Bratisl Lek Listy, 1989 Jan, 90(1), 42 - 4 {The occurrence of protozoa in the intestinal microflora of laboratory mice}; Jalili NA et al.; The intestinal content of 216 white SPF laboratory mice was examined for the presence of protozoa . 153 (70.8%) were found to be positive . The following protozoa species were determined: Trichomonas muris in 31.5%, Trichomonas sp . in 29.6%, Chilomastix becentourti in 18.5%, Octomitus intestinalis in 7.8%, Giardia muris in 6.9%, Spironucleus muris in 4.1%, and Entamoeba muris in 14.8% . The given species occurred in the mice either individually or, in the majority of cases, combined infections involving 2-5 species were recorded . Young mice transferred from the breeding station were but rarely colonized, and that only by a small number of protozoa . They contract infection from older animals in the animal room . (Tab . 3, Ref . 11.). Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 1989, 68(5), 405 - 10 The influence of cervical dilatation by laminaria tent and with Hegar dilators on the intrauterine microflora and the rate of postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease; Jonasson A et al.; In a prospective study, 519 women were randomly selected for cervical dilatation by laminaria tents or Hegar dilators before scheduled vacuum aspiration . In other 68 women randomly divided into a laminaria group and a control (Hegar) group, placenta, decidua and blood were separately aspirated from the uterine cavity before the vacuum aspiration and cultured for micro-organisms . The rate of postabortal inflammatory disease (PID) was significantly lower after pretreatment with laminaria tent irrespective of patient's age and parity . However, a higher risk of postabortal PID was found in gestational age of 10-12 weeks than of 5-9 weeks . Previous PID and abortion did not increase the risk of postabortal PID . Vaginal/cervical micro-organisms were, irrespective of method for cervical dilatation, identified in two thirds of the patients. Ter Arkh, 1989, 61(2), 38 - 9 {Factors of protracted and recurrent course of chronic erosions of the stomach}; Preobrazhenskii VN et al.; A study was made of the disease pathogenesis in 58 patients with recurrent chronic erosions of the gastric mucosa . It has been established that an important role in the relapses of the pathological process is played by pathological microflora, disturbances in humoral immunity and local microcirculation, and long existence of the zone of fibrinoid necrosis. Pediatriia, 1989, (3), 30 - 3 {Creating the optimal microecology of the intestines in premature newborn infants with the sour-milk mixture "biphilin"}; Abrosimova NA et al.; The paper is concerned with formation of intestinal biocenosis in premature infants and with approaches to the correction of its disorders with the aid of biphilin, a special mixture prepared from sour milk . Ninety newborns showed the derangement of biocenosis of various intensity by the 6th to the 10th day of life . Application of biphilin for 2 to 6 weeks as part of the multimodality treatment of such children made the intestinal microflora return to normal. J Toxicol Environ Health, 1989, 26(1), 19 - 37 Polychlorinated biphenyl-degrading pseudomonads: survival in mouse intestines and competition with normal flora; George SE et al.; Although naturally occurring and mutant organisms, historically, have been released into the environment for various purposes, health concerns associated with the release of microorganisms have recently resurfaced . Federal agencies have been given the task of reassuring society that any released organisms are not likely to produce adverse health effects . Methods, therefore, for evaluating the potential health effects due to environmental release of mutant and genetically engineered microorganisms are under investigation . A mouse model was developed that examines morbidity, mortality, and more indirect effects such as colonization potential of the intestinal tract, as well as competition with and alteration of the intestinal microbiota populations . The Pseudomonas spp . used in this study were isolated from a commercial product and used for degrading polychlorinated biphenyls . Mice were dosed individually with 10(3), 10(6), and 10(9) colony-forming units of each microorganism . At specific time intervals the intestines were removed and examined for the presence of the dosed microorganism . At the two higher doses, 10(6) and 10(9) colony-forming units, P . maltophilia strain BC6 and two P . aeruginosa strains, BC16 and BC18, were recoverable 48 h after dosing . The naturally occurring P . aeruginosa strain, PAMG, isolated from a mouse intestinal homogenate produced a similar response . Statistical analysis indicated that in some of the dosed animals, an alteration in the distribution of normal intestinal microflora occurred . Pseudomonas maltophilia strain BC6 and P . aeruginosa strains BC16 and BC17 caused a change in the obligately anaerobic predominantly gram-negative rod counts, and P . aeruginosa strain BC17 produced a dose effect on the total anaerobic count at the 10% confidence level . The total aerobic count was unaffected by the presence of the dosed pseudomonads. Lab Delo, 1989, (1), 10 - 3 {Pathogenesis of lipid metabolism disorders in patients with chronic enteritis}; Sukhov SV et al.; A total of 156 patients with chronic enteritis have been examined for the bile lipid and bile acid composition, the small and large intestine proximal portions microflora, membranous digestion and absorption of the lipids, blood serum lipid composition; morphometry of the small intestine proximal portion mucosa has been carried out . The findings have been processed in correlation and regression analysis, that has revealed a number of relationships between these parameters . This helped specify some aspects in the pathogenesis of lipid metabolism disorders associated with the small intestine abnormalities and select the tests most valuable for the diagnosis and prognosis of the condition . The authors recommend a wider application of such analysis to clinical studies. Int J Food Microbiol, 1988 Dec, 7(3), 245 - 56 Ecological determinants of mould growth in stored grain; Magan N et al.; Grain entering store carries a microflora of 'field' and 'storage' fungi . Field fungi require readily available water and therefore seldom develop in store . By contrast, storage fungi, especially Aspergillus spp., are able to grow at low water activities (aw, 0.70-0.75) enabling them to initiate grain spoilage . The ability of storage fungi to germinate, grow and sporulate in stored grain is dependent on the availability of water in the substrate, temperature and the intergranular gas composition . These factors may interact to have a profound influence on the initiation of spoilage of stored grain by fungi . An understanding of the ecological determinants of mould growth may help to develop improved and safer methods of grain storage. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Dec, (12), 67 - 70 {Epidemiologic characteristics of suppurative-septic diseases in newborn infants at obstetrical hospitals keeping mother and child together and separated}; Mordvinova NB et al.; The advantages of keeping mothers together with their infants at the postnatal period have been revealed; these advantages are manifested by the quick colonization of newborns by maternal microflora, thus preventing their further colonization by opportunistic hospital microbial strains . As compared with common maternity hospitals, those maternity hospitals where mothers are kept together with their infants have less intensive circulation of hospital microflora, and the morbidity rate in purulent and septic diseases among newborns is twice as low in such hospitals . All these findings may be regarded as the epidemiological substantiation of propositions in favor of further development of maternity hospitals where mothers and their infants are kept together. Agents Actions, 1988 Dec, 25(3-4), 273 - 6 Histamine distribution in the gastrointestinal wall of germ free and conventional chicken: evidence of the role of the digestive microflora; Perez-Ruiz R et al.; The digestive microflora produces a decrease of the mucosal histamine content in the wall of the chicken colon but has no significant incidence in the upper part of the digestive tract . The anatomical and physiological particularities of the chicken digestive tract permitted to observe that wall histamine concentration depends on different factors . Endogenous factors control the wall histamine content in the proventriculus, independantly of the diet and/or of the presence of a microflora . Diet has a specific incidence upon the gastrointestinal wall of the host in the crop and in the colon . The colon microflora decreases the effect of the diet essentially when the chicken are fed a semi synthetic diet . Interactions between the diet and the microflora could induce physiopathological manifestations. Hautarzt, 1988 Dec, 39(12), 761 - 6 {Transdermal therapeutic systems (TTS)}; Niedner R; The technique, pharmacokinetics, and advantages and disadvantages of transdermal drug delivery systems (TDS) are discussed . Special emphasis is laid on the dermatological problems arising during use of the TDS, such as irritation, sensitization, and the effects of occlusion, dermatoses, skin microflora and epidermal metabolism. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Nov, 270(1-2), 270 - 9 Intestinal microflora of BALB/c-mice and function of local immune cells; Roszkowski K et al.; BALB/c-mice were treated for 7 days with oral nonabsorbable dosages of mezlocillin to achieve digestive tract decontamination . Such a procedure resulted in rapid eradication of most species of aerobic and anaerobic intestinal microflora . Various functions of peritoneal macrophages (e.g . chemiluminescence response, chemotactic motility, bactericidal and cytostatic ability) and lymphocyte proliferation were decreased in decontaminated animals as compared to non-treated controls. Br J Nutr, 1988 Nov, 60(3), 597 - 604 Influence of starches of low digestibility on the rat caecal microflora; Mallett AK et al.; 1 . Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on either a purified, fibre-free diet or a diet in which half the maize starch was replaced with uncooked amylomaize or potato starch (equivalent to 100 or 200 g amylase-resistant starch (ARS)/kg diet respectively) . Changes in short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), pH, ammonia and a number of bacterial variables in caecal contents were then assessed . 2 . Both ARS supplements decreased caecal content pH by approximately 1-2 units, with an associated reduction in ammonia concentration . Potato starch significantly decreased the concentration of SCFA in the hindgut, while amylomaize supplementation increased propionic and butyric acids but decreased the occurrence of minor, branched-chain fatty acids . 3 . Caecal bacterial biotransformation activities (beta-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21), beta-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31), reduction of p-nitrobenzoic acid, apparent ammonia formation) were consistently decreased by both ARS sources . 4 . The results demonstrate that amylase-resistant carbohydrate altered toxicologically important functions in the large-intestinal flora of the rat. J Clin Periodontol, 1988 Nov, 15(10), 601 - 5 Dark-field microscopy of subgingival plaque microflora in Indian and English subjects; Srivastava RP et al.; This present investigation reports on the microbial pattern of subgingival plaque from English and Indian subjects living in the West Midlands of England . Subgingival plaque from healthy and diseased sites was studied using darkfield microscopy . The results indicate that significant differences exist in microbial flora of clinically normal and diseased sites of English as well as Indian subjects . Coccoid cells predominated in healthy sites, with an increase of 21% in the spirochaetes in diseased sites . The ratio of non-motiles to motiles was 1:0.6 in healthy sites, whereas in diseased sites the ratio observed was 1:1.8 in English subjects and 1:3.6 in Indian subjects . Comparison of healthy sites in Indians with healthy sites in English subjects revealed significant differences between numbers of rods (p less than 0.05) . Comparing diseased sites of Indians with diseased sites in English subjects revealed significant difference between both cocci (p less than 0.05) and motile rods (p less than 0.01) . A positive correlation between chronic inflammatory periodontal disease and spirochaete burden, and a negative one between the disease and coccal burden, was found. Vopr Med Khim, 1988 Nov-Dec, 34(6), 100 - 4 {The state of the protease-inhibitor system in the bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with diffuse lung diseases}; Kaminskaia GO et al.; Proteolytic and antiproteolytic activities were studied in bronchoalveolar lavages of 102 patients with sarcoidosis of respiratory tissues, exogenous allergic and idiopathic fibrotic alveolitis . Deficiency of the antiproteolytic activity was observed in all the impairments studied, whereas elastase-like and fibrinolytic activities were distinctly increased in sarcoidosis and exogenous allergic alveolitis . Impairments of bronchial mucose, pathogenic microflora, increase in content of neutrophils in respiratory tract as well as potential deficiency of the body inhibitory system were responsible for disbalance in the system proteinases-inhibitors of bronchoalveolar lavage . Biochemical examination of bronchoalveolar lavages enabled to find that clinico-roentgenological dynamics of these diseases correlated with the level of proteolytic activity. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Nov, (11), 11 - 6 {A method for assessing the microflora status of the large intestine using a computer}; Sokolova KIa et al.; The qualitative and quantitative composition of the microflora of the large intestine has been studied in 31 healthy adults and in 137 patients with acute viral hepatitides A and B . A set of quantitative tests ensuring the complete characterization of the microbiocenosis under study has been proposed . The results obtained in this investigation have been processed by means of a computer with the use of the principles of numeric taxonomy, thus making it possible to obtain the objective criterion of the state of the microflora of the large intestine, expressed by the similarity index. Infect Immun, 1988 Oct, 56(10), 2766 - 8 Effect of the gastrointestinal microflora on induction and maintenance of oral tolerance to ovalbumin in C3H/HeJ mice; Moreau MC et al.; The effect of the digestive microflora on oral tolerance to ovalbumin was studied by using axenic (germfree) and conventional C3H/HeJ mice . In contrast to reported results of studies with sheep erythrocytes, oral administration of ovalbumin induced tolerance in axenic mice, but the maintenance of tolerance was found to be of shorter duration than was with conventional mice . These data indicate that the contribution of the microflora to oral tolerance depends on the antigen used. Arch Fr Pediatr, 1988 Oct, 45(8), 569 - 71 {Digestive hemorrhage and bacterial overgrowth in children}; Gorski AM et al.; Two cases of gastrointestinal bleeding due to bacterial overgrowth syndrome are presented . The microbial contamination was confirmed by quantitative studies of the intestinal microflora and by therapeutic test; the association colistin-metronidazole could stop the digestive hemorrhage. J Med Microbiol, 1988 Oct, 27(2), 105 - 7 The in-vitro effect of a titanium implant on oral microflora: comparison with other metallic compounds; Joshi RI et al.; Dental implant research has been mostly concerned with the biocompatibility of materials for implantation . In this study the effects of titanium dioxide and other metallic salts on seven bacterial species commonly found in dental plaque, two which are uncommon, and a yeast, were determined by agar incorporation and diffusion techniques, and compared with the effects of a titanium implant abutment . Neither the titanium dioxide nor the implant abutment demonstrated any inhibitory activity, although other compounds such as cobalt used in dental alloys had some effects. Infect Immun, 1988 Oct, 56(10), 2531 - 7 Attachment of Escherichia coli via mannose- or Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta-containing receptors to human colonic epithelial cells; Wold AE et al.; The role of bacterial adhesion for the maintenance of the large-intestinal microflora has not been established . In this study, colonic cells from the adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 or from surgical specimens were tested for the ability to bind Escherichia coli . The E . coli strains were manipulated by transformation or by mutagenesis to express either mannose-specific type 1 fimbriae (strains 506 MS and HU742) or Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta-specific P fimbriae (506 MR and HU824) . Binding to HT-29 cells was seen with strains of either receptor specificity and was inhibited by alpha-methyl mannoside or globotetraosylceramide (GalNAc beta 1----3Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta 1----4Glc-ceramide), respectively . The Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta-specific strains interacted with a loosely surface-associated substance, which was sensitive to mechanical treatment and incubation at 37 degrees C, while the mannose-specific strains bound both directly to the cell and to the loosely associated substance . Isolated colonic epithelial cells bound the mannose-specific bacteria in high numbers, while the attachment of the Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta-specific strains depended on the elution method . Cells eluted sequentially with magnetic stirring were unable to bind the Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta-specific bacteria, while elution by a more gentle method resulted in binding of these strains to material loosely associated with the epithelial cells . Thus, the binding pattern of isolated colonic epithelial cells paralleled that of the HT-29 cell line . Conceivably, binding to mannose- and Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta-containing receptors could contribute to the maintenance of E . coli in the human large intestine. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Oct, 54(10), 2405 - 10 Influence of indigenous microbiota on activities of alkaline phosphatase, phosphodiesterase I, and thymidine kinase in mouse enterocytes; Whitt DD et al.; An indigenous microflora introduced into the gastrointestinal tracts of animals in a population of germfree mice affected in different ways three enzymes in small bowel enterocytes . Cells were obtained by techniques designed for sequentially removing enterocytes from the tip of the villus to the crypts of Lieberkuhn . The specific activity of alkaline phosphatase, a component of the enterocyte microvillous membrane, did not differ in cells isolated from germfree mice and from those associated with a microflora, while that of phosphodiesterase I, also a part of the microvillous membrane, was approximately 1.5-fold greater in the suspensions from all levels of the villi in germfree mice than in those from the associated animals . By contrast, the specific activity of thymidine kinase, a cytosol enzyme, in suspensions in which the cells were isolated from the lower portion of the villi and crypts was about one-half as great in cells from germfree mice as in those from the same regions of animals with a microbiota . These results support the hypothesis that activities of certain enzymes involved in metabolism, uptake, and incorporation by enterocytes of components of dietary nuclei acids are influenced by a microflora. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Oct, 54(10), 2398 - 404 Stability of enterocytes and certain enzymatic activities in suspensions of cells from the villous tip to the crypt of Lieberkühn of the mouse small intestine; Whitt DD et al.; A series of studies in this laboratory have focused on how an indigenous microbiota influences the activities of alkaline phosphatase, phosphodiesterase I, and thymidine kinase in the enterocytes of the upper small intestine of mice . To draw conclusions about the role of the microflora in determining levels of enzymatic activity, we found it necessary to develop a procedure by which cell suspensions could be obtained containing enterocytes isolated sequentially from the villous tip to the crypt of Lieberkuhn . The procedure was modified from the one developed for rats by Weiser (J . Biol . Chem . 248:2536-2541, 1973), involved a minimum number of interfering factors (e.g., proteolytic enzymes and mechanical agitation), and worked reproducibly for mice . During development of the procedure, some variables affecting the assays of the enzymes known to be present in enterocytes were also explored . Rods to which were tied everted segments of gut were incubated in a series of tubes containing a solution of EDTA the concentration of which was changed from 1.5 to 5.0 mM, thus giving a greater yield of enterocytes at every step . The cells incubating in the chelating solution were most stable when 0.23 M sucrose was included in the EDTA solutions . Success in assaying enzymatic activities in the cell suspensions depended on (i) how the cells were isolated, (ii) the assay procedure for thymidine kinase, and (iii) whether cellular suspensions or extracts were assayed. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Sep, 54(9), 2155 - 60 Enumeration of anaerobic bacterial microflora of the equine gastrointestinal tract; Mackie RI et al.; Samples from the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, as well as from the cecum and colon, were obtained from 11 mature grass-fed horses . Viable counts of total culturable and proteolytic bacteria were made on habitat-simulating media containing 40% clarified ruminal fluid . The mean pHs in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were 6.32, 7.10, and 7.47, respectively; the mean pH decreased to 6.7 in the hindgut . The acetate concentration increased along the length of the small intestine and was the only volatile fatty acid present in this gut segment . Molar proportions of acetate, propionate, and butyrate in the hindgut were 85:10:3 . Differences in bacterial counts on habitat-simulating media containing equine cecal fluid or clarified ruminal fluid were negligible . Bacterial counts showed a substantial population in the duodenum (ca . 2.9 x 10(6) per g {wet weight} of sample), and this increased to 29.0 x 10(6) in the jejunum and 38.4 x 10(6) in the ileum . Proteolytic bacteria formed a high proportion of the total culturable bacteria, especially in duodenal samples . Counts of proteolytic bacteria per gram (wet weight) of sample were 3.0 x 10(6), 15.6 x 10(6), and 22.0 x 10(6) in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, respectively . There was a close relationship between lumenal and mucosal bacterial counts, although actual values were lower in mucosal samples . The mucosal bacterial population in the duodenum was high relative to the lumenal population . Although the comparison of bacterial populations in the hindgut of the horse and white rhino was limited to a single animal, the results were of interest . Counts were higher in the cecum than in the colon for both the horse and the white rhino.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1988 Sep, 141(9), 89 - 91 {Results of the transplantation of free composite flaps to the foot}; Milanov NO et al.; The article gives an analysis of results of transplantation of 62 free composite flaps for closing defects of foot soft tissues in 48 patients . Positive results were obtained in 77.4% of the cases . The taking of free composite flaps on the foot greatly depends on the state of the recipient vessels and availability of the pathogenic microflora in the wound . To lean upon the foot was permitted as late as 7-9 months after operation, i.e . after the recovery of surface sensitivity. J Nutr, 1988 Sep, 118(9), 1068 - 74 Effect of diet type on enhanced intestinal protein synthesis by the gut microflora in the chick; Muramatsu T et al.; An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of diet type on enhanced protein synthesis by the gut microflora in the chick intestine . Both germ-free (GF) and conventional (CV) White Leghorn chicks were fed ad libitum from 4 to 14 d of age either a nonpurified diet or a purified diet having 19% crude protein and 12.1 kJ/g metabolizable energy value . At 14 d of age, protein synthesis was measured in duodenum, jejunoileum and ceca after a large dose of L-{4-3H}phenylalanine injected intravenously via a wing vein . The results showed that wet tissue weights for all intestinal sections were significantly greater in CV birds than in GF counterparts with consistently larger differences between the two environments in chicks fed the nonpurified diet than in those fed the purified diet . Protein synthesis in all intestinal sections was significantly enhanced by the presence of gut microflora in terms of both fractional rate (%/d) and absolute rate {mg/(100 g BW.d)} . The effect of diet type on fractional and absolute rates of protein synthesis was most remarkable in ceca where the significant difference between GF and CV states was found only in chicks fed the nonpurified diet but not in those fed the purified diet. Infect Immun, 1988 Aug, 56(8), 2006 - 10 Susceptibility of germfree or antibiotic-treated adult mice to Cryptosporidium parvum; Harp JA et al.; Adult mice are more resistant than neonatal mice to intestinal colonization with the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum . Development of a mature intestinal flora may play a role in this resistance . We compared susceptibilities to colonization with C . parvum in adult conventional mice, adult germfree mice, and adult conventional mice treated with oral antibiotics to deplete the intestinal flora . Germfree mice of both CD1 and BALB/c strains were colonized at day 7 following inoculation with C . parvum oocysts isolated from the feces of an infected, diarrheic calf . Age-matched conventional mice of the same strains were comparatively resistant to colonization . Conventional mice treated with antibiotics remained resistant to colonization . These results suggest that the microflora in the intestine was not the sole determinant of resistance or susceptibility to colonization . The germfree adult mouse as an experimental model of cryptosporidiosis is discussed. Infect Immun, 1988 Aug, 56(8), 2069 - 74 Age-associated increase in the expression of T-cell antigen receptor gamma-chain gene in conventional and germfree mice; Yoshikai Y et al.; To determine whether environmental antigens such as intestinal microflora contribute to expansion of the T-cell repertoire, age-related changes in the expression level of T-cell antigen receptor genes encoding gamma, beta, and alpha chains were compared in the lymphoid tissues of conventional versus germfree mice . Irrespective of the conditions of maintenance, an age-associated increase in the expression of the gamma-chain gene was evident in the thymus and spleen . Both conventional and germfree old mice (age, 40 weeks) had a relatively high proportion of Thy1+ L3T4- Lyt2- cells but a reduced level of Thy1+ L3T4- Lyt2+ cells in the thymus compared with their counterparts (age 8 weeks) . The thymic dysfunction but not the stimulation by intestinal microflora may contribute to this age-related increase in gamma-gene transcripts in these tissues . On the other hand, an age-associated increase in the expression of gamma RNA was not evident in the mesenteric lymph nodes of germfree mice, although a remarkable increase in the gamma-chain gene messages was detected in the lymph nodes of the aged conventional mice . These results suggest that the expression of gamma RNA in cells of gut-associated lymphoid tissue is partly influenced by intestinal microflora. Mikrobiologiia, 1988 Jul-Aug, 57(4), 669 - 74 {Light optical and electron microscopic study of the microflora of the parchment of an ancient Greek manuscript}; Poglazova MN et al.; The microflora of an ancient Greek manuscript parchment was studied using different microscopic techniques . The manuscript was found to be infected with a large number of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and with occasional micromycetes . The localisation of cells in the parchment was established, and the information was obtained pertinent to the functional state and the ultrastructural organisation of bacteria, as well as to the character of their interaction with the structural elements of the parchment. Food Chem Toxicol, 1988 Jul, 26(7), 595 - 600 An investigation of the endogenous formation of apparent total N-nitroso compounds in conventional microflora and germ-free rats; Massey RC et al.; The endogenous formation of apparent total N-nitroso compounds (ATNC) has been investigated in germ-free (GF) and conventional (CV) microflora rats as a function of the drinking-water nitrate concentration . ATNC levels were below the 40 micrograms (N-NO)/kg detection limit in the blood, liver, kidney, spleen and small intestine of all CV and GF rats . For the CV rats ATNC were detected in concentrations of up to 370 micrograms (N-NO)/kg in the large intestine and up to 50 micrograms (N-NO)/kg in the stomach and there was a significant positive correlation between ATNC formation and the drinking-water nitrate level . Comparison of these results with those from GF rats showed that the ATNC in the stomach and large intestine of the CV animals were formed by microbial action, most probably involving bacterial nitrate-reductase activity. Hell Stomatol Chron, 1988 Jul-Sep, 32(3), 189 - 95 {New aspects for the caries of deep cavities}; Douvitsas G et al.; This article refers to the contemporary aspects about the carious lesions in the deepest parts of a cavity near the pulp . In these situations the problem that arises is to how deeply this carious dentine should be excavated without the risk of destroying the pulp . On this question there have been expressed two divergent opinions based also on two divergent theories . The one theory supports that during the carious process the microorganisms proceed the decalcification of the dentin, whereas the other theory supports the opposite view . According to the new aspects, in acute carious lesions the decalcification proceeds the bacteria, while in chronic caries the microorganisms, the discoloration and the bacterial invasion are closer to each other . This article also refers to the microflora of deep carious lesions and to the fate of bacteria that remain under the fillings . From this paper we come to the following conclusions: 1) In certain clearly defined conditions some carious dentine should be left at the base of a cavity in order to avoid the pulp exposure . But the periphery of the cavity must be unquestionably caries-free . 2) Few microbes always remain after the excavation of the carious cavities . 3) These microbes under well-fitting restorations do not proliferate and gradually die . 4) The defensive properties of the pulp play also a significant role, because pulp immunoglobulins are able to react upon invasive bacteria . 5) Finally, it must be emphasized that the clinical dentist must not underestimate the microbial role and action. Br Poult Sci, 1988 Jun, 29(2), 301 - 9 Influence of the gut microflora on fasting heat production in chicks; Muramatsu T et al.; 1 . The influence of the gut microflora on fasting heat production in chicks was investigated . 2 . Single Comb White Leghorn chicks were fed on an adequate diet from 2 to 12 d of age and then fasted for 3 d . Fasting heat production was estimated from changes in body composition and energy content of droppings from days 1 to 3 of fasting . Measurements of body temperature and plasma thyroxine concentration were also made . 3 . Body fat content was consistently higher in germ-free (GF) chicks than in conventional (CV) counterparts during the starvation period, whereas no difference was found in body protein content . The GF birds had a significantly higher body temperature than the CV controls with no change in plasma thyroxine concentration . 4 . It was concluded that estimated fasting heat production of chicks was increased by the absence of the gut microflora. J Anim Sci, 1988 Jun, 66(6), 1508 - 19 Effects of dietary phosphorus, soil ingestion and dietary intake level on performance, phosphorus utilization and serum and alimentary tract mineral concentrations in lambs; Garcia-Bojalil CM et al.; Two experiments were conducted with lambs fed concentrate-based diets to study the effects of dietary P and soil ingestion on performance, P utilization and mineral composition of serum and alimentary tract contents . In Exp . 1, 20 wether lambs were fed diets for 21 d in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with .2 or .3% total dietary P and O or 9% added Florida Ultisol (highly weathered soil with high P-fixation capacity) containing 4,600 and 6,400 mg/kg total Al and Fe, respectively . True P absorption increased (P less than .05) from 30 to 42% and from 37 to 54% when soil was added to the basal and high P diets, respectively . In Exp . 2, 24 wether lambs were assigned randomly to a 2 X 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments . Lambs were fed during a 70-d period using diets described previously on either a restricted or an ad libitum basis . Soil increased Fe concentration in ruminal fluid (P less than .05) and ash percentage (P less than .001) in ruminal solids and feces . Aluminum concentration in ruminal solids and feces and Fe in ruminal solids were increased (P less than .001) by soil addition, whereas concentrations of Ca, Mg, P, Zn, Cu and Mn in ruminal solids and feces were decreased (P less than .01) by soil addition . There were time X P interactions on serum inorganic P (P less than .01) and Mg (P less than .05) concentrations . Although high in P-fixing capacity, soil fed to lambs in these experiments improved P utilization . Lambs appeared to be able to adapt to changes in intake of dietary minerals in soil, possibly through adaptation of ruminal microflora or a redistribution of body mineral pools. J Periodontol, 1988 May, 59(5), 301 - 5 Clinical and microbiologic effects of local tetracycline irrigation on periodontitis; Silverstein L et al.; This investigation was conducted on seven individuals referred for treatment of moderate adult periodontitis . Twenty-eight sites with an average probing depth of 5.6 +/- 0.9 mm were evaluated . One tooth per jaw quadrant was randomly assigned to receive one of the following treatments: (I) no treatment, i.e., control; (II) saline irrigation; (III) tetracycline irrigation and (IV) scaling and root planing (SC/RP) . A plaque control program was instituted one week prior to the experimental period and reinforced throughout the eight-week study . Irrigation was performed every 48 hours during the first two weeks of the experiment for Groups II and III, and the single treatment of SC/RP was carried out immediately following the baseline examination for Group IV . Clinical and microbiologic changes were monitored every two weeks using plaque and gingival indices, gingival fluid flow, probing depths, bleeding on probing and dark-field microscopic examination of the subgingival microbial flora . The tetracycline and SC/RP treatment modalities resulted in statistically significant clinical and microbiological improvements when compared with the control . Tetracycline irrigation alone and SC/RP alone had a similar effect in changing the subgingival microflora from one associated with disease to one associated with health . Thus, these treatment modalities are effective methods of producing statistically significant alterations in the subgingival microflora . The property of substantivity may contribute to the sustained duration of the effect of locally delivered tetracycline. Bone Marrow Transplant, 1988 May, 3(3), 193 - 7 Cytokines as mediators of graft-versus-host disease; Cohen J; Cytokines are proteins produced mainly by lymphocytes in response to an antigenic stimulus . Originally identified and named on the basis of their biological activity, they are now called interleukins; together with the interferons, colony-stimulating factors and tumour necrosis factor/cachectin (TNF) they form a complex and overlapping network of communication between immunocompetent cells . Cytokines play a central role in T cell activation, and interleukin 2 and interferon gamma in particular are involved in the expression of graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation . Recent studies suggest that TNF is also implicated: the gene encoding TNF is situated close to the MHC gene in both mice and humans, and TNF is able to up-regulate constitutively expressed class II antigen and, with interferon gamma, to induce class II expression in previously normal cells . Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) is a powerful stimulus to TNF, and TNF production may be the mechanism underlying the longstanding observations on the role of the bacterial microflora of the gut in graft-versus-host disease. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1988 Apr, 158(4), 993 - 5 Vaginal colonization by bacteria and yeast; Galask RP; A number of different factors have been found to influence the microflora of the vagina . Studies showing an increased rate of colonization associated with pregnancy, menses, oral contraceptive use, and estrogen replacement therapy illustrate the influence of hormones, glycogen content, and pH on vaginal colonization . The microorganisms found in the vagina may also be dependent on the existence of specific attachment sites, which may differ in the various areas of the vagina . Vaginal colonization appears to be altered in patients with diabetes mellitus, those receiving steroid therapy, and immunosuppressed individuals . Surgical manipulation of the vagina and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics may also contribute to the growth of organisms in the vaginal tract. J Clin Periodontol, 1988 Apr, 15(4), 211 - 6 Effects of oral hygiene measures on clinical and microbiological parameters of periodontal disease; Loos B et al.; The effects of a 12-week period of oral hygiene alone on gingival conditions and subgingival microflora in 15 patients with severe periodontitis were investigated . Clinical measurements and plaque samples from selected sites were taken at week 0 (baseline), week 6, and week 12 . Plaque samples were also taken at week 13, that is, 1 week following debridement . At week 0, the patients were instructed in supragingival plaque control and at week 6, the hygiene regimen was supplemented with the subgingival use of a toothpick device . At week 12, the patients received a full mouth supra- and subgingival debridement under local anesthesia . In those patients who complied with oral hygiene instructions (subgroup A), the gingival condition improved moderately while no improvement was found in less compliant patients (subgroup B) . No significant changes were noted in the subgingival microflora in either subgroups A or B throughout the 12-week period of oral hygiene alone . However, significant reductions for all microbial parameters were found 1 week after debridement . Therefore, while moderate clinical improvements followed oral hygiene alone, no measurable changes in the subgingival microflora were observed concomitantly. Rev Argent Microbiol, 1988 Apr-Jun, 20(2), 87 - 96 {Dynamics of respiration and the microbial biomass in soil supplemented with straw from corn and soybeans}; Alvarez R et al.; Soil organic matter level has an important influence on land productivity . This level depends upon the efficiency in partitioning carbon from plant debris into CO2 and humified substances by microorganisms . The C/N ratio of the residues is one of the factors that affects this process . To study its influence on the growth and activity of the microflora, a soil from the corn region of Buenos Aires was supplemented with different amounts of straw from corn and soybean, and respiration and microbial biomass evolution were followed during four months . Biological activity of supplemented soils overcame control respiration during the first days of incubation, and intense cellular reproduction took place . Later, respiration decreased but biomass remained higher than in unamended soil until the end of the trial . When more carbonaceus material was added the microbial reproduction was faster, while the growth yield and the apparent residual carbon were lower; the C/N ratio of the biomass remained constant with all the treatments . The different nitrogen enrichment of the straw had no effect on the biological properties determined . However, soil mineral nitrogen content decreased in supplemented soils . The decrease of assimilatable nitrogen was stronger when more substrate was incorporated and when the C/N ratio was wider . These results suggest that soil supplies the necessary nitrogen for microbial growth and the straw quality has no effect on the activity and growth of microorganisms. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Apr, (4), 3 - 8 {Clinico-experimental study of a dried selective medium for isolating fungi in the genus Candida}; Milikhina AV et al.; The trial of a newly developed dried selective medium for the isolation of fungi of the genus Candida, involving the inoculation of 103 museum yeast strains and 542 specimens of pathological material, has been carried out . The data obtained in this trial indicate that the proposed medium has advantages over wort agar and Sabouraud medium with antibiotics in the germination index, in the ability to ensure fungal growth after the inoculation of pathological material, and in selective properties . The medium ensures the intactness of the morpho-cultural, biochemical and serological properties of the fungi . The results of the trial recommend the newly developed preparation for laboratory practice for the isolation of yeast-like fungi from clinical material in the diagnosis of candidiasis, intestinal microflora disturbances, as well as for isolation of the fungi from various environmental objects. Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1988 Mar, 140(3), 67 - 70 {Microbiological evaluation of the methods of preventing suppuration of surgical wounds}; Riabtsev VG et al.; Contamination of the operative wounds with aerobic and nonsporulating anaerobic microflora is known to take place in the process of operation . Lower degree of the contamination of the operative wounds by the end of operations results in lower incidence of suppurations . It can be achieved in pure and conventionally pure operations of a less traumatic character by the application of preoperative gentamycin electrophoresis onto the operation field, while in conventionally pure operations of great traumatism and contaminated operations--by active irrigating drainage. Am J Reprod Immunol Microbiol, 1988 Mar, 16(3), 123 - 32 Preterm birth and infection: pathogenic possibilities; McGregor JA et al.; Preterm delivery remains the preeminent problem in perinatal care worldwide . Recent data suggest that cervical/vaginal microflora, and/or the inflammatory responses they engender, produce factors which can cause or predispose to preterm labor and rupture of membranes . Microorganisms mediating such processes may not be "recognized pathogens" and are often considered normal flora . These microorganisms may act singly, additively, or synergistically with host factors released during an induced inflammatory response . Both qualitative and quantitative aspects of cervical/vaginal microflora are likely important . Multiple cervical/vaginal microorganisms produce IgA proteases, neuraminidases, and mucinases which may facilitate passage of these and other agents past cervical barriers and into the lower uterine segment . Multiple microflora also produce phospholipases A2 and C, each of which can locally augment production of eicosanoids within the uterus which are important in cervical ripening and labor . Similar microflora produce various proteases, including collagenase, which can focally weaken the amniochorion and predispose to premature rupture of membranes and cervical ripening . Intrauterine microorganisms induce inflammatory reaction and may engender local release of similar proteases, phospholipases, oxygen radicals, as well as platelet activating factor (PAF), and lymphokines which can also initiate or further potentiate labor-inducing mechanisms . Roles for uteroplacental or systemic release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and various interferons are beginning to be understood . Recognition of microbe-induced pathogenesis of some cases of preterm birth offers the hope of specific treatment and prophylaxis . In recent studies, administration of erythromycin and tocolytic agents was associated with an improved outcome in selected women . "Just why so many gravidas go into labor prematurely and hence give birth to infants who often are unable to cope with extrauterine conditions is one of the great unsolved problems of obstetrics." Can J Microbiol, 1988 Mar, 34(3), 235 - 41 Establishment of ciliate protozoa in the rumen of conventional and conventionalized lambs: influence of diet and management conditions; Fonty G et al.; The establishment of ciliate protozoa in the rumen was studied in conventional lambs reared under different conditions of management . The role of the microflora in the kinetics of this establishment was also investigated in conventionalized lambs . In lambs reared under farm conditions ciliate protozoa appeared in the following order: Entodinium (15-20 days), Polyplastron, Eudiplodinium, and Epidinium (20-25 days), and Isotricha (50 days) . Entodinium was the most abundant (10(5)-10(6) ciliates mL-1) . During the 3rd month, ciliates disappeared spontaneously in about 60% of the lambs during a period that varied from 1 to 4 weeks . In lambs fed only cow's milk Entodinium spp . and Polyplastron multivesiculatum became established at low levels . The results obtained with the conventionalized lambs demonstrate that the establishment of the ciliates in the rumen requires that the bacterial flora be well established beforehand. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 54(2), 337 - 42 Effect of dietary carbohydrates on bacterial cholyltaurine hydrolase in poultry intestinal homogenates; Feighner SD et al.; The bile salt hydrolase activity in intestinal homogenates reflects composite activities of the gastrointestinal microbial consortia . We have proposed that specific transformations of conjugated bile acids by the intestinal microflora result in the production of metabolites which depress the growth of poultry . The influence of dietary carbohydrates on the physical and kinetic properties of cholyltaurine hydrolase activity, one such bile acid-transforming enzyme in gastrointestinal homogenates of young chickens, was characterized by using a sensitive radiochemical assay . Cholyltaurine hydrolase activity in crude extracts of ileal homogenates was increased twofold by 0.25% Triton X-100 and a freeze-thaw cycle . The pH optimum for cholyltaurine hydrolase from ileal homogenates was very broad and reflected the pH range of poultry intestinal contents (i.e., 5.8 to 6.4) . The carbohydrate component of the diet did not affect the apparent temperature optimum (41 degrees C) or stability profile, nor did it affect the apparent Km for taurocholic acid hydrolysis (approximately 0.43 mM) . The enzymes in intestinal homogenates were active on all taurine-conjugated bile acids tested . The carbohydrate component of the diet did, however, affect the specific activity of cholyltaurine hydrolase in ileal homogenates from chickens . The levels of cholyltaurine hydrolase activity (rye greater than sucrose greater than corn) in homogenates from birds fed the different diets were directly related to the amount of growth depression (rye greater than sucrose greater than corn) associated with feeding these dietary carbohydrates . These data suggest that intestinal levels of cholyltaurine hydrolase are correlated with the amount of carbohydrate-induced growth depression in poultry. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 1988 Feb, 11(1), 10 - 6 Potential impact of colonic irrigation on the indigenous intestinal microflora; Sisco V et al.; Under normal physiological conditions, the indigenous intestinal microflora is stable . The stability protects the host from colonization of nonindigenous microorganisms, including pathogens . Indigenous microorganisms capable of producing toxins are held in check by competing microflora, but any accidentally absorbed toxins are efficiently detoxified by the liver in the absence of hepatic pathology . Antibiotics are known to disrupt the normal flora leading to increased susceptibility to infection with other members of the normal flora or to toxins produced by them . It is possible that mechanical disruption of the flora by colonic irrigation could have a similar effect . Inadequately disinfected colonic irrigation machines have been the source of documented iatrogenic infection with Entamoeba histolytica . The potential for iatrogenic transmission of AIDS in a similar fashion must be considered. Am J Surg, 1988 Feb, 155(2), 348 - 55 Bacterial microflora, endogenous endotoxin, and prostaglandins in small bowel obstruction; Roscher R et al.; The objective of this experimental study of small bowel obstruction was to investigate luminal bacterial colonization and assess the most likely mediator substances responsible for the pathophysiologic alterations, those being endogenous endotoxin and prostaglandins . Eighteen pigs with small bowel obstruction and 11 sham-operated control animals given constant infusion therapy were investigated over 7 days . Bacteria determinations were performed at operation and at sacrifice . Endotoxin levels were determined three times and prostaglandin levels, twice daily in portal and central venous blood . In the pigs with small bowel obstruction, greatly increased microflora with a predominance of E . coli bacteria was observed in the obstructed bowel . Endotoxin measurements proved general release into the circulation, with potentially toxic levels in the systemic circulation arising relatively late on the fourth postobstruction day . Beginning on the first postobstruction day, stimulation of the prostaglandin system occurred which was initially limited to the gastrointestinal tract but spread systemically when the obstruction persisted for more than 5 days . Vasoactive eicosanoids were predominantly involved . The control animals showed none of the alterations seen in the animals with small bowel obstruction. J Nutr, 1988 Feb, 118(2), 271 - 9 Potential opportunities and problems for genetically altered rumen microorganisms; Russell JB et al.; Rumen microbiologists are beginning to use genetic engineering techniques, and researchers should carefully consider both the potentials and limitations of using this technology to manipulate the rumen microbial ecosystem . Despite encouraging rhetoric, it is difficult to identify specific examples where genetic engineering would enhance ruminal performance . Many practical problems (lactic acidosis, deamination, etc.) might be better served by genetic engineering approaches that delete rather than add genes . The difficulty with this approach is that a highly selective means of preventing wild types from recolonizing the rumen would be needed . The addition of specific genes is confounded by 1) the fact that the rumen microorganisms are already adapted to the rumen, 2) the diversity of species inhabiting the rumen and 3) the complexity of interactions among these species . Aspects such as increased rates of cellulose digestion and changes in amino acid composition of the microflora are particularly sensitive to these biological constraints . Genetic engineering has, however, the potential to alleviate new limitations that humans have imposed on the rumen (detoxification, resistance to low pH, the digestion of novel feed materials, etc) . A particular strategy of moving acid-resistant cellulose genes into noncellulytic, but acid-resistant, rumen bacteria is described. Ter Arkh, 1988, 60(2), 73 - 7 {Changes in the immune status of patients with chronic stasis of the large intestine}; Chirkin VV et al.; The authors analyzed immunological changes in 56 patients with chronic colon stasis at the compensated and decompensated stages . Clinicoimmunological investigation of these patients permitted the detection of considerable changes in the system of homeostasis against a background of chronic inflammation of the colon mucous membrane, dysbacteriosis, colon microflora, and intoxication . Signs of secondary immunodeficiency with simultaneous involvement of compensatory mechanisms of nonspecific and specific body defence were noted in the patients . More profound changes were revealed at the decompensated stage . Immunomodulating measures produce a normalizing effect on immunity indices and on the entire system of homeostasis. J Toxicol Environ Health, 1988, 23(4), 527 - 37 Metabolism of 1-, 3-, and 6-nitrobenzo{a}pyrene by intestinal microflora; Richardson KE et al.; The compounds 1-, 3-, and 6-nitrobenzo{a}pyrene (nitro-BaP) are environmental pollutants and have been shown to be potent bacterial mutagens . The anaerobic metabolism of these isomeric nitro-BaPs was investigated by the incubation of rat intestinal microflora with each isomer for 48 h . Aliquots were removed at several time intervals, extracted, fractionated by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the radioactivity determined . Metabolites were identified by comparison of their chromatographic, ultraviolet-visible absorption, and mass spectral properties with those of authentic standards . The order of the extent of nitroreduction for these isomers was 3-nitro-BaP greater than 6-nitro-BaP greater than 1-nitro-BaP . After 48 h of exposure, 84% of the added 3-nitro-BaP was present as 3-amino-BaP, 51% of the 6-nitro-BaP was metabolized to 6-amino-BaP, and 1-nitro-BaP was reduced to 1-amino-BaP (13%) and 1-nitro-BaP (4%) . The order of the extent of microbial nitroreduction for these nitro-BaP isomers is different from the predictions based on electronic and steric hindrance effects . These results suggest that intestinal microflora nitroreductases exhibit a markedly high degree of substrate specificity toward nitro-BaPs that affects the extent of nitroreduction. Mycopathologia, 1988 Jan, 101(1), 53 - 60 Fungal volatiles associated with moldy grain in ventilated and non-ventilated bin-stored wheat; Sinha RN et al.; The fungal odor compounds 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone were monitored in nine experimental bins in Winnipeg, Manitoba containing a hard red spring wheat during the autumn, winter and summer seasons of 1984-85 . Quality changes were associated with seed-borne microflora and moisture content in both ventilated and non-ventilated bins containing wheat of 15.6 and 18.2% initial moisture content . All three odor compounds occurred in considerably greater amounts in bulk wheat in non-ventilated than in ventilated bins, particularly in those with wheat having 18.2% moisture content . The presence of these compounds usually coincided with infection of the seeds by the fungi Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, Aspergillus repens DeBarry, A . versicolor (Vuill.) Tiraboschi, Penicillium crustosum Thom, P . oxalicum Currie and Thom, P . aurantiogriesum Dierckx, and P . citrinum Thom . High production of all three odor compounds in damp wheat stored in non-ventilated bins was associated with heavy fungal infection of the seeds and reduction in seed germinability . High initial moisture content of the harvested grain accelerated the production of all three fungal volatiles in non-ventilated bins. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 54(1), 197 - 203 Metabolism of 6-nitrochrysene by intestinal microflora; Manning BW et al.; Since bacterial nitroreduction may play a critical role in the activation of nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, we have used batch and semicontinuous culture systems to determine the ability of intestinal microflora to metabolize the carcinogen 6-nitrochrysene (6-NC) . 6-NC was metabolized by the intestinal microflora present in the semicontinuous culture system to 6-aminochrysene (6-AC), N-formyl-6-aminochrysene (6-FAC), and 6-nitrosochrysene (6-NOC) . These metabolites were isolated and identified by high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and UV-visible spectrophotometry and compared with authentic compounds . Almost all of the 6-NC was metabolized after 10 days . Nitroreduction of 6-NC to 6-AC was rapid; the 6-AC concentration reached a maximum at 48 h . The ratio of the formation of 6-AC to 6-FAC to 6-NOC at 48 h was 93.4:6.3:0.3 . Interestingly, compared with results in the semicontinuous culture system, the only metabolite detected in the batch studies was 6-AC . The rate of nitroreduction differed among human, rat, and mouse intestinal microflora, with human intestinal microflora metabolizing 6-NC to the greatest extent . Since 6-AC has been shown to be carcinogenic in mice and since nitroso derivatives of other nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are biologically active, our results suggest that the intestinal microflora has the enzymatic capacity to generate genotoxic compounds and may play an important role in the carcinogenicity of 6-NC. Obstet Gynecol Surv, 1988 Jan, 43(1), 1 - 14 Prevention of preterm birth: new initiatives based on microbial-host interactions; McGregor JA; Preterm delivery remains a preeminent problem in reproductive and pediatric care worldwide . Recent data suggest that cervicovaginal microflora and/or the inflammatory response they engender produce factors which can cause or predispose to preterm labor and rupture of membranes . Microorganisms mediating such processes may not be "recognized pathogens" and are often considered normal flora . These microorganisms may act singly, additively, or synergistically with host factors released during an induced inflammatory response . Quantitative, as well as qualitative aspects of cervicovaginal microflora may be important . Multiple cervicovaginal microorganisms produce IgA protease, neuraminidase, and mucinase which may facilitate passage of these and other agents past cervical barriers and into the lower uterine segment . Multiple microflora also produce phospholipases A2 and C, each of which can locally augment production of eicosanoids within the uterus which are important in cervical ripening and labor . Similar microflora produce various proteases, including collagenase, which can focally weaken the amniochorion and predispose to premature rupture of membranes and cervical ripening . Intrauterine microorganisms induce inflammatory reaction and may engender local release of similar proteases, phospholipases, as well as platelet-activating factor (PAF) and lymphokines which can also initiate or further potentiate labor-inducing mechanisms . Recognition of microbe-induced pathogenesis of some cases of preterm birth offers the hope of specific treatment and prophylaxis . In recent studies, administration of erythromycin and tocolytic agents was associated with an improved outcome in selected women with preterm labor . Further microbiological and clinical studies are ongoing . "Just why so many gravidas go into labor prematurely and hence give birth to infants who often are unable to cope with extrauterine conditions is one of the great unsolved problems of obstetrics." Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Jan, (1), 19 - 28 {Immuno-microbiological characteristics of posttraumatic osteomyelitis}; Savitskaia KI et al.; Anti-infectious resistance factors and microflora in the focus of inflammation have been studied over the course of chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis in adults . This disease is associated with elevated levels of leukocytes, lymphocytes, IgG, normal or elevated levels of IgA and lysozyme in the peripheral blood . The data obtained in the immunological examination of chronic osteomyelitis patients indicate that such patients fall into two groups: with and without pronounced IgM deficiency . Changes in microbiological and immunological characteristics vary in different groups . A detailed characterization of microflora in the focus of inflammation over the course of the disease in all patients and in individual groups of patients is presented, and the dynamics of anti-infectious resistance factors is shown to reflect changes in microflora in the focus of lesion, which is manifested by changes in immunoglobulin levels corresponding to primary (the initial IgM level being normal) and secondary (a low IgM level) immune response. Toxicol Pathol, 1988, 16(2), 147 - 53 Interactions of the gut microflora and the host in toxicology; Rowland IR; Food components and ingested chemicals may be metabolized in the gut, not only by digestive and intestinal mucosal enzymes, but also by the resident bacteria, which are found in greatest numbers in the large intestine . The gut microflora is a large (about 10(11) organisms per g colon contents) and diverse (over 400 species) population of organisms and possesses a correspondingly diverse range of metabolic activities, including reductions, hydrolyses and degradations . In many cases, these reactions both complement and antagonize those of the liver, which are mainly oxidative and synthetic . The metabolism, by the gut flora, of chemicals ingested in food or secreted in bile can have numerous toxicological sequelae, including activation to more toxic, mutagenic or carcinogenic derivatives, detoxication and enterohepatic circulation . These toxicological consequences may be modified by changes in the flora due to diet, drugs and interindividual differences . Examples presented of the interaction between the gut flora and its host are the influence of intestinal bacteria on hepatic tumor incidence in mice, the effect of bacterial hydrolysis of rutin on the activity of hepatic enzymes which activate dietary carcinogens, and the role of the gut flora in demethylation and detoxication of methylmercury. IARC Sci Publ, 1988, (89), 107 - 12 Recoverable, semipermeable, microencapsulated DNA surrogates for monitoring the colorectal cavity; in-situ effects of fibre and meat in human diets on benzo{a}pyrene and possible endogenous cross-linking agents; O'Neill IK et al.; Semipermeable magnetic microcapsules containing polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a DNA surrogate are shown to trap 14C-benzo{a}pyrene and hitherto unknown, endogenous, putative cross-linking agent(s) within the gut of male Fischer rats . Trapping is substantially modulated by complete, cooked human diets fed isocalorically and varied three-fold in either beef, fat or bran fibre nonstarch polysaccharide within the normal human intake levels . Preliminary results indicate that the crosslinking agent(s) are derived from microflora . Using metabolized benzo{a}pyrene as a model DNA damaging agent within the gut, beef and decreased bran fibre were found to increase its availability, paralleling risk alterations found in nutritional epidemiology . These novel microcapsules are capable of intercepting a range of substances relevant to DNA damage. Carcinogenesis, 1987 Dec, 8(12), 1847 - 52 Metabolism of the carcinogenic air pollutant 2-nitrofluorene in the isolated perfused rat lung and liver; Moller L et al.; The metabolism of 2-nitrofluorene (NF), a model substance for nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was studied in the isolated perfused rat lung and liver . NF has been identified in urban air and diesel exhaust and occurs in the gas, as well as in the particulate phase . Therefore, it is conceivable that the lung represents one point of entry of this compound into the body . The lung metabolizes NF to hydroxylated NFs, mainly 9-hydroxy-NF, independently of the route of administration (intravascular or intratracheal) . After intratracheal administration, NF is rapidly excreted into the perfusate, indicating that other organs might be exposed to unmetabolized NF . The liver excretes NF metabolites as biliary glucuronides . Untreated bile is not mutagenic . However, after beta-glucuronidase treatment of bile, direct-acting mutagens were detected . The mutagenic metabolites in beta-glucuronidase-treated bile were the same as identified in the perfusate of the isolated lung . Since beta-glucuronidase is an enzyme found in the human intestinal microflora, inhalation of NF could result in the liberation of genotoxic metabolites in the colon. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Dec, 53(12), 2779 - 84 Qualitative assessment of vaginal microflora during use of tampons of various compositions; Onderdonk AB et al.; The effect of vaginal tampons on the microbial flora during menstruation has recently been studied by several investigators . However, little information regarding the qualitative effects attributable to particular tampon fibers is available . The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of polyacrylate rayon tampons and cotton-viscose rayon blend tampons on the qualitative bacterial counts obtained from tampons and concomitant vaginal swabs and to determine whether either of these tampon types alters the qualitative makeup of the vaginal microflora when compared with the microflora in the same women using all-cotton tampons or external catamenial pads . Tampon and swab samples were obtained as described previously (A . B . Onderdonk, G . R . Zamarchi, M . L . Rodriguez, M . L . Hirsch, A . Munoz, and E . H . Kass, Appl . Environ . Microbiol . 53:2774-2778) . The genus and species of the six dominant bacterial species in each sample were identified, if possible . A statistical evaluation of the qualitative makeup of the microflora revealed that the same numerically dominant phenotypes were present regardless of sample type, sample time, or catamenial product . Predictable changes in total numbers among the dominant species were also noted when the data were evaluated by day of menstrual cycle . The correlation between the total numbers of each dominant species present was evaluated by day of cycle, and the findings are discussed. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Dec, 53(12), 2774 - 8 Quantitative assessment of vaginal microflora during use of tampons of various compositions; Onderdonk AB et al.; Although the effect of vaginal tampons on the microbial flora during menstruation has recently been studied by several investigators, quantitative effects attributable to particular tampon fibers have received less attention . The purposes of the present study were (i) to determine and then to compare the effects of polyacrylate rayon tampons and viscose rayon tampons on the normal vaginal flora, (ii) to compare quantitative bacterial counts obtained from these tampons with those obtained from concomitant vaginal swabs, and (iii) to determine whether either of these tampon types alters the vaginal microflora when compared with the microflora in the same women using all-cotton tampons or external catamenial pads . Tampon and swab samples were obtained at predetermined times from 18 women for an average of seven menstrual cycles . Samples consisting of swabs from women wearing menstrual pads were compared with swab and tampon samples taken at predetermined times during the menstrual cycle from women using cotton, polyacrylate rayon, or viscose rayon tampons . Samples were analyzed for total aerobic, facultative, and anaerobic bacterial counts . Statistical evaluation of the results indicated that, on the whole, total bacterial counts decreased during menstruation and that the numbers of bacteria in tampons tended to be lower than those in swab samples taken at the same time . The tampon type had little effect on the vaginal microflora. J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Dec, 25(12), 2400 - 1 Modified scrub technique for sampling infant skin microflora; Keswick BH et al.; Two techniques for quantitatively recovering normal-flora microorganisms from the skin of infants were compared . A technique using a swab to dislodge microorganisms from the skin compared favorably to a technique using a rubber policeman . The swab was easier to use and is suitable for use on infant skin. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1987 Dec, 259(2), 510 - 9 Metabolism of the plant sulfolipid--sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol: degradation in animal tissues; Gupta SD et al.; Metabolism of the plant sulfolipid--sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG)--was studied in animal tissues . In vivo experiments with {35S}SQDG in guinea pigs showed that this lipid is not absorbed intact in the gastrointestinal tract . In these experiments, 3 h after administration of {35S}SQDG, the intestinal mucosa contained 1 to 5% of the radioactivity as SQDG, while the remainder was in a water-soluble form . Analysis of the water-soluble components showed that about 60% of the radioactivity was present as sulfoquinovosylglycerol (SQG) and the remainder was present as free SO4(2-) . In the blood, 99% of the radioactivity was present as SO4(2-), SQG was not observed . In liver, only very little radioactivity was observed and appeared to be mainly in the form of SO4(2-) . Experiments with everted intestinal sacs of guinea pigs confirmed the formation of SQG, SO4(2-), and, in addition, sulfoquinovosylmonoacylglycerol (SQMG) in this tissue . In vitro experiments with saline extracts of acetone powders of pancreas and intestinal mucosa of guinea pig, sheep, and rat showed that {35S}SQDG was deacylated to SQMG (sulfolipase A activity) and SQG (sulfolipase B activity) . It is concluded that animal tissues deacylate SQDG in a stepwise manner to SQG . It is further metabolized to yield free SO4(2-) by cleavage of the C-S bond which appears to be brought about by the intestinal microflora . Sheep pancreatic sulfolipases were characterized . Bile salts, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and Triton X-100 inhibited the pancreatic sulfolipases, while CaCl2 activated them . Substrate competition experiments and investigations on substrate specificity with a partially purified preparation indicated that relatively specific sulfolipase(s) may exist in pancreas . Among the species tested, guinea pig tissues showed the highest sulfolipase A and B activities followed sheep and rat tissues . Pancreatic enzymes were 18 to 60 times more active than intestinal enzymes. J Pharm Pharmacol, 1987 Dec, 39(12), 1025 - 8 The effects of bromhexine hydrochloride and S-carboxymethyl-L-cysteine on guinea-pig uterine microflora; Malhi JS et al.; This study used guinea-pigs as a mammalian model to investigate the effects of bromhexine hydrochloride and S-carboxymethyl-L-cysteine on the integrity of the cervical mucus plug . It was shown that under normal circumstances the uterus is sterile, but following drug administration microorganisms began to appear in the uterus with no significant effect on the vaginal microbial population . It therefore appears that these two mucolytic agents may reduce cervical mucus viscoelasticity . After the animals had been mated, microorganisms were isolated from the uterus even in the absence of drug treatment. Am J Clin Nutr, 1987 Nov, 46(5), 784 - 9 Polysiloxane: potential noncaloric fat substitute; effects on body composition of obese Zucker rats; Bracco EF et al.; Phenylmethylpolysiloxane (PS), a noncaloric, nonabsorbable liquid oil, was studied for effects on body comparison as fat substitute in the diet . Two groups of female obese Zucker rats were fed either a control low-fat (LF) or an experimental diet containing PS (22% wt/wt) incorporated into LF . Two additional groups were fed either PS or cellulose (CE) in diet providing equivalent caloric dilution . Rats on PS lost weight whereas LF control rats gained . Dissectible fat and adipocyte size of PS were smaller than those of LF . Food intake, body water, and adipocyte number did not differ between PS and LF . Body protein on PS increased only in proportion to weight . When both diets were diluted, PS animals lost more weight than CE controls despite similar food intakes, suggesting absorption of calorigenic substances derived from partial digestion of CE but not PS by intestinal microflora . Obese rats did not compensate for caloric dilution with PS. J Burn Care Rehabil, 1987 Nov-Dec, 8(6), 475 - 82 Bacterial translocation from the gut: a mechanism of infection; Deitch EA et al.; Bacterial infection is a common and serious problem in burn victims who survive the shock phase of thermal injury . Our experimental work, plus the clinical studies of others, suggests that the gut can serve as a reservoir for systemic infections caused by bacteria that cross (translocate) the gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium . Bacterial translocation from the GI tract does not normally occur in the healthy animal owing to (1) the presence of an indigenous GI microflora preventing bacterial overgrowth, (2) an intact intestinal epithelial barrier, and (3) normal host immune defenses . However, a thermal injury, as well as other stressors, can result in the disruption or impairment of any of these protective mechanisms, potentially leading to lethal systemic infections with bacteria colonizing the gut. Toxicol Lett, 1987 Oct, 38(3), 307 - 14 Preliminary investigations into the involvement of the intestinal microflora in CNS toxicity induced by 1,3-dinitrobenzene in male F-344 rats; Philbert MA et al.; Administration of a single oral dose of 20 mg/kg of 1,3-dinitrobenzene caused ataxia in germ-free male F-344 rats but not in conventional rats . Repeated oral dosing of 20 mg/kg, 1,3-DNB was required to cause ataxia in conventional rats . Considerable differences were observed between the uptake, tissue distribution and excretion of DNB in germ-free and conventional rats. Vet Med (Praha), 1987 Sep, 32(9), 563 - 70 {Meat quality in broilers affected with inflammation of the feather follicles}; Jankova B et al.; Broilers with feather follicle inflammation and birds free of this disorder were selected from the broiler chickens kept on plastic (bralen-)coated metallic slats . Both groups of broilers were killed on a sanitary slaughter line and the samples of breast and thigh muscles were analyzed for the basic composition and characteristics of the metabolism of nitrogenous and lipidic components . The content of individual amino acids in the muscles and the proportion of fatty acids in the intramuscular fat of broilers were determined for the evaluation of nutritive value . The samples of the affected spots of skin and samples of organs (liver) were subjected to microbiological examination . The resultant finding represented the common mesophilous microflora . No substantial statistically significant differences in chemical characteristics were found between the two groups . It follows from the results that the inflammation of feather follicles is a local skin disorder with no effect on the quality of the meat. Biochem J, 1987 Sep 1, 246(2), 475 - 9 Influence of the gut microflora on protein synthesis in tissues and in the whole body of chicks; Muramatsu T et al.; 1 . The influence of the gut microflora on protein synthesis in individual tissues and in the whole body of young chicks was investigated by the large-dose injection of {3H}phenylalanine . 2 . Growth of germ-free chicks was significantly better than that of conventional controls . Wet weights of liver, spleen, duodenum, jejunum + ileum and caeca were heavier in conventional birds than in germ-free counterparts . 3 . Fractional rates of protein synthesis were higher in jejunum + ileum and whole body of conventional birds than in those of germ-free birds . Amounts of protein synthesized were larger in liver, jejunum + ileum and caeca in the presence of the gut microflora . 4 . When tissues were classified into gut + liver and the remainder of the carcass, in the presence of the gut microflora an enhanced protein synthesis in fractional and absolute rate was found in the gut + liver, which is in direct contact or in close association with micro-organisms, whereas virtually no effect of the gut micro-organisms was detected in the remainder of the carcass . 5 . The contribution of protein synthesis of gut + liver to that of the whole body was larger in conventional chicks than in germ-free birds, whereas the reverse was true for the remainder of the carcass. Pediatr Res, 1987 Jul, 22(1), 72 - 8 Intestinal absorption of macromolecules during viral enteritis: an experimental study on rotavirus-infected conventional and germ-free mice; Heyman M et al.; Epithelial transport and degradation of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), a macromolecular tracer, was studied in conventional and germ-free suckling mice following an experimental infection with rotavirus . Conventional and germ-free mice developed diarrhea from days 2 to 8 postinfection (pi), with growth failure . In mucosal homogenates, infectious virus detected by immunofluorescence on MA 104 cells was present from day 2 through day 8 pi in germ-free mice, but persisted longer (day 13 pi) in conventional mice . Only mild histological lesions were observed during diarrhea, but obvious macrovacuolation of epithelial cells and increased cellular density occurred during the convalescence period (days 9 to 13 pi) . Intact and degraded HRP fluxes from mucosa to serosa were measured in vitro on segments of jejunum mounted in Ussing chambers . Both groups of mice developed increased HRP permeability during the experimental period, but at different times after inoculation: during the diarrheal period (days 2 and 3 pi) conventional mouse epithelium absorbed five times more HRP than noninfected controls and during the convalescence period (days 9 to 13 pi) HRP absorption in germ-free mice rose 10-fold as compared to its level before infection . In both cases, this increase in HRP permeability was entirely due to an increase in intact HRP absorption, probably via a transcellular route, and occurred without any alteration in degraded HRP transport . These results indicate that in mice, rotavirus infection causes a transient rise in gut permeability to undegraded proteins . The intestinal microflora seems to affect the timing, magnitude, and duration of this increased permeability. Ann Surg, 1987 Jul, 206(1), 5 - 17 The role of the small intestine in ammonia production after gastric blood administration; Sugarbaker SP et al.; It is commonly believed that the digestion of intraluminal blood by colonic bacteria is the primary cause of increased ammonia production after upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage . To evaluate the role of the small intestine in ammonia production, blood, amino acids, or water (5 mL/kg) was administered as a meal or enema to awake dogs with chronic indwelling catheters . After blood meals, intestinal ammonia production increased rapidly to peak at 60 minutes and returned to basal levels . This response was mimicked by the gastric administration of ammoniagenic amino acids . No change in ammonia production occurred with water administration . In contrast, colonic blood administration resulted in a gradual rise in ammonia production, and peaked at 150 minutes . Amino acid enemas resulted in a similar but somewhat more rapid response . No change occurred with water enemas . After gut decontamination, ammonia production did not increase after blood enemas . However, the rapid increase in ammonia production persisted after blood meals . It is concluded that both the small bowel and colon participate in the augmented ammonia production that occurs after upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage . Gut decontamination reduces ammonia production by altering the colonic microflora, but is not specific therapy directed towards amino acid metabolism by the enterocytes of the small bowel and thus, does not alter the ammonia produced by the small intestine. Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1987 Jul, 139(7), 66 - 9 {Odontogenic septic endocarditis}; Shelkovskii VN et al.; In the operative treatment of 34 patients with septic endocarditis the identic microflora was isolated from odontogenous and cardiogenic foci of infection in 35% of the patients . Surgical sanitation of foci of odontogenous infection immediately before operation on the heart contributed to prophylactics of postoperative complications and recurrences of the main disease. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Jul, 265(3-4), 378 - 84 Antibiotic treatment, intestinal aerobic microflora and experimental sarcoma L-1 growth in Balb/c-mice; Roszkowski K et al.; The present paper deals with the influence of a 10 days treatment with mezlocillin, piperacillin, cefotaxime, clindamycin or gentamicin on the endogenous intestinal microflora of Balb/c-mice and on the local growth of sarcoma L-1 tumor . Clindamycin and gentamicin demonstrated no influence, whereas cefotaxime and piperacillin caused the eradication of gram-negative resp . gram-positive bacteria but these antibiotics didn't produce a growth inhibition of local L-1 sarcoma tumor . The oral or parenteral application of mezlocillin (a 3 days treatment was sufficient) eradicated the complete aerobic and anaerobic intestinal microflora . This effect was significantly correlated with an increase of the cecum weight and the inhibition of local tumor growth . Possible mechanisms of these effects are discussed. Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Jul, 32(7), 520 - 3 {Pharmacokinetics of benzylpenicillin and gentamycin administered by different routes to patients with acute and chronic nonspecific lung diseases}; Skala LZ et al.; Pharmacokinetic studies showed that endobronchial administration of benzylpenicillin and gentamicin to patients with acute and chronic pneumonia unlike intramuscular administration provided the antibiotic concentrations in bronchial secretions effective against middle sensitive and moderately resistant strains of microorganisms within 1-5 hours . Such concentrations maintained at the levels sufficient for inhibiting sensitive microflora growth for 24-36 hours with the use of benzylpenicillin and for 6 days with the use of gentamicin . This also lowered the risk of toxic complications. Isr J Med Sci, 1987 Jun, 23(6), 551 - 5 Requirements and selection of an animal model; Davidson MK et al.; There are two broad classes of models: those based on analogy (similar structures imply similar functions), and those based on homology (structures derived from the same evolutionary precursor have the same or similar functions) . There are four main categories of animal models: 1) induced or experimental models, that attempt to reproduce conditions found in the original species, 2) spontaneous or natural models, that are recognized as being similar to some condition in the original species, 3) negative or nonreactive models, that are the normal counterparts of a disease model, and 4) orphan models, that are animal diseases for which no human or animal counterpart is known . The selection of any model, but particularly animal models, for research should be based on the following considerations: 1) appropriateness as an analog, 2) transferability of information, 3) genetic uniformity of organisms, where applicable, 4) background knowledge of biological properties, 5) cost and availability, 6) generalizability of the results, 7) ease of and adaptability to experimental manipulation, 8) ecological consequences, and 9) ethical implications . The criteria for selection or rejection of particular animal models also include customary practice within a particular discipline, the existence of diseases or conditions that might complicate results, the existing body of knowledge on the problem under consideration, and special features of the animal, such as unique responses or microflora, that may make a particular species useful. J Infect Dis, 1987 Jun, 155(6), 1210 - 4 Use of erythromycin to prevent pertussis in newborns of mothers with pertussis; Granstrom G et al.; During the period 1975-1985, 35 women with serology- or culture-confirmed pertussis at the time of labor were admitted to the Danderyd Hospital (Danderyd, Sweden) . In 32 cases, the mothers were allowed to nurse their newborns while receiving erythromycin therapy . Erythromycin prophylaxis was given to 28 newborns . None of the newborns developed clinical or laboratory signs of whooping cough . The therapy was well tolerated by the newborns and did not affect the microflora in the gut . Maternal antibodies to pertussis toxin and to the filamentous hemagglutinin were found in cord blood, and levels decreased during the follow-up period . The study demonstrated that mothers with pertussis can safely be allowed to nurse their infants if both receive erythromycin. Hepatology, 1987 May-Jun, 7(3), 529 - 34 Oleic acid-induced cholelithiasis in the rabbit: conversion of dietary oleic acid to cholestanol as a cause of calcium-bile salt gallstones; Lee SP et al.; Rabbits fed a diet rich in oleic acid develop gallstones consisting of calcium salts of (5 alpha)-glyco-allodeoxycholic acid . To study the metabolic pathway of oleic acid, we followed the changes in plasma, hepatic and biliary lipids in this animal model . In addition, to also determine the role played by intestinal microflora on biliary lipid metabolism, we added kanamycin to the oleic acid diet . Oleic acid-fed rabbits rapidly developed hypercholesterolemia . This was associated with an increase in liver 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity, accumulation of cholesterol as well as cholestanol in the liver and progressive saturation of cholesterol in bile . {14C}oleic acid fed orally to rabbits was recovered in liver extracts as both cholesterol and cholestanol . With oleic acid feeding, there was a progressive increase in glyco-allodeoxycholic acid culminating in the formation of gallstones . Kanamycin supplement to the oleic acid diet resulted in the same changes in plasma and hepatic sterol metabolism compared with oleic acid-fed rabbits . There was, however, a striking difference in the biliary bile acid profile . Kanamycin supplementation dramatically reduced the proportion of 5 alpha-dihydroxy bile acids, increased the proportion of 5 beta-trihydroxy bile acids and completely abolished gallstone formation . We postulate that, in the rabbit, oleic acid is used as a carbon source for cholesterol synthesis, and a high oleic acid diet increases hepatic cholesterogenesis . Hepatic cholesterol is then metabolized to form cholestanol, followed by (5 alpha)-glyco-allocholic acid which is secreted into bile and transformed by gut bacteria to form (5 alpha)-allodeoxycholic acid . Kanamycin abolished gallstone formation by inhibiting intestinal bacterial dehydroxylation. Angew Parasitol, 1987 May, 28(2), 113 - 5 {The microflora of goat Mallophaga}; Nunez-Sevilla C et al.; 48 bacterial isolates were gained from Bovicola spp . of Capra hircus . The distribution of the isolates among males, females and larvae suggests first conclusions on the specificity of the microflora. J Clin Periodontol, 1987 May, 14(5), 295 - 9 The effect of plaque control after scaling and root planing on the subgingival microflora in human periodontitis; Lavanchy DL et al.; The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a strict supragingival plaque control regimen on bacterial repopulation following scaling and root planing . 7 patients with moderate to severe inflammatory periodontal disease received a full-mouth scaling and subgingival curettage . Using a split-mouth design, 2 sites of opposite quadrants were submitted to professional supragingival plaque control 3 X a week while the contralateral sites served as controls . Clinical and bacterial examination were performed on days 7, 14, 28, 49, 56, 63 and 70 following therapy . All clinical parameters (P1I, GI, probing depth, attachment levels) showed significant improvement after scaling and root planing . Shifts in the subgingival bacterial population observed by dark field were also noticed following curettage: there was a decrease in the proportions of spirochetes and motile rods and an increase in that of coccoid cells . However, bacterial distribution tended to return to base line values towards the end of the observation period . No difference in the pattern of bacterial recolonization of the subgingival area could be detected between the sites under strict supragingival plaque control and the control sites. J Surg Res, 1987 May, 42(5), 536 - 42 Effect of stress and trauma on bacterial translocation from the gut; Deitch EA et al.; Previously, we established that bacteria contained within the gut can cross the GI mucosal barrier and spread systemically, a process termed bacterial translocation . Three models were used to extend this work: cold exposure (up to 16 hr at 4 degrees C), a nontissue injury stress model; femoral fracture-amputation, a trauma model; and thermal injury (30% third-degree burn), a trauma model with retained necrotic tissue . CD-1 mice either with a normal GI microflora or who were monoassociated with Escherichia coli C-25 were subjected to sham or actual stress or trauma . The animals were sacrificed at various times postinsult and the ceca, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), spleens, and livers were quantitatively cultured . Neither the incidence nor the magnitude of bacterial translocation was increased in the cold-exposed animals compared to control mice . The incidence of bacterial translocation to the systemic organs was higher in the animals with a normal flora receiving femoral fracture amputation (11%) (P less than 0.02) than in animals receiving a thermal injury (1%) or sham-injured control mice (0%) . In contrast, the incidence of translocation to the liver or spleen was higher in burned mice monoassociated with E . coli C-25 (60%) (P less than 0.01) than in E . coli monoassociated mice sustaining femoral fracture amputation (17%) . Stress alone (cold exposure) does not promote bacterial translocation; however, trauma, especially in combination with retained necrotic tissue, promotes bacterial translocation . Thus bacteria colonizing the gut can invade systemic organs after trauma, especially when the normal ecology of the gut flora has been disrupted. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1987 Apr, 103(4), 499 - 501 {Epitheliocytes of fundal glands and the relative volume of the parietal microflora of the stomach and small intestine mucosa in experimental chronic duodenal ulcer}; Baibekov IM et al.; The effect of experimental chronic duodenal ulcers and vagotomy on fundal gland epitheliocytes and membrane microflora has been studied in rats using light microscopy and stereometry on semithin sections . It is shown that in ulcers the relative amount of perietal and zymogen cells increases, while the volume of mucocytes decreases . Vagotomy leads to a decrease in the relative amount of parietal and zymogen cells and increases the relative amount of mucocytes . The relative volume of membrane microflora in gastric fundal and pyloroantral regions, duodenum and jejunum diminishes in ulcers and increases in vagotomy, as compared to the control. J Clin Periodontol, 1987 Apr, 14(4), 221 - 5 Monitoring untreated periodontal disease; Harley A et al.; The purpose of this study was to monitor clinical attachment levels, using a constant force probe, in patients with untreated periodontal disease, and to use darkfield microscopy to monitor changes in subgingival plaque . 10 patients with untreated disease were studied over 12 weeks . The parameters measured at baseline and every 4 weeks were probing depth, attachment level and bleeding . The subgingival microflora of the deepest site in each quadrant was examined by darkfield microscopy, using a Hellber counting chamber, at baseline and 12 weeks . The subgingival plaque from any site which lost more than 2 mm clinical attachment was also sampled and the microflora examined . Analysis of the results shows that 91% of probing depths and attachment levels remained the same or within +/- 1 mm . 3.5% of probing depths and 3.7% of attachment levels became deeper by 2 mm . 6.9% of probing depths and 4.5% of attachment levels became shallower by 2 mm . Only 6 sites out of 1029 showed loss of clinical attachment greater than 2 mm . Darkfield microscopy showed no differences in the proportion of microorganisms at the 6 sites which lost more than 2 mm of clinical attachment, compared with the baseline value . A surprising result was the tendency for probing depths and attachment levels to decrease, especially in deeper pockets . This study showed that none of the parameters monitored, i.e., probing depth, attachment level, bleeding or subgingival microflora, indicated which sites would lose attachment over a 12-week period. Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Mar, 32(3), 191 - 5 {Metabolites of the intestinal microflora in the diagnosis of intestinal dysbacteriosis}; Tamm AO et al.; The procedures most widely used in investigation of intestinal microflora activity are briefly reviewed . The original findings relating to investigation of intestinal microflora and isolation of certain bacterial metabolites from rats with self-filling jejunal loop are presented as an example . Marked correlation between isolation of certain bacterial metabolites and self-filling jejunal loop microflora was observed . The authors consider advisable that biochemical and bacteriological methods for investigation of intestinal microflora be combined . When there are shifts in the number and ratio of the produced metabolites, invasive diagnostic methods including intubation and bacteriological examination of the small intestine are recommended. J Clin Periodontol, 1987 Mar, 14(3), 161 - 4 The effect of supragingival plaque control on the composition of the subgingival microflora in human periodontitis; Beltrami M et al.; The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supragingival plaque control on the composition of the subgingival microflora . 8 subjects with moderate to severe periodontitis were chosen for the study . Sites with periodontal destruction (GI greater than 2; probing depth greater than 6.5 mm; vertical alveolar bone loss on radiographs) were submitted to professional plaque control 3 X a week for 3 weeks . Contralateral sites received no prophylaxis and served as controls . Patients maintained usual oral hygiene during the observation period: it consisted exclusively of tooth brushing once or twice a day with no use of interdental cleaning aids . Clinical examination and bacterial sampling were performed every week . At the end of the study, PlI scores for the experimental sites showed a marked diminution compared with the control sites . No variations were observed in GI or probing depth in test or control sites during the study . The composition of subgingival plaque in both groups showed no significant variations during that period. Cell Immunol, 1987 Mar, 105(1), 235 - 45 Early development of Ig-secreting cells in young of germ-free BALB/c mice fed a chemically defined ultrafiltered diet; Bos NA et al.; The influence of antigenic stimulation on the early development of the "spontaneously" occurring ("background") IgM-, IgG-, and IgA-secreting cells has been studied in mice . To evaluate the effect of such exogenous stimulation by an evolving microbial microflora, the young of BALB/c mice that were kept under germ-free conditions and fed a low molecular weight chemically defined synthetic diet (GF-CD) were compared with the young of conventional BALB/c mice fed natural ingredients (CV-NI) . The young were first suckling maternal milk and between Days 15 and 18 changed to the same diet as their parents . Background Ig-secreting cells in the spleen were enumerated in the protein A plaque assay . The specificity repertoire of the IgM-secreting cells was determined with plaque assays specific for sheep red blood cells (SRBC) that were haptenized with different concentrations of nitroiodophenyl (NIP), 4-hydroxy-3.5-dinitrophenyl (NNP), and 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP) . The results show that during the first few weeks of life the numbers of background IgM-, IgG-, and IgA-secreting cells in the spleen develop faster in CV-NI mice than in GF-CD mice . At 4 weeks of age equal numbers of IgM- and IgG-secreting cells were found in both groups of mice, but the number of IgA-secreting cells remained reduced in GF-CD mice during the whole period of observation . The frequencies of IgM-secreting cells specific for the differently haptenized SRBC were the same in both groups of mice during the observation period of 10 weeks . This suggests that the ontogenetic appearance of IgM-, IgG-, and IgA-secreting cells in the spleen, and the specificity repertoire of the IgM-secreting cells, as far as was tested in our panel, is independent of exogenous antigenic and/or mitogenic stimulation . However, during neonatal development the rate of development of the background Ig synthesis is enhanced by environmental antigenic stimulation. J Parasitol, 1987 Feb, 73(1), 144 - 8 The specific anti-parasite immune responses of germ-free and conventional rats infected with Trypanosoma lewisi; Giannini MS; To test the hypothesis that the rapid immune response of rats to Trypanosoma lewisi is elicited by prior exposure to cross-reacting environmental antigens, the early immune response to infection with this nonpathogenic protozoan was studied in germ-free and conventional rats . In germ-free rats, initial levels of both IgG and IgM were significantly lower than those of conventional rats . After infection, the germ-free rats made more immunoglobulins of both classes, and made them more quickly, than did conventional rats . Trypanosome-specific antibodies appeared earlier and in higher titers in the germ-free rats . Because they lacked intestinal microflora, it is unlikely that the germ-free rats' responses had been primed; thus, these observations indicated that the conventional rats' responses to some trypanosome antigens had been down-regulated by their prior exposure to environmental antigens . However, protective antibodies that inhibited parasite reproduction (ablastin) may have been primed, because these appeared in sera 2 days earlier in conventional rats . Despite much lower rates of production of trypanosome-specific antibodies, the conventional rats had the same peak parasitemias and times to crisis as germ-free rats . Thus it is apparent that protective immunity to this nonpathogenic parasite is not down-regulated by prior exposure to environmental antigens, as would be predicted. J Dent Res, 1987 Feb, 66 Spec No, 693 - 8 Artificial salivas: present and future; Levine MJ et al.; Modern technology has allowed us to understand better the functions of saliva and now provides a rationale for developing: (1) diagnostic reagents for monitoring oral and systemic health status and (2) replacement therapies for individuals with salivary dysfunctions . Several areas of dental research are directed at augmenting or enhancing both the quality and quantity of saliva for individuals with dry mouth . An "intrinsic" approach is being explored which utilizes medications such as pilocarpine and bromhexine to stimulate the salivary glands to produce more saliva . An "extrinsic" approach proposes to use topically applied artificial saliva . Studies in our laboratory have been directed toward developing artificial salivas which incorporate many of the protective features of "native" saliva . An ideal artificial saliva should be "long-lasting", provide lubrication, inhibit colonization of microflora responsible for dental caries and gingivitis, and coat the oral soft tissues for protection against environmental insult and desiccation . Studies are currently under way to determine the structural requirements of salivary molecules responsible for these protective functions . Composite salivary molecules consisting of multiple biologically active or "functional domains" could then be designed and synthesized based upon primary sequence and conformational analyses, computer-assisted structural predictions, and in vitro testing . These supersalivary substances could then be used as saliva substitutes for targeting to selected oral surfaces to promote mineralization, hydration, and/or regulate microbial-mediated disease. J Dent Res, 1987 Feb, 66(2), 498 - 505 The growth of oral bacteria on saliva; De Jong MH et al.; The present experiments were aimed at studying the degradation of salivary glycoproteins by the oral microflora . To this end, S . sanguis I strain Ny476 and S . sanguis II (S . mitior) strain Ny581 were grown continuously in human-whole saliva . Under these conditions, the strains produced a variety of cell-associated hydrolytic activities, including glycosidases, exo- and endopeptidases, and esterases . S . sanguis II generally exhibited higher levels of enzyme activity than did S . sanguis I, in particular of neuraminidase that was produced only by S . sanguis II . In accordance, S . sanguis II had a higher cell yield and consumed a higher proportion of the sugars and sialic acid in the glycoproteins than did S . sanguis I . Interestingly, S . sanguis I, which is devoid of neuraminidase, is known to have a lectin with specificity for sialic acid, whereas S . sanguis II has affinity for galactose residues in the glycoproteins . We propose that specific binding of glycoproteins by oral bacteria constitutes a mechanism to collect nutrients in the vicinity of the cell . The special ability of S . sanguis II to utilize saliva for growth was further exemplified by its selection in batch-wise enrichments of dental plaque on saliva . The microflora in these enrichment cultures always consisted of Peptostreptococcus micros, S . sanguis II, and Fusobacterium nucleatum as the dominant organisms . Further, S . mitis and Gemella haemolysans were generally found to be present . The enrichment cultures produced a wide variety of mainly cell-bound hydrolytic enzymes . This resulted in almost complete breakdown of salivary glycoproteins in the culture. Microbios, 1987, 52(210), 51 - 63 Bacterial localization in the caecum of the rabbit; Ross JA et al.; The indigenous microflora of the rabbit caecum and its associated microenvironments has been examined using transmission electron microscopy . Rods and coccoid forms predominated in the caecal lumen and in association with the lining epithelial cell surfaces . In certain areas a curved flagellate rod-like form occurred in numbers and these exhibited features reminiscent of spirochaetes . The caecal crypts showed a homogeneous population of a monotypic spiral form similar to that found in caecal crypts of certain other mammals . In several cases, fusiform bacteria were found within the apical region of intact epithelial cells . There was no evidence of host reaction and the organisms appeared to be undergoing resting spore formation. Eksp Onkol, 1987, 9(5), 37 - 40 {Effect of purified sewage on the composition of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the soil and vegetation}; Khesina AIa et al.; Concentrations of benz(a)pyrene (BP) and 15 other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in soil with forage plants (lucerne) irrigated by biologically purified mixed domestic and industrial (coke-chemical) sewage from collection pond did not exceed those in control soil (irrigated by relatively clean fresh water) and were lower than in nonirrigated one, which is due, probably, to PAH oxidation by soil-proper microflora activated in humid soil polluted by PAH . BP content in control and experimental samples of lucerne coincide within +/- 25% limits. Nahrung, 1987, 31(5-6), 609 - 11 Gnotobiological research of the host-microflora interaction; Chakhava OV et al.; The last two decades indicate that one of the main features of modern gnotobiology are comparative experiments on germfree and conventional counterparts to study the significance of normal (or dysbiotic) microflora (or individual species) in various physiological and pathological processes of the host organism . There are some immunological consequences of absence of normal microflora . Interactions between some indigenous and pathogenic bacteria in the intestine of gnotobiotic and conventional rats are discussed. Nahrung, 1987, 31(5-6), 591 - 8 Gnotobiotes in nutritional studies; Coates ME; Studies with gnotobiotic animals have demonstrated extensive synthesis of vitamins, involvement in the metabolism of nitrogenous compounds and modification of lipids among the activities of the conventional microflora . The extent to which they affect the host depends on factors such as the structure of the gut, the position of the sites of bacterial proliferation and the host's nutritional status . Thus the findings in experimental animals may not always be applicable to man . Results so far indicate that in circumstances of dietary inadequacy bacterial activity may be detrimental or beneficial . However, these effects are small, and it seems reasonable to conclude that the influence of the indigenous microflora on the host's nutrition is of relatively minor importance compared with its role as a barrier against invasion by undesirable organisms. Nahrung, 1987, 31(5-6), 563 - 6 Problems of space gastroenterology and microenvironment; Smirnov KV et al.; Numerous studies have revealed changes in gastrointestinal secretion, motility, evacuation, and absorption in humans and animals after actual space missions and under hypokinesia of various duration as well . It is found that short-term space missions produce transient changes in the activity of digestive enzymes, instability of bifido- and lactoflora peculiar to stress reaction, and an enhanced evacuation of the stomach . Extended space missions result in more pronounced but transient changes which characterize mainly two states: development of a hypersecretory syndrome of the stomach and decrease in the functional capacity of the pancreas . As a rule, the changes of membranous enzymes are of compensatory-and-adaptive character . Concurrent with this, there occur disbiotic changes of various degree in the intestinal microflora. Nahrung, 1987, 31(5-6), 469 - 76 {Importance of stable gastrointestinal microflora in growing animals}; Hennig A et al.; A zysbiosis can be caused by food constituents . Food portions with 40% rye for chickens release a destabilisation of the gut flora . This can be prevented by effective stabilizers . Early weaned piglets harbour high numbers of E . coli in their ileum and jejunum content . These become decreased by about three tens powers by affective gut flora stabilizers . Simultaneously the body mass rises considerably without an increase of the food consumption with reference to the living mass . Partially, the ergotropic effect of the gut flora stabilizers is attributed to the smaller expense for the immune defence . Therefore, a new hypothesis for the growth stimulating effect of ergotropics for early weaned piglets is created. Nahrung, 1987, 31(5-6), 443 - 7 Stress and intestinal microflora; Lizko NN; In this overview the actual international knowledge regarding phenomenons and their proven or speculated mechanisms of adaptative microecological, hormonal and immunological responses to neuroemotional stress conditions including space-flights is represented . In most cases a decreased stability of the intestinal microflora provokes further reactions of the body . The necessity to predict the various possible disorders and to find optimal measures for their prophylaxis and elimination is emphasized. Vet Med Nauki, 1987, 24(3), 57 - 66 {Effect of antibiotics on the microflora of bull sperm and its fertilizing capacity}; Stoianov T; The effect was tested under laboratory in vitro conditions of eight antibiotics in media for thawing pelleted bull semen . It was found that the addition of antibiotics during the process of reanimation had no unfavourable impact on the motility of spermatozoa . Upon storage in water bath (39 degrees C) in the course of six hours gentamycin, amoxicillin, kanamycin, and polymixin preserved the semen cells and enhanced their survival rate at the same level as that of the control medium with no antibiotic . The combination of penicillin and streptomycin lowered 2.5 times spermatozoal motility . Worst was the survival rate of spermatozoa when the medium was supplemented with oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol . It was also found that best sanitation qualities with regard to the microflora in semen had gentamycin, which, at that did not produce any negative effect on the rate of survival . The conception rate of cows inseminated with semen treated with gentamycin at thawing was shown to be 15.3 per cent higher, and when treated with the combination of penicillin and streptomycin it was 3.0 per cent higher at first insemination than that of the control group of animals inseminated with semen with no antibiotic supplement. Mikrobiologiia, 1987 Jan-Feb, 56(1), 162 - 3 {Microflora of the Black Sea mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis L.}; Mironov OG; The microbial cenosis in the mantle fluid and stomach of mussels is similar in its biochemical characteristics to the microflora of sea water. Mikrobiologiia, 1987 Jan-Feb, 56(1), 154 - 5 {Effect of toxic compounds on the respiratory and dehydrogenase activity of sludge in acetaldehyde production}; Alieva RM et al.; The effect of highly toxic compounds such as alpha-methyl styrene, crotonaldehyde and mercuric ions on the respiratory and dehydrogenase activity of sludge microflora was studied in refineries of acetaldehyde processes . The microflora was shown to be capable of adapting to these compounds . However, their high concentrations are toxic and inhibit the respiratory and dehydrogenase activity by 100%. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1987 Jan, (1), 22 - 9 {Microflora of the upper respiratory tract of normal young children and in respiratory tract diseases . Normal microflora an