Bacteriological

Infect Immun, 1985 Jul, 49(1), 72 - 5
Enhanced superoxide release and tumoricidal activity by a postlavage, in situ pulmonary macrophage population in response to activation by Mycobacterium bovis BCG exposure; Drath DB; The monocytic phagocyte population of rat lungs is heterogeneous . In addition to the freely lavagable alveolar macrophages, there is a fixed in situ tissue-associated subpopulation of pulmonary macrophages . The response of this subpopulation to classical macrophage activation by Mycobacterium bovis BCG exposure was monitored . Results indicate that this population can be activated both metabolically and functionally, as evidenced by enhanced release of superoxide anions and demonstrable tumoricidal activity against syngeneic and xenogeneic target cells . The pattern of metabolic activation of in situ tissue-associated macrophages differed somewhat from that of alveolar macrophages and was observed only after subsequent exposure of the cells to either zymosan particles or phorbol myristate acetate . Upon such exposure, the activated zymosan-treated tissue macrophages released approximately twice as much superoxide as the nonactivated cells and amounts comparable to the amounts released by activated alveolar macrophages . The tissue macrophages also displayed greater levels of cytotoxicity toward xenogenic targets than the alveolar cells and may have an important role in preventing microbial or tumor cell colonization of respiratory systems.

Hum Pathol, 1985 Jul, 16(7), 654 - 8
DNA hybridization in diagnostic pathology; Sklar J; DNA hybridization is becoming an important new adjunct to conventional methods for the diagnosis of infectious diseases, inherited conditions, and neoplasia . Applications of this technology require very small quantities of tissue or body fluids because the DNA probes used in the hybridization assays detect minute amounts of homologous DNA sequence in the test material . Under the proper conditions, these DNA probes are absolutely specific for the pathogen or gene being examined, and hybridization with them usually yields objective answers that require little interpretation . The relatively minor inconveniences currently associated with DNA hybridization are related to the use of radioactivity as a detection signal and the time and labor required to obtain diagnostic data . In the future, technical improvements currently being developed and the preparation of new probes for additional human and microbial genes are likely to create an increasingly larger role for DNA hybridization in diagnostic pathology.

Ann Intern Med, 1985 Jul, 103(1), 37 - 42
Exposure to human T-lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus and immunologic abnormalities in asymptomatic homosexual men; Nicholson JK et al.; Immunologic and serologic studies were done in 120 homosexual men who reportedly had no symptoms related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . Forty-nine men (41%) had antibody to the retrovirus human T-lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus (HTLV-III/LAV), and 37 (31%) had an abnormal T-cell subset ratio and other immunologic abnormalities . These abnormalities were almost exclusively confined to men seropositive for the retrovirus . Multivariate statistical analysis showed that exposure to HTLV-III/LAV was the single best predictor of T-cell (and other) immunologic abnormalities . Sexual practice, particularly receptive anal intercourse, predicted exposure to HTLV-III/LAV but was not independently related to T-cell abnormalities . The association of other microbial serologic findings with HTLV-III/LAV seropositivity or T-cell changes was a coincidental function of sexual activity . Immunologic abnormalities in asymptomatic homosexual men are mostly related to exposure to HTLV-III/LAV.

Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract, 1985 Jul, 1(2), 347 - 66
Defense mechanisms in the bovine lung; Liggitt HD; The purpose of this article is to examine factors contributing to defense of the bovine lung from microbial infection . Appropriate physical, cellular, and secretory defense components are assessed . Attention is paid to the thin line separating host-mediated defense from host-mediated injury of the lung.

Arch Microbiol, 1985 Jul, 142(2), 164 - 7
Heliothrix oregonensis, gen . nov., sp . nov., a phototrophic filamentous gliding bacterium containing bacteriochlorophyll a; Pierson BK et al.; An unusual filamentous, gliding bacterium was found in a few hot springs in Oregon where it formed a nearly unispecific top layer of microbial mats . It contained a bacteriochlorophyll a-like pigment and an abundance of carotenoids . There were no chlorosomes or additional chlorophylls . The organism was aerotolerant and appeared to be photoheterotrophic . It was successfully co-cultured with an aerobic chemoheterotroph in a medium containing glucose and casamino acids . Although it has many characteristics in common with the genus Chloroflexus, the lack of chlorosomes and bacteriochlorophyll c and the aerobic nature of this organism indicate that it should be placed in a new genus . This conclusion is supported by 5S rRNA nucleotide sequence data.

Am J Med, 1985 Jun 28, 78(6B), 8 - 16
The clinical microbiology laboratory . Utilization and cost-effectiveness; Washington JA 2nd; Utilization of the microbiology laboratory is subject to limitations posed by the diversity of microbial agents causing infection, multiple and often poorly accessible sites of infection, contamination of specimens with indigenous flora, and failure of communication between clinician and microbiologist . Cost constraints increasingly limit the extent of microbiologic services available on-site and lead to decentralization of laboratory services and possible loss of quality control . Increased attention is being paid to process control of cultures, rapid screening and diagnostic tests as culture substitutes, and limitations on antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1985 Jun 18, 840(2), 204 - 10
Comparative reactivities of various biological compounds with myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-chloride, and similarity of the oxidant to hypochlorite; Winterbourn CC; The reactivities of myeloperoxidase-H2O2-Cl- and sodium hypochlorite with amino acids, uric acid, NADH, ascorbic acid, ADP, albumin, haemoglobin, alpha 1-antitrypsin and some hydroxyl radical scavengers have been compared . The ability of each compound to inhibit chlorination of monochlorodimedon by both oxidants was measured . Relative reaction rates varied over a range of 10(5), but the reactivities of the two oxidants with each compound were very similar, from which it is concluded that the reactions of hypochlorite accurately reflect those of the myeloperoxidase system . Thiol compounds (cysteine and GSH) and methionine were more than 100-times more reactive than other amino acids, which had comparable reactivity to NADH and uric acid . Benzoate, dimethylsulphoxide and formate were very much less reactive . The significance of these reactions of myeloperoxidase in microbial killing and inflammation is discussed.

J Steroid Biochem, 1985 Jun, 22(6), 781 - 8
Intestinal absorption of oestrone, oestrone glucuronide and oestrone sulphate in the rat in situ--I . Importance of hydrolytic enzymes on conjugate absorption; Sim SM et al.; The biliary excretion of steroid after administration of {3H}oestrone ({3H}E1), {3H}oestrone glucuronide ({3H}E1G) and {3H}oestrone sulphate ({3H}E1S) into the hepatic portal vein of anaesthetized rats was very rapid with more than 70% of E1S and greater than 80% of E1 and E1G excreted in the first 30 min . There was a lag period in the biliary excretion of E1S, this was less apparent with E1 and absent with E1G . Biliary excretion accurately reflects the amount of steroid in the portal circulation and was therefore used as an assessment of absorption from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract . Absorption (as judged by excretion in bile) was least after administration of each steroid into the stomach . The extent of absorption correlated well with the lipophilicity of the steroids as shown by their relative partition coefficients between n-octanol and pH 6.5 phosphate-buffered saline (E1 greater than or equal to E1S greater than or equal to E1G) . There was no significant difference in excretion profile when the steroids were given into the caecum (at 5 h, E1, 46.3 +/- 9.1%; E1G, 42.2 +/- 14.5%; E1S, 39.9 +/- 7.1%) . The similarity, despite marked differences in physicochemical properties, suggested conjugate hydrolysis to the parent steroid . In contrast, after administration into the small intestine, excretion of E1 was very rapid and was maximal at 1 h (72.5 +/- 8.0%); E1G showed a near-linear excretion rate (1 h, 14.4 +/- 3.0%; 5 h, 80.0 +/- 11.7%), whereas in comparison E1S excretion was low (1 h, 12.1 +/- 2.4%; 5 h, 36.9 +/- 2.7%) . The involvement of hydrolytic enzymes in conjugate absorption was assessed . Ampicillin pretreatment (200 mg/kg/day for 2 days) reduced the absorption of E1G from both the proximal and distal small intestine (by approximately 50%) but had no effect on the absorption of E1S . There was, therefore, evidence that quantitative absorption of E1G requires prior hydrolysis (by mammalian and/or microbial enzymes) but intact absorption of E1S from this region of the tract was implicated . Ampicillin pretreatment reduced the absorption of both conjugates (greater with E1S) from the caecum; hydrolysis clearly precedes absorption from the caecum . The above findings were supported by an in vitro study which showed that ampicillin pretreatment abolished the hydrolysis of E1S by caecal contents but only partially reduced the hydrolysis of E1G . The presence of mammalian glucuronidase enzyme may account for this difference.

J Dairy Sci, 1985 Jun, 68(6), 1376 - 89
Characterization of limestones and their effects in vitro and in vivo in dairy cattle; Keyser RB et al.; Capacities of limestones of differing particle size to neutralize acid in vitro and to modify pH and utilization of feedstuffs in vivo were compared . Acid neutralization during pH-stat titrations was faster for fine than for coarse limestone, and mixed microbial cultures were more resistant to pH change when they contained fine calcium carbonate . Diets containing 25:75 corn silage to concentrates and .95% calcium from either coarse or fine limestone were fed to rumen-fistulated heifers . Total ruminal volatile fatty acid concentrations were higher for the fine limestone treatment . Ruminal volumes, dry matter disappearance, and ruminal fluid pH and dilution rate did not differ between fine and coarse limestone treatments . Ruminal fluid volume, osmolality, ratios of acetate to propionate, and concentrations of total volatile fatty acids were unaffected in rumen-fistulated Holstein cows fed 60:40 corn silage to concentrates and either .5% calcium (control) or 1.0% calcium from either coarse or fine limestone . Ruminal pH increased .07 to .10 units with limestone supplementation . Ruminal fluid dilution and particulate turnover rates were slower for the coarse limestone than the control treatment . Differences between coarse and fine limestones in vitro were observed under some conditions in vivo, but they were not consistent.

J Am Dent Assoc, 1985 Jun, 110(6), 915 - 7
Periodontal restorative interrelationships: the isolated restoration; Fugazzotto PA; Only by controlling plaque early and consistently, before periodontal and restorative problems require intervention in the form of a full prosthetic and periodontal reconstruction, the continued maintenance of a full dentition is assured . Plaque control is not merely continued prophylaxes, but a striving for a healthy biologic situation with the placement of every restoration . This is attainable only through ensuring a normal attachment apparatus and establishing that all restorative margins be accessible to plaque control measures . Deep, subgingival restorations are not only difficult to place and finish correctly, but, by providing an environment conducive to microbial plaque retention and proliferation, also lead to inflammatory periodontal destruction and recurrent carious lesions . Early detection, although difficult, is essential to avoid excessive destruction of the tooth and its supporting structures . A deterrent to early detection may be the response of the patient's tissue . Paradoxically, if the patient's periodontal tissues respond in a fibrotic manner to early gingival inflammation, rather than in a dramatic, edematous manner, the situation may appear clinically healthy . Waerhaug discussed "submarginal gingivitis," a situation in which the tissue will appear pink and firm, elicit to exudate or bleeding on probing, and mimic healthy to the casual examiner . When this is coupled with the difficulty inherent in detecting early recurrent carious lesions, resulting from the radiographic superimposition of the existing restoration or the deep subgingival extent of the restoration, the situation becomes all the more demanding of the practitioner's efforts.

J Dairy Sci, 1985 Jun, 68(6), 1416 - 24
Protein sources evaluated for ruminating Holstein calves; Zerbini E et al.; Fifty calves were fed a basal diet of 11.6% crude protein or one of four diets (15.5% crude protein) containing added soybean meal, corn gluten meal, cottonseed meal, or fish meal . Diets were calculated 75% total digestible nutrients . Body weight gain increased an average of 17% with added protein . Fish meal and soybean meal generated highest rates of gain . Ruminal ammonia-nitrogen was higher for soybean meal and cottonseed meal than other diets, indicating greater rates of degradability . Molar proportions of rumen volatile fatty acids were not different among diets, but concentration was lower for fish meal . Serum urea nitrogen was lowest for the basal and fish meal diets . Microbial nitrogen in the abomasum was 33.6% of total nitrogen for corn gluten meal and 42.8% for soybean meal . Apparent dry matter and nitrogen digestibilities were greater for corn gluten meal and fish meal diets than for soybean meal or cottonseed meal diets . Rumen degradability of feedstuffs, as determined by dacron bag technique, ranged from 38.1% for corn gluten meal to 71.3% for soybean meal . Degradability of mixed diets reflected those of the protein supplement present in each diet except for diet containing cottonseed meal . Fish meal and soybean meal were better protein sources for growth of ruminating calves than were corn gluten meal or cottonseed meal.

Tokai J Exp Clin Med, 1985 Jun, 10(2-3), 175 - 9
Protected environment and its utility in experimental allogeneic and xenogeneic bone marrow transplantation; Pollard M; Allogeneic bone marrow (BM) chimerism can be established in germfree (GF) rats and mice without the manifestations of graft vs host (GvH) disease that develop in conventional counterpart animals . This procedure has been applied with prophylactic and therapeutic benefits in mice predestined to develop leukemia and reticulum cell sarcoma . Xenogeneic BM chimerism has been accomplished in rats with mouse bone marrow cells, without evidence of GvH disease; and over long periods they produce blood cells with characteristics of mouse species . A critical factor in allogeneic and xenogeneic BM chimerism is the microbial status of the animals.

Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1985 Jun, 99(6), 723 - 5
{Action of hydrocortisone on the cytotoxic reactions in delayed hypersensitivity to microbial antigens}; Bazanova EA et al.; A study was made of the effect of hydrocortisone (HC) injected to animals with delayed hypersensitivity (DH) to BCG antigens on the cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes and production of lympho- and macrophage toxins . The cytotoxic test with the use of sensitized lymphocytes and preparation of lympho- and macrophage toxins were performed in vitro in the presence of specific microbial antigens . It was shown that HC exerts the most intense inhibitory action on the production of macrophage toxin . High doses of the hormone also inhibited the production of lymphotoxin . At the same time the cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes of the lymph nodes in DH was not inhibited by the employed doses of HC . No reduction was seen either in the sensitivity of autologous adhesive cells (macrophages) used as target cells for studying the cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1985 May 30, 845(2), 196 - 203
Binding and endocytosis of heparin by human endothelial cells in culture; Barzu T et al.; Binding of heparin and low molecular weight heparin fragments (CY 222, Mr range 1500-8000) to human vascular endothelial cells was studied . Primary culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and either 125I or 3H-labeled heparin or {125I}CY 222 were used . Slow, saturable and specific binding was found . No other tested glycosaminoglycan, excepting a highly sulfated heparan fraction, was able to compete for heparin binding . Two groups of binding sites for {3H}heparin could be distinguished: one with high affinity (Kd = 0.12 microM) and another with lower affinity (Kd = 1.37 microM) and a relative large capacity of binding (1.16 X 10(7) molecules/cell) was calculated . The Kd for unlabeled heparin, as calculated from competition experiments, was 0.23 microM . Much lower affinity was calculated for unlabeled low molecular weight heparin fragments CY 222 (Kd = 4.3 microM) from competition experiments with {125I}CY 222 . The binding reversibility was only partial for unfractionated heparin . Even by chasing with unlabeled compound, a fraction of 25-30% was not dissociable from endothelial cells . This fraction was much lower if incubation was carried out at 4 degrees C . The addition of basic proteins (histones) to the incubation medium greatly enhanced the undissociable binding at 37 degrees C, but not at 4 degrees C . The undissociable fraction of heparin was not available to degradation by purified microbial heparinase . These results suggest that a fraction of bound heparin is internalized by the vascular endothelium.

J Biol Chem, 1985 May 25, 260(10), 6373 - 7
Cell wall lytic enzyme released by mating gametes of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a metalloprotease and digests the sodium perchlorate-insoluble component of cell wall; Matsuda Y et al.; Chlamydomonas lytic enzyme of the cell wall, which is released during agglutination of gametes of opposite mating types, has been characterized as a metalloprotease . The purified enzyme contains zinc . Removal of zinc with EDTA results in an inactive, metal-free apoenzyme, and Co2+ restores the activity most effectively . Among various protease inhibitors of microbial origin, pepstatin A, chymostatin, antipain, leupeptin, and E-64 do not inactivate the enzyme, whereas phosphoramidon causes a complete loss of lytic activity . Cysteine, histidine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid also inhibit the activity . The lytic enzyme splits casein and RNase A into several polypeptides of lower molecular masses . To determine which polypeptides of the cell wall are sensitive to the lytic enzyme, we first separated the intact cell walls into sodium perchlorate-soluble and -insoluble components, treated them with enzyme, and then analyzed them by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining . We conclude that only 2 of 16 polypeptides are digested by exposure to the enzyme and that the sensitive polypeptides belong to the salt-insoluble component of the cell wall . The mechanism of cell wall digestion with the lytic enzyme is discussed.

Biochem J, 1985 May 15, 228(1), 161 - 70
Purification and characterization of a multicatalytic high-molecular-mass proteinase from rat skeletal muscle; Dahlmann B et al.; A proteolytic enzyme was purified from the post-myofibrillar fraction of rat skeletal muscle . The purification procedure consisted of fractionation of the muscle extract by (NH4)2SO4, chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, fast protein liquid chromatography on Mono Q and gel filtration on Sepharose 6B . The enzyme preparation appeared to be homogeneous as judged by disc electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels and by immunoelectrophoresis . The isoelectric point of the proteinase is at 5.1-5.2 . The enzyme has an Mr of about 650 000 and dissociates into eight subunits of Mr 25 000-32 000 when subjected to electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gels . The proteinase contains hydrolytic activity against N-blocked tripeptide 4-methyl-7-coumarylamide substrates with an arginine or phenylalanine residue adjacent to the leaving group . Maximum activity with the first group of substrates was at pH 10.5, and this activity was inhibited by leupeptin, chymostatin and Ca2+ . Maximum activity with the latter group of substrates was at pH 7.5, and was also inhibited by the two microbial inhibitors, but was activated by Ca2+ ions . By using {14C}methylcasein as a substrate, maximum activity was observed at pH9.0, and this proteolytic activity was not affected by leupeptin, was enhanced by chymostatin and inhibited by Ca2+ . Similar effects were observed when benzyloxycarbonyl-Leu-Leu-Glu 2-naphthylamide was used as a substrate . These enzymic activities were abolished by p-hydroxymercuribenzenesulphonic acid or mersalyl acid, whereas a small activation was observed with cysteine or dithiothreitol.

J Sterile Serv Manage, 1985 Jun, 3(1), 15, 17 - 8
Detergents and detergency; Dumpleton C; A simple definition of a "clean" surface is one which is "free from any residual film or soil which is visible or can be felt by touch", ie it should not contaminate food or other consumable items with odour, microbial spoilage or chemical residue.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1985 May, 38(5), 605 - 9
Microbial hydroxylation of compactin (ML-236B) and monacolin K; Yamashita H et al.; The Basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune was found to transform compactin (ML-236B) to 8a-hydroxycompactin . This compound was isolated by solvent extraction and column chromatography, and its structure was determined by a combination of IR, UV, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy . Monacolin K was also converted to the corresponding hydroxylated analogue . Data on the inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl co-enzyme A reductase and sterol biosynthesis in vitro are presented for these hydroxylated compounds.

Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1985 May, 134(5), 119 - 22
{Use of propolis in the treatment of local suppurative infection}; Tsarev NI et al.; Experience with the treatment of 460 patients with panaritium, abscesses, phlegmons, infectious wounds have shown that propolis is an expedient remedy (in additional to the the routine treatment) . They have shown the stimulating, antiinflammatory and anti-microbial action of propolis.

Arch Environ Health, 1985 May-Jun, 40(3), 165 - 9
Byssinosis: thromboxane release from human platelets by cotton dust and bract extracts; Mundie TG et al.; Extracts of cotton dust and bract induced in vitro release of arachidonic acid metabolite thromboxane A2 (TxA2), a potent bronchoconstricting agent, from human platelets . TxA2 release, determined by radioimmunoassay of the stabile metabolite TxB2, was both time- and dose-dependent . Cotton green bract extract was significantly more potent in releasing TxA2 from human platelets than cotton dust extract or cotton brown bract (field-dried bract) extract, while brown bract extract was least active, which suggests that the etiological agent(s) is of plant origin and not microbial in nature . TxA2 release was shown to be enzyme-dependent by inhibition of the reaction by indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor) and 7-(1-imidazolyl) heptanoic acid (thromboxane synthetase inhibitor) . This study is the first to show in vitro platelet TxA2 release by cotton extracts and may provide an explanation for increased concentrations of TxB2, a metabolite of TxA2, in the bronchoalveolar spaces of rabbits exposed to aerosolized cotton dust extract . Platelet aggregation and production of TxA2 may prove to be an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of bronchoconstriction in byssinosis.

Scand J Gastroenterol, 1985 May, 20(4), 492 - 9
Short-chain fatty acids in the small-bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome; Hoverstad T et al.; The short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been measured by gas chromatography in fasting jejunal secretions, saliva, and feces from 8 patients with the small-bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome (BO) and 9 control patients; in jejunal secretions and saliva from 6 healthy subjects; and in feces from 20 healthy subjects . The concentrations of SCFAs (median (range), mumol/l) in jejunal secretions of BO patients were as follows: total, 990 (210-12,370); acetic acid, 650 (170-6770); propionic acid, 110 (16-3070); isobutyric acid, 26 (1-310); n-butyric acid, 90 (12-1340); isovaleric acid, 35 (2-680); n-valeric acid, 7 (3-200) . In BO patients the total concentration of SCFAs in jejunal secretions was approximately four times higher than in control patients (p less than 0.01) and in healthy subjects (p less than 0.025) . The relative distribution of the acids resembled the distribution found in feces more than that of saliva or the normal jejunal secretions . These findings indicate that patients with BO have a colon-like flora in the small intestine and that the main part of the SCFAs in the jejunal secretions of these patients is produced by the altered microbial flora in the jejunum . Combined with other tests, analyses of intestinal SCFAs may prove to be valuable in the diagnosis of small-bowel bacterial overgrowth.

J Anim Sci, 1985 May, 60(5), 1324 - 9
Influence of protein degradability in range supplements on abomasal nitrogen flow, nitrogen balance and nutrient digestibility; Petersen MK et al.; Two metabolism trials were conducted with yearling steers fed mature native forage to measure the effect of supplemental protein degradability on selected metabolic variables . Supplements contained 40% crude protein equivalence . In Trial 1, four abomasal-cannulated steers weighing 290 to 379 kg were fed supplements containing the following N sources: (1) 15% corn, 85% urea (U); (2) 100% soybean meal (SBM); (3) 10% corn, 40% soybean meal, 50% urea (SBM-U) and (4) 14% corn, 36% blood meal, 50% urea (BM-U) . Equal portions of the daily diet (2.2% of body weight) were fed every 2 h . Treatment differences were not significant for organic matter digestibility, abomasal organic matter flow, nonammonia N flow, feed N flow, bacterial N flow and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis . There was a positive (P less than .05) relationship between quantity of slowly degraded protein fed and nonammonia N flow (r = .97) or feed N flow (r = .98) . Escape N was determined to be 21.5, 16.5 and 54.2% in SBM, SBM-U and BM-U supplements, respectively . In the second trial, no supplement, SBM, SBM-U and BM-U were fed in a N balance trial . Dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities were higher (P less than .05) for steers fed supplemented diets . Acid detergent fiber digestibility was higher (P less than .05) for steers supplemented with SBM than steers fed the unsupplemented diets . Nitrogen retention was greater (P less than .05) for cattle fed SBM and BM-U than for cattle fed SBM-U or no supplement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 May, 49(5), 1067 - 71
Evaluation of nongermicidal handwashing protocols for removal of transient microbial flora; Vesley D et al.; A method has been described which can compare the efficacy of different nongermicidal handwashing protocols for removal of transient microbial flora without the necessity of establishing or relying on a previously determined baseline for an individual subject . The wash effluent is collected, and colony counts for the effluent reflect the number removed by the wash protocol . A second standard wash in a handwashing machine is performed, and the test criterion is the percent removed in the test wash based on the sum of total CFU recovered from the two washes . The method was used to compare an 8-s cycle for a newly developed handwashing machine with a conventional 15-s Ivory soap wash . When machine pressure was adequate (42 lb/in2), there was no statistically significant difference in the percent removal of transient flora by the two methods (48.8% from the machine versus 45.1% from the Ivory soap wash) . At 32 lb/in2, the Ivory soap wash recovered 60.3%, whereas the machine recovered 45.1%.

J Clin Microbiol, 1985 May, 21(5), 730 - 3
Detection of adenovirus in nasopharyngeal specimens by radioactive and nonradioactive DNA probes; Hyypia T; The presence of adenovirus DNA in clinical specimens was analyzed by nucleic acid hybridization assays by both radioactive and enzymatic detection systems . The sensitivity of the hybridization tests was in the range of 10 to 100 pg of homologous adenovirus DNA . Minimal background was noticed with unrelated viral and nonviral DNA . Twenty-four nasopharyngeal mucus aspirate specimens, collected from children with acute respiratory infection, were assayed in the hybridization tests and also by an enzyme immunoassay for adenovirus hexon antigen which was used as a reference test . Sixteen specimens positive by the enzyme immunoassay also were positive in the two nucleic acid hybridization tests, and the remaining eight specimens were negative in all of the tests . The results indicate that nucleid acid hybridization tests with both radioactive and nonradioactive probes can be used for diagnosis of microbial infections.

Arch Biochem Biophys, 1985 May 1, 238(2), 435 - 46
Identification of mammalian aspartate-4-decarboxylase; Rathod PK et al.; Several animal tissues were examined for aspartate-4-decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.12) activity . Highest activity was seen in murine livers, in rodent livers, and in rodent kidneys . The rat liver enzyme was membrane associated and could be solubilized and partially purified with the aid of detergents . The purification studies, and studies on the stoichiometry and kinetics of the reaction, showed that aspartate is directly converted to alanine . Such a metabolic reaction had not been reported before in animals . The rat liver enzyme differed significantly from the microbial aspartate-4-decarboxylases . Among other things, the rat liver beta-decarboxylase could be purified away from a cysteine sulfinate desulfinase activity . Also, unlike the bacterial enzymes, the mammalian beta-decarboxylase could not be inactivated by preincubation with aspartate or cysteine sulfinate . These later observations strongly suggest that the mammalian aspartate-4-decarboxylase does not have an inherent transaminase activity . Like many decarboxylases, rat liver aspartate-4-decarboxylase could be inhibited by reagents which react with carbonyl groups; however, the enzyme showed no dependence on pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1985 May-Jun, 21(3), 378 - 81
{Changes in the structural function of the membrane of M . lysodeikticus as affected by preparations of the bacterial autoregulatory factors D1}; Kaprel'iants AS et al.; Introduction of factors D1 isolated from the culture fluids of B . cereus and Ps . carboxydoflava into cytoplasmic membranes of M . lysodeikticus resulted in a higher microviscosity of the lipid phase . Factor d1 changes the ion permeability of an artificial bilayer membrane as well as reduces the content of free water in the bacterial paste . It is assumed that registered structural changes may result from the interaction of the factor molecules with membrane lipids and be the main reason of changes in the functioning of membrane-bound enzymes and dehydration of the microbial cell as well.

J Pharmacobiodyn, 1985 May, 8(5), 344 - 51
Effect of an N-succinyl-L-trialanine p-nitroanilide-hydrolyzing protease from pronase on glucose metabolism in mice; Ueki H et al.; Effect of an N-succinyl-L-trialanine p-nitroanilide-hydrolyzing protease (STA-protease) purified from Pronase on glucose metabolism was investigated by an intravenous injection into fasted mice . The maximum decrease in blood sugar level by STA-protease was observed 2 h after the injection of a dose of 5.0 mg/kg . The hypoglycemic activity was observed with other microbial proteases, such as Pronase E and subtilisin BPN', whereas no activity was found with the modified enzymes which almost wholly lost their proteolytic activities by the treatment with diisopropyl fluorophosphate or guanidine HCl . The increase in blood sugar level by epinephrine and the conversion of {1-14C} pyruvate into blood glucose were distinctly suppressed with STA-protease as well as 5-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (MICA), an inhibitor of gluconeogenesis . A slight increase in glycogen content in diaphragm of mice was observed during 2-4 h after the injection of STA-protease, though it was markedly increased by insulin . In test of glucose tolerance, the increase in blood sugar was distinctly suppressed by insulin but not by STA-protease . Blood lactate level was not subjected to change by STA-protease, in Therefore, STA-protease may affect the in vivo metabolism of glucose in a different way from the in vitro action which has been reported to react with cell surface and consequently to mimic the actions of insulin.

Biofizika, 1985 May-Jun, 30(3), 460 - 3
{Evaluation of the dynamic ratio of Escherichia coli cell loss from the coefficient of ultrasound relaxation in a suspension}; Kol'tsova IS et al.; A method for measuring the microbial cell dynamic loss modulus has been developed . The acoustic wave relaxation coefficient in the suspension of Escherichia coli cells was measured in relation to ultra-sound frequency and cell concentration . Using these data and proceeding from the ideas on acoustic and viscous properties of suspensions the volume dynamic loss modulus of cells was calculated . The obtained results were compared with the data on the loss modulus of albumin globules aggregates.

J Periodontol, 1985 May, 56(5), 281 - 4
Microbial interpretation of plaque relative to the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease; Wolff LF et al.; It has been suggested that monitoring microbial forms in plaque with the microscope may prove useful to the clinician in assessing periodontal status . In this regard, the microbial interpretation of plaque relative to the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease has recently received considerable attention . However, questions remain to be answered before the microscope is accepted for routine use in the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease . This report addresses a number of these questions surrounding the use of the microscope in evaluating plaque and its role in the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease.

Br J Nutr, 1985 May, 53(3), 691 - 708
The digestion by cattle of silage-containing diets fed at two dry matter intakes . 1 . Digestion of organic matter and nitrogen; Rooke JA et al.; In a 4 X 4 Latin square experiment four cattle were given in two meals per d diets consisting of (g/kg dry matter (DM)) 500 barley, 400 grass silage and 100 soya-bean meal . The diets were given at either 1.15 (L) or 2.3 times (H) maintenance energy requirements and the soya-bean meal was either untreated (U) or formaldehyde-treated (T) . A 24 h collection of duodenal digesta and a 7 d collection of faeces were made using chromium sesquioxide for flow estimation and 35S as a marker of microbial nitrogen entering the small intestine . Samples of rumen fluid were also taken for estimation of rumen pH, ammonia and volatile fatty acid concentrations . Spot samples of duodenal digesta were obtained after administration of Cr2O3-mordanted silage-fibre and soya-bean meal, to determine the rates of outflow of these markers from the rumen . Similar samples were also obtained after cessation of a continuous intraruminal infusion of ruthenium phenanthroline, 35S and CoEDTA . Incubations of each feedingstuff in porous synthetic fibre (psf) bags were carried out in the rumen and the rates of N disappearance from the bags determined . Increasing DM intake significantly (P less than 0.001) increased the quantities of organic matter (OM), total N and amino acid-N entering the small intestine and amounts subsequently voided in the faeces . Apparent digestibilities of OM and N were unaffected by DM intake; the proportions of total digestible OM digested in the rumen were significantly lower (P less than 0.01) at the higher level of DM intake . Formaldehyde treatment of the soya-bean meal increased the quantities of N entering the small intestine; these increases were not significant . Increased DM intake increased the quantities of both microbial N (P less than 0.001) and undegraded feed N (P less than 0.01) entering the small intestine; HCHO-treatment also significantly (P less than 0.05) increased the quantities of undegraded feed N entering the small intestine . The efficiency of microbial N synthesis within the rumen was not significantly affected by dietary treatments whereas apparent feed N degradability was reduced significantly (P less than 0.05) both by increasing DM intake and by HCHO-treatment of the soya-bean meal . Rates of disappearance of N from psf bags in the rumen were different for different feedingstuffs . However, for a given feedingstuff, the rate of N disappearance was not affected by the diets fed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Experientia, 1985 Apr 15, 41(4), 434 - 41
Etiology of rheumatoid arthritis; Kouri T; Definite genetic associations with immunological cooperative HLA-D(R) antigens have been demonstrated for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) . Microbial etiology has not been proven, but some hope for the supporters of this view is still given by small viruses, plasmids of enteric bacteria or perhaps oncogen-like DNA-sequences . Yet, electrophoretical analysis of membrane proteins or surface glycoproteins of RA synovial cells does not show any differences compared to reference cells . Autoimmunity to several tissue elements has been demonstrated, but most of it is of secondary nature . Antigenicities of type II and III collagens are probably only contributory factors for HLA-DR4 positive individuals . Proteoglycans or minor cartilage collagens have not been extensively studied, so far . Endocrine, dietary or psychological influences might be triggering events for otherwise 'preloaded' individuals.

Bull Narc, 1985 Apr-Sep, 37(2-3), 149 - 56
Risks incurred by children of drug-addicted women: some medical and legal aspects; Vaille C; A review of recent literature shows a dramatic increase in the number of drug-addicted pregnant women, which increases the number of infants susceptible to the adverse effects of such addiction . The majority of new-born infants born to mothers addicted to opiates show a narcotic withdrawal syndrome . The risk of prematurity and other health disorders occurring in a new-born infant is substantially increased by the mother's abuse of narcotics during pregnancy . The microbial infection of children by a contaminated drug abused in the family, and accidental poisoning of children by drugs, have also been reported . The treatment of drug-addicted pregnant women has raised certain medical and legal questions, such as the breach of confidentiality of medical information and the criminal failure to report offences, as well as the failure to render assistance . The promotion of information and education about drug abuse during pregnancy, and the effects of such abuse on the pregnant women, her foetus and the future of a new-born infant is an urgent necessity.

Can J Biochem Cell Biol, 1985 Apr, 63(4), 263 - 7
Cone-shaped lipids increase the susceptibility of phospholipids in bilayers to the action of phospholipases; Buckley JT; Addition of cardiolipin or diacylglycerol to dispersions of phosphatidylcholine greatly increased hydrolysis by snake venom or pancreatic phospholipase A2, as well as by a microbial phospholipase . Monogalactosyl diglyceride which, like cardiolipin and diacylglycerol, will form nonbilayer hexagonal II structures also caused an increase in the breakdown of phosphatidylcholine . Addition of digalactosyl diglyceride, a bilayer lipid from the same source, had a much smaller effect on the three phospholipases, indicating that stimulation by the nonbilayer lipids was not due to their fatty acid compositions . Stimulation of the microbial phospholipase by cardiolipin did not require the presence of calcium, leading to the conclusion that the formation of nonbilayer structures was not necessary . The results suggest that cone-shaped lipids increase the accessibility of lipids in bilayers to phospholipases by decreasing the packing of the polar head groups.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {C}, 1985 Apr, 93(2), 65 - 70
Age-related changes of human serum antibodies to dietary and colonic bacterial antigens measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Scott H et al.; IgG, IgA and IgM antibody activities in human serum to six dietary and eight gut-related microbial antigens were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . IgG activities to five of the dietary antigens decreased with age; IgM activities to four of them were weaker in old people than in children . Old people showed weaker IgM but stronger IgG activities to some of the microbial antigens than children did . A decline in IgG and IgM antibody titres to most dietary antigens with increasing age is consistent with the development of systemic hyporesponsiveness due to continuous antigenic stimulation of the intestinal immune system . Persistence of microbial antigens in the gut, moreover, may lead to systemic hyporesponsiveness of IgM-producing cells . Concurrently raised IgG titres to three of the bacteria might be explained by antigenic stimulation outside the intestinal immune system.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1985 Apr, (4), 6 - 11
{Fatty acid composition of Leptospira lipids as a taxonomic criterion}; Vasiurenko ZP et al.; The fatty-acid composition of microbial cells in 17 pathogenic and saprophytic Leptospira strains, comprising 14 serovars and 10 serogroups, has been studied . The strains under investigation have proved to fall into 3 groups differing by this characteristic . The group of saprophytic strains is characterized by a comparatively high level of myristic acid and, consequently, by the ratio of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with 14 carbon atoms approaching 1:1; besides, it is also characterized by a lower, in comparison with the pathogenic Leptospira strains belonging to the serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae, Canicola, Ballum has a higher level of unsaturated fatty acids . The second group of pathogenic Leptospira strains including the serogroups Grippotyphosa, Hebdomadis, Pomona, Tarassovi, Pyrogenes, Australia has been found to occupy an intermediate position between the first group of pathogenic Leptospira strains and the group of saprophytic ones . As the difference in the content of myristic acid in pathogenic and saprophytic Leptospira strains is a stable characteristic, it can be used for the differentiation of these strains . The present investigation has revealed that the distribution of the main fatty acids in Leptospira phospholipids is similar to their distribution in Leptospira neutral lipids with the exception of unsaturated fatty acid with 14 carbon atoms, occurring mainly in phospholipids.

Br Poult Sci, 1985 Apr, 26(2), 171 - 7
Effect of dietary copper on litter microbial population and broiler performance; Johnson EL et al.; Proprietary broiler diets, containing added copper (125 mg/kg) as sulphate, were fed to broilers in 4 trials (32 pens each) over a one year period without a change of litter . Mould counts in the litter of pens containing birds fed the standard diets decreased to 2 X 10(3) propagules per g in trial 4 . Those in the pens with birds fed the diets containing supplemental copper decreased to 6 X 10(2) propagules per g . Litter bacterial counts (10(7) organisms/g) were not affected by dietary copper . Litter copper concentrations in pens where the birds were fed supplemented diets increased significantly to more than 600 mg/kg in trial 4 . Dietary copper sulphate addition significantly increased broiler weight gains at 7 weeks in trials 3 and 4 (P less than 0.05) and the efficiency of food utilisation was significantly improved in trial 4 . The copper content of the chicks' livers remained unchanged . It is suggested that broiler performance may be independent of dietary copper content . Litter copper concentrations and litter microbial alterations may be important factors.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 Apr, 49(4), 756 - 60
Plasmid-mediated degradation of dibenzothiophene by Pseudomonas species; Monticello DJ et al.; The microbial transformation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) is of interest in the potential desulfurization of oil . We isolated three soil Pseudomonas species which oxidized DBT to characteristic water-soluble, sulfur-containing products . Two of our isolates harbored a 55-megadalton plasmid; growth in the presence of novobiocin resulted in both loss of the plasmid and loss of the ability to oxidize DBT . Reintroduction of the plasmid restored the ability to oxidize DBT to water-soluble products . The products resulting from the oxidation of DBT were characterized and included 3-hydroxy-2-formyl benzothiophene, 3-oxo-{3'-hydroxy-thionaphthenyl-(2)-methylene}-dihydrothionaph thene, and the hemiacetal and trans forms of 4-{2-(3-hydroxy)-thianaphthenyl}-2-oxo-3-butenoic acid . The products of DBT oxidation were inhibitory to cell growth and further DBT oxidation . DBT oxidation in our soil isolates was induced by naphthalene or salicylate and to a much lesser extent by DBT and was repressed by succinate.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Apr, 27(4), 663 - 5
Comparative in vitro activity of sanguinarine against oral microbial isolates; Dzink JL et al.; MICs of sanguinarine were determined for 52 oral reference strains and 129 fresh isolates from human dental plaque . Sanguinarine was found to completely inhibit the growth of 98% of the isolates at a concentration of 16 micrograms/ml.

Mutat Res, 1985 Apr, 149(2), 159 - 70
Genotoxicity studies with mineral oils; effects of oils on the microbial mutagenicity of precursor mutagens and genotoxic metabolites; Watson WP et al.; In vitro genotoxicity assays are extensively used to predict carcinogenic activity in vivo . The standard microbial mutagenicity assays however often fail to yield positive results with mineral oils which are carcinogenic to mice in long-term skin-cancer studies . A comprehensive programme of studies has therefore investigated the basis of this apparently anomalous behaviour . This investigation has addressed the possible effects of oils on the bioactivation of precursor mutagens and the disposition of mutagenic metabolites by studying the microbial mutagenicity of selected precursor mutagens (benzo{a}pyrene, benzo{a}anthracene, 2-aminoanthracene and 2-naphthylamine) and intrinsically reactive mutagens {+/- )-benzo{a}pyrene-4,5-oxide and (+/-)-7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha,10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo{a}pyrene) in the presence and absence of mineral oils . Notably the mutagenicity associated with the deliberate additions of these mutagens or precursor mutagens to oils was readily detected by the microbial assays . The mutagenicity of only one of the precursor mutagens, benzo{a}pyrene, was significantly reduced by the oils, and then only in the standard plate-incorporation assay . Interestingly the degree of suppression appeared to be related to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content of the oils . In the case of 2-aminoanthracene large enhancements in its mutagenicity were observed in the presence of oils . These latter findings appear to be due to effects of oils on the bioactivation of precursor mutagens rather than on the disposition of their bioactivation products . The mutagenicity of intrinsically reactive mutagens, of a type generated by bioactivation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was not significantly reduced in the presence of mineral oils . This indicates that it is unlikely that components in oils trap or facilitate the deactivation of ultimate mutagens whether these pre-exist in the oil or are formed from precursors by bioactivation in the in vitro test system . Viewed overall these results suggest that mineral oils judged to be carcinogenic on the basis of in vivo studies in mouse skin may possess only very weak genotoxic potential . While this potential is likely to be a prerequisite for carcinogenic action, the current results cause attention to be focussed on other factors, e.g . promotion, as potentially important determinants of the carcinogenic potencies of mineral oils in mouse skin.

J Appl Toxicol, 1985 Apr, 5(2), 80 - 8
Comparative chemical and biological analysis of coal tar-based therapeutic agents to other coal-derived materials; Wright CW et al.; In this study, methodologies developed for the analysis of synthetic fuel products were applied to the coal tar fractions isolated from coal tar-based pharmaceutical products . A pharmaceutical stock solution of 20% coal tar in alcohol, a 50% coal tar bath emulsion and a 4.3% coal tar shampoo were studied . The toxicology and chemical composition of the coal tar fractions isolated from these materials were compared with an industrial coal tar and with a direct-liquefaction coal liquid product . The coal tars and coal liquid product were fractionated into chemical classes by alumina column chromatography and individual components were identified and quantitated by high-resolution gas chromatography . The microbial mutagenicity of these materials was measured against S . typhimurium, TA 98 . In addition, the industrial coal tar, coal-liquid product, and coal tar isolate from the 20% coal tar in alcohol solution were tested for initiating activity in an initiation/promotion mouse skin painting assay for carcinogenicity . The chemical compositions of the coal tar-based therapeutic agents, the industrial coal tar and direct-liquefaction coal liquid were similar . With the exception of the 50% bath emulsion, the microbial mutagenicity and tumor-initiating activity in mouse skin for those materials tested were also similar.

J Immunol, 1985 Apr, 134(4), 2536 - 43
Antigen-specific anti-phosphocholine antibodies: binding site studies; Claflin JL et al.; The present investigation extends our initial evaluation of the evolution of antigen selection mechanisms for antibodies of a "single" specificity . The binding sites of 11 mouse anti-PC antibodies produced in response to the bacterium P . morganii or the nematode A . suum were characterized for both hapten and hapten plus carrier specificity . All of the anti-P . morganii HP belonged to the M603 anti-PC antibody family, whereas all the A . suum HP belonged to the M511 family . Of the eight anti-P . morganii HP, six exhibited a fine specificity profile for PC and choline analogues only slightly different from M603 Id+ HP induced by S . pneumoniae and PC-protein . These six and a seventh HP, whose hapten binding profile was unique, were also unusual in showing strong reactivity for a soluble PC containing extract from P . morganii . All three anti-A . suum-specific HP studied in detail had hapten-binding profiles remarkably similar to each other, a finding that is in contrast to M511 Id+ HP to S . pneumoniae and PC-protein . All three HP also showed evidence for preferential binding activity for A . suum, although this was not as dramatic as that seen with the anti-P . morganii HP . These data support our hypothesis that antigen selection of anti-PC antibodies occurs not so much for PC itself as it does for the carrier (microbial) determinants to which PC is attached.

Br J Nutr, 1985 Mar, 53(2), 311 - 22
The effect of lumen conditions on oxygen uptake in perfused omasal laminae; Lozeman FJ et al.; The vascular anatomy of the bovine omasal lamina permitted perfusion of a discrete area of the tissue . As occurs in vivo, oxygen was provided through the vascular system, while the luminal sides of the tissue could be kept in an anaerobic environment, thus allowing study of foregut tissue metabolism under physiologically realistic conditions . O2 consumption of perfused leaves in the presence of anaerobic buffer was 64.9 and 73.5 nmol O2/mg dry weight per h in Expts 1 and 2 respectively, and was elevated (P less than 0.05) when the lumen side of the tissue was exposed to an atmosphere of nitrogen gas . In Expt 1, the rate of O2 consumption was increased (P less than 0.01) by 35% as a result of suspension of a boiled preparation of rumen micro-organisms and particles (less than 1 mm) in the anaerobic lumen buffer . Replacement of the boiled preparation with an unboiled suspension increased O2 consumption further by 11%, but this was not statistically significant (P greater than 0.05) . In Expt 2, sequential addition of the following substrates or preparations to the lumen chambers all resulted in stepwise increases (P less than 0.05) in O2 consumption; 8 mM-butyrate, boiled rumen micro-organisms and particles and, finally, unboiled rumen micro-organisms and particles . Identities of the heat-labile and heat-stable components of the microbial and particle suspensions that caused enhancement of O2 removal across the perfused tissue are discussed.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1985 Mar, 38(3), 328 - 32
Microbial phosphorylation of compactin (ML-236B) and related compounds; Endo A et al.; Several fungal strains were found to convert compactin (ML-236B) to 5'-phosphocompactic acid . The product was isolated by solvent extraction and column chromatography, and identified by IR, UV, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and 31P NMR spectroscopy . Related structures (monacolin K, L and X) were also transformed to their corresponding phosphorylated analogues . The products were re-converted back to respective parental compounds by treatment with alkaline phosphatase of calf intestine.

Arch Tierernahr, 1985 Mar, 35(3), 183 - 96
{Effect of mixed protein silage in feed on the digestive tract and metabolism parameters in swine}; Bolduan G et al.; With a view to studying the effect of acid addition, weaned piglets and fattening pigs were fed graduated amounts of protein mixed silage (pH-value 3.15 by adding 20 g H2SO4/kg) in rations of equal energy and protein levels . On average, the fattening pigs were taking in 0.26 g H2SO4/kg, whilst the amounts for piglets were 0.60 and 0.72 g H2SO4/kg . Higher acid intakes had a negative effect of energy expenditure, weight gains and feed intake . The experimental animals had significantly longer small intestines, whilst the intestine's wall was found thinner and the amount of digesta reduced and with a higher water content . The microbial activity in the stomach proved significantly inhibited . However, it was higher in the caecum as compared to the control animals . Metabolic parameters suggest that water and mineral balances are under stress . The significance of acid addition for tract flora and its metabolites is discussed . Protein mixed silage is regarded a dietetically favourable feed when given at a maximum daily amount of 25 g/kg LW or 1 kg/animal . The recommendation for dosing the daily administration of inorganic acids is as follows: max . 0.5 g acid/kg LW or 20 g/animal.

Arch Environ Health, 1985 Mar-Apr, 40(2), 96 - 101
Pulmonary disease associated with cafeteria flooding; Hodgson MJ et al.; An illness among office workers, consisting of cough, fever, chills, muscle aches, and chest tightness was associated with water leaks from a cafeteria . Mean single breath carbon-monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) of cases differed significantly from that of non-cases . There was a significant decrease in the percent of predicted DLCO with increasing number of symptoms . Testing for precipitating antibodies to microbial agents found in the building revealed no differences between cases and non-cases . DLCO is an appropriate cross-sectional instrument for field investigations of building-associated respiratory disease.

J Biochem Biophys Methods, 1985 Mar, 10(5-6), 341 - 50
pH, urea and substrate gradients for the optimization of ultrathin polyacrylamide gel zymograms; Gorg A et al.; The preparation of ultrathin polyacrylamide gels with different kinds of gradients (pH, substrates, inhibitors) is described . By using these gels for contact printing after isoelectric focusing with Ampholines or Immobilines and for diffusion tests, the influence of pH or increasing amounts of substrates or inhibitors on enzyme and isoenzyme activities is studied . These methods are successfully applied for the optimization of zymogram techniques and for the easy characterization of industrial microbial enzyme preparations for technological purposes . With buffer-generated pH gradient gels, the pH optimum of all isoenzyme activities is demonstrated by contact printing; the total amount of isoenzyme activities dependent on pH is determined by a diffusion test . Gels with a linear gradient between 0 and 8 M urea are used for isoelectric focusing, diffusion tests and contact printing in order to differentiate the unfolding and denaturing effects of urea on isoenzymes . Alterations in polygalacturonase isoenzyme patterns dependent on urea concentration are not caused by inhibition or denaturation but by the change of charges . In respect to band sharpness and straightness urea can be added advantageously up to 2 M without changing the isoelectric points or activities of the isoenzymes . For the reproducibility of zymograms it is interesting to see that different substrate concentrations reveal different isoenzyme patterns.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 Mar, 49(3), 593 - 8
Novel microbial screen for detection of 1,4-butanediol, ethylene glycol, and adipic acid; Stieglitz B et al.; A novel microbial-screening procedure was developed for separate detection of 1,4-butanediol, ethylene glycol, and adipic acid, three commercially important oxychemicals potentially derivable from bacterial omega-oxidation of n-butanol, ethanol, and hexanoic acid, respectively . The screening method involved postproduction addition of one of several specific Pseudomonas strains which produce a soluble fluorescent pigment during growth on the product of interest . A mutation and selection procedure was developed for isolation of specific strains with phenotypes for growth and pigment production on the desired product (e.g., 1,4-butanediol), but not on its bioconversion substrate (e.g., n-butanol), common by-products (e.g., n-butyrate), or product isomers . Pigment production was growth associated and required cultivation of the screening strains under limiting Fe3+ concentrations . The pigments resembled well-characterized, iron-chelating siderophores produced by other fluorescent pseudomonads . The sensitivity of the assay for product accumulation was enhanced by (i) conducting the screening in microtiter dishes to permit examination of individual isolates of putative producers and to control product diffusion, (ii) using a wavelength cutoff filter to reduce background source light, and (iii) using adapted screening strains which grew at lower (0.3 mM) concentrations of test compounds . The potential utility of the method for detecting a variety of oxidative catabolic products is discussed.

Med Clin North Am, 1985 Mar, 69(2), 297 - 314
Infections of central nervous system shunts; Gardner P et al.; Approximately 1 out of every 10 ventricular shunts for hydrocephalus will become infected . This represents a three- to fivefold increase in infection rate compared with other neurosurgical procedures . Most often, the infection results from colonization of the shunt device by normally nonpathogenic skin flora at the time of surgery . Properties of the foreign body itself may contribute to this increased risk of infection, and most infections are clinically apparent within the first 6 months following surgery . Meticulous surgical technique remains one of the most important variables in reducing shunt infection while the role of prophylactic antibiotics is still unclear . When a shunt infection is suspected, percutaneous needle aspiration of the shunt reservoir is most always diagnostic . Fluid specimens should be sent for Gram smear, culture, and susceptibility testing . Appropriate systemic antibiotics should be started . In most instances, the infected patient should be treated by external ventricular drainage and intraventricular antibiotics until the CSF is sterilized . The drain should then be removed and a new shunt placed . Immediate removal of the infected shunt with simultaneous replacement by a new shunt in a different location also has a high cure rate but carries an increased risk of subsequent infection . With few exceptions, antibiotic therapy alone or partial shunt revision will be unsuccessful, and these therapies carry increased morbidity and mortality rates due to prolonged shunt infection . Despite the frequency of shunt surgery and its high rate of infection, a well-organized investigational approach to this problem has been lacking . Both laboratory and clinical investigation needs to explore new shunting techniques, biomaterials, the role of antibiotics, and microbial factors involving host defenses and the shunt apparatus itself.

Cancer Treat Rep, 1985 Mar, 69(3), 285 - 91
Effect of forphenicinol, a small molecular immunomodifier, in combination with cyclophosphamide on growth of and immunity to syngeneic murine tumors; Nitta K et al.; Forphenicinol (FPL) is a low molecular immunomodifier derived from forphenicine, a microbial product found by Umezawa and co-workers . We studied the antitumor effect of FPL, cyclophosphamide (CY), and the combination of the two on several syngeneic murine tumors . The tumors used were mammary carcinoma, L1210 leukemia, B16 melanoma, Lewis lung carcinoma, and glioblastoma . A single ip injection of CY on Day 1 followed by eight consecutive daily oral doses of FPL beginning 6 days after tumor inoculation showed strong cooperation in curing syngeneic mammary carcinoma inoculated intradermally in C3H/HeN mice, most mice being cured of the tumor by the combination therapy and subsequently having acquired strong specific immunity . Treatment with FPL alone (either pre- or post-treatment) also significantly inhibited the growth of the mammary tumor . FPL and CY also showed cooperation in inhibiting the growth of L1210 leukemia transplanted intradermally into CDF1 (BALB/c X DBA/2) mice and markedly prolonged the survival time but FPL treatment alone had no effect . The FPL-CY treatment also affected Lewis lung carcinoma and glioblastoma in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice and produced therapeutic synergism . FPL alone significantly inhibited the growth of B16 melanoma in C57BL/6 mice as well as the syngeneic mammary carcinoma in C3H/HeN mice . These findings suggest that oral administration of FPL in combination with chemotherapeutic agents can be used for treating cancer without causing toxicity, because of the synergistic efficacy of the combination.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1985 Mar 1, 151(5), 679 - 81
Antibodies to the neutral glycolipid asialo ganglio-N-tetraosylceramide: association with gynecologic cancers; Witkin SS et al.; As part of our efforts to define subpopulations at increased risk for gynecologic malignancies, sera from 145 women were obtained prior to diagnosis and analyzed for antibody to asialo ganglio-N-tetraosylceramide . This neutral glycolipid is present on the surface of thymocytes and natural killer cells, and asialo ganglio-N-tetraosylceramide antibody has been shown in animals to block natural killer cell activity and promote tumor cell proliferation . With the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and with a value of 2 SD above the mean for healthy women designated as the boundary for a positive response, antibody to asialo ganglio-N-tetraosylceramide was detected in only one of 30 (3%) healthy women, none of 16 pregnant women, none of 18 women with benign masses, and two of 24 (8%) women with microbial infections . All of the above samples that contained antibodies were barely over the 2 SD limit . In marked contrast, 19 of 35 (54%) women with gynecologic malignancies had asialo ganglio-N-tetraosylceramide antibodies, with positive values ranging to greater than 10 SD above the control mean . Asialo ganglio-N-tetraosylceramide antibody was found in six of eight (75%) patients with cervical cancer, five of eight (63%) with endometrial cancer, and seven of 15 (47%) with ovarian cancer . Of the eight patients with Stage I gynecologic cancer at any site, five (62%) had asialo ganglio-N-tetraosylceramide antibodies . Four of 22 (18%) women with Hodgkin's disease also had antibodies, with values just exceeding 2 SD above control levels . The presence of these antibodies may contribute to an impaired immune surveillance system in these women and so increase their susceptibility to malignancy.

J Clin Pathol, 1985 Mar, 38(3), 336 - 40
Effects of media, working practice, and automation on the rapid detection of bacteraemia; Corkill JE; Advances in the treatment of disease have resulted in an increasing number of blood cultures being processed by microbiology departments . The effect of media, revision of working hours, and automation on the time taken to detect positive cultures are reported . A 9.5% detection rate at 24 h with broth systems examined manually increased to 76.0% with a semi-automated radiometric technique (BACTEC) . The use of radiometry in a restructured working day--that is, 9.00 am to 7.00 pm--resulted in optimum conditions for reducing the reporting time . The efficacy of modern equipment, designed to detect micro-organisms rapidly, can be considerably enhanced by reorganisation of traditional working hours to suit microbial growth rather than the current availability of staff.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 Mar, 49(3), 711 - 3
Modification of the 14C most-probable-number method for use with nonpolar and volatile substrates; Somerville CC et al.; A method was developed to allow the use of volatile and nonpolar substrates in 14C most-probable-number tests . Naphthalene or hexadecane was sorbed to filter paper disks and submerged in minimal medium . The procedure reduced the volatilization of the substrates while allowing them to remain available for microbial degradation.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1985 Mar, 30(3), 208 - 12
{A spectroturbidimetric method of rapid evaluation of microbial sensitivity to antibiotics}; Iosipenko AD et al.; A rapid spectroturbidimetric method for estimation of the microbial sensitivity to antibiotics is described . It provides quantitative determination of significant structural parameters of bacterial suspensions, such as the average values of the cell radius or the radius of the cell conglomerates r lambda, their numerical concentration N and the concentration of the intact cells by the dry weight C . The relative changing of the biomass during the culture growth is a reliable index of the microbial sensitivity to the antibiotic effect . The changing of the biomass is determined by direct estimation of C, but not by the suspension turbidity measured at one light wavelength . The collection strains E . coli M-17 and S . aureus 209P were used . The spectra of the optical density were measured with the use of the apparatus made in the USSR . It was noted that the resolving capacity and realization rate of the spectroturbidimetric method wee higher than those of the routine agar diffusion method . The spectroturbidimetric method provides determination of the culture sensitivity to several antibiotics for 4 hours.

Int Dent J, 1985 Mar, 35(1), 36 - 42
The cariogenic potential of foods--a critical review of current methods; Krasse B; Current methods used in examining the cariogenic potential of foods are plaque pH measurements, measurements of adhesiveness of foods, experimental caries models and animal tests . pH measurements can be used for separating the non-acidogenic foods from the acidogenic ones but they are not suitable for separating foods with different levels of caries inducing potential . This is illustrated by the fact that virtually all foods which contain carbohydrates cause the pH of human plaque to fall below 5.5 . Cooked rice and beans also give such a pH drop but these foods have a very low caries-inducing potential, as shown in studies of persons with hereditary fructose intolerance . Furthermore, experimentation has shown that acid formation and enamel dissolution are not directly correlated . Animal models exist in which various test foods can be examined under identical conditions . By using the same microbial challenge and a reference food, for example sucrose, the relative cariogenic potential of a test food can be calculated . One limitation with these animal models is that the foods have to be given in powdered form and not in the physical form in which they are consumed by humans . The main objection against most of the current methods is that they reflect important factors in our concept of the pathogenesis of dental caries only to a limited extent . For example, only the animal tests can be used to illustrate the extent to which foods support the colonization of S . mutans on teeth . The qualitative composition of the plaque is practically never considered . A series of tests can, however, be combined to give more relevant information about the caries-inducing potential of foods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1985 Mar, 3(2), 167 - 74
Comparison of the Isolator 1.5 Microbial Tube with a conventional blood culture broth system for detection of bacteremia in children; Campos JM et al.; A lysis direct plating technique, utilizing the Isolator 1.5 Microbial Tube (Du Pont Company) was compared to a conventional two-bottle culture system during a prospective study conducted in a children's hospital . Specimens were processed so that the amounts of blood allocated to each conventional blood culture bottle and the Isolator tube were as equivalent as possible . Of the 1,823 specimens enrolled, 93 (5.1%) yielded growth of 102 clinically significant isolates . Lysis direct plating and conventional blood culture bottles detected 85 and 89 of the isolates, respectively . No statistically significant differences were observed between the two methods in the overall efficiency of organism recovery or in the detection of any specific organism . Contamination rates during the entire study were 14.1% and 3.6% for lysis direct plating and conventional blood culture bottles, respectively . The mean time to availability of colonies of clinically significant isolates from specimens positive by both methods was 29 hr and 35 hr for lysis direct plating and conventional blood culture bottles, respectively . We conclude that lysis direct plating offers an attractive alternative to conventional blood culture bottles for the processing of blood cultures from pediatric patients.

Yale J Biol Med, 1985 Mar-Apr, 58(2), 153 - 63
The search for an endogenous activator; Gekowski KM et al.; Certain febrile diseases are unaccompanied by infection or apparent hypersensitivity . In myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolism, for example, fever has been attributed to inflammation and/or tissue necrosis . Exogenous (microbial) pyrogens stimulate both human and animal monocytes/macrophages to produce endogenous pyrogen (EP) in vitro . To determine if plasma and cellular endogeneous mediators (EMs) of inflammation induced EP production, human mononuclear cells (M/L) were incubated for 18 hours with varying amounts of EM and the supernates assayed for EP in rabbits . Neutrophils (PMNs), which do not generate EP and yet are a feature of acute inflammation, were tested . Neither viable, phorbol myristic acetate-stimulated PMNs nor sonicated PMNs, red blood cells, or M/L stimulated human monocytes to produce EP . Human C3b and C5a, which mediate phagocytosis and chemotaxis, respectively, were also inactive . Despite its chemoattractant properties, the synthetic peptide FMLP failed to induce EP release . Since Poly I:Poly C (PIC: a synthetic, double-stranded RNA) is a potent pyrogen in rabbits, we investigated PIC, as well as a native, single-stranded RNA (from E . coli) and DNA (from calf thymus) . None was active in vitro, and only PIC caused fever when given to rabbits intravenously . In summary, we have been unable to find an endogenous activator of EP from human monocytes to explain fevers associated with inflammation alone.

J Reprod Fertil, 1985 Mar, 73(2), 385 - 90
Effects of proteinase inhibitors on preimplantation embryos in the rat; Ichikawa S et al.; Proteinase inhibitors of microbial origin were injected into the uterine horns of mated rats at 14:00 h on Day 5 of pregnancy (spermatozoa in vaginal smear = Day 1), and 5 or 6 h later the embryos were flushed from the horns and examined . Chymostatin and alpha-MAPI, inhibitors of chymotrypsin-like serine proteinase and thiol proteinases, as well as thiolstatin, an inhibitor of thiol proteinases, significantly inhibited embryo growth . The inhibitory activity of alpha-MAPI on embryonic growth was distinctly greater than that of thiolstatin, although the ID50 values of the two inhibitors to papain are similar . Antipain and leupeptin which are inhibitors of trypsin-like and thiol proteinases, and talopeptin, an inhibitor of metal proteinases, significantly interrupted the removal of the zona pellucida from expanding blastocysts . These results suggest that (1) a chymotrypsin-like proteinase seems to be important to the growth of the embryo, (2) a thiol proteinase may participate in embryonic growth, and (3) a trypsin-like proteinase and a metal proteinase are likely to participate in zonalysis.

J Med Chem, 1985 Mar, 28(3), 317 - 23
Artificial siderophores . 1 . Synthesis and microbial iron transport capabilities; Lee BH et al.; Several di- and trihydroxamate analogues of natural microbial iron chelators have been prepared . The syntheses involved linkage of core structural units, including pyridinedicarboxylic acid, benzenetricarboxylic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, and tricarballylic acid, by amide bonds to 1-amino-omega-(hydroxyamino)alkanes to provide the polyhydroxamates 1-5 . The required protected (hydroxyamino)alkanes 8, 16, and 21 were prepared by different routes . 1-Amino-3-{(benzyloxy)amino}propane di-p-toluenesulfonate (8) was prepared from the N-protected aminopropanol 6 by oxidation to the aldehyde, formation of the substituted oxime, and reduction with NaBH3CN followed by deprotection of the Boc group . The pentyl derivatives 16 and 21 were made by direct alkylation with either benzyl acetohydroxamate or N-carbobenzoxy-O-benzylhydroxylamine . In Escherichia coli RW193 most of the analogues behaved nutritionally as ferrichrome . However, in E . coli AN193, a mutant lacking the ferrichrome receptor, capacity to use other natural siderophores was retained while response to all analogues was lost.

Ann Trop Paediatr, 1985 Mar, 5(1), 11 - 4
Transitional diarrhoea in newborn infants; Maiya PP et al.; A self-limited acute fluid diarrhoea was seen in 80 of 3550 (2.2%) live-born infants not kept in a nursery in this hospital . Rotavirus and enteropathogenic serotypes of E . coli were detected with equal frequency with and without diarrhoea . It is suggested that this self-limited episode of diarrhoea occurring soon after birth is not necessarily due to rotavirus infection but could also be due to failure of adaptation to enteral feeding and microbial colonization during this transitional period.

J Biol Chem, 1985 Feb 25, 260(4), 2268 - 73
Inhibition of lipases by proteins . A kinetic study with dicaprin monolayers; Gargouri Y et al.; We report further investigations on protein inhibition of pancreatic and microbial lipases carried out with the monolayer technique . When beta-lactoglobulin A, melittin, serum albumin, myoglobin, and a protein inhibiting lipase from soybean were preincubated with a dicaprin film at a surface pressure of 35 dynes/cm, no activity was detected with horse pancreatic or Rhizopus delemar lipases . By contrast, Rhizopus arrhizus and Geotrichum candidum lipase activities were not impaired under the same conditions . Experiments using mixed lipid-protein film transfer clearly show that the inhibition of pancreatic lipase is due to the protein associated with lipid and not caused by direct protein-enzyme interaction in the aqueous phase . Three parameters were used to determine the surface properties of the various proteins at the dicaprin/water interface; namely, the initial rate of surface pressure increase, (delta pi/delta t)t = 0, the maximal surface pressure increase, delta pi max, and the critical surface pressure, pi c . A positive correlation was observed between values of (delta pi/delta t)t = 0 of proteins and their respective capacity to inhibit pancreatic and R . delemar lipases . By contrast, there was no apparent correlation with the two other parameters, delta pi max or pi c.

Life Sci, 1985 Feb 11, 36(6), 549 - 55
Various proteinase inhibitors decrease prolactin and growth hormone release by anterior pituitary cells; Rappay G et al.; Proteinase inhibitors were tested for their ability to inhibit prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) release by cultured anterior pituitary cells of the rat . Inhibitors of microbial origin (chymostatin, elastatinal, leupeptin) had either no or a moderate effect on hormone release while some tripeptide aldehydes, especially those with lysine at their C terminus, inhibited markedly PRL and to a lesser extent GH release . Boc-DPhe-Phe-lysinal was the most effective on lactotrophs inhibiting PRL release more than 50% at 10(-4) M . The site(s) of action of tripeptide aldehydes remain to be elucidated.

Aust N Z J Med, 1985 Feb, 15(1), 93 - 7
New concepts in management of neutropenia; Firkin FC; Neutropenia is a life-threatening sequel of hematological disorders and a dominant factor limiting the dosage of cytotoxic chemotherapy . The role of the neutrophil is of such importance in defence against microbial invasion that measures that modify the behaviour of residual hemopoietic tissue to promote a modest increase in neutrophils, can confer considerable benefit by reducing the frequency and severity of infection . Such a change can be mediated in bone marrow depression by diversion of more progeny of immature precursors into the neutrophil series, or by enhancement of the stimulatory drive operating on neutrophil production . The former effect can be achieved by hypertransfusion of red cells to reduce the demand on the limited precursor population for cells of the erythroid series . The latter effect can be achieved by administration of lithium carbonate . Neutropenia caused by autoimmune injury to the neutrophil series can also be successfully modified by measures which suppress the underlying immune dyscrasia or the function of the reticulo-endothelial system . Corticosteroid administration and splenectomy can be helpful in certain specific types of neutropenia . Administration of cyclophosphamide and azathioprine has both mutagenic and marrow suppressive potential, but can induce remissions in severe chronic isolated neutropenia and in systemic lupus erythematosis.

Cancer, 1985 Jan 15, 55(2), 453 - 9
Value of open-lung biopsy in 87 immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates; Cheson BD et al.; The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 87 consecutive immunocompromised patients who underwent open-lung biopsy at the University of Utah Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, from January 1971 to June 1982 . A specific histologic diagnosis was obtained in 62 (71%) of the patients, 33 of whom had infections . Pneumocystis carinii was the most common microbial pathogen (16 patients), but no cases have been observed since 1980 when the routine use of prophylactic trimethoprim/sulfa began . The other specific diagnoses included malignancy or drug-induced lung disease . Specific therapy was available for 52 patients, and in 33 cases, a change in therapy was necessary to treat according to the lung biopsy diagnosis . Forty-one patients received an adequate course of therapy and 27 (66%) of these improved clinically, including 16 of 26 patients with infections, 11 of 14 with malignancies, and 1 of 2 with a vasculitis . Among the subgroup of 33 patients for whom a new, specific therapeutic option was available as a result of the biopsy diagnosis 21 (64%) responded to the treatment . Eleven significant operative complications were encountered, but no deaths were attributable to the biopsy . An open-lung biopsy in immunocompromised patients is a relatively safe, accurate diagnostic procedure which frequently facilitates appropriate therapy and clinical improvement.

Ann Biol Clin (Paris), 1985, 43(4), 397 - 405
{Diagnostic technics in infective pathology}; Comparative toxicity studies between bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) and N-formyl methionyl peptide as factors in the pathogenesis of byssinosis; Comparative in vivo and in vitro studies were made on bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the chemotactic peptide NF-Met-Leu-Phe with a view toward studying their possible role in the pathophysiology of byssinosis . In contrast to LPS, chemotactic peptides did not cause Limulus amebocyte lysate gelation, nor did they induce the release of endogenous pyrogen . Inhalation of LPS caused a peripheral leukocytosis in rabbits 30 min after aerosol administration, whereas peptide inhalation caused a significant leukopenia in the same period . Cellular analysis of guinea pig bronchial lavages after LPS aerosol challenge revealed immediate decreases in all cell types, with subsequent, large increases of macrophages and granulocytes 4-24 h after aerosolization . Inhalation challenge with NF-Met-Leu-Phe induced no significant cellular changes . It was concluded that it is unlikely that these microbial products could be confused with each other when administered in pure form by the inhalation route.

Acta Paediatr Hung, 1985, 26(3), 175 - 85
Evaluation of counselling for pregnant women exposed to potentially hazardous environmental factors; Czeizel A et al.; Pregnancy outcomes of 546 women seeking advice for exposure to suspected dangerous environmental factors during pregnancy were analysed . Induced abortion was recommended to 58 women, and this advice was followed by 55 of them . An additional 24 pregnancies were interrupted . The rates of fetal death (spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and infant death) in the non-terminated pregnancies corresponded to national figures . The proportion of birth defects among the liveborn infants of women exposed to hazardous physical, chemical, microbial and maternal factors was 5/67 (7.5%), 11/120 (9.2%), 6/158 (3.8%) and 1/22 (4.5%), respectively . These figures did not differ significantly from the expected ones based on the Hungarian registered and estimated figures . Furthermore, a causal relation between the environmental factors and the defects could be excluded in all but one case in which there was exposure to a high dose of oestrogen.

Nahrung, 1985, 29(10), 979 - 92
{Importance of peptides from enzymatically degraded proteins as components of foodstuffs}; Behnke U; In comparison with proteins, peptides occur only in very small amounts in foods . An exception are peptides, which result from proteins to a higher or lower extent in the course of natural or microbial disintegration or ripening processes . Recently, proteinases are used for process optimization or quality improvement in the production or processing of foods . Usually, the protein degradation in these cases is only small, but functional properties may be improved . Peptides frequently show a bitter taste and may limit the sensory value of foods . Sources and possibilities to remove the bitter taste are discussed . In dietetics protein-free peptide diets are introduced for special indications . They contain oligopeptides which are produced by intensive hydrolysis of proteins . The intestinal absorption of small peptides is different from that of free amino acids . Finally, physiological effects of some dietary peptides are discussed (e.g . peptides as enzyme inhibitors, coeliac disease as a gliadine-peptide induced enteropathy, exorphines as neurotransmitters).

Rheumatol Int, 1985, 5(5), 221 - 7
Borderline-tissues as sites of antigen deposition and persistence--a unifying concept of rheumatoid inflammation?
Schulz LC, Schaening U, Pena M, Hermanns W.
In organs of rheumatoid inflammation avascular tissue is nourished by perfusion either directly from the blood stream or by neighbouring blood vessels (borderline-tissue) . An open question remains whether this borderline-tissue promotes only the known antigen persistence, or also the first deposition of the pathogenetically important microbial antigen, and subsequently a deposition of immune complexes . The three markers (carbon, latex, and living bacteria) used in this study led to nearly the same pattern of deposition in two groups of organ systems: Organs with clearance function belonging to the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS); organs with borderline-tissues: joint, kidney, artery, heart valve, and eye . This deposition at the borderline can be observed best in areas of the joint where highly vascularized tissues are adjacent to avascular tissues nourished via perfusion: perichondrium, peritendineum, periosteum, and endo- and perimysium . These localisations of particle deposition correspond exactly with the intraarticular predilection sites of chronic rheumatoid inflammation in man and animals . Our results indicate an easier settlement of corpuscular material in these localisations, which at the same time are unable to eliminate such substances, unlike the organs of the MPS . Our studies seem to support the theory of pathogenetic importance of the borderline-tissues as a localizing factor in the perpetuating rheumatoid inflammation.

J Dairy Sci, 1985 Jan, 68(1), 45 - 56
Protein degradation in rumen and amino acid absorption in small intestine of lactating dairy cattle fed heat-treated whole soybeans; Stern MD et al.; Four lactating Holstein cows fitted with rumen cannulae and T-type cannulae in proximal duodenum and terminal ileum were used to measure protein degradation in the rumen and amino acid flow and absorption in the small intestine . Soybean meal, whole soybeans, and whole soybeans extruded at 132 and 149 degrees C provided 50% of the protein in diets that contained 51% grain, 36% corn silage, and 13% alfalfa hay (dry matter) . Spot samples of digesta were collected from duodenum and ileum during 96 h, and lanthanum was an indigestible marker to estimate flow and digestibility of nutrients . With diaminopimelic acid as a microbial marker, apparent degradations of dietary crude protein in the rumen were 73, 80, 66, and 60% for diets containing soybean meal, whole soybeans, and whole soybeans extruded at 132 and 149 degrees C . Because of the extensive degradation of protein with the raw soybean diet, less total amino acids reached the duodenum, and because of decrease of availability, absorption from the small intestine (g/day) was lowest with this diet . Feeding diets containing extruded whole soybeans increased availability of total essential amino acids in the small intestine compared with diets containing soybean meal and whole soybeans . Absorption from the small intestine (g/day and percent entering) of individual amino acids was generally higher for extruded whole soybean diets.

Am Ind Hyg Assoc J, 1985 Jan, 46(1), 28 - 33
Variation of composition with particle size in coal liquid aerosols generated for inhalation toxicology studies; Schirmer RE et al.; The chemical composition and microbial mutagenicity of aerosols generated by nebulizing two coal oils (solvent refined coal {SRC}-I process solvent {PS} and SRC-II heavy distillate) were found to vary with particle size . Significant quantities of the most volatile components of PS were also present as vapors . Evaporation and condensation processes in oil deposited on surfaces as well as in the aerosol are believed to be important in determining the observed composition changes . Complete physical and chemical characterization of the aerosol should be included in inhalation studies of complex materials since the animals may be exposed to material of quite different composition than that placed in the generator initially.

Z Rechtsmed, 1985, 94(3), 227 - 35
{Effects of fauna on cadavers and microbial saprophytes on blood group findings on human tissues}; Bertozzi-Sussmann B et al.; The investigation of postmortem human tissue, exposed to the influence of flies and their maggots, has shown in general that there is a drop in ABO blood-group activity due to the secretive action of the anterior intestinal gland of the larva . In addition, the phenomenon of acquired heterogeneous blood-group-specific substances was observed . By analogy with the findings in mummy tissues, the postmortal invasion of foreign bacterial and fungal blood-group-active material is discussed as a cause of erroneous serological diagnosis in bones . Acquisition of foreign serological activity through plant saprophytes was detected in a bone sample infested with algae . In different subfossil bone samples, blood-group activity was evident in the more decomposed areas, while in the better preserved parts of the bony substance, negative reactions were obtained.

Vet Med Nauki, 1985, 22(4), 22 - 30
{Clinical, radiotelemetric and x-ray research on erythematous polyarthritis in lambs}; Borisov I et al.; Experimental investigations were carried out with 6 lambs each infected i/v with 2 cm3 of a 24-hour broth culture of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae rated at 10(8) microbial cells per cu . cm . The clinical state of the animals was followed up in the course of 60 days, the changes in the cardiovascular system and those in the movements of the rumen being recorded radiotelemetrically, while the changes taking place in the joints were studied roentgenographically . It was found that the causative agent of swine erysipelas was strongly pathogenic for the lambs following a hematogenic infection, causing polyarthritis with concurrent changes in the general state--rise of temperature and higher respiration and pulse rates . The electrocardiograms of the affected animals showed sinus tachycardia, participation of Q waves, and changes in the R and T waves, while the graphic records of the rumen showed a drop in the number of rumen contractions and decrease in the amplitude . Roentgenographically, there were periostitis and osteoarthritis of the carpal and tarsal joints.

Rev Infect Dis, 1985 Jan-Feb, 7(1), 1 - 9
Frequency and characteristics of hyperbilirubinemia associated with bacteremia; Franson TR et al.; One hundred consecutive patients with blood cultures positive for microbial growth were prospectively surveyed for the presence of hepatic abnormalities and clinical evidence of infection . Complete data for 82 patients were available for analysis . Fifty-four percent had elevated bilirubin levels, and 34% had total bilirubin values of greater than or equal to 2.0 mg/dl . The levels of total bilirubin were disproportionately elevated compared with those of aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and cholesterol . Nine of the 23 patients with elevated bilirubin levels had an increase in serum bilirubin one to nine days before their initial positive blood culture . Disproportionate elevations of direct and total serum bilirubin values compared with values for other liver-function tests appear to be associated with bacteremia in adults more frequently than previously recognized and may have some predictive value in such patients.

Infect Immun, 1985 Jan, 47(1), 149 - 56
Suppression of in vitro lymphocyte proliferation in C57BL/10 ScN mice vaccinated with phase I Coxiella burnetii; Damrow TA et al.; The effect of inactivated phase I and phase II Coxiella burnetii whole cell vaccine (WCV) on the response of murine spleen cells to mitogenic and antigenic stimuli was evaluated in C57BL/10 ScN endotoxin nonresponder mice with an in vitro lymphocyte proliferation assay . Intraperitoneal injection of phase I WCV into mice resulted in marked and persistent suppression of the proliferative response of spleen cells to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen . This response was time and dose dependent and was not associated with decreased lymphocyte viability . By using a standard dose of 100 micrograms of phase I WCV, suppression of mitogenic responsiveness was first detected 3 days postinjection, attained maximum levels by day 14, and persisted for longer than 5 weeks . Suppression of mitogenic lymphocyte proliferation also was demonstrated after inoculation of animals with viable phase I organisms . The observed hyporesponsiveness of spleen cells from phase I WCV-injected animals was not either the result of a shift in the mitogenic dose optimum or due to a change in the day of in vitro peak response . Spleen cells from phase I WCV-injected mice were negatively regulated with homologous antigen . Investigation of the mechanism of action of phase I WCV, with a 51Cr-release assay, and trypan blue dye exclusion showed that phase I WCV was not directly cytolytic or cytotoxic to spleen cells from normal or vaccinated mice . Phase II WCV did not induce significant mitogenic hyporesponsiveness or negative modulation of spleen cells . These findings extend the observations of adverse host responses associated with the phase I WCV and underscore the need to develop a microbial fraction which possesses protective potency but which lacks the propensity to induce deleterious tissue reactions and immunosuppression.

Microbiol Sci, 1985, 2(3), 86 - 90
Temperature as a factor regulating the synthesis of microbial enzymes; Chaloupka J; Temperature affects the formation of several enzymes permanently during long-term growth (e.g . penicillinases, proteases, respiratory enzymes) or transiently immediately after a heat or cold shock (RNA polymerase, aminoacyl-t-RNA synthetases, ribonucleases and others) . The synthesis of developmentally regulated enzymes may be suppressed by temperatures permissive for growth but not for differentiation (e.g . sporulation) . The control of enzyme formation by temperature may be operating at the level of template multiplication (plasmid DNA), transcription, translation or formation of low-molecular-weight effectors.

Nahrung, 1985, 29(2), 125 - 31
{The enzymatic decomposition of DDT . 2 . Enzymatic secondary reactions}; Kujawa M et al.; Besides alterations of the DDT molecule by enzymatic reactions on its skeleton, modifications of the phenylic rings were noted recently . Especially DDE which has been considered very stable up to now is subject to an enzymatic hydroxylation with forming some isomers . Furthermore, the isolation of methylsulfonyl derivatives of DDE succeeded . Cleavages of the phenylic ring by microbial influences and its metabolization are described too.

Biosystems, 1985, 18(1), 47 - 63
Estimating the mode of growth of individual microbial cells from cell volume distributions; Bugeja VC et al.; Two new methods are derived for inferring the mode of growth of individual microbial cells from measurements made of the volume distributions of populations . One is based on statistics of the observed distribution and has the particular advantage that it is very easy to use . The second, which requires gradient centrifugation, yields the mode of growth directly, rather than by comparison with theoretically derived distributions . Both methods have been found to be more sensitive than those previously suggested.

J Basic Microbiol, 1985, 25(7), 461 - 74
Microbial side-chain degradation of sterols; Kieslich K; Apart from the broadly used diosgenin and some further natural compounds sterols gained an increasing importance as raw material for the synthesis of steroid drugs . Parallel to the elucidation of the pathways of the enzymatic degradation of sterols technical processes were developed for a specific degradation of the side-chain to useful primary products . A review is given on the present state of this field and the trends to further improvements.

Ciba Found Symp, 1985, 112, 1 - 13
Microbial toxins and diarrhoeal diseases: introduction and overview; Guerrant RL; Without question, diarrhoeal diseases constitute one of the greatest causes of morbidity and death on a global scale . To an increasingly recognized extent, they are caused by an expanding array of microbial products or "toxins' . The symposium focuses on microbial products that alter normal bowel function either by augmenting secretory pathways or by selectively destroying mucosal cells or pathways, thus leading to an imbalance in the concert of normal absorptive function that results in diarrhoea . An understanding of normal intestinal physiology is thus the key to unraveling the specific actions of microbial toxins . In many instances, the microbial toxins are themselves providing unique pharmacological tools with which to dissect normal intestinal function . Specifically, families of enterotoxins are reviewed that appear to cause secretion through the recognized second messengers of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP as well as cyclic nucleotide-independent and calcium-dependent pathways . Potential "third messengers' such as the protein kinases, through which one or more of the second messengers may act, are also considered . We examine cytotoxins that alter the orchestrated function of specialized regions of intact intestinal mucosa by selectively impeding or killing certain cells, so leading to small intestinal or colonic pathology and contributing to diarrhoea . We also consider a wide range of recognized bacterial and parasitic agents and their enterotoxic products . In some instances, these toxins may strikingly resemble our own endogenous humoral regulators or hormones . At this point, the possible roles of viruses or other transmissible genome products in this area await further clarification . Finally, we examine pharmacological and immunological approaches to attacking the toxins themselves or the deranged physiology they cause, in order to approach the control of the potentially devastating diseases of diarrhoea.

Biomed Biochim Acta, 1985, 44(2), 175 - 83
{The kinetics of hydrolysis of alanine peptide esters and -p-nitroanilides by thermitase, a thermostable serine protease from Thermoactinomyces vulgaris: secondary specificity, influence of temperature and solute}; Rothe U et al.; The kinetic parameters Km and kcat and the resulting proteolytic coefficients kcat/Km for the hydrolysis of blocked alanine peptide esters (X(Ala)nOMe) and -p-nitroanilides (X(Ala)n-pNA) of variable length (n = 1 to 5 alanine residues) by the cationic, microbial serine protease thermitase are determined in order to delineate the number of subsites involved in catalysis . Thermitase has at least five secondary subsites (S1 to S5) being hydrophobic in S1 to S4 . Arrhenius plots for both, esterase and amidase activity were biphasic with a break at 30 degrees C, followed by a downward bend . The influence of dimethylformamide, solute for many substrates, on the thermitase-catalyzed esterolysis of Z(Ala)2OMe was also investigated . In contrast to the kcat values being unaffected by 5 to 30% dimethylformamide, the Km values increased logarithmically with enhancing its concentration.

Rev Argent Microbiol, 1985, 17(2), 103 - 8
{Survival of Azospirillum in the rhizosphere of Festuca arundinacea}; Perotti E et al.; In two experiments Festuca seeds (4 or 20 seeds/pot in first or second experiment respectively) were inoculated with Azospirillum strains (sp 7, mutant streptomycin resistant and G strain) in controlled laboratory conditions . Two illumination regimes were employed (197 and 274 microE . m-2.s-1, respectively) . sp 7 cell number was determined during both experiments . The total number of diazotrophic bacteria was also determined on different dates . In both experiments the control pots received the same number of autoclaving bacteria . The results suggested that: (i) sp 7 number decreased in both experiments to 4 - 5% from initial number in 22 and 23 day after inoculation . This suggests that the plant density and illumination range employed did not affect the inoculum survival; (ii) the evolution of the number of different native diazotrophics strains, along the experiment, showed that this microbial number decrease in inoculated and control pots was related to the initial number.

Rev Stomatol Chir Maxillofac, 1985, 86(6), 398 - 403
{Prevention of bacterial endocarditis in heart patients during dental procedures}; Ninoret P et al.; Better understanding of the mechanisms of the development of subacute bacterial endocarditis following stomatological procedures in the patient with heart disease implies the more rational use of prophylactic measures . Preventive antibiotics, often given empirically, decrease the unavoidable bacteremia threshold and hence the threat of endocarditis . After reviewing the risks factors linked with the cardiac problem and with the stomatological procedure, the authors justify the choice of a simple prophylactic protocol, linked both to the microbial types encountered as well as to commonly used effective antibiotics.

Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1985, 447, 202 - 11
Biotin-binding proteins and biotin transport to oocytes; White HB 3rd; The eggs of chickens and other birds contain two proteins that bind biotin . Both are homotetrameric proteins of similar size . In contrast to the well-characterized egg white avidin, egg yolk biotin-binding protein has a very acidic isoelectric point, binds biotin with lower affinity, and is usually saturated with biotin . Like other egg yolk proteins, biotin-binding protein appears to be synthesized in the liver, transported by the blood stream to the ovary and deposited in the developing oocyte . Since the yolk of a chicken egg contains over 90% of the biotin in an egg and all of the biotin is bound to biotin-binding protein, the function of biotin-binding protein is undoubtedly to transport biotin to the egg for future use by the developing embryo . Avidin is produced by the oviduct and in the egg it is presumed to deter microbial growth around the oocyte by sequestering biotin . Among the eggs examined, those from turkeys have the lowest amount of biotin-binding protein and the highest amount of avidin . Furthermore, the majority of the biotin in turkey eggs can be bound to avidin in the egg white, suggesting a nutritional role for avidin in turkeys . An assay has been developed to conveniently measure apo- and holobiotin-binding proteins.

Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl, 1985, 111, 1 - 6
Normal and pathological microbial flora of the upper gastrointestinal tract; Hill M; The resting gastric juice of normal adults in north-western Europe usually contains less than 10(3) micro-organisms/ml . Gastric sterility in such individuals is based on acidity . During meals or after an H2-receptor antagonist, gastric pH levels favour microbial growth but gastric emptying and recurrence of acid conditions resterilizes the stomach . If gastric pH remains above 4, colonization takes place . Studies suggest that gastric pH is normally high, with resultant bacterial colonization, in most of Asia, Africa, south and central America and, possibly, southern and eastern Europe . The biochemical activity of the gastric flora is also pH-dependent . Mucosal colonization occurs only if gastric pH is high . The small intestine is normally sterile because bacteria are killed by bile or pancreatic enzymes . Overgrowth can occur if there are areas inaccessible to these and may have severe metabolic consequences.

J Am Dent Assoc, 1985 Jan, 110(1), 43 - 7
An oral disease prevention program for patients receiving radiation and chemotherapy; Wright WE et al.; Thirteen years of treating more than 2,950 patients at the National Institute of Dental Research clinic have shown that a variety of potential oral sequelae associated with cancer therapy can be prevented, reduced in severity, or palliatively alleviated when the dental team has an opportunity to participate in the patient's care . The keystone of this success is based on early referral of the patient for dental consultation, treatment before the initiation of cancer therapy, and a well-defined orientation program to inform patients and their families about the difficulties they may experience . Meticulous attention to oral microbial control, prophylactic use of fluoride gels, and palliative treatment of soft tissue lesions may significantly reduce the oral morbidity associated with radiation and cytotoxic chemotherapy . Diligent personal oral health care and frequent dental recall appointments are recommended for the remainder of the patient's life . It has been our experience that patients who are not followed closely after irradiation therapy have an increased incidence of caries as a result of noncompliance with preventive regimens . The ethical and medicolegal responsibility to fully inform the patient of these recommendations lies with both the medical and dental personnel at the facility providing the radiation-chemotherapy service . The general dentist shares the responsibility for continuity of long-term oral health care.

Eksp Onkol, 1985, 7(4), 53 - 7
{Change in the activity of tumor cell antigens as affected by treatment of the cells with the metabolic products of Bac . mesentericus AB-56}; Zatula DG et al.; Tumour cells (ascitic A/Sn mouse lymphosarcoma ON-2), treated by the Bac . mesentericus AB-56 metabolism products used for the production of antitumour autovaccines were analyzed for their antigenic properties . The reactions of precipitation in gel, zonal and oncoming immunoelectrophoresis, passive hemagglutination as well as cytotoxic, absorption and transplantation tests were used . A considerable number of soluble and insoluble antigens inherent in intact tumour cells were inactivated by the products of microbial metabolism in the process of antitumour vaccine production, and modified antigens which induce synthesis of humoral antibodies in the syngenic system appeared.

Tierarztl Prax, 1985, 13(4), 471 - 7
{Toxicologic evaluation of nitrofuran derivatives}; Schmid A; The most important side effects of numerous nitrofuran derivatives are their mutagenicity and carcinogenicity . They are due to metabolites of this group of substances in the microbial and animal metabolism . The mutagenic or carcinogenic metabolites are either excreted or covalently bound in the animal organism and may then form persistent residues in the slaughtered animal . If active at all, such residues are toxicologically less active than free metabolites . To determine their bioavailability and to exclude any risk to the consumer, their relay-toxicity should be tested using suitable experimental animals.

Arch Fr Pediatr, 1985 Jan, 42(1), 29 - 31
{Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection}; Cochat P et al.; On the occasion of a new case and review of 9 others in the literature, the authors seek to establish the hallmarks of the nephritis occurring after M . pneumoniae infection . It often consists of an acute nephritic syndrome, 10 to 40 days after a respiratory tract infection; hematological abnormalities are not constant . Histological examination of the kidney shows a type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in 2, dense deposit disease in 2 and tubulo-interstitial nephritis in one . Immunofluorescence studies have shown the microbial antigen 3 times out of 4 . Specific antibiotherapy does not charge the prognosis of the extrarespiratory manifestations, for which an immunologic mechanism is likely.

Reprod Nutr Dev, 1985, 25(6), 1037 - 46
Determination of assay parameters for RNA analysis in bacterial and duodenal samples by spectrophotometry . Influence of sample treatment and preservation; Ushida K et al.; A simple analytical procedure derived from that described by Zinn and Owens (1980), based on the determination of nucleic purine bases (RNA eq), was carried out to measure microbial nitrogen flow in the ruminant duodenum . Several procedures for sample preservation were tested; the efficiency of each step of the analytical method was also determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) . The proposed method (RNA eq) was compared with two other methods considered as references (2-6 diaminopimelic acid and 35S incorporation) and microbial nitrogen flow was measured in defaunated sheep . The recovery of purine bases analysed by the Zinn and Owens method was generally good (101% pure bases; 90% when bases were added to bacterial samples; 96% when added to yeast RNA) . The HPLC measurements allowed us to conclude that this spectrophotometric method is specific for purine bases, all pyrimidine bases being eliminated . Moreover, it was found that the method must be used on freeze-dried samples; storage at + 4 degrees C, defatting or freezing gave incorrect results . Using the described assay, we observed that microbial nitrogen flow at the duodenum of defaunated sheep was not significantly different from that obtained using more traditional markers such as sulphur-35 incorporation or diaminopimelic acid.

Infection, 1985, 13 Suppl 2, S241 - 50
The experimental and clinical use of immune-modulating drugs in the prophylaxis and treatment of infections; Drews J; Therapeutic agents capable of stimulating immune responses could be of great value in the prophylaxis and treatment of infectious diseases . Three classes of compounds, each representing a separate approach to the goal of immune stimulation, are discussed with respect to recent experimental and clinical findings . The action of microbial structures and their derivatives can be understood on the basis of "acquired cellular immunity", a phenomenon first described in connection with infections by mycobacteria and other intracellular organisms . In contrast, there is hardly a common denominator for synthetic compounds which are currently used as immune-stimulatory agents . Substances which influence purine metabolism in lymphocytes on the one hand and histamine H2 blockers such as cimetidine on the other hand seem to represent the most promising developments in this field to date . Products of immune cells such as transfer factor and lymphokines form the third and possibly most important group of immune-stimulating agents . Current experimental and clinical trends in this field are briefly described . It is suggested that the delineation of the mechanism of action of lymphokines will open the door to the identification or synthesis of artificial agonists and antagonists as has been the case in the pharmacology of the endocrine and nervous systems.

J Chromatogr, 1984 Dec 21, 316, 487 - 94
Screening for new microbial products by high-performance liquid chromatography using a photodiode array detector; Fiedler HP; The screening for new microbial metabolites in culture filtrates from Streptomyces tendae TU 901 by high-performance liquid chromatography using a photodiode array detector resulted in detection of new compounds related to the parent compounds . Six peaks in the elution profiles of different strains could be identified as potential new nikkomycins, a group of nucleoside-peptide antibiotics . Structure elucidation confirmed the assumption for new nikkomycin structures.

J Leukoc Biol, 1984 Dec, 36(6), 739 - 50
The effect of microbial flora, diet, and age on the tumoricidal activity of natural killer cells; Bartizal KF et al.; This study examined the effects of diet (chemically defined vs natural-ingredient), age, and microbial flora on the tumoricidal activity of natural killer (NK) cells from the spleens of mice . Results from a 4-h 51Cr-release assay indicate the following: Germfree C3H/HeCr mice raised on a chemically defined diet had significantly greater NK cell activity than their germfree or "clean-conventional" (i.e., barrier-maintained) counterparts who were raised on a sterilized natural-ingredient diet . The NK activity of germfree mice was dramatically increased after their alimentary tract was colonized with a complex intestinal flora . Conventional mice raised under clean (barrier) conditions had significantly less NK cell activity than nonbarrier-maintained mice . Switching germfree mice from a chemically defined diet to a sterile natural-ingredient diet did not enhance NK cell activity . No significant differences in NK activity were evident with C3H/HeCr mice of different (6-10 wk vs 29-36 wk) ages . These results indicate that diet and microbial flora can modulate the NK cell activity of mice.

Lipids, 1984 Dec, 19(12), 975 - 7
Effects of organic solvents on lipase for fat splitting; Kim KH et al.; The effect of organic solvents on the stability and catalytic activity of the microbial lipase from Candida rugosa for hydrolysis of triglyceride (fat splitting) has been examined . The solvents examined were 5 hydrocarbons (n-hexane, n-heptane, n-octane, iso-octane and cyclohexane) and 3 ethers (diethyl-ether, diisopropylether and di-n-butylether) . The results revealed that iso-octane and cyclohexane are superior to the other solvents examined for enzymatic fat splitting in organic solvent systems.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 48(6), 1203 - 7
Methylation and demethylation of mercury under controlled redox, pH and salinity conditions; Compeau G et al.; In estuarine sediments, the microbially mediated processes of methylation, demethylation, and volatilization determine the state and overall toxicity of mercury pollutants . The effects of redox potential (Eh) and salinity on the above microbial processes were investigated in reactors constructed to allow for continuous monitoring and adjustment of the pH (6.8) and Eh of freshly collected estuarine sediments . For measurements of methylation and demethylation activity, sediment slurries adjusted to appropriate salinity were spiked with HgCl2 or CH3HgCl, respectively, and were incubated in the reactors . Methylmercury was measured by gas chromatography . Volatilized elemental mercury (Hg0) was trapped and determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry . Volatilization of Hg0 and CH3HgCH3 were found to be minimal . Methylation of Hg2+ was favored at Eh-220 mV as compared to +110 mV . At -220 mV, high salinity (2.5%) inhibited methylation, and low salinity (0.4%) favored it . At +110 mV, the salinity effect was less pronounced . Demethylation of CH3HgCl was favored at +110 mV regardless of the salinity level . Low redox potential under low salinity conditions inhibited demethylation, but high salinity reversed this inhibition . These findings are helpful for interpreting and predicting the behavior of mercury pollutants in estuarine sediments.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 48(6), 1197 - 202
Effect of organic contamination upon microbial distributions and heterotrophic uptake in a Cape Cod, Mass., aquifer; Harvey RW et al.; Bacterial abundance, distribution, and heterotrophic uptake in a freshwater aquifer contaminated by treated sewage were determined from analyses of groundwater and sediment-core samples . The number of free-living (unattached) bacteria in contaminated groundwater declined steadily with increasing distance from the source of sewage infiltration, from 1.94 (+/- 0.20) X 10(6) ml-1 at 0.21 km to 0.25 (+/- 0.02) X 10(6) ml-1 at 0.97 km . Bacterial abundance in groundwater sampled at 0.31 km correlated strongly with specific conductance and increased sharply from 4.0 (+/- 0.3) X 10(4) ml-1 at a depth of 6 m to 1.58 (+/- 0.12) X 10(6) ml-1 at 14 m, then declined at 20 and 31 m to 1.29 (+/- 0.12) X 10(6) and 0.96 (+/- 0.12) X 10(6) ml-1, respectively . A majority of the bacteria in contaminated and uncontaminated zones of the aquifer were bound to the surfaces of particulates, less than 60 micron in diameter . The glucose uptake rate, assayed at in situ and 5 microM concentrations, declined steadily in contaminated groundwater sampled along a transect . A preparative wet-sieving technique for use in processing core samples for bacterial enumeration is described and evaluated.

Theor Popul Biol, 1984 Dec, 26(3), 296 - 314
Division synchrony and the dynamics of microbial populations: a size-specific model; Gage TB et al.; A discrete, environmentally coupled, size-specific model of microbial population dynamics in continuous culture is presented . It is mathematically simpler than other models based on similar assumptions and lends itself to numerical and analytic solutions . It displays several phenomena which have been reported in the experimental literature but which are not well understood; specifically, a loose relationship between biomass and numbers (i.e., a time lag between mass growth and cell division) and a critical damping of biomass while numbers continue to oscillate . In addition, the model provides several new predictions: The stable biomass distribution is independent of the environmental factors considered in the model and uniformly distributes the biomass among the size classes . The rate of approach to stability and the frequency of waves through the size distributions are a function of the flow rate and the variance in rate of growth and size at division . The model should provide a useful basis for studying the effects of size specificity on the dynamics of microbial populations cultured in chemostats.

J Hyg (Lond), 1984 Dec, 93(3), 497 - 504
The complications of intravenous cannulae incorporating a valved injection side port; Cheesbrough JS et al.; In a series of 519 intravenous cannulae with valved injection side-ports the incidence of cannula-related local inflammation was 25.2% and bacteraemia 0.2% . Severe local inflammation was associated with a longer mean duration of cannulation, 59.4 v . 81.4 h (P = less than 0.05) . There was no significant association between the presence of local inflammation and microbial colonization of either the intravascular segment of the cannula, the adjacent skin, or the side-port . The data suggest that colonization of the cannulae was usually secondary to prior skin colonization . Side-port colonization did not predispose to cannula colonization . Organisms colonizing the side-port were biologically different and were possibly derived from the skin of medical attendants . In the final 157 patients, randomized to receive either isopropyl alcohol or 0.5% chlorhexidine in 70% spirit skin preparation, there was no difference in the incidence of either local inflammation or microbial colonization.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Dec, (12), 65 - 8
{Fatty acid composition of Escherichia coli cells and their viability in air}; Bogoslovskaia OA et al.; Experiments on E . coli used as a model have revealed that fatty-acid composition is one of the characteristics which determine the viability of bacteria in the air . The viability of microbial cells in the air has been shown to increase with the increase of the pool of cyclopropane acids and the palmitic acid/palmitoleic acid ratio in the cells, irrespective of their genotype and the phase of their growth.

Ann Allergy, 1984 Dec, 53(6 Pt 2), 609 - 14
Research and development of infant formulae with reduced allergenic properties; Pahud JJ et al.; Infant formulae based on hydrolyzed proteins or elemental diets offer the best treatment of cow's milk allergy whenever exclusive breast-feeding is not possible . In situations with a family history of atopy, formulae using other protein sources such as soya or chicken meat can also be a good preventive measure . The food industry needs reliable research methods for the evaluation of every new option before considering clinical trials . Allergenicity of cow's milk proteins was evaluated by the induction of mouse monoclonal reagins and also by oral administration of milk preparations to mice and guinea pigs . Animals initially raised on commercial diets containing about 1% milk whey could not be sensitized . Maintenance of a milk-free diet from pregnancy until weaning, and feeding milk in a liquid form led to an optimal sensitization of the guinea pigs . These animals suffered systemic anaphylaxis and their sera sensitized skin in virgin hosts . Under optimal conditions, while giving liquid preparations to drink, a considerable proliferation of the milk flora occurred . As no mucosal alterations could be detected, primary gut damage due to infection was probably not the triggering factor for oral sensitization . Bacterial products (e.g., endotoxins, enterotoxins) could stimulate the gut response towards milk proteins, either due to an adjuvant effect or to increased mucosal permeability . Microbial contamination of milk is practically unavoidable and it can generally induce biologic activity, e.g., fresh milk regularly gives a positive limulus test for endotoxin by the time it is consumed or processed . Reduction of bacterial contaminants by milk protective factors might help to prevent oral sensitization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1984 Dec, 179(6), 566 - 73
{The behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil fertilized with sewage sludge-garbage compost . I . Field studies}; Pfeiffer EH et al.; Sewage sludge-garbage composts which are used as soil conditioners usually contain high concentrations of PAH . A risk for human health could arise if the use of such composts leads to high concentrations of PAH in the soil and these are taken up by plants for human consumption . We investigated the fate of PAH introduced into the soil with sewage sludge-garbage compost and the possible association with the microbial flora . Field investigations in wineyards during more than 18 months showed no reduction of PAH in the soil . There was no seasonal variation and no correlation between microbial data and PAH concentrations in the wineyards treated with compost or untreated . From these findings it must be concluded that under natural conditions PAH persist in the soil for a long time and are not taken up by plants to an appreciable extent.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1984 Nov 30, 125(1), 52 - 8
Siderophore reduction catalyzed by higher plant NADH:nitrate reductase; Castignetti D et al.; Squash cotyledon NADH:nitrate reductase catalyzes the reduction of the siderophore ferrioxamine B . The enzyme also reduced ferric ion in a buffer system containing the chelators oxalate and maleate . Ferrioxamine B reduction was maximal at pH 4; ferric ion reduction was maximal at pH 8 . The present study indicates that iron assimilation by higher plants may occur with microbial siderophores serving as ferric ion sources and nitrate reductase functioning as the siderophore reductase.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1984 Nov 26, 12(22), 8733 - 45
Comparative nucleotide sequences encoding the immunity proteins and the carboxyl-terminal peptides of colicins E2 and E3; Lau PC et al.; Using the M13 dideoxy sequencing technique, we have established the DNA sequences of colicins E2 and E3 which encompass the receptor-binding and the catalytic domains of each of the nucleases, and their immunity (imm) genes . The imm gene of plasmid ColE2-P9 is 255 bp long and is separated from the end of the col gene by a dinucleotide . This gene pair is arranged similarly in plasmid ColE3-CA38 except that the intergenic space is 9 bp and the E3 imm gene is one codon shorter than its E2 counterpart . Comparisons of the E2 and E3 imm sequences indicate considerable divergence whereas the receptor-binding domains of both colicins are highly conserved . The two nuclease domains appear to share some sequence homology . A possible evolutionary relationship between colicin E3 and other microbial extracellular ribonucleases is also suggested from the sequence alignment analysis.

J Oral Rehabil, 1984 Nov, 11(6), 539 - 45
In vitro plaque formation on dental amalgam; Dummer PM et al.; A previously described method for the study of in vitro microbial plaque formation on dental materials has been utilized to assess microbial adhesion and growth on five commercially available dental amalgams . Variations in both the amount and viability of the microbial plaques was found between the various types of amalgams.

J Lipid Res, 1984 Nov, 25(11), 1214 - 21
Studies on the inhibition of pancreatic and microbial lipases by soybean proteins; Gargouri Y et al.; A protein, molecular weight 70,000 that inhibits pancreatic lipase has been isolated from soybean seeds . Inhibition is not reversed by colipase unless bile salts are added to the assay system . Inhibitory properties of the purified protein are very similar to those of serum albumin or alpha-lactoglobulin . It has been confirmed that, during intestinal lipolysis of dietary fats, bile salts play an essential role for the activation of the lipase-colipase system in the presence of inhibitory proteins . The purified soybean lipase inhibitory protein was shown to be highly surface-active and able to penetrate monomolecular films of various glycerides and phospholipids at high surface pressure . Inhibition of pancreatic lipase by proteins is related to their capacity to interact with lipids and to modify the quality of the substrate-water interface . The protein isolated from soybeans inhibits pancreatic and Rh . delemar lipase in contrast to the Rh . arrhizus enzyme.

Br J Nutr, 1984 Nov, 52(3), 613 - 20
The nutritive value of rumen micro-organisms in ruminants . 4 . The limiting amino acids of microbial protein in growing sheep determined by a new approach; Storm E et al.; Four experiments were carried out to identify and quantify the limiting amino acids (AA) in rumen microbial protein (RMP) . A method was developed which involved first, an assessment of the efficiency of utilization of absorbed AA-nitrogen (U) of RMP, defined as the retention of AA-N from RMP absorbed from the small intestine, and second, addition of a mixture of AA similar to the absorbed AA profile in a quantity defined by the U of RMP and equal to (1-U)/U . Third, it involved removal of each AA in turn and measurement of the resultant N retention . Using this approach it was possible to calculate both the order and extent of AA limitations in RMP . Apart from methionine which was found to be the most limiting AA, only lysine, arginine and histidine reduced N retention when omitted, and accordingly only these AA were limiting in RMP . The method is discussed in detail and the amount of supplementary AA required to utilize RMP fully is calculated.

Cancer Res, 1984 Nov, 44(11), 5439 - 43
Potentiation of human cell-mediated and humoral immunity by low-dose cyclophosphamide; Berd D et al.; Although cyclophosphamide (CY) is a potent immunosuppressive drug, under the proper conditions, it can potentiate immune responses as well . In past work, we have shown that administration of a commonly used oncostatic dose of CY (1000 mg/sq m) to patients with advanced cancer 3 days before sensitization with the primary antigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), resulted in augmentation of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) but not antibody response to that antigen . The present study was performed to test the immunopotentiation of a lower dose of CY (300 mg/sq m); animal studies and studies of human lymphocytes in vitro suggested that the lower dose might be more effective . Eighteen patients with advanced metastatic cancer were alternately assigned to one of two groups . Sixteen days before CY, one group received KLH and the other group received 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) . CY 300 mg/sq m was given as an i.v . bolus on Day 0 . Three days after CY, the patients received KLH or DNCB, whichever they had not received initially . Blood was drawn for antibody titer, and skin testing was performed 14 days after administration of KLH or DNCB . In addition, skin tests to microbial recall antigens were made 2 days before and 17 days after CY . Pretreatment with low-dose CY resulted in significant augmentation of DTH to KLH; thus, the median DTH responses were: KLH alone, 10 mm; and KLH after CY, 27 mm (p less than 0.01) . CY pretreatment also resulted in augmentation of the antibody response to KLH . The median total antibody titers (log2 of reciprocal of dilution) were as follows: KLH alone, less than 1; and KLH after CY, 3 (p less than 0.01) . All nine CY-pretreated subjects but only 4 of 9 controls developed measurable anti-KLH antibody titers . CY pretreatment neither augmented nor suppressed the 48-hr challenge reaction to DNCB . Moreover, CY had no effect on DTH responses to the recall antigens, dermatophytin, Candida, and mumps.

Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol, 1984 Nov, 24(4), 271 - 5
Role of cervical mucus in human infertility; Daunter B et al.; The physiological role of cervical mucus in enhancing spermatozoal penetration at mid-cycle has been established . However, the involvement of cervical mucus in primary infertility is still controversial . Although immunological reactions against spermatozoa in the female have been offered to account for the immobilization of spermatozoa--an observation termed 'hostility' of the mucus--this is not always demonstrable . In addition, there are a number of microbial antigens that are similar to spermatozoal antigens . Antibodies to these antigens are found in the serum of the majority of females and males whose infertility is considered to be immunopathological in origin . There are also naturally-occurring antispermatozoal antibodies in both females and males that in some cases may contribute to immunological infertility . The overall spectrum of 'hostile' mucus reactions becomes more complex when we consider the biochemical structure of cervical mucus and its possible interaction with spermatozoa . This spermatozoa: mucus interaction may involve the transfer of spermatozoal components to 'hostile' mucus that should normally be transferred to the zona pellucida of the ova . In addition, there are also pH changes in some 'hostile' mucus that lead to spermatozoal immobilization . In contrast to the above, the cause of infertility in some cases is the inability of spermatozoa to survive in normal mid-cycle mucus . It is evident therefore that an understanding of the complex nature of 'hostile' cervical mucus will lead to a more objective approach in the treatment of infertility.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Oct, 48(4), 833 - 9
Specificity of marine microbial surface interactions; Imam SH et al.; The macromolecular surface components involved in intraspecific cell surface interactions of the green microalga Chlorella vulgaris and closely associated bacteria were investigated . The specific surface attachment between this alga and its associated bacteria is mediated by lectin-like macromolecules associated with the surfaces of these cells . The binding activity of these surface polymers was inhibited by specific simple sugars; this suggests the involvement of specific receptor-ligand binding sites on the interactive surfaces . Epifluorescent microscopic evaluation of bacteria-alga interactions in the presence and absence of the macromolecules that mediate these interactions showed that the glycoproteins active in these processes were specific to the microbial sources from which they were obtained . The demonstration and definition of the specificity of these interactions in mixed microbial populations may play an important role in our understanding of the dynamics of marine microbial populations in the sea.

J Dairy Sci, 1984 Oct, 67(10), 2302 - 7
Effect of protein on nutrient digestion and milk production by Holstein cows; Ha JK et al.; Four multiparious Holstein cows fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulae were in a 4 X 4 Latin square experiment to assess effects of increasing dietary protein on ruminal blood and duodenal traits, milk production, and nutrient digestion . Protein percents of 13, 15, 17, and 19 dry matter were achieved by rolled barley replaced with 0, 12, 24, and 36% rapeseed (canola) meal in pelleted concentrate mixtures . Increasing dietary protein concentration increased ruminal ammonia nitrogen, urea nitrogen in blood serum, and concentration of duodenal total, nonammonia, and feed nitrogen . Highest microbial nitrogen concentration was in cows fed the 15% protein diet; ruminal ammonia nitrogen was 6 mg/100 ml at this percent of protein . Cows fed 13% protein lost body weight (.43 kg/day), whereas those at 15, 17, and 19% protein gained .59, .38, and .59 kg/day . Efficiency of conversion of feed protein to milk protein declined, but digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and nitrogen was improved with increasing dietary protein . From the traits measured, 15% crude protein appeared to be optimum for cows producing an average of 28 kg milk per day.

Mutat Res, 1984 Oct, 141(2), 89 - 93
Chromosome aberrations and sister-chromatid exchange frequencies in pathology staff occupationally exposed to formaldehyde; Thomson EJ et al.; Past studies have shown that formaldehyde is mutagenic in microbial tests and Drosophila and causes chromosomal aberrations in cultured mammalian cells . Chromosomal analysis of bone marrow cells and spermatocytes from exposed laboratory animals has failed to show any genotoxic effect . Information on individuals occupationally exposed is limited and there is no evidence to date that formaldehyde can induce chromosome damage at occupational levels of exposure . This study examines the chromosome aberration and sister-chromatid exchange frequencies in lymphocytes from a group of 6 pathology workers and 5 unexposed controls . No detectable differences could be found between the groups in either chromosomal aberration induction or sister-chromatid exchange frequencies.

Arthritis Rheum, 1984 Oct, 27(10), 1157 - 64
Arthritis confined to knee joints . Synovial lymphocyte responses to microbial antigens correlate with distribution of HLA; Ford DK et al.; The responses of synovial lymphocytes to Chlamydia/Ureaplasma and to enteric antigens were studied in 31 patients with arthritis confined to knee joints, 15 patients with sexually-transmitted Reiter's syndrome, 9 with enteric Reiter's syndrome, and 24 with rheumatoid arthritis . The frequency of HLA antigens was studied in 28 patients with knee joint arthritis; this group was characterized by elevated frequencies of HLA-A2 and DR1 . A subgroup of 8 responders to Chlamydia/Ureaplasma was characterized by an increase of HLA-Bw44 and DR7 or 8, while a subgroup of 8 responders to enteric antigens was characterized by increases of HLA-A1 and DR5 . The frequency of HLA-B27 in the groups responding to antigens was 25-30%, less than half the frequency in patients with Reiter's syndrome.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Oct, (10), 24 - 6
{Role of lipid antioxidizing activity in ensuring the viability of microbial cells in air}; Bogoslovskaia OA et al.; The study made on various Escherichia coli strains used as experimental models has demonstrated that bacterial lipids possess pronounced antioxidizing activity playing an essential role in the viability of bacterial cells in the air . The content of natural antioxidants in E . coli lipids and their antiradical activity have been determined.

J Pharm Sci, 1984 Oct, 73(10), 1418 - 22
Microbial kinetics of beta-lactam antibiotics against Escherichia coli; Tsuji A et al.; Microbial kinetics of Escherichia coli NIHJ JC-2 and E . coli B/r were investigated in the presence of beta-lactam antibiotics . To maintain a constant drug concentration during the experiment, a novel technique, using a dialysis membrane tube containing the drug solution, was successfully employed . The drug-affected generation curves of E . coli exhibited common features . After the addition of drug, an apparent lag period was noted, followed by a first-order decrease of the sensitive organisms and, 6 h later, by a regrowth of resistant organisms, depending on the antibiotic concentration used . The relationship between the apparent generation rate constant, kapp, and the antibiotic concentration was found to be nonlinear . This phenomenon is consistent with a saturable receptor site model for the drug action . A good linear free energy relationship was observed between the microbial kinetic parameter, kmax, and the alkaline degradation rate constants, kOH, of the cephalosporins studied.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1984 Sep 12, 795(2), 326 - 31
Inhibition of pancreatic and microbial lipases by proteins; Gargouri Y et al.; We have compared the effect of several proteins, including melittin, beta-lactoglobulin A, serum albumin, ovalbumin and myoglobin, on the hydrolysis of tributyrin and triolein by lipases from various origins . All proteins tested inactivate pancreatic lipase in absence of colipase and bile salt . Inhibition is not significantly reversed by colipase in absence of bile salt except in systems containing tributyrin and melittin or triolein and beta-lactoglobulin A . In all other cases, activation of pancreatic lipase by colipase in presence of inhibitory protein requires the presence of bile salt . Lipase from Rhizopus delemar is also inhibited by the proteins that inactivate pancreatic lipase . In contrast, the activity of lipase from Rhizopus arrhizus is not affected by the proteins in the same concentration range . Inhibition of lipase activity by amphiphiles such as proteins or detergents appears to be a general phenomenon not directly related to a decrease in tension at the triacylglycerol-water interface . Inhibition could be the result of desorption of lipase from its substrate due to a change in interfacial quality.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1984 Sep 11, 789(2), 111 - 8
3,4-dihydroxystyrene, a novel microbial inhibitor for phenylalanine hydroxylase and other pteridine-dependent monooxygenases; Koizumi S et al.; A new microbial inhibitor for rat-liver phenylalanine hydroxylase (L-phenylalanine, tetrahydropteridine: oxygen oxidoreductase (4-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.16.1) was isolated from a culture medium of Fomes tasmanicus, and its structure was determined as 3,4-dihydroxystyrene . This compound inhibited the enzyme by 50% at a concentration of 5 X 10(-6) M and 5 X 10(-7) M, respectively, without or with preincubation at 25 degrees C for 15 min . Without preincubation, dihydroxystyrene inhibited phenylalanine hydroxylase noncompetitively with phenylalanine and a pteridine cofactor, 6,7-dimethyltetrahydropterin, and uncompetitively with oxygen . A change in kinetic properties of the inhibition was observed when the enzyme was preincubated with dihydroxystyrene; the degree of inhibition was increased, and the purely noncompetitive-type inhibition with phenylalanine changed to a mixed-type inhibition . A study concerning the structure-inhibitory activity relationship using several compounds similar to dihydroxystyrene, indicated that the catechol structure is essential and that the structure of the aliphatic side-chain affects the inhibitory potency . A similar degree of inhibition was observed using 6,7-dimethyl- or 6-methyltetrahydropterin or tetrahydrobiopterin as a cofactor . Dihydroxystyrene also inhibited other pteridine-dependent monooxygenases, tyrosine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.16.2) and tryptophan hydroxylase (EC 1.14.16.4), indicating that dihydroxystyrene is a general inhibitor for pteridine-dependent monooxygenases.

In Vitro, 1984 Sep, 20(9), 671 - 6
Fish cell lines: establishment and characterization of nine cell lines from salmonids; Lannan CN et al.; Nine permanent cell lines have been established from five species of salmonids native to America's Pacific Northwest . With the exception of a hepatoma from an adult trout, the lines were derived from normal tissues of embryonic or juvenile fish . Cells were routinely grown in Eagle's minimum essential medium with 10% fetal bovine serum . Optimum growth temperatures for these lines ranged from 21 to 24 degrees C . All survived storage for at least 1 yr at -65 degrees C and at least 5 yr in liquid nitrogen . Six of the lines were demonstrably free of any microbial contamination but mycoplasmas were found in three . Eight of the lines were heteroploid . The morphology of only one was fibroblastic . All the lines effectively replicated one or more of the common salmonid viruses . Isozyme patterns were consistent with those of the species of origin . These cell lines have significant application in fish virology.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Sep, 48(3), 561 - 5
Effects of microbial community interactions on transformation rates of xenobiotic chemicals; Lewis DL et al.; The effects of culture filtrates, mixed populations, and common microbial exudates on bacterial transformations of three agricultural and industrial chemicals were investigated . Test chemicals included methyl parathion, diethyl phthalate, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid butoxyethyl ester . The presence of various cultures, filtrates, or exudates of algae, fungi, or other bacteria either stimulated or inhibited bacterial transformation rates . Inhibition resulted from treatments that lowered the pH, and stimulation resulted from an increase in cell biomass (based on plate counts) and from a different process whereby rates of transformation per bacterial cell rapidly increased as much as 10-fold.

Laryngol Rhinol Otol (Stuttg), 1984 Sep, 63(9), 445 - 7
{Sudden deafness in gastrointestinal infections: microbial genesis or autoimmune reaction?}; El-Hifnawi H; The pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed from the observations made in 3 cases of typical acute bilateral sudden deafness as a result of coincident gastrointestinal infections.

J Lipid Res, 1984 Sep, 25(9), 913 - 8
Action of a microbial glycerophospholipid:cholesterol acyltransferase on plasma from normal and LCAT-deficient subjects; Buckley JT et al.; The action of a bacterial acyltransferase similar in overall reaction mechanism to the plasma enzyme lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) has been studied using normal plasma and lipoproteins and plasma from LCAT-deficient patients . The microbial enzyme (GCAT) catalyzed acyl transfer using phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol in all of the lipoprotein fractions, presumably because it has no apolipoprotein cofactor . In addition, the enzyme was capable of hydrolyzing cholesteryl ester in lipoproteins but not in small unilamellar vesicles nor in micellar dispersions containing low amounts of Triton X-100 . This suggests that cholesteryl ester is exposed on the surface of lipoprotein particles or that it may be transferred there quickly from the interior . Although considerable interconversion of radiolabeled cholesterol and cholesteryl ester could be demonstrated upon treatment of normal plasma or lipoproteins with the enzyme, there was little change in the actual amount of either steroid . This indicates that the rate of cholesteryl ester formation is very similar to the rate of hydrolysis . The relative proportions of cholesterol and cholesteryl ester in normal plasma are therefore near the equilibrium ratio for the reaction carried out by GCAT, or the ratio is controlled by the properties of the lipoproteins themselves . During reaction with the microbial acyltransferase, the ratio of cholesterol to cholesteryl ester in plasma from LCAT-deficient patients was reduced substantially, suggesting that the enzyme may have some practical applications.

Br J Nutr, 1984 Sep, 52(2), 403 - 17
A comparison of methods for the estimation of the proportion of microbial nitrogen in duodenal digesta, and of correction for microbial contamination in nylon bags incubated in the rumen of sheep; Kennedy PM et al.; Four sheep, each fitted with cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum, were given two diets (1390 g dry matter (DM)/d) consisting of lucerne (Medicago sativa) pellets (24.2 g nitrogen/kg DM) plus pelleted reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea; 14.1 g N/kg DM) or chopped hay (11.8 g N/kg DM) at intervals of 2 h . Flow of duodenal digesta measured by reference to the markers 51Cr-EDTA and 103Ru-phenanthroline indicated a net gain of 5.8-7.5 g non-ammonia-N (NAN) between mouth and duodenum . The proportion of microbial N in duodenal digesta N was estimated using 15N and 35S incorporation into bacteria and digesta . Two methods of analysis for 35S content, the Bird & Fountain (1970; B&F method) and the Mathers & Miller (1980; M&M method), were used . (15NH4)2SO4 and Na2(35)SO4 were infused into the rumen for 3.5 d before and 4.0 d during sampling . A bacterial fraction was prepared from the fluid phases of sampled duodenal digesta and rumen contents by differential centrifugation . In addition, samples of ground canary grass and of lucerne were incubated in nylon bags in the rumen for 3-48 h during the infusion . Each of the 35S analytical methods yielded similar values of 35S content of isolated rumen or duodenal bacteria, but there was more (P less than 0.05) incorporation of 15N into rumen than into duodenal bacteria . Relative to values obtained using the M&M method and 15N incorporation, the B&F method for S analysis yielded higher (P less than 0.05) estimates of microbial content of duodenal digesta from sheep given chopped reed canary grass . 35S activity associated with washed nylon-bag residues increased rapidly with time-period of incubation and was substantially greater (P less than 0.05) when analysed by the B&F method compared with the M&M method . The 35S content (/g DM) of adherent bacteria removed from nylon-bag residues by homogenization in a second experiment varied from 0.65 to 1.88 that of free-living bacteria isolated from rumen fluid by differential centrifugation . The difference in 35S content in digesta and nylon-bag residues as measured using the two analytical methods was considered in relation to 35S-labelled extracellular material postulated to be produced by bacteria adherent to plant residues . Estimates of disappearance of dietary N from nylon bags after correction for microbial contamination indicated a disparity with estimates based on in vivo information.

Int Dent J, 1984 Sep, 34(3), 177 - 83
Future control of dental disease by immunization: vaccines and oral health; Wilton JM; The current status of vaccines against dental caries indicates that the present preparations are effective in animals and should be used in clinical trials to determine their effectiveness as an alternative to present methods of control . It is concluded that caries vaccination is a potentially valuable addition to fluoridation and dietary restriction . In regard to periodontal diseases, it is concluded that the present status of the microbial aspects of the disease are not sufficiently clear to allow vaccines, either mono-species or multi-species to be made . It must also be remembered that we do not yet know whether the immune response is damaging or protective in these diseases . Finally, a hypothesis is advanced to suggest that the IgG and IgA systems may synergize and thus protect against plaque bacteria.

Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1984 Sep, 365(9), 1155 - 62
Polyamine requirement for microbial protein synthesis: structural specificity in cell-free systems of Escherichia coli; Praisler R et al.; Cell-free protein synthesis was performed with synthetic or natural mRNA in an E . coli system containing physiological concentrations of Ca2, Mg2 and either one or both of the two natural polyamines of E . coli, spermidine and putrescine, or corresponding homologues . Putrescine does not permit poly(U)-dependent poly(Phe) synthesis unless spermidine or nor-spermidine is added . Spermidine supports homopeptide synthesis sufficiently well, its effect being stimulated by putrescine or homologous diamines with increasing chain length from 4 to 7 carbon atoms . Diaminopropane completely inhibits the spermidine-activated system in a competitive manner . Translation of MS2 phage RNA is supported by putrescine, the rate and quality (read through to the termination signal) of translation is optimized by spermidine or triamine homologues . MS2 phage RNA translation is supported by spermidine, putrescine has no further stimulatory effect but diaminoheptane enhances the rate of translation . In this case, however, premature chain termination does occur . The results indicate that spermidine is necessary for optimal poly(U) and MS2 phage RNA translation, that the aminopropyl moiety is important for its function and that the remaining side chain can be extended from C4 to C8 . Putrescine may cooperate with spermidine but its chain length is rather critical, it cannot substitute for spermidine . The results indicate that the polyamines facilitate mRNA/tRNA/ribosome interactions in a specific manner.

J Am Dent Assoc, 1984 Sep, 109(3), 454 - 6
Infection in the patient receiving chemotherapy for cancer: oral considerations; McElroy TH; Because of the various factors associated with the disease process and its treatment, the patient receiving chemotherapy for cancer is highly susceptible to infection, and infection accounts for approximately 70% of patient fatalities . When potential sources of infection are considered in the patient receiving chemotherapy for cancer, the mouth provides ideal conditions for microbial growth, particularly in the debilitated patient, and is a portal of entry for contamination of the lungs, the digestive tract, and the circulatory system . These patients are more susceptible to oral infection because of alteration of oral flora toward greater pathogenicity and impairment of host-defense mechanisms . Oral/dental management of the patient receiving chemotherapy for cancer will enhance the general health and comfort of the patient and will prevent or reduce oral complications including mucositis and local and systemic infection.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Sep, (9), 54 - 8
{Morphological heterogeneity of Bordetella pertussis populations and clones (based on electron microscopy data)}; Bakulina NA et al.; Populations belonging to different serovars of B . pertussis museum strains and antibiotic-resistant clones obtained from them have been studied by electron microscopy . As a result, morphological heterogeneity and differences in the ultrastructure of the cells with respect to the cell-wall structure, the character of the cytoplasm, the size of the cells, cytoplasmic inclusions and intracellular links have been demonstrated and, proceeding from these data, two main morphological variants of the cells have been defined . The cells of the morphological variant characterized by the pliciform surface of the outer membrane and the pronounced periplasmic space prevail among the populations of the museum strains . The possibility of the isolation of antibiotic-resistant clones, differing in their morphological structure and functional properties from the initial population, has been shown . The morphological diversity of B . pertussis population is the necessary condition for the existence and development of microbial populations.

Ukr Biokhim Zh, 1984 Sep-Oct, 56(5), 540 - 5
{The effect of corticotropin and hydrocortisone on the dehydration of Krebs cycle substrates in E . coli cells}; Korkach VI et al.; Corticotropin and hydrocortisone were studied for their effect on dehydrogenase activity of microbial E . coli cells in the medium with the tricarboxylic acid cycle substrates, glucose and beta-oxybutyric acid . Corticotropin, as distinct from hydrocortisone, is shown to increase the dehydrogenase activity of microbial cells when pyruvate, isocitrate, oxaloacetate, alpha-ketoglutarate, succinate, furmarate, glucose and beta-oxybutyrate are used as substrates . Hydrocortisone induced a rise of the dehydrogenase activity of microbial cells only in the medium with isocitrate, alpha-ketoglutarate and fumarate, however to a less extent than corticotropin; it lowered this activity in the medium with pyruvate and glucose and did not change it with oxaloacetate, succinate and beta-oxybutyrate . The corticotropin effect is supposed to be extra-adrenal because microbial cells are also subjected to its action.

Poult Sci, 1984 Sep, 63(9), 1872 - 82
Ultrastructural analyses of uterovaginal sperm storage glands in fertile and infertile turkey breeder hens; Schuppin GT et al.; The ultrastructure of the uterovaginal (UV) sperm storage glands of fertile turkey breeder hens was characterized . Sperm glands were also studied over the course of an entire egg-laying season to determine if changes in ultrastructure occurred with time . In addition, ultrastructural comparisons were made between glands from fertile and infertile hens . Protein synthesis by the sperm gland epithelial cells appeared to be limited . The rough endoplasmic reticulum was not well developed . Intracellular glycogen storage was also minimal . However, lipid stores within the epithelial cells were relatively elevated . The degree of development of the apical microvilli and the presence of baso-lateral plasma membrane folds suggested that a primary function of the glandular epithelium was absorption . The length of time that a hen had been producing eggs did not influence the ultrastructure of UV gland epithelial cells . The morphology of glands from hens collected immediately prior to the commencement of egg production was similar to that of glands taken from hens that had completed an entire season of egg production . Aside from the observation that very few spermatozoa were found in the UV sperm glands of infertile hens, no detectable ultrastructural differences were observed between glands from fertile and infertile hens . Furthermore, there was no ultrastructural evidence of a microbial infection, nor was there evidence of an immunological response at the level of the sperm glands in the infertile hens.

Br J Nutr, 1984 Sep, 52(2), 249 - 60
Microbial protein synthesis in cattle given roughage-concentrate and all-concentrate diets: the use of 2,6-diaminopimelic acid, 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid and 35S as markers; Whitelaw FG et al.; Three steers, each fitted with a rumen cannula and a re-entrant cannula in the proximal duodenum, were offered diets consisting of a barley-based concentrate and chopped hay at a daily intake of 61 g/kg live weight0.75 given in three equal meals . The ratio, concentrate: hay was changed from 50:50 to 90:10 and then to 100:0 in successive periods of 12-18 weeks and the flow and composition of digesta at the duodenum was measured over 48-h periods on each dietary treatment . Samples of bacteria and protozoa were separated from rumen contents and the proportions of bacterial and protozoal nitrogen (N) in duodenal digesta were estimated using 2,6-diaminopimelic acid (DAPA) and 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid (AEP) as markers . On separate occasions, radioactive sulphur (35S) was infused into the rumen for 48 h and digesta collected over the final 24 h; the specific radioactivity of S in microbial and digesta fractions was used to estimate the proportions of microbial N . 35S gave reproducible and apparently reliable estimates of microbial protein formation: the proportion of microbial N in digesta was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) for the 50:50 diet than for the other treatments but the energetic efficiency of microbial protein formation did not differ significantly between diets . Estimates of bacterial N based on DAPA concentrations were highly variable and frequently impossibly high . It is suggested that many of the anomalous values were the result of non-representative sampling of the rumen microbial population and that this is particularly likely to occur when conditions within the rumen are unstable . AEP was found to be unsuitable as a marker for rumen protozoa as considerable concentrations of this substance were found also in rumen bacteria.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Aug, 57(1), 31 - 50
The rationale and a computer evaluation of a gamma irradiation sterilization dose determination method for medical devices using a substerilization incremental dose sterility test protocol; Davis KW et al.; The experimental procedure described is designed to allow calculation of the radiation sterilization dose for medical devices to any desired standard of sterility assurance . The procedure makes use of the results of a series of sterility tests on device samples exposed to doses of radiation from 0.2 to 1.8 Mrad in 0.2 Mrad increments . From the sterility test data a 10(-2) sterility level dose is determined . A formula is described that allows a value called DS Mrad to be calculated . This is an estimate of the effective radiation resistance of the heterogeneous microbial population remaining in the tail portion of the inactivation curve at the 10(-2) dose and above . DS Mrad is used as a D10 value and is applied, in conjunction with the 10(-2) sterility level dose, to an extrapolation factor to estimate a sufficient radiation sterilization dose . A computer simulation of the substerilization process has been carried out . This has allowed an extensive evaluation of the procedure, and the sterilization dose obtained from calculation to be compared with the actual dose required . Good agreement was obtained with most microbial populations examined, but examples of both overdosing and underdosing were found with microbial populations containing a proportion of organisms displaying pronounced shoulder inactivation kinetics . The method allows the radiation sterilization dose to be derived from the natural resistance of the microbial population to gamma sterilization.

Prep Biochem, 1984 Aug, 14(3), 245 - 56
Large scale preparation of selected glucose oligomers and polymers by gel filtration chromatography; Sloan HR et al.; A method for isolating relatively large quantities of glucose oligomer and polymer subfractions from a corn starch hydrolysate is described . Employing large columns of Bio-Gel P-2 (40-80 microns) at room temperature, we can prepare each day 0.5 to 1.2 grams of oligomeric fractions containing three to four adjacent homologues . The columns are homemade, require no flow adapters, and are operated by gravity elution with water as the solvent . The means for avoiding and overcoming potential difficulties, such as microbial contamination and declining flow rate, are described . With the use of the described method, we can operate a single column continuously for up to twelve months.

Ann Rheum Dis, 1984 Aug, 43(4), 541 - 50
Effect of high-dose methylprednisolone therapy on phagocyte function in systemic lupus erythematosus; Boghossian SH et al.; Circulating phagocytes play a major role in the defence of the host against microbial infection . In an attempt to identify the reason for the unusual susceptibility to infection of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) various parameters of phagocytic cell function were assessed kinetically in whole blood, and the accumulation of cells in areas of inflammation was studied in vivo with the skin window technique . The effect on these parameters of conventional therapy with glucocorticoids and pulse therapy with large doses of methylprednisolone were examined . Patients on conventional doses of steroids had no abnormality of phagocyte function that might have predisposed to infection, apart from a reduced accumulation of monocytes in areas of inflammation and decreased lactoferrin secretion . Pulse therapy with methylprednisolone considerably delayed the secretion of lactoferrin and the adherence of neutrophils in most of the patients, as well as impairing bacterial killing and digestion.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1984 Aug, 81(15), 4692 - 6
Rapid purification of a cloned gene product by genetic fusion and site-specific proteolysis; Germino J et al.; We have developed a rapid and general technique for purification of a protein encoded by a cistron contained in a recombinant DNA clone . The technique consists of fusing the target cistron DNA in the correct reading frame to a marker cistron via a piece of DNA that codes for a linker peptide . The target cistron in the example presented here is the replication initiator cistron of the plasmid R6K . The linker is a DNA fragment encoding 60 amino acids from the triple helical region of chicken pro alpha-2 collagen, and the marker cistron encodes the beta-galactosidase protein of Escherichia coli . The tripartite hybrid protein was rapidly purified by selective binding to and elution from a beta-galactosidase specific-affinity column . The hybrid protein was then digested with a purified microbial collagenase to cleave the linker, and high-pressure liquid chromatography allowed the rapid isolation of the target protein from the marker protein . Using this technique, we have purified the highly labile R6K replication initiator to homogeneity, and we have resolved the protein into NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal segments . We have further shown, by in vitro binding, that the COOH-terminal segment has at least one DNA-binding domain . The domain binds to the same restriction fragments of the R6K chromosome as the intact or beta-galactosidase-tagged initiator protein.

J Periodontol, 1984 Jul, 55(7), 398 - 401
Comparative differential dark-field microscopy of subgingival bacteria from tooth surfaces with recent evidence of recurring periodontitis and from nonaffected surfaces; Listgarten MA et al.; Ninety-two subjects with a history of treatment for chronic periodontitis were monitored on a regular basis for an average period of 10.7 months . During this monitoring period, in spite of their participation in a preventive maintenance program, 19 subjects out of 92 showed evidence of significantly increased probing depth (greater than or equal to 3 mm from base line measurements) on at least one tooth surface, or approximately 1% of the dental units at risk in this population . A comparison of differential microscopic counts of subgingival bacteria from the affected tooth surfaces with a pooled sample of 6 other surfaces with the greatest probing depth, in the same mouth, taken at the same appointment, revealed no significant differences between proportions of coccoid cells, spirochetes, motile rods or other cell types . These findings suggest that disease recurrence, as measured by a comparatively rapid increase in probing depth, might be accounted for on the basis of the following hypotheses: an alteration in the host response without a detectable change in the composition of the subgingival microbiota, a qualitative change in the microbial flora not detectable by a microscopic assay, relatively brief episodes of disease activity which may be accompanied by brief, transient, qualitative changes in the local microbiota that cannot be readily detected by biannual examinations.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Jul, (7), 37 - 45
{Various aspects of the chemotherapy of bacterial infections}; Navashin SM; The principles of rational antibiotic therapy in modern conditions are considered . The mechanism of action of the main antibiotics widely used for the treatment of infectious diseases and indications to the use of combined antibiotic therapy are analyzed . Good prospects for the use of immunomodulators and agents inhibiting microbial cell enzymes in a number of pathological conditions are shown.

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1984 Jul, 33(4), 679 - 83
Selection of attenuated dengue 4 viruses by serial passage in primary kidney cells . IV . Characterization of a vaccine candidate in fetal rhesus lung cells; Halstead SB et al.; A strain of primary dog kidney (PDK)-passaged dengue (DEN) 4 (H-241) virus cloned by terminal dilution (PDK 35-TD3) was propagated in large volumes in fetal rhesus lung (FRhL) cells to produce a candidate vaccine for evaluation in man . Production seed (FRhL p2) and candidate vaccine (FRhL p3) were subjected to rigorous safety tests to exclude contaminating microbial agents . There was no significant monkey neurovirulence of parental or PDK-passaged DEN-4 virus or of control fluid cultures . FRhL-passaged viruses retained the phenotypic characteristics: small (occasional medium) plaque; temperature sensitivity at 38.5 degrees C; and absence of plaque formation in African green monkey kidney cells, cytopathic effect in LLC-MK2 cells, and viral growth in human monocytes . FRhL p2 virus displayed low virulence for monkeys; only one of four animals was viremic and three of four developed low-titered antibody . FRhL p3 virus produced viremia in three monkeys and moderate to high hemagglutination-inhibition and neutralizing antibody titers in all animals . Virus at both passages in FRhL exhibited reduced neurovirulence in suckling mice as compared to parental DEN-4 . Because of its safety and desirable monkey virulence attributes PDK 35-TD3 FRhL p3 is recommended for human phase I trial.

Microbiol Sci, 1984 Jul, 1(4), 90 - 2,95
In situ determination of metabolic activity in aquatic environments; Findlay RH et al.; Methods used for measurement of in situ microbial activities are selectively reviewed . Complexities of sediments can lead to disturbance artifacts that may be obviated by new methods of measurement.

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1984 Jul-Aug, 67(4), 801 - 7
Genetic methods for the detection of microbial pathogens . Identification of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli by DNA colony hybridization: collaborative study; Hill WE et al.; Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains may produce a cholera-like, heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) as a virulence factor . The gene that codes for LT can be purified by recombinant DNA techniques and used as a genetic probe for DNA hybridization . These probes detect enterotoxigenic strains as well as strains that may not manifest toxin production but carry the genetic information to do so . In this study, 13 laboratories tested 3 known and 25 unknown (10 positive and 15 negative) cultures of E . coli for the presence of the LT gene . The isolates had been tested and classified by the mouse Y-1 adrenal cell test and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . Cultures were spotted on nitrocellulose filters on MacConkey agar and incubated . Colonies were lysed in situ and their DNA was hybridized to 32P-labeled, purified LT gene DNA (provided to the collaborators) . Positive colonies were identified by autoradiography . Of 325 samples, 315 (96.9%) were identified correctly and 10 were misclassified; there were 6 false negative and 4 false positive identifications . Chi-square values indicated that the method agreed with the previous classification and was equally efficient in distinguishing positive and negative samples (95.7 and 98.1%, respectively) . The method has been adopted official first action.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1984 Jul, 96(1), 215 - 22
Presence of (2'-5')oligoadenylate synthetase in avian erythrocytes; Sokawa J et al.; (2'-5')Oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5A synthetase) was found in avian erythrocyte lysates from chicken, goose, and pigeon, with high levels being observed in chicken erythrocytes . No activities, however, were detected in erythrocytes from human, sheep, mouse, turtle, frog, trout, or lamprey . In chicken erythrocyte lysate, about 70% of ATP was converted to 2-5A molecules during a 20-h incubation, in which the tri- and tetra-adenylate were the major products . The tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hepta-adenylate were synthesized sequentially, but the levels of the di-adenylate were low throughout the reaction . 2-5A synthetase was also seen in erythrocytes from specific pathogen-free chickens, suggesting that the enzyme was not produced as a result of microbial infections . 2-5A synthetases from avian erythrocytes of chicken and pigeon were found not only in cytoplasms, but also in nuclei . No enzyme activity, however, was detected in the nuclear fraction of goose erythrocytes . The molecular size of 2-5A synthetase in nuclei from chicken erythrocytes was 45,000-60,000 daltons, while cytoplasms contained an 85,000- to 120,000-dalton enzyme . In addition, the synthetase was present in several types of chicken tissue including liver, intestine, bone marrow, spleen, bursa, pancreas, and thymus, but not in brain, heart, or stomach.

Lab Anim, 1984 Jul, 18(3), 252 - 7
Presence of IgA-producing cells in rats and mice in relation to microbial status; Mullink JW et al.; The numbers of IgA-producing cells in intestinal mucosa, mesenteric lymph nodes, lungs and bronchial lymph nodes were scored in rats and mice . A statistically significant difference in the scores existed between germ-free and SPF mice and between gnotobiotic and SPF rats . In a group of SPF rats a statistically significant difference in the scores was demonstrated in relation to several bacterial and viral agents.

J Pharm Pharmacol, 1984 Jul, 36(7), 437 - 40
Effects of diflunisal on fever in the rabbit and the rat; Dascombe MJ; The antipyretic efficacy of diflunisal was assessed in rats made febrile by yeast and in rabbits made febrile by bacterial endotoxin . Diflunisal was a more potent antipyretic than aspirin in rats, reducing a maximum fever in doses not producing overt toxic effects . In contrast, submaximal fever in rabbits was not reduced by diflunisal . Fatal hyperthermia of rapid onset was observed in rats and rabbits receiving high doses of diflunisal after administration of microbial pyrogen but not in control animals . These data indicate the toxicity of diflunisal may be potentiated by the presence of pyrogens . It is concluded that the apparent antipyretic efficacy of a drug can depend on the species-pyrogen combination used to screen for antipyresis.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Jun, 56(3), 415 - 9
A rapid chemical spot test for the detection of lactic acid as an indicator of microbial spoilage in preserved foods; Ackland MR et al.; A rapid method for the detection of lactic acid in preserved foods has been developed, based upon a chemical spot test which does not require solvent extraction or derivatisation of the lactic acid in the sample . The test can be completed within 5 min and was shown to confirm microbial spoilage detected by cultural techniques in a range of preserved foods . In addition the test was able to indicate microbial spoilage in samples where cultural techniques failed because the spoilage organisms were dead . The test may not be appropriate for products which have a naturally high lactic acid content.

Am J Optom Physiol Opt, 1984 Jun, 61(6), 389 - 96
Microbial factors in contact lens fitting; Barre ME et al.; As contact lens practitioners, optometrists work in a nonsterile environment and on a nonsterile part of the human body . Our report describes 10 cases of eye infection related to contact lens wear . Practitioners need to be aware of the problems which can occur when a thoroughly sterilized contact lens is placed on an unsterile and biologically complex eye . We recommend taking swabs of the conjuctiva in all eyes where ocular inflammation is present . In those areas in which the professions of optometry and medicine meet, cooperation should exist . Improving our knowledge and skills in microbiology helps to facilitate such cooperation . Our experience has been most rewarding and interaction in this field with medical practitioners has been positive . The use of a high quality slitlamp is essential.

Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 1984 Jun, 12(3), 160 - 4
Relative effectiveness of a rotary and conventional toothbrush in plaque removal; Walsh TF et al.; The ability of a powered rotary toothbrush to remove 3- and 4-day-old microbial plaque deposits was evaluated in 10 young adults with healthy gingivae . Using a split mouth technique and a cross-over experimental design, the powered brush was compared with a conventional hand brush over a 14-day period . Statistical analysis of the results showed no significant differences between either method of brushing when the whole mouth, maxillary or mandibular arches were compared . Further analysis of the proximal scores again showed no significant differences between the powered brush or handbrush . The majority of the subjects preferred the conventional handbrush to the powered brush.

Food Chem Toxicol, 1984 Jun, 22(6), 415 - 8
Hydrocolloid food additives and rat caecal microbial enzyme activities; Mallett AK et al.; Agar, carboxymethylcellulose, carrageenan, guar gum, gum acacia, locust-beam gum or pectin (50 g/kg diet), given to weanling rats for 4 wk, increased the weight of the caecal wall and the caecal contents . Feeding carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum or pectin significantly increased, and feeding carrageenan decreased, the total bacterial population of the caecum . Feeding carboxymethylcellulose significantly increased in vitro activity of bacterial azoreductase, beta-glucosidase, beta-glucuronidase, nitrate reductase, nitroreductase and urease . Guar gum, gum acacia and locust-bean gum each increased at least three of these activities . In contrast, feeding carrageenan greatly decreased all microbial enzyme activities, while agar decreased beta-glucosidase, beta-glucuronidase and nitroreductase activities.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1984 Jun, 179(3), 217 - 24
{Rapid counting of bacteria isolated from cattle, swine and sheep carcasses using the resazurin method}; Labadie J et al.; A rapid counting method has been used to estimate the microbial flora of beef, pork and sheep . The test used in this study permitted a 3 h counting of the bacteria whatever their origin . The easiness of the test makes it feasible for the appreciation of the hygienic conditions existing during the slaughtering operations.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1984 Jun, 56(3), 559 - 66
Human neutrophils require activation by mononuclear leucocyte conditioned medium to kill the pathogenic free-living amoeba, Naegleria fowleri; Ferrante A et al.; Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba which causes a fulminant and rapidly fatal meningoencephalitis in man . Human neutrophils fail to kill the amoeba in vitro, but can do so if they are exposed to conditioned medium (CM) from PHA stimulated mononuclear leucocytes (MNLs) . Specific antibody or complement was required to effect amoeba killing by CM modified neutrophils . Only short time exposure of the leucocytes to CM was required to endow them with amoebicidal properties . The CM was also shown to contain neutrophil migration inhibition activity and an activity(ies) which induced a respiratory burst in neutrophils . The results highlight the importance of MNL products other than specific antibody in neutrophil anti-microbial activity.

Environ Health Perspect, 1984 Jun, 56, 131 - 48
Immunohistochemical techniques and their applications in the histopathology of the respiratory system; Linnoila I et al.; Subsequent to the first report in the 1940s on incubation of tissue sections with fluorescein-conjugated antibodies for localization of antigens, a great number of modifications were introduced to improve the validity of immunohistochemistry which has become a growingly popular tool . The use of immunoenzymatic techniques eliminates the need for expensive fluorescence microscopy equipment, the lack of permanency of preparations and the lack of electron density required in ultrastructural localization of antigens . Regardless of the technique, it is also important to choose a correct fixation which allows the proper preservation of antigens and morphology and the penetration of antibodies through the entire thickness of the preparation . A variety of immunohistochemical techniques have been applied to study several components of the lung, such as collagen, surface active material, lung specific antigens, and enzymes and the detection of tumor markers, immunoglobulins and infectious agents in the respiratory system which is reviewed . The large surface area and the multiplicity of cell types provided by the respiratory tract epithelium of humans for exposure to microbial as well as toxic substances in the environment make this organ system very vulnerable but a good early indicator of adverse health effects . Immunohistochemistry provides valuable information complementary to the immunochemical and biochemical characterization of this barrier.

Antibiotiki, 1984 May, 29(5), 386 - 90
{Relation between pharmacokinetics of an antibiotic in ocular fluids and the method of administration and dosage form of gentamycin}; Maichuk IuF et al.; The experiments on rabbits with intraocular infection provided determination of the optimal route and regimen of gentamicin administration in various dosage forms . Gentamicin sulfate made in the USSR was used . It was shown that during instillations of 0.3 per cent eye drops, gentamicin did not penetrate into the intraocular fluid . The ophthalmic drug films (ODF) containing 0.5 mg gentamicin per film provided better penetration of the antibiotic into the eye cavity in the concentrations in the ocular fluid active only against the most gentamicin sensitive microbial strains . Therefore, the use of the ODF containing gentamicin may be recommended for the treatment of intraocular infections caused by gentamicin sensitive organisms . When the antibiotic was administered subconjunctively in a dose of 20 mg, its therapeutic concentrations were mainly detectable in the anterior chamber fluid . Therefore, the use of this administration route was first of all rational in intraocular infections of the anterior part of the eye . The antibiotic should be used in such cases at least twice a day . The therapeutic concentrations of gentamicin active against the majority of the microbial strains were attained in the vitreous body only on intravitreal administration . The high therapeutic levels of gentamicin in the vitreous body after its injection in a dose of 0.4 mg were recorded for at least 4 days . Therefore, for the treatment of endophthalmitis the intravitreal route of gentamicin administration is of the greatest practical importance.

Surgery, 1984 May, 95(5), 580 - 5
Preparation of amniotic membranes for surgical use with antibiotic solutions; Gannaway WL et al.; A comparative study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of antibiotic solutions for disinfecting vaginally delivered amniotic membranes . The microbial flora of eight amniotic membranes was defined and six antibiotic solutions were tested for their effectiveness in eliminating aerobic and anaerobic organisms . A solution containing 600 micrograms lincomycin HCl/ml, 500 micrograms neomycin sulfate/ml, 25 micrograms polymyxin B sulfate/ml, and 25 micrograms amphotericin B sulfate/ml in 0.5N saline was found to be capable of disinfecting amniotic membranes stored at 4 degrees C for 24 hours . This solution is now being used to disinfect surgically used amniotic membranes at our institution.

J Periodontol, 1984 May, 55(5), 261 - 7
Treatment of juvenile periodontitis patients by control of infection and inflammation . Four case reports; Jaffin RA et al.; Four patients, ages 14-17, who demonstrated characteristics of juvenile periodontitis, underwent antibiotic and surgical therapy to control microbial etiologic factors . No occlusal equilibration or bone grafting techniques were employed . Subsequent to treatment, all four patients demonstrated decreased pocket depths and mobility on teeth associated with vertical osseous defects . Osseous repair was evident on postoperative radiographs . Reentry procedures, on one patient, confirmed that osseous repair had occurred in 2- to 3-wall, 3-wall, hemi-circumferential and furcal defects . If infection and inflammation are controlled, it appears that the potential for osseous repair in juvenile periodontitis patients is greater than has been thought.

Arch Tierernahr, 1984 May-Jun, 34(5-6), 379 - 85
{Nitrogen metabolism in growing swine with special reference to the efficacy of lysine from various lysine sources}; Liebert F et al.; The results of measurings of N-metabolism in relation to the utilisation of the limiting amino acids are discussed on the basis of N-balance experiments with 20 growing female pigs (live weight 35-40 kg) with lysine-limited, highly digestible synthetic feed mixtures . Based on an N-utilisation model (Gebhardt, 1963), conclusions are drawn concerning the effectivity of lysine from various lysine sources . In accordance with literature, differences between synthetic lysine and microbial lysine concentrate could not be observed.

Allergol Immunopathol (Madr), 1984 May-Jun, 12(3), 173 - 7
Bronchospasm mechanisms in experimental microbial sensitization . II . Pathochemical stage; Belyaev NN et al.; The pathochemical mechanisms of bronchospasm have been studied using various type of experimental allergies to microbial antigens . It was established that in guinea pigs with type I allergies isolated lung bronchospasm was mediated by histamine and SRS-A . Bronchial response to immune complexes type III were produced by the activation of complement with subsequent degranulation of mast cells and histamine release . Type IV hypersensitivity (lymphokine-mediated bronchospasm) was manifested without histamine, acetylcholine and mast cell involvement . The response to lymphokine was blocked by atropine . The spasmogenic y lymphokines are large molecular thermolabile substances.

J Dairy Sci, 1984 May, 67(5), 987 - 94
Effect of carbon-4 and carbon-5 volatile fatty acids on growth of mixed rumen bacteria in vitro; Russell JB et al.; Mixed ruminal bacteria (400 mg cells/liter) were incubated in artificial media containing ammonia, sodium carbonate, macrominerals, vitamins, sulfide, microminerals, acetate, propionate, and butyrate . When mixed carbohydrates (equal parts glucose, maltose, sucrose, cellobiose, and soluble starch) were added at 155 mg/liter per h for 10 h, average bacterial growth rate was slow, and dry weight yield was greater than 23% . Additions of isobutyrate, valerate, isovalerate, and 2 methylbutyrate had little influence on synthesis of bacterial dry weight, deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, or carbohydrate . When a timothy hay inoculum was used, isovalerate and 2 methyl-butyrate increased protein synthesis by 11.2 and 16.4%, but isobutyrate and valerate alone were without effect . All four acids combined increased bacterial protein by 18.7% . Responses with an inoculum of 60% concentrate and mixed hay were smaller and not statistically different from control incubations . Low concentrations of Trypticase (less than 250 mg/liter) improved efficiency of microbial protein synthesis from organic matter, but more was associated with decreased efficiency and utilization of extracellular ammonia.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 May, 47(5), 1005 - 11
Comparison of methods to measure acute metal and organometal toxicity to natural aquatic microbial communities; Jonas RB et al.; Microbial communities in water from Baltimore Harbor and from the mainstem of Chesapeake Bay were examined for sensitivity to mercuric chloride, monomethyl mercury, stannic chloride, and tributyltin chloride . Acute toxicity was determined by measuring the effects of {3H}thymidine incorporation, {14C}glutamate incorporation and respiration, and viability as compared with those of controls . Minimum inhibitory concentrations were low for all metals (monomethyl mercury, less than 0.05 microgram liter-1; mercuric chloride, less than 1 microgram liter-1; tributyltin chloride, less than 5 micrograms liter-1) except stannic chloride (5 mg liter-1) . In some cases, mercuric chloride and monomethyl mercury were equally toxic at comparable concentrations . The Chesapeake Bay community appeared to be slightly more sensitive to metal stress than the Baltimore Harbor community, but this was not true for all treatments or assays . For culturable bacteria the opposite result was found . Thymidine incorporation and glutamate metabolism were much more sensitive indicators of metal toxicity than was viability . To our knowledge, this is the first use of the thymidine incorporation method for ecotoxicology studies . We found it the easiest and fastest of the three methods; it is at least equal in sensitivity to metabolic measurements, and it likely measures the effects on greater portion of the natural community.

Sci Total Environ, 1984 Apr 19, 35(2), 135 - 48
Study of long term effects of oil and oil-dispersant mixtures on freshwater microbial populations in man made ponds; Dutka BJ et al.; In this paper, the results of a 19 month investigation of microbial communities subjected to the effects of oil and oil plus dispersant additions in man made ponds are reported . Microbial biomass estimations by ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and microscopic procedures using epifluorescence indicated that oil and oil plus dispersants had little or no effect on these parameters, and any effect noted was stimulatory . However, detailed examination of specific populations indicated that oil and oil plus dispersant additions were stimulatory for short periods of time to the populations studied . Seven days after the oil and dispersant additions to the ponds, no mutagenic or toxic activities to bacteria were noted.

J Biomed Mater Res, 1984 Apr, 18(4), 383 - 93
Some factors that influence prolonged interfacial continuity; Hall CW et al.; Bringing a percutaneous implant through the integument with the intentions of leaving it as a functional device for prolonged periods of time has not yet become a reality . If we are ever to achieve prolonged uninfected implants, attention must be directed toward a variety of failure mechanisms . Some of these mechanisms have defied our scrutiny, and our awareness of others are poorly understood . Some of the causes for failure of a percutaneous implant are the forces, either extrinsic or intrinsic, that cause shearing and tearing at the skin-implant interface . Extrinsic forces are defined as those forces applied either to the skin or the implant by the external environment . Intrinsic forces are those that have to do directly or indirectly with the body's growth and cell maturation, such as the retraction of maturing scar tissue and the surface migration of squamous epithelium . An intact skin-implant interface is important to attain in order to close the portal which might allow microbial invasion . The integument must remain intact, since a suppurative wound makes the implant's removal mandatory.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Apr, 56(2), 343 - 7
A note on 'plotless' methods for estimating bacterial cell densities; Roser D et al.; ' Plotless ' techniques for determining population densities have been developed for, and applied to, higher plant populations . They can often be carried out more rapidly than techniques involving total counts of individuals in plots, or quadrants, but such plotless techniques have not been generally applied to the estimation of densities of bacterial cells . Direct microscopical counting of cell numbers in a field of view, an example of a plot-related method, has been traditionally used for microbial cell counts . In this study 'plot' and ' plotless ' methods on a variety of bacterial samples are compared . Estimates of bacterial cell density were obtained by measuring the distance of cells from a fixed point in a field of view . The values, which were more rapidly obtained, were directly correlated with total cell counts . Although there was some apparent deviation from a perfect 1:1 relationship with total counts, as indicated by a correlation coefficient less than 1.0, there were no significant differences between the replicated counts of bacteria on samples of tissue from the surface of Hypholoma basidiocarps (P less than 0.05) . This indicated that the methods of enumeration were comparable . The distance-related estimates could readily be obtained from fields of view with cell densities varying over several orders of magnitude . It was more rapidly applied, particularly at high density, and the method was applicable not only to random cell distributions but also to the non-random distributions encountered when microbial cells aggregated into microcolonies . The method appears to be particularly well-suited for automated, digitized, direct counting procedures, as well as to estimating bacterial numbers on membrane filters and natural substrates.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Apr, 56(2), 259 - 68
Microbial growth at reduced water activities: some physicochemical properties of compatible solutes; Chirife J et al.; The water activities (aw) of solutions of D-arabitol (a major compatible solute in yeasts grown at reduced aw) and also of related polyols (L-arabitol, xylitol and ribitol) were determined at 25 degrees C . The aw of saturated solutions of L-proline and monopotassium L-glutamate (solutes which accumulate in bacterial cells at reduced aw) were also determined . The viscosities of L-proline, monopotassium L-glutamate and D-arabitol solutions were measured at 25, 30, 35 and 40 degrees C for various concentrations up to high molalities . The relative viscosity curves were described using a theoretical model for the concentration dependence of viscosity . No relationship of viscosity of the electrolytes to effectiveness as 'compatible solutes' were evident, neither were the compatible solutes particularly effective 'structure makers' or 'structure breakers.'

Arthritis Rheum, 1984 Apr, 27(4), 369 - 75
Destructive spondylarthropathy in hemodialyzed patients . A new syndrome; Kuntz D et al.; Spinal radiologic lesions suggestive of destructive spondylarthropathy were found in 10 patients on long-term hemodialysis . These lesions were characterized by severe narrowing of the intervertebral disc, associated with erosions and geodes of the adjacent vertebral plates without osteophytosis . In 9 of the 10 patients the lesions were located in the cervical spine, and in 1 patient, in the lumbar spine . Microbial spondylitis, degenerative disc disease, and destructive spondylarthropathy of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease were each, in turn, ruled out . The finding of apatite crystals by transmission electron microscopy in 1 disc specimen suggests that these crystals may be associated with destructive vertebral disc lesions in dialysis patients.

J Pediatr, 1984 Apr, 104(4), 608 - 13
Perinatal bacterial infection after prolonged rupture of amniotic membranes: an analysis of risk and management; St Geme JW Jr et al.; Chi-square and logistic stepwise multiple regression analysis of perinatal determinants of infant bacterial infection following prolonged rupture of amniotic membranes for 24 hours or more prior to delivery was applied in 33 infected infants and 66 matched control infants from the NINCDS Collaborative Project . In order of statistical significance, the most important variables were placental inflammation (P = 0.002), gestational age less than 34 weeks (P = 0.008), gestational age 34 to 37 weeks (P = 0.013), male sex (P = 0.015), Apgar score less than 6 at 5 minutes (P = 0.023), and clinical amnionitis (maternal fever, fetal tachycardia, or amniotic or gastric fluid leukocytes or bacteria) (P = 0.044) . Duration of labor during PROM, race, and maternal age and parity were insignificant . Using these predictive variables, identification of infected infants for either microbial surveillance (superficial and systemic cultures) or microbial surveillance and anticipatory antibiotic therapy (discontinued after 3 days of negative cultures) was highly significant (P = 0.0001) . Incorporating these variables and derived coefficients from multivariate analysis, a mathematical model was used for evaluation and prediction of perinatal bacterial infection with a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 70% . Analysis of 46 infants prior to and 310 infants after implementation of this process at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center indicated significant improvement in the appropriate management of these infants at risk (from 59% to 87% of the population, P less than 0.05) . Inappropriate antibiotic therapy decreased from 35% to 10% (P less than 0.05) . In the absence of a shift in the median days of hospitalization of non-PROM infants, determination of the grand median days of PROM infant hospital stay showed a decrease (P less than 0.01) after initiation of this evaluation and management scheme.

Radioisotopes, 1984 Apr, 33(4), 195 - 202
Irradiation conditions required in combined radiation-microbial process for landfill leachate; Yamazaki M et al.; A landfill leachate, which contains large amounts of microbially refractory humic substances, was irradiated with 60Co gamma-rays under several conditions and the modification of its biodegradability was examined . The effects of initial pH and dose rate on the modification were found to be insignificant . The apparent effect was observed for the initial concentration of the humic substances . High biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) value was obtained as the initial concentration was higher . As the initial concentration was lower, in contrast, the decreasing rates of total organic carbon (TOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were high . Therefore two possible designs of the combined radiation-microbial processes with and without dilution are proposed . Both processes require only about 30% of the irradiation dose, compared with a simple radiation process.

Mutat Res, 1984 Apr, 130(2), 87 - 95
Evaluation of Escherichia coli K-12 343/113 and derived strains for microbial mutagenicity assays; Leonardo JM et al.; Several characteristics of the E . coli K-12 mutagenicity tester strains 343/113 and 343/120 have been investigated for their effects on induced mutagenesis using the arg56 and nad113 genes, and resistance to valine . We found, as have earlier authors, that the nad113 marker is relatively specific for detecting frameshift-inducing mutagens and relatively insensitive to agents that cause point mutations . In contrast, both the Arg and Val markers are primarily specific for reversion (or mutation) induction by point mutagens . In all cases tested, the Arg and Val markers respond to mutagens in a qualitatively similar manner . We have enhanced the sensitivity of this tester system to a wide variety of mutagens by permeabilization of the tester cell population using Tris-EDTA treatment . This treatment prior to mutagen exposure enables the detection of mutagenicity of several compounds that are weakly mutagenic or nonmutagenic in untreated cells . We have also increased the mutagenicity of some chemicals by preincubating with rat-liver S9 at pH values other than 7.4 . For diethylnitrosamine, for instance, maximal induction occurred at pH 6.5, and for benzo{a}pyrene, maximal induction was at pH 6.8.

Ann Acad Med Singapore, 1984 Apr, 13(2), 120 - 6
Problems and progress in immunization; Cvjetanovic B; Advances in immunology, microbial genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry are opening prospects for new purified and synthetic antigens against infectious diseases, cancers of viral origin and some immunodeficiencies . Immunization programmes against major childhood diseases with commonly used vaccines gave excellent results and are leading to their virtual eradication in developed countries . However some vaccines like the one against pertussis proved to be of considerably lower effectiveness . Results achieved in developing countries are in general lagging behind due to lower immunization coverage . While in some countries immunization strategies for eradication of measles are discussed, in others it is questionable whether immunization should continue due to failures of immunization programmes . Evaluation of the effectiveness of national immunization programmes by surveillance and various other methods including the use of epidemiological models point ot the deficiencies of vaccine potency and/or stability and the inadequacy of vaccination schemes and coverages . There is a need to determine optimal immunization programmes for control and possible eradication with currently available antigens and new ones . For newly developed vaccines, ever increasing in number, but with the uncertainty of their appropriate public health use, it is essential to study their optimal and most cost-effective uses e.g., pertussis vaccination is an old unsolved problem and that against hepatitis B a new one . Better results can be obtained with current vaccines by appropriate modification of immunization programmes . Some of the proposed strategies for using recently developed vaccines are questionable and need critical examination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diabetologia, 1984 Apr, 26(4), 278 - 81
The effect of a new specific alpha-amylase inhibitor on post-prandial glucose and insulin excursions in normal subjects and Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients; Eichler HG et al.; Trestatin (Ro 9-0154), a new specific alpha-amylase inhibitor of microbial origin, was tested in six normal subjects and seven Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients . In normal subjects the maximal increases in blood glucose following a 115-g starch meal were 2.19 +/- 0.57 mmol/l (mean +/- SEM) with placebo, but 1.32 +/- 0.39 mmol/l with 10 mg, 1.06 +/- 0.26 mmol/l with 20 mg, 0.43 +/- 0.07 mmol/l with 50 mg (p less than 0.05) and 0.26 +/- 0.14 mmol/l with 100 mg (p less than 0.05) Trestatin . The corresponding increases in plasma insulin were 116.5 +/- 19.6 mU/l; 74.8 +/- 17.5 mU/l; 50.7 +/- 8.3 mU/l; 28.7 +/- 6.9 mU/l (p less than 0.05) and 16.5 +/- 3.2 mU/l (p less than 0.05) . In the diabetic patients the maximal increases in blood glucose following a 50-g starch meal were 6.09 +/- 0.02 mmol/l with placebo, but 3.17 +/- 0.59 mmol/l (p less than 0.05) with 10 mg and 1.69 +/- 0.41 mmol/l (p less than 0.05) with 30 mg Trestatin . The corresponding insulin increases were: 58.8 +/- 12.7 mU/l, 31.5 +/- 9.7 mU/l (p less than 0.05) and 23.4 +/- 4.8 mU/l (p less than 0.05) . Trestatin fully retained this pharmacological activity during treatment for 4 weeks in the diabetic patients . Trestatin did not influence glucose and insulin profiles after oral glucose and sucrose . These results are consistent with a specific inhibition of alpha-amylase in man.

Chirurg, 1984 Apr, 55(4), 280 - 7
{Surgical hand disinfection using alcoholic rubbing disinfectants}; Kalmar P et al.; Since 1965, besides the use of scrubbing disinfectants, a number of alcoholic handrub methods are employed in the surgical skin disinfection of the hands . These contain, in addition to the alcohols, substances such as phenols and among others, cation-active substances . The efficacy of the substances is examined by means of in vitro-tests and through investigations conducted under conditions approximating those in the practice in accordance with the guidelines set down by the German Society of Hygiene and Microbiology . The comparison between the alcohol-containing handrub disinfectants and the scrubbing methods indicates clearly that the latter achieve only a low germ-reduction effect . The investigation on 4 alcoholic handrub disinfectants showed an initial potent germ-reducing and a good long-term effect . When mechanical scrubbing of the hands is carried out in a timely relationship to the application of the handrub -method, it is found to be able to produce extensive dermal damages . The reduction in the transient microbial flora by means of the mechanical hand scrubbing is minimal . The study on the germ-reduction after surgical disinfection of the hands using alcoholic handrub disinfectants in combination with and without initial soap-scrubbing demonstrated no differences, neither in the number of sterile hands nor in the averages of germ-reduction . The investigations conducted confirmed the excellent efficacy of the alcoholic handrub disinfectants and pointed out that it is unnecessary to combine mechanical hand scrubbing and the employment of alcoholic disinfectants in the same process.

J Clin Periodontol, 1984 Apr, 11(4), 209 - 20
Plaque and systemic disease: a reappraisal of the focal infection concept; Thoden van Velzen SK et al.; The review presented here covers metastatic local and systemic disease secondary to the accumulation of plaque or the formation of other pathogenic microbial depots in the mouth . At least 3 pathways may link oral infection to secondary disease, to wit metastatic infection due to transient bacteremia, metastatic immunological injury, and metastatic toxic injury . The available evidence is presented and examples are provided . They concern among others such divergent diseases as acute bacterial myocarditis, infective endocarditis, brain abscess, uveitis and iridocyclitis, trigeminal and atypical facial neuralgia, unilateral facial paralysis, fever of "unknown' origin, and neutrophil dysfunction.

Clin Biochem, 1984 Apr, 17(2), 112 - 9
Some clinical implications of recombinant DNA technology with emphasis on prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies; Anderson A; Recombinant DNA technology has made possible remarkable advances in understanding the molecular genetics of human and other eucaryotic cells . This technology also has clinical applications, some of which may soon involve clinical laboratories . Restriction endonucleases and cloned DNA probes permit the direct analysis of cellular DNA to detect sequence abnormalities associated with particular genetic disorders . Use of this approach in the antenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies is now possible on a routine basis . The principles behind the methods are quite general and may be applied to other hereditary diseases once suitable DNA probes become available . The same approach may be used to detect carriers of recessive gene defects and so improve genetic counselling . Other clinically related applications of recombinant DNA technology include the production of antigens for vaccine preparation and of specific human proteins (e.g . interferon and human growth hormone) for therapeutic use, as well as the use of nucleic acid hybridization for identification of microbial pathogens . It seems likely that recombinant DNA technology will, in the future, play an increasingly important role in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of human disease.

EMBO J, 1984 Apr, 3(4), 761 - 6
A linear DNA plasmid from Streptomyces rochei with an inverted terminal repetition of 614 base pairs; Hirochika H et al.; The terminal structure of a linear plasmid pSLA2 , which was isolated from Streptomyces rochei , was analysed . The 5' ends of pSLA2 DNA were blocked by the association of a protein probably covalently bonded with the DNA . This block is removed by alkali treatment and blunt ends with 5'-phosphate and 3'-hydroxy termini were released . The two terminal fragments of pSLA2 were cloned and the nucleotide sequence was determined . An inverted terminal repetition of 614 bp was found along with the presence of further interrupted homologous sequences beyond this area up to 800 bp . These are the first inverted terminal repeat sequences found in microbial linear plasmids.

J Hyg (Lond), 1984 Apr, 92(2), 193 - 203
Evaluation of disinfectants in the domestic environment under 'in use' conditions; Scott E et al.; An 'in use' test was developed to investigate effectiveness of disinfectant application and of detergent of hot water cleaning at kitchen, bathroom and toilet sites in the domestic environment . Detergent and hot water cleaning produced no observable reduction in microbial contamination . Single and daily application tests demonstrated that hypochlorite and phenolic disinfectants can be used to produce substantial reductions in bacterial contamination in the home . Results indicate that maximum protection afforded by disinfection is relatively brief; 3-6 h after disinfection, contamination levels were only marginally less than those observed at pretreatment . Some suggestions are made for improvements in home hygiene.

J Clin Hosp Pharm, 1984 Mar, 9(1), 61 - 7
Microbial contamination of pharmaceutical injections at the site of administration; Whyte W et al.; The administration of a subcutaneous injection was simulated by piercing the skin of volunteers with syringe needles . Interiors of 2.4% of the needles were found to be contaminated with micro-organisms from the skin as were 3.8% of the exterior surfaces.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Mar, 47(3), 566 - 70
Negative correlation between protozoal and bacterial levels in rumen samples and its relation to the determination of dietary effects on the rumen microbial population; Teather RM et al.; The bacterial protein content and protozoal protein content of unfractionated samples from the liquid-small particle phase of the rumen were determined on the basis of direct microscopic measurement of bacteria numbers and protozoa numbers and cell volumes . Standard values of 8.7 X 10(-11) mg of protein per bacterial cell and 5.9 X 10(-11) mg/micron 3 of protozoa cell volume, obtained from analysis of isolated cells, were used to convert the microscopic measurements to an estimate of the protein content of the rumen sample . When the correlation between bacterial and protozoal protein levels was examined within groups of animals, a highly significant negative correlation between these two parameters was found (P less than 0.001) . The variation among animals for total (bacterial plus protozoal) microbial protein was smaller than the variation among animals for bacterial or protozoal protein alone . There was also a highly significant positive correlation (P less than 0.001) between protozoal protein level and total microbial protein level . The variation found among animals in total microbial protein level could be reduced by using a regression equation determined for bacterial versus protozoal protein to correct for the different population dynamics of the two groups.

Br J Nutr, 1984 Mar, 51(2), 289 - 96
Effects of alkali treatment of wheat straw on intake and microbial protein synthesis in cattle; Sriskandarajah N et al.; Effects of sodium hydroxide treatment on intake and digestion of straw organic matter (OM), and microbial protein synthesis were examined in comparison with untreated and treated straws . Intakes (kg dry matter (DM)/d) of untreated, NaOH- and sodium carbonate-treated straws were 5.21, 7.04 and 6.48 respectively and intakes (kg/d) of digestible organic matter (DOM) for the respective diets were 2.57, 3.73 and 2.98 respectively . NaOH-treated straw ranked higher than untreated straw in intakes of DM and DOM (P less than 0.01) . The proportion of DOM intake that was apparently digested in the rumen was 0.74, 0.77 and 0.66 on untreated, NaOH- and Na2CO3-treated straws respectively . Although the amount of bacterial N leaving the abomasum was higher with NaOH-treated than with untreated straw (74.6 v . 56.8 g/d, P less than 0.01), efficiencies of bacterial N synthesis were not different between these treatments (28.6 v . 31.5 g bacterial N/kg OM apparently digested, P greater than 0.05) . The live-weight gain which the NaOH-treated straw could support was predicted to be 350 g/d and it was concluded that a protein supplement would have provided further increase in production in diets based on NaOH-treated straw.

Clin Chem, 1984 Mar, 30(3), 352 - 6
Influence of incomplete cholesteryl ester hydrolysis on enzymic measurements of cholesterol; Wiebe DA et al.; Esterolytic activity of three enzymic cholesterol reagents was evaluated with use of human serum-based reference materials . Primary cholesterol standards were used to calibrate the enzymic methods, and incomplete cholesteryl ester hydrolysis was measured as the bias between the enzymic cholesterol values and corresponding reference values . The average biases observed with eight reference specimens were 0.15, -1.16, and -7.24%, respectively, for a commercial enzymic reagent with microbial cholesterol esterase, a commercial reagent with an animal source of esterase, and a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reagent preparation with a microbial cholesterol esterase . By liquid chromatography, we examined the respective specificities of the three esterase reagent preparations and found that the preparations differ in the rate and specificity of catalysis of cholesteryl ester hydrolysis . The CDC reagent was only partly active towards cholesteryl arachidonate, which probably accounts for most of the negative bias of this reagent . Esterolytic activity of the various enzymic reagents is related to the source and matrix of the cholesterol esterase and must be considered with respect to proper selection of calibration materials for serum cholesterol measurement.

Int Dent J, 1984 Mar, 34(1), 56 - 61
Prevention of periodontal disease in the dental office; Ainamo J; The presence or absence of periodontal disease is determined by the equilibrium between the challenging microbial deposits, adhering to the tooth surface, and the host response of the individual patient . The possibility of affecting host response is limited . In primary prevention the main emphasis is therefore on the daily brushing of the teeth at home . The susceptible patient needs, in addition, suitable interdental hygiene measures . At school age, bleeding from more than three sextants of the dentition should be used as a sign of treatment need . Whenever calculus or other retentive factors prevent proper home care, secondary prevention, i.e . professional debridement, is indicated before oral hygiene instruction . Professional cleaning of the teeth at regular intervals has lately been found to greatly enhance the maintenance of periodontal health . Tertiary prevention of periodontal disease is the complex treatment of advanced periodontal breakdown . Recent research findings indicate that patients who have received treatment for advanced periodontal disease should, due to their initially poor host response, automatically be maintained in the high risk group and given meticulous professional cleanings as often as two to four times annually . The possibility of using chemotherapeutic agents for plaque control is limited to short term elimination of supragingival bacterial deposits . Mechanical oral hygiene is thus the method of choice in the prevention of periodontal disease . Regular surveillance of the patient's periodontal health is necessary for evaluation of the effect of such treatment.

J Dent Res, 1984 Mar, 63(3), 378 - 85
Adherent interactions which may affect microbial ecology in the mouth; Gibbons RJ; Bacteria attach to teeth and oral mucosal surfaces in a surprisingly selective manner, and attachment appears to be the first step in the colonization process . Attachment is thought to involve lectin-like and/or hydrophobic ligands, called adhesins, often present in bacterial surface appendages which interact with receptors on oral tissues . A variety of factors can influence bacterial attachment, and therefore have the potential to affect host-parasite interactions in the mouth . Factors discussed include salivary components, dietary lectins, and sublethal concentrations of antibiotics.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1984 Mar 1, 797(3), 336 - 42
The isolation and characterization of a new elastase inhibitor, pre-alpha 2-elastase inhibitor, of the horse; Pellegrini A et al.; A new and probably unique elastase inhibitor of horse serum was identified, purified to homogeneity and called pre-alpha 2-elastase inhibitor of the horse . Electrophoretically it migrated immediately in front of the alpha 2 position . Its molecular weight was 188 000 by pore limit polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 225 000 by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration . The inhibitor was composed of at least two non-identical polypeptide chains of Mr 68 400 and 87 600 . A banding pattern of restricted heterogeneity focused between pH 4.9 and 5.2 was revealed by isoelectric focusing . Of 13 animal, microbial and plant proteinases, horse pre-alpha 2-elastase inhibitor inhibited only pancreatic elastase and trypsin efficiently . Chymotrypsin was inhibited only in traces . No analogy between the elastase inhibitor and the known human serum inhibitors could be found with respect to immunological and biochemical criteria.

Environ Health Perspect, 1984 Mar, 54, 353 - 71
State of research: environmental pathways and food chain transfer; Vaughan BE; Data on the chemistry of biologically active components of petroleum, synthetic fuel oils, certain metal elements and pesticides provide valuable generic information needed for predicting the long-term fate of buried waste constituents and their likelihood of entering food chains . Components of such complex mixtures partition between solid and solution phases, influencing their mobility, volatility and susceptibility to microbial transformation . Estimating health hazards from indirect exposures to organic chemicals involves an ecosystem's approach to understanding the unique behavior of complex mixtures . Metabolism by microbial organisms fundamentally alters these complex mixtures as they move through food chains . Pathway modeling of organic chemicals must consider the nature and magnitude of food chain transfers to predict biological risk where metabolites may become more toxic than the parent compound . To obtain predictions, major areas are identified where data acquisition is essential to extend our radiological modeling experience to the field of organic chemical contamination.

Vopr Pitan, 1984 Mar-Apr, (2), 58 - 61
{Mutagenic effect of the food-coloring agents tartrazine and indigo carmine}; Karpliuk IA et al.; The authors studied the mutagenic action of the food dyes, tartrazine (both Soviet and imported) and indigocarmine in a microbial model and in warm-blooded animals (linear mice) . Determined the toxicity and mutagenic action of the dyes on E . coli, strain K-12, carried out chromosomal analysis of the bone marrow, examined the dominant lethals in CBA X C57BL/6 mice . The recommended daily dose amounts to 400 mg/kg for tartrazine and to 50 mg/kg for indigocarmine with regard to the safety factor equal to 100 . The data derived as a result of studying the mutagenic activity of tartrazine manufactured in the USSR and CSSR and indigocarmine paste in 3 experimental models allow the conclusion to be made that the doses of these dyes applied in food industry are fairly safe.

J Anim Sci, 1984 Mar, 58(3), 766 - 78
Energy and protein utilization in growing cattle; Geay Y; Limited data are available to describe the different phases of dietary protein and energy utilization in growing cattle as compared with those in adult cattle or in growing nonruminants . The European data on this topic are summarized to indicate application in appropriate feeding standards . Net protein requirements are widely variable with breed and sex . They are lower in steers than in bulls and lower in early maturing than in late maturing breeds . They are clearly defined for growing and fattening bulls where they are influenced by breed, live weight and live weight gain . New systems have been proposed to express the protein allowances . They provide a great step towards a concept explaining N supply to ruminants . However, protein degradability in the rumen, efficiency of microbial protein synthesis, intestinal digestibility and metabolic efficiency of amino acid absorption in the intestine need to be described more accurately . Even if body energy retention measured by the slaughter technique is systematically lower than when measured by calorimetric balance, both techniques can correctly describe the effect of breed sex, weight, or daily gain on energy retained, in relative value, and its distribution between protein and fat deposition . But further research is needed to confirm the distribution of metabolizable energy between maintenance and growth and the efficiency of metabolizable energy utilization for growth . Thus, different authors have preferred to calculate the energy allowances, not by a factorial method, but by regression between energy intake and the corresponding weight and daily gain of animals measured during feeding trials.

EMBO J, 1984 Mar, 3(3), 645 - 50
Hepatitis B virus antigens made in microbial cells immunise against viral infection; Murray K et al.; Chimpanzees have been vaccinated successfully against hepatitis B virus with preparations of the viral antigens made in microbial cells by genetic engineering methods.

Mutat Res, 1984 Mar, 135(3), 159 - 67
The mutagenicity of mono- and di-functional aromatic glycidyl compounds; Seiler JP; Although epoxides are very important compounds in today's technology, they are not as well investigated for their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties as their economical importance would suggest . The present study tried, on one hand, to bridge the gap between microbial testing of such compounds and the in vivo mammalian test system . On the other hand, the comparative testing of structurally related substances was expected to yield some clues as to the structural determinants of possible in vivo mutagenic activity . Our investigations with 4 compounds of similar structure, namely glycidylmethylaniline (GMA), diglycidylaniline (DGA), phenylglycidylether (PGE), and resorcinol diglycidyl ether (RDGE), first demonstrated that, in bacterial assays, all 4 epoxides acted as potent mutagens . Only the 2 difunctional epoxides, however, were active in an in vitro chromosomal aberration assay with CHO cells . That such in vitro results cannot be supposed to represent the in vivo situation is again demonstrated by discovery that only one of the two in vitro active substances (and in fact it is the less active one) also has a damaging effect in vivo . It, therefore, seems quite justifiable to conclude that two structural features must be combined in an aromatic glycidyl compound if it is to exert chromosome damaging activity in vivo: The substance must possess 2 epoxy functions, and they must be bound to the aromatic nucleus by an aminic nitrogen . The industrial use of aromatic glycidyl ethers might, therefore, be considered not to pose a great systemic risk for mutagenicity or carcinogenicity, without completely excluding the possibility of local effects.

Arch Surg, 1984 Mar, 119(3), 312 - 22
Characteristics and uses of biologic dressings and skin substitutes; Pruitt BA Jr et al.; Biologic dressings used for temporary coverage of open wounds exert both mechanical and physiologic effects by protecting the wound, maintaining microbial control, and hastening wound maturation . Synthetic wound dressings modeled after the biologic dressings have been evaluated by several investigators . Those studies have shown unilaminate synthetic membranes to be ineffective when applied to full-thickness wounds and have identified a bilaminate construction as being necessary for membranes to serve as effective skin substitutes . The desirable properties of skin substitutes have been identified and incorporated in the design of recently developed membranes . Recent studies in this and other laboratories have resulted in the development of collagen-synthetic bilaminates, a totally synthetic biologically inert bilaminate, and tissue culture-derived membranes . The characteristics and limitations of each skin substitute determine the optimum usage of these composite membranes and define the modifications needed to improve the effectiveness of such dressings.

J Pediatr, 1984 Mar, 104(3), 380 - 5
Rapid high-temperature treatment of human milk; Goldblum RM et al.; Increasing interest in feeding human milk to low-birth-weight infants raises concern about microbial contamination of milk that is pooled or stored . We examined the effect of rapid high-temperature treatment on bacteria and viruses and on the nutritional and immunologic quality of pooled human milk . Growth of endogenous bacteria and infectivity of added cytomegalovirus were undetectable after heating at 72 degrees C for 15 and 5 seconds, respectively . Folic acid and vitamins B1, B2, B6, and C were not affected, whereas bile salt-stimulated lipase was inactivated by these conditions . The concentration of lactoferrin and secretory IgA, and SIgA antibody activity were not changed by heating at 72 degrees C . Lysozyme concentration and enzymatic activity were increased significantly by heat treatment, suggesting that this component may be largely sequestered in milk . Our findings suggest that rapid high-temperature treatment can reduce microbial contamination without destroying the unique nutritional and immunologic qualities of human milk.

Br J Nutr, 1984 Mar, 51(2), 305 - 14
The effect of protein quality and fibre level in the diet and microbial activity in the digestive tract on protein utilization and energy digestibility in rats; Eggum BO et al.; Two nitrogen-balance experiments were performed with growing rats to test the effect of dietary fibre level, protein quality and antibiotic inclusion on microbial activity, N excretion patterns and energy digestibility . Each experiments involved eight dietary treatments in a 2 X 2 X 2 factorial design, with five rats per treatment . The eight treatments resulted from a combination of two protein treatments, two fibre treatments and two antibiotic treatments . In Expt 1 the protein was provided as barley, or barley plus 2 g L-lysine hydrochloride/kg dry matter (DM) (at 15 g N/kg DM) and in Expt 2 as soya-bean meal or soya-bean meal plus 2 g DL-methionine/kg DM (at 15 g N/kg DM) . In both experiments the basal diet was provided with or without additional fibre as 100 g barley husk/kg DM and with or without antibiotic as 7 g Nebacitin/kg DM . With both barley and soya-bean meal, true protein digestibility (TD) was improved with the addition of amino acids . Only with the soya-bean meal diets was TD increased with Nebacitin treatment, with the effect of Nebacitin and methionine being additive . Barley husk slightly reduced the TD of soya-bean meal . The effect of treatments on biological value (BV) was considerable . Lysine increased BV of the barley diet from 0.741 to 0.815 whereas Nebacitin reduced BV from 0.799 to 0.757 . Methionine increased the BV of soya-bean meal from 0.754 to 0.911 while BV was reduced by Nebacitin from 0.843 to 0.821 and by barley husk from 0.845 to 0.820.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Dent Res, 1984 Mar, 63(3), 431 - 4
Microbial pathogenicity in oral soft tissue diseases; Greenspan JS et al.; Recent work implicating microbial factors in the pathogenesis of several oral soft tissue diseases is discussed . These conditions include recurrent aphthous ulceration, oral cancer, Sjogren's syndrome, and the oral lesions of AIDS (the acquired immune deficiency syndrome) . This paper reviews some recent work on these topics, with emphasis on investigations in our laboratory.

J Neurochem, 1984 Mar, 42(3), 634 - 43
Morphological and biochemical changes in myelin subfractions of developing rats fed microbial lipids; Salvati S et al.; Morphological, biochemical, and physicochemical studies of myelin subfractions were undertaken on the progeny of Sprague-Dawley rats fed diets containing lipids either extracted from yeasts grown on n-alkanes or from margarine . Myelin subfractions obtained from pooled brain homogenates of littermates by sucrose density gradient centrifugation at 7, 14, and 21 days postnatally were subjected to electron microscopy, sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and assayed for 2', 3' cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase activity (CNPase; EC 3.1.4.37) . Additionally, surface pressure measurements were made of lipid monolayers derived from myelin subfractions, which were subsequently injected with myelin basic proteins . The myelin subfractions of test animals, when compared with those of controls, show an earlier increase in the specific activity of CNPase, the earlier appearance of low-molecular-weight proteins, and an increase in the affinity of basic proteins for lipids derived from the myelin light fraction . This biochemistry suggests the presence of a more mature myelin between 7 and 14 days in the experimental group . The morphological studies, however, do not seem to concur with the biochemical data . The observed changes are discussed in relation to the influence of dietary lipids on myelinogenesis.

Infection, 1984 Mar-Apr, 12(2), 157 - 66
The experimental and clinical use of immune-modulating drugs in the prophylaxis and treatment of infections; Drews J; Therapeutic agents capable of stimulating immune responses could be of great value in the prophylaxis and treatment of infectious diseases . Three classes of compounds, each representing a separate approach to the goal of immune stimulation, are discussed with respect to recent experimental and clinical findings . The action of microbial structures and their derivatives can be understood on the basis of "acquired cellular immunity", a phenomenon first described in connection with infections by mycobacteria and other intracellular organisms . In contrast, there is hardly a common denominator for synthetic compounds which are currently used as immune-stimulatory agents . Substances which influence purine metabolism in lymphocytes on the one hand and histamine H2 blockers such as cimetidine on the other hand seem to represent the most promising developments in this field to date . Products of immune cells such as transfer factor and lymphokines form the third and possibly most important group of immune-stimulating agents . Current experimental and clinical trends in this field are briefly described . It is suggested that the delineation of the mechanism of action of lymphokines will open the door to the identification or synthesis of artificial agonists and antagonists as has been the case in the pharmacology of the endocrine and nervous systems.

J Hosp Infect, 1984 Mar, 5(1), 96 - 9
Whole body disinfection with chlorhexidine: is shower bathing more effective than bathing?
Mitchell NJ.
Whole body washing with chlorhexidine gluconate solution BP (equivalent to 4 per cent w/v chlorhexidine gluconate) achieved a variable reduction in total skin microbial colony counts whether applied in a standard bath or a shower bath . No significant differences between the two techniques were demonstrable.

Kosm Biol Aviakosm Med, 1984 Mar-Apr, 18(2), 40 - 3
{Health and hygiene characteristics of the manned environment of the Saliut-7 orbital station}; Zaloguev SN et al.; The Salyut-7 cabin environment was investigated with respect to the chemical, biological and physical factors . The gas composition was measured qualitatively and quantitatively . This determination showed a higher content of acetone and acetaldehyde when the cosmonauts worked on various trainers and unloaded the Progress cargo vehicles . The time-course study of the toxic impurities indicated that the increase in their content was transient (no more than 4 h) . The microbial content was lower than in the Salyut-6 cabin environment . The study did not show a correlation between the microbial content in the environment and the time the prime crew remained onboard . There was a correlation between the microbial content, temperature variations, and conduct of certain experiments . On the whole, the Salyut-7 cabin environment was normal for the life and work of the crewmembers.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1984 Feb 14, 797(2), 171 - 7
Effect of particle size and lipid composition of bovine blood high density lipoprotein on its function as a carrier of beta-carotene; Ashes JR et al.; As part of a study on the influence of dietary lipids on vitamin transport and metabolism in lactating cows, we have examined the beta-carotene content and other properties of fractions of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL, density 1.05-1.16 g/ml) of bovine blood . Our purpose was primarily to explain previous results indicating that feeding cows polyunsaturated lipids alters the properties of the HDL and increases the concentration of beta-carotene in the blood but not in the milk . Fractions of HDL of different particle size were prepared by gel-filtration chromatography and the particle diameters measured by electron microscopy . We found that large HDL particles contain more beta-carotene per unit weight than small particles . Furthermore the HDL from cows fed lipid-rich diets with a high proportion of linoleic-acid residues, which had been protected against microbial degradation in the rumen, had a high percentage of HDL particles with large diameters . The blood from these cows had a higher concentration of beta-carotene than before feeding polyunsaturated lipids, but their milk had a lower concentration . We suggest that HDL is the main store of beta-carotene in bovine blood . Moreover the concentration of beta-carotene in blood is increased by feeding polyunsaturated lipids largely because of the increase in the percentage of large HDL particles, which contain more beta-carotene . The effect on the concentration of beta-carotene in milk implies that the transfer mechanism is less efficient as a result of feeding polyunsaturated lipids . This lower efficiency may be due in part to the higher percentage of large HDL particles.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1984 Feb, 95(2), 345 - 52
Transport of the precursor for sulfite oxidase into intermembrane space of liver mitochondria: characterization of import and processing activities; Ono H et al.; Sulfite oxidase, a soluble enzyme in mitochondrial intermembrane space, was synthesized as a precursor protein larger than the authentic mature enzyme when rat liver total RNA was translated in a cell-free system . When the in vitro translation products were incubated with isolated rat liver mitochondria, pre-sulfite oxidase was recovered in mitochondria and converted to the size of the mature enzyme . The in vitro-processed mature enzyme was recovered in the intermembrane space of mitochondria (Ono, H . & Ito, A . (1981) Biochem . Biophys . Res . Commun . 107, 258-264) . Mature sulfite oxidase was not imported into mitochondria, and did not affect the import of pre-sulfite oxidase . When mitochondria were incubated with gel-filtered translation products, the import was dependent on ATP, and the activity restored by the addition of ATP was blocked by valinomycin and K+ ion . These results suggest that the import of pre-sulfite oxidase into mitochondrial intermembrane space requires an electrochemical potential across the inner membrane . When mitochondria were fractionated, most of the processing activity was recovered in the mitoplast, whereas the inner membrane (after being mostly inverted by sonication) exhibited only slight activity . The processing activity was strongly inhibited by some metal chelators including EDTA, GTP, and Zincon . It was not inhibited by phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride, aprotinin, or various microbial protease inhibitors including pepstatin, antipain, leupeptin, and chymostatin . The processing enzyme seems to be a metal protease . The processing of pre-sulfite oxidase by mitoplasts was energy-dependent.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Feb, 47(2), 395 - 402
Microbial metabolism of haloaromatics: isolation and properties of a chlorobenzene-degrading bacterium; Reineke W et al.; A chlorobenzene-degrading bacterium was isolated by continuous enrichment from a mixture of soil and sewage samples . This organism, strain WR1306, was grown in a chemostat on a mineral medium with chlorobenzene being supplied through the vapor phase with a critical Dc value at a dilution rate of 0.55 h-1 . Maximum growth rates in batch culture were accomplished at substrate concentrations of less than or equal to 0.5 mM in the culture medium . During growth on chlorobenzene, stoichiometric amounts of chloride were released . Respiration data and enzyme activities in cell extracts as well as the isolation of 3-chlorocatechol from the culture fluid are consistent with the degradation of chlorobenzene via 3-chloro-cis-1,2-dihydroxycyclohexa-3,5-diene, 3-chlorocatechol, 2-chloro-cis,cis-muconate, trans-4-carboxymethylenebut-2-en-4-olide, maleylacetate, and 3-oxoadipate.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Feb, 56(1), 41 - 5
Role of micro-organisms in biltong flavour development; Prior BA; When biltong, a dried salted meat product, is prepared from beef, micro-organisms are able to proliferate freely and counts of 9.8 X 10(4) to 3.8 X 10(7)/g are observed . Treating the meat with four antibiotics before production of the biltong restricted microbial growth, yet a taste panel was unable to distinguish between biltong containing high and low numbers of micro-organisms . No significant difference in the free amino acid and free fatty acid content of biltong prepared with and without antibiotics was detected although there were significant increases in these compounds during biltong production . These results suggest that micro-organisms are not involved in the development of biltong flavour and microbial inhibitors may thus be added to the meat as a preservative agent without affecting the development of the biltong flavour, taste and aroma.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1984 Feb, 37(2), 136 - 42
Microbial hydroxylation of novobiocin and related compounds; Sebek OK et al.; A new soil actinomycete (UC 5762, NRRL 11111) was found to transform novobiocin to 11-hydroxynovobiocin . The product was isolated by solvent extraction and column chromatography, and identified by IR, UV, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy . Related structures (8,9-dihydronovobiocin, novobiocic acid and chlorobiocin) were similarly transformed to their corresponding C-11 hydroxylated analogues . The microbial process is superior to chemical (selenium dioxide) oxidation which yielded a mixture of 11-hydroxy- and 11-oxonovobiocin.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1984 Feb, 37(2), 118 - 26
Deepoxidation of 16-membered epoxyenone macrolide antibiotics . I . Microbial deepoxidation and subsequent isomerization of deltamycins A1, A2, A3, A4 (carbomycin A) and X; Fukagawa Y et al.; Carbomycin A (deltamycin A4) was deepoxidized to carbomycin A P1 by Streptomyces halstedii subsp . deltae (a deltamycins producer), favorably under anaerobic conditions . Carbomycin A P1 was spontaneously converted to geometric isomers designated carbomycins A P2 and A P3 . This type of deepoxidation and subsequent isomerization was not limited to carbomycin A, but generally occurrable in other 16-membered epoxyenone macrolide compounds . Many bacteria and actinomycetes were also found to have an ability to deepoxidize deltamycins reductively . The chemical structures of carbomycins A P1, A P2 and A P3 were elucidated as shown in Fig . 3.

Mol Biol Evol, 1984 Feb, 1(2), 213 - 9
Retention of cryptic genes in microbial populations; Li WH; Cryptic genes are silenced genes that can still be reactivated by mutation . Since they can make no positive contribution to the fitness of their carriers, it is not clear why many cryptic genes in microbial populations have not degenerated into useless DNA sequences . Hall et al . (1983) have suggested that cryptic genes have persisted because of occasional strong environmental selection for reactivated genes . The present mathematical study supports their suggestion . It shows that a cryptic gene can be retained without having any selective advantage over a useless DNA sequence, if selection for the reactivated gene occasionally occurs for a substantially long time.

Scand J Dent Res, 1984 Feb, 92(1), 25 - 32
A quantitative microradiographic study of mineral content of supragingival and subgingival dental calculus; Friskopp J et al.; This study was undertaken to determine the distribution and concentration of mineral in supragingival and subgingival dental calculus . Extracted incisors and premolars with attached dental calculus were used . After fixation the specimens were dehydrated and embedded in methylmethacrylate and 100-micrometers-thick ground sections were made . Microradiographs were produced and the mineral content in the sections was determined photometrically, using an aluminum step-wedge as a reference system . The distribution of the mineral varied considerably within the specimens and between different specimens . Supragingival calculus appeared heterogeneous and often stratified, containing areas that seemed to be non-calcified . The average mineral content was 37% by volume . By contrast subgingival calculus appeared homogeneously calcified, with an average mineral content of 58% . No differences in mineral content between surface areas and portions close to the tooth were seen . This indicates that once the calculus is formed no changes occur in the mineral content, i.e . no maturation occurs with age . Local variations in mineral content within the calculus might be explained by periodic differences in the fluid environment of the microbial plaque.

Arch Tierernahr, 1984 Feb, 34(2), 149 - 55
Effect of virginiamycin on carbohydrate and protein metabolism in the rumen in vitro; Van Nevel CJ et al.; The effect of virginiamycin in incubations of rumen fluid with carbohydrate or protein substrate was investigated . In carbohydrate incubations, methane production was partially inhibited while propionate proportions increased . Total microbial growth was slightly decreased, but net microbial growth was considerably lower . Protein degradation was slightly lowered after addition of virginiamycin . These effects were compared with results obtained with other rumen manipulating additives.

J Periodontol, 1984 Feb, 55(2), 69 - 77
Effects of gold salts on experimental periodontitis . I . Histometric evaluation of periodontal destruction; Novak MJ et al.; Systemic administration of gold salts for treatment of arthritis is thought to limit tissue destruction through alteration of inflammatory cell function . The present study ascertained if gold salts could modify the tissue destruction associated with an experimental marginal periodontitis . Therapeutic levels of serum gold salts were established in four squirrel monkeys (experimental) by intramuscular injection of Myochrisine (gold sodium thiomalate 25 mg/ml) at 5 mg/kg/body weight at 4-day intervals for 12 days . Marginal periodontitis was then induced around mandibular bicuspids by tying plaque retentive ligatures at the gingival margins . Periodontitis was induced around corresponding teeth in four control animals which had not received gold salts . Serum levels of gold salts were maintained in experimental animals, and all animals were killed 2 weeks after induction of periodontitis . Progression of periodontitis was evaluated histometrically on step-serial sections, and the results analyzed statistically . Specimens from gold-receiving animals had significantly smaller areas of infiltrated supracrestal connective tissue, and less loss of connective tissue attachment and coronal alveolar bone . Quantitation of total plaque around the ligatures showed no differences; however, there was less plaque located apical to the ligatures in gold-receiving specimens . Although the study design did not permit identification of the relative importance of cellular or microbial factors, it was concluded that administration of systemic gold salts was associated with significantly less periodontal destruction.

Food Chem Toxicol, 1984 Feb, 22(2), 113 - 7
Dietary lactose and the metabolic activity of the caecal microfloras of weanling and adult rats; Wise A et al.; Weanling or adult (9 wk old) rats were fed diets containing 0, 250 or 500 g lactose/kg for 10 days, after which the activities of six caecal microbial enzymes (azoreductase, beta-glucosidase, beta-glucuronidase, nitrate reductase, nitroreductase and urease) were determined . Adult controls had larger caeca than weanlings, but the numbers of bacteria were not significantly different . Expressed in relation to body weight, caecal microbial enzyme activities were significantly lower in adult controls, with the exceptions of beta-glucuronidase and urease . Lactose caused caecal enlargement; this was greatest in weanling animals, which also showed a decreased concentration of bacteria . Lactose increased total nitrate reductase and urease activities in both age groups, but decreased total azoreductase and nitroreductase activities in weanlings . Enzyme activities per 10(9) bacteria were decreased for azoreductase, beta-glucosidase, beta-glucuronidase and nitroreductase in both age groups, while urease activity increased . Azoreductase and nitroreductase activities were highly correlated but nitrate reductase and urease did not correlate significantly with any other enzyme activity.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Feb, 19(2), 255 - 8
Immunoglobulin A protease activity of Ureaplasma urealyticum; Robertson JA et al.; All of 14 serotype standards and 34 of 35 wild-type strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum isolated from humans demonstrated an immunoglobulin A (IgA) protease activity . This activity degraded radiolabeled human IgA including IgA1 but not IgG or azocasein . The IgA fragments were detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by radioautography, and they had molecular weights of about 110,000 and 50,000 . The IgA protease activity persisted in 25 mM EDTA but was sensitive to trypsin; it was presumed to be protein . This is the fourth microbial genus and the first myocoplasma species in which an IgA protease activity has been identified . Such activity was absent in Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma hominis, and Acholeplasma laidlawii.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1984 Feb, 55(2), 459 - 64
Lactoferrin stimulates the production of leucocyte migration inhibitory factor by human peripheral mononuclear leucocytes; Kijlstra A et al.; The effect of lactoferrin on the migration of human polymorphonuclear cells was investigated . High concentrations of lactoferrin (greater than 250 micrograms/ml) markedly inhibited the migration of granulocytes under agarose . This migration inhibition could not be neutralized by an antibody against leucocyte migration inhibitory factor (LIF), suggesting a direct effect of lactoferrin on the granulocytes . Low concentrations of lactoferrin were, however, indirectly capable of inhibiting neutrophil migration . The overnight culture of mononuclear leucocytes with low concentrations of lactoferrin (10 micrograms/ml) resulted in the release of granulocyte migration inhibiting factors in the cell free culture supernatant . Strong evidence indicating that the migration inhibiting factors were due to LIF, was obtained in experiments whereby the inhibitory activity could be completely neutralized by anti-LIF antibodies . The lactoferrin-mediated stimulation of LIF release by mononuclear leucocytes could be neutralized by an anti-lactoferrin serum, but not by an anti-albumin serum, whereas PPD-induced LIF release was not affected by either antiserum . These findings suggest that lactoferrin besides its well known anti-microbial properties, may also play a regulatory role in the migratory response of polymorphonuclear cells during inflammatory conditions.

Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1984 Feb, 97(2), 163 - 5
{Determination of restrictase activity in toluene lysates of bacterial cells}; Sokolov NN et al.; A rapid method for determination of restrictase Bam H1 activity in bacterial cells has been devised . It is based on cell treatment with toluene followed by incubation of toluene lysates with DNA substrate . The method is unsophisticated, well reproducible and requires insignificant amount of biomass necessary for testing the restrictase activity, which makes it compare very favourably with the known methods . The treatment of microbial cells with toluene can serve the first stage in purification of restriction endonucleases.

Anal Biochem, 1984 Feb, 137(1), 25 - 32
Metachromatic activity of heparin and heparin fragments; Grant AC et al.; Heparin of an average molecular weight of 13,000 was fractionated on the basis of size into five fractions of different weight-average molecular weight ranging from 8500 to 20,000 . The heparin was also degraded using microbial heparinase resulting in products ranging from a disaccharide of molecular weight 500 to an oligosaccharide of molecular weight 3100 . These products were also size fractionated . The individual heparin fractions and products were tested for metachromatic activity with Azure A . The metachromatic activity of the heparin fractions was independent of molecular weight, while the metachromatic activity of the products was dependent on molecular weight . Metachromatic activity was found in a fragment as small as a tetrasaccharide . Anticoagulant activity was found in fragments of tetrasaccharide or larger by a Factor Xa clotting assay and in fragments of hexasaccharide or larger by a Factor Xa amidolytic chromogenic assay.

J Clin Lab Immunol, 1984 Feb, 13(2), 51 - 8
Guidelines for immunotherapy of antigen-specific defects with transfer factor; Wilson GB et al.; Dialyzable leukocyte extracts (DLE) containing transfer factor (TF) with documented specificity for one or more microbial antigens have shown previously variable clinical effectiveness in treating many infectious diseases caused by viruses, fungi, protozoa and mycobacteria . The efficacy has sometimes been strong, and at other times dubious, in treating patients with inherited or presumably "acquired" immunodeficiency diseases refractory to standard therapy . The recent development of assays for screening leukocyte donors of DLE, for monitoring recipients, and especially for determining the potency of various DLE preparations containing antigen-specific TF and for predicting the clinical course of disease have, in our hands, greatly improved the likelihood of successful immunotherapy with TF . Two representative cases are reported, one involving a patient with an antigen selective defect to Candida, and another involving a patient with an antigen selective defect to Mycobacterium fortuitum . Both patients responded as judged by laboratory tests and clinical improvement when treated with certain DLE preparations but not with others . Finally, certain DLE preparations appeared to suppress cell-mediated immunity in vivo and this suppression could be predicted by in vitro tests . Based on these results, guidelines for optimal therapy with DLE are proffered .

In Vitro, 1984 Feb, 20(2), 127 - 32
Rapid cloning of mammalian cells with honeycomb cloning plates and nonlethal vital stains; Klebe RJ; A rapid and technically simple method for cloning both adhesive and nonadhesive mammalian cells is described . The procedure employs (a) honeycomb cloning plates and (b) nonlethal vital stains . Instead of placing cloning rings around colonies, cells are initially seeded at clonal density directly into a plate containing an array of cloning rings (the honeycomb plate) . Hence, the time involved in placing cloning rings around colonies is eliminated . Second, clone-containing wells of the honeycomb plate are easily identified by staining plates with the nonlethal vital stains, MTT or INT tetrazolium . Vital staining eliminates the time involved in searching for clones . Last, clones are transferred with a cotton-tipped swab thereby eliminating the time involved in trypsinization of cells . In this fashion, one can pick and transfer clones of substrate adherent mammalian cells at a rate of one clone/10 to 15 s . Thus, mammalian cells can be cloned as rapidly as cloning can be carried out in microbial systems.

S Afr Med J, 1984 Jan 14, 65(2), 37 - 44
Intestinal tuberculosis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in an urban black population; Segal I; The clinical, epidemiological and pathological manifestations of intestinal tuberculosis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in the Johannesburg Black population are reviewed . Crohn's disease and particularly ulcerative colitis have emerged as definite disease entities in urban Blacks . There is an evident similarity between the clinical manifestations of intestinal tuberculosis and of Crohn's disease, and also between those of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis . Furthermore the data suggest that genetic and environmental factors play a vital role in susceptibility to these diseases . The similarity between the clinicopathological manifestations of intestinal tuberculosis and those of Crohn's disease lends support to the view that microbial, viral or cellular toxic agents are involved in the aetiology of Crohn's disease . Moreover, the clinical and epidemiological features of ulcerative colitis support the concept that environmental factors present in an urbanized milieu are important in its aetiology.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1984, 29(3), 209 - 16
Factors limiting the microbial conversion of sterols to 17-ketosteroids in the presence of metal chelate inhibitors; Goswami PC et al.; Bioconversion of sterols to 17-ketosteroids by an Arthrobacter species occurred in the presence of hydrophobic metal-chelating agents but the production of 17-ketosteroids (17-KS) was seriously limited by the rapid loss of the viability of cells in the presence of these inhibitors . Besides, the conversion was inhibited by 17-KS at concentrations of 500 ppm or more . The 17-KS formed consisted exclusively of 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione (ADD) and 4-androstene-3,17-dione (AD) and these were found in the extracellular medium predominantly in bound form or as molecular aggregates which may limit their accumulation . It was concluded that enhanced production of 17-KS could be achieved by protecting the viability of cells and by removing the steroid metabolites from the site of inhibition.

Biomed Pharmacother, 1984, 38(2), 80 - 4
{The model of French medicine and its structural requirements for the year 2000}; Mathe C et al.; The authors review the quality and defects of the French medicine model regarding its structural, hygienic, human, budgetary, geographic, educational and scientific aspects . They suggest several solutions concerning the necessary separation between hospitals, which should be reserved for patients, and institutions for healthy subjects, because of microbial infection dangers . They recommend the division of the latter into centers for family planning and maternity, centers for the detection, prevention and health education and centers for medical adaptation and education . They stress the advantages and the necessity of maintaining two structures, public and private, and the need for a European health policy to produce medical appliances in the field of imaging and automation, which France lacks so much that the short and long term future of its medicine is threatened.

Vet Med Nauki, 1984, 21(1), 123 - 30
{Microbial content of the air in poultry houses}; Petkov G et al.; The industrial animal-breeding complex is characterized as an ecotechnical system the function of which is determined by the action of antropogenic factors . It has been demonstrated that up to now the stress of antropogenic activity has been laid on the optimization of the abiotic factors . The control and optimization of the biotic factors has constituted a problem for industrial poultry breeding, especially important being the microbial content of air . Investigations have shown that with the industrial raising of birds air microbism has assumed the importance of a factor that lowers the effectiveness of the technologies applied . The factors have been discovered that govern the extent of microbial contamination of air . Results of experiments in productional poultry houses and climatic chambers have led to the offer of measures aimed at limiting the microbial contamination of air in the industrial raising of birds.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1984, 29(2), 127 - 30
Toxicity of dicamba (2-methoxy-3,6-dichlorobenzoic acid) to Azotobacter vinelandii; Gonzalez-Lopez J et al.; The effect of dicamba was studied in N-free medium inoculated with Azotobacter vinelandii ATCC 12837 . Nitrogen fixation was determined by acetylene reduction . Dicamba at a concentration of 500 micrograms/mL had a strong inhibitory effect on nitrogenase activity . However, no inhibitory effect on microbial respiration was detected.

Can J Microbiol, 1984 Jan, 30(1), 63 - 7
Ecological distribution of Legionellaceae in the Quebec city area; Joly JR et al.; One hundred environmental water samples, which were collected in the Quebec city area and cultured on buffered charcoal yeast extract medium and three selective media, were inoculated to guinea pigs and were screened by direct immunofluorescent staining (DFA) for the presence of Legionellaceae . Six isolates were made (four Legionella pneumophila and two Tatlockia (Legionella) micdadei: three by animal inoculation and three by culture) . No samples were simultaneously positive by both methods . After screening by DFA, 43 of the 100 samples were positive for Legionellaceae and 27 of those contained more than one serogroup and (or) species of Legionellaceae . Legionella pneumophila (serogroups 1 to 6) was the most frequent species seen by DFA . These results clearly show that Legionellaceae are frequent members of the freshwater microbial flora of the Quebec city area.

Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki, 1984, (2), 96 - 100
{Bacterial destruction of terephthalic acid and its isomers}; Naumova RP et al.; A strain of Mycobacterium lacticolum destructing the isomeric aryldicarbonic acids: teraphthalic, isophthalic and phthalic (in decreasing degree) has been selected from bacterial community of terephthalate containing industrial sewage biotreatment . The dominating role of M . lacticolum in microbial community increases during the continuous-flow cultivation under condition of terephthalate concentration increasing . Minor members of microbial community are not able to oxidize terephthalate and utilize it in compound culture, but the community's capacity to attack high concentrations of this substance is much lesser than in case of M . lacticolum.

Acta Chir Belg, 1984 Jan-Feb, 84(1), 19 - 22
{Microbial contamination of the bile and its effects on the course of the surgical wound after cholecystectomy}; Hanquinet P et al.; From a series of 58 cholecystectomies for chronic cholecystitis or for asymptomatic cholelithiasis, the authors have retrieved: 1) gall microbial contamination in 15,5% of the samples under study; 2) a complicated evolution--according to criteria defined for this research--of the operative wounds in 37,5% of the cases with positive gall cultures, and in 11% when the gall was sterile . It is the authors' opinion that cholecystectomy shows an actual septic risk, even in a non-acute clinical stage.

J Anim Sci, 1984 Jan, 58(1), 244 - 55
Protein degradation in the rumen and amino acid absorption in the small intestine of lactating dairy cattle fed various protein sources; Santos KA et al.; Four lactating Holstein cows fitted with a rumen cannula and T-type cannulae in the duodenum and ileum were used in an experiment with a 4 X 4 Latin square arrangement of treatments . Diets containing soybean meal (SBM), corn gluten meal (CGM), wet brewers grains (WBG) and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDG) were compared with regard to protein degradability in the rumen and amino acid flow and absorption in the small intestine . The test protein sources provided about 50% of the dietary protein . Spot samples of digesta were collected during a 96-h period and lanthanum (La) was used as an indigestible marker to estimate flow and digestibility of nutrients . Apparent organic matter digestibility in the rumen was 31 +/- 4.8%, while true digestibility based on measurements of microbial organic matter averaged 55 +/- 5.1% . Ruminal ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) concentrations (mg/100 ml) were 10.1, 5.6, 6.9 and 6.4 for the SBM, CGM, WBG and DDG diets, respectively . Using diaminopimelic acid as a microbial marker, protein degradation in the rumen was higher for the SBM diet (70%) than for the CGM (45%), WBG (52%) and DDG (46%) diets . Flow of amino acids to the small intestine was generally higher than amino acid intake for all diets . Apparent absorption of amino acids from the small intestine was 70, 77, 71 and 66% of the amino acids entering the duodenum for the SBM, CGM, WBG and DDG diets, respectively . Actual amounts absorbed (g/d) were lowest for the SBM diet . It was concluded that diets containing CGM, WBG or DDG will generally supply more total amino acids to the intestine than a diet containing SBM . Net amounts of amino acids available for absorption in the intestine were also higher for these diets because protein availability in the intestine was not impaired even though protein was more resistant to microbial breakdown in the reticulorumen.

Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol, 1984 Jan, 22(1), 25 - 31
Acarbose in reactive hypoglycemia: a double-blind study; Gerard J et al.; This study investigates the effect of Acarbose, a complex oligosaccharide of microbial origin with glucosidase-inhibiting properties in alimentary hypoglycemia secondary to rapid gastric emptying and in reactive hypoglycemia either isolated or associated with impaired glucose tolerance . Twenty-four patients complaining of symptoms suggesting hypoglycemia which occurred after meals and who showed blood glucose values of 2.5 mmol/l (45 mg/dl) or below on one or more occasions during a 5-h oral glucose tolerance test were selected and divided into three groups . Group I comprized seven patients with demonstrated rapid gastric emptying; group II comprized eight patients with impaired glucose tolerance, whereas the nine patients of group III were considered to present with "isolated reactive hypoglycemia" since they had a normal glucose tolerance and did not have either glycosuria or gastroduodenal pathology . All patients were submitted to two oral 75-g sucrose tolerance tests . Acarbose (100 mg) or placebo was ingested with the first drought of the sucrose solution administered in a randomized order . The investigation was performed in a double-blind manner . In all three groups Acarbose significantly reduced the magnitude of post-sucrose reactive hypoglycemia . The blood glucose nadir also occurred later, but this effect was statistically significant in group II only . In patients of groups II and III, such improvement of the glucose nadirs was preceded by a significant reduction of the post-sucrose glycemic peak . In all three groups, the insulin response to oral sucrose was reduced by Acarbose . Another consistent finding was the lack of sucrose-induced glucagon suppression when Acarbose was given . These data suggest that Acarbose might be a useful adjunct to the management of functional hypoglycemia.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Jan, 47(1), 84 - 7
Viable fungi in corn dust; Hill RA et al.; Numbers of viable fungal propagules in corn dusts in southern Georgia were estimated during various farm and grain elevator operations in 1979, 1980, and 1982 . A six-stage Andersen sampler for viable microbial particles was used to sample the dusts with various agar media . The most abundant fungi in corn dusts were species of yeasts: Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Alternaria . Helminthosporium, and Fusarium . However, the relative abundance of these fungi differed between years . There was a greater incidence of the Aspergillus flavus group in the hot, dry year of 1980 compared with the cooler, wetter years of 1979 and 1982 . Fungi in the corn dusts sampled numbered between 10(4) and 10(9) viable propagules per m3 of air . By contrast, outdoor air often contained fewer than 10(4) viable fungal propagules per m3 . Most A . flavus propagules were deposited at stages three and four of the Andersen sampler, with correspond to the trachea, primary bronchi, and secondary bronchi in the human respiratory system . In an assessment of the air spores by exposing sterile petri dishes, more large-spored fungi, like Alternaria tenuis, and fewer small-spored fungi, such as A . flavus, were detected when compared with colony counts from petri dishes exposed to air in the Anderson sampler.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Jan, 47(1), 195 - 7
Dialysis membrane technique for ultrastructural studies of microbial interactions; Nordbring-Hertz B et al.; A dialysis membrane technique was developed that enabled ultrastructural investigations of the interaction of nematode-trapping fungi and their nematode prey . It allowed the sectioning of individual traps that had been selected by light microscopy and was used in kinetic studies on trap formation, nematode capture, and subsequent nematode digestion . The method can also be used for enzyme cytochemical experiments.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Jan, 47(1), 184 - 92
Microbial uptake of radiolabeled substrates: estimates of growth rates from time course measurements; Li WK; The uptake of {3H}glucose and a mixture of 3H-labeled amino acids was measured, in time course fashion, in planktonic microbial assemblages of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean . The average generation times of those portions of the assemblages able to utilize these substrates were estimated from a simple exponential growth model . Other workers have independently used this model in its integrated or differential form . A mathematical verification and an experimental demonstration of the equivalence of the two approaches are presented . A study was made of the size distribution of heterotrophic activity, using time course measurements . It was found that the size distribution and the effect of sample filtration before radiolabeling were dependent on time of incubation . In principle, it was possible to ascribe these time dependences to differences in the specific growth rate and initial standing stock of the microbial assemblages.

Cancer Treat Rep, 1984 Jan, 68(1), 137 - 44
Antitumor antibiotics and low molecular weight immunomodifiers of microbial origin; Umezawa H; Antitumor antibiotics research has made great progress both in the development of new types of antitumor cytotoxic compounds with potential usefulness and in the development of effective derivatives and analogs of already proven compounds such as doxorubicin, bleomycin, and mitomycin . Such research has also been expanded to include the study of low molecular weight enzyme inhibitors and immunomodifiers of microbial origin, which, with their derivatives and analogs, can also be expected to increase the cure rate for cancer . Recent results of research to discover and learn about these compounds are described here, after a brief historical introduction.

Am J Epidemiol, 1984 Jan, 119(1), 114 - 23
Patterns and etiology of diarrhea in three clinical settings; Koopman JS et al.; Acute diarrhea of young children was studied from September 1978 to April 1981 to determine age and time patterns, clinical characteristics and microbial association in two pediatric practices and in a hospital population in southern Michigan . The practice population sizes were estimated so that rates of diarrhea could be determined . Care was sought for about 0.85 episodes per child in the first year of life and 0.4 episodes in the second year of life . Bacterial pathogens were rarely identified in the practices and were identified in only 5% of hospitalized patients . Rotavirus was identified in 16% of the episodes in children under two years of age in the practices . These rotavirus diarrheas occurred mainly in the winter and were clearly more severe than nonrotavirus diarrheas . The rotavirus-infected patients did not, however, have more frequent respiratory symptoms . Respiratory symptom frequency was related to practice setting and income but not etiology . In the fall, before the rotavirus seasonal peak, a peak of nonrotaviral, nonbacterial diarrhea was seen in the practices . The symptoms were mild and a corresponding peak was not seen in hospital patients . The total direct costs of diarrheal illness to society were estimated to be due more to hospitalization than to outpatient care.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Jan, 157(1), 53 - 8
Cloning of genes involved in the biosynthesis of pseudobactin, a high-affinity iron transport agent of a plant growth-promoting Pseudomonas strain; Moores JC et al.; A gene bank of DNA from plant growth-promoting Pseudomonas sp . strain B10 was constructed using the broad host-range conjugative cosmid pLAFR1 . The recombinant cosmids contained insert DNA averaging 21.5 kilobase pairs in length . Nonfluorescent mutants of Pseudomonas sp . strain B10 were obtained by mutagenesis with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, ethyl methanesulfonate, or UV light and were defective in the biosynthesis of its yellow-green, fluorescent siderophore (microbial iron transport agent) pseudobactin . No yellow-green, fluorescent mutants defective in the production of pseudobactin were identified . Nonfluorescent mutants were individually complemented by mating the gene bank en masse and identifying fluorescent transconjugants . Eight recombinant cosmids were sufficient to complement 154 nonfluorescent mutants . The pattern of complementation suggests that a minimum of 12 genes arranged in four gene clusters is required for the biosynthesis of pseudobactin . This minimum number of genes seems reasonable considering the structural complexity of pseudobactin.

Br J Nutr, 1984 Jan, 51(1), 77 - 83
The efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in the rumen and the degradability of feed nitrogen between the mouth and abomasum in steers given different diets; McAllan AB et al.; Protozoa-free steers with simple rumen and abomasal cannulas were given basal diets consisting of a concentrate mixture of flaked maize and tapioca with barley straw (BS) or alkali-treated barley straw (BSA) . Other diets were supplemented with urea (BSU and BSAU respectively) or with fish meal replacing the tapioca (BSF and BSAF respectively) . The diets were isoenergetic and calculated to provide sufficient metabolizable energy (ME) to support a growth rate of 0.5 kg/d . Rumen-degradable nitrogen (RDN):ME values (g/MJ) were estimated to be 0.50, 1.20 and 0.80 for the basal diet, urea- and fish-meal-supplemented diets respectively . RNA and alpha,epsilon-diaminopimelic acid (DAP) were used as microbial markers . 103Ruthenium and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were given as flow markers and flows (g/24 h) at the abomasum of organic matter (OM) and nitrogenous constituents were calculated . Samples of mixed bacteria separated from rumen digesta from animals receiving N-supplemented diets contained significantly more N than those from animals receiving basal diets (approximately 74 and 62 mg/g dry matter (DM) respectively) but there were no other significant differences in total-N contents between treatments . RNA-N:total-N values were similar for all diets (approximately 0.13) . DAP-N:total-N values were significantly lower in bacteria from animals receiving alkali-treated (AT) rather than untreated (UT) straw (approximately 0.008 and 0.011 respectively) . The proportion of OM intake digested in the rumen (ADOM) was significantly higher for animals receiving AT straw rather than UT straw (approximately 0.54 and 0.43 respectively) . N supplementation had no effect on OM digestibility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Br J Nutr, 1984 Jan, 51(1), 133 - 43
Studies on the protein requirements of growing cattle . Effects of differing intakes of protein and energy on growth and nitrogen metabolism in young entire males; Griffiths TW; Forty-eight Friesian entire male cattle, with an initial live weight (LW) of 135 kg, were used in two experiments to measure the response to increasing levels of dietary protein (9-11 and 7.5-10.5 g nitrogen X 6.25/kg LW0.75) at differing energy levels (800-900 kJ metabolizable energy (ME) kg LW0.75) over 120-d periods . Digestibility and N balance measurements were also made during the experiments . The diets, which were based on barley and soya-bean meal, were individually fed twice daily . In a third experiment, similar diets were given to four similar animals fitted with intestinal cannulas, at constant energy intake but with variations in dietary protein of 7.5-13.5 g N X 6.25/kg LW0.75 . Chromic oxide paper was used as a digesta marker . Positive responses in LW gain and N balance to additional protein were found in both experiments but these were significant (P less than 0.05) only in the second experiment and were associated with significant (P less than 0.01) increases in the digestibility of modified acid-detergent fibre and ME intake . Mean values, which were not significantly different between treatments, for the degradability of dietary protein in the rumen and the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis were 0.57 and 31.3 g/kg organic matter apparently digested in the rumen respectively . Corresponding values obtained by regression analysis were 0.56 and 28.2 . The results in general support the Agricultural Research Council (1980) proposals and suggest that undegraded dietary protein was not limiting in these experiments but that rumen-degradable protein levels were limiting on some treatments . Regression analysis indicated that the mean response to additional protein (g LW gain/g N X 6.25) per kg LW was 0.52 in Expt 1 and 0.51 in Expt 2 . These responses could be largely explained by increases in ME intakes . Measurements of duodenal amino acid flow showed marked increases in essential amino acids (EAA) across the rumen . However, EAA flows, were not significantly increased at higher N intakes suggesting that protein per se was not limiting in these experiments.

Br J Nutr, 1984 Jan, 51(1), 111 - 32
The simultaneous estimation of the amounts of protozoal, bacterial and dietary nitrogen entering the duodenum of steers; Cockburn JE et al.; Four steers were given straw and tapioca diets, twice daily, in a 4 X 4 Latin-square design . These diets, containing 4.2 g nitrogen/kg dry matter (DM), were further supplemented with either urea, decorticated groundnut meal (DCGM), untreated (UT) casein or formaldehyde-treated (FT) casein to give a total of 19.7 g N/kg DM and 10.5 MJ/kg DM daily . Concurrent samples of rumen bacteria and protozoa and abomasal digesta were collected for each period of the experiment and the concentrations of 2-aminoethyl phosphonic acid (AEPA), diaminopimelic acid (DAPA), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), amino acids and hexosamines were determined in the dried preparations . The nature of the dietary supplements had little effect on the concentrations of most of these constituents or on the total protozoal numbers . Abomasal digesta samples marked with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and chromic oxide for flow estimation were collected over 24 h, and the proportions of protozoal-N, bacterial-N and microbial-N estimated simultaneously using the markers AEPA, DAPA and RNA respectively . These digesta-N components were also estimated using an amino acid profiling (AAP) method which gave, in addition, estimates of the dietary and endogenous components . For the diets containing casein, the proportion of dietary casein was estimated directly using casein-P as a marker . Estimates of the respective mean proportions of microbial-N in abomasal digesta non-ammonia-N (NAN) for the diets containing urea, DCGM, UT casein or FT casein were: AEPA 0.56, 0.32, 0.27 and 0.16; DAPA 0.88, 0.70, 0.81 and 0.57; RNA 0.98, 0.85, 0.92 and 0.53 . Giving FT casein significantly (P less than 0.001) increased the flow of casein-N at the abomasum and a significantly (P less than 0.001) greater proportion of casein-N was found in abomasal NAN (0.51 v . 0.09) where FT rather than UT casein was given . The AAP method gave results for the proportions of microbial- and dietary-N (where casein was given) which were, in general, slightly lower than those obtained using RNA and casein-P as markers . Agreement with estimates of bacterial protein (from DAPA) and of protozoal protein (from AEPA) was less satisfactory . Comparisons of the various estimates of the proportions of microbial-N in abomasal digesta suggested that the results obtained for protozoal-N by AEPA were overestimates . AEPA was found in mixed rumen bacteria which may have accounted in part for these overestimates . However, AEPA was not detected in any of the dietary ingredients.

Acta Otolaryngol Suppl, 1984, 407, 55 - 8
Legionella pneumonia--a neglected diagnosis?
Froland SS.
A brief survey of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis and treatment of infections with Legionella species is given, with particular emphasis on Legionella pneumophila . Because of recent epidemiological evidence that this species may be an important cause of both community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonia, particularly in the immunosuppressed patient, it is suggested that this microbial agent should be considered more often in the differential diagnosis of pneumonia . This has practical implications for therapy, since the drug of choice in Legionella infections is erythromycin, with doxycycline as an alternative . Rifampicin may be added to one of the drugs mentioned, in serious infection.

Biorheology Suppl, 1984, 1, 345 - 7
Microbial chromophore materials in circulating blood identified by laser micro Raman spectroscopy; Plouvier SR et al.; The microscopic observation of blood under various pathological circumstances (infectious diseases, cancer, leukemia) shows the presence of blue particles of micrometer size . Microbial cultivation of such blood samples allows the isolation of bacterial able to produce such chromophore particles in vitro, when cultivated on medium containing prewarmed blood (Chocolate Blood Medium) and to provoke the appearance of that material in normal blood, initially free from it . The vibrational spectra of these micrometer size coloured particles have been recorded by a micro-Raman Spectrometer and the identical nature of the blue particles from the two different sources has been well established . These findings suggest that the blue particles in pathological blood are originated by bacteria . The circumstances of the discovery of the microbial chromophore materials in blood, particularly but non exclusively in cases of cancer or leukemia can be discussed in comparison with the other pathogenic mechanisms.

J Natl Cancer Inst, 1984 Jan, 72(1), 75 - 82
Studies of a melanoma tumor-associated antigen detected in the spent culture medium of a human melanoma cell line by allogeneic antibody . II . Immunobiologic characterization; Gupta RK et al.; A tumor-associated antigen (TAA) was isolated from spent culture medium of human melanoma cell line UCLA-SO-M14 (M14) . After radioiodination and further purification, it was used in a radioimmunoassay (RIA) . When tested in RIA for anti-TAA activity, 56% (111/200) of sera from melanoma patients, 21% (21/100) of sera from sarcoma patients, and 19% (19/100) of sera from carcinoma patients, as well as 12% (6/50) sera from pregnant women and 10% (10/100) apparently normal sera, were positive . The variations (0.25-3.8 micrograms/mg total protein) in specific TAA activity in 20 different batches of spent media collected for 18 months exhibited patterns of gradual increases and decreases, suggesting a cell growth cycle-related phenomenon . Binding between the allogeneic antibody and 125I-labeled TAA was inhibited by 70% (32/47) of melanoma spent media and cells (from culture or biopsy) . Conversely, only 7% (3/33) spent medium or membrane extracts of other tumor cells and 0% (1/69) of human normal, fetal, or placental cells were positive in competitive RIA . The TAA was immunologically different from normal tissue antigens, blood-group antigens, human leukocyte antigens, and microbial antigens . These immunobiologic properties of the TAA isolated from M14 spent culture medium and used in the RIA suggested that such TAA was melanoma associated.

J Pharm Sci, 1984 Jan, 73(1), 109 - 12
Enhanced rectal absorption of cefmetazole and cefoxitin in the presence of epinephrine metabolites in rats and a high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for cephamycin antibiotics; Nishihata T et al.; 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid and 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid were found to be potent adjuvants for the rectal absorption of water-soluble compounds in rats . Both adjuvants enhanced the absorption of two cephamycin antibiotics, cefmetazole and cefoxitin . Maximum plasma levels of the antibiotics were obtained within 30 min after rectal administration . The bioavailability of both antibiotics appeared to depend on the concentration of the adjuvant in the microenema, the dosage form used in these experiments . Instead of a microbial assay, a new chemical method involving high-performance liquid chromatography with an ion-pairing technique was developed for analyzing the cephamycin antibiotic plasma levels.

Nutr Cancer, 1984, 6(2), 86 - 91
Dietary fat and cecal microbial activity in the rat; Mallett AK et al.; Weanling rats were fed low-fat (1% w/w safflower oil) or high-fat (1% w/w safflower oil plus 35% w/w beef fat or cocoa butter) diets for 30 days, and the activities of five cecal microbial enzymes were determined . When compared with the low-fat diet, beef fat significantly increased total cecal beta-glucuronidase activity, but cocoa butter, with a similar fatty acid composition, did not . Both high-fat diets significantly decreased total cecal azoreductase, beta-glucosidase, and nitrate reductase activities, but neither significantly affected urease activity . When expressed as specific activities (per 10(11) bacteria), cocoa butter decreased azoreductase, and beef fat caused increases of beta-glucuronidase and urease . Beef fat, but not cocoa butter, significantly reduced cecal bacterial numbers when compared to the low-fat diet . Both high-fat diets led to equivalent reductions in the proportion of aerobic bacteria.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1984, 173(4), 179 - 85
Microbial findings in genital secretions from seven healthy fertile couples; Landgren BM et al.; The bacterial genital flora in seven healthy couples was investigated three times during two consecutive menstrual cycles . From the females 53 species were cultivated and from the males 73 species . An average of 36, 24, and 25 species were isolated from cervical secretions on cycle day 7, 14, and 22, respectively . No correlation of bacteria was found between males and females investigated on the same day, arguing against a sexual exchange of the normal flora.

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 1984, 108(3), 290 - 5
Mutagenicity of alpha-hydroxy N-nitrosamines in V79 Chinese hamster cells; Mochizuki M et al.; Carcinogenic and mutagenic N-nitrosodialkylamines are metabolically activated through alpha-hydroxylation . The synthesis, chemical properties, and microbial mutagenicity of alpha-hydroxy N-nitrosamines have been reported previously . Potent mutagenicity of four N-nitroso-N-(hydroxymethyl)-alkylamines (alkyl = methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl) was demonstrated in the present study in V79 Chinese hamster cells, ouabain resistance being used as an indicator . All the compounds were strong mutagens in the absence of metabolic activation systems . The mutagenic and cytotoxic potencies correlated well with each other, and depended on the alkyl group, decreasing in potency in the following order: methyl greater than ethyl greater than propyl = butyl . Their alkylating reactivity was measured by alkylation of thiophenol, and a good linear relationship was observed between the mutagenic and cytotoxic potencies and their alkylating reactivity . The mutagenic and cytotoxic potencies of the alpha-hydroxy N-nitrosamines in V79 cells were well correlated with those of alpha-acetoxy and alpha-hydroperoxy N-nitrosamines with respect to the effect of alkyl group . The results obtained here supported further that alpha-hydroxy N-nitrosamine is the active species in the metabolic activation of N-nitrosodialkylamine.

Sabouraudia, 1984, 22(5), 357 - 67
A colorimetric assay for the assessment of cytotoxicity of yeasts; Borg M et al.; A colorimetric assay for the quantitation of microbial cytotoxicity has been developed using cells from a monocyte-like human cell line (U937), epithelial cells (Hela), and fibroblast-like cells (Vero) as targets . The fraction of surviving cells was determined by their content of the dye neutral red which is retained only by live cells and can be quantitated photometrically after controlled lysis . The neutral red retention assay was at least as sensitive as the 51Cr-release assay; it was considerably less laborious, faster, and avoided handling of radioactivity . Among the different Candida species tested, the highest cytotoxicity was associated with C . albicans and C . tropicalis; a lower degree of cytotoxicity was exhibited by C . glabrata, C . guilliermondii, C . krusei, C . parapsilosis, and C . pseudotropicalis . Among the strains of a given fungal species cytotoxicity varied by up to 40%.

Eksp Onkol, 1984, 6(1), 55 - 7
{The effect of preparations of microbial glutamin(asparagin)ase on cultured tumor cells}; Pekhov AA et al.; Glutamin (asparagin)ase from Pseudomonas boreopolis 526 is shown to produce a cytotoxic effect on the human ovary carcinoma cells (CaOv line), Fisher lympholeukemia (L-8 line) and Burkitt's lymphoma cells (P3HR line) . A significant inhibition of the DNA synthesis is found in L-8 and P3HR cell lines . The enzyme is less active in the cells of the CaOv line.

Nahrung, 1984, 28(6-7), 641 - 4
{Adherence to the gastrointestinal wall and potential pathogenicity of gastrointestinal germs}; Lorenz A et al.; Under certain circumstances--invasion of adhesive germs, abundant reproduction of the germs at the mucosa, a lowered resistance of the body--the adhesive flora can become a pathogenic factor itself . All hitherto known researchers point out that, in this connection, adhesions at the small intestinal wall is of main importance, as could be shown by our experiment with gnotobiotic rats, too . From the results of our experiments regarding the adhesion mechanisms, we conclude that the possibilities of prophylaxis and therapy of gastrointestinal disturbances induced by microbial effects could be extended by means of aimed inhibition of such adhesion forces.

Prep Biochem, 1984, 14(2), 139 - 47
Some applications of chiral liquid affinity chromatography using bovine serum albumin as a stationary phase; Allenmark S et al.; The enantioselectivity excerted by many proteins can be utilized for direct optical resolution in liquid chromatographic processes whereby the protein is used as a stationary phase . Bovine serum albumin (BSA), covalently bound to a suitable support, has been shown to act as a chiral discriminator for a variety of racemic organic compounds in aqueous buffers . Columns packed with BSA-silica can be used for determination of enantiomeric composition in aqueous solvents at very low concentrations by HPLC . This technique opens up new possibilities for the preparative isolation of micrograms amounts of enantiomers and for studies of stereoselectivity and mechanisms in enzymatic and microbial reactions.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1984, 29(6), 433 - 40
Microbial glucosidation of 1,2,4-trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (purpurin); Steinerova N et al.; Streptomyces aureofaciens glucosidizes 1,2,4-trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (purpurin) added to the cultivation medium to yield the corresponding 2-beta-D-glucoside . The identity of the glucoside was demonstrated by comparing its physico-chemical properties with data of an authentic sample prepared synthetically . A further chemical glucosidation of the acetylated 2-beta-D-glucoside gives rise to 2-(hepta-O-acetyl-beta-gentiobiosyl)-4-(tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-gluc opyranosyl) purpurin . All the derivatives are immunoactive.

Eksp Onkol, 1984, 6(3), 45 - 7
{Possible role of Bac . megaterium H antigens common with tumor antigens in the increase of the antitumor activity of lymphocytes}; Zatula DG et al.; The antitumour cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes is shown to increase both with inoculation of antigens contained in tumour cells and under the influence of microbial Bac . megaterium H., culture, its ultrasonic homogenate, cell walls and cytoplasmic preparation . Certain cytoplasmic fractions of Bac . megaterium H, like other microbial and tissue antigens having no similarity with tumour cells, did not produce such an effect . An assumption is advanced that the increase in the antitumour cytotoxicity of lymphocytes under the influence of Bac . megaterium H is due to the cross-reacting antigens contained in the microbial cell and blastoma tissue.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1984, 29(2), 156 - 61
Mineralization of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in soil previously enriched with organic substrates; Kunc F et al.; Samples of chernozem soil were enriched with vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid glucose, a mixture of glucose and (NH4)2SO4 (C : N = 5 : 1), ethanol and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) . After a 6-d (with 2,4-D 35-d) incubation during which primary oxidation of the introduced substrates occurred, the soil was supplied with a solution of 2-14C-2,4-D (50 ppm; 6.7 kBq) and production of 14CO2 (product of microbial degradation of 2,4-D) was measured . Previously enriched samples exhibited a higher degradation rate; both the lag phase and doubling time of mineralization activity in the exponential phase of the process were markedly higher . This reflected an overall proliferation of bacteria and the increased relative proportion of bacterial strains capable of mineralizing 2,4-D in enriched samples . The stimulation of 2,4-D degradation may involve specific adaptation and selection mechanisms (as in the case with samples previously enriched with 2,4-D or its structural analogues--aromatic monomers, ethanol) as well as non-specific mechanisms . The extent of mineralization of 2,4-D was not affected by soil pretreatment, about 1/3 of introduced radioactive carbon being invariably transformed to 14CO2.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1984, 29(2), 148 - 55
Mineralization of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in soil simultaneously enriched with saccharides; Kunc F et al.; Detoxication of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in samples of chernozem soil was determined by a biological test and the time course of production of 14CO2, a product of microbial degradation of 2-14C-2-4-D, was measured during 38-d incubation at 28 degrees C in the dark . Enrichment of the soil with glucose (1000 ppm), two exocellular bacterial glucan and glucomannan polysaccharides (750 ppm), or a mixture of glucose with (NH4)2SO4 (C : N = 5 : 1) brought about acceleration of both detoxication and mineralization of 2,4-D (50 ppm) added simultaneously with the saccharides . Mineralization of the saccharides always preceded the degradation of the herbicide . The lag phase of 2,4-D mineralization did not exceed 3 d . In samples with saccharides the doubling time of the mineralization activity in the exponential phase of the process was substantially shortened and the mineralization of 2,4-D was accelerated even when the soil was inoculated with a suspension of soil in which microbial 2,4-D decomposers had accumulated . The extent of mineralization was not affected by the presence of saccharides (about 1/3 of the introduced radioactive carbon was transformed into 14CO2) . All saccharides had a similar effect which reflected an increase in the overall bacterial count and in the relative abundance of bacterial 2,4-D decomposers . The role of other mechanisms such as co-metabolism in the stimulation of the degradation process is discussed.

Infect Immun, 1984 Jan, 43(1), 302 - 7
I-E/I-C region-associated induction of murine gamma interferon by a haplotype-restricted polyclonal T-cell mitogen derived from Mycoplasma arthritidis; Cole BC et al.; Cell-free supernatants from cultures of Mycoplasma arthritidis induced significant levels of interferon when cocultured with murine splenic cells . On the basis of physicochemical characteristics and antibody neutralization studies, the antiviral substance was identified as gamma interferon . Use of inbred and congenic mouse strains established that splenic cells from mice expressing the H2k and H2d haplotypes produced interferon in response to M . arthritidis culture supernatants, but those from mice with H2b and H2q haplotypes did not . Further studies with recombinant mouse strains established that interferon induction by the mycoplasma supernatant was associated with the haplotype expressed at the I-E/I-C subregion of the murine major histocompatibility complex . The specificity seen for interferon induction was identical with that reported earlier for induction of cytotoxic lymphocytes and for lymphocyte proliferation in response to the mitogen . All of these reactions appear to be dependent upon binding of the mitogen to specific I-E/I-C region-coded products present on splenic cell surfaces . The observations presented introduce the concept that microbial mitogens or their lymphokine products might modify immune responses and defense mechanisms of the naive host in a genetically restricted manner.

Z Rechtsmed, 1984, 93(2), 71 - 7
Evaluation of microbial soil identity in forensic science; Van Dijck PJ et al.; Microbiologic analysis of different soil samples was undertaken to assess the value of this method for forensic purposes . Three groups of micro-organisms were isolated on selective media: bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes . Comparison of the morphology of the colonies led to the conclusion of non identity of the soil samples under examination . The method was applied to soil traces on articles of clothing, trousers, shoes, and stockings . It was found that the soil did not originate from the suspected scene of a crime . Examination of the microbiologic soil composition does not provide an absolute certainty of identity, but it is highly reliable.

Adv Alcohol Subst Abuse, 1984 Summer, 3(4), 87 - 105
Major medical problems and detoxification treatment of parenteral drug-abusing alcoholics; Novick DM; Patients with combined addictive disease are frequently encountered in New York City . Three detoxification schedules have been developed which, alone or in combination, may be used for almost all substance abusers who require pharmacologic detoxification . Numerous factors contribute to pathogenesis of infections in parenteral drug-abusing alcoholics, including aspiration, impaired pulmonary function, immunologic abnormalities, and changes in endogenous microbial flora . The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has recently emerged as a serious medical complication of parenteral substance abuse . Liver disease in parenteral drug-abusing alcoholics is also multifactorial . The direct hepatotoxic effects of alcohol, the adulterants of illicit, injectable drugs, and infections with the hepatitis B virus, non-A, non-B viruses, and the delta agent may all be contributing factors.

CRC Crit Rev Biochem, 1984, 16(4), 307 - 48
The stereochemistry of peptides containing alpha-aminoisobutyric acid; Prasad BV et al.; The introduction of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) into peptides dramatically limits the range of accessible backbone conformations . The presence of two geminal methyl groups at C alpha sterically compels Aib residues to largely favor structures in the right- or left-handed 3(10)/alpha-helical regions (phi approximately +/- 60 +/- 20 degrees, psi approximately +/- 30 +/- 20 degrees) of the peptide conformational map . Aib residues occur extensively in microbial peptides which form transmembrane channels . This observation has stimulated considerable interest in the stereochemistry of Aib peptides . This review summarizes theoretical studies on the conformations of Aib residues and examines the available data on solid-state structures, derived from single crystal X-ray diffraction studies . Crystal structures of over three dozen Aib-containing peptides, ranging in length from 2 to 11 residues, have been reported so far which exemplify various types of beta-turns, consecutive beta-turns, and helical structures . Examples of nonhydrogen bonded and cyclic structures are also described . The crystallographic results compare well with structural studies in solution, establishing that Aib peptides can provide rigid structural models for the development of spectroscopic methods of peptide conformational analysis.

Sabouraudia, 1984, 22(2), 145 - 53
Effects of culture filtrates of Blastomyces dermatitidis on neutrophil locomotion; Mitchell TG et al.; A potent chemotactic activity for neutrophils is detectable in liquid culture filtrates of Blastomyces dermatitidis . The production of this activity is medium-dependent and culture age-dependent . The highest levels of cytotaxin were produced in filtrates of B . dermatitidis grown in tissue culture medium 199 for three or more weeks . This factor(s) stimulates directed as well as random migration . It functions directly and independently of serum . It is stable at -20 degrees C and 56 degrees C, and has a molecular weight greater than 10000 daltons . These properties define a new microbial chemotactic factor.

Eur Surg Res, 1984, 16 Suppl 2, 68 - 72
A possible role of intestinal mucin in the pathophysiology of intestinal strangulation obstruction . Consequences of tracing a clinical observation; Midtvedt T; In intestinal strangulation obstruction, the pathophysiology is created by factors deriving from the host as well as from the intestinal flora . This article has focused upon the importance of one host-derived factor, i.e . intestinal mucin . Based upon a long series of in vitro and in vivo experiments utilizing germfree as well as conventional animals, it is concluded that intestinal mucin plays a major role in triggering a pathological plasma proteolysis, thereby interacting with microbial products (as endotoxin) in creating the whole variety of serious symptoms found in this situation.

Xenobiotica, 1984 Jan-Feb, 14(1-2), 63 - 86
Bio-organic chemistry and cytochrome P-450-dependent catalysis; Sligar SG et al.; This review presents current ideas, models and experimental data relating to the precise chemistry that links the transition metal active centre of cytochrome P-450 systems, the unactivated alkane substrate and the triplet atmospheric dioxygen molecule . Aspects considered include the hypervalent transition metal, the reductive activation of the dioxygen molecule by two electrons as an intermediate in the four-equivalent oxidase mechanism, and the details of carbon-hydrogen and carbon-carbon fragmentation . Studies of the microbial camphor 5-exo hydroxylase system are used to exemplify the principles discussed.

Cytometry, 1984 Jan, 5(1), 81 - 5
A computer algorithm for the analysis of protein distribution in budding yeast; Martegani E et al.; Flow cytometry gives relevant data on cellular parameters such as DNA, RNA, and protein contents of individual cells and is therefore a powerful tool for analyzing microbial population dynamics . Relevant information about growth dynamics may be obtained from protein distribution . In fact, protein distribution is related to age distribution and depends on the law of growth of the population and the law of growth of the single cell . To extract the available information from protein distribution, we developed a computer algorithm starting from a model for growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae . This algorithm quantitatively fits experimental protein distributions, allows a deconvolution of these distributions, and thus yields information about temporal parameters of the cell cycle and structure of yeast populations.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Jan, 47(1), 101 - 10
Protease activities of rumen protozoa; Forsberg CW et al.; Intact, metabolically active rumen protozoa prepared by gravity sedimentation and washing in a mineral solution at 10 to 15 degrees C had comparatively low proteolytic activity on azocasein and low endogenous proteolytic activity . Protozoa washed in 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) at 4 degrees C and stored on ice autolysed when they were warmed to 39 degrees C . They also exhibited low proteolytic activity on azocasein, but they had a high endogenous proteolytic activity with a pH optimum of 5.8 . The endogenous proteolytic activity was inhibited by cysteine proteinase inhibitors, for example, iodoacetate (63.1%) and the aspartic proteinase inhibitor, pepstatin (43.9%) . Inhibitors specific for serine proteinases and metalloproteinases were without effect . The serine and cysteine proteinase inhibitors of microbial origin, including antipain, chymostatin, and leupeptin, caused up to 67% inhibition of endogenous proteolysis . Hydrolysis of casein by protozoa autolysates was also inhibited by cysteine proteinase inhibitors . Some of the inhibitors decreased endogenous deamination, in particular, phosphoramidon, which had little inhibitory effect on proteolysis . Protozoal and bacterial preparations exhibited low hydrolytic activities on synthetic proteinase and carboxypeptidase substrates, although the protozoa had 10 to 78 times greater hydrolytic activity (per milligram of protein) than bacteria on the synthetic aminopeptidase substrates L-leucine-p-nitroanilide, L-leucine-beta-naphthylamide, and L-leucinamide . The aminopeptidase activity was partially inhibited by bestatin . It was concluded that cysteine proteinases and, to a lesser extent, aspartic proteinases are primarily responsible for proteolysis in autolysates of rumen protozoa . The protozoal autolysates had high aminopeptidase activity; low deaminase activity was observed on endogenous amino acids.

Am J Hosp Pharm, 1984 Jan, 41(1), 121 - 4
Preparation and sterilization by filtration of Renacidin irrigation; Newton DW et al.; A method for the sterilizing filtration of Renacidin, a urologic irrigating solution, was evaluated . Renacidin irrigation was prepared and sterilized by microporous membrane filtration . A sterilizing membrane filtration apparatus was challenged by inoculating a batch of irrigation solution with Escherichia coli . The sterility of both intentionally contaminated and routinely prepared batches was evaluated . The stability of the solution was monitored by pH measurement, visual examination, maintenance of a vacuum, and absorbance spectrum of a 1:100 dilution in deionized water over a wavelength range from 400 to 200 nm . The time required to prepare three one-liter units was about two hours . No microbial growth was detected in any of the samples . The predicted minimum shelf-life at 10 degrees C was six months . Because the prepared solution contains some unreacted citric acid and bicarbonates, storage at room temperature could produce excessive pressure inside the container from carbon dioxide gas evolution . Refrigerated storage is recommended . This method for the preparation and sterilization of Renacidin irrigation is reasonably expedient, economical, and reliable.

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