase reaction and for the activation of lymphocytic, cellular, and immunological defence as host responses to infections . As a consequence, fever research is no longer concerned primarily with the changes in temperature regulation responsible for the febrile alteration of temperature regulation, but aims at the elucidation of the contributions that are made by both the thermal and non-thermal components of the fever syndrome to the defence of the host against the microbial intruder responsible for this syndrome . In order to account for this development in these introductory remarks to the current issues of fever research, this review has tried to pay particular attention to the following points: 1) The role of humoral factors in the generation of febrile hyperthermia, including endogenous pyrogens as well as mediators acting on the thermoregulatory center . 2) The "fever syndrome" with special consideration of its regulation and of the significance of its components from the viewpoint of fever as a host-defence reaction . 3) The assessment of the role of PG's in the generation of the fever syndrome, both as putative central mediators and as systemically released agents, with special consideration of the inhibitory action of the established antipyretic drugs on PG synthesis. In Vivo, 1988 Jan-Feb, 2(1), 15 - 8 Viruses in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus; Phillips PE; In spite of the lack of firm evidence implicating infectious agents, it is still likely that SLE requires an initiating event, probably environmental, and possibly infectious . In the setting of genetically determined perturbations of the immune system, an infectious trigger could be a trivial event clinically, and could be different in different patients . Once triggered, the immunologic abnormalities might be self-perpetuating so that the persistent infection and foreign antigens as found in hepatitis B vasculitis, might not be needed in SLE . Current evidence has not firmly implicated any specific microbial agents, but on a theoretical basis, the human retroviruses are particularly attractive candidates. Biosystems, 1988, 21(2), 165 - 73 Carbon recycling in materially closed ecological life support systems; Obenhuber DC et al.; Materially closed microbial ecosystems represent model life support systems for the future human habitation of space . These ecosystems when subjected to a constant energy flux seem to be reliable and self-sufficient systems for recycling of biologically produced carbon compounds. Life Sci, 1988, 42(3), 285 - 92 Microbial metabolism of phenelzine and pheniprazine; Foster BC et al.; Phenelzine and pheniprazine were used as substrates for metabolic studies with Cunninghamella echinulata and Mycobacterium smegmatis . Metabolites were identified by means of gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry . 1-Acetyl-2-(2-phenylethyl)-hydrazine and 1-acetyl-2-(1-methyl-2-phenylethyl)hydrazine were the major products of C . echinulata metabolism of phenelzine and pheniprazine, respectively . In addition, M . smegmatis produced a second metabolite from each substrate; these metabolites were unequivocally identified as N-acetylphenylethylamine and N-acetylamphetamine from phenelzine and pheniprazine, respectively. Reprod Nutr Dev, 1988, 28 Suppl 1, 123 - 4 {Effect of dietary restriction on the flow of organic matter and nitrogen in the digestive tract of goats}; Brun-Bellut J et al.; A restriction in intake (75% of ad libitum) did not modify significantly the disappearance of energy in the rumen, the small and the large intestine . It decreased the N disappearance in the small intestine . Microbial synthesis was between 48 and 62 g N/kg of organic matter apparently degraded in the rumen. Vopr Med Khim, 1988 Jan-Feb, 34(1), 56 - 9 {Effect of various immunostimulants on 5-nucleotidase activity of macrophages of peritoneal exudate in the mouse}; Kirillicheva GB et al.; All the immunostimulators studied, independently on their biological origin and chemical structure, decreased the 5-nucleotidase activity in macrophages of mice peritoneal exudate, thus indicating activation of these cells . The most distinct inhibition of the enzymatic activity in macrophages was induced by preparations of microbial origin . The decrease of the 5-nucleotidase activity in macrophages was observed in mice of CBA strain only after intraperitoneal administration of the preparations, while in non-linear animals--after subcutaneous or itraperitoneal injections. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol, 1988, 412(3), 231 - 9 Histopathology of tumour associated sarcoid-like stromal reaction in breast cancer . An analysis of 5 cases with immunohistochemical investigations; Bassler R et al.; In 5 cases of invasive ductal and lobular carcinoma of the breast multiple epithelioid and giant cell containing granulomas were detected, localized mainly in circumferential regions, but also in the center of the carcinomas . These granulomas were interpreted as sarcoid-like stromal reactions, occurring as sarcoid-like lesions in uni- and bilateral primaries, in a recurrent tumour, and also in axillary lymph nodes . Histopathologically, these granulomas were not quite uniform, some of them corresponding to typical sarcoidosis, others showing marked proliferations of epithelioid or giant cells or containing fibrinoid exudate or necroses . The granulomas were surrounded by dense infiltrates of mononuclear cells . Tuberculosis and mycosis was excluded . There were no hints of generalized sarcoidosis . Pathogenetically, these are reactions in the tumour stroma of varying intensity, and are not caused by necroses of the tumour tissue nor by microbial infections . Such tumour-associated sarcoid-like stroma reactions are interpreted as a T-cell mediated immune response to an antigen expression of the carcinoma acting as the local trigger; in 2 cases they were connected with sarcoid-like lesions of the axillary lymph nodes . Their occurrence in bilateral carcinoma of the breast points to an immunological disposition for this special kind of host-versus-tumour response . The intensity of these changes in a recurrent tumour reflects an immunological hypersensitivity reaction . The pathogenetic and differential diagnostic aspects of epithelioid granulomas of the female breast in chronic granulomatous mastitis, panniculitis, foreign body reaction, rare infections, and in therapeutically induced sarcoidosis are described and discussed. J Med Chem, 1988 Jan, 31(1), 11 - 8 Specific sequestering agents for the actinides . 16 . Synthesis and initial biological testing of polydentate oxohydroxypyridinecarboxylate ligands; White DL et al.; Chemical and biological similarities of plutonium(IV) and iron(III) suggested that octadentate ligands containing hydroxamate or catecholate functional groups, which are found in microbial iron chelating agents (siderophores), would be effective and relatively selective complexing agents for actinide(IV) ions . However, their usefulness for in vivo chelation of actinide(IV) is limited, because catechol and hydroxamate are such weak acids that the potential for octadentate binding of actinide(IV) cannot be achieved at physiological pH . The structurally similar monoprotic and more acidic 1-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridinone (1,2-HOPO) group was, therefore, incorporated into multidentate ligands . Treatment of 1,2-dihydro-1-hydroxy-2-oxopyridine-6-carboxylic acid (5) with phosgene in THF solution gives the active ester poly{1,2-dihydro-1,2-dioxopyridine-6-carboxylate}, which upon treatment with excess anhydrous dimethylamine gave a 60% yield of N,N-dimethyl-1,2-dihydro-1-hydroxy-2-oxopyridine-6-carboxamide (6) . A similarly reactive intermediate was prepared from 5 and an equimolar amount of phosgene in N,N-dimethylacetamide . Combined in situ with 1,3-propanediamine, benzylamine, spermine, spermidine, 1,3,5-tris(aminomethyl)benzene, or desferrioxamine B and excess triethylamine, the latter intermediate gave the corresponding amides in isolated yields ranging from 16% to 60% . The free ligands, their Zn(II) complexes, and the ferric complex of 3,4,3-LIHOPO were administered to mice {30 mumol/kg intraperitoneally 1 h after Pu(IV)-238 citrate, kill at 24 h} . Net Pu removal {Pu excretion (treated)-PU excretion (control)}, expressed as percent of injected Pu, was as follows: Na salts and Zn(II) complexes, respectively, of 3-LIHOPO (54, 56), 3,4-LIHOPO (58, 60), 3,4,3-LIHOPO (73, 76); Na salts of MEHOPO (46), DFO-HOPO (78); Fe(III) complex of 3,4,3-LIHOPO (79) . DFO-HOPO and 3,4,3-LIHOPO and its Zn(II) and Fe(III) complexes promoted significantly more Pu excretion than CaNa3-DTPA (61% of injected Pu) . Preliminary findings on the acute toxicity of the poly(HOPO) ligands and HOPO monomers are presented in an appendix . The biological data indicate strongly that the aqueous solubility and relatively high acidity of the octadentate HOPO ligands, 3,4,3-LIHOPO and DFO-HOPO allow them to form complete eight-coordinate complexes with Pu(IV) ion. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1988, 548, 253 - 61 Keratinocyte-derived interleukin 3; Luger TA et al.; Interleukin 3 (IL 3) initially was described as a cytokine which is produced by murine T lymphocytes and has multicolony stimulating factor (CSF) activity, activates mast cells and induces the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cell lines . In addition to T cells murine keratinocytes also produce an IL 3-like factor which according to its biological, biochemical and antigenic properties is indistinguishable from murine T cell IL 3 . Moreover, by Northern blot analysis murine keratinocytes were found to express mRNA homologous to T cell IL 3 cDNA . Similarly, human keratinocytes have been shown to release an IL 3-like cytokine which also enhances the activity of natural killer cells and stimulates the release of oxygen radicals by granulocytes . However, human IL 3 mRNA could not yet be detected in human epidermal cells or epidermoid carcinoma cell lines . These findings indicate that human keratinocyte IL 3 appears to be distinct from T cell IL 3 . Nevertheless, the exact nature of this cytokine remains to be clarified by sequence analysis and gene cloning . Through the production of these cytokines with IL 3-like capacity keratinocytes may participate in the regulation of the activity of different hematopoietic cells and thereby turn on early nonspecific host defense mechanisms against transformed cells and various harmful microbial organisms. Diagn Clin Immunol, 1988, 5(6), 355 - 60 Alloantigen and microbial antigen-induced cellular immune responses: inhibitory effects of four anti-HLA class II monoclonal antibodies; Spagnoli GC et al.; Four monoclonal antibodies (MAb's) directed against different epitopes of class II structures coded for by the human major histocompatibility complex (HLA), were studied to evaluate the relevance of these molecules on the control of different in vitro cell-mediated immune responses . Irrespective of the epitopes recognized, all MAb's tested exerted a powerful inhibitory effect on mixed lymphocyte cultures and on proliferation induced by microbial antigens . The generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer-like effectors also were inhibited by the addition of anti-HLA class II MAb in the cultures . The anti-HLA class II MAb provide a useful tool for the study of the in vitro immune response and eventually for therapeutic immunomodulation. Ukr Biokhim Zh, 1988 Jan-Feb, 60(1), 91 - 4 {Effect of proteolytic inhibitors from human plasma on the activity of native and immobilized terrilytin}; Raiko IE et al.; Human blood plasma inhibitors are studied for their effect on the activity of terrilytin, a proteolytic enzyme of microbial origin, and terridecase, its immobilized form . The main plasma inhibitor of terrilytin is alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2 MG) . The pattern of terrilytin and terridecase interaction with alpha 2 MG preparation isolated from human blood plasma has also been studied . The inhibitor is found to exert a slight retarding effect on the terridecase activity . Significant differences in alpha 2 MG inactivation of terrilytin and trypsin are observed. J Healthc Mater Manage, 1988 Jan, 6(1), 36 - 41 Decontamination: a microbiologist's perspective; Graham GS; The primary objective of decontamination is to protect healthcare workers who handle medical devices from infectious diseases that may be present on those devices . Ideally, the decontamination process should provide both cleaning and biocidal activity . A wide range of equipment, from automatic washer/sterilizers to semi-automated washer/sanitizers are commercially available to satisfy this need . The primary difference between these pieces of equipment, from a microbiology perspective, is in the level of safety they provide . A summary comparison of the decontamination methods is shown in Table 1 . Without a doubt, steam sterilization as a method of decontamination provides a greater safety level than may be required . However, the question is, "Do disinfection and sanitization provide an adequate safety level?" Although items do not necessarily need to be sterile to be safe to handle, sterilization processes provide the greatest margin of safety because of the significant microbial lethality and the ability to effectively monitor the process via biological indicators . Sterilization effectively eliminates the concern regarding the nearly unanswerable question of bioburden . Unfortunately, not all items are capable of being processed through a washer/sterilizer . Therefore, consideration must be given to the process compatibility of each device . Disinfection processes provide the next level of safety . Unfortunately, there is no recognized or accepted method for quantitatively describing or monitoring a thermal disinfection process . As is the case with sterilization consideration must be given to the process compatibility of each device . Sanitization provides the lowest level of safety for the decontamination process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Life Sci, 1987 Dec 7, 41(23), 2503 - 10 Immunomodulation by morphine and marijuana; Yahya MD et al.; The immunomodulatory effects of morphine and the active components of marijuana, particularly tetrahydrocannabinol, on various aspects of the host immune parameters include alterations in humoral, cell-mediated and innate immunity . Most studies have shown immunosuppressive effects due to use of these abused substances, although there are reports that they may not produce any deleterious effect and may even enhance some aspects of host immunity . They reduce resistance to cancer growth and microbial pathogens in animals. Am J Epidemiol, 1987 Dec, 126(6), 1165 - 72 An outbreak of necrotizing enterocolitis . Association with transfusions of packed red blood cells; McGrady GA et al.; Of 187 newborns admitted to a 33-bed, level III neonatal intensive care unit between January 1, 1985 and June 23, 1985, 33 developed necrotizing enterocolitis during their hospital stay . Twenty of the 33 newborns (61%) had onset of symptoms between April 1 and June 23, suggesting clustering during this period . A case-control study, with matching on birth weight class, approximate date of admission to the unit and approximate duration of stay, failed to reveal any association of the syndrome with type or timing of feeding, perinatal hypoxic events, as determined by apgar scores and labor history, or specific microbial organisms . By contrast, however, transfusion of packed red blood cells was highly and significantly associated with the syndrome (odds ratio = 15.1, 95% confidence interval = 2.59-92.51) . In addition, therapy with caffeine, with theophylline, and with furosemide were moderately associated with the syndrome, although not significantly so . During this outbreak period, the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis by birth weight was 30.6% in infants less than 1,500 gm, 10.8% in infants 1,500-2,500 gm, and 11.9% in infants 2,500 gm or more . These findings confirm the importance of low birth weight as a risk factor for development of the syndrome and suggest that insults to volume homeostasis, such as transfusion and use of diuretics, need to be considered as possible mechanisms whereby necrotizing enterocolitis is initiated. Arch Tierernahr, 1987 Dec, 37(12), 1075 - 83 Effects of supplement sulfate (Dynamate) and thiamin-HCl on passage of thiamin to the duodenum and site of digestion in steers; Goetsch AL et al.; Effects of dietary supplementation of thiamin-HCl (1 g daily) and a feed grade double sulfate of magnesium and potassium (Dynamate, added at 1.8% of diet dry matter; referred to as sulfate) on ruminal passage of thiamin and site of digestion in dairy steers (464 kg initial weight) fed a 77% concentrate diet were determined in a 4 X 4 Latin square experiment . Sulfate supplementation tended to reduce duodenal thiamin flow with (P less than .08) and without (P greater than .10) added thiamin . Supplementation with thiamin alone decreased ruminal disappearance of fed organic matter and nitrogen (P less than .03) and total tract disappearance of starch (P less than .06) and nitrogen (P less than .02), and increased ruminal microbial efficiency (P less than .04) . Sulfate addition to the high thiamin diet alleviated these effects but depressed microbial efficiency (P less than .05) . Sulfate included in the diet without added thiamin affected plasma thiamin positively, whereas sulfate added to the diet with supplemental thiamin changed plasma thiamin negatively (interaction, P less than .06) . In conclusion, a marked depression of ruminal digestion induced by dietary thiamin-HCl supplementation disappeared upon dietary addition of sulfate and sulfate depressed the quantity of thiamin passing from the rumen . Because preventing thiamin deficiency and optimizing site of digestion in feedlot cattle are desired, these changes deserve further study. Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Dec, 6(6), 729 - 31 Ultrasensitive analysis of microbial fatty acids using gas chromatography with electron capture detection; Larsson L et al.; Pentafluorobenzyl and pentafluoropropionyl/pentafluorobenzyl esters of bacterial fatty acids were analysed by capillary gas chromatography using both flame ionization and electron capture detection . No differences between the relative peak areas of the various fatty acids were observed as regards the two detectors used except that response of the electron capture dectector to the hydroxy acid derivatives exceeded that to the non-hydroxy acid derivatives by 20% . Use of the described derivatives in combination with electron capture detection yields chromatograms comparable with those obtained by analysis of methyl esters using flame ionization detection but with superior sensitivity. Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1987 Dec, 17(1-4), 413 - 23 The immune response to dietary antigens and its influence on disease susceptibility in farm animals; Stokes CR et al.; Transient hypersensitivity reactions of the intestinal immune system to dietary antigens result in increases in enterocyte turnover and villous atrophy . These changes occur in the intestine of the post weaned piglet and precede the proliferation of E . coli and the development of post-weaning diarrhea . We therefore postulated that a transient cell mediated immune response to dietary antigens may increase susceptibility to disease . The interaction of dietary and microbial antigens upon the gut immune system has been investigated in mice and pigs and it has been shown that both exert powerful regulatory effects upon each other. Scanning Microsc, 1987 Dec, 1(4), 2019 - 24 A scanning electron microscopy study of approximal premolar surfaces from fifteen year old children living in a fluoridated community; Holmen L; The aim of the present study was to examine approximal enamel surfaces in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) . Thirty premolars developed and erupted in an 'optimally' fluoridated (1 ppm) community had clinical indications of dental fluorosis and early signs of dental caries corresponding to the approximal contact area . The SEM-examination disclosed a spectrum of posteruptive changes ranging from isolated surface fractures to carious dissolution, abrasion and calcified microbial deposits . Conclusively, we found that teeth developed and erupted in areas with fluoridated water undergo similar posteruptive alterations due to prevailing environmental conditions as reported in teeth from low fluoride areas. J Chir (Paris), 1987 Dec, 124(12), 672 - 6 {Pyosalpinx: anatomo-clinical experience and therapeutic inferences . Apropos of a retrospective study of 58 cases}; Zamora A et al.; Data from a series of 58 patients admitted with pyosalpinx, and representing 17.3% of cases of upper genital infections, were used to provide detailed information on therapy . Diagnosis was confirmed by celioscopy or laparotomy in all cases, and treatment essentially multiple antibiotic therapy by parenteral administration of wide spectrum compounds . Three subgroups of patients were distinguished: group 1 (15 cases) received immediate surgery due to severity of clinical picture or doubt as to diagnosis: in 54% the treatment was radical (hysterectomy-castration); group II (26 cases) received medical treatment only; group III (17 cases) underwent surgery after failure of medical treatment; operation was conservative in 52% of cases . Failure of medical treatment was related to a pyosalpinx volume of 8 cm3 or more in 86% of cases . No patient needed recovery surgery, while 3 had long term complications . Microbial flora was mainly anaerobic, diagnosis being dependent of celioscopy findings . Medical treatment alone allowed young women desiring pregnancy to conserve their genital apparatus in 44.8% of cases . When there is a lack of response to treatment, incomplete regression or recurrence then only surgery can be curative: the uterus and ovarian parenchyma should be conserved as far as possible because of new therapeutic perspectives. Scanning Microsc, 1987 Dec, 1(4), 2003 - 18 The root surface: an illustrated review of some scanning electron microscope studies; Jones SJ; This review paper highlights how the advent of a new type of surface microscopy in the late 1960s, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), was responsible for a fresh appraisal of the structure of the root surface . Details of the formation, resorption and repair of cementum, all surface phenomena, and the varied relationships and mineralization patterns of the two sets of fibres within cementum - the hall mark of the tissue - could be seen in a way and at a range of magnifications hitherto impossible . The major interpretational advances were made rapidly using secondary electron imaging of anorganic normal, exposed, carious and instrumented root surfaces . SEM made an important contribution to our knowledge of the composition of the microbial flora overlying the root surface by enabling the survey of plaque still kept intact on the whole tooth . It was possible to appreciate better the existence of distinct microenvironments within the plaque with their unique populations of interacting bacteria, and to see the location and prevalence of regions with special relationships between bacterial forms, such as "corn-cob" arrangements . Aspects of the structure of calculus, and its relationship to the cementum, were revealed in anorganic preparations . More recently, SEM cathodoluminescence and backscattered electron imaging have been applied to the study of normal and diseased root surfaces . The latter technique has proved particularly apt for detecting, in topography-free specimens, small variations and changes in the mineral content of roots and their acquired coatings. J Periodontol, 1987 Dec, 58(12), 827 - 36 Effects of subgingival irrigation on periodontal status; Greenstein G; Periodontal diseases are localized, plaque-related infections . Often, clinical signs of inflammation are not eradicated by supragingival plaque control, dictating that subgingival microbial populations must be reduced . Confirmation that it is possible to deliver medicaments to the base of deep pockets stimulated numerous investigations . This report evaluates the role of site-specific pharmacotherapy to enhance periodontal status. Br J Dermatol, 1987 Dec, 117(6), 735 - 40 Analysis of human skin surface lipid during treatment with anti-androgens; Patel S et al.; Skin surface lipid was collected from the foreheads of patients during a study of anti-androgen therapy for acne, and analysed for free fatty acid composition and triglyceride fatty acids . Both sebum excretion rate and bacterial flora decreased during therapy but only the ratio of free fatty acid to total glyceride plus free fatty acid changed, falling in all groups during therapy . No differences in lipid composition were detected in relation to individual therapy but patients admitted at the start of the trial, had, overall, a different lipid composition to those admitted later and had lower surface microbial counts. J Exp Zool, 1987 Dec, 244(3), 365 - 74 Prolyl 4-hydroxylase in the foot of the marine mussel Mytilus edulis L.: purification and characterization; Marumo K et al.; The mussel foot secretes a variety of unusual hydroxyproline-containing collagenous and noncollagenous proteins . Prolyl 4-hydroxylase acting on one or more of the secreted proteins was isolated from the foot by using conventional gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography . Mr of the intact enzyme was 230,000 (alpha 2 beta 2) composed of two subunits with Mr of 60,000 (alpha) and 57,000 (beta) as estimated by HPLC gel filtration and SDS-PAGE . The enzyme utilized (Pro-Pro-Gly)10 as a substrate with an apparent Km value of 0.17 mM . Cofactors and inhibitors were very similar to animal, plant, and microbial prolyl hydroxylases previously described . The enzyme had a relatively sharp pH optimum in the range of 7.8-8.3 and the hydroxyproline formed increased in proportion to the rise in the temperature between 5 and 20 degrees C . No detectable hydroxylation occurred with poly-L-proline or the unhydroxylated decapeptide analog (Ala-Lys-Pro-Ser-Tyr-Pro-Pro-Thr-Tyr-Lys) of the polyphenolic protein . Kinetic studies, however, revealed that the mussel prolyl 4-hydroxylase was competitively inhibited by poly-L-proline and uncompetitively inhibited by the decapeptide . These results suggest that the decapeptide binds the enzyme-substrate i.e . (Pro-Pro-Gly)10 complex . It is not yet clear whether this enzyme acts exclusively on collagenous substrates or whether its catalytic purview extends as well to the polyphenolic protein. Clin Exp Immunol, 1987 Dec, 70(3), 658 - 63 Oxygen radical generation by polymorphonuclear leucocytes of beige mice; Kubo A et al.; Oxygen radical generation was measured using peritoneal exudate polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) from a strain of beige mice, an animal model of the Chediak-Higashi syndrome . These PMN have been shown to exhibit delayed microbial killing and impaired phagosome-lysosome fusion . The amount of superoxide anion released by the PMN of the beige mice was similar to that released by the PMN of the control mice . The PMN of beige mice generated slightly less hydrogen peroxide than the control . Hydroxyl radical (.OH) generation and luminol-dependent chemiluminescence were significantly lowered in beige PMN stimulated with opsonized zymosan (OZ) or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) . Cytochalasin B-treated beige PMN showed a decreased ability to degranulate myeloperoxidase in response to OZ or PMA . We demonstrated the significant decrease in .OH generation and chemiluminescence in beige PMN, which might be one of the reasons to explain delayed microbial killing. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1987 Dec, 35(6), 372 - 4 Mediastinal drainage after open heart surgery: comparison of infectious complications with two different systems; Suter PM et al.; Over the last years disposable systems have replaced in many hospitals the glass bottle drainage equipment used after cardiac surgery . The present study was designed to evaluate the incidence of postoperative infections and technical problems with 2 types of drainage systems . Positive microbial cultures and infectious complication as well as technical incidents were lower with the disposable equipment . The costs of the material alone, when infections are not taken into consideration, are slightly lower for the glass drainage system . We conclude from this survey that the incidence of superinfection of a closed, disposable system for mediastinal drainage is rare and smaller than with conventional glass bottles . When costs of different systems are compared, this consideration may be important. J Clin Invest, 1987 Dec, 80(6), 1550 - 60 Neutrophil activation on biological surfaces . Massive secretion of hydrogen peroxide in response to products of macrophages and lymphocytes; Nathan CF; Recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (rTNF alpha) and beta (rTNF beta) did not trigger H2O2 release from PMN in suspension . However, when PMN were plated on polystyrene surfaces coated with serum, fibronectin, vitronectin, laminin, or human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), rTNFs induced a massive, prolonged secretory response, similar to that elicited by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or bacteria . On serum-coated plates, the maximum sustained rate of H2O2 release in response to rTNF alpha was 2.6 +/- 0.2 nmol/min per 10(6) PMN, the same as that with PMA; release continued for 73 +/- 4 min . On laminin-coated surfaces or HUVEC, release of H2O2 in response to rTNFs was slower, but lasted approximately 3.5 h, reaching the same total (greater than 100 nmol/10(6) PMN) . Not only was this response far longer and larger than for other soluble stimuli of the respiratory burst studied with PMN in suspension, but the concentration necessary to elicit a half-maximal response (EC50) for rTNF alpha was orders of magnitude lower (55 pM) . Responses were similar with FMLP, but ranged from zero to small with recombinant IFN alpha, recombinant IFN beta, recombinant IFN gamma, platelet-derived growth factor, recombinant IL-1 beta, or bacterial lipopolysaccharide . Adherent monocytes did not secrete H2O2 in response to rTNFs . H2O2 secretion by adherent PMN was first detectable 15-90 min after addition of rTNFs or FMLP . This lag period was unaffected by prior exposure of PMN to rTNF alpha in suspension, by allowing PMN to adhere before adding rTNF alpha, or by incubating adherent PMN in medium conditioned by rTNF alpha-treated PMN . Cytochalasins abolished H2O2 secretion in response to rTNFs, but not FMLP, if added during, but not after, the lag period . Thus, H2O2 secretion from rTNF alpha-treated PMN appears to be a direct but delayed response that requires assembly of microfilaments during exposure to the cytokine . These results suggest that PMN adherent to intra- or extravascular surfaces may undergo a massive, prolonged respiratory burst at the command of macrophages and lymphocytes reacting to microbial products and antigens. Cancer Res, 1987 Nov 15, 47(22), 6010 - 6 Microbial iron chelator-induced cell cycle synchronization in L1210 cells: potential in combination chemotherapy; Bergeron RJ et al.; Parabactin, a microbial iron chelator (a siderophore), is shown to be a more potent cell synchronization agent than either desferrioxamine or hydroxyurea . When the L1210 cell cycle is blocked with parabactin, cells are held at the G1-S border . If the ligand is later washed away, the block is reversed, and the cells cascade into S phase . The cells are synchronized through three cell cycles . The siderophore-induced block is exploited in the inhibition of growth of L1210 cells by combination with the antineoplastics, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cytarabine, and bischloroethyl nitrosourea . The growth-inhibitory effects of Adriamycin, cytarabine, and bischloroethyl nitrosourea in combination with parabactin are shown to be dependent on the time frame in which the combination of drugs is presented to the cells . The results are in keeping with changes in L1210 cell cycle kinetics induced by the catecholamide chelator, parabactin. J Anim Sci, 1987 Nov, 65(5), 1354 - 61 Steers grazing blue grama rangeland throughout the growing season . II . Site and extent of digestion and microbial protein synthesis; Funk MA et al.; Effects of advancing forage maturity and drought-induced summer dormancy on site and extent of digestion and microbial protein synthesis in beef steers grazing native blue grama rangeland were evaluated in four sampling periods . Five steers (avg initial wt 227 kg) fitted with ruminal, duodenal and ileal cannulae and three steers cannulated at the esophagus freely grazed a 12-ha study pasture . Sampling periods lasted 11 d and started June 2, which was during the early growing season (EGS); June 22, during early summer dormancy (ESD); July 21, during late summer dormancy (LSD); and August 25, 1985, during the late growing season (LGS) . Dietary N content was lower (P less than .05) in ESD and LSD than in EGS and LGS . Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content was lower (P less than .05) in EGS than in other sampling periods . Ruminal organic matter (OM) digestion was lower (P less than .05) in ESD than in EGS, probably because of increased dietary NDF and lower N content . Ruminal OM digestion was greater (P less than .05) in LSD and LGS than in ESD because of increased fiber digestion . Neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestion occurring in the rumen was greater (P less than .05) in LSD and LGS than in EGS and ESD . Organic matter digestion in the small intestine and OM, NDF and ADF digestion in the hindgut were similar for all sampling periods . Over 90% of the fiber digestion occurred ruminally.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Br J Nutr, 1987 Nov, 58(3), 463 - 75 Determination of protein degradation rates using a rumen in vitro system containing inhibitors of microbial nitrogen metabolism; Broderick GA; 1 . A previously reported rumen in vitro system (Broderick, 1978) was modified to include chloramphenicol (CAP) with hydrazine sulphate (HS) to give quantitative recovery of protein breakdown products . Degradation rates were determined by regression v . time of log proportion remaining undegraded (computed by subtracting from added nitrogen the amount of N recovered as ammonia and amino acids) . Concentrations of reagents giving optimal N recoveries and estimated degradation rates for casein and expeller soya-bean-meal (SBM) were: 1.0 mM-HS, 30 micrograms CAP/ml, 2.0 mM-mercaptoethanol, 3.3 mg maltose/ml, when protein was added at 0.125 mg N/ml . 2 . Digestion of azo-casein and azo-albumin, solubilization of radioactivity from 14C-labelled casein, ovalbumin and bovine serum albumin (BSA), and hydrolysis of benzoyl-L-tyrosine p-nitroanilide and benzoyl-L-arginine p-nitroanilide were not significantly decreased by HS and CAP . This suggests that the inhibitors did not reduce microbial proteolysis . 3 . Mean fractional degradation rates (/h) were: 0.395 casein, 0.135 BSA, 0.159 solvent-SBM, 0.045 expeller-SBM, 0.061 meat meal, 0.070 lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay . Extents of protein escape, estimated assuming rumen passage of 0.06/h, were 13, 28, 56 and 40% for casein, solvent-SBM, expeller-SBM and lucerne hay respectively . This method appears more reliable for assessing rumen degradability than buffer N solubility and protein digestibility with ficin protease . 4 . Azo-dye treatment slowed the rate of casein degradation, measured by ammonia plus amino acid release, but did not alter digestion of BSA . 5 . The validity of the inhibitor in vitro method for estimating protein degradability, as well as potential problems in its application, are discussed . The complete procedure may be limited to laboratories with automated analytical equipment, but a simplified version of the method may be more generally applicable. Arch Tierernahr, 1987 Nov, 37(11), 1009 - 20 Effects of dietary forage proportion on digestive function in maintenance-fed beef cows . 3 . Bermudagrass and clover hays; Jones AL et al.; Five crossbred beef cows (Hereford X Angus, 438 kg), cannulated in the rumen and duodenum, were used in a Latin square experiment to determine the effects of dietary proportions of bermudagrass (B) and clover (C) hays (0: 1, .25: .75, .5: .5, .75: .25 and 1: 0) on digestive function . Feed intake was 85% of ad libitum intake of B alone (1.35% of body weight) . Bermudagrass contained 1.88% nitrogen (N), 79.6% neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and 5.2% acid detergent lignin (ADL), and C contained 2.30% N, 55.3% NDF and 6.3% ADL . Molar proportion of acetic increased linearly while propionic acid moved in the opposite direction as B replaced C (P less than .05) . Mean particle size of duodenal digesta increased linearly (P less than .05) as B increased, but specific gravity of particles was constant (P greater than .10) . Fluid passage rate decreased while volume increased linearly with increasing B (P less than .05) so that ruminal fluid outflow rate increased quadratically (P less than .10) . Particulate passage rate ranged from 3.0 to 3.4% h . Apparent ruminal organic matter (OM) digestion was 69.0, 54.0, 53.0, 49.1 and 49.7% for 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% B, respectively, decreasing quadratically as B rose (P less than .05) . Postruminal OM digestibilities as percentages of intake and available OM changed quadratically (P less than .05) as dietary B increased, causing total tract OM digestion to decrease linearly (P less than .05; 73.8, 66.4, 63.1, 60.3 and 58.2% for 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% B diets, respectively) . Duodenal microbial-N flow increased quadratically with increasing B (P less than .05), being 45, 108, 103, 105 and 101 g/d, and microbial growth efficiency increased quadratically as well (P less than .05) . True ruminal N disappearance ranged from 69.0 to 79.4% and was not affected by diet (P greater than .10) . Ruminal digestibilities of fibre fractions were similar to OM . Little digestive function benefit was achieved by mixing warm season grass and legume hays in diets of maintenance-fed beef cows. Clin Exp Immunol, 1987 Nov, 70(2), 289 - 97 Lesional modulation of peripheral monocyte leucotactic responsiveness in leprosy; Campbell PB et al.; Because the accumulation and activation of mononuclear phagocytes are critical to the host response to intracellular microbial pathogens, we evaluated mechanisms of peripheral monocyte leucotactic regulation in leprosy . Plasma from 53 of 67 patients was found to inhibit the locomotion of normal human monocytes . Neither the prevalence nor the magnitude of plasma leucotactic inhibitory activity correlated with disease histology or duration, type or duration of chemotherapy, or history of erythema nodosum leprosum . Plasma leucotactic inhibitory activity resided principally in a non-immunoglobulin, cell-directed inhibitor of 230,000 daltons molecular weight . Fractionation of plasma from patients with lepromatous leprosy revealed an additional, immunoglobulin-containing inhibitor of approximately 400,000 daltons weight, possibly an IgG-IgA immune complex . Production of leucotactic inhibitors by unstimulated and concanavalin A-stimulated peripheral mononuclear cells was normal; however, cutaneous explants from these patients spontaneously produced the 230,000 dalton leucotactic inhibitor in vitro . The ability of the lesions of leprosy to impede monocyte traffic may be an important pathogenetic mechanism. Comput Appl Biosci, 1987 Nov, 3(4), 309 - 12 Microcomputer package for statistical analysis of microbial populations; Lacroix JM et al.; We have developed a Pascal system to compare microbial populations from different ecological sites using microcomputers . The values calculated are: the coverage value and its standard error, the minimum similarity and the geometric similarity between two biological samples, and the Lambda test consisting of calculating the ratio of the mean similarity between two subsets by the mean similarity within subsets . This system is written for Apple II, IBM or compatible computers, but it can work for any computer which can use CP/M, if the programs are recompiled for such a system. J Clin Periodontol, 1987 Nov, 14(10), 588 - 93 Difficulties encountered in the search for the etiologic agents of destructive periodontal diseases; Socransky SS et al.; The present paper outlines some of the difficulties encountered in the search for the etiologic agents of destructive periodontal diseases . These include technical problems such as acquiring an appropriate microbial sample, as well as difficulties in the dispersion, cultivation and identification of isolates in that sample . Many of these difficulties are currently being successfully addressed . A second set of problems is more conceptual in nature . These include difficulties in distinguishing between periodontal diseases and determining the state of activity of periodontal lesions . In addition, complexes of organisms and/or sequences of species may be involved in the progress of lesions . A further problem is encountered in attempting to distinguish overgrowths of opportunistic species from increases in proportions of true pathogens . Finally, it appears likely that different infections occur at the same time in a single oral cavity . The technical and conceptual difficulties eventually filter down to the data analytical step and present numerous problems to the analyst . With all of these difficulties in mind, it is not surprising that the etiologic agents of destructive periodontal diseases are not clearly defined . However, improvement in technological assessments of the microbiota and clinical evaluation of the disease should permit reasoned approaches to be taken . The delineation of the etiologic agents of destructive periodontal diseases will be, of necessity, a multistage iterative process . Etiologic agents will be suggested by predominant cultivable studies and hypotheses concerning subsets of these agents tested using more specific procedures such as selective media, immunofluorescent techniques or DNA probes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1987 Nov, 84(21), 7508 - 12 Active site of tripeptidyl peptidase II from human erythrocytes is of the subtilisin type; Tomkinson B et al.; The present report presents evidence that the amino acid sequence around the serine of the active site of human tripeptidyl peptidase II is of the subtilisin type . The enzyme from human erythrocytes was covalently labeled at its active site with {3H}diisopropyl fluorophosphate, and the protein was subsequently reduced, alkylated, and digested with trypsin . The labeled tryptic peptides were purified by gel filtration and repeated reversed-phase HPLC, and their amino-terminal sequences were determined . Residue 9 contained the radioactive label and was, therefore, considered to be the active serine residue . The primary structure of the part of the active site (residues 1-10) containing this residue was concluded to be Xaa-Thr-Gln-Leu-Met-Asx-Gly-Thr-Ser-Met . This amino acid sequence is homologous to the sequence surrounding the active serine of the microbial peptidases subtilisin and thermitase . These data demonstrate that human tripeptidyl peptidase II represents a potentially distinct class of human peptidases and raise the question of an evolutionary relationship between the active site of a mammalian peptidase and that of the subtilisin family of serine peptidases. Microbiol Sci, 1987 Nov, 4(11), 348 - 51 Microbial parameters and their control in anaerobic digestion; Mergaert K et al.; Parameters, such as pH, loading-rate, space, substrate limitation and cell (dis) aggregation, are critical in anaerobic digestion . A better understanding of these parameters is necessary to achieve a more successful operation of anaerobic digesters. Z Naturforsch {C}, 1987 Nov-Dec, 42(11-12), 1187 - 92 {Development of new plate tests for the detection of microbial hydrolysis of esters and oxidation of 2-hydroxycarboxylic acids}; Yamazaki Y et al.; The application of the thin-agar-layer coated filter culture technique (Z . Naturforsch . 42c, 1082 (1987)) has been extended to the detection of ester hydrolysis and 2-hydroxyacid oxidation by microbial colonies . The former was performed by spraying with bromocresol purple and the latter with a salicylhydrazide reagent . Under the optimized conditions, the hydrolysis activity of more than 20 mumol/h.g-wet cells and the oxidation activity of more than 40 mumol/h.g-wet cells were usually detected directly on the filter-plate cultures of bacteria, yeasts and molds. J Hosp Infect, 1987 Nov, 10(3), 299 - 304 Microbial contamination associated with routine aseptic practice; Klapes NA et al.; We have studied the rate of fortuitous contamination associated with routine aseptic technique under operational conditions . Stainless steel strips, as simulators of surgical instruments, were contained in sterilized surgical packs and assayed by nursing personnel during surgical and other invasive procedures at three different hospitals . The rates of contamination observed for the 36 investigators ranged from 0% to 11.3%, with an overall rate of 2.7% . Assays conducted in a clean room environment, under conditions approaching industrial sterility standards, showed a contamination rate of 0.16% . We concluded that aseptic practices, as routinely performed without any noticeable breaks or transgressions, do not guarantee sterility . The concept of surgical sterility implies low level, but measurable, microbial contamination. J Hosp Infect, 1987 Nov, 10(3), 229 - 35 Nosocomial infections on nursing units with floors cleaned with a disinfectant compared with detergent; Danforth D et al.; Nosocomial infections on eight acute care nursing units in a tertiary care hospital was compared between two 3-month periods in which floors were cleaned with either disinfectant or detergent . Personnel performing infection surveillance were unaware of the cleaning product used . Surface cultures from selected floor sites were obtained at 3 and 6 months to assess microbial contamination . The combined nosocomial infection rate for the eight wards did not differ between disinfectant (8.0/100 patient discharges) and detergent (7.1/100) . For individual wards, a significant difference in nosocomial infection rate between the two periods was observed in only one ward, favouring the detergent . No differences in floor contamination were observed. Microbiol Sci, 1987 Nov, 4(11), 342 - 3 Microbial amylases; Cornelis P; Amylases are of tremendous importance in the food industry . Different enzymes used separately or together convert starch into glucose, maltose, dextrins or cyclodextrins . Most enzymes of industrial importance are of microbial origin, and the list of amylases produced by molecular cloning is rapidly expanding. Am J Med, 1987 Oct 30, 83(4B), 31 - 5 Rheumatoid arthritis: clinical considerations in diagnosis and management; Willkens RF; Advances in the understanding of the immune response, in immunogenetics, and in better identification of microbial agents that produce arthritis have made possible more accurate diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis . Epidemiologic study of groups of rheumatoid patients and their response to therapy has provided a broader perspective of the disease's course and management . Therapy must be guided by the acute or chronic phase of the disease and must embrace chemical, psychologic, and physical modalities to achieve the goals of pain relief and the restoration of immune balance . Rheumatoid arthritis can no longer be considered benign since it impairs the duration as well as the quality of life . Therapy should be aggressive depending upon the predictors of more destructive disease. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1987 Oct 17, 921(3), 559 - 66 Conversion of sterols and triterpenes by mycobacteria . II . Transformation of 7-oxygenated sterols into androstane derivatives via a 7-deoxygenation; Prome D et al.; The bioconversion of 7-oxygenated sterols by Mycobacterium aurum was studied in a preliminary investigation of the microbial conversion of wool wax . 7-Oxocholesterol was found to be transformed mainly into 3,17-dioxygenated androstane derivatives . 7 xi-Hydroxylated sterols were formed in an initial reduction step, and the C-7 hydroxyl group was then eliminated in a dehydration reaction . This was thought to take place during the isomerisation of cholest-4-en-3-one to cholest-5-en-3-one . Deuterium labelling experiments showed that this elimination proceeded faster for the C-7 alpha isomer, although it was not stereospecific . The C-7 alpha and C-7 beta-hydroxy isomers were weakly interconverted via the 7-oxo derivatives . Cholest-4-en-3-one, cholest-1,4-dien-3-one and cholest-4,6-dien-3-one all lost their side chains following a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reaction . The resulting 3,17-dioxoandrostene or 3,17-androstadiene derivatives were mainly hydrogenated into 5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione and 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta-ol-17-one . Elimination of the 3 beta-hydroxyl groups giving cholesta-3,5-dien-7-one, and subsequent microbial degradation of the side chain was not observed to any significant extent . The convergence of the bioconversion pathways of cholesterol and the 7-oxygenated cholesterols enabled crude, partially auto-oxidised cholesterol to be used as a substrate for the production of 3,17-dioxygenated androstane derivatives by M . aurum. Sci Total Environ, 1987 Oct, 66, 73 - 94 A record of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution obtained from accreting sediments of the Tamar Estuary, U.K.: evidence for non-equilibrium behaviour of PAH; Readman JW et al.; Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were quantified throughout a 210Po-dated inter-tidal sediment core from the Tamar Estuary, U.K . in order to reconstruct the input history and investigate environmental reactivity of PAH in sediments . The profile recorded is similar to those reported in other aquatic sedimentary studies, with an approximately exponential increase in the concentrations of individual PAH from less than 30 ng (g dry sediment)-1 prior to 1940 to between 100 and 1000 ng (g dry sediment)-1 in contemporary surface sediments . This corresponds to an increased input of total PAH from 0.23 to 21 mg m-2 year-1 . The PAH composition is dominated by parent compounds rather than alkylated homologues and is characteristic of pyrogenic sources correlating with increased motor vehicle activity and road runoff into the Tamar . There is a remarkable compositional uniformity of PAH throughout the polluted sediment core, indicating that the biogeochemical transformation and exchange processes (sorption/leaching; microbial breakdown; photo-degradation; etc.) which are known to govern the fate of experimentally-added or petroleum-derived PAH, and which exhibit compound discrimination, appear not to affect PAH in the sediments . Using a linear free energy sediment-water exchange model to simulate the repartitioning and exchange of individual PAH between the surface-mixed layer of sediment and water, we demonstrate that the current PAH concentrations in sediments are between 2 and 5 orders of magnitude greater than those expected from equilibrium partitioning with observed water concentrations . This implies that the PAH input to the sediments has been compositionally uniform and that the PAH are chemically inert . Sorptive exchange with the aqueous phase and hence the potential bioavailability of PAH appear restricted by the existence of occluded and other micro-morphologically inert forms of particle-bound PAH. J Dairy Sci, 1987 Oct, 70(10), 2078 - 84 Effects of treating wheat straw with pH-regulated solutions of alkaline hydrogen peroxide on nutrient digestion by sheep; Kerley MS et al.; An experiment using a 4 X 4 Latin square design was to determine effects of treating wheat straw with pH-regulated (pH = 11.5) solutions of hydrogen peroxide on site and extent of nutrient digestion in multiple-fistulated sheep . Regulating reaction pH at 11.5 prevented solubilization of some cell wall hemicelluloses, resulting in improved retention of DM . Diets fed to sheep contained 33 or 70% wheat straw either untreated or treated with alkaline hydrogen peroxide . Sheep fed diets of treated wheat straw digested more DM, NDF, ADF, and cellulose anterior to the duodenum and in the total tract than when fed diets of untreated wheat straw . Apparent CP digestion before the duodenum was highest when sheep were fed the treated 33% wheat straw diet and untreated 70% wheat straw diet . Treatments did not affect apparent nutrient digestibilities in the large intestine . Ruminal pH was lower when sheep were fed the alkaline hydrogen peroxide-treated or diets containing 33% wheat straw . Ruminal ammonia concentrations were highest when sheep were fed the untreated 70% wheat straw diet . Molar proportions of ruminal acetic and propionic acids were unaffected by diet . Alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatment substantially increased susceptibility of structural carbohydrates of wheat straw to microbial degradation in the gastrointestinal tract of sheep. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Oct, 31(10), 1553 - 7 Entry of roxithromycin (RU 965), imipenem, cefotaxime, trimethoprim, and metronidazole into human polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Hand WL et al.; Entry of antibiotics into phagocytes is necessary for activity against intracellular organisms . Therefore, we examined the uptake of five of the newer antibiotics--roxithromycin (RU 965), imipenem, cefotaxime, trimethoprim, and metronidazole--by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) . Antibiotic uptake by PMN was determined by a velocity gradient centrifugation technique and expressed as the ratio of the cellular concentration of antibiotic to the extracellular concentration (C/E) . Cefotaxime, like other beta-lactam antibiotics, was taken up poorly by phagocytes (C/E less than or equal to 0.3) . The metronidazole concentration within PMN was similar to the extracellular level . Imipenem bound rapidly to phagocytes (C/E = 3), but cell-associated drug progressively declined during the incubation period . Trimethoprim was well concentrated by PMN (C/E = 9 to 13), and uptake was unexpectedly greater at 25 degrees C than at 37 degrees C . The most striking finding was that roxithromycin was more avidly concentrated by PMN (C/E = 34) than any other antibiotic we studied . Entry of roxithromycin into phagocytes was an active process and displayed saturation kinetics characteristic of a carrier-mediated membrane transport system . Ingestion of microbial particles by PMN slightly decreased the ability of these cells to accumulate roxithromycin (C/E = 24 to 31) . These studies identified two antibiotics, trimethoprim and especially roxithromycin, which are markedly concentrated within human PMN and may prove useful in treatment of infections caused by susceptible intracellular organisms. Radiologe, 1987 Oct, 27(10), 458 - 63 {Viral pneumonias: typical and atypical findings}; Westhoff-Bleck M et al.; The clinical and radiological features of viral pneumonias are summarized and discussed . Although viral infections of the lung belong to atypical pneumonias they do not demonstrate always the radiographic pattern of an interstitial pneumonia . Characteristic radiographic findings are quite rare . In most cases the microbial etiology cannot be predicted from chest radiographs . The appearance varies depending on the virulence of the organism and the resistance of the host . In this regard knowledge of epidemiological data as well as patient condition and underlying disease is of utmost importance . Differentiation between community- and hospital-acquired infections may be very helpful. J Dent Res, 1987 Oct, 66(10), 1579 - 82 Microbial aspects of preventive regimes in patients with overdentures; Keltjens HM et al.; The aim of this study was to test effects of preventive regimes using fluoride and chlorhexidine to prevent caries and periodontal diseases in 34 patients with overdentures . The patients, who were treated with immediate overdentures, were distributed at random into three experimental groups . In these groups, different gels--a placebo, a fluoride, and a chlorhexidine-fluoride gel--were tested by daily application . Supragingival plaque samples from selected surfaces of two abutment teeth were taken at one week, and at one, three, and six months after initial insertion of the overdenture . The placebo and fluoride gel influenced neither total CFU nor S . sanguis and A . viscosus/naeslundii counts . In the placebo group, but not in the fluoride group, S . mutans levels increased significantly, indicating the caries risk involved in overdentures . The use of chlorhexidine-fluoride gel resulted in a long-term suppression of total CFU . Further, S . mutans was found to be selectively suppressed to below detection level . A . viscosus/naeslundii was initially strongly suppressed, but after three months a partial return of the population was noticed . S . sanguis was relatively insensitive to the chlorhexidine-fluoride gel . It is concluded that a daily application of a chlorhexidine-fluoride gel is effective against plaque formation and S . mutans on abutment teeth in overdentures. Am J Clin Nutr, 1987 Oct, 46(4), 636 - 40 Lactose digestion from flavored and frozen yogurts, ice milk, and ice cream by lactase-deficient persons; Martini MC et al.; Lactose digestion from and tolerance to flavored and frozen yogurts, ice cream, and ice milk were evaluated (20 g lactose/meal) in lactase-deficient subjects by use of breath hydrogen techniques . Unflavored yogurt caused significantly less hydrogen production than milk (37 vs 185 delta ppm X h, n = 9) . Flavored yogurt was intermediate (77 delta ppm X h) . Subjects were free of symptoms after consuming flavored and unflavored yogurts . Of seven commercial yogurts tested, all contained significant levels of microbial beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) . In addition, eight subjects were fed meals of milk, ice milk, ice cream, and frozen yogurts with and without cultures containing high levels of beta-gal . Peak hydrogen excretion after consumption of frozen yogurt with high beta-gal was less than one-half of that observed after the other five test meals and intolerance symptoms were absent . Tolerance to frozen yogurt, produced under usual commercial procedures, was found to be similar to that of ice milk and ice cream. Am J Clin Pathol, 1987 Oct, 88(4), 421 - 8 Cytopathology of opportunistic infection in bronchoalveolar lavage; Linder J et al.; Bronchoalveolar lavage is an important tool for the cytologic and microbiologic examination of the lung . Silver- or Papanicolaou-stained slides from 604 lavage specimens from 344 patients were evaluated for the presence of fungal, parasitic, and viral organisms . Yeast, pseudohyphae, or hyphae occurred in 155 specimens (25.7%) . Candida was the most frequent opportunistic fungus in immunosuppressed hosts . Patients with clinically significant Candida infection had many budding yeasts and pseudohyphae on cytologic preparations of their lavage fluid . Aspergillus, which occurred in five patients, was readily identified by cytologic examination and by fungal culture . Pneumocystis carinii was found in 14 patients (4%) . Cyt