Chemotherapy, 1983, 29(3), 230 - 5 Clinical evaluation of combination of cefmetazole and piperacillin in the treatment of infections in patients with acute leukemia; Nagao T et al.; 27 episodes of infection in patients with acute leukemia were treated with combination of cefmetazole and piperacillin . Causative bacteria were isolated in each infection . The patients were treated with 6 g cefmetazole and 15 g piperacillin per day in three divided doses . Among the episodes of infection, 21 (78%) of 27 responded to cefmetazole and piperacillin . Adverse reactions were skin rash in 2 patients, transient elevation of serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase in 3 patients and elevation of creatinine in 1 patient . Cefmetazole and piperacillin appear to be an effective combination, with acceptable adverse reactions, for the empiric therapy of infection in patients with acute leukemia. Schweiz Med Wochenschr Suppl, 1983, 14, 20 - 5 Host defenses against viral infections and the outlook for antiviral therapy; Young LS; Depending on the virus, humoral antibody may be an important component of host defense for neutralization of virions in their extracellular state . For highly cell associated virus like the Herpesviruses, cytotoxic mononuclear cells, with or without antibody dependence appear to be prime determinants influencing clinical recovery . Effective defense mechanisms depend on collaboration of different types of mononuclear cells, the release of soluble mediators like the interleukins and interferon, and are influenced by histocompatibility between effector and target cells . The advent of antiviral chemotherapy has not been nearly as dramatic as the development of agents which are effective against bacteria . Vaccines are effective for prevention of some diseases like influenza, measles and hepatitis . Killed immunogens rather than attenuated live virus vaccines are preferred for compromised hosts . Serum antibodies seem beneficial in preventing onset of H . zoster . Experimental cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody preparations may prevent seroconversion in patients not receiving white cell transfusions . Two useful systemic agents for H . simplex and varicella-zoster infections are acyclovir and vidarabine but their effect against CMV is disappointing . Clinical studies with interferons are encouraging but all preparations have some toxicity and efficacy against CMV has not been demonstrated. Mol Cell Biochem, 1983, 53-54(1-2), 233 - 44 Messenger RNA for glutamine synthetase . Review article; Sarkar PK et al.; Of the various eucaryotic tissues, where glutamine synthetase (GS) mRNA and its regulation have been investigated, the induction of GS by glucocorticoids in the embryonic chick retina represents one of the systems most extensively studied . GS mRNA was first identified at the polysomal level by immunochemical precipitation of fractionated polysomes containing nascent GS chains with anti-GS gamma-globulin . The mRNA has been shown to be polyadenylated at the 3' end; on this basis, it has been partially purified from embryonic chick retina as well as from N . Crassa by chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose or poly(U)-sepharose and translated in cell-free protein synthesizing systems derived from wheat germ . Hormonal regulation of GS activity studied in the embryonic retina, hepatoma tissue culture cells, or in other tissues is always shown to be mediated by GS mRNA . In the retina, hydrocortisone (HC) elicits an age-related and transcription-dependent induction of GS by enhancing the level of GS mRNA in the polysomes through an increased supply of this mRNA from the nucleus . Comparative studies of three inhibitors of transcription, viz . actinomycin D, leucanthone and proflavine on the induction of GS by HC indicate that the latter inhibits GS mRNA selectively and reversibly with minimal effects on other RNA synthesis . Since proflavine acts by competing with HC-receptor binding sites in the nuclei, further studies on its interaction with the retina genome are likely to help identify the DNA sequences involved in the GS induction . In bacteria, studies on the genetics and physiology of various mutants with lesions in the structural gene for GS show that the transcription of the GS gene (gln A) is regulated both positively and negatively by GS and the product of another gene gln F . Purification of GS mRNA to homogeneity cloning of its cDNA and development of assay systems for cell-free transcription of GS are other studies likely to advance our knowledge on GS mRNA and its regulation. Physiol Bohemoslov, 1983, 32(1), 85 - 91 Nucleic acid synthesis from blood urea 15N in the sheep; Javorsky P et al.; In experiments on 4 sheep fed on a low protein diet {6.2 g N/day} and given a single i.v . dose of 15N-labelled urea {15 mg 15N/kg body mass}, the authors found that, from 0.5 to 6 h, mean 15N incorporation rose progressively in the total rumen fluid nitrogen from 0.23 to 0.44 at . % 15N and in the rumen bacterial nitrogen from 0.11 to 0.51 at . % 15N . Up to 3 h, total nitrogen enrichment was greater (0.5 at . % 15N) than enrichment of bacterial nitrogen (0.28 at . % 15N), but from 3 to 6 h there was little difference between them . The mean 15N values in the nucleic acids isolated from rumen fluid bacteria in samples collected 3 and 6 hours after injecting labelled urea into the blood were 0.15 and 0.19 at . % 15N respectively, in nucleic acids isolated from the liver 0.042 and 0.04 at . % 15N, in the total rumen bacterial nitrogen 0.28 and 0.51 at . % 15N and in the total liver nitrogen 0.11 and 0.11 at . % 15N . It is concluded from the results that blood urea nitrogen is utilized for synthesis of the total nitrogenous substances of the sheep's rumen bacteria and liver far more intensively than for synthesis of the nucleic acids isolated from them . At the same time, it is utilized more intensively for nucleic acid synthesis in the rumen bacteria than in the liver. Lancet, 1982 Dec 18, 2(8312), 1385 - 8 Predictive value of surveillance skin cultures in total-parenteral-nutrition-related infection; Snydman DR et al.; To assess the importance of skin flora in the pathogenesis of infection complicating total parenteral nutrition and the predictive value of positive skin cultures for the development of infection 54 patients, who received 59 courses of total parenteral nutrition, were followed up . Three times per week, at the time of dressing and line changes, the skin at the site of insertion of the cannula was swabbed for culture . Results of skin cultures were compared with results of semiquantitative culture of the proximal intravascular portion of the cannula . Infected patients were defined as those having cannula cultures with greater than or equal to 15 colonies or those with primary septicaemia . 21 of 59 courses (36%) were associated with positive skin cultures; 14 of these 21 courses were associated with cannula infection, 2 with bacteraemia or fungaemia, and 12 with local infection . 38 of 59 (64%) courses had sterile skin cultures; in none of these 38 patients did infection develop (p less than 0.001) . Skin colonisation was associated with otherwise unexplained fever (11 of 21 with positive skin culture versus 5 of 38 with negative skin culture, p less than 0.001), inflammation at the insertion site (13 of 21 versus 10 of 38, p less than 0.05), and violations of line protocol (11 of 21 versus 10 of 38, p less than 0.05) . The absence of any organism on the skin had a negative predictive value of 98%, whereas the presence of an organism on the skin had a positive predictive value of 61% . Skin culture thus seems able to identify which patients receiving parenteral nutrition are at high risk of infection. Cancer, 1982 Dec 15, 50(12), 2763 - 70 Leukemic cell lysis pneumonopathy . A complication of treated myeloblastic leukemia; Tryka AF et al.; The course of acute noninfectious pulmonary infiltrates in five patients with myeloblastic leukemia was evaluated . All had circulating blast cells (range, 245-192,000/mm3) and recently had received chemotherapeutic drugs for their leukemia . Within four days of the nadir of their leukocyte counts, a patchy, often multilobar pneumonitis developed . Cultures for bacteria, fungi, and viruses were all negative, and no clinical response was observed to broad-spectrum antibiotics . On lung biopsy, pathologic changes were characterized by diffuse alveolar damage with degenerating blast cells in the interstitium and in organizing alveolar exudates . No potential pathogenic organisms were seen on light or electron microscopy of the biopsy samples . In each case the pulmonary infiltrate resolved without specific therapy . We postulate that lysis of leukemic cells, with subsequent release of their enzyme contents, led to the diffuse alveolar damage observed pathologically . Leukemic cell lysis pneumonopathy may be one of the potential causes of pulmonary infiltrates in leukemic patients and can be distinguished pathologically by its distinctive pattern. J Biol Chem, 1982 Dec 10, 257(23), 14341 - 8 Crystal structure and electron transfer properties of cytochrome c3; Pierrot M et al.; The crystal structure of cytochrome c3 from the sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, Norway strain, has been determined through the fitting of the recently completed primary structure to a 2.5 A resolution electron density map . The phase calculations were based on three mercurial derivatives; anomalous scattering data were used to refine the four heme iron positions . A preliminary refinement of the molecular model has led to a conventional crystallographic R factor of 34% . Cytochrome c3 is folded in two structural domains with one heme in each, the two other heme moieties lying in a large groove dividing the molecule . The core of the protein is the compact four-heme cluster which presents a relatively high degree of solvent exposure . The structural pattern of redox centers suggests that electron transfer might occur through direct contacts between some of the heme groups, via the overlapping system of pi oribitals or via intervening amino acid side chains or both. Arch Microbiol, 1982 Dec 3, 133(4), 300 - 2 Maintenance energy: a general model for energy-limited and energy-sufficient growth; Pirt SJ; The new model proposed to account for the energy requirement for growth includes both a constant maintenance energy term (m) independent of the specific growth rate and a term (m') which decreases linearly with increase in specific growth rate and becomes zero at the maximum specific growth rate . The available data for testing the model do not deviate significantly from the relations predicted . Consistent values of the maximum growth yield (YG) can be derived, irrespective of whether the cultures are energy limited or energy sufficient . Attention is drawn to the possibility that the constant maintenance energy term may be estimated from the maximum specific growth rate. J Vet Pharmacol Ther, 1982 Dec, 5(4), 247 - 57 Pharmacokinetics of oxytetracycline and therapeutic implications in veal calves; Schifferli D et al.; Pharmacokinetic parameters of oxytetracycline were analysed in healthy preruminant veal calves after intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration . The serum half-lives in the beta-elimination phase of both 10% and 20% solutions after i.v . injection of 10 mg/kg were similar (7.07 +/- 1.36 h and 7.16 +/- 1.17 h, mean +/- SD), whereas the total body clearance and the apparent volume of distribution were higher for the 20% solution . Serum concentrations above 0.5 microgram/ml were maintained with both formulations during 12-24 h but were only above 4 micrograms/ml to 5 h . Intramuscular administration of the 20% solution gave a complete absorption with two rate constants of absorption, a faster (t1/2 alpha 1 = 0.27 h) and a slower one (t1/2 alpha 2 = 10.90 h) responsible for the delayed elimination half-life after this route of application (t1/2 beta = 9.83 +/- 1.35 h) . Mean serum concentrations reached a maximum level of 3.01 +/- 0.72 micrograms/ml at 4.01 +/- 2.84 h and decreased to 0.5 microgram/ml between 12 and 24 h . 50 mg/kg given orally with a milk replacer were found to have a mean bioavailability of 46.35% . A mean serum peak level of 4.99 +/- 1.37 micrograms/ml was achieved at 9.16 +/- 1.99 h and the mean concentration was still above 0.5 microgram/ml after 48 h . The elimination half-life (t1/2 beta = 10.66 +/- 3.15 h) reflected the slow absorption step (t1/2 alpha 2 = 10.15 h) following that responsible for the initial faster absorption (t1/2 alpha 1 = 1.99 h) . Comparison of the area under the serum curves gave mean values of 117% for tetracycline and of 53% for chlortetracycline relative to oxytetracycline (arbitrarily fixed at 100%) after identical oral dosage of the three tetracyclines . We also propose and discuss a dosage schedule based on minimal inhibitory concentrations of different susceptible pathogens. Br J Vener Dis, 1982 Dec, 58(6), 387 - 93 Clinic diagnosis of anaerobic vaginosis (non-specific vaginitis) . A practical guide; Blackwell A et al.; Anaerobic vaginosis (non-specific vaginitis) can be readily diagnosed at the time of first attendance without recourse to expensive and time-consuming laboratory investigations . Diagnosis is based on careful history-taking, clinical examination, and simple investigations in the clinic . Although the presence of a malodorous vaginal discharge and the finding of clue cells on microscopy (in the absence of Trichomonas vaginalis) are sufficient for the diagnosis, a positive amine test and a vaginal pH of more than 5.0 are useful confirmatory tests. Agents Actions, 1982 Dec, 12(5-6), 713 - 6 Release of PAF-acether from human blood monocytes; Arnoux B et al.; Stimulation of human blood monocytes with ionophore A 23187 induced the release of platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) . Phagocytosis of zymosan, coated or not with complement, bacteria or immune complexes, stimulated the release of PAF-acether whereas that of latex particles was without effect . Such release did not occur at 4 degrees C or in the presence of EDTA . PAF-acether derived from monocytes shared the same characteristics as hog leucocyte PAF-acether or synthetic 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine . In lung physiology, the release of PAF-acether from monocytes and alveolar macrophages could lead, via the platelets, to bronchoconstriction . It could represent a cause for asthma other than the classical IgE-mastocyte interaction. Infect Immun, 1982 Dec, 38(3), 1029 - 32 Serotype-specific opsonization of Treponema hyodysenteriae; Nuessen ME et al.; Treponema hyodysenteriae was shown to attach to mouse peritoneal cells in the absence of serum opsonins in vitro . If serotype-specific antiserum from pigs was added to the media and treponemes of that corresponding serotype were employed in the assay, the amount of attachment increased an average of 3.7 times that of the control without pig sera . However, the amount of attachment was increased an average of only 1.5 times that of the control if organisms of any noncorresponding serotype of T . hyodysenteriae were used in the assay . Since the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracted from T . hyodysenteriae is the basis for serotyping the treponeme, the ability of these distinct LPS types to block attachment by blocking opsonization of the organisms was tested . Attachment, using corresponding antisera and treponemes, was blocked by LPS extracted from treponemes of that serotype, but not by LPS extracted from treponemes of other serotypes . These results indicate that antibody response to T . hyodysenteriae infection in pigs is serotype-specific . Furthermore, since opsonization and subsequent attachment of bacteria to phagocytes is known to be a protective mechanism, we suggest that the LPS may be an important antigen in the stimulation of host defense against the treponeme. Immunobiology, 1982 Dec, 163(5), 484 - 96 Antibody formation in mouse bone marrow during secondary type responses to various thymus-independent antigens; Koch G et al.; The data presented in this paper show that different thymus-independent (TI) antigens have a differential capacity of inducing antibody formation in mouse bone marrow, both after primary and secondary intravenous immunization . Primary immunization with certain TI antigens (e.g., lipopolysaccharide {LPS}, TNP-LPS, DNP-Ficoll) induces the appearance of antibody-forming cells not only in the spleen, but also in the bone marrow . A single injection of certain other TI antigens (e.g., pneumococci {Pn}, TNP-conjugated detoxified LPS {TNP-dLPS}, TNP-conjugated Brucella abortus bacteria {TNP-BA} ), on the other hand, induces antibody formation in the spleen only . After secondary immunization with these TI antigens only TNP-BA induces a PFC response in the bone marrow . Pn, TNP-dLPS and TNP-BA, but also DNP-Ficoll, are unable to induce bone marrow antibody formation after secondary injection of the antigen, in spite of the clear-cut secondary type character of the splenic response . Thus, the absence of a bone marrow PFC response after secondary immunization with these antigens is not due to a failure to induce memory B cells . This data implies that either two subpopulations of memory B cells exist, one giving rise to antibody formation in the spleen and the other accounting for the bone marrow response, or that antibody can selectively inhibit the secondary bone marrow antibody response to certain TI antigens. Ann Clin Res, 1982 Dec, 14(5-6), 245 - 52 Genetically engineered viral vaccines--prospects for the future; Pettersson RF; Genetic engineering (recombinant DNA technology)--the revolution in molecular biology--has enabled us to isolate any genes from any source in a pure form, and to move them from one cell to another . It has become possible to program bacterial or yeast cells with foreign genes and force the new host to produce commercially valuable proteins (e.g . hormones, enzymes, diagnostic reagents) . It is now also possible to produce viral and bacterial antigens in various types of cells . We hope that this will soon enable us to manufacture vaccines cheaply . The production of a foot-and-mouth-disease virus vaccine--the first promising example of a genetically engineered effective vaccine--has recently been reported . Expression of hepatitis B surface antigen, influenza virus haemagglutinin and polio-virus proteins from the cloned genes have also been reported, and many more viral genes have been cloned although not yet expressed in bacteria . Despite the extremely rapid development, there are a number of problems, both technical and immunological, which have to be extensively studied and eventually solved, before we can hope to obtain effective and safe genetically engineered viral vaccines for clinical use. Biokhimiia, 1982 Dec, 47(12), 1963 - 9 {Properties of polyphosphate phosphohydrolase of the "leaky" mutant Neurospora crassa with respect to the specific enzyme}; Trilisenko LV et al.; Some properties of polyphosphate phosphohydrolase from N . crassa strain ad-6.28610a and from its mutant with a decreased polyphosphate phosphohydrolase activity were compared . It was shown that the pH optimum for both enzyme species lies within the range of 7.1-7.3; the temperature optimum is 45 degrees . The mutant polyphosphate phosphohydrolase has a V value, which is 2 times less than that of the parent strain, and possesses a higher thermal inactivation stability . The enzymes of both cultures have practically identical values of Km(app), which depend on the length of the substrate chain . Upon transition from polyphosphate n = 9 to polyphosphate n = 180 the enzyme affinity is increased . Electrophoretic separation of cell-free extract proteins in polyacrylamide gel revealed the existence of two enzyme isoforms in both strains . The electrophoretic mobility of these isoforms are identical in both cultures . Biosynthesis of polyphosphate phosphohydrolase and tripolyphosphatase of N . crassa, unlike that of bacteria, is not controlled by a system common for alkaline phosphatase. Ann Neurol, 1982 Dec, 12(6), 499 - 509 Neuroimmunology . II: Antigenic specificity of the nervous system; Weiner HL et al.; Antigenic specificity of the nervous system refers to a property conveyed by unique cell surface structures that are present on different classes of nervous system tissue . These structures are of major importance for the study of nervous system structure and function, and can play a central role in determining patterns of nervous system injury . Thus, the major classes of nervous system cells are identified by structures that are unique to them: neurons by the presence of tetanus toxin receptors on their surface and oligodendrocytes by the presence of surface galactocerebroside, for example . With the advent of hybridoma technology, a large number of monoclonal antibodies are being identified which have increased by several orders of magnitude the ability to define subclasses of nervous system tissue according to unique antigens . In addition, surface antigens of nervous system tissue may determine the specificity of nervous system injury by (1) functioning as receptors for viruses or (2) being the targets of autoimmune responses . Patterns of viral injury to the nervous system are often extraordinarily selective (e.g., poliovirus tropism for motor neurons), and nervous system viral tropism is due is some instances to the interaction of a virus with a unique surface antigen on neural cells . The specificity of injury in autoimmune disease (such as that against the acetylcholine receptor in myasthenia gravis) likewise must be explained by an immune response against unique antigenic determinants on the tissue being damaged . Some antigens are known to be shared between nervous system and other tissues or between nervous system and infectious agents such as bacteria or viruses . The presence of shared antigenic structures between the nervous system and infectious agents creates the possibility that an immune response generated against a virus may concurrently damage normal nervous system tissue. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1982 Nov 15, 181(10), 1049 - 52 Ontogeny of the immune system; Osburn BI et al.; Cellular and humoral aspects of the immune response develop sequentially in the fetus . Although there is evidence of immunologic activity to some antigens, many of the nonimmune effector systems are neither developed nor fully functional in the fetus . The lack of fully functional systems make the fetus a highly susceptible candidate for invading bacteria and viruses . Often, infection prior to immune competence may lead to abortion, malformation, and in some instances, viral persistence and immune tolerance . On the other hand, immune responses tend to elevate immunoglobulin values and cause specific antibody that may be used for diagnostic purposes . Little work has been done to appreciate fully the immunologic and nonimmune effector systems' role in normal development or during congenital infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Nov, 22(5), 882 - 8 Monitoring of plasmid-encoded, trimethoprim-resistant dihydrofolate reductase genes: detection of a new resistant enzyme; Fling ME et al.; Using-gene-specific radiolabeled probe DNAs, we analyzed 42 clinical bacterial isolates with high-level trimethoprim (Tp) resistance for the presence of a type I or a type II plasmid-specified dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene . Plasmid DNA from 17 strains harbored a type I DHFR, whereas 11 isolates contained plasmids that harbored a type II DHFR structural gene . The plasmid DNAs from five strains appeared to hybridize with both type I and type II DHFR probe DNAs . In addition, eight isolates had type I resistance determinants integrated into the chromosomes, presumably on transposon 7 (Tn7) . Among the strains analyzed in this survey, none of the chromosomally located, Tp-insensitive reductases were of the type II class . Both the plasmid and chromosomal DNAs of one isolate showed no homology with either the type I or type II DHFR probe DNA . The plasmid harbored by this strain encoded a "new" Tp-resistant enzyme that differed significantly, both in molecular weight and with respect to trimethoprim and methotrexate inhibition kinetics, from the previously characterized plasmid-associated dihydrofolate reductases. J Toxicol Sci, 1982 Nov, 7(4), 255 - 62 Mutagenicity and dominant lethal test of kojic acid--Ames test, forward mutation test in cultured Chinese hamster cells and dominant lethal test in mice; Shibuya T et al.; The mutagenicity of kojic acid was studied by means of reversion mutation test in bacteria (Ames test), forward mutation test in cultured Chinese hamster cells and dominant lethal test in mice . A positive result was obtained only in Ames test (TA 98, 1535 and 100) which was not modified by the presence of S-9 fraction . Thus, it is concluded that although kojic acid is a weak mutagen in bacteria, it is nonmutagenic in eukaryotic systems either in vivo or in vitro. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J, 1982 Nov, 43(11), 811 - 2 Airborne endotoxin in industries processing vegetable fibers; Rylander R et al.; Airborne lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels were determined at various working sites in industries processing vegetable fibers . On several occasions the amounts assessed with the Limulus assay exceeded those presumed to cause human reactions i.e . about 0.5 microgram/m3 . Low values were often found in areas for weaving . High levels of LPS were found in flax carding rooms but levels in jute mills did not exceed those considered to produce reactions in humans . Low values were also found in nontextile industries processing cotton fibers . By and large the variations in airborne LPS corresponded to previous experience on the extent of byssinosis seen in the different types of industries. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1982 Nov, 35(11), 1513 - 20 A method for separating commercial colistin complex into new components: colistins pro-A, pro-B and pro-C; Kimura Y et al.; Commercial colistin was separated into three major components as well as lipid components by reversed phase adsorption chromatography on Diaion HP-20 AG, a macroreticular styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer, without any inorganic salts or detergents, in aqueous-organic solvent as mobile phase . These expected components were colistins A, B and C; there were, however, appreciable differences between these components and colistins A, B and C, isolated by countercurrent distribution . The newly isolated components showed slightly higher potency than colistins A, B and C; their molecular weights, as determined by gel permeation chromatography of 2,4-dinitrophenyl derivatives on TSK-GEL G2000H (mobile phase: dimethylformamide), were also slightly higher . Accordingly, they were tentatively named colistins pro-A, pro-B and pro-C . During purification by countercurrent distribution (solvent system: sec-BuOH - n-BuOH - 0.1 N HCl, 30:6:40), colistin pro-A was converted to colistin A . Similarly, colistin pro-B was converted to colistin B, and colistin pro-C to colistin C . Therefore, we concluded that colistins A, B and C are artifacts. J Gen Microbiol, 1982 Nov, 128 (Pt 11), 2661 - 5 An exopectate lyase of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens from the bovine rumen; Wojciechowicz M et al.; An extracellular pectinolytic enzyme produced by Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens isolated from the bovine rumen was studied . The enzyme had a pH optimum of 8.0 to 8.5 and was stimulated by Ca2+ and inhibited by EDTA . The products of pectinolysis had an absorption peak at 235 nm and reacted with thiobarbituric acid, indicating a lyase type of action . The enzyme cleaved the substrates terminally from the reducing end; action on poly- and oligogalacturonates resulted in the formation of an unsaturated trigalacturonate . The enzyme was classified as an exopectate lyase (EC 4.2.2.9) . A pectinesterase was also produced by B . fibrisolvens but polygalacturonase was not detected. J Gen Microbiol, 1982 Nov, 128 (Pt 11), 2541 - 5 Spatial resolution of autoradiograms of rod-shaped organisms; Koch AL; Isotope-containing rod-shaped bacteria approximate a line-segment source for purposes of autoradiography . This is because the width is small and bacteria are usually cylindrically symmetric . For this reason published work has only classified the silver grains longitudinally, independent of the transverse position . While the theoretical integral distribution from a variety of geometric shapes has been calculated, the line-segment has been overlooked because long narrow objects well separated from other sources occur infrequently in eukaryotic biology . This oversight is corrected here . In addition, a simple program for line-segments and ways to combine distributions from separate line-segment sources is presented . Some typical distributions are depicted . The program is used elsewhere in the analysis of wall growth patterns of bacteria. J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Nov, 16(5), 779 - 83 Cellular fatty acids of Capnocytophaga species; Dees SB et al.; The cellular fatty acid composition of 18 clinical isolates and 4 reference strains of Capnocytophaga species (Capnocytophaga ochracea, Capnocytophaga gingivalis, and Capnocytophaga sputigena) was determined by gas-liquid chromatography . The fatty acid profiles of the 22 cultures were essentially identical and were characterized by major amounts (60% or greater) of a saturated, iso-branched-chain, 15-carbon acid (13-methyl-tetradecanoate) and the presence of two relatively uncommon saturated, iso-branched, 3-hydroxy acids (13-methyl-3-hydroxy-tetradecanoate and 15-methyl-3-hydroxy-hexadecanoate) . The presence and relative amounts of these acids distinguish Capnocytophaga spp . from other gliding bacteria. Dig Dis Sci, 1982 Nov, 27(11), 1011 - 4 Diagnosis of pancreatic abscess via percutaneous aspiration; Barkin JS et al.; The pre-operative diagnosis of a pancreatic abscess was not considered in a comprehensive review in 1972 . However, advances in technology (Ultrasound--US, Computed Tomography--CT) has allowed guided percutaneous needle aspiration (PNA) of suspected pancreatic lesions . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and diagnostic ability of PNA to differentiate acute pancreatic inflammatory masses from pancreatic abscess (PA) . Thirteen patients underwent PNA after US or CT revealed an acute pancreatic inflammatory mass (12/13 cystic) . One patient underwent a second aspiration . Clinical features T degrees--101.3 degrees F mean (13/13), leukocytosis 14,400 cu/mm (11/13) . Aspirated material was gram-stained and examined for bacteria and leukocytes and cultured . Results: PNA was accomplished successfully in all patients . Aspirate revealed bacteria in nine and pancreatic abscess was confirmed at surgery (8) or post-mortem exam (1) . Four of five patients in whom no bacteria were visualized had medical resolution, the fifth had continued T degree and underwent a second aspiration which diagnosed a PA . PA contained moderate to large number of PML via aspiration . Conclusions: PNA provides a potentially important and safe diagnosis adjunct to earlier accurate differential diagnosis of pancreatic inflammatory masses from pancreatic abscess. Immunology, 1982 Nov, 47(3), 477 - 87 Antigen transport . I . Demonstration and characterization of cells laden with antigen in thoracic duct lymph and blood; Bell EB et al.; Thoracic duct lymph (TDL) of nonimmune rats and mice was examined for the presence of antigen-carrying cells immediately following a single injection of 125I-labelled or fluorescence-labelled serum protein antigens . Small numbers of cells laden with antigen (approximately 1/2000 to 1/5000) were identified in TDL and blood by autoradiography or fluorescence microscopy . The antigen-laden (Ag-L) cells resembled macrophages in that a large number adhered to plastic, they phagocytosed bacteria or a particulate dye, were non-specific esterase positive, radioresistant and could take up more than one antigen at one time in vivo . Surface phenotyping using monoclonal antibodies against rat cell markers established that Ag-L cells did not express Ia determinants . The results suggest the existence of a subpopulation of macrophage-related cells that may be involved in the transport of antigen and in stimulation of antibody responses. J Histochem Cytochem, 1982 Nov, 30(11), 1097 - 108 Regional differences in lectin binding to colonic epithelium by fluorescent and electron microscopy; Gorelick FS et al.; The distribution of glycosubstances in colonic epithelium using lectins that were rhodaminated for fluorescent microscopy or coupled to colloidal gold for electron microscopy has been studied . Findings, based on lectin binding patterns, indicate that the right, transverse, and left colon of the guinea pig differ in their content of glycoconjugates within goblet cells and along the brush border . Local variations of labeling were also observed within goblet cells between the upper and lower portions of crypts . Throughout the colon, corresponding to a region of supranuclear fluorescence, Ricin II-colloidal gold labeled the Golgi complex of both enterocytes and goblet cells . Ricin II-colloidal gold also labeled small (congruent to 800 A) vesicles in the apical portion of enterocytes in all colonic segments . Microvilli were labeled by Ricin II-colloidal gold in the right and transverse colon, a finding that correlated with the observed adhesion of bacteria in those segments. J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Nov, 16(5), 794 - 7 Coreactivity of Legionella pneumophila immune sera in the Mycoplasma pneumoniae complement fixation test; Berdal BP et al.; Sheep and guinea pigs were immunized with cellular and extracellular antigen from Legionella pneumophila bacteria . After immunization, the animals developed immunoglobulin G titers against the immunizing agent . The same sera were also tested in a Mycoplasma pneumoniae complement fixation test . All the preimmunization sera from sheep showed positive M . pneumoniae complement fixation tests of varying titers, with significant antibody rises in two of five sheep as a result of the Legionella immunizations . In contrast to the sheep, all the guinea pigs were negative in the M . pneumoniae complement fixation test, both in their preimmunization sera and after completion of the Legionella immunizations . The results obtained with the sheep sera may be explained as a nonspecific booster effect of Legionella bacteria upon previously elicited immune responses. Artif Organs, 1982 Nov, 6(4), 453 - 6 Infusion-free hemodiafiltration: simultaneous hemofiltration and dialysis with no need for infusion fluid; Shinzato T et al.; A new simultaneous hemofiltration and dialysis system was developed which has no need of infusion fluid . The system employs two hemodiafilters in a direct series . An ultrafiltration rate and dialysate flow rate control system was employed to control the dialysate flow at the inlet and outlet, and the difference in volume was arranged to be the amount of water removed from the body . When the blood circuit was narrowed between the two hemodiafilters, the ultrafiltration was performed at the first hemodiafilter; at the second one, the dialysate moved to the blood side as a dilution fluid . To remove pyrogens and bacteria, tap water was subjected to activated charcoal, ion exchange and reverse osmosis treatment, followed by preparation of the dialysate . In clinical evaluation, this system showed marked improvement in clearance of middle and large molecules. Infect Immun, 1982 Nov, 38(2), 673 - 80 Sensitization or tolerance to Mycobacterium leprae antigen by route of injection; Shepard CC et al.; Aqueous suspensions of heat-killed Mycobacterium leprae in a dose of 10(7) organisms were highly immunogenic when injected intradermally (i.d.) . The same dose of bacteria did not sensitize when given intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intravenously (i.v.), and did so only minimally at best when given subcutaneously . The i.d . route was the most immunogenic for sheep erythrocytes also . M . leprae injected i.p . or i.v . stimulated immune tolerance to M . leprae challenge i.d . In older mice (greater than or equal to 8 weeks), the i.v . injections gave more complete tolerance . Mice that had been rendered tolerant by i.v . injections maintained their tolerance for at least 168 days . Prior UV irradiation of intact mice prevented sensitization by the i.d . route . In normal mice, living M . bovis BCG given i.d . produced good sensitization to M . leprae . Mice that had been made tolerant by i.v . injection of M . leprae could be partially sensitized to M . leprae by i.d . immunization with BCG; mixtures of living BCG and heat-killed M . leprae were no more effective than BCG alone . These findings appear to have relevance to the pathogenesis of lepromatous leprosy and its immunoprophylaxis. J Gen Microbiol, 1982 Nov, 128 (Pt 11), 2681 - 5 Inhibition of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide uptake into Bordetella pertussis by structural analogues; McPheat WL et al.; 3-Pyridine-carboxaldehyde and 3-pyridine-aldoxime were effective and specific inhibitors of the uptake of both nicotinic acid (NA) and nicotinamide (ND) by Bordetella pertussis, although neither compound inhibited the growth of the bacteria in liquid medium or the oxidation of glutamate by washed suspensions . In contrast, the following pyridine derivatives did not inhibit uptake of NA or ND: iso-NA, iso-ND, isoniazid, 6-amino-NA and 6-amino-ND, 3-acetyl-pyridine, 3-pyridyl-acetic acid, N,N-diethyl-ND and 3-pyridine-sulphonic acid . 3- Pyridyl-carbinol was inhibitory, but less so than the first listed compounds. J Bacteriol, 1982 Nov, 152(2), 939 - 42 Physical map of a plasmid from Caedibacter taeniospiralis 51; Quackenbush RL et al.; Caedibacter taeniospiralis 51 carries at least two plasmids, pKAP51 and pKAP52 . The smaller plasmid, pKAP51, contains 43 kilobase pairs . The larger plasmid, pKAP52, contains more than 110 kilobase pairs . Relative positions of recognition sequences for seven different restriction endonucleases were determined, and a physical map of pKAP51, consisting of a total of 28 restriction sites, was constructed. Tsitologiia, 1982 Nov, 24(11), 1259 - 73 {Active metabolic processes in resting cells}; Epifanova OI et al.; A number of intracellular metabolic processes are activated when cells proceed from proliferation to rest . These processes may be classified into 3 main categories: processes regulating the transition of cells from proliferation to rest; metabolic reactions necessary for the suppression of cell proliferation; processes required by a resting cell to maintain viability . Among the last category 2 groups of processes seem to be particularly important: a high rate of macromolecular turnover and an inhancement in the activity of catabolic enzymes . The high rate of RNA and protein turnover prevents the unbalanced cell growth and their death while the enhanced activity of catabolic enzymes maintains partial autolysis of resting cell compensating for the insufficient supply of nutrients due to a decreased external membrane permeability for some low molecular compounds . Thereupon, both these processes provide for the resistance of resting cells against unfavourable ambient effects allowing them to preserve proliferative potentials . Consequently the resting cells are in a special physiological state securing their self-maintenance under conditions of long-lasting absence of proliferation . The ability of cells to pass into a resting state may be regarded as a common feature of living systems acquired in the course of evolution . A co-ordinated activation of certain complexes of metabolic processes appears to be a general principle of resting cells existence in the animate nature. J Cell Physiol, 1982 Nov, 113(2), 261 - 6 Platelet-derived growth factor is a chemoattractant for vascular smooth muscle cells; Grotendorst GR et al.; In previous experiments (Grotendorst et al, 1981), we showed that platelet-derived growth factor promotes the migration of smooth muscle cells in vitro . Using a "checkerboard" analysis, we now establish that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) acts as a true chemoattractant for cultured aortic smooth muscle cells . Other growth factors such as epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and insulin are not chemoattractants . The chemotactic response occurs before the initiation of DNA synthesis and is not affected by inhibition of DNA synthesis . Chemotaxis occurs at levels of PDGF lower than required for mitogenesis . RNA and protein synthesis are required for the chemotactic response . As found previously in bacteria and leucocytes, we find that methylation reactions are required for the chemotactic response . The possibility is discussed that PDGF acts in vivo at sites of vascular injury to attract smooth muscle cells from the medial layer to the luminal surface, and is involved in the early stages of the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Infect Immun, 1982 Nov, 38(2), 502 - 12 Effects of endogenous and exogenous inhibitors on the incorporation of labeled precursors into DNA by human mononuclear cells; Sims TJ et al.; The degree of responsiveness of lymphoid cells to activation by mitogens and antigens is commonly assessed in vitro by measuring radioactive DNA precursor incorporation . Several lines of evidence indicate that artifacts affect the results and that these measurements may not be an accurate reflection of cell activation . Cultures of blastogenically activated lymphocytes contain soluble, noncytotoxic factors that inhibit the incorporation of radioactive nucleosides into DNA by dividing cells without affecting their rate of DNA synthesis . Inhibitors were found in the serum component of the medium and in the bacterial homogenates used to activate the cells, and they were produced by the activated cells . Inhibitor activity in serum has properties expected of a nucleoside such as thymidine, including a molecular weight of less than 10(3) . The inhibitor activity present in some bacterial homogenates and that produced by activated cells enzymically degrade labeled DNA precursors, thereby preventing their availability for incorporation . Other bacterial preparations contain DNA precursors, which compete with labeled nucleosides for incorporation, and additional low-molecular-weight inhibitor is produced when the preparations are incubated . Preparations of various bacteria differ greatly with regard to the potency of their inhibitor activity . In some cases incorporation of label in activated cultures is reduced to background levels . Inhibition by these substances leads to erroneous conclusions regarding the proliferative activity of cultured lymphocytes, since the amount of label incorporated does not accurately indicate the true rate of DNA synthesis of the cells. Nucleic Acids Res, 1982 Oct 11, 10(19), 5809 - 22 The molecular cloning and characterisation of cDNA coding for the alpha subunit of the acetylcholine receptor; Sumikawa K et al.; A rare cDNA coding for most of the alpha subunit of the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor has been cloned into bacteria . The use of a mismatched oligonucleotide primer of reverse transcriptase facilitated the design of an efficient, specific probe for recombinant bacteria . DNA sequence analysis has enabled the elucidation of a large part of the polypeptide primary sequence which is discussed in relation to its acetylcholine binding activity and the location of receptor within the plasma membrane . When used as a radioactive probe, the cloned cDNA binds specifically to a single Torpedo mRNA species of about 2350 nucleotides in length but fails to show significant cross-hybridisation with alpha subunit mRNA extracted from cat muscle. Lab Anim, 1982 Oct, 16(4), 356 - 60 Use of portable filter units to control the animal house environment; Baskerville M et al.; The application of portable recirculating filter units to the control of laboratory animal house environments was investigated . Under practical conditions such a unit effected reductions in the ammonia level and bacterial content of the atmosphere of a room housing rats. J Toxicol Environ Health, 1982 Oct-Nov, 10(4-5), 699 - 707 The acute toxicity of nonachloropredioxin and 3- and 4-hydroxynonachlorodiphenyl ether in mice; Miller TL et al.; The acute intraperitoneal LD50 values of hydroxynonachlorodiphenyl ethers (HO-Cl9-DPEs) in mice have been determined . The acute toxicity of each of these compounds is compared with that of pentachlorophenol (PCP) and 2-hydroxy-2',4,4'-trichlorodiphenyl ether (2-HO-Cl3-DPE; Irgasan DP-300; Triclosan), a commonly used bactericide . The order of acute toxicity observed was: 2-HO-Cl9-DPE greater than technical PCP approximately equal to pure PCP greater than 3-HO-Cl9-DPE greater than 4-HO-Cl9-DPE greater than 2-HO-Cl3-DPE . Symptomatology following exposure to the HO-Cl9-DPEs was similar to that observed for PCP, a known uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation . 2-HO-Cl3-DPE, however, produced clinical signs suggestive of a suppressive effect on the central nervous system . Data on time response following a lethal dose of each of these compounds was also obtained. Am J Vet Res, 1982 Oct, 43(10), 1715 - 20 Scanning electron microscopic study of the small intestine of dogs from birth to 337 days of age; Hoskins JD et al.; The surface morphology of the small intestine of dogs from birth to 337 days of age was studied by scanning electron microscopy . The small intestinal surface morphology was similar to that described for other species, except for irregular villous length in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of the dog from birth to 21 days of age . The absorptive epithelial cells and goblet cells were similar in morphology and distribution from birth to 337 days . Segmented filamentous bacteria were attached to the ileal mucosa of dogs 54 to 161 days of age. Mutat Res, 1982 Oct, 96(2-3), 259 - 71 Establishment of a dose-response relationship for reverse mutation at the HPRT (hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase) locus L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells; Knaap AG et al.; L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells were treated with the mismatching agent 6-hydroxy-aminopurine (HAP), a base analogue known to produce forward and reverse mutations in bacteria . Mutants with the phenotype deficient in hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) were selected in 6-thoiguanine(TG)-containing medium and isolated . Reverse mutations to the HPRT-proficient phenotype occurred both spontaneously and after treatment with ethyl nitrosourea (ENU), which suggested that the initial HAP treatment had induced point mutations at the HPRT locus . Reconstruction experiments, in which a small number of wild-type cells together with different numbers of mutant cells were seeded in HAT medium, indicated that densities up to 10(6) cells per ml can be used for the selection of revertants . Optimal expression of induced revertants was obtained two days after treatment . The dose-response relationship for induction of reverse mutations by ENU appears not to deviate from linearity . The highest revertant frequency observed was 3.3 x 10(-5) at an ENU concentration of 1 mM . The spontaneous reversion frequency per generation -- based on 3 spontaneous revertants -- was estimated to be 1.3 x 10(-9) . All revertants were indistinguishable from the parental wild-type line with respect to the activity as well as the electrophoretic mobility of HPRT. J Cell Biol, 1982 Oct, 95(1), 41 - 9 Cell surface patterning and morphogenesis: biogenesis of a periodic surface array during Caulobacter development; Smit J et al.; Shape changes, extended processes, and other surface elaborations are associated with cellular differentiation, and the cell membranes involved with these developmental changes often are reshaped without a major alteration in biochemical composition . Caulobacter crescentus produces a hexagonally-packed periodic surface layer that covers the entire cell and further, mimics some of the membrane-mediated changes of higher organisms by forming a membranous stalk during its distinctive life cycle . Growth of the surface layer was examined during the cell cycle by treating synchronously growing cells with surface layer antibody, continuing growth, and then labeling for electron microscopy with a protein A-colloidal gold conjugate . Three regions of distinctive surface array biogenesis were resolved . The periodic surface layer on the main cell body was enlarged by insertion of new material at numerous uniformly distributed points . In contrast, the surface layer on the stalk appeared as entirely new synthesis . In examining growth of the stalk in subsequent generations, we noted that growth of stalk surface persisted at the stalk-cell body junction . The region of cell division also showed a pattern of entirely new surface layer production at late stages in division, similar to the stalk . The immunocytological method also facilitated a careful examination of stalk initiation and growth . Although initiation was under precise temporal and spatial regulation, the rate of stalk elongation was variable from cell to cell and apparently no longer under cell cycle control . The similarity of surface layer biogenesis on the stalk and the site of cell division may be a significant reflection of other events occurring at the cell pole . A model suggested by this and other studies that can account for the temporal pattern of polar morphogenesis is discussed, as is the potential relationship between the geometrically ordered surface array and the formation or maintenance of the stalk. J Bacteriol, 1982 Oct, 152(1), 298 - 305 Extraction and properties of hemagglutinin from cell wall fragments of Fusobacterium nucleatum; Dehazya P et al.; To study the hemagglutinin of Fusobacterium nucleatum, methods were sought to solubilize and purify this component . When cells of F . nucleatum were ruptured by passage through a French press, the fragments lost virtually all ability to agglutinate human erythrocytes . Extraction of the fragments with 2% Triton X-100 for 30 min at 22 degrees C restored hemagglutinating activity (HA) . Hemagglutination by these fragments could be inhibited by arginine, as can hemagglutination by intact bacteria . Treatment of active cell wall fragments with pronase and 2% Triton X-100-EDTA at 37 degrees C or with pronase and 0.1% Triton X-100-EDTA at pH 10.0 allowed recovery of solubilized HA . The former HA was inhibited by arginine (arg+) whereas the latter was not (arg-) . Fractionation of the arg+ extract by preparative isoelectric focusing showed that HA was recovered from the gel sections having a pH between 4.5 and 5.5 . Hemagglutination by this preparation was still arg+ . Chromatography of this hemagglutinin on DEAE-Sephadex increased the specific activity to high levels with a loss of inhibition by arginine . A fraction from the DEAE-Sephadex column containing 10,700 HA units per mg of protein was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Solubilization at 22 degrees C before electrophoresis revealed three Coomassie blue-staining bands which migrated with apparent molecular weights of about 21,000, 38,000 and 60,000 . When the same DEAE fraction was boiled in sodium dodecyl sulfate, electrophoresis revealed only one band with an apparent molecular weight of 21,000. Blood, 1982 Oct, 60(4), 822 - 6 Expression of a chronic granulomatous disease-like defect by fluoride-exhausted neutrophils; Matzner Y et al.; Neutrophils incubated with 20 mM F- express a respiratory burst without degranulating or performing phagocytosis . After 60 min of F- treatment, the burst is exhausted and cannot be restarted . Neutrophils so treated have a microbicidal defect similar to that of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD): they kill Str . mitis at a nearly normal rate, but show a marked impairment in the destruction of S . aureus . They differ from CGD neutrophils in that they also display a defect in motility . This defect, however, is not so severe as to seriously impair their ability to kill bacteria by mechanisms that are independent of endogenously generated microbicidal oxidants. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1982 Oct, 70(4), 299 - 305 Common variable hypogammaglobulinemia with T-cell nodular lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis and B-cell nodular lymphoid hyperplasia: different lymphocyte populations with a similar response to prednisone therapy; Kohler PF et al.; Intestinal lymphoid hyperplasia and recurrent pulmonary infections by pyogenic bacteria are well-recognized accompaniments of common variable (late onset) hypogammaglobulinemia . A 35-yr-old woman with this illness had progressive pulmonary insufficiency caused by nodular lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis, rather than by infectious lung damage, and intestinal lymphoid nodular hyperplasia . B cells were abundant in the intestinal nodules but absent in the pulmonary nodules by immunoperoxidase staining . Pulmonary lymphocytes isolated in single-cell suspension from the biopsy were 0.5% B cells and 82% T cells . Prednisone therapy improved pulmonary function and decreased the intestinal lymphoid nodules . Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis should be considered in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia and restrictive lung disease. J Bacteriol, 1982 Oct, 152(1), 451 - 61 Induction of coordinated movement of Myxococcus xanthus cells; Shimkets LJ et al.; Rhythmically advancing waves of cells, called ripples, arise spontaneously during the aggregation of Myxococcus xanthus into fruiting bodies . Extracts prepared by washing rippling cells contain a substance that will induce quiescent cells to ripple . Three lines of evidence indicate that murein (peptidoglycan) is the ripple-inducing substance in the extracts . First, ripple-inducing activity is associated with the cell envelope of sonically disrupted M . xanthus cells . Second, whole cells, cell extracts, or purified murein from a variety of different bacteria are capable of inducing ripples . In contrast, extracts prepared from Methanobacterium spp . which contain pseudomurein instead of typical bacterial murein fail to induce ripples . Third, four components of M . xanthus murein, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylmuramic acid, diaminopimelate, and D-alanine, are able to induce ripples . Ripples produced by aggregating cells have a wavelength of 45 micrometers and a maximum velocity of 2 micrometers/min . Both of the multigene systems that control gliding motility appear to be required for rippling, and all known mutations at the spoC locus eliminate both rippling and sporulation. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Oct, (10), 92 - 7 {Phenotypic variability of the causative agent of pseudotuberculosis and its reflection in the immune response}; Besednova NN et al.; The avirulent rough form of Y . pseudotuberculosis has been shown to be a weak antigen, not stimulating antibody formation, quickly destroyed in phagocytes and possessing no immunogenic properties . The virulent bacteria in the smooth form multiply in macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, sharply suppress phagocytosis, stimulate the synthesis of IgM and IgG and possess low immunogenicity . The pseudorough form of Y . pseudotuberculosis quickly spreads in the organs and tissues, is destroyed by phagocytes, stimulates only the synthesis of IgM and produces a good protective effect. Am J Clin Pathol, 1982 Oct, 78(4 Suppl), 673 - 7 A review of the CAP proficiency Surveys for Mycobacteriology, 1975-1981; Dreskin RB et al.; Mycobacteriology results of the CAP proficiency testing programs are reviewed for the years 1975-1981 . Survey participants have shown a continuing and improving ability to isolate and identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis, nontuberculous mycobacteria, and to identify acid-fast bacteria in stain preparations. Science, 1982 Sep 24, 217(4566), 1214 - 22 Living with water stress: evolution of osmolyte systems; Yancey PH et al.; Striking convergent evolution is found in the properties of the organic osmotic solute (osmolyte) systems observed in bacteria, plants, and animals . Polyhydric alcohols, free amino acids and their derivatives, and combinations of urea and methylamines are the three types of osmolyte systems found in all water-stressed organisms except the halobacteria . The selective advantages of the organic osmolyte systems are, first, a compatibility with macromolecular structure and function at high or variable (or both) osmolyte concentrations, and, second, greatly reduced needs for modifying proteins to function in concentrated intracellular solutions . Osmolyte compatibility is proposed to result from the absence of osmolyte interactions with substrates and cofactors, and the nonperturbing or favorable effects of osmolytes on macromolecular-solvent interactions. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1982 Sep 18, 112(38), 1306 - 7 {1st use of lactitol in the treatment of porto-systemic encephalopathy}; Bircher J et al.; Lactitol (beta-galactosido-sorbitol) is not absorbed in the small bowel but metabolized by colonic bacteria, and should therefore be as effective in the treatment of portal-systemic encephalopathy as lactulose (beta-galactosido-fructose) . This hypothesis was tested in a 61-year-old alcoholic with an end-to-side portacaval anastomosis and chronic portal-systemic encephalopathy . Under controlled conditions he was switched from optimized treatment with lactulose to several regimens with lactitol (40-68 g/day), after which he was maintained on the new treatment for 1 year . On lactitol his condition was at least as good as on lactulose, but lactitol produced no taste aversion because it is less sweet . In addition, the patient no longer had nausea after taking the drug because lactitol can be supplied in a nonhygroscopic, chemically pure, crystalline form and therefore is less hyperosmotic than lactulose, which is supplied with contaminations of galactose and lactose . Obviously the data in single case represent only a feasibility study . Nevertheless, the outcome in this patient, together with the advantages of the new sugar, justify the planning of controlled clinical trials. Biochemistry, 1982 Sep 14, 21(19), 4707 - 13 In vitro transcription of the early region of Caulobacter phage phi Cd1 deoxyribonucleic acid by host RNA polymerase; Amemiya K et al.; Transcription of the Caulobacter crescentus phage phi Cd1 genome requires both the host RNA polymerase and a phage-encoded, rifampicin-resistant RNA polymerase . Transcription of the early region of the phi Cd1 genome was examined in vitro with C . crescentus RNA polymerase . Four transcripts, A, B, C, and D, which ranged in size from 2.9 X 10(6) to 0.53 X 10(6) daltons, were synthesized in vitro by the holoenzyme . Transcript A appeared to be the major transcript since (a) it was the size of the entire 20% of the genome shown in vivo to code for the early phage mRNA, (b) it was one of the first transcripts synthesized at low enzyme-to-DNA molar ratios, and (c) it was synthesized in approximately 3 times the molar equivalent observed for the other transcripts . The A transcript initiated primarily with GTP although a portion was also labeled with ATP . The B, C, and D transcripts were present in equivalent molar ratios, were all smaller than transcript A, and were found to yield RNase III digestion products that were subsets of each other as well as of transcript A . Each of these transcripts proved to be a de novo transcript since (a) each could be pulse labeled during the initial 20 s of the reaction and (b) each transcript contained a triphosphate at its 5' terminus . Evidence is presented that suggests that the B and C transcripts initiate at or near the major A promoter but terminate at different termination or pause sites within the early region of the phage genome . Transcript D appears to initiate at a minor promoter within the terminally redundant region of the genome preceding the A promoter. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 1982 Sep 13, 298(1093), 443 - 66 Biochemistry of dissimilatory sulphate reduction; Peck HD Jr et al.; Extensive information is available on the enzymology of respiratory sulphate reduction and the structure of electron transfer proteins isolated from the sulphate-reducing bacteria; however, it has not yet been possible to delineate satisfactorily the function of these electron transfer proteins in terms of the enzymes involved in respiratory sulphate reduction . New information about differences in pyrophosphate metabolism by Desulfovibrio and Desulfotomaculum, cellular localizations of electron transfer proteins and enzymes, and the concepts of vectorial electron transfer plus hydrogen cycling suggest that previous data on the function of electron transfer proteins must be re-evaluated and new experimental approaches designed before the problem is resolved . New information on the enzymology of lactate dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, adenylyl sulphate reductase, bisulphite reductase and hydrogenase is presented and discussed in the context of enzyme localization and specifically for electron transfer proteins . The function of cytochrome c3 (Mr = 13000) in the mechanism of the periplasmic hydrogenase and the role of the new {3Fe-3S} non-haem iron centres in electron transfer is emphasized. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1982 Sep 7, 706(2), 245 - 8 A convenient and rapid method for the complete removal of CoA from butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase; Williamson G et al.; The commercially available gel, 2-pyridyl disulphide hydroxypropyl ether-Sepharose (thiopropyl-Sepharose 6B), can be used to remove bound ligand completely from butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase (EC 1.399.2) in two simple operations . The resultant enzyme forms normal complexes with acetoacetyl-CoA and CoA persulphide, contains no bound CoA as determined by the enzymatic assay for CoA, and retains full catalytic activity. Sem Hop, 1982 Sep 2, 58(30-31), 1767 - 8 {Septicemia due to Leptotrichia buccalis in an immuno-suppressed patient}; Kohler JL et al.; The authors report a case of septicemia due to Leptotrichia buccalis in a patient with underlying lymphatic leukemia . It is the second case reported in the literature . This observation shows, once again, that bacteria known as "non virulent" can exhibit pathogenicity in immunosuppressed patients. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1982 Sep, 13(3), 405 - 11 Morbidity and mortality study on diarrhoeal diseases in North Jakarta - an urban area; Sutoto et al.; Diarrhoea including its interaction with undernutrition is one of the most important health problems and a major cause of death in young children in developing countries including Indonesia . To quantify the problems and to have comparison with results of other diarrhoeal surveys in Indonesia as well as in other developing countries, a survey was done in urban community comprising a population of 5,115 living in a relatively good area which was not a slum, nor wealthy area . The incidence of diarrhoea in this area was 149 per 1000 population a year and mortality rate of 0.2 per 1000 population, and 1.8% of diarrhoeal cases in the community became dehydrated needing hospitalization . The incidence of diarrhoeal disease was lower than in the survey done in semiurban area Ujung Pandang 8 years ago . This may be due to the improvement of environmental health, socio-economic status and better education . 47% of the diarrhoeal cases had occurred in children under age five . The peak incidence was in the 6 to 12 months age group . Young-age combined with low-nutritional status and early weaning may be factors leading to high incidence and death rates of diarrhoeal diseases . Incidence increased in the middle of the rainy season . 30% of the episodes were caused by enteropathogenic bacteria, 15.4% by rotavirus while for 50% of episodes the causative agent could not be determined. Arch Toxicol, 1982 Sep, 50(3-4), 259 - 66 Activating and inactivating reactions controlling 2-naphthylamine mutagenicity; Bock-Hennig BS et al.; Factors controlling 2-naphthylamine mutagenicity were studied using the Ames test . 1) Both rat liver microsomes and cytosolic proteins were required for generation of mutagenic metabolites . 2) 1-Hydroxy-2-naphthylamine, the major metabolite of 2-naphthylamine, was not mutagenic but cytotoxic to bacteria . 3) Ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione and conjugation reactions, such as glucuronidation, were strongly inhibiting 2-naphthylamine mutagenicity . 4) When isolated hepatocytes were used as the activating system mutagenic metabolites could not be detected . However cytotoxicity was detectable at doses of 2-naphthylamine greater than 0.2 mumol/10(6) cells . The results suggest that the formation of genotoxic metabolites of 2-naphthylamine is largely prevented in the intact, non-dividing rat hepatocyte. Anat Embryol (Berl), 1982 Sep, 165(1), 97 - 111 Anatomy of the guinea-pig cecum; Snipes RL; The anatomy of the cecum of the domesticated guinea pig (Cavia aperea f . procellus) was investigated at the macroscopic and microscopic levels . In situ observations, injections of the blood vascular system and the preparation of dried specimens were made to elucidate the macroscopic anatomy of the cecum . The complex mesenterial situation in the abdomen was also investigated . The guinea-pig intestinal tract is peculiarized by the presence of the voluminous teniated cecum, which lacks an appendix vermiformis . The stomach is relative small and simple; the large intestine does not possess teniae . Seen with the scanning electron microscope the surface topography of the cecal wall shows a pattern of irregular mounds and crevasses . The former are made up of raised ridges, often in circular or looped profiles . Correlated light microscopic observation revealed an irregularity of the mucosal surface consisting of protrusions into the cecal lumen, the circular and looped configurations of the scanning microscope image representing the entry into crypts at the light microscopic level . The close association of bacteria to the mucosal surface is striking . Observed with the transmission electron microscope this close association takes the form of an intermicrovillar location of the bacteria . The present observations are compared to those made on their rodents and with respect to the dietary habit of the guinea pig. Mol Biol (Mosk), 1982 Sep-Oct, 16(5), 1004 - 18 {Conformation motion equation and primitive molecular machines for electron (ion) transport in biological systems}; Shaitan KV et al.; A general theory of electron-conformation interactions and correlation between electron transfer rates and conformational mobility are discussed on the basis of a stochastic model of protein dynamics . A set of equations is developed and solved for primitive molecular "machines" . Estimation of structural parameters for the reduction of the secondary acceptor in bacterial photosynthesis is given. Eur J Biochem, 1982 Sep 1, 126(3), 513 - 5 Evolutionary divergence of chloroplast and cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases from angiosperms; Cerff R; Extracts from 13 different angiosperm species (spinach, mustard, pea, bean, tomato, cucumber, pumpkin, maize, sorghum, rye, wheat, oats, barley) were submitted to electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions and stained for enzyme activities of cytosolic and chloroplast glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases by a modified tetrazolium test of high sensitivity . Zymograms of the cytosolic enzyme revealed a single band of similar electrophoretic mobility for all but one species, the tomato, which displayed an ordered set of five different bands . In contrast, zymograms of the chloroplast dehydrogenase are highly different, containing between two and five distinct bands of variable electrophoretic mobilities according to the plant species examined . This variability of the native chloroplast enzyme is paralleled by a remarkable interspecific heterogeneity of the enzyme with respect to subunit size and number, as shown by dodecylsulfate electrophoresis of the purified chloroplast enzyme from 11 different angiosperm species . The present data suggest that cytosolic and chloroplast glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases belong to two separate protein families of different evolutionary rate . While the cytosolic enzyme is probably an extremely conservative protein like the corresponding enzymes from animals, yeast and bacteria, the chloroplast enzyme seems to change rather rapidly during evolution. Arch Surg, 1982 Sep, 117(9), 1235 - 6 Abdominal aneurysmectomy following previous peritonitis; Casali RE et al.; Repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms in two patients (one emergency and one elective) several months after a bout of peritonitis resulted in graft sepsis . Bacteria cultured from the episodes of peritonitis and from graft sepsis were identical . Repair in elective cases should probably be postponed for at least one year . In urgent or emergency cases, especially when any contamination is encountered, ligation of the aorta and extra-anatomic bypass grafts should be performed. Vet Pathol Suppl, 1982 Sep, 7, 9 - 16 Nontuberculous mycobacterial disease in rhesus monkeys; Holmberg CA et al.; In a colony of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), 42 cases of nontuberculous mycobacterial-related disease were identified from 1970 to 1978 . The disease affected young and old colony-born and wild-caught monkeys of both sexes . Serotypes 1, 2, 4, 8, and 18 of the Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare group were isolated from different monkeys . The lesions were primarily intestinal in 36 monkeys . Lesions of the large intestine, small intestine, and mesenteric lymph nodes were characterized by diffuse accumulations of large macrophages containing many acid-fast bacteria . Acid-fast bacteria could not be identified histologically in four monkeys with typical histories of diarrhea and weight loss, positive skin reactions to the tuberculin test with M . avium tuberculin, and isolation of the organism from tissues on one or more occasions . Two monkeys had histologically positive lesions limited to the lungs, although chronic colitis of undetermined cause was present. Jpn J Antibiot, 1982 Sep, 35(9), 2277 - 87 {An experimental production of suppurative otitis media in dog, and a trial to evaluate the therapeutic effect of cefmetazole on this otitis media}; Imori T et al.; An experimental suppurative otitis media in dog was produced to evaluate the therapeutic effects of cefmetazole (CMZ) in this study . In order to induce a definite case of otitis media, 1.0 mg of dexamethasone was administered intramuscularly to dog, 12 hours before a bacterial inoculation into the middle ear of it . For inoculation, 5 x 10(8) live bacteria of S . aureus, strain 571 (UOP) was prepared from its 18 hour-bouillon culture and added 0.9 ml of 5% mucin solution for a total inoculation fluid of 1.0 ml . This fluid was injected into the middle ear on one side by inserting a 'mouse syringe' with a swollen tip down the external auditory meatus to pierce the tympanic membrane . On the opposite side, only 1.0 ml of micin solution was injected . In this way, suppurative otitis media which definitely lasted until the 15th day following the bacterial inoculation was realized . Since in each positive controls, the onset of suppurative otitis media had been confirmed on the 4th day after inoculation, the intravenous administration of CMZ (three times a day; 9 : 30, 15 : 30, 21 : 30) was started at the end of the 4th day and continued through the 7th day . The dogs thus treated were sacrificed on the 10th day after inoculation and the live bacteria count within the middle ear, signs of inflammation on the tympanic cavity, and accumulation of pus were examined . The therapeutic effect of CMZ was rated as 'effective' in cases where S . aureus-571 was found to be negative . All the animals administered a daily dose of 30 mg/kg or above it, were found to be S . aureus-571 free, thus the satisfactory therapeutic effect of CMZ was demonstrated . Especially, at the daily dose of 120 mg/kg the membrane of the tympanic cavity in all cases exhibited a picture of a radical cure to almost the same degree as the control side membranes, and any signs of inflammation were hardly observed . The last mentioned phenomena had been observed too by the authors on the treatment of the experimentally induced pyometra in bitches, with CMZ . Thus it is assumed that in treating some suppurative diseases with CMZ, it may be advisable to initiate the administration at relatively large doses in order to achieve generally better and quick effect. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1982 Sep, 79(17), 5162 - 5 Removal of O6-methylguanine from DNA by human liver fractions; Pegg AE et al.; In in vitro assays using methylated DNAs as substrates, human liver fractions were shown to be able to catalyze the removal of O6-methylguanine . The amount of removal was proportional to the amount of protein added, and the loss of O6-methylguanine occurred with stoichiometric formation of guanine in the DNA and S-methylcysteine in protein . This indicates that human liver contains a protein similar to that previously found in bacteria exposed to alkylating agents . This protein acts as a transmethylase, transferring the intact methyl group from O6-methylguanine in DNA to a cysteine residue on that protein . A similar activity is present in rodent liver, but it was found that human liver was about 10 times more active in carrying out this reaction . In contrast, there was no difference between the human and rat liver extracts in catalyzing the loss of another methylation product, 7-methylguanine, from alkylated DNA . The liver is the organ most likely to be alkylated after exposure to exogenous potential alkylating agents such as dimethylnitrosamine . The present results show that human liver has a significant capacity to repair O6-methylguanine in DNA, which has been implicated as a critical product in carcinogenesis and mutagenesis. J Periodontol, 1982 Sep, 53(9), 550 - 6 Relationship between the percentage of subgingival spirochetes and the severity of periodontal disease; Armitage GC et al.; The purpose of this study was to determine the correlations between various clinical assessments of inflammatory periodontal disease and the percentage of motile bacteria in the subgingival flora of sites representing widely varying states of periodontal disease . Darkfield microscopy was used to determine the percentage of spirochetes and other motile bacteria at two sites from each of 60 volunteers . For each site the following clinical assessments were recorded: Plaque Index (PII), gingival exudate (GE), Gingival Index (GI), bleeding tendency (BT), pocket depth (PD), connective tissue attachment loss (AL) and Periodontal Disease Index (PDI) . Statistically significant (P less than 0.001) positive correlations (r) were found between the percentage of subgingival spirochetes and PII (r=0.54), GE (r=0.61), GI (r=0.57), BT (r=0.59), PD (r=0.56), AL (r=0.56) and PDI (r=0.61) . Clinically healthy sites harbored much lower percentages of motile bacteria than did clinically disease sites . Most of the observed variation in the percentage of motile bacteria could be accounted for by variations in the percentage of spirochetes . The most significant increases in the relative percentages of subgingival spirochetes occurred when bleeding upon probing was observed as a sign of inflammation and/or when pocket depth and attachment loss exceeded 3 mm. Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1982 Sep-Oct, 133(2), 291 - 302 {Comparative study of mycobactin-dependent strains of mycobacteria isolated from the wood-pigeon with Mycobacterium avium and M . paratuberculosis: study of biological and antigenic characteristics}; Thorel MF et al.; In this investigation three mycobacterial strains isolated in our laboratory from wood-pigeons were compared with one strain isolated by Matthews and another by Jorgensen from, respectively, a wood-pigeon and a roe-deer . The strains were also compared with various strains of Mycobacterium avium and M . paratuberculosis . The strains isolated from the wood-pigeons formed a relatively homogeneous group, which could be distinguished from M . avium and M . paratuberculosis . It was interesting to verify that most of the cultural and biochemical properties of the wood-pigeon mycobacteria were similar to those of M . paratuberculosis . The strains formed rough colonies and grew slowly in special mediums containing M . phlei extracts or mycobactin . However, one must recall that mycobactin dependence was also reported by Matthews for some strains of M . avium . The tween hydrolysis test (10 days), negative for M . avium, was positive for both the wood-pigeon mycobacteria and M . paratuberculosis . The trehalase test, which appears to be regularly positive for M . avium, was also positive for the wood-pigeon mycobacteria and M . paratuberculosis . In respect to drug susceptibility, no significant differences were observed . The organisms were resistant to most drugs studied, but were also resistant to cycloserine, in contrast to most M . avium strains . On the other hand, the organisms were not distinguished using sensitins, prepared from wood-pigeon mycobacteria and M . paratuberculosis using specifically sensitized guinea-pigs . However, the wood-pigeon mycobacteria could be clearly differentiated from M . paratuberculosis and M . avium using serology methods . Indeed, the wood-pigeon mycobacteria did not agglutinate in the presence of any of the sera defining the M . avium-intracellulare serovars (serovars 1 to 28); and by immunodiffusion in agar the wood-pigeon mycobacteria antigens formed two precipitation lines which were absent from M . paratuberculosis . Judging from our findings, the wood-pigeon mycobacteria are more closely related to M . paratuberculosis than to M . avium . It appears that biochemical and antigenic properties are not sufficient to completely differentiate these bacteria . Further studies are needed, and we plan to investigate in the near future their pathogenicity for rabbits, chicken and calves. Gastroenterology, 1982 Sep, 83(3), 613 - 8 Cleaning and disinfection of fiberoptic endoscopes: evaluation of glutaraldehyde exposure time and forced-air drying; Gerding DN et al.; Several alternative schedules of cleaning and disinfection of flexible fiberoptic endoscopes were evaluated during actual use in paired endoscopy suites . Thorough mechanical cleaning with detergent and alcohol was compared with the same cleaning with the addition of 5-, 10-, or 20-min immersion of the endoscope insertion tube in 2% alkaline glutaraldehyde solution . Endoscopes were cultured quantitatively and qualitatively for aerobic bacteria at three different times relative to procedures: after use, immediately after cleaning alone or cleaning plus disinfection, and after storage unused in a cabinet for 20-72 h . Cleaning plus glutaraldehyde immersion for 5 min significantly reduced bacterial contamination both immediately and after storage when compared with cleaning alone . Results of cleaning plus 10- and 20-min glutaraldehyde immersion were not statistically different from cleaning plus 5-min glutaraldehyde immersion . The addition of forced-air drying following disinfection significantly reduced bacterial contamination following storage when compared with storage without previous drying . Cleaning plus brief (5-20 min) glutaraldehyde immersion significantly reduced bacterial contamination of endoscopes when compared with cleaning alone (p less than 0.001) and, when combined with forced-air drying before storage, resulted in 59/63 (94%) negative endoscope cultures by the methods used in this study . These measures do not ensure sterility, but are superior to mechanical cleaning alone and sufficiently practical to be used routinely without undue interruption of busy endoscopy schedules. Vet Pathol Suppl, 1982 Sep, 19 Suppl 7, 9 - 16 Nontuberculous mycobacterial disease in rhesus monkeys; Holmberg CA et al.; In a colony of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), 42 cases of nontuberculous mycobacterial-related disease were identified from 1970 to 1978 . The disease affected young and old colony-born and wild-caught monkeys of both sexes . Serotypes 1, 2, 4, 8, and 18 of the Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare group were isolated from different monkeys . The lesions were primarily intestinal in 36 monkeys . Lesions of the large intestine, small intestine, and mesenteric lymph nodes were characterized by diffuse accumulations of large macrophages containing many acid-fast bacteria . Acid-fast bacteria could not be identified histologically in four monkeys with typical histories of diarrhea and weight loss, positive skin reactions to the tuberculin test with M . avium tuberculin, and isolation of the organism from tissues on one or more occasions . Two monkeys had histologically positive lesions limited to the lungs, although chronic colitis of undetermined cause was present. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1982 Aug 20, 681(2), 292 - 9 Purification and reconstitution of the 32Pi-ATP exchange activity of bovine chromaffin granule membrane; Roisin MP et al.; Ghosts derived from bovine chromaffin granules have a 32Pi-ATP exchange activity which is associated with the H+ pump of that membrane . This activity was low when compared to bacteria, chloroplasts or submitochondrial particles, but had similar properties (Km for ATP and Pi, ATP/Mg2+ ratio, pH profile, inhibition by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and tributyltin) to the ATPase from above membranes . The 32Pi-ATP exchange activity was solubilized by cholate/octylglucoside mixtures . The soluble extract was lipid depleted by ammonium sulfate fractionation and partially purified by sucrose gradient centrifugation . The purified preparation was reconstituted with phospholipids by freeze-thawing . The reconstituted vesicles had a 32Pi-ATP exchange sensitive to dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and trybutyltin and an ATPase with a sensitivity to the inhibitors which varied with the reconstitution conditions . The alpha- and beta-subunits of F1-ATPase were major components of the preparation. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1982 Aug 15, 143(8), 897 - 901 Correlation of quantitative amniotic fluid cultures with endometritis after cesarean section; Blanco JD et al.; At the time cesarean section, amniotic fluid was collected transabdominally from 60 patients, and quantitative cultures were performed on the amniotic fluid . A culture was defined as positive if greater than or equal to 10(2) colony-forming units per milliliter of a high-virulence organism were isolated . Any other result was defined as negative . In 24 patients with no labor or rupture of the membranes, no positive cultures were found, but there was a 25% incidence of endometritis . Among 36 patients with labor or rupture of the membranes, or both, 13 (36%) had a positive culture . Twelve of the 13 (92%) developed endometritis, whereas nine of the 23 (39%) patients with a negative culture had endometritis (p less than 0.002) . The usual clinical risk factors for endometritis were not different between the positive and negative culture groups . However, the patients with positive cultures had a significantly shorter time interval from cesarean section to endometritis than did the patients with negative cultures (p less than 0.02) . There was an excellent correlation between a positive amniotic fluid culture and endometritis after cesarean section. J Biol Chem, 1982 Aug 10, 257(15), 8592 - 5 The site of attachment of retinal in bacteriorhodopsin . A resonance Raman study; Rothschild KJ et al.; The retinal chromophore of bacteriorhodopsin is attached as a Schiff's base with the epsilon-amino group of a lysine residue . The site of attachment has now been investigated by the use of resonance Raman spectroscopy which has previously been shown to be sensitive to 15N isotope substitution at the Schiff's base . Bacteriorhodopsin samples obtained from bacteria grown in a medium containing either {epsilon-14N}- or {epsilon-15N}lysine were cleaved with chymotrypsin to give, in each case, the two fragments C-1 (amino acids 72-248) and C-2 (amino acids 1-71) . The fragments were recombined in different combinations into lipid/detergent mixtures and retinal was added to regenerate the chromophore . Resonance Raman spectroscopy showed that, in both the light-adapted (BR 570) and the M 412 intermediate forms, the chromophore is attached to the large C-1 fragment . This result eliminates Lys-41 as the attachment site in these forms of bacteriorhodopsin . Together with the accompanying report, which demonstrates that the epsilon-amino group in Lys-41 is not required for regeneration of the native chromophore or for proton translocation, these results provide strong evidence that the chromophore remains attached as a Schiff's base to Lys-216 during the entire photocycle. Nature, 1982 Aug 5, 298(5874), 582 - 5 Evolutionary selection for perfect hairpin structures in viral DNAs; Muller UR et al.; Several recent discoveries have pointed to nucleic acid secondary structure as an additional dimension in gene expression . Further evidence for the formation of hairpins in RNA is the fact that cruciforms exist in negatively supercoiled DNAs . As potential binding sites for proteins, these structures have been proposed to play a part in the regulation of various crucial reactions, such as replication, transcription, or RNA processing . As any random nucleotide sequence can self-anneal with an approximately 50% chance of forming some Watson-Crick-type base pairs, it is difficult to assess which, if any, of all possible hairpin-like secondary structures may be biologically relevant . We have computed the expected distribution of perfectly base-paired structures as a function of loop size and stem length and compared it with the distribution observed in the complete genome of eight DNA viruses from animals, plants and bacteria . We report here that hairpins having six or more consecutive base pairs in the stem are not distributed randomly long the genome, occur much more often than chance would predict, and are particularly over-represented in regions that appear to have regulatory significance . The average loop size was found to decrease with an increase in stem length . These results support our previous hypothesis that these structures are biologically relevant. J Dairy Sci, 1982 Aug, 65(8), 1535 - 9 Predictability by somatic cell counts related to prevalence of intrammary infection within herds; McDermott MP et al.; Somatic cells were counted and bacteria identified for milk samples from 719 lactating dairy cows in 12 commercial herds . These pooled data were used to look at the accuracy of alternative thresholds of somatic cell counts as indicators of intramammary infection . Sensitivity, specificity, and predictability positive and negative at alternative cell count thresholds were calculated . There was an increase of incidence of infection associated with increased cell count . Raising the cell count threshold increased predictability positive and specificity and decreased sensitivity and predictability negative . Also, the effect of prevalence of infection on predictabilities was examined for the pooled data on sensitivity and specificity at a cell count threshold of 400,000 cells/ml . As prevalence of infection increased, predictability of a positive test result also increased, but predictability negative decreased . Differences in accuracy of somatic cell count as a predictor of infection at varying prevalences of infection suggest that test results should be interpreted for individual herds. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Aug, 44(2), 346 - 50 1,4-Naphthoquinone and other nutrient requirements of Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens; Gomez-Alarcon RA et al.; Three strains of Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens isolated from the rumen of cattle or sheep under diverse conditions grew well in a minimal medium containing glucose, minerals, cysteine, methionine, leucine, serine, ammonia, 1,4-naphthoquinone, p-aminobenzoic acid, and bicarbonate-carbonic acid buffer, pH 6.7 . When menadione or vitamin K5 was substituted for 1,4-naphthoquinone, the growth rate was somewhat depressed . Growth was poor with vitamin K1 and ammonia, further addition of the amino acids aspartic acid, arginine, histidine, and tryptophan was necessary for good growth of type strain 24, but the other two strains grew well only in media containing ammonia . Strains C18 and 22B produced urease and grew well when ammonia replaced urea . When urea replaced ammonia, strain 24 grew poorly and urease activity could not be detected . Strain 24 required no B-vitamins, but the other two strains were stimulated by p-aminobenzoic acid . The methionine requirement was not placed by vitamin B12, betaine, or homocysteine . Cysteine was replaced by sulfide in strain 24 but less well in the other two strains . Very poor growth was obtained when sulfate replaced cysteine . The half-saturation constant for ammonia during growth of S . dextrinosolvens is more than 500 microM, a much higher value than that of many rumen bacteria. Clin Orthop, 1982 Aug, (168), 265 - 80 Functional adaptation of bone in response to sinusoidally varying controlled compressive loading of the ovine metacarpus; Churches AE et al.; To obtain carried load, quantitative data relating functional adaptation of bone to controlled, sinusoidally-varying, compressive loading of constant amplitude was applied to the right metacarpal bones via Steinmann's pins inserted through the metaphyses in 13 sheep . Loading was applied for two 1-hr periods/day at 24 cycle/minute, through-out a test period of 28 days . The amplitude of the applied loading was varied from test to test, giving peak stresses on the mid-diaphyseal cross-section that ranged from 2.2-8.3 N/mm2 . In the mid-diaphyseal region, the bone responded by periosteal apposition, with maximum proliferation usually occurring on the medio- and laterovolar borders and relatively little new bone on the dorsal and volar aspects . The cross-sectional areas of new bone was roughly proportional to the applied stress, with a maximum increase of approximately 8% in the most highly stressed bones . There was also evidence that periosteal resorption had occurred, presumably as the first step in the apposition process . A significantly increased level of intracortical activity was found in the right metacarpus as compared with the contralateral bone. Postgrad Med, 1982 Aug, 72(2), 115 - 8 Parenteral metronidazole: its use in serious anaerobic infections; Edson RS et al.; Within a few years of the introduction of oral metronidazole to treat parasitic infections, investigators began to notice its activity against anaerobic infections as well . Now a parenteral form of the drug is available for use in this expanded application . This article reviews the properties and activity of the drug and discusses its new indications. Gastroenterology, 1982 Aug, 83(2), 424 - 9 Utilization of nutrients by isolated epithelial cells of the rat colon; Roediger WE; Isolated suspensions of colonocytes from the rat were used to assess utilization, interaction, and fate of metabolic substrates normally obtained from colonic bacteria (acetate, propionate, butyrate) or derived from the blood circulation to the colonic mucosa (D-glucose, acetoacetate, L-glutamine) . The short-chain fatty acid n-butyrate (10 mM), on its own, accounted for 86% of the total oxygen consumption and suppressed oxidation of endogenous fuel by 82% . Ths value was not altered by the addition of acetoacetate (5 mM), of L-glutamine (5 mM), or of D-glucose (10 mM) . Activation of short-chain fatty acids by colonocytes proceeded in the order of butyrate greater than acetate greater than propionate . D-Glucose on its own accounted for 30% of the oxygen consumption by colonocytes and hardly suppressed utilization of endogenous fuels . Colonocytes utilized ketone bodies (acetoacetate) and produced them (acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate) from short-chain fatty acids . Considering the interaction of substrates, isolated colonic epithelial cells utilized respiratory fuels in the preferential order of butyrate greater than acetoacetate greater than glutamine greater than glucose . The high rate of CO2 production from butyrate should be a worthwhile means of examining the functional activity of the colonic mucosa clinically and in vivo. Clin Orthop, 1982 Aug, (168), 216 - 21 Aseptic necrosis of bone . An historic perspective; McCarthy EF; The history of aseptic bone necrosis includes important contributions by Hunter, Russell, Goodsir, Paget, Konig, Axhausen, Phemister, and Chandler . Only after Pasteur discovered bacteria in abscesses could a nonbacterial or aseptic necrosis be conceptualized . Techniques and information gained from the study of bone grafts led to important steps in the recognition of aseptic necrosis . The use of the X-ray and careful pathologic correlation enabled a wide group of radiographically distinct lesions to be recognized as bone necroses . Although many identifiable diseases can underlie aseptic necrosis, the cause of most cases is unknown. J Dent Res, 1982 Aug, 61(8), 1014 - 9 Pulpal response to a new adhesive restorative resin; Inokoshi S et al.; The pulpal response to a new adhesive restorative resin was histopathologically investigated using dogs, and was compared with a representative conventional resin . When filled without etching and cavity wall lining, bacterial penetration and pulpal response were less with the new resin . Lining of dentin walls and total etching of cavity walls, including dentin, caused less pulpal response under the new resin . Cavities which were totally etched and filled with the new resin showed only a slight pulpal response and no bacterial penetration. Scand J Gastroenterol, 1982 Aug, 17(5), 653 - 6 The composition of biliary calculi in patients with juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula; Lotveit T; Biliar calculi from 32 patients with juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula were analyzed by quantitative infrared spectroscopy . In 22 of the patients the calculi were classified as pigment stones and in 10 as cholesterol stones . Calcium bilirubinate was the main component in the pigment stones, with a median value of 45%; the median cholesterol content was 7.5% . In the cholesterol stones median calcium bilirubinate content was 1% and median cholesterol content 95.5% . Calcium carbonate was found in small amounts in only nine of the calculi . The findings support our theory that the pigment calculi in patients with juxtapapillary diverticula are caused by ascending infections to the bile ducts with intestinal beta-glucuronidase-producing bacteria . Beta-glucuronidase will split the conjugated bilirubin in bile into glucuronic acid and unconjugated bilirubin, which in turn combine with calcium to form insoluble calcium bilirubinate. Gann, 1982 Aug, 73(4), 618 - 26 Comparative studies on immunological properties of antitumor polysaccharide TC-13; Kohno M et al.; The biological and immunological characteristics of TC-13, an antitumor protein-bound polysaccharide, were studied . TC-13 had no direct cytocidal effect on Ehrlich carcinoma, but it induced antitumor resistance in mice whose tumors were regressed by TC-13 . TC-13 changed the electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins of mice after its ip administration, causing a slow increase of the LB component and a rapid increase of the X component . TC-13 augmented the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to tumor homogenate, anti-SRBC antibody formation and the cytocidal activity of macrophages in an antibody-dependent system, but it had little or no effect on blast formation of spleen lymphocytes or carbon clearance . These results and comparative studies with other immunomodulators suggest that TC-13 is a unique polysaccharide having properties intermediate between those of lentinan, a simple-structured homologous polysaccharide from basidiomycetes, and lipopolysaccharide, a cell-surface component from bacteria. J Bacteriol, 1982 Aug, 151(2), 888 - 98 Genetic mapping with Tn5-derived auxotrophs of Caulobacter crescentus; Barrett JT et al.; Chromosomal insertions of Tn5 in Caulobacter crescentus displayed complete stability upon transduction and proved useful in strain building on complex media . RP4-primes constructed in vitro containing C . crescentus genomic sequences in the HindIII site of the kanamycin resistance gene failed to show enhanced or directed chromosome mobilization abilities . One of these kanamycin-sensitive RP4 derivatives, pVS1, was used as a mobilization vector in conjugation experiments on complex media where chromosomal Tn5 transfer to the recipient was selected . pVS1-mediated transfer of Tn5-induced auxotrophic mutations occurred at frequencies of 10(-6) to 10(-8) per donor cell . During conjugation with Tn5-encoded kanamycin resistance as the selected marker, Tn5 remained in its donor-associated locus in 85 to 100% of the transconjugants . A collection of eight temperature-sensitive donor strains bearing Tn5 insertion mutations from various regions of the C . crescentus genetic map were used to provide a rapid means for the determination of the map location of a new mutation . Use of the techniques described in this paper allowed an expansion of the C . crescentus genetic map to include the relative locations of 32 genes. J Exp Med, 1982 Aug 1, 156(2), 321 - 36 Tolerance and autoimmunity to erythroid differentiation (B-G) major histocompatibility complex alloantigens of the chicken; Havele C et al.; Hematopoietic chimeras were produced at four different stages of ontogeny between two allogeneic strains of chickens . All chimeras produced by parabiosis at day 12 of embryogenesis and the majority (83%) of the ones produced at day 15 by intravenous injection of allogeneic stem cells remained healthy, chimeric, and specifically tolerant at both the humoral and cell-mediated level throughout a long examination period . Chimeras generated at day 17 of embryogenesis demonstrated specific unresponsiveness at the cell-mediated level but produced specific anti-donor alloantibodies directed against erythrocyte-associated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (B-G) antigens . These chimeras and a minority (17%) of the chimeras generated at day 15 of embryogenesis developed severe antibody-mediated autoimmune hemolytic anemia after the 5th mo of age and succumbed to massive bursal lymphomas and metastases by the 10th mo of age . The immunological and pathological characteristics of these birds appear to reflect an autoimmune state rather than one of tolerance . Erythroid chimeras generated at day 21 of ontogenic development displayed normal levels of GVH reactivity . These birds were eventually able to eliminate the chimeric state and remained healthy until deliberately killed . These results show that there is a critical period in embryogenesis during which the induction of allogeneic erythrocytic chimerism leads to the development, in adult life, of severe autoimmune anemia, B cell lymphomas, and death . B-G MHC antigens are erythroid differentiation antigens of the chicken . Polymorphic determinants on B-G antigens appear to be important cross-reactive determinants (with environmental bacteria), against which a high background immunity exists . Evidence is presented that the immune response to B-G antigens is responsible for the development of autoimmunity and other pathological events that follow and that tolerance to class I MHC antigens (B-F antigens) shared by lymphocytes erythrocytes is maintained at the same time that B-G tolerance is broken. Mycopathologia, 1982 Jul 23, 79(1), 39 - 41 Polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis in sporotrichosis; Hachisuka H et al.; A lesion of sporotrichosis shows a characteristic arrangement of the infiltrate in three zones: the central suppurative zone composed of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, the tuberculoid zone and the round cell zone . For investigating the pathomechanism of the suppurative zone formation, polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis to sporotrichin was assayed with the agarose plate method . Polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the patients with sporotrichosis showed an enhanced chemotactic index in comparison with that in the control subjects . However, there was no difference in non-specific chemotaxis to bacteria-derived substance between the patients and the control subjects. Biofizika, 1982 Jul-Aug, 27(4), 670 - 4 {Parameters of the function of cell distribution by size as related to the study of the mechanism of cell growth}; Stepanova NV et al.; Distribution function of bacteria-rods according to their sizes is calculated assuming linear growth of cells between the divisions and step-like function of division (the division rate equals zero up to the moment when the cell reaches certain length L, then it has constant value A) . An approximate analytical expression for the distribution function is obtained; the parameter L and A are calculated from the condition of best coincidence between the theoretical and experimental curves determined by I . A . Basnakyan and G . P . Dubinina (Mechnikov Research Institute of Virology) for continuous culture of typhoid bacteria. Lab Anim, 1982 Jul, 16(3), 290 - 6 A study of chronic pneumonia in a guineapig colony with enzootic Bordetella bronchiseptica infection; Baskerville M et al.; Three types of lesion were present in the lungs of guineapigs with chronic pneumonia - pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, perivascular lymphoid hyperplasia and foreign body granulomas . Bordetella bronchiseptica was present in the nasopharynx, trachea and lungs of a high proportion of animals from 4 weeks old, and antibodies to this organism were also found . Animals removed at 4 days old and reared in isolation from the main colony and free from B . bronchiseptica developed similar lung lesions, so that B . bronchiseptica appeared to have no causative role in these forms of chronic pneumonia. J Med Chem, 1982 Jul, 25(7), 877 - 80 10-Propargylaminopterin and alkyl homologues of methotrexate as inhibitors of folate metabolism; Piper JR et al.; Reported antifolate activity against leukemia L1210 by N-{14-{{(2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-quinazolinyl)methyl}-propargylamino}benzoyl}}-L-glu tamic acid through potent inhibition of thymidylate synthase (EC 2.1.1.45) prompted us to include the propargyl group in a study of the effect on folate metabolism and membrane transport of replacing the 10-methyl group of methotrexate with other groups . Along with the propyl (8a) and octyl (8b) homologues of methotrexate, the propargyl compound 8c was prepared for evaluation . Syntheses of 8a,b were achieved by a standard multistep sequence involving preparation of the side-chain precursors via tosylated intermediates and then their alkylation with 6-(bromomethyl)-2,4-pteridinediamine hydrobromide . The side-chain precursor to 8c was prepared by direct alkylation of diethyl N-(4-aminobenzoyl)-L-glutamate with propargyl bromide and was separated from unchanged amine and dipropargyl coproduct by a combination of methods, including dry-column chromatography and recrystallization . Subsequent steps leading to 8c were like those used to prepare 8a,b . Biological evaluations of the three compounds consisted of studies of their effects on enzyme inhibition {(dihydrofolate reductase (EC 1.5.1.3) and thymidylate synthase)}, L1210 cell growth inhibition, cellular membrane transport with various murine cell types (L210, S180, Ehrlich, and epithelial), in vivo (mice) activity vs . L1210 leukemia and S180 ascites, and plasma clearance in mice . The in vivo results vs . S180 ascites offered evidence that 8c might have a better therapeutic index against this tumor than methotrexate, but no other result from either of these compounds suggested significant superiority over methotrexate. Biophys J, 1982 Jul, 39(1), 57 - 63 Theoretical studies of the electrochromic response of carotenoids in photosynthetic membranes; Kakitani T et al.; Molecular orbital calculations are carried out on a number of carotenoids in the presence of an external charge and a constant electric field . The external charge is used to represent the strong permanent field that is believed to polarize carotenoids in photosynthetic membranes and thus to account for their linear response to the transmembrane potential . Our calculations show that the in vitro leads to in vivo spectral shifts of carotenoids (approximately 25 nm) can be produced by a charge in close proximity to the molecule . The interaction of the induced dipole moment with a constant field accounts for the observed magnitude of the electrochromic response in photosynthetic bacteria . The existence of a second pool of carotenoids that shows a significant (approximately 20 nm) wavelength shift but no electrochromic response can be explained by an external charge positioned near the center of the molecule that affects its absorption maximum while inducing essentially no dipole moment . The spectral shift for this pool is due to the induction of higher multipoles . These also account for discrepancies that arise when one attempts to account quantitatively for available experimental results on carotenoid band shifts in terms of classical electrochromic theory. J Bacteriol, 1982 Jul, 151(1), 503 - 6 Circular organization of the DNA synthetic pathway in Caulobacter crescentus; Nathan P et al.; Genetic analysis of the cell cycle of Caulobacter crescentus has identified a DNA synthetic pathway and a cell division pathway (M . A . Osley and A . Newton, J . Mol . Biol . 138:109-128, 1980) . The results presented here show that in double-shift experiments the function of the PC2076 gene product, which is required for the initiation of DNA synthesis, depends on completion of a late stage of chromosome replication in the previous cell cycle . These findings suggest a circular organization of steps in the DNA synthetic pathway in C . crescentus. J Bacteriol, 1982 Jul, 151(1), 376 - 83 Three-dimensional structure of the crystalloid in the microbody of Kloeckera sp.: composite crystal model; Osumi M et al.; Electron microscopic investigations using the cryosectioning technique, together with electron diffraction, optical diffraction, and computer simulation, were carried out for the determination of the intrinsic structure of the crystalloid in the microbody of Kloeckera sp . The lattice images seen in the cryosections could be changed from one to another by tilting the specimen at an appropriate angle, the images obtained being well consistent with those obtained by computer simulation . The electron diffraction patterns also agreed with those obtained by optical diffraction . The results demonstrated that the crystalloid was composed of two different types of particles, large and small ones, arranged alternately and making up the composite crystal of rock salt structure . Large particles seemed to consist of alcohol oxidase molecules, while the small particles were presumably made up of catalase molecules. Cancer Res, 1982 Jul, 42(7), 2692 - 6 Effects of praziquantel, a new antischistosomal drug, on the mutation and transformation of mammalian cells; Billings PC et al.; Praziquantel (PQ), a tetrahydroquinoline derivative, is a new and clinically effective antischistosomal drug, which has been shown to lack or to possess very weak mutagenic activity . However, in bacteria, this compound can act as a weak comutagen that increases the mutagenicity of several chemical mutagens and carcinogens . We have found that PQ can act as a very weak comutagen in animal cells . At 10 to 50 micrograms/ml, PQ increased the mutagenicity of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and 2-methoxy-6-chloro-9-{3-(2-chloroethyl)amino-propylamino}acridine dihydrochloride about 2-fold in Chinese hamster V-79 cells . In C3H/10T 1/2 mouse embryo cells, PQ exhibited only negligible comutagenic activity . PQ did not oncogenically transform C3H/10T 1/2 cells but had a pronounced effect on 3-methylcholanthrene-induced transformation of these cells . When PQ was coadministered with or added after 3-methylcholanthrene treatment, the number of type III foci produced was about 5-fold lower than in cultures treated with 3-methylcholanthrene alone . Therefore, PQ can inhibit type III focus formation in C3H/10T 1/2 cells. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Jul, 44(1), 67 - 71 Response of intestinal flora of laboratory-reared leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) to cold and fasting; Gossling J et al.; The bacterial flora of the large intestine was examined in 35 laboratory-reared leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) subjected to one of the following four treatments: (i) normal feeding at 21 degrees C (10 frogs); (ii) fasting for 2 weeks at 21 degrees C (8 frogs); (iii) chilling for 1 week at 4 degrees C (9 frogs); and (iv) simulated hibernation for 3 weeks at 4 degrees C (8 frogs) . Bacteria from the intestinal contents and mucosa were counted microscopically and by colony counting after strictly anaerobic culturing . The predominant bacteria were isolated and partially characterized . Fasting for 2 weeks produced no significant changes in total counts or in the types of bacteria cultured . Chilling, whether rapid or in the course of simulated hibernation, was associated with a decrease in the numbers and variety of bacteria . Thus it appears that the lowering of temperature rather than the absence of food is the important factor in the reduction of bacterial flora seen in hibernating frogs . However, the bacteria showed some adaptation to the low temperature, as the longer the host had been at 4 degrees C, the higher the proportion of bacteria which could grow when cultured at that temperature. Anat Rec, 1982 Jul, 203(3), 317 - 27 The cytoskeleton of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes: phagocytosis and degranulation; Ryder MI et al.; Current evidence indicates that polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemotaxis and phagocytosis are effected by an actin-myosin contractile system . However, the structural relationship of the contractile cytoskeleton to cell motility is still in question . In addition, while evidence suggests that microtubules are responsible for orientation during chemotaxis, the role of microtubules in degranulation is unresolved . To determine the organizational relationship between these cytoskeletal elements and phagocytosis, we examined whole-mount preparations of PMNs engulfing bacteria . These preparations were examined in the transmission electron microscope (EM) and photographed as stereo pairs . Two important observations were made . First, there was an increased density of cytoskeletal elements in the pseudopod surrounding bacteria . Second, microtubule elements were intimately associated with lysosomal granules, vesicles, and phagosomes . Lysosomal granules and vesicles aligned along microtubules and clustered around phagosomes . This suggests that the microtubules may provide a tracking mechanism whereby lysosomes are specifically parceled out to phagocytic vacuoles . These results also suggest that phagocytosis and degranulation may involve different effector mechanisms. Microbiologica, 1982 Jul, 5(3), 225 - 33 Production and characterization of high titre rabbit antigonococcal R-type lipopolysaccharide serum; Rappuoli R; Two methods are reported for the production of rabbit anti-gonococcal lipopolysaccharide sera . One is produced by a conjugate between the core oligosaccharide and bovine serum albumin . The other is obtained by immunizing rabbits with heat-killed, ethanol-acetone washed bacteria . The specificity of the latter serum is studied, and it is shown that most of the antibodies are against a lactose-like determinant situated in the core region of the lipopolysaccharide . Preliminary studies show that this serum is able to cause specific agglutination of gonococci. Eur J Biochem, 1982 Jul, 125(3), 579 - 84 A novel non-heme iron-containing dioxygenase . Chloridazon-catechol dioxygenase from Phenylobacterium immobilis DSM 1986; Muller R et al.; Previously we purified an enzyme from Phenylobacterium immobilis DSM 1986, which cleaves the catechol derivative of the herbicide Chloridazon {5-amino-4-chloro-2-phenyl-3 (2H)-pyridazinone} in the meta position . The enzyme, which could be crystallized, proved in