Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 May, (5), 113 - 6 {The dynamics of antibody synthesis against proteolytic enzymes}; Konshina IZ et al.; The synthesis of antibodies to proteinases, such as terrilytin, hygrolytin, brinase, trypsin, chemotrypsin and papain was studied by using the complement fixation test and immunoelectrophoresis . The results obtained indicated that proteinases possessing fibrinolytic activities proved to differ considerably by their immunogenic properties . The antibody formation to microbial proteinases was found to be more intensive than against the enzymes from the antimal tissues. J Pharm Sci, 1976 May, 65(5), 745 - 7 Reduction of activity of cyanocobalamin in the presence of methylparaben sodium at autoclave temperature; Yazdany S et al.; Reduction of activity of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) due to degradation or interaction with methylparaben sodium was measured by UV spectrophotometry and microbial assay . TLC of the heated mixture showed two different spots, which indicate some alteration in the structure of the cyanocobalamin molecule in the presence of methylparaben sodium at 115 degrees for 10 min . The losses were about 20% by UV measurements and 32% by microbial assay . The degree of loss was sufficient to suggest that methylparaben sodium might have considerable influence on the stability of pharmaceutical products containing cyanocobalamin . Methylparaben and sodium chloride had no effect on cyanocobalamin. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1976 May, 31(5), 784 - 6 Lecithin agar for detection of microbial phospholipases; Chrisope GL et al.; Lecithin agar was developed on which phospholipase C produced turbid zones and phospholipase A produced clear zones . Reactions on lecithin agar agreed 74% of the time with reactions in egg yolk broth . On lecithin agar, interpretation was easier, phospholipase A was detectable, and opaque zones were visible 1 or 2 days earlier than on egg yolk agar . All constituents of the medium can be autoclaved. J Exp Med, 1976 May 1, 143(5), 1100 - 10 Suppressor cell activity after concanavalin A treatment of lymphocytes from normal donors; Shou L et al.; Pretreatment of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes with the plant lectin, concanavalin A (Con A), results in inhibition of blast transformation and {3H}thymidine incorporation by untreated allogeneic lymphocytes from healthy volunteers donors in one-way mixed leukocyte culture . Similarly, responses to mitogens, certain microbial antigens, and allogeneic lymphocytes are inhibited by Con A-treated allogeneic cells . Con A pretreated autologous lymphocytes can also be induced to manifest suppressor activities . This antimitotic effect occurs without evidence of cytotoxicity and is active on de novo lymphocyte responses and does not require prior sensitization of the cells being tested . Suppression of the lymphocyte response to pokeweed mitogen, a potent B-cell stimulator, by Con A-pretreated suppressor cells was not as consistent as was inhibition of response to other mitogens, including phytohemagglutinin and Con A . Furthermore, suppression of lymphocyte transformation to the microbial antigens, tuberculin purified protein derivative, and Canadida albicans extracts could be similarly induced by Con A pretreatment of either allogeneic or autologous cells . Induction of autologous suppressor activity in lymphocytes from healthy donors is compatible with a model that includes a role for suppressor cells in the modulation of the normal immune response. Lancet, 1976 Apr 3, 1(7962), 734 - 5 Genetic risks of vinyl chloride; Infante PF et al.; A study of pregnancy outcome among wives of workers exposed to vinyl-chloride monomer (V.C.M.) indicated that, in comparison with controls, there was a significant excess fetal loss in the group whose husbands had a primary exposure to V.C.M., whereas no differences between the groups were observed before the husband's exposures . The difference in fetal death-rates for the post-exposure comparisons was a reflection of a greater fetal loss associated with the wives younger-aged husbands . The significant excess did not seem to be the result of bias from interviewers, respondents, nor from women who had experienced chronic abortions weighting the results . These findings, in conjunction with the demonstration of a mutagenic response via microbial test systems and with observations of significant excesses of chromosomal aberrations among workers exposed to V.C.M., raise scientific and public-health concern for the possible genetic risks of V.C.M . to man. Am J Public Health, 1976 Apr, 66(4), 372 - 4 A facet of the biohazard control program: agent registration, risk assessment and computerization of data; Irwin J et al.; An assessment of risk in handling microbial agents at a major biomedical research institute is given . Included also are the risks associated with handling tissue cultures and animals . Two computer programs are described for the storage and retrieval of data on agents, tissue cultures, and animals. Can J Microbiol, 1976 Apr, 22(4), 598 - 602 Comparison of biodegradability of crude and fuel oils; Walker JD et al.; Crude and fuel oils were compared for ability to support growth of a mixed population of estuarine bacteria . A total of four oils, two crude and two fuel oils, were examined . It was found that each of the oils supported a unique population of bacteria and yeasts, with respect to generic composition . Low-sulfur, high-saturate, South Louisiana crude oil was found to be highly susceptible to degradation . In contrast, the dense, high-sulfur, high-aromatic, Bunker C fuel oil was strongly refractory to microbial degradation. J Immunol, 1976 Apr, 116(4), 1110 - 4 The active E rosette test: correlation with delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity; Felsburg PJ et al.; An active subpopulation of peripheral blood T lymphocytes, characterized by rapid (5-min) rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes (A-RFC), was measured in normal individuals after they were skin tested with microbial antigens . A significant rise in A-RFC occurred in all individuals who developed positive delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) reactions, whereas skin test nonresponders showed no significant rise in A-RFC . No similar consistent changes occurred in populations of total T cells, characterized by longer (60-min) rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes, or in B cells, measured by immunofluorescence of surface immunoglobulin . The A-RFC response paralleled the DCH response in timing, but not in intensity . These results provide in vivo evidence for a biologically distinct T cell subpopulation, and focus attention on the A-RFC as immunologically active cells. J Dairy Sci, 1976 Apr, 59(4), 627 - 35 Increasing polyunsaturation of milk fats by feeding formaldehyde protected sunflower-soybean supplement; Wrenn TR et al.; A practical means of protecting fats of a feed concentrate containing high polyunsaturated fatty acids is described . A ground mixture of 30% soybeans and 70% sunflower seeds was treated with 1% formaldehyde to protect the unsaturated lipids from microbial hydrogenation in the rumen . This was fed as a supplement to two Holstein cows in amounts that were doubled weekly . These ranged from 524 to 8384 g/day and provided successively increasing intakes of 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 g of linoleic acid daily . Percent milk fat increased by more than one, and linoleic acid (C18:2) of milk fat increased from 2.5 to 20% with compensatory declines in myristic (C14:0) and palmitic (C16:0) acids . Cholesterol and vitamin E of plasma both doubled at the highest supplementation . Milk yield, solids-not-fat, protein and milk cholesterol were unaltered . Fat in feces doubled from about 3 to 6% . Daily linoleic acid content of feces increased from 25 g to 120 g, indicating a dietary loss of 7 to 10% of this polyunsaturated acid . These cheaper feed ingredients elevated the polyunsaturated fats in milk as effectively as the expensive purified casein and safflower oil supplements in previous experiments. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Apr, 3(4), 402 - 5 Elimination of bacteriophages from tissue culture serum by affinity chromatography; Orr HC et al.; Use of immunoadsorbents to remove bacteriophages from tissue culture serum was investigated . Immune globulins from rabbit antiserum prepared against phi V-1 phage were immobilized by covalent linkage to activated porous silica glass derivatives of p-aminoarylamine and to Sepharose-4B . Chromatographic columns of each material were used to filter samples of a fetal bovine serum into which had been introduced 8100 plaque-forming units of the phage per ml . Efficiency of removal was determined by plaque assays of phi V-1 phage recovered in the effluent fluids . Activated but uncoupled matrices nonspecifically removed from 49 to 59% of the phages introduced into the experimental serum . A reduction of 35 to 37% in phage content occurred in the serum after filtration through columns coupled to nonantibody protein . With specific immune globulins attached, the Sepharose-4B matrix reduced the concentration of phage in the serum below a detectable quantity . Noapparent alterations occurred in the growth-promoting property of serum filtered through the Sepharose-4B immunoadsorbent as measured by cloning efficiency of BHK-21, WI-38, and FRhL-2 cells . These experiments serve as a model system for use of immunoadsorbents for selective removal of bacteriophages and perhaps other extraneous microbial agents from tissue culture serum. J Biochem (Tokyo), 1976 Apr, 79(4), 765 - 73 Isolation and some properties of a subtilisin inhibitor from barley; Yoshikawa M et al.; An inhibitor affecting subtilisin {EC 3.4.21.14} was isolated from barley (Hordeum vulgare L cv . Kikaihadaka) by extraction with 1% sodium chloride, fractionation with ammonium sulfate, chromatography on CM- and DEAE-cellulose columns, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 . The final preparation appeared to be homogeneous on the basis of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; the inhibitory activity against subtilisin was increased about 140-fold during purification . This inhibitor was protein having a molecular weight of about 20,000, and containing 177 amino acid residues . Both the amino- and carboxyl-terminal residues were alaine . The inhibitor inactivated subtilisin, probably for formation of an enzyme-inhibitor complex in a molar ratio of 1: 1, but had little or no effect on the activities of other enzymes tested . The dissociation constant of the subtilisin-inhibitor complex was 1.5 X 10(-10) M . The inhibitor appears to be distinct from the barley microbial proteinase isoinhibitors reported by Mikola and Suolinna, in respect of most of its physiochemical and inhibitory properties. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1976 Apr, 31(4), 465 - 8 Effect of delayed evisceration on the microbial quality of meat; Gill CO et al.; The postomortem invasion of muscle and other tissues by bacteria from the intestinal tract was studied with the use of radioactive tracers . The injection of 14C-labeled bacteria or spores into the intestines of guinea pig carcasses within 24 h of death resulted in the rapid spread of 14C throughout carcasses . When live bacteria were injected along with the labeled cells, it was not possible to isolate viable organisms from the body tissues if the living animal had been exposed to the bacteria . It appears that animals are immune to their normal intestinal flora and that this immunity persists after death; thus passage of these bacteria into the lymphatic system does not necessarily result in the presence of live bacteria in carcass tissues . It therefore seems that a delay of up to 24 h before evisceration would not lead to deep tissue contamination of the carcass by organisms usually present in the intestines . Further evidence for this hypothesis was obtained by showing that muscle and lymph nodes from uneviscerated lamb carcasses hung for 24 h at 20 C remained sterile. Science, 1976 Mar 5, 191(4230), 959 - 61 Epoxide to olefin: a novel biotransformation in the rumen; Ivie GW; Studies with an insect juvenile hormone mimic and the insecticide dieldrin have shown that enzymatic processes in the rumen reduce the epoxide moiety in these compounds to an olefin . This reaction is apparently microbial in origin and does not involve an observable intermediate . Epoxide reductions in the digestive tract of ruminants and possibly other mammals may be important in the detoxication of biologically active epoxides, including pesticides, alkylating agents, and carcinogens. Exp Hematol, 1976 Mar, 4(2), 70 - 4 Microbial iron chelates with iron donor properties in hemoglobin-synthesizing cells; Barnekow A et al.; Iron incorporation into Friend virus infected leukemic murine spleen cells was studied using the two fungal iron trihydroxamates, fusigen and ferricrocin . Incorporation of 55Fe was measured by isolation of hemoglobin after dimethylsulfoxide-induced hemoglobin synthesis and compared with iron incorporation from 55Fe-labeled ferric citrate. Int Dent J, 1976 Mar, 26(1), 4 - 13 Caries control through the use of sugar substitutes; Scheinin A; The purpose of the paper is to describe the essential findings in two clinical trials, carried out in order to evaluate differences in the caries increment rate as influenced by various sugars . The first study involved almost complete substitution of sucrose (S) by fructose (F) or xylitol (X) during a period of 2 years . The second study comprised partial substitution, the effects of a S- or X-containing chewing gum being compared during 1 year . In the first study there were no significant differences initially between the sugar groups; 35 subjects in the S-group, 38 in the F-group, and 52 in the X-group . During the entire study 10 subjects discontinued or were excluded . After 2 years the mean increment of decayed, missed and filled tooth surfaces was 7-2 in the S-group, 3-8 in the F-group, and 0-0 in the X-group . The second study comprised initially 102 subjects, predominantly dental and medical sutdents, divided randomly into S- and X-groups . During the study 2 subjects were excluded . The subjects consumed 4-0 chewing gums per day in the S-group and correspondingly 4-8 in the X-group . The frequency of sucrose intake was 4-24 times per day in the S-group, and 4-94 in the X-group . The caries incidence assess independently by clinical and radiographical means, equalled the 1-year observations in the first study . The results show a massive reduction of the caries increment not only in relation to total, but also in connection with partial substitution of dietary sucrose and low xylitol consumption . The first study indicates fructose to be somewhat less cariogenic than sucrose . In view of the findings in the chewing gum study it is suggested that the non- and anticariogenic properties of xylitol principally depend on its lack of suitability for microbial metabolism and the physico-chemical effects in plaque and saliva brought about through low and repeated dosage. S TA NU, 1976 Mar-Apr, 6(2), 93 - 6 {Study of piruvic acid pool as indirect index of microbial count in foods and beverages (author's transl)}; De Felip G et al.; The quantities are given of pyruvate in a medium to remark any possible connection between varieties of pyruvate and present bacterial flora concentration . We found some connection between the two experiments, even though, not always are very easily to menage. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig B}, 1976 Mar, 161(5-6), 519 - 26 {Microcalorimetric investigations in polluted surface waters (author's transl)}; Tiefenbrunner F; The hygienic control of polluted surface waters has to be correlated with measurements of the decomposition rate of heterotrophic microbial populations . Starting in 1970 different methods have been tested for this purpose . Uptakekinetic studies of radioactive labelled substrates as well as automated BOD-registrations can not be handled as flow systems . Flow-Microcalorimetry (heat-conduction-principle) could be an easier approach to test the activity of heterotrophic aquatic populations . Probes from a trickling-filter outflow, from an oxidation pond and from a small river were tested simultaneously in a Flow-Microcalorimeter (LKB, 2107, Fig . 1) and a Drop-Microcalorimeter (WADSO, 1974 (fig . 2)) after adding 200 mug/L of Glucose . The resulting voltage/timecurves (Fig . 4,5,6) show a good correlation to the heterotrophic capacity of the probes . The minimal detectable continnous heat effect was 1 muW corresponding to a (relative) activity of 5.6-10(4) bacterial colonies/ml on Difco agar (counts after 48 hours incubation at 22 degrees C incubation temperature) . A modification of the Flow-Microcalorimeter using a 5-10 times larger reaction vessel could enable the system to be used also in testing scarcely polluted surface waters and for toxicity tests of surface water samples. Trop Geogr Med, 1976 Mar, 28(1), 37 - 40 Maternal and foetal vitamin B12 concentration at parturition among Nigerians; Osifo BO et al.; Serum vitamin B12 concentrations were determined immediately after delivery among fifty healthy mothers and in cord blood of their newly delivered babies . The serum vitamin B12 concentrations of the infants were higher than those of their mothers and the ratio was approximately 2:1 . The maternal serum vitamin B12 concentration was significantly higher than other maternal serum vitamin B12 concentration reported previously and the infant serum vitamin B12 level was also significantly higher than other infants studied in similar projects . These results suggest that the high serum vitamin B12 concentration reported among Nigerians is most probably due to both genetical and environmental factors coupled with some microbial synthesis in the gastro-intestinal tract after resuming a full adult diet. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1976 Mar, 29(3), 292 - 302 Biotransformation of antibiotics . I . Acylation of chloramphenicol by spores of Streptomyces griseus isolated from the Egyptian soil ; El-Kersh TA et al.; Incubation of spores, washed mycelium or whole cultures of a Streptomyces sp . with chloramphenicol (I) resulted in the loss of in vitro bioactivity of the antibiotic . Gas chromatographic estimation of an appropriate extract revealed that more than 95% of the antibiotic was inactivated under the specified conditions . The spores inactivated chloramphenicol in an inorganic buffer solution, or in distilled water, without the addition of carbohydrate or external co-factor . However, addition of certain carbon sources to the spores showed a pronounced effect on the chloramphenicol transformation process and on the relative concentration of the inactivated products . Time-course studies on the spore-catalyzed chloramphenicol transformation activity showed a maximum activity at 12-hour incubation . Addition of glucose or acetate at this point maintained maximum activity . The transformation products were identified as: chloramphenicol-1-acetate (IIa); chloramphenicol-3-acetate (IIb); chloramphenicol-3-propionate (III); CHLORAMPHENICOL-O-ISOBUTYRATE (IV); chloramphenicol-3-butyrate (V); and chloramphenicol-3-isovalerate (VI), by techniques of TLC, CPC, GC, UV, IR, MS and NMR . The microbial characteristics of the isolated strain include the formation of flexuous gray aerial mycelium with smooth to rough spores, irregular in size . It is an H2S and melanin former, non-chromogenic, and was inhibited by a streptomycin-producing strain of Streptomyces griseus (Krainsky 1914) Waksman and Henrici(1948). Antibiotiki, 1976 Mar, 21(3), 255 - 8 {Antigenic properties of 1-asparaginases isolated from different species and strains of bacteria}; Chaikovskaia SM et al.; Immunological relation of L-aspariginase isolated from different strains of E . coli and Ervinia carotovera was investigated by the method of specific neutralization of the asparaginase effect on asparagin in the presence of immune antiasparaginase serum and the method of microprecipitation in agar . It was found that there was immunological relation between asparaginases of different strains of the same microbial species . At the same time common antigens were absent in asparaginases synthesized by different bacterial species. Antibiotiki, 1976 Mar, 21(3), 242 - 5 {Study of the mechanism of action of minocycline and of certain other tetracycline group compounds}; Beliavskaia IV et al.; It was shown that the mechanism of action of minocycline on intact cells of E . coli was similar to that of oxytetracycline, i.e . specific inhibition of protein synthesis . In acellular systems of synthesis of polyphenylalanine with ribosomes from tetracycline sensitive and resistant strains of E . coli, minocycline and oxytetracycline had close inhibiting activity . Therefore, the highest antimicrobic activity of minocycline was due as compred to oxytetracycline to some advantages at the stage of penetration into the microbial cell and not at the stage the protein synthesis . 4-Epi-oxytetracycline and beta-apo-oxytetracycline possessing competing properties with respect to oxytetracycline at the stage of penetration through the cell membrane did not, however, suppress the synthesis of polyphenylalanine in the acellular system isolated from the sensitive strain of E . coli. Am J Med, 1976 Mar, 60(3), 369 - 77 Acute infectious arthritis . A review of patients with nongonococcal joint infections (with emphasis on therapy and prognosis); Goldenberg DL et al.; The clinical course of 59 patients with acute nongonococcal septic arthritis has been reviewed with special emphasis on the changing bacterial spectrum in recent years . The results of treatment were dependent on various factors, including the specific microbial agent and host defenses . Treatment should include parenteral antibiotics and drainage with needle aspiration, except in hips which should be surgically drained . Successful therapy requires rapid initiation of treatment and ongoing assessment of adequacy of response. Lab Invest, 1976 Mar, 34(3), 235 - 49 Pathogenesis of inflammatory periodontal disease . A summary of current work; Page RC et al.; Chronic periodontitis, a common disease of microbial origin, is the major cause of tooth loss in adult humans . The disease serves as a convenient experimental model for analysis of many aspects of chronic inflammation . A consideration of currently available data has permitted the formulation of a new concept of the pathogenesis of this disease . The gingival tissues respond within 2 to 4 days to a beginning accumlation of microbial plaque with a classic acute exudative vasculitis which we have termed the initial lesion . This response, which includes loss of perivascular collagen, is comparable to that elicited in most other tissues subjected to acute injury and may be a consequence of the elaboration and release of chemotactic and antigenic substances by microbial plaque . Within 4 to 10 days, the early lesion develops . It is characterized by a dense infiltrate of lymphocytes and other mononuclear cells, pathologic alteration of fibroblasts, and continuing loss of the connective tissue substance . The structural features of the early lesion are consistent with those expected in some form of cellular hypersensitivity, and a mechanism of this kind may be important in the pathogenesis . The early lesion is followed by the established lesion which develops within 2 to 3 weeks and is distinguished by a predominance of plasma cells in the absence of significant bone loss . The established lesion, which is extremely widespread in humans and in animals, may remain stable for years or decades, or it may become converted into a progressive destructive lesion . Factors causing this conversion are not understood . In the advanced lesion, plasma cells continue to predominate although loss of the alveolar bone and periodontal ligament, and disruption of the tissue architecture with fibrosis are also important characteristics . The initial, early, and established lesions are sequential stages in gingivitis and they, rather than the advanced lesion which is manifest clinically as periodontitis, make up the major portion of inflammatory gingival and periodontal disease in humans. Cutis, 1976 Mar, 17(3), 488 - 96 A microbial etiology of acne? Voss JG. The view is advanced that sebum as originally produced must contain materials, other than lipids, which may serve as a selective substrate for growth of bacteria and yeasts . Growth of large numbers of P . acnes and P . granulosum in some follicles is considered to place those follicles at risk of undergoing pathological changes . Deleterious products of bacterial growth could be not only lipase and free fatty acids, but also other enzymes as well as bacterial antigens and unspecified toxins or irritants . The possibility is suggested that follicles heavily infested with P . acnes and P . granulosum may be identified by their reddish fluorescence under ultraviolet light, thus permitting identification and study of those which are at risk . Antibiotics may be helpful in reducing the formation of harmful bacterial products during continued growth of the organisms . The eventually self-limiting nature of the disease may be due to the immune response to bacterial products, or to an accommodation of the follicular epithelium to the long-continued presence of irritant materials within the follicle. C R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D, 1976 Feb 23, 282(8), 743 - 6 {Comparison of the digestive utilization of methionine, of its hydroxylated analog, and of sodium sulfate in goats using 35s compounds}; Champredon C et al.; 35S and 35S free and protein bound amino acids were estimated in goats' abomasal contents and blood after ruminal injections of sulfer labelled compounds: methionine, methionine hydroxy analog (M.H.A.) and sodium sulfate . 35S incorporation into microbial and plasma proteins was higher with methionine than with M.H.A . or sulfate . 35S.M.H.A . utilisation seems to be less different from Na2 35SO4 utilisation than from 35S methionine utilisation. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1976 Feb, 81(2), 214 - 6 {The effect of specific sensitization and corticosteroid hormones on the course of experimental antimycotic infection}; Kashkin KP et al.; Infection of mice and rats with actinomycetes against the background of hydrocortisone administration led to acute actinosepsis of animals to actinomycetes or extracellularly-secreted products of microbial activity contributed to the transformation of an acute infectious process into chronic, with the formation of actinomycetes hyphae in the organs . Chronic actinomycosis courses in the presence of the circulating antibodies mainly against the extracellularly-secreted products of actinomycetes vital activity. Cancer Res, 1976 Feb, 36(2 pt 2), 720 - 3 In vivo and in vitro studies of immunotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with transfer factor; Goldenberg GJ et al.; Epstein-Barr virus, the apparent cause of infectious mononucleosis, may also be an etiological agent in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and Burkitt's lymphoma . Lymphocytes from normal individuals with anti-Epstein-Barr virus antibody activity may be sensitized to Epstein-Barr virus and contain transfer factor with the potential to program and/or recruit other lymphocytes to react against the virus and/or viral antigens . A patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma refractory to conventional therapy was treated with transfer factor obtained from normal, young adults with previous history of infectious mononucleosis . Following immunotherapy, apparent slowing of tumor growth was observed, which was associated with intense lymphocytic infiltration of the tumor and reconstitution of delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions to microbial recall antigens . A double-blind randomized clinical trial has been initiated to determine whether transfer factor immunotherapy is a useful adjunct to radiotherapy in the primary treatment of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma . If successful, a similar trial might be considered for African patients with Burkitt's lymphoma. J Med Chem, 1976 Feb, 19(2), 239 - 43 Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of heterocyclic compounds containing a trimethoxyarene function; Mawdsley EA et al.; Pyrazole-, isoxazole-, and pyrazolone-containing systems were prepared from 3,4-dihydro-5,6,7-trimethoxy-1(2H)-naphthalenone, 3,4-dihydro-6,7,8-trimethoxy-1(2H)-naphthalenone, and 3,4-dihydro-6,7,8-trimethoxy-1(2H)-phenanthrone . Primarily, the pyrazoles displayed inhibition of growth in the microbial screens and in tissue culture . Correlation of the heteroatom distances between the oxygen atoms of two methoxy groups and a nitrogen atom in the pyrazole function with the percent plating efficiency on KB cell growth suggests increased inhibition as the (OA-N)/(OB-N) ratio deviates from one . No trend was observed in relating the OA-N-OB angle and activity for the examples studied. Biotechnol Bioeng, 1976 Feb, 18(2), 167 - 78 Maximization of steady-state bacterial production in a chemostat with pH and substrate control; Spitzer DW; This analytical study deals with the steady-state behavior and control of microbial growth in continuous cultures . A second order Haldane-Monod model of continuous cultures is used as a basis for study of the effects of the adjustment of pH by the addition of acidic (or basic) materials . The treatment of a hydrogen ion concentration, in addition to substrate and microbial concentrations as state variables, results in a third order system of equations describing the process . The analysis of the system in equilibrium yields several admissible steady states, that is, steady states which satisfy all constraints . An optimal control problem is formulated and subsequently solved to maximize steady-state microbial production. J Dairy Sci, 1976 Feb, 59(2), 191 - 5 B-complex vitamins in cultured and acidified yogurt; Reddy KP et al.; Studies were to determine the effect of various factors upon B-vitamin content of cultured yogurt and to compare the B-vitamin contents of cultured and direct acidified yogurt . Incubation of yogurt culture at 42 C for 3 h yielded maximum vitamin synthesis concurrent with optimal flavor and texture qualities . A method was standardized for the manufacture of direct acidified yogurt involving the use of Stabilac acidulant and nonfat dry milk, Carboxymethyl cellulose, gelatin, and Starite . Acidified yogurt showed a slightly higher content of certain B-vitamins than the cultured yogurt due to the contribution made by various food additives . Both cultured and acidified yogurt showed good keeping quality and freedom from microbial contaminants during storage at 5 C for 16 days . However, folic acid and vitamin B12 contents decreased 29 and 60% in cultured yogurt and 48 and 54% in acidified yogurt. Clin Chim Acta, 1976 Jan 2, 66(1), 125 - 9 Radioimmunoassay of iodinated gentamicin; Broughton A et al.; A radioimmunoassay is described for the aminoglycoside antibiotic, gentamicin . Iodinated gentamicin was prepared using an 125I-labeled acylating agent: 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester which spontaneously reacts with gentamicin to produce an iodinated conjugate . The radioimmunoassay with iodinated gentamicin produced a straight line on a logit/log plot yielding an assay sensitivity of 80 pg . A Scatchard plot plus an equilibrium technique were used to estimate the affinity constant at 8 X 10(9) 1 mol-1 and 10.5 X 10(9) 1 mol-1, respectively . Kanamycin and neomycin, two chemically related aminoglycoside antibiotics, did not crossreact with gentamicin until concentrations were 10(5) greater than those found in blood . Assay of patients' serum samples by both a microbial assay and radioimmunoassay resulted in a statistically significant (p less than 0.001) correlation between the two methods. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1976, 50(5), 606 - 12 Anaphylactoid reactions in connection with infusion of invert sugar solutions are due to macromolecular contaminants; Richter AW et al.; 13 untoward mold anaphylactoid reactions were observed in patients infused with invert sugar solutions in Sweden during a 7-month period in 1973: an incidence of 1/31,000 infusions . Immunological and physicochemical analysis of invert sugar solutions and of the raw material, sucrose, revealed traces of native alpha-1,6-glucan with molecular weight of 10-100 millions as contaminant . This indicates, that the sucrose had been exposed to microbial contamination during its manufacture from sugar-beet or sugar-cane . Reversed single radial immunodiffusion was used for alpha-1,6-glucan detection and screening of all sucrose batches . Rejection of contaminated sucrose as raw material reduced the incidence of anaphylactoid invert sugar reactions to about 1/575,000 infusions . Examination of all sucrose raw material for traces of crude alpha-1,6-glucan is recommended as a test for detection of microbial contamination. Vet Med Nauki, 1976, 13(1), 101 - 8 {Some physicochemical changes in poultry meat caused by Pseudomonas ssp . II}; Vitkov M; Studies showed that the reproductive capacity and the biochemical activity of the experimental Pseudomonas ssp . II are manifested to a various extent in the white and red poultry meat . No changes in the meat set in until the microbial count reach 10(8)-10(9) per gram of meat . This critical value is reached on the fifth day for the red meat, and the 7th day for the white meat . Later on the changes in PH, the aminoammonia nitrogen, the volatile fatty acids, the ammonia gas reaction, and the CuSO4 reaction show such values that give grounds to discard the meat . The reaction for the demonstration of H2S is consistently negative, which is referred to as an individual feature of the monoculture used. J Dairy Sci, 1976 Jan, 59(1), 80 - 4 Relationship between ruminal ammonia and nonprotein nitrogen utilization by ruminants . III . Influence of intraruminal urea infusion on ruminal ammonia concentration; Roffler RE et al.; In three trials, we studied the effect of incremental amounts of intraruminally infused urea on mean ruminal ammonia concentration of steer fed at 2-h intervals . Basal rations contained these percentages of crude protein and total digestible nutrients (dry matter basis); Trial I, 11.1 and 81; Trial II, 6.0 and 54; Trial III, 6.5 and 58 . Mean ruminal ammonia concentration reached 5 mg ammonia nitrogen/100 ml rumen fluid at crude protein equivalents of 12.0, 9.3, and 9.4% in I, II, and III . Once ruminal ammonia began to accumulate, there was a linear relationship between intake of urea and mean concentration of amino acids of plasma, serving as an indirect measure of amino acid absorption from the intestine, was not increased by increased intake of urea in III . Results of this experiment support the concept from in vitro data that microbial protein synthesis is unaffected by ruminal ammonia concentration in excess of 5 mg ammonia nitrogen/100 ml rumen fluid. Lab Invest, 1976 Jan, 34(1), 31 - 42 Peroxidase activity of alveolar macrophages; Biggar WD et al.; Peroxidase activity was studied in alveolar macrophages and compared to the peroxidase activity in polymorphonuclear leukocytes using cytochemical techniques . A dense reaction product for peroxidase was observed in the primary lysosomes of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, but no significant peroxidase or peroxidative enzymes could be detected in rabbit alveolar macrophages . Furthermore, following vigorous phagocytosis of zymosan particles by alveolar macrophages in vitro, no peroxidase could be detected in association with the phagocytic vacuole . Exogenous horseradish peroxidase was ingested readily by alveolar macrophages so that abundant reaction product was demonstrated in pinocytotic vesicles and phagocytic vacuoles . The uptake of exogenous peroxidase by pinocytosis appeared to be more vigorous in alveolar macrophages than in polymorphonuclear leukocytes . These studies demonstrate that alveolar macrophages do not contain significant quantities of peroxidase and suggest that, it contrast to polymorphonuclear leukocytes, peroxidative metabolism does not contribute in a major way to microbial killing by alveolar macrophages. Br J Nutr, 1976 Jan, 35(1), 127 - 47 Further studies of the dynamics of nitrogen metabolism in sheep; Nolan JV et al.; 1 . A study of ammonia and urea metabolism in sheep was made using isotope dilution techniques with (15NH4)2SO4,{15N}urea and {14C}urea in order to determine quantitatively the movements of urea-N and NH3-N throughout the body of normal, feeding sheep . 2 . Single injections of 15N-labelled compounds were made into the rumen fluid NH3, caecal fluid NH3 and the blood urea pools, in order to estimate the rates of flux through, and the transfer of N between, these and other nitrogenous pools in the body . 51CrEDTA was injected into the rumen and caecum with (15NH4)2SO4 to allow estimation of fluid volumes and to provide an indication of mixing, and of times of transit of isotopes between different sampling sites in the digestive tract . 3 . The sheep ate approximately 22 g lucerne chaff/h and the mean dietary N intake was 16-3 g/d . 4 . The rate of flux of NH3 through the rumen NH3 pool was 15-0 g/d (i.e . 90% of the dietary N ingested; however, this amount also included N from plasma urea (1-1 g/d) and other endogenous sources including NH3 derived from caecal NH3 (0-4 g/d) . 5 . Only 40% of the N in isolated rumen bacteria was derived from NH3, indicating that a considerable proportion of their N requirements were obtained from compounds other than NH3 (e.g . peptides and amino acids) . 6 . There was evidence of recycling of N between nitrogenous pools in the rumen, probably through rumen NH3 leads to microbial N leads to NH3 . 7 . It was estimated that 5-3 g blood urea-N/d entered the digestive tract; 20% of this urea was degraded in the rumen, 25% in the caecum and the remainder was apparently degraded elsewhere; there was evidence of urea degradation in the large intestine posterior to the caecum and it is suggested that urea degradation and absorption of the resultant NH3 may occur in the ileum . 8 . Of the 4-8 g N/d entering the caecal NH3 pool, 4-2 g N/d left and did not return and the difference (0-6 g N/d) was recycled, possibly through caecal NH3 leads to microbial N leads to NH3 . 9 . A large proportion of the NH3 entering the caecal NH3 pool (70% or 3-2 g N/d) was apparently derived from degradation of nitrogenous products, other than urea, including rumen microbial N (1-0 g N/d) passing undigested from the small intestine . 10 . Less than half the NH3-N of caecal origin entering the rumen passed through the blood urea pool; the remainder was apparently transported as other nitrogenous compounds in the blood or body fluids . 11 . The results of the three experiments were combined in a general three-pool, open-compartment model which formally recognizes an unlimited number of other unspecified, interconnected pools together comprising the whole-animal system . Rates of flux through, and transfer of N between these and other nitrogenous pools in the body were calculated by solving this model and the information derived has been applied to whole-animal models with a view to subsequently using these models in computer simulation studies. Br J Nutr, 1976 Jan, 35(1), 11 - 23 The effect of molybdenum on the conversion of sulphate to sulphide and microbial-protein-sulphur in the rumen of sheep; Gawthorne JM et al.; 1 . {35S}sulphate was used to measure the apparent turnover of sulphate, sulphide and microbial-protein-S in the rumen contents of four sheep that were intraruminally infused with 10 g sodium sulphate/d alone, or together with 126 mg sodium molybdate (50 mg molybdenum) . 2 . Infusion of molybdate increased the concentration of sulphate in rumen fluid from 2.2 to 7.2 mug S/ml and decreased the rate of reduction of sulphate to sulphide by 50% . Although the rate of sulphide production was slower, the concentration of sulphide in the rumen is suggested to explain these changes . 3 . In animals that were not infused with molybdate, only one-third of the S (3.0 g/d) that passed through the sulphate pool in rumen fluid was converted to sulphide, decreasing to one-sixth when molybdate was infused . 4 . The turnover of S amino acids in microbial protein was not significantly affected by molybdate . Only 52-57% of the S amino acid content of microbial protein was synthesized de novo by way of the sulphide pool. Environ Qual Saf Suppl, 1976, (5), 151 - 8 Occurrence of anabolic agents in plants and their importance; Lindner HR; More than 40 plant species have been shown to contain substances that are active in biological assays for estrogenic activity . Such substances may be constitutive metabolic products of a plant, or be formed adaptively in response to environmental factors, such as fungal attack (e.g . coumestrol synthesis in alfalfa infected with Pseudopeziza medicagensis); in other instances estrogens may arise from microbial attack on plant material during storage (e.g . zearalenone formation from corn by Fusarium spp.) Phyto-estrogens may reach man through direct consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables and processed plant products (e.g . administration of olive or cornoil can induce vaginal keratinization in post-menopausal women); or---more relevant to this Symposium---by consumption of carcasses and products from animals fed estrogen-containing forage . Important pasture and forage plants shown to contain phyto-oestrogens include Trifolium subterraneum L, notably the cultivars Dwalganup, Mt . Barker, Yarloop and Marrar, T . pratense (red clover), T . fragiferum L . (strawberry clover), T . alexandrinum (berseem clover), Medicago sativa (alfalfa or lucerne) and Soya hispida (soya beans) . A beneficial anabolic action of the estrogens contained in these plants has been implied, but not unequivically established . More attention has been paid to their noxious effects on livestock . On affected T . subterraneum pasture, castrated male sheep showed lactation, squamous metaplasia of the bulbo-urethral glands and urethral stenosis; infertility, variously attributed to suppression of gonadotrophin release and ovulation; faulty ovum transport; premature regression of corpora lutea; irreversible cystic hyperplasia of endometrial glands on prolonged exposure; dystocia and prolapse of the uterus . Sporadic incidence of phyto-estrogen induced infertility in cattle has been reported, attended by ovarian cyst formation . Estrogenic activity in forage plants has been reported from Australia, New Zealand, India, Sweden, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Holland, Finland, Egypt and Israel . The clover constituents chiefly incriminated for these effects are glycosides of the isoflavone derivatives genistein and its 4'-methyl ether biochanin-A, daidzein and its 4'-methyl ether formononetin, and pratensein; coumestrol and its 3'- and 4'-methyl ethers account for the estrogenic activity of alfalfa . The isoflavone content of subterranean clover may reach 3 percent of its dry weight, and the coumestrol content of lucerne may exceed 100 mug/g . Coumestrol and genistein compete with 17beta-estradiol for binding sites on the uterine cytoplasmic receptor and induce macromolecular synthesis in the uterus, but fail to induce ovum implantation in ovariectomized, gestagen-maintained rats . Uterotrophic activity of coumestrol and genistein given parenterally to sheep is approximately 10(-3) and 10(-5) times that of stilboestrol, respectively . Biological activity of ingested phytoestrogens is modified by ruminal micro-organisms and hepatic metabolism... Biotechnol Bioeng, 1976 Jan, 18(1), 37 - 51 Kinetic studies of alpha-galactosidase-containing mold pellets on PNPG hydrolysis; Kobayashi H et al.; Little is known about techniques for applying untreated microbial cells containing enzymes directly to industrial processes as a biocatalyst . The kinetic behavior of alpha-galactosidase-containing spherical pellets which are formed naturally under given conditions in a submerged culture of Mortierella vinacea was studied on the hydrolysis of PNPG (p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside) . The effect on intraparticle diffusion on the overall reaction rate was assessed by the use of an effectiveness factor, which was calculated by the approximate solution to the equation derived from the mass balance within a pellet . The experimental effectiveness factors were found to be represented as a single function of the modified Thiele modulus, including such parameters as pellet size, enzyme concentration in the pellet, and substrate concentration . As the diffusional effect became more significant, the marked substrate inhibition as seen for a free enzyme disappeared gradually . The effect of product inhibition on the pellets was much weaker than that for a free enzyme at a given substrate concentration . In the region of diffusion controlled reaction, it was found that the rate is proportional to the square root of the enzyme concentration in the pellet . In addition, similarly to what was reported previously for a free enzyme,the reaction in a batch system was found to be approximately representable as simple first-order kinetics in which the rate constant was dependent on the initial substrate concentration. Arzneimittelforschung, 1976, 26(12), 2185 - 6 Xanthine oxidase activation in animal liver during infectious processes . Short communication; Tubaro E et al.; A relevant increase in xanthine oxidase in the liver was constantly found in the couse of the study of enzyme variations in infected mice . This effect seems to be due to bacterial toxins and not related with microbial pathogenicity . Xanthine oxidase is suspected to play a role in host defence mechanisms. Zentralbl Bakteriol Parasitenkd Infektionskr Hyg, 1976, 131(8), 722 - 9 Evaluation of some biological tests as parameters for microbial activities in soils . II . Field investigations; Abd-El-Malek Y et al.; Investigations were designed to study the effect of certain factors on the microbial activities in soil . The parameters, used as an index of the microbial activities, were total bacterial counts, dehydrogenase activity, oxidation of organic carbon, and CO2 evolved/7 days . Bahteem Farm clay soil was examined for determining the effects of depth, type of fertilization, and crop rotation on the microbial activities . It appears that the microbial activities, as indicated by the tested parameters, were more pronounced in the surface 15 cm-layer than in the subsurface layer (15-30 cm) . Results of all the parameters tested showed markedly higher increases with farmyard manure than with nitrogenous fertilizer and in the control, without significant differences between the latter two . Moreover, the time of sampling had no effect on the results obtained for all parameters . Different types of rotations did not exert significant variation in total bacterial counts, though more than one crop per year increased the organic carbon content of soil and mostly the dehydrogenase activity, whereas the evolution of CO2 tended to decrease . At Gabal el-Asfar Farm, the effect of irrigation with sewage effluent, for long periods, on the microbial activities of sandy soil was investigated . Sewage water stimulated the total bacteria, raised the dehydrogenase activity, the organic carbon, and the production of CO2 . In North El Tahreer and Mariut Sectors, the effect of both the type and age of cultivation on the microbial activities in the calcareous soils were examined . Cultivation raised the figures of all the tested parameters progressively with time of cultivation . It was also noticed that crops exerted more beneficial effects on microbial activities than orchards, and the dehydrogenase test was the most reliable parameter to reveal this fact. Zentralbl Bakteriol Parasitenkd Infektionskr Hyg, 1976, 131(8), 711 - 21 Evaluation of some biological tests as parameters for microbial activities in soils . I . Laboratory experiments; Abd-El-Malek Y et al.; The experiments were confined to the effects of the addition of different sources of carbon (glucose, wheat straw, and sawdust) on the microbial activities in soils: loamy sand, loam and saline clay were used . The parameters used for this purpose were total bacterial counts, dehydrogenase test, CO2 evolution, and oxidation of organic carbon . Salinity of soils had deleterious effects on all the parameters used . Addition of organic matter resulted in marked increases in bacterial counts, formazan production, and CO2 evolution . Glucose showed the most rapid effect and highest levels . Wheat straw yielded the highest results and sawdust always showed the least effect. Ann Ist Super Sanita, 1976, 12(2-3), 203 - 9 {Comparative studies on the course of microbial flora in natural mineral waters bottled in glass, PVC and laminated polyethylene}; De Felip G et al.; The Authors report the results of comparative investigations carried out on some mineral waters bottled in various containers (laminated polyethylene, glass, PVC) . The microbic charges vary in relation to the kind of container and resulted to be lower in the case of containers made of polyethylene. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig B}, 1976, 163(1-4), 128 - 52 {Nutrition and cancer (author's transl)}; van der Linde F; The problem of a relationship between nutrition and cancer has to be approached from two different points of view: 1 . Direct effect of carcinogens present in foods or in food additives (direct carcinogenesis), 2 . In-vivo synthesis of carcinogens caused by changes in metabolism due to altered dietary habits (indirect carcinogenesis) . For the second mechanism, we have to make a distinction between the effects of nutritional deficiency and of nutritional excess . Some examples from animal experiments are presented . In man, possible relationships between nutrition and cancer are postulated mainly for tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and recently also for hormone-dependent cancers . Epidemiological evidence points to the major importance of the indirect way of carcinogenesis caused by specific nutritional deficiencies and excesses . Experimental studies in man are difficult to perform . Therefore, most hypotheses are based on statistical associations, and great caution is required in drawing inferences on causal relationships . Cancers of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract epidemiologically behave in a different way, the former showing a marked decrease in most western countries, the latter a slight increase . The etiology of the cancers of the esophagus and stomach has still to be determined in spite of many hypotheses . Migrant studies show a major effect of environmental rather than genetic factors . Substantial differences in dietary habits between countries with high and low incidence of stomach cancer (Japan and United States) point to the importance of nutrition as an etiological factor with a high probability, but no specific dietary components have been identified so far . The same is true for cancer of the large bowel . Recent hypotheses suggest that dietary factors may relate to cancer of the colon by their effect on bile production and on the bacterial makeup of faeces which in turn might be transforming bile acids into active carcinogens . There is, however, disagreement about the specific dietary component responsible for this model of carcinogenesis . BURKITT stresses the importance of the lower consumption of dietary fiber, resulting in retarded bowel function and additional time for bacterial proliferation and degradation by bacteria of bile acids . WYNDER, on the other hand, explains the increased bile acid and neutral sterol excretion and microbial modification of these compounds with the high content of animal fat in the western diet . With hormone-dependent cancers (breast, endometrium, ovary, prostate), a correlation has been shown between body weight and height and breast cancer as well as between overweight and cancer of the endometrium . Which aspect of diet, if any, is responsible for changes in hormone metabolism, resulting in an increased risk of these cancers, is still to be proved . On the basis of current knowledge, it is extremely difficult to draw inferences for preventive action . Certainly, a cancer-preventing diet cannot be established... Scand J Infect Dis, 1976, 8(4), 267 - 70 Evaluation of chlorine compounds for surface disinfection by laboratory and in-use testing; Ojajarvi J et al.; The disinfecting properties of chloramine and compounds containing chlorinated trisodium phosphate and potassium bromide or sodium dichlorisocyanurate and detergents were studied by laboratory and in-use tests and compared with a phenolic disinfectant containing detergents . In a modified Kelsey test all the preparations were effective in the recommended dilutions in clean conditions . The effectiveness of the chlorine-bromine disinfectant substantially decreased in the presence of organic material . The in-use testing was performed in infectious disease and intensive care wards . Chloramine was so disliked that the in-use test could not be carried out . In the infectious disease ward the total bacterial colony counts of the floors (disinfected once a day) were twice as high as those of the intensive care ward (disinfected 3 times a day) during the use of the phenolic and chlorine-bromine disinfectants . The frequent cleaning routine seemed thus to have an effect on the microbial contamination of the floors . The same difference was found in the contamination of the other non-vertical surfaces although they were disinfected only once a day in both wards . In both wards the total bacterial colony counts of all non-vertical surfaces were lower during the use of halogen compounds than during the use of the phenolic disinfectant . The staff, however, complained of the irritation of the skin and the mucous membranes when using chlorine disinfectants. Zentralbl Bakteriol Parasitenkd Infektionskr Hyg, 1976, 131(4), 375 - 7 Nitrogen fixation by microbial cultures with sodium salt of organic acids as carbon source; Bahadur K et al.; The best source of carbon, when used as the sodium salt of organic acids, is sodium salicylate which shows highest nitrogen fixation and also appreciably large amounts of nitrogen fixed per g carbon consumed . Next in order is sodium benzoate, then oxalate . Sodium citrate is followed by sowium acetate in the order of decreasing efficiency. Ann Rech Vet, 1976, 7(1), 91 - 8 In vitro transformation of ochratoxin A by animal microbioal floras; Galtier P et al.; Ochratoxin A is hydrolysed to ochratoxin alpha by the centrifugal pellet of rat caecal contents containing the microbial flora . The supernatant liquid is however, completely lacking in detoxifying enzymatic activity . The large proportion of toxin lost suggest that degradation of the active principe to non-fluorescent metabolites occurs . The rumen fluid of cows and sheep obtained at a slaughterhouse can hydrolyse the toxin and also, in certain cases, esterifies it to the equally toxic ochratoxin C . Cow rumen fluid obtained by oesophageal sounding does not have the latter activity but hydrolyses more intensively ochratoxin A . In this case the fraction responsible for this transformation contains mainly protozoa. Ann Biol Clin (Paris), 1976, 34(3), 203 - 10 {Estimation of the activity of an antiseptic agent on skin microbial flora under various conditions}; Fleurette J et al.; The bacterial flora of the skin of the fore-arm was studied in fifteen normal subjects by a modified Williamson and Kligman technique . The quantitative results were in agreement with those found in other laboratories which indicates the reproducibility of the method . The action of an antiseptic containing 0.5 p . cent of benzalkonium chloride was studied under three conditions or single application of the antiseptic for five consecutive days and for 24 hours after the application of an occlusive dressing . The bacterial flora of the skin showed marked quantitative variations from one subject to another and, in the same subject, from one time to another . Evaluation of the activity of an antiseptic should take into consideration these physiological variations and also various conditions of use in practice . Are discussed also the factors leading to standardisation of the methods and the criteria of evaluation of the activity of antiseptics on the skin. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol, 1976, 4(3), 324 - 33 Degradation of compounds containing carbon atoms by photooxidation in the presence of water; Knoevenagel K et al.; It was shown that all compounds containing carbon atoms, tested in this study, were degraded by the coincident influence of light, oxygen (air), and water . By this photooxidation, saturated as well as unsaturated aliphatic and aromatic compounds, monomeric, polymeric and high polymeric compounds were degraded and the carbon atoms of these compounds as well as carbon itself in form of amorphous carbon or diamond, were converted to carbon dioxide, if dispersed in water or together with water as very small solid, liquid, or gaseous particles . As such conditions occur extensively in nature, it was concluded that this degradation of organic substances is of great importance in nature, in addition to microbial and enzymatic degradation . This photooxidation further represents a possibility for pollution control to prevent damage to environment by degrading organic substances which are either slightly soluble or practically insoluble in water, as well as compounds which will not be destroyed by microbial and enzymatic degradation. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris), 1976 Jan-Feb, 5(1), 61 - 79 {Intraepithelial carcinoma of the cervix uteri . 1) Cytologic detection in gynecologic practice . Our exerience with 15,000 smears}; Legrand D et al.; The best results in screening for subclinical cancer of the cervix are given by cytological studies . The authors in reviewing their experience in this method of screening studied the result of 15,000 smears which gave a diagnosis of 37 cases of intra-epithelial carcinoma of the cervix, which means 1 case of carcinoma in situ diagnosed in every 400 smears . Although the technique is very simple it has to be carried out according to strict criteria at the time of taking the smear, of fixing it immediately and of staining it . There is a group of patients who are at high risk about the age of forty, when there is a marked influence due to parity . But only a systematic policy will bring about diagnosis of pre-invasive carcinoma in cases where the cervix is clinically healthy . The cytology is usually characteristic, though the diagnosis may be difficult during pregnancy, or when hormone contraception is being used or when there is a trichomonas infection present . This explains why we find false positives in 0.03 per cent of cases in this study and false negatives in 0.03 per cent of cases . Their rarity means that the method is 99.94 per cent reliable . Finally, the cervical smear gives an opportunity for studying the vaginal microbial flora as well as the cyto-hormonal state. Infection, 1976, 4(1 Suppl), 21 - 4 Lymphocyte transformation studies in Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections; Mogensen HH et al.; The in vitro transformation of lymphocytes stimulated by a Mycoplasma pneumoniae preparation was measured by the uptake of 14C-thymidine . The lymphocytes from five patients with M.pneumoniae pneumonia showed a high degree of responsiveness when they were compared to the lymphocytes taken from eleven healthy control subjects who lacked M.pneumoniae antibodies . Another four patients with an acute affection of the central nervous system and serological evidence of an actual or recent M.pneumoniae infection had a lymphocyte response within the same range as that of the controls . The transformation of lymphocytes was studied at intervals for seven months after the onset of the illness in one of the patients with pneumonia . These studies showed an increasing response to a small dose of mycoplasma antigen . Lymphocyte transformation induced by other microbial antigens was studied in three pneumonia patients during and after convalescence . The first responses were low and increased more steeply than the response to M.pneumoniae . The later responses to the mycoplasmal and to the other microbial antigens increased in parallel . The usefulness of incorporating other microbial antigens in the evaluation of the patient's immune response to a relevant antigen in this type of experiment is discussed. Dev Biol Stand, 1976, 33, 27 - 8 Research and development of unconventional systems for immunization; Konnerup NM et al.; The problems raised by the ever expanding world population justify the work of USAID (U.S . Agency for International Development) . Continual efforts must be made to develop and efficiently operate methods of control of the microbial and parasitic infections which menace our sources of protein . This programme includes immunization, technical methods in bacterial and viral genetics to obtain attenuated strains, and improvements in production, preservation and distribution of preparations . An example of an unconventional but promising system of application is the pilot study recently begun in the Missouri-Mississippi River region. Vet Med Nauki, 1976, 13(2), 55 - 65 {Hygienic studies of frozen ocean fish}; Bail'ozov D et al.; Studied were batches of frozen ocean mackerel (Scomber scombrus L.) and silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis, Mitchill) during storage in a central base and in shops . The evaluation of the fish was made on the basis of organoleptic data, pH values, volatile bases, trimethylamin, volatile fatty acids, the amount of tissue fluids after Kietzmann, luminescence of musculature after Wittfogel, and through microbiologic study of the skin and musculature . It was found that the fish had been frozen in the fishing boats in a very good status . Great variations in the storage temperature are admitted in the central base, no correlation being established between the term of storage and the quantity of the product . The conditions for the preservation of the frozen fish in the shops where fish is especially sold are unappropriate--they contribute to the fast deterioration of the quality and the microbial status of the product. Poumon Coeur, 1976, 32(3), 89 - 98 {Blood immunoglobulin deficiencies during bronchial asthma in the adult}; Perrin-Fayolle M et al.; The study of serous immunoglobulins of 500 asthmatic patients enabled the authors to discover a deficit in one of the Ig in 93 cases (18.6%), mainly in cases of intrinsic allergic asthma with an important or dominant infectious character, or microbial asthma . It concerned partial shortages of usually only one Ig in each patient, mostly the IgG . The importance of these deficits is discussed, particularly in the origin of bacterial sensitivity of these asthmas and in the genesis of atopy . The problem of IgG reagins is also discussed . Practical deductions drawn form these findings are envisaged. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1976, 21(2), 144 - 51 Steroid derivatives . LXXIX . Microbial 15 beta-hydroxylation of 17 alpha-acetoxy-16-methylene derivatives of the pregnane series by the action of Cunninghamella blakesleeana; Mickova R et al.; Hydroxylation of 17 alpha-acetoxy-6-chloro-16-methylene-4,6-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (Chlorosuperlutin, I) by Cunninghamella blakesleeana yielded a 15 beta-hydroxyderivative II . Analogous transformation of 17 alpha-acetoxy-16-methylene-4,6-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (Superlutin, IV) included a hydroxylation in position 15 beta and probably also in 11 beta with a concomitant reduction of the 6,7-double bond. Mikrobiologiia, 1976 Jan-Feb, 45(1), 157 - 60 {Determination of the specificity of microbial esterases in vivo}; Andreev LV et al.; Gas chromatography is used to determine the specificity of microbial esterases in vivo . The technique is based on hydrolysis by the cells of esters of fatty acids containing different alcohol groups . The specificity was evaluated by means of the coefficient Kc which changed from 0 to 1 and did not depend on the time of hydrolysis . The esterases of M lysodeicticus were more specific than the esterases of S . marcescens by a factor of 30 during hydrolysis of the equimolar mixture of methyl ester of pelargonic acid and ethyl ester of caprylic acid . This criterium of specificity may be used for rapid identification of bacteria. Acta Microbiol Pol A, 1976, 8(1), 57 - 64 Influence of the concentration of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and iron compounds on the microbial reduction of sulphates; Domka F et al.; In the reduction process of sulphates by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans suitable concentration of mineral salts plays an important role . In particular, different K2HPO4, CaCl2 and Fe(NH4)2(SO4)2 content in the reaction medium has an observable effect on the reduction degree (x'), the induction time (t0) and the reduction rate constant (k) . These data were recorded for 9 liquid media characterized by different content of mineral salts . The reaction rate constants were calculated for the reduction process in each medium . Optimal reduction conditions exists at the following element concentration ratios: P/S=0.068, K/S=0.086, Fe/S=0.08, N/S=0.33, C/S=1.80, Ca/S=0.03, Cl/S=0.80. Hamatol Bluttransfus, 1976, 18, 377 - 82 The pathologic anatomy of alpha chain disease; Rappaport H; alpha CD is an immunoproliferative disorder which is most frequently, but not always, associated with the disease entity referred to as Mediterranean lymphoma with malabsorption . In most cases, the evolution of the disease and its morbid anatomy suggests an immune deficiency state in which an abnormal clone of intestinal plasma cells incapable of producing the complete IgA molecule proliferates, perhaps in response to microbial antigenic stimulation . In the majority of cases, this proliferation is composed of mature appearing plasma cells which lack morphologic features of malignancy . Although possibly reversible, this proliferation appears to be highly susceptible to the evolution of secondary neoplastic clones, which appear in most instances after a clinical course of unpredictable duration and manifest themselves in the form of single or multiple immunoblastic sarcomas. Acta Odontol Scand, 1976, 34(4), 179 - 216 Turku sugar studies . V . Final report on the effect of sucrose, fructose and xylitol diets on the caries incidence in man; Scheinin A et al.; The purpose was to study differences in the caries increment rate as influenced by various sugars . The trial involved almost complete substitution of sucrose (S) by fructose (F) or xylitol (X) during a period of 2 years . There were no significant initial differences as to caries status between the prospective sugar groups; 35 subjects in the S-group, 38 in the F-group, and 52 in the X-group . During the entire study 10 subjects discontinued or were excluded . The clinical and radiographical observer error was reported and discussed . After 2 years the mean increment of decayed, missed and filled tooth surfaces was 7.2 in the S-group, 3.8 in the F-group, and 0.0 in the X-group . The weakness of the DMFS-index in not showing the development of new secondary caries and the increase in size of the lesions was overcome by expressing the caries activity in terms of indices showing the total quantitative and qualitative development . The results showed a massive reduction of the caries increment in relation to xylitol consumption . Fructose was found to be less cariogenic than sucrose . It was suggested that the non- and anticariogenic properties of xylitol principally depend on its lack of suitability for microbial metabolism and physico-chemical effects in plaque and saliva. Nahrung, 1976, 20(7), 691 - 7 Effect of nisin in saturated brine and storage on the quality of dried bolti fish (Tilapia nilotica); Zaki MS et al.; Bolti fish which had been eviscerated and brined in a saturated brine containing 0.5 mg nisin/g of fish for 10, 15 and 20 min, were divided into two parts, one for dehydration and the second for sun-drying . The dried products were packed in polyethylene bags and stored at room temperature for 3 months . The quality attributes were estimated during processing and monthly during storage . Total volatile bases showed a certain increase after salting, drying and throughout storage periods; thiobarbituric acid value gave the same trend, total microbial load showed a slight increase during storage, but coliform bacteria were not present after salting. Trans Am Soc Artif Intern Organs, 1976, 22, 30 - 41 A new biomaterial for the control of infection in the burn wound; Nathan P et al.; A synthetic dressing has been developed that isolates the burn wound to protect patients from microbial contamination . This dressing is unique as it is formed from a 2-component system directly on the wound, leaving no voids for microbial proliferation . The synthetic cover, HYDRON Burn Dressing, adheres to the entire wound surface so that additional dressings are not required . It is sufficiently flexible to permit patient mobility . The components used to form the dressing are an ultra-pure, high molecular weight form of HYDRON, a hydrophilic polymer, poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and Polethylene Glycol-400 . The dressing is intended to be applied directly to the wound immediately post-burn, prior to sloughing or removal of the eschar, a period in the burn therapy regimen for which satisfactory alternative dressings are not readily available . Decreased frequency of dressing changes compared to conventional procedure provides an additional benefit with a corresponding reduction in pain to the patient . Gross examination of the wounds under the dressing has shown that the healing process proceeds similarly to that of wounds under conventional treatment . There is no evidence of fluid accumulation or maceration or desiccation of the eschar . In our series of 32 patients the barrier dressing formed on the wound has offered a new, effective procedure for treatment of the burn wound. Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Pneumoftiziol, 1976 Jan-Mar, 25(1-2), 17 - 22 {Experience in the field of microbial allergic asthma}; Seropian E; The present paper reports on the effect of prolonged microbial hyposensitization applied in 206 cases of microbial allergic asthma in comparison to 95 asthmatic patients of the same category in which this treatment was not applied; improvement was obtained in 78% of the former lot as against 17% in the latter . The quanlity of the improvement obtained and the dependence of the results upon the various diagnostic criteria used are discussed . Microbial hyposensitization has proved efficient in asthmatic patients although its mechanism of action is not yet known, nor the difference that exists from this point of view with the current microbial vaccination . The data obtained suggest that microbial hyposensitization acts by the mechanism of microbial vaccination in all the variants of infectious asthma. J Immunol, 1976 Jan, 116(1), 178 - 83 Enhancement of reaginic and hemagglutinating antibody production by an extract of Bordetella pertussis containing histamine sensitizing factor; Lehrer SB et al.; The effect of an extract containing the histamine-sensitizing factor (HSF) of Bordetella pertussis on the immune response of mice to ovalbumin was investigated with respect to dose of antigen and adjuvant . Of particular interest was the enhancement of reaginic antibody production . In comparison to the Al(OH)3 induced production of reaginic antibody where low doses of antigen and adjuvant yield high titers of reagin, the HSF extract demonstrated optimal adjuvant activity at high doses of both adjuvant and antigen . The reaginic antibody response was maximal usually by 2 to 3 weeks post-immunization and persisted for long periods of time . The hemagglutinating antibody response was maximal at 8 to 10 weeks post-immunization . The initial treatment of mice with HSF extract plus antigen resulted in the production of memory cells since a subsequent immunization with ovalbumin alone evoked a secondary reaginic response . These observations may have implications in clinical allergy since substances similar to the pertussis factor might be produced by other microbial organisms and these substances could modulate the immunologic response of individuals to common allergens. Physiol Bohemoslov, 1976, 25(1), 71 - 4 Trypsin and chymotrypsin activity of the intestinal content in germfree, monoassociated and conventional rabbits; Malis F et al.; Trypsin (T) and chymotrypsin (CHT) activities in luminal contents of the ileum, caecum and sigmoideum were followed in conventional (6 animals), monoassociated (5) and germfree (5) rabbits by pH-stat automatic titration using p-toluenesulphonyl-L-arginine methylester and acetyl-L-tyrosine ethylester as substrates . In conventional rabbits with complete microbial flora an aborally increasing decline of both proteolytic activities of luminal contents was determined (ileum T 198.2 - CHT 100.0; signmoideum T 10m.2 - CHT 68.8 mrg/g of intestinal content) . Monoassociated animals represent a group different from both germfree and conventional animals . Trypsin and chymotrypsin of intestinal contents were not significantly altered by the presence of megacaecum in germfree rabbits (ileum T 219.2 - CHT 160.2; sigmoideum T 208.8 - CHT 110.8 mug/g of intestinal content) . Chymotrypsin in the intestinal contents appears more labile and more affected by microbial flora than trypsin. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Jan, (1), 49 - 53 {Antigenic composition of different forms of Sh . sonnei}; Vaneeva NP et al.; Data are presented on the study, with the aid of immunophoresis, of the antigenic composition of the I, II phases and R-forms of Sh . sonnei . From 5 to 7 antigens differing by thermoresistance, electrophoretic and diffuse mobility were found in the composition of microbial cells of various forms Sh . sonnei . Differences between the I phase on the one hand and cells of the II phase and R-form, on the other hand, consisted both in the quantitative composition of components of their thermostable O-antigens and in the structure of specific lipopolysaccharides of the forms. Acta Microbiol Acad Sci Hung, 1976, 23(1), 97 - 108 Molecular order of carbohydrate components in cell walls of bacteria, fungi and algae according to the topo-optical reaction of the vicinal OH groups; Fischer J et al.; Selective topo-optical staining of vicinal OH groups with aldehyde-bisulphite-toluidine blue (ABT) has been used for studying the molecular structural order of polysaccharide components in microbial cell walls and capsules . (i) By intensive metachromatic staining in the light microscope, the method demonstrates carbohydrates, containing free vicinal OH or acylaminohydroxyl groups . (ii) The birefringence induced by oriented toluidine blue binding of the ABT reaction, provides information about the linear order of the reacting carbohydrate chains, a possibility not offered by other ultrastructural methods . Furthermore the different optical character of birefringence induced by ABT is indicative of the presence of (a) tangentially oriented polysaccharide chains in the cell wall of the molds and bacterial capsules; or (b) radially oriented OH groups suggesting helical glycan chains of peptidoglucomannane and mucopeptide in the yeasts and bacterial cell walls. Ann Nutr Aliment, 1976, 30(5-6), 805 - 12 {Formation of nitrosamines in the digestive tract}; Szylit O et al.; Nitrosamines are carcinogenic compounds synthetized from amines and nitrites or nitrates, if nitrates in the reaction medium may be reduced to nitrites . Nitrosation is determined in the digestive tract of several species of laboratory animals . Two physiochemical factors appear to determine in vitro nitrosamine formation: the type of amine and the medium pH . The property of secondary amines to nitrosate is inversely related to amine basicity (checked in vivo), and it increases with the medium acidity . In vitro studies show that different types of bacteria can, even at neutral pH, catalyze nitroamine formation from their precursors . However, the role of digestive tract microbial flora in nitrosamine synthesis in the gut cannot be affirmed due to lack of in vivo studies. Oral Sci Rev, 1976, (8), 49 - 61 Gingival crevicular fluid: a new diagnostic aid in managing the periodontal patient; Golub LM et al.; On the whole, the studies on GCF have demonstrated that the flow of this fluid is sufficiently indicative of the inflammatory state that it can be used under a variety of clinical conditions to monitor and control gingival inflammation . Since gingivitis is extremely common, and since some cases of gingivitis presumably do not progress to periodontitis, the question could be posed whether or not a concerted effort to control inflammation (i.e . trying to achieve a GCF flow as near to zero as possible) would be clinically significant . Until there is evidence to the contrary, the answer must be "yes", since few cases are known where periodontitis occurs without being preceded by gingivitis . In other words, the control of all gingivitis, if feasible, should prevent most cases of periodontitis . Although control of all gingivitis would mean the treatment of many cases that would not progress to periodontal breakdown, such efforts would be worth-while if most periodontal destruction were prevented . Even the early destructive lesion exhibiting little or no inflammation may soon be identified, mainly because the minute volume of fluid collected from the gingival crevice can now be measured accurately . Accordingly, the concentration of various constituents in the GCF can be determined, which should lead to the development of tests to differentiate between pockets undergoing active destruction with minimal inflammation from the majority of active lesions that are intimately involved with frank inflammation . Thus, a clinician would measure sub-clinical gingival inflammation by measuring GCF flow, then differentiate destructive from quiescent lesions by analyzing the GCF sample for some constituent(s), chemical or microbial (Listgarten et al . 1975) indicative of the periodontal destructive process . Monitoring the flow of GCF might be of value in other clinical situations . For example, one could monitor the response of gingival tissues to various restorative and prosthetic procedures (Strauss et al . 1975) to ensure that these procedures do not aggravate the periodontal tissues and induce gingivitis or periodontitis . The education of the patient should be easier since patients can read their own numbers on the GCF meter at each examination and self-evaluate their personal periodontal condition and the effectiveness of their home care . Even the education of the dental student should be easier since he or she would have the means of self-evaluating the effectiveness of treatment, and not be as dependent upon the subjective assessment of his efforts by an instructor . Finally, monitoring GCF for various components could provide the dentist with a valuable means of easily screening patients for systemic disease . Obviously, this area of investigation is in its infancy, but does promise an exciting future for the oral diagnostician. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1976 Jan, 31(1), 63 - 9 Pathways of microbial metabolism of parathion; Munnecke DM et al.; A mixed bacterial culture, consisting of a minimum of nine isolates, was adapted to growth on technical parathion (PAR) as a sole carbon and energy source . The primary oxidative pathway for PAR metabolism involved an initial hydrolysis to yield diethylthiophosphoric acid and p-nitrophenol . A secondary oxidative pathway involved the oxidation of PAR to paraoxon and then hydrolysis to yield p-nitrophenol and diethylphosphoric acid . Under low oxgen conditions PAR was reduced via a third pathway to p-aminoparathion and subsequently hydrolyzed to p-aminophenol and diethylthiophosphoric acid . PAR hydrolase, an enzyme produced by an isolate from the mixed culture, rapidly hydrolyzed PAR and paraoxon (6.0 mumol/mg per min) . This enzyme was inducible and stable at room temperature and retained 100% of its activity when heated for 55 C for 10 min. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1976, 42(1-2), 73 - 80 Microbial metabolism of ethylene; De Bont JA et al.; The ethylene-oxidizing strain E20 was grown on different carbon sources to obtain information on the metabolism of ethylene from simultaneous adaptation studies and from measurements of specific activities of enzymes in cell-free extracts . From the simultaneous adaptation studies it was concluded that ethylene oxide is a product of ethylene catabolism . The bacterium was also able to grow on the epoxide . From a comparison of the specific activities of isocitrate lyase and malate synthetase in different extracts it was concluded that the glyoxylate cycle was involved in the metabolism of ethylene, indicating that acetyl-CoA is a metabolite of ethylene catabolism . The sequence of reactions leading from ethylene oxide to acetyl-CoA could not be established from the simultaneous adaptation experiments and the enzyme activities in extracts. Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1975 Dec, 126(4), 421 - 33 {Electron microscope study of bacteria in dental plaques following the application of fluorides (author's transl)}; Kerebel B et al.; Gels containing fluorides can have profound effects on dental plaques . These gels contain 2% fluorides in the form of sodium monofluorophosphate and sodium fluoride and are buffered to pH 6.5 when applied to teeth they: - encourage the disappearance of certain bacteria, - inhibit the division of cells and diminish their storage of glycogen, - cause a thickening of the bacterial cell wall, - lead to modifications of the bacterial cell membrane, - precipitate the degeneration of most forms of bacteria, - cause the rapid mineralisation of many bacteria . These widespread effects, and the wholesale degeneration of microbial forms, are a reflection of a major breakdown in bacterial metabolism, and provide a partial explanation for the role of fluorides in the prevention of dental caries, and are in accord with previous biochemical and microbial observations. Can J Microbiol, 1975 Dec, 21(12), 2112 - 5 Induction of microbial variants of Pseudomonas pseudomallei in cultured rabbit alveolar macrophages; Kishimoto RA et al.; Cultured alveolar and peritoneal macrophages obtained from normal and immunized rabbits were used to induce wall-defective microbial variants of Pseudomonas pseudomallei . Variants were iduced only by normal alveolar macrophages . The variants reverted to typical Pseudomonas forms either spontaneously or upon transfer into broth or agar. Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1975 Dec, 356(12), 1859 - 63 {Identification of a methionine residue as the reactive site for chymotrypsin in the double-headed proteinase inhibitor from the canine submandibular gland (author's transl)}; Hochstrasser K et al.; The canine submandibular inhibitor is double-headed with two independent reactive sites . Whereas the trypsin-reactive center (-Ala-Cys-Pro-Arg26-Leu-His-) is located in domain I, the chymotrypsin-reactive site (-Met-Cys-Thr-Met78-Asp-Tyr-) is located in domain II . The presence of a methionine residue in this inhibition center is supported by the findings that nitration with tetranitromethane abolishes neither trypsin nor chymotrypsin inhibition, whereas after alkylation of the methione residues, only trypsin inhibition is retained . Remarkably, another inhibitor from microbial sources {10} which also contains a methionine residue in the presumed reactive site also inhibits subtilisin but not chymotrypsin (or trypsin). J Pharm Sci, 1975 Dec, 64(12), 2021 - 2 Microbial transformation of aspidospermine; Lin SK et al.; Thirty actinomycetes were isolated from soil samples and screened for their ability to modify the structure of aspidospermine . One actinomycete culture converted aspidospermine into O-demethylaspidospermine but failed to modify N-deacetylaspidospermine, N-ethyl-N-deacetylaspidospermine, 7-methoxyindole, and 7-methoxytryptophan. J Dairy Sci, 1975 Dec, 58(12), 1889 - 98 Relationship between ruminal ammonia and nonprotein nitrogen utilization by ruminants . II . Application of published evidence to the development of theoretical model for predicting nonprotein nitrogen utilization; Roffler RE et al.; Results from published experiments dealing with several aspects of nitrogen utilization by ruminants were used to test the concept of zero utilization of nonprotein nitrogen under conditions where more ammonia (greater than 5 mg ammonia nitrogen/100 ml) is in the rumen than can be converted to microbial protein . Results from experiments where the flow of non-ammonia nitrogen to the abomasum of sheep was measured indicate that when urea was the source of supplemental nitrogen, a constant quantity of amino acids reached the abomasum for all rations ranging from 10 to 23% crude protein . From growth studies, addition of nonprotein nitrogen to low protein, high energy rations caused an improved rate of gain . Additions of nonprotein nitrogen to rations resulting in predicted ruminal ammonia concentrations greater than 5 mg ammonia nitrogen/100 ml rumen fluid were without benefit . From lactation studies, nonprotein nitrogen supplementation did not improve milk production if the ration contained more than 12.5% crude protein prior to supplementation or if the predicted ruminal ammonia concentration was greater than 4 mg ammonia nitrogen/100 ml rumen fluid . The importance of the amino acid requirement of the animal as well as the composition of the ration in designing and evaluating nitrogen supplementation studies is discussed. J Am Diet Assoc, 1975 Dec, 67(6), 552 - 7 Chilled food systems . Effects of chilled holding on quality of beef loaves; Zallen EM et al.; Following storage at 32 degrees or 42 degrees +/- 1 degrees F . for zero (4 hr.), and one, two, four, seven, and nine days, beef loaves which had either been cooked; cooked and pasteurized; or cooked, frozen, and thawed prior to storage were compared with a freshly prepared, freshly cooked loaf . Loaves were initially cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F . and reheated to the same temperature prior to testing . A freshly prepared loaf cooked immediately prior to evaluation statistically had a shorter heating time, less cooking losses, higher moisture content, lower thiobarbituric acid (TBA) scores, and higher taste panel scores for odor, juiciness, flavor, and appearance . In all quality-related properties evaluated, the reference loaf rated higher . Pasteurized loaves were not significantly different from refrigerated loaves . Frozen, thawed loaves had significantly different values for TBA scores for all taste panel evaluations; these differences were indicative of reduced quality . Taste panel scores decreased and TBA scores increased significantly over nine-day storage . The hypothesis that changes over time were linear was not rejected . The only significant difference noted for the two storage temperatures of 32 degrees and 42 degrees F . was for total heating time . Standard plate counts for aerobic bacteria were extremely low when samples were taken after storage and after reheating . Only two loaves sampled had counts per gram above 100 . The absence of microbial growth pattern indicated that increases in TBA scores and decreases in odor and flavor scores were produced by autoxidation of lipids. Int J Dermatol, 1975 Dec, 14(10), 722 - 6 Would healing: a brief review; Cohen BH et al.; The biology of wound healing is indeed a complex process . From phase 1 to phase 3, an orderly progression of events take place in the repair process . Various factors influence the rapidity and cosmetic appearance of this phenomenon . Physical, microbial, nutritional and environmental factors all have some role in the end result. Can J Genet Cytol, 1975 Dec, 17(4), 471 - 91 The search for relevant short term bioassays for chemical carcinogens: the tribulation of a modern Sisyphus; Stich HF et al.; Based on a good correlation between carcinogenicity and mutagenic activity several rapid microbial bioassays for chemical carcinogens have been recently developed . We would like to suggest, that these microbial tests should be followed by bioassays using cultured human cells of the "average" man, and of persons with elevated cancer risk or increased susceptibility to carcinogenic agents . The main objective of using DNA repair (unscheduled uptake of 3HTdR) and DNA fragmentation (shift in sedimentation profiles) of cultured human cells was to design a test system that can simulate conditions found in man and thus provide information relevant to the human population . A trial on 98 different carcinogens, precarcinogens and noncarcinogens showed the suitability of DNA repair synthesis as a rapid, economic and relevant assay for detection of chemical carcinogens . To check the adaptability of DNA repair synthesis of human cells as a bioassay for chemical carcinogens we examined carcinogenic nitrosation products which are formed from the interaction of nitrite and nitrosatable compounds, carcinogenic or mutagenic photosensitizing chemicals, and the effect of complex interactions . Organotropic carcinogens can be detected by measuring DNA fragmentation and DNA repair in various target organs following the in vivo application of chemical carcinogens . The pros and cons of several bioassays and their usefulness in judging a carcinogenic or mutagenic hazard to human populations is discussed. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1975 Dec, 80(12), 59 - 62 {Development of immune tolerance to microbial and cross-reacting tissue antigens in mice}; Ogurtsov RP; C . albicans vaccine was administered to newborn mice (CC57BR) . A tolerance to the microbial antigen was thus obtained which depressed the reaction of rejection of the C3H mice skin allograft . Tolerant mice displayed a reduction of the number of lymphoid cells reacting with the microbial and tissue antigen of the donor in the reactions of immunoadhesion and blasttransformation; there was also seen a reduction of the cytotoxic activity to the fibroblasts of C3H mice . The tolerance to the microbial and cross reacting transplantation antigens was pased by the spleen cells to syngenous recipients irradiated in a dose of 700 R. Can J Biochem, 1975 Dec, 53(12), 1262 - 77 Quantitative effects of unsaturated fatty acids in microbial mutants . IV . Lipid composition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae when growth is limited by unsaturated fatty acid supply; Holub BJ et al.; The Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant KD46 (ole 2), which is unable to synthesize unsaturated fatty acids, was grown on limiting amounts of different added unsaturated fatty acids . The acyl chain composition of the cellular lipid classes was determined in these cultures at different stages or growth . During growth on added oleic acid, there was no marked change in the mole percentage of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine . phosphatidylinositol, or phosphatidylserine among the total phospholipids . Cells grown on palmitoleic, oleic, or linoleic acid showed a steady decrease in their total phospholipid levels per cell concomitant with a decrease in growth rate approaching minimal levels at stationary phase . Furthermore, the mole percentage of the supplemented unsaturated fatty acid in the cellular phospholipids also decreased during growth and attained minimal values when growth ceased . At stationary phase the total phospholipid content per cell was similar for cells grown on a wide range of fatty acids or mixtures thereof, whereas the composition of the fatty acids in the cellular phospholipids were strikingly different . The differences in efficiencies for supporting growth of most of the unsaturated fatty acids tested did not seem due to the extent of their corporation into cellular phospholipids, but rather to differences in the ability of the derived membrane phospholipids to support cellular functions . Palmitoleate, oleate, linoleate, linolenate, arachidonate, eicosapentaenoate, and docosahexaenoate all appeared to contribute to the functionality of cellular membranes in an additive linear manner . Thus, the contribution of these acids to cellular growth can be characterized by a functionality factor that seems independent of the mixtures of acids supporting growth . Use of the functionality concept allows the cumulative influence of many different acids to be summarized quantitatively by a single number rather than resorting to qualitative decriptions of the degree of unsaturation or 'fitness' of the membrane phospholipids. Clin Exp Immunol, 1975 Dec, 22(3), 457 - 60 Cell-mediated immunity to microbial antigens in mother and child; Russell AS; We have looked at evidence for the transplacental passage of cell-mediated immunity in man . The lymphocyte response of mother-neonate pairs was assessed to non-specific mitogens, allogeneic cells, and to microbial antigens . Although six mothers were known to be chronic carriers of Herpes simplex virus only one of their neonates responded to this viral antigen . On two occasions a lymphocyte response was induced in cord blood by antigens to which the mother did not respond . This paradox remains unexplained . We suggest that the relative immunity of the neonate to some infectious diseases does not depend on the transplacental passage of cellular immunity. J Biol Chem, 1975 Nov 25, 250(22), 8720 - 7 Inhibition of growth of microbial mutants by trans-octadecenoates; Vandenhoff G et al.; A series of positional isomers of trans-octadecenoic acid were tested for their ability to support growth of microbial mutants that could not synthesize unsaturated fatty acids . The bacterial strain used (a variant of Escherichia coli 30E) grew with supplements of the trans isomers only at high temperatures (38 degrees) and with acids containing the trans-ethylenic bond between carbon atoms 8 through 13 . The yeast mutant (Saccharomyces cerevisiae KD46) grew only with the 9-trans-octadecenoate giving cell yields about one-fifth those obtained with oleate . Although the trans isomers had little effect on the growth of the bacteria in the presence of oleate, they inhibited the growth of yeast with oleate . Inhibition was strongest for the 4, 6, 7, 11, and 12 isomers, almost negligible for the 8 isomer and of differing intermediate degrees for the others . The inhibitory effects had no correlation with the melting points of the acids and appeared to reflect selective action(s) on the metabolism of the cell . When the net yield of the yeast cultures with oleate was lowered by the effect of added trans acids, there was a marked accumulation of triglycerides and nonesterified acids in the cells . The marked increase in triglyceride content while phospholipid per cell remained relatively constant suggest that trans acids, in addition to forming inadequate membrane lipids, may also interfere with a basic control point in lipid metabolism. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1975 Nov 18, 412(1), 120 - 6 Peptide hydrogen exchange rates in Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor; Akasaka K et al.; The exchange reaction of the peptide NH protons of a microbial protease inhibitor (Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor) with deuterium atoms in 2H2O (p2H 6.8) has been studied by proton magnetic resonance in the temperature range 56-71 degrees C . Both slowly and rapidly exchanging processes have been observed . The number of slowly exchanging protons is estimated to be 25 +/- 2 per subunit of the protein molecule . The decay of the slowly exchanging proton signals follows a single time-exponential function at each temperature . The observed first-order rate constants have been analyzed to give the denaturated fraction of the protein as a function of temperature with a consequent enthalpy (56 kcal/mol) and an entropy (137 cal/degree per mol) of denaturation . The results indicate the high conformational stability of this protein against heat denaturation. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1975 Nov 15, 123(6), 597 - 604 The effect of antibiotic prophylaxis on patients undergoing vaginal operations . II . Alterations of microbial flora; Ohm MJ et al.; Preoperative and postoperative cultures of the upper vagina were taken from 48 women who underwent vaginal hysterectomy . They received a five-day course of either prophylactic cephalosporins or placebo . Comparisons of preoperative and postoperative flora in both the active-drug and placebo groups as well as comparisons between the postoperative flora of the drug group and that of the placebo group were made . Alterations of the bacterial flora occurred whether or not the patient received prophylactic antibiotics. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1975 Nov, (11), 91 - 4 {New methods of disinfecting the hands}; Merka V; An equimolar mixture--9.6 g of 85% formic acid and 19 g of 30% hydrogen peroxide which after 60-minute contact at room temperature contained over 3% and after 120-minute contact--over 5% performic acid was used . Before use the mentioned mixture was diluted with water (to the volume of 1 litre) . Exposure period--3 minutes . Comparative tests demonstrated that a mixture with performic acid in hand disinfection provided somewhat better results than 0.2% peracetic acid, and that both peracids produced a much stronger disinfecting action on the skin microbial flora than 80% methyl alcohol. Can J Microbiol, 1975 Nov, 21(11), 1760 - 7 Microbial petroleum degradation: application of computerized mass spectrometry; Walker JD et al.; An analytical procedure is presented for obtaining detailed characterization of petroleum hydrocarbons which undergo microbial degradation . The procedure includes column chromatographic separation and characterization of the resulting fractions by mass spectrometry and gas chromatography . The use of computerized low-resolution mass spectrometry is offered as a method for assessing microbial degradation of petroleum . This method provides information which cannot, at the present time, be obtained by other available analytical methods . Use of this method to evaluate degradation of a South Louisiana crude oil by a mixed culture of estuarine bacteria revealed that asphaltenes and resins increased by 28% after degradation, while saturates and aromatics decreased by 83.4% and 70.5%, respectively . Most of the normal and branched-chain alkanes were degraded (96.4%), but an increase in long-chain alkanes (C28-C32) after degradation was observed by gas-liquid chromatography . Susceptibility of cycloalkanes to degradation was less as the structure varied, i.e., 6-ring greater than 1-ring greater than 2-ring greater than 3-ring greater than 5-ring greater than 4-ring . Susceptibility of aromatic components to degradation decreased with increase in the number of rings, viz., monoaromatics greater than diaromatics greater than triaromatics greater than tetraaromatics greater than pentaaromatics . Aromatic nuclei containing sulfur were twice as refractory as non-sulfur analogs. Br J Nutr, 1975 Nov, 34(3), 429 - 46 New inhibitors of methane production by rumen micro-organisms . Development and testing of inhibitors in vitro; Czerkawski JW et al.; 1 . A procedure is described for assaying in vitro the activity of various inhibitors of methane production by rumen micro-organisms . 2 . Methods of preparation of various inhibitors are described together with attempts to characterize these compounds by determining their physical properties (physical state, density, chromatographic behaviour), their hydrolysis by rumen contents and their relative potency as inhibitors . 3 . The results of preliminary studies with trichloroethanol and its ester with pivalic acid are given . 4 . The inhibitory activities of several groups of related compounds are reported . These include the polyhalogenated alcohols and their esters with pivalic acid, the esters of trihalogenated alcohols and monobasic fatty acids from C2 and C16 and the trihalogenated alcohol esters of dibasic acids . The results of experiments with esters of alcohols and polyhalogenated carboxylic and sulphonic acids are also given . 5 . It is concluded that the mechanism of action of the inhibitors might be similar to that of known polyhalogenated methane analogues (e.g . chloroform) . The relative activity of various compounds might be partly governed by the ease of their absorption into the microbial cells and by the extent to which the esters can be hydrolysed by rumen contents . 6 . The results show that some substances are very poor inhibitors, unless they are esterified (e.g . trichloroacetic acid) but on the whole the esters in which the polyhalogen grouping is on the alcohol portion of the molecule are better inhibitors than those in which it is on the acid portion of the molecule. Nature, 1975 Oct 30, 257(5529), 758 - 63 Tertiary structural differences between microbial serine proteases and pancreatic serine enzymes; Delbaere LT et al.; Although primary structural homology between bacterial serine proteases and those from the mammalian pancreas is slight, two-thirds of the residues in the bacterial enzyme SGPB as seen at 2.8-A resolution, adopt a similar polypeptide chain conformation to that of the chymotrypsin family . The three major regions of difference show how this family of proteolytic enzymes has developed from the more primitive bacterial to the relatively sophisticated pancreatic enzymes. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1975 Oct, 80(10), 19 - 20 {Study of the nature of toxic factors in burns on sterile guinea pigs}; Fedorov NA et al.; Experiments were conducted on sterile and contaminated guinea pigs . The toxicity of the serum and the water-salt extracts of the internal organs after the burn was studied by the action on the leukocyte migration in a culture . Despite the complete absence of the microbial flora, the toxic properties of the serum and of the extracts of the internal organs of the sterile animals were the same as in the contaminated organs . The data obtained pointed to the important role of the histiogenic factors in the development of burn intoxication. Appl Microbiol, 1975 Oct, 30(4), 639 - 49 Heterotrophic activity of deep-sea sediment bacteria; Schwarz JR et al.; Sediment samples, containing mixed microbial populations that were decompressed during retrieval from 7,750 and 8,130 m in the Puerto Rican Trench, were recompressed and incubated at the approximate in situ temperature (3 C) and pressure (775 or 815 atm) in the presence of 14C-labeled amino acids . Heterotrophic activity (total uptake, CO2 respiration, and cellular assimilation) and cellular-associated "pool" concentrations were measured . Compared with atmospheric controls held at 3 C, the total uptake at elevated pressure at 3 C was reduced, on an average, 55 times, CO2 respiration was reduced 45 times, and cellular assimilation was reduced 69 times . Rate of total uptake at elevated pressure was found to range from 4.0 X 10(-11) mug/cell per h for leucine to 2.61 X 10(-10) mug/cell per h for an amino acid mixture . Also, the percentage of total uptake at elevated pressures, respired as CO2, increased at the expense of cellular assimilation (ca . 22% increase) . Two cellular-associated amino acid pools were detected, a large, loosely bound, outer pool and a small, tightly bound internal pool . The loosely bound outer pool was removed by a change in the pH of the incubation medium . Even though heterotrophic uptake and the outer, cellular-associated pool were markedly reduced at an elevated pressure, the percentage of total uptake calculated for the unincorporated, tightly bound, intracellular pool was 2 to 19 times that obtained for cultures held at 1 atm . The results were interpreted as indicating that bacterial metabolism and biosynthesis in the deep sea are markedly reduced, with a greater proportion of metabolic activity devoted to cellular maintenance. Am J Physiol, 1975 Oct, 229(4), 1062 - 7 Nitrogen utilization within equine large intestine; Wootton JF et al.; The distribution of nitrogen in ligated segments of the stomach and intestine of two groups of ponies has been examined at sacrifice 2, 4, 8, and 12 h following the final 12-h scheduled feeding of diets designed to provide either 1) ample protein, or 2) limited protein plus supplemental urea as the major nitrogen source . Concentrations and total quantities of total N, NH3, urea plus NH3, and alpha-amino N were determined, and protein N was calculated by difference . Liquid marker (PEG) distribution rate constants and N concentrations were used to calculate rates of entry and exit by digesta flow for the large intestinal compartments . These values, together with measured accumulations of each constituent, allowed assessment of transitory net appearance and net disappearance within each compartment due to processes other than flow along the tract . The data suggested cyclic fluctuations of microbial populations within the large intestine, particularly the dorsal and ventral colon . These segments also were implicated as major sites of microbial protein synthesis and degradation . the former process appeared more evident in animals consuming the urea-supplemented diet. Antibiotiki, 1975 Oct, 20(10), 886 - 91 {Transmissivity of the various R factors found among E . coli cultures circulating under natural conditions}; Zueva VS et al.; Transmissivity of drug resistance in wild strains of E . coli was shown to be determined not only by the presence of the transmissive factor and r-determinants in the microbial cell, but also by the functional activity of the R-factor . The capacity of the R-factor for transmission depended to a certain extent on the number of the r-determinants in the R-factor and the presence of various r-determinants in the R-factor. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1975 Oct, (10), 18 - 22 {Use of the immunofluorescence method to detect the causative agent of tularemia in developing chick embryos}; Kudelina RI et al.; There was shown a possibility of using the immunofluorescent method for detection of the causative agent of tularemia in the developing chick embryos, infected with the virulent strains 503 (holoarctic race) and Schu (nonarctic race) . The greatest accumulation of bacteria was revealed in the yolk sacs, and the least--in the chorionallantoic fliud; the greatest accumulation of bacteria was observed on the 3rd--4th days after the infection . In infection with various doses of the causative agent--from 1 milliard to 1 microbial cell-positive results were noted in 92.3% of cases (according to the data of fluorescent microscopy) and in 77.3% of cases (according to the data of light microscopy), this pointing to a greater sensitivity of the method of fluorescent in comparison with the light microscopy . Immunofluorescent method can be recommended for detection of the causative agent of tularemia in the yolk sacs of chick embryos. Appl Microbiol, 1975 Oct, 30(4), 575 - 80 Microbial metabolism of a parathion-xylene pesticide formulation; Munnecke DM et al.; A mixed bacterial culture was adapted to growth on a mixed carbon substrate consisting of the pesticide parathion and its xylene-based formulation . The environmental growth parameters of temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen concentration were optimized to obtain complete metabolism of parathion from this mixed carbon substrate . This adapted culture grew rapidly (mu = 0.7 per h) on the pesticide formulation at high parathion suspensions (3,000 mg/liter) . Carbon utilization from this mixed substrate was strongly dependent on pH . At slightly acidic pH, xylene was preferentially metabolized, whereas at slightly alkaline pH, parathion was preferentially metabolized . Diethylthiophosphoric acid, a metabolite from parathion, and toluic acid, a metabolite from xylene, also influenced the selection of the primary carbon source. J Lab Clin Med, 1975 Oct, 86(4), 672 - 82 Accumulation of sulfate-containing acid mucopolysaccharides in I-cell fibroblasts; Schmickel RD et al.; A rapid and sensitive papper electrophoretic assay for 35SO4-containing compounds was developed which allowed measurement of 35S-acid mucopolysaccharides synthesized by skin fibroblasts grown in the presence of inorganic 35S-sulfate . Fibroblasts from a skin explant of a patient with I-cell disease when grown in culture accumulated abnormal amounts of 35S-acid mucopolysaccharides and other, as yet unidentified, 35S-labeled compounds . Approximately 75% of the 35S-compounds accumulated by I-cell fibroblasts were not metabolized and remained in the cells after transfer to nonlabeled medium . I-cell fibroblasts differ from fibroblasts derived from classical mucopolysaccharidoses such as Hurler's and Hunter's syndromes in the amount and types of 35S-labeled acid mucopolysaccharides accumulated . I-cell fibroblasts accumulated chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfates (16 per cent), dermatan sulfate (32 per cent), heparan sulfate (32 per cent), and other unidentified 35S-compounds . The unidentified fraction was not hydrolyzed by microbial chondroitinase or heparinase . Attempts to correct the defect in I-cell fibroblasts by growth in the presence of extracts of normal cells resulted in release of only 10 per cent of the accumulated mucopolysaccharides .