N Engl J Med, 1977 Dec 29, 297(26), 1413 - 9 Malakoplakia: evidence for monocyte lysosomal abnormality correctable by cholinergic agonist in vitro and in vivo; Abdou NI et al.; We studied monocyte function in a case of malakoplakia in an attempt to characterize the immune defect in this condition . Our patient's intracellular cyclic-GMP levels were abnormally low (mean +/- S.D . of 0.17 +/- 0.05 pmol per 10(7) malakoplakia cells, versus 0.79 +/- 0.12 in normals) p less than 0.001) . After phagocytosis, his monocytes failed to release beta-glucuronidase . In the bactericidal assay, incubation of the patient's monocytes with Escherichia coli allowed growth of 542 +/- 46 colonies, normal monocytes allowed 95 +/- 22 (p less than 0.001) . The percentage of monocytes with large lysosomal granules was 23 +/- 4 in the patient and 4 +/- 2 in normal controls . After in vitro incubation of the patient's cells or in vivo treatment with bethanechol chloride, the cyclic-GMP levels, bactericidal ability and lysosomal granules of the cells returned to normal levels . Low levels of cyclic-GMP could impair lysosomal function and bacterial killing in this condition . Cholinergic agonists correct the in vitro abnormalities and are beneficial in vivo. Eur J Clin Invest, 1977 Dec, 7(6), 571 - 7 Blood polymorphonuclear dysfunction in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis; Feliu E et al.; Polymorphonuclear leucocyte function was investigated in twenty patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and three patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis . Bacterial ingestion, oxygen-dependent bactericidal capacity, and chemotactic response were measured . Serum dependent abnormalities were common; they included deficiencies of ingestion and of all subsequent oxygen-dependent metabolic events (three patients), all oxygen-dependent metabolic events (one patient), cytochrome c reduction and iodination deficiencies (six patients), isolated cytochrome c reduction deficiency (ten patients), and chemotactic deficiencies (fourteen out of eighteen patients) . Serum-independent abnormalities were much less common; they included increased ingestion rate (four patients), decreased stimulated reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (three patients), and decreased myeloperoxidase content (eight patients) . Polymorphonuclear leucocyte abnormalities are frequent in cirrhosis and may account in part for increased susceptibility to infection in that disease. Tubercle, 1977 Dec, 58(4), 207 - 15 Comparison of strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from British, Ugandan and Asian immigrant patients: a study in bacteriophage typing, susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide and sensitivity to thiophen-2-carbonic acid hydrazide; Grange JM et al.; Strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were obtained from 65 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis resident in Uganda, and from pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis in 42 British patients of European ethnic stock and in 67 Asian immigrants, often from Uganda, resident in Britain . The bacteriophage-type patterns of the African, British and Asian strains were different . The pattern for the Asian strains resembled that found previously in patients from South India, suggesting that there has been little interchange of organisms between the Asian community and the African and British communities alongside whom they have lived . The patterns for pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis were similar . Strains of bacteriophage type 1, mainly obtained from Asians, were characterized by a greater susceptibility to the bactericidal activity of hydrogen-peroxide and/or a greater sensitivity to thiophen-2-carbonic acid hydrazide than strains of other types. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1977 Dec, 85C(6), 413 - 23 Human leucocyte migration: studies with an improved skin chamber technique; Hellum KB et al.; An improved skin chamber technique has been developed for the study of localized leucocyte mobilization (LLM) . Uniform "windows" of denuded dermis were produced by a suction device applied to the forearm skin, eliciting delineated areas of epidermal separation by blister formation . The acellular blister fluid, roof and basement membrane were removed, and the blister base was covered with a rubber chamber containing autologous serum as leucocyte attractant . Duplicate chambers were harvested at prescribed intervals during the first 24 hours . In 15 healthy individuals, virtually no cells were observed after 2 hours, a median of 1.9 X 10(6) after 4 hours, increasing to 3.8 X 10(7) after 24 hours . Subnormal LLM was demonstrated in three of seven patients with severe bacterial infections and in three of seven leukaemia patients . LLM was normal in eight patients with other malignancies . Ninety to 98 per cent of the cells were polymorphonuclear neutrophils and less than 1 per cent were erythrocytes . In the chamber neutrophils, vacuolization of the cytoplasm was prominent, bactericidal capacity reduced and nitroblue tetrazolium reduction increased, thus indicating functional derangement of emigrated cells compared to peripheral blood neutrophils . Simplicity and good reproducibility should make this method a valuable tool in the study of leucocyte migration. Am J Vet Res, 1977 Dec, 38(12), 2019 - 22 Bactericidal activity of standard bovine serum against coliform bacteria isolated from udders and the environment of dairy cows; Carroll EJ et al.; Coliform organisms were isolated from bedding, udders of cows exhibiting acute or chronic mastitis, and milk of cows tested for udder pathogens . The bactericidal activity of standard bovine serum was tested on 362 isolates, of which 2.4% were killed at a serum dilution of less than 1:5; 2.7% were killed at a dilution of 1.5; 3.0% were killed at a dilution of 1:12.5; and 4.4% were sensitive to a dilution of 1:25 . Organisms isolated from mastitic udders were not killed by serum . Sensitivity to agglutination in 1:500 solution of acriflavine was tested on 157 isolates, and only 54 had any degree of agglutination . Of these 54, only 4 organisms had any susceptibility to killing by serum . Results suggest that most organisms in the environment of the cow are resistant to serum, few serum-sensitive coliforms cause mastitis, and agglutination in acriflavine (indicating organisms in the rough phase) does not correlate with sensitibity to serum. J Bacteriol, 1977 Dec, 132(3), 790 - 5 Inhibitory action of a non-metabolizable fatty acid on the growth of Escherichia coli: role of metabolism and outer membrane integrity; Fay JP et al.; The inhibitory action of decanoic acid on both Escherichia coli K-12/154 (normal lipopolysaccharide) and E . coli RC59 (defective lipopolysaccharide) was studied . A correlation was found between the doubling time of E . coli 154 growing in different media and the lethal effect of 0.4% decanoic acid on this bacterium . Decanoic acid (0.4%) exerted a lytic action on glucose-starved and NaN3-inhibited cells of E . coli 154 and RC59 . Exponentially growing cultures of both strains were not affected by the addition of 0.4% methyldecanoate, but cells of E . coli RC59 reaching the stationary phase were attacked by that compound . A bactericidal action of 0.4% methyldecanoate on exponential E . coli 154 and RC59 was observed when sodium azide was also present in the media . Concentrations lower than 0.01% methyldecanoate had a lytic effect on spheroplasts from E . coli 154 and RC59 . These results indicate that the inhibitory action of a non-metabolizable fatty acid on E . coli depends on the cellular metabolic activity and the outer membrane integrity. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1977 Dec, 239(4), 521 - 6 Studies on antituberculotic action of some phenothiazine derivatives in vitro; Molnar J et al.; Five phenothiazine derivatives (chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, diethazine, promethazine and chlorpromazine) sulphoxyde were tested for antimycobacterial activity . The growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M . bovis and M . butyricum was inhibited by chlorpromazine practically at identical concentrations . The minimum inhibitory concentrations for M . tuberculosis were: chlorpromazine and levomepromazine, 10 microgram/ml; diethazine and promethazine 20 microgram/ml, whilst chlorpromazine sulphoxyde was ineffective even at a concentration of 100 microgram/ml . Chlorpromazine and promethazine exerted a measurable bactericidal activity on M . tuberculosis at 50 microgram/ml; total destruction of the organism and loss of acid fastness in part of the cells were shown at 300 microgram/ml . Preliminary studies, in mouse experiments phenothiazine derivatives were ineffective. Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1977 Nov-Dec, 128B(4), 495 - 505 {Studies on the bactericidal activity of glutaraldehyde (author's transl)}; Relyveld EH; Bactericidal activity of aqueous glutaraldehyde has been determined in comparison with aqueous sodium hypochlorite . Several bacterial strains have been tested and it was found that the activity of the glutaraldehyde solution was superior or equal to that of the hypochlorite solution with the exception of the action on mycobacteria. Infect Immun, 1977 Nov, 18(2), 446 - 53 Isolation and properties of complement-resistant strains of Escherichia coli K-12; Akiyama Y et al.; Several strains that were resistant to the bactericidal action of antibody and complement were isolated from Escherichia coli K-12 W3110/SM by selecting them through the medium containing antiserum and complement . They can be agglutinated by antiserum against the parent strain and showed similar immune adherence reactivity to the parent when sensitized with this antiserum . Few differences were found in the compositions of phospholipids and proteins between both inner and outer membranes of these strains and those of the parent . However, there were fewer short-chain and more long-chain fatty acids in these strains than in the parent . It was also found that unsaturated fatty acide decreased and saturated and cyclopropanoic acids increased in phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol in both inner and outer membranes of one of these strains when compared with those from the parent . Therefore, the resistance of these strains to the complement-mediated bactericidal action was considered to be due to the rigidity of their membrane structures which might repel the insertion of membrane-attack complement complex C5b-9, although they could fix the earlier complement components up to the step of the formation of C4b,2a,3b complex enzyme. Med J Aust, 1977 Oct 8, 2(3 Pt 2 Suppl), 22 - 6 Evaluation of nephrotoxic and ototoxic effects of tobramycin in worldwide study; Bendush CL et al.; Tobramycin sulphate, a bactericidal aminoglycoside antibiotic, has been evaluated worldwide in 3,506 patients . Drug-related adverse effects were reported by the investigators in 3.9% of the cases, and included reactions in the nervous system (ototoxicity) in 0.6% and in the kidney in 1.5% . Effects of doubtful relationship to tobramycin occurred in 6.6% of the cases . The effects were usually reversible, although infrequently altered renal or eighth-nerve function appeared to persist in some of the patients . There were no deaths or instances of renal shutdown as a result of tobramycin therapy . Therefore, under the clinical conditions in which it was evaluated, tobramycin appeared to be well tolerated . The association of toxicity with various "risk factors" is discussed. Scand J Haematol, 1977 Oct, 19(4), 334 - 42 Anorexia nervosa and polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocyte reactions; Palmblad J et al.; 10 patients with anorexia nervosa were compared with controls with normal weight, regarding their peripheral blood polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocyte reactions . The anorexia patients showed a statistically significant decrease in PMN bactericidal capacity and PMN adherence . The mean chemotaxis did not differ, but in two of the anorexia patients chemotaxis was almost absent . The intracellular activity of alkaline phosphatase was below the reference values in 5 of the 6 patients in whom it was investigated . It is concluded that changes in granulocyte function may be noted in anorexia nervosa, but their clinical significance is uncertain, as no patients had recurrent or severe infectious diseases. J Lab Clin Med, 1977 Oct, 90(4), 720 - 7 Postsurgical granulocyte dysfunction: studies in healthy kidney donors; Bowers TK et al.; In order to determine whether surgical trauma affects granulocyte function, we performed sequential studies of granulocyte phagocytic and bactericidal function, chemotaxis, and adherence on 25 otherwise healthy subjects undergoing donor nephrectomy for kidney transplantation . All values were normal prior to surgery, and bacterial killing and phagocytosis were unaffected by surgery . Granulocyte chemotaxis and adherence were significantly impaired immediately following surgery, returning to normal in 24 hr . Anesthesia alone did not affect chemotaxis . Generation of chemoattractants from postoperative plasma was normal, and inhibitors of chemotaxis could not be demonstrated, suggesting an intrinsic cellular defect . We suggest that these postoperative abnormalities of granulocyte chemotaxis and adherence may contribute to the high incidence of infectious complications following surgery. Pharmazie, 1977 Oct, 32(10), 562 - 3 Synthesis of some quinones of potential antitubercular activity; Roushdi IM et al.; Certain phthiocol derivatives of expected bactericidal action have been synthesized . These include the phthiocol moiety condensed with p-hydrazino-salicylic and -benzoic acids and their ethyl esters; phthiocol thiosemicarbazone and isonicotinyl hydrazidehydrazone . In another similar series the methyl group of phthiocol was replaced by carbethoxy, ethyl, butyl and isobutyl groups . Allyl and 1.2-epoxypropyl ethers of phthiocol being of high lipid dispersion were also synthesized. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1977 Oct, 116(4), 627 - 35 Bactericidal activity of streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide alone and in combination against Mycobacterium Tuberculosis; Dickinson JM et al.; Log-phase cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Tween-albumin medium were exposed to streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide in concentrations in the range likely to be present in serum during treatment of patients . The bactericidal activity of the drugs was measured as the decrease in viable counts at 4 and 7 days . The activity of single drugs was highest for streptomycin and next highest for rifampin and isoniazid, but ethambutol only started to kill after 4 days . When exposed to 2 drugs, bactericidal synergism was found with streptomycin/isoniazid and isoniazid/ethambutol; additivity, with streptomycin/rifampin; indifference, with isoniazid rifampin and streptomycin/ethambutol; and antagonism, with rifampin/ethambutol and isoniazid/pyrazinamide . When cultures were exposed to the 3 drugs, isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol, marked antagonism was found between isoniazid and rifampin, whereas the addition of isoniazid or an increase in its concentration increased the bactericidal activity. Scand J Haematol, 1977 Sep, 19(3), 293 - 303 Obesity, plasma lipids and polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocyte functions; Palmblad J et al.; 20 obese subjects were compared with 20 controls with normal weight regarding their polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocyte functions, and plasma lipids . The obese subjects showed a significantly decreased PMN bactericidal capacity, and increased PMN adherence . No differences were found in their mean PMN chemotaxis and opsonic capacity of plasma . The values of plasma triglycerides and free fatty acids were higher in the obese, while plasma cholesterol and phospholipids corresponded to the control values . The changes in granulocyte function did not correlate significantly to plasma lipid levels or to body weight and Broca's index in either group . --It is concluded that changes in granulocyte function occur in obesity, but are not related to plasma lipids or degree of overweight. Clin Exp Immunol, 1977 Sep, 29(3), 501 - 8 The effect of PHA-activated MN-cell supernatants on polymorphonuclear leucocyte function; Lomnitzer R et al.; The effect of PHA-activated mononuclear-cell (MN) supernatants on various polymorphonuclear-leucocyte (PMN) functions were assessed . Treatment of PMN with PHA-activated MN-cell supernatants resulted in greater electrophoretic mobility, indicating an increase in the negative surface charge . PMN directional motility was inhibited in the presence of active supernatants but was not affected by a pulse exposure of the PMN to these supernatants . Neither control nor active supernatants were chemotactic for PMN, but treatment of these cells with active supernatants produced an increase in their phagocytic activity, their ability to reduce NBT and in their glucose oxidation through the hexosemonophosphate shunt . Bactericidal capacity of these PMN was unaltered . Specific loss of leucocyte inhibitory factor (LIF) activity from supernatants of PHA-activated MN cells followed their absorption with PMN cells but not with human MN cells or guinea-pig peritoneal exudate cells . Furthermore, acquired inhibition of migration of the absorbing PMN was observed. Ann Sclavo, 1977 Sep-Oct, 19(5), 1109 - 18 {Neutrophil function in children with acute lyphoblastic leukemia}; De Martino M et al.; Neutrophil function has been studied in 12 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia by means of the NBT test and bactericidal assay against E . coli . Tests have been performed before and during treatment . In untreated patients the bactericidal activity of neutrophils was normal, in spite of the decreased number of cells reducing the NBT dye after activation with immuno-complexes . In remission, those patients showed normal reduction . No correlation was observed between the bactericidal power registered after cranial irradiation and the NBT test. Antibiotiki, 1977 Aug, 22(8), 716 - 8 {Br . ovis sensitivity to antibiotics}; Pinigin AF et al.; Irrespective of their geographical origin the cultures of Br . ovis are highly sensitive to tetracycline and streptomycin . The bactericidal concentrations of tetracycline for 86.6 per cent of the strains and streptomycin for 93.20 per cent of the strains were 0.02--0.04 and 0.1--0.4 gamma/ml respectively . The bactericidal effect of morphocycline, kanamycin, benzyl-penicillin, lincomycin and monomycin was less pronounced . Polymyxin M had no bactericidal effect on the Brucella even in concentrations of 200 gamma/ml . Antibiotic sensitivity of S-subcultures of Br . ovis and the initial R-variants was studied comparatively . It was found that genetically related S-subcultures of Br . ovis were more resistant to the antibiotics than the initial R-strains. Blood, 1977 Aug, 50(2), 213 - 25 Reversal of granulocyte adherence to nylon fibers using local anesthetic agents: possible application to filtration leukapheresis; Schiffer CA et al.; The effects of the cationic anesthetic agents tetracaine and lidocaine on granulocyte function, morphology, and adherence to nylon fibers were studied in an attempt to improve current methods of granulocyte collection by filtration leukapheresis (FL) . When dissolved in acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD) plasma, these drugs significantly increased granulocyte elution from the fibers in a dose-related fashion . Granulocytes exposed to tetracaine and lidocaine remained more than 95% viable, retained normal bactericidal capacity after the drugs were washed from the cells, and had preserved membrane integrity, as evidenced by the normal ultrastructural appearance of tetracaine-exposed cells and an absence of leakage of lysozyme or lactic dehydrogenase . Granulocytes eluted with the anesthetic agents were rounded in shape with a reduction in the number of filopodial cytoplasmic projections and a relative absence of cytoplasmic vacuolization when compared to granulocytes eluted with ACD plasma alone . Dose-related inhibition of phagocytosis and adherence, which was largely reversible after washing the granulocytes, was noted . Greater than 95% of the lidocaine could be removed from the eluate with a single centrifugation and resuspension, indicating that granulocytes prepared by FL with anesthetic-enhanced elution could be potentially transfusable. J Clin Pathol, 1977 Aug, 30(8), 758 - 62 Cryopreservation of human granulocytes in liquid nitrogen; Graham-Pole J et al.; Human granulocytes (PMNL) were successfully cryopreserved for up to 14 months . The PMNL (1-2 X 10(7)/ml) were stored in 2-ml ampoules in the gas phase of liquid nitrogen at a temperature between -160 degrees C and -196 degrees C using dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO 10%) as cryoprotectant . Morphology and phagocytic and bactericidal capacity were best preserved by adding fetal calf serum to the freezing mixture, by using an interrupted cooling process, by washing the thawed PMNL in fresh freeze-dried plasma, and centrifuging at 600 g for no more than two minutes . Careful post-thaw handling of the cells was an important factor in preserving function . These preliminary studies indicate that useful numbers of PMNL can be recovered in a functional state after storage for long periods in liquid nitrogen. Jpn J Med Sci Biol, 1977 Aug, 30(4), 171 - 8 The relationship between the chemical structure of fatty acids and their mycobactericidal activity; Kondo E et al.; The bactericidal activity of long-chain fatty acids on mycobacteria was examined by exposing the organisms to these acids at 0.04 mM in 0.05 M acetate buffer (pH 5.6) . The lethal effect of saturated fatty acids was related to the chain-length of hydrocarbon, C14:0 being the strongest in the activity and longer and shorter fatty acids being less active . Unsaturation, isomerism and the presence of alpha-hydroxy group were found to be other factors governing the activity . The lethal effect was greater in the order of C18:3 greater than C18:2 greater than C18:1(cis) greater than C18:1(trans) greater than alpha-OH C18:0 greater than C18:0 . C20:4 was placed between C18:3 and C18:2 in this respect . Esterification of C14:0, C18:1 and C20:4 to methyl esters and cholesteryl esters abolished completely the bactericidal activity of these acids, suggesting the requirement of carboxyl group for the activity . The relationship between the fatty acid structure and the lethal effect was discussed in reference to these observations. J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Aug, 6(2), 128 - 31 Studies on neutralization of human serum bactericidal activity by sodium amylosulfate; Traub WH; The synthetic anticoagulant sodium amylosulfate (SAS) at concentrations of 125 to 2,000 microgram/ml failed to completely neutralize the bactericidal activity of 80 and 50% (by volume) fresh human serum . Furthermore, SAS failed to inhibit the alternative pathway of complement activation in 80% (by volume) fresh human serum that had been chelated with 0.01 M magnesium ions plus 0.01 M ethyleneglycol-bis(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N-tetraacetic acid . However, SAS at 250 to 1,000 microgram/ml effectively neutralized the bactericidal activity of 20% (by volume) fresh human serum . Therefore, SAS (at 250 to 1,000 microgram/ml) should be used only in blood samples that have been diluted at least fivefold (less than or equal to 20% {by volume}) in suitable broth media. J Nutr, 1977 Aug, 107(8), 1507 - 12 Glycolytic, hexose monophosphate shunt and bactericidal activities of leukocytes in ascorbic acid deficient guinea pigs; Shilotri PG; It is well known that glycolytic and hexose monophosphate shunt activities of leukocytes increase during phagocytosis . The relevance of these metabolic changes to particle uptake and particle destruction is also well established . In the present study, these metabolic activities were studied to assess the phagocytic function of leukocytes isolated from ascorbic acid deficient guinea pigs . Glycolytic activity which provides the necessary energy for particle uptake was found to be decreased in both resting and phagocytizing leukocytes for ascorbic acid deficient guinea pigs . The direct oxidation of glucose through the hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS) was stimulated to a significantly lesser extent during phagocytosis in ascorbic acid deficient leukocytes . There was a progressive decline in phagocytosis induced shunt activity of leukocytes as the deficiency of ascorbic acid progressed . These findings show that particle uptake (as indicated by glycolytic activity) as well as particle destruction (as indicated by HMS activity) by leukocytes are impaired in ascorbic acid deficiency . Bactericidal capacity of leukocytes against Escherichia coli was also found to be low in ascorbic acid deficient guinea pigs as compared to those in the pair-fed control group. J Nutr, 1977 Aug, 107(8), 1513 - 6 Phagocytosis and leukocyte enzymes in ascorbic acid deficient guinea pigs; Shilotri PG; Enzymes related to bactericidal activities of leukocytes were studied in ascorbic acid deficient guinea pig leukocytes . The activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase were not affected either under resting or phagocytizing conditions in ascorbic acid deficiency . Granule bound NADPH-oxidase activity of resting leukocytes also was not altered in ascorbic acid deficiency . However, the extent of stimulation in NADPH-oxidase activity under phagocytizing condition was found to be significantly lower in ascorbic acid deficient leukocytes than that in control leukocytes . Similary, the extent of release of acid phosphatase from lysosomes during phagocytosis was also low in ascorbic acid deficient leukocytes . Ascorbic acid deficiency did not influence the activities of glutathione reductase and myeloperoxidase of leukocytes . The significance of these enzyme changes is discussed in relation to the decreased phagocytic and bactericidal activities of leukocytes in ascorbic acid deficiency. J Clin Invest, 1977 Aug, 60(2), 370 - 3 Evidence for hydroxyl radical generation by human Monocytes; Weiss SJ et al.; A number of highly reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the oxygen-dependent mechanisms involved in bactericidal activity of phagocytic leukocytes . Hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, two agents known to occur during phagocytosis, are thought to interact to generate hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen, and other potentially reactive molecules . Using an assay system of ethylene generation from methional, cell preparations of human monocytes were demonstrated to generate hydroxyl radical or a similar agent during phagocytosis of zymosan particles . The generation of ethylene was impaired by agents which reduce superoxide or hydrogen peroxide concentrations as well as by agents reported to be hydroxyl radical scavengers . The ethylene generation did not appear to be dependent on myeloperoxidase in that azide enhanced ethylene generation . Monocytes from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease failed to generate ethylene during phagocytosis . This assay technique may be useful in exploring the metabolic events integral to the bactericidal and inflammatory activity of phagocytic leukocytes. Jpn J Antibiot, 1977 Jul, 30(7), 511 - 6 {Clinical evaluation of intrathoracic tissue bactericidal antibiotic level (author's transl)}; Tomiki K et al.; Thirty-one patients who were performed thoracotomy for the disease of the chest, were administered sulfobenzyl penicillin 5.0 g for an hour during their operation . Antibiotic levels of serum and intrathoracic tissues (a piece of lung parenchyma, pleura, pulmonary hilar lymphnode, fatty-tissue and chest wall muscle) were determined, and an evaluation of bactericidal effect was discussed . In this study, we found that antibiotic levels of lung tissue with infectious or inflammatory disease were remarkably high compared with the levels of bronchogenic carcinoma . This means that a high concentration of sulfobenzyl penicillin to infectious intrathoracic tissues is effective against post-operative infection. Am J Clin Nutr, 1977 Jul, 30(7), 1077 - 81 Effect of mega doses of vitamin C on bactericidal ativity of leukocytes; Shilotri PG et al.; Effect of ingesting mega doses of ascorbic acid was studied on the leukocyte function in five normal human subjects . During the first 15 days the subjects received daily supplements of 200 mg of ascorbic acid, and during the next 2 weeks they were given 2 g of vitamin C per day . Supplementation of 200 mg as well as 2 g of ascorbic acid stimulated hexose monophosphate shunt activity of resting leukocytes indicating an increase in resting metabolism . Intakes of 200 mg of ascorbic acid per day did not affect bacterial killing by leukocytes . On the other hand, daily intakes of 2 g of ascorbic acid for 2 weeks significantly impaired bactericidal activity . Four weeks after withdrawal of the viatmin supplementation, bactericidal activity returned to normal. Ann Ophthalmol, 1977 Jul, 9(7), 871 - 80 Penetration of gentamicin into the aphakic eye; Peyman GA et al.; The penetration of gentamicin is compared in the aphakic and phakic rabbit eye . Phakic and aphakic rabbits were treated with gentamicin by topical, subconjunctival, and intramuscular routes separately and in combination . These routes of therapy also were evaluated in aphakic eyes with experimentally induced endophthalmitis . The levels of gentamicin were, for the most part, higher in the aphakic, as opposed to the phakic eyes . Combination therapy produced higher levels in the noninfected than in the infected eyes . Aqueous levels were generally bactericidal by topical and subconjunctival routes . Levels in the vitreous by the routes of therapy employed in this study were at best inhibitory for the more virulent organisms. Acta Otolaryngol, 1977 Jul-Aug, 84(1-2), 138 - 44 Purulent and non-purulent maxillary sinus secretions with respect to pO2, pCO2 and pH; Carenfelt C et al.; Antral secretions from patients with maxillary sinusitis were aspirated for determination of pO2, pCO2 and pH . In 14 non-purulent secretions the mean pO2 was 12.7 kPa (96 mmHg) and the mean pCO2 5.2 kPa (39 mmHg) . The mean pH was slightly alkaline . In 18 purulent secretions, usually with a heavy growth of pneumococci or H . influenzae, the pO2 was zero or close to zero and the mean pCO2 greater than or equal to 10.1 kPa (greater than or equal to 76 mmHg) . The mean pH was slightly acid and significantly lower than in the nonpurulent secretions . The gas composition and the pH in purulent secretions do not only influence the metabolic activity and multiplication of bacteria, but may also interfere with the local protective functions of the sinus mucosa and with the bactericidal function of granulocytes. Ann Ophthalmol, 1977 Jun, 9(6), 781 - 4 Acetone sterilization in ophthalmic surgery; Drews RC; Acetone is a potent bactericidal agent and has considerable value for the routine disinfection of surfaces . The reason for the poor showing of acetone in previously reported tests was that it was not used in concentrated form, and our tests also confirmed its relative ineffectiveness when diluted . The inability of acetone to eliminate spores is an important disadvantage but most commonly used bactericidal agents also are deficient in this respect . Although acetone is active in the presence of protein it does not penetrate blood clots . Therefore, instruments should be cleaned of blood and tissue fragments before using acetone to disinfect them, as with other methods of sterilization . Acetone can make ordinary sterilizers unnecessary in our offices . I believe that it is a superior antiseptic for use in sterilizing sharp instruments in the operating room and can be used for all instruments when autoclaving or gas sterilization is not feasible or not available. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1977 Jun, 83(6), 706 - 9 {Barrier-fixing function in germ-free animals}; Podoprigora GI; The state of barrier-fixative function was studied in germfree and conventional guinea pigs and rats . Under conditions of conventional animals contamination with E . coli 055 (in doses of 500 million and 10 milliard microbial bodies for subcutaneous and oral inoculation, respectively) only an early transitory bacteremia developed at the early postinfection periods . As to bacteriemia in gnotobiotes, it increased progressively leading to the animal death in the course of 2 to 3 days . A decreased fixative and bactericidal capacity of the regional lymphatic apparatus and deep structures of the mononuclear-phagocytic system was revealed in germfree animals . An experimental confirmation of the participance of antibodies in the manifestation of the barrier-fixative function to E . coli was obtained . These studies demonstrated an important role of the microbial factor in the formation of the macroorganism barrier-fixative function. Am J Ophthalmol, 1977 Jun, 83(6), 862 - 5 Corneal penetration of rifampin; Feldman MF et al.; We tested the corneal penetration of rifampin in four vehicles: dimethylsulfoxide, polyethylene glycol, an ocular lubricant, and as rifampin ointment . We measured drug concentrations in the aqueous humor in rabbits after topical instillation of 1 and 2.5% rifampin according to two dosage schedules . Drug concentrations in the aqueous humor were bactericidal to Mycobacterium leprae . Since leprosy of the cornea, iris, and ciliary body may develop despite standard systemic bacteriostatic treatment, treatment of leprotic involvement of the anterior eye may be enhanced by intensive topical application of rifampin. Dtsch Zahnarztl Z, 1977 Jun, 32(6), 463 - 5 {New developments in depot inotophoresis of copper compounds}; Knappwost A; By means of two methods of the depot ionophoresis using an exterior voltage source and the galvanic pin element, polyvalent bactericidal compounds can be transported from a depot of copper calcium hydroxide into all arms of the apical delta . The method of working and long-term effects are described. Zh Vopr Neirokhir Im N N Burdenko, 1977 May-Jun, (3), 18 - 20 {State of non-specific immunoreactivity in patients with closed cranio-cerebral trauma}; Pavlovichev SA; Studies of the state of the non-specific humoral protection in 138 patients with craniocerebral injuries demonstrated that the bactericidal and beta-lytic activity of the serum remains relatively stable during the acute period of trauma, while the complement activity and the concentration of lysozyme are subject to significant alterations . The elevation of the lysozyme content and the enhancement of the complement activity are in direct proportion with the severity of the injury, and are revealed at the peak of the acute period of the craniocerebral trauma. Lab Invest, 1977 May, 36(5), 493 - 500 Arginine-rich cationic proteins of human eosinophil granules: comparison of the constituents of eosinophilic and neutrophilic leukocytes; Olsson I et al.; Several arginine-rich cationic proteins previously isolated from granules of leukemic myeloid cells have been found to reside primarily in human eosinophil leukocytes . The major component has a molecular weight of 21,000 and it contains approximately 2.6 moles of zinc per mole of protein . Velocity centrifugation of cytoplasm from leukocytes of patients with marked eosinophilia showed that this group of proteins is packaged in the crystalloid-containing large eosinophil granules . Approximately 30% of the protein content of eosinophil granules belonged to this group of cationic proteins . Bactericidal or esterolytic activities of the cationic proteins were not detected, nor did they inhibit guinea pig anaphylatoxin or histamine-induced contraction . The basic protein previously demonstrated in guinea pig eosinophils may be analogous to the group of basic proteins of human eosinophils but great differences are found for molecular weight and amino acid composition. Fortschr Med, 1977 Apr 21, 95(15), 985 - 90 {Treatment of burns}; Zellner PR et al.; Because of the unsatisfactory results hitherto achieved in the bactericidal and bacteriostatic local therapy of burns, Betaisodona ointment was tested and, in view of its good effect, put to further therapeutic use . The advantages of the preparation, apart from the good local tolerance and absence of effect on metabolism, are the good bactericidal and tanning effects on the wound eschar . In no case were smearing coats observed; the necrotic skin remained dry and firm . Except in two patients with second degree burns, epithelization was not influenced by clinically visible infection . In third degree burns accumulation of exudate in the zone of demarcation was only observed in two cases . Bacteriological examinations of the wound surface revealed sterility in several cases; in the other patients the bacterial count did not exceed 10(5)/cm2 . In view of the comparative tests, this result must be considered very positive . The above trial has, however, not made use of all testing possibilities . In further studies an iodine absorption test for determining the penetration depth as well as a bacterial count in the tissue will be developed . Furthermore the use of Betaisodona solution for instillation in the zone of demarcation will be examined. Mayo Clin Proc, 1977 Apr, 52(4), 216 - 9 Coryneform bacterial endocarditis: difficulties in diagnosis and treatment, presentation of three cases, and review of literature; Van Scoy RE et al.; Three patients who had coryneform bacterial endocarditis affecting a prosthetic valve are presented and 64 case reports are reviewed . Diagnostic difficulties occur because coryneform bacteria often are fastidiuos, with long incubation periods, and often contaminate blood cultures . Although some coryneform bacteria are killed by penicillin G, many are resistant to most of the commonly used antibiotics . Vancomycin is bactericidal in resistant strains studied . Treatment with vancomycin is indicated until in vitro bactericidal data are available . Coryneform endocarditis often occurs on prosthetic valves, thus making therapy and its evaluation even more difficult. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1977 Apr 1, 127(7), 788 - 92 Identification of a bactericidal factor (B-lysin) in amnionic fluid at 14 and 40 weeks' gestation; Ford LC et al.; Amnionic fluid (AF) specimens from 40 normal obstetric patients at 14 to 16 weeks' gestation and at 37 to 40 weeks' gestation were found to contain both lysozyme and a bactericidal substance identified as B-lysin . The concentrations of both lysozyme and B-lysin were significantly higher in the AF at 40 weeks' than at 14 weeks' gestation . B-lysin concentration in AF were also found to be significantly higher than in either cord or maternal blood. Infect Immun, 1977 Apr, 16(1), 32 - 6 Bactericidal activity of the normal, cell-free hemolymph of silkworms (Bombyx mori); Kinoshita T et al.; Cell-free hemolymph from silkworm (Bombyx mori) larvae can kill Escherichia coli B/SM . The bactericidal principle can be resolved into at least two factors . One is a lysozyme-like enzyme that can be absorbed on crab shell chitin and on bentonite, and the other (cofactor) is an anionic factor that is of low molecular weight, can pass through the chitin column and a carboxymethyl-cellulose column, and can be eluted from a diethylaminoethyl-cellulose column at mu = 0.15 and pH 7.5 . Egg-white lysozyme cannot replace the silkworm lysozyme-like enzyme for restoring the bactericidal activity when it is mixed with the cofactor, although it can enhance the bactericidal activity of the mixture of silkworm enzyme and cofactor . Mg2+ and Ca2+ can inhibit the bactericidal activity. Infect Immun, 1977 Apr, 16(1), 198 - 202 Inhibitory action of galactose on phagocytes from normal and hypergalactosemic chicks; Litchfield WJ et al.; The inhibitory effect of galactose on phagocyte function was investigated in normal and hypergalactosemic chicks by monitoring the in vitro killing of Escherichia coli by leukocytes and the in vivo clearance of colloidal 125I-labeled bovine serum albumin ({125I}BSA) from the circulation . Elevated levels of galactose (30 mM) significantly impaired the bactericidal activities of leukocytes from both control and hypergalactosemic chicks . However, the latter cells were more susceptible to the galactose-dependent inhibition . Leukocytes from hypergalactosemic chicks displayed near-normal bactericidal activity when assayed in vitro under simulated normal conditions in the absence of galactose . Mean corrected phagocytic indexes, obtained from data on the clearance of colloidal {125I}BSA, were calculated to be 0.358 and 0.299 for control and hypergalactosemic chicks, respectively . Moreover, increased concentrations of galactose significantly impaired the bactericidal activity of circulating leukocytes but did not significantly affect the phagocytic activity of the reticuoendothelial system. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1977 Apr, 237(4), 494 - 503 "R"-living vaccine against colibacillosis . Communication I; Parnas J et al.; After our estimation of the LD100 of enteropathogenic E . coli 0149 and 0138 (and their toxins) in rabbits and mice (intravenously and subcutaneously or intraperitoneally, respectively), rabbits and mice were vaccinated subcutaneously by the living "R" 0149 vaccine . All animals showed resistance against the LD100 of both E . coli serotypes; this state of resistance lasted 1-5 months in rabbits, and 1-3 months in mice . Sera of vaccinated rabbits showed bactericidal activity against both E . coli serotypes . The R-E-system of rabbits which were immunized by the endotoxin of "R" 0149 living vaccine, showed mobilization of immunocytes . The vaccine seems to be harmless to newborn piglets after oral vaccination; 2 colostrum deprived piglets, despite vaccination at once after birth, did not survive the big chalenge with 100 ml of broth culture of E . coli 0149 "S" (anapylactic shock) . But in comparison to 1 not vaccinated control piglet, the two piglests showed only few E . coli colonies in the intestines, while the intestine of the control animal was very massively colonized by the virulent strain . As the immunizing potency of the "R" 0149 living vaccine was clearly shown in rabbits and mice, further investigations on piglets (newborns, weaning epriod, and after weaning) are needed, to state whether the value of this vaccine corresponds with the immunizing potency shown in our preliminary experiments . The "R"-vaccine seems to open some perspective in colibacillosis prevention of children and animals, and therefore it deserves our attention. J Lab Clin Med, 1977 Apr, 89(4), 692 - 701 Comparison of four aminoglycoside antibiotics in the therapy of experimental E . coli meningitis; Strausbaugh LJ et al.; Tobramycin, sisomicin, and amikacin were compared with gentamicin in the therapy of experimental E . coli meningitis in rabbits . Meningitis was produced in 40 animals by intracisternal injection of 10(5) E . coli . Three dosages of each antibiotic were administered intravenously over 8 hours . Serum and CSF samples were obtained at 0,2,4,6, and 8 hours for determination of aminoglycoside concentrations and CSF bacteria counts . The four aminoglycosides demonstrated comparable penetration into the CSF . The mean percent penetration (CSF conc./serum conc . X 100%) with the three dosages was 10 to 50% for gentamicin, 8 to 23% for tobramycin, 6 to 16% for sisomicin, and 11 to 23% for amikacin . This variation in penetration reflected individual differences in each dosage group and the increase in percent penetration that was observed during therapy . Sisomicin and gentamicin were consistently bactericidal in vivo . Mean CSF bacterial titers gentamicin were consistently bactericidal in vivo . Mean CSF bacterial titers decreased 3.07 logs in rabbits treated with sisomicin and 2.44 logs in animals treated with gentamicin . Even through CSF concentrations were comparable, the group treated with tobramycin demonstrated only a 0.64 log decrease and the amikacin group had a 0.45 log increase in mean CSF titers . The bactericidal effect of sisomicin appeared to be more rapid than that of gentamicin . During the first 2 hours of therapy CSF titers declined 1.02 logs in animals treated with sisomicin as compared to 0.37 log in animals receiving gentamicin even though gentamicin concentrations were higher (mean 7.4 vs . 4.1 gm./ml.) . Sisomicin also demonstrated greater bactericidal activity than the other aminoglycosides in normal CSF in vitro . The results of this study suggest that sisomicin may be of value in the therapy of E . coli meningitis. J Hyg (Lond), 1977 Apr, 78(2), 175 - 87 The germicidal effect of the open air in different parts of The Netherlands; de Mik G et al.; Using the microthread technique the survival of Escherichia coli MRE 162 in open air was measured in different parts of The Netherlands . The presence of bactericidal compounds (open air factor = OAF) could be demonstrated on several days and quantitated in relative units of OAF concentration . In the absence of ozone the OAF concentration was always low . In the presence of ozone the OAF concentration was dependent on wind direction . At the selected microthread exposure sites air from areas with high traffic intensity contributed more to OAF production than air from industrial areas . OAF production is probably related to the nature of hydrocarbons in the air. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Apr, 33(4), 967 - 70 Antigenicity of bdellovibrios; Kramer TT et al.; Antigenic relationships between 12 locally isolated bdellovibrios and 3 established reference strains (109D, 6-5-S, and UKi2) were investigated . Antigenicity of the strains was examined by use of the micro-complement fixation test, the serum and complement bactericidal test, and the immunodiffusion test . Antisera were prepared against one of the local strains (MS7) and against one of the established reference strains (UKi2) . The complement fixation titers suggest a close relationship among all strains . Immunodiffusion tests produced lines of identity between the homologous strain MS7 and all other strains . It is suggested on the basis of these results that bdellovibrio may possess a common antigen. Mayo Clin Proc, 1977 Mar, 52(3), 150 - 2 The Kell blood group, Kx antigen, and chronic granulomatous disease; Marsh WL; The Kell blood group has 18 associated red cell antigens . One, named KX, is the product of an X-linked gene and appears to be a precursor in the Kell biosynthetic pathway . Lack of KX on red cells, caused by inheritance of a variant allele at the X-linked locus, results in gross changes in Kell antigenicity, an effect called the McLeod phenotype . Such cells also show striking morphologic changes . Normal phagocytic leukocytes lack Kell antigens but have strong KX . The leukocytes of boys with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease lack KX antigen and have defective bactericidal function . The fundamental defect in chronic granulomatous disease appears to be failure to inherit the X-linked gene that determines KX synthesis . The enzymatic and functional disorders of the leukocytes, and the structural changes in the red cells, are consequences that follow. N Z Med J, 1977 Feb 23, 85(582), 132 - 5 Anti-microbial treatment for hospital carpets; Bakker PG et al.; Seven commercial bactericides, three hospital disinfectants and one carpet finish were examined for their ability to show diffusible bactericidal activity in agar, their ability to prevent the multiplication of a known number of micro-organisms applied to the treated carpet and the occurrence or otherwise of odours after contamination of the carpet samples with food and secretions . None of the carpet bactericides tested showed any diffusible bactericidal activity, but some had a certain degree of effectiveness in suppressing odours. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1977 Feb, 85(1), 1 - 9 Granulocyte function in bacterial infections in man; Hellum KB et al.; The reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye and the phagocytic and bactericidal activities of neutrophil granulocytes from 141 patients with bacterial infections and 141 controls have been examined and related to granulocyte morphology . In 115 patients (82 per cent), the NBT reduction capacity was higher than in any control . Vacuolization of the cytoplasm and/or toxic granulation of the neutrophils were demonstrated more often in patients with high than low NBT reduction capacity . In 49 patients (35 per cent), the bactericidal activity of the neutrophils was lower than in any control . Thirty-eight patients (78 per cent) with impaired bactericidal activity had 25 per cent or more peripheral juvenile neutrophils as compared with only 12 (13 per cent) out of 92 patients with normal activity . Vacuolization of the cytoplasm and/or toxic granulation of the neutrophils were demonstrated in 28 patients (57 per cent) in whom the granulocyte function was reduced and in 26 patients (28 per cent) in whom function was normal . Within wide limits, the NBT reduction capacity increased with diminishing bactericidal activity of the neutrophils . Eighteen patients died of infection; 12 had reduced bactericidal activity . Defects in neutrophil granulocyte function caused by bacterial infection may contribute to a fatal outcome of the disease. Immunology, 1977 Feb, 32(2), 215 - 9 The effect of limited proteolysis by trypsin and chymotrypsin on bovine colostral IgG1; Brock JH et al.; Limited proteolysis of bovine colostral IgG1 by trypsin caused loss of specific antibody activity but column chromatography showed that relatively little cleavage into fragements had occurred . Polyacrlamide-agarose SDS electrophoresis of the 2-mercaptoethanol-treated digest revealed, however, that extensive cleavage of light chains had occurred even though most of the material before reduction had a mol . wt close to that of undigested IgG1 . Although a Fab-type fragment was detected in the digest by immunoelectrophoresis it appeared to be only a minor component . Chymotrypsin had little effect upon either the structure or antibody activity of IgG1 . These findings may explain the effect of trypsin and chymotrypsin on the bactericidal activity of colostral antibodies. Lancet, 1977 Jan 22, 1(8004), 157 - 60 Neutrophil function in children who are carriers of hepatitis-B surface antigen; Vierucci A et al.; The functional capacity of neutrophils of twenty children who are chronic carriers of hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg) was investigated by histochemical and quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium tests (N.B.T.), an assay of bactericidal capacity against Encherichia coli, and an immunofluorescence test for HBsAg in neutrophils, The histochemical N.B.T . test showed that there was a higher proportion of stimulated neutrophils in chronic HBsAg carriers than in controls, but HBsAg particles were not detected in these cells . Bactericidal activity was significantly reduced in chronic carriers . If the defects in neutrophil function in the HBsAg carrier children preceded their hepatitis-B infections they could have influenced the development of the carrier state . Newborn infants infected with hepatitis-B virus are likely to become chronic carriers and neutrophil functions in uninfected newborn infants are similar to those seen in these carriers of HBsAg. Zentralbl Chir, 1977, 102(19), 1191 - 3 {Surgical hand disinfektion with a solution of performic acid (author's transl)}; Szechy M et al.; Disinfection with a solution of performic acid has an intensive bactericidal and sporocidal effect . This method is simple and prompt in service, is free from danger, inexpensive and can be used everywhere. Scand J Infect Dis, 1977, 9(3), 197 - 203 Immunologic investigation in children with recurrent pneumonia; Petrini B et al.; In vitro lymphocyte stimulation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and tests for granulocyte function were performed in 12 children with recurrent pneumonia . Reduced lymphocyte stimulation was found at repeated tests in 2 children and transiently decreased lymphocyte stimulation in 6 more children . In 3 patients, reduced bactericidal capacity of granulocytes was demonstrated, and in 1 cast stimulation showed decreased NBT activity of granulocytes . One patient examined had immunoglobulin deficiency. J Biomed Mater Res, 1977 Jan, 11(1), 101 - 10 Interaction of living cells with polyionenes and polyionene-coated surfaces; Rembaum A et al.; Polyionenes have been shown recently (A . Rembaum, Appl . Polym . Symp . No . 22, 299, 1973) to produce the following biological effects: 1) bactericidal action, 2) formation of insoluble complexes with DNA and heparin, 3) neuromuscular blocking action, 4) cell aggregation and lysis, and (5) cell adhesion . In present study, polyionenes of various structures (mainly I3, 3, I6, 10) were used as molecular probes to gain an understanding of the cell surface phenomena of adhesion on glass- and polyionenes-treated surfaces . Since tumor cells show different durface cell properties, including an increase in the anodic mobility, they bind preferentially to polyionene-treated surfaces . Normal human diploid WI-38 cells were found to adhere at a lower rate than SV-transformed WI-38 cells . However, cell spreading was accelerated in both cases . A study of the interaction of polyionenes in solution in vitro and in vivo and polyionenes covalently bound to polymeric microspheres with leukemic murine EL4 cells and normal thymocytes showed specific cytotoxity towards the leukemic cells. Bull Eur Physiopathol Respir, 1977 Jan-Feb, 13(1), 137 - 44 {Effects of nitrogen dioxide on alveolar macrophages surviving in the gas phase . A new experimental model for the study of in vitro cytotoxicity of toxic gases (author's transl)}; Voisin C et al.; Alveolar macrophages surviving in the gas phase were exposed to concentrations of NO2 (0.1, 1 and 2 ppm) for 30 minutes . The exposed cells showed morphological changes, a decrease in bactericidal activity and a reduction of the ATP content . The severity of these changes is related to NO2 concentration . This new experimental model offers new possibilities for studies on the cytotoxicity of gases. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1977, 71(5), 439 - 40 Granulocyte function in visceral leishmaniasis; Schiliro G et al.; Nitroblue tetrazolium test in nine children with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) showed no increase of spontaneous reduction by neutrophils . The normal bactericidal activity of four of these patients excludes an impaired function of the neutrophils in VL. Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1977 Jan, 144(1), 19 - 24 Inhibition of nonspecific defenses by soil infection potentiating factors; Haury BB et al.; This study was undertaken to examine the effect of soil infection potentiating factors on the defense system of the tissue . Using an in vitro model, leukocyte phite . This damaging effect on leukocyte function was a result of an interaction between the leukocyte and the clay particles . Montmorillonite also interfered with nonspecific humoral defenses . Exposure of serum to clay rapidly eliminated its bactericidal bodies occurred without any damage to the serum opsonins. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique, 1977, 25(4), 297 - 313 {Bactericidal power's assessment of eight antiseptic products intended to surgeon's hand-washing (author's transl)}; Charrel J et al.; A standard hand-washing technique was used in order to test the relative effectiveness of eight both detergent and alcoholic preparations intended to surgeon's hands disinfection . A single four or seven minutes washing with alcoholic solutions was shown to eliminate a much larger proportion of the skin flora than could be removed by a single four or seven minutes hand-washing with detergent antiseptic preparations . Authors have also determined effect of wearing surgical rubber gloves after skin disinfection and compared viable bacterial counts in hand washings immediately after the antiseptic treatment and when gloves had been worn for one hour. Microbios, 1977, 19(76), 125 - 41 The lethal action of 2-phenoxyethanol and its analogues upon Escherichia coli NCTC 5933; Gilbert P et al.; Bactericidal activity has been assessed for a number of glycolmonophenyl ethers towards Escherichia coli NCTC 5933, and the action of one analogue, 2-phenoxyethanol, has been studied in greater detail . For this compound the onset of bactericidal activity towards Escherichia coli occurred at concentrations which also induced considerable increases in drug uptake, marked leakage of cytoplasmic constituents, the cellular penetration of N-tolyl-alpha-napthylamine-8-sulphonic acid, and morphological changes consistent with gross membrane damage . However, temperature coefficients of rates of cellular leakage of low molecular weight cytoplasmic constituents, and rates of kill, were markedly different and suggested that the two phenomena were not integrally related, but that each was a consequence of some other action of the drug . Drug levels considerably below those possessing lethal activity, however, promoted the ready efflux of potassium ions from cells and caused disorganisation of the outer lipopolysaccharide-rich regions of the cell envelope. Microbios, 1977, 20(79), 29 - 37 Inhibition of some respiration and dehydrogenase enzyme systems in Escherichia coli NCTC 5933 by phenoxyethanol; Gilbert P et al.; Low concentrations (less than 0.2% w/v) of phenoxyethanol stimulated both the rate of respiration and total oxygen uptakes of Escherichia coli NCTC 5933 suspensions with glucose and other substrates, whilst higher concentrations (0.2--0.6% w/v) although still below those showing significant bactericidal activity, produced progressive levels of inhibition . The degree of respiratory inhibition varied with different substrates in the order malate less than succinate less than pyruvate less than or equal to glucose less than lactate, and suggested appreciable inhibition at a point after malate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle . This suggestion was supported by the use of tetrazolium salts as alternative electron acceptors, and by cytochrome difference spectra, which together implicated malate dehydrogenase as the most likely site of action . Isolated dehydrogenase enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in cell-free preparations were unaffected by high concentrations of phenoxyethanol (0.8% w/v) with the exception of malate dehydrogenase which was inhibited in extracts to extents similar to those of malate oxidation by intact bacteria . Lineweaver-Burke plots for malate dehydrogenase activity in the presence of phenoxyethanol suggested a competitive inhibition of the oxaloacetic acid-limited reaction and a non-competitive inhibition of the NADH-limited reaction . Accordingly, Ki values were found to be low when the rate of reaction was limited by oxaloacetic acid concentration yet relatively high when NADH was rate limiting. Bull Eur Physiopathol Respir, 1977 Jan-Feb, 13(1), 119 - 35 Pulmonary defense mechanisms and the interaction between viruses and bacteria in acute respiratory infections; Jakab GJ; Pulmonary virus infections are known to predispose to bacterial infections in the lung . The mechanism by which the virus renders the pulmonary system more susceptible to bacterial infection is reviewed . The bacterial multiplication associated with virus infections is related to defects in in situ bactericidal (phagocytic) mechanisms of the lung . This phagocytic dysfunction is localized to the intracellular killing mechanisms of the alveolar macrophage phagocytic process. Arkh Patol, 1977, 39(2), 84 - 94 {Current trends in the study of phagocytosis and non-specific resistance}; Pigarevskii VE; Phagocytosis begins with exocytosis--"extrarapid" discharge of bactericidal proteins and factors of permeability into the extracellular medium . A viewpoint was put forward on an "avalanch-like" character of the outcome of cationic proteins from leukocyte granules in inflammation and their participation in formation of a nonphagocytic type of resistance . In phagocytosis bacteria perish due to the myeloperoxidase system, lysozyme, lactoferin and nonenzymic cationic proteins . Hereditary deficit of the above-mentioned substances leads to intraleukocytic microbicidal insufficiency, a drastic decrease in the nonspecific resistance of the organism and to development of fatal granulomatous disease, and to other forms of pathology associated with genetic defects of the bactericidal systems of leukocytes. Blood, 1977 Jan, 49(1), 9 - 17 Improvement of Chediak-Higashi leukocyte function by cyclic guanosine monophosphate; Boxer LA et al.; The addition of cholinergic agents and cyclic 3'5'-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) to polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro from a patient with Chediak-Higashi syndrome corrected the impaired release of the lysosomal enzyme, beta-glucuronidase, to normal . Coinciding with the improvement in degranulation, the bactericidal capacity was enhanced to normal . Similar concentrations of cholinergic agents potentiated chemotaxis to control values . On the other hand, the phagocytic rate of lipopolysaccharide-coated paraffin-oil droplets was not altered by the cholinergic agents . The improvement in Chediak-Higashi syndrome polymorphonuclear leukocyte function by the addition of cholinergic agents and dibutyryl cGMP suggested disturbed intracellular cyclic nucleotide levels. Int J Radiat Biol Relat Stud Phys Chem Med, 1977 Jan, 31(1), 1 - 10 Iodinated radiological contrast media as radiosensitizers; Simone G et al.; This paper describes the radiosensitizing effects of diatrizoic (DA) and iothalamic (ITA) acids and of iodipamide (IP) on the survival of E coli B/r irradiated with X-rays and with high-intensity electron pulses . All compounds at concentrations between 10 and 50 mM display a strong sensitizing effect in the presence of oxygen (DMF between 0-1 and 0-3) and are much less effective in nitrogen . In N2O the degree of sensitization is intermediate between oxygen and nitrogen . The situation is the same at pH 7 or 5-6 . Solutions of DA, ITA and IP irradiated at pH lower than 6 become highly toxic to bacteria added after irradiation, for several hours after X-irradiation or several minutes after pulsed irradiation . The maximum toxic effect occurs with 2 krad of X-ray and with 6-8 krad of electrons . Oxygen must be present in order to observe the bactericidal activity . This is not affected by scavenging hydrated electrons with nitrate, but is completely cancelled by scavenging OH radicals with formate . It is also cancelled by adding thiosulphate to the irradiated solutions immediately before the bacteria . In the presence of nutrient broth, the radiosensitizing effect is absent after irradiation with pulsed electrons; whereas after X-irradiation it is reduced when the concentration of sensitizers is 50 mM . The experimental data appear to be compatible with a mechanism operated by short and long-lived transients resulting from the radiolysis of iodinated contrast media. Bull Eur Physiopathol Respir, 1977 Jan-Feb, 13(1), 69 - 82 {La culture cellulaire en phase gazeuse . Un nouveau modèle expérimental d'étude in vitro des activités des macrophages alvéolaires}; Voisin C et al.; Alveolar macrophages, collected by bronchopulmonary lavage and deposited on a membrane filter applied to the surface of a reservoir filled with nutrient medium, were maintained alive in direct contact with the atmosphere . Studies of morphology (using both optic and electron microscopy), of bactericidal activity and of ATP content confirmed the viability and vitality of the cell culture . This new experimental technique permits the in vitro reconstitution of the alveolar and bronchial microenvironment and offers a new method for the study of the cytotoxicity of toxic gases. Clin Pharmacol Ther, 1976 Dec, 20(6), 727 - 32 Ampicillin and an ester in experimental Hemophilus influenzae meningitis; Bodine JA et al.; A new methoxymethyl ester of hetacillin is highly lipid-soluble, a property which was expected to enhance its penetration into the central nervous system (CNS) . We compared the penetration of the ester and ampicillin into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of normal rabbits and those with experimental Hemophilus influenzae meningitis . In normal rabbits treated by constant intravenous infusion, mean per cent penetration (see article) of the ester was four times as great as that of ampicillin (6.6 +/- 3.7% against 1.6 +/- 1.9%), and the difference in CSF drug levels attained was accentuated when bolus IV infusion was used . Drug concentration in brain tissue was three times as great in a rabbit treated with the ester (0.79 mug/gm against 0.26 mug/gm) . In rabbits with meningitis, the ester again achieved higher CSF concentrations . Per cent penetration into CSF in infected rabbits was 23% for the ester and 13% for ampicillin . Bactericidal activity of the drugs was comparable; over 8 hr of treatment both drugs significantly reduced the CSF bacterial titers of infected animals . Our data demonstrated that the ester enters the CSF and CNS in higher concentration than ampicillin, with no loss in bactericidal activity. Sem Hop Ther, 1976 Dec, 52(10), 553 - 5 {Local chemical contraception: results based on 4 years of experimentation}; Bonhomme J; PIP: A clinical study was made of the use of an intrauterine chemical contraceptive by 508 women for a 4-year period, a total of 2068 menstrual cycles . A cream or jelly was used, than a suppository with a base of chloride of dimethyl-alkyl-benzyl-ammonium . This type of contraceptive method was indicated in cases where estro-progestin oral contraceptives or IUDs were contraindicated, unacceptable, or refused . Tolerance to the preparation was good in all cases . For the entire group, only 6 pregnancies occurred, of which 3 were linked to the improper use of the method . The rate of failure for thsoe who used it correctly was 2.3 . The results make this preparation compare quite favorably with other intrauterine suppositories . It is particularly important to ascertain that no contraindications exist for this method . The bactericidal action is noted with interest as a potential protection against venereal infection . Tubercle, 1976 Dec, 57(4), 251 - 8 Bactericidal activity in vitro and in the guinea-pig of isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol; Dickinson JM et al.; Serial viable counts on Mycobacterium tuberculosis exposed in vitro to isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol in Tween-albumin liquid medium showed no bactericidal synergism between isoniazid and rifampicin and no influence of ethambutol on the bactericidal activity of isoniazid or isoniazid plus rifampicin . Guinea-pigs with moderately advanced experimental tuberculosis were treated fro 11 weeks with either (1) ethambutol, (2) isoniazid, (3) isoniazid plus ethambutol, (4) isoniazid plus rifampicin, (5) isonaiazid plus rifampic in plus ethambutol, or (6) no chemotherapy . The amount of tuberculous disease was scored and the spleen cultured in groups killed at intervals from 0--7 1/2 months after the end of chemotherapy . The regimens containing rifampicin were no more bactericidal during treatment than the corresponding regimens without rifampicin, but the onset of relapse after chemotherapy was delayed for at least 2 months following the rifampicin-containing regimens . Ethambutol alone did not protect guinea-pigs, nor did it influence the response to isoniazid or to isoniazid plus rifampicin . It was concluded that rifampicin may act selectively on a small proportion of the bacterial population and that it may be unnecessary to prescribe it for long periods in short course chemotherapy in man . Ethambutol does not appear likely to contribute to the sterilizing activity of short course regimens though it may prevent the emergence of drug resistance. N Engl J Med, 1976 Nov 4, 295(19), 1041 - 5 Correction of leukocyte function in Chediak-Higashi syndrome by ascorbate; Boxer LA et al.; Because ascorbate potentiates chemotaxis of normal leukocytes, we examined the effect of ascorbate on polymorphonuclear leukocytes from a patient with the Chediak-Higashi syndrome . Chemotactic migration was 104+/-16 leukocytes per 10 fields (mean+/-S.D.) initially and 258+/-44 (P less than 0.001) after ascorbate, as compared to 182+/-10 in controls . There was no bactericidal activity by 40 minutes in the patient's untreated leukocytes . After ascorbate bactericidal activity of patient and untreated control cells was the same . The addition of ascorbate reduced cAMP levels in the patient's cells from a mean of 34.5 pmoles per 10(7) polymorphonuclear leukocytes to 5.9, as compared to a control value of 3.1+/-1.4 . The association of elevated cAMP and impaired function in the polymorphonuclear leukocytes of patients with the Chediak-Higashi syndrome may be related to abnormal microtubular assembly. Vet Med (Praha), 1976 Nov, 21(11), 661 - 7 {Control of disinfection with formaldehyde}; Kubicek K et al.; The reliability of a simple method of formaldehyde disinfection control, based on the colour intensity of End's agar or sulphite agar, was tested in a sealed fume chamber 1.2 cubic metres in size at a constant air temperature (21 degrees C) and at a 40-per-cent or 95-per-cent humidity . The effect of formaldehyde concentration and air humidity was examined, as exerted on bactericidal effectiveness and on the colour intensity of the mentioned media . Air humidity proved to be highly important: together with formaldehyde concentration and exposure time, air humidity is the decisive factor underlying the final effect of disinfection if due temperature is maintained . The intensity of the colouring of End's agar or sulphite agar was found to depend mainly on concentration and slightly on air humidity . Hence it is recommended that this simple control should be used only for the testing of a good sealing of the disinfected space underlying the effect of the active concentration of formaldehyde for the necessary exposure time . End's agar, produced by the Imuna National Corporation, Sarisske Michal'any, gave better results . It is considered necessary for an estimation of formaldehyde disinfection effectiveness to record, at the same time, the humidity and temperature of the air in the disinfected space . In our trials at a 95-per-cent humidity level, E . coli was totally devitalized on carriers disinfected with formaldehyde developed from 25 ml formaline and St . aureus with formaldehyde developed from more than 50 ml formaline per 1 cubic metre of space . When the air humidity level was 40% the total devitalization of the mentioned bacterial strains was not achieved even with formaldehyde concentration developed from 75 ml formaline per 1 cubic metre of space. Vet Med (Praha), 1976 Nov, 21(11), 649 - 54 {Determination of the effective concentration of Jodonal a for the disinfection of the skin and teats after milking}; Simon V; The bactericidal effectivity of Jodonal A in 1:10, 1:5, and 1:3 solutions was tested on human skin and on the teats of cow mammary glands . The 1:3 dilution ratio proved best for three-minute exposure . Jodonal A used in this concentration in 522 cows for the post-milking disinfection of teats for 10 months exerted no harmful effect on the skin of the mammary glands. J Clin Invest, 1976 Oct, 58(4), 1019 - 29 The paradox of Hemophilus infuenzae type B bacteremia in the presence of serum bactericidal activity; Shaw S et al.; We investigated the role of serum bactericidal activity in Hemophiplus influenzae type b infections in infants with meningitis and in a rat model . In infected infants, 13/22 admission sera had bactericidal activity against the infecting strain, and bacteremia was as frequent in those with bactericidal activity (54%) as those without (56%) . The coexistence of bactericidal activity and bacteremia was reproduced and studied in experimentally infected weanling rats . Serum from such rats kills in vitro 95% of conventionally broth-grown bacteria within 10 min, but does not kill organisms obtained from the infected animals . Thus bactericidal activity as conventionally determined for H . influenzae b may have no relevance in vivo, Incubation of broth-grown bacteria in normal rat serum for 30 min at 37 degrees C produces a resistance like that of in vivo organisms . This phenotypic conversion depends on factors that are of molecular weight less than 1,000, stable to 100 degrees C, but destroyed by ashing . When injected intravenously into nonimmune animals, broth-grown bacteria are quickly cleared, while serum-preincubated bacteria are not . The latter, however, are cleared when injected into bacteremic rats (half-life 30 min) . Bacteremia in the rats may persist despite this capacity for clearance because bacteria are entering the blood from extravascular fluids, which contain greater than 90% of the total bacterial burden. Minerva Stomatol, 1976 Oct-Dec, 25(4), 223 - 8 {The use of a bactericidal substance as medication in the indirect capping of healthy dentin}; Miani C et al.; An association of trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazol (Bactrim, Roche) was employed in the indirect capping of healthy teeth in the dog . Tetracycline labelling showed dentinogenesis in these teeth and comparison was made with the controls, A quantitative and qualitative change in dentinogenesis was noted below the control cavities . This alteration was less marked in Bactrim-treated teeth . It is deduced, therefore, that the operations involved in the preparation and filling of cavities in healthy teeth leads to pulp damage that can be partly prevented by using a bactericide. Blood, 1976 Oct, 48(4), 581 - 93 Granulocyte function in chronic granulocytic leukemia . II . Bactericidal capacity, phagocytic rate, oxygen consumption, and granule protein composition in isolated granulocytes; Olofsson T et al.; The initial rate of phagocytosis, oxygen consumption rate during phagocytosis, bactericidal capacity against Escherichia coli, and the granule protein composition of isolated mature-appearing granulocytes were studied in 23 patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) with the simultaneous use of normal controls . The initial rate of phagocytosis was decreased (p less than 0.05) in the CGL patient group, as were oxygen consumption rate (p less than 0.001) and bactericidal capacity (p less than 0.001) . Kinetic analysis of the ingestion rate showed CGL granulocytes to have the same capacity to bind the particles as normal granulocytes . Both specific and primary granule protein deficiencies were shown for CGL granulocytes, and these deficiencies were more pronounced at or near blast cell transformation . Analysis of all different granulocyte function parameters showed an inverse correlation to white blood cell counts (p less than 0.01) and to the percentage of immature granulocytes in peripheral blood (p less than 0.001) . The leukocytosis doubling time was progressively shortened during the chronic course of the disease . A correlation was found between granulocyte function parameters and leukocytosis doubling time (p less than 0.001), indicating that granulocyte function was progressively deteriorating during chronic phase CGL, and may be an expression of increasing disturbance of the differentiation process. J Immunol, 1976 Oct, 117(4), 1303 - 7 Chemotactic and bactericidal capacities of human newborn monocytes; Dretschmer RR et al.; We evaluated the chemotactic and bactericidal capacities of human cord blood monocytes, and the ability of cord lymphocytes and sera to generate chemotactic (LDCF) and opsonic factors for monocytes . Our results suggest that the intrinsic locomotive capacity, and the receptor system for LDCF, are adequately developed in the newborn monocyte . Moreover, newborn lymphocytes appear to produce adequate amounts of LDCF, capable of attracting adult monocytes . Poor chemotaxis was observed only when cord monocytes were exposed to supernatants of cord lymphocytes, which suggests that both contribute to this abnormal response . An inhibitory factor for which only cord monosensitivity of monocytes and strength of chemotactic factor between adults and newborns would explain these results . Bactericidal capactiy of cord monocytes against Escherichia coli K-12 opsonized by either cord or adult serum was comparable to that of adult monocytes. J Lab Clin Med, 1976 Oct, 88(4), 536 - 45 Depressed neutrophil chemotaxis in patients with chronic renal failure and after renal transplantation; Salant DJ et al.; Polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and bactericidal ability were tested with neutrophlis from patients with chronic renal failure on conservative therapy, from others of regular peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis, and from a group of patients who had received renal allografts . Chemotaxis was depressed in all groups . Phagocytosis was mildly impaired in the two groups on dialysis . The leukocytes of patients on conservative therapy had mildly decreased killing ability, whereas this function was normal in other groups tested . Sera from all patients, when activated with endotoxin, were poorly chemotactic to normal neutrophils, especially in those on conservative therapy and hemodialysis, but these sera functioned normally as opsonins for phagocytosis . The observed defect in chemotaxis could account, at least partly, for the frequency of bacterial infections in these patients. Clin Chim Acta, 1976 Sep 20, 71(3), 511 - 4 Hydrogen peroxide production by leukocytes in protein-calorie malnutrition; Shilotri PG; Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production during phagocytosis was studied in polymorphonuclear leukocytes obtained from children suffering from severe protein-calorie malnutrition . Formation of H2O2 was significantly reduced both in the resting condition and during phagocytosis . Improvement in this function of leukocytes was observed following nutritional rehabilitation . Sub-optimal H2O2 production during phagocytosis may be one of the reasons for impaired bactericidal activity of leukocytes seen in children with protein-calorie malnutrition. Can J Microbiol, 1976 Sep, 22(9), 1307 - 11 Interaction between Pseudomonas pseudomallei and cultured rabbit peritoneal macrophages; Kishimoto RA et al.; The interaction between two strains of Pseudomonas pseudomallei of different virulence with normal and immune rabbit peritoneal macrophages was compared in vitro . Phagocytic activity of macrophages and bacterial survival within macrophages were dependent upon the virulence of the bacterial strain and the immune status of the macrophages . Virulent bacteria were more resistant than the less virulent strain to phagocytosis and destruction . Immune macrophages were more phagocytic and bactericidal than normal macrophages . Specific immune serum facilitated ingestion and destruction of bacteria by both normal and immune macrophages. Scand J Haematol, 1976 Sep, 17(3), 217 - 26 Fasting (acute energy deprivation) in man: effect on polymorphonuclear granulocyte functions, plasma iron and serum transferrin; Palmblad J; The effect of 10 days of total fasting (energy deprivation) on blood polymorphonuclear granulocyte functions, leukocyte numbers, iron and transferrin levels was evaluated in 14 healthy, normal-weight males . Granulocytes from 7 of the subjects were tested in vitro . A statistically significant depression was noted in their bactericidal capacity against Staph . aureus . The 14 subjects showed a marked decrease in the stainable activity of granulocyte alkaline phosphatase and decreases were noted in plasma iron and serum transferrin levels . The iron saturation of serum transferrin was unchanged . Thus, impairment of granulocyte bactericidal functions may occur secondarily to short-term total energy deprivation, in the absence of iron deficiency. Br J Haematol, 1976 Sep, 34(1), 87 - 94 Primary leucocyte alkaline phosphatase deficiency in an adult with repeated infections; Repine JE et al.; An individual with repeated bacterial infections, eczema, hyperimmunoglobulin E, and a primary deficiency of leucocyte alkaline phosphatase is described . The Lap-deficient neutrophils from this patient had marginally deficient bactericidal activity particularly when challenged with high ratios of bacteria per neutrophil . Leucotactic, metabolic and morphologic features of the neutrophils from the patient were normal . Evidence is presented which contrasts this patient's condition with previously described primary or secondary deficiencies of LAP. Vet Med (Praha), 1976 Sep, 21(9), 521 - 5 {Bactericidal effect of Dikonit}; Kubicek K; The research centre of the Lachema nat Bohumin has developed new disinfectants with active chlorine on the basis of chlorinated derivatives of cyanuric acid . According to the physical and chemical properties, Dikon (sodium dichlorisocyanurate) was chosen as the best of these products; Later on, Dikon was given the trade mark Dikonit . Its minimum content of active chlorine is 55% . The purpose of the work was to test its bactericidal effect and to compare it with the effect of chloramin B . Tests on carriers and under practical conditions have demonstrated that, with the same content of active chlorine in solutions in practical use, Dikonit has almost the same bactericidal effect as Chloramin B produced so far . Due to this good bactericidal effect, Dikonit is a suitable means for prophylactic and focal disinfection in animal production and provides a good enrichment of the disinfectants based on active chlorine and produced in Czechoslovakia . It is recommended for prophylactic disinfection to use 1% solutions of Dikonit which are able to give the same effect in all parameters as warm solutions of 2-per-cent Chloramin B . The effective concentration to be used for focal disinfections can be deduced only approximately from the resistance of the infective agent with respect to the concentrations of Chloramin B, recommended as yet . An exact determination of the effective concentration would require experimental verification. Antibiotiki, 1976 Sep, 21(9), 798 - 800 {Intensification of the bactericidal action of mitomycin C and of UV irradiation with some anthracycline antibiotics}; Dudnik IuV et al.; Anthracycline antibiotics, such as rubomycin C (rubomycin, daunomycin), rubomycin B, carminomycin and tavromycetin (cinerubin) significantly increased the bactericidal effect of ultraviolet radiation and mitomycin C with respect to mutant 19-8 of E . coli with increased permeability of the cell membrane . This may be accounted for inhibition of DNA reparation . Beromycin, an antibiotic of the same group had no such capacity . With respect to their activity the antibiotics were arranged as follows: rubomycin C, rubomycin B, carminomycin, tavromycetin. Infect Immun, 1976 Sep, 14(3), 848 - 50 Plasmid-mediated resistance to the bactericidal effects of normal rabbit serum; Reynard AM et al.; An Escherichia coli K-12 strain bearing the plasmids R1 or R100 was more resistant to the bactericidal activity of normal rabbit serum than was the same strain without a plasmid . When the plasmid R100 was transferred to several K-12 strains, the strains acquired resistance to serum bactericidal activity. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Aug, 2(2), 136 - 8 Hemophilus influenzae, type b, antibody frequencies determined with bactericidal and radioimmunoassay tests; Norden CW et al.; Bactericidal and radioimmunoassay (RIA) antibodies to Hemophilus influenzae, type b, were measured in the sera of 85 children aged 18 through 71 months . Bactericidal antibodies were present in only 21% of those over 60 months; RIA levels rose linearly with increasing age (P less than 0.005) . Bactericidal antibodies were present in nine of 29 sera with RIA levels greater than or equal to 0.7 mug/ml and in only four of 56 sera with RIA levels less than 0.7 mug/ml (P less than 0.01) . The discrepancies between the two tests probably reflect their measurement of different antibodies . Results of the RIA fit the clinical observation that H . influenzae meningitis becomes less frequent with age. Antibiotiki, 1976 Aug, 21(8), 758 - 61 {Effect of industrial contact with penicillin on the immunological reactivity of workers}; Baru RV et al.; Immunological examination of women occupied in production of penicillin revealed a decrease in the phagocytic activity of the blood neutrophiles and the bactericidal properties of the skin, an increase in the quantitative composition of the autoflora of the skin and changes in its biochemical properties . Correlation between the changes in the values of the natural non-specific immunity as dependent on the level of the contact with the antibiotic was shown. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1976 Aug 1, 125(7), 899 - 905 Bacterial growth inhibition by amniotic fluid . V . Phosphate-to-zinc ratio as a predictor of bacterial growth-inhibitory activity; Schlievert P et al.; Human amniotic fluid has been shown to contain an inorganic bacterial growth-inhibitory component, zinc . The average zinc concentration in amniotic fluid was 0.44 mug per milliliter . The phosphate concentration of amniotic fluid appears to determine the expression of zinc inhibitory activity . The average phosphate concentration was 92 mug per milliliter . For 22 fluid samples tested, a phosphate-to-zinc ratio of 100 or less predicted a bactericidal fluid . A ratio between 100 and 200 predicted a bacteriostatic fluid . A ratio of greater than 200 predicted a noninhibitory fluid . The possible clinical significance of the ratio is discussed. Pediatr Res, 1976 Aug, 10(8), 739 - 42 Leukocyte function and characterization of leukocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in Sicilian mutants; Schiliro G et al.; Nine Sicilian children known to be deficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehyrdrogenase (G6PD) were studied to see if there were anomalies of bactericidal activity in peripheral blood phagocytes . The type of deficiency was established . The G6PD levels in the leukocyte were found to be 26% of the controls (0.094 +/- 0.03, normal controls 0.360 +/- 0.12) . The Michaelis constant for NADP and glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) was lower than the control . Conversely, the utilization of the analogous 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate (2dG6P) and galactose-6-phosphate (Ga16P) was higher . The thermostability of the enzyme in the deficient subjects was lower and the pH optima (8 and 9.5) were different from the controls . An identical electrophoretic pattern was found in both normal and deficient subjects . The bactericidal activity in the deficient subjects was normal . There was no difference in the results of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) tests in either group. Z Gesamte Inn Med, 1976 Jul 15, 31(14), 544 - 7 {Diagnosis and therapy of Crohn's disease}; Scharf R; Crohn's ileocolitis is an etiologically unclarified inflammatory disease of the alimentary canal, which is in most cases arranged in segments, may concern all segments, but above all may take place in the inferior ileum and the adjacent segments of the colon . The diagnosis which formerly was certainly made too infrequently is difficult, but histologically it is to be ascertained by typical granulomas of the epitheloid cells . The disease which extraordinarily often is connected with recidivations demands a consequent conservative combination therapy with salazopyrine and cortisone, in acute exacerbations and in formations of fistulae an additional prescription of bactericidal broad spectrum antibiotics is necessary . Resistent courses justify the application of immunosuppressive drugs . The indication to operation is critically to be given and to be restricted to the resection of stenosing narrowings of the lumen. Antibiotiki, 1976 Jul, 21(7), 625 - 30 {Absorption, distribution and the duration of retention of neomycin in the body of pregnant rabbits and their fetuses}; Nurazian AG; Neomycin was administered intramuscularly to rabbits in single doses of 50000 gamma/kg 24--25-day gravid rabbits were sacrificed 1.5-2-3-4-6-12-24 hours and 2-3-6 days after the drug administration . 3--4 rabbits were used in every experiment . The antibiotic concentration was determined with the agar-diffusion method . It was found that the drug was present in various bactericidal concentrations in all 55 organs, tissues and fluids of the rabbits and the fetus examined except the crystalline lens in the rabbits and the brain, liver and bile cyst of the fetus . In some material of the rabbits and their fetus, high levels of neomycin were detected during 6 days, i . e . up to the end of the experiment . The highest neomycin levels in the organs, tissues and fluids of the fetus were detected somewhat later than in those of the rabbits . However, their retention time was longer . It is necessary to forbear from using antibiotics, such as neomycin, monomycin and others, which retained for long periods of time in the organism. Clin Genet, 1976 Jul, 10(1), 16 - 20 Frequency of the carrier state for X-linked chronic granulomatous disease among females with lupus erythematosus; Humbert JR et al.; Carriers for chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and patients with lupus erythematosus (LE) share several characteristics: They are mostly females, they reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) poorly in their neutrophils, and, in some cases, they have similar skin lesions . We thus investigated 19 female LE patients for the presence of laboratory findings characteristic of the carrier state for CGD . None of these patients turned out to have the combined abnormality of neutrophil bactericidal activity and neutrophil NBT-reduction that is diagnostic of CGD carrier state in the X-linked form . An increased frequency of CGD carriers among female LE patients thus appear to be unlikely . Why some CGD carriers develop skin lesions typical of LE remains unexplained. Blood, 1976 Jul, 48(1), 53 - 62 Familial deficiency of glutathione reductase in human blood cells; Loos H et al.; A virtually complete absence of glutathione reductase activity was found in the erythrocytes of all three children (one male, two females) from a consanguineous marriage . Intermediate values were found in the erythrocytes of both parents . The enzyme activity could not be restored either by addition of FAD in vitro or by administration of riboflavin in vivo . The amount of reduced glutathione in the erythrocytes was normal in each case . Severely diminished glutathione stability during incubation with acetylphenylhydrazine was observed in the erythrocytes of the siblings, as well as intermediate stability in the parents' red cells . Clinically, this deficiency was manifested by hemolytic crises after eating fava beans in the eldest daughter (patient), and possibly by cataracts in her own and in her brother's eyes . Very low activities of glutathione reductase were also found in the leukocytes of this family: 13%-15% of normal values for the children and 64%-66% for the parents . Moreover, the same deficiency was found in the purified white blood cells of the propositus: 8% of normal values in the polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells, 4% in the lymphocytes, and 15% in the monocytes, together with 11% in the platelets . Finally, we found an abnormal oxygen consumption of the propositus' PMNs after phagocytosis of zymosan particles, suggesting that the glutathione reductase reaction was involved in the bactericidal capacity of these cells. Blood, 1976 Jul, 48(1), 149 - 61 Degranulation and abnormal bactericidal function of granulocytes procured by reversible adhesion to nylon wool; Klock JC et al.; Granylocyte bactericidal capacity, chemotaxis, hexose monophosphate shung activity (before and after phagocytic stimulus), and quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and enzyme content were examined in cells obtained by filtration leukaphresis (FL) and continuous-flow centrifugation (CFC) . A decrease in the bactericidal efficiency of FL-produced cells compared to that of both normal and CFC-procured granulocytes was found; the decrease was 17% with a cell-to-bacteria ratio of 5:1, and 55% with a 1:1 ratio . Moreover, FL-acquired cells were often vacuolated and consistently contained less acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase than did normal granulocytes . When normal cells were incubated for 1-2 hr with nylon wool, 30% of the total acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase was released, with no evidence of cell death, thus suggesting degranulation . Similar results were obtained with glass, cotton, or polysulfone plastic fibers . Electron microscopic and peroxidase cytochemical studies of the adherence of normal granulocytes to nylon fibers were also carried out . After 30 min of incubation, cell-to-fiber attachment and cellular aggregation had occurred, although the cells per se appeared normal . After 60 and 120 min, other changes became apparent: (1) a decrease in the amount of cytoplasmic granules; (2) large, intracytoplasmic vaculoles; and (3) extracellular peroxidase on fiber surfaces . We conclude that granulocytes obtained by adherence to nylon fibers show both morphological and biochemical evidence of degranulation and diminished bactericidal capacity, and that these abnormalities may be causally related to decreased granulocyte survival in transfusion recipients. J Pediatr, 1976 Jul, 89(1), 33 - 7 A familial defect in cellular chemotaxis associated with redheadedness and recurrent infection; Witemeyer S et al.; This study describes a familial defect in polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis associated with redheadedness and recurrent infection in two of six siblings . Laboratory data indicate that this defect in chemotaxis is not associated with a concurrent defect in leukocyte bactericidal activity . Additional studies demonstrate that although these children experience recurrent infections, immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE) and complement components (total hemolytic complement, Clq, C3 and C3PA) are all within normal limits . Measurements of PMN random mobility and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte transformation were also within normal limits . These studies demonstrate a familial PMN defect limited to leukocyte chemotaxis and associated with recurrent infection and possibly redheadedness. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig B}, 1976 Jul, 162(3-4), 380 - 3 {On the bactericidal action of dibromoisocyanuric acid; experiments concerning the disinfection of hands (author's transl)}; Gottardi W et al.; The action of dibromoisocyanuric acid (DBI), C12, Br2, trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCI) and chloramine T against Staph . aureus SG 511 was compared . Using the suspension test DBI and Br2 showed the strongest, chloramine T however, the weakest bactericidal power (Tab 2) . Under the conditions of the "Hygienic disinfection of hands" a 0.005 M solution of DBI met the requirements specified in the "Richtlinien fur die Prufung chemischer Desinfektionsmittel" (3 . Ed., Stuttgart: Gustav Fischer Verlag, 1972), and was comparable to a chloramine T solution containing the same amount of active halogen (Tab . 3) . The decrease of disinfection power compared with the suspension test can be attributed to a great error induced by protein. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig B}, 1976 Jul, 162(3-4), 402 - 7 Sport training and some activities of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte lysosomes; Tchorzewski H et al.; The acid phosphatase and protease, neutral protease, bactericidal and mitogenic activities were determined in the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) lysosomes of 16 years old boys . The investigated group consisted of 20 intense sport training persons during the last six years, the control one of the same age boys without any sport training . The significant decrease of hydrolase activity has been observed in the lysosomes of the peripheral blood PMNL's of the sport training boys. Lancet, 1976 Jun 19, 1(7973), 1307 - 9 Anaemia and immune response; Srikantia SG et al.; Nutritional anaemia is a major public-health problem in many parts of the world, and iron deficiency appears to be the most important cause . The immune response is believed to be impaired in anaemia . The results of the present study, carried out in young children, indicate that both the cell-mediated immune response and the bactericidal activity of leucocytes are impaired when levels of haemoglobin fall to 10 g/dl or less. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1976 Jun 4, 436(1), 154 - 69 Reversible envelope effects during and after killing of Escherichia coli w by a highly-purified rabbit polymorpho-nuclear leukocyte fraction; Weiss J et al.; The effects of a highly-purified, potently bactericidal fraction from rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes on the envelope of Escherichia coli (W) have been examined . This leukocyte fraction has equally enriched bactericidal, permeability-increasing and phospholipase A2 activities, and is essentially devoid of lysozyme, myeloperoxidase and protease activities (Weiss, J., Franson, R.C., Beckerdite, S., Schmeidler, K . and Elsbach, P . (1975) J . Clin . Invest . 55, 33-42) . Rapid killing of E . coli by this fraction is accompanied by two almost immediate alterations in the bacterial envelope: (1) a discrete increase in envelope permeability (measured by inhibition of bacterial leucine incorporation by normally impermeant actinomycin D), and, (2) hydrolysis of 14C-labeled fatty acid-prelabeled E . coli phospholipids . Both envelope effects are promptly reversed during further incubation at 37 degrees C, But not at 0 degrees C, with 40 mM Mg2+ . Reversal is also produced by Ca2+ (40 mM) and trypsin (200 mug/ml), but 200 mM K+ causes only partial recovery and Na+ and hyperosmolar sucrose are ineffective . Upon addition of Mg2+, phospholipid degradation ceases abruptly and the labeled products of hydrolysis (free fatty acids and lysocompounds) disappear with a corresponding reaccumulation of radioactive diacylphosphatides . The time course of resynthesis of phospholipids coincides with that of restoration of the permeability barrier . Higher concentrations of the leukocyte fraction and prolonged incubation increase both the extent of phospholipid degradation and the time required for reversal of both envelope effects . These findings suggest that both the initiation of the increased permeability and its reversal are linked to respectively the breakdown and resynthesis of major E . coli membrane phospholipids, and thus depend on the fact that the biochemical apparatus of E . coli remains capable of biosynthesis despite loss of viability . Treatment of E . coli, exposed to the leukocyte fraction, with albumin results in extracellular sequestration of the products of hydrolysis and also restores the permeability barrier to actinomycin D, suggesting that the accumulation of lytic products of lipid hydrolysis within the bacterial envelope, rather than the loss of phospholipids per se, causes increased permeability Whereas the effects on the envelope are reversible as long as 2 h after nearly complete loss of ability to multiply by E . coli, the effect on bacterial multiplication is irreversible within 5 min. Antibiotiki, 1976 Jun, 21(6), 541 - 5 {Effect of tetracycline and oleandomycin on the indices of nonspecific resistance in aseptic inflammation under conditions of changes in the body's reactivity}; Plaksin AI et al.; The effect of tetracycline and oleandomycin on the complement titer, lysozyme content, serum bactericidal properties and presence of specific antibiotic antibodies in the blood serum was studied . The latter were shown with the Hoigne reaction under conditions of aseptic inflammation caused against the background of latent tetanus intoxication . It was shown that tetracycline and oleandomycin used in treatment of the animals with aseptic inflammation developed at the background of latent tatanus intoxication induced an increased in the complement titer, lysozyme content and bactericidal properties of the serum . Reduction of the above indices was observed by the 15th-20th day after discontinuation of the drug use . The increase in the factors of non-specific immunity under the effect of tetracycline and oleandomycin in the animals with aseptic inflammation caused against the background of latent tetanus intoxication was accompanied by appearance in the blood serum on non-specific antibodies revealed with the Hoigne reaction . Changed reactivity because of latent tetanus intoxication was accompanied by a delay in the formation of the non-specific antibodies in the blood serum . However, later the rate of their accumulation became higher and as a result the maximum titers of the antibodies were 2-3 times higher than those in the control animals. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 1976 Jun, 152(2), 151 - 5 Mouse spleen lymphocyte bactericidal and peroxidase activities: enhancement by whole body x-irradiation; Paul BB et al.; A 20,000 g pellet obtained from the homogenate of CD1 mouse spleen cells has measurable peroxidase and bactericidal activities . Whole body x-irradiation stimulates the in vitro peroxidative and bactericidal activities of the spleen cells . These cells do not phagocytize . However, addition of polystyrene latex particles to spleen cells from non- or x-irradiated mice, increases glucose oxidation . The extent of this stimulation (three- to fourfold) is less than that of PMN (six- to tenfold) . Interaction between particles and lymphocyte surface may be the cause of this stimulation . The increased bactericidal activity due to x-ray is attributed mainly to an increase in the peroxidase activity of the lymphocytes . Surface (membrane) action rather than phagocytosis may be involved in the bactericidal process . The spleen lymphocyte peroxidase is distinct from myeloperoxidase in several respects. Ann Clin Biochem, 1976 May, 13(3), 393 - 8 Superoxide dismutase (erythrocuprein) and free radicals in clinical chemistry; Gutteridge JM; Erythrocuprein (superoxide dismutase) has recently been shown to have an enzymic function towards superoxide anions . The discovery of superoxide dismutase, its mode of action, and estimation are reviewed along with a brief introduction to oxygen activation and free-radical chemistry . The formation, activity, and destruction of oxygen free radicals in white blood cells, red blood cells, and subcellular particles are discussed . (a) The production of superoxide anions by white cells during phagocytosis is thought to be advantageous for the overall bactericidal event . (b) Normal red blood cells generate low levels of superoxide anions . Increased levels of free-radical production could play a significant role in accelerating cell ageing (haemolysis) . (c) Subcellular particles produce superoxide anions . These as well as organic peroxides have been implicated in drug hydroxylation reactions involving cytochrome P-450. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1976 Apr, 84(2), 93 - 9 Acute disseminated phycomycosis in a patient with impaired neutrophil granulocyte function; Bruun JN et al.; A 13-year-old girl with no previously known predisposing disease developed phycomycosis involving the left lung, pleura and shoulder, the left side of the neck, the left thigh, the kidneys and the brain . Prolonged amphotericin B therapy resulted in clinical improvement, but the disease was wide-spread when the patient died 5 months after debut of symptoms from a subarachnoid haemorrhage due to fungal destruction of the basilar artery . During hospitalization, a marked reduction in the bactericidal activity of circulating neutrophil granulocytes was repeatedly demonstrated and the endotoxin stimulated nitroblu tetrazolium test was negative . Together with the demonstration of granuloma formation and the accumulation of lipid-laden histiocytes in the spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow and the thymus, these findings indicate that the patient had a less severe form of chronic granulomatous disease. J Pediatr, 1976 Apr, 88(4 Pt . 1), 542 - 8 Prospective evaluation of treatment of Hemophilus influenzae meningitis; Feigin RD et al.; Fifty children with Hemophilus influenzae meningitis have been enrolled in a prospective study . Patients were randomly assigned chloramphenicol or ampicillin treatment; there were no significant differences between groups in other respects . Countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis proved to be a valuable tool for rapid diagnosis of the causative agent even in pretreated patients . Increasing quantities of capsular polyribosephosphate antigen detected in the initial cerebrospinal fluid correlated significantly (r=0.62419; p less than 0.01) with early and late sequelae of meningitis . None of the patients died . Severe and persistent neurologic or intellectual deficits were noted in four (8%) of the children, and an additional 14 (28%) had IQ scores between 70 and 90 . The presence of bactericidal antibody in serum was not protective . Anti-PRP antibody generally was not present in acute serum specimens and irrespective of the quantity of antigenic stimulus provided by the disease was nondetectable in 21 of 24 children less than 17 months of age following recovery. J Clin Pathol, 1976 Apr, 29(4), 354 - 363 Clinical and laboratory studies into the pathogenesis of malacoplakia; Lewin KJ et al.; Three cases of malacoplakia are described . Electron microscopic studies revealed intact bacteria or bacteria in varying states of degradation within phagolysosomes of the malacoplakic macrophages . Michaelis-Gutmann bodies arise within the phagolysosomes . These findings suggest that the bacteria incorporated within the phagolysosomes persist as dense amorphous aggregates which later become encrusted with calcium phosphate crystals to form the laminated Michaelis-Gutmann bodies . Possible explanations for the unusual macrophage response in malacoplakia are: (1) infection with an unusual strain of bacteria, (2) an immunological abnormality affecting intracellular killing of organisms, and (3) an abnormality affecting intracellular digestion of organisms . In considering each of the possibilities, we have been unable to detect any unusual strain of infecting organisms in association with malacoplakia, and in vitro studies have revealed normal T lymphocyte response to mitogen and normal monocyte bactericidal capacity . According to the history, each patient had reason to have a compromised immune status; in only one, however, was this demonstrated. Am J Vet Res, 1976 Apr, 37(4), 389 - 94 Bactericidal activity of bovine neonatal serums for selected coliform bacteria in relation to total protein and immunoglobulin G1 and immunoglobulin M concentrations; Carroll EJ et al.; Bactericidal activity for a serum-sensitive Aerobacter aerogenes strain was associated with antibodies present in immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and immunoglobulin M (IgM), with the greatest activity on a weight basis in IgM . Activity in immunoglobulin G2 was absent . A total of 118 serums were prepared from blood collected from neonatal calves on farms experiencing unusually high mortality from diarrhea . The serums were allotted to 4 groups on the basis of total serum protein concentrations as follows: group I=7.0 to 9.5 g/dl, group II=6.00 to 6.98 g/dl, group III=5.00 to 5.90 g/dl, and group IV=3.9 to 4.9 g/dl . Bactericidal activity for the serum-sensitive aerobacter strain was distributed approximately equally throughout the 4 groups . Activity for 3 strains of Escherichia coli was minimal to absent . Concentrations of IgG1 and IgM were determined in 82 of the serums . Concentrations of IgG1 ranged from 0 to 54.2 mg/ml, with overlapping among the 4 groups . Concentrations of IgM could not be determined in serums with concentrations greater than 1.6 mg/ml . However, bactericidal activity did not correlate with the immunoglobulin concentrations, since activity was present to the same degree in serums with small concentrations of immunoglobulins compared with serums with as much as threefold larger concentrations. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1976 Apr, 84(2), 77 - 85 Rat intestinal glycoprotein lowering bactericidal activity of serum on 32P-labelled E . coli; Winsnes R et al.; A glycoprotein fraction, by which the 32P-releasing activity of serum on labelled E . coli is lowered, was isolated from caecum content of germfree rats . The glycoprotein contained 83.1% sulphate, and 16.1% protein . The molecular weight ranged from 3.2 X 10(5) to 2.4 X 10(6), and the iso-electric point from pH 0.9 to 3.0 . Physiologically, it may play a role in the interaction(s) between the host and its intestinal flora. Jpn J Exp Med, 1976 Apr, 46(2), 101 - 10 Effects of cytochalasin B and dibutyryl cyclic AMP on intraleukocytic bactericidal activity; Okuda K et al.; Cytochalasin B (CB) is known to regulate the movement of intracellular microfilaments system . In this experiment, the effect of CB on the intraleukocytic bactericidal activity was first studied and concluded that CB inhibited the intracellular bactericidal activity remarkably . Addition of CB resulted in increased nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)-dye reduction, while the specific activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) and reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase of CB-treated neutrophils exhibited within the normal range . But the uptake of Glu